Podcasts about defence

Day 1,426.Today, as Moscow reportedly tests thermobaric munitions on ground-based drones, and strikes on substations connected to Ukrainian nuclear power plants continue, we turn to the World Economic Forum in Davos, where world leaders have gathered for what was meant to be a week of diplomatic breakthroughs for Kyiv. Instead, the agenda has been seized by President Trump and his threats over Greenland; we hear the latest from the island, before speaking to the author of a new report on Russian cyber warfare.ContributorsFrancis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.With thanks to Michael McManus (Henry Jackson Society). @HJS_Org on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Trump leaks texts, threatens Macron and trashes Starmer (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/20/trump-publishes-private-text-messages-european-leaders/ Denmark sends more troops to Greenland (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/20/donald-trump-chagos-deal-greenland-takeover-macron-nato0/ The Henry Jackson Society's cyber report will be published here later today:https://henryjacksonsociety.org/centre-for-russia-and-eurasia-studies/ Russians Made a Simplified Solntsepyok Using a Drone (Militarnyi):https://militarnyi.com/en/news/russians-made-a-simplified-solntsepyok-using-a-drone/The History Bureau: Putin and the Apartment Bombs (BBC):https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002q5dkTrump's Letter to Norway Should Be the Last Straw (Anne Applebaum in The Atlantic):https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/trump-letter-to-norway/685676/?gift=SCYx-5scVta3-cr_IlgTych2xLOYB0BDKFOlaP7EsG0LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,425.Today, amid the gravest crisis for the transatlantic alliance in decades over the fate of Greenland, we examine the implications of Russia considering strikes on substations supplying Ukraine's nuclear power plants. Then we assess the options available to NATO allies seeking to placate President Donald Trump, before hearing about a Ukrainian robot that supposedly held the line against Russian troops for 45 days, and offering an update on how Moscow is deploying Orthodox nuns as an instrument of hybrid warfare.ContributorsFrancis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.Verity Bowman (Foreign Correspondent). @VerityBowman on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Trump: Taking Greenland is revenge for losing Nobel Peace Prize (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/19/trump-taking-greenland-is-revenge-for-no-nobel-peace-prize/ Pro-Putin spy nuns infiltrating Sweden (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/18/pro-putin-spy-nuns-infiltrating-sweden/James Rothwell's Sweden Dispatch (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/15/sweden-trump-exaggerating-putin-threat-greenland-denmark/ Denmark ‘will shoot first and ask questions later' over Greenland (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/07/denmark-usa-trump-shoot-first-ask-questions-later-greenland/ Ukraine's robot machine gunner held off Russia for six weeks (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/16/ukraines-robot-machine-gunner-that-held-off-russia-weeks/ The Ukrainian billionaire whose battalion delivered a blow to Putin (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/17/ukrainian-billionaire-battalion-blow-putin/ ‘America vs. the World' (The Atlantic):https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/03/trump-national-security-greenland-spheres-of-interest/685673/ LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is four months too short a turnaround for a guest on Midrats? Not if the topic at hand keeps running to the top of your read board.From the unending diplomacy responding to the Trump Administration's unending drive to get Greenland's geography—and the resulting security—more firmly under American control, to the sitcom-worthy deployment of a couple of dozen “Coalition of the Freezing”—Greenland can't-stop-won't-stop from gathering eyeballs and attention.So, we're bringing back Elizabeth Buchanan for another visit. We'll use her recent article in The Spectator as starting off point, A buyer's guide to Greenland.Dr. Elizabeth Buchanan is a senior fellow with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and an expert associate of the French Ministry of Armed Forces' Institute for Strategic Research.Most recently she was Head of Research for the Royal Australian Navy (Department of Defence). Dr Buchanan is co-founder of the polar warfare program (Project 6633) at the Modern War Institute of the West Point Military Academy. Before joining Australia's Defence Department, Dr. Buchanan was Lecturer of Strategic Studies for the Defence and Strategic Studies Course at the Australian War College.Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. in Russian Arctic Strategy and completed her post-doctoral studies as a Maritime Fellow at the NATO Defense College in Rome. She has published widely on geopolitics, most recently with Australian Foreign Affairs, International Affairs, War on the Rocks, Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, The Australian, and The American Conservative.Dr. Buchanan has been a Visiting Scholar with the Brookings Institution and was an analyst with Royal Dutch Shell. Elizabeth has three published books:: Russian Energy Strategy in Asia and Red Arctic: Russian Arctic Strategy under Putin. In addition to, So you want to own Greenland, she also has an upcoming book, Competitive Cooperation at the Ends of the Earth.Show links:So You Want to Own Greenland?: Lessons from the Vikings to Trump.Liz's SEP 2024 visit to Midrats.The Unfortunate Greenland Kerfuffle.Denmark's strategic concerns about China and Russia around Greenland, via Nick Solheim.Liz on X.SummaryIn this episode of Midrats, the hosts welcome back Dr. Elizabeth Buchanan, a senior fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and Center for the National Interest, to discuss the ongoing geopolitical significance of Greenland. The conversation delves into the historical context of U.S.-Greenland relations, particularly in light of recent tensions and discussions surrounding Greenland's potential independence. Dr. Buchanan emphasizes the importance of understanding Greenland's strategic position in the Arctic, especially regarding U.S. national security interests and the implications of a changing global landscape, including China's growing influence. The dialogue also touches on the complexities of Greenland's relationship with Denmark and the potential for a direct U.S.-Greenland partnership.Chapters00:00: Introduction and Overview of Greenland's Importance02:38: Historical Context of U.S.-Greenland Relations05:52: The 2004 Defense Treaty and Its Implications12:23: Greenland's Independence Movement and Future Prospects31:50: Best Case Scenarios for U.S.-Greenland Relations32:17: Understanding the Scrappy Spirit of Greenland39:12: The Geopolitical Landscape: Europe and the U.S.54:31: Greenland's Future: Independence or Status Quo?

Day 1,422.Today, as Trump is finally gifted a Nobel Peace Prize – just not quite the one he wants – we hear how Germany has denied a Russian shadow-fleet tanker access to the Baltic Sea, and assess Emmanuel Macron's claim that France is now supplying two-thirds of Ukraine's strategic military intelligence, as he and Italy's Giorgia Meloni suggest the time may be right to begin talks with Vladimir Putin again. Plus, we discuss the findings of a major new report on the occupied territories, and bring you the latest updates on acts of resistance in those regions.ContributorsDominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Lily Shanagher (Foreign Reporter). @LilyShanagher on X.Gareth Corfield (Transport Correspondent). @GazTheJourno on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dr. Jade McGlynn (War Studies Department of King's College). @DrJadeMcGlynn on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Dr Jade McGlynn's report on the Occupied Territories:https://www.csis.org/analysis/thresholds-survival-resistance-occupied-ukraine Exclusive: Rail union boss sang pro-Russia chants in occupied Ukraine (Gareth Corfield in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/16/union-boss-eddie-dempsey-sang-pro-russian-chants/Uncovered: Secret room beneath Chinese embassy that poses threat to City of London (Gareth Corfield in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/12/revealed-china-embassy-secret-plans-spy-basement/ Germany blocks Russian “shadow fleet” tanker from entering its territorial waters in unprecedented move (The Insider):https://theins.press/en/news/288483LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Advocate Poulomi Pavini Shukla told the Supreme Court that homeless children would be ‘orphaned twice' if stray dogs were removed. She says the case should not be framed as ‘dogs vs children'. https://theprint.in/feature/lawyer-who-fights-for-orphans-rights-enters-sc-fray-for-stray-dogs-last-line-of-defence/2827294/

Day 1,421.Today, as President Zelensky declares a national emergency over the energy crisis triggered by Russian attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure, we ask what Europe's strategy is now, before examining reports Russia has forced African recruits into suicide missions on the battlefield. Then we assess how events in Iran and Venezuela could reshape global energy prices, and whether those shocks will ultimately help or hinder Vladimir Putin.ContributorsFrancis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Ben Farmer (Africa correspondent). @benfarmer on X.Stephanie Baker(Senior writer at Bloomberg and sanctions expert). @StephaniBaker on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Russia forces African recruits to become suicide bombers (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/12/russia-using-africans-cannon-fodder-ukraine/ EU chief diplomat Kallas: World's woes mean it's time to start drinking (POLITICO):https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-chief-diplomat-kaja-kallas-state-world-means-time-start-drinking/ EU reveals details on 90 billion 'Ukraine Support Loan' (Kyiv Independent):https://kyivindependent.com/eu-reveals-details-on-90-billion-ukraine-support-loan/?mc_cid=28574c74cc&mc_eid=08d0680a95 Stephanie Baker's Book: ‘Punishing Putin: The gripping expose of the global economic sanctions against Russia's war in Ukraine' – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Punishing-Putin-gripping-economic-sanctions-ebook/dp/B0CWWFJ52GLISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Western Front Association's Mentioned in Dispatches, Mike Jackson tells the story of his great-uncle, Lance Corporal John Street, who fell in 1917 and whose sacrifice went unrecognised for more than a century. On 10th April 2025, Street will finally be laid to rest with full military honours near the battlefield where he died. Jackson, a retired training manager and military history researcher, describes his work with the Ministry of Defence's Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre to ensure that his relative's story is remembered.

In his New Year's address to the armed forces, French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a plan to add €36 billion to the country's multi-year defence budget in its next update, as he said France needed to be more powerful in order to be feared amid rising geopolitical tensions. We take a closer look.

Day 1,420.Today, as reports emerge that a Russian air-defence missile has struck a residential building in the city of Rostov-on-Don, we examine claims that France is pushing to prevent Ukraine from purchasing American weapons, then look at the criminal charges brought against a prominent figure in Ukraine's modern history. Later, we turn to Moscow's media landscape to hear how the Russian press is interpreting potentially momentous developments in Iran, Venezuela, and Greenland.ContributorsFrancis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.James Kilner (Russia Analyst). @jkjourno on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:France pushes to block Ukraine from buying US weapons (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/13/france-blocks-ukraine-from-buying-us-weapons/Starmer poised to hammer out Ukraine peace plan in Davos (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/13/starmer-poised-talks-ukraine-peace-deal-davos-war-russia-uk/ Scottish independence accounts go dark after Iran internet blackout (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/01/12/scottish-independence-accounts-dark-iran-internet-blackout/America abandoned this Arctic silo 60 years ago. Now, it could solve Nato's Greenland problem (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/13/nuclear-option-america-nato-greenland/ Marco Rubio, Trump's Foreign-Policy Enabler (The New Yorker):https://www.newyorker.com/newsletter/the-daily/marco-rubio-trumps-foreign-policy-enabler Ukraine officially awards lithium deposit to Trump-linked investors, $179 million set for development (Kyiv Independent):https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-to-attract-179-million-u-s-investment-in-key-lithium-deposit/ Ukraine war: UN appeals for $2.3 billion to support aid teams' ‘heroic work' (United Nations):https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/01/1166749?_gl=1*15f56p1*_ga*NzU3NDczMzg2LjE3NjgzOTI4NDc.*_ga_TK9BQL5X7Z*czE3NjgzOTI4NDYkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjgzOTI4NDYkajYwJGwwJGgwLISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlotte is joined by Si, Ordy, and Tom to discuss the first leg against Man City in the semi finals of the League Cup. Were we unlucky? Are our hopes of retaining this cup completely gone? What about Wissa and Elanga then? And more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Day 1,419.Today, as much of Kyiv continues to live without power, so too does a region of Russia, as the United States accuses Moscow of making a mockery of peace through its continued attacks. Then, we explore the emerging phenomenon of so-called ‘dark tourism' in Ukraine, and what it reveals about how the war is being remembered. Later, in an exclusive interview, we speak to Moldovan President Maia Sandu, who reflects on a tumultuous five years in office – including last year's dramatic election campaign, which delivered Vladimir Putin one of his most significant political setbacks of the year.ContributorsDominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Adrian Blomfield (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @adrianblomfield on X.Anna Emmett-Martin (Journalist). With thanks to Moldovan President Maia Sandu.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Full Exclusive Telegraph Video Interview with Moldovan President Maia Sandu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRnZUTGo1MI Francis's Video Documentary on Moldova:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZC5FvDt-u0 Panel with Dr Jack Watling discussing legal avenues for stopping the shadow fleet:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQqHFlA6m6o UN Homepage:https://www.un.org/en/UN Story – Deadly Russian strikes push civilians deeper into winter crisis:https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/01/1166748 Live Blog as Parliament votes on government reshuffle (Kyiv Independent):https://kyivindependent.com/parliament-votes-on-government-reshuffle-live/ Ukraine and Moldova Quietly Cut Off Russia's Hidden Army at Midnight on New Year's Day (United 24):https://united24media.com/latest-news/ukraine-and-moldova-quietly-cut-off-russias-hidden-army-at-midnight-on-new-years-day-14932 LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Prosecution & Defence gave opening statements today in the murder trial of Brendan Banfield, the former IRS agent charged with four counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of his wife Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan. Prosecutors allege Banfield and the family's au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, lured Ryan to their Herndon home through a fetish website and staged the killings as a home invasion.The defense argues digital forensics contradict the catfishing theory and that investigators who disagreed were reassigned. Banfield faces life without parole if convicted. The four-week trial continues in Fairfax County.#TrueCrimeToday #BrendanBanfield #AuPairAffair #MurderTrial #ChristineBanfield #JosephRyan #FairfaxCounty #JulianaMagalhaes #Justice #BreakingJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

Welcome to Tuesday's Rugby Daily, with Cameron Hill. Coming up today, Munster issue a squad update, and lose a key international ahead of next season. Why Andy Dunne would love to face Leinster's defensive system under Jacques Nienaber, And a showdown between the Lions and France is all but confirmed... Rugby on Off The Ball with Bank of Ireland | #NeverStopCompeting

Professor Hugh White from the Australian National University discusses the evolving security landscape in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in light of China's rise as a global power. The conversation explores the implications of the US-China rivalry for Australia, the role of allies, and the necessity of nuclear deterrence in maintaining regional stability. White expresses concern about Australia's reliance on the US and the need for a more self-reliant defense strategy as the geopolitical dynamics shift. The discussion culminates in White's wishes for clearer strategic understanding and cooperation among nations in addressing the challenges posed by China.Hugh White AO is Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at the Australian National University. His work focuses primarily on Australian strategic and defence policy, Asia-Pacific security issues, and global strategic affairs especially as they influence Australia and the Asia-Pacific.He has served as an intelligence analyst with the Office of National Assessments, as a journalist with the Sydney Morning Herald, as a senior adviser on the staffs of Defence Minister Kim Beazley and Prime Minister Bob Hawke, and as a senior official in the Department of Defence, where from 1995 to 2000 he was Deputy Secretary for Strategy and Intelligence, and as the first Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).In the 1970s he studied philosophy at Melbourne and Oxford Universities. He was the principal author of Australia's 2000 Defence White Paper.His major publications include Power Shift: Australia's future between Washington and Beijing, [2010], The China Choice: Why America should share power, [2012], Without America: Australia's future in the New Asia [2017], and How to defend Australia [2019]Chapters00:00 Introduction to Australian Security Perspectives02:14 The Rise of China and Its Implications05:45 Australia's Strategic Dilemmas09:28 Military Dynamics in the US-China Rivalry13:44 The Role of Allies in Regional Security19:36 China's Global Ambitions and Regional Responses24:07 Nuclear Deterrence in a Changing Landscape29:28 Wishes for Future Strategic ClaritySocials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to NucleCast@anwadeter.org

Day 1,418.Today, as thousands remain without power in Kyiv, we examine President Zelensky's pledge to carry out more operations “inside” Russia and analyse Moscow's latest tank and weapons innovations. We then unpack an extraordinary outburst from a Russian spokesperson, who dismissed the “wet dreams of British perverts”, before considering what the fall of Iran's regime would mean for the war in Ukraine. Later, we return to the issue of Ukraine's stolen children, with new details on the military training they are being forced to undergo.ContributorsFrancis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.With thanks to Olesia Bida (Journalist, The Kyiv Independent's War Crimes investigations). @olesyabida on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Our sister podcast Battle Lines' episode discussing flashpoints in 2026:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3aQpnrqUDE UK Defence Secretary John Healey: “I would kidnap Putin” (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/10/john-healey-i-would-kidnap-vladimir-putin/ Britain to spend £200m preparing troops for Ukraine (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/09/britain-200m-spend-troops-ukraine-deployment/ Russia's ‘dandelion' tank armour might just work (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/10/russia-bizarre-tank-defences-dandelion-ukraine-war-turtle/ Zelensky hopes reshuffle will give him a better hand at home and away (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/11/zelensky-hedges-his-bets-with-cabinet-reshuffle/v Investigating Russia's military camp system for children (Kyiv Independent documentary): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZGmv2EQdGkRussian spies target £70-a-night hotel near Nato HQ (The i):https://inews.co.uk/news/nato-warns-of-russian-spies-4145755 LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

➡️ Watch the full interview ad-free, join a community of geopolitics enthusiasts and gain access to exclusive content on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingGeopolitics➡️ Sign up to my free geopolitics newsletter: https://stationzero.substack.com/This is a conversation with Andrias Kubilius - the European Union's Commissioner for Defense and Space. For those not that familiar with the European Union - a commissioner is kind of like a minister in a nation state, a top politician, responsible for a particular area. Historically the EU has never had a Defence Commissioner because it is not a military organization but since the invasion of Ukraine that has changed quite radically and in 2023, Andrias became the first ever EU Defense commissioner, responsible primarily for rebuilding the European defense industry, rearming Europe and making it ready and able to defend itself. Needles to say, it's a pretty important role and as the European Union is trying to act more as an independent geopolitical actor, it's only becoming more important. And for how important his role is, he was extremely open and transparent in this conversation. We talked about how to make Europe prepared to survive in an increasingly dangerous world and defend itself on its own, without anyone coming to save it. Both about what is he doing to make that happen but also how the European Union needs to change to make it possible , including why he believes that we need a true European army. We talk a lot about the complicated relationship with the United States - about why and how Europe needs to immediately prepare for United States withdrawing from Europe, about what will be the future of NATO once that happens and whether the EU could replace it, and how would Europe respond if the United States decide to take Greenland by force and  how destructive that would be for everyone. And about his views on the new US National Security Strategy - which he is very critical of and which frames the very institution he represents - the European Union - as an opposition to the interests of the United States and something that the US should try to dismantle. And of course we talk about Russia - about how likely is the threat of a Russian aggression against EU and NATO or how prepared Europe is right now to face it. And much more. 

Day 1,415. Today, the world responds to Putin's latest outrage that has seen a nuclear-capable ballistic missile fired by Russia hit Ukraine just 50km from Nato's border, with one leading European politician saying the pressure on Putin must now be “turned up to the maximum and made unbearable.” We hear from the man who recently interviewed Oleksandr Kamyshin, a key aide to President Zelensky and get Francis's final thoughts from Hungary. Later, we interview the commander of Operation Interflex, the British-led military effort to train Ukrainian recruits.ContributorsDominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Lily Shanagher (Foreign Reporter). @LilyShanagher on X.Tom Mutch (Journalist). @Tomthescribe on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.With thanks to Colonel Andrew Boardman (Commanding Officer of Operation Interflex).SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:United24Media: Ukraine's Drone Strikes Hit Up to 100,000 Russian Troops in Late 2025—2026 Plans Aim Higherhttps://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/ukraines-drone-strikes-hit-up-to-100000-russian-troops-in-late-2025-2026-plans-aim-higher-14798LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Silicon Bites Ep283 | 2026-01-08 | The tanker seizure drama has apparently opened the flood gates of Z-patriots rage and tears. They bemoan the humiliation of their navy and demi-god Tsar, the weakness of the Russian navy, and the lack of counter response, and above all the shifting perception that Russia will not be carving up this world with Trump, as they had thought, but that he may be carving slices off their power, influence and geopolitical reach. This is genuine panic and rage by Russia's nationalist imperialists, and it's delicious to behold. Let's unpack it.If you want a snapshot of Russia's decline into strategic humiliation, you could look at the battlefield map in Donbas, but for a fresher dose of prime humiliation, look at the loss of their tanker this week to US forces, that conducted a joint UK-US operation. Because this week, the United States — backed operationally by the United Kingdom — ran down a sanctions-busting “grey fleet” vessel that literally tried to cosplay sovereignty mid-flight from Venezuela, changing identity, switching flags, painting a Russian tricolor on the hull while being pursued. None if that helped, and it was nonetheless seized.----------Silicon Curtain is a part of the Christmas Tree Trucks 2025 campaign - an ambitious fundraiser led by a group of our wonderful team of information warriors raising 110,000 EUR for the Ukrainian army. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtainThe Goal of the Campaign for the Silicon Curtain community:- 1 armoured battle-ready pickupWe are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2017 or newer, mainly Toyota Hilux or Mitsubishi L200, with low mileage and fully serviced. These are some of the greatest and the most reliable pickups possible to be on the frontline in Ukraine. Who will receive the vehicles?https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtain- The 38th Marine Brigade, who alone held Krynki for 124 days, receiving the Military Cross of Honour.- The 1027th Anti-aircraft and artillery regiment. Honoured by NATO as Defender of the Year 2024 and recipient of the Military Cross of Honour.- 104th Separate Brigade, Infantry, who alone held Kherson for 100 days, establishing conditions for the liberation of the city.- 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalion ----------SOURCES:Michael Naki - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEs10co9JVI&t=1326sUK Ministry of Defence press release (Jan 7, 2026): operational support details + Healey quotes (GOV.UK)Reuters exclusive (Jan 7, 2026): timeline, seizure near Iceland, submarine shadowing, no confrontation, second tanker (Reuters)Financial Times (Jan 8, 2026): legal/flagging dispute framing, “ghost fleet” context TIME (Jan 8, 2026): UK support overview, RAF + RFA Tideforce reference, contextThe Wall Street Journal (Jan 7, 2026): shadow fleet scale + escort reporting The Times (Jan 8, 2026): additional operational colour (attributed) The Guardian (Jan 7, 2026): additional reporting, context and reactions (used cautiously) ----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Arsenal and Liverpool cancel each other out in a game that never truly ignites — and the discussion turns quickly from the result to what it reveals.In Episode 160, the panel breaks down a flat Emirates stalemate that raises familiar questions: control without incision, deep blocks at home, and whether Arsenal's attacking options genuinely fit the challenges they face week to week. There's a frank debate on centre-forward profiles, the Havertz situation, and whether Arteta is still searching for internal solutions rather than answers in the market.We also dive into VARse, with a busy midweek of controversial decisions across the league, before switching gears for a lighter second half — including a bonus FA Cup Who Am I?, a Six Pack of classic Arsenal cup ties, predictions, and a look ahead to the third-round trip to Portsmouth.A strange night, a calm league position, and bigger questions bubbling underneath.Chapters:(00:00) - Arteta's Non-Negotiables Intro(00:52) - Immediate Reaction: Frustration, Context & Expectations(01:32) - Starting XI, Game Shape & Deep-Block Reality(04:38) - Match Stats: Possession, xG & Why It Felt So Flat(05:59) - Are Arsenal Too Easy to Set Against at Home?(08:04) - Gyökeres Fit vs System Fit(11:26) - Top-End Talent Debate: Attack vs Defence(13:09) - Raya, Gabriel, Rice & What “Elite” Actually Means(16:05) - Key Moments: Liverpool Bar Chance & Errors(18:04) - Martinelli, Bradley & Game Management(19:17) - Refereeing Frustrations & Game Flow(20:32) - Set-Pieces, Trauma & Anfield Parallels(22:05) - Table Context: No Harm, No Foul?(23:04) - Havertz Fitness & Centre-Forward Uncertainty(26:39) - Arteta, Midfield Balance & Internal Solutions(31:25) - PT.2 Who Am I? (Game) – FA Cup Edition(33:01) - VARse: City vs Brighton (Doku Penalty)(35:28) - VARse: Everton vs Wolves (Red Card Chaos)(42:01) - VARse: Fulham vs Chelsea (DOGSO Call)(44:03) - Prediction Game: Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest(46:43) - Six Pack: Greatest Arsenal FA Cup Matches(49:35) - Portsmouth Preview: Rotation, Priorities & Risk(55:14) - FA Cup Selection Talk(57:11) - Who Am I? (Game) Reveal

On this week’s markets roundup, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek discuss the strong performance of the FTSE 100, which has finally closed above 10,000. While it may not remain at that level, it marks a bright start. They also explore the key investment themes of 2025 and explain why equities in these areas are likely to remain elevated throughout 2026, driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly in defence, commodities, and precious metals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amy MacIver speaks to Dean Wingrin, a seasoned defence analyst. Dean breaks down what these deteriorating Navy bunkers in Simons Town mean for operational readiness, morale, and long-term security planning. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Day 1,414. Today, as yet another Russian shadow fleet tanker makes the news, but this time after an explosion by a suspected Ukrainian drone in the Black Sea forced it to divert to Turkey, we hear live from Ukraine where overnight strikes left two regions without power as temperatures plummet below zero. We report how the value of defence company shares have surged after comments by Donald Trump - but not if they're based in the US - and we hear from Ukraine's International Legion about proposed changes that have left some soldiers in “total bewilderment”. ContributorsDominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Lily Shanagher (Foreign Correspondent). @LilyShanagher on X.With thanks to Anna Conkling, Freelance journalist & contributor to the news app Noosphere. @ConklingAnna on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Noosphere - news apphttps://www.noosphere.app/author/anna/'Everyone's in shock' — Ground Forces reorganization leaves International Legion soldiers in limbohttps://kyivindependent.com/everyones-in-shock-ground-forces-reorganization-leaves-international-legion-soldiers-in-limbo/Ukraine now has the fortress belt it wishes it had in 2022https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/01/07/ukraine-now-has-the-fortress-belt-it-wishes-it-had-in-2022LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US President Donald Trump has called for the US military budget to reach $1.5 trillion in 2027, more than half of the allocated spending for this year, in a bid to build a "dream military" in "troubled and dangerous times". He also vowed to crack down on US defence firms who privilege payouts to shareholders and executives instead of investing in building new manufacturing plants. Plus, China's AI startup sector gets its litmus test with a string of stock market launches this week. 

Reports that major US newspapers delayed publishing details of the US raid in Venezuela have prompted renewed scrutiny of how journalists handle sensitive national security information. The decision by the New York Times and the Washington Post followed warnings from the White House that publication could endanger American troops, raising questions about press freedom, editorial independence and ethical responsibility. Max Tani, media editor at Semafor, outlines how the story emerged.Debate over the US coverage has drawn attention to how similar situations are handled in the UK, where defence reporting operates under a voluntary advisory system. The Defence and Security Media Advisory Committee issues guidance intended to prevent the publication of material that could risk lives or compromise operations, while preserving press freedom. Brigadier Geoffrey Dodds OBE, Secretary of the DSMA Committee, and Larisa Brown, Defence Editor at The Times, discuss how the system works. A ballot by the actors union Equity has found overwhelming support for industrial action over digital scanning of actors. Paul Fleming, General Secretary of Equity, sets out why the union is pressing producers for stronger protections as AI tools become more widespread.

Day 1,413. Today, we report on the details of the latest COTW summit in Paris, asking how significant was the strong US presence and input. We get an update from Francis in Hungary and, later, we have an interview with Sir Ben Wallace, Britain's former defence secretary who says it's just wishful thinking that Donald Trump would put any weight behind a backstop because Putin knows, in Sir Ben's words, that he's got a guy in the White House aligned to Russia.ContributorsDominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnleyon X.With thanks to Sir Ben Wallace, Britain's former defence secretary. @BenWallace70 on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Putin's secret bargain to trade Ukraine for Venezuelahttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/06/putins-bargain-trade-ukraine-for-venezuela/LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the first podcast of 2026 where Roger and Pete answer more of your varied and interesting questions, covering everything from what to do when you've maxed out your pension and ISA, to whether you should borrow on your mortgage to invest! Shownotes: https://meaningfulmoney.tv/QA37   01:30  Question 1 Hello to Roger and his trusty sidekick Pete, Only kidding Pete, but it will make Roger feel good briefly. I must credit the pair of you for your continued dedication and commitment to educating the wider population on all things financial.  I have gone from strength to strength in planning my retirement with the guidance and abundance of free information you have provided, the books you have written Pete, as well as signing up to the Meaningful Academy Retirement Planning and now planning to retire several years earlier than originally intended. Using the information provided and learnt, I have got my finances in order but more importantly, that decision is to align my future life (and that of my wife) to the finances we need and when our needs are likely to be met, hence the realisation retirement is not as far away as we had originally perceived, so I really appreciate what you have done for me and my family. My question maybe very simple, but it was sparked during a previous Q&A session Listener Question – episode 20 - 30th July – Question 2 – The question surrounded company Shares. I am employed by BAE and I purchase company shares each month, partially as a sensible Tax saving being a higher rate tax payer (purchase them pre Tax) but also for the first £75 worth each month I buy each month, the company will match, so effectively £150 worth of shares which technically costs less than £50 in real money each month.  Now whilst I do sell some shares along the way (after the 5-year maturity to avoid tax payment), I continue to have a reasonable amount invested (£35k subject to tax relief period on some). A statement you made during the above session was "as a sideline issue we tend to say to people that investing in shares for the company you work for is a bad idea at any scale, thus to avoid backing one horse and it's not a good idea to hold onto shares for a company you work for." Now I thought I was onto a winner and being tax efficient and building an amount of money which I tap into on an occasional basis as well as additional source of income once retired, but are you implying, as you did to that listener, I might consider cashing some in and transferring the money else where? Perhaps in this instance it is suffice leaving it there, as the examples you gave were for smaller companies (in comparison) that folded, whereas BAE one of the larger Defence industry companies, doesn't appear to be going anywhere soon?  I do have a Royal Naval DB pension already paying out, as well as a part DB and part DC pension with BAE (continuing to build), so I'm not reliant upon the money, which is another factor why I've not considered moving them away or am I doing myself a bad deal, id value your opinions (not advice ha ha)? Thank you for your time Regards, John 08:02  Question 2 I'm 39, a basic rate taxpayer and I have a Lifetime ISA and a SIPP with HL. Can I save for retirement in my Lifetime ISA and invest in the same funds as my Pension after receiving the 25% bonus to achieve similar growth. Then at age 60, withdraw all that money tax free and pay it into my pension (up to my allowances and possibly using previous years) to gain the 20% tax relief just before I draw the pension? I would also save some money on platform fees as the LISA is 0.25% vs the SIPP at 0.45%. I know I can get cheaper platforms elsewhere but I find HL easy, intuitive, and feel like I can trust them with my money, which really encourages me to save in the first place. Thanks, Robert 13:40  Question 3 Hi Pete and Roger, Longtime fan and listener, thanks for all the great work you do! I'm 40 years old and a member of the LGPS DB pension scheme, which I've been paying into since my early 20s. My partner is also in a DB scheme (Central Government). We have no debt other than our mortgage. We currently live in a modest home we bought for £89k, but are thinking about upgrading to a bigger property for more space and comfort (no plans to have children). That said, we've enjoyed the low cost of living here. We've built up around £160k in savings, split roughly 40% in a Stocks & Shares ISA and 60% in Premium Bonds and cash. I've tried to keep the ISA intact as a form of flexibility/security around retirement, potentially to retire early or reduce hours in the future. The dilemma is: 1. Do we spend most of the savings on a better house and accept working longer? 2. Or do we stay where we are, keep our financial flexibility, and potentially one of us works less or retires earlier? 3. Or is there a sensible middle ground, spending some of the cash to improve our living situation while still preserving part of our financial cushion for future flexibility? We're just trying to balance quality of life now with freedom and options later, and would love to hear your take on it. Is there anything else we haven't thought about? Thanks so much for your thoughts! Gez   19:25  Question 4 Hi Pete and Rog, big fan of the show and I appreciate the helpful topics you cover. I am currently going through a remortgage and am extracting equity from our house to invest. The new mortgage rate is around 4% and our LTV will be around 80%. The additional monthly costs are within our budget too. My strategy is to invest the extracted amount in a stocks and shares ISA with my wife, utilising the £20k allowance each per tax year. This will be invested into globally diversified index funds. I have ran calculations on how much I will be paying in additional interest vs how much is probable from stock market returns. Over 25 years, the additional interest paid on £50k extracted at 4% is £29k Over 25 years, having invested £50k, I would need to return 1.84% to break even from this deal. This is due to the way mortgages are amortised via repayment vs the investments compounding positively. With conservative returns of 7% used, this will net £236k of interest. Am I missing anything here? Keep up the great work and I'm very interested to hear whether you have done this in the past. Stephen 26:40  Question 5 Hi Pete and Roger, Recent discoverer and now big fan of the show here - I have now caught up on all the Q&A episodes and am continuing to work my way through the back catalogue: a lot of material! My questions centre on tax-efficient options once ISAs and pensions are maxed out, and how to "bridge" savings if retiring before pension-age. I am 36, married and have 2 young daughters who are the apple of my eye. We have a very manageable mortgage and I benefit from a very well paid job. However, an extremely stressful period last year sent me on the track of better understanding personal finance (and ultimately finding you) in order to achieve financial independence and not need to tolerate that kind of situation ever again, as well as be free to dedicate my time and energy to things without worrying about how much money they pay. 1) I am trying to get to functional financial independence (i.e. paid work is entirely optional) as soon as possible - I now max out my annual pension and ISA allowance each year and am likely to continue to in the future. Are there any other normal vehicles I can use for additional saving and investing? Giving money to my wife to use her ISA allowance? Anything else? I don't want to overpay the mortgage for the next several years as we managed to get a fixed rate that is below the current rate of inflation. 2) I have a good understanding of our essential and discretionary spending, and with a conservative annualised rate of return I could theoretically stop contributing to my pension pot in the next 7ish years and compounding would mean it would be big enough to fully support us once we can access it. My question is - is there a good rule of thumb or approach for working out how much I need to save outside the pension if I wanted to stop working for money before 57? Is it just a case of working out # years x expenses or is there anything more sophisticated to it? 3) bonus question - feel free to cut if it doesn't fit: I'm familiar with the idea of asset allocation and rebalancing to "smooth the ride" for my portfolio. Most things I've read or listened to have focused on equities vs. bonds. When I was looking at a number of bond indexes recently the returns have been pretty flat, often 4% from a cash ISA, what's the point of the bonds? Am I missing something? Thanks so much for all the knowledge you put into the world, giving people the tools to look after themselves. The chat is pretty great too! Kind regards, Martin 37:18  Question 6 Hello Pete & Roger Thank you for your fantastic materials, so well explained. We're 62. We already have a standard pension pot Annuity and we have around £300,000 in savings in building society accounts. (We value peace of mind over the potential for big gains, so we're not really considering stocks and shares). We're wondering whether, rather than rely entirely on savings accounts, it would make sense to use a Purchase Life Annuity. With current annuity rates, it looks like that's a Yes, so we're curious what your expert view is on this. We're aware of the downside: that it leaves us without much of a savings pot for any unexpected very large need. Have watched the Annuities: Back from the dead? video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alTTzrd2NbY -  which talked about buying an annuity with pension, but in our case it would be Purchase Life Annuity, so does that make a difference when purchasing an annuity? Thank you again! Moira  

Day 1,412. Today, as military and political chiefs from the Coalition of the Willing meet in Paris, President Zelensky continues to reshuffle his top team, including the replacement of the man behind Operation Spiderweb, a move that has been criticised in Ukraine. We have a look at how 2026 is being reported in the Russian media and, later, we speak to an analyst from the RAND corporation about how AI is now being fielded on drones in the war.ContributorsDominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Lily Shanagher (Foreign Reporter). @LilyShanagher on X.Michael Bohnert (Engineer & Researcher, RAND Corporation). @mbohnert on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cristina Gomez discusses newly declassified UK Ministry of Defence documents revealing British military intelligence efforts to acquire UAP technology, including secret memos marked "UK Eyes B," connections to the Rendlesham Forest incident, Project Condign findings, and exclusive interview footage with witness John Burroughs.To see the VIDEO of this episode, click or copy link - https://youtu.be/aDTC2QRjkQcVisit my website with International UFO News, Articles, Videos, and Podcast direct links -www.ufonews.co00:00 - Secret UK Eyes B Memo00:39 - The Belgium UFO Incident01:45 - What British Intel Did Next02:30 - Rendlesham Forest UFO Witness04:08 - What They Planned To Do05:36 - Project Condign Findings07:07 - The US Connection08:23 - Why The UFO Secrecy?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/strange-and-unexplained--5235662/support.

Day 1,411. Today, as the world reacts to America's operation in Venezuela over the weekend, we explore Moscow's notably muted response - a silence that hints at the tension inside the Kremlin between defending an ally and condemning US action, risking Donald Trump's wrath, or quietly applauding an example of international intervention. We also hear from Hungary, where Francis puts questions to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.ContributorsDominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.James Kilner (Russia Analyst). @jkjourno on XSIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Telegraph Live Blog (featuring updates from Francis in Budapest):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/05/venezuela-latest-news-nicolas-maduro-court-new-york/ Luxury SUV taken from Latvian drunk driver now among 21 vehicles bound for Ukraine military (Euromaidan):https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/01/04/luxury-suv-taken-from-latvian-drunk-driver-now-among-21-vehicles-bound-for-ukraine-military/The weightlifting champion jailed by Russia for ‘plotting sabotage and assassinations' (The Guardian):https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/05/yulia-lemeshchenko-weightlifting-champion-jailed-by-russia-for-plotting-sabotage-and-assassinations LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Professor Mandyam Srinivasan began studying bees almost 35 years ago, we was interested in learning how bees landed so elegantly, and avoided colliding in mid-air.What Mandyam discovered was a complex and astounding system of vision and flight, which is now being applied to machine vision and robotics.He and his team at the Queensland Brain Institute built an autonomous aircraft, without GPS or radar, that flies like a bee.The technology could have widespread applications for surveillance, rescue operations, defence, and planetary exploration.Further informationMandyam Srinivasan is now Emeritus Professor at the Queensland Brain Institute at the University of Queensland.The episode of Conversations covers neuroscience, bees, sensory neuroscience, the study of bees, intelligent machines, 

Day 1,408. At the start of the fifth calendar year of the full scale invasion, attacks across Ukraine saw the beginning of 2026 marked with yet more death, injury and destruction across Ukraine. It has also seen General Budanov named as Andrii Yermak's replacement, a remarkable double-cross operation by Budanov's military intelligence department and a rebuttal by the CIA into claims by Moscow earlier this week that Ukraine tried to attack Putin directly. We report how Australian tanks have been in action around Pokrovsk, Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov has been rushed to hospital and Finnish authorities have boarded and seized a Russian vessel in the Baltic. Plus, we have an interview with a journalist looking at Colombian fighters who have joined Ukraine's foreign legion. ContributorsDominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.With thanks to Natalie Gallon (Journalist). @natalielgallon on Insta.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Colombian soldiers fighting for Ukraine, WLRNhttps://www.wlrn.org/americas/2025-10-28/ukraine-russia-war-colombia-soldiersA Colombian amputee soccer player's new battle in Ukraine, WLRNhttps://www.wlrn.org/americas/2025-10-29/ukraine-russia-war-colombian-soldiers-soccer-amputeeFrontline report: Australian Abrams tanks enter combat at Pokrovsk, bolstering Ukrainian counterattackshttps://euromaidanpress.com/2026/01/01/frontline-report-2025-12-31/LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After her neighborhood is rocked by a gas leak explosion, Sarah Trafford discovers a young survivor has been erased from press coverage and stashed away by authorities. Sarah enlists a pair of private eyes to get to the bottom of what's happened to the child. Zoë Boehm digs into how the effort to keep Dinah out of sight is connected to her own personal tragedy. But as she and Sarah get closer to the truth, they find themselves stalked by assassins linked to a mysterious operation run out of the Ministry of Defence.Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson star in the Apple TV thriller series “Down Cemetery Road.”  The mismatched pair find themselves in a web of cover-ups and chaos. What is the government hiding? How does the child fit into their plans? And who are the figures they encounter trying to kill them and each other?OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DOWN CEMETERY ROAD" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Project Studio. Click to find out more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hundreds of newly released cabinet papers reveal the inner workings of the Howard government in the mid-noughties with warnings about the role that defence personnel should play in Afghanistan and Australia's preparedness for a pandemic.

Day 1,405. Today, as the Kremlin tries to divert attention from President Zelensky's seemingly successful meeting with Donald Trump in Florida with un-evidenced claims of an attempt on Putin's life, we report on Russian advances in Zapporizhia oblast that may lead to legal difficulties for a Ukrainian commander. And, later, Francis watches, and reports on, Ukrainian TV and I take a brief look back at the main events of 2025. ContributorsDominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Exclusive: 'Be careful' — European leaders warned Zelensky to assess Trump's real stance at Mar-a-Lago, Kyiv Independent:https://kyivindependent.com/european-leaders-warned-zelensky-to-assess-real-us-stance-at-trump-meeting/?mc_cid=9ce9652bd4&mc_eid=4a5b852913LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,404. Today, President Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have secured a 15-year American security guarantee from President Donald Trump after their meeting in Mar-a-Lago. But questions remain over the other key sticking points of a potential peace deal. Plus, a postcard from Kyiv's first marathon since the full-blown war began. Journalist Benjamin Lynch ran the half-marathon with a recorder alongside 13,000 other people to give us a flavour of the event. Pic credit: Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesContributorsVenetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.With thanks to Ben Lynch (Journalist). @ben_lynch99 on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Listen to Adelie Pojzman-Pontay reflect on Russia and China's relationship on our sister podcast Battle Lines: https://linktr.ee/BattleLinesZelensky asks Trump for 50 years of US security guarantees: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/29/zelensky-asks-trump-for-50-years-of-security-guarantees/Roland's Oliphant's comment piece on Mariupol Theatre being reopened: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/11/mariupol-theatre-putin-ukraine-plans/LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Move over New Year's Resolutions! I've got a simple alternative that will knock resolutions into touch! Today is all about simplicity. In this quick 10 minute episode I am guiding you through some simple words that you can use to help you make better decisions for yourself and your career next year.Words like 'Courage'; ' Grace'; 'Boundaries'... what do you need most in 2026?Links:Book a free 15-minute Career Strategy Call with Rebecca - make sure you create the opportunities you want from your career in 2026Rate, Review, & Follow our Show on Apple Podcasts:Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast. We air every week and I don't want you to miss out on a single broadcast. Follow now!About Rebecca:Rebecca Allen is a Career & Leadership Coach for corporate women, aspiring to senior levels of leadership. Over the last decade, Rebecca has helped women realise their potential at companies including Woolworths, ANZ, J.P. Morgan, PwC, Coca-Cola Amatil, Ministry of Defence, Frontier Sensing and AbbVie Medical Research through her Roadmap to Senior Leadership coaching programs. Connect with Rebecca

James chats to investigative journalist (The Cradle, Declassified UK, MintPress News, and The Grayzone) Kit Klarenberg. On the menu: the sinister but oh-so-polite Ministry of Defence committee behind the D-notices that silence the UK media from reporting anything that matters; MI6/CIA influence on popular culture - including children's TV from Sesame Street to Blue Peter; Britain and the US swallowing their own hype on the Ukraine proxy war, and how Kit would have been an ideal recruit for the services if he'd landed on the ‘other side'. Follow him on Twitter @KitKlarenberg, find him on Substack www.kitklarenberg.com, and check out his podcast https://www.youtube.com/@DeclineAndFall-d5k. ↓ ↓ ↓ Brand Zero is a small skincare and wellbeing business based in Nailsworth in the heart of Gloucestershire, with a strong eco-friendly, zero-waste, cruelty-free ethos. Brand Zero sells a range of wonderfully soothing natural skincare, haircare, toothcare and wellbeing products, mostly hand made, with no plastic packaging or harsh chemicals. All our products are 100% natural and packaged in recyclable or compostable tin, paper or glass. Discount code: JAMES10 www.brandzeronaturals.co.uk ↓ ↓ How environmentalists are killing the planet, destroying the economy and stealing your children's future. In Watermelons, an updated edition of his ground-breaking 2011 book, James tells the shocking true story of how a handful of political activists, green campaigners, voodoo scientists and psychopathic billionaires teamed up to invent a fake crisis called ‘global warming'. This updated edition includes two new chapters which, like a geo-engineered flood, pour cold water on some of the original's sunny optimism and provide new insights into the diabolical nature of the climate alarmists' sinister master plan. Purchase Watermelons by James Delingpole here: https://jamesdelingpole.co.uk/Shop/ ↓ ↓ ↓ Buy James a Coffee at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jamesdelingpole The official website of James Delingpole: https://jamesdelingpole.co.uk x

Why is Arnab Worried about India's Chicken Neck | Bangladesh Has 2 Chicken Necks | Offensive Defence

In this episode, host Sebastian Couture is joined by Ismael Hishon-Rezaizadeh, CEO of Lagrange, to explore the intersection of frontier cryptography and national security. Ismael discusses the transition of zero-knowledge (ZK) technology from a "token-centric" crypto tool to a vital component of defense, specifically focusing on its role in securing autonomous drone swarms and closing the hypersonic missile gap.They delve into Deep Proof, Lagrange's ZK-machine learning library, which facilitates verifiable AI execution while protecting sensitive model intellectual property and private input data. Ismael introduces the concept of "Accountable Autonomy," arguing that cryptographic proofs are necessary to ensure that lethal "kill chain" decisions are made by the correct models under verified inputs, removing the risks inherent in "black box" AI decision-making. Finally, the conversation touches on the geopolitical competition with China, the importance of domestic chip manufacturing, and why the US market's ability to align private sector innovation with military needs is a decisive strategic advantage.Topics00:00 Intro & Context04:15 ZKML vs. Venice09:30 Protecting Model IP15:00 Dual-Use Defense Pivot21:45 The Palantir Comparison27:10 US-China Chip Race35:20 Drone Swarm Consensus42:15 Accountable Autonomy Explained49:00 Kill Chain Verifiability55:30 EU vs. US DefenseLinksIsmael on X: https://x.com/Ismael_H_R Lagrange Labs: https://www.lagrange.dev/Anduril Industries: https://www.anduril.com/Gnosis: https://gnosis.io/Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io

Hugh is joined by Jack Horgan Jones, Cormac McQuinn and Ellen Coyne for part one of our traditional festive AMA. This year listeners asked about the presidential nomination process, the influence of party leaders, the need for a dedicated Minister for Defence and the stability of centrist politics. Wishing all our listeners a very Happy Christmas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,398.Today, as reports come in of a renewed Russian cross-border incursion in the north east of the country, Ukraine is clearing up after another massive overnight aerial attack which has left thousands without power. We report the diplomatic fallout from the inconclusive talks in Miami and Later, we have an interview with Ukrainian artist and designer, Mariya Dykalo, the Creative Director of Aspinal of London.Pic credit: The Russian Ministry of Defense/Anadolu via Getty ImagesContributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.With thanks to Ukrainian artist and designer, Mariya Dykalo (Creative Director of Aspinal of London). @MariyaASPINAL on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Learn more about Mariya Dykalo's work:https://mariyadykalo.com/ The scarf given to Melania Trump designed by Ukrainian children:https://www.aspinaloflondon.com/products/we-can-dream-again-silk-scarfUN report: Weekend attacks in Ukraine bring more casualties, damage infrastructurehttps://news.un.org/en/story/2025/12/1166652?_gl=1*l4bfr6*_ga*MTIwMjkxNTk1MC4xNzY1ODAyMzEw*_ga_TK9BQL5X7Z*czE3NjY0OTE4MjQkbzMkZzEkdDE3NjY0OTE4OTgkajYwJGwwJGgwMiyamoto article: Addressing Ukraine's Asbestos Crisishttps://miyamotointernational.com/addressing-ukraines-asbestos-crisis/Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following a delay to the Defence Investment Plan, what does the lack of certainty mean? Will Bain also looks into the ongoing impact of botched insulation installed in peoples homes under a government scheme. And as we step into Christmas, it's a busy time for butchers.

Day 1,397.Today, as three days of talks in Miami between the US, Ukraine and Russia fail to produce anything of substance, we report how Emmanuel Macron may pick up the diplomatic baton with a potential phone call this week with Vladimir Putin. We report the breaking news of a car bombing in Moscow that has killed another senior Russian General and of another Ukrainian strike against Russian energy facilities in the Caspian Sea. And later, you'll hear a report from our last trip to Ukraine when we visited a prosthetics factory in Odesa where, among work to support victims of this war, I met a fellow Afghanistan veteran, only this chap had been fighting for the Soviet Union.ContributorsDominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.With thanks to video producer Jack LeatherVideo version of our report on the prosthetics factory in Odesa:https://youtu.be/m-vZshCP4nYSIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Steve Rosenberg's actual question to Putin:https://x.com/BBCSteveR/status/2002328372253503933?s=20Russian TV's interaction with the fake Steve Rosenberg:https://x.com/BBCSteveR/status/2002804837486850215?s=20Russia is Losing – Time for Putin's 2026 Hybrid Escalationhttps://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/russia-losing-time-putins-2026-hybrid-escalationReuters: US intelligence indicates Putin's war aims in Ukraine are unchanged:https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-intelligence-indicates-putins-war-aims-ukraine-are-unchanged-2025-12-19/Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,394.Today, as the dust settles on the critical overnight deal in Brussels to loan €90 billion to Ukraine, we report on another strike against a vessel in Russia's shadow fleet – this time in the Mediterranean Sea. And later, we offer clear answers to the hardy perennial questions you're likely to hear at Christmas parties from those who haven't been following the war, before opening our podcast Secret Santa presents.ContributorsDominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:EU agrees €90bn loan for Ukraine – but won't use frozen Russian assets (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/19/european-union-agrees-loan-ukraine/Russia won't get back frozen $300bn assets under latest peace plan (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/18/russia-wont-get-frozen-300bn-assets-latest-peace-ukraine/ Ukrainian drones blow up Russian oil tanker in Mediterranean (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/19/ukraine-strikes-russian-oil-tanker-in-mediterranean/LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,393.Today, as EU leaders meet to decide what – if anything – to do with frozen Russian assets, we examine just how consequential this moment could be for the bloc and for European security more broadly. We also analyse how Vladimir Putin has deliberately shifted his language to appeal to Donald Trump, and track another attack on a Russian oil tanker as Moscow's Black Sea Fleet appears to have blockaded itself inside Novorossiysk rather than risk further Ukrainian drone strikes.ContributorsDominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Putin: European leaders are ‘pigs' who will be replaced (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/17/putin-european-leaders-are-pigs-who-will-be-replaced/ Zelensky's race against time to plug £48bn war black hole (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/18/the-budget-black-hole-that-threatens-the-future-of-ukraine/ How Putin's favourite pop star became ‘most hated woman in Russia' (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/16/putins-favourite-pop-star-most-hated-woman-russia/ LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,392.Today, as Russia attempts to insist that one of its $400 million submarines was not destroyed by a Ukrainian sea drone — in a manner that appears to prove the opposite — we bring you inside reporting from the American and Ukrainian negotiating teams at this pivotal moment. We also look ahead to a crunch European vote on whether to unlock and use frozen Russian state assets.ContributorsFrancis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Michael Weiss (Editor of The Insider). @michaeldweiss on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Russia: US has promised us Ukrainian territory (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/16/russia-us-promised-ukrainian-territory-war-sergei-lavrov/ Susie Wiles, JD Vance, and the “Junkyard Dogs”: The White House Chief of Staff on Trump's Second Term (Vanity Fair):https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-susie-wiles-interview-exclusive-part-1 Ukraine Support Tracker (Kiel Institute):https://www.kielinstitut.de/topics/war-against-ukraine/ukraine-support-tracker/ How Europe Can Defend Itself with Less America (CSIS Report):https://www.csis.org/analysis/how-europe-can-defend-itself-less-america Canadian military intelligence officer allegedly shared classified information with Ukraine (Globe & Mail):https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-canadian-forces-intelligence-officer-classified-information-ukraine/?intcmp=gift_share Swedish Navy spots armed Russian military personnel aboard shadow fleet tankers in Baltic Sea (Euromaidan):https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/16/swedish-navy-spots-russian-military-aboard-shadow-fleet/ LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,390.Today, after another weekend of intense diplomatic activity, we take you to Berlin, where President Zelensky is meeting the American delegation – joined by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz – as Europe seeks to reassert itself in the peace process. We also examine the surge in military activity over the weekend, which saw multiple cities plunged into blackout, before turning to Germany's rapidly evolving position, where comparisons are increasingly being drawn between today and the events that sparked the Second World War.ContributorsFrancis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Zelensky gives up Nato ambitions in peace deal concession (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/14/zelensky-gives-up-nato-ambitions-in-peace-deal-concession/ MI6 chief warns Putin: We won't abandon Ukraine (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/15/mi6-chief-warns-putin-we-wont-abandon-ukraine/ FBI boss met with Ukraine's top peace negotiators (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/12/12/fbi-boss-ukraine-top-peace-negotiators/ Lithuania in state of emergency over smuggler balloons linked to Russia (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/09/lithuania-in-state-of-emergency-over-smuggler-balloons-link/ German tank-shaped Christmas calendar ‘glorifying war' (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/10/german-tank-shaped-christmas-calendar-glorifying-war/ New Ukrainian Polling:https://kiis.com.ua/ Chess-FIDE reinstates Russian and Belarusian teams in official contests (Reuters):https://www.reuters.com/sports/chess-fide-reinstates-russian-belarusian-teams-official-contests-2025-12-15/ ‘Disrupting Russian Air Defence Production: Reclaiming the Sky' (RUSI):https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/research-papers/disrupting-russian-air-defence-production-reclaiming-skyComprehensive approach to security: Federal Council launches consultation on Switzerland's security policy strategy (Swiss Government)https://www.news.admin.ch/en/newnsb/BLkWfUbUsXtBFoSj-krgUUN Press Page:https://press.un.org/enLISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,387.Today, as Russia attempts to convince the world – or at least Donald Trump – that they are inexorably taking territory, President Zelensky has visited the north-east city of Kupiansk, which has been recently liberated in a rapid recapture of ground. The head of NATO warns that the West faces the prospect of war with Russia on a scale not seen since the days of “our grandparents and great-grandparents” and we examine the latest diplomatic manoeuvres ahead of tomorrow's meeting in Paris, where the question of territorial concessions will be front and centre. And later, Francis catches up with Ada Wordsworth of KHARPP to hear how your donations to her charity in Kharkiv, made in David Knowles's memory, are helping vulnerable people this Christmas.ContributorsDominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.With thanks to Ada Wordsworth (co-founder of the KHARPP charity)SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:KHARPP Charity Website:https://kharpp.com/KHARPP Fundraiser for David Knowles:https://donorbox.org/kharpp-fundraiser-in-memory-of-david-knowles Nato chief: Prepare for war with Russiahttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/11/nato-chief-prepare-for-war-with-russia/ Disrupting Russian Air Defence Production: Reclaiming the Sky https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/research-papers/disrupting-russian-air-defence-production-reclaiming-skyThe decorated marine tipped to be Labour's next leader https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/12/12/al-carns-labour-next-leader-marine-armed-forces-minister/ Listen to Dom interview Al Carns on Battle Lines: https://linktr.ee/BattleLinesHead of US army cut out of Ukraine talks by paranoid Hegsethhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/12/12/pentagon-golden-boy-hegseth-dan-driscoll/LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,386.Today, as Ukraine fires hundreds of drones into Russia – forcing the closure of all major Moscow airports – we report on how the maritime war is intensifying, with Kyiv striking shadow fleet tankers in the Black Sea and oil rigs in the Caspian Sea. Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions are rising, with President Donald Trump saying he exchanged “pretty strong words” with his European counterparts, just as reports emerge of a White House plan to bring Russia's economy in from the cold. Then we return to controversial developments in the chess world with The Telegraph's chess correspondent Malcolm Pein.ContributorsDominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.With thanks to Malcolm Pein (Chess Correspondent). @TelegraphChess on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Dom and Francis's Chess Game with Malcolm in Odesa:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCptvJ2tuIA With clips in our Ukraine Culture War Documentary:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28HqbQLYGMM&pp=ygUPb2Rlc2EgdGVsZWdyYXBo Starmer, Macron and Merz warn Trump over ‘Euro-Atlantic' alliance (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/10/starmer-macron-and-merz-warn-trump-euro-atlantic-alliance/ Ukrainian drone boats blow up Russian oil tankers (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/29/ukrainian-drone-boats-blow-up-russian-oil-tankers/ U.S. Blueprint to Rewire Economies of Russia, Ukraine Sets Off Clash With Europe (Wall Street Journal):https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/u-s-blueprint-to-rewire-economies-of-russia-ukraine-sets-off-clash-with-europe-72484515 US House passes bill to bolster Europe's defence, in apparent rebuke to Trump's foreign policy strategy (The Guardian):https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/11/us-house-passes-bill-to-bolster-europes-defence-in-apparent-rebuke-to-trumps-foreign-policy-strategy ‘Make Europe Great Again' and more from a longer version of the National Security Strategy (The Telegraph):https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/12/make-europe-great-again-and-more-longer-version-national-security-strategy/410038/?oref=d1-homepage-top-story LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.