it is an achievement that was hard one according to the chinese statistics of bureaus but it is one of the slowest annual growth rates in decades and comes as the world's second—largest economy faces a number of challenges. in donald trump centre returned to the white house net discussed week and a promise to hit china with more tariffs, experts warned the country faces a tough time ahead. let's get an opinion on this. , . , ., ahead. let's get an opinion on this. ., ., this. julia, your reaction? it was good — this. julia, your reaction? it was good to _ this. julia, your reaction? it was good to see _ this. julia, your reaction? it was good to see numbers i this. julia, your reaction? it - was good to see numbers ahead of expectation. if we look at what happened in china we saw a pivot in september to support growth policies and that includes things like cutting interest rates, cash injections as well as policy aimed at helping local government and hidden date and it looked like of that stimulus measures had

taken into account and help grow growth in china. looking at the numbers coming out today, that fourth—quarter growth rate of 5.4% was ahead of expectations. the market expected 5% and that is ahead of the third—quarter growth numbers which was at 4.6%. if we look at the pace of growth in that fourth—quarter of last year, that is the quickest pace of growth we have seen since the second quarter of 2023. nice to see some signs of life there that some of the stimulus china has undertaken has been helping growth and helping to support growth and not only that if we look at the quarterly number for the fourth quarterly number for the fourth quarter at i.6%, the third—quarter numbers also revised up to i.3%. nice to see some numbers ahead of expectations but, of course, with 2024 hitting that growth target of 5%. with 2024 hitting that growth target of 596-—

target of 5%. encouraging, those numbers _ target of 5%. encouraging, those numbers perhaps i target of 5%. encouraging, - those numbers perhaps jealous now that consumer confidence and demand in china is on the uptick. and demand in china is on the utick. ., , , ., and demand in china is on the utick. , ., and demand in china is on the utick. ., , , ., uptick. consumption has been one of the _ uptick. consumption has been one of the things _ uptick. consumption has been one of the things that - uptick. consumption has been one of the things that has - one of the things that has concerned that the investors given the weak of the property market. it is nice to see the december activity numbers also coming in relatively strong and as you mention, a key one is the retail sales numbers for december. we saw that coming in at 3.7% ahead of expectation at 3.5% and ahead of the pace that we saw in november where we saw growth of 3%. not only have resale that make retail sales been strong but if we look at factory out that came in ahead of expectations at 6.2%. it was expected that that would be steady on 5.4% so signs really that some of these measures are starting to take hold in the chinese economy and, of course, investors will be hoping that there will be more growth to come in 2025 given the weakness we have seen and also the week forecast for chinese growth in the market.

forecast for chinese growth in the market-— the market. what would you ro'ect the market. what would you project going _ the market. what would you project going forward - the market. what would you project going forward for- the market. what would you i project going forward for 2025? bearing in mind the donald trump will be in the white house on monday and he has strong views about china when it comes to tariffs.— it comes to tariffs. that is a key concern _ it comes to tariffs. that is a key concern of investors. i it comes to tariffs. that is a - key concern of investors. those trade tensions that we are seeing in the tariffs, the way they may impact on the chinese economy. we saw some good news forecast coming out from the world rank around chinese growth and expect to see chinese growth fall to 4.5% this year before falling to 4%. 0f this year before falling to 4%. of course, just watching the stimulus to see whether that takes hold and key for the chinese economy is going to be that property market which still remains relatively weak. at the moment what we see is the chinese currency at a 16 month low, helping the export environment at the moment. whether or not that continues into 2025, the key question will be around tariffs and how hard president trump goes in

terms of trade policies towards china. ~ ., , terms of trade policies towards china. ~ . , ., terms of trade policies towards china. ~ ., , . ., china. we may get a picture of that next week, _ china. we may get a picture of that next week, thank - china. we may get a picture of that next week, thank you - china. we may get a picture of that next week, thank you for| that next week, thank you for speaking to usjulia. my colleague has written an article looking at the challenges faced by the chinese economy in 2025. that is available on our website and on our mobile app as well. the world bank has named rising trade tensions and terraces big threats to growth. it is forecast that the global economy will grow by 2.7% this year, that would be one of its weakest performances since 2019. tariffs are a central part of donald trump �*s economic vision, as we have been discussing. he is a ready pledged arabs on the united states �*s as trading partners of mexico, canada and china on his first day in office. speaking of donald trump, his america firstjobs policy has stirred debate over the role of foreign workers in the economy. at the centre of this are the h

one b visas, which allows us businesses to hire professionals from overseas. the usefulness of the programme has divided from supporters and raised concerns in india. the hi-b raised concerns in india. the h1—b visa is one of the hottest debates in the united states debates in the united states now, pitching donald trump now, pitching donald trump supporters from the tech supporters from the tech industry against his far right industry against his far right loyalists. silicon valley, loyalists. silicon valley, which depends on h1—b visas to which depends on h1—b visas to hire specialised walker says it hire specialised walker says it feels a big skills gap in the feels a big skills gap in the us workforce. elon musk, now a us workforce. elon musk, now a key voice in donald trump �*s key voice in donald trump �*s policy circles say that many policy circles say that many critical people who built critical people who built tesla, spacex and hundreds of tesla, spacex and hundreds of of other countries that make of other countries that make america strong are because of america strong are because of hi-b. but america strong are because of h1—b. but republican hardliners hi-b. but america strong are because of h1—b. but republican hardliners call it a scam that undercut call it a scam that undercut jobs and wages for americans. jobs and wages for americans. the visa programme is a total the visa programme is a total

and complete scam concocted by and complete scam concocted by the lords of easy money on wall the lords of easy money on wall street. , ,., , the lords of easy money on wall street. , , ., ., ., ., street. these visas are a go to for big tech — street. these visas are a go to for big tech for— street. these visas are a go to for big tech for hiring - for big tech for hiring specialised foreign talent like programmers, engineers, scientists whose salaries are often lower film firm

to 24%. it service film firm say they are ready if these visas are harder to come by and moreover their big tech clients may have more influence now. while donald trump has vowed to deport all illegal immigrants, lately it seems more receptive to reforming legal roots like hi-b. the us to reforming legal roots like h1—b. the us tech sector argues that the country needs more skilled foreigners to remain globally competitive. for the incoming president, however, it is now going to be a test to balance economic and political interest of a diverse support base. she has a nintendo have fallen by 6% injapan following the announcement of its latest video game console, the switch two. it will have a bigger screen compared to its predecessor and some gamers were underwhelmed by the

product and the lack of details around its price and release date. nintendo says it will share more information in april. us influences are readying for a tiktok ban which is due to take effect this weekend unless it's chinese owner sells it by january 19. the supreme court is set to to rule on whether the law should be upheld. the bbc caught up with two users who are worried about the band. —— ban. i don't think creators voices are being heard, i think there are businesses that will be further affected by this, decisions are being made at such a high level that you feel left out and powerless, even it is something that is a lifeline for some people and i don't think that is being taken into consideration as much as you think it would be. it is where i am today and it is why i am here pursuing arts and entertainment in new york to this day.

brands and companies, when they want to do advertisements, they wanted to be on tiktok so indirectly, tiktok was the majority of my income because all brands want their stuff to be promoted on the app. i've been on instagram primarily and tiktok and the audiences don't transfer as much as you think they would. people have hundreds of thousands of tiktok followers but only 10,000 instagram followers, that's not a survivable amount as a creator as a source of income. influencing, modelling, it is women dominated fields so tiktok is putting a lot of money into women's pockets so i would hate to see that go. people are finding community, people who have never really had a voice are sharing the story so i would hate to see all of that go. a top adviserfor

a top adviser for donald trump �*s has said the incoming us president will find a way to save tiktok before the ban takes effect this weekend. mike walters, his incoming national security adviser pointed to a law that allows for a 90 day extension for buy to dance if significant progress has been made towards a sale. it is unclear if plan will be implemented. that is it for this edition of business today. thank you for watching.

hey, it's dylan with the catch up. the us says it is confident a ceasefire in gaza will come into effect on sunday in the first step towards a permanent truce in the conflict between israel and hamas. reports say the final negotiations between the two sides are been wrapped up, but we're still waiting for israel's security cabinet to vote to approve the deal. 0n the ground in gaza, officials say more than 80 people have been killed in israeli strikes ahead of the ceasefire coming into force. 0ur correspondent sent this update on who might take control of gaza

if the deal holds. if the ceasefire deal comes into effect as planned on sunday, there is no real plan in place. israel has not prepared a plan as to what will happen and who will be in charge during that immediate period so it is very possible that we will see the previous government, which is effectively hamas, coming out of the woodwork and again trying to exert influence and positions of power. next, a teenager has been found guilty of murdering 15—year—old elianne andam after an argument about a teddy bear. hassan sentamu repeatedly stabbed eli outside a shopping centre in croydon in september, 2023. he has admitted manslaughter but claimed he was not in control of his actions due to his autism. time now to leave you with these incredible pictures from florida ofjeff bezos�* blue 0rigin spacecraft. this video shows the rocket launching into space, and it puts the company one step closer to competing

with its rival, spacex. that's it from me. you are all caught up. hello and welcome to sportsday. a comeback victory sealed with a kiss as amad diallo's hat—trick sees manchester united beat southampton. mitoma on target as brighton beat ipswich and move up to ninth. sione tuipilotu named as scotland captain ahead of the six nations getting under way next month. thanks forjoining us.

in the premier league, manchester united's amad diallo scored a 12 minute hatrick as his side came from a goal down to beat southampton 3—1 at old trafford. the saints benefitted from an own goal to lead until late on when diallo stole the show and secured all three points which take the red devils up to 12th in the table. the ivorian's heroics come after he agreed a new contract with the club this week and it also eases the pressure on manager ruben amorim. if you train well, good things are going to happen so he has the same responsibility as every player that plays for manchester united but is having a great moment, he is doing a very good season but like i said, we see this in the past with a lot of players in our squad that he has to continue to work and play like that. i'm so happy to score my first hat—trick, especially

at old trafford.