Using the tool to improve u. S. Relations in the region on friday he met mexicos president ease worries over Donald Trumps comments on immigration and trade but those are the headlines the news continues on aljazeera after counting the cost of them sorting by fire. You stand the differences. And the similarities and cultures of the. Us. Aljazeera. As im sick of this is counting the cost on aljazeera your weekly look at the world of business and economics this week some of the worlds Biggest Technology names out with earnings but theres a faceoff with regulators in whats being called a tech clash also this week a golden era thats how the u. K. And china want to see their partnership with those golden fruits may prove difficult to harvest with breaks it in the way plus. Im wayne hay reporting from Southern Thailand where well tell you about an ambitious coast to coast project that could have a major impact on shipping and security. Are some of the worlds Biggest Technology names posted earnings over the past few days facebook apple amazon alphabets and microsoft produced quarterly revenues of around one hundred billion dollars altogether and thats likely to continue back in two thousand and thirteen the economist predicted a looming tech clash in twenty eight hundred internet giants are under the microscope over the way they do business new data privacy rules will go into effect in the e. U. In may germany is already investigating how facebook uses the data from millions of its users and the u. S. Is looking at whether apple broke laws with Software Updates which slowed older i phones and congress is holding more hearings on the use of social media platforms to allegedly disrupt u. S. Elections. Consumers too are asking if things like smart phones designed to keep us on line for longer are just making companies richer at the expense of Childrens Mental Health so joining us now from new york is daniel eyes chief Strategy Officer and head of Technology Research at g. B. H. Insights thanks very much for being with us so let me ask you there has been something of a backlash though against many of these tech giants a tech clash if you will as as weve been saying theres the whole. Issue of facebook and the the all of the fake news the was allowed on their platform and they have been doing enough on that theres issues of of privacy as well of users and what their information is being used for and so on what sort of effect is that going to have on the industry and how is how what are they doing to address that are they doing enough to address it. Its not a figure of fact the minute you look since the russian meddling feet news it really now received a lot more heat on these book on twitter and alphabet not just here in tap little hill but also in the e. U. And are brought in the really had to change a lot of their specially for Facebook News feed really thats been a big money meaker from monetization perspective so were talking a few billion that was potentially a risk because the need to move now through users to see us will call it advertising more from friends and family there devery in the crosshairs of regulators and i think you see in twitter as well as alpha in you tube there not be a lot more straight and a lot more focus on some of the content thats coming through as you seem that double wave suer of social media the positive grows the negatives and theyre right front and center in terms of the crosshairs of capitol hill you mentioned there what authorities in europe have been doing there there is we saw european regulators not not being shy about pushing back against tech giants we saw that with apple and its tax payments the anti trust fine against. What happens with with google as well and some of their business is business practice do you think that the tide is turning now in terms of greater oversight of these companies and we are going to see more of that in the u. S. As well. Yeah i mean that continues sort of a boxing match between Silicon Valley and the e. U. Is gaining i would say its getting more and and you know part of it is that you said they focused on apple you you seem focused a reason microsoft but now you are seen sure there are potential for regular tory oversight i think part of it is that these Companies Need to quote a nice in the sandbox as our call it they need to sort of have our branches out the e. U. I mean youve seen that with facebook and terms some of their changes to the tax code and what theyve done in ireland and then you see more of that as theyre going to have to sort of outreach more the e. U. As it looks though i know they are welcome to get a lot more stricter specially in the privacy stuff and thats why youre seeing why on social Media Companies these book twitter out but in particular you tube trying to be more proactive noun terms of privacy content because they know coming down the pike theres a theres more potentially over say come and now be a meter issue for the Business Model you talked there about these Companies Needing to to to play nice and in the sandbox as it were what does what does that look like to you should there be more and more transparency more more data sharing perhaps and less of the kind of. What were seeing of bullying competitive as an on search results and a newsfeeds and that sort of thing. Yeah i mean look the reality is that these companies at this point these clepe are called the consumer kingdom you can call it streaming on netflix when you look at social Media Advertising it is really Facebook Google and you can see twitter a little further down the road theyre dead on it so i dont think theyre quick this is model chain but i do believe transparency i think a lot more oversight around content i mean facebook said theyre going to stop crypto advertising decor narratives and thats an example of just like there are good if this could be an issue were going to take it off no dues in the near term that the moderate youre talking billions of dollars there is a risk but the need to do it because the last need to you right here is have another well call it the news russian medal in situation happen which would really put more heat in the kitchen for him so theyre going to be a lot more proactive and what theyre going to have to spend whats called combined the another fifty hundred million on security on content on people on regular turi hinge will issues in order to meet sure that is the door to fact there is they need to put guard rails around that make sure theyre being more proactive than reactive Interesting Times in the Tech Industry will be keeping a close eye on what does happen thanks very much than you lives in germany opposition m. P. s are demanding onse us from the government about a scandal involving well known car makers and diesel fuel tests or such confronted by b. M. W. Daimler and volkswagen reportedly forced volunteers and monkeys to inhale toxic exhaust gases v. W. Suspended one of its Senior Executives after the public outcry over the secret testimony cain has more from berlin. This unfolding scandal involving three of germanys largest Car Manufacturers daimler b. M. W. And fox fagen has profound implications not just for the motor industry but also the closeness of the relationship between the German Government and the most are manufacturers lets remember the importance of the german car industry the Automotive Industry to the German Economy very important generates a great deal of revenue everywhere creates many many jobs in this country which explains why the governments successive governments have sought to have a close relationship the point also to make here is the most of manufacturers have tried to distance some of that themselves from the tests that are taken place of deprecates them condemn them so that that could never happen again but underlying all of this as i say is the perception of what is happening in the motor industry lets be clear ethics certainly raised its head regarding the diesel gate scandal the devices the defeat devices that were created to be to allow the cars artificially to pass emissions tests well those have not faded from peoples minds now the question people are asking is will how far does this idea of trying to get around rules doing things that might not be ethical how far does that extend and also there are some environmental lobby saying well we think that the government successive governments are too closely aligned with car firms and they want some kind of of breakup of that some kind of distancing to go ahead still to come on counting the cost its not only the Financial Markets that have booming im worried macbride of the biggest market in traditional chinese medicine thats going through the roof. Now myanmars economic prospects with the west are at risk after mounting International Criticism over its handling of the ranger crisis scott hilo reports from yangon. As the bustle of yangon city winds down at the end of the day people stream to the riverside to commute to feed the seagulls and to soak in the last bit of light before sunset and when the sun rises in a new day starts a reminder has arrived overnight another cargo ship from myanmar is main trading partner china also a reminder of the dependence on its huge neighbor to the north. Something leaders here hoped would lessen when economic sanctions began to soften eight years ago but with mounting International Criticism and pressure over the range of crisis the nation seems to be turning its focus away from new partners in the west i think given. The justified anger on the part of the its National Community in the un instead of. Handling that criticism in dealing with the crisis in iraq on in a professional political and moral manner the government has decided to just go back to the chinese this new factory on the outskirts of yangon supplies myanmar rubber to tire manufacturers up in china its about seventy percent of their business they want to expand to the west but this deepening rift between western nations and the government here might force Companies Like this and the nation to remain reliant on trade with china. Myanmar drew harsh comments from the u. S. Last week when it announced the government would buy six advanced su thirty fighter jets from russia. And they were ginzo when i was a political prisoner during military rule he says the timing of the fighter deal and closer military ties with russia are related to the range of crisis after what happened in rakhine and the discussions at Un Security Council china russia flatly said that they would support them so this is something that them on military especially knows that cant count on. Analyst David Matheson feels that even though the two nations are providing for myanmar no investments in defense assistance theres a long term problem they do in a western diet because the chinese and the russians are going to provide health and education and issues they want to sell weapons and they want to extract natural resources. Right now most of the people of myanmar are not aware of any negative impact that the range of crisis might bring but some think that there will be a cost if theres further distancing from the interNational Community and that could impede the progress of reform after years of isolation. Alpana matt has its famous canal the suez canal cuts through egypt and now there is a plan to resurrect a four hundred year old sea link in the south of thailand the waterway would link the indian ocean and the man sea with the gulf of thailand in the South China Sea when hey traveled to seek out to a Coastal Community during the winter season thailands endelman coast is often dark and moody tourists go home leaving local fisherman to ply their trade in relative peace but life could become a lot busier if the proposed shipping canal cuts through here some welcome the prospect of investment while others doubt their lives would change for the better. When it comes to megaprojects its never the people who benefit its only the rich people big people from bangkok who get more rich from it and never get anything and the government never helps at the moment ships sailing between europe and china for example travel through the dangerous and congested malacca straits often stopping in singapore to refuel or unload before continuing the tide canal would cut more than one thousand kilometers off the journey but could drastically cut into singapores shipping trade. The backers of this canal proposal have many problems to overcome not least of which is the location between here and the Malaysian Border there is a separatist movement with armed muslim groups fighting for independence from thailand in the three southernmost provinces if the canal goes through here it could create something of a border and therefore embolden their claim because of the violence in the south Prime Minister prime says hes reluctant about effectively cutting the country into supporters of the plan which includes some type of Business Leaders and retired generals believe they can convince the Prime Minister to at least agree to a Feasibility Study he has to come to an understanding that this is the project that boost our economy faster than in the projects. That we have right now the canal group says it has private Sector Support from china to help pay the estimated price tag of thirty billion dollars but it really needs Chinese Government backing if its to tap into beijings one belt one road economic and trade initiative to link east and west so far theres no sign of Chinese Government money in the proposed canal zone is already concerned about the potential impact on tourism the environment and livelihoods. Our lives depend on the social this is our home this is where we find food people will start to come and take what belongs to the locals or people means more trash this place will no longer feel like home instead this sleepy Coastal Community could become one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world britains Prime Ministers been in china this week talking trade as the u. K. Looks to forge new partnerships for when it leaves the European Union that china will want to see what a final braggs it deal looks like before making any big commitments theres a great deal at stake for both countries adrian brown tells. Britains relationship with china is complicated by history this is the remains of beijings old Summer Palace ransacked and looted by british and french troops more than one hundred fifty years ago the Chinese People are taught not to forget it. We should try every way to get the things back from britain their old chinas National Treasures theyre ours that britain should return the things they looted from china because they belong to china. As she embarks on a three day tour of china to reason may will have larger concerns than historic grievances shes here on a mission to increase British Trade with china that need is growing quickly following britains decision to leave the European Union she should have to call this chinese leader that shes ok i love her garment hes ok and he well she can you know pro wyatt any i mean if its to have a stable and a smooth spreadsheet and you specially were doing the practice broccoli to process it will not be any liquid to impact on china britain relations thirteen billion dollars worth of trade deals was signed on wednesday significantly the Prime Minister said in spite of her earlier reported reservations britain would now cooperate with china on its one belt one Road Initiative president xi jinping pet project a joint Media Conference with chinas premier league chunk was dominated by questions about britains future after brics it were determined to ensure that we get the best deal for the United Kingdom and that means it is it will be a deal that will ensure that we take that control of our money if borders but were also able to maintain a good trading relationship with the e. U. For the future because that is good for both the United Kingdom and for the European Union the way way to have. No matter what changes may happen in the u. K. Is relations with other parts of the world china will remain committed in its policy of developing friendly relations with the u. K. And i have faith in the brighter prospects of china u. K. Ties. To reason may wont be going to hong kong the former british and human rights may said that a socalled golden era in relations had now intensified the outcome of a visit will determine. By just how much. But joining us now from hong kong is john wayne hsu a senior economist for net exists in china is also an associate professor of beijing normal University Thanks for being with us now i want to ask you first of all then how challenging is it going to be for the u. K. To get a good trade deal with china at this point. Its going to be you know not as easy as people may think about it actually for the u. K. After brax it its a nice to go through a lot of procedure to say and it contracts and a trade deal so with the third Country First in is to. Deal with their European Union before that its not youve been this discussed above the multilateral tariff scheme under the public framework so that is most the difficult part after they took up the fiddle done the subject said deal with the European Union it can start to talk about of them. On the other issues and after that it can start to talk about the buy led to a preferred venture agreement of with a third country so just a timeline for that and technically but even for china if you could does not settle down its such a big deal with the European Union cannot talk to another one to you wolf its still too early into the negotiation if you talked a little bit there about how china is going to be viewing this and now theyre going to be closely watching these briggss negotiations talk a little bit more about that and whats in this for china particularly in its trade relations with the u. K. What whats at stake for them the golden era between juki and the china or stablished while china was still part of why would the u. K. Was still part of the European Union so china view the u. K. As the brics through into the European Union so thats the main target for china but. The u. K. Was not part of the e. U. And an e. U. No and if thats china i can make to get a better access to the u. K. May not offer a bit of access to the e. U. So the attraction made from the u. K. Is actually less so for china at the moment so thats basically the general free market china faces when they go share with the u. K. Isnt this attractive for the moment so lets look at possible scenarios then if there is whats called a hard break. If for the u. K. Where you can just leave the European Union without without a deal with the e. U. And presumably reverse to w t o regulations whats that going to mean for china then for china with those rising. Antiglobalization atmosphere and everywhere and the china different needs of friends and especially from the developed of the world and the most like the fund for china at this time is the u. K. Who is sure is cheering go that you go with china so both countries have the intrinsic a need to move out of the warm relationship with each other but the for chinas review list at that point is that its abuse the youth in a civil i think a more definite more important then the u. K. Its a not only because of the g. D. P. Because of the trade because the e. U. Is actually is the only power in the world cup here but china to bareness more aggressively United States in fact or china has started a tool negotiate with the you about a bilateral. Investment agreement from a very early stage but at the thus the progress is for the moment slower than expected or a generation thanks very much for being with us thank you now scientists in the west have long disputed the therapeutic value of traditional chinese medicine but it seems the ancient craft is gaining popularity at home and abroad its even been hailed by xi jinping is government as the gem of chinese science rob mcbride reports from the countrys biggest Traditional Medicine market in the city of where business is never been better its early and the trading hall is packed wholesale buyers pick over the samples of the plants animal parts amid the rules that are the basis for traditional chinese medicine. Orders placed here set prices across china. So that youve been a trader for twenty. Years has only seen those prices go up ya gotta be alive and ive seen tremendous changes over time this ingredient used to sell at sixteen dollars behalf now its thirty times that at four hundred seventy five dollars can it on the thank hand or treated as a pseudo science by many for its followers and that includes most older chinese it guarantees good health and increasing popularity abroad is not lost on chinas leaders looking for soft power cultural exports to support chinas growing International Status traditional chinese medicine has been given the best type of tonic with support from president xi jinping whos describe it as the g. M. Of traditional chinese science and the communist party has been pushing for tinys medicine to be given equal status with western medicine but while many doctors agree that traditional medical principles and beliefs have a value they warn against using ancient remedies that could do more harm than good now im saying that if youre taking the medicines used by the ancient chinese they may contain things that are harmful to your health thats different from traditional medical theories. Back in the trading halls and bojo such concerns are largely dismissed ancient remedies they say can exist happily alongside modern medicine still the two are complementary you can go to a hospital to get modern treatment but Traditional Medicine works well in prevention this has become a belief for people. With that belief comes increasing spending power to ensure the market for those potions keeps on booming. And finally u. S. Crude is back the International Energy agency saying earlier this month it expects american production to support saudi arabia climbing above ten Million Barrels a day in twenty eighteen and that is something well be looking at in next weeks show but that is our show for this week get in touch with us by tweeting me at has him seeker and do you use the hash tag j. C. T. See when you do or drop us an email counting the cost that aljazeera dot net is our address theres more for you on line that aljazeera dot com slash c. T. C. That will take you straight to our page which has individual reports links and entire episodes for you to catch up on. Thats it for this edition of counting the cost and has a secret from the whole team here thanks for joining us the news on aljazeera is next. More than seven decades ago a country was split into rebuilding but did anything and now are the time when shouted enough attention all it took was a pen a map of the collapsing empire when the british had to draw a line they pulled his servant who had never been to india before aljazeera examines the violent birth of india and pakistan and asks what the future holds for these Nuclear Neighbors partition borders of blood at this time february on aljazeera south korea has the twenty eighteen Winter Olympics can records be broken down to zero well bring you the latest from pyongyang china the big picture examines the present day crisis in venezuela by exploring the divisions rooted in its past senior officials will meet to discuss the biggest security challenges facing. Will be life from the Munich Security Conference partition borders of blood looks at the troubled legacy of the events that shaped the indian subcontinent and in a series of special reports we look at new trade and travel routes which are opening up the. February on aljazeera. From Satellite Technology to three d. Printing and recycled waste to thole the powered classrooms africa is transforming young innovators are propelling change Building Communities creating employment and solving problems theyre challenging systems and shaping new ones its about creative thinkers shaping their continents future innovate africa at this time on aljazeera. A russian fighter jet has been shot down in a rebel held area of syrias if the prophets