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This Is Why

Sky News
This Is Why
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  • This Is Why

    Why King Charles can't apologize for Britain benefitting from slavery

    2026/10/30 | 18 mins.
    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.
  • This Is Why

    Why your council tax band dates back to 1991

    2026/10/29 | 18 mins.
    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: why@sky.uk
  • This Is Why

    Israel’s ‘AI Election’

    2026/10/28 | 26 mins.
    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 why@sky.uk
    You can email questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk
    You can watch our podcasts on the Sky News app and on our YouTube channel here.
  • This Is Why

    Why leaving Spurs won Harry Kane the Ballon d'Or

    2026/10/27 | 15 mins.
    Aged eight, Harry Kane risked being written off when he was released by Arsenal. But Kane persisted, and he was taken on by Tottenham Hotspur's academy. He went on to become the club's all-time top scorer, but his goals didn't result in any trophies for Spurs.
    His move to Bayern Munich changed that, with the striker having won the Bundesliga twice since moving to Germany. Also, under his captaincy, England achieved their best result at a World Cup since 1966 this summer.
    Niall talks to Rob Harris, Sky's sports correspondent, about how Kane, aged 33, became the first English player to win football's top individual prize in 25 years.
    Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
  • This Is Why

    Why Melania's ceasefire will be a lifeline for besieged Ukrainians in Oleshky

    2026/10/26 | 15 mins.
    People are surviving on plants, have no power and hardly any water in Oleshky, a Ukrainian city occupied by Russia since the first days of the 2022 full-scale invasion.

    Ukraine says Russia is using its inhabitants as a human shield to stop Kyiv launching an attack to regain the strategic city.

    On Tuesday, a ceasefire organised by Melania Trump and the Pope is due to come into effect, which it's hoped will lead to the evacuation of the remaining residents, most of whom are elderly.

    Niall speaks to Sky's chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay who has just been to an area near Oleshky and spoke to people there about how they are surviving.

    Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
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About 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. This Is Why is a Sky News podcast – if you have a question, contact us: why@sky.uk
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