blue, oh is your media a reflection of reality? with in the world transformed what will make you feel safer? tycer lation for community. are you going the right way? where are you being that some with direct? what is true? what is faith? in the world corrupted, you need to descend a join us in the depths or remain in the shallows with

this is them bustling business, so you can't afford to miss. i'm racial blevins and i bred to bore in washington. here's what we have coming up for. just between russia and nato continued amount as german chancellor. oh, love shoals as visiting ukraine to discuss diplomatic measures. this as oil is quickly heading towards a $100.00 per barrel mark straight ahead, we'll discuss the factors that are driving up the price. and the united kingdom has seen as dp come, loring back in 2021 strongest performance for the nation since the end of world war 2. we'll discuss all the latest data. we have a package there today. so let's get started. and we lead the program as tension between nato allies and russia over ukraine, only continue to intensive by while the u. s. continues to claim it has evidence that a russian invasion of ukraine is imminent. moscow has called for talks,

ended avoiding military conflict and coming to an agreement. this comes in german, chancellor, all i've showed kicked off his plan trip to ukraine and russia on monday. and with it, he carried washington's warning. while russia president continues to insist that he has no plans to invade ukraine, he has said he wants to carry a guarantees from the west that ukraine will not be allowed to join nato. just the ministry of foreign affairs of russia will present his ideas on responses we received about our proposals, sent to the u. s. colleagues in washington to colleague from nato to brussels on the organization of questions linked to security in europe and the response to our concerns related to the inlet and very dangerous. in our opinion, proceed nato expansion eastward, at the expense of the former republics of the soviet union, including ukraine's. isn't that we are prepared to have a serious dialogue with russia about the questions of european security, nato and the u. s. a made proposal to russia that we supported. we now expect a reaction,

an answer from russia to many leaders hint slightly that ukraine shouldn't risk and talk constantly about its membership in the alliance. because these risks are connected to russia reaction. i think that no one hides it anymore. i think we should be sincere. it's our decision to take anyway. yes. so why do these meetings mean for economic relations between russia and germany? well, let's bring in boom bus, co host band swan to discuss. now ben, there is obviously a lot to unpack. their german chancellor shoals is planning to meet with president putin this week as well as president lisky. so, but on friday, the german vice chancellor made the point that final approval of the nordstrom too, will depend on what happens between russia and ukraine. so how much of the discussion between russia and germany will be focused on energy here? i think very little of it will really come down to energy. i think that germany is going to, for their part is going to talk a lot about it because what they're really going to say is, look,

we're in an impossible spot here. the u. s. nato do not one, you know, energy to be flowing from russia to germany at this point. and so they're going to kind of make a stand in regards to that. but at the same time, the talk right now has been ratcheted up to such a high point guys, in terms of the way this is being discussed when you have someone like jake sullivan, the biden administration national security adviser saying that a russian invasion is days away saying that it's going to time out with the end of the olympics, i mean, statements like that are pushing and ratcheting this to a whole new level. so the fact that there was still a dialogue taking place. the fact that the president of russia putin is able to sit down with zalinski is able to sit down with shoals and say, let's, let's slow things down in terms of the way this rhetoric is going. and let's, let's remember that there's a lot to be lost here. if there is a war, a lot to be lost. it is not just in terms of livelihood and lives. but in terms of

the relationship between all these countries, that quite frankly, they are somewhat co dependent on each other. right. and it is interesting how your, of these binding ministration officials, not only making these claims, but claiming that they have evidence of exactly what russia is going to do. but of course, they can't show that evidence to anyone else. now when it comes to this dialogue that is taking place shows is worn over the past few days, that there will be consequences if a russian invasion does take place. so what does that do to the relationship between the 2 nations, especially after everything they've come through when it comes to the north stream to pipeline? yeah, why think that at this point shoals is, is saying what he has to say, which is that he's picking aside. right. and clearly, if there is an invasion, germany is saying we're going to bring about serious consequences with that, whether it's, you know, partnering militarily with the u. s. and with other countries, whether or not that's economic and cutting off the north stream to and just in the, in the project altogether,

there will be consequences. now i believe that that is probably true, but at the same time listen, the news conference today with, with president putin of russia. he also talked about the fact that there will be consequences. his words were, i want to remind my european friends here that if there is a war, yeah, we, russia can't stand up against all these countries combined. but that doesn't mean that there isn't law for everyone. i think his exact words were there would be no winners. i think that's a very true statement. and you know, i guess when you look at what's happening here, we just came out of 2 years of pandemic. and a lot of these economies are fragile. the economic side or why push this thing forward the way that it's being push forward right now, it doesn't make sense and bad. i got about a minute left, but austria is also opposing, including the north stream to pipeline in a package of sanctions against moscow that the european union is preparing our other european countries following suit there. when it comes to nordstrom to pipeline. i think they, i think because of this last winter and the cost of energy across europe has been

so severe and it has been very severe that you have a lot of countries that are saying listen, we just don't want to play games with nor string to the vitamin ministrations but making a big deal about it. as you guys know, last week, president biden came out and said that he would in that and in that pipeline and that kind of talk is not something of the europe want to hear right now. they have struggled greatly as a result of high energy costs, growing energy costs in a very tough winter. they don't want to see that. they want to see energy stability and energy, greater energy independence when it comes to the cost of energy. and they're not going to get that by cutting off the north stream too. absolutely, and i know we've heard a lot about saber rattling it looks like we might have been here in a lot of pen rattling as well when it comes to economic thanks. and boom, but bend swan. thank you so much. yeah. and speaking of tension, oil prices continue to have around 70 or higher with both west texas intermediate and international benchmark. brent crude sitting around $93.00 per barrel on monday

. the already fragile markets are weighing the possibility of supply disruptions that the biding administration continues to warn about increasing tensions with russia. this comes with opec plots and struggling to meet its current production quarter of an additional $400000.00 barrels per day. despite calls from the us to increase output even more now while summer of course, welcoming the increased profit energy ministers from egypt and cyprus warned on monday that while the reality of oil prices surpassing $100.00 per barrel is right around the corner, it remains a very scary concept, yet the markets continue to head in that direction with report signing warnings from the u. s. and its allies that a russian invasion of ukraine is eminent. however, as we've noted, both russia and ukraine are saying the opposite with moscow calling for diplomatic talks as soon as possible. and notably, the fear isn't that russia will cut off supplies causing markets to suffer. it's that the us will introduce new sanctions and export controls, which will deal a significant blow to global supply. so joining us now to go further and jump on

this are todd bubble, horwitz, chief strategist above a training and david towel, president at pro chain capital. it's great to have you both on the show today, but let's start with you. i know we've watched the by an administration call on opec plus to increase output for months now with no success. but given that the u. s. is the one to claim that a russian invasion is eminent when russia and ukraine say that's not the case, is the u. s. showing how much influence it still has? here? i have the red one brought listen. this is a total. this is almost laughable. let's put the blame more, belongs on the by new ministration. there will be no attack or invasion of ukraine . i've got sources inside of russia that tell me so, and the energy problem is not the problem from opec. why would opec want to give us more oil? it makes no sense. we have our own oil. we just don't want to go get it. we gave up to be

a net export or an oil was going to $100.00 long before this conflict rose. and there's an outside chance that can make all time new highs. listen, oil goes and almost every product that we use, a good, a driving your car and delivery, which is why we have a horrible supply chain. so the, the blame squarely brought belongs and this is ministration. and those in power right now decided that this green new deal is more important than taking care of americans and making our inflation go through the roof. this is a totally laughable situation at this moment. absolutely. i mean, as we've discussed many times, it seems so short sighted with the way this policy was going. even if you are pro green energy, it feels like they didn't make the proper steps at least prepare for that. instead, they said, this is the route we're going, and then all of this kind of compounds and makes the issue even worse. now david, i mean, how much of this comes back to how incredibly flat fragile the oil market is right now, given that oil prices are based on speculation, i mean, this is the case where even the prospect of a disruption causes

a significant reaction, like we're seeing or is this all kind of baked in from what we just talked about? there was so i'm going to agree with baba in the sense that or was headed to hundreds regardless of this, this is really, i'd say a wrench thrown in. and because of this, you know, oil can go considerably higher. i also agree with bob. i don't think we're going to war. but what i think might happen is that the markets may get scared, and oil may go up precipitously. we may have to hang out for a while and have a big question mark surrounding russia and ukraine. this may be an issue that lingers for a considerable period of time that we need to go ahead and get used to as russia and the united states and european union, go ahead and maybe have protracted discussions about all this. and so therefore, i think that the members of opec that are strong and big are really excited about this. i think the members are rope x that are small, are actually scared about this because they could lose market share through this.

and then frankly, anybody who's a net importer of oils gotta be scared stiff because prices may go really, really high and affect the economy in those countries. absolutely. and barbara, to that point, i mean obviously, opec members, jobs is not to keep oil prices low. their job is to see how much you will pay for her that matter. now, with that demand coming back, opec plus it's still struggling to meet it's quote of an additional $400000.00 barrels per day. i mean, what's behind that at this point, is that an effort to effect markets, or is it just kind of the nature of the business here? river david nail that bo aramco, that's the deal. they want bigger profits, and they've got it. and they've got biden over a barrel. and because because we refuse to do what the right thing is to take care of the people here and put our own oil to work, we're going to continue to beg. and i do think that saudi arabia is going to give up one inch to president biden. they could care all laughing at the united states

right now, which is a very sad state of affairs when we're looking at what's going on. because we've got control of our own destiny and we're flushing it down the toilet with this guide. it's an office and the rusty administration that continues to fight for something that couldn't be done in 10 years. no matter what your uh, best of, at what cost are we gonna go through this and you're letting saudi arabia take charge. you're like rush or push you around and you're creating a narrative of a possible warn you crank when there's not one going to happen. i are so many moving parts there. now david, i mean, what is your response to that? and when it comes to the binding ministration? yes, on one hand, they want to follow up on their campaign promises, especially when it comes to green energy. but given the way that they've gone about it, doesn't it seem like it could do more harm than good in the long run here? i don't think they care in the long run. i think the, our election cycles and is important to point out our election cycles are really

short. why to me, pu, in his playing for decades. he thinks in terms of arrows we in this country think in terms of years, you know, maybe even shorter because election cycles are so short. so frankly, it's all about the short term for every single government. right now everybody's, i'm the mid term elections and they want to make sure that their constituents are happy so that they vote for them. so i don't know, you know, to go to your point, rachel, you know, i don't know what democratic legislators are going to do about this. if oil prices go really high, are they're willing to go ahead and sacrifice their environmentalist, energy policy for the sake of saying, i've got to see the economy now and they don't know how their voters are going to go ahead and react to that. frankly, i don't either, and they're left in a quandary. they don't have a lot of time left to do this. and it may be a very hot issue going into the midterm. elections. will certainly be interesting to see what they decide to do and we will continue to cover it, especially as we get closer and closer to that $100.00 mark,

david tall approach and capital and taught horace above a trading. thank you both for your insight meant you and the going protest, dazed by truckers in canada, continued on monday after police arrested around 30 demonstrators and towed a dozen trucks blocking the ambassador bridge, which served as a crucial supply chain lake between the united states and canada. and it wasn't just in canada, while the u. s. has seen plans for cross country convoys, u d. c. there were also protest across europe, including the capitals of france and belgium. that's where we find our t. charlotte, you've been sky, who has the latest for us on the ground in brussels? the convoys for a large part failed to make it through the police blocks. not just the belgian buddhist, but also outside brussels. but those that came, were ready to make some noise protest. this said that they were here to demonstrate peacefully, to demand their liberties back. i couldn't stand any more, this lack of freedom. i would like to leave in a democracy. unfortunately,

it's about the case on fighting for that. i would like about a future. almost 2 years of coven restrictions have way down heavy on populations across europe. many said that they were not anti faxes, but against the tyrannical measures. their words not mine, that were put in place during the code 19 pandemic. for the most part, it was peaceful but antics to disrupt traffic and to move from specific areas where they were protesting, we dealt with quickly by the police. this protest may have been inspired by the freedom convoy in canada, but it, so convoys heading to brussels, the see to you repeat power from countries across the continent. a large and vocal movement on social media today was not there day to show the strength of that movement. here in the belgian capital, the authorities for the most part, keen on keeping a tight laid on

a protest movement that was already banned in cities like paris and vienna. missy's though, unlikely to be the end of this type of convoy, while many governments have set out a time table to reduce covey to restrictions. for many, it's already too little, too late. charlotte, even ski boom bust in brussels can time now for a quick break only come back the united kingdom, missing and strongest annual performance in decades on the heels of ease and covered restriction. we'll discuss all the latest on the other side. and as we go to break, here are the numbers at the close. ah,

[000:00:00;00] with what happened? i make no, you know, born is another piece. and you as a merge, we don't have with the we don't on the back seat. the whole world needs to take action and be ready. people are judgment. 2 common crisis with we can do better, we should be better. everyone is contributing each in their own way. but we also know that this crisis will not go on forever. the challenge is great, the response has been massive. so many good people are helping us. it makes us feel

very proud that we are in it together. the welcome back. the british economy grew. it's fast paced in the 2nd world war and 2021. according to the office of national statistics, g. d. p. in the world's 5th largest economy, expanded by 7.5 percent last year, despite losing a fraction of a percent in december. as a nation impose restrictions to quote, protect christmas amid sore in cases of the crime variance. the growth comes after a massive 9.4 percent contraction 2020 after restrictions at the height of the pandemic hindered economic activity. arising, prices remain

a concern in the u. k. as the bank of england now expects inflation to peak at 7.2 percent in april, prompting the central bank to increase interest rates 2 months in a row for the 1st time since 2004. and as prices rise across the board, the nation's energy regulator will increase its annual price cap by 54 percent starting on the 1st of april due to surging energy crop. so let's go ahead and take a deeper look at all of this with hillary board, which is present abstract mark, business development consultants, and board member with the british american business association. hillary always a pleasure to have you on. thank you so much. i mean, what, pushing things up here, how was the british economy able to weather the storm brought on at the end of the year by the i'm a crown barrier. what pleasure to be back to you, brian and rachel, few things he, as she were, she soon as the chancellor of the exchequer has recently said, he's very proud only of the 400000000000 pounds that the government released to support the economy is also talked about as the perseverance on the spirit that has kept everybody going through this rule,

so the n h. s. renowned force mentally affected quite single. that program, i mean over 93 percent of the british public or have what they call the job that 2nd the many, the 3rd jobs. so the vaccination process, but also the truck and trace that was able to eliminate those that were infected and to keep it under control in the u. k. common economy. so i think it's that resilience and it's also the, the effectiveness and also that the government as well. she shouldn't act said acted at the right time. right. place with the right package. yeah, and i know, speaking of that resilience, i mean, it seems like for all of the concerns we've heard about breck, that the economy was able to grow despite all of those concerns over trade and restrictions. and the northern ireland protocol. what say you on that? i mean, what does it come down to at the end of the day and what is it looking like as we go into the next year? we white rachel there with these doom and gloom projections. i remember actually there was a projection that hundreds of thousands of jobs would leave the financial service

sector and leave london. i'm us. the youngest recently reported that just under 7000 positions of left, the city of london, a few factors here. one of them is the fact of the lack of the political will, the e, you classic obviously hasn't been able to sort of an enact it quickly enough. any regulations that would help that you in terms of the financial markets, you also secondly, have brussels and amsterdam am power is all competing against each other. and so what the former chief economist at hsbc had said he had said that bricks, it was sort of home goal that the u. k. had against itself with the city of london . even he now says, all of that competing against european cities haven't been able to attract the same kind of invest. and also both hedge funds and derivatives remain as strong as ever in the city of london. the city of london has persevered and i think again it's part of that or it. busy the people have just carried on and they haven't worried about that. it's crazy how political rhetoric doesn't quite always pan out the way

that everybody says it. well, there, now i want to say this because the northern protocols could still remains an issue . a negotiator have once again said they will hold quote, intensive talks. and on the matter this week there have been a lot of conversations about it. for that matter. do you see any progress being made since foreign secretary list trusts took over the job as a cheap associate or here? i mean the has been some progress in that they keep releasing joint statement. so that's progress. and as we talked about before, you know, it's not as frosty as it was with ross, but a few things they do. so they do project that supposedly the meeting on february 21st. that sort of the next landmark, when there's going to be a joint committee meeting. so i think the parties will come closer together. there are, there was rumors actually that the discussion on customs was going to be the one that was going to have a big break that list trust was coming up with the package in a and a bigger offer. but there's been nothing that was really transpired from that. i do think that both parties want to get this sorted out. i'm is not helping either

parties. it's not making you look good because certainly they haven't enacted any of the things that they said they were going to do. the other member states, interestingly enough, looking at this new, recently had the hungarian prime minister talking about the fact that, you know, maybe they believe in the e u 2. so i think there's an immense amount of pressure for the e. you to actually get their act together and to move on this a list just like you just mentioned your has, she may progress all eyes or on her to so both sides a highly motivated and i think hopefully february 21st at this next set of meetings when there's a joint committee, we will see some progress, and we'll certainly wrench, since they were comes out of that. now one final thing here, we know another factor play has been skyrocketing energy prices. so why did regulators have to raise the price now as people how are paying more for everything across the board? we've got less than a minute left. well, they're pretty bad in the u. k. yes, you're totally right, rachel. few factors here. they've actually 8 percent of the the raise is going to be in the green taxes and there's almost 50 percent is going to be

a natural cost of natural gas. the cost of natural gas has risen dramatically across global market. so it's not just for the u. k, it's just that now, 29 companies according to off. com. and now i the bank, right, or left the market. so $4900000.00 customers would have been less rand is what they have to do is they have to equalize out by raising price to spread it across the whole. ok. so what was the combination of those companies going out of business? the natural gas prices rising, plus the increase in taxes, which actually the wrong time to do it. that's what's gonna happen in april to the u. k. public or forward. thank you so much pleasure. and finally, as more and more people get interested in the met averse, they will have to get used to interacting with the virtual environment. well, of course, wearing a b r has that, in fact, british ensure viva so that in 2021 is saw a 31 percent increase in home content claims involving the our head says, and a 68 percent increase over the last 5 years now luckily they don't seem to be extremely high dollar claims with

b r related accident averaging about $880.00 per claim. now the majority of these claims had to do with damage to television screens, but the internet is right with the videos of people smashing through lighting fixtures, careening into furniture and destroying ceiling fans while wearing those awesome hats. the company as it has already worked a number of v r claims so far this year. so before you step into the metaphors, make sure you give yourself the space in your living room, i think. yeah, i don't have a v r heads up, but i feel like if i did, i would absolutely be one of those people who just completely lost track broke something or, you know, and then, and then it turns into a whole thing. and you gotta gotta watch out for that. i can't disseminate what's real and what's not. and so for every is if i say it over here, i want to move, i want to do it and it's just, it's not going to be great. i one point, do we get special insurance just for those we are has only and i feel like that's come and that's it. for this time you get boom buzz on demand on the portable tv app available as smartphones and tablets. you google play in the apple app store by

searching portable tv, portable tv can also be downloaded on samsung, smart tv, and roku devices, or simply check it out at portable dot tv. we'll see you next time me the me, the democratic republic of congo is among the richest countries in the world and natural resources. but he can, honestly, it's still one of the poorest cobalt is the central material in manufacturing batteries for modern devices like electric cars, mobile phones and computers. 60 percent of the world's cobalt reserves are in congo . 20 percent of it comes from small scale mines. units have figures confirm that in 2017 gold and 40000 children worked in cobalt mining in the republic to one living and paying for schooling. next time you use a fancy gadget like

a smartphone camera laptop, and just remember that there's a chance it works thanks to a child, hard labor children like john michelle, henrietta, all countless others like them. so what we've got to do is identify the threats that we have. it's crazy confrontation, let it be an arms race is on offense. very dramatic development. only personally and getting to resist. i don't see how that strategy will be successful, very difficult, time time to sit down and talk oh, is your media a reflection of reality?

in the world transformed what will make you feel safer? high selection, whole community. are you going the right way, or are you being led to somewhere? which direction? what is true? what is great? in the world corrupted, you need to descend. ah, so join us in the depths or remain in the shallows. a good one, bedroom shaped bank, concur some of those with

there's things we dare to ask in a headline story today. russia star to withdrawing its troops from the border with ukraine military exercises draw to a close. to this by daily alarmist western predictions of an imminent russian invasion. so far we have not seen and the escalation on the ground despite moscow hold back the name. so she said he isn't seeing any signs of b escalation while claiming everything is still in place for rational. so my head, the canadian prime minister, triggers and never before used emergencies act grunting, has government extra powers to break off truckers protest fighting vaccine mandates

. it's created concern among the provincial chief to question the measures point