Sky News Daily

Nicole Johnston, a Sky News correspondent in Beijing, shares her insights on the rising tensions between China and the U.S. She discusses China's aggressive rhetoric and willingness to engage in various forms of conflict. Johnston analyzes the economic impacts of tariffs and the implications for China's youth unemployment and property crisis. The conversation shifts to China’s military buildup and technological advancements, raising concerns about Taiwan and the South China Sea. It's a deep dive into the complex web of geopolitics shaping our world today.

The Duchess of Sussex’s new lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan is out now. It is part of the deal, reportedly worth $100m, Meghan and Harry signed with Netflix five years ago when they left the UK for California.  The most recent YouGov polling suggests that neither Meghan nor Harry are popular in the UK, doing only better than Prince Andrew. Though it’s a very different story among young people where over half have a positive opinion of the couple.  On today’s Sky News Daily Niall Paterson talks to Sky’s royal correspondent, Rhiannon Mills, about what’s in the show and whether it’s an opportunity for Meghan to reset how she’s perceived both in the UK and the rest of the world.   Producers: Natalie KtenaEditor: Wendy Parker

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is back in Kyiv after three frantic days, during which he was ordered to leave the White House after a tense showdown with Donald Trump and his vice president JD Vance.  He did, however, find a warmer welcome in London where he received a strong show of support from European leaders at a summit on Sunday.  After the London summit, Sir Keir Starmer suggested European leaders would form a "coalition of the willing" to defend Ukraine.   Niall Paterson talks to Sky's defence and security analyst Michael Clarke to understand what that might look like and whether Europe can save Ukraine.   Producers: Natalie Ktena  Editor: Philly Beaumont

At the height of lockdown, 19-year-old Ellie Williams claimed on social media she'd been abused and trafficked by an Asian grooming gang across the North of England. The rumours lead to attacks on Asian men and businesses in her hometown of Barrow-in-Furness. But then she was jailed for perverting the course of justice.  It was a story Sky News’ home editor Jason Farrell, and specialist producer Liz Lane followed in depth, and our podcast series Unreliable Witness detailed what really happened to Ellie Williams.  Sky News Daily host Niall Paterson is joined by Jason and Liz to discuss the latest twist to that tale. Listen to the full series and latest episode of Unreliable Witness here.Warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence and sexual abuse. If you feel affected by the issues, you can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK. 

Government figures released today showed that the number of asylum applications was at a 20-year record high but, for the first time since 2020, more applications were refused than granted.   The data also reveals that the number of asylum seekers in hotels has gone up, but that the asylum backlog has gone down. Small boat crossings were up on last year but down on 2022.  On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to our data and forensics correspondent Tom Cheshire to find out what we learnt from today's figures.  Producer: Soila ApparicioEditor: Wendy Parker

Four in five cars should be electric and half of homes should have heat pumps within 15 years. That's according to the government's independent climate advisers, the Climate Change Committee. It says to reach the legally required "net zero" target by 2050 we will need to change how we drive, what we eat and how we heat our homes.    Niall Paterson talks to Sky's science and technology editor Tom Clarke about how individuals can make a difference and what support they can expect from the government.    Producer: Soila ApparicioEditor: Philly Beaumont

Donald Trump wants to do a deal with Ukraine which would see the United States get access to the country’s mineral wealth, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hoping for continued American military support in return.   Kyiv estimates that about 5% of the world's "critical raw materials" are in Ukraine. It also has significant deposits of rare earth metals which are used to produce weapons, wind turbines and electronics.    In today’s episode of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson talks to Ed Conway, Sky’s economics and data editor, about how valuable Ukraine’s mineral wealth could be for the US.  Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Wendy Parker

Germany is set to have a new chancellor, Friedrich Merz. From the conservative Christian Democrat party (CDU), Merz will now look to form a coalition government.    The leader-in-waiting has made striking remarks in a post-victory speech, saying Donald Trump is indifferent to Europe's fate, putting the US president's America on a par with Russia.    What does Merz’s tone mean for Europe? Niall Paterson is joined by our Europe correspondent Adam Parsons to discuss how the Merz-Trump relationship could work. 

Explore the dramatic intersection of politics and personal narratives, as a former employee recounts their unsettling corporate experience. Reflect on Elon Musk's eye-catching appearance at CPAC and the challenges of deciphering political spectacle. Dive into the complexities of Trump's foreign policy, particularly regarding Ukraine and Russia, while contrasting it with Boris Johnson's strategies. Discover the troubling implications of tech influence on federal job cuts and the contradictions in pro-family policies amid leadership accountability.

Adam Parsons, Sky News Europe correspondent, and Jakob Guhl, a researcher at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, dive into the rising popularity of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. They discuss how the AfD is attracting one in five voters amid widespread dissatisfaction with traditional politics. The conversation highlights the party's anti-immigration stance following the 2015 refugee crisis and the complexities of forming coalitions, as mainstream parties refuse to align with the AfD.