This Is Why

This week, Finnish President Alexander Stubb found himself at the seat of world leaders at the White House, discussing the best route to peace in Ukraine.    How? He mastered the art of befriending Trump.    Tamara Cohen chats to former political adviser in the Finnish government, Joel Linnainmäki, and former diplomat at the Danish embassy in Washington during Trump's first term, Jonas Parello-Ple...

Russian oil used to flow into Europe. Now, it's going to India and China instead.    So, could Donald Trump's latest tariff threat against those countries put a squeeze on Russia's economic pipeline and help bring an end to the war in Ukraine?    Despite the warm words and strong handshakes at their Alaskan summit, the Trump White House seems prepared to try new ways to hit Vladimir Putin in the p...

Islamic State is on the rise, once more a threat to the international community. Driven from its strongholds in Syria and Iraq, the terror group has been building a new base in the mountains of Somalia.      Sky’s special correspondent Alex Crawford has visited the cave network where Somali authorities believe the ISIS resurgence began - funded by crime and cryptocurrency in a sophisticated twist...

Children’s exposure to online porn is higher than ever before. Will new laws designed to keep them safe finally make a difference or end up making matters worse?    Campaigner Ian Russell – whose daughter, Molly, took her own life at the age of 14 after being exposed to harmful content on social media – has criticised sites for still allowing a “tsunami” of inappropriate content to flood the feeds...

Russia and Ukraine have been fighting for control of the Donbas for years, and it has seen some of the most intensive fighting during the conflict.   But why is this eastern region of Ukraine, which borders Russia, so important to President Putin?     Tamara Cohen speaks to our security and defence analyst Professor Michael Clarke and our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn, who's in Kyiv...

Brooklyn Beckham renewed his vows earlier this month to his American heiress wife Nicola Peltz - her family was there but not his.    It added to speculation that there is a deep rift in the Beckhams' relationship with their eldest child, after Brooklyn did not appear at any of the celebrations for his father David’s 50th birthday.    Joining Niall Paterson to discuss whether this alleged rift cou...

Ukrainians are into their fourth year of fighting to defend their country from Russia, they have suffered huge casualties and are exhausted from the war effort.     But does that mean they are willing to compromise to achieve a peace deal? And after President Zelenskyy’s treatment in the Oval Office, do they think Donald Trump is the right man to negotiate their future?    Niall Paterson speaks to...

It’s results time for 700,000 A-level and T-level students. It’ll mean final decisions about their future – and whether university is the best option for their finances and their career.    With the huge cost of a three or four-year course, squeezed graduate incomes and fast changes to the job market due to AI, is a degree worth it?    Niall Paterson speaks to business and economics correspondent...

Who are the Israeli settlers forcing Palestinians from their homes?     Chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay has been in the West Bank, witnessing the Israeli settlers who are forcing Palestinians from their homes. He also sees how the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) is protecting the growing number of Israelis claiming this land is theirs.     Stuart meets one Palestinian man who left for work and when...

Anas Al-Sharif was one of five journalists among seven people killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza City. The five worked for the broadcaster Al Jazeera.   Israel says Sharif was the head of a Hamas cell but has only produced limited evidence about its claims.   Al Jazeera rejected the accusations and said the strike was a "blatant" attack on press freedom.   On this episode, Niall Paterson and...

Arthur Knight was an Irishman, wrongly arrested – he claimed – whilst recovering from a coma in a Glasgow hospital. Except “Arthur Knight” didn’t exist.     His real name is Nicholas Rossi – a convicted sex offender, originally from the United States, who is now facing trial in Utah on two further counts of rape.     But for years, he attempted to convince Scottish authorities he was the victim of...

He’s been warned against a full military occupation by 600 former Israeli military officials.    But after 22 months of war, that’s exactly what Benjamin Netanyahu wants.    What would long-term occupation mean for Gazans, Israel, the Middle East and the world?    What would it be like for those living in Gaza? Will the Israeli hostages be returned?    And is there any other option in Netanyahu’s...

No evidence of bullying, misogyny or racism. On the face of it, good news for the Duke of Sussex.  But there's still plenty of fallout from a very public row ignited by the woman still in charge of the charity set up by Harry in honour of his mother, that he's now walked away from.   Earlier this year, Sentebale's chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, used an interview with Sky News' Trevor Phillips to accu...

The "King Kong" of weight loss drugs, Mounjaro, should finally be available on the NHS. So, why are thousands of patients still waiting for a treatment that could transform their lives?  Mounjaro was meant to be rolled out across the NHS in England from 23 June for those with the highest clinical need.  However, a Sky News investigation has found it is only available in eight out of 42 NHS integra...

  If you bought a car as far back as 2007 with a loan organised through your car dealership, you could be eligible for a payout.    The regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, is consulting on a compensation scheme - and it's thought up to 40% of motorists who entered personal contract purchase (PCP) or hire purchase agreements between 2007 and 2021 will be eligible for a payout.    Niall Pate...

After doubling down in a very public row with Nigel Farage, Peter Kyle is the minister of the moment.   In an interview with Sky News, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology caused controversy by suggesting Mr Farage was "on the side" of sexual predators like Jimmy Savile because of his opposition to the Online Safety Act.  Mr Farage described the comment as "disgusting " an...

Measles vaccination rates are at their lowest level in sixteen years in England and there’s fears that it’s led to a rise in the number of cases.   According to the latest Government figures an additional 145 cases have been reported since the beginning of the month. It comes weeks after the death of a child with measles at the Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool, a city with low levels of vaccination...

"Nobody's heard of it." That's Donald Trump's dismissive claim about Lesotho – a small country in southern Africa where lives are being devastated by the US president's decision.  But what are the real-world consequences of Mr Trump's trade war?  Trump's cuts to US foreign aid means people can't get access to HIV medication and costly tariffs is causing havoc to the economy – both of which are cos...

Incontinence and chronic pain are just some of the life-altering effects caused by heavy ketamine use – which is at record levels. The drug, used in clinical settings as an anaesthetic, sedative and pain reliever, can create hallucinations in users. But those who become addicted to ketamine also face severe bladder and kidney problems. As the government considers reclassifying ketamine to a Class...

After claiming back-to-back European titles, the Lionesses are now the first senior England football side to win a major tournament away from home.     The team had to overcome physical and psychological adversity throughout the tournament – from poor performances and penalty drama to a player being subjected to horrendous racial abuse. So how did inspirational manager, Sarina Wiegman, beat the od...

33-year-old defender Lucy Bronze has been at the heart of the England team for over a decade, with 140 caps so far. She played a crucial role in helping the Lionesses win back-to-back European titles - somehow managing to play the entire tournament in Switzerland with a broken leg.     Shirts with her name on the back are amongst the most commonly worn by England fans, a testament to her contribut...

The doctors' union, the British Medical Association, is calling for a pay rise of 29.2% to reverse "pay erosion" since 2008/09. The government has offered 5.4%.  In previous strikes, around 1.5 million appointments were cancelled or rescheduled, but this time hospitals have been told to cancel non-urgent work only in "exceptional circumstances".   In today’s episode, Niall Paterson talks to Sky’s...

Ozzy Osbourne made a musical genre. For millions of metal fans, Ozzy and Black Sabbath came up with the sound which influenced countless others.    Heavy metal will always be linked with Birmingham – Ozzy's home city, where he returned to perform in early July.    On this Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson looks at how a working-class lad from Aston became a cultural icon and gave the city its own mus...

Warning: This episode contains themes of racism and homophobia which listeners may find upsetting.   No gays, no Jews, and definitely no non-whites. It’s messaging that reminds us of a segregated United States – a time that apparently ended in the 1960s. But a community in Arkansas, called Return to the Land, wants to establish a whites-only town, and think they have the legal standing to do so. ...

A critical review into England and Wales's broken water system has been released - and it says we are in the midst of the "Great Stink" of the 21st century.      The report includes 88 recommendations - including a new single integrated regulator to replace existing water watchdogs, mandatory water metering, and a social tariff for vulnerable customers.     In this episode, Niall Paterson asks Sky...