Afternoon Briefing Friday 5th December

0:00This episode of the Times Radio News Briefing is sponsored by PwCWC. Staying competitive means getting ahead, not just keeping up. So how do business leaders cut through the noise and focus on what really matters. PwC takes you further with tech, from optimising the systems that put your data to work, to scaling AI from proof of concept to competitive edge. PwC helps you meet tomorrow's tech demands, so you can compete at a speed that rewrites the rules. Discover more at pwc.co.uk. Hello, this is your Times Afternoon Briefing for Friday 5th December with me, James Kitchen. The Big Issue founder John Byrd has told Times Radio he's cheesed off at the government's new child poverty strategy.

0:45Proposals include expanding the free school meal scheme and removing families from temporary bed and breakfast accommodation. A record 4.5 million young people in the UK live in households which are struggling to afford basic provisions. Speaking to Times Radio, Lord Byrd branded the package a sticking plaster. I really do believe that this government is committed to doing it, but it needs the intellectual tools, first of all. It needs to be thinking outside the box and saying, do we have to keep holding people's hands in poverty? What are we going to do? And I think because we've got so much money invested in the welfare, and that is keeping people slightly comfortable in poverty, then we really got to find where we're going to get the money to to actually dismantle poverty.

1:33The Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has told Times Radio he was stunned and saddened by recent cuts to the UK foreign aid budget. The entrepreneur who chairs the world's largest private charity, the Gates Foundation, warned the number of children dying before their fifth birthday is expected to rise as a result. Speaking to the Times' specialist correspondent and science writer Tom Whipple, Mr. Gates called on the government to reverse its decision. I had a great dialogue with the prime minister and the people around the prime minister. We were kind of stunned at the 0.5 % to 0.3 % cut. We think that disproportionately cutting the aid budget there, we were sad to see that and think that should be reversed.

2:25Vladimir Putin says Russia is ready to supply uninterrupted fuel to India as he celebrated a special partnership between the two countries. The Russian president's in New Delhi for discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where they've pledged to strengthen their economic and military relationship. Arjuna Kashwani-Ham is in Delhi for the Sunday Times. She says Mr Modi is pursuing a policy of strategic autonomy. Many have observed that India has been trying to make a show, at least, of boosting ties with China and Russia in recent months after the U.S. hit India with a 50 % punitive tariff for its purchasing of Russian crude.

3:04And India may now also be trying to make amends with Putin. I mean, some have suggested that India has stopped purchasing Russian oil by around a third due to Trump's recent sanctions. And India may now be almost trying to compensate for that. German broadcasters have joined the BBC in backing a decision to allow Israel to enter next year's Eurovision Song Contest. The ruling prompted four nations, including Ireland, to withdraw in protest against the Israeli military operation in Gaza. The event's organiser, the European Broadcasting Union, decided against a vote, saying it had instead passed rules aimed at discouraging governments from influencing the contest.

3:44And flights at Edinburgh Airport have now resumed following an IT issue with the air traffic control provider. Earlier this morning, all planes at Scotland's busiest airport were grounded, with some flights diverted. Passengers are being warned of knock-on delays. And remember, you can follow The Times News Briefing on Spotify and you can listen live to Times Radio Online.

4:10This episode of the Times Radio News Briefing is sponsored by PwC. AI is everywhere. In the news, in our hands, but return on investment, not so much. So how do you get beyond the hype and deliver AI that powers reinvention and growth across your business? Strong foundations unlock AI's potential. That's why PwC takes you further with tech, strengthening the data quality, processes and workflows that shape how well AI performs. PwC turns innovation into implementation so you can accelerate from experiment to scale. Discover more at pwc.co.uk. Hey everybody, it's Farnoosh Tarabi from the So Money Podcast.

4:55Today's episode is sponsored by NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast, the show that breaks down financial decisions with a team of trusted journalists. You'll get research-backed insights and clear pros and cons, whether you're planning a big purchase or just want to grow your wealth. They explain the why behind decisions like investing, home buying, and choosing credit cards with clear, research-backed insights. Make your next financial move with confidence. Follow NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast on your favorite podcast app.