Morning briefing Thursday 9th April

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 Good morning. Donald Trump's criticised NATO following a meeting with its Secretary General in Washington, saying it wasn't there when we needed them, and it won't be there if we need them again.

0:43The US president previously suggested leaving the alliance, accusing members of ignoring his call to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon could jeopardise the US ceasefire with Iran. The White House says the Strait of Hormuz must remain open. It's as Iran's revolutionary guard say they've stopped ships passing. Laura Trevelyan, a former BBC anchor and now a contributor to the Newsphere platform, says America's campaign in Iran isn't landing well with New Yorkers. People are really, really concerned, even those who voted for him three times, that he has done something here that he said he wouldn't do, which is lead America into another conflict in the Middle East, albeit one that hasn't lasted that long.

1:27But people feel that he has broken his word, that he was elected because prices were high. Prices are still high. Gas prices are high. Yes, they'll come down now, probably, if the ceasefire holds. But people are not happy. Zakhir Starmer continues his tour of the Middle East today. He's met with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, as part of ongoing talks with allies to give shipping the confidence to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The Prime Minister's trip is designed to try and cement the fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States. Broadcaster Robin Listig says the UK still has a few things to offer.

2:05Britain does have historic relationships in the area. It, I think, has quite good relations with a lot of the governments around the Gulf. So, yeah, he can do what he can, but he can't offer them military help. He can offer them diplomatic cover. He can offer them what's left of the British diplomatic services brainpower and see what kind of ideas they can come up with. But I don't think we should overemphasise the amount of influence that the British government has these days. A drug dealer who sold Matthew Perry the ketamine that killed him in 2023 has been jailed for 15 years. 42-year-old Jasveen Asangars, the third person to be sentenced over the death of the actor, best known for playing Chandler Bing in Friends.

2:51New Workers' Rights Watchdog will have surveillance powers more commonly associated with the intelligence service and police. Enforcement officers for the Fair Work Agency, which started work this week, will be able to access communications data when investigating those suspected of breaching employment law. The French government has rejected a proposal from Shabana Mahmood to deploy British border force vessels to intercept small boats and return them to France. The Home Secretary put forward the option as part of negotiations to renew the multi-million pound migrant patrol deal during an impasse in talks, as the two sides cannot agree new terms.

3:30And Zak Polanski will promise rent controls and a crackdown on private housing developers in an attempt to win over urban voters worried about the cost of living. The Green Party leader will launch his London local election campaign later. The party is targeting a takeover of at least four councils in London. Don't forget you can set the Times Radio news briefing as your flash briefing on Alexa. This 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?

4:13Strong 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 You didn't just say, how can I provide these investments? How do I holistically provide everything? How do I bring in the legal, the accounting, all this? And do it at a price point and no one else is doing it. Learn more about how we approach wealth management at creativeplanning.com slash integrated.