Morning briefing Thursday 5th March

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0:36This is the Times Radio morning briefing for Thursday, 5 March. British allies in the Middle East and beyond have criticised the government for failing to protect them from retaliatory Iranian strikes. Bahrain and the UAE have joined Cyprus in expressing concern over the UK's response, including delays in allowing the Americans to use British bases. Meanwhile, the United States is in talks with Kurdish militants over whether they could become involved in the campaign against the Iranian regime As Israel and the CIA consider providing weapons and intelligence support, it's prompted fears of a wider regional war that could pull in Syria and Turkey.

1:11White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said Donald Trump had spoken with Kurdish leaders. The president has held many calls with partners, allies and leaders in the region, in the Middle East. He did speak to Kurdish leaders with respect to our base that we have in northern Iraq. But as for any report suggesting that the president has agreed to any such plan is completely false and should not be written. Some of the thousands of stranded British travellers have been arriving home as airlines begin to ramp up flights. But the first government-chartered flight from Muscat didn't take off as scheduled last night.

1:47Passengers are reported to have been sent back to hotels. With more than 100 ,000 British nationals registered with the Foreign Office, most will rely on commercial services to return. Cathy Adams from the Times travel desk says Dubai airport will take the strain. Their operations are ramping up slowly. There are scheduled flights that are going back to the UK, to other bits of Europe. But it is still a very limited operation because the aviation authority is really trying to figure out whether it is safe to be going. You know, Doha airport for now is still completely shut. Same for Bahrain, same for Kuwait.

2:22But most people are going to be transiting via Dubai. In other news, asylum seekers could be removed from taxpayer-funded accommodation and lose support payments if they break the law or work illegally under legislation due to come into force in June. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says the changes mean only those who follow the rules will continue to receive support. Campaign groups have criticised the plans, saying they risk scapegoating the most vulnerable. Other immigration changes published today include a tougher English language requirement, with migrants wanting to settle permanently needing to meet an A-level standard.

2:56Three men linked to the Labour Party have spent the night in custody after being arrested on suspicion of spying for China. They include the husband of Scottish MP Joni Reid who says she's never seen anything that made her suspect he'd broken the law. Data released by HMRC shows more than 5 ,000 people have more than a million pounds saved in ISIS. The figures released in response to a Freedom of Information request by the money app Plum relate to 2023. Analysts say thousands more people will have seven-figure balances in their tax-free accounts by now. And the Nero Gold Book Prize has been won by a debut novelist for the first time.

3:31Claire Lynch won the£30 ,000 Prize for A Family Affair, a novel focused on lesbian mothers facing homophobia in the 1980s. You can follow the Times Radio News Briefing on Spotify and listen live to Times Radio Online.

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