Data across countries and ages reveal a growing struggle to concentrate, and declining verbal and numerical reasoning

Capital inflows could be the Trump administration’s next target

Exit or reduction in floorspace would mark latest retreat from docklands office district

Chinese start-up to concentrate resources on building machines with humanlike cognitive capabilities

He was a heavyweight in Hong Kong finance and a hometown hero. Now he faces the possibility of jail

Chuck Schumer warns that failure to pass measure will open door to Trump power grab

Donald Tang says management of fast-fashion retailer has yet to discuss price tag ahead of long-planned flotation

Rulings are latest setback for Elon Musk’s cost-cutting drive

Opposition grows to plans in areas such as welfare but prime minister insists he will not bend rules to allow more borrowing

Authorities should release more evidence of why Călin Georgescu has been blocked

Elon Musk’s electric-car maker says levies could make it costlier to produce vehicles in the US

Former UK City minister implicated in Dhaka corruption inquiry

Abolishing NHS England could lead to an initial downturn in the health service’s performance, say experts

‘Our problems started long before,’ says Ukrainian soldier after seven months in occupied Russian region

Gold surges to all-time high as investors seek safety amid doubts over Ukraine ceasefire

Chancellor-to-be vows greater share of investments for green transition as outgoing Bundestag reconvenes to debate bills

Ex-Barclays chief, seeking to overturn regulatory ban, was questioned during court case about sex with Epstein staffer

Response to Trump’s policies would shift decision-making power in Europe

Russian president indicates Moscow is unwilling to drop maximalist demands

US president demands bloc scraps proposed duty on US whiskey

PM says move will slash bureaucracy and bring health system ‘back into democratic control’

Prospect of reaching peak populism is an opportunity

Push comes as Russian and US officials gear up for meeting to discuss end to Ukraine war

Travel restrictions and asset freeze orders are due to expire on Saturday

One individual was paid about €18mn in 2024

Although Kyiv has agreed to a potential ceasefire, most people in the country expect the war to continue and retain the will to keep battling

Republicans are indulging in budgetary chicanery in order to preserve Trump’s tax cuts

Trump’s hard line on Ukraine and Nato poses difficult choices for the UK’s defence industry

Marketing firm Wolff Olins wanted its name off asset manager’s promotional material

Call from Andrzej Duda aimed at deterring future Russian aggression likely to be viewed as highly provocative in Moscow

UK prime minister will also talk up potential of AI to increase productivity across the state

Republican-controlled House of Representatives had passed the measure on Tuesday

Champion of light regulation expected to be welcomed by Wall Street

Moscow’s soldiers step up offensive just hours after Kyiv backs 30-day, US-brokered armistice

Government spending rose to $603bn in February despite hyperactive efficiency drive, data shows

Fiscal watchdog’s preliminary forecasts based on UK borrowing costs exclude recent rise in gilt yields

City executives have urged chancellor to lower cap on tax-free savings

Move comes as FCC’s remit has broadened in face of hostile acts by Beijing

Comments from Wall Street bosses come as president’s import tariffs fuel US recession fears

Former Blair adviser Jonathan Powell is working behind the scenes to shepherd talks