impressed

With Tesla’s (TSLA 1.32%) core electric vehicle business struggling this year, analysts and investors were anxious to get a glance at how EV deliveries would trend in the third quarter. The company delivered big time, reporting close to 497,100 deliveries, smashing Wall Street estimates of of 447,600. However, Tesla’s stock dipped immediately following the news, as the strong beat was not enough to excite Wall Street. What gives?

Expiration of the EV tax credit

Tesla’s third-quarter deliveries of nearly 497,100 blew out estimates and rose 7% year over year. That’s a sharp reversal from the first two quarters of 2025, when the company reported deliveries that fell 12% year over year compared to the first half of 2024.

Image source: Tesla.

But analysts clearly knew the quarter was going to be strong because President Trump’s big legislative spending bill passed by Congress earlier this year eliminated the $7,500 EV tax credit on Sept. 30, the last day of the third quarter. It became evident that consumers would likely rush to purchase Teslas before the cost of the vehicles increased.

According to Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management, Tesla saw a 35% year-over-year increase in its U.S. sales in the third quarter, which he attributes to the rush before the EV tax credit expiration. “Investors should largely throw out the positive number,” Munster said, noting that the “the future will be autonomy.”

Still, other analysts were more optimistic. Morgan Stanley analyst said that Q3 deliveries came in at the top end of hedge fund estimates ranging from 450,000 to 500,000 deliveries. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives called the quarter a “massive bounceback” and said he is still high on the company’s autonomous vehicles and humanoid robotics businesses, which Ives and Wedbush analyst Scott Devitt think could catapult Tesla to a $2 trillion to $3 trillion market cap by 2026 or 2027.

Ultimately, I’m guessing the disappointing share action could be attributed to Tesla stock’s recent run-up. The stock is up close to 60% over the past six months.

Current state of the bull-bear debate

Tesla is still one of if not the most hotly debated stocks on Wall Street, with the bulls confident that it is the most innovative AI company in the world and the bears pointing to its staggering valuation of nearly 250 times forward earnings. As of this writing, Tesla trades at nearly $440 per share. The lowest Wall Street price target is an astounding $19 per share, while the high is $600 per share, which shows just how split the Street is on the name.

But one thing I think both the bulls and bears agree on is that the future of Tesla is going to come down to its autonomous driving business, for which Tesla is in the early stages of building out an autonomous ride-hailing fleet, and the humanoid robots business. If these businesses are as successful as analysts like Ives believe, than the stock can keep moving higher. But hiccups or a more competitive market than people think could send it tumbling.

Tesla has begun to launch pilot autonomous driving programs in select cities, while humanoid robots are still in prototype stage. The advantage of Tesla’s robotaxi business is that the vehicles can reportedly be built at a fraction of the cost of rival WayMo, which is also operating in several cities. However, it remains to be seen whether the technology can truly be perfected and deemed safe enough to be fully commercialized.

The simple reason I choose to avoid Tesla is that I think the market has assumed too much success in businesses that the public still knows far too little about. If Tesla is successful and jumps to $600 per share, that’s 40% upside, but if robotaxis and humanoid robots don’t work out as well as hoped, who knows that the stock is worth. As stocks get larger and surpass a $1 trillion market cap, maintaining the growth to hold such a high valuation becomes more difficult. The risk-reward proposition is not attractive to me.

The Italian travel hub Rome Fiumicino was recognised with its “impressive commitment to passenger experience, sustainability and innovation in the ACI Europe Best Airport Awards

An airport in the Italian capital has been named the best in Europe for a seventh year in a row.

Rome Fiumicino has scooped the gong as the best airport handling more than 40 million passengers a year in the ACI EUROPE Best Airport Awards. The Roman travel hub was recognised with its “impressive commitment to passenger experience, sustainability and innovation.”

While no one is pretending that flying is good for the environment – in fact, it is one of the most polluting forms of transport – Fiumicino’s bosses have made better efforts than most when it comes to decarbonising the airport itself. It recently launched Europe’s largest solar farm, which should cut more than 11,000 tons of CO2 a year. Judges also highlighted its data-driven approach to management.

Fiumicino has now snatched the prize for a seventh year in a row, asserting its dominance in the ‘large airport’ category.

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A spokesperson for the airport said: “Rome’s Fiumicino Airport has been named the best airport in Europe for the seventh time. This award celebrates its great service, comfort, and modern spaces. Travelers enjoy smooth arrivals, clear signs, and many food and shopping options. Fiumicino keeps growing, making travel easier and welcoming millions each year.”

On Airline Quality, some passengers have shared what they like about Fiumicino. One person from Taiwan wrote: “It is clean, modern and spacious. It is easily accessible by the Leonardo Express from Termini in about half an hour. Employees are friendly and helpful and can speak English well. The WiFi connection is stable. Signposts are clear.”

Another, from the UK, added: “Great facilities, huge range of luxury and non-luxury shops and restaurants/food choices. I travel to/from this airport often and have never experienced long queues, not at the security checks nor when recollecting my luggage.”

A third, from the UAE, shared: “Since my last visit, there have been tremendous improvements in the lounges and in the food and beverage on the second floor. The electronic passport scanner. I’m impressed. I’m positively impressed. Management efforts, I think, were amazing, and for me and my family, it has been a very pleasant experience.”

While some aviation buffs may make their way to Fiumicino just to check out its award-winning facilities, most will only grace its hallowed halls on the way into the Eternal City.

Each year, 35 million people visit Rome. And you can certainly feel it on the streets. Earlier this year, one holidaymaker told of how they’d resorted to visiting the Trevi Fountain at 2am in an attempt to dodge the notorious crowds that congregate there.

Even at such a small hour, she was confronted by throngs.

In truth, visiting any of the great city’s main attractions – whether that be the Colosseum, the Forum, or the Vatican – will bring you shoulder-to-shoulder with the masses. When visiting, picking up a book such as the Blue Guide, which is written by locals or those with a very intimate understanding of destinations, can help you find lesser-trod corners, underrated restaurants and ancient buildings with a baffling small number of visitors.

If you’re after broad stroke recommendations, the Castel Sant’Angelo is a good bet. Also known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian, it was once the tallest building in Rome and used as a fortress by popes. Nowadays, it’s a museum packed with incredible artwork, sculptures and artefacts that offer you a glimpse into Rome’s rich history.

The Galleria Borghese houses a spectacular range of artwork including pieces by Rossi and Bernini. Consisting of paintings and sculptures from throughout the ages, it is impossible not to fall in love with the grandeur of their histories.

Wales Online writer Ruth Mosalski and her family spent four nights at Haven’s biggest UK campsite, Hafan y Mor in north-west Wales, and found it to be a hit with the kids

Haven’s largest campsite, nestled in the stunning Llyn peninsula of north-west Wales, spans a whopping 500 acres. Ruth and her family family spent four nights there and said her children were “absolutely smitten.”

Located just outside Pwllhelli, the Hafan y Mor site was once a Butlin’s holiday park. Remnants of its past still linger, such as the platform from the land train and some of the old apartment blocks, although the cable car is long gone. Today, it’s a sprawling, modern site boasting hundreds of caravans and an impressive array of dining options and activities.

Ruth shared her visit and said: “We embarked on our four-night getaway last summer, arriving just as check-in opened. The queue of eager holidaymakers had already extended beyond the campsite and onto the main road.

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However, the efficient staff quickly resolved the situation, making the check-in process one of the smoothest I’ve ever experienced at similar venues. There were no lengthy checks or key handovers because all necessary information is provided via the app prior to arrival, reports Wales Online.

Once your car registration is verified, you’re given directions and off you go! Your keys await you on the counter inside your caravan, with a security seal (and your name) on the exterior door to ensure you’re at the correct location. This streamlined system significantly speeds up the entire process.

We were cosied up in The Stables area, in a gold-level caravan. Tucked away on the far side of the site, it was blissfully quiet yet only about five minutes’ stroll from the Dragon Lakes adventure village and roughly 10-12 minutes from the main facilities including eateries, pubs and pool.

The caravan itself, the highest grade offered by the site, was spanking new and genuinely plush. The living space was considerably larger than others I’ve experienced at similar sites, boasting two sofas (not the modular ones that are impossible to get comfy on), televisions, ample storage and extra perks like USB plug sockets and a hairdryer. The master bedroom even had an en-suite.

Prior to our arrival, the app proved useful for booking activities, viewing the entertainment schedule and even providing a handy packing list – even at the gold level you need to bring plenty with you. However, the sparse Wi-Fi coverage on the site meant we occasionally struggled to access what we needed unless we were in one of the site’s main areas. While there, this app can be used to book activities but also order grub to your table in the pubs, or even to your caravan.

Food and drink on the site

There’s a plethora of dining options on site. While they may not be winning any gourmet awards, for a mum who’s usually cooking three meals a day, it was a welcome break.

On-site eateries include popular chains like Papa Johns, Slim Chickens, Burger King and Millie’s Cookies. Haven’s own offerings include their pizza joint, The Pizza Deck, their pub, HMS Glendower, and the Coast House bar and restaurant. For sunny days, there’s the Box Bar, and The Cakery serves Costa coffee and cake right next to the playground.

We enjoyed two evening meals at the Coast House – one was “excellent pub food”, but the other left us wishing we’d ventured elsewhere. However, with kids eating for just £1 when adults order a full-priced meal, and the option to combine this with the two for £18 meals deal, four of us managed to dine for just £20.

A breakfast of four full breakfasts (two kid-sized, and two adult) with Costa coffees came in at under £30. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the on-site shops were reasonably priced. Stocking Co-op items, even typically marked-up products like nappies were sensibly priced.

On-site activities

There’s a plethora of activities on offer here, all reasonably priced. From trampolining and climbing walls to pedalos, Nerf battle zones, sports pitches, and a thrilling leap of faith jump. Our top picks were the 4×4 off-roader experience and the pic ‘n’ paint pottery. You can hire karts for a cycle around or Segways for a bit of fun.

There’s also a soft play area and two large arcade areas for those who fancy a go at the 2p machines or grabber toys. The swimming pool was an absolute blessing. With five different pools catering to all ages, including a smaller one for our nearly two year old and slides that our adventurous four year old could enjoy.

There was even a lane pool, although we never managed to tear ourselves away from the slides long enough to use it. It’s evident that there’s been significant investment in these facilities. Haven was acquired by Bourne Leisure Ltd ten years ago, the same company that owns Warner Leisure Hotels, and they’ve spent that time investing heavily.

This is clearly visible here, with the only giveaway of the site’s age being some of the paintwork in the pool area, but that’s just nitpicking. As you’d expect from Wales in August, the weather during our stay was a mixed bag. We had glorious sunshine on our arrival, departure and middle day, but torrential rain on the other days.

On the sunny days, we ventured off-site to explore the stunning beauty of Criccieth, Aberdaron, Llanbedrog, Abersoch, Llanystumdwy and fulfilled a travel bucket list item at the Ty Coch Inn at Porthdinllaen.

Despite the rainy days, we made the most of the on-site options. Our kids would tell you it was the best holiday ever. Our four year old spent an hour hunting fossils in an interactive show (£16) before we saw Haven’s mascot perform her own show. We also got to paint a pot (£12 per person), have a swim (free with the play pass or £10 otherwise), and then danced at the Tots Disco (free).

We even took seats in the huge showbar for the on-site team’s panto (free), with fish and chips delivered to our tables for tea (£5.99 for a kids meal, including fruit shoot).

Many of the activities are outdoors and carry on regardless of the weather. The staff were helpful in rebooking things on the day we were due to do something outdoors, but they were almost all fully booked by the time we were there at 9.25am, probably because everyone had the same idea.

We’ve previously visited Eurocamp and French equivalents, as well as Bluestone in Pembrokeshire, but the entertainment here was much more suited to our kids. In France, things only really get going much later at night, which isn’t ideal for our younger kids.

The tots disco here started at 5pm and lasted half an hour – perfect for little ones. When it comes to entertainment, Haven was the clear winner. For us grown-ups, it served as a brilliantly situated base in a region we’re often priced out of exploring.

We didn’t just explore Llyn itself, but my husband and I also managed to cover a few more miles of the Wales Coast Path, which runs alongside the park.

We never made it to the nearby beaches, but they were completely deserted and should definitely be signposted more to showcase the area’s natural beauty. However, for our children, it was the jam-packed schedule that left them shouting, screaming and smiling from dawn till dusk.

We departed exhausted, but wonderfully happy with memories we’ll cherish for years to come. In conclusion, the site’s facilities cater to nearly every age and ability, and our caravan was superbly equipped, comfortable and offered lovely sunset views.

If we hadn’t been so knackered each day from cramming in as much as possible, it would have certainly been the sort of place where we’d have happily sat on the decking with a bottle of red and a pack of cards, but those water slides really do take it out of you.

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James May, who is best known for his role on Top Gear and The Grand Tour, bought a pub in 2020 and it’s been reviewed by a content creator who was left impressed by one aspect

Jeremy Clarkson isn’t the only former Top Gear presenter to own a pub. Following his success with Amazon Prime’s Clarkson’s Farm programme, the Grand Tour star opened his own establishment, called The Farmer’s Dog, in August 2024.

Located in Asthall, near Burford in Oxfordshire, it continues to attract sizeable crowds keen to sample the Cotswolds pub for themselves. Meanwhile, fellow Grand Tour star James May purchased The Royal Oak in Swallowcliffe, Salisbury, Wiltshire, in 2020. Unlike Clarkson, May owns half the pub, which dates back to the 18th Century.

Recently content creator Phil Carr, who is known for his satirical reviews of towns and businesses across the UK, decided to visit the establishment himself to see what it was like. In a TikTok video, Phil observed that most celebrities who buy a pub do it as a “self-indulgent folly, a bit of fun, or simply to invest in massive property in hugely valuable areas in a way that people will love them for”.

However, James, who is a part-time resident in Swallowcliffe, and the community-owned pub “looked like it was going down”, he “decided he didn’t want to lose his local”, so he bought into it.

Speaking to Country and Town House, May previously outlined his reasoning for purchasing the derelict pub: “I was a bit browbeaten into buying it, but I also realised that if I didn’t there wouldn’t be a single pub within walking distance of our home.

“Buying it was the only way to ensure there would be. I don’t take any money out of it. I take the view that it’s like owning a nice painting or sculpture – you own it for self-gratification.”

Phil described the pub as “pretty cut off”, but said this is “part of its charm”. He paid £175 per night for a “mid level room” in July, which he found “charming”.

He also noted that breakfast is included, which helps “take the edge off” the cost.

After exploring Swallowcliffe, including the fields, he concluded there’s “really not much to it” beyond “the pub, the church and 174 residents”.

However, the highlight of the pub, which truly impressed him, was the cuisine. According to Phil, patrons started arriving in the evening, but it “didn’t really get busy like Clarkson’s Pub”.

Joined by fellow content creator Ann Russell, she highlighted James’ own gin, launched in 2021 with the idea to blend the flavours of Parsnip and Asian spices. She described it as “rather nice”.

Then Phil got to the “good bit” – the food. He elaborated: “The highest praise I can give it is, Ann lives just up the road [and] she’s been here four times, and anyone who knows her knows she doesn’t suffer bulls**t”.

Having ordered bread, cured trout, souffle, Sirloin steak, a pint of beer, Panna Cotta and Semifreddo, the £104.64 bill felt like “more than a fair exchange”, according to Phil. The quality of the breakfast food also left a positive impression on the content creator.

Phil wrapped up his thoughts by stating: “Don’t come here for a week on holiday or honeymoon but do stop in for a night definitely, if you’re on your way to the West Country or milling around the nearby Stonehenge. James did a great thing securing a community pub and they repaid him by making it really very good.”