Sky News Daily

In a national address, Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to use nuclear weapons if NATO countries were to join a ground offensive in Ukraine.The suggestion of NATO forces was made by France's President Emmanuel Macron but quickly dismissed by the US, Britain, and Germany.However, it comes amid calls to show more strength against the Kremlin from Baltic leaders, as Russian troops ramp up military operations along land and sea borders in the region.Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are now bolstering their civilian armies and have urged other NATO countries, including the UK, to do the same. Today on the Daily, Anna Jones speaks to Sky's international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn to unpack what Mr Putin said in his latest speech. She also speaks to security and defence editor Deborah Haynes about how Russia's neighbours are readying themselves for battle. Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Podcast Producer: Sydney Pead Assistant producer: Evan Dale Podcast promotion producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John E

Ecuador has become the deadliest country in South America with drug gangs and their Mexican cartel bosses murdering people, detonating car bombs and terrorising communities. The violence exploded earlier this year with gangs promising insurrection after the president of Ecuador put in place a nationwide crackdown following the escape of a drug lord from prison, and armed attack on a TV station. On this edition of Sky News Daily, Tom Cheshire speaks to our chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay, who has had rare access to a prison in the coastal city of Esmeraldas, as the government tries to get a handle on the violence that's taken over Ecuador. Producer: Sydney Pead Assistant producers: Iona Brunker, Evan Dale Promotion Producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John Editor: Philly Beaumont

It's been years since the extent of the Post Office Horizon scandal became clear - but hundreds of sub-postmasters, who were falsely convicted of fraud or financially crippled in the process, are still waiting for financial redress.Today, key players in the scandal - including former sub-postmaster Alan Bates and recently ousted chairman Henry Staunton - gave evidence to MPs about the government's compensation scheme - and why it's taken so long to pay it.But proceedings were somewhat overshadowed by an unexpected revelation by Mr Staunton. When asked about the investigation into his behaviour while at the Post Office, he claimed the main investigation was actually into current CEO Nick Read.On the Sky News Daily, Sophy Ridge is joined by business correspondent Paul Kelso to discuss the drama unfolding at the Post Office, and Labour MP Ian Lavery who's on the committee looking into the major miscarriage of justice. Producers: Alex Edden, Sydney PeadAssistant producers: Iona Brunker, Evan DalePromotion Produce

The former Tory deputy chair, Lee Anderson, has refused to apologise for comments that saw him suspended from the party.He said he believed "Islamists" had "got control" of London's mayor Sadiq Khan - a remark Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called "unacceptable".But Mr Anderson isn't the only politician stoking racial divides, with Azhar Ali standing in this week's Rochdale by-election despite making antisemitic remarks that cost him Labour's backing.The tensions have left many MPs fearing for their personal safety as security has had to be ramped up for several of them.On this edition of the Sky News Daily, Jonathan Samuels speaks to deputy political editor Sam Coates about the toxicity in politics.Plus, Anna Firth, the Conservative MP for Southend West - where the late MP Sir David Amess was killed by an Islamic State sympathiser - describes what it's like to be a member of parliament in the current political climate.Producer: Alex Edden Assistant producer: Iona Brunker Editor: Wendy ParkerPromotion producer: D

Two years on from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the war is largely at a stalemate but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's troops face acute shortages of ammunition.Ukraine's cities still come under regular Russian bombardment, thousands of lives have been lost and many more displaced across Europe. Around 300,000 Ukrainians have applied for visas to come to the UK alone. Many more are in Poland and Germany. Tom Cheshire speaks to international correspondent John Sparks in Kharkiv about what life is like on the ground in Ukraine now and how Ukrainians are ready to continue the fight for their country. And we hear from Anfisa Vlasova who fled Kharkiv after the invasion to come to the UK on what life has been like here and how she and her fellow Ukrainian refugees feel about returning to their homeland. Senior producer: Annie Joyce Assistant producer: Iona BrunkerPromotion producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Wendy Parker

The third largest party in the House of Commons, the SNP, says it doesn't have confidence in its Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle. The Speaker himself says he took decisions about how MPs debated and voted on calls for a ceasefire in Gaza because he wanted as broad a discussion as possible. He's apologised but said the safety of MPs on such a divisive issue was also on his mind. With thousands dead in Gaza and war continuing, the optics of MPs rowing about Commons procedure - rather than debating important international issues - have not sat well with everyone. Niall Paterson speaks to Dr Hannah White from the Institute for Government about why she thinks it's another example supporting the case for parliamentary reform. Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood describes it as his "worst day in Parliament". He recently had dozens of anti-Israel protesters gather outside his home. And chief political correspondent Jon Craig picks over how the chamber moves on from this - and whether Lindsay Hoyle will stay in his job. Producers:

The former chair of the Post Office, Henry Staunton, who was dismissed last month, claims he was told by a top civil servant to "hobble into the election" and delay payouts to sub-postmasters, in a newly released memo. But Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch told MPs there's "no evidence whatsoever that this is true", and called his allegations "a disgrace". The row comes as only 5% of sub-postmaster claimants have received compensation for the Horizon IT scandal so far.Late on Wednesday evening, the government published a letter from Sarah Munby, the former permanent secretary to Kemi Badenoch, responding to claims in The Times that government officials told Mr Staunton to stall on compensation payments to wronged postmasters. The letter stated: "It is not true that I made any instruction, either explicitly or implicitly, to Mr Staunton to in anyway delay compensation payments. I did not."On this edition of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Labour MP and chair of the Business and Trade Committee, Lia

One of the world's most prolific cyber crime gangs has been taken down by law enforcement agencies including the FBI, Europol and the UK's National Crime Agency.Lockbit is an extortion website that held its victims' data for ransom - some of the biggest UK bodies affected were the Royal Mail and the NHS.Five Russians have been charged by US authorities and dozens of crypto accounts frozen.On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by science and technology editor Tom Clarke and crime correspondent Martin Brunt to discuss what Lockbit is, Operation Cronos and what this means for other cyber gangs.Senior podcast producer: Annie JoycePromotions Producer: Jada-Kai Meosa JohnEditor: Wendy Parker

Hundreds of Russians have been detained at memorials to opposition politician Alexei Navalny. Navalny's mother and lawyers have been denied access to his body and authorities have not confirmed its exact whereabouts. Host Adam Parsons is joined by Sky News' Moscow correspondent, Diana Magnay, who has followed Navalny's journey for much of the past decade. She describes what’s happening in Russia, Navalny's legacy and the mood as people continue to pay their respects at makeshift memorials across the country. Adam also hears from Ekaterina Schulmann, a Russian political scientist in exile who has been marked as a foreign agent by Putin's government. Plus, Dr Maxim Alyukov, a political sociologist at King's College London, talks about the upcoming Russian election.Podcast Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse and Alex Edden Assistant Producer: Evan Dale Interviews Producer: Melissa Tutesigensi Promotions Producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John Editor: Philly Beaumont

Alexei Navalny, the most prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has died in jail. Barred in 2018 from running in elections, he remained Mr Putin's most powerful political opponent. He survived a novichok poisoning, after being treated in Germany. But still he chose to return to Russia knowing he would be arrested. He was just 47 when he died while serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism in a prison near the Arctic circle. Today on Sky News Daily, Leah Boleto speaks with our Moscow correspondent Diana Magnay about Mr Navalny's life and how his death will have an impact on his supporters in Russia. We'll also unpack Labour's win in two by-elections overnight with our political correspondent Rob Powell who is in Wellingborough, and what the results could mean for the next general election.Producers: Soila Apparicio, Sydney Pead Assistant Producer: Evan Dale Editor: Wendy Parker

Sky News’ economics and data editor Ed Conway looks at the implications of Britain entering recession on this episode. Although the two quarters of negative growth is a fairly arbitrary definition and could be revised, Ed tells host Greg Milam why the GDP per head figures is the one which could tell us more. They also discuss the political implications for Rishi Sunak who’d made growing the economy one of his big five pledges. Plus, Manchester restaurant owner Karina Jadhav on what recession means for her business. Producer: Alex Edden Assistant producers: Evan Dale, Iona Brunker Interviews producer: Melissa Tutesigensi-Charles Promotions producer: Jonathan Day Editor: Paul Stanworth

In his early weeks as Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer said: “It was very important to me to seek to address the disgrace of antisemitism in our party as soon as possible.” Almost four years on, and months out from a general election, he’s facing a new row about the extent of antisemitism within Labour. Three of his party’s politicians, including two who were standing for parliament, are now linked to a meeting of activists where it’s claimed antisemitic remarks were made. On this episode of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Alex Hearn, director of Labour Against Antisemitism, who says this week has been embarrassing for the Labour leader – who put tackling antisemitism at the centre of his political strategy. Plus, our political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh looks at how the party is trying to show its diligence in picking parliamentary candidates.A full list of the candidates standing in the Rochdale by-election can be found here. This episode contains strong language. Producers: Soila Apparic

Labour is no longer backing a candidate in the Rochdale by-election. Party spokespeople had been out to bat for local councillor Azhar Ali up until Monday afternoon - saying his comments about the Hamas attacks on Israel were informed by an online conspiracy theory and "didn't represent his view". By Monday evening, the full recording of his comments came to light - and Labour backtracked, saying he'd be on the ballot paper but no longer had its support. Sky's chief political correspondent Jon Craig reckons it's Sir Keir Starmer's "biggest crisis yet" - he joins Leah Boleto to explain why.And Leah speaks to marketing expert Catherine Shuttleworth about The Body Shop entering administration. They explore where it went wrong for the chain – and there's a bit of reminiscing about white musk and dewberry oil too. A full list of the candidates standing in the Rochdale byelection can be found here.Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse and Alex EddenAssistant Producer: Iona BrunkerPromotions Producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John Ed

The UK says Israel should "stop and think seriously", the US wants to see a credible plan for civilians - but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists an offensive in Rafah is needed to defeat Hamas.As Israel rescued two hostages in the southern city, dozens were killed in the airstrikes that accompanied the operation.There are now more than a million people in the city - with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees saying conditions are getting worse.So can Israel be convinced to pause any ground offensive?On this Sky News Daily, Leah Boleto speaks to our correspondent in Jerusalem, Diana Magnay, and defence and security analyst Professor Michael Clarke.Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Editor: Paul Stanworth

A new report has suggested the state retirement age may need to rise to 71 to maintain the number of people who financially support the pension system - and it adds that it might need to happen as soon as 2040. On this Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson explores what effect this would have with pensions expert and Conservative peer, Baroness Ros Altmann. Plus, economist and co-author of The 100-Year Life, Andrew Scott, discusses why our outlook on retirement might need to change sooner than we think. Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Podcast producer: Alex Edden Assistant producer: Iona BrunkerPromotion producer: Jonathan DayEditor: Wendy Parker

Joe Biden couldn't remember when he was vice president, according to a new report. And, according to the same investigation, he couldn't remember when his son died. Then, when trying to reassure everyone about the claims about his memory, he confused the presidents of Mexico and Egypt. Not ideal for someone who wants to run for president - and even worse for someone already doing the job. So what has the speculation done for his election chances this year - and for those of his rival, Donald Trump? Yalda Hakim presents this Sky News Daily with political strategist Hilary Rosen and pollster Scarlett Maguire. Senior podcast producer: Annie JoycePodcast producer: Alex Edden Assistant producer: Iona Brunker Editor: Wendy Parker

After weeks of confusion, Sir Keir Starmer has finally announced a row back in Labour's pledge to spend £28bn a year on its flagship green prosperity plan. While the policy will not be completely scrapped, the climbdown comes in the form of the party's spending commitments. The party says the £28bn target will be dropped due to uncertain public finances, and comes a week after Labour's shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves refused to commit to the green spending target ten times, in an interview with Sky's Beth Rigby. On Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson explores this latest backtrack with our deputy political editor Sam Coates and our science and technology editor Tom Clarke. Podcast producers: Sydney Pead and Alex Edden Assistant producer: Evan Dale Editor: Wendy Parker

Chants of 'shame' were heard during Prime Minister's Questions today, after Rishi Sunak made a cutting remark about trans-rights aimed towards Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer. The mother of Brianna Ghey was in Parliament today - just days after her daughter's killers were sentenced.Niall Paterson speaks to our political correspondent, Amanda Akass, about the prime minister's comments and the backlash. Also - should the government pay compensation to the thousands of victims who suffered injuries from pelvic mesh implants and the epilepsy drug, Valproate?It follows a new report calling on the government to urgently set up a financial package worth half a billion pounds, after Sky News reported regulators knew of the effects of Valproate since the 1970s but failed to disclose them to patients.Our home editor, Jason Farrell, looks at the prospects the victims have of receiving compensation, and the damage caused by the scandal. Podcast producers: Alex Edden and Sydney Pead Assistant producer: Evan Dale Interview

In Buckingham Palace’s statement about the King’s cancer diagnosis, it said: “His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.” Britain still lags behind comparable countries when it comes to improving cancer survival rates. So what’s a more typical NHS experience for the almost 400,000 cases diagnosed each year – including the wait between diagnosis and treatment. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson explores the issue with our data and forensics correspondent, Tom Cheshire, and Dr Katharine Halliday, president of The Royal College of Radiologists. Podcast producer: Alex Edden Assistant producers: Evan Dale and Iona Brunker Interviews producer: Melissa Tutesigensi-Charles Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Editor: Paul Stanworth

Buckingham Palace has revealed King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer. While it's not been revealed what type he's being treated for, we know it's not prostate cancer. The announcement marks a big shift in how much the public is being told about a British monarch's health. On this special episode of the Sky News Daily, Mark Austin takes a closer look at what we know so far, its significance and what might happen next with our royal correspondent, Rhiannon Mills and Sky's royal commentator, Alistair Bruce. Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Junior podcast producer: Evan Dale Editor: Dave Terris