This Is Why

Donald Trump is threatening to scale back US military commitments in South Korea - at the risk of wider instability across Asia.

At the same time, the US president reaffirmed his “good relationship” with North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un. So, why is Washington apparently willing to change its approach to diplomacy and security in the region?

In this episode of This Is Why, Niall Paterson is joined by Professor Ramon Pacheco Pardo to examine the shifting balance of power on the Korean Peninsula and what a reduced US military presence could mean for their allies across the Asia-Pacific.

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

"London's actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer."

This was the short and not-very-sweet response from the Russian Embassy, after it was confirmed British-made drones were used in recent Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia.

Drone strikes have been used to great success by Ukraine recently, causing serious damage to military, economic and industrial infrastructure in Russia.

The Ministry of Defence defended the use of its weaponry, claiming the UK will continue to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with Ukraine against "Russian aggression".

It’s not the first time Russia has used this sort of threat – so how seriously should we take it this time?

Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennett.

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

Where were you at 7pm on Friday? Wherever you were, it’s likely you heard a loud alert activated on millions of mobile phones.

It was the biggest use yet of the government’s emergency alert system, warning of the dangers posed by wildfires across England and Wales.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the use of the measure, encouraging the public to take it seriously. But was it more red herring than red alert?

Should the system only be used if there is an imminent threat to life? Did it expose vulnerable people to potentially more danger? And what does it tell us about the way the Burnham government communicates?

Niall is joined by Jo Tanner, a former adviser to Boris Johnson and now a director at PR firm Rud Pedersen.

If you thought wildfires were confined to the countryside, it's time to think again.

Several homes have been destroyed across the West Midlands and Staffordshire as the country swelters in yet another heatwave.

Scorching temperatures and a lack of rain mean most parts of the UK are at threat of fires.

So what can you do to stay safe? And are the emergency services suitably prepared to deal with sustained infernos?

Niall Paterson is joined by retired London Fire Brigade commander Steve Dudeney, who now works as a fire and resilience consultant.

As envelopes were ripped open up and down the country, university vice-chancellors were as eager to find out the results as hundreds of thousands of anxious students.

So, a record number of undergraduates heading to campus this autumn might seem like good news for the higher education sector.

But do frozen tuition frees, rising costs, and reduced investment for universities tell a different story?

And with the prime minister encouraging more teenagers to take up vocational training, what does the future look like for universities?

Niall Paterson is joined by Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute.

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