Russia and Ukraine have been fighting for control of the Donbas for years, and it has seen some of the most intensive fighting during the conflict.
 
But why is this eastern region of Ukraine, which borders Russia, so important to President Putin? 
  
Tamara Cohen speaks to our security and defence analyst Professor Michael Clarke and our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn, who's in Kyiv, about why this area is so central to a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.  
  
Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse 
Editor: Wendy Parker 

Brooklyn Beckham renewed his vows earlier this month to his American heiress wife Nicola Peltz - her family was there but not his. 
 
It added to speculation that there is a deep rift in the Beckhams' relationship with their eldest child, after Brooklyn did not appear at any of the celebrations for his father David’s 50th birthday. 
 
Joining Niall Paterson to discuss whether this alleged rift could cause lasting damage to Brand Beckham are Clemmie Moodie, assistant editor at The Sun, and Mark Borkowski, PR expert and media industry commentator. 
 
Producers: Soila Apparicio and Emily Hulme 
Editor: Wendy Parker 

Ukrainians are into their fourth year of fighting to defend their country from Russia, they have suffered huge casualties and are exhausted from the war effort.  
 
But does that mean they are willing to compromise to achieve a peace deal? And after President Zelenskyy’s treatment in the Oval Office, do they think Donald Trump is the right man to negotiate their future? 
 
Niall Paterson speaks to Ukrainian MP Lisa Yasko about her hopes for the talks in Alaska and also to Kyiv-based journalist Peter Dickinson about what sort of peace deal Ukrainians would accept and what daily life is like for people there. 

Producer: Emily Hulme and Matt Musindi
Editor: Wendy Parker

It’s results time for 700,000 A-level and T-level students. It’ll mean final decisions about their future – and whether university is the best option for their finances and their career. 
 
With the huge cost of a three or four-year course, squeezed graduate incomes and fast changes to the job market due to AI, is a degree worth it? 
 
Niall Paterson speaks to business and economics correspondent Paul Kelso about whether the cost of a degree outweighs its reward and just what has changed since Tony Blair vowed to get 50% of school-leavers going to university in 1999.  

Producer: Emily Hulme  
Editor: Paul Stanworth 

Who are the Israeli settlers forcing Palestinians from their homes?  
 
Chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay has been in the West Bank, witnessing the Israeli settlers who are forcing Palestinians from their homes. He also sees how the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) is protecting the growing number of Israelis claiming this land is theirs.  
 
Stuart meets one Palestinian man who left for work and when he returned home, he found it had been taken over by Israeli settlers. He also meets the settlers who say this land belongs to them.  
 
To watch Stuart’s film in full, click here.  
 
Producer: Natalie Ktena  
Editor: Paul Stanworth  

Anas Al-Sharif was one of five journalists among seven people killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza City. The five worked for the broadcaster Al Jazeera.  

Israel says Sharif was the head of a Hamas cell but has only produced limited evidence about its claims.  

Al Jazeera rejected the accusations and said the strike was a "blatant" attack on press freedom.  

On this episode, Niall Paterson and Sky News international correspondent Diana Magnay look at Anas Al-Sharif's career, Israel's claims and the international condemnation of what happened. 

Producer: Natalie Ktena and Emily Hulme
Editor: Paul Stanworth  

Arthur Knight was an Irishman, wrongly arrested – he claimed – whilst recovering from a coma in a Glasgow hospital. Except “Arthur Knight” didn’t exist.  
 
His real name is Nicholas Rossi – a convicted sex offender, originally from the United States, who is now facing trial in Utah on two further counts of rape.  
 
But for years, he attempted to convince Scottish authorities he was the victim of a wild conspiracy.  
 
Rossi’s extradition hearing was covered at the time by Sky News’ correspondent, James Matthews, who joins Niall Paterson on The Daily to relive those extraordinary events ahead of the start of his new trial. 
 
Producers: Emily Hulme and Emma Rae Woodhouse 
Editor: Mike Bovill  

Audio clip credits:
NBC - Dateline
“I am not Nicholas” Audible podcast

He’s been warned against a full military occupation by 600 former Israeli military officials. 
 
But after 22 months of war, that’s exactly what Benjamin Netanyahu wants. 
 
What would long-term occupation mean for Gazans, Israel, the Middle East and the world? 
 
What would it be like for those living in Gaza? Will the Israeli hostages be returned? 
 
And is there any other option in Netanyahu’s eyes? 
 
Niall Paterson is joined on the Sky News Daily by a Palestinian aid worker in Gaza and Professor Yossi Mekelberg, senior consulting fellow for the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House. 
 
Producer: Alix Culbertson  
 
Editor: Mike Bovill 

No evidence of bullying, misogyny or racism. On the face of it, good news for the Duke of Sussex. 
But there's still plenty of fallout from a very public row ignited by the woman still in charge of the charity set up by Harry in honour of his mother, that he's now walked away from.  

Earlier this year, Sentebale's chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, used an interview with Sky News' Trevor Phillips to accuse Harry of "harassment and bullying at scale". 

The prince strenuously denied those claims and has now been cleared by the Charity Commission, which found no evidence to back up Dr Chandauka's accusations. 

However, it did find the internal - yet very public - dispute at Sentebale "severely impacted the charity's reputation". 

So, what next for Harry and the charity that was once so close to his heart? Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's royal correspondent, Rhiannon Mills, to discuss the fallout. 

Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse 
Editor: Mike Bovill 

The "King Kong" of weight loss drugs, Mounjaro, should finally be available on the NHS. So, why are thousands of patients still waiting for a treatment that could transform their lives? 

Mounjaro was meant to be rolled out across the NHS in England from 23 June for those with the highest clinical need. 

However, a Sky News investigation has found it is only available in eight out of 42 NHS integrated care boards, prompting accusations of a "postcode lottery". 

Many providers will not make it available until autumn, while nearly half of NHS boards said they will cap the number of people they treat due to a lack of funding. 

Our science and medical correspondent, Thomas Moore, joins Niall Paterson on the Sky News Daily podcast as he investigates how the shortfall will cost the NHS and wider society. 

Gary, who weighs 25 stone (159kg) and has several obesity-related conditions, speaks to Thomas about the implications of being told Mounjaro is not available in his area. 

Producer: Emma-Rae Woodhouse and Emily Hulme 

Editor: Mike Bovill 

 
If you bought a car as far back as 2007 with a loan organised through your car dealership, you could be eligible for a payout. 
 
The regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, is consulting on a compensation scheme - and it's thought up to 40% of motorists who entered personal contract purchase (PCP) or hire purchase agreements between 2007 and 2021 will be eligible for a payout. 
 
Niall Paterson talks to Sky's business correspondent Gurpreet Narwan about who might be eligible. 
 
He also speaks to Adrian Dally, director of motor finance at the Finance and Leasing Association, who argues the payout levels look too high at this stage. 
 
Producer: Emily Hulme 
Editor: Wendy Parker 

After doubling down in a very public row with Nigel Farage, Peter Kyle is the minister of the moment.  
In an interview with Sky News, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology caused controversy by suggesting Mr Farage was "on the side" of sexual predators like Jimmy Savile because of his opposition to the Online Safety Act. 

Mr Farage described the comment as "disgusting " and demanded an apology.  

But in a post on X, Mr Kyle went further, stating: "If you want to overturn the Online Safety Act you are on the side of predators. It is as simple as that." 

So, who is the man behind the politician? Peter Kyle's meteoric rise through the Labour ranks has come despite a life-long struggle with dyslexia, as well as dealing with the grief of the unexpected death of his partner. 

Niall Paterson speaks to chief political correspondent, Jon Craig, and the former Labour cabinet minister, Baroness Armstrong – who gave Mr Kyle his first job in politics. 

Producer: Emily Hulme 
Editor: Mike Bovill 

Measles vaccination rates are at their lowest level in sixteen years in England and there’s fears that it’s led to a rise in the number of cases.   According to the latest Government figures an additional 145 cases have been reported since the beginning of the month. It comes weeks after the death of a child with measles at the Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool, a city with low levels of vaccination.  
 
On the Sky News Daily Niall Paterson talks to Helen Bedford, Professor of Children’s Health at Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health about why parents aren't getting their children vaccinated and what it means for the rest of the population.  

Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse 
Editor: Rosie Gillott
 

"Nobody's heard of it." That's Donald Trump's dismissive claim about Lesotho – a small country in southern Africa where lives are being devastated by the US president's decision. 

But what are the real-world consequences of Mr Trump's trade war? 

Trump's cuts to US foreign aid means people can't get access to HIV medication and costly tariffs is causing havoc to the economy – both of which are costing lives.  

Sky News' Africa correspondent Yousra Elbagir has been to Lesotho to find out how decisions in Washington are hitting a country thousands of miles away.  

Click here to hear more from Yousra, including how the deadly drug Kush is wreaking havoc in West Africa... and why it links to the UK: https://news.sky.com/story/kush-the-deadly-drug-wreaking-havoc-in-west-africa-13391966 

Incontinence and chronic pain are just some of the life-altering effects caused by heavy ketamine use – which is at record levels.

The drug, used in clinical settings as an anaesthetic, sedative and pain reliever, can create hallucinations in users. But those who become addicted to ketamine also face severe bladder and kidney problems.

As the government considers reclassifying ketamine to a Class A substance, Shingi Mararike, our North of England correspondent, has been speaking to people suffering life-changing health consequences, and the people trying to help them.

He joins Niall Paterson on the Sky News Daily to share more about the use of the drug.

Plus, Dr Caroline Copeland, a senior lecturer in pharmacology and toxicology at King's College London and director of the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality, talks to Niall about why the discussion on ketamine needs to go beyond criminalisation.

Producers: Soila Apparicio, Araminta Parker 
Editor: Mike Bovill 

After claiming back-to-back European titles, the Lionesses are now the first senior England football side to win a major tournament away from home.  
 
The team had to overcome physical and psychological adversity throughout the tournament – from poor performances and penalty drama to a player being subjected to horrendous racial abuse. So how did inspirational manager, Sarina Wiegman, beat the odds once more? 
 
On today's episode, our sports correspondent, Rob Harris, relives the highs and lows of Euro 2025 and we speak to the former FA Head of Women’s Football, Baroness Sue Campbell – one of the main architects of the Lionesses’ success. 

Producers: Araminta Parker, Emily Hulme
Editor: Mike Bovill

33-year-old defender Lucy Bronze has been at the heart of the England team for over a decade, with 139 caps so far. She's had a crucial role in getting the Lionesses to the finals of Euro 2025 with her penalty kick proving a turning point in the quarter-finals.  
 
Shirts with her name on the back are amongst the most commonly worn by England fans, a testament to her contribution to the growth of the women's game. 
 
On today's episode, Niall Paterson learns about Bronze's work ethic and the challenges she's overcome, with former teammate Lianne Sanderson and Sky News sports presenter Jacquie Beltrao.  
 
Producers: Soila Apparicio and Emily Hulme 
Editor: Wendy Parker  

The doctors' union, the British Medical Association, is calling for a pay rise of 29.2% to reverse "pay erosion" since 2008/09. The government has offered 5.4%. 

In previous strikes, around 1.5 million appointments were cancelled or rescheduled, but this time hospitals have been told to cancel non-urgent work only in "exceptional circumstances".  

In today’s episode, Niall Paterson talks to Sky’s health correspondent Ashish Joshi about how the NHS will deal with the walkout and also to resident doctor Bhasha Mukherjee about why she voted for strike action. 
 
Producer: Emily Hulme 
Editor: Wendy Parker  

Ozzy Osbourne made a musical genre. For millions of metal fans, Ozzy and Black Sabbath came up with the sound which influenced countless others. 
 
Heavy metal will always be linked with Birmingham – Ozzy's home city, where he returned to perform in early July. 
 
On this Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson looks at how a working-class lad from Aston became a cultural icon and gave the city its own musical identity. 
 
Niall speaks to Sky News entertainment reporter Gemma Peplow who covered the "Back To Beginning" gig and to Jez Collins, a historian at the Birmingham Music Archive. 
 
Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse  
Editor: Paul Stanworth  

Warning: This episode contains themes of racism and homophobia which listeners may find upsetting.
 
No gays, no Jews, and definitely no non-whites. It’s messaging that reminds us of a segregated United States – a time that apparently ended in the 1960s. But a community in Arkansas, called Return to the Land, wants to establish a whites-only town, and think they have the legal standing to do so. 
 
The group says it’s about freedom and community - but critics say it’s “pure white supremacist rhetoric”.  

Tom Cheshire, our data and forensics' correspondent, went to visit this whites-only community in Arkansas, and joins host Niall Paterson to tell him about the people he met. Niall also speaks to Dr Heidi Beirich, an expert on the American and European far-right, about Return to the Land’s ideology, and why white nationalism is on the rise in the US. 

Producer: Soila Apparicio 
Editor: Philly Beaumont