• Claire's filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday.
• The teen retailer is closing 92 stores across the US and Puerto Rico.
• We visited one of Claire's New York City stores on the day it announced it had filed for bankruptcy to see what it's like to shop there right now.

Claire's, the teen jewelry and accessories retailer known for its iconic ear-piercing service, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday. The company has been crippled with $2 billion of debt and agreed to a restructuring plan to reduce its debt by $1.9 billion. 

In the bankruptcy filing, Claire's announced it would be closing 92 stores across the US in March and April. 

Claire's has been hit hard by declining traffic to malls since most of its 7,500 stores are located in shopping malls. The majority of its store closings will impact mall-based stores. 

"A Claire's store is located in approximately 99% of major shopping malls throughout the United States," Claire's said in a bankruptcy filing, citing data showing that traffic to malls had declined 8% over the last year. 

"This decline may be attributable to several factors, including competition from big-box retailers, large tenant closures (leaving malls without an 'anchor' tenant to drive foot traffic), and the increased popularity of online shopping," the company said.

Claire's did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. 

We visited one of its stores to find out exactly what it's like to shop there now:

SEE ALSO: Claire's is reportedly planning to file for bankruptcy as dying American malls claim another victim

The store that we visited was located on Broadway in New York, between the busy shopping areas of Herald Square and Times Square. While this particular store is not plagued by the problems that come with being in a mall, this area is somewhat of a no-man's land for shopping.

This store is not one of the 92 slated to close. When we arrived, there was even a sign that said, "We're hiring."

We could not find any job postings for this location online.

The company has not yet released its fourth-quarter earnings or confirmed whether it closed stores in 2017. In 2016, it closed 166 stores.

Claire's is perhaps best known for its ear-piercing service, which is one of the biggest things that attracts customers to its stores. As soon as we walked into the store, an eager shop assistant asked if we were here to have our ears pierced.

• Action stars like Tom Cruise, Tom Hardy, and Harrison Ford have stepped in during real-life crises.
• Demi Moore once tweeted a reply to someone who expressed their intent to commit suicide online.
• John Krasinski saved a woman from drowning when he was 17.

These celebrities don't just play heroes in movies and TV shows — they've intervened during real crises and saved people's lives. 

Here are 20 celebrities who have saved the day both on and offscreen.

John Malkovich stopped a man from bleeding out.

Jim and Marilyn Walpole were visiting Toronto on a weekend bus tour for seniors when Jim stumbled and fell into scaffolding, slitting his throat. John Malkovich rushed over and pressed his neck wound to stop the copious amount of bleeding.

When paramedics arrived and Walpole asked what his savior's name was, The Toronto Sun reports that he merely said "My name is John and you're going to be alright." Walpole only later figured out that it was the famous actor.

“John Malkovich saved my life,” Walpole told The Sun.

Tom Hardy nabbed a runaway thief.

The Sun reported in 2017 that Tom Hardy chased after two thieves who stole a moped and crashed it into a car. One of the thieves remained at the scene, but the other fled. Hardy ran after him, dragged him into a bus stop, and patted him down to make sure he didn't have any weapons before handing him over to the police. 

"“It was mental – like he'd switched to superhero mode in an action movie," a witness told The Sun.

Tom Cruise helped the victim of a hit-and-run.

When aspiring actress Heloisa Vinhas was struck by a car in a hit-and-run in 1996 in Santa Monica, California, Tom Cruise happened to be passing by and swooped in to help. He called 911, waited with her until the paramedics arrived, and when he found out she was uninsured, paid her $7,000 medical bill.

Cruise's spokesperson also told Entertainment Weekly that the "Mission: Impossible" actor followed up with Vinhas after her release"just to check in on how she was doing."

D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, and Operation Market Garden; no matter the campaign and no matter the battle, our nation’s bravest men fearlessly surged forward to defeat the German threat in World War II.

Although each infantryman was responsible for various duties throughout the war, they were all issued similar gear.

The basic issue wasn’t anything like what troops receive today, but they made it work. Here’s what they carried to victory:

SEE ALSO: France's first black general once fought a cavalry squadron by himself — and emerged unscathed

1. Combat pack

This waterproof bag carried everything the troop needed to sustain themselves while in the field, including toiletries, socks, a few rations, and whatever personal belongings they wanted to haul.

2. Cartridge belt

This belt contains pouches that hold 8-round clips of ammunition. At the bottom of each pouch is a small metal hole used for attaching other small pouches, including basic first-aid supplies.

3. First aid pouch

Today, troops have a full supply of hemorrhage-control dressings. Back in WW2, all they had was this pouch, which contains one to two battle dressings for self-aid.

• Despite their massive wealth, the British royal family does a great deal of charity work to give back to the world.
• Kate Middleton donates her hair to an organization that makes wigs for children with cancer.
• Both Prince Harry and Prince William were involved in work with the military.

The royal family is quite possibly the most divisive set of people in the world, with people having a wide range of opinions on every one of them, as well as their work as an institution. However, regardless of how you feel about them, it's undeniable that they do a lot for charity, using their influence to make sure that people who aren't as lucky get the chance to live a good life. This is something that nobody will ever be able to take away from them no matter how much hate they manage to build across the world.

In the hope of highlighting exactly what it is that the royal family do to try and make the world a better place, we thought we'd put together a list of some of the things they've put their mind to over the years. This way, we can all have a look at what it is the royal family does for their subjects. We've taken a look on the web and we think you'll be surprised by the number of things that the royals have done for others.

Are you ready to find out what the royals have done for people like you? Think it's about time they justified their position in the world to you? Well then, let's take a look!

Queen Elizabeth gives to Cancer Research UK

As we all know, cancer is something that affects us all, whether it's because we suffer from the illness or someone we know has had to go through it. This is why it's so good to see that the royals are putting their money into Cancer Research UK in the hope that they can do some good for those poor people who end up struggling with this horrendous illness.

Through this sort of donation, they can be sure that their money is going to impact as many lives as possible in the UK.

This way, their money will be put into the hands of people who are trying to rid the world of one of the worst illnesses that can hit somebody throughout their entire lives. Can you imagine any better way for these people to be donating their money in the hope of affecting the most amount of lives as possible?

The queen gives to the British Red Cross

For those that don't know, the British Red Cross Society is an impartial humanitarian group that spends their time attempting to give aid to people across the world when they end up in crisis. This is the perfect charity for the royal family to give to as it allows them to help while not aligning themselves with a particular cause or crisis, allowing them to continue to help while seeming impartial.

This might not seem like it should be that big a deal, and we agree, but the family has spent a lot of time and effort to appear as if they have no political or social leanings.

Obviously, this is physically impossible, but they still have to look as if they're making decisions purely based on the concept that they're trying to do their best by the UK over everything else.

The family throws three Royal Garden parties every year for charity

A lot of people who have a problem with the royal family argue that most of the money they bring in to the UK could be made by getting rid of them but keeping the landmarks that they're so commonly associated with.

Possibly in an effort to curb this sort of opinion, the royal family have made sure that they use these landmarks in an attempt to bring money to important causes, causes that would otherwise receive much less charitable donations.

Yes, the royal family throws three royal garden parties every year where important people with a lot of money dress up and are allowed a chance to spend time with some of the most famous figureheads from the family. There, they will be asked to pay money that will then go toward charity rather than into the pocket of the family themselves. It only seems right!

I've been using Samsung's new Galaxy S9 Plus for quite some time without a case, and it's been great. 

The S9's glass back gives you a little grip when you're holding the phone so it feels pretty secure in your hands.

But all it takes is one spill to completely destroy the S9's beautiful aesthetic. Good thing, then, that Samsung offered to send us a couple cases for our Galaxy S9 Plus review unit. 

I'm pretty picky when it comes to cases. In fact, I'm so picky that I dislike most of them on any smartphone. I look for slim models that have minimal branding and design, and I don't want them to feel plasticky. So I went for Samsung's red Hyperknit and dark blue Alcantara cases. 

It turns out that Samsung has some pretty good game when it comes to smartphone cases. Check out Samsung's Hyperknit and Alcantara cases:

SEE ALSO: Samsung's new Galaxy S9 is more durable than the iPhone X — but it can still break on the first drop

One of the things I like about Samsung's "Hyperknit" case is that it has no branding.

It feels solid and well built, and the stitch pattern is nice, too.

It's been a hit with anyone who's picked up the S9 with this case.

The horror movie "Veronica" is known for terrifying viewers so much that people stop watching halfway through.

It's not the only movie that scary.

Netflix released a list of 10 horror movies that people stopped watching after around the 70% mark.

That metric, Netflix told Forbes, was used because, if people hated the movie instead of being scared by it, they'd turn it off before then. The 70% mark is a good indicator that the movie was simply too scary to finish.

Here are 10 horrifying movies Netflix viewers can't finish.

"Cabin Fever" (2016)

The 2016 version of the movie — about a group of five young people who succumb to a flesh-eating bacteria — is a remake of the 2002 film originally made by Eli Roth. Most critics found the remake pointless. It's also notable for having a small part played by Louise Linton, the wife to United States Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.

"Carnage Park" (2016)

"Carnage Park" starts out as a thriller, with two crooks who flee a botched bank heist. But it quickly turns into a horror movie when they end up on the territory of a deranged ex-military sniper.

"México Bárbaro" (2014)

"México Bárbaro" is an anthology of eight different short films based on terrifying traditional Mexican stories. They don't have happy endings.

Located on the outskirts of the capital city of Amman, the sound of gunfire, explosions, helicopters, and tire screeches reverberate around the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Centre.

A massive 6,000 acre compound, KASOTC is dedicated to the training of special forces operators from around the world. It has everything it needs to train operators — a mock village, an embassy compound, driving and shooting ranges, and even an Airbus A300 with targets to simulate hostage scenarios.

"Simply put, if special operations units are the tip of the spear, then KASOTC is the sharpening-tool that hones it," the center's website states. It certainly lives up to its motto: "Where Advanced Training Meets Advanced Technology."

KASOTC is the project of Jordan's King Abdullah II, a graduate of Britain's Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the former commander of Jordan's Special Forces. The king recognized the importance of special operations and counter-terrorism in the 21st Century, particularly in the Middle East, and wanted Jordan to be a leader in these types of warfare.

Built by a US company on land donated by King Abdullah, KASOTC is handled by the Jordanian armed forces and private security companies.

They have trained military teams, private security contractors, and even the actors playing SEALs from "Zero Dark Thirty." They also hold the Annual Warrior Competition, a contest where the best special forces teams from around the world participate in exercises and drills.

Take a look at KASOTC here: 

SEE ALSO: These are the 25 most powerful militaries in the world — and there's a clear winner

The King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Centre opened in 2009 and trains special forces teams from various nations, as well as private contractors and security firms.

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The main part of KASOTC is a massive amount of buildings designed for counter-terror and urban warfare.

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The buildings include residential areas, an embassy compound, industrial facilities, government buildings, and public areas.

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Lots of software developers and apps may have access to your Facebook data that you don't remember granting.

If you're worried about your digital privacy, now is a good time to check up on your "Facebook Platform" settings, which is the tool that Trump-affiliated data firm Cambridge Analytica used to illicitly obtain personal, private data from 50 million Facebook users.

They got this data from Facebook itself. The Guardian reported that the data was collected through an app called "thisisyourdigitallife," built by a Aleksandr Kogan, a Cambridge academic. 

Facebook says that everyone whose data are in the Cambridge Analytica set "knowingly provided their information." 

"Aleksandr Kogan requested and gained access to information from users who chose to sign up to his app, and everyone involved gave their consent," Facebook's Paul Grewal, a deputy general counsel, wrote. "People knowingly provided their information, no systems were infiltrated, and no passwords or sensitive pieces of information were stolen or hacked."

It turns out that before 2014, Facebook used to let app developers obtain data from users and their connections when they used Facebook to log into an app. 

This is exceedingly common — I checked my own Facebook account and realized that I had given over 200 apps access to my personal data.

Here's how to do your own checkup. 

SEE ALSO: The CEO of Cambridge Analytica was secretly filmed offering to entrap politicians with bribes and sex workers

I had allowed way more apps to access my Facebook data than I initially expected — 231 apps in total.

This link will take you directly to your installed applications. 

Even worse, I was letting apps my Facebook friends installed take some of my Facebook data, too, including my current city, and my likes.

While some of the apps I connected to Facebook were legitimate services, like Spotify or Airbnb, a lot of them were dumb one-off quizzes I took years ago. For example, this quiz about a 2009 Miley Cyrus hit.

This app could access my friends list, my status updates, my birthday, photos, and lots of other personal data. Luckily there was a button at the bottom to revoke access. 

Five years ago this month, Pope Francis became the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the leader of its 1.29 billion adherents.

He's been celebrating the occasion by reminiscing about his various — and at times controversial— accomplishments since his papal election in March 2013.

The pope has lived these past five years within the walls of Vatican City, the seat of the worldwide Catholic administration, the Holy See, which is nestled on the the west bank of the Tiber River in Rome, Italy.

It is a place that evokes reverence, spiritual power, and a history that spans thousands of years.

Here's a look inside the walls of the beautiful microstate that the world's most powerful religious leader calls home:

SEE ALSO: Here are the hilariously awkward photos from Trump's visit with Pope Francis at the Vatican

DON'T MISS: 12 photos of Pope Francis that prove that he's just a regular guy

Surrounded entirely by the city of Rome, Vatican City is the smallest state in the world, comprising only about 100 acres.

Sources: CNN

But within its walls sit some of the most famous religious and cultural sites in the world.

Sources: CNN

Encircling the tiny enclave almost entirely are the imposing Vatican Walls, which were completed in 852 AD.

Source: History Channel

For some celebrity couples, working together is a fun thing to do. 

Guest roles often lend opportunities for fun cameos for a star's partner or spouse. 

Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally have popped onto each other's shows throughout the years. And "How I Met Your Mother" featured multiple stars' partners. 

Here are 17 celebrity couples who've worked together on TV. 

Megan Mullally was on a few episodes of "Parks and Recreation" with husband Nick Offerman.

Mullally perfectly portrayed Ron Swanson's evil ex-wife Tammy II during the show's run. Their strong sexual attraction was detrimental to Ron. 

They have been married in real life since 2003. 

Nick Offerman has also guest-starred on Megan Mullally's show "Will & Grace."

Offerman has played two different characters on "Will & Grace."

While he and Mullally were dating, Offerman played Nick the plumber. He showed up again on the show during its 2018 revival. This time, he played a chef named Jackson Boudreaux who sleeps with both Will and Grace.

Brad Pitt made an appearance on "Friends" with his then-wife Jennifer Aniston.

Pitt and Aniston were married from 2000 until 2005. During that time, Pitt played a guy named Will Colbert on a "Friends" episode. His character went to the same high school as Ross, Monica, and Rachel. He ran an "I Hate Rachel Club" in the school because Rachel was mean to him. 

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

I probably own close to thirty pairs of shoes that I wear regularly, but in the summer that gets pared down to about five. The chosen ones are comfortable (no break-in time or heel-chafing), lightweight, and go with basically anything. I can throw them on without thinking, stuff them in a purse while traveling, and replace them easily and without guilt thanks to their typically affordable price tag.  

For summer dress-up days, I turn to Everlane’s super-comfortable Day Heel. For running around the city, I have Allbird’s newest Tree Collection Runners.

And for everything else, I turn to a pair of white Chuck Taylors that survive for one summer and one summer only, and a dependable rotation of the iconic, laid back canvas Soludos.

Soludos are breathable, versatile, and stylish at the same time that they’re completely unobtrusive. They’ve mastered fun and quirky embroidery as well as pops of bright colors and young but not costume-y pom-poms and tassels. They go well with almost anything and any occasion, flatten down easily for trips, require zero break-in time, and never go out of style. Plus, they’re pretty affordably priced at around $65.  

If you're looking for a pair of affordable go-anywhere, go-with-anything summer shoes, you may want to check out Soludos as amongst those with the highest returns on investment. We've collected some of our favorite 2018 options for men and women below, but you can also just shop it directly for yourself here. 

Below are a few of our favorite summer Soludos options for men and women:

DON'T MISS: This is one of the most versatile and stylish weekend bags I’ve ever used

Soludos Flamingo Platform Smoking Slipper, $75 (available in Chambray).

More of this style >>

Women's:

Soludos Minorca High Platform, $149 (available in Dove Gray (pictured), and Nude).

More of this style >>

Soludos Tall Wedge, $95 (available in Blush and Black).

More of this style >>

Cynthia Nixon, former star of "Sex and the City,"just announced her gubernatorial run in New York. This makes her the latest addition to the list of celebrities that have turned to politics. 

While many have expressed surprise at former "The Apprentice" star Donald Trump becoming president, he's not even the first celebrity to hold that office.

From comedians like Kal Penn to former child stars like Shirley Temple, here are 14 Hollywood stars that went from acting to legislating.

Actress Cynthia Nixon announced her intention to run for governor of New York on Twitter on March 19.

Nixon's run for governor has been whispered about for a while, but the "Sex and the City" actress made her run against incumbent Governor Cuomo official on Twitter.

While she's an accomplished actress (she's just missing an Oscar to complete her EGOT), it remains to be seen if Nixon's popularity on the small screen will translate into votes. If she wins, she'll be the first openly gay person to hold the position.

Donald Trump was famous in the world of real estate, but enjoyed mainstream success as the host of "The Apprentice"— and now he's Mr. President.

Before he was the leader of the free world, President Trump was the host and judge of "The Apprentice," a reality TV show featuring competitors vying for the chance to run one of his companies.

Besides his run on "The Apprentice," Trump has appeared as himself in various films and TV shows, from "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," to "Sex and the City."

Arnold Schwarzenegger, aka "The Governator," rose to prominence as "The Terminator" before becoming governor of California.

Before he was California's governor, Schwarzenegger was a professional bodybuilder and successful actor, starring in films like "The Terminator,""Conan the Barbarian," and "Kindergarten Cop."

He served as governor from 2003 until 2011. While he was popular for much of his time as governor, he finished his final term with an almost record-low approval rating of 23%.

Schwarzenegger replaced Trump as the new host of "The Celebrity Apprentice," but has since announced that he is leaving the show.

Oftentimes, it seems like reality TV gets a pretty bad rap. But reality TV is responsible for many celebrities' successful careers in entertainment and beyond and it's also helped bring couples together for decades now. Sure, it might be a little bit unsettling or unethical, but over time, reality television seems to have evolved.

However, when reality TV was just beginning, the shows and their concepts were anything but realistic. Though some shows of the early-aughts saw major success, others barely lasted a season. These 11 shows varied in length and quality, but they represent the absurdity of the era and the beginnings of TV as we know it today.

Fox's "The Swan" was actually pretty disturbing.

Though they weren't that long ago, the 2000s were actually a pretty different time. If one TV show proves that, it's "The Swan," which aired on Fox for two seasons.

The makeover show's name came from the idea of "ugly ducklings" turning into "beautiful swans," in this case meaning that contestants would get extensive plastic surgery in order to drastically change their looks with the help of a panel of experts. Some of the women would then move on to compete in a pageant at the end of the season, where one would win the title of "The Swan."

The show immediately received criticism for perpetuating the sexist idea that a woman's sense of self-worth should be totally on her looks.

You probably don't remember this show at all, so it's likely that you don't recall the identity of one of its featured plastic surgeons. Dr. Terry Dubrow was one of the doctors responsible for the women's makeovers. Later, Dubrow would shoot to fame through appearances on shows like "Botched" and "Real Housewives of Orange County."

Before Meghan Markle, there was "I Wanna Marry Harry."

Now that someone is actually marryingPrince Harry, it's even funnier to look back on just how absurd this quickly canceled Fox reality show was.

The show followed 12 American women as they vied for the love and affection of a person whom they believed was "Prince Harry." At the end of the show, it was revealed that "Harry" was actually just a redheaded man named Matthew Hicks, vaguely reminiscent of England's prince.

Not only was the idea itself preposterous, the show was extremely ill-fated in terms of ratings and production. It aired partially for one single season in 2014.

"Next" was the best of the best when it comes to MTV reality shows.

In MTV's golden era of amazingly corny and obviously scripted reality dating shows, "Next" was by far the shallowest and most reminiscent of its era, if not also the most hilarious series on the network. "Next" was on the air from 2005 to 2008.

Basically, busses full of young adults would travel far and wide to go on themed dates, with each dater getting a dollar for every moment they lasted off the bus with an "attractive" date, whose affection they were all vying for. If they heard "next!" the cashflow would come to an end and they'd have to return to their spot on the bus. Eventually, there'd be a choice of Herculean proportions for the final, favored dater: money or love.

Highlights of the series include a contestant who likes to text people when she goes "poopy" and alarming series regular Dicky.

It's odd to think that depriving yourself of a necessity for life might be one of the most powerful ways to transform your health.

Yet there's more and more evidence for the idea that fasting could have powerful health benefits for both the body and brain.

There are many different forms of fasting, however, ranging from going extended periods of time without food to consistently eating less (perhaps cutting caloric intake by 20%) to intermittent or periodic fasting.

But of all these different kinds of fasting, intermittent fasting is very likely the most popular and certainly the trendiest one. Celebrity adherents include Hugh Jackman, Tim Ferriss, and Beyonce. In Silicon Valley, whole groups of self-optimization obsessed biohackers meet to collectively break their fast once a week, and executives at companies like Facebook say that fasting has helped them lose weight and have more energy.

The hard part about classifying "intermittent fasting" is that there are a number of different forms of this kind of fast. Intermittent fasting regimens range from only allowing yourself to consume calories within a certain span of the day, likely between six and 12 hours; to eating normally five days a week and dramatically cutting calories on two fasting days; to taking a 36-hour break from food every week.

The different forms these fasts can take mean that much of the research showing benefits might be true for one of these fasts but not necessarily others. But there is good research on several of these fasts indicating that the benefits of intermittent fasting go beyond weight loss. There may be real long-term disease-fighting health improvements.

Here's what we know so far.

SEE ALSO: Fasting could prevent aging and transform your body, but it goes against everything we think of as healthy

A recent study suggests that intermittent fasting can do more than help people lose weight — it also may improve blood pressure and help the body process fat.

For this small study, researchers had overweight participants either cut calories every day or eat normally five days a week and only consume 600 calories on their two fasting days.

Both groups were able to lose weight successfully, though those on what's known as the 5:2 diet did so slightly faster (though it's not clear the diet would always help people lose weight faster).

More significantly, those from the intermittent fasting group cleared fat from their system more quickly after a meal and experienced a 9% drop in systolic blood pressure (the "regular diet" group had a slight increase in blood pressure).

This was a small study and researchers say participants had a hard time following the diet, but these are promising results.

Other studies indicate intermittent fasting could reduce risk for forms of cancer, but more research is needed.

Other small studies on a similar 5:2 diet and on other intermittent fasting diets have shown that this form of intermittent fasting is associated with physical changes that could lead to reduced cancer risk, particularly for breast cancer.

Much more research on this area is needed, but these are promising results, Mark Mattson, a neuroscientist at the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health, previously told Business Insider.

There may be evolutionary reasons why depriving ourselves of food for some time makes us feel energetic and focused.

"Hungry," from an evolutionary perspective, isn't lifeless or drained. It's when our bodies and brains need to function at maximum capacity.

"It makes sense that the brain needs to be functioning very well when an individual is in a fasted state because it's in that state that they have to figure out how to find food," Mattson previously told Business Insider. "They also have to be able to expend a lot of energy. Individuals whose brains were not functioning well while fasting would not be able to compete and thrive."

Whether you're fascinated by flight attendants or frequent fliers racking up air miles, there's a certain intrigue — and element of glamour — to life in the sky.

And while you may assume a job like an airline pilot might involve a lifetime of training, for Kate McWilliams, who became the world's youngest female commercial airline pilot at the age of 26, this certainly wasn't the case.

As part of a Netflights.com project to celebrate the women in aviation who defy gender stereotypes, Business Insider caught up with McWilliams to hear about how she landed her job — and what spending so much time in the cockpit is really like.

From 4 a.m. starts and stunning views to discounted travel, scroll down for a peek at the life of easyJet airline captain Kate McWilliams.

SEE ALSO: What it's like to fly in Air Canada's business class 'executive pods,' complete with lie-flat beds, a remote that lets you order food, and lighting that claims to help with jet lag

SEE ALSO: Everything flight attendants notice about you when you board a plane — and how their tips could help you get a free upgrade

SEE ALSO: This is how you can legally bring — and drink — your own booze on a flight

This is Kate McWilliams, the easyJet pilot who became the world's youngest female commercial captain at 26.

Her love of aviation began when she was 8. During a holiday with her family, she visited the flight deck to see the pilots during the flight and was "fascinated by all of the buttons." However, she noticed both the pilot were men, so "just assumed there were no female pilots, so I didn't consider it as my career."

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That all changed when McWilliams, who grew up in Carlisle, northern England, joined the Air Cadets.

She said she joined the group, the youth wing of the Royal Air Force, when she was 13.

"It was here that I discovered my love of flying and initially I looked at joining the military as a pilot," she said.

She told Business Insider that after she finished her A levels, she applied to university but "didn't feel like it was the right option." Instead, she applied to CTC Aviation — now called L3 Airline Academy — a flying school which trains aspiring commercial pilots.

Every year Mercer, one of the world's largest HR consultancy firms, releases its Quality of Living Index, which looks at which cities provide the best quality of life.

The ranking is one of the most comprehensive of its kind and is carried out annually to help multinational companies and other employers to compensate employees fairly when placing them on international assignments, according to Mercer.

London and New York do not make it anywhere near the top of the list.

Looking at 450 cities across the world, Mercer takes into account the following metrics to judge which cities made the list for the best quality of life:

• Political and social environment (political stability, crime, law enforcement)
• Economic environment (currency-exchange regulations, banking services)
• Socio-cultural environment (media availability and censorship, limitations on personal freedom)
• Medical and health considerations (medical supplies and services, infectious diseases, sewage, waste disposal, air pollution)
• Schools and education (standards and availability of international schools)
• Public services and transportation (electricity, water, public transportation, traffic congestion)
• Recreation (restaurants, theatres, cinemas, sports and leisure)
• Consumer goods (availability of food/daily consumption items, cars)
• Housing (rental housing, household appliances, furniture, maintenance services)
• Natural environment (climate, record of natural disasters)

Here are the top 21 cities on the planet, according to Mercer.

Lianna Brinded contributed to an earlier version of this post.

SEE ALSO: The 9 most expensive cities to live in around the world — and none are in Britain or the USA

21. Perth, Australia — Australia has some of the highest quality of living worldwide. The Western Australian city is home to some of the country's most beautiful beaches.

T=19. Hamburg, Germany — The major port city in northern Germany is the second largest of its kind in the country. It has become a centre for media and industry and is home to the world's second oldest bank: Berenberg Bank.

T=19. Ottawa, Canada — This city is considered the most educated in Canada with its wealth of post-secondary, research, and cultural institutions. It also has low unemployment and parts of the city are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Facebook is currently facing a scandal over the use of its data by British political research company Cambridge Analytica.

The company reportedly obtained the personal information of 50 million Facebook users.

It didn't get the data through a hack, but reportedly through a Facebook app which gave a researcher user data — and also the data of their friends.

Most people forget that when they download an app or sign into a website with Facebook, they are giving those companies a look into their Facebook profile. Your profile can often include your email address and phone number as well as your work history and current location. And most people don't realize that if you're sharing that data with friends, then apps used by those friends can see that data as well!

Advertisers, Facebook-app developers, and Facebook ad-tech partners can't see your name, your phone number, or your employer — Facebook encrypts and anonymizes all the data to protect your privacy. But it does sell that data in bulk to companies who want to target and track both you and people like you.

1. To start off, go to the arrow symbol on the far right of your Facebook page.

2. We're going to be taking a deep dive into the settings.

3. Once you're in the settings, go to Apps.

Mitch McConnell, the US Senate Majority Leader, and Elaine Chao, the Secretary of Transportation, met through a mutual friend in the early 1990s. Not long after that, they wed — on Ronald Reagan's birthday.

Together, they're one of the most powerful couples on the US political scene.

A forthcoming book by the conservative journalist Peter Schweizer argues that McConnell and Chao may have softened their stance on China because that's where Chao's family does business — and where most of the couple's wealth comes from.

Here are the highlights of McConnell and Chao's relationship as Republican royalty:

SEE ALSO: Inside the marriage of Barack and Michelle Obama, who met at work and kissed outside an ice cream store on their first date

DON'T MISS: Inside the marriage of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Louise Linton, who have an 18-year age gap, live in an opulent mansion, and were married by Vice President Mike Pence

Mitch McConnell, age 76, is the US Senate Majority Leader. He grew up in Alabama and Kentucky and became a senator for Kentucky in 1985.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

Elaine Chao, 64, is the US Secretary of Transportation. She previously served as US Secretary of Labor from 2001 to 2009. Chao moved to the US from Taiwan at age eight and grew up in New York.

Source: ABC News

McConnell and Chao met through a mutual friend, Stuart Bloch, in Washington, DC in the early 1990s. Bloch and McConnell had met in the 1960s and Bloch was married to Julia Chang Bloch, who was a mentor of Chao's.

Source: The New York Times

For over 20 years, the director Wes Anderson has given us some of the most interesting movies the medium has seen — often doing it with beautifully detailed set designs, playful scores, and scripts that dance between drama and comedy.

Recently Anderson has used stop-motion animation to pull this off. Almost a decade after wowing us with "Fantastic Mr. Fox," he returns to stop-motion with his latest movie, "Isle of Dogs" (opening Friday). This movie follows a Japanese boy's journey to find his dog, with the help of other dogs.

Here we look at Anderson's nine feature-length movies and rank them worst to best:

SEE ALSO: 9 characters who could die in "Avengers: Infinity War," ranked by how likely they are to meet their end

9: "The Darjeeling Limited" (2007)

Family has always been a major theme in Anderson's movies, and this one is no different. But things like story creativity, unique production design, and character development that make his other work shine don't land right in this one. Mainly the characters. There's a certain point in this movie when you just don't care anymore about the three brothers' (played by Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, and Jason Schwartzman) bonding journey through India.

8: "Bottle Rocket" (1996)

Anderson's debut feature is understandably his least ambitious work, but the drive to be one of the most creative storytellers working today is there. You can see it in the entertaining dynamic between the friends Anthony and Dignan (played by the brothers Luke and Owen Wilson) and in the execution of the movie's great robbery scene.

7: "The Royal Tenenbaums" (2001)

Anderson kicked up his ambitious vision with regard to costumes and production design in this movie and has pretty much not looked back since. Looking at three gifted kids of a New York City family, and how they all grow up to have lives that never match their potential, the movie is a work that if you don't fully love, at the very least you respect. It also possesses Gene Hackman's last great performance before his retirement.

The most popular breeds in America today are either highly intelligent working dogs or are small and just plain adorable, according to Nicole Ellis, Certified Dog Trainer and Pet Expert with Rover.com. But this hasn't always been the case.

The Boston terrier was one of the most popular dog breeds for 30 years but now, doesn't even appear on the American Kennel Club's top ten list. Poodles made their way to the top of the list for their showmanship. While other breeds, such as the German shepherd, climbed to the top because of popular films like "Rin Tin Tin."

INSIDER spoke with several dog experts to find out which breeds have made their way on to the top ten list and why.

Labrador retriever

Labradors are the most popular dog breed in the United States and have been for the past 26 years, according to Canine Journal.

Labs are a medium-large breed, sturdy with a short dense coat that comes in chocolate, black, and yellow, according to Ellis. What makes them so lovable is their intelligence, love for people, willingness to please, their trainability, and their happy disposition.

People see them as stereotypical "good, family dogs" and for the most part, that is true. But in order for this to be the case, it is important they are properly socialized and trained as puppies, according to Jme Thomas, Executive Director of Motley Zoo Animal Rescue.

Lab puppies can be a lot to handle with such high energy therefore, it is essential to consider your lifestyle too as these dogs need a lot of daily activity, structure, and companionship.

German shepherd

Coming in second place are the the loyal German shepherds also known as GSD’s (German Shepherd Dogs), according to Ellis. This breed is popular amongst the military, police, and security for their extremely high work drive and discipline.

GSD’s range from 75 to 95 pounds with a medium-length double coat, which protects them from rain and snow, according to Ellis. They are often black and tan with long hair, large ears, and a long snout, Ellis added, that help them hear and sniff things out when working. They tend to shed a lot, so brushing daily helps this.

German shepherds love attention and having a job to do. They belong in a home that will keep their mind busy with activities such as tracking and agility, according to Ellis.

Golden retriever

This breed is particularly beautiful, which is certainly part of their appeal, according to Thomas. "Goldens" as their name suggests are a medium-large breed with yellow/gold, long hair. They have a dense, water-repellent outer coat with a thick undercoat, Ellis shared.

People love them because they are friendly, energetic, easily trainable and have a great personality, according to Russell Hartstein, CDBC, CPDT-KA, and CEO ofFun Paw Care. They also are usually great athletes, Ellis added, who love outdoor activities like hiking, agility, and swimming.