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A new TikTok travel hack has seen holidaymakers being refused onboard their flight, and it’s all to do with how they’re packing their luggage

When it comes to jet-setting, there are specific rules and regulations we must adhere to at the airport, particularly regarding what you can pack and how much is permitted in the UK. However, a recent TikTok trend has resulted in travellers being denied boarding.

The ‘travel packing’ trend has seen a whopping 402 per cent increase in Google searches over the past month alone. Travel packing involves holidaymakers seeking innovative ways to maximise their luggage space – a necessity as budget airlines continue to tighten their baggage allowances. Nonetheless, holiday provider Travel Republic has unveiled some top travel hacks that won’t land you in hot water at the airport this summer.

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So, what’s this TikTok travel hack all about? In 2023, the ‘pillow hack’ was making waves on social media, reports the Express. This crafty trick involved passengers stuffing an empty pillowcase or neck pillow with extra clothes to dodge paying for an additional bag for clothing.

TikToker, @natashaorganic, recently posted a video showing the hack spectacularly backfiring, which has amassed 2.8 million views and nearly 300,000 likes.

The footage depicts a passenger looking rather disgruntled after staff at Orlando International Airport informed them they needed to pay for extra baggage for their pillowcase full of clothes.

This resulted in a dispute with the airport staff, and as the passenger failed to comply with their request, they were subsequently denied boarding and escorted from the gate by airport police.

No traveller would want to invest all that time, money, and effort only to be informed that they cannot board their flight.

Kate Staniforth, head of marketing at Travel Republic, commented: “Whilst many TikTok users have claimed this hack works, unfortunately, this is not always the case and you can be caught out.

“It’s down to the discretion of the airline staff, meaning you could be left with a choice between paying for additional luggage or leaving your items behind.

“You don’t want to risk the enjoyment of going on holiday and having to either leave your possessions or pay for additional luggage at the airport as it is nearly always cheaper to pay for baggage in advance.”

May 30 (UPI) — President Donald Trump on Friday accused China of violating a trade agreement with the United States.

“I made a FAST DEAL with China in order to save them from what I thought was going to be a very bad situation, and I didn’t want to see that happen. Because of this deal, everything quickly stabilized and China got back to business as usual. Everybody was happy! That is the good news!!!,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!”

The president did not specify which trade agreement China was violating.

Just over two weeks ago, the United States and China reached a deal to pause tariffs between the countries for 90 days. China also reduced tariffs on American goods to 10%, down from 125%, while American officials cut tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30% as part of the deal.

Trump in early April announced he would enact tariffs on several countries worldwide. He later upped the number to 145% on China after that country responded to the initial levy with duties of its own on U.S. goods.

China later said it could punish other countries that side with the United States in the trade war.

Earlier this week a federal appeals court blocked the Trump administration from enacting the tariffs on most American trading partners.

“President Trump is carrying out the long-overdue work of rebalancing the global economy to the benefit of the American people,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on X Thursday.

“I am confident that the Chinese, and the rest of our trading partners, will come to the table thanks to his leadership.”

Bessent also called trade talks in general with China “a bit stalled.”

At the time the agreement was reached in Geneva, Switzerland, Bessent said the two sides engaged in “very robust discussions.”

Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer led the American delegation during discussions.

The “United States did exactly what it was supposed to do, and the Chinese are slow rolling their compliance,” Greer told CNBC in an interview Friday.

Google has been back in federal court to fend off the United States Department of Justice’s attempt to topple its internet empire at the same time it is navigating a pivotal shift to artificial intelligence (AI) that could undercut its power.

On Friday, the legal and technological threats facing Google were among the key issues being dissected during the closing arguments of a legal proceeding that will determine the changes imposed upon the company in the wake of its dominant search engine being declared an illegal monopoly by US District Judge Amit Mehta last year.

Brandishing evidence presented during a recent three-week stretch of hearings, Justice Department lawyers are attempting to persuade Mehta to order a radical shake-up that includes a ban on Google paying to lock its search engine in as the default on smart devices and an order requiring the company to sell its Chrome browser.

Google lawyers say only minor concessions are needed, especially as the upheaval triggered by advances in artificial intelligence already are reshaping the search landscape, as alternative, conversational search options are rolling out from AI startups that are hoping to use the Department of Justice’s four-and-half-year-old case to gain the upper hand in the next technological frontier.

Mehta used Friday’s hearing to ask probing and pointed questions to lawyers for both sides while hinting that he was seeking a middle ground between the two camps’ proposed remedies.

“We’re not looking to kneecap Google,” the judge said, adding that the goal was to “kickstart” competitors’ ability to challenge the search giant’s dominance.

After the daylong closing arguments, Mehta will spend much of the next several months mulling a decision that he plans to issue before Labor Day in the US (September 1). Google has already promised to appeal the ruling that branded its search engine as a monopoly, a step it cannot take until the judge orders a remedy.

AI an inflection point

While both sides of this showdown agree that AI is an inflection point for the industry’s future, they have disparate views on how the shift will affect Google.

The Justice Department contends that AI technology by itself will not rein in Google’s power, arguing additional legal restraints must be slapped on a search engine that’s the main reason its parent company, Alphabet Inc, is valued at $2 trillion.

Mehta indicated in court Friday that he was still undecided on how much AI’s potential to shake up the search market should be incorporated in his forthcoming ruling. “This is what I’ve been struggling with,” Mehta said early in the hearing.

Justice prosecutor David Dahlquist urged the judge to issue forward-thinking remedies that would “pry open” the search market to competition and not allow Google to use its search monopoly to unfairly benefit itself in the AI race.

Google has already been deploying AI to transform its search engine into an answer engine, an effort that has so far helped maintain its perch as the internet’s main gateway despite inroads being made by alternatives from the likes of OpenAI and Perplexity.

The Justice Department contends a divestiture of the Chrome browser that Google CEO Sundar Pichai helped build nearly 20 years ago would be among the most effective countermeasures against Google continuing to amass massive volumes of browser traffic and personal data that could be leveraged to retain its dominance in the AI era.

Executives from both OpenAI and Perplexity testified last month that they would be eager bidders for the Chrome browser if Mehta orders its sale.

Google’s lawyer John Schmidtlein said on Friday that AI companies should “get to work” on their own products rather than try to persuade the court to give them unfair access to Google’s innovations.

The debate over Google’s fate also has pulled in opinions from Apple, mobile app developers, legal scholars and startups.

Apple, which collects more than $20bn annually to make Google the default search engine on the iPhone and its other devices, filed briefs arguing against the Justice Department’s proposed 10-year ban on such lucrative lock-in agreements.

Apple told the judge that prohibiting the contracts would deprive the company of money that it funnels into its own research, and that the ban might make Google even more powerful because the company would be able to hold onto its money while consumers would end up choosing its search engine anyway. The Cupertino, California, company also told the judge a ban would not compel it to build its own search engine to compete against Google.

In other filings, a group of legal scholars said the Justice Department’s proposed divestiture of Chrome would be an improper penalty that would inject unwarranted government interference in a company’s business.

Meanwhile, former Federal Trade Commission officials James Cooper and Andrew Stivers warned that another proposal, which would require Google to share its data with rival search engines, “does not account for the expectations users have developed over time regarding the privacy, security, and stewardship” of their personal information.

The App Association, a group that represents mostly small software developers, also advised Mehta not to adopt the Justice Department’s proposed changes because of the ripple effects they would have across the tech industry.

Hobbling Google in the way the Justice Department envisions would make it more difficult for startups to realise their goal of being acquired, the App Association wrote. “Developers will be overcome by uncertainty” if Google is torn apart, the group argues.

AMAZON is now weeks away from shutting down an app that’s been used by hundreds of millions of people.

There are major downsides for affected users – and you might even be owed a big refund.

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Millions of people using the Amazon Appstore will be cut off in mid-August.

The closure affects anyone using the app on Android phones.

Amazon’s Appstore is a rival to the default Google Play Store, letting you download apps and games. It launched on Android all the way back in March 2011.

But on August 20, the Amazon Appstore will close – and any apps downloaded from it will no longer receive updates.

That means support will end for all apps you’ve downloaded via the Amazon Appstore.

They may become buggy or stop work entirely, and won’t be able to receive any important security fixes either.

In an FAQ, Amazon warned that these apps “will not be guaranteed to operate on Android devices”.

Amazon has already begun killing the Appstore off by blocking developers from uploading new apps to it.

That change kicked in on February 20 this year.

ALL CHANGE

Amazon first revealed the closure earlier this year in a dry statement uploaded to its website.

“In our ongoing effort to streamline and improve our services and programs, we are making some changes to Amazon Appstore for Android devices and Amazon Coins program,” Amazon explained.

“We will be discontinuing support of Amazon Appstore for Android devices on August 20, 2025. As of February 20, 2025, developers will no longer have the option to submit new apps targeting Android devices.

“However, developers will have the option to submit updates to their existing live apps on Amazon Appstore for Android devices until August 20, 2025.”

Amazon added: “All existing apps on Amazon Appstore for Android devices will continue to be available to customers until August 20, 2025. Developers can continue to submit app updates until August 20, 2025.”

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It’s worth noting that the Amazon Appstore is only shutting down on Android phones.

The Amazon Appstore was never available on iOS for iPhone, so it can’t disappear because it was never there.

And the Amazon Appstore will still be available on Amazon’s own Fire TVs and Fire Tablets.

ACTION STATIONS

One important step you’ll want to take is reviewing your Amazon Appstore subscriptions.

HOW TO CHECK YOUR AMAZON APPSTORE SUBSCRIPTIONS

Here’s the official advice from Amazon…

Manage Your Appstore Subscriptions from the Amazon Appstore App

Change, update, cancel, or turn off auto-renewals for subscriptions purchased from the Amazon Appstore app.

• 1. Open the Amazon Appstore app
• 2. Tap My Apps
• 3. Tap Subscriptions
• 4. Update your subscription as needed

Manage Your Appstore Subscriptions from the Website

Change, update, cancel, or turn off auto-renewals for subscriptions purchased from the Amazon Appstore app.

• 1. Go to Your Account
• 2. Select Your Apps under Digital content and devices.
• 3. Select Your Subscriptions under Manage.
• 4. Update your subscription as needed.

Picture Credit: Amazon

Make sure to cancel them before the Appstore shuts down on your Android phone.

Just go into the Amazon Appstore app, then choose My Apps > Subscriptions and kill off any remaining memberships you have.

Amazon Coins are also being sunsetted.

These were a special currency used to make purchases on certain apps in the Amazon Appstore.

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You’ll need to use any remaining Amazon Coins by August 20, 2025.

If you have any left over after that date, they’ll be refunded.

Amazon hasn’t said exactly how long this will take, but promised “additional details” at a later date.

You can see your Coins balance by logging into the Amazon Appstore and checking the homepage.

Don’t let this captivating series based on an unbelievable true story fly under the radar

Disney+ is now streaming a six-part series that’s absolutely essential for any fans of Netflix’s hit drama The Queen’s Gambit.

The series starring Anya Taylor-Joy as chess prodigy Beth Harmon captivated millions of viewers during the pandemic and spurred a huge boom in the classic game’s popularity.

Now, the rival streamer has acquired a new drama that originally aired in France last year about an equally gripping chess tournament. The biggest difference? This one’s based on a true story.

Starring Christian Cooke as Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov, this addictive miniseries follows his historic rematch against the first computer to win a game of chess, IBM’s groundbreaking Deep Blue.

Speaking to Express Online about his approach to playing Kasparov, British star Cooke teased the intensity of this incredible true story.

“I equated it to boxing,” he explained. “It really is the same in that it’s one person against another opponent and that’s the kind of mindset.

“With each move you’re kind of sussing your opponent out and trying to lure them in and then jabbing and jabbing and then you go for the kill.

“That was helpful for me, in terms of how he thinks about his opponents and how he might stare them down over the board. Or after a game, you shake hands like boxers who embrace afterwards.”

Elaborating on the challenge on portraying the real life Russian chess pro, Cooke added: “I didn’t want to imitate Garry in any way but I wanted to capture who he was, which is this very focused person with a healthy amount of aggression to succeed and win.

“Or maybe unhealthy, occasionally, but that’s just what it takes to be the top of any discipline, on the top of the tree. You do have to sacrifice a lot and you have to be slightly cutthroat and apologetic and driven, and that’s how he was.”

Disney+ is streaming the series from today (Wednesday, 21st May), but it’s already scored rave reviews from fans who caught the initial release in France last year.

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A five-star review on Google read: “Absolutely amazing. Gripping and exciting until the very last second.”

Another raved: “Captivating. I watched all 6 episodes in one go.”

Someone else gave an ecstatic reaction: “It’s amazing whether you like chess or not, we’re 200% into it.”

An enthusiastic IMDb reviewer called Rematch a “masterpiece”, claiming: “this is [a] high class series.

“Have fun watching it is breathtaking all along the 6 episodes. Interesting high class.

“Worth a 9/10 and up for those who like or don’t like chess you will appreciate it. I watched the 6 [episodes] in a row!!!”

For fans of The Queen’s Gambit – which is pretty much everyone with a Netflix subscription – adding Rematch to the top of your watchlist is an absolute no-brainer.

Rematch is available to stream on Disney+.

Located in the Tendring district of Essex, the beach is a popular spot for both locals and visitors alike with its colourful beach huts, fresh water lido and a range of sports activities

The county of Essex boasts a plethora of beautiful beaches to revel in when the sun makes an appearance, and this one, adorned with vibrant beach huts, impresses time and time again, setting the scene for a splendid day trip.

The rainbow of beach huts at Brightlingsea never fails to pull in the crowds, yet there’s even more to this seaside gem, including a rare freshwater lido and a whole host of watersports on offer. A mere 10 miles from Colchester, you’ve got the option to windsurf, canoe, jet ski, swim and soak up the sun. And for those seeking a more tranquil experience, there are serene pleasure trips on sailing barges too.

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But note, dogs aren’t permitted on the sands. As Essex’s sole Cinque Port, a historical harbour once frequented by monarchs like Edward the Confessor, Brightlingsea is steeped in maritime tradition.

Journey from the harbour office to the marina steps, and you’ll discover a monument commemorating local Olympic hero Reg White, who clinched gold back in ’76.

Originally a vital hub for fishing and shipbuilding, today’s Brightlingsea is a yachting sanctuary, annually playing host to renowned international sailing competitions that draw significant crowds, reports Essex Live.

Mark Frith shared on Google reviews: “First time here and we found it to be a nice quiet place with the most amount of beach huts we have ever seen in one place. It has a Lido, which you don’t see many of these days, which looked well maintained.”

Hans Rol shared his experience online, saying: “My wife and I were pleasantly surprised by the feel, the looks and the warmth of Brightlingsea Beach. There is plenty to see and do, from the beach it is a short walk to the centre of town.”

He was particularly impressed with the beach huts, admitting: “Personally I was taken by the beach huts, beach houses. So much love has gone in to personalising and maintaining these structures. Brightlingsea Beach has it.”

Prem Anand had a similarly positive view, commenting: “Lovely beach for family, had a long walk with our dog and park and activities for kids.. had a lovely day.”

Matthew Barrett also left a rave review: “Lovely day out, nice beach, safe places to swim, couple of food / drink places, kids play area, nice walks, parking is free along in the road or there is a pay and display car park at the end, would definitely recommend.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed slashing funding by 67% for a pioneering deal with Google to support struggling California newsrooms, citing financial pressures that have promoted wider budget cuts.

California newsrooms had expected to receive $30 million from the state as part of a deal brokered last year in which Google and the state would jointly contribute money over five years to support local newsrooms through a News Transformation Fund. The state Department of Finance confirmed Wednesday that California instead will pay out $10 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

“The sole reason for the reduction is more limited/fewer resources than projected in the January budget,” Department of Finance spokesperson H.D. Palmer said.

Newsom announced Wednesday that the state is facing an additional $12-billion budget shortfall next year. The revised $321.9-billion plan will also include a reduction in healthcare for low-income undocumented immigrants and a decrease in overtime hours for select government employees.

The deal was born of negotiations that began with a proposed funding bill written by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), which is known as the California Journalism Preservation Act. It would have required Google to pay into a fund annually that would have distributed millions to California news outlets based on the number of journalists they employ. The California News Publishers Assn., of which the Los Angeles Times is a member, backed the larger effort.

It was designed to aid newspapers that have seen their finances collapse in recent years, leaving fewer journalists to cover institutions and communities.

The proposal was modeled after a Canadian bill that has Google paying about $74 million per year. Google fought the bill, arguing its passage would force the company to remove California news from its platform, thus restricting access for Californians.

Instead, the state and Google agreed in August to provide nearly $250 million to newsrooms over five years, starting in 2025, with funding slated for two projects.

The second initiative was a $68-million pledge for Google to fund artificial intelligence in the form of a National AI Accelerator. The AI funding element of the deal drew sharp rebukes from Democratic lawmakers and journalists.

California had pledged $30 million in 2025 and $10 million for each of the next four years. Google agreed to an initial payment of $15 million in 2025 and $55 million in total into the journalism fund. Google also agreed to boost its own journalism programs with a separate $50-million grant.

As the temperatures are set to get warmer, now is the time to get out into the great outdoors and make the most of the weather.

With the mercury on the rise, it’s the perfect opportunity to embrace the great outdoors and bask in the delightful weather. For those who relish a good stroll, accompanied by tunes, podcasts, or audiobooks, you’ll find that time whizzes by while you’re getting your steps in.

Walking isn’t just a calorie burner; it’s also fantastic for elevating your spirits, enhancing circulation, reducing blood pressure, and increasing your heart rate. Recent findings have pinpointed the UK city that reigns supreme for a leisurely walk. This accolade comes from Injury Claims, who analysed over 200,000 park reviews from 74 key UK cities and towns.

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Hereford emerged victorious, with a plethora of Tripadvisor reviews praising its “relaxing”, “peaceful”, “calm”, and “tranquil” ambiance, earning the city an impressive score of 28.88%.

What is there to do in Hereford?

Nestled in Herefordshire, this cathedral city sits gracefully along the River Wye, a mere 16 miles from the Welsh border. Boasting a population exceeding 53,000, Hereford stands as the largest settlement in Hertfordshire, reports the Express.

The city’s crown jewel for nature lovers is Weir Garden, celebrated for its lush woodlands and immaculate gardens. As a proud part of the National Trust, it boasts a stellar 4.5 rating on Google.

Some visitors have left glowing reviews about the beauty of the gardens. One enthused: “Beautiful gardens in any weather, the area down by the river is stunning, also from the top of the hill, the view of the river is great for any photographer.”

Another shared their serene experience: “A quiet walk round the gardens for a moment of reflection. Lovely views from the top of the gardens, looking down to the river Wye.

“Quite a few families with their children and people with their dogs, which was lovely to see.” And another commented on their recent visit: “Had a lovely walk here last weekend, really beautiful views of the river and the gardens.

“I also really loved the walled garden here too, lots of plants and vegetables being grown that you can look at as well as a greenhouse you can go in.” Castle Green is another recommended spot – it’s a public park set on the old grounds of Hereford Castle and entry won’t cost you a penny.

This park boasts a stellar 4.4 rating on Google, with one visitor remarking: “Lovely spot on a sunny day. Gardens well tended. Stroll along the River Wye, or walk over the bridge into the bigger King George V Playing fields.

“Huge space, great for picnics, games, relaxing.” Yet another said: “A lovely place to chill out in the sun! Very beautiful.”

And a third added: “Lovely area to relax with a picnic etc. Grassed area where you can sit or play games. Path that goes around the outside so good for jogging.”

They also highlighted its convenience: “Ideally situated as close to town and also other places like swimming pool and Bishops Meadow.”

How to get to Hereford

If you’re planning a road trip from London, it’s a journey of roughly four hours covering 135 miles – though do bear in mind that traffic could add to your travel time.

For those setting off from other major cities, the distances are considerably less: Birmingham is just 58 miles away, Cardiff is a mere 56 miles, and Manchester is a bit further at 138 miles.

Public transport links are also plentiful. Direct trains run daily to Hereford, Ledbury and Colwall from Birmingham New Street Station, and there’s a regular service between Manchester and Cardiff.

And for those in the capital, direct trains from London Paddington to Hereford will get you there in about three hours.

Here are the top 10 places to go for a walk, according to Injury Claims:

• Hereford
• Bristol
• Lincoln
• Milton Keynes
• Oxford
• Gloucester
• Swansea
• Carlisle
• Warrington
• Newcastle upon Tyne