Episodes
Days before Donald Trump’s inauguration Mark Zuckerberg has announced META is scrapping third-party fact-checking which he says will 'curtail censorship'. But could this lead to a bonfire of misinformation? On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Sky’s science and tech team Tom Clarke and Mickey Carroll about how social media companies are already bending in the direction of the president-elect and what the future of social platforms could be like under Trump’s presidency. They also discuss the looming ban of TikTok and whether the Chinese-operated platform has a place under Mr ...
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is not having the easiest time reining in the economy. Last week saw markets turn against Labour's economic strategy - with the cost of government borrowing surging and the pound dropping to its lowest value against the dollar since November 2023. On today's Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our economics and data editor Ed Conway to understand what is causing the UK's growth to flatline. Is it a result of "global trends" as the government would have us believe? Or are the troubled chancellor's budget rules too tight and starting to unravel? And as...
The UK's first safer drug consumption room will open in Glasgow's East End on Monday. It will allow users to take illegal substances under medical supervision in the hope they will get help with their addiction. Known as the Thistle, it will be open 365 days a year from 9am to 9pm. But Scotland has the worst rate of drug deaths in Europe and with this facility finally ready after 10 years in the making, some are questioning if it will reduce drug deaths. Niall Paterson speaks to our Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies, who has been to look inside the service and shares more about how it...
Weight loss injections like Wegovy and Mounjaro are being taken by so many people in the UK that obesity statistics could fall for the first time ever. More than 500,000 people in the UK are now on the drugs and could lose between 15-20% of their weight in just a few months. But around 95% of all patients using the medication are buying it privately, while the rollout on the NHS remains slow. On today's Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our science and medical correspondent Thomas Moore, who has been looking into the incredible success of the drug on the private market, and ...
A torrent of posts from X owner Elon Musk has thrown an unexpected spotlight on the issue of historical grooming gangs in the last week. In the early 2010s, dozens of men, the majority of British Pakistani origin, were convicted of crimes including rape, sex trafficking, and child sexual exploitation that had gone undetected for years. The true number of victims is still unknown. On today's Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our home editor Jason Farrell and Lucy Duckworth, from the Survivors Trust, herself a survivor of child abuse, to explain why the recommendations of numerous in...
Elon Musk, the world's richest man, South African-born American resident and owner of X (formerly Twitter), is already within the fold of US politics and president-elect Trump's upcoming government. Recently, more of his attention has turned to Europe, with Musk sharing support for the far-right German party AfD, Nigel Farage's Reform UK and far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Niall Paterson looks to unpick what Musk's aims for European politics might be. Our deputy political editor Sam Coates joins Niall to discuss the billionaire's posts on X and the political reaction to them. P...
As Winter sickness hits the NHS, the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has unveiled the government's plans to support the service with a new partnership with the private sector. Labour want to get waiting times for non-urgent care back down to the target of 18 weeks over the next five years, with Sir Keir saying the new arrangement will mean "resources of private hospitals [are] more readily available to the NHS". The plan includes the development of new "community diagnostic centres". Ashish Joshi, our health correspondent, speaks to Niall from one in a shopping centre in Wood Green,...
On New Year's Day two separate attacks hit New Orleans and Las Vegas. In the early hours, 14 people were killed and 35 injured when a man drove a pick-up truck through the heart of New Orleans' party district. Later a Tesla vehicle exploded outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas, killing one and injuring seven others. Sky's US correspondents James Matthews and Martha Kelner host the Sky News Daily from New Orleans and Las Vegas to uncover exactly what happened, what we know about the suspects, and if security services missed warning signs. Producers: Rosie Gillott, Soila Apparicio Ed...
While the Sky News Daily is on a Christmas break we’re replaying you some of the most memorable episodes we recorded in 2024. Including our discussion on what made Oasis so special. In August brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher announced they'll reunite for a tour in 2025. On this episode, Terry Christian, the man who gave the band their national debut on The Word, says he "didn't think there was anything special" when first seeing Oasis live, but the band's "vibe" and Liam's "confidence" made them "amazing". Host Liz Bates also hears from Neil McCormick, the Telegraph's chief music critic a...
While the Sky News Daily is on a Christmas break we’re replaying you some of the most memorable episodes we recorded in 2024. Including our episode which discusses how we choose to die in the UK. In November the assisted dying bill began making its way through parliament. If it passes, it will make it legal for adults who are terminally ill, to be given medical assistance to end their own life. It sparked a national conversation – not just about assisted dying, but about how we die in the UK. On the Sky News Daily we spoke to Dr Rachel Clarke, a pallative care doctor, about what we can a...
While the Sky News Daily is on a Christmas break, we're replaying you some of the most memorable episodes we recorded in 2024 - starting with Ozempic. Anti-obesity jabs like Ozempic could reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes or heart failure in obese people regardless of the amount of weight they lose while on the drug.Researchers found after three years of treatment participants had a 20% lower risk of obesity and its associated health impacts, which currently cost the NHS more than £6bn each year.On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Sky's science and medical correspondent ...
This year, Boxing Day marks the twentieth anniversary of the tsunami that caused 230,000 deaths around South East Asia.So with the Daily on a brief break, we're replaying an episode of Storycast which tells the story of Martunis.On 26 December 2004, one of the deadliest disasters in history struck when tsunami waves were triggered by a massive earthquake. A Sky News camera crew would discover an eight-year-old boy named Martunis among the devastation.Their subsequent report was seen by Cristiano Ronaldo - the Portuguese football star, known to many as the greatest player of his generation, ...
Niall Paterson and Sky News royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills chart a remarkable year for the Royal Family – a year Prince William has said has been the “hardest” of his life. In this final episode, Niall and Rhiannon look to Prince Harry and Meghan and their continued life as outsiders living in the US. Has their relationship with the UK improved? And 2024 has been a successful year for Harry’s court cases against the tabloid press, but will that continue in 2025? Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont Audio credit: ITV1, Tabloids On Trial
Niall Paterson and Sky News royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills chart a remarkable year for the Royal Family - a year Prince William has described as being the "hardest" of his life. Our second episode looks at heir to the throne Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales. Niall and Rhiannon discuss the frenzy leading up to Kate's cancer diagnosis, and the family's reaction to it. Plus, how is William redefining how he wants to do royalty, and how does that shape up for his future as King? Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont
Niall Paterson and Sky News royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills chart a remarkable year for the Royal Family - a year Prince William has described as being the "hardest" of his life. Our first episode focuses on the King and Queen. Charles's cancer diagnosis defined his year. Niall and Rhiannon discuss the ripple effects of his health on royal duties, with Camilla stepping into the spotlight. And how are Commonwealth nations feeling about the monarchy in 2024? This year has seen protests from the UK to Australia, plus Niall and Rhiannon look at the investigations into royal finances, P...
A Sky News investigation has found illegal casinos are allowing children to gamble using their accounts on Roblox, one of the most popular video games in the world. Although the unlicensed casinos are not published on Roblox, they allow children of any age to sign up using their Roblox credentials to bet their in-game currency (Robux) on games like slots and blackjack. In response to Sky’s investigation, the Gambling Commission has taken action against the "criminal" websites, but how were they allowed to operate for so long? Niall is joined by our science and technology reporter, Mickey ...
Prince Andrew says he "ceased all contact" with a businessman accused of being a Chinese spy after government advice and that "nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed". Court documents revealed the alleged Chinese spy known as Yang Tengbo, who is now banned from the UK, formed links at the heart of the British establishment and previously became close to Andrew. How was that possible? Niall is joined by our royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills and our home editor Jason Farrell to explain how the story unfolded, what the wider implications are for the UK and what Prince Andrew's involv...
When the CEO of a private health insurance company - Brian Thompson - was shot and killed in New York City, the ensuing manhunt for his killer dominated the headlines. But online, a very different story was unfolding. Niall Paterson is joined by Olive Enokido-Lineham, a journalist in Sky's OSINT data and forensics unit, to explain how speculation about the gunman's motives sparked a debate about healthcare in the US. Plus, Katherine Keneally, who tracks extremism and political violence in the US for the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, explores the difference between suspect Luigi Man...
Sara Sharif, a 10-year-old girl from Surrey, was found dead in her home in August 2023 with extensive injuries indicating prolonged abuse. Her father, Urfan Sharif, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, have been convicted of her murder, while her uncle, Faisal Malik, was found guilty of causing or allowing her death. The trio initially fled to Pakistan but were apprehended on their return to the UK. Sara's death has prompted a review of child safeguarding practices to prevent such incidents in the future. Niall Paterson hears about the case from our social affairs correspondent Becky Johns...
Saudi Arabia has been awarded the men's 2034 World Cup. It will be the crowning event in its sport spending spree, having already reportedly invested £5bn since 2021, as it tries to diversify away from oil. Niall Paterson is joined by Sky News' Rob Harris and Middle East football expert James M Dorsey to discuss what it means for football and the kingdom. The plans are not lacking in ambition and include a new stadium 350m above ground level, in an as-yet unbuilt futuristic carless city. But big questions remain about how the country landed the tournament, with its bid unopposed a...
On the Sky News Daily, Darren McCaffrey is joined by chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay to hear what the reaction has been on the streets of Damascus to the toppling of President Bashar al Assad's regime. They discuss if joy is already being tempered with fear about what happens next for the country, with lead rebel group HTS's intentions unclear. Plus, with Assad gone, Stuart discusses what further brutal aspects of his regime are now being uncovered, including at Sednaya prison. Producer: Alex Bishop Editor: Philly Beaumont
Bashar al Assad's 24-year dictatorship collapsed over the weekend as rebel forces took control of the Syrian capital Damascus. Assad and his family have reportedly fled to Moscow under the protection of his long-term ally President Putin, ending a 13-year civil war that’s believed to have killed over 350,000 people. Sky’s defence analyst Prof Michael Clarke joins host Niall Paterson to explain how a mild-mannered doctor became one of the world’s deadliest dictators, and how a rebel force swept him and his Russian-backed army away in less than a week. Podcast Producer: Alex Bishop ...
When 'Jodie' discovered images of herself had been turned into fake pornography, she felt her "whole world fall away". "I was seeing images of me that weren't real, but that looked very, very real," she told Matt Barbet on today's episode of the Sky News Daily. She's one of a growing number of women dealing with deepfake nudes, as the software to digitally transform a clothed picture into a naked one is easier to get hold of. Jodie joins Matt and Professor Clare McGlynn, who focuses on cyberflashing and image-based sexual abuse, to discuss how tech companies and the law are allowing t...
It's Romania's turn at the polls on Sunday, and a far-right candidate has made a surprise lead in the first round of voting. Călin Georgescu is a little-known, independent, anti-NATO, pro-Russia candidate, who is in a presidential run-off against centrist leader Elena Lasconi. The social media platform TikTok is credited with helping Georgescu to make those unexpected gains -becoming an effective way for the right to spread its message, and sway voter opinion. But Romania's authorities have suggested "a state-sponsored actor" has made a major attempt to interfere in the elections using ...
South Korean MPs have begun impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol after his shock announcement of martial law that sparked a very short-lived political crisis.On the Sky News Daily Niall Paterson asks, what was he thinking? He speaks to Asia correspondent Cordelia Lynch who is in Seoul about the events that have unfolded since the announcement. Plus, John Nilsson-Wright, Head of the University of Cambridge’s Japan and Korea programme discusses president Yoon’s politics and the ramifications for the wider region.Podcast Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont
Young men are ditching the mainstream politics of Labour and the Conservatives for Nigel Farage and Reform UK, much more so than young women. Our political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh has been speaking to those voices to unpack what’s fueling this gendered political divide and why mainstream parties are struggling to connect. Niall Paterson is joined by Serena and producer Isobel Losseff, and Dr Jilly Kay, a senior lecturer in communications and media at Loughborough University, to discuss the rising influence of TikTok and the so-called “bro vote”, exploring why Gen Z men are ral...
Gregg Wallace has stepped away from presenting BBC's MasterChef after accusations he made sexual comments towards staff and celebrity guests on a range of programmes over 17 years. In response to the allegations, which he denies, Mr Wallace initially dismissed his accusers as "middle-class women of a certain age". On today’s Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Dorothy Byrne, ex-head of news and current affairs at Channel 4, and Philippa Childs, head of the TV, film and theatre union Bectu, about what the allegations, and Wallace’s reaction, tell us about attitudes to women in the media. ...
Louise Haigh has resigned as transport secretary after Sky News discovered she pleaded guilty to an offence related to incorrectly telling police that a work mobile phone was stolen in 2013. She’s the first minister to resign from Sir Keir Starmer’s new Labour government and says she stepped down in order to prevent the story from becoming a distraction. Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s political correspondent Rob Powell, and political reporter Alex Rogers to discuss their scoop. Podcast Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont
As the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah comes into effect, Niall Paterson speaks with Sky’s Jeehad Jneid who reports from southern Lebanon as millions attempt to return to their homes. The day after the 7 October attacks, Hezbollah began to launch rocket strikes into Israel in a show of support for Hamas. Israeli has carried out retaliatory strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon since then, and tensions escalated earlier this year following a strike on Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. In this episode we ask what life has been like for Lebanese citizens in the year that followed, ...
Elon Musk and Donald Trump have a plan for America... to get people making babies. The tech billionaire, Donald Trump’s soon-to-be government efficiency tsar, is a proponent of pronatalism, an emerging movement in US politics that says US citizens should be having more babies and that it’s their duty to do so. Niall Paterson is joined by our US correspondent Martha Kelner to deep-dive into Musk’s views and where they come from. Martha speaks to Errol Musk, Elon’s father, and one IVF doctor in America, who is expecting a boom in business. Producers: Soila Apparicio, Rosie Gillott Edito...