Latest news with #Overload
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sakamoto Days season 1 part 2 is here: Episode 12 kicks off with blood, brawls, and big reveals
Source: Crunchyroll Sakamoto Days fans can now rejoice; the hit anime is back with Season 1 Part 2, now streaming on Netflix. The second installment of the season picks up immediately where Part 1 left off, bringing even higher stakes, new characters, and intense action sequences. Episode 12, titled 'Overload,' marks the beginning of this continuation, setting the tone for what promises to be a thrilling ride over the next 11 episodes. From killer to convenience store dad: The story so far in Sakamoto Days Source: Crunchyroll Sakamoto Days is based on the best-selling manga by Yuto Suzuki. It follows the story of Taro Sakamoto, a once-legendary assassin who leaves his violent career behind after falling in love. Now a peaceful shop owner, Sakamoto tries to lead a quiet life with his family until his past resurfaces and forces him back into action. Part 1 of Season 1 introduced key characters such as Shin Asakura, a mind-reading ex-hitman, and Lu Shaotang, a martial artist with a tragic past. Together, they form an unlikely team trying to fend off assassins sent by a powerful underground organisation led by the elusive villain, X. Sakamoto Days season 1 part 2 : Streaming details Platform: Netflix Episode count: 11 (weekly releases) Release day: Mondays First episode of Part 2: Episode 12-Overload Netflix announced the return via @NetflixAnime on X (formerly Twitter) , teasing "more battles, more danger, and more pork buns" ahead of the new arc beginning July 14, 2025. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo Shin levels up, and killers close in: What went down in Sakamoto Days episode 12 , 'Overload' Source: Crunchyroll The premiere episode of Part 2 wastes no time in raising the intensity. Titled 'Overload,' Episode 12 introduces a group of death row convicts, released and deployed with a single mission: eliminate Sakamoto and his team. One of the standout antagonists introduced is Saw, a large, unhinged serial killer with a flair for the dramatic. His target? Shin and Lu, whom he confronts while they're out shopping. The resulting battle is fast-paced, bloody, and laced with the dark humour that defines Sakamoto Days. While Saw believes his brutal tactics will easily crush the pair, the fight takes a turn as Shin taps into a new combat ability, hinting at significant character development to come. This episode also reintroduces several major players, including the feared members of The Order, a secretive elite assassin group to which Sakamoto once belonged. Sakamoto Days episode 12: Visuals turn cinematic in part 2 debut Directed by Masaki Watanabe and produced by TMS Entertainment, the episode maintains the high production standards set by Part 1. The fight choreography is fluid and dynamic, while the blend of intense violence with unexpected comedic beats remains a core strength of the series. Visually, Episode 12 leans into a darker, more cinematic style, reflecting the serious tone of the new arc, while still preserving the exaggerated expressions and playful tone that make the series unique. Source: Crunchyroll New enemies, higher stakes, and Shin's evolution: The best of Sakamoto Days is yet to come Episode 12 sets the stage for what looks to be a significantly more dangerous and emotionally complex arc. It succeeds in building suspense, introducing formidable new enemies, and showcasing growth in the main characters, particularly Shin. Fans can look forward to high-stakes confrontations, layered storytelling, and more insight into Sakamoto's mysterious past. With 10 more episodes left in this installment, Sakamoto Days is expected to delve deeper into the network of assassins and the personal histories of its key characters. Viewers can anticipate escalating battles, more interactions with The Order, and continued development of the core trio's relationships and skills. New episodes of Sakamoto Days stream every Monday on Netflix. Whether you're a returning fan or new to the series, now is the ideal time to catch up and join the action. Also Read: If you loved anime Your Name, these 5 Makoto Shinkai films will stay in your heart too
Euractiv
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Euractiv
Whack-a-mole warfare: Europe's battle against AI-fuelled Kremlin lies
Chris Kremidas-Courtney is a senior visiting fellow at the European Policy Centre, associate fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, and author of 'The Rest of Your Life: Five Stories of Your Future.' Since June 2024, the Kremlin-driven Operation Overload has become Europe's most sustained disinformation blitz against the fact-checking community. According to a newly released report by CheckFirst and Reset Tech, Operation Overload's AI-driven narrative variants are popping up faster than fact-checkers can knock them down, turning Europe's information space into a perpetual game of disinformation whack-a-mole. If Brussels doesn't harness the full force of the Digital Services Act now, demanding real-time platform accountability and enabling cross-border threat-sharing, the next wave of state-sponsored fakes could reshape our public discourse before we even spot the first lie. The question is, can Brussels and the platforms it seeks to regulate keep pace with a campaign that adapts as quickly as the neural networks powering it? Since September 2024, the Russian-backed operation (also known as Matryoshka) has more than doubled its email attacks, overwhelming media and fact-checking communities with an average of 2.6 fabricated pitches per day – more than doubling since the campaign began. In the same way that waves of drones or missiles can overwhelm air defences, this operation seeks to do the same to journalists and fact-checkers. Fake emails are only the tip of the iceberg for this coordinated propaganda machine. According to the Overload report this includes 11,000 crypto-themed 'reposter' bots on Twitter/X and thousands of deepfake videos. AI-driven content creation has become the operation's backbone. Deepfake audio, AI-generated images and 'magazine cover' forgeries now churn out at scale, each twisted around a 'kernel of truth'. To evade detection they include isolated reports, such as Ukrainian call-centre irregularities, or decontextualise verifiable details of events. This perpetual 'whack-a-mole' exhausts journalistic resources and fragments the fact-checking ecosystem. For example, CheckFirst logged 180 debunks, yet fewer than half were framed within the larger Operation Overload context. But all these numbers still undersell the operation's enormity. In February 2025, the American Sunlight Project found that Kremlin-aligned networks were already producing over three million AI-forged articles per year – a tsunami of disinformation now poisoning AIs like ChatGPT and Gemini, eating away at our digital discourse from within. For example, across France, Poland and Moldova, Overload adapted its four pillars of anti-Ukrainian vitriol, election scares, identity smears and calls to violence to local flashpoints (e.g. Macron, historical grievances, Sandu's legitimacy). Such targeted campaigns require equally tailored counter-messaging since one-size-fits-all rebuttals leave gaps for the next hostile narrative. Most revealing is who amplifies these lies. High-profile Kremlin-aligned 'amplifier' accounts on Twitter/X whose synchronized behaviour lends the campaign mainstream reach, grants Operation Overload an aura of mainstream credibility. While the direct link between these influencers and Russian state agencies remains opaque, their synchronised behaviour and consistent prioritisation by platform algorithms indicate an operation that transcends mere grassroots trolling. Under the EU's Digital Services Act , Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) must swiftly mitigate systemic risks such as election interference and incitement to violence. Yet over 70% of flagged content lingered online for months, and platforms missed reactivated accounts and paid-for authentication abuse. If the EU allows this to persist by eschewing public audits, fines or mandated transparency, the DSA risks becoming little more than window dressing, ill-suited to protect against state-sponsored disinformation. A four-pillar defence Europe can't treat each Overload hit as an oddity. Instead, it must tackle AI-enabled disinformation with four coordinated efforts: Real-time, multi-platform threat sharing: Set up a shared dashboard with encrypted feeds so that the moment one fact-checking group or platform spots a new fake image, bot network or edited video, it automatically alerts everyone else so they can all block it before it spreads. Scalable AI-detection investment: Invest in AI systems that can automatically scan millions of videos, images and posts every hour, flagging deepfakes and bulk-generated disinformation so platforms and fact-checkers can remove them before they go viral. Give the DSA teeth: Publicly name and sanction non-compliant VLOPs, demand rapid takedowns under Articles 34–35, and require quarterly transparency reports on coordinated inauthentic behaviour. Narrative literacy campaigns: Launch public-awareness campaigns that go beyond debunking individual lies to teaching people how to spot when a misleading story is built around a 'kernel of truth' or artificially bulk-produced, so everyone can challenge and report fakes, not just fact-checkers.' Operation Overload is an AI-fuelled, multi-vector threat crafted by Kremlin-aligned actors. The Overload 2 report maps this danger. It's now up to national capitals to forge a robust cognitive defence for Europe's democracy.
Wales Online
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Charles requests Sugababes for King's Trust Awards red carpet
Charles requests Sugababes for King's Trust Awards red carpet Hollywood celebrity George Clooney and wife lawyer Amal Clooney were joined by fellow trust supporters King Charles reportedly has a very "hands on" approach when it comes to High Grove's gardens (Image: Tom Dulat, Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse ) The King has requested the Sugababes be played on the red carpet at his King's Trust Awards ceremony as he celebrated the winners with a host of stars. Hollywood celebrity George Clooney and wife lawyer Amal Clooney were joined by fellow trust supporters, actors Dame Joanna Lumley, Joseph Fiennes and TV presenter Dec Donnelly, one half of Ant and Dec, at a Buckingham Palace reception honouring recipients. Fiennes dubbed the King the "patron saint of second chances" for the work of his trust supporting young people over almost five decades, ahead of the awards ceremony being staged on Thursday. Ant and Dec, the trust's goodwill ambassadors, will be hosting the awards ceremony for the 13th time and Donnelly joked how the King had offered to write some jokes for the pair "he's going to do some script writing for us, it's always gratefully received". After chatting to the girl group Sugababes, Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan, Siobhan Donaghy, who will open and close the ceremony at London's Royal Festival Hall, Charles spoke to Radio 1 DJ Melvin Odoom. The broadcaster, who will be playing a DJ set for those arriving on the red carpet, asked the King "Any tunes you want, let me know", and said later "he asked for the Sugababes CD to be played." Article continues below He joked: "I didn't want to say to him we don't use CDs anymore, I'm using USB, but I'll drop the Sugababes." The girl group has just finished a tour and Buchanan said: "That's very, very cool to know the King has requested us. "We said to the King we've been around for 25 years and he was like wow, he was a bit taken a back. "He said he wanted a CD and we think we'll introduce him to Overload first, he was really lovely." George Clooney joined his wife who was supporting Alice, 19, winner of the Amal Clooney Women's Empowerment Award after setting up a business teaching other women the traditional Kenyan craft of bead work. She said Amal had been acting as a mentor and described the couple as "very intelligent people" and said "all the world is shining", after being told she had won the award after taking part in a programme run by the King's Trust International. The trust will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026 and was started by Charles, when he was prince of Wales, following his concern too many young people were being excluded from society through a lack of opportunity. In 1976, when he left the Royal Navy, he used the £7,400 he received in severance pay to fund a number of community schemes. These early initiatives were the founding projects of his charity. Fiennes said after talking to the King: "In the 25 years that I've been doing this we've just seen a collection of young potential that has been picked up and disenfranchised and not given the right opportunities, so I said to His Majesty, maybe it was inappropriate, but 'you are the patron saint of second chances'. "And giving young potential second chances is just vital, cost of living, mental crises after Covid, this deep rupture in our psyche, especially for the youth, has been massive, so for the trust to be running and doing what it's doing is so extraordinary. Among the celebrity supporters at the event were Former Saturdays singer Rochelle Humes, actor James Nelson-Joyce, model and actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Made in Chelsea stars Jamie Laing and partner Sophie Habboo and comic Tom Davis. The King appeared moved by his conversation with Brandon Hulcoop, who presented him with an image of the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony printed in raised ink so it can be "seen" by visually impaired people. The winner of the NatWest Thrive Enterprise Award, from Plymouth, was born blind and unable to find work until he took part in the King's Trust's Enterprise course, gaining the skills and support he needed to set up his own business producing Braille products. Charles grasped his hand to shake it before asking about Brandon's business, All Things Dotty. Article continues below "It wouldn't have happened if it hadn't be for you, sir," he told the King. "I don't know what I would have done."
North Wales Chronicle
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Charles requests Sugababes for King's Trust Awards red carpet
Hollywood celebrity George Clooney and wife lawyer Amal Clooney were joined by fellow trust supporters, actors Dame Joanna Lumley, Joseph Fiennes and TV presenter Dec Donnelly, one half of Ant and Dec, at a Buckingham Palace reception honouring recipients. Fiennes dubbed the King the 'patron saint of second chances' for the work of his trust supporting young people over almost five decades, ahead of the awards ceremony being staged on Thursday. Ant and Dec, the trust's goodwill ambassadors, will be hosting the awards ceremony for the 13th time and Donnelly joked how the King had offered to write some jokes for the pair 'he's going to do some script writing for us, it's always gratefully received'. After chatting to the girl group Sugababes, Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan, Siobhan Donaghy, who will open and close the ceremony at London's Royal Festival Hall, Charles spoke to Radio 1 DJ Melvin Odoom. The broadcaster, who will be playing a DJ set for those arriving on the red carpet, asked the King 'Any tunes you want, let me know', and said later 'he asked for the Sugababes CD to be played.' He joked: 'I didn't want to say to him we don't use CDs anymore, I'm using USB, but I'll drop the Sugababes.' The girl group has just finished a tour and Buchanan said: 'That's very, very cool to know the King has requested us. 'We said to the King we've been around for 25 years and he was like wow, he was a bit taken a back. 'He said he wanted a CD and we think we'll introduce him to Overload first, he was really lovely.' George Clooney joined his wife who was supporting Alice, 19, winner of the Amal Clooney Women's Empowerment Award after setting up a business teaching other women the traditional Kenyan craft of bead work. She said Amal had been acting as a mentor and described the couple as 'very intelligent people' and said 'all the world is shining', after being told she had won the award after taking part in a programme run by the King's Trust International. The trust will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026 and was started by Charles, when he was prince of Wales, following his concern too many young people were being excluded from society through a lack of opportunity. In 1976, when he left the Royal Navy, he used the £7,400 he received in severance pay to fund a number of community schemes. These early initiatives were the founding projects of his charity. Fiennes said after talking to the King: 'In the 25 years that I've been doing this we've just seen a collection of young potential that has been picked up and disenfranchised and not given the right opportunities, so I said to His Majesty, maybe it was inappropriate, but 'you are the patron saint of second chances'. 'And giving young potential second chances is just vital, cost of living, mental crises after Covid, this deep rupture in our psyche, especially for the youth, has been massive, so for the trust to be running and doing what it's doing is so extraordinary. Among the celebrity supporters at the event were Former Saturdays singer Rochelle Humes, actor James Nelson-Joyce, model and actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Made in Chelsea stars Jamie Laing and partner Sophie Habboo and comic Tom Davis. The King appeared moved by his conversation with Brandon Hulcoop, who presented him with an image of the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony printed in raised ink so it can be 'seen' by visually impaired people. The winner of the NatWest Thrive Enterprise Award, from Plymouth, was born blind and unable to find work until he took part in the King's Trust's Enterprise course, gaining the skills and support he needed to set up his own business producing Braille products. Charles grasped his hand to shake it before asking about Brandon's business, All Things Dotty. 'It wouldn't have happened if it hadn't be for you, sir,' he told the King. 'I don't know what I would have done.'
Glasgow Times
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Charles requests Sugababes for King's Trust Awards red carpet
Hollywood celebrity George Clooney and wife lawyer Amal Clooney were joined by fellow trust supporters, actors Dame Joanna Lumley, Joseph Fiennes and TV presenter Dec Donnelly, one half of Ant and Dec, at a Buckingham Palace reception honouring recipients. Fiennes dubbed the King the 'patron saint of second chances' for the work of his trust supporting young people over almost five decades, ahead of the awards ceremony being staged on Thursday. Amal and George Clooney were among the celebrity King's Trust supporters (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Ant and Dec, the trust's goodwill ambassadors, will be hosting the awards ceremony for the 13th time and Donnelly joked how the King had offered to write some jokes for the pair 'he's going to do some script writing for us, it's always gratefully received'. After chatting to the girl group Sugababes, Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan, Siobhan Donaghy, who will open and close the ceremony at London's Royal Festival Hall, Charles spoke to Radio 1 DJ Melvin Odoom. The broadcaster, who will be playing a DJ set for those arriving on the red carpet, asked the King 'Any tunes you want, let me know', and said later 'he asked for the Sugababes CD to be played.' He joked: 'I didn't want to say to him we don't use CDs anymore, I'm using USB, but I'll drop the Sugababes.' King Charles meets actor Joseph Fiennes and members of The Sugababes, during a reception for winners of the King's Trust Awards 2025 at Buckingham Palace (Stefan Rousseau/PA) The girl group has just finished a tour and Buchanan said: 'That's very, very cool to know the King has requested us. 'We said to the King we've been around for 25 years and he was like wow, he was a bit taken a back. 'He said he wanted a CD and we think we'll introduce him to Overload first, he was really lovely.' George Clooney joined his wife who was supporting Alice, 19, winner of the Amal Clooney Women's Empowerment Award after setting up a business teaching other women the traditional Kenyan craft of bead work. King Charles III speaks with Dame Joanna Lumley during the reception (Stefan Rousseau/PA) She said Amal had been acting as a mentor and described the couple as 'very intelligent people' and said 'all the world is shining', after being told she had won the award after taking part in a programme run by the King's Trust International. The trust will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026 and was started by Charles, when he was prince of Wales, following his concern too many young people were being excluded from society through a lack of opportunity. In 1976, when he left the Royal Navy, he used the £7,400 he received in severance pay to fund a number of community schemes. These early initiatives were the founding projects of his charity. George and Amal Clooney with Alice, winner of the Amal Clooney Women's Empowerment Award (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Fiennes said after talking to the King: 'In the 25 years that I've been doing this we've just seen a collection of young potential that has been picked up and disenfranchised and not given the right opportunities, so I said to His Majesty, maybe it was inappropriate, but 'you are the patron saint of second chances'. 'And giving young potential second chances is just vital, cost of living, mental crises after Covid, this deep rupture in our psyche, especially for the youth, has been massive, so for the trust to be running and doing what it's doing is so extraordinary. Among the celebrity supporters at the event were Former Saturdays singer Rochelle Humes, actor James Nelson-Joyce, model and actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Made in Chelsea stars Jamie Laing and partner Sophie Habboo and comic Tom Davis. The King appeared moved by his conversation with Brandon Hulcoop, who presented him with an image of the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony printed in raised ink so it can be 'seen' by visually impaired people. The winner of the NatWest Thrive Enterprise Award, from Plymouth, was born blind and unable to find work until he took part in the King's Trust's Enterprise course, gaining the skills and support he needed to set up his own business producing Braille products. Charles grasped his hand to shake it before asking about Brandon's business, All Things Dotty. 'It wouldn't have happened if it hadn't be for you, sir,' he told the King. 'I don't know what I would have done.'
