Evening briefing Monday 16th 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 the Times Radio evening briefing for Monday the 16th of March. Donald Trump has doubled down on his insistence and mockery of NATO countries, including the UK, for not joining his call to join the US in the Strait of Hormuz.

1:12because they don't have many shots left. Keir Starmer says it's not a simple task to reopen the strait, but he's working with allies on a viable collective plan. It's after Donald Trump said it would be very bad for the future of NATO if allies don't help secure the critical waterway for global oil shipping. The PM insists the UK won't be drawn into the wider conflict. A student and a 13-year-old schoolgirl have tragically died and 11 remain seriously ill in hospital following an invasive outbreak of meningitis. 30 ,000 people in the Canterbury area have been contacted by Public Health. A GP surgery in nearby Whitstable has urged patients to stay away if they have symptoms and head to A &E immediately.

1:52Dr Tom Nutz from Meningitis Now and told Times Radio what to look out for. So the symptoms in the early stages of the disease can be quite easily confused with things such as flu or a hangover because you're looking at things like confusion, a headache, a fever, perhaps with cold hands and cold feet. What you're really looking out for is someone who is unwell and deteriorating rapidly. The Times website has comprehensive details of possible symptoms and information on how the disease spreads. A nursery worker has been sentenced to 24 years in jail and six more on licence for sexually abusing toddlers in his care in Bristol.

2:27Nathan Bennett from near Bath was first reported when staff reviewed CCTV. The 30-year-old's victims were aged just two and three. The UK president of the National Union of Students has told Times Radio Jewish students are facing a shock wave of anti-Semitism across university campuses. A report by the Union of Jewish Students suggests that one in five students are reluctant to live with Jewish housemates. Here is President Amira Campbell. We're living in an environment where we're seeing the rise of anti-Semitism, the rise of racism, the rise of oppression for so many people from marginalized communities who do not feel safe on their campuses.

3:01One, hearing that is absolutely shocking. but two, what it means is that we've got real work to do. As a national union of students, as student unions across the country, as universities across the UK, there is real work that needs to happen to tackle antisemitism. And researchers at the University of Edinburgh have used specially engineered bacteria to convert a plastic water bottle into a gold standard treatment for managing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Researchers say it's the first time plastic waste is being turned into medicine for a neurological disorder. There'll be more of these stories throughout the evening on Times Radio.

3:36This 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.

4:20As a fitness coach, my active psoriatic arthritis can slow me down. With SkyRizzy, Rizzinkizumab RZA, I'm treating my skin and joint symptoms so I can keep moving. SkyRizzy, a prescription-only injection for adults, helps me move with less joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and fatigue. And for those who have plaque psoriasis, 90 % clearer skin is possible. With SkyRizzy, there's no daily dosing. It's just four doses a year after two starter doses. Don't use if allergic to SkyRizzy. Serious allergic reactions, increased infections, or lower ability to fight them may occur. Before treatment, get checked for infections and tuberculosis.

4:56Tell your doctor about any flu-like symptoms or vaccines. Thanks to SkyRizzy, there's nothing like clearer skin and better movement. And that means everything.

5:08Ask your doctor about SkyRizzy. Visit SkyRizzy.com or call 1-866-SKYRizzy to learn more.