An estimated half a trillion dollars was wiped out from the financial markets this week, as some of the biggest tech companies, including Nvidia, Microsoft, and Palantir Technologies saw a temporary but sizeable drop in their share prices on Tuesday. It may have been just a short-lived correction, but experts warn of mounting signs of a financial market crash, which could cost several times this amount.
With dependence on tech and AI growing, critics argue that betting on these profits is a gamble, stressing that the future remains uncertain.
Singapore’s central bank joined a global chorus of warnings from the IMF, Fed Chair Jerome Powell, and Andrew Bailey about overvalued stocks.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore said on Wednesday that such a trend is fuelled by “optimism in AI’s ability to generate sufficient future returns”, which could trigger sharp corrections in the broader stock market.
Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley predict a 10–20% decline in equities over the next one to two years, their CEOs told the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit in Hong Kong, CNBC reported.
Experts interviewed by Euronews Business also agree that a sizeable correction could be on the way.
In a worst-case scenario, a market crash could wipe out trillions of dollars from the financial markets.
According to Mathieu Savary, chief European strategist at BCA Research, Big Tech companies, including Nvidia and Alphabet, would cause a $4.4 trillion (€3.8tn) market wipeout if they were to lose just 20% of their stock value.
“If they go down 50%, you’re talking about an $11tr (€9.6tr) haircut,” he said.
AI rally: Bubble or boom?
The US stock market has defied expectations this year. The S&P 500 is up nearly 20% over the past 12 months, despite geopolitical tensions and global trade uncertainty driven by Washington’s tariff policies. Gains have been strongest in tech, buoyed by optimism over future AI profits.
While Big Tech continues to deliver, with multibillion-dollar AI investments and massive infrastructure buildouts now routine, concerns are growing over a slowing US economy, compounded by limited data during the government shutdown. Once fresh figures emerge, they could rattle investors.
AI enthusiasm is most evident in Nvidia’s extraordinary stock gains and soaring valuation. The company is central to the tech revolution as its graphics processing units (GPUs) are essential for AI computing.
Nvidia’s shares have surged over 3,000% since early 2020, recently making it the world’s most valuable public company. Between July and October alone, it gained $1tr (€870bn) in market capitalisation — roughly equal to Switzerland’s annual GDP. Its stock trades at around 45 times projected earnings for the current fiscal year.
Derren Nathan, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Much of this growth is backed by real financial progress, and despite the massive nominal increase in value, relative valuations don’t look overstretched.”
Analysts debate whether the current market mirrors the dot-com bubble of 2000. Nathan notes that many tech companies that failed back then never reached profitability, unlike today’s giants, which generate strong revenues and profits, with robust demand for their products.
Ben Barringer, global head of technology research at Quilter Cheviot, added: “With governments investing heavily in AI infrastructure and rate cuts likely on the horizon, the sector has solid foundations. It is an expensive market, but not necessarily a screaming bubble. Momentum is hard to sustain, and not every company will thrive.”
BCA Research sees a bubble forming, though not set to burst immediately. Chief European strategist Mathieu Savary said such bubbles historically peak when firms begin relying on external financing for large projects.
Investments in assets for future growth, or capital expenditures, as a share of operating cash flow, have jumped from 35% to 70% for hyperscalers, according to Savary. Hyperscalers are tech firms such as Microsoft, Google, and Meta that run massive cloud computing networks.
“The share of operating earnings is likely to move above 100% before we hit the peak,” Savary added. This means that they may soon be investing more than they earn from operations.
Recent examples of Big Tech firms turning to external financing for such moves include Meta’s Hyperion project with Blue Owl Capital and Alphabet’s €3 billion bond issue for AI and cloud expansion.
While AI investment growth is hard to sustain, Quilter’s Barringer told Euronews: “If CapEx starts to moderate later this year, markets may start to get nervous.”
Other factors to watch include return on invested capital and rising yields and inflation pressures, which could signal a higher cost of capital and a bubble approaching its end.
“But we’re not there yet,” said Savary.
Further concerns and how to hedge against market turbulence
Even as tech companies ride the AI wave, inflated expectations for future profits may prove difficult to meet.
“The sceptics’ main problem may not be with AI’s potential itself, but with the valuations investors are paying for that potential and the speed at which they expect it to materialise,” said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
A recent report by BCA reflects the mounting reasons to question the AI narrative, but the technology “remains a potent force”, said the group.
If investor optimism does slow, “a sharp correction in tech could still have ripple effects across broader markets, given the sector’s dominant weight in global indices,” Barringer said. He added that other regions and asset classes, such as bonds and commodities, would be less directly affected and could provide an important balance during a downturn.
According to Emma Wall, chief investment strategist at Hargreaves Lansdown, “investors should use this opportunity to crystallise impressive gains and diversify their portfolios to include a range of sectors, geographies and asset classes — adding resilience to portfolios. The gold price tipping up is screaming a warning again — a siren that this rally will not last.”
European benchmarks began the week with gains. Oil and gold prices increased, but the euro weakened against the dollar. Sentiment was influenced by OPEC+’s decision to pause production hikes in the first quarter of next year, which led to a modest rise in oil prices as fears of oversupply eased. Gains were, however, mostly lost by late morning.
The international benchmark, Brent crude futures, traded at $64.76, while US West Texas Intermediate cost $60.92 a barrel.
Alongside pauses in the new year, OPEC+ countries agreed on Sunday to increase output by a small 137,000 barrels per day in December, maintaining the pace set for October and November.
Meanwhile, investors expect fresh Western sanctions on Russia, targeting Rosneft and Lukoil, to hinder the country’s ability to boost production further.
At the same time, major Western oil companies are benefitting from the disrupted supply of Russian refined fuels due to attacks and sanctions. Refining margins have risen substantially, giving the oil majors a boost. Both BP and Shell share prices were slightly up on Monday before noon in Europe.
“The decision by producers’ cartel OPEC+ to pause further output hikes at the start of next year, amid concerns about a glut of supply, helped give oil prices a lift and, in turn, boosted UK market heavyweights BP and Shell,” said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
The movements also came as BP announced it had agreed to divest stakes in US shale assets to Sixth Street investment firm on Monday.
Winners in Europe
At 11:00 CET, the UK’s FTSE 100 was up by a few points. The DAX in Frankfurt was leading the gains, up 0.8% after an initial stutter. The CAC 40 in Paris started climbing, reaching gains of nearly 0.2%. The lift in France came despite national budget uncertainties and the release of negative PMI data, which showed that the country’s manufacturing sector was still contracting in October.
US futures were positive around the same time, rising between 0.1% and 0.5%.
Meanwhile, the earnings season continues. A number of European companies are reporting this week, including AstraZeneca, BP, BMW, and Commerzbank.
Ryanair opened the week by posting stronger-than-expected results for the first half of its financial year, spanning April to September. Revenues rose 13% to €9.82bn, as traffic grew 3% and fares increased by 13%. Over the same period, profit rose by 42% year-on-year to €2.54bn, driven by a strong Easter season.
The airline’s shares were up 2.90% in Dublin at around midday.
Looking ahead, Ryanair’s outspoken CEO Michael O’Leary criticised countries in Europe where airlines face high taxes, including environmental duties. In an interview with CNBC, he threatened to move capacity outside the UK should the new budget include such a levy.
“Ryanair is also one of several airline operators with an eagle eye on taxes and costs. It is no longer putting up with unfavourable tax systems, preferring to switch flights and routes to less punitive locations,” Mould commented.
In other markets, the euro weakened against the US dollar by more than 0.2%, hitting a rate of $1.1517 by 11:00 CET. At the same time, the Japanese yen and the British pound were also losing ground against the greenback, with the dollar trading at ¥154.15 and the pound costing $1.3136.
Gold traded just above $4,000, rising slightly by 0.3%.
Last week, HBO Max announced it raised its standard subscription by $1.50 to $18.49 a month — up 23% from when the streaming service launched five years ago amid the pandemic.
Such announcements have become almost routine in the television business as inflation hits streaming platforms that are under growing pressure to turn a profit and pay for higher programming costs.
Once seen as a cheaper alternative to cable, the cost of a streaming subscription for the top platforms continues to rise, much like higher prices for groceries, gasoline and housing.
In fact, the average price for subscriptions to the top 10 paid subscription streaming services in the U.S. increased 12% this year, following double-digit percentage increases per year since 2022, according to Victoria, British Columbia-based Convergence Research Group.
The research firm included streamers such as Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, Apple TV and others in its data set. It factors subscriptions that are with ads or ad-free and does not take into account bundling. All of the major streaming services in the U.S. raised their prices on plans this year, except for Paramount+ and Amazon Prime Video, which boosted rates last year.
The price hikes reflect the tough economic realities of media companies that need to replace dwindling revenue from legacy pay TV channels that have seen sharp declines in viewership.
“The rest of their businesses have effectively been under attack by streaming and so they need this area to be profitable in order to compensate for the decline in their own businesses,” said Brahm Eiley, president of the Convergence Research Group. “It’s been tremendous pressure on them.”
Streaming services have been running as loss leaders for some time, said Tim Hanlon, chief executive of Vertere Group LLC, a media consulting firm.
“There’s no question that streaming is now under the gun to be its own profit center,” Hanlon said.
If rates go much higher, consumers may balk, experts said.
“The industry is playing a dangerous game by continuing to raise prices,” said Andrew Hare, senior vice president for the media research consultancy Magid. “We’re nearing a boiling point of rising churn and overwhelming choice.”
Magid has also already seen an uptick in the percentage of consumers who intend to cancel at least one streaming service in the next six months. The figure was 24% in the second quarter of 2025, up from 19% a year earlier.
“Hard as it is to imagine, the cable bundle is starting to look like a better value all the time,” Hare said.
Here is a look at which major streamers have raised prices on their ad-free streaming plans this year.
HBO Max
HBO Max raised prices across all of its plans. Its lowest-cost, ad-free streaming plan went up by $1.50 to $18.49 a month, while the annual version of that plan also increased $15 to $184.99.
HBO Max’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, had 125.7 million global streaming subscribers in the second quarter, up 22% from a year earlier.
Like other streamers, HBO cited the need to help pay for quality content. The platform offers big-budget shows including drama “The Gilded Age” and “House of the Dragon,” which takes place in the “Game of Thrones” universe.
Consumers should brace themselves for more price hikes. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said at a Goldman Sachs investors conference last month that he believes HBO Max is underpriced.
“We want a good deal for consumers, but I think over time there’s real opportunity, particularly for us in that quality area to raise prices,” Zaslav said.
Peacock
Big-time sports properties have been moving to streaming platforms and guess who is going to help foot the bill? Consumers, of course.
Ahead of becoming a major provider of NBA games this season, Peacock increased prices on its plans, including the premium plus ad-free streaming service, by $3 to $16.99 a month. That was the third price hike since Peacock launched in 2020, where its ad-free plan started at $9.99 a month.
The Comcast-owned streamer, which has 41 million paid subscribers, has weekly games on Mondays and Tuesdays and will have a Peacock exclusive NFL game on Dec. 27. Peacock next year will air the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and continue to stream major sporting events such as NFL games.
In a July earnings call, Comcast Corp. President Mike Cavanagh touted how Peacock will have the most hours of live sports of any streamer next year.
Netflix
Netflix has also gotten into the sports business, with the addition of two NFL games on Christmas Day.
The streamer, which remains the industry juggernaut, is also expected to add Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby and an opening night game when MLB finalizes a new media rights deal this year.
The company cited its entry into high-priced sports when it raised its prices on most of its plans, including on its cheapest ad-free monthly plan by $2.50 to $17.99 in the U.S. earlier this year.
“As we continue to invest in programming and deliver more value for our members, we will occasionally ask our members to pay a little more so that we can re-invest to further improve Netflix,” Netflix said in a letter to shareholders in January.
The slice of sports is coming at the expense of fans who need multiple subscriptions — if they want to keep up with every NFL game.
“A certain type of fan is starting to recognize they are being fleeced,” Hanlon said.
Higher prices on ad-free plans can help drive traffic to a streamer’s lowest-priced plans with ads. Netflix launched its subscription plan with ads in 2022 at $6.99 a month and it has only increased by a $1 to $7.99 a month since then in January 2025.
While many major streamers offer cheaper plans with ads, others offer free streaming services with ads such as the Roku Channel or Tubi.
A recent research study by Magid found that three-quarters of consumers are fine with watching commercials, if it saves them money.
Four in 10 said they’re “overwhelmed” by the number of services they use. The average number of streaming subscriptions per household in the third quarter is 4.6, up from 4.1 the previous year.
“Together, these trends point to a more value-driven streaming consumer seeking affordability and simplicity,” the study said.
Apple TV
Apple TV was once one of the lowest-priced subscription service plans, launching at $4.99 a month. Since then, prices for Apple’s video streaming service have increased to $12.99 a month, with its latest price jump of $3 in August.
The Cupertino-based company has been trying to make its streaming business more financially sound, but faces a formidable task as it has been a big spender in attracting name talent to its programs and movies.
When Apple TV first launched, it had just nine programs, but since then has expanded its library to include critically acclaimed shows and films including comedy “Ted Lasso,” drama “Severance” and “The Studio.”
Apple said in a statement that while it did raise its prices on its standard monthly ad-free plan, the cost of its annual subscription remains at $99 and Apple One bundled packages did not change.
Disney+
Last month, Disney+ announced it would increase the cost of its ad-free streaming plan by $3 to $18.99 a month. Hulu did not increase its price on its ad-free monthly streaming plan.
It was the fourth consecutive year the Burbank entertainment giant has boosted its streaming prices since launching Disney+ six years ago, when the service cost just $6.99 a month.
Despite the recent price hikes from Disney and others, Eiley from Convergence Research Group thinks there’s still room for customer growth.
At the end of last year, just 36% of U.S. households had a traditional TV subscription, compared with more than half of U.S. households in mid-2022, according to Convergence Research Group data. By the end of 2028, the research firm forecasts just 21% of households will have traditional TV subscriptions.
“There’s still a massive amount of cord cutting going on,” Eiley said.
After six years of marriage the pair split up, with the divorce being finalised in 2021 after pandemic delays.
Following his split from Katie, Hayler started a relationship with Michelle Penticost.
She later gave birth to their son Apollo.
The couple proceeded to get engaged in 2020, but went their separate ways in February this year.
His representative told The Sun: “They separated on good terms and remain close, with their focus on Apollo.”
He was last photographed out in public on Friday, October 3 when he visited Tulleys Farm Shocktober event near Crawley.
His selfie from the celebrity bash was captioned: “My favourite event of the year.”
When did Katie Price and Kieran Hayler get married?
Katie and Kieran tied the knot in 2013 after first meeting in 2012.
Hayler proposed on Christmas Day and not long after they got married at a luxury resort in the Bahamas.
In May 2014, while pregnant with Bunny, Katie discovered Hayler had been cheating on her with her best friend Jane Pountney, when she caught them kissing on a beach in Cape Verde.
He later confessed to a long and intimate relationship with Jane.
Speaking with The Sun on Sunday in 2017, he said: “I would get into the passenger seat of Jane’s car, she would jump on top of me.”
Despite this, Katie forgave him, only for him to cheat again in with their nanny, Nikki Brown, in 2017.
Katie said: “I was crying, asking, ‘How could you do this to me again?’ When I begged him to tell the truth he finally said, ‘Yeah, we have’.”
The marriage eventually broke down in 2018, with the divorce finalised in 2021.
Why has he been charged?
Hayler has been charged with three counts of rape and one sexual assault against a 13-year-old girl.
The allegations date to June-October 2016, the midway point of his marriage to Katie, 47.
The alleged victim is not a member of his or Katie’s extended family.
In a statement made last night Sussex Police said:
“We can confirm Kieran Hayler, 38, of Northchapel in West Sussex, has been charged with three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against a 13-year-old girl.
“The offences are alleged to have occurred at an address in West Sussex between June 1 and October 13, 2016.
“Hayler remains released under investigation and is due to appear before Crawley magistrates’ court on November 19.
“The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has received support from specially trained officers as our enquiries continue.”
Hayler is currently denying these allegations made against him.
His legal representative added: “Kieran Hayler strongly denies the allegations made against him in its entirety.
KATIE Price’s ex-husband Kieran Hayler has been charged with three counts of rape and one sexual assault against a girl of 13.
The allegations date to June-October 2016, the midway point of his marriage to Katie, 47.
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Katie Price’s ex-husband Kieran Hayler has been charged with three counts of rape and one sexual assault against a girl of 13Credit: GettyThe couple, pictured here at their 2013 wedding, share children, Jett, 12, and Bunny, 11Credit: Dan Charity – The Sun
They were wed for six years and share kids, Jett, 12, and Bunny, 11.
The alleged victim is not a member of his or Katie’s extended family.
Sussex Police said last night: “We can confirm Kieran Hayler, 38, of Northchapel in West Sussex, has been charged with three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against a 13-year-old girl.
“The offences are alleged to have occurred at an address in West Sussex between June 1 and October 13, 2016.
“Hayler remains released under investigation and is due to appear before Crawley magistrates’ court on November 19.
“The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has received support from specially trained officers as our enquiries continue.”
Hayler, who has also worked as a stripper and actor, and appeared on reality shows with Katie, posted a video on Sunday evening of him flexing his muscles in a car park, with the message “Fit check”.
He was last photographed out in public on Friday, October 3 when he visited Tulleys Farm Shocktober event near Crawley.
His selfie from the celebrity bash was captioned: “My favourite event of the year.”
A legal representative for Hayler said last night: “Kieran Hayler strongly denies the allegations made against him in its entirety.
“Mr Hayler is fully engaged and has been co-operating with the police throughout the investigation and will continue to do so. He looks forward to his name being cleared believing in the judicial system to do so.”
Hayler first met Katie in 2012 and proposed on Christmas Day.
He was her third husband following her marriages to singer Peter Andre and cage fighter Alex Reid.
In May 2014, while pregnant with Bunny, Katie discovered Hayler had been cheating on her with her best friend Jane Pountney, when she caught them kissing on a beach in Cape Verde.
He later confessed to a long, intimate relationship with Jane.
In 2017 he told The Sun on Sunday: “I would get into the passenger seat of Jane’s car, she would jump on top of me.”
Katie forgave Kieran and later said: “He’s proved himself. I have actually said to him, ‘I now forgive you, I do forget’ because I got to a point where I don’t have to worry about him. I trust him.”
But in 2017, Katie discovered he had cheated again — this time with their nanny Nikki Brown.
She said: “When I confronted him he denied it at first, even when I said she’d admitted it.
“I was crying, asking, ‘How could you do this to me again?’ When I begged him to tell the truth he finally said, ‘Yeah, we have’.”
The marriage broke down in 2018, with the divorce finalised in 2021 after pandemic delays.
At the time her representative said it was amicable.
Hayler said in 2021: “As of July 12 we are now divorced. It took just over three years.
“We didn’t rush it; it was in the process for a long time and Covid-19 hit, which held up the courts.
“It wasn’t in our hands. There was no legal battle.
“I said to her, I will be the only person that doesn’t take any money from you because that’s not who I am, I don’t want her money.”
The couple had married at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort and Spa in January 2013.
They held a second service at the Rookery Manor hotel in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, joined by 13 bridesmaids and pals including TV star Rylan Clark, model Danielle Lloyd and singer Michelle Heaton.
Katie and Hayler then honeymooned in the Maldives.
Following their marriage split, Hayler started a relationship with Michelle Penticost, who gave birth to their son Apollo.
The couple got engaged in 2020 but this February called off the wedding and said they had split.
His representative told The Sun: “They separated on good terms and remain close, with their focus on Apollo.”
Besides her children with Hayler, Loose Women star Katie has son Harvey, 23, from a relationship with ex-footballer Dwight Yorke, plus son Junior, 20, and daughter Princess, 18, from her marriage to Peter Andre.
She has not married since Hayler but briefly found love with another personal trainer, Kris Boyson.
She dated Carl Woods for two years and they got engaged. But that relationship ended in 2022.
Last night they appeared on stage in Swansea, and tonight are due at The Old Savoy in Northampton.
Hayler posted a video of himself posing in a car park on Instagram on Sunday eveningCredit: InstagramHayler is a former stripperCredit: Chris Eades – The Sun
Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin (C) speaks during the opening session of the Pre-COP30 meeting at the International Convention Center in Brasilia, Brazil, on October 13. Photo by Andre Borges/EPA
Oct. 20 (UPI) — One month before the U.N. climate summit in Belém, Brazil, organizers face a serious accommodation shortage. The Amazonian city, which will temporarily serve as the nation’s capital during the event, lacks enough rooms for the thousands of visitors expected, threatening the participation of many delegations.
Amid a COP30 already marked by tensions over climate financing and carbon-reduction commitments, a new complication has emerged: hotel prices have soared, forcing Brazil’s government to organize cruise ships and makeshift lodging to meet demand.
The situation risks making COP30 one of the least inclusive in history, as many groups — including small nations, civil society organizations and media outlets — may lack the means to participate in one of the year’s most important climate meetings.
The 30th Conference of the Parties of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP30, is to will bring together nearly 200 countries and dozens of organizations to negotiate actions to address the climate crisis.
The summit will take place in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon from Nov. 10 to 21, and aims to set new emission-reduction and climate-finance commitments through 2035 under the Paris Agreement.
It will be the first time the conference is held in the Amazon rainforest, a region vital to regulating the global climate.
The Brazilian government has pledged that no delegation will be left without lodging and has launched an official platform to coordinate reservations in hotels, private homes and vessels converted into floating hotels.
However, environmental groups and local media say prices remain out of reach for many delegations and that oversight is insufficient to prevent speculation. In some cases, rates have increased tenfold compared with previous years, even for modest accommodations.
The shortage of tourist infrastructure in Belém is also creating additional logistical challenges, including limited transportation, strained basic services and delays in key projects, such as the so-called “Leaders’ Village,” where heads of state will stay.
Diplomatic expectations for COP30 are especially high, as the summit will mark the start of a new cycle of climate commitments. Countries will be required to present updated proposals with targets extending through 2035.
However, the process is moving slowly and lacks ambition. Several major economies — including China, India and some G20 members — have yet to submit draft plans or have indicated they intend to maintain goals similar to those set in 2020, with few adjustments.
A preparatory ministerial meeting for COP30, held in Brasília last week, brought together representatives from more than 70 countries to coordinate positions and lay the groundwork for the summit.
During the sessions, ministers agreed that the conference should focus on the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement rather than issuing new political statements.
However, the meeting exposed persistent divisions on key issues, particularly climate financing. The draft of the so-called “Baku-Belém Roadmap,” which calls for mobilizing $1.3 trillion annually by 2035, drew criticism for lacking detail and verifiable mechanisms.
There were also disagreements over indicators to measure progress on adaptation and on the level of ambition for new national targets. The meeting kept dialogue open, but many core issues remain unresolved and will be the subject of direct negotiations in Belém under strong diplomatic pressure.
The cost to experience the Happiest Place on Earth continues to rise as the Disneyland Resort unveiled its annual price increases for the upcoming year.
The Disneyland Resort on Wednesday morning increased prices on most tickets for guests 10 and older, with the price to visit a single park on its most in-demand days now $224 per person, up from $206. The price of its lowest-tier offering — a one-day, one-park ticket for often a less crowded weekday — will remain the same at $104. (Disneyland Resort ticket prices vary depending on the day and consumer demand.)
Pricing for all other one-day, one-park tickets on more popular days will increase between 1.5% and 4.8% — Disneyland has six tiers of pricing based on crowd levels — and most increased moderately between $3 and $7, a lower jump than in years past. Park hopper add-ons, which allow a guest to visit both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure on the same day, are now between $70 and $90 per day, up from $65 to $75 per day, depending on the crowd calendar.
Parking at the resort has also increased, up $5 to $40 per day for a standard vehicle.
Once in the park, those who opt for the line-skipping Lightning Lane Multi Pass will find that service starts at $34 per day, up from $32, but the program is also subject to variable pricing. For instance, today a Lightning Lane Multi Pass is $40 per guest.
Its Magic Key annual pass has also experienced an increase for its top two tiers, the so-called Inspire and Believe passes. The Inspire pass, which offers the most year-round access and highest merchandise and dining discounts, including the cost of parking, is up $150 to $1,899. The Believe key is up $100 to $1,474. Prices for its two lowest tier Magic Keys — the Enchant and Imagine — did not change.
Currently, only the Enchant and Imagine keys, the latter for Southern California residents, are available for sale. All are available for renew, as Disney makes Magic Key passes for sale available at various times throughout the year.
Disneyland has maintained its lowest $104 ticket for seven years now. This year, for instance, one can visit the park in early November at that rate in the days between the resort’s Halloween and holidays celebrations. From Oct. 7 through April 4, 2026, Disneyland has also increased its number of $104 days, up from 20 to 32 for the upcoming months.
“Disney Parks offer a full day of experiences each day, with ticket, hotel, and dining options designed to suit a wide range of needs and budgets for all who visit,” read a statement from the company. “Our commitment to creating magical experiences for everyone remains at the heart of what we do — and that will never change.”
The resort has also unveiled a new California ticket offer, which is set to go on sale Dec. 3. The deal is for a 3-day park-hopper ticket, which can be used on non-consecutive visits, and starts at $249 per person, which amounts to $83 per day. A Lightning Lane Multi Pass add-on will bring the cost of the ticket to $351 per person, or $117 per day. The offer is good for visits from Jan. 1, 2026 to May 21, 2026.
Disneyland is currently in the midst of its 70th anniversary celebration, which will continue until next summer. As part of the latter, Disneyland unveiled the show “Walt Disney — A Magical Life,” featuring the first-ever audio animatronic of the company’s founder. Disneyland this week announced an update is coming soon to one of its most historic attractions, as it will be adding Rapunzel’s Tower to its Storybook Land Canal Boats, a leisurely boat ride through tableaus of exquisite miniatures.
While Disneyland has yet to announce its full slate of programming for 2026, popular festivities such as Lunar New Year and the Food & Wine Festival are set to return. Disneyland Park in its Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge area will unveil a new mission on its attraction Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run to tie into the upcoming film, “The Mandalorian and Grogu.” The new interactive scenes are set to debut May 22, 2026.
Disney’s experiences division — which includes the Disney theme parks, cruise line and Aulani resort and spa in Hawaii — reported revenue of $9.1 billion, up 8% compared with the previous year, in its most recent quarterly earnings report. Operating income rose 13% to $2.5 billion.
The sale has kicked off featuring Zed’s Gummy Corn sweets for £0.75, described as “sweet, creamy and zesty”.
Other sweets encouraging shoppers to get into the spooky spirit for under £1 include crowd pleasers Haribo Bone Shakers and Sour Skeletons, both priced at £0.99.
Shoppers can also get their hands on a bucket of vanilla flavoured Hallow-scream candy floss for £0.99 in three colours – green, orange and purple.
The last item under £1 is the Pimlico Coffin Sour Gummy sweets at £0.99.
The spooky treat is described as “tangy and chewy” and is sold in a variety of flavours.
The prices range from £0.75 all the way up to £10.89 – with Vidal Monster Jellies at the top end of the Halloween sweets sale.
Bargain hunters can find chocolates, sweets, savoury spooky items and everything in between as Halloween approaches.
The sale is available at all stores across the UK and online.
‘Look at the cute Halloween pumpkins reasonably priced’ says Dunnes Stores fan as spooky must-haves hit shelves from €3
Lidl‘s Christmas-Ready Wooden Toy sale is set to launch with some of the country’s most sought after wooden toys massively discounted.
Kicking off on October 9, Lidl Plus members have a short six-day window to get their hands on early Christmas presents.
The long-awaited sale offers a collection of quality, sustainable toys at unbeatable prices, which kick off at £1.99.
Some showstoppers include the Wooden Play Kitchen (£44.99 with Lidl Plus, £49.99 without) and Bakery & Cafe (£16.19 with Lidl Plus, £17.99 without).
The new range will also come with a huge variety of wallet-friendly stocking fillers, such as the Wooden Food Play Set (from £4.99) and Wooden Railway Set (£6.39 with Lidl Plus, £7.99 without).
Hitting the stores very soon, the wooden toy collection has plenty of options to tackle a day of cheffing or provide hours of indoor fun.
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Pimlico Candy Coffins have hit shelves for under £1Credit: Homebargains
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Shoppers can find everything from chocolate to savoury snacksCredit: Homebargains
To keep kids from climbing up the walls, the sturdy Wooden Balance Board (£23.99 with Lidl Plus, £29.99 without) and Wooden Balance Beam (£17.99 with Lidl Plus, £19.99 without) are the ideal additions to help the little ones reach new heights.
Or for those looking for something more instrumental for their little treble makers, the Hape Baby Musical Instruments come in a groovin’ guitar or a classic keyboard for a price sure to strike a chord at £11.69 with Lidl Plus (12.99 without).
With cooler weather rolling in for the holidays, the Wooden Puzzle (£1.79 with Lidl Plus, £1.99 without) and Wooden Play Set available as a Farmhouse, Fire Station or Stable (£9.59 with Lidl Plus, £11.99 without) are perfect for providing hours of indoor fun for the chips off the old block.
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Zed Candy Double Dares are also part of the Halloween saleCredit: Homebargains
US President Donald Trump announced earlier this week that his administration would launch a new website, called TrumpRx, which will allow American consumers to buy prescription drugs from pharmaceutical companies at discounted prices.
Pfizer, the first United States pharmaceutical group to sign up to the website, said it would offer discounts of up to 85 percent on the cost of its medicines for those not using health insurance policies to pay and for those on the government’s low-cost insurance programme, Medicaid. Pfizer will also sell medicines to the Medicaid programme itself at lower prices.
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The announcement prompted shares in the pharmaceuticals sector to lift sharply this week, signalling a favourable response from markets and the pharmaceuticals industry.
Here’s what we know about the new service, why it is being launched and how it will work.
What is TrumpRx and when is it being launched?
The new website will be launched in early 2026. It is a platform from which consumers will be able to buy prescription medicines directly from pharmaceutical companies without going through insurance.
On the site, consumers will be able to search for the prescription drug required and then be directed to the drug’s manufacturing company.
They will have access to discounted prices much closer to those typically paid by national health services in foreign countries at what are known as “most favoured nation” prices.
Beneficiaries of Medicaid – the federal government insurance programme for adults and children from lower-income backgrounds – will also be able to use the site.
“By taking this bold step, we’re ending the era of global price gouging at the expense of American families,” Trump told a news conference on Tuesday.
Director of Medicare and Deputy Administrator of CMS Chris Klomp speaks after US President Donald Trump announced a deal with Pfizer to sell drugs at lower prices, in the Oval office of the White House in Washington, DC, on September 30, 2025 [Ken Cedeno/Reuters]
What are ‘most favoured nation’ prices?
“Most favoured nation” (MFN) prices are those that national health services in other countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Denmark, pay US pharmaceutical companies for prescription drugs.
As these countries buy medicines in bulk, they have much greater purchasing power to demand lower prices than ordinary consumers. This means pharmaceutical companies tend to sell their drugs at a much lower price to other countries than they do domestically.
The US cannot leverage this sort of purchasing power because it does not have a national health service, so the government cannot influence the price of drugs in the same way.
The Trump administration argues that this means US pharmaceutical companies are effectively subsidising foreign health services while artificially inflating prices for American consumers. In May this year, therefore, he signed an executive order aimed at reducing prescription drug prices in the US, stating: “The United States will no longer subsidise the health care of foreign countries.”
When a country grants MFN status, it commits to providing the recipient country with the same trade advantages it gives to any other country with MFN status, but not necessarily the same low prices – prices still vary from country to country. However, it is understood that companies will be expected to offer drugs at their lowest selling price in any other country.
What else has Trump done about the cost of medicines in the US?
The launch of the new website is just one part of Trump’s strategy to reduce prescription medicine prices in the US.
In July this year, he sent a letter to the CEOs of 17 pharmaceutical companies ordering them to reduce their prices.
In the letter, he laid out demands and promises:
He called on manufacturers to provide MFN prices to every single Medicaid patient.
He required manufacturers to stipulate that they will not offer other developed nations better prices for new drugs than prices offered in the United States.
He promised to provide manufacturers with an avenue to cut out middlemen and sell medicines directly to patients, provided they do so at a price no higher than the best price available in developed nations.
He promised to use trade policy to support manufacturers in raising prices internationally, provided that increased revenues abroad are reinvested directly into lowering prices for American patients and taxpayers.
The new TrumpRx website addresses the first of these promises.
To address the second promise, Trump has also announced new 100 percent tariffs on imported, branded pharmaceutical products. Companies which set up production facilities and operations in the US will be exempt from these.
He cited the cost of prescription drugs as one of the reasons for levying these tariffs.
How much more do medicines cost in the US than other countries?
According to a 2022 study commissioned by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, published on the US government website, standard insulin prices in the US are as much as 10 times higher than prices in 33 OECD countries.
“Average gross prices in the US were more than 10 times prices in France and the United Kingdom; nearly nine times prices in Italy; more than eight times prices in Japan; about seven times prices in Germany; and more than six times prices in Canada,” the study found.
Many people who take insulin already pay a “net price”, which is lower than the standard price via rebates that the manufacturer agrees with insurance companies. But the net price is still, on average, 2.33 times the price paid in other countries, the report found.
Who will benefit most from this platform?
Anyone who wants to buy prescription drugs direct from pharmaceutical companies, instead of via insurance coverage, at a discounted price can use the platform.
A 2024 report from the US Census Bureau showed that about 8 percent of the US population (26 million people) did not have health insurance in 2023 – so these people may be able to benefit.
The Medicaid programme is also likely to benefit from lower prices as its deal with Pfizer includes more favourable terms. However, details of how this part of the deal will work have not been fully explained.
Currently, most Americans use insurance policies to provide medical care, so initially, most will not use the website, experts said.
Stacie B Dusetzina, professor of health policy at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, told Al Jazeera: “There are a small number of people who may be better off purchasing their medicine this way, but the majority of Americans won’t benefit from this type of model.”
However, she added: “There are other components to the deal that could save the public Medicaid programme money, but without knowing more about how that deal is structured, we can’t say for sure that it would produce savings.”
Which drug companies will sell via the new website?
On Tuesday, Trump said pharma group Pfizer was the first to sign up for the new website.
In return for direct access to consumers, the US pharmaceuticals major has agreed to lower the cost of its prescription drugs for those buying direct via the site (and not using insurance to pay), as well as those on the Medicaid programme. Customers will pay prices closer to “most favoured nation” prices, Trump said.
In a news release, Pfizer said it had “voluntarily agreed to implement measures designed to ensure Americans receive comparable drug prices to those available in other developed countries” and said it will also price “newly launched medicines at parity with other key developed markets”.
“The large majority of the Company’s primary care treatments and some select specialty brands will be offered at savings that will range as high as 85 percent and on average, 50 percent,” the company said in a statement.
The White House and Pfizer gave some examples of primary-care Pfizer medicines which will be available on the TrumpRx website. This is not an exhaustive list:
Eucrisa, a topical ointment for atopic dermatitis, which will be made available at an 80 percent discount for patients purchasing directly.
Xeljanz, a widely used oral medication for types of arthritis which will be available at a 40 percent discount.
Zavzpret, a drug used to treat migraines, which will be sold at a 50 percent discount.
Duavee, used to treat menopause symptoms, which will be offered at around an 85 percent discount.
Toviaz, a drug for for overactive bladder.
Abrilada and Xeljanz, both autoimmune drugs which will be available at significant discounts.
Some of these drugs will remain very expensive even with the discounts. According to Pfizer’s website, Xeljanz, for example, costs around $6,000 per month at the standard price. A 40 percent discount brings this down to $3,600 per month.
Currently, Americans with health insurance can obtain the drug for up to $20 a month – in many cases, their insurance policy terms mean they pay nothing at all.
What else have Pfizer and Trump agreed to under this deal?
Pfizer has agreed to reduce drug prices in the US generally, putting prices in line with those paid in other developed countries, the company said.
The group has also committed to spending $70bn on domestic manufacturing facilities, which will be dedicated to “US research, development and capital projects in the next few years”.
In return, the company will be given a three-year grace period from Trump’s tariffs on branded pharmaceuticals made abroad.
“I think today we are turning the tide, and we are reversing an unfair situation,” Pfizer’s CEO Albert Bourla said at a news conference on Tuesday alongside Trump, referring to the difference in prices that people in the US pay for medicines compared with consumers overseas.
Will other drug companies follow suit?
Trump said on Tuesday that other pharmaceutical companies are expected to sign up for the new website, but there have been no new official announcements so far.
“It is clear that the deal that Pfizer struck is a friendly one to the industry,” said Dusetzina. “The companies that received letters requesting that they act are all likely to make agreements that I would expect to be similarly structured.
“If nothing else, these companies will want commitments that they can avoid any potential tariffs. That is worth a lot to them and to their shareholders. It will still be unclear, I think, whether the changes that they make have any tangible benefits for the average American.”
Overseas pharmaceutical companies may be able to sign up as well.
Swiss companies, including Novartis and Roche, said that they were eager to work with the Trump administration to make their drugs more affordable to US patients.
Stephan Mumenthaler, director general of scienceindustries – which represents about 250 Swiss chemical and pharmaceutical companies – told the Reuters news agency on Wednesday that he expected “mini deals” to come from Swiss and global pharmaceutical companies in the coming days.
“They are thinking in similar schemes … How can you omit the margins that middlemen are taking away so that you basically have a similar price than before, but the end consumer still gets a lower price,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) announced the launch of its own website AmericasMedicines.com, which will enable consumers to directly buy drugs from manufacturers as well.
In a media release, Stephen J Ubl, president and CEO of PhRMA said: “We need policymakers to protect innovation, fix the broken insurance system that burdens patients with high out-of-pocket costs, and ensure foreign governments pay their fair share.”
How have markets reacted?
Pfizer’s share price rose 7 percent in the US on Tuesday and jumped 8 percent on the UK’s stock exchange on Wednesday.
The announcement of the new website also lifted the shares of European pharmaceutical companies, including Merck, Roche and AstraZeneca by about 5 percent.
Bitcoin(BTC 2.64%) soared past $117,000 on Oct. 1, erasing September’s losses. Meanwhile, the U.S. government shut down for the first time in seven years, after lawmakers failed to agree on a temporary spending bill. Both gold and the S&P 500 set new record highs, though only time will tell whether the surge comes in spite of the government shutdown or because of it.
Some commentators say this supports Bitcoin’s safe-haven status, but that isn’t necessarily what happened here. The fact that stocks also rose could suggest other factors are at play. For example, there’s optimism around traditional gains in so-called “Uptober” as well as potential rate cuts. Plus, the Internal Revenue Service eased crypto treasury rules, which could reduce corporate crypto tax bills.
Image source: Getty Images.
How the shutdown could affect crypto investors
Previous government shutdowns have not had a huge effect on financial markets, particularly for long-term investors. As a cryptocurrency investor, here are a few potential shutdown consequences to have on your radar.
1. A longer shutdown could reduce investor appetite for risk
There are two ways that the current shutdown could affect consumer sentiment. The first is if it drags on for a long time. The last shutdown, which began in December 2018, extended 35 days and was the longest the U.S. has ever seen. A repeat could put even more pressure on the economy and reduce confidence in U.S. markets.
The second is if the shutdown leads to federal job layoffs, rather than the furloughs we’ve seen before. Vice President JD Vance told reporters that this possibility becomes more likely the longer the shutdown continues.
For crypto investors, there are two opposing forces at play. Faltering confidence in the dollar might push people toward alternative assets. However, people are less likely to buy Bitcoin or other risky assets when they are worried about how to cover the essentials.
2. A shutdown could delay spot crypto ETF approvals
Anticipation about approval from the Security and Exchange Commission for a flurry of crypto ETFs has been building for months — even more so since mid-September, when the SEC said it would follow a streamlined generic listings process rather than approving each one individually. However, the SEC is unlikely to be able to approve new crypto ETFs when it’s operating with a skeleton staff, no matter how simple the process.
3. It may test Bitcoin’s digital gold narrative
Crypto enthusiasts have long touted Bitcoin’s potential as a form of digital gold — a safe haven during times of crisis. As a decentralized, independent asset, it does have a lot in common with gold. However, it is still a relatively new asset, and its price can be extremely volatile. Bear in mind that Bitcoin fell by over 64% in 2022 on the back of Fed rate increases that triggered exchange failures.
Bitcoin has matured a lot in recent years, particularly since the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted huge inflows of institutional funds. The gridlock in Washington could put pressure on the dollar and increase economic uncertainty. That makes it a good time to see whether it can live up to its safe-haven potential.
Rate cut optimism could be behind Bitcoin’s initial shutdown surge
Investors were already hopeful that the Fed would cut rates at its October meeting. Following the shutdown, they are almost certain. The CME FedWatch tracker now puts the likelihood of a cut this month at 99%. Rate cuts have historically been positive for cryptocurrency prices, as they add liquidity to the market and make riskier assets more appealing.
The difficulty here is that the shutdown could delay the publication of the key economic data that the Fed relies on to make its decisions. The lack of jobs and inflation data could make it harder for officials to get a clear picture. This can also add to volatility, as markets can’t use public data to prepare for potential Fed moves.
How Bitcoin behaved in previous shutdowns
There have only been three government shutdowns since Bitcoin’s launch in 2009. Bitcoin’s price fell during the shutdowns of 2018 and 2019. However, it would be misleading to read too much into the data, given how much the industry has matured in the past seven, or even 12, years.
Date Start
Date End
Percentage Change in Bitcoin Price
Dec. 21, 2018
Jan. 25, 2019
-12%
Jan. 19, 2018
Jan. 22, 2018
-7%
Sept. 30, 2013
Oct. 17, 2013
+15%
Data source: CoinGecko.
It is important to look at the government shutdown in a wider economic context. Right now, the prospect of rate cuts and IRS rules that favor crypto treasury companies may have had a bigger effect on crypto prices. But if the shutdown continues, this could dent confidence and drive investors away from risky assets.
Emma Newbery has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The price of gold climbed to a new record on Monday, rising above $3,850 an ounce in the afternoon in Europe, up more than 1% on the day.
Precious metals across the board surged, fuelled by a weak dollar and high uncertainty around funding for the US federal government.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump and the Republican Party are meeting with Democrats to discuss a short-term spending bill to avoid a government shutdown on Tuesday. Republicans need at least seven votes from Democrats to pass the legislation.
Uncertainty is high, which historically sees investors flocking into so-called safe-haven assets such as gold. The precious metal is a more stable option in turbulent times when other asset classes are far more volatile.
So far this year, gold has shown itself to be an investor favourite amid increased geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainties. Since January, the precious metal has gained over 45%, rising from $2,669 an ounce.
Other factors are also supporting gold prices, including expectations of further rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. On 17 September, the Fed lowered its target range for its main lending rate to 4% – 4.25%, and officials indicated that there could be two more rate cuts this year.
Lower rates tend to weaken the US dollar, in which gold is denominated, increasing the metal’s appeal. This is particularly the case when other interest-bearing assets like bonds and savings accounts offer lower yields, following rate cuts.
“Gold prices continue to mark new records, with expectations for further rate cuts from the Fed supportive, given the precious metal does not offer income,” said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
“Now above $3,800, gold has also been boosted by central bank buying over several years, weaker demand for traditional safe havens like US government bonds driven by concerns over US deficits and trade policy, dollar weakness and geopolitical tensions, including conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine,” Mould added.
“The threat of a shutdown in Washington, as policymakers engage in tense negotiations ahead of a deadline at midnight on Tuesday, is yet another factor driving support for gold.”
Disclaimer: This information does not constitute financial advice; always do your own research on top to ensure it’s right for your specific circumstances. Also remember, we are a journalistic website and aim to provide the best guides, tips and advice from experts. If you rely on the information on this page, then you do so entirely at your own risk.
Big business is already warning of the folly of this outdated 1970s-style approach.
Don’t do it, Chancellor.
Labour peer: Lawyer Starmer’s got to get with it, scrap the ECHR and put the navy in the channel – or he’s gone
Action, not talk
NEW Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says she will not allow migrants to avoid deportation through bogus last minute claims that they are the victims of modern slavery.
She insists these “vexatious” appeals make a mockery of our laws.
Sept. 10 (UPI) — Wholesale prices dropped just a bit in August, potentially allowing the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates at its September meeting.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Producer Price Index on Wednesday, which measures input costs of goods and services. It reported wholesale prices dropped 0.1% for the month, below Dow Jones estimates of a 0.3% gain, while on a 12-month basis, the headline PPI saw a 2.6% gain.
The core PPI, which excludes food and energy prices, was also off 0.1% after being expected to climb 0.3%. Excluding food, energy and trade, the PPI posted a 0.3% gain and was up 2.8% from a year ago.
Stock market futures gained after the release while Treasury yields were slightly negative.
The central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee is expected to release its decision on its key overnight borrowing rate when it meets on Sept. 16-17.
Odds for a larger half percentage point reduction rose slightly after the PPI release to about 10%, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch gauge.
The index for final demand services fell 0.2% in August, the largest decline since moving down 0.3 % in April. The August decrease can be traced to a 1.7% drop in margins for final demand trade services. Conversely, the indexes for final demand services less trade, transportation, and warehousing and for final demand transportation and warehousing services increased, 0.3% and 0.9%, respectively, the BLS said.
Three-quarters of the August decrease in prices for final demand services can be attributed to a 3.9% decline in margins for machinery and vehicle wholesaling. The indexes for professional and commercial equipment wholesaling, chemicals and allied products wholesaling, furniture retailing, food and alcohol retailing, and data processing and related services also moved lower. In contrast, prices for portfolio management advanced 2%. The indexes for truck transportation of freight and for apparel wholesaling also increased.
Prices for final demand goods rose 0.1% in August, the fourth consecutive advance. Leading the August increase in the index for final demand goods, prices for final demand goods less foods and energy rose 0.3%. The index for final demand foods moved up 0.1%. Conversely, prices for final demand energy declined 0.4%.
A major factor in the August increase in the index for final demand goods was a 2.3% advance in prices for tobacco products. The indexes for beef and veal; processed poultry; printed circuit assemblies, boards, modules and modems; and electric power also rose. In contrast, prices for utility natural gas decreased 1.8%. The indexes for fresh and dry vegetables, chicken eggs, and copper base scrap also fell.
Pret will trial meal deals in October, November and DecemberCredit: Alamy
Pret plans to trial the meal deal format in the final three months of the year.
Boss Pano Christou said the chain’s focus is on “offering great value for money” as part of its medium-term strategy to grow and return to sustainable profits.
Details on pricing and locations for the trial have yet to be revealed.
Pret’s latest accounts showed a pre-tax loss of £525.2 million for the year to January 2 – largely due to a £552.9 million write-down after a reassessment by owner JAB, which bought the chain in 2018.
This followed a £61.7 million loss the year before.
Despite the losses, Pret said its earnings before adjustments rose 36 per cent to £98 million for the year.
Meanwhile, total revenue dipped 4.2 per cent to £868.4 million compared to the previous year.
Like-for-like sales grew by 2.8 per cent, helped by an 11 per cent expansion to 717 shops as the business continued to grow internationally.
Pret said it is keen to expand further in the US, especially around city centres and travel hubs.
I went to the UK’s best sandwich shop that’s gone viral on TikTok due to amazing family history and huge portions
Christou, Pret’s CEO, said: “2024 was another year of growth for Pret, where we took disciplined decisions to protect sales, despite intense strains on the hospitality industry.
“Going forward our priority will be to drive transactions and sustainable growth by offering great value for money for Pret customers.
“Our focus will be on growing Pret’s market share in the UK and internationally, prioritising city centres and travel hubs, backed by the experience and expertise of additional world-class board members and a strengthened management team.”
Pret opened its first shop in London in 1986 and now employs 12,500 staff across over 700 locations in 21 countries.
Simon Calder took to This Morning to reveal an often overlooked destination in Europe that he dubbed ‘absolutely gorgeous’ and a ‘bargain’
Albania has beautiful beaches and warm autumnal weather(Image: Nikola Dubivska via Getty Images)
Travel expert Simon Calder has been smitten with one particular destination since the 1980s. Now, this hidden gem is finally gaining recognition – yet Simon claims “prices are really back to kinda 1990s levels.”
Albania is emerging as a must-visit tourism hotspot, but as Simon revealed on ITV’s This Morning in a segment last year, he’s been championing it long before it became trendy. It comes as Wizz Air launches budget £20 flights to the country.
Speaking to presenters Ben Shepherd and Cat Deeley from his accommodation in Durres, Albania, Simon explained he had arrived the previous evening.
He said: “The sun has come out, it’s absolutely gorgeous and it’s one of the most historic and beautiful cities in Albania.”
Simon Calder is a familiar face on ITV thanks to his travel advice(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Beyond its stunning scenery, Simon highlighted Albania’s “incredible bargains”, reports the Express.
A pizza and pint will set you back roughly £6, whilst his coach journey from the airport to his accommodation – spanning 30 miles – would have cost merely a couple of quid; had he not missed the final departure.
The country currently has sunny weather forecast for the next couple of weeks, with highs between 26-28C daily, allowing you to enjoy the summer for longer.
Simon also claimed Albania’s residents are amongst the most hospitable and warm-hearted you’ll encounter anywhere.
He revealed that once locals realised he’d missed his transport, they immediately rallied around to assist him in securing a taxi – even advising him on fair pricing to prevent any potential overcharging.
Durres is full of beautiful places to explore such as the historic town square(Image: Andrea Pistolesi via Getty Images)
He noted that Albania currently sits outside the mainstream package holiday market, though he anticipates tour operators will catch on within the coming years.
Direct flights to Albania depart daily from key UK airports – and with this slice of paradise merely three hours away, it deserves a spot on your travel wishlist. If, like Simon, you fancy staying in Durres, then there’s plenty to keep you occupied.
Durres boasts a colossal Roman amphitheatre featuring preserved mosaics that visitors can explore and marvel at.
TripAdvisor gives this attraction top marks, with one reviewer calling it essential viewing.
One holidaymaker shared: “This place is absolutely wonderful. I noticed that a lot of people take pictures from the outside and do not wish to spend 200 lek which is little less then £2 to go and see it inside. I think it’s their loss and they choose not to support further recovery of this beautiful place.”
The amphitheatre of Duress(Image: Getty)
But if lounging on the beach is more your cup of tea, then Durres delivers on that front too – it’s packed with stretches of pristine white sand and sparkling turquoise waters.
Following a busy day of sightseeing, you’ll have built up quite an appetite, so why not sample some of Durres’s freshly caught seafood?
There are happy hours that function as post-work gatherings, fueled by discounted pitchers of beer, buckets of chicken wings, sliders and the sort of commiserating that can only happen between colleagues. If the beer is cold and the chicken wings properly sluiced in hot sauce and ranch dressing, this happy hour can be the happiest of hours.
But it wasn’t until I was seated at the bar of Josiah Citrin’s Citrin in Santa Monica that I understood a happy hour’s full potential. Here, happy hour is known as Glass Off, a 90-minute stretch of food and drink specials at the bar. Instead of a truncated list of fried foods intended to coat your stomach while you sip on discounted wine, you’ll find tasting-size portions of some of Citrin and fellow chef-partner Ken Takayama’s signature dishes.
Those spot prawns with young turnip and green tomato finished with a nori sabayon that normally cost $52 an order? You can enjoy a smaller portion at the bar for $22. The $49 risotto studded with Dungeness crab, artichoke and peas with aged Parmesan and Meyer lemon? During Glass Off, you can taste a portion of it for $24.
At the following restaurants, happy hour is designed to give diners a glimpse at a kitchen or bar’s full potential, at a more accessible price point. It’s not simply about ordering as many discounted drinks as possible during a limited window. That’s the sort of thinking that prompted the state of Massachusetts to ban happy hours in 1984. It’s prohibited in six other states, and allowed but highly regulated in a handful of others.
In the great state of California, happy hours abound. Just make sure you indulge responsibly.
Here’s a list of my current favorite happy hours. Save me a seat at the bar, will you?
THERE are loads of ways for Brits to use apps to slash bills this summer.
You can easily find the cheapest prices for food, petrol, flights and parking. If you use them regularly, you could easily save hundreds a year.
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PetrolPrices is one easy way to bring down your fuel billsCredit: PetrolPrices
CHEAPER PETROL
One great option for drivers is the PetrolPrices.
The name is the giveaway here. This app is designed to help you find the cheapest petrol prices in the area.
You can see the locations on a map, or find them as a list sorted by lowest price, distance, and even brands.
Site owners can upload their own prices, and users can report the fuel costs too.
It means you don’t have to drive around looking for the cheap prices – or face a price shock at the pump.
Another handy tip is using the Google Maps fuel efficiency feature.
Turn it on by going into Google Maps > Profile > Settings > Navigation > Route Options > Prefer Fuel-Efficient Routes.
“Google Maps can estimate fuel or energy efficiency for different vehicle types, including electric and combustion engine cars, as well as petrol motorcycles,” Google explained.
“The more fuel or energy efficient the route, the lower your vehicle’s fuel or energy usage.”
You should also tell Google your engine type in Google Maps > Profile > Settings > Your Vehicle.
Google unleashes surprise upgrade to Gemini AI in war on ChatGPT – and promises two super-intelligent changes
That can give you even better fuel-efficiency.
“The most fuel or energy-efficient route can be different based on the engine type,” Google said.
“For example, diesel vehicles’ relative fuel economy advantage is generally greatest in motorway driving.
“Hybrid and electric vehicles tend to provide greater efficiency in stop-start town and hill driving where they can benefit from regenerative braking.”
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Tell Google your vehicle type to save money on fuelCredit: Google
FOOD PRICES
For food savings, you’ll want to first take a look at Trolley.
It lets you compare prices for groceries across supermarkets, with a long list of stores including:
Asda
Sainsburys
Aldi
Home Bargains
Morrisons
Tesco
Boots
Wilko
Coop
Waitrose
Superdrug
B&M
Ocado
Iceland
Savers
Poundland
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Trolley lets you compare prices between loads of supermarketsCredit: Trolley
The app says it’ll save you up to 30% on a weekly shop, but your own success will vary depending on what you buy and how much you spend.
Another option – recently tested by The Sun’s tech desk – is to use the Google Gemini chatbot.
You can use it to plan your food shop by asking the bot to find the cheapest prices.
It’s also worth noting that you can bag cheap or free food by picking up leftovers or stuff that would be otherwise thrown away.
Two apps – Olio and Too Good To Go – are packed with food bargains.
And if you want free food, Sky customers can bag a weekly treat from the Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference range through the MySky app.
Just go to the Sky VIP panel (which is free to join) to claim your freebie.
We’ve seen ice lollies and pizzas so far, but there’s a new option every week.
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Sky hands out freebies to customers every week, courtesy of Sainsbury’sCredit: Sky / The Sun
FLIGHT COMPARISONS
There’s no denying that Skyscanner is a brilliant option for finding cheap flights.
But you should also take a look at Google Flights, which has some clever tricks.
For a start, when you’re searching for flights, it can show you the cheapest window to book.
“For example, these insights could tell you that the cheapest time to book similar trips is usually two months before departure, and you’re currently in that sweet spot,” Google said.
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Google Flights will show you the cheapest time to bookCredit: Google
“Or you might learn that prices have usually dropped closer to takeoff, so you decide to wait before booking. Either way, you can make that decision with a greater sense of confidence.”
You can also turn on price tracking for specific dates (like if you’re off to a wedding) or for any dates (if you just want a holiday at some point soon).
This feature will only appear if you’re signed in to your Google account.
And right now, Google Flights is getting an upgrade with the Flights Deal feature.
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You can track prices on Google Flights to get notificationsCredit: Google
It’s currently only in the US, Canada, and India – but it looks likely to land in the UK eventually too.
The feature works using AI with Google saying it’s “for flexible travellers whose number one goal is saving money“.
“Instead of playing with different dates, destinations and filters to uncover the best deals, you can just describe when, where and how you’d like to travel — as though you’re talking to a friend — and Flight Deals will take care of the rest,” Google said.
For example, you could search for a “week-long trip this winter to a city with great food, nonstop only”, Google revealed.
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Google’s upcoming Flight Deals feature lets you chat with an AI holiday helperCredit: Google
Then it’ll use Google Fights data to show you the latest options from loads of airlines.
CHEAP PARKING
Lastly, make sure you’re not overpaying on parking.
There’s a great app called JustPark, which you might be familiar with as a way to pay at some car parks.
But it also lets people rent out their driveways, which means you can bag some great bargains.
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JustPark is a great way to find cheap parking across the UKCredit: JustPark
You can book them far in advance, and even add on insurance that covers the excess if your car ends up getting damaged.
You can easily check and amend (or cancel) your driveway parking through the app from anywhere. So you could add extra time if you’re running late.
And it’s potentially a great way to bag a bargain for sports fixtures by getting near-stadium parking.
You could also turn it into a side-hustle by renting out your own parking space.
So you wouldn’t just be saving money, but making some quick cash too.
HOW TO RENT YOUR DRIVEWAY FOR CASH
Here’s how the process works on JustPark…
First, you go to JustPark and go through the Get A Quote process.
That involves handing over your name, postcode, and an email address.
Then you add the details for your actual space, choose the days and hours that you prefer, and set a price.
You’ll need to be the legal owner of the space, or have permission from the landlord.
JustPark will let you know when you get a booking from one of the 13 million drivers on the app.
As long as you’ve given clear parking instructions, you shouldn’t need to do much else.
You don’t need to make your space available constantly.
For instance, you could set it so that it’s only available while you’re out at work – or while you’re away on holiday.
You can take down your space from JustPark if you get tired of it – or if you decide it’s just too much hassle.
For short-term bookings, money is added to your JustPark account 48 hours after the it begins. And longer-term bookings will see payments added after the first month.
You can do manual withdrawals, or set up automatic withdrawals every month or quarter.
And it’ll take up to 10 working days for the money to come into your bank account.
Aug. 12 (UPI) — The Consumer Price Index rose slightly less than expected in July annually as tariffs showed only a minimal influence on prices.
The CPI increased a seasonally adjusted 0.2% for the month and 2.7% on a 12-month basis, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday. The Dow Jones estimates were 0.2% and 2.8%.
Excluding food and energy, core CPI increased 0.3% for the month and 3.1% from a year ago, compared with the forecasts for 0.3% and 3%. Federal Reserve officials generally consider core inflation to be a better reading for longer-term trends, CNBC reported.
The 2% increase in shelter costs was the main uptick in the index, while food prices were flat and energy fell 1.1%.
New vehicle prices, which are tariffed, were also unchanged, but used cars and trucks saw a 0.5% bump. Transportation and medical services both rose 0.8%.
Stock market futures showed gains after the report, while Treasury yields were mostly lower.
Tariffs did affect some areas. Household furnishings and supplies showed a 0.7% increase after rising 1% in June. But apparel prices rose just 0.1%, and core commodity prices increased just 0.2%. Canned fruits and vegetables, which are usually imported and also sensitive to tariffs, were flat.
“The tariffs are in the numbers, but they’re certainly not jumping out hair on fire at this point,” former White House economist Jared Bernstein said on CNBC. Bernstein served under former President Joe Biden.
The report comes in the middle of a political shake-up in the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which releases the CPI.
President Donald Trump on Monday nominated economist E.J. Antoni as commissioner of the BLS, a non-partisan agency he has criticized.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the chief economist with the conservative Heritage Foundation would replace Erika McEntarfer, who was fired by Trump on Aug. 1, alleging that she had manipulated the jobs reports for three months.
He worked for the Texas Public Policy Commission before the Heritage Foundation. He has master’s and doctorate degrees in economics from Northern Illinois University.
Last week, Antoni posted on X: “There are better ways to collect, process, and disseminate data — that is the task for the next BLS commissioner, and only consistent delivery of accurate data in a timely manner will rebuild the trust that has been lost over the last several years.”
On Nov. 13, one week after Trump was elected again, he wrote on X: “DOGE needs to take a chainsaw to the BLS.”
Unlike in the UK where the vast majority of beaches are open to the public all year round and there is a culture of bringing picnics and wind‑breakers from home, renting loungers and parasols is a normal part of heading to the beach in Italy.
A conversation about the cost of sunbeds in Italy is raging(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Italian beaches are unusually empty this summer as high prices drive sunseekers away.
Citizens of the boot‑shaped country appear to be snubbing beaches amid claims they are rebelling against the high prices charged by kiosk and sun‑bed owners.
This year however, there has been a big slump in visitors to private stretches of beaches, the Guardian reports. In July, there was a 25% fall in beach‑goers, compared to the same month last year. The problem is particularly acute during the week, when the throngs of the weekend are increasingly replaced by empty stretches of sand. What’s particularly worrying for business owners is that those who are going are spending less.
Fabrizio Licordari, the president of Assobalneari Italia, said the problem is to do with the decreased spending power of Italians generally. “Even with two salaries, many families struggle to reach the end of the month. In such circumstances, it’s natural that the first expenses to be cut are those for leisure, entertainment and holidays,” he told Ansa news agency.
The price of hiring a sun‑lounger is a serious point of contention in Italy, in part due to sudden sharp increases. The cost has risen 17% in four years, according to the latest figures from the consumer group Altroconsumo. Those heading for a spot of relaxation in Lazio will end up spending at least €30 (£26) a day for two sunbeds and an umbrella. If you head for the more up‑market areas, such as parts of Puglia, you’ll end up splashing out three times that much.
According Si Viaggia, the title of most expensive beach in Italy in August goes to Alassio, in the north of the country. There, to enjoy the sea with a beach umbrella and two sun loungers positioned in the front rows, you have to fork out an average cost of €340 per week.
Alessandro Gassmann, a famous actor in Italy, has started a debate at the cost of Italian beaches by posting a photo of a row of deserted sun‑beds. “I read that the season is not going well. Maybe it’s because the prices are exaggerated and the country’s economic situation is forcing Italians to choose free beaches? Lower the prices and maybe things will get better,” Allessandro wrote in the caption.
Consumers association Codacons has argued that going to beach resorts had become “a drain” on people’s finances, suggesting that those profiting from renting beach furniture were “shedding crocodile tears” when they complained of rising costs.
