Sky News Daily

The King and Queen are on a state visit to France this week, which includes stops in Paris and Bordeaux. The three-day trip would have been Charles’ first royal visit abroad as King back in March – but it was delayed due to the violent protests taking place over President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reforms. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by François-Joseph Schichan, former French diplomat and political adviser to the French ambassador in the UK, to explore how our closest ally views both the King and the UK’s current politics. Plus, former Labour foreign secretary Dame Margaret Beckett takes us through her assessment of the current strength of Anglo-French relations. Producer: Soila Apparicio Senior Producer: Annie Joyce Interview Producer: Melissa Tutesigensi Promotion Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Wendy Parker

The reaction - to a move by Rishi Sunak to delay the government’s green policies – has been mixed to say the least, with opposition parties slamming the prime minister’s leadership as “weak” and the decision “damaging” for the climate. As net zero sceptics cheered there was criticism from some in the car industry and the more environmentally minded Conservative politicians. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our science correspondent Thomas Moore and Politico’s UK editor Jack Blanchard for their analysis and a deeper look at what it all means politically, as well as for voters, industry and climate change. Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Podcast promotion producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Wendy Parker

Sky News has uncovered how online streamers may be breaking UK gambling laws by promoting crypto casinos - and there are questions over whether the casinos are doing enough to monitor this. Crypto casinos are similar to 'normal' online casinos, offering virtual versions of popular games like slot machines. The difference is they use digital currencies: players convert pounds, euros and dollars into virtual cash such as Bitcoin to gamble with. This type of casino is illegal in the UK, with the Gambling Commission taking a hardline stance against any operator that accepts cryptocurrency as a direct method of payment. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood explores crypto casinos with our investigative reporter Sanya Burgess, and what harms they could cause. Podcast producer: Soila Apparicio Promotions producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Wendy Parker

Actor and comedian Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse in a joint investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches. Brand says he "absolutely" denies the allegations. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Head of Investigations at The Times, Paul Morgan-Bentley, about the allegations Brand faces and the latest on the investigation. Plus, Alice Enders, head of research at Enders Analysis, discusses if the entertainment industry is being held accountable for protecting women in the workplace. A warning that on this podcast we discuss the details of the sexual assault and rape claims. *While we've got you...please take a few moments to let us know your thoughts on our podcasts and your listening preferences by filling in a short survey - Click here Podcast producer: Alex Edden and Emma-Rae Woodhouse Interviews producer: Melissa Tutesigensi Promotions producer: David Chipakupaku Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Editor: Adam Jay

Rescuers are calling for more body bags to be sent to a Libyan city hit by catastrophic flooding - as fears of waterborne diseases grow. More than 11,300 people are known to have died - and this could reach up to 20,000, with a further 10,100 missing. Meanwhile, attempts to coordinate humanitarian aid have been hampered by Libya's fractured government - caused by years of political instability and civil unrest. Today on Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks with Sky News Africa correspondent Yousra Elbagir from the port city of Derna, which was devastated when two dams collapsed, unleashing a tsunami that washed entire city blocks into the Mediterranean Sea. Sky News special correspondent Alex Crawford also joins Niall from Derna, as rescue teams scramble to find survivors in the rubble. This podcast contains graphic descriptions. *While we've got you...please take a few moments to let us know your thoughts on our podcasts and your listening preferences by filling in a short survey. Click here Podcast Producer: Soila Apparicio Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Adam Jay

Important figures on employment, wages, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) have been released this week; all tell a story about how the UK economy is performing. The Sky News Daily's Niall Paterson sits down with our economics and data editor Ed Conway to find out what the numbers mean. Podcast Producer: Soila Apparicio Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Adam Jay

Every day more than 3000 pupils miss school because they have been suspended. It’s a record number that has shot up since the pandemic, especially for girls, who are being sent home at twice the national rate. It’s raised concerns these suspended students are slipping through the cracks, but leading teachers say a national shortage of alternative forms of education is putting unprecedented demand on the system. Today’s Sky News Daily episode features Nick Martin on his investigation into this growing educational crisis, a head teacher trying to provide a new path for troubled children and a mother who fears her child will get left behind. Podcast Producer: Alex Edden Interviews Producer: Melissa Tutesigensi Editor: Wendy Parker

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has crossed the border into Russia for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. This is the first time since 2019 that Kim has left North Korea – and a lot has changed since then. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson sits down with security and defence analyst Professor Michael Clarke and Sky’s Moscow correspondent Diana Magnay to unpick what each leader is looking to gain from this meeting, plus how their alliance will impact global security. Producer: Alex Edden Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Wendy Parker

The emergence of a new COVID variant, BA.2.8, has pushed forward the winter vaccination programme, with the rollout starting on Monday in England for older adult care home residents and immunosuppressed people. All over-65s will be offered the jab during the next few weeks. The other nations are also beginning their vaccination programmes this month. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), to discuss the new variant, and the importance of getting vulnerable people vaccinated. Plus, our chief correspondent Stuart Ramsey talks to Niall from the epicentre of the earthquake in Morocco, which has killed 2,500 people so far. Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse and Soila Apparicio Interviews Producer: Melissa Tutesigensi Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Wendy Parker

It's been one year since King Charles took to the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. In this episode of the Sky News Daily podcast, royal correspondent Laura Bundock takes to the presenter chair to reflect on the first year of King Charles's reign. She is joined by the broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, a close friend of the King, plus historian Sir Anthony Seldon, the headmaster of Epsom College. Producer: Alex Edden Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Wendy Parker

Terror suspect Daniel Khalife's escape from HMP Wandsworth – believed to be by strapping himself underneath a delivery lorry - led to a police manhunt involving all 43 forces in England and Wales. The 21-year-old ex-soldier was on remand charged with collecting information which might be useful to an enemy, understood to be Iran. The justice secretary, Alex Chalk, has told MPs that an independent investigation will take place, while suggestions have been made that cuts to the Prison Service and overcrowded conditions at Wandsworth prison are partly to blame. But what does his escape tell us about the state of the prison system in England? On the Sky News Daily, host Niall Paterson speaks to David Shipley, a former inmate at HMP Wandsworth, and Professor John Podmore, an ex-prison governor and inspector, about what's wrong with Wandsworth prison and others across the country? Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Interviews Producer: Melissa Tutesigensi Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Wendy Parker

Birmingham City Council, Europe's largest local authority, has effectively declared bankruptcy, confirming in a statement that all new spending except for protecting vulnerable people and statutory services, must stop immediately. But how does a council go bust? On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our politics and business correspondent Mhari Aurora, as well as Iain Murray from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, who explains how a council can run out of money. Plus, Sarah Hayward shares her experiences working as part Slough Council's senior leadership team, a role she came into a year after its recovery from bankruptcy. Producer: Soila Apparicio Interviews Producer: Melissa Tutesigensi Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Philly Beaumont

China's economy has slipped into deflation as consumer prices declined in July for the first time in more than two years. Ballooning local government debt, weak import and exports, challenges in the housing market, and growing youth unemployment are all contributing to the country's downturn. On the Sky News Daily Dominic Waghorn speaks to our Asia correspondent Helen-Ann Smith about why China's economy is running out of steam. Plus, George Magnus, economist and associate at Oxford University's China Centre talks about the potential impacts for the global economy ahead of the G20 summit. Podcast producers: Emma-Rae Woodhouse, Sydney Pead and Soila Apparicio Podcast promotion producer: David Chipakupaku Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Editor: Paul Stanworth

MPs returned to Westminster after their summer break, but the same can't be said for thousands of children expected in classrooms for the Autumn term – due to the crumbling concrete crisis. More than 100 schools stayed shut on Monday due to safety fears about reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete - or RAAC – while the education secretary Gillian Keegan was caught on camera complaining about not being thanked for doing a "f***ing good job" over it all. On the Sky News Daily, Rob Powell speaks to Adrian Tagg, Building Surveying lead at the University of Reading about how far the crisis may spread. Plus, Sky's Sophy Ridge joins Rob to talk about the political fallout of the RAAC crisis, Labour's reshuffle and the possibility of a new by-election, as her new show The Politics Hub begins on Monday evening. Podcast producer: Emma-Rae Woodhouse Interviews producer: Alex Edden Podcast promotion producer: David Chipakupaku Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce ​​​​​​​Editor: Wendy Parker

It's been 20 years since the Iraq war and the capture of dictator Saddam Hussein. Once Saddam was found, he was kept prisoner in his palace with 12 US soldiers guarding him. Saddam proved to be great company and the troops developed a strong friendship with him - they would play chess with him, exercise with him, and talk about their lives. One soldier, Specialist Adam Rogerson, has spoken to the Sky News Daily podcast about his very personal experience guarding Saddam Hussein until his death. Podcast producer: Soila Apparicio Producer: Tom Gillespie Podcast promotions producer: David Chipakupaku Editors: Paul Stanworth and Wendy Parker

Former transport and energy secretary Grant Shapps has been named as the new head of the Ministry of Defence after Ben Wallace stood down from the role on Thursday morning. Mr Wallace had overseen one of the biggest international responses to the war in Ukraine - with the UK behind only the US in terms of support since the war began, having committed £4.6bn in military assistance. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn and military analyst Professor Michael Clarke to discuss the significance of Mr Shapps' new role given the ongoing war in Ukraine, as well as turning their attention to the use of drone technology on the battlefield. Podcast producer: Emma-Rae Woodhouse Interviews producer: Alex Edden Podcast promotions producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Wendy Parker

Since their World Cup victory, the Spanish team's success has been overshadowed by Spanish football president Luis Rubiales non-consensually kissing player Jenni Hermoso. Hermoso described the actions of Rubiales as an "impulse-driven, sexist out-of-place act without any consent". Rubiales denies this and says it was "spontaneous" and "mutual". The kiss has caused a backlash across football and in Spain, where protesters have called for action "to demand a sport free of sexist violence". On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to football commentator and founding member of Women in Football, Jacqui Oatley about how far the treatment and representation of women in the sport has come, and how far it still has to go. Plus, Spanish journalist Maria Ramírez on why the kiss has sparked its own hashtag #SeAcabó and a MeToo moment that reaches far beyond football. Podcast producer: Rosie Gillott Interviews producer: Alex Edden Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Podcast promotions producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Philly Beaumont

The travel plans of hundreds of thousands of people were thrown into chaos on one of the busiest days of the year for airports, as the UK's air traffic control systems suffered a "technical fault". UK airports are still struggling to recover from the hours-long failure of processing flight plans – with warnings delays could last for days. Downing Street has ruled out a cyberattack, but there is speculation that an incorrect flight plan filed by a French airline could be to blame. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson looks at what went wrong and if a similar problem could happen again. His guests are former air traffic controller Michele Robson, who was stuck at Jersey airport yesterday, and travel editor for The Independent, Simon Calder. Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Podcast producer: Emma-Rae Woodhouse Interviews producer: Alex Edden Podcast promotions producer: David Chipakupaku ​​​​​​​Editor: Paul Stanworth

One of the biggest mafia trials in Italian history is expected to deliver its verdict in the coming weeks. Prosecutors have asked for sentences totalling more than 4,000 years in jail for hundreds of alleged ‘Ndrangheta collaborators. One prosecutor of the ‘Ndrangheta, Nicola Gratteri, cannot travel without a heavy police escort, nor see his children for more than a few hours every couple of months. On the Sky News Daily, host Niall Paterson is joined by our Europe correspondent Siobhan Robbins, who has visited the court where hundreds of ‘Ndrangheta collaborators will be tried, to hear more about what it takes to put this powerful mafia behind bars. Producer: Soila Apparicio Promotions Producer: Jim Farthing Editor: Wendy Parker

Russians have been paying tribute to Yevgeny Prigozhin after it was reported the Wagner leader was among ten people who died when a private jet crashed near Moscow on Wednesday. President Putin has praised his former ally as a “talented businessman” who worked “with good results” in Russia and across Africa, but also said he had “made serious mistakes in his life”. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson takes a deep dive into what it means for President Putin’s hold on power, the war in Ukraine and whether it’s the end of the Wagner group. Niall is joined by our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn and military analyst Sean Bell. Podcast producer: Rosie Gillott Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Podcast promotion producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Wendy Parker