Afternoon briefing Thursday 15th October

0:02Welcome to the Times Radio Afternoon Briefing on Thursday 15 October. Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine will restart strikes on Russia's oil refineries. The Ukrainian president also says he's angry over what he calls the dangerous withdrawal of US intelligence and the weakening of the Starlink satellite internet service. He's told the FT he thinks that Donald Trump loves and respects autocrats. Michael Borsicu is a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. He's told Times Radio this is a very dangerous moment for Ukraine. The other day, when intelligence was apparently paused and these new restrictions came in on Starlink, it played out in real time.

0:41Six missiles in Kiev alone, many more across Ukraine that were not intercepted. So enormous. You know, I would even go so far, Kate, as to say if this continues, Ukraine will have a very, very hard time winning this war. The UK economy grew by 0.1 % in August after economists were predicting a contraction. The Office for National Statistics says the figure was boosted by strong factory production. There was growth of 0.4 % in July. The Chancellor, John Healy, has been talking about his budget, which is just 13 days away. We have a plan to get on top of the budget problems that have been there in Britain for too long in the past.

1:21and we have a plan also to reinforce the growth that the IMF here has confirmed is more resilient than many expected and something that I certainly welcome and I know businesses back in Britain will too. One in six people on personal independence payments does not incur any extra costs because of their condition according to a survey. The Resolution Foundation says 16 % of claimants admitted there was no cost involved. The think tank's research director, Lindsay Judge, explains why they still get the benefit. The assessment doesn't actually ask you about additional costs at the moment. What it does is it asks you about how you can function.

1:59And the idea is that if you can not function so well, you probably have additional costs. So it's a kind of proxy. And I think what our research is showing really powerfully is that it's not a very good proxy and that there's change needed there. Speaking and communication skills will be given equal status with reading and writing as part of the overhaul of the curriculum in England. It means the ability to speak fluently will be assessed as part of GCSE exams. The Times' education editor, Nicola Walcock, explains the changes. The education secretary wants to significantly reduce the amount of time that pupils spend on desktop work in subjects like drama and PE and music.

2:39She wants much more practical elements to dominate. This goes further than her predecessor, Bridget Phillipson, who favoured a far more cautious attitude to changes in the wake of the curriculum and assessment review that she commissioned. This year-long piece of work by Professor Becky Francis recommended evolution, not revolution. However, Powell has insisted she will build on the Francis review rather than scrap it. You can follow the Times Radio News Briefing on Spotify and listen live to Times Radio online. I've got big news. I switched to Verizon and got the new iPhone 18 Pro. I can keep my old phone.

3:22Can I also get the latest iPhone every year? Anything else? Verizon, let me choose Apple Watch Series 12 or iPad on them. Everybody listen up. Switch to Verizon and get the new iPhone 18 Pro now. No trade in needed. And the latest iPhone every year with Simplicity Plan. Plus, choose Apple Watch Series 12 or iPad on us. Simplicity Plan with Simplicity Pro required. plan and device payment purchase or separate agreements with separate terms service plan for watch or ipad required additional terms apply for all offers but i thought what if i've scaled businesses what if i scaled my philanthropy what if i did as much in one year as i've done in my whole life see how your wealth could have even greater meaning at creativeplanning.com impact