The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) cut its 2026 forecast for UK gross domestic product by 0.5 percentage points, meaning Britain will have among the weakest economic growth in the developed world this year. Its prediction for a 0.7% rise in output amounted to the worst downgrade among OECD member nations, with the euro area and South Korea following close behind. Money latest: What's behind missing payments scandal at NS&I? By contrast, the US will enjoy stronger growth this year as a result of the events of the past few weeks. The divergence is largely explained by higher energy prices, which act as a tax on British living standards, since the UK is an energy importer, particularly sensitive to gas prices, while the US exports significant amounts of hydrocarbons. The OECD said that it was downgrading its forecasts for growth widely following the sharp increase in the price of crude oil, alongside other key related products, from jet fuel and diesel to fertilisers which will weigh heavily on prices for consumers including those for food and other essential goods. The OECD interim forecast is the first major update for the global economy from a major international body since the onset of military activity in the Persian Gulf. It said: "The breadth and duration of the conflict are very uncertain, but a prolonged period of higher energy prices will add markedly to business costs and raise consumer price inflation, with adverse consequences for growth." Middle East latest: Two killed in Abu Dhabi after missile attack It pointed to the rise in tariffs imposed by the US in recent months as another source of uncertainty, dragging down global growth, and added: "A significant downside risk to the outlook is that persistent disruptions to exports from the Middle East that raise energy prices even further than assumed and aggravate shortages of key commodities, add to inflation and reduce growth. "Such a scenario, or lower than expected returns from AI investment, could also trigger more extensive repricing in financial markets, weakening demand and raising financial stability risks." Financial markets have fully priced in two interest rate rises by the Bank of England this year, to combat the possibility of heightened oil and gas costs becoming widely engrained in the economy. But the OECD believes, however, that the bank would hold off. It saw the current rate of 3.75% as restrictive enough, given the country's existing labour market weakness. It predicts inflation of 4% for the UK - up from the current annual rate of 3%. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said of the report: "The war in the Middle East is not one that we started, nor is it a war that we have joined. But it is a war that will have an impact on our country. "In an uncertain world we have the right economic plan. The decisions we have taken have put us in a better position to protect the country's finances and family finances from global instability. "Our economic plan means going further to build a stronger more secure economy. That means going further on our three big choices: empowering regional growth, embracing AI and innovation, and establishing a closer relationship with the EU."

Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, of Orlando, Florida, is accused of opening fire on the property in Los Angeles when the singer and her hip-hop star partner A$AP Rocky, as well as their three young children and others, were home on 8 March. Ortiz is charged with one count of attempted murder in relation to Rihanna, 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle or dwelling. Through her attorney, she also pleaded not guilty to the other counts at Los Angeles Superior Court. The 35-year-old faces life in prison if convicted on all charges. She has been jailed on $1.8m (about £1.35m) bail. Her lawyer, deputy public defender Derek Ray Dillman, spoke in court as Ortiz appeared behind glass in a custody area, wearing yellow prison clothes with her blonde hair in braids. She spoke only to agree to waive her right to a speedy preliminary hearing, the next phase of the case where evidence is presented to determine whether a trial is warranted. District Attorney Nathan Hochman previously said Rihanna and Rocky were in an Airstream trailer at the time of the shooting, while her mother, their children and staff members were in the main house. No one was injured in the incident, police said. About 20 shots were fired at the house, located in the Beverly Crest neighbourhood of LA. Read more:Watchdog probing handling of Andrew Tate abuseModel jailed for conning men found on dating sites The prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott said: "This case involves a dangerous, deliberate shooting into occupied homes. This is the kind of conduct that could easily have resulted in multiple homicides." When Ortiz was arrested hours afterwards, she was alone in her car with the rifle, more rounds and a wig she intended to use as a disguise, Bott said. Public records show Ortiz has been a licensed speech pathologist for more than a decade. Rihanna is a nine-time Grammy winner with 14 number ones hits in the US and nine in the UK, including We Found Love, Umbrella, What's My Name and Diamonds. She is also the founder of make-up brand Fenty Beauty.

Armed forces and law enforcement officers will be able to board Russian shadow fleet vessels as part of efforts to put more pressure on Vladimir Putin as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year. The Royal Navy has supported allies with tracking shadow fleet ships in European and Mediterranean waters in recent weeks. Read more: Putin's shadow fleet in the Channel Sir Keir Starmer said: "Putin is rubbing his hands at the war in the Middle East because he thinks higher oil prices will let him line his pockets. "That's why we're going after his shadow fleet even harder, not just keeping Britain safe but starving Putin's war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign in Ukraine." "He and his cronies should be in no doubt; we will always defend our sovereignty and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," he added. PM attending military summit It comes as the prime minister is visiting Finland for a Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) summit in Helsinki, where he will declare the UK's support for Ukraine remains "steadfast". The JEF is a military coalition of 10 northern European countries led by the UK and aims to prevent incursions from Russian forces. Finland, Sweden, and Estonia have all recently carried out operations against suspected illegal shadow fleet vessels in the Baltic, while the UK provided assistance to US forces who boarded the sanctioned Russian-linked Bella 1 oil tanker in the Atlantic in January. You can follow live coverage of the PM's trip to Helsinki in the Politics Hub - including an exclusive interview with our political editor Beth Rigby.

Then it was a 2-1 semi-final victory over Austria, and then a nerve-wracking, emotional 1-0 win over Ukraine in the play-off final. For both matches, Wales enjoyed home advantage in Cardiff, and in 2026, that pathway remains the same - home advantage. Apart from the joy and pride the current Wales cohort will take from qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, if Wales do succeed in the play-offs, it will mark a major moment in the country's football history. Never before have they made it to back-to-back World Cups, and if they do qualify, it will mark a decade of consistent qualification for major tournaments with the Euros in 2016 and 2020, along with the 2022 World Cup. Can a new Wales generation step up for World Cup?How do the World Cup play-offs work? Wales will also host the opening game of Euro 2028, along with five other matches in Cardiff. Not a bad return over a dozen years for a nation of just three million people. Wilson to be a difference-maker against Bosnia? But Wales have to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina first, and that won't be easy. How they overcome Bosnia may well come down to a moment of magic, and from a Welsh perspective, that bit of magic could come from one of the Premier League's standout players this season in Harry Wilson. The 29-year-old has been excellent for Fulham and sensational for Wales. For country, if Wilson doesn't score, he's supplying an assist and often doing both. His last five games for Wales has seen him score five goals and provide two assists. Don't say it too loudly, but Wales are coping without Gareth Bale, and it's Wilson who has stepped up. Wales head coach Craig Bellamy believes Wilson has just naturally progressed as a hugely talented player. "He's just an exceptionally good player," Bellamy said. "Sometimes it just clicks for a player as well. The older you get, usually, not just as a footballer but as a person, the wiser you become, the smarter you become. "We're definitely seeing signs of that on the football pitch. His football IQ is very, very high. His positioning, how he's able to take up and his reading of the game, his understanding of the game. "I see he has definitely gone on to another level, which is allowing him more time, more space, and he's finding himself in the areas where he can do the most damage to the opposition team and with his ability, we're seeing the rewards of that." If Wales and Wilson can get him into the right positions to influence the game, then Bosnia will face challenges. Clearly, due to his form in the Premier League and for Wales, Wilson will be closely watched, and doubtless some of the darker arts of defending might be employed to stop him by Bosnia. It's how Wilson copes with that attention, and as his manager is a great believer in - stay patient, opportunities will come, it's just about when they present to be able to execute. For that, you sense that the crowd inside the Cardiff City Stadium will require patience themselves and believe that as an attacking threat, you only need to get lucky once. The match won't be a 7-1 rout like the last time Wales played and beat North Macedonia, perhaps a tighter affair on the scoreline. The stat that shows Bellamy's imprint While the scoreline may be close, what Bellamy will be insistent on is Wales' domination of possession, especially at home. It's not that Bellamy wants his teams to play like Manchester City or Barcelona at their pomp - he doesn't expect that - but he does expect his players to work incredibly hard without the ball. Bellamy loves profiling players and loves useful data, and there's one stat he's very proud of. Among European nations, Wales are ranked No 1 at winning the ball back within five seconds of losing it. That's what Bellamy demands, and as he points out, you can't do much without the ball, so why not get hold of it as quickly as you can. Over the 20 months that Bellamy has been in charge of Wales, he wanted to develop a unique identity, a USP for Wales, and domination of the ball is something that is very much standing out for them. Wales played two epic matches against a top-tier nation in Belgium during the qualification campaign, and yes, they were defeats, but great games that swung both ways - 4-3 away, 4-2 at home. Wales averaged 64 per cent possession over those two games. Against Bosnia, do not be surprised if the ball possession is similarly high. Wales won't rest or take a breather if Bosnia have the ball, they'll go hunting for it, and very quickly, otherwise their head coach might have a few words to say! Ampadu given Wales armband On the pitch, Bellamy needs leaders, as with many good club and country teams, you can point not just to one leader, but several players who, at a given point in a game, can provide that moment of calm, clarity, and almost statesmanlike authority. In Ethan Ampadu, perhaps Wales have a long-term replacement for both Ben Davies and Aaron Ramsey. Ampadu, at 25, has led Leeds United in the Premier League - and he's the captain. The player with that stature is now once again the captain of Wales, but he is naturally self-deprecating when asked about his role as a captain. He said: "I'd like to think that if I was wearing the armband or not, I'd still play the same way, I'd still try and lead the same way, I don't think anything changes. "I think maybe you might have to speak to the referee a little bit more, but in terms of actually playing and trying to lead it's going to be the same as I've done previously playing under different captains." Young he may still be, but he's well in excess of 50 caps for Wales and has seen action in three of the top five European leagues: Premier League, Bundesliga and Serie A. He oozes experience. He's captained Wales before and does so again against Bosnia. Often, the role of the captain can be played down, but it's crucial because it's in those moments of crisis that the person entrusted with the armband can excel, and while Wales and Bellamy will plan and hope to eliminate any crisis moments if such a moment arises, Ampadu is a figurehead who can step up with authority. Whether that's how he speaks and perhaps influences the referee to organise and keep his team-mates calm and focused can be a defining difference. Leeds clearly think they have special talent, and Wales wholeheartedly agree. If anyone is in any doubt about what is expected of Wales under Bellamy then perhaps he subtlety slipped it in before the play-offs have even begun - saying Wales should be at the World Cup this summer, that the World Cup would be better for it if Wales were there in terms of what his team would bring and the no doubt tens of thousands of Welsh fans who'd make it by hook or by crook to the tournament. Bellamy knows he can't get ahead of himself; it's Bosnia first and foremost, but his belief in his players and team is sky-high, and as far as he is concerned, they're at a level to survive and thrive at a World Cup.

A difficult national backdrop, with the party slumping in the national polls, has collided with a unique set of circumstances in Birmingham - where bin strikes and bankruptcy have created a picture of a city in decline. Politics Hub: Follow the latest Rubbish still lines the streets of the inner wards of this city. Children play in debris, and residents despair at the level of fly-tipping in some areas - with warnings against doing this often ignored. One man I spoke to told me how he erected a fence around a pile of rubbish that was building up to stop it overflowing into the roads. People complained of multiple residents living in one home - houses of multiple occupation - as a reason why rubbish was accumulating at such a rapid pace. I was shocked that these were the streets of Britain's second city and that people were living in these conditions. One resident in the Alum Rock area of the city - where the bin issue is particularly acute - told us about the scale of the problems on his road. "The street is disgusting now," he said. "Look at the bins. There is drug dealing everywhere in our road. There is a parking problem; our children can't walk - they hold their noses when they are walking." Birmingham 'suffered' from Tory cuts Having seen these scenes for myself, I asked John Cotton, Labour's leader on Birmingham Council, what he felt when he observed parts of his city. He acknowledged there were issues - but he laid the blame for the city's issues at the hands of the Conservative government and its programme of austerity. "There's still much more that we need to do, and I'm very conscious of that," he said. "We know local government in this country, not just in Birmingham, has suffered because of 14 years of austerity. "This city lost £1bn because of cuts promulgated by the last Tory government. We're now seeing that being fixed by a Labour government that's finally giving us staff funding." While Mr Cotton may want to offer a forward-looking message going into these elections, there is no doubt that trying to sell a future that is still a work in progress is a challenging proposition. The council leader is all too aware of this fact and knows his opponents are circling. Who will voters turn to? What's interesting in this set of elections is that it is all to play for. Labour's opponents are not just to be found in Reform UK or the Conservatives - but in independent candidates, the Green Party, and also the Liberal Democrats, who hope to be the home of the anti-Farage vote. Read more from Alexandra Rogers:Ex-Labour deputy PM's son joins GreensPM urged to reveal if he saw Mandelson warnings Acknowledging that threat, Mr Cotton claimed a vote for Labour was a vote for unity - and other parties would only cause division and pit residents against each other. "There is no single competitor, I think, in these elections," he said. "All the other parties are in a position where they're not able to take a majority on the city council. "There's very clear things at stake here - we either have unified leadership under a continuous Labour council that has stabilised the finances and invested in frontline services or people who are coming into this city who just want to turn communities against each other." Mr Cotton's acknowledgement that the elections are all to play for shows he is operating in a fractured political landscape - and his desire to offer a message of hope and unity in a city plagued by issues could be wishful thinking.

He replaces outgoing boss Tim Davie, who announced his resignation in November after five years in the role, following criticism over the editing ⁠of a Panorama video ​clip of US President Donald Trump. Samir Shah, chairman of the BBC Board, said the new appointment comes as the "stakes have never been higher" for the broadcaster, but members believe they have chosen the right person to lead the organisation. "Now, more than ever, we need a thriving BBC that works for everyone in a complex, uncertain and fast changing world," Mr Brittin, 57, said in a statement. "At its best, it shows us, and the world, who we are. It's an extraordinary, uniquely British asset, with over 100 years of innovation in storytelling, technology and powering creativity." Mr Davie will leave the BBC next week, with Rhodri Talfan Davies, the broadcaster's director of nations, leading in the interim period before Mr Brittin takes over on 18 May. The new director-general intends to appoint a deputy, the corporation said. He will have a salary of £565,000. He takes on the role during a turbulent time for the broadcaster as it faces a multibillion-dollar lawsuit from Mr Trump over the Panorama edit, as well as the fallout over a racial slur being aired during the BAFTAs in February. Mr Brittin said he would join the organisation "with humility, to listen, to learn, to lead, and to serve the public, working hard to earn their trust every day". He added: "This is a moment of real risk, yet also real opportunity." The director-general of the BBC is the broadcaster's chief executive officer and editor-in-chief, responsible for creative, editorial and operational leadership. The appointment of a leader with a big tech background, rather than someone with TV production and broadcasting experience, marks a shift for the corporation in terms of skill set. Some staff and commentators had been hoping for a different kind of change - to see the first female director-general in the corporation's history. But Mr Brittin's announcement had become widely expected after reports he was approved by the BBC board at a meeting last week. Critical period for BBC BBC chairman Mr Shah described the new boss as "an outstanding leader" who has the skills needed to "navigate the organisation through the many changes taking place in the media market and in audience behaviours". He added: "Matt's passion for the BBC, his understanding of the challenges facing the organisation, his commitment to its independence and his determination to maintain the BBC's position as one of the country's greatest national assets were critical factors in the board's decision to appoint him as the 18th director-general." The new appointment comes at a critical time, he said, with the government reviewing the current BBC Royal Charter, which expires at the end of 2027. Read more from Sky News:Ex-Tory minister 'used chemsex parties to inform drug policies'Check postcode to see how much council tax will rise "It is clear there is need for radical reform of the BBC, its funding model and the framework in which it operates," Mr Shah said. "The stakes for the BBC, and the future of public service broadcasting, have never been higher. "The board and I believe Matt is the right person to lead the BBC as it fights for a sustainable future in an uncertain world, for the benefit of audiences and the UK." The chairwoman of the culture, media and sport committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage, congratulated Mr Brittin on his appointment - but said he would have a "significant job on his hands navigating [the BBC] out of a period of turbulence and through a charter review process that will define its purpose and standing beyond the next decade".

The government is facing questions after it emerged that the PM's former chief of staff's phone was stolen, leading to the likely loss of his messages with the sacked ambassador to the US. The government-issued device was reported stolen after Mandelson's firing, but before parliament forced the government to publish all papers and communications relating to his appointment and time in office. Politics latest - follow live Asked whether the phone's disappearance is part of a "cover-up", Sir Keir replied: "Well the phone was stolen. It was reported to the police. "There's a transcript of the call in which Morgan McSweeney gives his name, his date of birth, the details of the phone and the police confirm that it was reported. "Unfortunately, there are thefts like this. It was stolen. It was reported at the time and the police have acknowledged and confirmed that that is what happened." He added: "The idea that somehow everybody could have seen that sometime in the future there would be a request for the phone is, to my mind, a little bit far-fetched." Explained: What's the controversy over McSweeney's phone? Mr McSweeney's government-issued iPhone was stolen late at night on 20 October 2025, a month after Lord Mandelson was sacked as ambassador to the US following the release of emails showing he had a much closer relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein than previously known. It is being raised as an issue now because the government is being made to publish the so-called Mandelson files - and the phone contained messages between the two men. Some politicians have suggested the theft may not have happened, such as Labour MP Karl Turner who wrote on X last night: "I don't believe McSwindle had his iPhone stolen. I believe the report was made. McSwindle didn't mention that he was the chief of staff to the PM. A significant omission of [sic] he'd wanted the police to prioritise the offence." Asked about the missing phone on Thursday morning, Defence Secretary John Healey told Sky News: "I think we've all either had or know somebody who's had their phone stolen, and what I understand Morgan McSweeney did was report it immediately to the police... As far as I'm aware, all the proper protocols have been followed." Sir Keir made the remarks about the phone while speaking to journalists on Thursday morning as part of a visit to Finland, where he is attending the Joint Expeditionary Force military summit. The prime minister warned that "we have to accept that there's a war on two fronts". Sir Keir explained: "There's the Iranian conflict and the continuing Ukrainian conflict. Today, I'll be talking to allies about what more we can do." Sir Keir Starmer will be sitting down later today for an exclusive interview with our political editor Beth Rigby for Sky News' Electoral Dysfunction podcast. Catch the full interview on Friday morning from 6am. You can listen wherever you get your podcasts, just search for Electoral Dysfunction and hit follow to hear it first. You can also watch the full interview on Sky News' YouTube channel from 6am.

The Egyptian forward - who will go down as one of Liverpool's greatest ever players - will depart at the end of the season, after nine stellar years at the club. Transfer Centre LIVE! | FREE Liverpool PL highlights▶️Got Sky? Watch Liverpool games LIVE on your phone📱No Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 It opens up a huge summer ahead for the player and the club. How do Liverpool move on? What do Liverpool do now? And does it affect under-fire head coach Arne Slot? Sky Sports' transfer desk answers all the key questions regarding Salah, Liverpool and what happens now... Who made the decision for Salah to leave? Sky Sports News understands it was very much a joint decision between Liverpool, Salah and the player's representatives. This feels like a situation that suits everybody. What you've got now is both parties very clear on the summer ahead. Salah knows that he's in the market for a new club. Liverpool know that they're in the market to find a new attacking forward. The money Liverpool had ringfenced for his wages for the forthcoming season will now be available for them to spend on a new player. And any potential transfer fee that Liverpool would have gained by selling Salah, the player now knows that that fee will come to him as part of his package. That suits Salah because it gives him a greater ability to engineer the right deal for himself moving forward. Also, this being announced so soon gives Liverpool, the club and the fans the opportunity to show their appreciation between now and the end of the season - and give him the send off he deserves as one of Liverpool's greatest ever. And on top of that, Liverpool could still end up finishing this season with two trophies. There's a good chance that Salah will play a part in winning either of those if they do go on to win them. Everyone knows between now and the end of the season, it's the Mo Salah farewell tour. Do Liverpool regret giving Salah a new contract? No. Clearly, this season hasn't been Salah's most effective and his impact on the team has not been at the level it was in previous years. Liverpool signed Salah to a two-year contract in the summer of 2025 on very lucrative terms. Salah became the highest-paid player in Liverpool's history and he warranted that because of his performances last season. Today, a lot of people would say it was a bad move signing Salah on a new contract. But if you spoke to any group of football fans last summer and said: What should Liverpool do with Mo Salah? After the season he had, 99.9 per cent of people would say: you have to keep him. With hindsight, Liverpool were actually in a lose-lose situation. If they'd not signed him to a new deal, people would have said: Why are you letting this player go? And if Liverpool do sign him and he doesn't have an effective season - which looks like the case now - people would say: Why did you sign him? Liverpool did what they believed to be the right thing. Does Salah's decision to leave impact Arne Slot's future at all? Slot's future will have no bearing on the Salah situation. Liverpool have a long-term contract with Slot and right now they'll be focusing on finishing the season by trying to win two more trophies. If Liverpool go and win the FA Cup and Champions League, you'd imagine Slot would be going nowhere. Right now, Liverpool are not thinking about what will happen in the summer. What do we know about Salah's next move? Rami Abbas - Salah's agent - has made it very clear: they don't know what's going to happen, so no one else can know for sure. But there are lots of options. Everyone will immediately point towards Saudi Arabia. There are four sides in the Saudi Pro League that are under the guise of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), who have tried to sign Salah before. Some of those PIF teams already have big superstars. Some of them don't. But it would certainly be the four PIF-owned franchises in Saudi that would be at the front of the list. You would see him fitting into Al Ittihad more than anywhere else. They're having a bad season but are reigning champions. They lost their star player, Karim Benzema, who moved to Al Hilal in January. They need a star name and have tried to sign Salah in the past. In 2023, they made a verbal offer of £150m which was rejected. You would think they are favourites. Cristiano Ronaldo has complained that Al Nassr haven't been active in the transfer market. But does he want another superstar alongside him there? Al Hilal and Al Ahli are the two other Saudi PIF-led clubs. But Major League Soccer in the United States is another huge opportunity for Salah. Antoine Griezmann will move over there this summer and, after the impact Lionel Messi had in the United States, there are clubs there that would love to have someone of Salah's calibre. So the Saudi clubs would be at the front of the list and that's where everyone would expect him to go. But the Saudi offer will never disappear, so he might want to explore another opportunity and then visit Saudi later on in his career. Is Europe an option for Salah? There will be a number of LaLiga clubs and there will be a number of Serie A clubs that will be looking at Salah. Paris Saint-Germain - who Liverpool face in the Champions League quarter-finals - are a maybe, but signing a huge star goes away from what has brought them success in the last 12 months. They used to buy the best players they possibly could. Now they've realised that actually the Parisian home-grown, younger players bring a better team spirit than having individuals and superstars. A series of conversations will be held across Europe, across the big clubs, about whether they could afford Salah and whether he would be the right fit for their club. It's up to Salah on whether Europe is an option. If he wants to go and play for PSG and he's happy to play for £200,000-a-week, then so be it. If he wants £1m-a-week, then that limits his options. It's just about what's right for him and his family. But it's worth remembering that Salah was a free transfer last summer. Everyone knew until April last season that he was available for nothing - and he chose to stay at Liverpool. If he had all that big money on the table, which he would have undoubtedly had, why didn't he take it? Money's not his only motivator. What do we know about Liverpool's Salah succession plan? Liverpool's succession plan is unknown at this stage. They will not be looking at getting a like-for-like replacement. They will be looking at the player that fits the system and that depends on the system - and whose system - they decide to play. It is believed they will be looking at a player that can complement Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike. It won't just be a right-sided left-footer that does what Salah did. Liverpool will try and find a solution and that may look like a different type of player altogether. But if that player fits into the next version of Liverpool, then that's what they will be looking to do.