Daily briefing Sunday 29th March

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 daily briefing on Sunday 29th March. A US warship carrying thousands of troops has arrived in the Middle East amid reports Washington could consider sending ground forces into Iran.

0:48Global oil and gas prices have surged since Tehran blocked the Strait of Hormuz. Ministers say they're monitoring the impact as petrol prices rise and fears grow about the impact on energy prices. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told Times Radio the government will act to protect consumers if needed. We as a government want to see a de-escalation of the conflict. We are concerned about the impact that this is having close to home and whilst we're doing everything we can to protect British consumers to make sure that people are getting the support that they need and they should be reassured that, for example, on energy prices that cap will remain in force for some time.

1:24The conflict with Iran has widened this weekend after Yemen's Houthis launched missile strikes towards Israel for the first time. Both missiles were intercepted, but there are concerns the Iran-backed group could now target shipping in the Red Sea. In other news, seven people have been injured after a car struck pedestrians in Derby city centre, with some taken to hospital in a serious condition. A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and dangerous driving. Witnesses have described panic in the area as emergency services rushed to the scene on Friar Gate. Derby North MP Catherine Atkinson told Times Radio it's a very busy part of the city.

2:02There are lots of pubs and bars on Frygate, which means that there will have been a lot of people going from venue to venue. And I will be raising the matter with government because we need to understand what review has to take place in terms of the guidelines for areas where there are high risks of vehicle ramming incidents. The Sunday Times is reporting the Scottish National Party has pumped millions of pounds into charities that support its policies. It's prompting accusations that it's using taxpayers' cash to silence criticism. Charities involved with women's rights, rape centres and drug abuse say they felt pressure to comply with Scottish government policies or have their funding withdrawn.

2:46Daniel Sanderson is the Scottish political editor at The Times and Sunday Times. There are widespread fears that charities are effectively being silenced. In some cases, there are claims that money is being channeled to organisations that support SMP policies and others. It's more that they are refusing to speak out and basically falling into line with the political agenda of the SMP. Parents and dermatologists have raised concerns that children as young as 10 are being targeted by beauty brands. Italy has launched an investigation into Sephora and Benefit Cosmetics. Regulators warn the tactics including using young influencers, could fuel an unhealthy obsession with skincare in children.

3:29And Kimi Antonelli has won the Japanese Grand Prix, becoming Formula One's youngest ever title leader. The 19-year-old finished just ahead of Oscar Piastri. There's more on these stories throughout the day on Times Radio.

3:45This 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.