

This Is Why
Sky News
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
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
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 22, 2023 • 35min
Dirty Work: Episode One - Russian Roulette
Sky News has a new podcast series called Dirty Work which we wanted to share with Daily listeners in our feed.Reporter Sahar Zand has been investigating Interpol red notices - which allow police forces to flag their most wanted persons at international borders around the world. On this episode, we hear from some of those people caught up in the system - who have faced detention, imprisonment, and extradition, with devastating and life-changing consequences.WARNING: This podcast contains strong language. Presenter: Sahar Zand Producers: Heidi Pett and Anne-Marie Bullock Senior Producer: Sarah BurkeSound Designer: James Bradshaw Editor: Paul Stanworth

Jul 21, 2023 • 26min
Getting ready for an election: What three by-elections can tell us
The Conservatives suffered two heavy defeats in a night of three by-elections, but narrowly held on to former PM Boris Johnson's old Uxbridge seat. Labour made history by overturning a 20,137 majority to take the North Yorkshire seat of Selby and Ainsty. The Lib Dems took Somerton and Frome in a victory Sir Ed Davey said showed his party was "firmly back in the West Country". On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by political editor Beth Rigby and elections analyst Dr Hannah Bunting to break down the votes from each of the constituencies, and to look ahead to what this can tell us about the next general election. Rosie Gillott - podcast producer Wendy Parker - editor

Jul 20, 2023 • 18min
Investigating Interpol
Niall Paterson welcomes the team behind a new Sky News podcast onto the Daily. Reporter Sahar Zand and producer Heidi Pett have been investigating Interpol red notices for the series “Dirty Work”. They’ve heard from people caught up in a system which allows police forces to flag their most wanted persons at international borders around the world. In some cases, those people are detained, imprisoned, and extradited, with devastating consequences. They’ve also head from the Interpol Secretary General who says the organization is doing everything it can to protect innocent people from being wrongly targeted.You can also listen to the new Sky News podcast Dirty Work: The Misuse of Interpol Red Notices here.Since this episode was recorded, we wish to clarify that there is currently an average of around 11,000 Red Notices published per year. In 2021, the number of red notices issued was 10,776. The total number of red notices and diffusions issued that year was 23,716. Diffusions are where a country makes the same request directly to another country. We also wish to clarify that Interpol does have a mechanism for the suspension of member countries, which is set out in its “Rules on the Processing of Data”. Soila Apparicio – podcast producer Annie Joyce – senior podcast producer Jada-Kai Meosa John – podcast promotion producer Paul Stanworth – editor

Jul 19, 2023 • 18min
Is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ‘doomed’?
Senior Ukrainian military officials believe Russia is planning a massive attack in the northeastern Kharkiv region, in a bid to draw Ukraine's efforts away from its counteroffensive. It comes as the boss of MI6, Sir Richard Moore, suggested the invasion was “doomed”. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson sits down with our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn and security and defence analyst Professor Michael Clarke to unpick the military offensive and counteroffensive. Plus, they discuss the news that a US soldier is being held in North Korea after crossing the border from South Korea without authorisation, as confirmed by the US military. Producer: Rosie GillottPromotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa JohnEditor: Paul Stanworth

Jul 18, 2023 • 19min
Heatwaves happen - but why so many at once?
Temperatures across Europe soared to over 44C this week, with the heatwave expected to continue and reach record highs. Hot weather has also been recorded in China and the USA, but why are so many places so hot at the same time? On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Sky's climate and energy correspondent Hannah Thomas-Peter who is in Sardinia, one of the hottest places in Europe, about the heatwave there. Plus, our science and technology editor Tom Clarke on what's causing extreme weather across the globe. Podcast producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Paul Stanworth

Jul 17, 2023 • 20min
Stuart Ramsay in Myanmar: What leaders don't want the world to see
Sky’s chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay and his team have witnessed the deadly realities of a civil war, which Myanmar’s leaders claim isn’t happening. Few Western journalists get into the southeast Asian country, previously known as Burma – but our news crew spent a month undercover deep in the jungle with resistance fighters, medics and volunteers – not far from where the fighting is taking place. On this Sky News Daily, Kimberley Leonard is joined by Stuart, to share his firsthand account from a place where reports of mass killings, thousands of arrests and human rights abuses, have been widely condemned. Annie Joyce - senior podcast producer David Chipakupaku – podcast promotion producer Paul Stanworth - editor

Jul 14, 2023 • 15min
The knee injury keeping players out of the FIFA Women's World Cup
As the Women's World Cup kicks off in Australia and New Zealand, up to 30 players won't be playing due to the same knee injury. Star players, including England's Beth Mead and captain Leah Williamson, are all suffering from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries that threaten their careers in the game. And women are 3.5 times more likely to suffer this type of injury compared to their male counterparts. On the Sky News Daily, Kimberley Leonard is joined by data and forensics correspondent Tom Cheshire and producer Maz Poynter who've been investigating why female players are more likely to sustain these injuries, and sports medicine specialist Dr Kate Jackson explains what teams and coaches are doing to try to prevent future injuries. Podcast producer: Rosie Gillott Interview producer: Alex Edden Editor: Paul Stanworth

Jul 13, 2023 • 14min
Westminster Accounts: What are MPs doing with your cash?
A Sky News investigation has found Northern Research Group (NRG) MPs received political donations from a private donor to help them with campaigning - weeks after they authorised thousands of pounds of taxpayer funded expenses to be spent on the NRG. It raises questions about whether MPs authorised public funding to be spent on the NRG because they knew they would be rewarded with a campaign donation. As a result of the investigation, the parliamentary expenses watchdog IPSA has announced an investigation. On the Sky News Daily, host Kimberley Leonard is joined by our deputy politics editor Sam Coates to uncover his investigation and findings, and what issues it raises for parliamentary funding. Producer: Soila ApparicioPromotions producer: David ChipakupakuEditor: Paul Stanworth

Jul 12, 2023 • 16min
Huw Edwards named but should the last few days have been different?
There had been days of widespread speculation and increasing pressure on the suspended BBC presenter to reveal his identity but now, Huw Edwards’ wife has issued a statement on his behalf. Vicky Flind told the PA news agency that her husband is suffering from serious mental health issues and is currently receiving care in hospital. Shortly before the revelation, the Met Police said there was “no information” to suggest a criminal offence had taken place following claims surrounding the star – including that he had paid a teenager for explicit photos. On this Sky News Daily, Kimberley Leonard is she’s joined by Jake Kanter - Deadline's investigations editor and former media editor at The Times. Emma-Rae Woodhouse – podcast producer Alex Edden – interviews producer Annie Joyce – senior podcast producer Paul Stanworth – editor

Jul 12, 2023 • 24min
The Ukraine foreign fighters come home, and pressure on BBC presenter
More allegations about the unnamed BBC presenter have been published by The Sun, claiming that the star broke COVID rules to meet a 23-year-old. Now that the Metropolitan Police have asked the BBC to pause internal inquiries into suspended presenter, we ask if there has been a mood shift in the way this story should have been reported. On the Sky News Daily with Kimberley Leonard, from outside the BBC’s New Broadcasting House, arts and entertainment correspondent Katy Spencer explains the latest allegations and how the story could progress. Plus, in Ukraine, our international correspondent John Sparks has interviewed two foreign volunteers who have been fighting in the army as foreign fighters for the past 17 months, including Rhys Byrne, codename 'Rambo', a spirited 28-year-old from Dublin. Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse and Soila Apparicio Interviews producer: Alex Edden Editor: Paul Stanworth


