This Is Why

A week after Ukraine invaded the Kursk region of western Russia - when around 1,000 troops surprised analysts by storming across the border - Russia’s President Vladimir Putin vowed to “kick the enemy out of our territory”.     But has the success of Ukraine’s incursion threatened his grip on power?     On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our security and defence analyst Michael Clarke to explore the reasoning behind the timing of the invasion, and Peter Dickinson, editor of the UkraineAlert blog for the Atlantic Council based in Kyiv, explains how the invasion has exposed the weakness of Putin’s ‘red lines’.       Producer: Rosie Gillott Podcast promotions producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Philly Beaumont 

Middle Eastern nations are scrambling to protect a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and prevent a regional conflict.   There are reports of imminent Iranian and Hezbollah retaliation on Israel, as the United States moves military assets to the region.  Joining Niall Paterson on the Sky News Daily is our Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall, and military expert Michael Clarke, to hear about the mood in Jerusalem, the risks of war, and what Iran what might be about to do.          Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont 

The Olympics in Paris ends this weekend – as it gears up for the Paralympics. But what legacy does such a huge event leave for athletes and a host city?   Team GB's Jess Roberts won a bronze in the cycling women's team pursuit, but she almost quit the sport because of injury. She joins Matt Barbet alongside Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, one of Britain's greatest Paralympic athletes, to discuss how athletes reset mentally and physically after the games.  Plus, Rob Harris, our sports correspondent speaks with Matt from Paris, to discuss what future Olympic cities will learn from Paris.  Producers: Soila Apparicio, Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Paul Stanworth

Thousands of anti-racism protesters gathered across England and formed human barriers to protect asylum centres after police warned of more than 100 far-right-led rallies on Wednesday night.   On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Tawhid Islam, Trustee at Liverpool Region Mosque Network, who we spoke to on the last episode, after the protests his community feared were overshadowed by those voicing support.   Plus, our people and communities correspondent Nick Martin on how swift justice may have deterred protesters and delivered a political victory for the new government.     Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Philly Beaumont

The UK is bracing itself for more than 100 protests across the country – with thousands of specialist officers on standby.    On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Tawhid Islam, Trustee at Liverpool Region Mosque Network, about the dread and fear hanging over the Muslim community. He also discusses what the community is doing to protect those most vulnerable to the violence.     Plus, health correspondent Ashish Joshi tells of how NHS staff are also now facing racist abuse, which could lead to a refusal of emergency medical care.       Producers: Alex Edden and Emma Rae Woodhouse Social media: David Chipakupaku  Editor: Philly Beaumont

Neil Basu, a former head of counter-terrorism policing, and Martin Brunt, a seasoned crime correspondent, dive into the unsettling wave of violence that has erupted in various cities. Basu highlights that some of this unrest may be classified as terrorism. They discuss the mounting challenges for law enforcement in managing riots and the emotional turmoil within courtrooms as defendants confront their actions. The duo also reflects on the complexities of policing protests and the different treatment of varying demonstrator groups. A gripping analysis worth a listen!

After a weekend of violence and disorder, Sir Keir Starmer has said police will have access to a "standing army of specialist officers" to deal with the riots.   Hundreds of people tried to set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham on Sunday, while a children’s library in Liverpool and a Citizens Advice centre in Sunderland were burnt over the weekend.    Mosques have also been attacked and shops looted.       The prime minister is facing mounting pressure to take a stand against the far right.   On today’s episode of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks with Ivan Humble, a former leading active member of the English Defence League who now works to tackle radicalisation and extremism in the UK.   Plus our political correspondent Rob Powell talks about the government's response to the crisis.   Producers: Rosie Gillott & Alex Edden  Editor: Philly Beaumont    Promotion producer: David Chipakupaku

As one sporting great retires and another adds to her gold medal tally at the Paris Olympics, the Sky News Daily profiles Andy Murray and Simone Biles.    Liz Bates speaks to sports journalist Sue Mott who helped Murray write his autobiography.    She's also joined by Kathy Williams, who became the first black female gymnast to represent Great Britain at an Olympics, in Los Angeles in 1984.   Kathy talks about why Simone Biles has become one of the greatest Olympians of all time.  Producers: Tom Pooley and Rosie Gillott Editor: Paul Stanworth  Promotion producer: David Chipakupaku

A judge has made the "exceptional" decision to name the 17-year-old suspect charged with the murder of three girls in the Southport stabbing attack, in an attempt to prevent further misinformation about him being spreading online.     Reporting restrictions around the identification of a minor left an information vacuum into which disinformation spread, fuelling violence in towns across the country in recent days.   On the Sky News Daily, Liz Bates speaks to our data and forensics correspondent Tom Cheshire to explore how disinformation is spread online and Joe Mulhall from Hope Not Hate explains the challenges of tackling the far-right ideology when it's not identified with a specific group.  Producer: Tom Pooley  Editor: Philly Beaumont    Promotion producer: David Chipakupaku

Former BBC newsreader Huw Edwards has pleaded guilty to charges of making indecent images of children.     The court heard Edwards had been involved in an online chat with an adult man on WhatsApp between December 2020 and April 2022, while he was still presenting on the BBC.     On the Sky News Daily, host Liz Bates is joined by Sky correspondent Henry Vaughn who was at the court in Westminster as Edwards pleaded guilty, and asks Jake Kanter, international investigations editor at Deadline, what his plea could mean for the national broadcaster.     Producers: Emma Woodhouse & Tom Pooley  Editor: Philly Beaumont    Promotion producer: David Chipakupaku