Morning briefing Tuesday 25th August

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 Times Radio's morning briefing on Tuesday the 25th of August. The Prime Minister is refusing to rule out tax rises in the autumn budget, but said he won't take risks with people's jobs or livelihoods.

0:47Andy Burnham said the public need to understand the UK economy is in a challenging position. The Chancellor John Healey needs to fine£4.7 billion for additional defence spending, along with funding for a series of cost of living announcements that Burnham has made since entering number 10. Ukraine has presented Britain with a database of battlefield intelligence designed to help it build better weapons and protect UK bases from Russian spies The Times has learned it contains millions of frames of front-line footage of Russian tanks, air defences, troops and artillery systems Dominic Housechild is the defence correspondent at the Sunday Times Ukraine is becoming an absolute military tech industry juggernaut During the Soviet period, Ukraine was actually where the Soviet Union built most of its missiles in and around Dnipro.

1:39But now what we're seeing is Ukraine is at the centre of this completely new architecture of European security. It's becoming crucial to their economy and just their survival. A prayer vigil has been held at a church in Middlesbrough after Saturday's fatal head-on collision on the A66, in which seven people, including two police officers, died. PC's Tom Clough and Matthew Blades were killed when a Volkswagen Passat that had been pursued by police hit their marked armed response vehicle. Five other males aged between 17 and 23 were also killed in the crash. The local MP for Redka, Anna Turley, attended last night's event.

2:19Everybody here is still reeling from the incident. It's been an absolutely horrendous few days and everyone's thoughts are with the families of those who've tragically lost their lives. I think it was important that we had a space to come today to reflect, to come together, to grieve and to think about the families and also to think about the incredible contribution that those brave officers made to keeping us safe. Millions of women in England who've not attended cervical screening appointments will now be able to receive a free testing kit from the NHS. It contains a swab in which a sample can be collected and then posted to a lab to check for a virus known as HPV.

2:56The charity Cancer Research UK has described the initiative as a game changer that will save lives. And Roger Federer will today complete some unfinished business when he makes a long-awaited return to the venue for Tenet's US Open, which starts on Sunday. The winner of 20 Grand Slam singles titles, including five at the US Open, Federer will feature in an exhibition ahead of the draw for the final Grand Slam of the season. Federer's last US Open in 2019 ended at the quarterfinal stage, although many at the time expected him to return. An absentee in the COVID season of 2020, Federer is now hoping to say a proper farewell to his fans in New York.

3:37I just feel it really gives me a true opportunity to say thank you and goodbye, which is, I think, important for some. For me, it is. And it's a nice thing to do, for sure. There's more on these stories throughout the day on Times Radio.

3:58This 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. PwC turns innovation into implementation so you can accelerate from experiment to scale. Discover more at pwc.co.uk. Hi, I'm Nick, co-host of The Best One Yet. You optimize your workouts, your portfolios and that rando startup idea that hit you in the middle of the shower.

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