hello and welcome to asia business report. wrapping up its annual parliamentary meetings and the second largest economy. plus talks to secure a cease—fire in gaza stall, raising the prospect of more disruption in the red sea. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm steve lai. in china, after week of meetings, the parliamentary gatherings come to an today during this years congress, they promise to turn things around the world second largest economy and so the growth time at around 5% of this year, similar to last year school. lawmakers want to modernise chinese economy and the

artificial intelligence and other technologies such as robotics and quantum computers are vital for long—term growth. the senior market strategist davis is —— gave us his thoughts. davis is -- gave us his thoughts-_ davis is -- gave us his thoughts. davis is -- gave us his thou~hts. , .,, , ., thoughts. the emphases on improving — thoughts. the emphases on improving coordination - thoughts. the emphases on - improving coordination between governments, local governments and central governments. not many— and central governments. not many people talk about this but i think_ many people talk about this but i think this is very important because _ i think this is very important because if this coordination programme or plan is made effective, it will go a long way — effective, it will go a long way to _ effective, it will go a long way to improve policies and implementations in china. and governments do not talk to each other_ governments do not talk to each other much and that really slows _ other much and that really slows down politic implementation. and number two important — implementation. and number two important thing is as you mentioned earlier, the development of ai and tech development of ai and tech development and so on. and that goes _ development and so on. and that goes along to underscore the

new— goes along to underscore the new policy framework that beijing _ new policy framework that beijing wants to implement to develop — beijing wants to implement to develop the economy in the high—tech industry and high—tech industry and high—tech economy and a new industry _ high—tech economy and a new industry. again, this rebalancing from heavy industry including — rebalancing from heavy industry including industry to tech industry is effective in going a long — industry is effective in going a long way to increase productivity because of the high—tech element in the ai element _ high—tech element in the ai element there and to make the economy— element there and to make the economy more efficient compared to the _ economy more efficient compared to the old — economy more efficient compared to the old mode of debt—financed investment or heavy— debt—financed investment or heavy investment oriented mode. shifting _ heavy investment oriented mode. shifting to these industries, thatis shifting to these industries, that is not a short—term prospect to i want to help and how they address those things? and how they address those thin . s? , and how they address those thins? , , ., ., things? this is a long-term coal things? this is a long-term goal and — things? this is a long-term goal and in _ things? this is a long-term goal and in the _ things? this is a long-term goal and in the short - things? this is a long-term goal and in the short term | goal and in the short term and from _ goal and in the short term and from an— goal and in the short term and from an economic perspective, there's— from an economic perspective, there's only one thing the government can do or has to do

and that— government can do or has to do and that is— government can do or has to do and that is to increase easing from — and that is to increase easing from the _ and that is to increase easing from the monetary fiscal perspectives because this rebalancing towards a high—tech economy— rebalancing towards a high—tech economy and of the system is over— economy and of the system is over colour creative destruction process which is deflationary because they are having — deflationary because they are having court systems destroy the new _ having court systems destroy the new systems created by the rate of— the new systems created by the rate of destruction is going to be higher— rate of destruction is going to be higher than the rate of creation _ be higher than the rate of creation and the impact as a drag — creation and the impact as a drag on _ creation and the impact as a drag on growth and it has to be at times— drag on growth and it has to be at times when needed, more aggressive and easy to protect growth — aggressive and easy to protect growth so the levers and programmes can carry on. what is our programmes can carry on. what is your outfit — programmes can carry on. what is your outfit for _ programmes can carry on. what is your outfit for 2024, - programmes can carry on. what is your outfit for 2024, they - is your outfit for 2024, they could be paying ahead before things improve.— could be paying ahead before things improve. they will make ains things improve. they will make pains ahead — things improve. they will make pains ahead but _ things improve. they will make pains ahead but i _ things improve. they will make pains ahead but i think - things improve. they will make pains ahead but i think beijing | pains ahead but i think beijing can handle it if they continue with— can handle it if they continue with the _ can handle it if they continue with the assertive programme

that started in recent months and when we see that, there's a fair chance — and when we see that, there's a fair chance the chinese growth this year— fair chance the chinese growth this year and also enterprises this year and also enterprises this year— this year and also enterprises this year will go on to sustained recovery and if not, the economy will be surprises and more _ the economy will be surprises and more can be done in. switzerland, norway, iceland is said to invest $100 billion in india over 15 years and the return, india will lift tariffs on industrial products in the four european states. the deal still needs to be ratified by the five countries before takes effect and of the last two years, they signed trade pacts with australia in the united arab emirates and another with britain is in final stages. and let us turn to the middle east and our hopes for a cease—fire in gaza during the islamic holy month of ramadan faded after mediation talks in cairo have been unsuccessful so far. recent concerns of the attacks on commercial ships in the red sea will increase in these attacks have been carried out

by those who are based in yemen. gerald, former us ambassador gave us his take on the impact of the stalled talks. ~ ., v the impact of the stalled talks. ~ . �*, ., ., ., ,, talks. what's going to happen is the threat _ talks. what's going to happen is the threat of _ talks. what's going to happen is the threat of greater - is the threat of greater violence and perhaps more widespread violence is going to increase because of the failure to get to a cease—fire and so, there are several other issues that were contingent on getting a cease—fire in one of course is the increased flow of humanitarian assistance which is even more important during ramadan than it is at normal times of the year. and also, we have the outstanding israeli throat of going to rafa if there was not a cease—fire agreement that would increase the release of hostages and

beyond that, we have the normal kinds of greater tensions in the rest bank injerusalem during the month of ramadan —— westbank and we have to deal with the northern border with lebanon and as you said, the red sea. lebanon and as you said, the red sea-— red sea. talking about commercial _ red sea. talking about commercial shipping i red sea. talking about commercial shipping in j red sea. talking about - commercial shipping in the red sea and the gulf, we saw the first deaths on commercial ships last week caused by houthi militants supporting palestine. will receive more of a cease—fire is not materialised? a cease-fire is not materialised? ., , materialised? certainly, the houthis are _ materialised? certainly, the houthis are going _ materialised? certainly, the houthis are going to - materialised? certainly, the. houthis are going to continue their methods of attacking shipping and hopefully, they will be unsuccessful and we are seeing greater cooperation among the us and its allies partners to try to safeguard

international shipping but as we saw last week, there cannot be 100% successful and so, the threat is certainly there. increase payments to shareholders by a leisure despite his steep decline in profits and it paid almost $90 billion in dividends was net profit fell by 25%, partly due to production cuts. they're looking to invest in china with the believe demand for oil is growing and presses jumped after russia invaded ukraine fell sharply last year. before we go, the film star idris elba is leading a project along with the grandson of former president and off the coast of west africa, they have announced plans for and solar panel power plant those have access to electricity. and the project and business reporter

spoke to its ceo along with idris elba who explained why the island was chosen for this investment. we the island was chosen for this investment.— investment. we went there lookinu investment. we went there looking at _ investment. we went there looking at how _ investment. we went there looking at how can - investment. we went there looking at how can we - investment. we went there | looking at how can we bring investment. we went there i looking at how can we bring in tourism towards the most incredible 19 miles of beach found was there and we found something more innovative and more exciting was this idea of building an ego smart city and preserving what is beautiful about it in at the same time, attracting partners to help build it out and explored. and there is a lot of work to be done to make this project work and have you identified experience needed to complete the project?— the pro'ect? absolutely, what to the project? absolutely, what to work with _ the project? absolutely, what to work with local _ the project? absolutely, what. to work with local communities to work with local communities to get— to work with local communities to get as — to work with local communities to get as much together as possible and we also want the wind — possible and we also want the wind farm to unlock new industry _ wind farm to unlock new industry and unlock old industries as well and

fisheries and fishing and certainly gives us the opportunity to be able to do that— opportunity to be able to do that again stop you what attracted octopus to tv and film — attracted octopus to tv and film star— attracted octopus to tv and film star idris elba? several reasons. — film star idris elba? several reasons, when _ film star idris elba? several reasons, when we - film star idris elba? several reasons, when we met - film star idris elba? several i reasons, when we met them, film star idris elba? several - reasons, when we met them, the one thing that blew me away was their knowledge of the industry and describing to me how this was a wind tunnel and it had 16 of sunshine that we could be using and of course, the grandson of the former president of sierra leone as well and renew relationships would have been built there. what has led you to leading your name to a project like this? your name to a pro'ect like this? ., , , this? to help build the foundation _ this? to help build the foundation of - this? to help build the foundation of a - this? to help build the foundation of a new i this? to help build the - foundation of a new smart city and i— foundation of a new smart city and i am — foundation of a new smart city and i am not qualified for that

but i — and i am not qualified for that but i am — and i am not qualified for that but i am qualified to dream big and rny— but i am qualified to dream big and my parents came to this country— and my parents came to this country when they were young and in — country when they were young and in the _ country when they were young and in the late 60s and with aspirations of going home. so, part— aspirations of going home. so, part of— aspirations of going home. so, part of me _ aspirations of going home. so, part of me wants to build a beautiful retirement home where she can _ beautiful retirement home where she can go back and say, my little — she can go back and say, my little guy— she can go back and say, my little guy that was born in hackney came back home this incredible island and it is a dream, _ incredible island and it is a dream, andl incredible island and it is a dream, and i work in the make—believe business and it's exactly— make—believe business and it's exactly that. make-believe business and it's exactly that-— exactly that. nintendo is creating _ exactly that. nintendo is creating another - exactly that. nintendo is creating another super l exactly that. nintendo is - creating another super mario movie with illumination, the new super mario bros movie which is the global box office hit will be released in 2026 and the japanese firms says it will further its aim to put smiles on everyone's faces to entertainment.

bbc news — bringing you different stories from across the uk. this swan was found with cooking oil in its feathers at little venice, in central london. now it's being cleaned at the swan sanctuary in shepperton, in surrey. how serious is it for the birds, this oil? yeah, it's really serious. it can cause lots of problems. it's not something they can get off on their own, they have to have help getting off. and then, they go back, do they do? they will go back eventually? they will go back, but we will have to wait for the waterways to be cleaned up before they can go back. a few weeks ago, cooking oil was dumped into the canal near alperton, in west london, from what's believed to be a kitchen forfood deliveries. contractors for the canal and river trust are trying to clear it up, costing the charity £10,000 a day. it has now spread right up the grand union canal to little venice and the paddington basin. so far, 40 birds have been brought here to shepperton — ten have died.

so far, there have been no prosecutions of those who dumped the oil. and, while it may not be toxic, the charity says the oil does still have a devastating impact on wildlife. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website.

bringing you different stories from across the uk. by day, she is a holmes salon in somerset. but in her spare time, she is a champion runner steeplechase or. i champion runner steeplechase or. . ., ., or. i decided that i will have a use it the _ or. i decided that i will have a use it the lives _ or. i decided that i will have a use it the lives it - or. i decided that i will have j a use it the lives it approach and i need to get on with it and i need to get on with it and see what i can do. steeplechase inc. gasm athletics event on 400 metre track and held outdoors. so steve chasing is an athletics event on a 400 metre track held outdoors. the distances of 2000 metres or 3000 metres. usually you've got four fixed barriers and one waterjump. it's not a typical sport to start in yourforties, but i felt i'd got into quite a good place with my running and my strength for running that i was able to give it a go. and as you can see, it's not for the faint hearted. so i'm just going to do that one

again because i was a little bit closer and i'd like a little bit more drive in. she's broken british records and even world records. to take it up in your early forties, having never done it before is incredible really. and you know, in many ways she's kind of redefining what's possible, you know. you know, with age, you know, as a runnerand, you know, achieving amazing, amazing things. for more stories from across the uk. head to the bbc news website. hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm hugh ferris. our top stories. all square at anfield, jurgen klopp and pep guardiola embrace a point. but one that keeps arsenal top of the premier league what any of those three would give for a ten point lead... that's what bayer leverkusen have with just nine bundesliga games to go and melbourne revenge for iga swiatek at indian wells. she beats the player who knocked her out of the australian open

it was a meeting of two rivals. either of which could have ended the day top of the premier league. and having struck a telling blow in the title race. but in the end neither liverpool nor manchester city could go above arsenal. with their game finishign 1—1 at anfield in what was with their game finishing 1—1 at anfield in what was the final match between jurgen klopp and pep guardiola in the english league. ben croucher was there. looking at the history of his liverpool versus pep guardiola's manchester city, you'll find games with locals intensity and animosity but perhaps this one perfectly sums up perhaps this one perfectly sums up his two great teams and managers unable to be

separated. cities stunting liverpool earlier