Into The Grey Zone

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What do assassinations, cyber hacks and disinformation have in common? They’re all weapons used by states against each other in a grey zone of harm that sits - deliberately - under the threshold of war, but could be just as dangerous if ignored. Sky News Foreign Affairs Editor Deborah Haynes explores this often invisible battlefield, where anything can be - and is - used as a weapon and anyone, anywhere can be a target.

30 SEPT

Introducing... The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim

Sky News’ Yalda Hakim and NBC’s Richard Engel have covered world events for years. Now, they team up for a new podcast to share their experiences from the frontline. They debrief from global flashpoints and discuss their encounters with the biggest decision makers. They’ll also be joined by some of those key players to help make sense of world events. From conflict in the Middle East, to the US election, and the war in Ukraine there is no better place for analysis and expertise. New episodes from Richard and Yalda every Wednesday, starting October 9th.

2 min
25 MAR

Introducing... Unreliable Witness: Who is Ellie Williams?

It’s the height of lockdown, 19-year-old Ellie Williams claims on social media she's been raped and exploited by an Asian grooming gang across the north of England. Photos of her alleged injuries add to the outrage and the post goes viral - shared more than 100,000 times. Social media rumours lead to attacks on Asian men and businesses in her hometown of Barrow-in-Furness. But when she's arrested for perverting the course of justice, things really explode and there are protest rallies and claims of a cover-up. At her trial, the prosecution say she lied, faked text messages and even caused the catalogue of injuries to herself. In season 6 of StoryCast, Sky News' Jason Farrell and Liz Lane, who reported on the case at the time, return to Barrow to investigate what could have led her to make these claims and if, underneath it all, there is some other truth buried among the lies. With access to her family, police investigators and those most impacted by her allegations, we ask: Is Ellie Williams a villain - or a victim of something else? And what happened after the trial - once all the media attention died down and new allegations began to emerge? This is episode one of Unreliable Witness. For the full season, follow Unreliable Witness wherever you get your podcasts.

32 min
1 MAR

Introducing… Electoral Dysfunction

Today, something different – we're bringing you the trailer of an exciting new podcast from Sky called Electoral Dysfunction. Beth Rigby. Jess Philips. Ruth Davidson. With polls suggesting trust in politicians is low, three political powerhouses unite to unravel the spin and explain what’s really going on in Westminster and beyond. Every week, they will examine our political leaders and their policies – how they’re written, and how they’re sold to voters – as we prepare for a general election.  With so much at stake, they will work out which politicians are coming out on top and who is having an Electoral Dysfunction – and what it all actually means for you. Here's the trailer. For more, follow Electoral Dysfunction now wherever you listen to podcasts.

14 min
29 JAN

Patient 11 | Locked-up and drugged

Young mother and former GB youth swimmer, Alexis Quinn, agrees to enter NHS England psychiatric care following a family tragedy. She could never imagine that her three-day admission will turn into a three-year ordeal. Then undiagnosed with autism, and often the subject of 24-hour surveillance as well as long periods in solitary confinement, Alexis descends to the darkest reaches of locked-in, psychiatric care. There, she encounters the kind of threat she never could have imagined in a secure mental health hospital. In a bid to break free, Alexis plots a daring escape. Making it back to her daughter, however, will pit her against some of the most powerful institutions in the State, including the police. This episode contains discussions about sexual assault. Narrated by Nicholas Pinnock (Top Boy, Django, For Life). This is episode 1 of Patient 11, a new investigative podcast from Sky News and the Independent. To hear all episodes now, follow Patient 11 on your favourite podcast player.

20 min
03/03/2021

Episode Nine: Living in the Grey Zone - MI5 and the Russia threat

In this final episode, we have the first ever interview with serving MI5 officers who work in counter intelligence. Tom and Kate talk about the challenge of grey zone threats from Russia and reveal their shock at the Salisbury spy poisonings. They also reveal that the Security Service has bolstered protection for people in the UK deemed at risk from Russia and is doing “everything we can” to prevent another Salisbury-style attack, but there are no “absolute guarantees” – in the grey zone. Guests: Tom, senior MI5 intelligence officer working on Russia Kate, MI5 intelligence officer investigating the activities of Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU Lord Mark Sedwill, former UK national security adviser Dominic Grieve, former senior Conservative MP, former chair of Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee, former attorney general Credits: Written and narrated by Deborah Haynes Edited and produced by Chris Scott Production support from Sophia McBide and Michael Greenfield The Head of Sky News Radio is Dave Terris

51 min
01/03/2021

Episode Eight: When The Grey Zone Becomes A War Zone

What happens when the grey zone becomes a war zone and what might future wars look like, with hypersonic missiles, artificial intelligence and cyber changing calculations? These are questions Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes explores in this episode, in part, by looking at Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine. She also talks to General Sir Nick Carter, the head of Britain’s armed forces, about what he thinks is the gravest threat to the UK and about how the military is adapting to operate in the grey zone. Guests: General Sir Nick Carter, Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of Joint Command, now Strategic Command Emine Dzhaparova , First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Sergei Markov, political scientist and former member of the Russian parliament Keir Giles, senior consulting fellow at Chatham House Orysia Lutsevych, head and research fellow, Ukraine Forum, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House Credits: Written and narrated by Deborah Haynes Edited and produced by Chris Scott Production support from Sophia McBide and Michael Greenfield The Head of Sky News Radio is Dave Terris

43 min
22/02/2021

Episode Seven: China - A Battle of Values

This episode explores a global battle of values between China and leading democracies over issues like Hong Kong, Taiwan and Xinjiang. It’s being fought with an array of covert weapons, from cyber attacks and information operations to economic coercion and even something called “lawfare”. Allegations of such behaviour are made and denied by both sides, which of course is to be expected - in the grey zone. Guests: Tom Tugendhat, Conservative MP, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Matthew Turpin, visiting fellow, Hoover Institution Charlie Parton, former British diplomat, senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute Dr Shi Yinhong, Director of the Academic Committee of the School of International Studies and US Research Center of Renmin University in Beijing Nathan Law, pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong Julie Marionneau, research fellow, Policy Exchange Freddy Lim, Taiwanese politician, lead singer of heavy-metal band Chthonic Alexander Downer, former Australian foreign minister Puma Shen, assistant professor at National Taipei University Chinese embassy in London – via email statement Credits: Written and narrated by Deborah Haynes Edited and produced by Chris Scott Production support from Michael Greenfield The head of Sky News Radio is Dave Terris

46 min
15/02/2021

Episode Six: Iran - The Hidden Hand

On 3 January 2020, the United States killed Iran’s top spy master, Major General Qasem Soleimani, in a drone strike in Iraq. There was nothing grey or ambiguous about the assassination, but this episode explores the escalating grey zone hostilities between Iran and the United States in the preceding years and how they almost ignited a real war. Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes explores in particular how Iran allegedly uses proxy forces in the grey zone, under the threshold of war, to try to level the playing field when competing with a super power. Interviews: General David Petraeus, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency John Raine, Senior Adviser for Geopolitical Due Diligence, International Institute for Strategic Studies Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Conservative MP and former UK defence minister. She now serves as energy minister Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister of Gibraltar Anonymous Iraqi MP Seyed Mohammad Marandi, Professor of English Literature and Orientalism, University of Tehran Major General Amos Yadlin, a former chief of Israel’s Military Intelligence Directorate Credits: Written and narrated by Deborah Haynes Edited and produced by Chris Scott Production support from Michael Greenfield The head of Sky News Radio is Dave Terris

40 min

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TRAILER

Introducing Into the Grey Zone

What do assassinations, cyber hacks and disinformation have in common? They’re all weapons used by states against each other in a grey zone of harm that sits - deliberately - under the threshold of war, but could be just as dangerous if ignored. Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes explores this often invisible battlefield, where anything can be - and is - used as a weapon and anyone, anywhere can be a target. The series examines grey zone assaults; from the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in the UK and the killing of a nuclear scientist in Iran; to attempts to influence elections in the United States; and a suspected North Korean cyber-attack on the NHS. The podcast also includes interviews with spies and military chiefs who warn about the threat to daily life if attacks in the grey zone go unpunished. In the words of one former head of the UK’s special forces: “We’re being boiled like a frog!” Credits: Written and narrated by Deborah Haynes Edited and produced by Chris Scott Production support from Sophia McBride and Victoria Seabrook Additional voices provided by Cayetano Delgado The head of Sky News Radio is Dave Terris

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3 min

What do assassinations, cyber hacks and disinformation have in common? They’re all weapons used by states against each other in a grey zone of harm that sits - deliberately - under the threshold of war, but could be just as dangerous if ignored. Sky News Foreign Affairs Editor Deborah Haynes explores this often invisible battlefield, where anything can be - and is - used as a weapon and anyone, anywhere can be a target.