hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm steve lai. we begin with some news just in the federal aviation administration in the us has said that airlines can begin returning grounded boeing 737 max 9 planes to services once they undergo inspection and maintenance. airlines has had to get its planes back in the air. this comes as boeing's boss faced questions from lawmakers in washington to explain the mistakes that led to a panel breaking off one of its planes this month. the bbc�*s erin delmore has more from new york. the boss of boeing said he understood the seriousness of safety questions facing the company as he was on his way to the senators on wednesday. we

believe the senators on wednesday. - believe in our aeroplanes. lexi aeroplanes and have confidence in the safety of our aeroplanes.- in the safety of our aero - lanes. ,., , aeroplanes. the embattled ceos t in: to aeroplanes. the embattled ceos trying to push — aeroplanes. the embattled ceos trying to push for— aeroplanes. the embattled ceos trying to push for airline - trying to push for airline breaking leaders and passengers after a near catastrophic alaska airlines incident earlier this month which saw a cabin panel blew off a brand—new factor i. something about 171 cats have been granted. no comment on and on the support posted online for some claims work at boeing: the aircraft production process a rambling, chamblee disaster waiting to happen. this week airline ceo called grounding the straw that perked the camels back for us saying he made his considering fleet plans don't include the boeing boeing 737 max nine model. he made it alaska airlines it was about two thirds of all of the factor i in flight and alaska air group reports for the greens on thursday. —— boeing 737 max nine.

meawhile, boeing has delivered a 737 max to china, marking the end of an almost five year freeze. it represent a vote of confidence for the us plane maker following a mid air blow out earlier this month. the delivery comes amid strained trade relations between the world's two largest economies. china's leaders have stepped in to support a plunging stock market and a fragile economy. the central bank announced moves to inject $140 billion of cash into the banking system. the csi—300 index, which is a benchmark index for shares listed in shanghai and shenzhen, lost 13 percent last year. and it's fallen more since then. but experts say more government support will be needed. let's bring in market analyst peter mcguire from sydney. i think there will be supplemented with the assignment you're looking at a basis point not only that it starts on the 5th of february. the first one of this year and he had to last year. i think this could be the start. i'm not saying that they are going to sit on their hands because there is room for more monetary

policy easing over the next first and second quarter. could be more monetary _ first and second quarter. could be more monetary easing - first and second quarter. could be more monetary easing be i be more monetary easing be necessary or do you think they can slowly weaken and seek quiz back that is the question. if the stock market bounced back to the upside that is a strong with beverly is what is it is down 4%, i think that will last through four years. severe depression. they have to see whether it continues. whether it continues. the united automobile workers, a major us union, has endorsed presidentjoe biden�*s re election bid. mr bidenjoined auto workers on a picket line the united automobile workers, a major us union, has endorsed presidentjoe biden�*s re election bid. mr bidenjoined auto workers on a picket line last year in a first for a sitting president. he is expected to face off against donald trump in november's general election. joe biden bet on the american worker while donald trump blamed the american worker. we need to know who's going to sit in the most powerful seat in the world

and help us win as a united working class. so, if our endorsements must be earned, joe biden has earned it. in fact, when donald trump was in office, six auto factories closed around the country. tens of thousands of auto jobs were lost nationwide through trump's presidency. during my presidency, we've opened 20 auto factories with more to come. we've created more than 250,000 auto jobs, all across america. the world's most valuable auto company has warned of a slowdown in sales of its electric vehicles. tesla just reported earnings for the final quarter of 2023 with both profit and revenue largely missing expectations. let's get a sense of the road ahead, i'mjoined by michael dunne from dunne insights he watches tesla closely. honeymoon is over even for my day tesla. global abuse

electric vehicle sales of lustful points continue to grow but at a much slower pace. then what was expected. so tesla is answering interview a few ways, one, producing prices to still demand for their products. it is. warmest pressure on competitors and then importantly today, elon musk confirmed that they are sort a staging area for the next beta that will be a model to, a much more affordable vehicle in the price range of about $25,000. he is betting that will trigger a second weave of demand starting in 2025. 50 a second weave of demand starting in 2025.— starting in 2025. so is that with the competition - starting in 2025. so is that with the competition is? i starting in 2025. so is that - with the competition is? there has been sale of lower prices but some success and people have to take the head on and see? if have to take the head on and see? , ., have to take the head on and see? i., have to take the head on and see? i. ., ., see? if you look around the number _ see? if you look around the number 100 _ see? if you look around the number 100 limiter - see? if you look around the number 100 limiter to - see? if you look around the i number 100 limiter to demand for evs is price. the average cost of the electric vehicle is in $50,000 in europe in europe it is even higher. in china

they have the 20— $30,000 product already in elon understands that brick and ice the chain above the competition to been out in the future, we really need to have our own some $30,000 product. that is the model two. this principle is pressure on others like gm and volkswagen struggled today, losing money on much higher priced vehicles, can they match what tesla and the chinese are doing. that is the big questions for investors. how important — questions for investors. how important is _ questions for investors. how important is the _ questions for investors. how important is the china - questions for investors. how important is the china market for tesla? fin important is the china market for tesla?— for tesla? an enormously important- _ for tesla? an enormously important. more - for tesla? an enormously important. more than - for tesla? an enormously| important. more than half for tesla? an enormously i important. more than half of all tesla but lester were built in china. the advantage it is important and it's also an export piece. so no tesla as a note today. it would not be this exceptional success without china. going forward, look for iran to diversify risk of belief in china, new plants in mexico coming, additional capacity course in berlin and in austin, texas. so he values

china and the short but fatalistic about the prospects for tesla in the china market going forward. —— realistic. australians are driving bigger, heavier, dirtier cars and it's alarming both climate and road safety experts. rising petrol prices are no deterrent. the government wants more drivers to buy electric vehicles. but there are still about 20 million petrol and diesel vehicles on australia's roads, all contributing to direct co2 emissions. from sydney, phil mercer reports. australia's roads are dominated by rugged sports utility vehicles and utes, or pick—up trucks. a decade ago, hatchbacks and other modest cars were the most popular. but not any more. around 75% of new cars sold in australia these days are utes and suvs. so, australians are choosing bigger, more expensive to run and higher polluting vehicles in really high numbers. that has a lot of problems

for our streets and cities as well as for our hip pockets and for our climate. for enthusiasts, a powerful petrol engine is a thing of beauty. the lions pride holden car club in sydney celebrates an iconic brand that was austra. —— the australian car. it isjust something that is bred into aussies and it is our thing and i don't think we'll ever give it up easily. what about evs could you ever see yourself driving an electric vehicle? no. i don't think so. but for as long as we can get petrol to put in these vehicles, i think they will never, ever leave our black tar. despite an affection for petrol and diesel, the popularity of electric vehicles in australia has surged. prices have fallen and sales last year doubled compared to 2022. australia, though, is still in the slow lane compared to other countries, but steady progress is being made.

the downside is they do use a bit of fuel. the upside is they go forever. rohan miller, a marketing expert, uses his diesel powered four wheel drive mainly for camping trips, but says that change is coming. evs are the future, i think. i think there is a slower uptake because they are more expensive in australia than other places and ijust don't think we've got the infrastructure to support it yet. australia no longer has a mass car making industry, leaving it behind in the race to develop electric vehicles. when we lost that we lost the capability to produce an ev for our environment, for our climate. at the moment we are in import economy— at the moment we are in import economy without the ability to make — economy without the ability to make cars specific for us. proposed new fuel efficiency standards in australia aim to limit pollution from cars and should increase the supply of lower emitting and electric vehicles. phil mercer, bbc news, sydney.

before we go... the down town by a quarter of a percent. s&p fly. us markets continued to hit new highs at wednesday's trading session, as optimism around earnings grew. the benchmark s&p 500 climbed to its fourth straight record close, led by techology companies and chip—makers. meanwhile, the nasdaq closed at its highest level in a year. up up o.3%. up 0.3%. we will keep an eye on how asian markets are peering into the morning. thank you for your company here on the programme. i think we started just to have a little see it i think we started 'ust to have a little se— a little see it to seem to grow u . a little see it to seem to grow

up differently _ a little see it to seem to grow up differently from _ a little see it to seem to grow up differently from there. - a little see it to seem to grow| up differently from there. lots of people visiting. they grew and grew and grew and just over the years it's and grew and grew and just over the years its mother nature take it away again. let's come back and put it back together. there's not a lot left at all. everyone came along to help rebuild the bench has their own memories of the place.- rebuild the bench has their own memories of the place. when she died last april. — memories of the place. when she died last april, used _ memories of the place. when she died last april, used to _ memories of the place. when she died last april, used to these - died last april, used to these little — died last april, used to these little stones message on it to remember herand how little stones message on it to remember her and how it's going to start _ remember her and how it's going to start over again.— to start over again. these are memorabilia _ to start over again. these are memorabilia from _ to start over again. these are memorabilia from the - to start over again. these are l memorabilia from the previous bent_ memorabilia from the previous bent which— memorabilia from the previous bent which work— memorabilia from the previous bent which work you _ memorabilia from the previous bent which work you put - memorabilia from the previous bent which work you put the i memorabilia from the previous. bent which work you put the 30s on them — bent which work you put the 30s on them so _ bent which work you put the 30s on them so it— bent which work you put the 30s on them so it might _ bent which work you put the 30s on them so it might be - bent which work you put the 30s on them so it might be nice - bent which work you put the 30s on them so it might be nice to l on them so it might be nice to add some _ on them so it might be nice to add some of— on them so it might be nice to add some of those _ on them so it might be nice to add some of those back- add some of those back when people — add some of those back when peopte come _ add some of those back when people come back— add some of those back when people come back and - add some of those back when people come back and see . add some of those back when - people come back and see them. some _ people come back and see them. some of— people come back and see them. some of the _ people come back and see them. some of the first _ people come back and see them. some of the first time _ people come back and see them. some of the first time that - some of the first time that they have had to do this. the bench has been damaged by storms before and in the summer by a fire. this plaque donated then,is by a fire. this plaque donated then, is not the centrepiece for the new bench once more. the group say they hope that more people come along and add

more people come along and add more driftwood and mementos to build the bench up once again to the community hub it once was. ., ., , ., , to the community hub it once was. ., ., , ., was. for more stories from across the _ was. for more stories from across the uk- _ was. for more stories from across the uk- it's - was. for more stories from across the uk- it's the - across the uk— it's the website _ hey, i'mjulia with the catch up. tonight — who scored a brit nomination, sunak faces another rebel and a rhino saving breakthrough. but we've got to start with the brit awards, because records have been broken by rae who received seven nominations. that is the most a single artist has ever received in one year. # sleezing and teasing...# her nominations include best artist, where six of the ten nominees are female. a pretty different picture from last year where the brits

faced backlash for their all male line up. the brits have also revealed a new rnb category. some other stories now. prime minister rishi sunak has denied the idea that he's out of touch with people in the uk. sir simon clarke is a senior mp from the pm's own party. he wrote an article calling for sunak to be replaced. that makes him the second former minister to call for his resignation since november. a project in bristol is looking to build up a bank of medical photos that show a range of skin tones. one volunteer said she's taking part after her own anaemia was misdiagnosed because of her skin colour. and hidden fees for online customers, aka drip pricing, is set to be banned under new law proposals. it says that any extra booking fees for things like cinema or train tickets will need to be clearly marked from the start of the shopping process. and we'll leave you with 10 seconds of this rhino miracle. yes, scientists have achieved the world's first ivf pregnancy on a rhino. the northern white rhino is facing extinction with only two of the animals left

on the whole planet. amazing. you're all caught up now. have a good night. hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm jane dougall. it was tense but liverpool

are through to the final of the english league cup to face chelsea at wembley. who's through, who's out, and who's lost theirjob? we'll have the latest from the africa cup of nations. and we hear from both captains as india and england prepare for their five—test series. welcome to the programme. we now know our finalists for the english league cup. liverpool will play chelsea at wembley next month after beating fulham across two legs in the semifinal. it finished 1—1 on the night at craven cottage after goals from luiz diaz and fulham's issa diop,

but liverpool were leading after the first leg and won