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Sky News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Put your questions to makers of The Wargame about what would happen if Russia attacked the UK
Listen: All the episodes of The Wargame so far The Wargame, a new podcast series by Sky News and Tortoise Media, released its third and fourth episodes this week. Sky News' security and defence editor Deborah Haynes writes and presents the series, which imagines what would happen if Russia attacked the UK and tried to break up NATO in this new Trump-era world. Here are all the episodes released so far, in one place. Episode one introduces the scenario and our experienced cast. Listen to False Flag below: In episode two, The Wargame escalates - with the UK finding itself under attack. Episode three chronicles how the UK responds, as well as its efforts to get allies to help. And in the latest episode, there's a chilling ultimatum... Make sure you follow The Wargame so you don't miss the remaining episodes in the series.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
The Russians are coming and we are all alone
It's not hard to spot those who are listening to The Wargame, a new podcast from Sky News and Tortoise Media. You'll have seen them on the train or walking the dog, headphones on, casting nervous glances at the sky while Googling 'Anderson shelter' and stocking up on iodine tablets. Presented by Deborah Haynes, Sky News's security and defence editor, the five-part series imagines a Russian attack on the United Kingdom in the autumn of 2025 and assembles a wartime government to deal with. It is the sort of wargame scenario that takes place behind closed doors in Whitehall. And now I can see why. If they were done publicly, the country would go into meltdown. This is a podcast that could make a hawk out of a dove. Haynes has brought together a team of big-hitters to take part in this deluxe murdery-mystery evening, including the former defence secretary Ben Wallace acting as prime minister, Amber Rudd and Jack Straw reprising their respective roles of home secretary and foreign secretary, General Sir Richard Barrons acting as chief of defence staff, and Baroness Helena Kennedy as the attorney general. Across the corridor, in a bunker somewhere in London, is the Russian team, headed by Keir Giles, an expert in Russian military history. Military cosplay has never seemed so urgent. The scenario starts off plausible and eerily familiar – a major power cut, fires breaking out in Plymouth and Portsmouth, traffic lights down, ferry crossings paused. Mischief, but not quite mayhem. Could be something, could be nothing. Then, the catalyst, a major explosion at a naval base. Not in the UK, but in northern Russia. Moscow, who in this scenario knows full well it was perpetrated by Dagestani terrorists, blames London and vows revenge. Days later, two British F-35 pilots are shot dead in Norfolk, cyberattacks on the UK shoot up, the Russians begin a snap naval exercise. The PM calls a Cobra meeting. It all sounds like the stuff of a hokey Sky TV thriller, but the scenario has been painstakingly assembled by war expert Dr Robert Johnson of the University of Oxford. Stopping it all sliding into silliness is the measured responses of the participants, who resist the urge to ham it up (apart from one weirdly stirring moment when Straw ticks off the US secretary of state). At times, with the muted voices and soft murmurings of 'yes, I agree actually', it takes on the air of a parish council meeting. Albeit a parish council meeting where they are facing the prospect of armageddon. As things escalate and London burns, the imaginary government has to face up to two very real issues. One, the old order has crumbled. The United States, with its aggressive tone towards its European allies and friendly overtures to Moscow, can no longer be relied upon. Without the US, Nato is neutered, as Russia well knows. This leads to the second enormous problem – since the end of the Cold War, successive British governments have slashed the defence budget, leaving our armed forces' cupboards empty. Quite simply, we are a country who are not at all prepared for war. We can invoke Article 5 until we're blue in the face, but if the US does not play ball, it's meaningless. You can hear the disquiet among Wallace et al as they truly ponder the idea that the Russians are coming and we are all alone. When they do a stocktake, it's as farcical as it is chilling. If Russia was to launch ballistic missiles at the UK, which in this scenario they do, then the UK's only defence is its Type 45 destroyers. We have six. One is at sea, one is docked, and the other four are 'routinely unavailable because of maintenance and staffing issues'. One, HMS Daring, has spent more time being fixed than out at sea. No wonder the Russians are confident. The moment that had me putting my head in my hands was Haynes telling us that for this wargame exercise, in order for the UK to stand even the smallest chance of survival, they had to pretend that aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, destroyer HMS Dauntless and 24 F-35 jets weren't currently on an eight-month diplomatic tour of the Indo-Pacific. As the missiles hit London, one participant sums it up: 'There's nothing we can do in this room to change what's happening.' Without revealing too much, our amateur-dramatic Cobra team find themselves, astonishingly quickly, facing just two stark options: surrender to Russia or launch a nuclear strike. Finding a third way will require sensational diplomatic conjuring tricks with the US and Nato. Next week's fifth and final episode will begin with the UK and Russia on the brink of nuclear war – how the UK can pull back from it, or even if they can, will be fascinating to hear.
Metro
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Michael Sheen interview has fans concerned about Amazon Prime series
Michael Sheen has shed light on whether or not fans will be able to watch the eagerly anticipated finale of a controversial Amazon Prime series. The Welsh actor has featured in Good Omens since it originally premiered on the streaming platform back in 2019. Playing alongside the demon Crowley, acted by David Tennant, Sheen has captured the hearts of viewers as the angel Aziraphale. Following two seasons, a feature-length finale was shot for the last season. But after allegations of sexual misconduct were made by eight women against Neil Gaman – who wrote the book that the series is based upon – the conclusion of the Amazon Prime show seems to be on ice. Speaking to The Times, Sheen was asked about the future of Good Omens. He said: ' I really don't know what's going to happen with it. 'We were both relieved we finished the story, but that's within this really difficult, complicated, disturbing context. I hope people get to see it, but that, to a large extent, is out of our hands.' Responding to his comments, @mosie_v said on X: 'Oh dear, that doesn't sound very positive.' @jame_2206 added: 'Oh no, that doesn't sound confident…' Taking to Reddit, cjm-timelord11 said: 'I've seen a few interviews where they've said it's 'out of their hands'. Would Amazon really shelf it after it's shot and edited? It's good at least to see him actually acknowledge the accusations now though.' ACatFromCanada added: 'This is so upsetting. Why would Amazon pull the plug again at this stage?!' @ echoed this by writing: 'I mean I can't see prime spending all that money making it if they weren't going to release it. They might sit on it until things move on a bit but eesh. This doesn't make me feel good…' The claims against Gaiman, which include accusations that he sexually assaulted a woman in a bath, were published in New York Magazine, with five women's claims having first been reported on a Tortoise Media podcast called Master last year. One of the women who has spoken out against the Good Omens author is Scarlett Pavlovich, who was working as the nanny for his five-year-old son at the time. Pavlovich was included in the initial complaints published by Tortoise Media, but has now told New York Magazine how he assaulted her while his son was in the hotel room. She claims that Gaiman raped her under the covers after she tried to signal to him she did not wish to have sex and asked: 'What the f**k are you doing.' More Trending During the alleged assault on February 19, 2022, Pavlovich claimed he continued to speak to his son, who was playing on an iPad and facing the bed. She says she was in a 'state of shock' and froze as Gaiman urinated on his hand and told her to 'lick it off'. He then allegedly insisted she give him oral sex while the bathroom door was still open. The author has denied the allegations, stating that all relationships were consensual, and has since told New York Magazine this hotel incident was 'false' and 'deplorable'. View More » Good Omens is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: All Neighbours spoilers for next week as villain gets his comeuppance MORE: 'Chilling' horror with 91% on Rotten Tomatoes soars up Amazon Prime chart MORE: All eight episodes of 'horrifying' thriller now free to binge on ITVX
Arab News
23-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia ranks 15th globally in AI research output
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has ranked 15th globally in artificial intelligence research output for 2025, driven by the volume of academic publications, according to a new report. The Kingdom produced 29,639 AI-related publications, placing it among the top contributors to global AI research and highlighting its emerging role as a regional technology leader. This performance places Saudi Arabia ahead of several long-established research hubs, including the Netherlands, Singapore, and Russia, as well as Switzerland and Sweden, according to the newly released Global AI Competitiveness Index. Dmitry Kaminskiy, general partner at Deep Knowledge Group, said: 'Saudi Arabia's ranking aligns with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 objectives, reinforcing the country's commitment to developing a sustainable, diversified knowledge-based economy.' He added: 'With AI being a central pillar in the nation's development plans, the findings of our report pave the way for continued excellence and leadership in the field.' The Global AI Competitiveness Index, jointly developed by the International Finance Forum and Deep Knowledge Group, evaluated more than 2 million AI-related scientific papers and invention patents worldwide. The report measures countries based on both the quantity and impact of their AI research contributions. The Kingdom's output translates to over 823 AI publications per million people, which reflects its ongoing efforts to strengthen its scientific and technological landscape. 'Saudi Arabia's AI research output is a testament to the country's commitment to becoming a leader in technology and innovation. The Kingdom's strategic investments in AI infrastructure and talent development are already yielding impressive results, setting the stage for further advancements,' Kaminskiy added. The research milestone comes amid broader gains in global AI competitiveness. In the 2024 Global AI Index by Tortoise Media released in September, Saudi Arabia climbed 17 positions to rank 14th overall, overtaking the UAE as the leading Arab nation in AI. The index, which evaluates countries on factors such as research, talent, infrastructure, and government policy, also reaffirmed the Kingdom's top global ranking in the government strategy category. Global trends The Global AI Competitiveness Index report also underscores broader international trends, with Mainland China leading in total volume of AI papers — reporting a 696 percent increase over the past decade to reach 769,000 publications. Japan and South Korea's entry into the global top 10 further reflects the growing dominance of East Asia in the international AI research landscape, the report noted. Saudi Arabia has also been ranked 24th globally in AI patent output. With a total of 1,189 AI-related patents filed, the Kingdom is continuing to build its innovation capacity in parallel with its growing research footprint. While its absolute patent count remains modest compared to leading nations, the ranking reflects the country's early but expanding efforts in technological commercialization and intellectual property development within AI. In terms of AI patents per million people, Saudi Arabia reported a rate of 35, placing it ahead of larger economies such as Russia with 6.4, and India with 3.1, but still trailing far behind global leaders like South Korea, 2,317.9, Japan, 1,751.2, and the US, 1,365.2.
The Guardian
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The week in audio: Die Die DEI; Drama on 4: The Film; Good Hang with Amy Poehler; Confessions of a Female Founder and more
The Slow Newscast: Die Die DEI (Tortoise Media)Drama on 4: The Film (Radio 4) | BBC SoundsGood Hang with Amy Poehler (The Ringer)Confessions of a Female Founder with Meghan (Lemonada)Working Hard, Hardly Working (Grace Beverley) | Apple podcasts The Slow Newscast is usually worth a listen. Take Die Die DEI, from the week before last. Queasy and pointed, it tackles the issue of the Trump administration's 'war on woke'. As soon as the orange man-baby got into office, his government started shutting down inclusion programmes, and corporate US followed. Why? It's not about saving money, or terminology-wrangling. It's far more deeply prejudiced. Written and presented by Stephen Armstrong, the show focuses on one particular member of the Trump administration: the deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser, Stephen Miller. Described baldly by one contributor as 'a violently rightwing racist who is pushing a white nationalist agenda', he is far from a nice guy. But Armstrong is wise enough to tell Miller's story gradually. He was brought up in liberal, multiracial Santa Monica, California. Yet as a kid he dumps one of his friends by telling him exactly why he doesn't like him. 'Among that list of things,' recalls the friend, 'was my Latino heritage. That was one of the things that disqualified me from being his friend.' We follow Miller through his college years, a controversial rape case (not his: he supported some lacrosse players who were falsely accused of sexual assault) and into the Senate. There, he uses the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) approach against itself, telling white people that they are, in fact, victims. 'Hijacked victimhood' is what it's called: the idea that your lifestyle – your life – is put in a precarious position because other people are different from you. The way Miller plays it, it's a zero-sum game. You must triumph and 'they' – people not like you – must be vanquished. Armstrong's script is excellent. I could quote from any part of the show, but he really hits his stride towards the end. 'Don't get distracted by absurdities. This administration is throwing out so many bouncing, multicoloured balls that it's almost impossible to focus on what's important. The trick is to watch Stephen Miller. When he says something, it matters… The truth is, his views haven't changed since he dumped his best friend for being Latino.' There's something at once modern and classic about Armstrong's script, and I thought about this while listening to Drama on 4: The Film, a small gem of a radio play about a movie. Its subject is a true story. In 1945, Sidney Bernstein, a film-maker and producer, was given hundreds of hours of footage from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Shot by British army crews for the Ministry of Information, the footage was basic but devastating, full of appalling, cruel, hellish murder. How to make this into a film that would both engage and expose the public to the horrors of the Holocaust? How to do justice to the suffering? Amazingly, Bernstein asked Alfred Hitchcock to help. And Hitch, initially reluctant, said yes. Written by Martin Jameson, The Film is a Radio 4 drama of ye olde school: rather stagey, with theatrical speeches and performances. But it's also nicely paced, well acted, clear, moral. I found myself almost relieved that it exists. Not just because it's about the Holocaust, which should never be forgotten, but because it's an interesting real-life story that's a play, as opposed to an episode of a clever news podcast. Old-fashioned audio. Here's an example of new-fashioned audio, and it's one that promises much. Amy Poehler, delightfully funny comedian and actor, has decided 'about four or five years too late' to give us a podcast. The pitch for Good Hang with Amy Poehler must have had producers drooling: Poehler simply scrolls her contacts list, calls up a famous mate and has a chat, avoiding anything controversial in favour of having a laugh. Her first episode was with Tina Fey, who, being Tina Fey, took over and gave us insight (she works 12 hour days, plus 'homework' in the evening) and wit (she's worried about becoming one of those older Hollywood types who just 'tells it like it is'). But, God, it only takes a couple of episodes before we find ourselves riding on fumes. All is slapdash and self-congratulatory. An episode with actor Ike Barinholtz gives us almost nothing. There's a passing reference to him getting in an ecstasy mess in Amsterdam when he was younger, but we breeze past, and by the end of the show we know him no better. In every episode, Poehler enthuses so much about her guest – to their face! – that it feels performative. She laughs too much and for too long. Are these incredibly successful, creative, funny people so insecure that they need bolstering every other sentence? (Yes, clearly.) In a similar vein, please welcome Meghan, Duchess of Sussex's latest podcast venture, Confessions of a Female Founder. Actually, don't bother, unless OMG-yes-sister-and-you-look-so-good-while-doing-it is your thing. Honestly, I think it's just how they talk over there. Their idea of a good hang, or a good podcast, is different from ours, and involves a lot less piss-taking. Meghan's first show is with Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder of dating app Bumble, but, nope, we don't learn anything much, except about how Megs and Whits met (it was NYE and Wolfe Herd was wearing a rhinestone cowboy costume! The embarrassment!) and how supportive they are of each other. If you want a decent podcast from a 28-year-old entrepreneur who's already built three companies and is generous with her business tips, then I recommend Grace Beverley's Working Hard, Hardly Working, now on episode 133. She also interrupts her guests too much to talk about her own life, but you get far more corporate insight and life practicality. The world, it seems, is full of these frantically perfectionist, success-obsessed, greige-swathed young women trying to get their life to work. I'd say relax, but they can't.
