In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the US gets downgraded, the pendulum swings away from the populists in Europe and the EU-UK negotiations intensify. In FINANCIALS NEWS, SPAC deals rise again, BNPL faces regulation and Legal & General buys a real estate investor. In ACADEMIA-RELATED NEWS, Ivy League endowments are in a spot of bother, the UK tries to attract disgruntled American academics and US college grads are confronted with a tricky labour market. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, On bets on China and UK average asking prices hit a new high. AND FINALLY, I bring you my favourite moment from Eurovision...