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Four years ago, the United Nations Environment Programme flagged a worldwide increase in zoonotic epidemics - they said it was "an issue of concern".

Zoonotic diseases are transmitted from animals to humans.

There is now evidence of a strong link between environmental destruction and pandemics, but can we act in time to stop another global disease?

To explain how deforestation spreads zoonotic diseases, Dr Rory Gibb, global change ecologist at University College London, joins host Jayne Secker on the Sky News Daily podcast. Executive director of conservation and science at the World Wide Fund for Nature, Mike Barratt, talks through how we can work together to stop it.

Daily podcast team:
Podcast producer - Annie Joyce
Podcast producer - Nicola Eyers
Podcast producer - Emma Rae Woodhouse
Podcast producer - Cat Soave
Interviews producer - Oli Foster
Archive - Simon Windsor
Music - Steven Wheeler

One year ago, Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones were senselessly killed in London as they volunteered at a conference on criminal rehabilitation. 

Their murderer, Usman Khan, was a convicted terrorist who'd been released from prison just a year earlier.

On this edition of the Sky News Daily podcast we remember the victims and heroes of the 2019 London Bridge terror attack, and hear from Rosca - an ex-gang member and now rapper - who says Jack Merritt saved him from a life of crime.

Plus Sky's Diana Magnay walks us through what it was like to be reporting on the day that Jack and Saskia's lives were taken and we hear from Nick Aldworth, the former counter-terrorism national co-ordinator, about whether the UK's de-radicalisation programmes are really working.

Daily podcast team:
Podcast producer - Annie Joyce
Podcast producer - Nicola Eyers
Podcast producer - Emma Rae Woodhouse
Podcast producer - Cat Soave
Interviews producer - Oli Foster
Archive - Simon Windsor
Music - Steven Wheeler

Disappointment. Anger. Confusion. Just some of the emotions being felt by business owners and their staff bearing the brunt of coronavirus restrictions in England.

On Thursday, the government confirmed its decision that will see 99% of the population living under the two toughest levels.

Around 32 million people are being placed under Tier 2 restrictions, while a further 23.3 million face Tier 3 rules.

So if it looks, feels and smells like lockdown – is England effectively still in lockdown?

On this edition of the Sky News Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan, we discuss the impact on the hospitality sector and night-time economy with chief executive of UK Hospitality, Kate Nicholls and Alan Miller, honorary trustee at the Night Time Industries Association and co-founder of campaign group Recovery.

Plus, analysis and opinion from our deputy political editor Sam Coates.

Daily podcast team:
Podcast producer - Annie Joyce
Podcast producer - Nicola Eyers
Podcast producer – Emma Rae Woodhouse
Interviews producer - Oli Foster
Archive - Simon Windsor
Music - Steven Wheeler

On Wednesday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered his spending review - his economic plan for the year ahead.

The UK is having to face up to the scale of the financial cost caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Britain's economy is expected to shrink by 11.3% this year, while unemployment is predicted to rise to 7.5% by next summer - that's 2.6 million people.

Tough choices have been made, including a pay freeze for non-NHS public sector workers earning more than £24,000 and a cut to foreign aid spending next year.

But more are likely to follow. And what might relaxing rules for five days of Christmas mean for our road to recovery?

On this edition of the Sky News Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan, we hear personal stories from people who have been affected by the pandemic.

Plus, we are joined by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Jesse Norman, as well as Sky's Sophy Ridge and our business correspondent Paul Kelso, as we take a closer look at the measures being taken by the government.

Daily podcast team:
Podcast producer - Annie Joyce
Podcast producer - Nicola Eyers
Podcast producer – Emma Rae Woodhouse
Podcast producer Cat Soave
Interviews producer - Oli Foster
Interviews producer - Tatiana Alderson
Archive - Simon Windsor
Music - Steven Wheeler

The Autumn spending review is set to outline a budget for mental health services, which are being overwhelmed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Psychiatrists are warning that the mental health impact of coronavirus needs to be taken just as seriously as physical health, as they prepare for their busiest 18 months on record.

On this edition of the Sky News Daily podcast, host Noel Phillips speaks to Samantha Lovell whose brother took his own life after lockdown became too tough. We also hear from Jess Gallier, who founded a suicide prevention charity in memory of her father, which has saved thousands of lives and counting.

Plus Dr Adrian James, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, explains the impact COVID-19 is having on the mental health of Britons and tells us why government needs to offer services more help.

Daily podcast team:
Podcast producer - Annie Joyce
Podcast producer - Nicola Eyers
Podcast producer – Emma Rae Woodhouse
Interviews producer - Oli Foster
Archive - Simon Windsor
Music - Steven Wheeler

There is a team of scientists at the University of Oxford that is both over-joyed and shattered.

Trials of their vaccine with AstraZeneca in the fight against coronavirus indicate it is up to 90% effective.

There is also some suggestion that the vaccine could even help to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

On the Sky News Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan we hear from Professor Sarah Gilbert, who is the woman who led the Oxford team, while our science correspondent Thomas Moore examines the detail as we compare the Oxford vaccine with the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna ones.

Plus, why medical student Lois Clay-Baker signed up to the trials - that aim to help life for the likes of Gerry and Ann Wells, in their 70s, get back to some kind of normal.

Daily podcast team:
Podcast producer - Annie Joyce
Podcast producer - Nicola Eyers
Podcast producer – Emma-Rae Woodhouse
Interviews producer - Oli Foster
Archive - Simon Windsor
Music - Steven Wheeler