Sky News Daily

The departure of Sue Gray, as Sir Keir Starmer's most senior adviser in Number 10, has shone a spotlight on the role of special advisers in government.  
  
So on today’s Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our deputy political editor Sam Coates to find out exactly what role these advisers, often known as SpAds, play in the running of the country. 
  
Niall also speaks to former Conservative special adviser, and author of The Secret Life of Special Advisers, Peter Cardwell, about what it was like to do the job.  

Producer: Rosie Gillott 
Editor: Paul Stanworth 
 

It's one year on since Hamas's 7 October attack on Israel, which was followed by Israel's mission to eradicate the terror group in Gaza. In short, what followed was a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Iranian attacks on Israel, and Israel fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon. 
  
With the region yet to find a sustainable path away from conflict, on the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson takes a step back and asks if a peaceful solution can ever be found.   
  
Niall is joined by Alistair Bunkall, our Middle East correspondent, and our military analyst Professor Michael Clarke, to discuss if Israel can keep up its fighting against Hezbollah and Hamas, and deal with the rising tensions with Iran, against the backdrop of a continuing crisis in Gaza, with hostages still being held there. 

Producer: Soila Apparicio     

With only a month to go until the US election, Sky’s dedicated team of correspondents goes on the road to gauge what voters in key swing states make of the choice for president.       
  
This week a series of unexpected events have been derailing the campaign. Iranian ballistic missiles poured into Israel, putting foreign policy at the top of the agenda at the vice presidential debate as Democrat pick Tim Walz and Republican JD Vance went head to head for the first time.   
  
Plus, Martha Kelner and Mark Stone have been tracking the destruction of Hurricane Helene, the deadliest storm since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. 
  
Will the destruction, and the response from the candidates, shift the polls in this key swing state?   


Keep up with all the latest in our US election liveblog and check out the Sky News poll tracker. 

Producer: Rosie Gillott  
Editor: Philly Beaumont  . 

With the Middle East on the edge of an all-out war, Sky News Daily takes a look at how the situation looks for civilians on the ground, and what could happen next. 

Niall Paterson is joined by special correspondent, Alex Crawford, who is on the ground in the old city of Tyre in the south of Lebanon.  

He also speaks to Deborah Haynes, our security and defence editor, who is near the Israel-Lebanon border. 
 
Producer: Soila Apparicio 
Editor: Wendy Parker 

Israel has a layered air defence system, which has acted to protect the country from the latest wave of incoming missiles from Iran.  
  
The more well-known Iron Dome brings down frequent incoming short-range rocket systems fired at Israel by both Hezbollah and Hamas. David's Sling, and Arrow 2 and 3, are built to tackle medium-range and long-range ballistic missiles, but how does Israel's defence system work? 
  
Niall Paterson sits down with Sky's military expert Professor Michael Clarke to learn more about the range of defences. 
 
Producer: Alex Edden 
Editor: Philly Beaumont