Rise in UK borrowing costs could push Reeves to new public spending cuts

Rachel Reeves could be forced to make fresh cuts to public spending at her March “spring forecast” as a rise in government borrowing costs risks the chancellor breaking her own fiscal rules.With the government under pressure on the economy, City analysts warned that Britain’s long-term borrowing costs hitting the highest level since 1998 risked wiping out almost all of a £10bn buffer the chancellor had kept in reserve at the autumn budget.The yield – in effect the interest rate – on UK 30-year debt rose by 0.4 percentage points to 5.22%, above the peak reached after Liz Truss’s mini-budget in 2022 sparked turmoil in financial markets, to hit the highest level in 27 years

Shein lawyer accused of ‘wilful ignorance’ over cotton linked to forced Uyghur labour

The online fashion seller Shein has refused to reassure British MPs that its products do not include cotton produced in the Xinjiang region of China, which has been linked to forced Uyghur labour, prompting one MP to accuse its representative of “wilful ignorance”.In testy exchanges before MPs on the business and trade committee, Yinan Zhu, the general counsel for Shein’s European arm, repeatedly said she was not qualified to answer questions about the fast-fashion retailer’s supply chain amid concerns from campaigners over forced labour.Zhu said she could not answer questions about whether Shein’s manufacturers – none of which the company owns directly – used the controversial yarn or whether any of them were based in the Xinjiang region. She said the company may be able to provide a written answer in future.Zhu was sent a dossier outlining links between cotton production in the region and forced labour of the Muslim minority Uyghur people

Why did Mark Zuckerberg end Facebook and Instagram’s fact-checking program?

Meta is shifting to the right, following the prevailing political winds blowing through the United States. A more partisan era now looms for the social media giant and its corporate leaders, though Mark Zuckerberg himself has few personal politics other than ambition.On Tuesday morning, Meta disbanded Facebook and Instagram’s third-party factchecking program. The company will also recommend more political content across its social networks.CEO Zuckerberg announced the changes as he attempts to curry favor with Donald Trump’s incoming administration, demonstrating just how far he will go to win the president-elect’s approval

Ditching of Facebook factcheckers a ‘major step back’ for public discourse, critics say

Mark Zuckerberg’s decision to ditch factcheckers on Facebook and “prioritise free speech” weeks before Donald Trump returns to power was condemned on Tuesday as a “major step back” for public discourse.The Meta founder announced multiple changes to his platforms including Facebook and Instagram in an attempt to “dramatically reduce the amount of censorship”.In a statement on Tuesday he said that, starting in the US, independent factcheckers would be replaced in the US by a system of “community notes” similar to that used on X, Elon Musk’s social media platform which relies on users to add caveats and context to contentious posts.Content moderation teams will also be moved from California to Texas “where there is less concern about the bias of our teams”, said Zuckerberg in a five-minute video statement that Nina Jankowicz, a former US government official tasked with fighting disinformation, described as “a full bending of the knee to Trump”.Changes to the way Meta filters content will also mean “we’re going to catch less bad stuff” while still taking seriously “a lot of legitimately bad stuff out there, drugs, terrorism, child exploitation”, Zuckerberg said

Feyi-Waboso injury leaves Borthwick’s England short of options for Six Nations

Steve Borthwick has mounting headaches over his back-three contingent before the Six Nations with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, George Furbank and Ollie Sleightholme all sidelined with injuriesFeyi-Waboso has a dislocated shoulder and with surgery beckoning, he is facing a spell on the sidelines that would rule him out of the entire Six Nations, dealing Steve Borthwick what would be a major setback before a crucial campaign that begins away to Ireland on 1 February.As one of the 17 players handed an enhanced England contract in October – giving Borthwick the final say over sports science matters – Feyi-Waboso has been in consultation with the national setup over how to deal with the injury. It is believed Feyi-Waboso had decided to go ahead with the operation but on Tuesday night Exeter insisted he was still discussing his options with Exeter and England.A lengthy layoff would also be a blow for Andy Farrell, who is undertaking a reconnaissance mission in Australia before to this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour. Feyi-Waboso would have the chance to stake a claim upon his return – expected in late March – but Farrell would want to see him in action during the Six Nations

Behind the scenes: a first look at Djokovic and Murray together on court

As one of the first to witness the two legendary rivals as player and coach, our correspondent gives his take from their grand slam practice sessionDuring his short time as one of the leading tennis players of his generation, Carlos Alcaraz has methodically built a reputation for his fearlessness and nerve. Even in the face of some of the most accomplished opponents and lofty occasions, the pressure has so often elevated his game to greater heights.On Tuesday afternoon in a near-empty Margaret Court Arena, however, the 21-year-old could have been forgiven for feeling slightly intimidated. Across the net stood not one but two of the greatest tennis players in the history of the sport, two legendary rivals who have joined forces with the obvious goal of holding him and his contemporaries off for as long as they can. For the first time ever, Andy Murray joined Novak Djokovic in a grand slam practice session as the 24-time grand slam champion’s coach