Money blog: Britons warned over viral tinfoil WiFi trick; most crowded holiday hotspots revealed (2025)

The British Poultry Council has hailed the exclusion of "chlorinated chicken" from the UK-US trade deal as a "clear signal government backs our standards".

In American abattoirs, the use of chlorine is standard practice designed to reduce levels of bacteria like salmonella and campylobacter, the leading source of foodborne illness in the US, as well as here in the UK.

The chlorine wash is not the problem - studies show we consume more in our tap water every day than we would get from eating it - but there are fears it can cover up poor hygiene standards during the rearing and slaughtering of chicken.

For example, in the UK, there are legal limits on the number of birds that can be crammed into a shed.

In the US, there are none at a national level, so America can produce cheaper chicken, at a cost to animal welfare.

Despite the "breakthrough" deal being brokered last week, chicken has been excluded from negotiations, meaning this cheaper poultry will not be hitting our shelves any time soon.

"It is good to see government standing firm on British food standards," Richard Griffiths from the British Poultry Council told The Grocer.

"The decision sends a message that what we produce and how we produce it matters."

A pension drawdown is a way of managing how you spend your pension pot - and is a much more flexible way of accessing your pension than its main alternative, the annuity.

It allows you to take sums out gradually while leaving the rest invested.

Pension providers and investment platforms offer the product, which is generally available to people aged 55 and over (rising to 57 from 2028) with a defined contribution pension, andnot final salary or defined benefit pensions).

How does it work?

You usually start by taking up to 25% of your pension pot tax-free.

The rest is moved into what's called a "drawdown account", where it remains invested in funds of your choosing, such as stocks or bonds.

You can take income from that invested pot whenever you like - but anything you withdraw beyond the tax-free portion (25%) is taxed at yourincome tax rate.

The risk

You have full control over how much to withdraw and how often, making it flexible for changing income needs - which sounds ideal.

However, because your pot remains invested, it can rise or fall depending on market performance.

Poor investment returns or withdrawing too much too soon could mean your money runs out in retirement. It can take just one volatile world event, such as Donald Trump imposing tariffs, to wipe significant value from your fund.

You also need to make sure you take responsibility for the drawdown - keeping an eye on how it's performing, when to take out lump sums etc.

If you don't plan properly and run out of money, that's on you.

Differences between drawdown and annuity

Here are the main differences between the two:

• Drawdown: Flexible access, investment growth potential, but no guaranteed income
• Annuity: Fixed, guaranteed income for life or a set period, but no flexibility or growth potential once purchased

Can you mix the two?

Yes - in fact, the number of people doing this is growing.

You can split your pension pot - buying an annuity with one part using drawdown with the other.

This hybrid approach helps balance steady and secure income with the prospect of growth with the other - as well as control over your remaining funds.

A viral tinfoil "hack" aimed at improving people's internet connection could actually be making their WiFi worse, an expert has warned.

The supposed tip claims that by putting tinfoil behind your router, signals can be redirected in a similar way to a satellite dish and your WiFi performance can be boosted.

One image showing an example of how to do it has been viewed almost 60 million times.

But Richard Dowden, Uswitch broadband expert, has warned that it could cause more issues.

"The tinfoil hack could make a tiny difference, as it will cause theWiFi radio waves to be more narrowly focused. However, the downside is that the tinfoil may block the WiFi from going behind it, causing more problems," he said.

"If you're concerned about WiFi strength, try repositioning your router and running a speed test in different areas of your home to find the optimal spot."

He suggested that placing your router in a central location, elevated off the ground and on a flat, open surface, will provide you with the best broadband performance.

"Avoid hiding it in enclosed spaces like cupboards or placing it near large obstructions like TVs or bookshelves," he said.

"If your connection is still lagging, consider investing in a WiFi booster or extender - it's a far more reliable solution than tinfoil, which is best left in the kitchen."

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business and economics reporter

This morning, we got the clearest sign yet that a global trade war could be coming to a halt as the US announced it and China were pausing so-called reciprocal tariffs for 90 days.

Markets have rallied on the news. As the dollar rose, the pound value sank 1% to below $1.31, a low not seen in nearly a month.

It's a different story against the euro, however, with the pound at a one-month high of €1.186.

The UK's benchmark stock index, the FTSE 100, is up a slight 0.4% after falling back from the initial spike this morning, following the news.

Drugmaker AstraZeneca was one of the biggest fallers after President Trump announced an executive order to cut drug prices, causing it to lose more than 3%. The larger and more UK-focusedFTSE 250 gained 1.25%.

Oil prices were also boosted by the news as a barrel of Brent crude oil climbed to $66.27, a high not seen since late last month.

More expensive oil can signal that investors are confident about the world economy.

European stocks are a near sea of green with most stock indexes of major economies on the continent posting gains. France's CAC 40 is up 1.25%, Germany's DAX rose 0.36%, and Spain's IBEX 35 rose 0.3%. The pan-European index, the Stoxx 600 gained 0.74%.

Buy-to-let investors are increasingly targeting northern England and the Midlands as they look for cheaper homes with higher potential yield.

Nearly two-fifths (39%) of buy-to-lets purchased in Britain during the first four months of 2025 were in the North of England or the Midlands, Hamptons property firm says, up from 24% in 2007 and 34% in 2022.

It suggested that stamp duty costs and lower rental yields have shifted landlords' attention away from southern England.

The average investor buying in the Midlands and North of England paid £150,480 for a new buy-to-let this year, £141,760 less than a landlord who bought in the South of England for an average of £292,240, researchers said.

Hot spots that have cropped up in the last year include:

• Redcar and Cleveland
• Darlington
• Derby
• Gateshead
• Newcastle-upon-Tyne
• Middlesbrough
• County Durham
• East Staffordshire,
• Epping Forest
• Leeds

See the full list of buy-to-let hotspots below...

Zante, Mallorca and Paris are among the European destinations most affected by overtourism, new research from Which? has found.

Issues with tourists are now so prevalent that some countries and cities are bringing in measures to limit visitors, including tourist taxes or limiting the number of holiday lets available.

The European Commission defines overtourism in three ways: the number of visitors compared to residents, the most overnight stays overall and the most overnight stays per square kilometre.

Zante, which does not have the most visitors in absolute terms, is the capital of overtourism when considering how many residents call the island home.

Only around 40,000 people live there, but it had a staggering six million stays in 2023, equivalent to approximately 150 overnight stays for every person who lives there.

When looking at the most number of overnight stays overall, Mallorca comes out on top, with 51 million in 2023, compared to an island population of just under one million.

And when looking at most tourists based on area, Paris comes out on top, with 418,280 per square km.

Istria is often described as "Croatia's best kept secret" - but with 133 overnight stays per resident, it is actually second only to Zakynthos when it comes to overtourism.

For tourists looking for a quieter trip, Teleorman in Romania is the least visited place in Europe. The area recorded just 20 overnight stays per 1,000 residents in 2023. (That's if you discount Jan Mayen, which isn't actually possible to visit without special permission from the Norwegian government.)

In some countries, quiet and busy places sit side by side. Central Athens has the second highest rate of tourists per square km, but Dytikos Tomeas Athinon, a region nearby, had just 64 visitors per 1,000 residents in 2023.

Explore the full data below...

Ryanair has become the latest low-cost airline to offer a yearly membership scheme, but a consumer group says you should look at the small print before you join.

The Prime membership will set you back £79 a year and promises 12 free-seat reservations, travel insurance and monthly access to a sale.

It seems a decent offering, but there are some limitations.

Rory Boland, the editor of Which? Travel, toldThe Guardianthat people should "think twice" before committing.

"The service is full of caveats when it comes to seat selection, while Ryanair's travel insurance offers poor cover compared with cheaper policies that are rated highly by Which?," Boland said.

"There's little detail on Ryanair's exclusive deals for Prime subscribers, or how they would differ from the many offers and deals Ryanair already sends out to customers or features on its website."

What are the limitations?

For example, the free reservations are available only on designated seats. If there are none left for your flight, members will still have to take a randomly allocated seat, or pay for a different seat, minus the amount the Prime seat cost.

The travel insurance also only covers trips involving a Ryanair flight, and the medical protections are not available for people aged over 70.

Not a huge amount of information has been given about the sales either, and discounted fares are also available only to those who hold the membership. This means if you are travelling with family or children, they won't be able to get better rates or sit in member seats.

There has been a "massive" increase in pensioner shoplifters in the past year, a leading security firm has said.

John Nussbaum, director of service for retail at Kingdom Security, said his staff were seeing a "different sort of shoplifter now" as the cost of living "pushes people to something they've never done before".

He said his company was receiving up to 30 reports of shoplifting a week from "people who just can't afford to buy food".

"We've seen a massive increase in pensioners shoplifting, putting a jar of coffee in their bag and one in the trolley, that sort of thing," he said.

He estimated that 5% of people caught shoplifting by Kingdom staff each week were aged over 50, acting in "desperation".

Shoplifting offences are at the highest level they have been since 2003, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Nussbaum said staff were seeing "terrible violence" every day from organised gangs, with one employee punched in the face in the past week, while staff at a shopping centre north of London resorting to stabproof vests.

If you've ever spent your Monday morning commute daydreaming about starting afresh with your career, this feature is for you.Each Monday, we speak to someone from a different profession to discover what it's really like.This week we chat toYael Selig, partner at Osbornes Law and head of the family offices...

I work 10-12 hours a day... The nature of my work means that I often have to work in the evenings due to unexpected issues. My workload is very intense, but I do try to make time for lunch. Of course, this very much depends on what is going on in a particular week.

Newly qualified you'd expect to earn £50k...A top divorce lawyer... £350,000.

We bill in six-minute increments... I deal with private clients, so it very much depends on the task at hand. If, for example, I have a 20-minute call with a client, this will mean that I will put down my time as three units.

We do pilates... We recently introduced a weekly class in the office as well as various other wellbeing incentives (lunchtime walks, for example), which have all been met with great enthusiasm. This tells you a lot about how staff do need to be encouraged to get up from their desks.

I wanted to be a dancer... I did ballet from a young age until I was 14 and then went on to join a contemporary dance group until I was 18. I come from a family of lawyers, so I decided to do a law degree. I do love connecting with people and family law seemed like the best option for me; it's the one I enjoyed most when I was studying.

I have a reputation as a "Rottweiler"...I was acting for an older vulnerable client who was clearly being bullied by his ex-wife. She was the first to coin the phrase. You need patience and empathy. You need to be a good listener and a problem solver. But you also need to have some fight in you, as essentially you are a litigation lawyer. Unfortunately, it is inevitably a messy business, though I think I strike the right balance as I try my very best to resolve matters outside the court process and through negotiations. There are cases, unfortunately, where court is the only option, and this is where my reputation kicks in.

Everyone hates something about their job and for me it's...the tight deadlines. You are often having to work to court deadlines and when your workload is super busy, it means you are faced with lots of these.

There are two circumstances when I'd refuse a client...if it is unaffordable - litigation can be expensive. I always make sure that any potential client is made aware of the likely costs from the outset. And if a client is dishonest and wants to hide assets - then of course I cannot act for them.

The biggest misconception about lawyers is... That you are cold and ruthless and only interested in fees.

I lost a client to cancer...during divorce proceedings. I still think of him. Despite his diagnosis, the wife wanted to push on with litigation. Thankfully, I succeeded in stopping the proceedings while he undertook very aggressive chemotherapy. The courts were very sympathetic as he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and he didn't know how long he had to live. His doctor's guess was that, at best, he had a year. I did everything I could to ensure that during the last eight months of his life he did not have to deal with the angst of court proceedings. I was adamant that, despite the other side's insistence to try and draw him into the litigation (court dates etc), I was not going to allow that to happen. I fought very hard for him, and we succeeded. He was a real gentleman who kept his sense of humour until the end of his days.

The job hasn't changed my opinion of marriage but...it does make me value my relationship.

People can avoid a messy divorce by...being reasonable and not allowing their emotions to cloud their judgement. I accept this is difficult to do. In my experience, when the parties have a good line of communication between them, it helps keep matters on an even keel and they do not escalate.

The most common mistake people make is to raise the temperature by... texting each other directly and insulting the other, and making threats regarding the children, which then makes matters considerably worse.

If I had to do it all again... I would. Repeat, repeat, repeat!

Despite the stress and intense workload...I do love my work. I have no plans to retire yet and haven't given it much thought. My job is very full on but I am very energetic, and I do love people and meeting new clients. It's what keeps me going.

Welcome back to Money, Sky News' hub for personal finance and consumer news, tips and analysis.

We'll be kicking off the week with our careers feature "What it's really like to be..." shortly. Today we're speaking to a divorce lawyer.

'Arnold Clark offered me a coffee cup for a £230 mistake'

For this Tuesday's Money Problem,we asked Scott Dixon, aka the Complaints Resolver, to tackle an "astounding" compensation dispute after a car finance company took an erroneous payment.

Top chef explains frustrations with some customers who say they have dietary requirements

In this week's Cheap Eats interview, we speak to Steven Smith, chef patron of Japanese restaurant KAJI in Manchester, who has a bone to pick with customers who make "a mockery of people who have real dietary requirements".

You'll find that here on Thursday.

Key data on UK growth to be released

Also on Thursday, the Office for National Statistics will publish its GDP figures for the first quarter of the year, a key indicator of UK economic growth.

GDP grew by 0.1% in the last quarter. The International Monetary Fund has lowered its forecast for UK growth this year from 1.6% to 1.1%, citing some negative impact from tariffs and some from UK-specific factors.

Tips

We'll bring you the usual tips and advice through the week, including:

• How to make money off your old (and empty) beauty containers
• How to withdraw from your pension, while still keeping it invested

Savings Guide and Mortgage Guide

Every Wednesday, savings queen Anna Bowes offers advice for making the most of your spare cash and reveals the best rates on the market right now.

And on Fridays, we do similarly with mortgages, hearing from industry experts on what anyone seeking to borrow needs to know now before rounding up the best rates with the help of Moneyfacts.

The Money blog is produced by consumer and money live reporter Jess Sharp and editor Jimmy Rice, with additional reporting from the Sky News live team.