Israel's furious response to the British government's decision to ban trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank shows just how important this moment is, writes our diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams. Officials in London knew there was always going to be a hostile response, but seemed taken aback by the speed and ferocity of Israel's reaction, he writes. The retaliation included the closure of the UK's consulate in East Jerusalem. The sanctions are not an economic issue for Israel - products made in settlements do not make up a significant proportion of the country's exports - but the symbolism of singling these out for special treatment is politically powerful, Paul says.

While the US wages war against Iran, its military has found itself at the centre of a fight on two fronts. First is President Donald Trump's efforts to loosen Iran's iron grip on the Strait of Hormuz. And second? A culture war on home soil in which Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is shaking up the Pentagon, sparking bitter recriminations and myriad high-profile departures including the top civilian in charge of the US Army last week. His reforms have triggered questions that could shape the legacy of Trump's second term.