Reserve

While capturing that perfect selfie while on vacation can be exhilarating, there’s one type of selfie that could land you in trouble — especially in a national park or nature reserve.

With summer in full swing across most parts of the world, millions of people are making travel plans to make the most of the sunshine. These days, national parks and nature reserves are emerging as a popular choice for wholesome getaways, providing holidaymakers a chance to immerse themselves in their surroundings and get up close and personal with the great outdoors.

While on holiday, people naturally tend to click pictures in order to preserve a special moment in time and even though capturing that perfect selfie on vacation can be exhilarating, there’s one type of selfie that could land you in trouble. It comes after a warning to Brit tourists planning all-inclusive holidays to Spain.

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Why a popular travel selfie could see you barred from a nature reserve

Taking the perfect selfie with wild animals might seem like a harmless holiday highlight — but experts are warning that it could lead to grave consequences. According to travel expert Naturetrek, snapping certain pictures in protected areas could disturb wildlife, violate conservation regulations, and even result in a permanent ban from reserves.

The selfie trend that’s raising eyebrows

Tourists in the UK and overseas are increasingly chasing “up-close” wildlife photos — particularly with seals, nesting birds, or rare species in national parks. Some even cross clearly marked boundaries or stray from designated paths to achieve that perfect shot.

But whilst the results might appear spectacular on Instagram, the effect on wildlife can be catastrophic. Naturetrek explains that constant human interference in delicate habitats can disrupt breeding, force animals to desert their offspring, and result in prolonged environmental distress.

A Naturetrek spokesperson shares: “One of the worst offenders we’ve seen is people trying to take selfies with seal pups or nesting seabirds. It only takes a few seconds of disturbance to frighten adult animals away – and that can have lasting consequences.”

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What the regulations state

Nature reserves across the UK and throughout Europe maintain stringent guidelines for public conduct – particularly during mating or breeding periods. These encompass remaining behind barriers, keeping noise levels down, and never feeding or getting close to wildlife.

Violating these regulations can result in immediate fines, ejection from the site, or prohibition from returning. Certain locations now additionally supervise visitors via drone surveillance or ranger monitoring. Perpetrators have been captured on film climbing fences or crouching beside animals to secure a “wildlife close-up”.

According to Naturetrek: “It’s not just about physical harm – even the sound of a phone shutter or a quick movement from a selfie stick can spook some species.”

Alternative options that are safe

Wildlife snappers and experienced tour guides suggest admiring animals from afar – utilising binoculars or long lenses for superior snaps. Numerous reserves provide guided strolls or hides, where guests can safely watch and photograph animals without danger. “If you want great wildlife photos, patience is key,” advises Naturetrek. “The best shots are often taken quietly, with respect, and without disturbing the natural behaviour of the animals.”

Respect nature, safeguard the experience

Naturetrek cautions that if current trends persist, more reserves may be compelled to limit access, tighten restrictions, or close certain areas entirely during peak seasons. The travel expert says: “We understand the desire to capture the moment – but if that moment harms nature, it’s not worth it. Our wild spaces need protection, and that means putting the camera down when needed.”

So, the next time you’re on a hike, boat trip, or coastal tour, think twice before you edge in for a selfie. Respect the distance, heed local advice, and savour the encounter without intrusion. You’ll protect wildlife – and your access to these stunning locations – for years to come.

Naturetrek adds: “At the heart of every memorable wildlife experience is respect. By choosing not to disturb, you become part of the solution — helping to preserve nature’s wonders for generations to come.”

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Aug. 2 (UPI) — One of the seven members of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Adriana Kugler, announced she is stepping down next week, creating an opening for President Donald Trump to fill.

Her term was set to expire in January but Kugler said Friday she will depart in seven days. President Joe Biden appointed Kugler, a 55-year-old labor economist, in September 2023.

Governors’ terms are for 14 years, and Kugler filled an opening.

“The Federal Reserve does important work to help foster a healthy economy and it has been a privilege to work towards that goal on behalf of all Americans for nearly two years,” Kugler said in her resignation letter to Trump. “I am proud to have tackled this role with integrity, a strong commitment to serving the public, and with a data-driven approach strongly based on my expertise in labor markets and inflation.”

Kugler said she plans to return to teaching public policy at Georgetown University in the fall. She was a vice provost for faculty at Georgetown and earned her Ph.D. in economics at the University of California at Berkeley.

“I am especially honored to have served during a critical time in achieving our dual mandate of bringing down prices and keeping a strong and resilient labor market,” she wrote in the letter.

Kugler did not vote on Wednesday when the central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee kept the benchmark interest rate unchanged at a range of 4.25% to 4.5% for a fifth consecutive meeting. Two of the 11 committee members who did vote dissented, backing Trump’s desire to lower rates.

The 12-member committee includes the seven governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and four remaining 11 Reserve Bank presidents who serve one-year terms on a rotating basis.

“We just found out that I have an open spot on the Federal Reserve Board. I’m very happy about that,” Trump said late Friday before boarding Marine One.

He later posted on Truth Social that Fed Chairman Jerome Powell “should resign, just like Adriana Kugler, a Biden Appointee, resigned. She knew he was doing the wrong thing on Interest Rates. He should resign, also!”

The replacement may ultimately replace Powell, whose term ends in May, though he can remain as a governor until 2028.

The president appoints each of the board members and designates one to serve as chair for four years. Trump appointed Powell during his first presidency in 2018. Biden appointed him to another term as chairman.

“Trump’s influence on interest rates will now be felt earlier and more strongly,” Derek Tang, an economist at LHMeyer, an economic consulting firm, told The Washington Post.

Contenders to lead the Fed are National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, former Fed governor Kevin Warsh and Fed governor Christopher Waller, each with distinct strengths, The Washington Post reported. Trump has said he wants Scott Bessent to remain as Treasury secretary.

Trump has sought to replace Powell, calling him on Truth Social “a stubborn MORON” and “too late” on lowering interest rates. But he can only be fired “for cause,” such as malfeasance, neglect of duty or inefficiency, rather than disagreeing with policies.

Experts say his removal could disrupt the financial markets.

United States President Donald Trump arrived at the Federal Reserve’s headquarters in Washington to tour the site of a $2.5bn renovation of two historical buildings, which the White House criticises as overly costly and ostentatious, as tensions escalate between the administration and the independent overseer of the nation’s monetary policy.

Thursday’s rare presidential visit to the Fed is happening less than a week before the central bank’s 19 policymakers gather for a two-day rate-setting meeting, where they are widely expected to leave the US central bank’s benchmark interest rate in the 4.25-4.50 percent range.

Trump has repeatedly demanded that the Fed lower rates by 3 percentage points and has frequently raised the possibility of firing Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, though the president has said he does not intend to do so.

On Tuesday, Trump called the Fed chief a “numbskull”.

On Thursday, Trump publicly scorned Powell for the cost of an extensive building renovation as the two officials began a tour of the unfinished project.

Trump said the project cost $3.1bn, much higher than the Fed’s $2.5bn figure, while Powell, standing next to him, silently shook his head.

“This came from us?” Powell said, before he figured out that Trump was including the renovation of the Martin Building, which was finished five years ago.

“Do you expect any more additional cost overruns?” Trump asked.

“Don’t expect them,” Powell said.

Trump said in his career as a real estate developer, he would fire someone for cost overruns. The president joked that he would back off Powell if he lowered interest rates.

“I’d love him to lower interest rates,” Trump said, as Powell stood by, his face expressionless.

Powell typically spends the Thursday afternoon before a rate-setting meeting doing back-to-back calls with Fed bank presidents as part of his preparations for the session.

Elevated by Trump to the top Fed job in 2018, and then reappointed by former President Joe Biden four years later, Powell last met with Trump in March when the Republican president summoned him to the White House to press him to lower rates.

The visit takes place as Trump battles to deflect attention from a political crisis over his administration’s refusal to release files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, reversing a campaign promise. Epstein died in 2019.

White House officials have ramped up Trump’s pressure campaign on Powell in recent weeks, accusing the Fed of mismanaging the renovation and suggesting poor oversight and potential fraud.

White House budget director Russell Vought has pegged the cost overrun at “$700m and counting”, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called for an extensive review of the Fed’s non-monetary policy operations, citing operating losses at the central bank as a reason to question its spending on the renovation.

Those losses stem from the mechanics of managing the Fed’s policy rate to fight inflation, which include paying banks to park cash at the central bank. The Fed reported a comprehensive net loss of $114.6bn in 2023 and $77.5bn in 2024, a reversal from years of big profits it turned over to the Treasury when interest rates – and inflation – were low.

Renovations in the spotlight

The Fed, in letters to Vought and lawmakers, backed up by documents posted on its website, says the project – the first full rehab of its two buildings in Washington since they were built nearly a century ago – ran into unexpected challenges, including toxic materials abatement and higher-than-estimated materials and labour costs.

Ahead of Trump’s visit, Fed staff escorted a small group of reporters around the construction sites. They wove around cement mixers and construction machines, and spoke over the sound of drills, banging and saws. Fed staff pointed out security features, including blast-resistant windows, that they said were a significant driver of costs, in addition to tariffs and escalations in material and labour costs.

The renovation project started in mid-2022 and is on track to be completed by 2027, with the move-in planned for March 2028. A visit to the roof of the Eccles Building – a point of particular scrutiny by White House critics that the renovations were ostentatious – revealed an impressive view of the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall, the pool report said.

Staff explained that rooftop seating, although inexpensive, had been removed because of the appearance of it being an amenity and was one of only two deviations from the original plan. The other was the scrapping of a couple of planned fountains.

Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott, a Republican who sent Powell a letter on Wednesday asking a series of questions about the cost and other details of the renovation, as well as Powell’s own statements about it, is part of the visit as well.

Market reaction to Trump’s visit was subdued. The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury bonds ticked higher after data showed new jobless claims dropped in the most recent week, signalling a stable labour market not in need of support from a Fed rate cut. Stocks on Wall Street were mixed.

Trump’s criticism of Powell and flirtation with firing him have previously upset financial markets and threatened a key underpinning of the global financial system: that central banks are independent and free from political meddling.

His visit contrasts with a handful of other documented presidential visits to the Fed. Then-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited the central bank in 1937 to dedicate the newly-built headquarters, which is one of the two Fed buildings now being renovated. Most recently, former President George W Bush went to the Fed in 2006 to attend the swearing-in of Ben Bernanke as Fed chief.

Central bank independence critical

“I think it’s important that he send a signal that he really isn’t happy with how things are going at the Fed,” said Senator Cynthia Lummis, a Republican member of the Senate Banking Committee. She said the visit was a “good decision” by Trump.

Senator Mike Rounds, another Republican who sits on the Senate Banking Committee, said on Thursday he also saw no problem with Trump’s visit, though he added that Powell’s independence as Fed chief is “critical for the markets. I think he’s done a good job of that”.

“I think the more information the president can glean from this, probably the better off we are in terms of resolving any issues that are outstanding,” Rounds said, noting that Powell had indicated “that they have had a significant amount of money, just in terms of foundation work and so forth, that was not anticipated to begin with”.

Former Fed chiefs Janet Yellen and Bernanke this week wrote an opinion piece in The New York Times warning that the public’s belief that the US central bank is willing to make hard decisions based on data and independent of politics “is an important national asset. It is hard to acquire and easy to lose”.

Economic experts widely agree.

“As we’ve seen through the disinflation process that has been taking place over the last few years, the credibility of central banks around the world has been instrumental in anchoring inflation expectations and in bringing down inflation across many countries in the world,” International Monetary Fund spokesperson Julie Kozack said on Thursday.

“And it is also important that independence, of course, must coexist with clear accountability to the public.

July 24 (UPI) — President Donald Trump will head to the Federal Reserve on Thursday amid his ongoing calls for Chair Jerome Powell to resign.

A U.S. president hasn’t visited the nation’s central bank since President George W. Bush in 2006. Trump is slated to arrive at 4 p.m. EDT and take an hour-long tour of the site, as he has expressed disdain for renovations at the office building.

The $2.5 billion renovation project has been part of Trump’s criticism Powell, and the Trump administration has also pushed at Powell, who Trump nominated to the job in 2017.

Trump, as recently as Wednesday, lashed out at Powell, who he has dubbed “Too Late.”

“Housing in our country is lagging because Jerome ‘Too Late’ Powell refuses to lower interest rates,” Trump posted to Truth Social on Wednesday. “Families are being hurt because interest rates are too high, and even our country is having to pay a higher rate than it should be because of ‘Too Late.'”

White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair, who has also taken to referring to Powell as “Too Late” on social media, has also been critical of the renovations. Blair has accused the Fed of trying to hide what is being spent on the project before announcing Tuesday that Trump and his people will be making the Thursday visit.

Blair had said on Monday that the Fed released a virtual video of its offices in what he considered an effort to stymie a review at the construction.

“What do they not want us to see?” he said on X.

“We go Thursday!” Blair posted to X Tuesday after inferring that the Fed had relented on blocking a visit due to pressure by the White House.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday on X he has called for an assessment of the Federal Reserve.

“While I have no knowledge or opinion on the legal basis for the massive building renovations being undertaken,” Bessent said. “A review of the decision to undertake such a project by an institution reporting operating losses of more than $100 billion per year should be conducted.”

Trump has expressed in the past a desire to fire Powell and has suggested that overruns on the cost of the renovations would be a viable excuse to terminate the Fed Chairman. However, Trump has since yielded on that notion and has indicated he will likely instead allow Powell to keep his job until his term expires next May.

The Clippers had a need for a playmaker and ballhandler, and they were able to find that “natural fit” with Chris Paul.

Paul spent six seasons with the Clippers, a time when he had plenty of success leading them to relevancy and now he’s back to play his 21st season, which might be his last.

Paul, 40, a 12-time All-Star, agreed to a contract that will pay him $3.6 million next season.

“Chris was a natural fit,” Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, said over Zoom on Tuesday. “His roots with the organization are deep and meaningful. He obviously played a tremendous role in the upward trajectory of the franchise. He wanted to return to the Clippers and we wanted it the same, as long as it made sense with our current roster — and it does.”

Paul has spent his entire 20-year career as a starter in the NBA, playing in all 82 games last season with the San Antonio Spurs. He averaged 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 28 minutes per game while shooting 42.7% from the field.

Over the course of playing in 1,354 regular-season games, Paul has started in 1,314.

Frank said Paul will “slot into our roster as a reserve point guard,” a role the two of them discussed.

“So, we don’t take that lightly when you’re taking on a different role,” Frank said. “And so there were a lot of conversations. You put everything on the table and get everyone comfortable with it. But the fact that Chris wanted to come back, wanted to be at home, wanted to be with the Clippers, we obviously know what his skill set is, but we also wanted to make sure the role made perfect sense from both people’s perspective.

“And so I thought it was a very, very thorough process in terms of how we went about it, just to make sure that everyone knows exactly what we’re signing up for and we feel really, really good about it.”

Playing time also could be tricky at the guard spot with Paul now on board.

James Harden, who averaged 35.3 minutes per game last season, and Bradley Beal are the likely starters in the backcourt for Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. Then there is Kris Dunn, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Paul who could be in the rotation.

“We know that ballhandling was a little bit of an issue for us last year and we wanted to get … Chris was the best guy for the job as long as everyone understood exactly what the role was and we can all embrace it,” Frank said. “And so, we’ve been very, very honest and direct and we feel great that Chris is back.”

Frank said Harden played a big role in the team acquiring Beal. Frank was asked if Harden talked to Paul about returning to the Clippers. Harden and Paul played two seasons together in Houston, from 2017 to 2019, and there were reports that their relationship was strained.

Frank said, “They did.” when asked if Harden and Paul had talked.

“And when talking to James, talking to Kawhi [Leonard] — and we talked about what the role would be — both guys said CP would be the best guy for this role,” Frank said.

Paul and Beal have both worn No. 3 their entire careers. But Frank said Beal will let Paul wear No. 3 and decide later what his new number will be.

“So, it’s awesome that Brad made such a great gesture like that,” Frank said. “And so Chris will be No. 3.”

During his six seasons with the Clippers, from 2011 until 2017, Paul helped the franchise reach new heights. He joined Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan to form “Lob City.”

But it sounds as if this will be Paul’s last season in the NBA and it’ll be with the Clippers and it’ll allow him to play in front of his family that lives in the Los Angeles area.

“Well, I think there’s the nostalgic aspect,” Frank said. “But I think the No. 1 question that we always say, is how can he help impact winning? … And yeah, look, there’s the heartstrings part of it, of someone who was such a significant part of the Clippers’ rise to be able to bring it back. Whether this is his last year or not, that’s obviously Chris’ story in terms of what he feels and what he wants. But I think No. 1 is his ability to help impact winning.”

July 11 (UPI) — The U.S. Department of Energy announced Friday it has approved an exchange from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, or SPR, with the ExxonMobil Corp. to ease issues that affect crude oil deliveries to the company’s Baton Rouge, La., refinery.

According to a press release from the DOE, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright sanctioned the move to help keep the regional supply of transportation fuels across Louisiana and the broader Gulf Coast stable. The DOE says this will also keep the SPR’s operational flexibility as is and won’t either impact or delay the Department’s continuing efforts toward refilling the reserve.

The agreement will provide up to one million barrels of crude oil from the SPR to ExxonMobil to support the restoration of refinery operations that had been diminished due to an offshore supply disruption. The release states that ExxonMobil will eventually return the borrowed oil, as well as an unannounced amount of additional barrels of crude to the SPR at no cost to taxpayers.

Under the exchange agreement, DOE will provide up to 1 million barrels of crude oil from the SPR. The exchange will support ExxonMobil’s restoration of refinery operations that were reduced due to an offshore supply disruption. ExxonMobil will return the borrowed crude along with additional barrels of crude oil for the SPR at no cost to the taxpayer.

“Investing in American energy enables energy independence and truly unleashes America’s ability to serve as the world leader in global energy,” Wright said in an X post Friday.

Michelle Cranston filmed three tourists setting out a long line of deck chairs and beach brollies right in front of the shore in Benidorm, Spain at the crack of dawn

A Brit was left stunned after seeing tourists putting their towels on a Benidorm beach at 6.30am.

Michelle Cranston spotted the group claiming their spot as she prepared to fly home. The 52-year-old had enjoyed a sunny holiday in the Benidorm resort with her husband.

The couple were waiting for their airport transfer when they noticed the group placing their towels on the sand at what Michelle called a “ridiculously early time.” She filmed three tourists setting out a long line of deck chairs and beach brollies right in front of the shore.

The rest of the beach appeared deserted at the time—Sunday, July 6.

“My husband and I woke up early to get ready for our airport transfer pick-up at 8:30 a.m. for our flight to Newcastle,” said Michelle, who lives near Middlesbrough, Teesside, in an interview with What’s The Jam.

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“We were staying at the H10 Porto Poniente Hotel in the old town of Benidorm, in a room with uninterrupted, breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea and Poniente Beach. It was our second stay here—it’s perfect for people-watching.

“After getting ready, we sat on the balcony with a coffee and noticed some people were already setting up their chairs and parasols along the water’s edge. It was just before 6:30 a.m.”

Michelle posted the video online. She said: “After a giggle about what a ridiculously early time it was to be setting up for a prime spot on the beach—I mean, you’re not going to run out of beach in Benidorm—I took a short video and wasn’t thinking any more of it. On my return to the UK, I checked my phone, and to my amazement, it had gained a lot of interest, reactions, and replies. I never anticipated the post would be this popular.”

Michelle and her husband aren’t the only Brits frustrated by early risers “reserving” sun spots.

A group of irate holidaymakers recently told how they thwarted a cunning plan by fellow Brits to bag sunbeds seven hours before their hotel pool opened.

While having a late-night chinwag on their balcony, Mandy Boyd spotted some lads she thought were sneaking in for a cheeky swim. But on closer inspection, the 34-year-old realised the young men were actually trying to nab the best loungers at 2:00 a.m.—despite the pool not opening until 9:00 a.m. the next day.

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The quartet of girls watched as the lads dragged out sunloungers to secure prime spots. Mandy and her mates patiently waited on the balcony for the perfect moment to dash down and swipe the towels.

The comical “sunbed wars” sabotage took place around 2:00 a.m. at the Aquasol Aparthotel in Palmanova, near Magaluf, Spain.

“We’re just doing the Lord’s work,” said Mandy, from Bridgend, South Wales, speaking to Luxury Travel Daily. “I can’t stand it when people reserve sunbeds and don’t use them all day. I find it really inconsiderate. It was shocking to see them reserving beds at 2 a.m., especially when there was no chance of those lads being up to enjoy them. We kept the towels but made sure we left them where they would find them.”

June 18 (UPI) — The U.S. Federal Reserve held key interest rates steady Wednesday but said it still sees the possibility of two cuts later this year, with expectations that President Donald Trump‘s tariff policies will spike inflation and slow economic growth.

The Federal Open Market Committee kept its borrowing rate in the 4.25%-4.5% range where it’s been since December.

Earlier Wednesday it had been highly expected that the Fed would leave interest rates unaltered. However, the committee indicated that two cuts by the end of the year were not out of the question, with a chance of four future interest rate cuts being a possibility by 2027.

“The Fed’s main message at the June meeting will be that it remains comfortably in wait-and-see mode,” Bank of America economist Aditya Bhave said in a statement earlier in the day.

The Fed reported on inflation trends and other data in the midst of economic uncertainty.

Economic experts pointed to future so-called “stagflationary” economic pressures with the likelihood of the nation’s GDP pushing at a pace of more than 1% and inflation as high as 3%.

“Uncertainty about the economic outlook has diminished but remains elevated,” according to the FOMC, adding how it was being “attentive to the risks to both sides of its dual mandate.”

The uncertainty stems not only from the unpredictable application of tariffs and ongoing trade volatility caused by them, but also from world events likely to have an effect on U.S. financial markets such as the Iran-Israel war.

“Investors should focus on [Fed Chair Jerome] Powell’s take on the softening labor data, the recent benign inflation prints and the risks of persistent tariff-driven inflation,” Bhave added.

Earlier, Wall Street economists had believed the Fed would keep interest rates in the 4.25% to 4.5% range.

The Fed has not cut interest rates so far during the Trump administration. Despite President Donald Trump aggressively pushing Powell to cut interest rates, he has declined, saying there is too much uncertainty in financial markets, largely because of tariffs that have been imposed and threatened.

Sunbed wars are heating up at hotels everywhere – as holidaymakers race to reserve loungers with nothing but a towel. But is it a clever strategy – or just plain rude?

It’s the classic holiday debate: whether or not to reserve a sun lounger with a towel. We’ve all seen it – or maybe even done it ourselves. It’s early morning, the sun’s barely up, and there’s already a row of chairs by the pool completely ‘claimed’ with a towel or anything else a forward-thinking holidaymaker can think of.

But the people are nowhere to be seen. And we want to know if you think it’s ok to claim your spot in such a way. Scroll down to take our poll.

Some say it’s just part of holiday life – the ‘you snooze you lose’ mentality. While others argue it’s deeply inconsiderate. After all, if you’re not actually using the lounger, should you really be blocking someone else from enjoying it?

Hotels and resorts are starting to take notice, too. Some have gone so far as to implement “towel patrols” that remove items from unused beds after a certain time. But still, the great sunbed stand-off continues. Do you use a towel to reserve a sun lounger? Take our poll below. If you can’t see it, click here

The age-old issue has reared its head again after a holidaying couple defended putting towels on their sunbeds while nipping for breakfast – sparking a furious reaction online.

Rachel McGuigan and her husband David stayed at The Residence Hotel in the resort of Fethiye, west of Antalya in Turkey. But the holidaymakers divided opinion after she placed towels on their poolside beds for half an hour while they visited the resort’s restaurant. One angry holidaymaker, Harry Crumb, said: “I just remove them, if full. I don’t care and the hotel doesn’t care.”

Another added: “Just throw the towels in the pool. It’s not allowed to do this in most hotels and resorts.” But another person leapt to their defence, saying: “I don’t understand. I thought it was normal to get up, grab your towels, pop them on your bed then go for breakfast.”

“I just thought it was crazy that people were so upset about leaving a towel for half an hour to go for breakfast,” Rachel told What’s The Jam. “They accused me of being selfish and all sorts.”

Rachel then posted about it on her ‘Holidays & Hangovers’ TikTok page. She then decided to stoke the fires further by posting a joke about leaving one of her towels on a lounger at 5.30am to go on a series of fake excursions that lasted until bedtime.

The punchline was that they never got to spend a minute on the sunbeds they reserved at dawn.

In the footage, she shared a screenshot of an angry user’s message that read: “Really annoys me that people put towels on sunbeds then go away somewhere? Why? Everyone wants to enjoy their holiday.”

Rachel captioned her clip: “Fine, you’ve all caught me out, this is how our day really looked…”

However, many furious Brits took the joke literally and flooded her comments section for a second time. One riled tourist said: “So you reserved the beds and didn’t use them but wouldn’t let anyone else use them? Have you ever thought that you may be the problem?”

Another raged: “You go on holiday for a rest but end up getting up early like you do at home just to put towels out. Hotels are not for me, that’s why I Airbnb, not having a go, just saying.”

“The most council estate thing ever!” said a third, while Craig remarked: “Some people ain’t getting the joke, love it!”

After ruffling a few feathers, Rachel explained: “After the first time, I thought it would be funny to play up to it.

“It was a joke and I didn’t expect anyone to take it seriously, but I ended up opening a can of worms about sunbed reservations!”

She added: “There wasn’t a lack of sunbeds so putting our towels down before going for breakfast wasn’t an issue for anyone. I was surprised with everyone commenting about it.”

Rachel admitted it can be “annoying” when some tourists leave their towels on sunbeds “for hours on end”. But she doesn’t see it as a problem if it’s “only for half an hour and someone stays with them”.

Do you use a towel to reserve a sun lounger? Take our poll above and expand on your feelings in the comments below

WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell defended the central bank’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic Sunday in a Princeton University commencement speech in which he also praised government employees and U.S. universities, both of which have been targeted by the Trump administration.

The Fed chair and the central bank have been subject to extensive criticism in recent weeks by President Trump and former Fed governor Kevin Warsh, a potential successor to Powell.

In his speech, Powell, who noted he graduated from Princeton 50 years ago, defended the central bank’s decision to cut its key interest rate to nearly zero in response to the pandemic shutdown. It also launched an asset-purchase program that involved buying trillions of dollars of Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities, intended to keep longer-term interest rates low.

“With little warning, economies around the world came to a hard stop” as the pandemic hit, Powell said. “The possibility of a long, severe, global depression was staring us in the face. Everyone turned to the government, and to the Federal Reserve in particular as a key first responder.”

Powell singled out longtime government employees for praise: “Career civil servants at the Fed who are veterans of previous crises stepped forward and said, ‘We got this,’” he said.

Trump has subjected Powell to a stream of attacks for months because the Fed has kept its key rate unchanged this year, after cutting it three times at the end of 2024. The president has claimed that there is “no inflation” so the Fed should reduce borrowing costs. Powell has noted that inflation persists.

This month, Trump called Powell a “fool” for not cutting rates and last week called the Fed chair “Too Late Powell.”

Powell has not responded to Trump’s attacks, a stance that has previously won him support among Republicans on Capitol Hill.

In his Sunday speech, he defended American universities, which have come under sharp attacks from the Trump administration as research grants and other funding have been cut for several Ivy League universities, including Princeton.

“Our great universities are the envy of the world and a crucial national asset,” Powell said. “Look around you. I urge you to take none of this for granted.”

Late last month, Warsh, who served as one of the Fed’s governors from 2006 to 2011, slammed the central bank, saying it had allowed inflation to spike to its highest level in four decades in 2022. Warsh is considered a leading candidate to become the next Fed chair when Powell’s term ends next May.

“Each time the Fed jumps into action, the more it expands its size and scope,” Warsh said in a speech on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund’s spring meetings. “More debt is accumulated … more institutional lines are crossed, and the Fed is compelled to act even more aggressively the next time.”

The Fed does not issue debt, but Warsh and other Fed critics argue that its purchase of Treasury bonds enabled to federal government to borrow and spend more.

Powell has acknowledged that the Fed could have moved quicker to raise interest rates once inflation began to rise in 2021. Still, on Sunday, he defended the Fed’s pandemic record.

“Through the joint efforts of many, we avoided the worst outcomes,” Powell said. “It is hard to imagine the pressure people face at a time like that. Their collective efforts saved our economy, and the career civil servants involved deserve our respect and gratitude; it is my great honor to serve alongside them.”

Rugaber writes for the Associated Press.