This Is Why

End the war, get the oil tankers moving, and the world’s economy returns to normal. It sounds easy. It really isn’t.

Donald Trump and the Iranian regime have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the hopes of bringing the four-month conflict to an end.

But the key objective of allowing global shipping to pass freely through the currently Iran controlled Strait of Hormuz is far less straightforward than it may appear.

From the threat of minefields to a change of heart over military action, it could take months – if not longer – for the region to return to normal.

Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's military analyst Sean Bell.

Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk

"Just one of those things." A typically British response to an unprecedented act of belligerence.

When Alan and Jane Kelvey took their yacht out for a sail across the English Channel, the last thing they expected was to be at the centre of a huge diplomatic incident.

But when a Russian-flagged frigate fired warning shots as the couple sailed nearby, it was yet another sign of the breakdown in relations between the Kremlin and the UK.

Was this an indirect response to the impounding of a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker by British forces? Why are Moscow’s warships operating so close to the UK coastline in the first place? And is it another example of the Royal Navy's lack of resources?

Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s military analyst Professor Michael Clarke.

Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk

It's not just teenagers having tantrums over TikTok, a social media ban for under-16s could have unforeseen consequences for anyone who uses the internet.
The government's decision to crack down on everything from YouTube to AI chatbots was announced on Monday – but remained short on detail.
How will any ban work in practice? Is this all being pushed through to provide a legacy for the prime minister? And will every adult user now have to prove they're over-16, with a potential impact on privacy and civil liberties?
Niall Paterson speaks to the tech journalist and broadcaster Will Guyatt.
Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk

It was Donald Trump’s 80th birthday present to himself – announcing the US had finally agreed a peace plan with Iran. But is it really a done deal, especially when it comes to Iran’s nuclear ambitions?
In fact, is it a deal at all? The two sides are understood to have reached a Memorandum of Understanding, bringing an end to the fighting and a start to 60 days of further negotiations.
But whilst Iran has again reiterated its commitment to not produce a nuclear weapon, the future of the country’s uranium enrichment programme is far more vague.
Will Mr Trump be satisfied his original war aims have succeeded? And what about the role of Israel in any longer-term peace deal for the region?
Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s International Affairs Correspondent Dom Waghorn.
Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
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LEDs were supposed to be one of the great environmental success stories: a revolutionary technology that uses a fraction of the energy of traditional light bulbs. But have they really saved the world?
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Because when you look closely enough, even the simplest things turn out to matter more than you think.
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