This Is Why

The deadliest wildfires to hit the US in over a century have turned vast swathes of the island of Maui to ash and taken the lives of at least 99 people. The governor of Hawaii, Josh Green, has warned that the number killed will rise as only 25% of the affected area has been searched so far. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson hears from our US correspondent Martha Kelner, who is in Maui, about the devastation she's seen there and the questions being asked by locals about a sophisticated warning system that failed to alert them to the imminent danger. Podcast producer: Emma-Rae Woodhouse Social Promotions producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Wendy Parker

It was billed as 'small boats week' – a series of government announcements designed to show progress on the issue of cross channel migration. But the reality of the last seven days has got in the way. The 30 or so migrants who had been moved on to a housing barge off Dorset had to be moved out after Legionella was found onboard and Thursday also saw the highest daily number of people crossing the channel this year On the Sky News Daily, Rob Powell asks Peter Walsh, from the Migration Observatory, if migration policies impact people's decisions to travel to the UK, and he speaks to fellow political correspondent Amanda Akass about why the Government has picked ending small boats crossings as one of its five pledges ahead of the next election. Podcast producers: Rosie Gillott and Soila Apparicio Interviews producer: Alex Edden Podcast promotions producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Wendy Parker

This month marks the 60th anniversary of the Great Train Robbery, one of Britain's most notorious crimes, which involved the hijack of a London-bound Royal Mail train and the theft of millions of pounds. Bruce Reynolds planned the robbery with a 15-strong gang of thieves, crooks and conspirers, becoming one of the most notorious criminals in British history. Bruce's son said he never realised his father was a criminal. On the Sky News Daily, presenter Sally Lockwood is joined by Nick Reynolds, the son of Bruce, to hear about growing up on the run, and our crime correspondent Martin Brunt, to explore why we're so fascinated by the Great Train Robbery 60 years later. Producers: Rosie Gillott, Soila Apparicio, Alex Edden Promotions producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Paul Stanworth

Football’s world governing body FIFA wants pay and prize money for men and women to be the same by the next tournaments. But how it gets there is a little less clear. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood is joined from Australia by our sport correspondent Rob Harris and Lioness Lucy Staniforth, who was on standby for the World Cup squad. They discuss the financial disparities in the sport, as well as reaction to the tournament so far and – of course – England's chances of World Cup success ahead of their quarter-final match against Colombia on Saturday. Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Interviews producer: Alex Edden Promotion producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Paul Stanworth

It’s been 100 days since Hollywood writers went on strike over concerns artificial intelligence (AI) will take their jobs - as well as disputes over working conditions and claims of dwindling pay. The looming cloud of AI hangs over all industries, but are writers and actors right to be worried about being stripped of their creativity? On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood is joined by Lisa Holdsworth – a TV and theatre writer, and chair of the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain – as well as Dr Alex Connock, senior fellow at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, to talk about how AI is reshaping their industry. She’s also joined by Sky’s arts and entertainment reporter Jayson Mansaray to discuss whether a happy ending is in sight for the strikers. Podcast producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Interviews producer: Alex Edden Digital Promotions producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Paul Stanworth

Niger had been a lone bastion of democracy in West Africa while neighbouring countries were taken over by the military - but it is now also in a crisis following July's coup. The man responsible for protecting President Mohamed Bazoum, who was elected in 2021, has overthrown him - and there could be far-reaching security implications. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood is joined by our Africa correspondent Yousra Elbagir, who looks at why the coup has the support of many people in Niger. Plus, defence and security analyst Professor Michael Clarke examines what the crisis means for counter-terrorism efforts in Africa. Senior podcast producer - Annie JoyceInterviews producer: Alex EddenPodcast promotion producer - David Chipakupaku Editor - Wendy Parker

The Royal Air Force has admitted to discriminating against white male candidates in a hiring policy aimed at increasing diversity. In a Sky News exclusive, security and defence editor Deborah Haynes has discovered none of those involved in creating the policy have been held accountable. On the Sky News Daily, Leah Boleto speaks to Deborah about the impact the decisions have had on the men's lives, and whether anyone has been held accountable. Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Podcast producer: Rosie Gillott Social promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa-John Editor: Wendy Parker

In this episode, Sahar Zand goes back to speak to Brian Glendinning about his experience in Iraqi jail, and the harrowing impact of his unforeseen arrest. But Brian, compared to some people, is still lucky.For dissidents and opposition figures around the world, the Red Notice is the latest tool for transnational repression by autocratic governments. These people often end up in prison indefinitely, or extradited to the countries they had long fled for safety. With expert analysis from Rhys Davies and Ben Keith - authors of Red Notice Monitor - we take a look at the worst case scenarios for being on the wrong end of a Red Notice.Sahar meets Zeynure and her three children. They are Uyghur exiles living in Istanbul. Zeynure’s husband, Idris Hasan, has been in prison in Morocco for two years facing extradition to China. Uyghur activists like Idris are increasingly at risk of Red Notices, experts tell us, as China has increased its use of Interpol as a tool of transnational repression. Sahar talks to Idris, who says this Red Notice has been a death sentence. A potential return to China is “worse than death.”Plus, Alicia Kearns, the Conservative MP who chairs the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Select Committee, tells Dirty Work about the committee’s “grave concerns” over how the system works. She calls on the Home Office to find a way to inform British nationals if they’re the subject of a malicious red notice.WARNING: This episode contains strong language. Presenter: Sahar Zand Producer: Heidi Pett Senior producer: Sarah Burke Sound designer: James Bradshow Editor: Paul Stanworth

COVID lockdowns may seem a distant memory with everyday life very much back to the pre-pandemic norms. But for children, it seems we may only just be getting a sense of the emotional and behavioural impacts those couple of years have had.Researchers at University College London and the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) this week published a joint study - the first of its kind - looking at the emotional, social and behavioural impacts on kids. Meanwhile, the children's commissioner for England examined NHS data suggesting a big rise in young people being treated for eating disorders.On the Sky News Daily, Leah Boleto speaks to Sarah Cattan from the IFS, and England's former children's commissioner Anne Longfield about the scale of the problem. Plus, Rhys Barfoot, who works for the charity Family Action helping families across the country with financial and mental health issues, offers advice to parents and young people.Senior podcast producer - Annie Joyce Podcast producer – Rosie Gillott Interviews producer – Alex Edden Podcast promotion producer – Jim Farthing Editor – Wendy Parker

The Bank of England has increased its base rate of interest by a quarter of a percentage point to 5.25% - which is lower than some economists had predicted. On the Sky News Daily, Leah Boleto speaks to our business correspondent Gurpreet Narwan about the decision to raise interest rates for the 14th time in a row. Plus, Sky's data and forensics journalist Daniel Dunford explains why renters could be the hardest hit by rate rises, and Tilly Smith, from campaign group Generation Rent, on its call for the government to offer more support to people renting. Podcast producer: Rosie Gillott Interviews producer: Alex Edden Podcast promotion producer: Jim Farthing Editor: Paul Stanworth