In BIG PICTURE NEWS, UK and France push for a Ukraine peace deal, a Putin ally pushes for a Nord Stream 2 restart, Israel stops aid to Gaza and we look at tariff complications while crypto sky rockets. In CONSUMER & LEISURE NEWS, US consumers get cautious, UK consumer spending weakens, Prada gets closer to buying Versace, ugly shoes produce beautiful sales and Mixue overtakes McDonald's. In TECH NEWS, AI companies go on a "distillation" frenzy and Skype gets retired. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, Europe's biggest battery storage project goes live and leasehold is to be abolished in England and Wales. AND FINALLY I bring you some viral onion noodles...