Viral

A travel consultant has shared the best times you should travel to Italy if you’re not bound by things like school holidays – and you may be shocked to hear when she recommends

A travel consultant has shared when the best time to go to Italy is if you “have control over your dates,” and it won’t be when you think. Jenna, who posts on TikTok as @italy.with.jenna, shared that the “best time to go to Italy is when you can,” but if you can choose the dates and want good weather with fewer crowds, she shared her intel.

First, she said that her “most favourite” time to go to Italy is “mid-September through early November, so basically in October or either end of that”. She also said that she loves Italy “well into November” but, for most people, the weather gets a bit “cool” for them to enjoy a holiday there.

“That being said, the other window I would look at is early to mid-March into mid-May,” she shared, saying that both of these time frames have “nice temperatures”.

Jenna said there was a “little risk of rain,” but at least most of the things you can do “would be open”.

She said if you’re “going to a main tourist destination like the Amalfi Coast,” it’s important that you note it “shuts down from the end of October through early April” so, if you go, expect lots of things to be closed.

“But Rome, Florence, Venice, any of the cities or any of the main areas, everything’s open for the bulk of it,” Jenna explained.

She then shared the “worst times” to go, in her opinion, because she “hates the heat” and also isn’t a fan of crowds. “So, for me, mid-June to early September is off the table unless I absolutely need to go,” Jenna said.

She continued: “I hate being in Italy in the summer, July and August, I think [are the worst months to go] August definitely being one of the worst months”.

Jenna also shared that Italians tend to take “their big holidays” during those months too, and this means that things can be “shut down”.

She said that this advice was just for “general travel in Italy,” saying that “these are really nice ranges for people”.

In the comments, someone wrote: “Winter, I spent the best time in Italy, going to several different cities. No tourists! You should’ve seen Piazza San Marco , not a soul in sight. It was heaven.”

Another added: “I’m flying out tomorrow. Unfortunately, with my sister being bound to school holidays, this was about the only time. Hopefully won’t be a problem next year though”.

“I went during March this year, and it was PERFECT. So much less busy,” a woman gushed in agreement.

Of course, when you decide to go to Italy is completely personal, and depends on the weather you prefer, and whether or not you mind the crowds.

Just in case anyone might have wondered whether there was any lingering animosity between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka after their French Open final, the two tennis stars offered proof that all is well by dancing together at Wimbledon and posting videos on social media.

A day after dancing together on the  Centre Court, the two tennis players faced more questions on Saturday about the aftermath of Sabalenka’s comments right after the final, when she said her loss had more to do with her own mistakes than Gauff’s performance.

The Belarusian later said her comments were “unprofessional”, but not before she faced some major backlash from fans and pundits, especially in the United States.

“TikTok dances always had a way of bringing people together,” Sabalenka wrote on her Instagram feed below a clip of the duo showing off their moves on the Centre Court grass to the strains of the 1990 hit Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) by C+C Music Factory.

Gauff, a frequent TikTok user, put up a video of the pair standing together and mouthing along to a track with the words: “OK, guys, we’re back. Did you miss us? ’Cause we missed you.”

“The olive branch was extended and accepted! we’re good so you guys should be too,” she wrote.

Pretty iconic 😎#Wimbledon | @SabalenkaA | @CocoGauff pic.twitter.com/biHPvsSaBR

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 27, 2025

‘Hakuna Matata and be happy’

Now, with Wimbledon about to start, Gauff is hoping everyone else can also forget what the top-ranked Sabalenka said.

“I’m not the person that will fuel hate in the world,” said Gauff, who opens her Wimbledon campaign against Dayana Yastremska on Tuesday. “I think people were taking it too far … It was just really targeting and saying a lot of things that I felt were not nice. I didn’t want to fuel that more.”

Sabalenka, who faces Carson Branstine on court number one on Monday, said she hopes the TikTok video shows that all is well between the two.

“We are good, we are friends,” the three-time major winner said. “I hope the US media can be easy on me right now.”

Sabalenka reiterated that she never meant to offend Gauff.

“I was just completely upset with myself, and emotions got over me,” she said. “I just completely lost it.”

Gauff did acknowledge that she was initially tempted to hit back publicly at Sabalenka, who said the American “won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all of those mistakes from … easy balls.”

Gauff also said she was slightly surprised that it took a while for Sabalenka to reach out to apologise. But once that happened, the American was quick to bury any grudge.

“I preach love, I preach light,” Gauff said. “I just want us to be Kumbaya, live happily, Hakuna Matata [“no worries” in Swahili], and be happy here.”

Other players were also pleased to see the top two women’s players getting along again.

“I’m happy to see that they turned the page about it,” said Frances Tiafoe, who is seeded 12th in the Wimbledon men’s bracket. “That’s the biggest thing, because they’re the best players in the world. So those relationships you kind of need.”

Then the American added with a laugh, “But also it wouldn’t be too bad if they were also back-and-forth. That’d kind of be cool if they kind of didn’t like each other.”

Gauff vs Sabalenka head-to-head

Three-time Grand Slam champion’s loss to Gauff in Paris followed her loss to the American in the US Open final in 2023, and she trails their head-to-head 6-5.

Asked whether she would relish the chance to avenge the loss by beating Gauff in the Wimbledon final, she sounded unsure.

“I don’t know, in this case, maybe I don’t want to see Coco if I make it to the finals. But if she’s going to be there, I’m happy because I want to get the revenge!”

A jovial Sabalenka was joined for the last minute of her media address by seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic, with whom she said she had a long chat this week after hitting with the Serb on the grass.

“Novak is the best. First of all, I was able to hit with him. Then you can chat with him. He will give his honest advice,” she said. “It’s amazing to hear the opinion of such a legend. We were just chatting about stuff that I’m struggling a little bit [with]. I’m really thankful for the advice he gave me.”

A woman was left almost crying as she was told she may not be able to make her journey to Paris as there was something wrong with her passport – but she had no idea there was a problem

A woman was left almost sobbing as she realised she’d made a big passport mistake when she was travelling from Sydney to Paris. Jane Lu was trying to board her flight with a passport she’d recently used on two trips to America when she was told that she may not be able to fly due to there being something wrong with it.

Over the top of the video, she wrote: “Help?! Has anyone ever had this happen?” as she explained the situation to her followers. Jane explained that she couldn’t get onto her flight because staff told her her passport was invalid due to “water damage”.

“They’re saying that I’m flying by China, and they might not let me through, and Paris might not let me through, but I’ve already flown twice with this passport to the US,” she seethed, almost in tears.

She said that because she’d gone to America twice on the passport when it was damaged, she “didn’t think it would be a problem”.

In a follow-up video, Jane explained that she had to “sign a waiver” that said if she got turned away in Paris, she’d have to make the journey back to Australia, so she was nervous about what would happen, because she had an over-24-hour journey ahead of her.

She said that she hoped they’d be “super chill” as she arrived in Paris, and it turned out they were, as she managed to get in and could complete her business trip successfully.

In the comments, someone wrote: “I think the people at the check-in in Australia are just way too thorough. This happened to my sister. They told her she had to board the flight at her own risk as her passport had a water stain. But when we landed in Singapore, they did not even notice”.

Another defended the airport, however, saying “border security is paramount”. A woman warned her to “apply for a new passport” and to ensure she “keeps it perfect,” rather than allowing it to get water-damaged.

“What I wanna know, how do SO many people get water damage on their passports? Are ya’all taking them for a swim?” someone fumed.

A travel agent shared her advice, penning: “Travel agent here – a passport is a legal document, so, therefore, it must not have any damage. If an airline sends you to a place and you are denied entry, they receive a massive fine.

“Also, you can be detained on arrival for having a damaged passport. Much better to be denied here than to be put in jail or be turned around at the other end. If it’s damaged, it needs to be replaced.

“Some countries take this pretty seriously. I had a customer detained when their family went overseas and their kid spilt water on their passport and risked it. It’s not about intention, it’s about being safe”.

According to My British Passport, if a passport is too damaged, then the owner of the passport may not be able to fly. They share that the extent of the damage determines whether it can still be used.

Minor wear and tear might be acceptable, but if the passport cannot be read or the chip is damaged, boarding may be denied.

According to the Post Office, the HM Passport Office classifies a passport as damaged if the following conditions are met: the details are indecipherable, the laminate has lifted enough to allow the possibility of photo substitution and the bio-data page is discoloured.

Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati is being treated in hospital for viral meningitis.

The 27-year-old, who has won the Ballon d’Or for the past two years, missed the 3-1 friendly win over Japan in Leganes, Spain, on Friday.

Euro 2025 in Switzerland starts on Wednesday and Spain play Portugal in their opening Group B game in Bern on Thursday.

Bonmati, who also won the Fifa women’s player of the year award in 2023 and 2024, shared a picture on Instagram of herself watching the Japan match from a hospital bed.

She did not train on Thursday and was taken to a hospital in Madrid on Friday with doctors from the Spanish Football Federation, who later confirmed the diagnosis., external

“Talking about meningitis can be scary but it is controlled,” said coach Montse Tome.

Packing for a weekend getaway can be a struggle when you’re trying to keep costs low – but one woman has shared a simple trick to avoid paying cabin bag fees

We all want to score the best deals when jetting off to soak up some sun abroad.

But with major airlines cracking down on luggage allowances, packing for a quick weekend getaway has become tricky — and often expensive — especially when you’re trying to keep costs low.

Luckily, one savvy traveller has shared a clever hack that lets you avoid paying for a cabin or underseat bag altogether.

If you’ve already visited far-flung places like Australia or South America, chances are you might already own the perfect item for this trick.

Instead of splashing out on an extra carry-on, TikToker Nina Edwine showed how much you can actually fit inside an empty travel pillow cover.

READ MORE: Influencer’s travel hack gets you an entire row of seats on plane to yourself

Not only does this keep your clothes safe, but the packed pillow also doubles as a comfy cushion for those long flights. Don’t be fooled by its small size — Nina stuffed the pillow with plenty of clothes.

In her video, the German traveller unpacks a non-padded bra, a strappy dress, multiple tops, a stunning red co-ord, and more — totalling ten pieces of clothing.

She revealed that this stash was enough to put together “more than six” different outfits.

Proud of her budget-friendly hack, Nina said: “Smart trick to avoid paying 50 euros (£42) for cabin luggage.”

While some airlines allow a small free cabin bag, their size restrictions often aren’t enough — making this hack a game-changer.

The clip has gone viral, racking up over 2.6 million views on TikTok, with more than 75,000 likes and nearly 1,900 comments.

“This is actually genius, for real,” one user commented, liked over 4,100 times.

Another was amazed: “Wait, you fit so much stuff in there!”

A third said: “Legendary… how have I never thought of this?”

And one more chimed in: “Love doing this — it saves so much space.”

One fashion-savvy viewer added: “One of those Uniqlo crossbody bags fits loads. Wear it under your coat with a scarf to hide the strap.”

It comes after another influencer shared a simple trick that will help you get an entire row to yourself on your next flight.

Maddie revealed she had signed up for a service called Neighbour Free when she flew with Etihad. In a video posted to her social media platforms, she explained: “I bid on the seats next to me on the plane, and if the flight isn’t completely full when I board, I get the whole row to myself. It’s basically like Business Class in Economy. I can lie down, sleep, all that.”

The content creator was “excited” to discover she had “won” the seats, meaning she had the entire row to herself. Maddie managed to sleep for eight of the 13.5-hour long-haul flight.

When asked how much this luxury had cost her, Maddie revealed in the comments section of her video that she had paid £200 to upgrade to three seats. In response to a suggestion that it might have been cheaper to upgrade to Business Class, she retorted: “Business Class upgrade would have cost £1,900++.”

READ MORE: Hair loss sufferer says hairdresser ‘couldn’t believe’ growth with 55p-per-day supplement

Vik shared a video online in which he revealed his friend Ethan decided to buy every single scratch card he could on board a Ryanair flight, but it didn’t quite go to plan

In a shocking twist of fate, a man who splurged on hundreds of scratch cards during a Ryanair flight was left absolutely stunned by the outcome. The social media-savvy traveller, Vik, took to TikTok to share his friend Ethan’s experience with his followers after he decided to purchase every scratch card available on their flight, but couldn’t believe how it turned out.

In a viral clip that has stunned people, Vik spoke out about their high-altitude gamble, saying: “We are here on Ryanair and this man Ethan has bought every single scratch card on the flight. I’ve opened about 100 scratch cards, I’ve been opening these one at a time.

“We have not won a single thing. We have won nothing – no one has won anything. I’ll keep you guys posted.”

The video then captures their unique airborne endeavour as it unfolds, with Ethan snapping up a staggering 68 packets of cards. Despite an enthusiastic scratching effort from fellow passengers roped into the spree, not even a minuscule win was scratched up.

At one point, the frustration is palpable as a voice can be heard exclaiming: “No one won anything.” Vik lamented further: “You’re supposed to match three – I can’t even match two. We’ve lost again.”

The surprising result left them and viewers alike in disbelief that not even a modest prize made its way to their row.

Since the video was shared, it has garnered thousands of views and sparked a flurry of comments. One viewer joked: “100% they won’t allow mass buying on the flight again, lol.”

Another claimed to be a Ryanair cabin crew member, stating: “I am cabin crew for Ryanair and there is so much more that you don’t know. They can’t sell you that many. There is a limit spend per passenger. Cabin crew in trouble!”

Others chimed in, with one wondering: “I wonder how many people have ever won money on those.”

A fourth commenter shared their own experience, saying: “I remember winning like £26 of on board vouchers. When asking to buy something, I heard the cabin crew say ‘someone’s actually won’. That’s how slim your odds are.”

The controversy surrounding Ryanair’s scratch cards is not new. A 2016 report revealed that winners of the jackpot are entered into a separate draw for the chance to win the €1million prize.

The winner must then select from 125 envelopes, with only one containing the top prize. At the time, Ryanair noted that other envelopes contain €50,000, and that one car a month is won in the draw, along with other cash prizes up to €5,000.

The odds of winning the jackpot were reported to be around 1.2billion to one. To give you a sense of the odds, winning the Lotto is said to be a 10.7million to one shot, while the EuroMillions odds are a staggering 139.8million to one.

With the National Lottery, you’re only allowed to buy 10 scratch cards in a single transaction, but it’s not clear how many you can purchase with Ryanair. The company has been asked to comment.

If gambling is causing you or someone else distress, visit GambleAware for assistance and support.

Harry Poulton lives in Benidorm, Spain, and has said there are some activities aimed at tourists that he would never spend his money on – including one he ‘regrets’ doing

For some, going on holiday is just about lounging in the sun and reading a good book, but for others, no trip is complete without taking in all the sights and getting stuck into some activities you’d never do at home. How you choose to spend your holiday is up to you, but one Benidorm local has urged people to consider how they spend their money.

Benidorm, a Spanish resort town in Alicante, is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Brits looking to soak up the sunshine. But if you’re planning on heading there this summer, a British man who has moved out there permanently has said there are some tourist attractions he would never waste his money on – and he would urge others to steer clear, too.

Harry Poulton, known on TikTok as Harry Tokky, claimed there’s plenty to love about Benidorm, but there are some activities on offer that are too expensive for what you get, as you could have a better experience elsewhere for cheaper.

First up on his list, Harry took aim at party boat trips. He said it was “absolutely awful” when he tried it out, and for the 300-400 euros it usually costs, you could have much more fun “getting absolutely hammered” in a pub.

He said: “Absolutely awful. I couldn’t think of anything worse than spending three or four hours in the middle of the ocean getting absolutely hammered.

“I’d much rather save the 300 or 400 euros and get hammered in an actual bar on land here in Benidorm. Definitely one to avoid in my opinion.”

Harry also told tourists to skip the banana boating if they already have sunburn. He said the inflatable banana-shaped boats are “great fun” for most people, but if you’re “red raw with sunburn” you should definitely consider doing something else.

He added: “Take it from me – don’t go on a banana boat if you’re red raw with sunburn. It’s the worst thing you can ever do. It’s so painful. They’re great fun, but if you’re a wimp like me, you don’t want to be going around on one when you get a sunburn – trust me.

“You’ll regret it the next day.”

And as for the activity that Harry would describe as the “worst money” he’s ever spent, the Benidorm local admitted it was parasailing – and it’s something he’ll never do again.

He noted: “I’m speaking from experience. That was the worst water sports I have ever done in my whole entire life. Fifteen minutes of pure hell. It was awful.

“I was up there throwing up, begging to come down, and no one would get me down because they couldn’t hear a word I was saying. If you’re scared of heights or if you get seasick, I would avoid parasailing. It’s the worst money I have ever spent.”

Harry regularly shares his travel tips on social media, but some commenters have been less convinced about his activity recommendations.

One person argued that parasailing is “fantastic fun,” while another called Harry a “fun sponge” for criticising several popular attractions around Benidorm.

No matter what activities you choose to do on holiday, it’s always worth doing your research into the activity itself and any past reviews before you part with any money.

A new Bitcoin Layer-2 project is going viral with a bold claim: sub-second transactions at a fraction of today’s fees.

Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER) has already raised over $1.5 million during its presale, with demand increasing daily.

Could this be the catalyst that finally unlocks Bitcoin’s full potential?

What Is Bitcoin Hyper & What Does It Actually Do?

It’s a Layer-2 network that makes BTC usable for everyday tasks – payments, apps, and more.

Instead of waiting around for minutes and paying several dollars per transfer on Bitcoin’s main chain, you can send wrapped BTC on Hyper in under a second.

Here’s how it works: you lock your BTC on Bitcoin’s base layer through something called the “Canonical Bridge” smart contract.

This triggers the creation of an equal amount of wrapped BTC (wBTC) on Hyper.

From there, you can trade, spend, or use that wBTC in apps just like you would on Solana – because Bitcoin Hyper uses the Solana Virtual Machine.

Every batch of transactions on Hyper is bundled, verified using zero-knowledge technology, and then anchored back to Bitcoin for final settlement.

That means no middlemen and no compromise on decentralization.

Analyst Umar Khan from 99Bitcoins called it one of the “best crypto presales to buy” for this exact reason.

HYPER Token Presale Ramps Up as Staking Rewards Draw Attention

The Bitcoin Hyper presale is picking up momentum, rolling past $1.5 million just weeks after going live.

Currently, HYPER tokens are priced at $0.012 each – but that won’t last.

The presale uses a stage-based model, where each funding milestone triggers an automatic price bump.

You can buy HYPER using BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, BNB, or even a debit card.

And the team recommends using Best Wallet for smoother purchasing and staking.

Presale investors can even stake their HYPER tokens immediately and earn yields of 504% per year.

That’s far higher than the market average, although the yield will naturally drop as more people stake and the reward pool becomes more widely distributed.

Looking ahead, Bitcoin Hyper’s roadmap shows the mainnet going live in Q3, followed by the Token Generation Event and DEX listing.

CEX listings are planned for Q4, with complete DAO governance handover targeted for early 2026.

Why Bitcoin Hyper Could Transform Bitcoin Forever

Bitcoin moves billions of dollars in value daily, but it’s still limited to processing just 3-5 transactions per second with ten-minute block times.

That’s perfectly fine for storing value – Bitcoin’s “digital gold” reputation isn’t going anywhere.

But if BTC wants to power DeFi, gaming, or everyday payments, it needs an infrastructure upgrade.

Layer-2 solutions like Bitcoin Hyper tackle this issue head-on.

By shifting heavy computational tasks off-chain, it can clear up Bitcoin’s bottlenecks.

Transactions are processed in parallel on a high-speed Layer-2 network using Solana’s proven tech stack.

This allows for sub-second confirmations, virtually zero fees, and room for developers to build real-world dApps on Bitcoin.

What’s great is that none of this sacrifices what makes Bitcoin so popular.

The Canonical Bridge locks real BTC, creates a 1:1 wrapped version on Hyper, and allows users to move back at any time.

Transactions on Bitcoin Hyper get bundled, validated with zero-knowledge proofs, and posted back to Bitcoin’s base chain for final confirmation.

Compare this to the Lightning Network, which lacks smart contracts, or Stacks, which has slow block times, and Bitcoin Hyper’s value proposition becomes clear.

It’s aiming for the sweet spot: matching Solana’s speed and flexibility while keeping the trust and security that Bitcoin users want.

If this approach gains traction, we could see HYPER explode after listing.

Visit Bitcoin Hyper Presale

This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide financial advice. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and the market can be unpredictable. Always perform thorough research before making any cryptocurrency-related decisions.

From hiding in Auschwitz to vlogging in war zones, some Gen Z travellers are going to extreme lengths to secure content for social media as part of a growing dark tourism trend

Dark tourism is one of the most popular niches for young travellers. As stories emerge of tourists eating sandwiches on Holocaust tours and fraternising with global terror organisations, it provokes the question: is it ethical?

Defined by darktourism.com as tourism that involves travelling to sites that include death and disaster, it’s been widely expanded to include locations linked with unscrupulous figures and unpleasant events like incarceration. According to a 2022 Travel News survey found, a staggering 91% of Gen Z (13-28 year olds) have engaged in the activity in some form.

And if we’re talking about popular dark tourist sites, few places get darker than Auschwitz. It’s the most impelling legacy of the Holocaust, the twentieth century’s most obliterating tragedy. In the five years that it was active over 1.1 million people lost their lives, of which one million were Jewish. It’s also become an increasingly popular tourist destination.

Over 1.8 million people visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum in 2024, a 10 per cent rise compared to 2023. And while these numbers are lower than the pre-Pandemic high of 2 million, the museum puts this down to the current conflicts in Russia-Ukraine and the Middle East.

READ MORE: What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done on holiday? Once I broke into someone else’s home

Beverley Boden is a PhD researcher in the field of dark tourism and associate dean at Teesside University International Business School, who happens to spend a lot of her time at Auschwitz. Part of what fascinates her is what motivates people to visit these destinations, as well as the toll it takes on the tour guides.

Recently she’s also noticed a definite increase in interest in dark tourism from a crowd with two specific characteristics. Firstly, they tend to be predominantly young: 16 – 24. Secondly, there’s a lot of people who haven’t fully done their research.

Beverley explains: “When you’re at a place like Auschwitz, you see how disrespectful some tourists can be. They take calls when the guides ask them not to, eat food when the guides ask them not to. They take inappropriate pictures. They go into places that they shouldn’t.”

In one instance she recalls observing two young tourists hide behind the camp’s ovens, in gas chamber number one, and a tour guide had to plead with them to stop.

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Another time, a man pulled out a sandwich and began eating it outside of block number 10, while the guide recounted the intentional genital mutilation of women to end the Jewish race.

It’s not just Auschwitz either. Beverley says she’s also noticed an interest in Chernobyl, another quintessential dark tourist destination. While the Russia-Ukraine war has made visitor numbers hard to discern, the location of one of the world’s most terrifying nuclear tragedies has long drawn a mass appeal.

As for why she believes that these destinations have taken off with a wider audience, including those who haven’t done as much research, Beverley points to several theories. One is the wild popularity of recent shows, like Netflix’s Dark Tourist, which aired in 2018 and which sees the host travel to a plethora of unlikely destinations, from haunted forests to Jeffrey Dahmer’s hometown.

From her own experience, she admits there is also a level of “morbid curiosity” in seeing places associated with destruction and death. For the upcoming generation, too, who haven’t known a world without Internet, there is a desire to “push the boundaries”.

However, another, potentially more worrying facet of dark tourism, Beverley explains, includes visiting active or recent conflict zones.

Pursuit of the perfect selfie

Travel vloggers like Miles Routledge, Mike Okay and @josievlogsthings have gone viral – and caused controversy – over recent years for their visits to locations like Mauritania, Iraq and Afghanistan. These countries all have UK FCDO travel advisories and some are currently caught in active wars or are being run by governments with questionable human rights records.

Whether borne out of a genuine interest, or something ulterior, the audience’s intrigue is undeniable: many of these videos gain millions of views. After all, is your travel content really that engaging if you haven’t taken a selfie with the Taliban? As travel YouTuber Miles Routledge claimed to have done, after being held in custody by the Taliban in 2023.

While there’s no explicit link, the rise of these social media vlogs has correlated with an increase in real-world visitor stats. In 2023, over 5,200 tourists visited Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the Iraqi government documented a record 500-plus US and European tourists visiting the country in 2024.

One such visitor was Xiaochen Su, a Chinese-American digital nomad currently based in Malta. He was backpacking through the Middle East when he spotted a connecting flight to Baghdad and thought, “why not one more country?” When he landed he didn’t know what to expect.

“I heard about Baghdad so much on the news back when the war was still happening. I just wanted to see what the current situation was like,” he says.

Iraq is on the FCDO Do Not Travel list, which advises against all travel to many parts of the country due to a high threat of terrorism. It has suffered through decades of conflict that has resulted in over 200,000 casualties between 2003-2022, according to the online database Iraq Body Count. Xiaochen remembers being taken aback by the dilapidated buildings, including main shopping streets left shuttered and in ruins.

But what also struck him was how warmly he was treated. “People would come up to me and say ‘hey’. We had difficulty communicating, but people were nice,” he says. Ultimately, cities like Baghdad, stages for recent and devastating wars, are places where hundreds of thousands of people still live and work.

This is true for many of these dark tourist adventures. Often these places that hold salacious intrigue for dark tourists are homes, memorials, or even ancestral graves for others. Visiting such locations can be educational, if done respectfully.

“A lot of people think that even traveling as a dark tourist is unethical,” Beverley says. “But I think one of the great things about dark tourism is that it does shine a light on historical events. It can educate the younger generation because lessons can be learned.”

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FX and Disney+’s The Bear is back for a fourth season and foodies will be treated to more delightful looking dishes as well as hard-hitting stories in the psychological comedy-drama

Food fans get ready as the psychological comedy-drama The Bear series four hits our screens today. After breaking global streaming records, the hit Disney+ offering will get straight into it with the fallout from the Chicago Tribune’s review of eatery.

And while the show starring Jeremy Allen White is certainly about more than just culinary delights, the chance for this always-hungry reporter to try some of the viral sensations from the hit series was something my belly couldn’t say no to.

In the FX and Disney+ show, viewers watch White portray the role of a young chef called Carmy come from the fine dining world and return home to Chicago following a death to run his family sandwich shop. And it was one of those dishes that allowed me to tickle my taste buds.

Carmy may be a world away from what he is used to by running his business in the drama, but let’s just say cooking isn’t my forte either. And while an award-winning chef I am most certainly not, I was left craving a trip to Chicago to try the real deal after the three dishes I whipped up.

For this extremely basic cook, a Chicago-Style Steak Sandwich and Fries was the clear winner. As part of Gousto’s The Bare limited edition package, which helps recreate the show’s most viral dishes, I knew I was onto a winner when I first saw it.

“Can’t handle the heat? Go easy!” was the warning on the handy step-by-step guide. Challenge accepted! In it all went to hopefully pack a punch. While there was definitely a kick, it was just right – without sounding like one of the three bears.

TikTok feeds have been overflowing with takes on this iconic Chicago Beef Sandwich and it’s clear to see why. Recreating the Italian beef sandwich by moodily frying tender steak with green peppers and smothering in a savoury jus reduction left little to be desired.

Loading it handsomely into a soft baguette and serve with home-cooked fries and dip. Let’s just say it’s a big fat yes from me.

The other dishes up for grabs were THAT Crispy Omelette that got viewers drooling. It might have divided viewers in episode nine, but it got an impressive thumbs up from yours truly.

Stuffed full of garlic and herb soft cheese and topped with crisps for crunch, it’s safe to see why viewers became obsessed.

To finish on a hat-trick of culinary delights (not all in one sitting!) was a family spaghetti with cheesy garlic bread. While I might not have had the presentation of a well-run Chicago restaurant, I was able to capture the spirit and soul of Chicago cooking right here in my North East home.

And let’s face it, it all went down the gullet in prompt fashion anyway!

It’s safe to that while a career change is definitely not on the horizon, these dishes were a huge success and left me wondering what delicacies might come from season four.

Exclusively available until 15th July, ‘The Bare’ range includes three limited-edition recipes and also helps Trussell support families who’d otherwise go without the bare essentials this summer.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Bitcoin has hit $105,000 less than 48 hours after tapping $98,900, reflecting a growing sense of optimism among investors today.

The market rally comes as Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, and crypto prices have risen across the board as a result.

As Bitcoin surges, a new Bitcoin-themed meme coin called BTC Bull Token (BTCBULL) is gaining momentum in its presale, having raised over $7.3 million so far.

With less than a week to go in the presale, BTCBULL is shaping up to be one of 2025’s hottest new coins. The project will release Bitcoin airdrops when BTC hits new all time highs, fueling excitement among investors.

Bitcoin Rallies 3.8% on Ceasefire Announcement, Rate Cut Hopes

Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller says that rate cuts could be implemented in July to address the US’s weakening labor market. He also cited that inflation is under control, which is what the Fed has been holding off on thus far.

Lower interest rates have historically been beneficial for risk markets, prompting investors to shift away from risk-off assets, such as treasuries, and into risk-on assets, like stocks, commodities, and digital assets.

Coupled with what appears to be cooling tensions in the Middle East, this creates a favorable environment for the growth of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin currently trades at $105,300 and is up 3.8% today. It remains down 0.5% this week, 1.8% this month, and 5.95% from its May 2025 all-time high (ATH).

There has been a 7% surge in Bitcoin’s trading volume today, taking it to $67.2 billion.

Analyst Says Bitcoin to Reclaim M2 Trajectory

Considering its strength in recent days, this certainly can’t be ruled out. However, as Bitcoin shows promising potential, analysts have pointed to the new Bitcoin-themed meme coin, BTC Bull Token, as an alternative for those seeking to maximize their gains.

Viral Presale $BTCBULL Raises $7.3M as Analyst Forecasts 10X ROI

BTC Bull Token is a Bitcoin-themed meme coin that will airdrop its holders real Bitcoin at key price milestones.

The first airdrop will occur when Bitcoin hits $150,000, and another will follow at $200,000. There’ll also be a $BTCBULL airdrop when Bitcoin reaches $250,000.

This airdrop mechanism directly ties BTC Bull Token to Bitcoin’s performance. And not only that, but it also creates an environment in which there will be minimal willing sellers.

As such, incoming demand will be concentrated in a small pool of tokens, which could cause the $BTCBULL price to skyrocket.

Analyst Jacob Bury recently said it could give 10x gains and that it might even be the best cryptocurrency to buy now.

The project is currently undergoing a presale. It has raised $7.3 million to date, demonstrating strong market appeal.

However, the presale will end in just six days, leaving investors with limited time to secure the current fixed and discounted price.

Visit BTC Bull Token Presale

This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide financial advice. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and the market can be unpredictable. Always perform thorough research before making any cryptocurrency-related decisions.

When heading out and about, it is important to be vigilant and keep yourself and your belongings safe. One woman has come up with a hack to keep bags protected

Exploring bustling city centres or jetting off around the globe can be thrilling, but beware the pitfalls of tourist hotspots. These areas are magnets for petty crime, with purse snatching, pickpocketing, and phone theft all too common, potentially ruining your day out.

To dodge these crafty criminals, always zip up your bags in crowded spots. Many modern bags feature inner pockets that offer extra protection for your valuables. But here’s a nifty £1 trick to boost your bag’s security even further.

A savvy woman has revealed a simple yet effective method to thwart thieves from silently unzipping your bag. All it takes is a basic hair clip. The brains behind Lulu Gigi accessories took to Instagram to demonstrate this anti-theft tactic.

The post declared: “Point of view: you found a way to protect yourself from pickpockets.” In a brief video, she displays how to secure a belt bag – a favourite for festival-goers, holidaymakers, and party animals – using a charming blue flower claw clip.

For added safety, she threads one of the clip’s ‘claws’ through the zipper’s metal loop. This small act could buy you precious time to catch a thief in the act, as they struggle to undo the clip.

This clever method could be the difference between safeguarding your belongings and falling victim to theft. And if the comments are anything to go by, the public is loving this ingenious idea.

One admirer exclaimed: “So smart”, while another hailed the trick as “very clever”. Another said this trick is “when aesthetics meets security”.

In the meantime, other users chimed in with their own suggestions in the comments. One advised: “Better yet, use a metal claw clip because it won’t break.”

Another shared: “I always do that. Helps a lot. Also put some plushies or those Kpop keyrings that are heavy and you’ll notice if someone is trying to open your bag.”

Yet, not everyone was sold on the idea. A user grumbled about the difficulty of accessing the bag themselves, remarking: “But it’s a pain when you want to use it! ?” Another concurred, commenting: “It will only irritate me.”

Furthermore, some expressed concern that it might provoke thieves to take more extreme actions. One individual pointed out: “People always cut the bags and put their hands inside.”

Another voiced similar apprehensions, questioning: “Do you know they use blades to cut the purse?”.

Regardless of whether you opt to try this technique or not, it’s crucial to remain alert and keep a watchful eye on your possessions at all times.