Morning briefing Thursday 11th June

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 Thursday the 11th of June. The United States military has attacked multiple targets in Iran after accusing Tehran of dragging its feet in peace talks.

0:46In a social media post at the US Central Command said the strikes were an act of self-defense in response to Iran's continued and unwarranted aggression. Cedric Layton is a military analyst and retired colonel in the US Air Force. When the Apache helicopter was attacked, that was a tactical situation. But the response to that is what the Central Command is talking about. Now what President Trump is talking about, that is much more focused on the diplomatic efforts and his impatience with the lack of progress in the negotiation. In response, Iran's military has declared the Straits of Hormuz closed to all vessels and said any traffic will be targeted.

1:30The US Central Command, however, has insisted that commercial ships are continuing to transit the waterway. Rioters have clashed with police for a second night in Northern Ireland. One of the flashpoints was a road near a migrant hotel in Newton Abbey. The latest violence followed a court's appearance by a Sudanese national charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie, who lost an eye in a knife attack on Monday. Ministers are to intensify immigration checks in Northern Ireland after the suspects in the Belfast attack claimed asylum via Dublin. The Times has learned the UK has returned only one asylum seeker to the Republic of Ireland since a post-Brexit deal was signed in 2020.

2:09The government wants to crack down on the common travel area arrangements being used as a backdoor for illegal immigration. Brian Kingston is the DUP Assembly Member for North Belfast. The border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is now a border between the EU and a non-EU country, United Kingdom. And the common travel area only applies to British and Irish citizens. But now, of course, EU citizens can come to the Republic of Ireland. But we feel that more can and should be done. The president of world football's governing body, FIFA, has defended his organisation's record on ticket prices, Iran, visas, and Donald Trump's peace prize with a simple message for his critics.

2:51Speaking at a press conference ahead of today's World Cup opening game in Mexico City, Gianni Infantino said he didn't regret anything. One of the controversies that came his way concerned the decision by the US authorities to turn back Omar Artan at border control. One of Africa's best referees, Artan was set to be the first official from Somalia to officiate at the World Cup. Of course it is unfortunate as well what happened to the referee from Somalia. But again, we don't control everything. We try, we'll discuss, we'll speak, we'll see. Maybe sometimes it's good as well to just, you know, chill, relax.

3:37Mexico play South Africa in the opening game later. There's more on these stories throughout the day on Times Radio.

3:49This 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. Hey there, it's Wayfair here, where delivery and setup are as easy as a few taps on your phone.

4:36You're relaxing in an old hammock, scrolling Wayfair's app when you spot it. a brand new patio set. Next thing you know, Wayfair delivers it right to your patio and sets it up. Oh, you need a new grill too? Alright, Wayfair's got you covered. With Wayfair's room of choice delivery and fast experts set up on qualifying orders, life gets a little easier. Visit Wayfair.com or the Wayfair app. Wayfair, every style, every home.