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The EU has lifted sanctions on Russian billionaires Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov, and Russian opposition figure Maxim Katz is explaining the reasons behind the delisting in a widely watched video. The move has drawn attention because both men are among Russia's best-known tycoons, raising questions about how the bloc applies and reviews its sanctions regime against Kremlin-linked business figures.

The leader of British Columbia's Conservative Party has distanced himself from anti-LGBT comments made by one of his candidates, saying he disagrees with her remarks, but he has refused to remove her from the ballot. The decision is drawing criticism in the province, with opponents arguing it signals tolerance of discriminatory views within the party ahead of the election campaign.

ShoutOut Radio, hosted by Andy Shilton and Steffi Barnett from Bristol, UK, goes on air at 19:00 UTC with an LGBT-focused talk programme. It is billed alongside a schedule of other upcoming radio shows, including a German-language eclectic music mix by Aad Leeflang at 20:00 UTC and Harry Shearer's Le Show later in the evening.

At the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, sailors from the Republic of Korea and Thailand have earned the first quota places for the LA 2028 Olympic sailing competitions. The results mark an early step on the road to the Los Angeles Olympics and highlight Asian competitors opening their qualification campaigns two years ahead of the Games.

A planned sale of camera maker Leica has failed, keeping the company independent. In Australia, new AI legislation is affecting a mural artwork, sparking debate among photographers about how the law applies to art. Other photo news of the week includes In-N-Out taking action against a team photo shoot and a spectacular image of a solar eclipse, drawing wide attention in the photography community.

A personal finance lesson drawing on Warren Buffett's thinking argues that wealthy people treat debt as a tool rather than a burden, using borrowed money to acquire assets and grow their net worth while ordinary borrowers take on debt mainly for consumption. The material explains how strategic loans can build wealth if managed carefully, and is attracting wide attention among viewers interested in financial literacy.

New research indicates that climate change is producing a measurable, subtle slowing of the Earth's rotation. As warming redistributes mass — for example through melting ice and changes in ocean circulation — the planet's spin is affected, altering the length of the day by tiny amounts. Scientists say the finding offers another independent signal of human-driven climate change, visible even in fundamental planetary dynamics.

BT Group has been asked to grant a payment waiver as negotiations over a potential rescue of TalkTalk intensify. Sky News reports the request comes as the broadband provider seeks breathing room on its obligations during the talks. The development highlights the financial strain behind the scenes of the UK telecoms rescue discussions, with BT's response seen as a key factor in whether a deal can proceed.

Indian media are reporting an update on bank holidays for 2026, including suggestions that branches could open on a Sunday and renewed discussion of a possible bank strike. The Navbharat Times item is drawing heavy attention from bank customers eager to know which days services will be affected and how the proposed strike could hit withdrawals, cheque clearing and other services.

Ahead of a Bundestag vote on changes to Germany's tobacco tax, parliamentary hearings are under way in which each faction may nominate its own experts. Commentators are examining the guest lists, with particular attention to which experts the CDU/CSU union chose for its four allocated seats. Critics are using the hearings to question how closely lawmakers align with tobacco industry interests before finalising the tax law.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that the United States will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons, according to the Jerusalem Post. The statement comes amid ongoing tensions over Iran's nuclear program and regional security concerns. Observers are weighing whether the remarks signal a firmer US posture or reaffirm existing policy toward Tehran.

Live trading streams covering gold (XAUUSD) and Bitcoin (BTCUSD), run by trader Ashutosh Kumar, are pulling large audiences and engagement in the hundreds of thousands of likes. The broadcasts offer real-time commentary on gold and cryptocurrency price moves, reflecting strong retail interest in trading both assets simultaneously.

NOAA Ocean Exploration says it is replenishing its stock of XBTs — expendable bathythermographs, the small probes dropped from ships to measure ocean temperature at depth. The probes are a long-standing, low-cost tool for climate and ocean monitoring, so keeping supplies ready matters for ongoing research cruises.

Bellingcat reports that widely shared posts this week claiming Google Maps had updated its satellite imagery of Gaza showed ruins from the territory's destruction. The open-source investigators note the images were not entirely new, and obtained more recent satellite imagery to verify what the latest pictures of Gaza actually show.

Fortune examines what the bond market signals about Congress's handling of the national debt and its consequences for the American middle class, arguing that borrowing costs and investor sentiment reveal deeper fiscal dysfunction in Washington. The piece asks where the country goes from here as debt levels keep rising and lawmakers remain gridlocked over spending and deficits.

The Pakistani drama series Madaar has released its fifth episode with English subtitles, starring Humayoun Ashraf and Sumaiyya Bukhsh, airing on Green TV. The episode is drawing heavy audience attention, with viewers engaging strongly with the latest instalment of the serial as it continues its run.

Bitcoin is trading at around ¥13,429,952, or about $84,833, up 16,010 yen (0.12%) from the previous reading, with a session high of ¥13,429,952 and a low of ¥13,367,948. Japanese-language crypto trackers report the market sentiment index at 67, which falls in the extreme greed range, suggesting bullish confidence among traders.

Local news coverage in Groningen and Drenthe is reporting live on fires and traffic disruptions in the region, with the Oldambtmeer drawing particular attention from readers in the northern Netherlands. The regional broadcaster is following incidents including blazes and road congestion, though details about specific locations or casualties remain limited in the available reporting.

Bitcoin is trading at about ¥13,410,605, or roughly $84,751, down 19,347 yen (0.14%) from the previous reading, according to a regular Japanese-language market update. Intraday trading ranged between ¥13,367,948 and ¥13,429,952. The market sentiment index was reported at 67, a level described as 'strong greed', indicating bullish investor sentiment despite the small price dip.

Baurzhan, a worker in Kazakhstan, says he is struggling under several debts despite having a regular income. He reports that monthly debt payments have become unmanageable and is urgently asking for $2,000 to cover an upcoming payment. The appeal is being shared within mutual aid networks, where users circulate personal fundraising requests for people facing financial hardship.