Defence minister says ‘pre-emptive’ strike that followed weeks of tensions between US and Tehran needed to ‘remove threats’

State says it is a ‘pre-emptive’ attack to ‘remove threats’

Liberals should favour competition in all things but the superpower game

Surge comes amid increase in number of redress payouts by tax authority

April’s Making Tax Digital launch will instead Make Tax Difficult

Viewed by some as a strategic necessity, the agreement has been complicated by shifting US priorities and political fragmentation at home

Vessels in European ports deteriorate after being hit by sanctions

Judge rules Virginia does not have right to restrict ‘minors’ access to constitutionally protected speech’

Ellison father and son viewed deal as a matter of survival to compete with tech giants that now dominate Hollywood

Pentagon has banned the start-up from government contracts in feud over military use of its technology

Republicans target ex-president over ties to late sex offender while Democrats press for answers over Donald Trump

Amazon, Google and Microsoft staff urge their executives to adopt tough AI guardrails and refuse any defence contracts

Investors fret over growing strains in private credit and risks of AI disrupting the software industry

Lenders weigh losses linked to Market Financial Solutions, which financed a Bangladeshi politician’s real estate empire

UK prime minister facing demands from senior colleagues that he should be ‘braver’ and less gloomy

Trump’s defence secretary is on the front lines of the culture wars — but can he lead the US in a battle against Iran?

Washington has raised concerns about Tehran’s nuclear programme, ballistic missiles and allied militant groups

Divisive former academic came second to the Green Party’s Hannah Spencer in the Gorton and Denton by-election

Study by independent committee announced as concerns grow that immigration crackdown will hit fiscal plans

The country used to be contemptuous of parties on either extreme, but no longer

Roger Lynch says publisher of Vogue and The New Yorker increased revenue last year with subscription growth

South Korea lifts data restriction that has prevented US tech group from providing navigation services

Donald Trump says he is ‘not happy’ with Tehran as Washington and London hold talks about use of Diego Garcia

Chancellor wants to ensure that UK defence spending protects jobs and investment, say Treasury officials