As Labour frustration grows, could OBR forecasts be cut to once a year?

When Labour was riding high in opposition, the Office for Budget Responsibility was a near sacrosanct institution. Its manifesto pledged Labour would “never sideline the OBR for political convenience”.But emerging from a punishing spring statement, inside No 10 the former devotees have turned sceptics. The fiscal rules remain untouchable – despite Labour MPs’ grumbles – but there is intense frustration at the institution that marks the government’s homework.That unhappiness is likely to deepen in June when MPs vote on a £4

ECB cuts rates for third time this year as Europe braces for Trump tariffs

The cost of borrowing has fallen across the 20-member euro area for the third time this year after the European Central Bank cut its main interest rate to 2.25% in response to slowing growth and Donald Trump’s tariffs.The Frankfurt-based bank cut its benchmark deposit rate by a quarter of a percentage point on Thursday, in line with economist expectations, to tackle a slowdown in the bloc and the impact from the border taxes imposed earlier this month on all EU imports into the US.The ECB president, Christine Lagarde, said US tariffs on EU goods, which had increased from an average of 3% to 13%, were already harming the outlook for the European economy.“The major escalation in global trade tensions and the associated uncertainty will likely lower euro area growth by dampening exports,” she said, adding that they may “drag down investment and consumption”

Italian opposition file complaint over far-right deputy PM party’s use of ‘racist’ AI images

Opposition parties in Italy have complained to the communications watchdog about a series of AI-generated images published on social media by deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini’s far-right party, calling them “racist, Islamophobic and xenophobic”, the Guardian has learned.The centre-left Democratic party (PD), with the Greens and Left Alliance, filed a complaint on Thursday with Agcom, the Italian communications regulatory authority, alleging the fake images used by the League contained “almost all categories of hate speech”.Over the past month, dozens of apparently AI‑generated photos have appeared on the League’s social channels, including on Facebook, Instagram and X. The images frequently depict men of colour, often armed with knives, attacking women or police officers.Antonio Nicita, a PD senator, said: “In the images published by Salvini’s party and generated by AI there are almost all categories of hate speech, from racism and xenophobia to Islamophobia

Microsoft faces growing unrest over role in Israel’s war on Gaza: ‘Close to a tipping point’

Turmoil spreads at company over Israel’s extensive use of its AI and cloud computing services in Gaza warFor the second time in the last month, Microsoft employees disrupted high-level executives speaking at an event celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary on 4 April, in protest against the company’s role in Israel’s ongoing siege on Gaza.AI executive Mustafa Suleyman was interrupted by employees Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal. The two were fired within days. The Microsoft president Brad Smith and the former CEO Steve Ballmer were shouted down at Seattle’s Great Hall on 20 March by a current and former employee.The April event was preceded by a rally outside that also included current and former employees of the tech giant

County cricket day one: Sussex v Surrey, Hampshire v Somerset, and more – live

Essex have lost four, three now to Duffy.For those who want to brush up their Duffy dossier, here is a thing from cricinfo.Hampshire are riffing on a Somerset theme – Archie Vaughan and Toms Lammonby and Banton have joined Dickson in the pavilion. Somerset 93-4.This was a lovely thing to eat my muesli to this morning

England continue pursuit of perfection in Women’s Six Nations

Two years ago the criticism levelled at England was that their attack was predictable as they relied on their maul to get them over the line. When John Mitchell took over the Red Roses before the 2024 Six Nations, the head coach and his staff, particularly the attack coach, Lou Meadows, diversified that area of their game.While the maul was still lethal, the backs were getting their hands on the ball more with the top three try-scorers across last year’s Six Nations being England’s full-back Ellie Kildunne (nine) and the wings Abby Dow (five) and Jess Breach (four).With that fixed, England last year were criticised for their lack of discipline after two red and two yellow cards during the 2024 Six Nations. But that has not been an issue in the 2025 tournament, with no cards given to an England player in their opening three matches