This Is Why

It was Donald Trump’s 80th birthday present to himself – announcing the US had finally agreed a peace plan with Iran. But is it really a done deal, especially when it comes to Iran’s nuclear ambitions?

In fact, is it a deal at all? The two sides are understood to have reached a Memorandum of Understanding, bringing an end to the fighting and a start to 60 days of further negotiations.

But whilst Iran has again reiterated its commitment to not produce a nuclear weapon, the future of the country’s uranium enrichment programme is far more...

LEDs were supposed to be one of the great environmental success stories: a revolutionary technology that uses a fraction of the energy of traditional light bulbs. But have they really saved the world?

In our new podcast Stuff Matters, economics and data editor Ed Conway takes an object, cracks it open and reveals the world shaping forces hidden inside.

Each episode follows a trail of ideas that stretches beyond the object itself, uncovering far reaching economic powers that shape how we live.

Along the way, Ed meets fascinating characters, from brilliant inventors to...

He’s the former Marine who served in the special forces, climbs mountains for fun, and now could hold the keys to Downing Street.

Following an astonishing interview on Sky News, Al Carns quit as Armed Forces minister over doubts the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan was going to be fully funded.

It was yet another blow for a prime minister still reeling from the resignation of his defence secretary John Healey earlier on Thursday.

Carns, nick-named ‘Action Man’ because of his military background, has already hinted at his leadership ambitions. Could he now potent...

Americans are finally feeling the pinch due to Trump’s war in Iran, with inflation surging to a three-year-high.

There’s no end to hostilities in sight, and with the Strait of Hormuz – which handles a fifth of global oil and gas supplies – still closed, it looks like prices will continue to rise.

With any economic pain the US experiences amplified across the pond, how will the UK cope with yet more financial upheaval?

Plus, what does this all mean for Trump’s presidency ahead of the mid-term elections in November?

Mhari Auro...

The riots which brought mass disorder to the streets of Belfast on Tuesday night weren’t just a reaction to a brutal stabbing in the city the night before.

According to Professor Ian Acheson, they were also an expression of the rage and anger felt by a divided community ignored by politicians and policy makers.

The violence has been rightly condemned after houses were set alight and police cars attacked.

But Professor Acheson – an expert in counter extremism – argues it shouldn’t come as any surprise that tensions over migration and social deprivation have onc...

Swindon. The epicentre of the global drone industry? As unlikely as it might seem, the Wiltshire town could soon be just that.

But instead of taking advantage of the cutting-edge weaponry being developed in the area, the UK is falling behind in the deployment of this potentially decisive technology.

Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have shown just how vital drones are in modern warfare – used as they are to such brutal effect on the front line.

But while the US and Ukraine are buying British, the Ministry of Defence has yet to...

After Israel launched strikes on Iran for the first time since April – against US wishes – are the cracks beginning to show between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu?

The episode is another sign of the growing friction between the US and Israeli leaders, following reports of heated disagreements behind closed doors.

Is Washington’s influence over Israel starting to wane? And as Netanyahu ramps up his military ambitions in the Middle East, who is really calling the shots when it comes to the Iran war?

Jonathan Samuels speaks to Sky’s Middle East Correspondent Adam Par...

The idea of two princesses living in luxury while the King pays their rent may have seemed normal in days gone by – but surely not in 2026.

Beatrice and Eugenie, the daughters of former prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, have been enjoying that very arrangement despite being non-working royals.

So, who are Beatrice and Eugenie? How have they navigated the scandal over their parents' links to Jeffrey Epstein? And is it right the King still pays their rent?

Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's royal correspondent Laura Bundock.

Have you got a qu...

He was already the richest man on the planet. Now Elon Musk's wealth is about to go stratospheric.

The SpaceX founder will become the world's first trillionaire when he launches the company on the US stock market next week.

One trillion seconds amounts to a staggering 31,700 years. One trillion dollars would give Musk almost unimaginable influence.

What are the dangers of him – and other tech giants – amassing so much wealth?

Niall Paterson is on the money with Sky’s business correspondent Paul Kelso.

Have you got a question for Niall...

Moscow may have hit Ukraine with one of its biggest attacks of the war so far - but is it Russia’s economy that’s starting to crack?

Businesses are closing while bills and taxes are on the rise – as the growing cost of the conflict is felt on the high street and in homes as much as the battlefield.

With his hometown under attack from Ukrainian drones, what does Vladimir Putin fear most - losses on the frontline, unrest over the struggling economy, or the possibility both could combine to threaten his control?

Sky’...

Is the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak a new low for the police - or an excuse for political point scoring?

Henry was handcuffed as he lay dying after being stabbed, having been falsely accused of racially abusing his Sikh killer, Vickrum Digwa.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claims this is yet another example of 'two-tier policing', where white people are treated differently to ethnic minorities.

Are those allegations justified? Do police forces in England have an institutional problem with race? Or are the facts and statistics being ignored to suit a political...

A year on from publishing a plan to make the UK's military fit for purpose, the government still hasn't said where the money's coming from.

It now admits the long-delayed defence investment plan is still weeks away from being published.

The prime minister has committed to spend 3.5% of GDP on core defence by 2035 - but is Sir Keir Starmer willing to sanction cuts elsewhere, from welfare or the NHS, to pay for it?

As the US seemingly turns its back on NATO and the threat from Russia increases, is the UK taking defence...

A Blue Origin rocket explosion during a test launch at Cape Canaveral in Florida could have huge implications for Jeff Bezos' ambitions in space.

His company had just won a big NASA contract to deliver lunar landers to the moon using his New Glenn rockets which are specifically designed to carry cargo.

The failure will also affect NASA's moon plans, which already included little margin for error.

Sky's science and technology correspondent Mickey Carroll joins Mhari Aurora to discuss what the explosion means for Blue Origin, getting humans back on the moon and...

At least eight teenagers have died after getting into difficulty in open water during the UK’s record-breaking heatwave.

The tragedies have caused the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to warn of the dangers of “cold water shock”, as many try to cool down in the baking heat.

The deaths have also happened days before the official start of summer - so what can be done to keep people safe in the months ahead?

Mhari Aurora discusses water safety with campaigner Beckie Ramsay, whose son drowned in open water in 2011.

Have you go...

The head of the GCHQ intelligence agency has warned that Russia is going after critical infrastructure and democracy in the UK.

Anne Keast-Butler also used the inaugural GCHQ annual lecture at Bletchley Park to say the threat of this "daily hybrid activity" leading to a wider conflict is as "high as I’ve ever seen it".

Her warning comes days after an RAF jet carrying the UK's defence secretary John Healey had its signal jammed near the Russia border.

Why is Moscow allegedly carrying out these hybrid attacks and what is being done to...

Three teenagers who avoided jail over the rape of two girls in Hampshire will now have their sentences reviewed after a judge initially said he wanted to "avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily". One of the victims described the ruling as being like a "rock straight in my face".

The attorney general, Lord Hermer, has announced that the Court of Appeal will review the sentences. His office had received "multiple" requests for the sentences to be reviewed under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Gareth Barlow speaks to Susan Edwards, Professor of Law at Northumbria University and...

In all corners of the United Kingdom, parties that back independence are now in charge.

The SNP retained control in Scotland and Plaid Cymru took power in Wales for the first time following the May elections. And, with Sinn Fein becoming the biggest party in Northern Ireland back in 2022, it now means all three devolved legislatures in the UK are led by nationalist parties.

So, what's behind their rise and are there similarities between them?

Niall is joined by Professor Michael Keating, Emeritus Professor of Politics at the University of Aberdeen and Fellow...

Thomas Tuchel is England’s first German-born manager. He has led some of Europe’s biggest clubs, from Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich to Chelsea, where he won the Champions League.

But he has rarely stayed long in one place; Tuchel has had fraught relationships with club owners and executives.

Now, as he announces his squad for the 2026 World Cup in North America, some of his selection decisions have already sparked controversy. So what do they, and his career so far, reveal about the man carrying England’s hopes on his shoulders?

Our sports...

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Britain has sanctioned Moscow’s economy in an attempt to weaken Putin's war machine. But this week, the UK introduced a new exemption allowing diesel and jet fuel made from Russian oil to enter Britain via third countries.

So, has Britain quietly relaxed its sanctions on Russia? And more broadly, have Western sanctions actually worked?

Niall is joined by Tom Keatinge, founding director of the Centre for Finance and Security at defence and security thinktank the Royal United Services Institute, to explain what sanctions are designed to do, whether they change go...

President Xi Jinping's hopes of putting China at the centre of a new world order have been given a boost by back-to-back visits of two of his fellow world leaders.

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump both had the red carpet rolled out but the US president left without securing any major deals, while Putin has signed at least 20 deals and significantly a joint declaration on establishing a multipolar world and a new type of international relations.

Russia has arguably been weakened by its Ukraine war, and with the US viewed by some as less stable...

Tech titan and X owner Elon Musk has seen his high-profile lawsuit against the boss of OpenAI Sam Altman thrown out of court.

Musk accused his rival of making OpenAI, which created the increasingly popular ChatGPT, a profit-making company after he had donated $38 million to it.

The jury may have ruled against Musk, but the fued between the two tech tycoons is likely to continue – and could define the future of AI for years to come.

Niall is joined by tech journalist Will Gyatt to discuss the case and its repercussions.

Ha...

Andy Burnham isn’t even an MP but appears to already be campaigning to be the next prime minister - and if a latest opinion poll is anything to go by his confidence is justified.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump says he has he instructed his administration to call off strikes on Iran that were scheduled for today.

However, he warned he could unleash a “full, large scale assault” on the country at a “moment’s notice.”

It comes as the World Health Organisation has declared the deadly outbreak of Ebola in Africa an international health emerg...

A new strain of Ebola virus has been declared an international public health emergency by the World Health Organisation.

More than 300 suspected cases have been identified – with at least 80 deaths reported. The outbreak is mostly confined to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but some cases have already spread to Uganda.

Plus, a number of American citizens have also been exposed to the virus.

Niall speaks to Africa correspondent Yousra Elbagir and health correspondent Ashish Joshi about exactly what Ebola is and why the wider world should care about the outbreak.

Ha...

The Constituency of Makerfield has been a Labour safe seat for generations but in the May 7th elections Reform UK won nearly every seat at the local council that was up for grabs.

So how much of a gamble is trying to win this seat and so a return to Westminster going to be for Andy Burnham?

In his favour is his personal popularity in greater Manchester and the fact he grew up in the area. Against him is the momentum of Reform and the fact Makerfield hasn’t benefited from some of Burnham’s key...

On Thursday lunchtime, Wes Streeting resigned from Sir Keir Starmer’s government. The now-former health secretary said he had “lost confidence” in the PM’s premiership – the first cabinet minister to jump ship.

But what he didn’t say (yet) is that he will challenge Starmer for the Labour leadership – and with it, the keys to Number 10.

So, why hasn’t Streeting fired the starting gun on a contest his critics say he’s been desperate to fight? What sort of leader might he eventually be, and what’s his track record in government?

Niall is joined by...

The UK is providing jets, drones and our only operational Type 45 destroyer – HMS Dragon – as part of a multinational mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

Thousands of tankers and cargo ships remain stranded after the Strait was closed at the end of February due to the Iran war.

Defence Secretary John Healey has stressed the deployment is a defensive measure to secure freedom of navigation – but will only be used once a ceasefire is in place.

Will these military assets actually make a difference, and how does the Ministry of Defence operate at a t...

Keir Starmer is on the brink, as more and more Labour MPs and ministers call for his resignation – less than two years after he walked into Number 10.

He remains defiant (for now), but whatever the fate of the prime minister, his predicament is one we've seen repeated over the past decade in a seemingly never-ending cycle of chopping and changing leaders.

Since David Cameron's resignation in 2016 – after Britain voted to leave the European Union – no prime minister has served a full parliamentary term.

Gareth Barlow speaks to pollster and founder at Merlin Strategy Scarle...

Despite a disastrous set of local and national election results, the prime minister has vowed to carry on regardless. But dozens of Sir Keir Starmer's Labour MPs have now called on him to resign – or at least set out a timetable for when he will leave Downing Street.

Surely choosing a replacement – or even triggering a leadership contest – should be straightforward? However, even though there are any number of potential challengers, the PM could well be safer than you think.

Niall is joined by Sky’s political correspondent, Lucy McDaid, to discuss the Labour leadership election...

The annual Victory Day parade in Moscow will be a much smaller affair this year, without an intercontinental ballistic missile in sight.

Why? Well, the threat of a Ukrainian drone attack is certainly one reason. But is there any credibility in reports of another threat - this time against Vladimir Putin himself?

An anonymous European intelligence agency has claimed the Russian president is spooked over the prospect of a potential coup or even a possible assassination attempt.

The alleged plotter is being named as former Putin ally and shunned ex-defence minister Sergei Shoigu...

The USA's emergence as an energy superpower has reshaped the global economy. Good news for its allies, right? Well, not necessarily....

In Texas, fracking has turned the US from a major importer into the world’s biggest energy producer, effectively creating "another Saudi Arabia" almost overnight.

But as Europe looks to America to plug the energy gap caused by wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the reality on the ground is more complicated.

Ed Conway, our economics and data editor, joins Niall to explore why the US can't simply ride to the re...

Millions of people are preparing to head to the polls across Britain on Thursday.

They'll be voting for thousands of local council seats in England - while people in Scotland and Wales will elect members of their respective devolved parliaments.

But the results could have a huge impact on national politics. So, what happens to the prime minister if Labour loses as badly as expected? And does a good night for the Greens or Reform UK really mean they are banging on the door of Number 10?

Niall previews what to expect at the...

It's the small Baltic state that's no stranger to being invaded - having been occupied by both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

But while many hope it will never happen again, there are fears in NATO and beyond that Estonia is next on Vladimir Putin's hitlist.

So how is the country preparing for the threat from Russia? And could Estonia really be on the front line of a future war in Europe?

Niall is joined by the outgoing UK ambassador to Estonia, Ross Allen.

With conflicts continuing in Ukraine, Africa and the Middle East, the global economy being held to ransom and the old world order seemingly up-ended, is there any role left for the United Nations?

Founded in the shadow of two world wars, the UN used to be considered the guardian of international law and order. But is it now little more than a toothless talking shop?

Niall is joined by Sky News' diplomatic editor Dominic Waghorn to help answer a query from a listener on whether the United Nations still has any meaningful function in the...

As The Devil Wears Prada 2 opens in cinemas, the former editor-in-chief of Vogue Anna Wintour is back in the news – but who is she?

The sequel to the 2006 film is widely perceived to be based on Ms Wintour's formidable and abrasive management style.

However, the world of fashion and the magazines that follow it has changed a lot since then.

So, has she maintained her grip and influence on the multibillion-dollar industry?

Niall is joined by Paula Froelich, senior story producer and on-air contributor for NewsNation, to discuss her life and ca...

The war in Iran has led to fears of food shortages and fuelled forecourt price hikes – but is your summer holiday also in jeopardy?

The price of jet fuel has soared higher than any other oil product, including petrol, since the Middle East conflict led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

It means major airlines – including Qatar, Etihad and Lufthansa – have started cancelling flights. So how worried should you be about your much-needed break abroad?

Niall is joined by Sky’s business correspondent Paul Kelso.

Have you got a questi...

The party drug ecstasy is usually associated with packed nightclubs and panicked politicians talking about the dangers involved in taking it.

However, a former head of the UK’s armed forces believes the drug’s active ingredient, known as MDMA, could be key to treating veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

General Sir Nick Carter is now calling on the government to relax restrictions in order to reduce the crippling cost of clinical trials. What evidence is there to suggest this treatment could be effective and what’s been the reaction from the few former soldie...

Iranian intelligence services are suspected of actively recruiting in the UK, using AI and social networks to entice potential sign-ups.

Sky News has uncovered evidence of how apparent Iranian networks are using the chat platform Telegram to target recruits.

It follows an increase in attacks on Jewish communities across the UK – with authorities suggesting that some perpetrators may have been taking orders from Tehran.

But why might petty crooks or youngsters be tempted to become involved? How worried should we be about their activities? And what level of threat does Iran pose here in...

Why keeping the King safe is Trump's top priority

King Charles's trip to the USA is still going ahead, despite a gunman attempting to storm a dinner attended by President Trump on Saturday night.

It's the first state visit to the country by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II in 2007. Charles is also due to emulate his mother by addressing Congress.

Officials from both sides of the Atlantic are working closely on security arrangements. But has the tour been compromised by the assassination attempt? And what does it take to protect a...

Donald Trump is preparing to roll out the red carpet for the King’s all-American state visit next week – despite the fact the US president has been highly critical of the UK over its refusal to join the war in Iran.

Trump’s public rebukes for Sir Keir Starmer, Britain’s armed forces and even Prince Harry have put the so-called special relationship under greater strain than ever. So, can the King use all his diplomatic and “soft power” skills to save it?

Niall is joined by royal commentator Robert Jobson.

Have you got a questi...