Morning briefing Wednesday 1st 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.

0:35This is the Times Radio's morning briefing on Wednesday 1st April. Donald Trump says the US will begin pulling out of Iran very soon, possibly within two or three weeks. He claims his goal of stopping Tehran developing nuclear weapons has been achieved. The US president says American forces are finishing the job, but he could still strike a deal. He also insists other countries will have to fend for themselves, securing oil through the Strait of Hormuz. We'll be leaving very soon and if France or some other country wants to get oil or gas, they'll go up through the Strait and almost straight. They'll go right up there and they'll be able to fend for themselves.

1:18I think it'll be very safe actually, but we have nothing to do with that. What happens to the Strait, we're not going to have anything to do with. The UK is sending more troops and air defence systems to the Middle East with around 1 ,000 personnel now deployed. Defence Secretary John Healy says Britain will help Gulf allies defend their skies against Iranian attacks. It comes as tensions rise across the region, with the UK insisting its role remains defensive. Labour MP Calvin Bailey warns the situation could intensify. There's always a risk of escalation and that's why it's never desirable to enter conflict without understanding what the goals of those operations are.

2:02And that's why the UK remained out and didn't follow or support the US in starting the conflict that it's now engaged with. But dealing with the consequences of it is entirely legitimate. In other news, the BBC has apologised for failing to follow up claims about Scott Mills 10 months ago. It says it should have investigated allegations of inappropriate communications raised by a journalist. It comes after it emerged the former Radio 2 presenter was sacked, following an historic police investigation into alleged sexual offences involving a boy under 16 which ended with no charges. Media lawyer Mark Stevens says the handling of the case raises serious questions about the BBC's processes.

2:47This is another example, yet another example, of the BBC appearing to mishandle either legally or more likely reputationally damaging information. A 36-year-old man's been charged after a car struck pedestrians in Derby city centre, leaving seven people seriously injured. Sandhu Ponachan faces multiple counts, including grievous bodily harm with intent, dangerous driving and possession of a bladed article. More than a million heart disease patients will be offered with Govi on the NHS to help prevent heart attacks and strokes. Health watchdog Nice has approved the drug for some patients, even if they're not obese.

3:29There's more on these stories throughout the day on Times Radio.

3:38News 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. Every morning throughout the World Cup, the game football podcast from The Times and Sunday Times will bring you your essential daily briefing.

4:25We'll hear from our reporters inside the England and Scotland camps bringing you the big news first. We've got reporters covering the best of the rest and following all the biggest stories. From FIFA banning water to Donald Trump coming on as a sub against Paraguay. OK, maybe not the last bit, but who knows? So join the game for the biggest show on earth. Find the game wherever you get your podcasts.