This Is Why

The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is turning 90 and has confirmed - after years of uncertainty - that he will have a successor after his death and will not chose to end the line.   In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the Dalai Lama is reincarnated after they die. Monks search, select, and school a successor – usually a child. The current Dalai Lama was recognised at the age of two. He and an estimated 150...

The synthetic drug kush, first seen in Sierra Leone in 2022, has now spread into much of West Africa while also evolving into an even more dangerous drug. Tests have found it contains nitazenes which are 25 times stronger than fentanyl.   Sky News has found that ingredients used to make kush are being shipped into Sierra Leone from the UK.   In today's Sky News Daily, Gareth Barlow is joined by ou...

While the world’s gaze turned to the Middle East, Russia has pushed on with its summer offensive against Ukraine, ramping up attacks.     Meanwhile, the US has ordered a pause in sending weapons shipments to Ukraine due to concern about a low stockpile in America – but to what cost?     In today's Sky News Daily, Gareth Barlow is joined by defence analyst Michael Clarke, who explains what’s going...

The King is bidding the "fondest of farewells" to the nine-carriage royal train said to be Queen Elizabeth II's favourite form of transport.   The announcement comes as part of the latest financial statement from Buckingham Palace which reveals the annual sovereign grant, which supports the duties of the Royal Family and is funded by the taxpayer, remained at £86.3m.   In today's Sky News Daily, G...

At their Glastonbury set on Saturday, punk-rap duo Bob Vylan's singer led chants of "death, death to the IDF". The chants have been labelled antisemitic by the BBC and the organisation has since apologised for airing the performance – but Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has called for the broadcaster to be prosecuted, saying they, "should not be transmitting hateful material designed to incite v...

Around 200,000 music fans have descended on Worthy Farm in Somerset for this year's Glastonbury Festival.     Days before this year's event began, its owner, Michael Eavis, announced he was transferring most of his financial stake in Glastonbury to his daughter, Emily Eavis.     So, who is the new owner of Glastonbury?     Host Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's arts and entertainment editor Claire...

Recent years have seen the advent of weight loss drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy. They work by suppressing users' appetites, leading to weight loss.       They've been described as wonder drugs but now, new figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) show they may be associated with inflammation of the pancreas, which could lead to death.     Niall Paterson spea...

The government has announced it is purchasing at least 12 new F-35 stealth jets that can carry nuclear warheads. It's a move that's been described by Downing Street as the most significant strengthening of the nation's nuclear capability in a generation.     So, what are these jets? And why is the UK expanding its nuclear capability?     Sarah-Jane Mee speaks to Dr Thomas Withington, an award-winn...

The 32 members of the NATO alliance are in the Netherlands for a summit that has been overshadowed by efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East.        World leaders are being encouraged to set a goal to spend 5% of their GDP on defence by 2035. US President Donald Trump has pushed for that target, but does he have a plan on what's next for NATO?     On today's episode, Niall Paterson is...

Iran is threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, the world's busiest oil shipping channel, in retaliation for the US strikes on its nuclear facilities. How might the global economy be affected, including the price of oil?  On today’s episode, Dominic Waghorn is joined by Sky News economics editor Ed Conway to discuss the consequences of Iran's next move.    Producer: Natalie Ktena  Editor: Paul...

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s often reclusive supreme leader, surfaced this week to hit back at Donald Trump’s demands for an unconditional surrender.     Khamanei first came to power as President of Iran in 1981, and he was a surprise choice for supreme leader eight years later. But since then, with the help of the Revolutionary Guard he has had almost complete control of Iran and its anti-Israe...

The Horizon scandal captured the nation after the ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office.      And now, more faulty Post Office accounting software has been uncovered, in what some are calling a second Post Office scandal.         Today, the government’s announced details of a compensation scheme for postmasters who suffered through using Capture in the 1990s.       In today’s episode, Sarah-Jane M...

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has announced new protections in a bill which will attempt to cut benefits to more than three million households.      In its current form, the government faces a big rebellion from dozens of Labour MPs over concerns that changes to welfare will drive families into poverty.       On today's episode, Matt Barbet is joined by political correspondent Tamara Coh...

After leaving the G7 early, Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One he was seeking what he’s calling a “real end” to the conflict between Israel and Iran and wants to do “better” than just a ceasefire.     His defence secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed the US is moving “additional capabilities” to its Middle East bases.     So, will Trump’s unconventional approach to diplomacy work or fuel...

Whitehall officials tried to convince Michael Gove to go to court to cover up the grooming scandal in 2011. That's according to Dominic Cummings, who was working for Mr Gove at the time.    In an interview with Sky's political correspondent Liz Bates, Mr Cummings has revealed how officials in the Department for Education wanted to help efforts by Rotherham Council to stop a national newspaper from...

On today's Sky News Daily, we're sharing the latest episode of The World. Israel has attacked Iran and its operation will continue for "as many days as it takes", according to Benjamin Netanyahu – meanwhile, Iran's leader has vowed "severe punishment" in return.      In this extra episode of The World, Yalda Hakim is joined by Sky News' international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn to ask why Israe...

 An Air India plane bound for Gatwick has crashed seconds after take-off.      The Boeing 787 Dreamliner had taken off from Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat in the northwest of India. On board were 242 passengers and crew, including 53 British nationals.      On today’s episode Matt Barbet is joined by Ian Petchenik, Flightradar 24’s communications director and co-host of the AV Talk podcast, to discu...

The chancellor has unveiled her long-awaited spending review, which sets out detailed plans for how individual government departments are funded over the next three years.    Rachel Reeves says departmental budgets will grow by an average of 2.3% a year, prioritising health, defence and infrastructure projects - but how will this be paid for? And does this make a change for working people as promi...

The Wargame was designed to test the state of the UK's defences and national resilience after decades of cuts to military spending after the end of the Cold War.      A year in the making, the podcast was recorded in just one day with a cast of politicians and their advisers, all of whom had worked at the top levels of the British government.      In today's episode, Dominic Waghorn talks to secur...

   A boat carrying Greta Thunberg and 11 other activists with aid for Gaza was intercepted by Israeli forces overnight.      The Madleen was operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition and had set off from Sicily over a week ago with the aim of breaking the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza.     It was intercepted by Israeli forces overnight and the country’s defence minister has s...

The government is threatening to take former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich to court over the proceeds of the sale of the club.     Three years after being sanctioned for the oligarch's links to the Russian president, £2.5bn remains frozen in a bank account. The funds are earmarked for Ukrainian aid, but where will they end up?     In today's episode, Niall Paterson talks to the financier and a...

The government's health agency, the MHRA, is warning women that they shouldn't use weight loss jabs while pregnant and that the drugs can also affect the reliability of the pill, which has led to a rise in so-called "Ozempic babies".     On today’s Sky News Daily Niall Paterson talks to Dr Nikita Kanani, a GP and former medical director for primary care at NHS England, about the risks, whether the...

  The chancellor presents the spending review next week where she will outline how the budget will be divided for government departments between 2026 and 2029. Rachel Reeves says she has an extra £113bn of capital to play with.      But with so many promises and projects dependent on the cash, how does she decide who will win and who will lose?      On today's Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joi...

The Home Office says the doubling of good weather days this year compared to the start of 2024 "coincides with small boat arrivals being 46% higher" - but research by Sky's Data and Forensics team shows a rise in crossings during bad weather as well.      On today's Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Sky News' political correspondent Ali Fortescue and senior data journalist Daniel Dunford...

The prime minister has launched a 10-year Strategic Defence Review setting out how Britain will operate in an ever-more worrying geopolitical environment.    Sir Keir Starmer says "every citizen has a role to play" in "defence of the realm", but do we know what kind of war we're preparing for?     On today's Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's defence editor Deborah Haynes and milita...