In BIG PICTURE NEWS, Russia dabbles with Romania this time but gets internet outages, China's retail sales and factory output slow, Starmer's on the clock and we see some positive developments in UK nuclear. In BUSINESS, EMPLOYMENT & CONSUMER TRENDS, brands play down their Americanness, US companies slow hiring, UK wage growth slows, food and drink prices look set to rise, wealthy parents pass assets to kids earlier and house prices fall. In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, we ask whether China really can stop the price wars and Stellantis braces for impact. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, a UK start-up builds a quantum computer, we look at the risks for Labubu and the Argos sale collapses. AND FINALLY, I bring you an ace shuffler of cards...