Latest news with #tourists
CNA
28 minutes ago
- Climate
- CNA
Europe bakes in summer's first heatwave as continent warms
MARSEILLE, France: Sweating Europeans braced on Saturday (Jun 28) for the first heatwave of the northern hemisphere summer, as climate change pushes the world's fastest-warming continent's thermometers increasingly into the red. Temperatures are set to rise to 37 degrees Celsius in Rome, driving the Eternal City's many tourists and Catholic pilgrims to the Vatican alike towards the Italian capital's some 2,500 public fountains for refreshment. With residents of the southern port city of Marseille expected to have to cope with temperatures flirting with 40 degrees Celsius, authorities in France's second-largest city ordered public swimming pools to be made free of charge to help residents beat the Mediterranean heat. Two-thirds of Portugal will be on high alert on Sunday for extreme heat and forest fires with 42 degrees Celsius expected in the capital Lisbon, while visitors to - and protesters against - Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos's Friday wedding in Venice likewise sweltered under the summer sun. "I try not to think about it, but I drink a lot of water and never stay still, because that's when you get sunstroke," Sriane Mina, an Italian student, told AFPTV on Friday in Venice. Meanwhile Spain, which has in past years seen a series of deadly summer blazes ravaging the Iberian peninsula, is expecting peak temperatures in excess of 40 degrees Celsius across most of the country from Sunday. Scientists have long warned that humanity's burning of fossil fuels is heating up the world with disastrous consequences for the environment, with Europe's ever-hotter and increasingly common blistering summer heatwaves a direct result of that warming. With peaks of 39 degrees Celsius expected in Naples and Palermo, Sicily has ordered a ban on outdoor work in the hottest hours of the day, as has the Liguria region in northern Italy. The country's trade unions are campaigning to extend the measure to other parts of the country. The heatwave comes hot on the heels of a series of tumbling records for extreme heat, including Europe's hottest March ever, according to the EU's Copernicus climate monitor. As a result of the planet's warming, extreme weather events including hurricanes, droughts, floods and heatwaves like this weekend's have become more frequent and intense, scientists warn. By some estimates 2024, the hottest year in recorded history so far, saw worldwide disasters which cost more than US$300 billion.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Climate
- Arab News
Europe bakes in summer's first heatwave as continent warms
MARSEILLES: Sweating Europeans braced on Saturday for the first heatwave of the northern hemisphere summer, as climate change pushes the world's fastest-warming continent's thermometers increasingly into the red. Temperatures are set to rise to 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) in Rome, driving the Eternal City's many tourists and Catholic pilgrims to the Vatican alike toward the Italian capital's some 2,500 public fountains for refreshment. With residents of the southern port city of Marseille expected to have to cope with temperatures flirting with 40C (104F), authorities in France's second-largest city ordered public swimming pools to be made free of charge to help residents beat the Mediterranean heat. Two-thirds of Portugal will be on high alert on Sunday for extreme heat and forest fires with 42C (108F) expected in the capital Lisbon, while visitors to — and protesters against — Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos's Friday wedding in Venice likewise sweltered under the summer sun. 'I try not to think about it, but I drink a lot of water and never stay still, because that's when you get sunstroke,' Sriane Mina, an Italian student, told AFPTV on Friday in Venice. Meanwhile Spain, which has in past years seen a series of deadly summer blazes ravaging the Iberian peninsula, is expecting peak temperatures in excess of 40C (104F) across most of the country from Sunday. Scientists have long warned that humanity's burning of fossil fuels is heating up the world with disastrous consequences for the environment, with Europe's ever-hotter and increasingly common blistering summer heatwaves a direct result of that warming. With peaks of 39C (102F) expected in Naples and Palermo, Sicily has ordered a ban on outdoor work in the hottest hours of the day, as has the Liguria region in northern Italy. The country's trade unions are campaigning to extend the measure to other parts of the country. The heatwave comes hot on the heels of a series of tumbling records for extreme heat, including Europe's hottest March ever, according to the EU's Copernicus climate monitor. As a result of the planet's warming, extreme weather events including hurricanes, droughts, floods and heatwaves like this weekend's have become more frequent and intense, scientists warn. By some estimates 2024, the hottest year in recorded history so far, saw worldwide disasters which cost more than $300 billion.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
5 secret beauty spots in north Cumbria to avoid the crowds
AH, the Lake District. That glorious, sweaty, rain-drenched Instagram darling where sheep outnumber residents and the car parks are full of unused and expensive hiking boots, pampered labradors, and desperate city escapees. Of course, a healthy intake of tourists makes for a certain vibrancy, but there are times when the clogged single-track lanes, mile-long queues for an ice cream, and lack of any seats in the pubs get a bit too much. Thankfully, what many visitors don't know is there are parts of Cumbria where the buses stop early, the mobile signal waves a merciful white flag, and the cafés haven't yet discovered oat milk. Here are five of my favourite under-the-radar days out in north Cumbria to avoid the crowds that are weird, wonderful, and blessedly lacking in coach parties and selfie-sticks. 1. Talkin Tarn – The Anti-Windermere Tucked just outside Brampton (yes, that Brampton - the one where your sat-nav gets confused), Talkin Tarn Country Park is like Windermere's introverted cousin who reads poetry and quietly judges you for bringing disposable BBQs. Talkin Tarn is hardly 'undiscovered', and does attract a healthy amount of visitors (for good reason), but if you fancy whiling away a few hours by a picturesque body of water, you won't have to fight your way through crowds to see it (see disclaimer at the end!). It's a marvellously understated glacial lake surrounded by woodland paths, with enough charm to lose yourself in nature, and (usually) a peaceful serenity a far cry from its brasher relatives. Talkin Tarn Country Park (Image: Archive) You can walk around the whole tarn in 25 minutes, which means it's perfect for lazy strollers, families with pushchairs, or those of us nursing a hangover and clutching a questionable takeaway coffee. There's a quaint café, boats to hire in summer, and plenty of wildlife to keep the kids interested. Crucially, it's blissfully lacking in overpriced fudge shops. 2. Gilsland Spa – Crumbling Romance and Sulphur Springs Gilsland Spa is where history, geology, and a strong odour of rotten eggs collide. Straddling the border of Cumbria and Northumberland like a dithering Geordie, the village of Gilsland is home to an famous old spa hotel, breath-taking gorge walks, and the kind of riverside bridges that dare you to have a quiet existential moment mid-way across. An aerial shot of Gilsland (Image: Archive) Follow the path down to the sulphur well (bring a strong stomach) and remember our hardy forefathers who used to bathe in this noxious substance for their health. The views are gorge-ous (sorry), the geology fascinating, and the foot traffic minimal. Bonus points for the spooky Victorian vibe and the perfectly credible local insistence that everywhere is haunted. 3. Bewcastle – Where History Sleeps and No One Wakes It Another fascinating spot within easy reach of Hadrian's Wall, Bewcastle is a truly atmospheric gem of a place. If you like your attractions ancient, obscure, and in a state of semi-collapse, Bewcastle is the stuff of dreams. This village is home to the ruins of a Roman fort, a church with serious Saxon street cred, and one of the most impressive Anglo-Saxon crosses in the country - which you'll probably have to yourself because nobody seems to remember it exists. Atmospheric Bewcastle is full of historic sites (Image: Google Maps) Bewcastle is where you go when you want to feel profoundly insignificant in the nicest possible way. It's quiet, it's haunting, and there's something deeply comforting about crumbling stones that have survived empires while you fail to keep you sole houseplant alive. 4. Bowness-on-Solway – The End of the World (Or At Least the Wall) Forget the other Bowness – this is where those in the know go. Head west until your signal dies and the sky gets weirdly big, and you'll reach Bowness-on-Solway — where Hadrian's Wall ends with a resigned shrug into the Irish Sea. It's windswept, wonderfully bleak, and home to more birds than humans (ornithologists, rejoice). Bowness-on-Solway's enchanting coastline (Image: Google Maps) This is the perfect place for people who like the idea of finishing a Roman trail but are too lazy to walk 84 miles of it. You can arrive in a warm car, take in the view, mutter something about Roman ambition, and then pop into the King's Arms for a pint and a pie, all the while feeling smugly superior to those circling the other Bowness for three hours desperate for a parking spot. The views over the Solway Firth are nothing short of ethereal, the sunsets are world-class, and the air smells like seaweed and sheep. 5. The Eden Viaducts – Bridges to Nowhere and a Cracking Walk Once vital arteries of the railway network, the Eden Viaducts near Langwathby now stand like solemn, overgrown reminders of Britain's knack for building brilliant things and then shutting them down for budget reasons. But what a sight they are. Take the walk around the Eden Valley and you'll find the likes of Smardale Gill and the majestic Lacy Viaduct. These great stone beasts stretch across gorges and rivers like Roman aqueducts on a gap year. Smardale Gill Viaduct (Image: Julian Thurgood) You'll meet a few dog walkers, the occasional suspicious sheep, and probably no one else. Bring good boots, some ham and pease pudding sandwiches, and your best 'lost Victorian railway enthusiast' energy. You'll look the part, even if you haven't seen an OS map since you scraped through you Silver Duke of Edinburgh award at school. DISCLAIMER - I can only speak from personal experience – if you decide to visit any of these places, there could be throngs of tourists that day, but I'm not sure my influence alone is great enough to cause such a shift. But as we are now on the sprint to the summer holidays, and some of Cumbria's more fashionable hotspots already starting to feel as busy as a 1970s pub carpet, you may want to get your explorer's hat on and try on these – or better still, seek out your own undiscovered gems – it's much more fun that way.
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Travel + Leisure
7 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
10 Outdated Travel Items It's Time to Toss—and What to Replace Them With, From $13
f you've been traveling for years now, there's a good chance you've built up a collection of tried-and-true gear that's become your go-to for every trip. But if you haven't given your travel accessory selection an upgrade recently, there may be some outdated pieces hiding in plain sight that could be in need of a refresh. With a summer of adventure still on the horizon, we've rounded up the 10 dated travel items that you'll want to trade in this season, along with the elevated counterparts that will take your comfort, preparedness, and overall travel experience to the next level. Everything is available at Amazon for under $50, and most importantly, they will become mainstays in your gear collection for years to come. Listen, no shame if your neck wallet is the first thing you add to your personal item when packing for a big trip. But, if you're hoping to blend in with the locals instead of standing out as a tourist, now is the time to trade in your old pouch for a more secure anti-theft crossbody. Neck wallets undoubtedly make it more difficult for pickpockets to steal your cards, cash, and important travel documents, but the Travelon Anti-theft Classic Mini Shoulder Bag is an even more foolproof selection with five points of security from its slash-proof straps to its locking zippers. It's still slim and easy to carry around so you don't have to concede to a bulky bag after swapping out your neck wallet, and it also offers more storage space to hold your sightseeing essentials. It's always a good idea to have a portable charger on-hand while traveling, but if you're ready for an upgrade, you'll do well to trade in your older model for an option that comes with built-in cords. The Charmast Portable Charger is an obvious step up from traditional power banks since it's equipped with four high-speed charging cables that will keep your phone, tablet, and headphones on the grid during long travel days. The front of this portable charger features a screen that lets you know exactly how much battery power the device has left, and you can even charge up to six devices at once. A portable fan is an obvious essential while traveling this summer (especially as temperatures continue to rise), but a handheld fan is so last year. This season, we're replacing them with hands-free neck fans, and they're far more convenient to travel with since they're unobtrusive, create a more immersive cooling experience, and regulate your temperature even when you're lugging suitcases through the airport. This wearable device is currently on sale for just $28, and it offers 360-degree cooling without blades so you don't have to worry about your hair or jewelry getting tangled. It can run up to 16 hours on a single charge and boasts five different speeds—and best of all, it barely makes a sound. Your old, bulky toiletry kit is probably taking up far more precious packing space than you have to spare—and it's also likely difficult to sort through in order to find exactly what you're looking for without taking everything out first. Your solution is not only a slim dopp kit that'll easily slot into your suitcase, but also a bag that unfurls to expose a multitude of pockets inside. The Baggallini Toiletry Kit is designed with a convenient hook that allows you to keep it off the hotel bathroom sink while providing easy access to your belongings, plus the water-resistant fabric is easy to wipe down after every trip. Its wide array of pockets will keep you organized throughout your vacation, and the sleek design takes up minimal space even when stuffed to the brim with products. If you struggle to get good sleep in an unfamiliar environment (or have trouble getting shut-eye while flying), then you know how important a good sleep mask can be. However, if the feeling of fabric against your lids is uncomfortable or you're tired of excess light leaking in from the gaps between the material and your skin, it's time to make the switch to a contoured eye mask. This cushy 3D mask is designed to entirely block out light while putting no additional pressure against your eyelids so you can finally get some good rest while traveling. It's made from memory foam so it'll be soft and cushy against your skin, and it's even contoured to sit comfortably over your nose without letting light in. Scattered travelers may rely on a passport holder to keep their vital documents all in one place, but the old-school iteration is officially on the outs in favor of a case equipped with a handy AirTag slot. We've long touted AirTags as a saving grace for traveling with checked luggage, but they're also great for keeping track of your passport since they slot directly into the pouch of this faux-leather carrying case. It's still compact and easy to pack and locate in your bag, now just with a techy upgrade—and it's a safe place to store your boarding pass, cards, and SIM card, as well. Bare feet are possibly the greatest universal 'ick' of travel, so since you should already be wearing a pair of socks in-flight, you may as well make the upgrade from ankle socks to a snug compressive pair. This pack of three from Charmking is a top-rated pick at Amazon, and even flight attendants have raved that they offer 'very comfortable support' and are 'perfect for flight.' Compression socks help reduce leg discomfort and swelling while you're traveling, and in fact, they can even help cut down on fatigue following a long flight while promoting blood flow. Move aside, ankle socks. If you're dedicated to your old wired headphones, there's nothing wrong with that. However, if you're looking for an easy way to make your travel experience run a little more smoothly, switching over to cordless headphones and a bluetooth audio adapter will certainly do the trick. The Avantree Relay Airplane Bluetooth Adapter plugs directly into the seatback screen and connects to your cushy noise-cancelling headphones, allowing you to do away with the cord blocking your seatmates from the aisle as well cutting out another tangling hazard in your personal item. As an added bonus, it can even connect to two pairs of headphones at once, so if you're traveling with a partner or friend you can enjoy the same in-flight program together. Backpacks will always be one of the best personal item options since they keep your hands free and they're generally pretty spacious. However, there is a hierarchy of backpacks, and it's time to trade in your laptop bag for a carry-on backpack if you're truly dedicated to becoming a carry-on-only traveler. This best-selling bag unzips like a clamshell suitcase so you can pack it to the brim, and it's even fitted with a mesh organizational pocket and built-in straps to keep your belongings neatly in place throughout your journey. The exterior is water-resistant so you can still safely store electronics inside, and it's on sale for just $30 right now. Whether you've been known to pack your own blanket for the airplane or rely on the airline-issued option, rest assured your travel experience will hit a new high with the addition of a pillow and blanket duo to your packing list. When they're not in use, each piece folds into each other and slides over the handle of your rolling suitcase so as not to take up extra space in your personal item. Plus, they're made of a far softer, cozier fabric than the threadbare fleece blankets airlines typically provide. The duo is lightweight, packable, and even flight attendant-approved. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
News.com.au
8 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘I feel terrible': Football star breaks silence after footage shows him hurling a chair at woman
English football star Kian Harratt has broken his silence after being filmed throwing a chair at a woman in Ibiza. Oldham Athletic forward Harratt, 23, allegedly threw one of several chairs during a poolside brawl that hit a woman. Shocking footage captured during the violent row appears to show the striker launching a chair. The footballer can be seen wearing black shorts and sporting his distinctive goatee. The star footballer has now said he feels 'very apologetic' and 'terrible' that the chair he threw had hit the woman, according to The Sun. You can watch the incident in the player above. But he blamed other tourists for starting the fight. Harratt alleges that a man approached his friend and went on to 'punch him', which made him feel he had to intervene. The striker claims a chair was thrown at him, and it was at that moment that he picked it up and threw it back. He said he did not mean to hit the woman. Referring to the man who started the skirmish, Kian said: 'He was the worst man you could ever come across and a bully! He was 6'6 and built like a brick!' Footage showed one female tourist being clobbered in the head by a flying chair, while another man was knocked into the pool. Brit holiday-maker Kyle Crawford told The Sun the striker and three of his pals were 'being horrible' to a group of women before the clash on June 21. Kyle didn't recognise 23-year-old EFL star Harratt at the time of the altercation – but confirmed his identity after watching the footage back. A second source who was caught up in the fight told The Sun: 'It was Kian Harratt. He was bothering these girls.' Kyle said Harratt and his friends were 'throwing little rugby balls' at the female tourists inside the pool, one of which being the woman who was struck by a chair later on. 'They were just in the pool splashing them and throwing balls at them – being proper immature,' he explained. Kyle revealed he and his mate stepped in to stand up for the women. 'Me and my mates stuck up for them, and then in the end, they'd come to attack my mate,' he said. He alleged that there was an altercation, and his mate was punched first during the ruckus. He said his pal hit back, and the whole confrontation 'calmed down' for a bit. But shortly after, the player and his pals started hurling chairs towards Kyle and his mates, with one of the women who was initially being disturbed getting caught in the crossfire. 'They start throwing chairs – they threw a chair at a woman,' he said. And a second clip, moments after the initial throw, shows another man hurling a second chair, which knocked the other men into the pool. The Brit tourist explained: 'We just stuck up for her, the lads were just being idiots, immature. 'This video doesn't do us justice for actually being gentlemen and looking after these women.' He detailed that after the altercation, the men 'all got kicked out', while Kyle says he and his mates were praised by staff for standing up to them. 'All the staff around the pool said thanks and what gentlemen we were,' he said. 'The women thought they were idiots, immature and stupid.' Kyle also said that his mate allegedly required stitches from hotel staff following the chair attack. The player's mum told MailOnline she was 'aware' of the video – but declined to comment further. The Sun has also reached out to Harratt's management for comment.
