World

China has released a slew of economic data this morning, showing its economy grew last year by a solid 5% percent, meeting the government’s target. Other annual figures released show that total retail sales of consumer goods were up by 3.5% last year, compared to 2023. But despite these positive indicators China’s economy is still

In Moscow on Friday, a couple of days before Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president, two of the West’s main adversaries – Russia and Iran – will sign a strategic partnership pact. It will deepen a relationship that has blossomed since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Should the West be worried? Not according to Russia.

Pakistan’s national airline has been criticised for an advert that shows a plane flying towards the Eiffel Tower – with some saying it bears similarities to imagery of the 9/11 terror attacks. The advert, which was posted on the official X account of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on 10 January, shows the plane heading towards

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested, six weeks after his short-lived attempt to impose martial law. A motorcade of black SUVs was seen leaving the gates of his hillside residence where he had been holed up for weeks behind barbed wire and a small army of personal security. Mr Yoon said the

Two of Ireland’s biggest political parties are close to finalising a deal to form a coalition with independent politicians to return to power for another five-year term. Two politicians have indicated an agreement is close to allow Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to govern – the centre-right parties are the largest members of the outgoing

A new attempt to arrest South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is under way, six weeks after his short-lived attempt to impose martial law. A pre-dawn standoff – watched by thousands of pro- and anti-Yoon protesters – is in place outside the official residence between authorities and the president’s security service. Amid the furore, one

Ukraine has held its first amputee football tournament, with teams made up of players chosen from among the thousands of Ukrainians who have lost limbs in the war with Russia. The League Of The Mighty, which took place at a stadium in Kyiv at the weekend, featured six outfield players and one goalkeeper on each

Andy Murray has said he thinks his coaching could help Novak Djokovic cement his claim as “the best athlete of all time”. Murray, 37, who joined his former great rival’s coaching team last November, months after retiring from playing, admitted the change of dynamic was “strange” at first. The two-time Wimbledon champion will get his

Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy has met Israel’s prime minister in an effort to secure a ceasefire deal in Gaza before the president-elect takes office on 20 January. Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed details of the meeting with Steve Witkoff on Saturday, adding that the head of the Israeli Mossad intelligence agency has been deployed to

Ukraine has captured two North Korean soldiers fighting in Russia’s Kursk region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. The injured pair are now in Kyiv and communicating with the Security Service of Ukraine, the country’s domestic intelligence agency, he said. Ukrainian special forces and paratroopers captured the North Koreans, Mr Zelenskyy said in a post on

The UK has laid out a new economic relationship with China, and to use one of China’s favourite phrases, both countries are selling it as a “win-win” situation. It’s a significant development in restoring ties between the countries. The relationship has been beset by years of tension and suspicion. Both sides want to get it

Donald Trump says a meeting is being set up between himself and Vladimir Putin – and that he and Barack Obama “probably” like each other. Republican US president-elect Mr Trump spoke to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Thursday, saying Russian president Mr Putin “wants to meet, and we are setting it up”.

They laughed, chatted like friends and agreed on just about everything. If there was any doubt that Elon Musk’s heart lies on the far right of German politics, that disappeared during this conversation. Musk was unequivocal in his support. “I am strongly recommending that the people of Germany vote for AfD,” he said. “This is

What does Russia think of Donald Trump’s plan to acquire Greenland? Well, on the face of things, it is alarmed. “The Arctic is a zone of our national interests, our strategic interests,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, sounding protective, when asked about the US president-elect’s recent remarks. His language echoes that frequently used by Russian

Lebanon has elected a new president after multiple failed attempts had left the country without a head of state since 2022. General Joseph Aoun, head of the country’s army since 2017, received the required number of parliamentary votes in the second round of voting on Thursday afternoon. He is a Maronite Christian, in keeping with

US president-elect Donald Trump’s threat to turn the world’s second-largest country, Canada, into part of the United States by means of “economic force” represents the most serious threat to Canadian sovereignty since the War of 1812. That conflict, fought over the course of three years, saw the Americans mount 10 separate land incursions into Canada

A body has been found in the search for two missing British hikers who went missing in the Dolomites, Italy’s alpine rescue has said. Aziz Ziriat, 36, and Samuel Harris, 35, from London were hiking when they were last heard from, in the early afternoon on 1 January. The two men were meant to return

👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈 Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, South African-born American resident and owner of X (formerly Twitter), is already within the fold of US politics and president-elect Trump’s upcoming government. Recently, more of his attention has turned to Europe, with Mr Musk sharing support for

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation. The 53-year-old said he will step down as leader of the country’s ruling Liberal Party, which he has led since 2013. He says it will allow his party to choose a new leader as he suspends parliament until March due to political deadlock. Image: Chrystia Freeland,

The body of an Indian investigative journalist has been found in a septic tank. Mukesh Chandrakar, 32, was a freelance journalist in Chhattisgarh state who reported on alleged corruption in the construction industry on his YouTube channel, Bastar Junction. Police found his body in a septic tank in the state’s Bijapur district on 3 January.