Daily briefing Saturday 14th February

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

0:34This is Times Radio's daily briefing on Saturday 14th February. The Prime Minister says Europe must relinquish its over-dependence on the United States. Addressing the Munich Security Conference, Zakir Starmer said Europe must collectively stand on its own feet. But he said the US remains an indispensable ally at a time when Washington's commitment to NATO has been called into question. We must be able to deter aggression. And yes, if necessary, we must be ready to fight, to do whatever it takes to protect our people, our values and our way of life. And as Europe, we must stand on our own two feet.

1:20And the Prime Minister's message that the UK needs deeper links with the EU was met with a positive response. Now we are not the Britain of the Brexit years anymore.

1:34And that is because we know that in a dangerous world, we would not take control by turning inward. We would surrender it. And I won't let that happen. The Prime Minister also warned that the extremes of left and right are soft on Russia and weak on NATO. He claimed that Labour's new electoral rivals Reform UK and the Greens are ideological extremists who would undermine Britain's national security and make war in Europe more likely. The skeleton athlete Matt Weston is targeting further Olympic glory after winning Great Britain's first gold medal at the Winter Games in Italy. His success makes him the first British man to win a winter gold since Christopher Dean, who partnered Jane Torville in ice dancing in 1984.

2:21Western's next objective is the mixed team event, a new addition to the Winter Olympic programme. I'm really looking forward to it. It's a great addition to the programme. I think it adds a bit of jeopardy with the reaction start. I think it's a great part of the team event and makes it a great spectator event as well. We're such an individual sport, so being able to work as a team and slide with your team-mate, it's probably one of the funnest events as well. Almost 50 ,000 people in England with severe mental health problems are being recruited to a study that could help develop personalised treatments for conditions including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

2:59The research project, known as Global Minds, is being supported by 10 NHS trusts. And Palmerston, the cat who served as Chief Mouser at the Foreign Office, has died at his retirement home at the age of 12. Palmerston stepped down in 2020 after four years of service in Whitehall before taking up a new role last year as a feline relations consultant to the governor of Bermuda. There's more on these stories throughout the day on Times Radio.

3:45hype 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.

4:14Hey, Pablo Torre here. As a sports journalist, I've covered global sports for many years now. And there is one thing that I can promise you. Nothing compares to the World Cup. And this time it is even better thanks to McDonald's. You have the chance to take home one of nine legendary cups when you order the FIFA World Cup meal. The cups feature some of the biggest legends in football, like David Beckham, Terry Henry, and Ronaldinho, Christian Pulisic, Lamin Amal, and Alphonso Davies. Right now, get one of nine legendary cups when you order the FIFA World Cup meal only at McDonald's. At participating McDonald's, only for a limited time, while supplies last.

4:50All rights reserved. Copyright 2026. McDonald's at the FIFA World Cup 2026.