plus the m hands—free driving, is the technology save or is it a threat to road safety? hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm steve lai. we begin with the purchase of us steel, japan's industrial giant has defended its proposed acquisition of the united states second biggest steel producer. the deal was agreed in n'simba, but the white house said last month that the company should remain in domestic ownership. their incoming president has called for its deep roots in the united states to be recognised. here is our business reporter. here is our business reporter. here he is, the new president. here he is, the new president. he takes a post today and on the top of a tricky assignment from a $14 billion purchase of us steel. a deal has been agreed, but it's united these

two, president biden and his predecessor, president trump, donald trump has said he will block the deal if he is reelected later this year and president biden last month noted it has been an iconic american steel company for more thanit american steel company for more than it century. and he said it's vital for her to remain than it century. and he said it's vitalfor her to remain in american steel company that is domestically owned and operated. in common with many countries, the white house he steel is critical to international security. their concerns about jobs international security. their concerns aboutjobs in a company which employs 22,000 people, 14,000 in the us alone and the iconic status cannot be overstated. at one time, ust was both the biggest steel maker and the world's first billion—dollar corporation. his argument is that his company's deep roots in the united states be recognised. the japanese firm has about 4000 employees there. it also had about 2000 steel patents in north america while most us steelmakers had about 200 each. he argues that they are the most useful partner for

us steel seeking to grow in the united states. and promised to you move the company �*s headquarters to pittsburgh where us steel is based. 0f where us steel is based. of these arguments may hold little sway with the two men seeking first to court the american public in the months ahead. within the hour, we will get a second insight how the second largest economy is performing. when a key survey on the country's business sentiment is released. on friday — retail sales were up suggesting consumers are confident. and the bank ofjapan has recently raised interest rates for the first time in 17 years. but prime minister fumio kishida says the country is only at the "half way" mark to end decades of deflation. kei 0kamura, portfolio manager at neuberger berman. he expects the survey will show sentiment continues to improve among japanese manufacturers. this take on business confidence survey comes out every quarter, and i think in recent quarters we have started

to see a pick—up in sentiment improving. we should continue to see that trend especially for large manufacturers with experts, of course, semiconductor related names. what i will be looking for is on the small to midsize companies, whether that sentiment is being reflected there. and of course the company's ability to continue to see higher prices going forward and that should be a good indicator of whether that's positive feedback cycle of rising prices are sustainable going forward. what does that lead _ sustainable going forward. what does that lead to _ sustainable going forward. what does that lead to your _ does that lead to your expectations for policy? the bank ofjapan _ expectations for policy? the bank of japan was _ expectations for policy? tue: bank ofjapan was recently bank of japan was recently adjusted its monetary policy raising interest rates for the first time in 17 years, it was a pivotal moment for the economy. 0urview a pivotal moment for the economy. our view is that going forward, the governor will be taking a very close look at the economy and signs that wages will rise higher than the growth trend of inflation at 2% which we think we are starting

to see re—shoots up. that said, we are at the very beginning of japan's exit out of the last decades of inflation. the last to look out for is somewhere around 04 after september i think that will be one timing that the bank of japan may look to raise interest rates going forward. fix, to raise interest rates going forward. �* . , forward. a fairly positive outlook _ forward. a fairly positive outlook for _ forward. a fairly positive outlook for them - forward. a fairly positive outlook for them going l forward. a fairly positive - outlook for them going forward. what does the main thing to understand about what that will mean? , , mean? currently the yen is tradin: mean? currently the yen is trading at _ mean? currently the yen is trading at about _ mean? currently the yen is trading at about 150-151. i mean? currently the yen is trading at about 150-151. | | trading at about 150—151. i think it is important to keep in mind that most economists and market watchers had expected that the yen would appreciate after the bank of japan moved on its interest rates. however come at the moment, i think the dynamic is certainly focusing on what the is up to in the united states. what the likelihood is is that the us voters will raise interest rates going forward. i think that's the biggest moving indicatorfor think that's the biggest moving indicator for the think that's the biggest moving indicatorfor the young. think that's the biggest moving indicator for the young. but going into the second half we should start to see more clarity on that front and the

yen will likely regain its momentum to appreciate against the currency going forward, albeit at a very gradual place. that's above the 50 point mark that separates growth from contraction. that offers relief as it remains a drag on the world's second largest economy. let's take a look at some other data points we're watching out for this week. on tuesday, we'll find out how south korea's inflation fared in the month of march. global demand for semiconductors is helping the economy — with the country's regulator promising more corporate reforms to drive investment. on thursday — we'll find out how trade is going in the world's largest economy. china has accused the us of protectionism — particularly when it comes to electric vehicles and renewable energy. on friday — the reserve bank of india is expected to keep

interest rates on hold at its meeting. the country has the highest growth rate of major economies at the moment and inflation around the 2.5% range. staying with india and its income tax department has served notices seeking dues worth over $400 million to the country's principal opposition party. in protest, on sunday, the party and other opposition leaders held a massive rally accusing them of misusing central agencies to intimidate india's opposition ahead of oppositions which start in less than a month. the congress party calling this tax terrorism by the ruling pgp saying that authorities have reopened eight years of the party's tax reopened eight years of the pa rty�*s tax returns deliberately ahead of elections. the congress party saying they will fight this legally but also taking on the fight outside the courts as well. on sunday, the congress along with other opposition

parties won a rally in delhi... the congress party complains that the tax agencies have already frozen $16 million of their funds saying all of this is making it hard for the party to spend on campaigning ahead of elections. several leaders find themselves being investigated in corruption cases. including the sitting chief minister of delhi. 0pposition parties say all these cases are politically motivated. despite their allegations, the congress party has failed to get any relief from the courts or even a tax tribunal, a fact that the pgp is using to ravish all these allegations. the pgp added that the party should fulfil its tax obligations rather than play politics ahead of elections. we were promised self driving cars, but the dream of flying cars, but the dream of flying cars and robo taxi seems to be running late. it turns out it's

technically harder than expected. instead we see more hands—free driving systems on our roads, and there is a difference, most major car—makers offer them, but is it safe? 0ur car—makers offer them, but is it safe? our business correspondent reports. the road to the cars of the future is bumpier than we thought. 0ne bumpier than we thought. one stop on thatjourney is hands—free driving. i think this is my ride. hello. are you cody? michelle, nice to meet you. i got to see gm's super cruise in action. 0ut you. i got to see gm's super cruise in action. out on the roads on new york city. we are turnin: roads on new york city. we are turning on _ roads on new york city. we are turning on super— roads on new york city. we are turning on super cruise, - roads on new york city. we are turning on super cruise, greenl turning on super cruise, green indication on the wheel and we can take our hands off the wheel. . ., can take our hands off the wheel. . . ., , wheel. tech that literally takes the _ wheel. tech that literally takes the driving - wheel. tech that literally takes the driving out - wheel. tech that literally takes the driving out of l wheel. tech that literally i takes the driving out of your hands. �* , takes the driving out of your hands. �*, ,, u,’ takes the driving out of your hands. �*, ,, .., hands. it's especially nice on lona hands. it's especially nice on long road — hands. it's especially nice on long road trips. _ hands. it's especially nice on long road trips. that - hands. it's especially nice on long road trips. that was - hands. it's especially nice on | long road trips. that was fun. seeina long road trips. that was fun. seeing the — long road trips. that was fun. seeing the system _ long road trips. that was fun. seeing the system in - long road trips. that was fun. seeing the system in action. | seeing the system in action. but there were so many words out there at the moment like

driverless, auto pilot, hands—free, and it's showing a lot of confusion in the minds of the public.— of the public. these are not self driving _ of the public. these are not self driving vehicles. - of the public. these are not self driving vehicles. these | self driving vehicles. these are partial driving automation systems that are intended to assist you and make some of the driving a little more convenient.- driving a little more convenient. , , convenient. new testing by the insurance institute _ convenient. new testing by the insurance institute for- convenient. new testing by the insurance institute for highway j insurance institute for highway safety found that many of the use hands—free systems don't do enough to monitor driver behaviour. the findings are disappointing. 0ut behaviour. the findings are disappointing. out of the 14 systems we tested, 11 of those received poor ratings from us. a couple of miles uptown is the new york auto show, one of the industry �*s great display of its ideas for the future. none of the brands here earned a top rating only one got an acceptable score, the lexus team—mate. growing concerns over these systems led to this exchange with the head of america's travel safety regulator. tt america's travel safety regulator-— regulator. if it's only designed _ regulator. if it's only designed to - regulator. if it's only designed to be - regulator. if it's only - designed to be operated in a certain type of environment, it

should be limited to those environments. to should be limited to those environments.— environments. to raise awareness, _ environments. to raise awareness, general. environments. to raise - awareness, general motors has launched a public education campaign us car giant wants to make it clear what is and isn't allowed when driving hands—free. allowed when driving hands-free.- allowed when driving hands-free. ~ ., ., ., hands-free. we want to gain their trust. _ hands-free. we want to gain their trust, we _ hands-free. we want to gain their trust, we don't - hands-free. we want to gain their trust, we don't want. hands-free. we want to gain their trust, we don't want to | their trust, we don't want to outpace them to where they don't trust the technology. the technology _ don't trust the technology. the technology is — don't trust the technology. the technology is meant to support the driver and prevent car crashes and injuries, and ambition that won't be realised if the humans behind the wheel become distracted. michelle fleury, bbc news new york. that's it for this edition of asia business report.

hello and welcome to sportsday — i'mjane dougall. liverpool are top of the table after a tense day in the battle to win the premier league. arsenal lift the league trophy after a late goal against chelsea — stopping them from winning the quadruple. and he can't stop winning — jannick sinner takes the title in miami.

hello and welcome to the programme, where we'll start in the english premier league as liverpool have moved to the top of the table after their 2—1 victory over brighton. the visitors took the lead through danny welbeck afterjust two minutes, but goals from luis diaz and then a winner from mohamed salah gave manager jurgen klopp's side all three points. in games against brighton, we were never close. so today, calm, chasing them in the right moments, so many good things for a football coach. and that is why i am really happy with the result as well. yes, it is nerve—racking, sorry, for all of us, but that is the first of the last ten. let's keep going.