Book&Pay

British Gas is promoting its boiler repair service with a straightforward promise: anyone can book a call-out, and if the engineer cannot fix the boiler, the customer pays nothing. The no-fix-no-fee guarantee is aimed at households worried about paying call-out charges for problems that cannot be resolved, and the message is drawing broad attention from homeowners comparing heating repair options.

A letter published in the Guardian argues that technology companies developing AI systems should compensate the creators whose work is used to train their models. It adds to ongoing debate over copyright and fair remuneration as AI firms face legal and public pressure over the unlicensed use of books, art, music and journalism.

A letter in the Guardian from Barbara Hayes, Tayyiba Nasser, Christian Zimmermann and Paul Seheult argues that technology firms should compensate creators whose work they use, saying such payments could raise up to £300m a year in additional income for UK creators. The letter adds to growing pressure in the UK for licensing and payment schemes as AI companies increasingly train on copyrighted books, art and other material without explicit permission.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recommended Liaquat Ahamed's book about the 1873 financial panic, but Ahamed says Nadella misread it, noting a third of US railroad bonds stopped paying after that year's crash. The exchange comes as Microsoft pours tens of billions into AI infrastructure, prompting questions about whether today's AI debt boom echoes the railroad bubble of the 1870s.

News outlets are sharing guidance for travellers hoping to cut costs over the holiday season. The coverage amounts to a cheat sheet of practical tips for finding deals on flights, hotels and other travel bookings as peak-season prices climb. With holiday travel demand running high, consumers are looking for ways to book early, compare fares and avoid paying peak rates.

All Elite Wrestling's WrestleDream pay-per-view event is being discussed by wrestling fans online. People are reacting to the card, match results and standout performances from the show. It is one of AEW's newer annual events and typically generates debate about bookings, surprises and where storylines are heading next in the company.

Writers on social media are sharing the books they found hardest to get through, under a recurring discussion prompt. One participant named two novels read this year, praising M John Harrison's Light as challenging but worthwhile, while deeming Sebastian Faulks's Birdstring challenging but not worth the effort. Participants are comparing notes on difficult reads and whether persistence pays off.

Meta has struck an arrangement with its chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to help him pay a large tax bill tied to his billionaire status. The deal, reported by The Guardian, puts part of the founder's personal tax burden on the company's books, raising fresh questions about how major corporations cover executive costs and how tax authorities treat such arrangements.

Hilton has announced a plan that will allow guests to pay for stays using their Hilton Honors loyalty points. The move would let members redeem rewards more flexibly, treating points like currency at the hotel group's properties. Details on timing and which bookings will qualify were not immediately available, but the announcement is drawing attention across the travel industry.

Travel experts are warning that people planning to fly for Thanksgiving should book soon, as fares are likely to climb the longer travelers wait. With the holiday one of the busiest flying periods of the year, airlines typically raise prices as seats fill up, making early booking the safer bet for families trying to keep costs down.

Travelers are being reminded that booking a hotel involves more than picking the lowest price. Practical guidance is circulating on how to get a better room and avoid common pitfalls, including checking cancellation policies, reading recent reviews carefully, comparing total fees rather than headline rates, and confirming details like room location and amenities directly with the hotel before paying.

The cruise industry is enjoying record demand as travelers return to sea in large numbers, but attention is turning to the working conditions and pay of the crew members who keep ships running. The question being raised is whether cruise workers are seeing meaningful benefits from the industry's strong recovery and profits, or whether low wages and demanding schedules remain the norm.

Trump Media and Technology Group, the parent of Truth Social and ticker DJT, is reportedly trading at a price above its book value, the accounting measure of the company's net assets. The valuation gap means investors are effectively paying for future potential rather than current fundamentals, a topic drawing scrutiny among market watchers given the stock's history of sharp swings.

Travelers planning trips for Thanksgiving are facing the steepest airfares in ten years, according to a new report. The price surge comes as demand for holiday flights remains strong and airlines manage limited capacity. Flyers are being advised to book early and consider flexible dates to avoid paying peak-season rates during the busy travel window.

Travel industry observers are pointing to grandparents as an emerging force in global tourism, with older travellers increasingly funding and leading multigenerational trips. The discussion, raised by travel assistance firm Global Rescue, suggests retirees with time and disposable income are shaping demand for longer, family-oriented itineraries. Commentators see the trend as a notable shift in who drives travel spending worldwide.