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From gorgeous Getxo to the City of Love, you won’t want to come home from these mint mini-breaks

SPAIN – Palacio Arriluce Hotel, Getxo

Commissioning Editor Martha Cliff and fiancée Lauren found foodie heaven near Bilbao.

THE PAD

Perched on a striking cliffside overlooking the Bay of Abra in Getxo and with a beauty of an outdoor pool, this 18th-century boutique gem sits in a palatial setting and offers the perfect blend of historical charm and contemporary elegance.

Craving vistas of the rolling Basque mountains? You’ve got it. Want to gaze at boats bobbing in the harbour? No problem. A city view more your vibe? It’s got that, too.

Be sure to eat breakfast – think other-worldly Spanish tortilla and Iberico ham – on the terrace to take full advantage.

Meanwhile, come dinner at Delaunay, try local specialities such as grilled kokotxas (hake chin) on stewed spider crab, £35, and Iberian pork shoulder with passionfruit, £31.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

Eye-squintingly-rich chocolate mousse and pumpkin ice cream, £15, will seal the deal.

Return to your room – one of just 49 – and find home-made chocolates and lavender spray to aid a sublime slumber.

EXPLORE

The bustling city of Bilbao is a 20-minute metro ride away.

Join a three-hour walking tour with guide Saioa to learn about the history and architecture, £21 per person (Smartinbilbao.com).

Before you leave, head to Gran Vía, Bilbao’s shopping hub, and sample the famous butter buns, £2.75, at Pastelería Arrese.

Back in Getxo, stop by Bizkaia Bridge – the oldest transporter bridge in the world – and enjoy views of Bilbao from the 45-metre-high walkway.

Entry costs £9 per person (Puente-colgante.com).

REFUEL

Make sure you’re there on a Thursday to join locals in Getxo for “pintxo pote”, a foodie’s dream bar crawl and Basque country tradition.

Restaurante Ixta Bide offers four pintxos (small savoury snacks) – our fave was pintxo de txaka, akin to a mini crab sandwich – and two vinos for a mere £9.

Just don’t expect to bag a seat! Wind your way up the steps of Algorta to reach Arrantzale and finish on its perfectly salted pork belly (Arrantzale.com).

While day-tripping, step into one of Bilbao’s oldest bars, Café Iruña, just a hop from Arbando metro station.

Dating back to 1903, the beautiful tiling is reason enough to visit, but coffee for just £1.75, is a big pull, too.

Or opt for a glass of the local txakoli white wine, £2.70, instead (Cafeirunabilbao.com).

DON’T MISS

The works inside Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum are, of course, breathtaking, but the building itself and its surrounding sculptures – including Puppy, a massive dog made of flowers by American artist Jeff Koons – are worth the trip alone.

Entry costs £13 (Guggenheim-bilbao.eus).

BOOK IT

Double rooms at Palacio Arriluce Hotel cost from £249 B&B (Palacioarrilucehotel.com).

Fly to Bilbao from London Gatwick and Heathrow with Vueling from £56 return (Vueling.com).

FRANCE – Hôtel Dame des Arts, Paris

Creative Director Mark Hayman and wife Margaret fell for cocktails and culture in the French capital.

THE PAD

This sleek bolt-hole in the city’s Latin Quarter has shaken off its Holiday Inn past to channel full Hollywood glamour.

Think rich woods, bamboo accents and pretty palms, with rooms that feel like film sets, thanks to glass dividers, velvet finishes and luxe bathrooms made for long soaks.

Downstairs, Pimpan serves up bold Franco-Mexican fusions on a leafy terrace – highlights include beef tartare with piquillos, £12.50, lamb shoulder with harissa, £25, and hibiscus-poached pear, £11.

But the real scene-stealer is the rooftop bar, where 360-degree skyline views stretch from the Eiffel Tower to Sacré Cœur – even locals come here for the vistas.

Order a Spritz del Arte (Aperol, mango liqueur, rum and prosecco), £17, or the punchy Uno Mas margarita, £14, pop on your biggest sunglasses and watch the city turn blush at sunset.

There’s also a sauna and a gym kitted out with sculptural wooden equipment for those partial to a designer workout.

EXPLORE

First time in Paris? Glide down the Seine aboard the Batobus – this hop-on-hop-off riverboat is a relaxing (and photogenic) way to tick off major sights like the Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre.

A day pass costs £17.50 (Batobus.com).

Once on dry land, seek out legendary bookshop Shakespeare And Company – get lost in the maze of tomes and grab an iconic tote, £13 (Shakespeareandcompany.com).

For more treasure-hunting, swing by the flea market off Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine – a weekend haven of vintage mirrors, mid-century ceramics and nostalgic postcards.

There’s no entry fee, just bring cash and your best haggling game.

Then head to the Panthéon, a neoclassical gem where Voltaire, Rousseau and Marie Curie lie in dramatic crypts beneath a rooftop dome offering jaw-dropping views.

Entry costs £10 per person (Paris-pantheon.fr).

REFUEL

Lively, retro-chic Brasserie Dubillot’s espresso martinis, £10.50, are a must, but equally good is the sausage and mash with truffle sauce, £16, steak-frites, £21, and the perfect crème brûlée, £8 (Lanouvellegarde.com/brasserie-dubillot).

Craving something casual? PNY serves next-level burgers with aged beef, brioche buns and toppings like smoked cheddar and pickled jalapeños, from £11.50 (Pnyburger.com).

Or just nab a pavement perch at Café Saint-André for a croque monsieur, £10.50, a glass of sancerre, £7, and some world-class people-watching.

DON’T MISS

Notre-Dame cathedral is one of Paris’ most iconic buildings for good reason.

Step inside to take in its Gothic arches, stained glass, and newly restored grandeur.

Entry is free, but book a time slot (Notredamedeparis.fr).

BOOK IT

Double rooms at Hôtel Dame des Arts cost from £226 per night (Damedesarts.com).

Psst…

Fancy something a little more party? Rixos Premium Dubai JBR sits in one of the UAE city’s buzziest neighbourhoods, with captivating views of Ain Dubai, the world’s biggest ferris wheel.

Suave rooms come with huge tubs, rain showers and espresso machines, from £304 per night (Rixos.com).

Downstairs is Azure Beach Club with its large pool, pumping soundtrack, outdoor gym and private beach (Azure-beach.com/dubai).

The breakfast buffet is, in true Dubai style, eye-poppingly big – you can even blend your own fresh peanut butter.

COST CUTTER

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Plus, you’re half an hour’s cab ride from the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, for that classic Dubai selfie – viewing platform visits cost from £37 per person (Burjkhalifa.ae).

When you’re craving a chilled day, head to Aussie beach club Byron Bathers for lobster linguine, £37, and burrata pizza, £17, with excellent Whitsunday spritzes – an exquisite blend of grapefruit bitters, strawberry shrub, pink grapefruit, citrus vodka, Aperol and prosecco, £14 (Byronbathers.com).

In recent years, it’s become abundantly clear this region’s war on smog hinges on the adoption electric vehicles. And, for the first time in a generation, we may be headed in the wrong direction.

If you’ve followed my coverage, you probably know that Southern California’s persistently sunny climate and mountains work together to form and trap smog over our region. And, that the leading source of smog-forming pollution is the same today as it was decades ago: gas-guzzling cars and trucks.

State regulators have made tremendous progress in the last few decades when it comes to curbing tailpipe pollution; California, for example, was the first state to adopt engine emission standards and mandate catalytic converters, regulations that were later adopted nationwide. But Southern California has yet to achieve any federal air quality standards for smog.

And now, electric vehicles and hybrids face significant headwinds due to recent policy changes under the Trump administration.

Since President Trump’s return to the Oval Office, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has successfully campaigned to invalidate several California auto emission standards, including a landmark rule that would’ve required 35% of new vehicles that automakers supply to California car dealerships to be zero-emission or plug-in hybrid starting next year.

Separately, Trump’s budget bill terminated federal incentives at the end of September that made zero-emission vehicles more cost-competitive with gas cars. As I recently wrote, California saw record-high sales numbers of EVs and other clean vehicles as consumers scrambled to dealerships to take advantage of expiring deals.

But now, without these two crucial policy levers driving EV adoption, the industry is at an inflection point.

A new EV costs about $8,000 more on average than a gas car, according to Kelley Blue Book.

The overall cost of ownership for EVs can still be cheaper than for gas cars due to lower fuel and maintenance costs. However, the question is, will Americans accept a higher upfront price tag in exchange for fewer costs — and less pollution — down the road?

The auto industry doesn’t pivot on a dime. Car lineups are designed, produced and released years in advance. But, in the last year, amid a torrent of policy decisions coming from the Trump White House, car companies have announced many moves that signal a retreat from some zero-emission vehicles:

• Acura discontinued its electric ZDX after just releasing one model year.
• Ford scrapped its forthcoming all-electric three-row SUV program.
• General Motors discontinued the Brightdrop van, an electric delivery van.
• Ram pivoted from releasing an all-electric pickup truck to a plug-in hybrid model.
• Stellantis shelved its hydrogen fuel cell program for commercial vans.
• Volkswagen canceled the release of its ID.7 sedan in North America.

The loss of new or forthcoming zero-emission models is disheartening, said Joel Levin, executive director of Plug In America, a nonprofit that hosts events to advocate for more EVs. But, he added, most of these were fledgling models that did not make up a large share of sales.

“I think it’s that people are just being more selective about what they’re bringing to market, and are focusing in on the vehicles that they really feel like have legs,” Levin said. “So it’s a loss. I’m sad about it. But I don’t think that it’s an existential threat to the market.”

In the last decade, Levin has seen the national market share of EVs and plug-in hybrids compared with overall car sales grow from a fraction of a percent in 2015 to roughly 10% in 2024. In California, that number was even higher, at 25%.

Levin said that can largely be attributed to advancement of battery technology, which has allowed for drastically longer range. But EVs also offer technological amenities that gas counterparts do not.

“Ford has advertised how you can use your pickup truck as backup power for your house if the power goes out,” Levin said. “Or if you’re a contractor or rancher and you need to use power tools somewhere remote away from your house, you can just plug them into your truck. If you’re camping, you can set up your electric kitchen, or you can watch movies, or you can charge your equipment.”

Those features may help win over some drivers. But experts say government regulations are necessary to achieve California’s air quality and climate targets.

California is suing the federal government and Trump administration, alleging they illegally overturned the state’s auto emission standards. The state Air Resources Board has also proposed several ideas to boost EV sales, such as providing free access to toll roads to EV and hybrid drivers.

That said, Gov. Gavin Newsom recently ruled out one of the most powerful tools at his disposal to promote a clean fleet of vehicles in California, as he reneged on his commitment to restore a state rebate program for EV buyers that he had previously vowed to put into effect if Trump eliminated federal incentives.

Dan Sperling, a former CARB board member and UC Davis professor, said the state might consider a “feebate” program in which the state could impose fees on the sales of the most polluting cars, which would then be used to fund rebates for EV and hybrid purchases.

Meanwhile, as consumer sentiment and government policies vacillate in the U.S., demand internationally continues to grow. And American automakers will need to keep investing in EVs if they want to stay globally competitive. Sperling, who took my call while traveling to Paris, said he noticed Chinese EVs throughout the city.

“In China, 50% of all their vehicles that they sell are electric vehicles,” Sperling said. “They sell more electric vehicles in China than total cars sold in the U.S.”

“The vehicle industry is an international industry and so they can’t afford to just give up on electric vehicles, because that means they’re giving up on the rest of the world.”

Air news this week

Ten years after the disastrous Aliso Canyon gas leak, my colleague Hayley Smith spoke with residents about their recollections of the dangerous release of some 120,000 tons of methane and other toxic chemicals near Porter Ranch. Despite persistent environmental concerns, regulators have voted to keep the gas storage facility online, citing concerns over energy demand.

A judge ordered a Watts recycling facility to permanently shut down and pay $2 million in restitution and fines after the company and its owners pleaded no contest to illegally dumping hazardous waste that was polluting a nearby high school.

Environmental groups recently sued the Trump administration for lifting restrictions on dozens of chemical manufacturing plants, according to InsideClimate News reporter Keerti Gopal.

LAist’s AirTalk host Larry Mantle hosted a great conversation on how Los Angeles became the nation’s smog capital. He and Chip Jacobs, the author of “Smogtown: The Lung-Burning History of Pollution in Los Angeles,” recounted the region’s first brush with toxic haze in the 1940s and pollution’s lasting legacy in Southern California.

Associated Press reporters Sheikh Saaliq and Sibi Arasu reported that officials in India are undertaking cloud-seeding experiments as a way to clear air pollution in New Delhi. The controversial approach involves using aircraft to spray chemicals into clouds above the city in hopes of triggering rainfall that would suppress the smog.

One more thing in climate news …

Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest hurricanes recorded to date in the Atlantic, killed more than 20 people as it barreled through Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba, according to the Washington Post. The proliferation of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels undoubtedly contributed to the historically powerful storm. Because a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture and foster more intense storms, Melissa may be a harbinger of what’s to come.

Making matters worse, Bloomberg reporters Leslie Kaufman and Fabiano Maisonnave report that wealthy countries are not giving poorer nations the climate adaptation funding they need, according to the United Nations Environmental Programme. As climate risks in many of these countries increase, funding to adapt to climate change is shrinking.

This is the latest edition of Boiling Point, a newsletter about climate change and the environment in the American West. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. And listen to our Boiling Point podcast here.

For more air quality and climate news, follow Tony Briscoe at @_tonybriscoe on X.

Sydney Roosters prop Lindsay Collins is promoted to the starting line-up in the only personnel change to the team that started at Wembley, with Patrick Carrigan moving into the loose forward role vacated by Yeo.

Lindsay Smith, Yeo’s Penrith Panthers club-mate, steps up to the bench, with Jacob Preston named among the reserves.

“Harry and all of the senior players for that matter stepped up after Isaah’s unfortunate injury last week,” said former Kangaroo half-back Walters.

“While we’d love to have Isaah out there, he’ll still be contributing in many other ways around the group this week. He’s a natural leader, and so too is Harry so we’re in great hands this week.

“I’m really pleased with the way we’ve started the series, but we’re into a new week now and our focus is on preparing well and being at our very best this Saturday.”

Brisbane Broncos superstar Reece Walsh will again play at full-back, having scored two tries and won the man-of-the-match award on his international debut at Wembley.

Saturday’s second Test, and the third at AMT Headingley on 8 November, both kick off at 14:30 GMT and are live on BBC One.

Australia: Reece Walsh, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Kotoni Staggs, Gehamat Shibasaki, Josh Addo-Carr, Cameron Munster, Nathan Cleary, Lindsay Collins, Harry Grant (captain), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Angus Crichton, Hudson Young, Patrick Carrigan.

Interchanges: Tom Dearden, Lindsay Smith, Reuben Cotter, Keaon Koloamatangi.

Reserves: Bradman Best, Jacob Preston, Mitchell Moses.

ENGLAND

The General Tarleton, North Yorkshire

Tommy Banks, one of Yorkshire’s favourite foodie sons, is best known as the chef behind Michelin-starred restaurant the Black Swan at Oldstead, but he’s no stranger to pubs. In fact, the Black Swan started out as one, with Banks working behind the bar of his family’s pub before graduating to the kitchen. In 2023, he opened the Abbey Inn in Byland, and he has recently launched a hospitality arm dedicated to restoring other pubs across the UK. First up is the eight-bedroom General Tarleton in the village of Ferrensby, near Harrogate. Food, naturally, is top notch with polished takes on pub classics made with local produce (steak and Black Sheep ale pie; burgers made from Dexter beef from the Banks’ farm) – the perfect fuel for walks along the river and into the Nidd Gorge, a local beauty spot.
Doubles from £175 B&B, generaltarletonferrensby.co.uk

The Bat and Ball, Oxfordshire

Great Britain’s Josh Tarling produces a blistering display to win his first track world title in the men’s 40km points race at the UCI Track World Championships.

WATCH MORE: Archibald wins historic silver at World Track Championships

Available to UK users only.

Winning tip: fabulous food and views on a Scottish island

There are not many pub lunches that require a trip across the Atlantic, but to reach Tigh An Truish (a 30-minute drive south of Oban), visitors must cross the 250-year-old Bridge over the Atlantic – Clachan Bridge, which links the west coast of the Scottish mainland to the Isle of Seil. This transatlantic journey is well worth it for delicious and lovingly presented local fare (think Argyll venison and mussels brought into Oban harbour). The pub bustles with visitors and locals, while the adjoining restaurant is a warm space to coorie in from the wild west coast and enjoy the stunning views down the Clachan Sound.
Calum Hamilton

Homegrown ingredients in the South Downs

US Vice President JD Vance says, one week into the Gaza ceasefire, he has “great optimism” the peace deal will hold. He declined to set a deadline for Hamas to disarm. Vance was speaking at a newly established centre in Israel for civilian and military cooperation.

The eight uncapped players in the Wales squad are Mia Ross, Annie Wilding, Gwen Zimmerman, Scarlett Hill and Amy Richardson, who get their first call-ups, while Poppy Soper, Teagan Scarlett and Tianna Teisar are hoping to make their Wales debuts having been involved with previous squads.

Charlton Athletic midfielder Ross, who has played for England at under-19 and under-23 level, might have played for Wales already were it not for injury.

“Mia, firstly, is a fantastic person. I’ve been in communication with Mia pretty much since I got the job. I’ve been watching her,” said Wilkinson.

“I think she’s got a vision and an understanding of space that’s always really interested me and intrigued me, and it’s a big decision to choose a nationality to play for.

Wilkinson added both player and coach had taken their time and had lots of good conversations before commiting.

“Equally no-one will come into this squad if they’re not the right person for this squad. So yes, she was part of the England pathway, but there’s a type of person that I know can fit in well with this Welsh team,” the head coach explained.

“We have to keep our Welsh heritage, our Welsh understanding strong, that connection and passion for the flag, for the badge, has to be paramount. If that person that I’m looking at doesn’t have that, then I stop recruiting them.

“And from the beginning, Mia’s been very clear that this was something she was interested in, that she felt very strongly about, and we haven’t forced or pushed those conversations, it’s happened quite naturally, and she then got injured.

“So we gave her space and now she’s back playing well, and we’re really looking forward to having her for the first time in with the group.”

Shares of SoFi Technologies (SOFI -0.24%) have been on an unbelievable run. During the past year, they have soared 166% (as of Oct. 17). The tech heavy Nasdaq Composite is up 24% during the same period.

SoFi has been putting up strong financial results. And the market has noticed, viewing the business in a much more optimistic light.

This fintech stock is now trading not far from record territory, so investors might think it’s too late to put some money to work. But that’s a flawed perspective. Here’s one reason now is a great time to buy SoFi.

SoFi should benefit as rates start to come down

Last month, the Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark fed funds rate. This was the first reduction since December 2024.

Market watchers have been waiting for such a move, as the central bank aims to boost the labor market. Investors expect the Fed will lower the rate two more times before the year is over.

Generally speaking, lower interest rates are good for the economy. They can drive consumer spending and business investment since it becomes cheaper to borrow capital. Consequently, a bank like SoFi can benefit greatly.

It is already growing rapidly. During the second quarter, its revenue surged 43%, with the business adding 846,000 net new customers. Despite a prolonged period of above-average interest rates, SoFi has still been expanding at a brisk pace. The potential for lower interest rates can supercharge that growth.

In the second quarter, the bank originated $8.8 billion worth of loans (combined among personal, student, and home). That figure was up 64% year over year. Besides interest income, the business collects fees for originations. And lower interest rates, unsurprisingly, can jump-start loan originations, which have already been growing at a fantastic clip.

This same situation can help the banking industry as a whole. On the flip side, though, investors need to pay attention to risks. Lower interest rates might spur demand from borrowers to take out loans. However, this can increase default risk on a lender’s balance sheet.

To its credit, SoFi has done a good job targeting a more affluent demographic. For instance, the company’s personal-loan borrowers have a weighted-average income of $161,000 and a weighted-average Fair Isaac FICO score of 743. They should be better able to make their loan payments.

“The health of our consumer remains strong, and we’re not seeing any signs of weakness,” Chief Financial Officer Chris Lapointe said during the second-quarter earnings call.

The business is poised to continue growing its profits

A reduction in interest rates can not only help SoFi generate more revenue, but it can also increase the company’s profits. It first became profitable on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the fourth quarter of 2023. Since then, the bottom line has expanded in an impressive fashion.

In 2024, SoFi reported $227 million in adjusted net income; management expects the company will post $370 million in 2025. And Wall Street analysts on average anticipate earnings per share will increase 77% in 2026 and 36% in 2027.

This is a very exciting outlook for shareholders. It highlights that SoFi operates with a very scalable business model, which is helped by the fact that it doesn’t carry the overhead of physical bank branches. It would make sense that SoFi’s earnings would grow at a faster clip than the top line.

And that can continue driving the stock higher. Value investors might hesitate, with the shares trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 47. However, don’t ignore the incredible trajectory that SoFi is on. It’s easy to be confident that the stock will do well over the long run given a more accommodative interest-rate environment that can push profits up.

Quantum computing stocks have been on an absolute tear recently as their companies announced major contract wins. But that was all topped off by JPMorgan Chase‘s announcement this week that it’s investing $10 billion into strategic tech companies. That includes quantum computing businesses. But for quantum computing stocks to rise around 20% (some more, some less) following that news is troublesome.

No specific investment was announced in any of these companies, and other massive industries were listed in the release — such as supply chain and advanced manufacturing, defense and aerospace, energy technology, and frontier and strategic technologies (where quantum computing was lumped in). This raises concerns about the short-term nature of the quantum computing market. The combined rise of all quantum computing stocks was more than the overall $10 billion investment announced by JPMorgan Chase, so there’s clearly not enough to go around.

Observers have begun to speculate that there may be a quantum computing bubble forming. So is now the time to sell? I think Warren Buffett has some great advice for investors on what they should do.

Image source: Getty Images.

Warren Buffett has seen a bubble or two in his career

Warren Buffett is the legendary CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, a position he has held since he took control of the company in 1965. Over the years, Buffett has given investors several great pieces of wisdom, and I think one quote is applicable right now. He wrote that his goal was to “attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful.”

There are clearly many signs of greed in the quantum computing market. As mentioned above, many of the quantum computing stocks rose by a massive amount in response to a nonspecific announcement that JPMorgan Chase would invest in emerging technologies.

Furthermore, we’re still years away from quantum computing viability. Most competitors point toward 2030 as the likely turning point in quantum computing’s commercial relevance, and that’s still five years away. Five years ago, we were in the beginning stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and nobody (outside of a handful of companies) had ever heard the term generative AI. It’s impossible to know what will happen in the field over the next five years, or which companies will be the winners.

Most of the investment dollars flowing into the quantum computing space have centered around the pure plays. Still, there are also legacy tech players, like Alphabet, Microsoft, and IBM, which have nearly unlimited resources compared to pure plays like IonQ (IONQ -3.92%) or Rigetti Computing (RGTI -3.01%). It’s still an uphill battle for IonQ and Rigetti, and just because the big tech players aren’t saying anything doesn’t mean they aren’t experiencing success.

Companies like IonQ and Rigetti Computing are still years away from profits, and have to rely on government contracts and stock issuance to continue to fund their operations. As a result, they must issue a news release on any piece of positive news they can to let investors know about their successes. The big tech companies like Alphabet, IBM, and Microsoft can afford to stay silent about any breakthroughs, as they’re internally funding their research.

The big tech players may be far more advanced than the pure plays, even if nobody outside of those companies knows it yet. I think this could be setting up some of the pure-play stocks for failure, and their shareholders should take action.

Taking some profits in an increasingly frothy industry is a smart move

Another Warren Buffett quote is applicable in this situation, too: “The first rule in investment is ‘Don’t lose.’ And the second rule in investment is ‘Don’t forget the first rule.'” Investors have already made a significant amount of money on the quantum computing trade, and while it’s possible these stocks could continue rising, a crash may be around the corner.

If you’ve invested in these stocks at any time this year, it may be time to at least trim some of them, as it’s unlikely that they’ll continue rising forever. By taking some profits now, you can be well positioned to deploy them back into the industry if it returns to earth.

Nobody ever lost money by selling a stock at a profit, although they have lost out on even larger returns. Still, I think the risk is greater than the reward, and it may be a wise time to take some profits off the table.

Extraordinary event will take place later this month and will be a ‘special community event’ with more than just switching on Christmas lights

Christmas is just around the corner and while cities all over the UK get ready to switch on the Christmas lights – one city has gone a step further.

Bristol’s SS Great Britain is set to host a variety of Christmas events this year, including the much-anticipated Christmas tree lights switch-on event.

The landmark’s Christmas lights switch on, described as a ‘special community event’, will take place on Thursday, 27 November at 6pm in Brunel Square.

Organisers have revealed that this year’s event has a unique theme – Golden Glow – which is linked to the SS Great Britain’s Golden Ticket education programme.

This initiative provides enriching learning experiences for primary schools most affected by deprivation in Bristol, as well as local SEND schools.

The Christmas lights switch on will showcase a beautiful tree adorned with festoon lighting and a snow machine, while performances from a local choir will certainly get locals into the festive spirit.

But it’s just one of the many Christmas events happening at the SS Great Britain this year.

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Here are a few more you might want to check out…, according to Bristol Live.

Masquerade Ball

When: 6 December, 2025 at 6pm until midnight.

According to the event’s details: “Don your finest attire and most elaborate mask for an evening steeped in enchantment.”

You’ll have the chance to stroll around the decks, enjoy a bubbly welcome drink and tuck into a festive three-course dinner accompanied by a string quartet.

A magician will be wandering the ship, performing tricks and illusions, and you’ll have the opportunity to explore the ship after dark. Tickets are priced at £99 per person with bookings closing on Saturday, 22 November.

Christmas Murder Mystery

When: 13 December 2025, 6.30pm until midnight.

This murder mystery event includes a welcome drink, a three-course dinner and promises guests an ‘exhilarating evening of entertainment’ onboard, where they must keep their eyes peeled for clues during dinner and help solve a mysterious crime – tickets are priced at £99 per person.

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The pretty harbour town stuns throughout the year, but autumn could be the perfect season for a relaxed visit

Coastal lovers know the perfect spot for anyone seeking a quiet escape with peaceful walks and splendid views. For anyone who finds themselves near Cornwall, Fowey could offer an ideal autumn day out or staycation.

The pretty harbour town attracts visitors year-round, but there’s lots to charm autumn visitors, who might like to take in the atmospheric cobbled streets and less-crowded coastal walks with a hot chocolate in hand. Ruby’s Ice Cream, which offers ice cream shops in Cornwall, praised Fowey as an autumn destination in a recent social media video.

Taking to TikTok, @rubysicecreamshop shared a post titled: “7 reasons you should visit Fowey this Autumn.” The list read:

1. The artisanal shops and cafes2. The dining3. The ferry across to Polruan4. The hot chocolates5. The quiet coastal walks6. The bakeries7. The ice cream

Visit Cornwall describes Fowey as “perfect for exploring.” The tourism board’s website says: “Perched on the banks of a deep river, Fowey is a picturesque town overflowing with history.

“Dating back to medieval times, its narrow cobbled streets are now lined with Victorian and Edwardian buildings which cascade towards the water’s edge.

“Fowey’s natural deep-water harbour and sheltered waters established it as an important trading hub throughout the centuries for tin, copper and China clay – the latter of which is still exported from the area today.

“The town sits within the South Coast – Eastern National Landscape and is bordered by farmland, rugged coastline and pretty beaches. The meandering creeks of the river wind through ancient oak woodlands, making the area perfect for exploring.”

On TripAdvisor, the Fowey Estuary has hundreds of excellent ratings. One reviewer wrote: “Whenever we visit this part of Cornwall, we always try to get to visit Fowey. There are plenty of pubs, cafes, and restaurants to choose from, and a good selection of shops, including some local independents.

“We always make time to walk out to Readymoney Cove, and sometimes also St Catherine’s Fort, enjoying the views of the estuary along the way. There are toilets and a small beach shop at Readymoney Cove.”

Another visitor said: “What a delightful place. We parked at the top of the town and walked down. This is quite steep for anyone who may have difficulty walking. The lovely streets with quaint shops enable you to just meander down to the estuary. But you just have to buy some delicious Cornish pasties too.”

Someone else praised: “What a beautiful place, loads to do around the town with some of the best restaurants, great shops and fantastic views. Will be back again.” Another fan wrote: “Great place to unwind, and chill on the river. Fowey Town has a thriving mix of restaurants pubs and variety on entertainment to easily keep you there for a week.”

Quantum computing investing is not an easy field to pick stocks in. There’s a lot of complex knowledge needed to understand the technology, making it hard for investors to discern which company is currently leading the way. Furthermore, the space is rapidly shifting, with new announcements occurring every week that change the landscape.

This makes it difficult to be a quantum computing investor, but I think there is a way to spread out the risk a bit and still have exposure to this important and emerging space. By taking a basket approach and picking a few stocks, investors can increase their odds of success by sacrificing maximum return for a better chance of success. I think this is the best way to approach quantum computing, and I’ve got five picks that help make up a quantum computing basket.

Image source: Getty Images.

Quantum computing pure plays

First, let’s look at some pure plays in this space. These companies are the most exciting, as they’re relatively small but have the chance to turn into giant tech companies if their technology is successful.

First is IonQ (IONQ -5.85%). It was the first quantum computing pure play company to go public, and has seen tremendous success over the past year. It’s taking a unique approach to the quantum computing realm, utilizing a trapped-ion technology versus the more popular superconducting option.

A trapped-ion quantum computer is inherently more accurate, but trades off processing speed. Still, with quantum computing accuracy being the biggest problem surrounding widespread commercial adoption, investing in a company whose technology is a leader in solving this problem is a wise idea.

Next is Rigetti Computing (RGTI 0.39%). Rigetti is deploying the superconducting quantum computing approach and has seen some recent successes with it. On Sept. 30, Rigetti announced the sale of two quantum computing systems that totaled $5.7 million.

While that’s not the billion-dollar enterprise many investors picture this technology having, it’s a start. Furthermore, because these customers likely explored other quantum computing options available, it’s a big deal that they decided to pick Rigetti over some others.

Last on the pure play list is D-Wave Quantum (QBTS 4.13%). D-Wave Quantum is taking a completely different approach to quantum computing than IonQ or Rigetti. It’s developing a quantum annealing computer, which can’t be used for general-purpose computing like the other two options. Instead, quantum annealing focuses on solving optimization problems, which is incredibly useful for weather patterns, logistics networks, and artificial intelligence (AI) training.

If D-Wave can develop a winning option with this approach, it could dominate the fields that are recognized as having the most value for quantum computing.

Legacy tech players

Next are some legacy tech players competing in the quantum computing space. While these options don’t have nearly the upside of the pure plays, they’re also less risky. If IonQ, D-Wave, or Rigetti fail to produce a commercially viable product, it’s likely that their stock will go to zero. For Alphabet (GOOG 2.17%) (GOOGL 2.23%) and Nvidia (NVDA -0.17%), they have other primary businesses that will ensure their viability for years to come.

Alphabet is seen as a leader in quantum computing from the big tech standpoint. It’s developing quantum computing for internal use, but also to be rented out via its cloud computing service, Google Cloud. If Alphabet can develop its own quantum computer in-house, it can increase its margins in this area, as it won’t have to pay for other companies’ profits, as it does when it buys Nvidia’s graphics processing units (GPUs) now. Alphabet has resources that the pure play companies can only dream about, and in a trend that needs heavy capital influx to develop the product, Alphabet could be a huge winner.

Last is Nvidia. Nvidia currently produces the most powerful classical computing units available, and has no plans to develop a quantum computing option. However, Nvidia sees that the real value in quantum computing will be a hybrid approach that uses its GPUs alongside a quantum computing unit. To ensure its hardware is used in this hybrid approach, Nvidia is evolving its leading software, CUDA, for quantum computing, renaming it CUDA-Q.

CUDA software is a primary reason why Nvidia has been so successful in the AI arms race so far, and by offering a quantum computing alternative, it will ensure that its computing products will be used for years to come, even if quantum computing takes the world by storm.

Technology stocks continue to help lead the market higher and remain a great space to find investment ideas. Let’s look at three top tech stocks to buy right now.

1. Nvidia

There has been a lot of news recently around new artificial intelligence (AI) chip challengers, but Nvidia (NVDA -4.33%) remains the company at the forefront of AI infrastructure. The company’s graphic processing units (GPUs) are powering most of the world’s AI workloads today, and that dominance doesn’t look to be slipping anytime soon.

Image source: Getty Images.

Nvidia is much more than a chipmaker. Its edge comes from its CUDA software platform, which it smartly provided for free to universities and research labs that were doing the early work on AI. That led to early AI foundational code being written for its chips and locked in a generation of developers into its ecosystem. Today, the company’s chips, networking, and software work together as one integrated tech stack, giving customers performance advantages.

The company’s huge commitment to partner with OpenAI is another sign that it’s not content to sit back. While other chipmakers have struck deals with OpenAi, Nvidia is the only company getting a significant equity stake in the AI model leader. Together, the two companies will work together to help shape where AI is going.

With demand for AI infrastructure still far outpacing supply, Nvidia’s growth story is nowhere near finished. Nvidia is arguably the most important stock in the market today, and one to own.

2. Alphabet

If there is one company that will challenge Nvidia as an AI leader, it’s Alphabet (GOOGL 0.62%) (GOOG 0.75%). The company has its fingers in multiple aspects of AI, with a unique positioned.

Arguably, no company has as complete of an AI tech stack as Alphabet. Its strength starts with its Gemini large language models (LLMs), which rival those of OpenAI. Meanwhile, the company has developed its own custom AI chips, called tensor processing units (TPUs), that were designed to optimally run its cloud computing infrastructure. The chips are in their 7th generation, and far ahead of most other custom AI chips.

Its software stack, which includes Vertex AI, meanwhile, is top-notch. Alphabet even owns the largest private fiber network in the world, which ensures low latency. Its pending acquisition of cloud cybersecurity company Wiz also adds to its vertical offering.

Right now, this vertical AI integration is helping power revenue growth and operating leverage at Google Cloud. Last quarter, Google Cloud revenue climbed 32% to $13.6 billion, while its operating income more than doubled to $2.8 billion. Meanwhile, it’s using its Gemini model to help power its search and AI chatbot offerings, as well.

Fears that chatbots would eat into Google’s search business have faded as the company blended its Gemini models directly into its core products. Features such as AI Overviews, Circle to Search, and Lens have made search more dynamic, leading to more queries, while its new AI mode lets users easily shift from AI-powered search to a traditional AI chatbot. Alphabet is no longer just playing defense when it comes to search and AI; it’s clearly playing offense, and it is well-positioned to win given its distribution and data advantages.

Alphabet is also making early progress in new areas such as robotaxis through Waymo and in quantum computing, which could eventually open new growth streams. Between search, cloud, and its AI push, Alphabet is a growth stock to buy right now.

3. GitLab

Compared to the two stocks above, GitLab (GTLB 1.11%) is certainly flying under the radar. However, this is a company that has been seeing strong growth. It’s grown its revenue by between 25% to 35% for eight consecutive quarters, including 29% last quarter, and more strong growth could be in store as the company continues to evolve.

GitLab started as a platform for developers to securely write and store code, but has evolved into a full software development lifecycle solution. Its Duo AI agent has the potential to be a big growth driver, as it helps automate repetitive work that eats up most of a developer’s day. Freeing up time to actually write code means more software projects, which drives more demand for GitLab’s tools.

Meanwhile, the company is starting to shift to a hybrid seat-plus-usage pricing model. This could be a huge growth driver for Gitlab, as it lets the company capture more revenue from usage and the increased value its offering is now bringing to its customers. A usage model also counteracts the biggest bear argument against the stock, which is that AI will reduce the number of coders.

That bearish argument has driven the stock to an attractive valuation, with it trading at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 6.5 times 2026 analyst estimates. For a company with approximately 90% gross margins growing revenue near 30%, that’s a huge bargain.

The Great British Bake Off star Iain Ross has been a firm fan favourite on the Channel 4 baking show, but some viewers have only just noticed one thing about him

The beloved Channel 4 programme The Great British Bake Off has returned to our television screens as hopeful contestants compete to claim the title of Britain’s finest amateur baker, with Iain Ross, from County Derry, Northern Ireland, already capturing the hearts of countless viewers. Yet some are only now cottoning on to exactly who the 29-year-old software engineer bears a striking resemblance to.

Iain, who harbours a passion for live music alongside his sourdough obsession, originally had zero intentions of gracing the show with his presence, but when his girlfriend Dervla refused to accept defeat, he eventually submitted his application. Channel 4 audiences are undoubtedly thrilled he did, with legions branding him ‘adorable’ across social media platforms.

However, others are now spotting another fascinating detail about him – his uncanny likeness to a particular children’s television character.

Which character might that be, you wonder? None other than Sir Gadabout from the beloved children’s tale Zog, which has since been transformed into an animated BBC production.

A viewer named Katie recently took to X to highlight the remarkable similarity, penning: “For weeks I’ve struggled to think of who Iain reminds me of and it took my son wearing his Zog pyjamas for me to finally realise that it’s Sir Gadabout. #GBBO.”

Clearly, numerous others shared her observation, as the post accumulated over 66,000 views alongside thousands of likes.

One individual responded: “Thank you. I’ve been thinking exactly the same thing!”.

Meanwhile, another chimed in: “Oh my goodness! Absolutely nailed it!”

A third chimed in: “Thank you, I’ve been so confused why he looked so familiar,” while a fourth said: “You are not wrong!”

A further fan exclaimed: “It’s literally him,” while another simply concurred: “Yes!”

Speaking about securing his spot on the programme, Iain told Radio Times: “Every step of the way I kept it a secret from everyone apart from Dervla, I didn’t think I’d make it to the following stage and I didn’t want to let anyone down.

“Then when I got the call to confirm my place I was in sheer disbelief, I had no idea it would actually happen.”

He added: “I thought it was a prank at first, I got a call a few minutes after being told and I thought they were going to tell me they made a mistake and I wasn’t actually on the show!”.

“I was in the office at work and had to go out to the foyer to take the call and speak in code, everyone who was walking past heading to the toilet looked very concerned and confused.”

Iain, who lives in Belfast with Dervla and their cat Victor, disclosed on the programme that he was planning to pop the question to her, and has since announced on his social media pages that she said yes.

His heartfelt post featured Dervla flaunting a dazzling ring with Crawfordsburn waterfall in Northern Ireland as the stunning backdrop.

Captioning the snap, he penned: “Don’t suppose you know anyone who can make a decent wedding cake?”

He then added: “A picture at this waterfall every year for the past 8 years, and a special lil one to complete the frame.”

US President Donald Trump wrote of a ‘new beginning’ as he signed a visitor book at Israel’s parliament, ahead of a speech there on the Gaza peace deal and the freeing of Israeli captives.

The All Creatures Great and Small star has opened up on her latest role which is a far cry from her character in the family drama

All Creatures Great and Small returns for its sixth series, featuring the beloved Rachel Shenton as Helen Herriot.

The performer boasts an impressive portfolio and gained recognition for her Academy Award-winning short film, The Silent Child.

During her appearance on Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh, she discussed her upcoming ventures beyond All Creatures, acknowledging her newest character represents a dramatic shift from Helen Herriot.

Following a preview of her latest series, The Rumour, Alan remarked: “This is not a cosy drama, is it?”

“No, it’s a bit of a departure from All Creatures isn’t it”, Rachel acknowledged whilst explaining her passion for varied roles.

READ MORE: All Creatures Great and Small’s Rachel Shenton shares update on son as she confirms show returnREAD MORE: All Creatures Great and Small star admits ‘we’re not ready’ as they open up on show’s future

In her fresh production, she portrays Joanna, following a mum who relocates to a small community only to suspect a child murderer resides nearby.

The character couldn’t be more different from Helen Herriot in All Creatures, yet Rachel explained that range is precisely what drew her to performing.

She disclosed she’s currently crafting a theatrical piece – her newest professional venture, stating: “It’s hugely important to me, variety is what you get into this business for, to tell stories and to do them in whatever medium that is.

“I love all sorts of stories, I love feature films and short films.

“At the moment I’m writing a play and all of it is so important to me, that you just get to tell your version of the story in whatever way that is.”

The actress has made a comeback to the horror genre, featuring in The Strangers – Chapter 2, the fourth instalment of The Strangers film series.

She portrays Debbie, the elder sister of the main character Maya (Madelaine Petsch), who is a survivor of the Strangers.

The most recent film premiered in September 2025.

All Creatures Great and Small airs on Thursdays on Channel 5 at 9pm

Britain’s Kat Matthews claimed silver at the World Ironman Championship, but compatriot Lucy Charles-Barclay was forced to pull out while leading as competitors battled sweltering conditions in Kona, Hawaiʻi.

Matthews benefited from the late withdrawals of Charles-Barclay and American Taylor Knibb to finish second behind Norway’s Solveig Lovseth, who claimed her first Ironman world title.

Charles-Barclay was leading after 10 miles of the marathon but visibly began to struggle as temperatures pushed 28C with 70% humidity.

She eventually pulled out with about nine miles remaining after consulting with her husband at the side of the road.

That seemingly left the path clear for Knibb to take the title, but the 27-year-old withdrew with four miles left, sitting down on the tarmac as Lovseth and Matthews ran past her.

Matthews finished strongly and completed the marathon in a course record two hours, 47 minutes, but it was not enough to reel in Lovseth.

The Norwegian crossed the line in a time of eight hours, 28 minutes and 27 seconds, with Matthews just 35 seconds behind for her third Ironman silver medal. Germany’s Laura Philipp was more than eight minutes further back in third.

“I worked really hard and I’m very proud of my finish,” said Matthews. “I’m happy for Solveig, she was incredible to watch. I had a very up and down day.”

The Ironman course consists of a 2.4-mile (3.8 km) swim, 112 miles (180 km) cycling and the final marathon, which is 26.2 miles (42.2 km), for a total distance of 140.6 miles.

Meanwhile, the men’s and women’s World Championships will reunify in 2026 after three years as separate events.

The Championships were split in 2023 to ease entry back-logs caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

All Creatures Great and Small viewers were left ‘screaming’ at their screens as they watched a fan-favourite share an unexpected kiss.

Viewers were left reaching for the tissues during the opening moments of All Creatures Great and Small as Channel 5 audiences witnessed Tristan Farnon (Callum Woodhouse) wrestling with his demons.

A memorial ceremony took place in Darrowby to remember those who lost their lives in the conflict, and it became apparent that his wartime experiences had left deep scars, with brother Siegfried (Samuel West) discovering him separated from the gathering.

Yet his spirits lifted considerably when ‘Captain Farnon’ received a summons from the village’s newest residents, the Beauvoirs, requesting assistance with their horse Philbrick.

A mix-up arose regarding which Farnon sibling was actually required, with both Tristan and Siegfried arriving simultaneously, each keen to assist Philbrick’s captivating owner, Charlotte (Gaia Wise), whose mum and dad are rather well-known in actual life.

The brothers lavished attention on Philbrick, and viewers at home were soon forecasting that romance was brewing, reports the Manchester Evening News.

As events progressed, Charlotte extended an invitation to Tristan for the highly sought-after performance at Orley Castle.

When her horse became poorly, Tristan and Siegfried dashed to the rescue and successfully treated the creature. But it was evident that something special developed between Charlotte and Tristan as they twirled together in the stables before sharing a tender kiss.

Fans quickly flocked to X to express their reactions to the scene, with one viewer writing: “I SCREAMED.”

A second chimed in: “Stopppp Tris and Charlotte are so cute.”

One fan penned: “Charlotte and Tristan sitting on a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!!!” Another chimed in with: “OH THEY’RE TOO CUTE.”

Callum Woodhouse, who worked alongside Gaia, was full of compliments for his co-star. He remarked: “Gaia’s absolutely amazing. I think we had a really nice chemistry on set. She’s a great actress.

“And I think her character, Charlotte Beauvoir, is a great addition. Tristan is maturing, becoming more independent, and taking on more responsibility.

“I think he’s past that stage now, where he’s jumping from girl to girl. So, is he ready for something more serious? It’s been really fun to play.”

All Creatures Great and Small is available to watch on My5.