Banking & Rates: The Bank of England held interest rates at 3.75% but signaled a possible rise later this year as Middle East-driven energy costs keep inflation risks alive. AI in Finance: Lloyds is rolling out “Accelerate 2030,” targeting another £2bn in cost savings, with AI (including more “agentic” systems) aimed at both operations and personalised guidance. Payments & Data: PhonePe launched PulsePro, using aggregated, anonymised transaction data to give businesses near real-time spending insights by district and postal code across India. Personal Finance Traps: A new warning argues that even after cutting investment fees, tax mistakes and planning missteps can cost far more than expense ratios. Wealth & Inequality Debate: Bernie Sanders challenged Elon Musk to back a 5% wealth tax on billionaires, arguing AI optimism shouldn’t come without inequality-reducing policy. World Cup Money Fight: FIFA defended its plan to sell minority stakes in a $20bn World Cup subsidiary as “an opportunity, not an obligation,” after UEFA and others pushed back. Local Cost Pressure: Data centers are back in the spotlight in Wisconsin politics, with voters split on whether the benefits outweigh the strain on energy, water, and tax revenue. Small Business Credit: A Bluevine survey says many loan delays come from avoidable application and credit-prep gaps, pushing owners to lean on personal credit cards. Consumer Protection: A Kerala consumer court ordered a boutique to pay Rs 36,880 after an Instagram/WhatsApp purchase wasn’t delivered despite full payment. Personal Wealth Stories: A FIRE retiree in her 30s says early retirement can still feel financially uncertain—and lonely—despite a paid-off home and a seven-figure portfolio. Gambling Harm: Brazil faces a growing public-health and debt crisis tied to predatory online betting, with many users saying they bet to pay bills.