Financial Times

Saudi Arabia has withdrawn from a China-led cross-border currency platform, according to the Financial Times. The move signals a pullback from Beijing's efforts to build alternatives to dollar-based international payments, and is being read as Riyadh keeping its options open with Washington amid ongoing economic and security ties. Observers see it as a setback for de-dollarisation efforts.

Europe is preparing for intensified competition with Asia over liquefied natural gas supplies, according to a Financial Times report. As both regions vie for limited cargoes, buyers could be forced to bid up prices, with implications for Europe's energy security and household and industrial costs. The competition centres on securing winter supply and attracting flexible US and Qatari cargoes away from Asian buyers.

The Financial Times has published an opinion piece examining India's role as a major exporter of labour to the global economy. The argument frames the movement of Indian workers abroad as a "shock" with significant implications for labour markets, migration policy and India's economic standing. Details of the author's full argument are not available beyond the headline.

Richard Kahn, Jeffrey Epstein's longtime financial manager who appears more than 50,000 times in the Justice Department's Epstein files, was questioned by Congress. Under questioning he confirmed that a woman who accused Donald Trump of sexual abuse received a settlement payment. The testimony has drawn attention to the financial trail behind Epstein's operations and its potential connections to Trump.

The European Central Bank's digital euro has entered wholesale financial markets for the first time, marking an early step in the eurozone's central bank digital currency project. The debut focuses on interbank and institutional settlement rather than consumer payments. Observers are watching closely to see whether the experiment could eventually reshape how euro-area banks move money and settle transactions.

Oracle faces contractual obligations to keep paying investors in a data centre project even if the site lacks an electricity connection, according to a Financial Times report. The arrangement highlights the risks piling up in the AI-driven data centre boom, where billions are being committed to sites before basic infrastructure like power supply is secured.

Singapore's National Library Board has launched a scheme offering micropayments to encourage people to read more and spend less time on their phones. The idea of paying citizens small amounts to pick up books has drawn attention online, with commenters debating whether financial incentives are an effective or appropriate way to build lasting reading habits.

US Treasury market volatility has spiked, with Bitcoin showing movement at the same time. The headline was shared by financial commentary outlets covering crypto and macro markets. Commentators are linking the bond market turbulence to renewed interest in Bitcoin as traders weigh how traditional safe assets and cryptocurrencies are behaving under current market stress.

The Financial Times argues that the European Union lacks a coherent strategy for key partners such as Canada and needs to define these relationships more clearly. The piece adds to ongoing debate about how Brussels manages ties with friendly Western countries amid shifting trade and security priorities.

South Korea is pursuing a broad national strategy to make artificial intelligence widely accessible across its economy and society. The Financial Times reports on the country's push to scale AI adoption beyond big companies, positioning it as a key driver of future growth. The plan reflects Seoul's ambition to remain competitive as AI reshapes global industries.

Manchester City's chairman has said the club's confidence in proving its innocence remains unchanged, according to The New York Times. The statement comes as the English champions continue to face scrutiny over alleged breaches of financial regulations, with the club repeatedly denying any wrongdoing and insisting it expects to be vindicated.

A New York Times opinion piece argues that the surge of investment in artificial intelligence resembles a financial bubble, and examines what could follow if it collapses. The author warns that AI-related borrowing and bank exposure could grow large enough that a crash would trigger calls for bailouts, echoing the dynamics of past banking crises.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan says the city can offer AI governance solutions to major economies. He argues Hong Kong's regulatory approach and experience with emerging technologies position it as a useful reference point as governments worldwide grapple with how to oversee artificial intelligence development.

Investors and analysts are weighing whether AI-driven commerce could significantly alter Meta's business model. The discussion, picked up in financial coverage, focuses on how artificial intelligence might change the way Meta monetizes its platforms beyond digital advertising, its core revenue source. No concrete company announcement accompanies the debate, so the scale and timing of any shift remain speculative.