Evening briefing Friday 31st July

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 Welcome to the Times Radio Evening Briefing for Friday the 31st of July. Italy says it's suspended its border-free Schengen arrangements with Spain.

0:43It follows the arrival of 60 ,000 migrants in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from neighbouring Morocco. Italy doesn't have a land border with Spain, but people travelling by plane or boat between the two countries will be affected. Spanish soldiers have been deployed to restore order in Ceuta. Donald Trump has been commenting on the story. When you look at what happened to Spain, they don't know what to do. And it's happening again today. They're coming in by the tens of thousands. They're just invading the country. And what that is is weak law, bad management, but very liberal law. A funeral director has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for preventing the lawful burial of dozens of bodies.

1:2848-year-old Robert Bush admitted 67 offences spanning 12 years. Police found decaying bodies at his premises in Hull in 2024. The court heard that mothers were given the wrong ashes for their unborn babies. Bush also stole more than£5 ,000 from charities. Detective Superintendent Alan Curtis is from Humberside Police. The investigation has been extraordinary in terms of complexity, scale and public impact, which has extended far beyond the evidential process. For the victims and their families, it has been a period marked by profound grief, distress and uncertainty, with many seeking answers while coming to terms with circumstances which have fundamentally affected their lives.

2:11Israel says it won't withdraw from its yellow line in Gaza unless Hamas undergoes a genuine disarmament. Donald Trump says his Board of Peace has reached a historic agreement which involves Hamas fighters laying down their weapons. Hamas says Israel must end its military operations and withdraw troops from Gaza. Former IDF spokesperson Jonathan Conricus has told Times Radio he gives the proposal a cautious welcome. Well, I think it's a step in the right direction. I think a lot of people in Israel and probably many Gazans want this to succeed desperately. I think a lot of people would want to see Gaza demilitarized, Hamas' weapons taken away, and a new type of leadership in Gaza strike route, one that isn't about jihad, that isn't about fighting with Israel, but is about respectful coexistence.

3:04Andy Burnham says he will look again at plans to restrict trial by jury. The Prime Minister says he's concerned about potential miscarriages of justice. John Healy will deliver his first budget as Chancellor on October 28. The former Defence Secretary is pledging to move money and power out of Westminster. You can follow the Times Radio News Briefing on Spotify and listen live to Times Radio online.

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4:35It's a practical example of AI in action, helping fans follow the tournament more closely while showing how organizations can turn data into useful insight. To learn more about how IBM helps create smarter business, visit ibm.com.