Evening briefing Monday 25th May

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 on Monday, the 25th of May. Nicola Sturgeon says she had no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever that personal items had been purchased using SNP funds.

0:46The former First Minister of Scotland has released a new statement after her estranged husband Peter Murrell pleaded guilty to embezzling more than£400 ,000 from the party. He was the SNP's chief exec for more than 20 years. Sturgeon says she was not aware that expensive watches and games consoles had been purchased. She adds, we were both earning high salaries and, due to the responsibilities of my job, rarely socialised or went on holidays. We had separate bank accounts and I had no access to his financial records. Joanna Cherry, the SNP's former Home Affairs spokesperson, says there are still questions to answer.

1:21The real victims of Peter Murrell's crimes are the ordinary independence supporters who gave their hard-earned cash to the party in the belief that it was going to be used to further the cause of independence. and I'm sure they will want to know this evening how their donations could have been embezzled over such a long period of time without anyone noticing. That's what I'm concerned about. Iran's foreign ministry says conclusions have been reached with the US on many topics, but that does not mean they are close to signing an agreement. Iran also says the management of the Strait of Hormuz belongs to coastal countries.

1:56Donald Trump says any deal must be meaningful and if not, it won't happen. American pollster John Zogby says the war is pretty unpopular in the United States. 34 % supporting, 57%, 58 % opposed. What makes the number so stunning is that we all recognize now that the Vietnam War became very unpopular. These are the kinds of numbers that happened late in the Vietnam War. These are the kinds of numbers that we're seeing only a couple of months into the war in Iran. The Pope has given a warning about the dangers of AI. Artificial intelligence needs to be disarmed. The word is strong, I know, but deliberately chosen because this moment needs words capable of attracting attention, awakening consciences and indicating paths forward for humanity.

2:56He also says a more moral AI is not enough if that morality is determined by a few. He says he's fearful of AI replacing rather than assisting humans in the workplace. And there have been record-breaking temperatures in the south of England today. It's hit 34.8 degrees Celsius at Kew Gardens in southwest London. That's 95 degrees in Fahrenheit. These people were asked how they were coping in the heat. It's like being away, actually. It's like being abroad. Really nice. We're making the most of it. We're coming out for some food. as a family and then we might go over and play some football. It's too hot for me, even though I'm from Hong Kong, but that is a different level, I think.

3:34How are you enjoying this? I don't like it at all. You don't like it, that's why you're sitting there in the shade. And you can follow the Times Radio News Briefing on Spotify and listen live to Times Radio online. This 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.

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4:53Lamine Yamal, 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. All rights reserved. Copyright 2026. McDonald's at the FIFA World Cup 2026.