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This Is Why

Sky Newswww.skynews.com
The world’s a pretty confusing place right now – so how do you make sense of it all? This Is Why  takes one story every day, explains how we got here and why it matters to you. Sky News’ Niall Paterson speaks to experts and correspondents from around the world, getting simple answers to some complex questions. Available every weekday afternoon. This Is Why is a Sky News podcast – if you have a question, contact us: why@sky.uk
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Episodes

Caught up in the crossfire: Reporting from an urban war zone

Rampant gang violence has surged in Haiti, one of the poorest nations in the world, with authorities struggling to cope. Swathes of territory are under the control of rival armed gangs who carry out widespread murders, rapes and kidnappings. Our chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay and senior foreign producer Dominique van Heerden have been in Haiti, where they saw parents taking children to school approach a Port-au-Prince intersection as automatic gunfire bursts from the turret of an armoured pol...

May 20, 202518 min

Starmer's UK-EU deal: What does it mean for you?

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer today signed a landmark post-Brexit deal with the European Union. The deal has been lauded by the Labour leader as "a new era in our relationship...moving on from stale old debates" and "following through on what the British public voted for last year". His opponents are far from pleased, however, with both Reform and the Conservatives arguing that this sees the UK move back towards the EU and against the will of the people as voted for in 2016. Reform leader Nige...

May 19, 202516 min

Trump’s gift: Why is Air Force One so important to the President?

Air Force One, sometimes referred to the 'flying Oval Office', is seen as a global symbol of American power. It is for this reason, among others, that Donald Trump has come under fire for wanting to accept a Qatari Boeing 747-8 to replace the traditional presidential plane. But why is everyone so exorcised by the prospects of this new plane? Kenneth T. Walsh is a former White House correspondent and author of Air Force One: A History of the Presidents and Their Planes who has spent over 35 years...

May 16, 202516 min

Can Ukraine and Russia find peace in Turkey?

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of sending "stand-in props" to peace talks in Turkey after Moscow confirmed President Vladimir Putin would not attend. Zelenskyy had challenged Putin to meet him. But how are Ukrainians feeling about the prospect of a possible end to the war? Our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn is in Kyiv and joins Niall Paterson to discuss if the country is ready to find a peace agreement with Russia. Producers: Emily Hulme, Soila Apparicio...

May 15, 202515 min

Trump’s deal with Syria, what it means

Donald Trump has met Syrian president Ahmed al Sharaa - a former al Qaeda leader - during a tour of the Middle East. The US president said he is looking at "normalising" relations with Syria after lifting sanctions that have crippled the country for 25 years. On this episode of the Sky News Daily, host Niall Paterson is joined by our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn to discuss how the meeting came about, its significance for Syria and what it means for the wider region. Producer: Emi...

May 14, 202514 min

Who are the gangs behind the cannabis home delivery service?

A Sky News investigation has uncovered the complex gang network using stickers on lampposts and e-bikes to expand their cannabis home delivery operation. Led by open-source intelligence (OSINT) producer Sam Doak and data and forensics correspondent Tom Cheshire, the team tried to track down and even went to the homes allegedly at the heart of a drug ring responsible for stickers found in a number of cities across the UK. On today’s episode of the Sky News Daily, listen to how the investigation e...

May 13, 202516 min

Migration – Is Labour Reform-ing?

The prime minister today announced a plan to reduce net migration as he warned the UK risks becoming an "island of strangers". Sir Keir Starmer wants to bring in tougher English language tests and tighten overseas carer recruitment as part of his policy overhaul to “tighten up” the immigration system. On this episode of the Sky News Daily, host Niall Paterson is joined by our deputy political editor Sam Coates to discuss whether this is a change in direction for the government after suffering lo...

May 12, 202512 min

Pope Leo XIV: Why it's significant he's the first American pope

Pope Leo XIV is the first North American to lead the Catholic Church. But he was not considered to be in the top 10 likely candidates to succeed Pope Francis, in part due to his nationality. There had been an assumption that an American pope would mean too much power concentrated in the world's most dominant superpower. So why did the conclave pick Cardinal Robert Prevost - and what does it mean for the future direction of the Catholic Church? To discuss this on today's Sky News Daily with Niall...

May 09, 202517 min

Trade deals and interest rates - a good day for Starmer?

President Trump has called the US-UK trade deal "full and comprehensive" while Sir Keir Starmer said "it's going to not only protect jobs, but create jobs, opening market access". The deal comes as interest rates are now at their lowest level for two years after the Bank of England cut the base rate by a quarter point to 4.25%. The Bank also raised its economic growth forecast for this year. In today’s Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson talks to business correspondent Paul Kelso about how good a dea...

May 08, 202513 min

The India-Pakistan conflict explained

India has launched missile strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in retaliation for a terror attack last month that India accused its neighbour of backing - which Islamabad denies. But the friction between the nuclear-armed countries isn't new. On this episode of the Sky News Daily, host Niall Paterson dissects how the world might respond to yet more tension in the region and asks why the conflict is centred around Kashmir with our defence and security analyst Professor Michael C...

May 07, 202512 min

Reform flirts with loyal Labour voters – is it a winning strategy?

Reform is flirting with traditional Labour support - workers and union members. Ten local authorities are now controlled by Reform - including Doncaster, taken from Labour - plus three mayoralties and a new MP. After Nigel Farage's almost unbelievable success in local elections last week, is this the strategy to take him all the way to Downing Street? Niall Paterson is joined by our political correspondent Liz Bates, and reporter Alexandra Rogers, to unpick what Reform's flirtations mean for Lab...

May 06, 202517 min

Will Prince Harry and the King reconcile?

Prince Harry has lost his legal challenge over the level of security he receives while in the UK and described the ruling as an "establishment stitch-up". He says the decision leaves him unable to safely bring his wife and children back to Britain. In a new interview with the BBC, the Duke of Sussex spoke about his estranged relationship with his family, revealing the King won't "speak to him". But could they reconcile? On today's Sky News Daily, Matt Barbet speaks to royal correspondent Rhianno...

May 02, 202514 min

Kneecap: The Irish rap group condemned by MPs - but who are they?

Online videos of the rap trio Kneecap calling for the death of British MPs and shouting "Up Hamas, up Hezbollah" are now being investigated by the police. It comes after MPs condemned the group and called for arts funding to be removed and their invitation to play at Glastonbury withdrawn. Band members have apologised but have been cancelled by a number of festivals. So, who are Kneecap and why are they creating such a stir? Niall Paterson talks to Aoife Moore, journalist and author of The Long ...

May 02, 202518 min

What is going on with the retail cyber attacks?

M&S has been targeted in a cyber attack which has left it unable to process online orders or take contactless payments. Some experts predict it could be costing the company millions of pounds each day. The notorious hacking group, Scattered Spider is believed to be behind the attack. A cyber security company has told Sky News the group is "one of the most dangerous and active groups" they are monitoring. There've also been cyber attacks against Harrods and the Co-Op which are being investiga...

May 01, 202513 min

'Defiled and looted' - returning home during the Sudan war

Civil war has been raging in Sudan for two years. The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has seen famine, destruction, and millions driven from their homes. Among them, the family and friends of our Africa correspondent Yousra Elbagir. She was born in Khartoum and recently returned to her childhood home. Yousra joins Niall Paterson on the Sky News Daily to share her assessment of what returning home, after it had been ransacked during the o...

Apr 30, 202516 min

Did Trump just win the election for Canada’s Mark Carney

Mark Carney's Liberals have won the Canadian election in a remarkable turnaround for the centre-left party. The Liberal Party was well behind in the polls just months ago. That's before Carney replaced Justin Trudeau as leader and US President Donald Trump soured relations with Canada, becoming the defining issue of the campaign. So did Trump just win the election for Carney - and what does it mean for future negotiations? Niall Paterson speaks to Sky's economics and data editor Ed Conway and Pr...

Apr 29, 202515 min

Star behaviour – will the scandals ever stop?

A small number of BBC stars and managers "behave unacceptably" at work and bosses often fail to tackle them. That's according to a new report into the broadcaster commissioned by the BBC in the wake of the Huw Edwards scandal. In response, the BBC said it would introduce reforms. But will they work? There's been a long list of star presenters behaving badly and that's not just at the BBC. So, will these scandals ever stop? Niall Paterson speaks to Arts and Entertainment Correspondent Katie Spenc...

Apr 28, 202515 min

Slot better than expected: The Liverpool and Arne story

Arne Slot, who took over as manager of Liverpool FC from Jurgen Klopp last summer, has had a remarkable year. His club is about to win the Premier League title - a big achievement for a manager in their first season at Anfield. Slot arrived at Liverpool after three highly successful campaigns with the Dutch side Feyenoord, and was named manager of the year on two occasions. He had a hard act to follow from Klopp who was loved by fans - he won the League Cup twice, the FA Cup, the Champions Leagu...

Apr 25, 202516 min

What happens if the US walks away from a Ukraine peace deal?

JD Vance is the latest senior member of Donald Trump's administration to say the US will walk away from peace talks if there isn’t a yes from both Ukraine and Russia. But the US plan to recognise Russia's claim to Crimea would be a breach of Ukraine's constitution and so not something President Volodomyr Zelenskyy can agree to even if he wanted to keep the talks alive. On today's Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson talks to our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn about what will happen to Uk...

Apr 24, 202515 min

Ukraine war: are we inching closer to peace?

Delegations arrived in London on Wednesday for talks on a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine after the discussions were downgraded from the very top level. Officials, including the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Foreign Secretary David Lammy had been expected to attend, but that’s now not happening. The downgrading in the level of diplomacy is in contrast with an intensification in the pressure from Donald Trump to agree a ceasefire. So, what’s going on? Is a peace deal inching clos...

Apr 23, 202516 min

What next after the Pope?

As Catholics around the world continue to mourn the death of Pope Francis, the process to elect a new pope will begin soon. But what direction will the new pontiff take? Will the cardinals pick a reformer or go with a traditionalist? And how will the church deal with waning congregations in the global north in comparison with the growing numbers in the south. Niall Paterson speaks to Freddy Gray, editor of the US Spectator and former deputy editor of the Catholic Herald about the tensions in the...

Apr 22, 202514 min

What's the legacy of Pope Francis?

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, a day after appearing in the Vatican’s St Peter's Square to wish worshippers a happy Easter Sunday. Earlier this year, he was treated in hospital for five weeks with an infection, but had been discharged. The Argentinian pontiff, who ushered in a swathe of reforms over his 12-year papacy, symbolised to many an increasingly modern, progressive, and inclusive church. Niall Paterson is joined by Italian-born Sky News presenter Barbara Serra, who covered the d...

Apr 21, 202516 min

Who is the "world's coolest dictator" Nayib Bukele?

El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele was welcomed into the White House by President Trump earlier this week. The pair have recently become close allies after Trump began sending Venezuelan immigrations to a prison in El Salvador. On this Sky News Daily host Niall Paterson finds out who the self-proclaimed "world's coolest dictator" actually is. He speaks to chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay about what impact Bukele has had on El Salvador's gang problems and if he has transformed the country into...

Apr 17, 202517 min

Trans women not legally women say judges – what changes now?

The definition of a woman is based on biological sex, according to the UK’s most senior judges. As part of the decision, Lord Hodge, one of the judges, said: “We counsel against reading this judgement as a triumph of one or more groups in our society at the expense of another, it is not." Nevertheless, campaigners who brought this case to the courts cheered and hugged as the judges left the room. This episode hears from both sides of one of the most divisive debates in society and Niall Paterson...

Apr 16, 202517 min

Weinstein retrial: What happened to the #MeToo momentum?

Jury selection begins on Tuesday in the retrial of the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, where the original charges of rape and sexual assault will be heard again. Last year his convictions on those charges were overturned due to concerns the judge had made improper rulings. The accusations against the Hollywood mogul were first published seven years ago - sparking the #MeToo movement. It saw a flood of women - famous and not - sharing stories of gender-based violence and harassment. On the S...

Apr 15, 202514 min

From Shanghai to Scunthorpe - what's China's influence on UK industry?

British Steel's Scunthorpe steelworks are now effectively under government control after the business secretary said Chinese owner Jingye had decided to stop buying enough raw materials to keep the blast furnaces going. Jonathan Reynolds said the government took the action as steel "is vital for our national security". But with Chinese companies owning hundreds of billions of pounds worth of infrastructure assets throughout the UK, do they have too much influence on the UK's critical industries?...

Apr 14, 202514 min

Electoral Dysfunction: Why isn’t Keir Starmer saying what he really thinks?

On today's Sky News Daily, we're sharing the latest episode of Electoral Dysfunction. Donald Trump has pressed pause on his higher tariffs... but not before he unleashed absolute chaos on the global economy. It all came down to the bond market - which you might remember from Liz Truss's time as prime minister... Alongside most countries, the UK still has the base level of 10% tariffs on exports and 25% on automobiles, so is the prime minister's "keep cool" strategy still paying off? Or is the UK...

Apr 11, 202533 min

Bin strikes, stinking rubbish and rats – what's life like in Birmingham now?

It's been five weeks since the Birmingham bin strikes began over a long-running dispute between workers and the council. The city's residents have complained that mounting rubbish is a risk to public health, with rotting food attracting foxes, cockroaches and rats. Tom Cheshire speaks to Sky's Midlands correspondent, Shamaan Freeman-Powell, who's been in the city finding out how residents are dealing with the mounting rubbish, the smell and the rats - and whether an end to the strikes is in sigh...

Apr 10, 202513 min

US-China trade war ramps up: Who will blink first?

Donald Trump has raised trade tariffs on China again - up to 125% and that's effective immediately. At the same time, he's ordered a 90-day pause on higher tariffs for dozens of countries. If it wasn't a trade war between the world's two biggest economies before - it is now. On this episode, Mark Austin examines if China will keep on retaliating against Donald Trump. Its tariffs on US imports had been increased to 84%. He's joined by vice president of the Beijing thinktank, the Centre for China ...

Apr 09, 202516 min

Courts and the Colosseum: What is the Harry and King Charles dynamic now?

Unannounced Prince Harry arrived at the court of appeal in London on Tuesday, as part of a last-ditch attempt to overturn the Home Office decision to remove his UK state funded security, something he calls an “injustice”. It overshadows the King and Queen’s state visit to Italy which comes at a time of geopolitical and diplomatic delicacy as Trump’s tariffs upend world order as we know it. On the Sky News Daily, Mark Austin speaks to royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills in Rome about why security ...

Apr 08, 202514 min
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