BT

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.

Bellingcat reports that viral posts this week claiming Google had updated its satellite imagery of Gaza were based on images that were not entirely new. The open-source investigators obtained more recent satellite imagery to verify the extent of the destruction visible across Gaza, correcting the timeline spread by widely shared posts and news articles.

A major shift at the US Securities and Exchange Commission is reportedly underway regarding rules on how cryptocurrencies must be stored, a change that could make it easier for institutional investors to enter the market. Commentary in Japanese also covers reasons behind Bitcoin's recent price decline and outlooks for assets including Ether, XRP and Solana.

The United States has remained the largest debtor to Taiwan's banking sector for a 44th consecutive quarter, according to Taiwanese central bank data reported by Focus Taiwan. The figure reflects the scale of American borrowing from Taiwanese financial institutions and underscores Taiwan banks' continued heavy exposure to U.S. debt, a point of ongoing interest given interest rate trends and cross-Pacific financial ties.

The International Monetary Fund says Mexico needs to make greater efforts to bring down its public debt. The assessment, reported by Reuters and other outlets, signals the Fund's concern over fiscal sustainability in Latin America's second-largest economy and adds pressure on the government to tighten its budget stance.

Bitcoin is trading at $84,568 (about 13.39 million yen), up 0.08% on the day, with an intraday high of 13.41 million yen and a low of 13.37 million yen. Market observers note the Fear and Greed index has climbed to 67, indicating strong greed among investors, suggesting confidence in further upside despite the modest price movement.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission is reported to be preparing a change to its rules on how cryptocurrencies must be stored, a move that could make it easier for institutional investors to hold digital assets. Japanese-language crypto commentary is also weighing why Bitcoin has been falling and what the rule shift means for Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and other coins.

Circle has published an explainer on wrapped Bitcoin, outlining how tokenised versions of BTC can be used across blockchain applications. The piece covers practical use cases such as decentralised finance, lending, and trading, allowing Bitcoin holders to earn yield or access onchain services while keeping exposure to BTC. It reflects growing interest in making Bitcoin a more active asset within the broader DeFi ecosystem rather than a passive store of value.

A personal finance lesson based on Warren Buffett's views on debt is drawing large attention, arguing that wealthy people deliberately use loans as a tool to grow wealth rather than avoiding borrowing altogether. The content explains how strategic debt can be leveraged for investments and assets, framing borrowing as a skill of the rich rather than a trap.