Sky News Daily

Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has told the COVID Inquiry: "I was the first minister when the pandemic struck and part of me wishes I hadn't been.” She denied that she used platforms including WhatsApp to have serious policy discussions. She said she'd deleted messages but relevant information was all on public records. On this Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson goes through her answers with Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies. They also talk about whether the pandemic claims have damaged her leadership legacy. Plus, with claims of key Tory cabinet names being part of an "Evil Plotters" WhatsApp group this week - our deputy political editor Sam Coates on the impact WhatsApp messages are having on politics. Producers: Soila Apparicio and Alex Edden Assistant producer: Iona Brunker Promotions producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Paul Stanworth

After nearly two years of political deadlock in Northern Ireland, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) agreed a deal on Monday to restore power sharing to the country, which will be subject to legislation by the UK government. The DUP walked out over post-Brexit trade arrangements that created trade barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. There's been a big impact on public services and a new power sharing government is being promised over £3bn to spend on them. And new post Brexit border controls coming in from 31 January could result higher prices and delays in fresh goods coming in from the EU. On the Sky News Daily with Niall Paterson, our senior Ireland correspondent David Blevins takes us through the significance of the DUP’s agreement. Plus, our business correspondent Paul Kelso explains the latest warnings on trade with Patricia Michelson, founder of London cheese chain La Fromagerie which has been importing artisan cheese from Europe for 40 years. Producer: Emma Rae WoodhouseSenior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Interviews producer: Melissa Tutesigensi-CharlesPromotion producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Wendy Parker

Something a little different today from the Sky News podcast team: episode 1 of Patient 11, a new investigation from Sky News and the Independent.Young mother and former GB youth swimmer, Alexis Quinn, agrees to enter NHS England psychiatric care following a family tragedy. She could never imagine that her three-day admission will turn into a three-year ordeal. Then undiagnosed with autism, and often the subject of 24-hour surveillance as well as long periods in solitary confinement, Alexis descends to the darkest reaches of locked-in, psychiatric care. There, she encounters the kind of threat she never could have imagined in a secure mental health hospital. In a bid to break free, Alexis plots a daring escape. Making it back to her daughter, however, will pit her against some of the most powerful institutions in the State, including the police.This episode contains discussions about sexual assault. Narrated by Nicholas Pinnock (Top Boy, Django, For Life). To hear all episodes now, follow Patient 11 on your favourite podcast player.

Israel's longest serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, faces growing pressure both domestically and internationally over his Gaza strategy. In this podcast, Niall Paterson and Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall discuss Netanyahu's unpopularity, his stance on a two-state solution, and how long he can maintain power. They also explore dissent in Israeli society, the division among hostage families, Israel's failure in intelligence, and the ongoing violence in the region.

The man who killed three people, and injured three others, has been sentenced to detention in a high-security hospital – with the judge saying he'll probably remain there for the rest of his life. Valdo Calocane fatally stabbed 19-year-olds Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar and school caretaker Ian Coates in Nottingham in June last year. Speaking outside court, relatives of the victims criticised police, prosecutors and the NHS – saying they felt "let down" as Calocane’s mental health issues were widely known. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson looks at what more could have been done to prevent the killings as he's joined by our communities correspondent Becky Johnson and Lisa Townsend, who is Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey and mental health lead for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners.Since recording this episode, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said the organisation had "robustly" reviewed its care of Calocane between May 2020 and September 2020. It added that it will continue to work with the police and health services to learn lessons. Podcast producer: Alex Edden Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Interviews producer: Melissa Tutesigensi-Charles Promotion producer: Jonathan Day Editor: Paul Stanworth

The podcast discusses the warnings from the head of the British Army about the possibility of conscription in the UK if Nato were to go to war with Russia. It also explores the under-recruitment and under-strength of the UK military, the need to protect energy supplies, trade routes, and democracies, the impact of austerity cuts on defense, and the reshaping of defense and security.

A second major wave of airstrikes has been carried out by American and British forces on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the group's attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea. The first round of strikes did not deter the Houthis from continuing to attack shipping and the prime minister was pushed in the House of Commons today on what Britain's long-term strategy would be if the Houthis keep up their attacks. On this episode of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by military analyst Michael Clarke and Sky's international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn to analyse the latest decisions made in the conflict. Plus, Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates discusses the politics behind the strikes and what the endgame looks like on home soil. Producer: Alex EddenEditor: Wendy Parker

Throughout the 2000s, serious allegations of child sex abuse became known to Greater Manchester Police. Girls as young as 11 were identified as potential victims. An independent review covering a period between 2004 and 2013, which was published last week, detailed multiple failed investigations by police and an apparent indifference to the safety of the young girls identified as possible victims. Now, one anonymous whistleblower who resigned from GMP last year says the force has not changed and that failures have left a paedophile ring at large for at least seven years. On the Sky News Daily, presenter Anna Jones is joined by our home editor Jason Farrell who has spoken to the anonymous former detective constable. Plus, ex-GMP detective constable Maggie Oliver, who blew the whistle on the poor handling of the Rochdale child sex abuse ring case by the force years ago, reacts to the new accusations. Producers: Soila Apparicio and Alex Edden Promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John Editor: Wendy Parker

Former prime minister Gordon Brown told Sky News he was too old to be a politician in the UK but too young to be one in the US. He has a point, with Americans set to choose between 81-year-old Joe Biden or 77-year-old Donald Trump in November's presidential election, while here in Europe, France's new prime minister is 34-year-old Gabriel Attal. On the Sky News Daily, host Niall Paterson explores whether there is a perfect age for our politicians. He talks to Labour's Harriet Harman, who is the longest-serving woman MP and 'Mother of the House of Commons'. The 73-year-old representative for Camberwell and Peckham has been an MP for more than 40 years. Niall also speaks to Amy Callaghan, SNP MP for East Dunbartonshire, who was elected in 2019 aged 27. They discuss what makes a good MP, the challenges women MPs face when elected, and if age in politics is just a number. Producer: Soila Apparicio Interviews producer: Melissa Tutesigensi-Charles Promotion producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John Editor: Wendy Parker

The Home Office says it has closed 50 hotels to asylum seekers - something it had pledged to do by the end of this month with a promise to house them in cheaper types of accommodation like the Bibby Stockholm barge. But Sky News has found that asylum seekers are simply being taken from taxpayer-funded hotels and moved to other hotels. Our reporters have seen taxis full of migrants leaving one hotel only to arrive at another 70 miles away. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to our communities correspondent Becky Johnson and her producer Nick Stylianou who have been investigating. Plus, deputy political editor Sam Coates analyses Rishi Sunak's morning news conference to journalists, after seeing off a Tory rebellion over his Rwanda bill on Wednesday. Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Podcast producer: Alex Edden Promotion producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John Editors: Philly Beaumont and Dave Terris