the us promises more major sanctions on russia. we look at what this could mean for the economy. and — how climate change is hitting the panama canal, exacerbating the supply chain crisis. welcome to asia business report. let's begin in the us, with just announced plans to impose major sanctions on russia. officials say the measure also target a range of items, including sources of revenue for the economy. the move follows the death of prominent russian opposition leader alexei navalny, as the war in

ukraine rages. more from new york. when news broke pry friday that alexei navalny, the foremost of russian president putin, died in an arctic prison, questions arose of how the us would respond. now we have one answer. the us is expected to announce further sanctions against russia. this comes as washington struggles to agree on funding to assist ukrainian armed forces. this week marks the 2—year anniversary of russia's full scale invasion of ukraine. at the start, the us enacted a slew of economic sanctions against russia. those included freezing russian banks and businesses out of western financial markets, and along with europe, canada and japan, freezing some $300 billion of russian central bank assets. the us also enforced economic restrictions on russia's oligarchs and banned russian energy imports. all this was intended to dampen the

country's economic and military power and ultimately stem its might in the war. russia's economy has weathered the effects of these and is growing at a better pace than expected. the imf predicted last month that russia's gross domestic product would grow by 2.6% this year. we don't know yet what will be included in the sanctions but national security council spokesmanjohn kirby council spokesman john kirby said, it council spokesmanjohn kirby said, it will be "to hold russia accountable for what happened to mr navalny, and, quite frankly, for all of its actions over the course of this and brutal war that has now raged on for two years". major lender hsbc is due to report latest results. there are question marks over operations in asia, particularly, when china's economy has been slowing with the government rolling out measures can signed to get consumers spending. earlier this week the chinese central bank cut its lending rate of used to price mortgages

and lowered the cash banks need to keep in reserve last month. harry from moody's analytics. china has had a lacklustre start to 2024, building on the poor 23. start to 2024, building on the poor23. so start to 2024, building on the poor 23. so investors have been calling out for more support. i think this cut yesterday goes someway in appeasing that. ultimately, though cutting rates is not enough to shift the dial in china's economy. it's more of a stop—gap until we get to the two sessions next month, where we will see a broader stimulus program rolled out, in terms of monetary policy, but on the fiscal side. other stories. protesting indian farmers say they will resume a march to new delhi. this comes after negotiations with the government fell through. the government proposed buying pulses, maize and cotton at guaranteed prices on a 5—year contract. farmers

insist it be extended to 20 more crops. the farmers were around 200km away from the capital when they were stopped by security. unemployment is worsening in the true with the world's highestjobless rate. world's highest jobless rate. south world's highestjobless rate. south africa, surging over 32% in the last quarter of last year. nearly 8 million of working age are without work, a blow to the governing african national congress with an election expected between may and august. there's the singapore air show, where comac, the chinese manufacture, secured the event's first aircraft orders. good news in asia, with the philippines seeing a travel return to pre—pandemic levelless. the country is expanding airports to meet demand. we spoke to the philippines transport secretary about the impact of the $3 billion reconstruction of the international airport in

manilla. international airport in manilla-_ international airport in manilla. , . ., , manilla. this will increase ca aci manilla. this will increase capacity of _ manilla. this will increase capacity of the _ manilla. this will increase capacity of the airport - manilla. this will increase l capacity of the airport from manilla. this will increase - capacity of the airport from 35 million passengers per annum, to 60 million within the next six years. right now, we are already handling almost 50 million passengers per annum. we have around 130,000—140,000 passengers every day. will that impact and delay what we lan will that impact and delay what we [an to will that impact and delay what we plan to do — will that impact and delay what we plan to do is _ will that impact and delay what we plan to do is to _ will that impact and delay what we plan to do is to expand - will that impact and delay �*w�*iat we plan to do is to expand some terminals. maybe we will fix some of the existing terminals, but that would not result to major disruptions.- but that would not result to major disruptions. you used to run a philippine _ major disruptions. you used to run a philippine airlines. - major disruptions. you used to run a philippine airlines. you l run a philippine airlines. you were the president. i'm wondering what your thoughts are right now on boeing 737 max? , , , ~ , , max? philippines airlines used to operate _ max? philippines airlines used to operate the _ max? philippines airlines used to operate the boeing - max? philippines airlines used i to operate the boeing 737-300s, to operate the boeing 737—300s, but during my time, we replaced

this with airbus 320s. we have not ordered the 737s. truth? this with airbus 320s. we have not ordered the 737s.— not ordered the 737s. why did ou do not ordered the 737s. why did you do that? _ not ordered the 737s. why did you do that? you _ not ordered the 737s. why did you do that? you know- not ordered the 737s. why did you do that? you know -we . not ordered the 737s. why did l you do that? you know -we had not ordered the 737s. why did - you do that? you know -we had a full evaluation _ you do that? you know -we had a full evaluation of _ you do that? you know -we had a full evaluation of the _ you do that? you know -we had a full evaluation of the fleet, - full evaluation of the fleet, the organisation of the airline. we looked at all the advantages and disadvantages of operating both aeroplanes and our study shows that we will be more successful if we operate the airbus 320. safety is always paramount in terms of making decisions. during the time that we selected the airbus, we think that the other aeroplanes are also safe. figs aeroplanes are also safe. as ou aeroplanes are also safe. as you have — aeroplanes are also safe. as you have been reporting in recent months, global shipping has been disrupted by houthi attacks on ships heading to the

ez. across the atlantic, the other canal vital to international trade, the panama, is also suffering. the culprit? climate change. is this the world's most expensive traffic jam? is this the world's most expensive trafficjam? ships expensive traffic jam? ships lined expensive trafficjam? ships lined up for dace outside the panama canal last august, roughly $270 billion worth of carroll go flows through each year. this vie tell link between oceans is running out of water. that is a huge problem for shipping companies and could spell trouble for trade. the number of vessels that can pass through a day has been slashed from 36—24. jose from a shipping company told me the short cut between the pacific and atlantic oceans is the natural route, warning if it's blocked, alternatives are needed, meaning more time and

extra costs. unlike the suez, the panama works by lifting boats up by locks into an artificial lake 85—feet above sea level. it means now the can thatis sea level. it means now the can that is reliant on rain water, in short supply. that is reliant on rain water, in short suoply-_ that is reliant on rain water, in short supply. 2023 was the second driest _ in short supply. 2023 was the second driest year _ in short supply. 2023 was the second driest year in - in short supply. 2023 was the second driest year in the - second driest year in the history of the canal.- history of the canal. the canal's _ history of the canal. the canal's chief _ history of the canal. the canal's chief sustainability ca nal�*s chief sustainability officer says canal's chief sustainability officer says the drought, made work by el nina, is expected to last to may. work by el nina, is expected to last to may-— work by el nina, is expected to last to may. the big problem is lack of rain- — last to may. the big problem is lack of rain. in _ last to may. the big problem is lack of rain. in the _ last to may. the big problem is lack of rain. in the rainy - lack of rain. in the rainy season, may to december, we are meant to fill the lakes. this year there was very little rain. we had an el nino year. now we are in summer, the lakes started with low levels. we had to cut down on the ships transiting the canal to maintain the lake level through the summer. fin maintain the lake level through the summer-—

maintain the lake level through the summer. on this fresh water reservoir that _ the summer. on this fresh water reservoir that feeds _ the summer. on this fresh water reservoir that feeds the - the summer. on this fresh water reservoir that feeds the locks, i reservoir that feeds the locks, the canal's hide droll gist showed us firsthand the scale. the level is, as you see in the rule, is 8i.20feet. the level should be five feet more than now. ., u, , should be five feet more than now. ., . ., , ., now. to conserve water, fewer boats are — now. to conserve water, fewer boats are allowed _ now. to conserve water, fewer boats are allowed to _ now. to conserve water, fewer boats are allowed to pass - boats are allowed to pass through each day. this is one of the lucky ones. a changing climate is putting billions of dollars of trade at risk and raises difficult questions about the future of this engineering marvel. the canal authority is trying to reuse as much water as possible. it's considering building more reservoirs to store water and is exploring cloud seeding to make it rain more. ~ , , . ., more. we believe it is climate chan . e. more. we believe it is climate change- if _ more. we believe it is climate change- if you _ more. we believe it is climate change. if you look _ more. we believe it is climate change. if you look at - more. we believe it is climate change. if you look at the - change. if you look at the world in 2023, the amazon river, very low. mississippi river, very low. mississippi river had to stop transits, very low level. it's not only panama, but the world that has

seen a lot of different climate situations this 2023.— situations this 2023. while other routes _ situations this 2023. while other routes are _ situations this 2023. while other routes are for - situations this 2023. while - other routes are for disruption from politics and piracy, the problems that of the panama are a reminder climate change may yet be the biggest crisis for global trade. yet be the biggest crisis for globaltrade. imagine yet be the biggest crisis for global trade. imagine being able to control a computer mouse with just your thoughts? that that is what the first human patient of brain chip start—up neurolink can do according to elon muskt founder. he says they've made a full recovery "with no ill effects that we are aware of" — his quote. us stocks fell as invidia held a broader tech decline ahead of the earnings report. everything is pointing down, the nasdaq most of all. the company is set to announce the later results after the bell today. that's it, bye for now.

a morning on the mersey. today's lesson — rain? a morning on the mersey. today's lesson - rain? they learn respect, _ today's lesson - rain? they learn respect, learn - today's lesson - rain? theyj learn respect, learn respect for crew, teachers and coaches and we're keen on the fact that they should learn respect for nature and wildlife. the local hi . h nature and wildlife. the local high school— nature and wildlife. the local high school is _ nature and wildlife. the local high school is perfectly - high school is perfectly placed, standing on the bank of the river mersey. shall we change over? you two want to stop... shall we change over? you two want to stop. . ._ want to stop... the co-founder ofthe want to stop... the co-founder of the charity — want to stop... the co-founder of the charity made _ want to stop... the co-founder of the charity made this - of the charity made this possible. of the charity made this possible-— possible. one of the by-products - possible. one of the by-products is - possible. one of the by-products is we i possible. one of the - by-products is we wanted to by—products is we wanted to slap this elitist image of the sport and bring it back to grassroots and to show the

world that it doesn't have to be, you don't have to been an oxbridge graduate to take part in a wonderful sport. i oxbridge graduate to take part in a wonderful sport.— in a wonderful sport. i love doinu in a wonderful sport. i love doing rowing. _ in a wonderful sport. i love doing rowing. it's- in a wonderful sport. i love doing rowing. it's quite - in a wonderful sport. i love doing rowing. it's quite a i in a wonderful sport. i love i doing rowing. it's quite a fun sport— doing rowing. it's quite a fun sport because i do basketball. doing — sport because i do basketball. doing rowing is a big change. it doing rowing is a big change. it is _ doing rowing is a big change. it is really— doing rowing is a big change. it is really fun. together, together! i it is really fun. toaether, toaether! ., together, together! i would love to do _ together, together! i would love to do it _ together, together! i would love to do it more _ together, together! i would love to do it more in - together, together! i wouldj love to do it more in future. together, together! i would. love to do it more in future. i really— love to do it more in future. i really enjoy it. it would be great _ really enjoy it. it would be great to _ really enjoy it. it would be great to do it at some point, yeah — great to do it at some point, eah. ., ., , ., great to do it at some point, eah. ., ., i. ., ., yeah. you glad you have had this opportunity? _ yeah. you glad you have had this opportunity? yeah, - this opportunity? yeah, absolutely. _ hey, i'm rachel with the catch—up. pressure on israel. tom lockyer speaks out. fashion week wraps. in the middle east, pressure is building on israel to pause the war if gaza. the us, one of israel's biggest supporters, wants the un to vote for a

temporary ceasefire, when both sides stop fighting for a bit. it warned israel against invading rafah, an overcrowded city in the south where more than one million palestinians have been forced to shelter. here the labour party has called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire for the first time. kier starmer already called for the fighting to stop but avoided using that specific phrase until now. prince william has spoken out. he says he wants to see an end to the fighting as soon as possible. next: it's not often we hear a footballer talk openly about the lowest point in their career. luton�*s captain tom lockyer has spoke to the bbc about how his heart literally stopped when he collapsed in a match before christmas. he says he's not given up on playing again. it will depend what doctors tell him. he says he is living a normal life and talking about it helps. time now for ten

seconds of glamour at london fashion week. everyone to anna wintour is in town to rate 40 years, including naomi campbell who wrapped things up walking at burberry�*s closing show. you're all caught up. see ya. not sure i have said this before... i cried. a symbol of friendship to some, hand of diplomacy to others. the world has enough and spit out a lot of young and attractive guys. out a lot of young and attractive au s. �*, ., , attractive guys. there's always more to the — attractive guys. there's always more to the story. _

hello. i'm marked wards welcome to sportsday. here is what we have coming up: manchester citibank their game in hand with a win over brentford. the real deal. bappe on the move to madrid as the le liga giants get the world's most wanted man. yorkshire chairman colin graze explains why he's never personally apologised to rafiq for the abuse he suffered at the club.