Evening briefing on Tuesday 7th April

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0:34This is your Times Radio News Briefing. On Tuesday 7th April, Donald Trump has issued a warning to Tehran as his deadline approaches to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He's written on Truth Social that a whole civilisation will die tonight unless an agreement is reached. There have also been reports of explosions on Karg Island, Iran's key oil hub and exporter. A UN security meeting is underway now to discuss a resolution on reopening the key shipping channel. The Times World Affairs editor Catherine Philp says the knock-on effects in the wider region is worrying. The rumours going around the region right now and the sense of dread is absolutely enormous.

1:13I got a text less than an hour ago from a friend in Jordan who said that everyone there was buying iodine, 30 days worth of iodine. And that is, of course, what you take when there's nuclear fallout. These are the terms that the region is dealing with right now and the threat that it feels under. The music festival, which Kanye West was due to headline, has been cancelled after the rapper was banned from travelling to the UK. Wireless were set to take place in North London this July. Refunds will now be issued to all ticket holders. It comes after ministers blocked West's entry to Britain on the grounds it wouldn't be conducive to the public good.

1:53Michael Kill, Chief Executive of the Nighttime Industries Association, explains what thought processes might have gone into booking the act in the first place. What people don't understand is it's quite fraught out there, particularly getting hold of headliners, etc., for major festivals. But I don't think this is really about just one artist. It's really about what the music industry stands for right now. That sort of cancellation of wireless also shows that vulnerability and also that government intervention over Kanye West. We saw it with Tyler, the creator. And more and more what we're seeing is this growing intersection between culture, politics and public accountability.

2:29The co-founder and former CEO of the fast food restaurant chain, Leon, has told Times Radio the hospitality industry is being killed by the government. The sector's warning there'll be staff cuts and reduced trading hours due to higher energy prices sparked by the Iran war. That's on top of other rising costs for the sector. John Vincent says the high street is dead. This is actually a complete and utter disaster, this government. I have people calling me in tears every day saying they've owned restaurants for 40 years and now they're going under. In America, there's 6 % sales tax to 7 % sales tax.

3:06In the UK, it's 20 % VAT. In America, 6 % of total expenditure is rent. Here, it's about 15%. So when you add all that up, it is impossible now to run a hospitality business. The MS Society has announced Scott Mills is stepping back as an ambassador while it reviews the situation. The former BBC presenter was sacked last month. It emerged he was investigated by police in 2018 over allegations of sexual offences against a boy under 16. The case was dropped. Other organisations, including Neuroblastoma UK, recently parted waves with him. The UK has seen its warmest April 7th on record and the Met Office says it's also been the hottest day of the year so far.

3:50Temperatures have reached 24.8 Celsius on the island of Anglesey. Tomorrow should be even warmer, particularly in central and south-east England where temperatures could reach 26 Celsius. You can follow the Times Radio news briefing on Spotify and listen live to Times Radio online. That's your Times Radio news briefing on Tuesday 7th April.

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