counting the cost, how the baltimore bridge collapse could impact supply chains. flight of fantasy or transport of delight? the flying car that's been sold to a firm in china.

welcome to world business report. we start in the us, with a warning that the collapse of a bridge in baltimore, after being hit by a ship, could have a significant effect on supply chains. the warning comes from the institute of export & international trade. baltimore handled more than 50 million tonnes of foreign cargo last year, and the port is especially important for the car industry. it ranks number one in the us for the import and export of vehicles. nearly 850,000 cars and light trucks passed through the port in 2023. let's hear now from richard meade, editor in chief of lloyd's list. what impact are you already sing on supply chains? in what impact are you already sing on suwly chains?— supply chains? in terms of the immediate _ supply chains? in terms of the immediate impact, _ supply chains? in terms of the immediate impact, we - supply chains? in terms of the immediate impact, we are - supply chains? in terms of the - immediate impact, we are already seeing vessels divert to other port,

simply because the baltimore port is shut for the duration until they can clear the debris and reopen at the channel. you will see some immediate disruption in terms of supply chain, notjust in terms of cars but coal as well, it is a major export terminalfor the us, accounting for about 2% of seaborne trade in coal as well. container —wise, and this is what caught the public, a container ship, we will see diversions and disruption, it will be costly, but, ultimately this is not in the same league as... not in the same league as a suez canal... sorry to interrupt the broadcast, right now the special repartee on human rights in the palestinian territories is about to hold a press conference —— special rapporteur. she says they are reasonable grounds to say the threshold indicating the commission of the crime of genocide against the palestinians as a group in gaza has been met. she has called on countries to immediately impose sanctions. let's hear what that

rapporteur is saying now. the monstrosity _ rapporteur is saying now. tue: monstrosity unfolding rapporteur is saying now. tte: monstrosity unfolding is accompanied by an anti—palestinian narrative and dehumanisation emanating from the uppermost of israeli society, including high—ranking officials with authority, frequently reflected in soldiers' actions on the ground. this reflects the intent to destroy in whole or in part, which is what this thing which is genocide from other atrocity crimes. in the case of gaza, there exists a chilling clarity of this purpose, the systematic eradication of an entire people or at least a significant part thereof. 0ne people or at least a significant part thereof. one of the key findings is that israel's executive and military leadership and soldiers have intentionally distorted the principles, subverted the factions in an attempt to legitimise genocide

and violence against the palestinian people. the only reasonable inference which can be drawn from the unveiling of this policy is an israeli state policy of genocide and violence towards the palestinian people in gaza. i will now be happy to take your questions.— to take your questions. thank you. first, we will _ to take your questions. thank you. first, we will take _ to take your questions. thank you. first, we will take questions - to take your questions. thank you. first, we will take questions from | first, we will take questions from the room — first, we will take questions from the room. reuters, please. madame secial the room. reuters, please. madame special rapporteur. _ the room. reuters, please. madame special rapporteur, thank— the room. reuters, please. madame special rapporteur, thank you. - the room. reuters, please. madame special rapporteur, thank you. just i special rapporteur, thank you. just wondering — special rapporteur, thank you. just wondering on _ special rapporteur, thank you. just wondering on a _ special rapporteur, thank you. just wondering on a personal— special rapporteur, thank you. just wondering on a personal level- special rapporteur, thank you. just wondering on a personal level for. wondering on a personal level for you, _ wondering on a personal level for you. given — wondering on a personal level for you. given how— wondering on a personal level for you, given how vocal— wondering on a personal level for you, given how vocal you - wondering on a personal level for you, given how vocal you have i wondering on a personal level for. you, given how vocal you have been an how _ you, given how vocal you have been an how some — you, given how vocal you have been an how some of— you, given how vocal you have been an how some of your _ you, given how vocal you have been an how some of your statements i you, given how vocal you have been. an how some of your statements might not please _ an how some of your statements might not please certain— an how some of your statements might not please certain people, _ an how some of your statements might not please certain people, have - an how some of your statements might not please certain people, have you - not please certain people, have you received _ not please certain people, have you received any — not please certain people, have you received any threats? _ not please certain people, have you received any threats? any - not please certain people, have you received any threats? any attemptsj received any threats? any attempts at intimidation _ received any threats? any attempts at intimidation while _ received any threats? any attempts at intimidation while working - received any threats? any attempts at intimidation while working on - at intimidation while working on this report? _ at intimidation while working on this report? thank— at intimidation while working on this report? thank you. - at intimidation while working on this report? thank you.- at intimidation while working on this report? thank you. thank you for our

this report? thank you. thank you for your concern. _ this report? thank you. thank you for your concern. it _ this report? thank you. thank you for your concern. it has _ this report? thank you. thank you for your concern. it has been - this report? thank you. thank you for your concern. it has been a - for your concern. it has been a difficult time. i have been attacked since the very beginning of my mandate, i don't say that it has been a pleasantjourney, but i can tell you it is much more, i mean, most of the pain... tell you it is much more, i mean, most of the pain. . ._ most of the pain... that was francesca — most of the pain... that was francesca albanese, - most of the pain... that was francesca albanese, the - most of the pain... that was francesca albanese, the un | most of the pain... that was - francesca albanese, the un special rapporteur on human rights in the palestinian territories, speaking about the situation in gaza. let's resume where we were on the subject of business, talking to the editor of business, talking to the editor of lloyd's list about the berwick bridge caps —— bridge collapse in baltimore, how long do you think it will last? its, baltimore, how long do you think it will last? �* ., , , ., ., ., will last? a lot depends on how long the port of baltimore _ will last? a lot depends on how long the port of baltimore will— will last? a lot depends on how long the port of baltimore will be - will last? a lot depends on how long the port of baltimore will be closed l the port of baltimore will be closed for. particularly containerised traffic, that will divert to the south, to virginia and to the north to new york, relatively easily and

supply chains will adapt. cars obviously can get in and out through other means. colt will be a bit more difficult, but a lot will depend on how long we see the port shut. the bridge will take years to build, it will be extremely expensive. but the port itself should be able to open once the debris is cleared and they can build the bridge around that. but rest assured this will be some very significant disruption, to be for the baltimore port, but the supply chains around it will adapt. 0f supply chains around it will adapt. of course this demonstrates once again precisely how delicate supply chains are. ~ ,,., , again precisely how delicate supply chains are. ~ , , ~ again precisely how delicate supply chains are. ~ , , . chains are. absolutely. we saw it in the wake of — chains are. absolutely. we saw it in the wake of the _ chains are. absolutely. we saw it in the wake of the evergreen - chains are. absolutely. we saw it in the wake of the evergreen getting l the wake of the evergreen getting stuck in the suez canal, we saw it in the red sea with who thes attacking ships, but in response, you see chips adapt and re—route and weld trade has continued —— houthis attacking ships. while it has caused

disruption, ultimately it will work its way around the disruption. richard meade from lloyd's list, thank you so much forjoining us. three of the uk's top budget fashion companies are changing how they describe the environmental impact of their clothes. it comes after action by the competition regulator. asos, boohoo and george at asda now say they'll only use "accurate and clear" descriptions of their green credentials. the regulator is now urging all fashion brands to review what they say about sustainability. abbie morris is from compare ethics, which reports on environmental compliance in businesses. interesting that these companies have been forced into committing to be honest. exactly, thank you so much for having me. what is clear today is the competition markets authority have sent a very clear signal to business, they are saying, "check your green claims now, we will be

taking further action where necessary." under the digital market spill, they could actually impose fines of up to 10% of global turnover. so i think today is a really clear and landmark, and critical point for businesses to take action now.— critical point for businesses to take action now. ., , ., , take action now. how big a problem is ureen take action now. how big a problem is green washing — take action now. how big a problem is green washing in _ take action now. how big a problem is green washing in the _ take action now. how big a problem is green washing in the fashion - is green washing in the fashion industry? is green washing in the fashion indust ? ., , , is green washing in the fashion indust ? . , , ., ., , industry? there has been a numerous rlobal suite industry? there has been a numerous global suite of— industry? there has been a numerous global suite of companies, _ industry? there has been a numerous global suite of companies, i _ industry? there has been a numerous global suite of companies, i think - global suite of companies, i think we are consistently finding that may be 40% - 50% in we are consistently finding that may be 40% — 50% in each relative market will find misleading claims of businesses when you are looking at their green credentials. typically because this is a lot of vague information, like the word ego or sustainability, so the cma and other competition authorities globally are really cracking down and making sure that not only do we have good data to back up the claims that we like to back up the claims that we like to make about our environmental progress, but also that we are very specific and clear about that claim as well so that we can make sure that customers are making the right decision when they are backing a

green business. the decision when they are backing a green business.— decision when they are backing a green business. decision when they are backing a ureen business. ~ �* green business. the cma here in the uk will be getting — green business. the cma here in the uk will be getting even _ green business. the cma here in the uk will be getting even more - uk will be getting even more stringent powers, won't they? exactly. this is a first step of a much wider strategy for the competition and markets authority. when they get their powers under the digital market spill, they can impose as much as 10% fines on global revenue, notjust uk revenue. so businesses that fail to comply with consumer protection law and fail to make good green claims. what fail to make good green claims. what is the role of — fail to make good green claims. what is the role of the _ fail to make good green claims. what is the role of the consumer in all of this? , ., , ., is the role of the consumer in all of this? , .,, ., _, is the role of the consumer in all ofthis? , .,, ., _, ., of this? this has all come about because there _ of this? this has all come about because there has _ of this? this has all come about because there has been - of this? this has all come about because there has been a - of this? this has all come about because there has been a rise i of this? this has all come about| because there has been a rise in interest from consumers, who demand good communication with regards to progress on the environment. we want to make sure there is a level playing field so that consumers are protected and not misled on how green a business actually is. so with this, it actually levels the playing field means that consumers can actually trust the information that they are being given on how companies are lowering their impact.

for the companies that are truly interesting and good, sustainable business practices, there is a huge opportunity. some companies are seeing an over 8% increase in profits when they are a more sustainable, making sustainability —related claims. so this is a huge opportunity, notjust for the opportunity, not just for the consumer but for opportunity, notjust for the consumer but for businesses too. thank you so much forjoining us. thank you so much forjoining us. thank you. china's president xijinping has been meeting american business leaders in beijing. the government there is trying to win foreign investment as international firms seek reassurance about the impact of new regulations. foreign direct investment shrank 8%% last year. the japanese yen has fallen to its lowest level against the dollar since 1990. that's despite the bank of japan recently raising interest rates and speculation about when the us central bank lowering interest rates in america. japan's top currency diplomat has warned against speculators trying to sell off the yen.

profits at swedish fashion giant h&m grew between december—february, despite a fall in sales to £155 million, or $195 million. a new cost and efficiency programme cut the number of stores by 76 in the past year. chief executive daniel erver said h&m would still cater for customers with higher spending power. lower prices should return by the end of the year. shares in trump media, which owns truth social, have soared in value after they began trading on wall street. it's given mr trump a huge windfall, which makes him one of the richest people in the world. with more, here's our north america business reporter michelle fleury. donald trump just became a lot wealthier, at least on paper. shares in the parent company of truth social closed just under $58, up i6% on its first day of trading as a public company. at one stage, it was up more than 50%. because mr trump is the majority

owner, his stake in the company is worth around $4.5 billion. that makes the former president one of the richest 500 people in the world, according to bloomberg. with his new—found wealth, mr trump could sell some of his stock to help pay for his mounting legal bills, as he faces both civil and criminal proceedings. but he'll have to wait, since he's barred from selling his shares for six months. and it's not clear where the stock will be trading when that agreement expires. truth social, which was founded after the former president was kicked off major social media platforms following the january 6th capitol riot, has said it expects to continue losing money for a while. many of the shareholders are small—time investors trying to show their support for mr trump, as well as trying to cash in on the frenzy surrounding the stock. the tech behind a flying car has been bought by a chinese firm. it was developed in europe

and powered by a bmw engine. it flew for 35 minutes between two slovakian airports in 2021, using runways for take—off and landing. having led the way in the development of the ev revolution, china is now actively developing flying transport solutions. last month, a firm called autoflight carried out a test flight of a passenger—carrying drone between the cities of shenzhen and zhuhai. stay tuned, the sport is next.

hello from the bbc sport centre. the wales manager, rob page, was left reflecting on the cruelty of sport as his young side lost their european playoff final to poland on penalties. after 90 minutes and extra time, the match was goalless so it went