Evening briefing Thursday 9th October

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. This is The Times Evening Briefing for Thursday, the 9th of October. I'm Will Hobbs. Sakhir Starmer says there's one person we need to thank for their leadership when it comes to progress towards a peace deal in Gaza.

0:48It would not have happened without President Trump's leadership on this. I want to be really clear about that, and I say that from the informed position of the UK having played a part behind the scenes with the US and with the mediators. The Prime Minister says Israel and Hamas signing off on the first phase of the US president's plan is a real breakthrough. We're told fighting will stop within 24 hours of an Israeli government meeting this afternoon with the remaining hostages exchanged for more Palestinian prisoners by Monday or Tuesday. Longer-term unknowns remain. Entrepreneur and peace campaigner Myles Inon lost both his parents in the October 7th attack.

1:25He was asked on Times Radio whether he's worried about Netanyahu getting credit for this deal given the claims that he prolonged the war for political gain. After October 7th, I was furious. and wanted to punish and take my revenge in the Israeli government. But through the work I was doing with my Palestinians, partners and brothers, I can choose forgiveness in order to save my own soul. I forgive the Israeli government and I forgive Hamas. And I don't care who will be credited for achieving a lasting peace. Elsewhere, vigils and moments of silence have been held to mark a week since the attack at a synagogue in Manchester.

2:05Jihad al-Shammy pledged allegiance to so-called Islamic State as he tried to get into the building in Crumsall. Two worshippers died as they were attending a service led by Rabbi Daniel Walker. He spoke outside the synagogue earlier. This is a holy place. These are the gates that lead into a place of prayer, of connection to the Almighty. Evil tried to defile these steps and make them the opposite. we will not allow that to happen. The government says a new trade deal with India has unlocked 10 ,600 new UK jobs. A two-day visit by the Prime Minister and business leaders to India has concluded with£1.3 billion worth of new Indian investment into the UK in sectors ranging from engineering to technology across every region of the country.

2:51Major film studio Yash Raj Films committed to making three new Bollywood blockbusters in the UK from next year. It's also said a new£350 million deal will create over 700 jobs in Northern Ireland to deliver UK manufactured missiles to the Indian Army. Former DJ Tim Westwood has been charged with four counts of rape and nine counts of indecent assault. The allegations against the Radio 1 DJ relate to seven different women between 1983 and 2016, mostly in London. Met police officers say their investigation remains open and the 68-year-old is due to appear in court next month. Victims of the post office Horizon IT scandal looking for compensation will now be entitled to free legal advice.

3:34It's among improvements to the payout schemes announced by the government in response to a public inquiry into hundreds of wrongful convictions. Post Office Minister Blair MacDougall wouldn't be drawn on a deadline for when everyone would be paid. You can hear more of these stories throughout the evening on Times Radio. 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.

4:13That'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