world's m second larest world's second larest econom rew b second largest economy grew by around 5.2% in 2023. signs of recovery after those strict covid lockdowns. the apac chief economist says that that is above initial and says china's leaders have been quick to point out that they haven't needed massive stimulus to achieve this growth. li stimulus to achieve this urowth. . ., , growth. li keqiang made it very clear that 5.2% _ growth. li keqiang made it very clear that 5.2% growth - growth. li keqiang made it very clear that 5.2% growth was - clear that 5.2% growth was basically not by stimulus. so it was, as he said, china's good immune system. it is very clear that to reach anything similar which the government is going to announce in march, they will need some stimulus. and we're already seeing additional bond issuance for local governments and expectations of a cut in the reserve requirement ratio. some

stimulus will come, but it will be limited. just to barely make it to 5% and possibly slightly below 5% next year. it to 596 and possibly slightly below 596 next year.- below 596 next year. these attacks on _ below 596 next year. these attacks on commercial - below 596 next year. these - attacks on commercial shipping in the red sea — what's the impact likely to be on china and asia? surely these countries also need the goods that are being shipped from that are being shipped from that region?— that are being shipped from that reuion? ~ ., , , that region? well, absolutely. china is the — that region? well, absolutely. china is the largest _ that region? well, absolutely. china is the largest exporter l china is the largest exporter in the world by far with manufactured products. so china does suffer from, especially from when it takes to bring goods to europe. of course, we have railway now, available. part of the belt & road initiative. but you know, ukraine and russia's war are in the midst of that railway connection. so this is one more hassle. a very important one for china's exports.— hassle. a very important one for china's exports. we'll have more analysis _ for china's exports. we'll have more analysis from _ for china's exports. we'll have more analysis from her - for china's exports. we'll have more analysis from her on - for china's exports. we'll have more analysis from her on the | more analysis from her on the next edition of asia business report. in other news. the global chief executive of

fujitsu tokita has apologised to british postmasters who were wrongly prosecuted for fraud because of it faults in fujitsu's horizon software. it followed an apology from the head of fujitsu in europe as he answered mps' questions in a select committee session on tuesday. well, the bbc�*s correspondent has been following this story and joins me now from our news room. great to have you on the programme. why has this apology taken so long?— taken so long? well, we'll never know _ taken so long? well, we'll never know for _ taken so long? well, we'll never know for sure, - taken so long? well, we'll never know for sure, but l taken so long? well, we'll- never know for sure, but there are several factors that could have contributed to this delay. firstly, because this scandal unfolded decades ago, none of those executives that we're hearing from today, they weren't in charge of fujitsu at the time. but also from the japanese headquarters' point of view, the horizon software, the faulty accounting software, it was actually developed by icl. the british company that fujitsu bought back in the 19905 and it appears that many

injapan weren't 19905 and it appears that many in japan weren't aware 19905 and it appears that many injapan weren't aware of 19905 and it appears that many in japan weren't aware of those wrongful prosecutions and so on, including the former president of fujitsu japan. when we spoke to him two years ago, he had no idea what horizon was. now, i didn't believe him instantly. but after speaking to a number of former fujitsu uk employees, it does appear that the japanese headquarters allowed its uk subsidiary to do their own things. and so, some injapan are asking — was fujitsu just unlucky to have bought icl? but pressure has been mounting and we saw the two latest apologies yesterday, which is a shift in tone. the next big question is whether they would actually chip in for that compensation fund for the victims. find chip in for that compensation fund for the victims.- fund for the victims. and has this issue. — fund for the victims. and has this issue, this _ fund for the victims. and has this issue, this scandal, - fund for the victims. and has this issue, this scandal, had | this issue, this scandal, had any impact on fujitsu injapan and the asia region? hat and the asia region? not reall . and the asia region? not really. firstly, _ and the asia region? not really. firstly, this - and the asia region? iirrt really. firstly, this whole post office scanned and hasn't been reported much by local

media until very recently. so practically no—one in the japanese public had heard of it, except for the fact that now that some media coverage is starting, people have started comparing the glitches of horizon, too. some of the technical issue that is fujitsu software in japan technical issue that is fujitsu software injapan had. for example, its software caused an all day suspension at the tokyo stock exchange back in 2020, which its global president mr tokita had to make an apology for. and even in the uk, its reputation has been severely damaged. but even when the wrongful convictions were overturned, the company were still winning some of the biggest contracts from uk government, but also by private companies as wellment so i started asking around — why that is? why wouldn't the uk government cut fujitsu off? and the answer is that they were so engrained in the it infrastructure that they simply couldn't.

now, ukraine's president has been meeting global leaders and trying to convince them to fund the country's reconstriction. 0ur economics editor spoke to him in davos, and sent this report. the long shadow of geopolitical crisis in the world economy. again, the main issue here at the world economic forum. the presence of ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky talking to the world's biggest wall street financiers, trying to persuade them to invest in ukraine's reconstruction. but also coming up and backing a big and controversial scheme to spend the proceeds of russian frozen assets from its sovereign funds. i got to talk to president zelensky, and asked him about this scheme. it's garnering support amongst western diplomats. but the western central bankers are a little more sceptical about the precedent that might be set in what is supposed to be cast iron safe haven assets bought by whatever

country in the world if they're suddenly used in a war. president zelensky telling me that they have $300 billion in frozen russian assets that have destroyed ukraine, and that they should be used because essentially, western taxpayers shouldn't be relied on when those monies are available. i understand that european central banks are a little nervous about this scheme, because then want to make sure that any deposits or deals with them have that cast iron safe haven basis. and there's also a potential legal challenge, too. but president zelensky very keen to push the idea that spending these frozen russian assets is the way forward to fund ukraine's reconstruction by the tens of billions of dollars.

now, in the us, the fbi have begun an investigation after the bbc revealed allegations that the former ceo of abercrombie and fitch sexually expoited people at events around the world. it comes as he and his partner face a civil lawsuit of a sex trafficking operation. the company told the bbc it was appalled and disgusted by mrjeffrey�*s alleged behaviour. mrjeffreys, who was head of the us fashion company for 22 years, has declined to comment. for something a bit different. for something a bit different. for many of us, new year's resolutions may involve a change. and as it turns out, if that's you, you're not alone. jobs platform, linkedin, has released latest data which shows in countries like india and here in singapore, more than 85% of professionals are considering a change injobs this year. the figures are a little lower in australia and

japan, and this might not surprise you. but it's gen z and millenials who are leading the charge for change. linkedin's apac chief economist says overall, it's a good year to look for a newjob. this is higher than last year. at the same time, we've also seen thatjob search activity has increased byjob seekers, and this is up by about 11%. so all of this really reflects the professional desire to take ownership of their careers and to seek out new opportunities in the new year. 0n the labour market side, there are signs that the labour market is improving and our data shows that there's been an uptick in hiring in the recent months. so the hiring rates in december 2023 were higher compared to 2022. more good news forjob seekers because the research shows that 85% of organisations are planning to grow their workforce this year. so all of these positive signs should give workers the confidence and arguably giving workers to take more

control of their carriers and to seek out new opportunities. yeah, it's interesting, especially with the job market being so linked to the global slowdown. but all of these trends, we hear especially with things like quiet quitting and now also thesejob changes, are being led by gen z and millenials. how is their approach to work different from the rest of us? a lot of this is driven by gen z and millenials because they're new in entering the workforce. so as a share of the workforce, they take up a larger share right now. and in terms of mind set, we've grown up — i mean, the past few years have been really different. the past few years we've been in lockdowns. the mentality that we have to work is transforming a lot as well. it's not solely about wage any more. it's about work—life balance and flexibility and it's about growth and finding the best options and the best

opportunities. that's it for this edition of asia business report. thank you for watching. this agricultural land between weatherby road and the wharf could be the site of a new housing development. peter is one of around 300 campaigners against the plan. 50. one of around 300 campaigners against the plan.— against the plan. 50, this iece against the plan. 50, this piece of _ against the plan. 50, this piece of land _ against the plan. 50, this piece of land here - against the plan. 50, this piece of land here covers| against the plan. 50, this i piece of land here covers 35 hectares, and gladman developments are proposing to build over 400 houses on it. the water levels are gradually seeping up on to this land, which would be a disaster to build on. i which would be a disaster to build on. ~' ., build on. i think it would definitely _ build on. i think it would definitely make - build on. i think it would definitely make the - build on. i think it would - definitely make the flooding issue — definitely make the flooding issue worse, because they're going — issue worse, because they're going to _ issue worse, because they're going to concrete over what is now _ going to concrete over what is now a — going to concrete over what is now a wet _ going to concrete over what is now a wet land, which can drain

through — now a wet land, which can drain through. whereas houses, it doesn't _ through. whereas houses, it doesn't drain through. it will just— doesn't drain through. it will just run_ doesn't drain through. it will just run off. doesn't drain through. it will just run off-— just run off. you can see today. — just run off. you can see today. it's _ just run off. you can see today, it's completely i today, it's completely underwater. so i don't know how they would propose to build pathways, because presumably, they would get washed away on an annual basis. gladman developments declined an interview, but say that the planning application for the 11 arches development follows over a year of consultation. and that there will be measures to manage surface water and increase flood resilience. and all built development is located in flood zone one — identified by the enviroment agency as areas of low risk. here's the catch up. tonight, car insurance prices at a record high. more on the post office scandal and a in deer in the snow. the top story.

the price of renewing your car insurance is up for lots of us, but we're told that it is affecting most of you if you're under 20. on average, it's a grand a year higher than 12 months ago according to comparison site, confuse.com, with 18—year—olds expecting to pay more than £3,000 for the first time. insurance companies blame rising energy costs, but our reporter has some tips on how to keep costs down. insurance companies say that increases are down to a rise in the costs they pay when they make a claim. for example, some say that they've seen an increase of 40% in their energy costs. some other stories now. a senior boss at fujitsu has apologised for the company's role in the post office scandal. paul patterson, head of fujitsu in europe, says that the company has a moral duty to compensate british post office workers who were wrongly convicted because of flaws in its software. next — roma have sacked their managerjose mourinho in what was the 60—year—old's tenth full time role

as a manager. the club have parted ways with him after a poor run of form, winning only one of their last six serie a games. the former roma captain will replace him. and time now to leave you with 10 seconds of a deer prancing around in the snow in a garden in ayr as it is sweeping across parts of the uk. the deer was spotted in jackie's garden and she said, "as you can imagine, it was a really beautiful surprise." you're all caught up now. see you later.

hello and welcome to sportsday with me, marc edwards. here is what is coming up on our shows. the date is set for a hearing into manchester city's alleged breaches of financial rules. applause saudi arabia avoid an upset as they see off 0man in the asian cup. rugby bombshell as rees—zammit quits the sport to try to fulfil his nfl dreams.

hello and thank you forjoining us on sports day. we start with football. the premier league chief executive, richard masters, says a date has been set for the hearing into manchester city's alleged breaches of financial rules. premier league champions city were charged with 115 breaches in february 2023 but are yet to face a hearing while everton and nottingham forest were charged for breaching league profit and sustainability rules on tuesday. here is the bbc sports editor dan roan. you can understand why fans of those two clubs perhaps are asking whether they're being treated somewhat differently to manchester city for example. masters was asked about this today. he defended the process in effect but he also made clear that the situations

are very different but he could understand the frustrations of fans.