China’s AI models are quickly gaining traction in Silicon Valley, becoming integral to the operations of American companies and earning the praise of a growing list of tech leaders.
Their rapid ascent has highlighted the competitive edge that Chinese developers such as Alibaba, Z.ai, Moonshot, and MiniMax have been able to gain by offering so-called “open” language models at much lower costs than their rivals in the United States.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
The trend has also cast a critical glare on the US’s efforts to stunt China’s tech sector with export controls on advanced chips, which have not stopped Chinese developers from approaching the capabilities of Silicon Valley’s tech giants.
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky generated headlines in October when he revealed that the short-term rental platform had opted for Alibaba’s Qwen over OpenAI’s ChatGPT, praising the Chinese model as “fast and cheap”.
Social Capital CEO Chamath Palihapitiya revealed the same month that his company had migrated much of its work to Moonshot’s Kimi K2 as it was “way more performant” and “a ton cheaper” than models from OpenAI and Anthropic.
Programmers on social media also recently highlighted evidence that two popular US-developed coding assistants, Composer and Windsurf, were built on Chinese models.
The assistants’ developers, Cursor and Cognition AI, have not publicly confirmed their use of Chinese technology and did not respond to requests for comment, though Z.ai has said the speculation aligns with its “internal findings.”
AI letters are shown on a laptop screen next to the logo of the Deepseek AI application in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, on April 1, 2025 [Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP]
Nathan Lambert, a machine learning researcher who founded the Atom Project, an initiative to promote open models in the US, said such public examples were the “tip of the iceberg”.
“Chinese open models have become a de facto standard among startups in the US,” Lambert told Al Jazeera.
“I’ve personally heard of many other high-profile cases, where the most valued and hyped American AI startups are starting training models on the likes of Qwen, Kimi, GLM or DeepSeek,” Lambert said, adding that many US firms have been reluctant to publicly disclose their use of Chinese technology.
While it is not possible to precisely quantify the usage of different AI models, industry data points to the rising popularity of Chinese offerings.
Chinese AI tools, including MiniMax’s M2, Z.ai’s GLM 4.6 and DeepSeek’s V3.2, took up seven spots among the 20 models with the most usage last week, according to data from OpenRouter, a platform that connects developers with AI models.
Among the top 10 models used for programming, four were developed by Chinese firms, according to OpenRouter.
In the open model space, China’s clear lead is evident, with cumulative downloads surpassing 540 million as of October, according to an Atom Project analysis of data from hosting platform Hugging Face.
Rui Ma, the founder of Tech Buzz China, said Chinese models are particularly attractive to fledgling startups, while “high-resource organisations” have gravitated towards premium US models.
“These are typically cost-conscious early-stage companies that experiment widely, and many of them will not survive,” Ma told Al Jazeera.
Unlike leading US platforms such as ChatGPT, China’s open-weight large language models make their trained parameters – called weights – publicly available.
While open-weight models do not generate licensing or subscription fees, running them at enterprise scale requires large amounts of computing power, which creators can offer to users at a cost.
Developers such as Beijing-based Z.ai and Hangzhou-based DeepSeek have reported using older-generation chips that are not subject to US export controls, in relatively small quantities, dramatically reducing training and hardware costs compared with their Silicon Valley rivals.
“The success of these Chinese models demonstrates the failure of export controls to limit China,” Toby Walsh, an expert in AI at the University of New South Wales, told Al Jazeera.
“Indeed, they’ve actually encouraged Chinese companies to be more resourceful and build better models that are smaller and are trained on and run on older generation hardware. Necessity is the mother of invention.”
With lower input costs, Chinese firms have been able to offer their services far more cheaply than their US peers.
In an analysis published by AllianceBernstein in February, DeepSeek’s pricing for its models at the time was estimated to be up to 40 times cheaper than OpenAI’s, for instance.
The logo of Chinese technology firm Alibaba is seen at its office in Beijing, China [File: Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo]
“I do think China’s AI progress has been underestimated, partly because the signal is fragmented,” Greg Slabaugh, a professor who studies AI at Queen Mary University of London, told Al Jazeera.
“Much of the uptake of Chinese models is in China. China’s scale in AI publications and patents has long been visible; the emergence of open-weight models simply makes that capability more globally consumable.”
Some industry analysts have likened China’s approach to AI to the strategy undertaken by Chinese firms in other industries, such as solar panels, that flooded markets with cheap goods.
“This is the solar panel playbook running on software,” Poe Zhao, a Beijing-based tech analyst, wrote last week in his Substack newsletter, Hello China Tech.
But while Chinese AI models have made inroads with their low cost, US tech giants are in a strong position to dominate the high-end market and highly regulated sectors where considerations such as national security are paramount, according to analysts.
Ma, the Tech Buzz China founder, said the development of AI could end up following a similar trajectory to the Android and iPhone platforms, the former of which has about three times as many users worldwide.
“Over the longer term – likely faster than what we saw in the mobile era – it’s entirely possible that AI adoption might follow similar economic dynamics. There are simply more users in the world who prioritise affordability than those who choose premium options,” Ma said.
“But that doesn’t mean the greatest margins or market capitalisation will exist at the low end; value may still concentrate where differentiation, performance and trust command a premium.”
“In Fortune 500 and regulated sectors, widespread adoption is probably not imminent,” said Slabaugh, the Queen Mary University of London professor, referring to the uptake of Chinese models.
“If there is a ‘rude awakening’, it may come on the pricing and flexibility front rather than from a sudden displacement of US models.”
LA28 released the detailed daily competition schedule for the biggest Olympics in history on Wednesday, laying out every event for the 19 days of competition that will feature more than 11,000 athletes across 51 sports.
Along with being the largest in Games history, the 2028 Summer Olympics will be the first to include more female athletes than men. The schedule honors the historic moment for women in sports by showcasing the women’s 100-meter final at the Coliseum as the primetime, marquee event on the first official day of competition on July 15, 2028.
“The reason we’re throwing out the women’s 100 meters on the first day is because we want to come on these Games with a bang,” Shana Ferguson, LA28’s chief of sport and head of Games delivery, said on a conference call. “And likely that race will be among the most watched of all the races in the Games. We just want to start that Day 1 with a massive, massive showcase of the fastest females in the world.”
The women’s 100-meter final will punctuate Day 1 competition that will feature eight women’s finals, the most for a single day at the Olympics. The men’s 100-meter final will follow on Day 2.
Scheduling the women’s final on Day 1 will require the top athletes to run up to three, 100-meter races in one day as opposed to putting qualifying on a separate day as the semifinals and finals. Olympic organizers presented the idea to athlete commissions within LA28 and through World Athletics. While some preferred to keep the status quo for the women’s 100 meter, Janet Evans, LA28’s chief athlete officer, said the majority of competitors simply wanted to know when their races would be so they could plan their training accordingly.
“I think a lot of athletes will be looking immediately at the schedule and planning their training around it,” said Evans, a four-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming. “That was certainly top of mind as we made this decision.”
Making the schedule came with extensive consultation with athletes and international sport federations. Organizers considered the sun position for diving, which will be held outdoors at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center. They wanted to ensure that fans waiting to enter arenas wouldn’t be left in the sun during a mid-day competition. Weary of heat affecting horses in Santa Anita, they took care to schedule equestrian events for either early morning or evening sessions.
With track and field setting the stage in the first week, swimming competitions traditionally take place first were shifted to the second week to allow organizers to build an indoor swimming pool in SoFi Stadium after the venue helps host the opening ceremony on July 14.
But keeping with Olympic tradition, the marathon will still take place on the final weekend of the Games, with the women running at Venice Beach on Day 15 (July 29), and the men competing on Day 16 (July 30). As one of the final Olympic events, marathon medalists typically receive their medals during the closing ceremony, which will take place at the Coliseum on July 30, beginning at 6 p.m.
The 2028 Games are approaching major checkpoints with less than three years until the opening ceremony. The Paralympic competition schedule will be released later this year. The volunteer program has already opened for community opportunities while applications for Games time volunteers will open in summer of 2026. Olympics ticket registration will open in January 2026.
Fans can begin registering for the ticket lottery in January and purchasing windows for those who are selected in the lottery will begin in spring 2026. Prices start at $28. With concerns about sky-high ticket prices for sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup or the World Series, Ferguson said LA28 will not use dynamic pricing, but didn’t state any specifics about the prices.
Ferguson said the organizing committee has 14 million tickets for the Olympics and Paralympics, which would break the ticket record set by Paris 2024. The biggest Olympics, and the most jam-packed schedule, would warrant that kind of attendance.
“What a great responsibility that is for us,” Ferguson said of hosting the biggest Olympics in history. “The care and concern that went into building this competition schedule — I will tell you that the folks on the team who did it really, truly, had a lot of sleepless nights because they wanted to get this right for every single athlete, regardless of sport.”
LA28 competition dates
Opening Ceremony: July 14 3×3 Basketball: July 17-22, Archery: July 21-28 Artistic Gymnastics: July 15-25 Artistic Swimming: July 25-29 Athletics: July 15-30 Badminton: July 15-24 Baseball: July 13-19 Basketball: July 12-30 Beach Volleyball: July 15-29 BMX Freestyle: July 28-29 BMX Racing: July 15-16 Boxing: July 15-30 Canoe Slalom: July 14-22 Canoe Sprint: July 25-29 Cricket: July 12-29 Cycling Road: July 19-23 Cycling Track: July 25-30 Diving: July 25-30 Equestrian: July 15-29 Fencing: July 15-23 Flag Football: July 15-22 Football (Soccer): July 12-29 Golf: July 19-29 Handball: July 12-28 Hockey (Field): July 12-29 Judo: July 15-22 Lacrosse: July 24-29 Modern Pentathlon: July 15-18 Mountain Bike: July 15-18 Open Water Swimming: July 17-18 Rhythmic Gymnastics: July 27-29 Rowing: July 15-22 Rowing Coastal Beach Sprints: July 24-25 Rugby Sevens: July 12-18 Sailing: July 16-28 Shooting: July 15-25 Skateboarding: July 18-27 Softball: July 23-29 Sport Climbing: July 24-29 Squash: July 15-24 Surfing: July 15-23 Swimming: July 22-30 Table Tennis: July 22-30 Taekwondo: July 26-29 Tennis: July 19-28 Trampoline Gymnastics: July 21 Triathlon: July 15-20 Volleyball: July 15-30 Water Polo: July 12-23 Weightlifting: July 25-29 Wrestling: July 24-30 Closing Ceremony: July 30
A MUCH-LOVED family attraction is set to reopen with a major revamp thanks to new owners.
Pleasurewood Hills in Lowestoft, Suffolk, has new owners that are promising to return the theme park to its “former glory”, as well as add new rides.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
Pleasurewood Hills near Lowestoft will undergo a revamp before reopening next yearCredit: Alamy
The attraction’s new owners, Premier Attractions, plan to invest in at least three rides when the park reopens nextspring, according to Great Yarmouth Mercury.
Run by three brothers, Freddy, Spencer and Davis Stokes, Premier Attractions is hoping to restore some of the rides, such as Cannonball Express – a figure of eight-style rollercoaster that was built back in 1983.
Freddy Stokes Jnr, 42, the eldest of the three brothers said: “We promise there will be more rides next year – three big rides, possibly four.
“It’s an iconic ride at the park, but I need to get it to where I’m happy to operate it.”
He added that the ride needs more trains and to move from its current location to “stand proud” in the centre of the park.
He added: “It definitely has life left in it, but it’s how and what we do with it.”
Other changes at the park will also be seen in the car park, which currently charges visitors a fee of £3 a day.
Premier Attractions has inherited the contract from Pleasurewood Hills’ previous owners and it is owned by the park but operated by a third party.
Freddy added: “We’re not going to fix everything overnight, but we promise we will improve the park.
“But without people coming back, it’s all for nothing, so we need their support.”
Pleasurewood Hills expects to reopen on March 28, 2026.
And it will be the first theme park owned by Premier Attractions after purchasing the attraction from French operator Looping Group last month.
The company usually operates rides at events and fairs across the UK and has been based in Manchester since 2011.
Currently, nine of the company’s rides are at Kuwait’s Winter Wonderland and another seven are on the way to Hong Kong’s AIA Carnival, where they will be based for 66 days before heading back to the UK.
A company called Premier Attractions will take over the theme park and plans to add three or four rides to the parkCredit: Alamy
Premier Attractions has also operated rides at some of the UK’s biggest events and fairs, such as Winter Wonderland, Edinburgh‘s Hogmanay Festival, Leeds and Download music festivals, Hull Fair and the Hoppings in Newcastle.
At Pleasurewood Hills, there are currently over 35 rides, shows and attractions for all ages including the region’s largest rollercoaster, a large drop tower and a log flume.
Day entry would cost from £27 per person, but it is not clear whether this price will be the same when the attraction reopens.
The theme park then closed for the season on November 2.
Jet2 has announced that it is launching 26 new flights, meaning British passengers can fly out to destinations including Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife and Ibiza
Milo Boyd Deputy travel editor and Neil Lancefield PA Transport Correspondent
10:12, 12 Nov 2025
Jet2 has announced the new flights (Image: tulcarion via Getty Images)
Jet2 has announced it will launch 26 new flights to a whole host of sunny destinations across Europe
The budget airline has revealed plans to initiate flights and holidays from Gatwick Airport. The firm says it has secured slots for six aircraft “following the release of additional capacity” by the UK’s second busiest airport. Jet2 will station five Airbus A321neo aircraft at the West Sussex airport, with an additional aircraft positioned overseas. Its inaugural Gatwick flight is set to depart for Tenerife, Spain, on 26 March next year.
The airline – which recently went viral for its catchy adverts featuring Jess Glynne’s Hold My Hand – will fly to a whole host of sunny destinations next spring and summer. They are:
Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2, said: “Today’s announcement represents an incredibly exciting moment for Jet2. For many years, our ambition has been to provide our differentiated, service-led, end-to-end product offering from London Gatwick, and we see this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to accelerate our growth from the UK’s largest beach and city leisure destination airport. We know all too well how much demand there is among customers and independent travel agents for us to operate our award-winning flights and holidays from London Gatwick, so it is fantastic to be able to share that we are here and ready to meet their travelling needs.”
Gatwick is set to become the 14th UK airport with a Jet2 base. Initially, the company will offer flights from Gatwick to 29 “sunshine destinations” in countries such as Spain, Greece, Turkey, Portugal and Italy. The airline confirmed that over 300 direct positions will be established in the Gatwick area, spanning pilots, cabin crew, engineering and ground operations roles, with several hundred additional indirect posts also being generated.
Gatwick chief executive Pierre-Hugues Schmit said: “We are thrilled to welcome Jet2 to London Gatwick, marking an exciting new chapter for the airport and our passengers. Jet2’s arrival brings even more choice and flexibility to passengers across the South East and beyond, strengthening London Gatwick’s vision to be the airport for everyone, whatever your journey.
“It is an exciting time for Jet2 to join London Gatwick following the recent Government approval for routine use of our northern runway, which will further expand connectivity and economic growth. We are committed to delivering exceptional service and we look forward to supporting Jet2’s growth and success here at London Gatwick.”
Jet2 is regularly voted one of, if not the, best airline in the UK. It was named Best Airline at the Routes Europe Awards in 2025 and won The Telegraph Travel Awards for Best Short-Haul Airline for the third year in a row, based on reader votes. It has also been recognized as the Most Reliable UK Airline by AirAdvisor and has been a Which? Recommended Provider for a decade, partly due to very low cancellation rates.
Rachel Hosie and her husband moved to the Côte d’Azur shortly after getting married, hoping to make a home for themselves in the popular holiday region – but made an irritating discovery
A British expat who moved to the Côte d’Azur has said the bereaucracy was a nightmare (stock)(Image: Getty)
A newlywed couple who relocated to southern France following their wedding discovered that what had initially appeared to be a brilliant decision had transformed into a complete disaster.
Rachel Hosie revealed she and her husband moved to the Côte d’Azur shortly after tying the knot, hoping to establish a home for themselves in the sought-after holiday destination.
Relocating partly due to her husband’s career, Rachel explained that after she resigned from her position and the pair sold their Hampshire property, they embarked on the nearly 1,000-mile drive and began laying the groundwork for their fresh start.
Possessing sufficient French to manage in both verbal and written communication, they anticipated that establishing a home wouldn’t differ greatly from doing so in Britain — but they were mistaken.
Rachel explained that the primary issue with attempting to build a new life in France was the bureaucracy — whether securing accommodation, arranging a broadband provider, or even managing daily bin collections, reports the Express.
All of this, Rachel said, generated a degree of exasperation in their new existence in a region where summer temperatures consistently soar to 40C.
Writing in the Times about their early experiences, she said: “It wasn’t long before we realised how naive that was. Honeymoon destination it may be, but life on the French Riviera isn’t all rosé by the sea.
“My husband and I speak passable French (for the average Brit), but that hasn’t stopped us feeling utterly out of our depth when it comes to bureaucracy and etiquette.”
Rachel revealed that the red tape was so overwhelming that they had resorted to carrying around stacks of paperwork, just in case they were needed.
She explained: “We’ve been told it may take the best part of a year to get our cartes de séjour (residency permits), and then there’s the carte vitale for healthcare, carte grise for our cars, and various other cartes.
“We’ve taken to walking around with thick wads of documents, including our marriage certificate and my husband’s job offer letter, as we’ve been asked for them for everything from registering our car to registering with a doctor.”
Despite the administrative nightmare, Rachel insisted she was still glad they made the move.
She remarked: “So, as I take the recycling out for the umpteenth time, I try to remember that there are worse places to start married life. But the bureaucracy? C’est terrible.”
Rachel isn’t the first British expat to spotlight the potential downsides of relocating to France, with one expat posting on Reddit about their dissatisfaction with life there, reports the Express.
User ‘k0zmina’ argued on the platform: “Here’s the big problem with France: terrible job market, very little diversity, and limited new business creation.
“The country is very centralised, as most jobs and opportunities are in Paris. Then there’s the issue of employers choosing to discriminate against you based on which elite, expensive school you did or did not attend.
“Networking — who you know — is a huge deal! Outside of Paris, it’s true the cost of living is lower, but so are salaries and job opportunities.
“Ultimately, you have cheaper rent and apartments but very expensive groceries, technology, and electric bills, etc., because of taxes and other factors I won’t get into.”
Joel Edmundson and Quinton Byfield each had a goal and an assist as the Kings scored three quick goals in the second period to beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-1 on Tuesday night.
Joel Armia and Kevin Fiala also scored for the Kings (8-5-4), who won their second consecutive game on the road and improved to 7-1-2 away from home this season. Warren Foegele added an empty-net goal and Darcy Kuemper stopped 21 shots.
The Kings won their ninth straight game against Montreal dating to the 2021-22 season. It’s their longest active run against one opponent.
Josh Anderson scored for the Canadiens (10-4-2). Lane Hutson, last season’s rookie of the year, added an assist in his 100th game and Sam Montembeault made 21 saves.
Trailing 1-0 after Anderson’s one-timer with 46 seconds left in the first period, the Kings scored three goals in a span of 4:05 in the second.
Edmundson’s slap shot from the point 1:17 into the period — the hardest shot this season at 96.75 mph, according to the NHL — beat Montembeault for his first of the season. Then, with a delayed penalty, Byfield finished off a lengthy six-on-five sequence by gathering a rebound and shoveling the puck into the top of the net at 4:17.
Fiala made it 3-1 only 65 seconds later, capitalizing on a gift from Montembeault, who pushed the puck directly onto his stick near the crease.
Armia chased down Hutson in the Montreal zone, stripped him of the puck and slotted a shot past Montembeault to give the Kings a three-goal lead with 8:52 remaining.
Outside of Anderson’s blistering shot, Montreal couldn’t solve Kuemper. The Kings’ netminder stopped Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky’s slot shots in the third period and showed stellar rebound control.
Armia, who joined the Kings last summer after seven seasons in Montreal, returned to a loud ovation during a first-period video tribute. Armia, Edmundson, Corey Perry and Phillip Danault of the Kings all played for the Canadiens in their run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.
Republican-controlled House of Representatives is expected to approve funding bill to re-open US federal government in coming days.
United States President Donald Trump has called the looming end of the government shutdown a “big victory” after the Senate passed a bill to fund federal agencies.
Trump congratulated Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Tuesday for the soon-to-be-approved funding bill.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
“Congratulations to you and to John and to everybody on a very big victory,” Trump said, addressing Johnson at a Veterans Day event.
“We’re opening up our country — should have never been closed.”
The US president’s comments signal that he views the shutdown crisis as a political win for his Republican Party, which is set to end the budgeting impasse in Congress without meeting the Democrats’ key demand: extending healthcare subsidies.
The Senate passed the funding bill late on Monday in a 60-40 vote that saw eight members of the Democratic caucus backing the proposal.
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives is expected to pass the budget in the coming days to end the shutdown, which has been the longest in US history. Assuming the House approves the bill, it will then go to Trump’s desk, and the president is expected to sign it into law.
In the US system, Congress is tasked with funding the government.
If lawmakers fail to pass a budget, the federal government goes into shutdown mode, where it stops paying most employees and sends non-essential workers home.
The current shutdown started on October 1.
Republicans control the House, Senate and White House, but their narrow majority in the Senate had previously prevented them from passing a continuing resolution to keep the government funded.
In the 100-seat Senate, major legislation must generally be passed with at least 60 votes to overcome the filibuster, a legislative procedure that allows the minority party to block bills it opposes.
The Democratic caucus holds 47 seats in the chamber, which allowed it to successfully wield the filibuster until this week’s divisive vote.
Until Monday, Democrats had largely been united in opposition to the Republicans’ funding bill. They had previously maintained they would only approve government funding if the bill included provisions to extend healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, which are set to expire at the end of the year.
Those subsidies, Democrats argued, help millions of Americans afford their medical insurance.
But Trump had threatened to ramp up the pressure against Democrats by cutting programmes he associated with their party.
During the shutdown, for example, Trump tried to withhold food benefits for low-income families – a policy that is being challenged in the courts.
The shutdown crisis has also led to flight delays and cancellations across the country due to a shortage of available air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay.
Monday’s Senate vote paved the way for a resolution to the crisis. But it has sparked infighting amongst Democrats, with segments of the party voicing disappointment with senators who backed the bill.
The issue has also intensified criticism against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who voted against the proposal but failed to keep his caucus united in opposition to it.
“Sen. Schumer has failed to meet this moment and is out of touch with the American people. The Democratic Party needs leaders who fight and deliver for working people,” Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib said in a social media post on Monday.
“Schumer should step down.”
Senator John Fetterman, one of the most conservative Democrats in the Senate, defended his vote on Tuesday.
“When you’re confronting mass, mass chaos, you know, I don’t think you should respond with more chaos, or fight with more chaos,” Fetterman told the ABC talk show The View. “It’s like, no, we need to be the party of order and logic.”
The Big Brother 2025 final is merely days away, but only one housemate can claim the winning title and a substantial cash prize. As personalities continue to clash, tensions keep rising as the finale approaches.
Tonight’s episode (November 9) showed the housemates reacting after Friday’s live eviction. And it was Richard’s seemingly savage response that got fans talking.
Chatting to Big Brother in the Diary Room, Richard was questioned if he missed Caroline, as he said: “Deeply. I could hear violins playing as I sobbed myself to sleep, and the pillow was steeped with my tears.”, reports OK!.
He added, “I wondered how on earth I’m going to manage when I wake up in the morning and she’s not there on the other side of the room to throw her barbed comments in my direction.
“And I woke up this morning and I looked across at the empty bed and I thought Yes.”
Richard then laughed at his remarks as he appeared to celebrate the eviction outcome.
Taking to X, viewers said they were “screaming” at the star’s response. One person wrote: “I’ve seen enough. Richard has to win.”
Another viewer wrote: “I knew Richard was a winner from the moment i saw his VT Maybe i have a boring sense of humour but this man has me howling everytime hes in the diary room.”
A third added: “Richard, I’m screaming.” A fourth penned: “I’m crying at Richard in the diary room, he’s so funny.”
One person said: “I love when Richard just starts howling over himself, he’s so me.”
Another commented: “Richard’s wheeze actually cracks me up.”
One person echoed: “Richard is an absolute comedy genius.”
The ongoing tension between Richard and Caroline began when the pair first met following Richard’s late entrance to the house. Caroline was frequently spotted making digs at him, never letting him forget about ‘pinching’ her eyeball currency.
Richard has characterised their dynamic as “pantomime-like”. Yet during her departure interview, Caroline stuck to her guns that she found Richard “boring”, saying it multiple times, leaving hosts Will and AJ uncertain whether she genuinely meant it.
Big Brother airs Sunday to Friday on ITV2 and ITVX at 9pm.
The only top-tier WSL side not to have an affiliated professional men’s team, London City were promoted as winners of last season’s Championship.
For now they sit sixth with 12 points – nine points behind leaders Manchester City and eight behind reigning champions Chelsea after eight rounds of games.
Manchester United are third with 17 points, while rival capital outfits Arsenal and Tottenham are only three points better off that London City at this stage.
Victory against Tottenham was their third straight win on home soil, with all four of their wins coming against sides that finished in the bottom half of the table last season.
All four of their defeats have come against last season’s top four of Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City.
They could hardly be trending any more mid-table if they tried, but London City have higher aspirations.
Promoted sides have dropped straight back to the second tier in the past two seasons, with Bristol City and Crystal Palace finishing bottom in 2023-24 and 2024-25 respectively.
Not only are London City on course to avoid following suit, their 12-point haul at this stage of the season has only been bettered by one other promoted side in WSL history.
That was Sunderland, who, with a young Beth Mead scoring goals for fun, collected 15 points after eight games during the eight-team 2015 season. They finished fourth – only collecting five more points in their remaining six games.
Only three other promoted sides have collected 12 points at this stage: Manchester United and Tottenham in 2019-20 and Manchester City – who were given a top-flight place after a reshuffle of the leagues – in 2014.
Godfrey said of the ambitious Lionesses: “We’ve showed that we’re not another team that’s going to get promoted and relegated the next year.
“The direction this club is looking to go is up. We want to show this club is going to be a mainstay in English football for the foreseeable future.”
Big Brother star Richard Storry has been on the ITV show since its return in September
Big Brother star Richard has been at the receiving end of ‘brutal’ comments from ex housemate Caroline(Image: ITV)
ITV2’s Big Brother is approaching its finale this month as viewers are having their say on who they reckon should triumph, with one clear frontrunner emerging victorious.
Since the revamped series made its comeback to ITV2 screens in September, there’s been plenty of explosive moments, from bitter rows erupting to personalities clashing spectacularly.
However, as she’s now been evicted, Richard stays in the house, with massive backing from the public – so much so that, according to betting odds last week, the star was tipped to win, with odds at 5-4.
Coral’s John Hill said: “We have seen a strong wave of support for Richard in our Big Brother betting after he escaped Friday night’s double eviction.
“There is no doubt punters are siding with Richard in his feud with Caroline.”
Richard is also the champion for some viewers, as one person wrote on X: “RICHARD TO WIN!”. Another added, “Looks like Richard is the winner of Big Brother 2025.”
Who is Richard Storry?
Richard entered the Big Brother house later than the others, arriving alongside Cameron B, Feyisola, and George.
At 60 years old, he was among the eldest within the house. On the programme, Richard disclosed he is a writer and composer with expertise in classical music.
Based on his Instagram profile, Richard’s books belong to the supernatural and fantasy categories. His debut novel was published in 2015, whilst his most recent work emerged in 2021.
According to Amazon, his bestselling title is The Cryptic Lines, which takes place in a “sprawling gothic mansion”.
Richard and Caroline feud explained
Caroline and Richard’s dynamic has dominated social media discussion since their apparent clash started the instant they encountered each other.
Despite viewers condemning Caroline as a bully, Richard has characterised their dynamic as “pantomime-like”. Former housemate Farida also revealed details about their connection, telling Heatworld that it was simply “banter.”
Nevertheless, during her departure interview, Caroline stuck to her position that she considered Richard “boring”, leaving presenters Will and AJ baffled about whether she was being honest or not. Comparing him to Mr Bean, she declared, “Richard is not funny.”
Richard’s adoption story
Throughout his stint on the programme, Richard confessed he was unmarried and has, indeed, remained single throughout his life; nevertheless, he has an adopted son. Viewers will recall Richard’s touching tale about how he adopted his son, who was then a 33-year-old refugee.
While in Malaysia, he encountered a young man, who is now his son, and shared: “He was a refugee from Myanmar, which is the next country up if you know your geography, and he told me quite early on that he had lost his father when he was a kid.”
As their bond grew stronger, Richard frequently visited the country, and eventually, they decided to formalise their father-son-like relationship.
One viewer posted on X: “Richard’s adoption story is already one of the most intriguing and beautiful stories I have ever heard on Big Brother. I am sobbing.”
Another commented, “Can’t cope with Richard adopting a 33-year-old refugee. Stop the show and crown him already.”
Big Brother airs Sunday to Friday on ITV2 and ITVX at 9pm.
Among the nominees for the 68th Grammy Awards announced Friday morning were a slate of Latinx artists, with Bad Bunny leading the way with six and making Grammys history in the process.
The Puerto Rican singer became the first Spanish-language artist to earn nominations in several top categories for his critically acclaimed album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” including record of the year, album of the year and song of the year.
The 31-year-old is also up for música urbana album, global music performance (“EoO”) and album cover — a new category.
To date, Bad Bunny has won three Grammys out of 10 nominations. He also leads the 2025 Latin Grammy Awards nominations with 12, including record of the year, album of the year and song of the year. The Latin Grammys will take place Nov. 13 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The not-so-new band the Marías — led by singer María Zardoya — were nominated in the ever-perplexing new artist category. This marked the long-present L.A. indie group’s first ever Grammy nomination.
Global girl group Katseye — which features Venezuelan Cuban American dancer/singer Daniela Avanzini — also picked up a nomination in the new artist category, as well as a nod in the pop duo/group performance category for the track “Gabriela.”
Colombian hitmaker Karol G’s “Tropicoqueta” received a Latin pop album nomination.
Recording Academy darling Edgar Barrera nabbed his third consecutive songwriter of the year (non-classical) nomination for his work with Karol G, Juanes, Shakira, Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera, Young Miko, Marco Antonio Solís, Manuel Turizo and Carlos Santana.
Kooky Argentine duo Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso received their first ever Grammy nomination under Latin rock or alternative album for their nine-track EP, “Papota.” If they win, they will be the second Argentine group to win in that category; Los Fabulosos Cadillacs won back in 1998 when the category first appeared.
The boisterous San Bernardino band Fuerza Regida are also first-time nominees, receiving a música mexicana album nomination for their joint EP with Grupo Frontera, “Mala Mía.” The Texas norteño group is also up in the same category for their album “Y Lo Que Viene.”
Sacramento alt-metal group Deftones nabbed a rock album nomination for “Private Music,” the band’s fourth overall Grammy nod and first in this category.
On Tuesday, the Recording Academy announced that voting members of the Latin Recording Academy had been invited to join the Recording Academy as part of its 2025 new member class.
“This year’s class reflects the vibrancy of today’s diverse music landscape,” said Harvey Mason Jr., chief executive of the Recording Academy. “The addition of many Latin Recording Academy voting members underscores that music has no borders and that our mission to serve music people, regardless of where they are from, is stronger than ever.”
The Grammy Awards will take place on Feb. 1 at L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena. The awards show will broadcast live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ starting at 5 p.m. PT.
Viewers had one major complaint about Big Brother as a live eviction saw one housemate break a huge record on the show but not everyone was happy with the coverage
Nancy was given the boot on Friday
Big Brother star Nancy Nocerino broke a major record on the show as she evicted on Friday. As the 22-year-old graduate sat down to discuss her exit with show hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best, she appeared unfazed as they revealed to her that with 26 nominations she was the most nominated housemate of the series so far.
AJ then confirmed that she is also the most nominated BBUK housemate since 2013. Nancy took on the information, giggling and doing a victory dance as she exclaimed, “you’re joking,” before AJ asked her, “Why do you think that is?”
Nancy then responded, “well, I don’t know, I think it’s just, jealousy, maybe,” as she cheekily poked out her tongue and turned to look at the audience. She was given the boot in a double eviction alongside fellow controversial housemate, Caroline, who has been slammed for her treatment of Richard.
Fans of the show watching the exit interviews then took to X to slam AJ and Will for their interview technique as they failed to really address the issues surrounding the two housemates. Many then shared the same viewpoint, calling for the return of former hosts Emma Willis or Davina McCall to conduct the interviews.
One viewer wrote, “AJ and Will are terrible interviewers. They’ve not remotely tried to hold Caroline to account for her vile bullying of Richard.”
A second uploaded a picture of former host Emma and posted, “We needed her tonight for that Caroline interview #BBUK.”
Content cannot be displayed without consent
A third commented, “Sorry but AJ and Will were very weak with Caroline there. They did not call her out on anything, no way would Davina or Emma have been so pathetic. #BBUK #BBLL.”
A fourth social media user shared, “Davina was fantastic, she was Big Brother. She happily handed the batton to Emma Willis who is one of the best with people and at asking the right questions, a true fan too. AJ and Will do not cut it at all, chaotic and bland #BBUK.”
The criticism continued with more viewers slamming AJ and Will as another scathed, “I really wanted AJ and Will to learn from the past few years of presenting this show and thought they would press both members of the clique but they just lauded both of them. No pressing questions, no challenges at all. God i miss Emma Willis #BBUK.”
However, some viewers were positive, with one writing: “This is so funny watching AJ & Will just tell Nancy she was wrong. Every thought she had in the house, was wrong. #BBUK.” A second said: “Obsessed with AJ calling Nancy out for flashing the British public on live tv #bbuk.”
A third tweeted: “AJ fighting for her life right now and trying to stay impartial #BBUK #BBLL.”
The European Commission is reportedly considering delaying parts of its landmark Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act following heavy lobbying from U.S. tech giants and pressure from Washington, theFinancial Times reported Friday. The proposed pause would affect select provisions of the legislation, which came into force in August 2024 but is being implemented in stages.
Why It Matters:
The AI Act is the world’s first comprehensive framework regulating artificial intelligence, setting strict rules on transparency, safety, and ethical use. Any delay could dilute Europe’s claim to global leadership in AI governance and highlight the growing influence of U.S. tech companies and policymakers in shaping international digital standards. The move also comes as the EU seeks to avoid trade tensions with the Trump administration.
Tech firms like Meta and Alphabet have long argued the law could stifle innovation and competitiveness. The European Commission previously rejected calls for a pause, insisting the rollout would proceed on schedule.
However, an EU spokesperson told the FT that officials are now discussing “targeted implementation delays” while reaffirming support for the act’s core objectives. The Commission and U.S. officials have reportedly been in talks as part of a broader “simplification process” ahead of a November 19 adoption date.
What’s Next:
No final decision has been made, but if adopted, the pause could push back compliance deadlines for some high-risk AI systems. The EU is expected to clarify its position later this month amid growing scrutiny from lawmakers, digital rights advocates, and international partners.
Russian energy group Lukoil is looking to sell its foreign assets due to new U. S. and UK sanctions. Gunvor, a Swiss trading firm, is interested in acquiring these assets but faces financial challenges, as Lukoil is three times larger than Gunvor based on equity. Lukoil’s foreign assets include European refineries, shares in oilfields in places like Kazakhstan and Iraq, and numerous retail fuel stations globally.
Lukoil International GmbH reported $22 billion in equity in 2024, with significant cash and fixed assets. Reports suggest that Lukoil’s asset valuation remains unchanged, and the company has no debt. In contrast, Gunvor reported equity of $6.8 billion and has a substantial cash position, but borrowing $18 billion to purchase Lukoil’s assets would be highly challenging for them.
Gunvor’s current debt-to-equity ratio is negative due to high cash reserves. However, taking on large debt to fund the acquisition could push the ratio above acceptable limits for lenders, as banks typically prefer a ratio of no more than 1.5. Alongside financial hurdles, the deal will face regulatory approvals in the countries where Lukoil operates, such as Iraq and Kazakhstan. Gunvor now has more significant operations in the U. S. and has distanced itself from its past connections to Russia.
Complicating the sale, Lukoil has ongoing projects with major international oil companies, which may have rights to purchase assets if Lukoil decides to sell. Gunvor is currently waiting for approval from U. S. regulators, with plans to avoid selling back to Lukoil if sanctions are lifted. Authorities in Bulgaria and other countries have also shown intentions to change laws regarding Lukoil’s properties.
A LARGE conservation charity in one of the UK’s most popular holiday spots has gone into liquidation – putting several tourist attractions at risk.
Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust (TCCT) is responsible for more than 1,700 acres of green spaces in and around the Devon seaside towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust manages many different sites across the English RivieraCredit: facebook/@TorquayinpicturesThis included the popular Occombe Farm, which has now closedCredit: instagram/@occombefarm
That amounts to 80 per cent of the green space along the English Riviera including 40 miles of footpaths and bridleways.
The trust is also responsible for managing the entire 22-mile stretch of the South West Coast Path (SWCP) – made world famous in the recent Salt Path movie – that runs through the Torbay area.
Now these destinations known as the “crown jewels” of Torbay, are at risk.
One spot, Occombe Farm, which is an all-weather family farm attraction with indoor and outdoor play areas, animals, paddocks and walking trails – will close for good.
The attraction opened nearly 20 years ago, and has been much loved by families since – including my own, as I grew up in the area and frequently visited as a child.
The attraction was the ideal spot for families to escape to, with something for all ages and interests.
Little kids could run around in the play areas, older kids could learn about the farm animals and even get up close to them, and families could gather over lunch in the cafe – it even hosted many events such as Halloween trails and beer festivals.
While Occombe Farm is the only attraction fully closing, the charity was responsible for many other spots and now locals are worried paths won’t be cleared, bins won’t be emptied and sites will become unmaintained.
This is because, Torbay Council (which owns the freehold for most of the land cared for by TCCT) has said that its “hands are completely tied” due to legal obstacles concerning the liquidation.
Essentially, this means that Torbay Council cannot enter and care for the sites TCCT cared for, until they speak to the appointed liquidator.
I used to grow up visiting places managed by Torbay Coast and Countryside TrustCredit: Cyann Fielding
But this worry is part of a bigger fear.
If these sites aren’t cared for or maintained, they could be at risk of losing their prestigious titles.
This includes the UNESCO Global Geopark title, which destinations TCCT cared for helped to gain.
The English Riviera is one of just three UNESCO Global Geoparks in England and 10 in the UK.
TCCT said: “Many areas we manage form part of the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, due to their unique natural heritage and we’ve worked alongside national, regional, and local associations to ensure Torbay’s green spaces receive the recognition and preservation they deserve.
“It is with great sadness that the incredible achievements of our passionate team, including our volunteers, is drawing to a close.
“Our priority now is to support them as we navigate this process.”
Berry Head National Nature Reserve – also run by the trust – is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) has the largest colony of guillemots on the South Coast and other threatened species like the Greater Horseshoe Bat.
This includes a 22-mile stretch of the South West Coast PathCredit: instagram/@countrysidetrust
Berry Head is also home to 400-million-year-old limestone, making it an internationally acclaimed geological site, as well as two well-preserved Napoleonic-era forts.
If all of these elements become uncared for, locals are worried that Berry Head won’t meet the requirements of the titles anymore, and consequently lose them.
Other destinations TCCT cared for include Anstey’s Cove, a small beach popular for kayaking, paddle boarding and snorkelling, and Elberry Cove – often compared to Mediterranean destination due to its crystal clear waters and romantic ruins.
Inland, Cockington Country Park is award-winning parkland that feels more like a hidden fairytale village spanning over 450 acres with pretty ornamental gardens, farmland and woodland – all within walking distance of Torquay seafront.
The park, which dates back to the Domesday Book, also forms part of the UNESCO Global Geopark and has been repeatedly awarded a Green Flag.
The liquidation means that events at this popular destination will be cancelled, such as the annual orchard apple picking.
The biggest jewel in the trust’s crown is the South West Coast Path though, which recently featured in Hollywood movie The Salt Path starring Gillian Anderson.
The trails are managed by TCCT, meaning over the years all the signage, walkways, handrails and so on, have been added by them.
Locals are concerned that the 22-mile stretch could become inaccessible without regular maintenance.
Whilst the future of each site isn’t clear, many have spoken out about the importance of saving English Riviera’s top places to visit.
Councillor David Thomas, leader of Torbay Council, said: “The closure of Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust will have a significant and deeply felt impact on the people who were employed at sites across the Bay.
“In the coming weeks, we will be taking time to understand the full implications of this news and what it means for the future of these important spaces and initiatives.”
MP Steve Darling said in a Facebook post: “This is a huge loss for our natural environment and for the dedicated staff who have worked so hard to protect it.
Locals fear what will happen to many of the sites now they aren’t cared forCredit: instagram/@countrysidetrust
“Despite repeated calls for support, the Conservative administration has failed to help the Trust find a sustainable path.
“As its assets return to council ownership, we must ensure they are not sold off without public input.
One person then commented: “Please fight your hardest for these natural, public and beautiful spaces to be protected and kept in the best interest for the people of Torbay!
“These natural spaces should remain as they are, with additional funding if necessary — selling any single part of it off to foreign investment, developers or anybody other than local charities or Torbay Council would be absolutely devastating to the people of Torbay.”
A Torbay Council spokesperson told Sun Travel: “We understand that the closure of the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust (TCCT) will have a wide-reaching impact on our communities, and that many residents will have questions and concerns.
“However, at this time, due to the complex process for liquidation, we are unable to provide any further information on the individual spaces or services that are managed or provided by TCCT.
“We await confirmation of the liquidators’ appointment to determine its next steps, recognising how important these green spaces are to our community.
“We would like to reassure residents and visitors that we will continue to work closely with partners and stakeholders to assess the impact of the Trust’s closure.
“This includes considering what it means for our cherished green spaces, as well as the important environmental designations, community initiatives, and long-term stewardship of our natural assets.”
A spokesperson for the South West Coast Path said: “We are working with Torbay Council and SWISCo (a local service provider) to ensure that current works to improve accessibility along the South West Coast Path and King Charles III England Coast Path National Trails are not impacted by the recent news.”
This include Cockington Country Park, which feels more like a fairytale village with quaint cottages and expansive parklandCredit: AlamyThe charity’s liquidation also means an abundance of events have been cancelledCredit: instagram/@occombefarm
Budget airline Ryanair to scrap the option for passengers to print out and use a paper boarding pass
12:58, 06 Nov 2025Updated 12:59, 06 Nov 2025
Ryanair is pressing ahead with a big change to aircraft boarding by going 100% digital (Image: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Ryanair passengers will be forced to use digital boarding passes only from next week.
The budget airline issued update to remind customers, ahead of the big change from Wednesday November 12. From that date, passengers will no longer be able to download and print a physical paper boarding pass.
Instead, they will have to use the digital boarding pass generated in the “myRyanair” app on their mobile device – smartphone or tablet – during check-in process to board any of its flights.
Ryanair insisted the “vast majority” of people already use digital boarding in this way, adding that nearly 80% of its more than 207 million passengers annually did so. But that still means that around 40 million passengers who prefer other methods, including printing their pass, will be impacted.
Dara Brady, Ryanair’s chief marketing officer, said: “While over 80% of passengers already use digital boarding passes, and therefore won’t be affected by this progressive change, we remind the small number of passengers who still print boarding passes to download the myRyanair app ahead of the move to 100% digital boarding passes from Wednesday, 12 November.
“Moving fully digital means a faster, smarter, and greener experience for passengers, whilst also providing easier access to a range of innovative in-app features, including ‘Order to Seat’, live flight information and direct updates during disruption. We look forward to delivering an enhanced travel experience for 100% of our customers, streamlined through our best-in-class myRyanair app.”
Ryanair insisted the move would mean lower airport costs and so fares for all Ryanair passengers, as well as saving 300 tonnes of paper annually.
But it has already had to reassurance customers who fear they will be caught out. For instance, it says that if passengers lose their smartphone or tablet they can get a free boarding pass at the airport, but assuming they have already checked-in to their flight online. The same is true if their battery runs out before they get through airport security, it says, while if it packs up before boarding then they “will be assisted at the gate.”
Then there is the question of what happens if a customer does not have a smartphone with the Ryanair app. The airline says: “If passengers don’t have a smartphone or tablet, as long as they have already checked-in online before arriving at the airport, they will receive a free of charge boarding pass at the airport.”
Ryanair added that, as long as passengers have checked-in online, the digital boarding pass will be available regardless of whether they have a mobile signal or not.
One of the great conceits of California is its place on the cutting edge — of fashion, culture, technology, politics and other facets of the ways we live and thrive.
Not so with Proposition 50.
The redistricting measure, which passed resoundingly Tuesday, doesn’t break any ground, chart a fresh course or shed any light on a better pathway forward.
It is, to use a favorite word of California’s governor, merely the latest iteration of what has come to define today’s politics of fractiousness and division.
In fact, the redistricting measure and the partisan passions it stirred offer a perfect reflection of where we stand as a splintered country: Democrats overwhelming supported it. Republicans were overwhelmingly opposed.
And if Proposition 50 plays out as intended, it could make things worse, heightening the country’s polarization and increasing the animosity in Washington that is rotting our government and politics from the inside out.
You’re welcome.
The argument in favor of Proposition 50 — and it’s a strong one — is that California was merely responding to the scheming and underhanded actions of a rogue chief executive who desperately needs to be checked and balanced.
With GOP control of the House hanging by the merest of threads, Trump set out to boost his party’s prospects in the midterm election by browbeating Texas Republicans into redrawing the state’s congressional lines long before it was time. Trump’s hope next year is to gain as many as five of the state’s House seats.
And with that the redistricting battle was joined, as states across the country looked to rejigger their congressional boundaries to benefit one party or the other.
The upshot is that even more politicians now have the luxury of picking their voters, instead of the other way around, and if that doesn’t bother you maybe you’re not all that big a fan of representative democracy or the will of the people.
Was it necessary for Newsom, eyes fixed on the White House, to escalate the red-versus-blue battle? Did California have to jump in and be a part of the political race to the bottom? We won’t know until November 2026.
History and Trump’s sagging approval ratings — especially regarding the economy — suggest that Democrats are well positioned to gain at least the handful of seats needed to take control of the House, even without resorting to the machinations of Proposition 50.
There is, of course, no guarantee.
Gerrymandering aside, a pending Supreme Court decision that could gut the Voting Rights Act might deliver Republicans well over a dozen seats, greatly increasing the odds of the GOP maintaining power.
What is certain is that Proposition 50 will in effect disenfranchise millions of California Republicans and Republican-leaning voters who already feel overlooked and irrelevant to the workings of their home state.
Too bad for them, you might say. But that feeling of neglect frays faith in our political system and can breed a kind of to-hell-with-it cynicism that makes electing and cheering on a “disruptor” like Trump seem like a reasonable and appealing response.
(And, yes, disenfranchisement is just as bad when it targets Democratic voters who’ve been nullified in Texas, North Carolina, Missouri and other GOP-run states.)
Worse, slanting political lines so that one party or the other is guaranteed victory only widens the gulf that has helped turn Washington’s into its current slough of dysfunction.
The lack of competition means the greatest fear many lawmakers have is not the prospect of losing to the other party in a general election but rather being snuffed out in a primary by a more ideological and extreme challenger.
Witness the government shutdown, now in its record 36th day. Then imagine a Congress seated in January 2027 with even more lawmakers guaranteed reelection and concerned mainly with appeasing their party’s activist base.
The animating impulse behind Proposition 50 is understandable.
With the midterm election still nearly a year off — and the 2028 presidential contest eons away — many of those angry or despondent over the benighted state of our union desperately wanted to do something to push back.
Proposition 50, however, was a shortsighted solution.
Newsom and other proponents said the retaliatory ballot measure was a way of fighting fire with fire. But that smell in the air today isn’t victory.
If you’re looking to save money on a UK hotel stay, there’s one day of the week you should always book on
Some excellent hotel bargains can emerge after 6pm just 24 to 48 hours beforehand(Image: Getty)
Whilst holidaymakers frequently look to secure a staycation during this period, it might seem logical to book over the weekend whilst enjoying a relaxing brew. Nevertheless, this approach could result in higher costs.
Rather, you should hold off until the surge of weekend reservations subsides and corporate travel arrangements are finalised. This puts Tuesday as the optimal day for holiday booking, given increased availability and booking platforms seeking to fill remaining accommodation swiftly.
Consequently, being adaptable proves beneficial if you can tolerate the uncertainty.
Hotels generally maintain a cancellation period of 24 to 48 hours, prompting them to market any cancelled accommodations – occasionally at discounted rates, reports the Express.
Whilst extremely risky and spontaneous, some excellent hotel bargains can emerge after 6pm – provided you happen to be nearby.
Nevertheless, these guidelines are reversed regarding major chains such as Premier Inn and Travelodge.
Travel specialist Linda Reynolds, from Personal Travel Agents, informed The Guardian that she advises travellers to reserve early for optimal deals.
For instance, Travelodge promotes “rooms from £35 or less” when secured in advance; and particular travel platforms prove valuable additions to your toolkit.
Google Hotels, Kayak and Trivago, for example, will alert subscribers when rates drop, ensuring you’re informed about fantastic holiday bargains.
When to book a holiday
When it comes to choosing your actual hotel dates, Sunday through to Thursday typically offers the best value, helping you dodge those weekend price surges targeting short-break travellers.
It’s also worth keeping school holidays, bank holidays and local festivities in mind, as these will inevitably push costs up and are worth swerving if possible.
Reynolds said: “Sunday nights in cities are usually cheaper than Friday or Saturday nights because leisure demand dips after the weekend.
“In rural locations, including coastal areas, midweek (Monday to Thursday) is often cheaper than weekends, when leisure travellers arrive.”
If you’re plotting a London getaway, think about booking accommodation outside the city centre in zones two to three.
These areas offer better value, excellent transport links and still provide an authentic taste of the capital.
The same principle works for other major cities including Glasgow, Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol.
Meanwhile, money coach Maddy Alexander-Grout suggests checking out Plans Change marketplace, which lets holidaymakers flog their trips at reduced rates – with discounts starting at 25% off.
“In my job, I travel around the country a lot, and I regularly use the site, saving about 20% on a hotel booking direct,” she said.
