In BIG PICTURE NEWS, US inflation rises, Trump continues to try to push Lisa Cook out, Bolsonaro gets 27 years, the ECB stays unmoved, Mandy gets the boot and Reeves hires a planning lawyer. In TECH & MEDIA NEWS, US regulator investigates AI "companions", OpenAI and Microsoft sketch out a solution, Nvidia and OpenAI back major UK investment, Apple gets vindictive, TV networks face ad impact and Paramount Skydance gets feisty. In RETAIL NEWS, losses at John Lewis get painful, M&S's tech chief quits and retailers fear the impact of rates. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, US coffee prices rise and UK buy-to-let activity falls. AND FINALLY, I bring you an unusual street instrument...