War is raging in the Middle East after the US and Israel carried out strikes on Iran.

Keir Starmer has risked his special relationship with Donald Trump by initially blocking the US from using UK airbases.

Despite later changing his mind, what kind of tightrope is the prime minister walking – and can he stop Britain being sucked into war?

Niall is joined on this first-ever episode of This Is Why by Sky’s security and defence editor Deborah Haynes and international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn.

Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show – why@sky.uk

Welcome to This Is Why.

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 from Monday 2 March 2026.

This Is Why is a Sky News podcast – if you have a question, contact us: why@sky.uk

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 from Monday 2 March 2026.

This Is Why is a Sky News podcast – if you have a question, contact us: why@sky.uk

When is a shadow fleet not a shadow fleet?

Perhaps when it’s shipping millions of dollars' worth of crude oil through the English Channel in broad daylight.

The UK has imposed sanctions on the Russian oil trade since the start of the full invasion of Ukraine - but tankers helping to fund Putin’s war machine are operating in the Channel with apparent impunity.

Niall is joined by Sky’s business correspondent Paul Kelso - who trailed some of these ‘shadow fleet’ vessels in the English Channel.

Producers: Paul Wilkinson and Tom Gillespie

Editor: Mike Bovill

A Sky News exclusive has found that at least 21 police forces in England are still using Microsoft Copilot, despite it being at the centre of the Maccabi Tel Aviv incident last year.

In November, football fans of the Israeli team were banned from attending an away match against Aston Villa in Birmingham.

West Midlands Police had determined the risk was too high. The resulting outcry – including from the UK Prime Minister – led to the force’s Chief Constable standing down.

The force eventually admitted it had included false information provided by artificial intelligence software in justifying the decision.

So why are many other constabularies still using the same platform?

Microsoft has told Sky News it "continuously evaluates" Copilot and urges companies to review how they are using it.

Niall speaks to Sky News Sports Correspondent Rob Harris following his investigation.

Producers: Paul Wilkinson and Sam Gruet

Editor: Mike Bovill

Could the use of drones break the stalemate in the Ukraine war?

Tomorrow marks the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion - and for most of this time, it has seemed there was no end in sight.

However, technological developments have led to the increased use of drones on the frontline.

How have these remote-controlled devices become the dominant weapon on the battlefield, and have they changed the nature of warfare forever?

Gareth Barlow speaks to Sky's international correspondent Alex Rossi and Ukraine producer Azad Safarov in Kyiv about coming under fire from drones on the frontline themselves.

Producers: Sam Gruet and Paul Wilkinson

Editor: Mike Bovill

Imagine being in a room surrounded by £64bn worth of gold.

It’s a glittering reality Sky’s economics and data editor Ed Conway experienced in one of 12 huge vaults below the Bank of England.

To be granted access to the vaults is incredibly rare, not least because the gold bars inside them has been skyrocketing in value globally.

So why is so much gold just sitting under London’s streets? Who does it belong to? Ed joins Niall to discuss what it’s like to be in the vaults below London.

Producers: Soila Apparicio, Luke Hatten, Tom Gillespie

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on his 66th birthday following revelations in the Epstein files.

The former prince’s links with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein have been known for years - so has the Royal Family done enough to investigate any potential wrongdoing?

Andrew has always denied any allegations of illegality in connection with Epstein.

Niall is joined by Sky’s royal correspondent, Rhiannon Mills, to discuss the crisis and what’s next for the Royal Family.

Producers: Emily Hulme, Tom Gillespie

Editor: Wendy Parker