Global markets react to Middle East energy supply disruptions as geopolitical tensions escalate and AI industry discourse intensifies.

Oil prices have surged following a drone attack on a critical Saudi Arabian pipeline, sparking concerns of a 4% loss in global supply and potential export shortages.

President Trump has urged Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries, citing concerns that such attacks are exacerbating global diesel shortages and harming the international economy.

President Trump publicly dismissed calls from AI critics to slow development, arguing that the United States must maintain a competitive edge over China in the global artificial intelligence race.

In the tech sector, Apple has entered the competitive Chinese foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Duo, while Chinese firms like DeepSeek continue to aggressively push for price-and-performance leadership.

Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles will convene AI industry leaders to discuss the responsible development of the technology, amidst broader international debates regarding AI safety and regulatory oversight.

The U.S. Federal Reserve faces mounting pressure as the bond market signals concerns, with President Trump explicitly stating that the U.S. should maintain the world's lowest interest rates.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a fuel relief scheme offering a subsidy of Rs100 per litre for motorcycles and small vehicles to mitigate the impact of global energy inflation.

Tech sector instability persists as Automattic confirms the return of Matt Mullenweg as CEO following a failed board-led ouster, and Larry Ellison cancels a planned $7.5 billion sale of Oracle stock.