This Is Why

Even as delegates gathered in Abu Dhabi for renewed negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Moscow’s missiles continued to hit key Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Of course, the response from Russia is that retaliatory strikes on oil and gas sites amount to the same thing. But the United Nations has identified a growing number of Russian attacks on civilian targets that have little or no military justification. Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s defence analyst Robert Clark, who argues Moscow’s continued action shows they have little appetite to stop the fighting. There is more exclusive military analysis and content on the new Sky News Defence Insider app. Sky News Defence Insider is a subscription app designed for audiences seeking deeper insight into defence, security and global affairs. New users can get a three-month free trial. Download and subscribe here. Paid subscription required for full access. UK only. 18+. T&Cs apply.

Nvidia boss Jensen Huang is the most important man in AI. He's also very close to President Trump, with both men having a shared interest in not regulating AI development. He has now admitted to having had an affair, and he is supporting the Nvidia investigation into whether he was targeted by Chinese intelligence. Jensen Huang also said in his statement that "I love our country and our company." A New York Times report alleged the 63-year-old had a close relationship with Alice Huang, a former executive from Singapore-based tech company Megaspeed, who passed information to Beijing. Megaspeed have previously denied reports that they have been involved in illegal chip transfers. Niall is joined by Sky News technology correspondent Rowland Manthorpe to discuss the man behind Nvidia and how this scandal could impact the AI race. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: [email protected]

A blue tsunami annihilated Donald Trump’s Republican party in the US midterm elections – and one candidate rode the wave higher than anyone. James Talarico (or Talafreako, as Trump nicknamed him) was little known until last year – but managed to win a senate seat for the Democrats in Texas for the first time in decades. College friend Ben Trotter and Niall Stanage, associate editor at The Hill, join Niall Paterson to find out if the committed Christian has what it takes to help the Democrats challenge for the White House. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: [email protected] You can also watch This Is Why on the Sky News app, and on YouTube.

The Governor of the Bank of England blamed Donald Trump's war with Iran for the first rise in interest rates in more than three years. They have gone up from 3.75 % to 4%.The rise could have an impact on the cost of living and the economy - but could Trump's drubbing in the midterm elections mean that it's not inevitable that there will be more rises to come?Niall talks to Sky's business correspondent Paul Kelso about how the rise will affect our finances and how resilient the UK economy is as the pound is at one of its highest levels since the Brexit referendum.Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: [email protected]

An anonymous celebrity asked the High Court to permanently prevent two news organisations from publishing his identity, amid claims of sexual misconduct, which he denies. He argued that if Guardian News and Media (GNM), publisher of The Guardian, and Independent Television News (ITN) published allegations against him, there was a risk that he would take his own life, after two previous suicide attempts.But his claim for an injunction was denied. He lost his case, despite the judge acknowledging he was at risk of suicide. So why do we still not know who he is? What happens next with his appeal, and why does this case matter for investigative journalism? Niall Paterson is joined by legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg. Warning: This episode does contain references to abuse and suicide. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: [email protected]. You can also watch This Is Why on the Sky News app, and on YouTube.

The Ministry of Defence has committed billions of pounds to building a new generation of warships. But there's a problem.Older vessels are being retired, their replacements are taking years to arrive, and concerns are growing about the Navy's ability to meet its commitments. So why aren't we building more ships, more quickly?It's about money, a lack of skilled workers, and decades of decisions that have left Britain's shipbuilding industry struggling to keep up.Sky's military analyst Robert Clark joins Niall Paterson to help us understand why.Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: [email protected]. You can also watch This Is Why on the Sky News app, and on YouTube.There is more exclusive military analysis and content on the new Sky News Defence Insider app.Sky News Defence Insider is a subscription app designed for audiences seeking deeper insight into defence, security and global affairs.Download and subscribe here. Paid subscription required for full access. UK only. 18+. T&Cs apply.

In October 1998, Karl Bushby left his mum’s house in Humberside to fly to the southern tip of South America. The journey home would take him the best part of three decades to complete. Karl travelled up through the Americas, across the Bering Strait into Russia, crossed the Caspian Sea and trekked the length of Europe before finally swimming the Channel and completing a 31,000-mile ‘modern odyssey’. But there were two rules: no motorised transport – meaning he had to walk or swim the entire distance – and no changing the route. Living by those rules would end up costing Karl more than he could ever have imagined. Niall Paterson speaks to the Daily Telegraph journalist Ed Cumming, who joined Karl on the final leg of his epic adventure. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: [email protected]

The King is in the Caribbean, and, so far, he's faced hardly any protests from people campaigning for reparations for transatlantic slavery. But the leaders of the countries he's visiting have been speaking out. The prime minister of the Bahamas told Sky News that reparation is not just about money, but acknowledging what slavery did. There will be more calls for reparations at the Commonwealth summit in Antigua, which the King is attending as head of the organisation. But as Prince William currently shows little inclination to follow his father in becoming head of the Commonwealth, will it be harder in future to put pressure on Britain? Niall is joined by Robert Jobson, author of The Windsor Legacy, and Sir Patrick Vernon, UK representative of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham joked on TikTok that demand from people trying to find out their council tax band crashed the government website. They wanted to know because Chancellor John Healey announced in his budget that households in England in bands A to D will receive a £100 cash payment to help with energy bills. Wales and Scotland said they planned to replicate the measure. Those bands were based on a property's value in 1991 as the council tax replaced the controversial poll tax. More than 30 years on, despite calls to update property values in the bands, no government has chosen to do it. Niall talks to Sky's business correspondent Paul Kelso about why it's never been tackled and whether this is the best way to help people with their bills. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: [email protected]

The World and This Is Why join forces for a special episode on Israel's election - a contest that could have significant consequences for the Middle East and the wider world.Niall Paterson is joined live from Israel by Yalda Hakim and Richard Engel, asking why pollsters seem to have got it so wrong, why this might be the world's first AI election, and why Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after 19 years, looks like he might continue to be the most powerful man in the country.Have you got a question for Niall? Email [email protected] can email questions to Richard and Yalda at [email protected] can watch our podcasts on the Sky News app and on our YouTube channel here.