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Known for decades as the entryway to The Alps and birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the Austrian city of Salzburg has over the last six decades also attracted tourists whose first brush with it came through the 1965 film “The Sound Of Music.”While the permanent population of the city sits at just under 158,000 people, Salzburg is an incredibly popular tourist destination that recorded over 1.8 million international arrivals and 3.3 million overnight stays in 2025.This type of disproportion brings significant strain to a historic town that dates back to the 11th century and was never made to withstand such a large number of visitors.Salzburg puts in place summer travel ban on cars driving into Old TownAlong with a number of other measures meant to curb overtourism and preserve the its historic architecture, the city is now testing a summer driving ban that will place major restrictions on cars in the historic Old Town or Altstadt.The restriction that was passed by the city council back in May and came into effect on July 1 caps the number of cars coming into the city at 1,000 per day during July and August. This means that most private vehicles without special permission to enter the city will need to park on the other side of the Staatsbrücke bridge over the Salzach River as their drivers and passengers take public transportation into the center.Related: Popular cruise, tourist destination will triple entry taxWhile they fill up especially fast during the summer months, some of the city’s Park & Ride lots are also located just across the river at a ten-minute walk from the Old Town.To collaborate with the initiative, local park-and-ride lots will offer those who leave the car with them a day ticket that gives up to five people a day of travel on local public transportation for €7.50 ($8.55 USD).

The historic old town of Salzburg sees over 1.5 million tourists every year.Getty

“We don’t want chaotic traffic situations like we saw last year”: Salzburg MayorExceptions apply to residents with local license plates and commuters with a job in the city, emergency services, registered taxis, delivery vehicles, people with disabilities and hotel guests who will park on the property. Some local residents of nearby towns across the border in Bavaria are also exempted from the driving restrictions.Anyone else caught driving into the city without being able to provide justification could be hit with a fine of €80 ($91 USD).More Travel News:Airline to launch unusual new flight to Cayman Islands from the U.S.There is a very cool Irish version of swimming pigs in the BahamasUnexpected country is most luxurious travel destination for 2026Low-cost airline launches easier way to get to Sri LankaJustification for the driving restrictions came down to the major traffic jams and gridlocks that were taking place all throughout Salzburg throughout the summer holiday period in 2025. Similar restrictions have already been tested by Italian cities like Rome and Pisa as well as the walled city of Dubrovnik in Croatia.”We don’t want chaotic traffic situations like we saw last year,” Salzburg Mayor Bernhard Auinger said at a press conference last May in translation from German. “It is aimed at day trippers who travel by car from farther afield. It is important to me that residents of the central Salzburg area and business-related traffic are not affected by this.”Related: Popular tourist destination will raise entry fees by 500%

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealIf you’re just starting your luxury watch collection, then there are few brands better suited to jumpstart that journey than Citizen. For nearly a century, the company has been making stunning timepieces with an eye toward quality and innovation. As luck would have it, Amazon is currently selling an impressive Citizen Eco-Drive model for over $100 off, though there’s no telling how long this sale may last. The Citizen Eco-Drive Weekender 3-Hand Watch is on sale for only $243, which is 31% off the original price of $350. Even at the regular price, this is an incredible deal. However, the discount makes it an absolute must-have. Citizen Eco-Drive Weekender 3-Hand Watch, $243 (was $350) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at AmazonWhy do shoppers love it?This piece has everything you could want in a luxury sports watch. For starters, the case and bracelet are made from robust 316L stainless steel. The steel has a black ion plating coating that’s attractive and durable. The watch is rustproof and corrosion-resistant, making it an ideal everyday wear. Further bolstering this daily driver reputation is 100 meters of water resistance. That means you can feel confident swimming with the watch, and no damage will come to it. There is also a scratch-resistant mineral crystal that protects the dial and handset from contact damage. It’s a clear crystal that allows for maximum visibility.Underneath the crystal is a beautiful blue textured dial. The dial has applied stick hour markers around the outside, with an applied triangle at the 12 o’clock position. Each of the markers and the handset all have a luminous coating, which allows you to easily read the time under low light conditions. There is also an applied Citizen logo at the top of the dial and a nicely-finished date window at the 3 o’clock spot. This is a welcome addition for anyone who likes to keep an eye on their monthly calendar right from their wrist.Internally, the watch is powered by Citizen’s patented Eco-Drive movement. When it was first released in 1995, it was an industry first. Eco-Drive watches use small solar panels that are cleverly hidden beneath the dial to gather energy from the sun throughout the day. Those power reserves are then stored in a rechargeable battery. The energy is then released from the battery, passes through a quartz crystal to regulate the watch, and then is released through the movement of the handset. It’s one of the most accurate watch movements on the market, even more so than most luxury Swiss mechanical timepieces that cost multiple thousands of dollars. Related: Walmart has a great Black Friday deal on a $70 set of stainless steel mixing bowls for only $17Amazon shoppers found this watch to be a real treat to own and wear. One buyer claimed it was “my third one,” adding, “I love this watch…absolutely no reason to buy any other watch.”Shop more deals Citizen Corso Eco-Drive Watch, $224 at AmazonCitizen Tsuyosa Automatic Sport Luxury Watch, $356 (was $475) at AmazonBulova 3-Hand Calendar Date Watch, $172 (was $186) at AmazonIf you’re looking to add to your watch collection but don’t want to spend a fortune, then the Citizen Eco-Drive Weekender 3-Hand Watch is for you. At just $243, you may not find a better luxury watch deal anywhere on the internet.

Sony is one of the most recognized names in global entertainment, and PlayStation sits at the center of that reputation.For three decades, the brand built its identity on hardware that millions of players never had to think twice about using.That hardware just changed for good. Sony will stop manufacturing physical discs for new PlayStation games starting in January 2028, according to a PlayStation Blog post from senior director Sid Shuman.That decision was expected. PlayStation 4 and 5 could play digital games, and they eventually moved to digital only PS5 (for some regions). The next PlayStation is expected to also be digital; we just didn’t see it abolishing the disc so soon.This shift ends a tradition running from the PS1’s CD-ROM through the PS5’s Blu-ray drive.For more than three decades, physical media defined the brand: The PS1 shipped games on CD-ROM, the PS2 and PS3 moved to DVD and Blu-ray, and the PS4 and PS5 kept the tray, even as digital stores grew alongside them. Even the pocket-sized PSP shrank the format down to a UMD disc small enough to carry three games in a jacket pocket.Sony ends PlayStation physical disc productionPhysical disc production for all new PlayStation games stops in January 2028, according to the blog post. After that date, every new release will be sold exclusively in digital format through the PlayStation Store or at retailers.Existing titles are unaffected. Sony said the change has no impact on games already released or scheduled for disc release before the cutoff, including this fall’s Marvel’s Wolverine, according to Variety. Collectors keep what already exists. They simply stop getting more of it.

Sony will end physical disc production for new PlayStation games starting January 2028, shifting the platform fully digital.Brandon Bell / Getty Images

Why did Sony decide to stop making physical discs now?Sony is following its own numbers, not predicting a trend. Nearly four in five full-game purchases on PS4 and PS5 already happen digitally, based on Sony’s own reporting to investors, cited by Game File.The shift already happened inside the company’s sales data, long before the July 1 announcement made it official.Related: Ryan Cohen passes on GameStop payday to keep pushing one acquisitionThe wider market backs that up. Consumers spent $1.5 billion on new physical video games in 2025, the lowest total since Circana began tracking the category in 1995, according to CBS News citing Circana analyst Mat Piscatella.Physical game spending peaked at $11.6 billion in 2008, so the category has shrunk by roughly 87% in less than two decades.Cost plays a role, too. Sony raised the PS5 disc edition price from $549.99 to $649.99 in April, a hike tied partly to rising memory costs from the AI buildout. Winding down a shrinking, increasingly expensive product line protects margin elsewhere in the business.More Video Game:The AI memory crunch just came for Xbox gamers, tooGTA 6 just set new price ceiling for big-budget gamesNBCUniversal eyes video games as it preps for life after ComcastWhat does the Sony stock reaction tell investors?Sony trades on the NYSE under the ticker SONY, an American Depositary Receipt that gives U.S. investors direct exposure to the Tokyo-based company behind PlayStation, Sony Pictures, and its music and image-sensor businesses. Shares rose 0.62% the afternoon of July 1 to $20.19, closing the day at $20.21.That muted reaction is itself informative. Wall Street had largely priced in Sony’s digital shift, given the company’s own disclosed sales mix, so the company’s confirmation moved the stock less than the headline might suggest.A couple of data points round out the picture:More than 93 million PS5 consoles have sold worldwide, with 125 million monthly active users on the platform, according to Sony’s business data. That scale means any change to game distribution touches millions of households at once.A disc-to-digital conversion feature is now being tested by Xbox for existing physical libraries, based reporting cited by CNBC. That puts Microsoft on a path toward the same digital endpoint from a different starting point.The bigger picture for retailers selling physical mediaRetailers built around physical media face the sharpest fallout. GameStop has leaned harder into collectibles and trading cards to offset the decline, with that category reaching 41.8% of first quarter revenue in fiscal 2026, up from 28.9% a year earlier, according to a GameStop SEC filing.The company also closed 430 stores across 42 states in January 2026 alone, a sign that fewer discs on shelves eventually means fewer shelves.Gaming is following the same path music, movies, and television already walked. What makes this case different is that PlayStation built its brand identity on the disc itself, not just distributed content through it, across three decades of hardware.Sony and Microsoft are now converging on the same digital endpoint from different directions, and neither company is being punished for it by the market. That is the structural story here.An entire product category can disappear without shaking investor confidence, as long as the sales data already told everyone it was coming.Related: Sony isn’t sugarcoating PlayStation 6 warning as console costs rise

SpaceX briefly topped $225 in its first week on the Nasdaq before retreating, with shares recently trading around $170 under the ticker SPCX, Yahoo Finance reported.Starlink hit 10.3 million subscribers across 164 countries and territories by the end of the first quarter, according to the company’s SEC filing. Average revenue per user (ARPU) dropped from $86 in the first quarter of 2025 to just $66 in the first quarter of 2026, the filing showed. The decline reflects a deliberate push into lower-income markets across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, where monthly subscription prices are well below United States rates. That volume strategy helped first-quarter operating income rise from $1.03 billion to $1.19 billion, despite subscriber growth exceeding 100%, CNBC reported. At roughly 90 times 2025 revenue, the stock’s valuation depends on SpaceX growing total revenue faster than its per-subscriber economics continue to decline.SpaceX’s $4.9 billion net loss puts Starlink profitability in spotlightSpaceX swung from $791 million in net income in 2024 to a $4.9 billion net loss in 2025, driven largely by its artificial intelligence operations. The company’s AI division, absorbed through a merger with Elon Musk’s xAI in February 2026, posted $6.4 billion in operating losses on just $3.2 billion in revenue for the year.Starlink’s connectivity segment was the only profitable unit, generating $4.42 billion in operating income on $11.39 billion in revenue, the company’s SEC filing confirmed.That leaves investors relying on a single profitable business segment, and that segment’s per-subscriber revenue trajectory continues to trend downward. The first quarter of 2026 further deepened the financial hole, as SpaceX posted a net loss of $4.3 billion on $4.69 billion in quarterly revenue.Total accumulated losses since the company’s founding now stand at $41.3 billion, the S-1 filling stated.Amazon Leo prepares to challenge Starlink’s satellite leadStarlink has operated for years without a serious competitor in consumer satellite broadband, but that advantage is narrowing as well-funded rivals accelerate their timelines. Amazon’s satellite internet service, formerly known as Project Kuiper, entered enterprise beta in April 2026 with commercial availability planned for later this year, The Next Web reported.More SpaceX:Elon Musk sets SpaceX IPO price in blunt message to Wall StreetVeteran hedge fund manager makes a brazen SpaceX betFranklin Templeton CEO sends strong message on SpaceXAmazon initially committed more than $10 billion to Project Kuiper, with analysts now estimating first-generation capital spending between $16 billion and $20 billion. The company has also secured beta partnerships with Verizon, AT&T, Vodafone, JetBlue, and NASA, establishing the first credible large-scale alternative, The Next Web reported.The Federal Communications Commission waived Amazon’s July 2026 interim deployment milestone in a June 2026 order (DA-26-553), leaving the original 2029 deadline to place all 3,236 first-generation satellites into orbit in place.SpaceX raised consumer Starlink plan prices by $5 to $10 per month in May 2026, according to The Next Web, in what analysts described as a shift from subscriber acquisition toward extracting more revenue from its existing base.

Amazon’s Leo network gains momentum as billion-dollar investment, major partnerships, and regulatory support position it to challenge Starlink’s satellite dominance.JUSTIN TALLIS/Getty Images

Starship test delays could widen cost gap for SpaceX satellite networkStarlink’s next-generation V3 satellites offer dramatically more bandwidth per unit, but they are too large for Falcon 9 and need the Starship launch vehicle to reach orbit. SpaceX has invested more than $15 billion in Starship development and has completed 12 test flights, with the 13th targeted for late July 2026, according to launch-tracking sources.Starship represents the single most consequential execution risk facing SpaceX, Nathan de Ruiter, partner and managing director at Novaspace, told Via Satellite.Starship is the critical bottleneck: Its timeline, cadence, and cost structure underpin nearly every part of the long-term story.”Without Starship scaling as planned, it becomes much harder to expand Starlink capacity, roll out next-generation direct-to-device services, or enable future opportunities like orbital compute,” de Ruiter added.The company completed only five Starship missions in 2025 against a target of 25, highlighting how far the vehicle remains from the routine commercial flight cadence SpaceX needs. Delays in reaching that cadence would slow V3 satellite deployments, limiting the capacity expansion Starlink requires to serve tens of millions of additional subscribers profitably.SpaceX sky-high valuation assumes years of unproven growth across 3 divisionsMorningstar set a fair-value estimate of $63 per share, less than half the stock’s recent trading price, calling SpaceX overvalued under nearly any scenario. Pravin Pradeep, senior consultant and program manager at Frost & Sullivan’s Aerospace, Defence & Space practice described the stock’s valuation as “an AI valuation wearing a rocket suit,” suggesting investors have become overly optimistic, Satellite Today reported. He argued that the profitable space and connectivity businesses alone would support a significantly lower market capitalization without the artificial intelligence premium.The company’s first earnings report as a public entity, expected on August 6, will reveal whether Starlink’s ARPU decline is accelerating or beginning to stabilize amid recent price increases.Related: SpaceX gets brutal verdict from legendary Wall Street investor

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealThe summer heat is always a bit unpredictable, and it seems like Mother Nature loves to spice things up by sending a heatwave just when you’re celebrating how mild this summer has truly been. But truly, what would summer be without the occasional streak of days where the temperatures hit in the high nineties? Luckily, it’s easy to keep cool, thanks to modern day amenities like air conditioning, but if you’re someone who doesn’t have access to AC or doesn’t find that it’s cooling you down enough, a tabletop fan, like the Honeywell Turboforce Fan, could help chill you out a bit. Not only can it offer a bit more targeted relief, even if it doesn’t lower the actual air temperature around you, but right now the Honeywell Turboforce Fan, with over 123,000 five-star ratings, is only $15. And with that summer air feeling a bit too sticky for our liking lately, it couldn’t come at a better time. Honeywell Turboforce Fan, $15 at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at AmazonWhy do shoppers love it?Honeywell fans have long been praised for their durability, powerful airflow, and quiet operation, and this fan is no exception. Weighing just 2.6 pounds, the tabletop fan, whose small size makes it the perfect portable option ideal for travel and on-the-go use, packs a lot of power without any loud noise. Measuring 6.3 inches long, 8.94 inches wide, and 10.9 inches high, this fan has an aerodynamic turbo design to maximize air movement and power for intense cooling and energy-saving circulation. Not only does it operate at 25% quieter than other similar models — making it an ideal model to blast while you’re sleeping — but you can feel the cooling power of the fan up to 25 feet away.It has three speeds — low, medium, and high — so you can choose the kind of fan power you want, and it has a 90-degree pivoting, adjustable head so you can truly target and customize where and what you’re getting. Although fans don’t noticeably cool a room, they can cool you down by evaporating sweat from your skin and carrying heat away from your body. They are a great way to give your air conditioner a break during peak running times like the summer. Related: Walmart’s popular oscillating tower fan is $57, and it has 8,000+ perfect ratingsThe fan has a handle built in for easy carrying, and it’s perfect for use on top of tables, desks, and dressers. It can also be mounted onto the wall, though the installation equipment required for mounting it must be bought separately. Details to knowDimensions: The fan measures 6.3 inches long, 8.94 inches wide, and 10.9 inch high.Weight: 2.6 pounds. Features: The fan has three speeds and a 90-degree pivoting, adjustable head. Small but mighty is how most shoppers would describe this fan. Even on the lowest setting, it has powerful airflow. The pivoting head helps circulate air giving a more even cooling throughout a room. “Small fan, serious power,” one shopper said. “On the lowest settings, it’s perfect for a gentle breeze while sleeping, and the higher settings can easily cool down a medium-sized room or help circulate the AC much more efficiently.”Shop more deals Playhot Portable Handheld Turbo Fan, $19 (was $20) at AmazonDREO Quiet Adjustable Desktop Fan, $40 (was $45) at AmazonGaiatop Portable Clip-On Fan, $13 (was $15) at AmazonNo one should suffer from sticky heat or the hot sun, and thanks to the Honeywell Turboforce Fan, wherever you go, you can stay cool and dry. 

The AI trade isn’t just about Nvidia anymore.That could be the true warning sign underlying Michael Burry’s current move on the markets.The investor behind “The Big Short” has revealed new bearish positions against Tesla (TSLA), Nvidia (NVDA), Caterpillar (CAT), Applied Materials (AMAT), and the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX), according to the Wall Street Journal. He also had bearish put options on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 through exposure to QQQ.On the face of it, that sounds like a conventional anti-AI bet.But there is more to the basket. Burry isn’t just targeting chip euphoria. He’s going after the way AI hype has tainted electric vehicles, industrial equipment, semiconductor-making gear, and broad tech indexes.That makes the trade less a call on a stock and more a call on the market.The implication appears to be that investors could be crowning too many businesses as AI winners at the same time.“The SOXX itself is a pure form of overvaluation in an index, a form that is rarely seen and never so easily recognized as such,” he said, as the Journal reported, giving retail investors a nuanced view regarding his moves vis-à-vis the AI boom.Michael Burry expands his AI bubble bet beyond NvidiaBurry’s most recent short takes on issues that affect practically every tier of the AI boom.First is Nvidia, of course. The chipmaker continues to represent the public face of AI infrastructure, and its financial results show why investors have been eager to follow the stock upward.Nvidia reported record revenue of $81.6 billion for its fiscal first quarter ended April 26, up 85% from a year ago. Data Center revenues were $75.2 billion, up 92% year over year.Related: Nvidia’s workplace culture sends Big Tech a warningThose are not weak numbers, and that’s the point.Burry is not just betting against broken businesses. He seems to be betting against stocks for which investors may have already priced in an ultra-optimistic version of the AI future.Applied Materials follows the same pattern. The company is a direct beneficiary of semiconductor capital spending as a seller of critical chipmaking equipment. Revenue in the fiscal second quarter was a record $7.91 billion, up 11% year over year, and GAAP earnings per share were a record $3.51.There is real momentum in the business. The question is whether the stocks are moving at an even quicker rate.SOXX shows why Burry is targeting chip euphoriaSOXX offers investors a wide approach to play the semiconductor trade.That also makes it a straightforward target for a negative investor who thinks chip euphoria has gotten ahead of itself.The iShares Semiconductor ETF covers a U.S. equity index of semiconductor companies, including those leading AI innovation and benefiting from digital-infrastructure capital spending, according to BlackRock.The fund’s recent figures highlight why it is important to Burry’s case.SOXX’s NAV on June 30, 2026, was $640.65, on the high end of its 52-week range of $236.94 to $655.22. Its NAV total year-to-date return was 113%.Michael Burry’s latest AI short targetsTesla (TSLA): A fresh short against the electric-vehicle maker, Business Insider notesNvidia (NVDA): A bet against the clearest symbol of AI chip demandCaterpillar (CAT): The surprise short that shows how far the AI trade has spreadApplied Materials (AMAT): A semiconductor-equipment target tied to chip-factory spendingSOXX: A broad bet against semiconductor stocksQQQ: A wider wager against the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100That’s a massive move for an exchange-traded fund, not just one speculative stock.BlackRock also listed SOXX at a price-to-earnings ratio of 76.39 and a price-to-book ratio of 13.23 as of June 30. The fund had a three-year equity beta of 2.01, showing how volatile it can be relative to the broader market.

Burry seems to be betting against stocks for which investors may have already priced in an ultra-optimistic version of the AI future.Bloomberg / Getty Images

Caterpillar reveals the bigger AI market problemThe most important name in Burry’s latest basket may not be Nvidia; it may be Caterpillar.Caterpillar is not a chip producer. It’s best recognized for construction, mining, and heavy equipment. But the company is part of the AI infrastructure story because data centers need power, and lots of it.That connection is not theoretical.In January, American Intelligence & Power, Caterpillar, and Boyd CAT established a strategic agreement for 2 gigawatts of dedicated power for hyperscale AI infrastructure. AIP bought 2 gigawatts of fast-response natural gas generator sets with delivery slated from September 2026 through August 2027, Caterpillar stated.Investors, accordingly, started to see Caterpillar as an AI-adjacent winner.After all, data centers need more than just Nvidia chips. They need power, back-up, and industrial-grade equipment that can cope with huge and variable power demands.More AI:The new Chinese AI model rattling U.S. tech investorsAnthropic restores access to Mythos 5 for select organizationsSoftBank CEO offers stinging critique of Musk’s AI betIt’s why Burry’s Caterpillar short is such a handy indication.A negative bet against Nvidia can be written off as a call against chip valuation. Betting pessimistically on Caterpillar shows something else: The excitement around AI has shifted from pure technology equities into the old-line industrials, whom investors perceive as the picks-and-shovels benefactors.That doesn’t mean Burry will be right, but it does mean he’s targeting the second and third derivatives of the AI trade, not the obvious first wave.Tesla and QQQ make Burry’s warning broaderTesla is another example of how AI has changed expectations for investors.Cars are still a benchmark for the company, but investors are beginning to value Tesla more for autonomy, robots, software, and energy storage. That makes it a part-automobile, part-AI story.Tesla claimed it manufactured more than 408,000 vehicles in the first quarter of 2026, delivered more than 358,000 vehicles, and deployed 8.8 gigawatt-hours of energy storage devices.While those operating metrics still matter, Tesla’s valuation dispute is increasingly about more than just vehicles. Investors are also debating robotaxis, autonomous driving, humanoid robots, and energy infrastructure — all themes linked to the bigger AI story.QQQ makes the bet much bigger. The ETF mimics the Nasdaq-100 index and is passively managed, offering investors exposure to many of the industry-leading firms with one investment, Invesco explains. The business also points out that as of March 31, 2026, the ETF was the second most-traded ETF in the U.S. by average daily volume.This means Burry’s QQQ put is not a single-name trade. It represents a broader wager on the growth-stock complex, which AI optimism has buoyed.Michael Burry’s warning is bigger than one stockThe read-through to the public markets is not that investors should mimic Burry’s trades. That could be risky, since shorting is a tough business, and put options might expire worthless. Burry has been early before, but this latest list of targets can’t be ignored.Nvidia revealed an 85% sales increase in its most recent quarter. Applied Materials reported record quarterly sales. SOXX is up roughly 2x year to date, according to 24/7 Wall St. Caterpillar has a true link to AI power infrastructure with a 2-gigawatt generator agreement, Bloomberg Podcasts reported. Tesla is still hitched to hopes of autonomous driving, robotics, and energy storage.Those aren’t broken enterprises, and it’s why the trade is interesting. It looks like Burry is betting that investors have already priced in too much future growth in too many sectors of the market.His shorts now include chips, chipmaking equipment, industrial power, electric cars, and wide tech exposure. Far from an arbitrary basket, it’s a map of the AI rally’s whereabouts.And his warning is clear: If AI risk is so widely dispersed, the rise may be bigger than Wall Street thinks, and more unstable.Related: Michael Burry makes first-ever bet against longtime favorite stock

With long-time Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary long associated with his wit and fiery temper, the larger low-cost airline in Europe has also taken a “talking the shit” strategy to its social media presence over the years.After Elon Musk called O’Leary a “total idiot” to his 223 million followers, Ryanair reciprocated by holding a “Great Idiots” fare sale in honor of Musk throughout January 2026.Other targets of Ryanair’s social media mockery have prereviously included Donald Trump, Sydney Sweeney and Leonardo DiCaprio, British Airways and various British politicians as well as, most frequently, passengers who criticize it for poor service or expect premium features on a low-cost airline.”Can’t wait for the US to lose,” Ryanair trolls Team USA onlineThe latest trolling, however, came down as Team USA was preparing to play a game against Bosnia and Herzegovina for the FIFA World Cup on July 1.”can’t wait for the US to lose to a team they couldn’t find on a map,” the airline wrote on social media platforms Facebook and Threads.Related: Hotel prices have actually fallen in these major citiesThe post was upvoted more than 30,000 times on Threads while another post that came a few hours earlier ribbed at the different way the sport is called in North America.”Dear America, reminder: it’s football, not soccer,” Ryanair wrote in the earlier post that received more than 20,000 likes.The U.S. men’s national soccer team ended up winning the match over the Balkan country 2-0 as the airline faced criticism for taking the ribbing “too far” and alienating American travelers who take it during their travels in Europe.”Dear Ryanair: America is a continent not a country,” reads another most upvoted comment under the post about the name of the sport.

Ryanair regularly leans into sarcasm and self-deprecation for its social media strategy.Mitu/Shutterstock

Ryanair trolls everyone and it’s clearly workingWhile the Irish airline’s trolling went over as too mean-spirited for a large number of commenters, Ryanair has not been discriminatory toward the U.S. When the German team was knocked out of the tournament by a loss to Paraguay on June 29, Ryanair found a post in which German content creator Finn Agostinelli said he was coming to the U.S. to “let the World Cup adventure begin” and reposted it with the quip that it was a “quick adventure.”More Travel News:Airline to launch unusual new flight to Cayman Islands from the U.S.There is a very cool Irish version of swimming pigs in the BahamasUnexpected country is most luxurious travel destination for 2026Low-cost airline launches easier way to get to Sri LankaRyanair also frequently leans into self-deprecation in social media posts where it mocks its own no-frills model and poor reputation. When one traveler asked the airline whether her dad would come back after taking the airline, Ryanair turned the answer of that depending on “whether he booked return” into a viral reel while the hard landings that many travelers complain about are also a running internet joke into which the airline itself regularly leans in.While it is hard to calculate how much going viral online translates into ticket sales, Ryanair’s social media strategy has helped it connect with a new generation of young travelers who are most likely to book a cheaper tickets in exchange for certain comforts and amenities.Related: Airline launches easier way to get to Taiwan from the U.S.

The return of the long-requested Snack Wrap after nearly a decade missing from menus generated strong consumer interest and became part of McDonald’s broader effort to reignite menu momentum. The relaunch sparked strong demand across the U.S., with some restaurants experiencing temporary shortages as customers rushed to order it.But the Snack Wrap revival may only be one part of a much larger strategy.Behind the scenes, McDonald’s has been expanding its chicken ambitions and quietly testing new menu concepts in select markets. Now those efforts are becoming more visible, with a new wave of chicken offerings providing an early look at how the company’s menu strategy could evolve.McDonald’s launches 10 new chicken menu itemsMcDonald’s (MCD) is testing an expanded lineup of chicken products that includes new sandwiches, multiple McCrispy Strips flavors and seasonings, wings, and even a standalone dipping sauce.The items have been appearing at a limited number of Chicago-area restaurants since December 2025, according to food reporter Snackolator. McDonald’s has not disclosed whether the products will become available in other markets or expand nationwide.The lineup features:Chicken SandwichesBBQ Bacon Grilled SandwichMcSpicy Chicken SandwichDeluxe Grilled Chicken SandwichMcCrispy Strips flavorsSweet Chili Glazed McCrispy StripsTeriyaki Glaze McCrispy StripsKickin’ BBQ McCrispy StripsMcCrispy Strips seasoningsSpicy Garlic Seasoned McCrispy StripsSweet Asian Seasoned McCrispy StripsGarlic Parm Seasoned McCrispy StripsWingsMcSpicy Bone-In WingsSauceBig Mac Sauce Dipping CupsIndustry analysts often view broader limited-market tests as a way for restaurant chains to measure demand, gather feedback, and evaluate customization opportunities before committing to wider expansion.While McDonald’s has not publicly detailed the purpose of the test, the breadth of the lineup suggests the company may be exploring not only additional chicken offerings but also more ways for customers to personalize meals.

McDonald’s tests 10 new chicken menu items.YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP via Getty Images

McDonald’s doubles down on chicken growthThe menu tests align with a broader company strategy centered on expanding its chicken business.McDonald’s has increased its chicken offerings across its top 10 markets, with the category now roughly twice the size of its beef business globally. The company has also set a goal to grow chicken by at least 1% by the end of 2026 compared to 2023 levels. During its first-quarter 2026 earnings call, executives said chicken has become a larger category than beef globally and is growing at about double the pace, helping McDonald’s gain market share.”For us, it’s gonna continue to be a point of focus and a point of priority,” said McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski during the earnings call. “When beef prices are as elevated as they are, chicken becomes a much more attractive value opportunity relative to beef.”Kempczinski added that chicken continues to benefit from a stronger cost position and sustained consumer enthusiasm.The strategy also strengthens McDonald’s standing in one of fast food’s most competitive categories, where rivals such as Chick-fil-A have historically maintained higher customer loyalty. In the American Customer Satisfaction Index 2025 Restaurant and Food Delivery Study, Chick-fil-A ranked as the top quick-service restaurant for the 11th consecutive year with a score of 83 out of 100.McDonald’s broader strategy is already showing resultsMcDonald’s has been reorganizing internally to support faster innovation and menu development.In March 2025, the company introduced its Restaurant Experience Team, bringing together operations, supply chain, franchising, development, restaurant design, delivery, and Speedee Labs under one structure to accelerate innovation and improve efficiency. McDonald’s also launched three dedicated global Category Management teams focused on beef, chicken, beverages, and desserts to further specialize product development and respond more quickly to consumer trends.The company says those changes are designed to strengthen execution and maintain momentum across key growth categories.Here’s some of my previous coverage of McDonald’s menu releases:McDonald’s brings back a fan favorite after 34 yearsMcDonald’s brings back Squishmallows for 2026 World CupMcDonald’s unveils 2026 menu as sales reboundEarly financial results indicate the strategy may be gaining traction.During the first quarter of 2026, McDonald’s reported:Revenue increased 9% year over yearOperating income rose 12%Global comparable sales climbed 3.8%U.S. comparable sales were up 3.9%The company said promotions across both beef and chicken helped drive comparable sales growth, while U.S. chicken launches supported share gains in an increasingly competitive category.McDonald’s specifically pointed to full-margin limited-time offerings across beef and chicken as contributors to quarterly performance.”Our value leadership, breakthrough marketing, and menu innovation continue to serve up what customers want,” said Kempczinski.Related: After bankruptcy, iconic seafood chain closes flagship restaurant

Five of the biggest names in American pharma just got a deadline from Washington.The House Select Committee on China sent letters this week to Merck (MRK), AbbVie (ABBV), Eli Lilly (LLY), Pfizer (PFE), and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY), Reuters reported. Lawmakers want each company to explain how it protects data and vets ethics standards at its clinical trial sites in China by July 17. That includes facilities tied to Xinjiang and the Chinese military.Nobody is accused of breaking any law, and the letters say so directly. But they raise a bigger question that outlasts any single hearing. As Chinese hospitals conduct drug trials faster and more cheaply than their U.S. counterparts, does that efficiency come at the cost of exposing American biotech IP to a strategic competitor?As soon as news of the letters spread on Tuesday, June 30, the shares of both Eli Lilly and AbbVie slipped, Reuters confirmed. Investors now have less than three weeks to watch how the five pharmaceutical giants answer to the letters.5 drugmakers have 3 weeks to explain China research collaborationRepresentative John Moolenaar, the Michigan Republican who chairs the committee, sent the first letters to Merck and AbbVie on June 29, according to Reuters. Letters to Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and Bristol Myers Squibb followed within days. The numbers in those letters are specific. Merck has sponsored or collaborated on 224 clinical studies in China since 2005, the committee indicated, including 31in Xinjiang and 40at facilities withChinese military ties. AbbVie’s tally tops 100 studies since 2007, including 17 in Xinjiang and 16 at military-linked centers.More Pharma Stocks:AbbVie’s biggest deal since 2019 could land soonEli Lilly scores a first in major pharma milestoneJPMorgan resets UnitedHealth stock target for 2026The letters expressed that research at Chinese military hospitals “exposes American companies to ethical and security risks.”Merck responded that patient safety and ethical integrity remain central to its research program. AbbVie, whose immunology business is core to its long-term strategy, declined to comment.

The House Select Committee on China sent letters to five pharmaceutical companies this week.d3sign / Getty Images

Wall Street’s reaction was muted, but realWall Street’s reaction to the news was quick. Eli Lilly closed at $1,199.43 on Tuesday, June 30, down 2.48%, and AbbVie dropped 1.05% to $251.64. However, Merck held up better, going down just 0.68% to $128.50, according to CNN Business, although the stock is down 2.44% in today’s trading session,Related: Trump bought these health care stocks in 2026; should you?Wall Street’s minor reaction matches the letters, which stop short of alleging wrongdoing. Still, any hint of scrutiny from Congress tends to rattle health care investors who are already nervous about drug pricing policy and looming patent difficulties.Why so many trials ended up in China in the first placeBy 2024, the U.S. share of global early drug development had fallen to about 37% from 48% in 2015, while China’s share climbed past 32% from just 8%, according to data cited in the committee’s letters. What turned China into one of the fastest-growing markets in the world for early-stage human trials were regulatory reforms, state subsidies, and lower costs.However, that speed has its disadvantages. The letters documented lapses in informed consent at some Chinese trial sites. They also point to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act as the kind of ethical benchmark the industry has largely sidestepped while operating in Xinjiang. The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology also warned in December that China has built a biotechnology ecosystem designed to challenge U.S. leadership outright.A bigger fight over biotech investment is just getting startedMoolenaar and Michigan Democrat Debbie Dingell already introduced the Biotech Investment National Security Act. The Act subjects U.S. pharmaceutical licensing deals with Chinese firms to Treasury Department review, according to the China Select Committee. The bill singles out Pfizer and Bristol Myers Squibb’s recent China deals as exactly what it wants to restrict, Fierce Biotech reported.Key dates to watchJuly 17: Deadline for all five companies to respond in fullOngoing: The Biotech Investment National Security Act awaits a committee vote, with no date scheduled yetNone of this halts trials already underway. It only signals that Washington wants a bigger say in where drugmakers test their next big product. Investors should expect more headlines before the July 17 deadline.Related: Morgan Stanley has a bold message for Johnson & Johnson

Intel stock has had a wild run in 2026, up well over 200% during the first half of the year and trading near all-time highs. As the only U.S. company that both designs and manufactures leading-edge logic chips, Intel is well-positioned to continue reaping the benefits of the AI boom, and its prospects are further bolstered by a partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense and funding from the CHIPS Act. Many of Intel’s competitors, like Micron and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, reward investors by distributing some of their cash to shareholders as quarterly dividend payments (on top of the stock gains minted by increased chip demand). Here’s what you need to know about Intel’s dividend history, future prospects, and spending.Does Intel pay a dividend? Intel does not currently pay a dividend, although it used to. The company paused its dividend beginning with the fourth quarter of 2024, after a prolonged period of decline. As of mid-summer that year, the stock had fallen by around 55% over the previous five years. The company reduced its workforce by 15% around the same time. During an earnings call, former Intel CEO Pat Gelsingershared the news with investors and analysts, saying that the company was “taking the avid step of suspending the dividend at the beginning of the fourth quarter, recognizing the importance of prioritizing liquidity to support the investments needed to execute our strategy.”Nevertheless, he assured shareholders that this would only be a temporary move, giving the company more wiggle room to shore up its financial footing: “We reiterate our long-term commitment to a competitive dividend as cash flows improve to sustainably higher levels.”Intel’s free cash flow has been negative for the last 16 quarters, although it has improved significantly in recent years. When did Intel last pay a dividend?  Intel’s last dividend — $0.125 per share — was paid on September 1, 2024, to shareholders of record as of August 7. The company’s dividend used to be higher, at $0.365 per share, but it was reduced to the $0.125 level in May of 2023. Intel’s recent dividend historyEx-dividend datePayment dateAmount08/07/202409/01/2024$0.125 05/06/202406/01/2024$0.125 02/06/202403/01/2024$0.125 11/06/202312/01/2023$0.125 08/04/202309/01/2023$0.125 05/04/202306/01/2023$0.125 02/06/202303/01/2023$0.365 11/04/202212/01/2022$0.365 08/04/202209/01/2022$0.365 05/05/202206/01/2022$0.365 02/04/202103/01/2022$0.365 11/04/202112/01/2021$0.3475 08/05/202109/01/2021$0.3475 05/-6/202106/01/2021$0.3475 02/04/202103/01/2021$0.3475 Source: IntelWill Intel pay dividends again? When? Despite former CEO Pat Gelsinger’s 2024 assurance about the company’s “long-term commitment to a competitive dividend,” Intel shareholders may be left waiting for quite some time before this happens (although they’ve been handsomely rewarded in the form of massive gains in the company’s stock price).Despite the company’s success and ongoing turnaround under current CEO Lip-Bu Tan, Intel still has plenty to do with its cash before it considers handing it out to shareholders. Under Tan, the company is prioritizing engineering, which means spending plenty of cash on research and development.Beyond the company’s growth-focused spending, it has another reason to hold off on dividends — shoring up its balance sheet. The company currently owes more than $43 billion in long-term debt, and reducing that balance before reinstating dividends would be financially prudent. Back in summer 2025 (before the company’s stock began its massive upward run), the Motley Fool’s Timothy Green wrote that “it will likely be years before the company seriously considers restarting dividend payments to investors.” But while things may have changed for the better since then in terms of Intel’s stock price since then, the company’s capital expenditures remain high as it expands its foundry business, and it will take time for the company to reap the returns from these investments. Barchart’s Mohit Oberoi put it bluntly: “Intel Won’t Resume Dividends Anytime Soon.”Which semiconductor stocks do pay dividends in 2026? Company TickerQuarterly dividendNvidiaNVDA$0.25MicronMU$0.15TSMCTSM$0.96BroadcomAVGO$0.65Texas InstrumentsTXN$1.42QualcommQCOM$0.92