worse

Irish airline Ryanair has reiterated its controversial stance on what passengers should not wear on their planes – after one passenger attempted to bend the ‘rule’

There’s nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable on a flight, knowing there’s nothing you can do about it. Wearing jeans is often regarded as an air travel faux pas as the tightness of the material can cause problems when the body swells slightly during low cabin pressure.

Ryanair has frequently warned against wearing denim on board, saying that tight waistbands and stiff leg material squeezes your body, which can cut off good blood flow if you are sitting still for hours. Recent passenger Pam Booth recently sought advice over her choice of outfit, which prompted a damning response from the Irish airline.

“What you got to say about this Ryanair?” Pam asked on Twitter alongside a snap of her attire. “Technically they aren’t jeans.”

Ryanair simply declared in reply: “They’re worse.” Pam’s photo revealed she had opted for denim shorts for her journey, cut just above the knee.

If you’re wearing shorts then your bare thighs and calves could be pressed against the seat fabric for hours. And aircraft seats are turned around fast – while they are cleaned, they’re not deep-sanitised between every passenger, so you’re increasing exposure to sweat, skin cells, crumbs and microbes left behind.

Last month, Ryanair shared an “important” message to those wearing jeans, having previously threatened to introduce a “denim fee” for travellers not adhering to this guidance.

“Important Travel Announcement,” the company posted, accompanied by three images of a Ryanair aircraft in the sky, zoomed in to reveal various details. The first two showed a Ryanair plane soaring through the air, with a brilliant blue sky visible in the background. However, the third image displayed a banner trailing from the rear of the aircraft.

The message was short and sweet. It simply read: “Stop travelling in jeans.”

Ryanair also took to TikTok in July to share a similar message. The airline shared a video of a plane with the Ryanair logo descending over turquoise waters before landing at what appears to be Corfu airport.

Celebratory music is heard playing over the clip, followed by a voice saying the classic phrase many passengers will have heard before: “Thank you for flying Ryanair. It’s 2026, let’s stop travelling in jeans please.”

The recommendation is shared by AAA Club Alliance, who state online: “A stiff denim waistband isn’t ideal when you’ll be sitting in a small, cramped seat for hours.

“Jeans can quickly get uncomfortable, which can put a damper on your entire travel experience. Plus, wearing tight jeans can actually increase your risk of deep vein thrombus (DVT) which are blood clots in the leg, so stiff, tight pants should be avoided.”

The advice continues: “Instead of jeans, opt for a stretchy pant. While sweatpants and leggings can be a great option, if you want to up your game, try trousers with drawstring or an elastic waist.

“Styles in light fabrics, like cotton, or that curl up in a jogger style, are great for a long-haul flight. Or, if you love your jeans, try a relaxed boyfriend cut or other style with decent stretch.”

JUST like their sunlounger-hogging cousins, the beach blaggers start early in their bid to grab as much precious sand as possible.

With multiple guy ropes and pulleys stretched across the sands, they construct complicated cabanas and tents that occupy nearly EIGHT times more space than a standard umbrella while providing no extra shade.

It’s been an increasing problem on busy Mediterranean beaches but now the selfish beach-dwellers with their sand-stealing contraptions are beginning to invade UK shores.

As millions of us escape to the UK’s gorgeous beaches to cool off in the heatwaves, we’re increasingly having to fight for every square inch of sand stolen by these modern monstrosities.

A traditional beach umbrella takes up around 0.5sq metres of sand -whereas the new modern beach cabanas can take anything from four to nine square metres of prime shoreline.

That’s the equivalent of a small studio apartment!

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Once set up, the hoggers then begin emptying multiple beach buggies of chairs, tables and more to furnish their tented encampments.

And what’s even more irritating, once set up they promptly disappear – for HOURS – leaving everyone else on the beach scrabbling for a little bit of space or helplessly trying to navigate their way through the ropes and chains.

Just last month I watched a family set up not one but THREE different huge marquees on the sands of Fuengirola complete with a huge barbecue and full dining table and chairs.

But as they start to lay claim to British beaches, authorities across the Mediterranean and beyond are beginning to fight back against the sand grabbers with confiscations, strict bans and heavy fines.

On Spain’s Costa Blanca, municipal wardens and local police are doing early morning sweeps. Anyone who plants a tent, cabana or even an umbrella before 9.30am to reserve a spot – or leaves their gear unattended for more than three hours – has their kit confiscated by council trucks.

Those wanting to reclaim their possessions must go to a warehouse – after paying a €250 (£210) fine!

And with wildfires raging across Europe, these tented constructions caught the attention of concerned authorities in Sardinia. 

When the forest of pop-up structures and guy ropes physically blocked beachgoers from evacuating safely from a wildfire, authorities moved swiftly to ban them.

 And Greece has now expanded its ‘untouched beaches’ protection law, designating more than 250 beaches where pop up structures and commercial sunbeds are banned to give the public back their sand.

And even Australia’s Prime Minister has weighed in on the subject after social media was flooded with videos of popular Gold Coast and Sydney beaches completely swallowed by rows of interlocking 2metre x 2metre ‘Cool Cabanas’.

Anthony Albanese declared that using cabanas to reserve spots was ‘not on’ adding: “One of the great things about Australia is that everyone owns the beach. It’s a place where every Australian is equal. It’s a breach of that principle, really, to think that you can reserve a little spot as just yours.” 

Of course, as temperatures soar and with heatwaves getting ever more common, we all still do need to make sure we have ample shade on the beach.

And no doubt, for young children and babies it is essential their delicate skin is protected. No one is arguing against small tents for children to escape the worst of the sun’s rays.

They can be picked up online and in shops from as little as £6. 

Absolutely fine by me. Babies, of course, take up very little space.

But as our beaches become ever more crowded in the peak summer months, those of us who don’t fancy paying a fortune to rent a lounger for £50plus a day need other options.

What’s wrong with a towel and beach umbrella with a good, hardy base that either is filled with sand or screws into the ground to avoid being blown away in the wind. 

With a basic umbrella and a low-rise beach chair plus a towel for stretching out, there’s no need to take up so much space.

It’s time UK councils took a leaf out of Europe’s book and kicked the sand-grabbers off our shores for good! 

A new survey has found the most common holiday scams abroad that UK tourists have fallen for – and the average amount they’ve been ripped off for is £200

More than a fifth of holidaymakers have fallen victim to tourist traps while travelling abroad, losing an average of £200. Over half (52%) believe popular overseas holiday destinations are getting worse year on year when it comes to fleecing visitors.

The survey of 2,000 holidaymakers revealed that 27% have knowingly been ripped off or overcharged while on holiday. The most widespread scams include overpriced food and drinks at tourist hotspots, taxi rides, hidden fees when paying by card, being charged more than locals at restaurants, and bogus tour guides.

The research was commissioned by eSIM platform Airalo, which provides mobile data coverage across more than 200 destinations worldwide.

Matteo Papa, growth director (Europe & CIS), said: “Falling victim to a tourist trap can put a dampener on, and in some cases a financial strain on, a dream holiday.

“While some traps can seem harmless at first, the costs can quickly add up and leave travellers feeling frustrated or out of pocket.”

“Doing a little research before you travel, checking reviews, and staying connected while you’re on the go can help holidaymakers make more informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls.

“Being aware of the most common rip-off tactics in your destination can go a long way towards helping you enjoy a smoother, more stress-free trip.”

The research revealed that having dependable internet access makes 69% feel safer when travelling overseas, with 21% typically ‘always’ connected to the internet or mobile data while on holiday.

For 46%, without internet access they are unable to contact friends or family, while others would be unable to navigate unfamiliar areas (40%), or access tickets and bookings (29%).

Half of holidaymakers are now more careful when spending money or booking activities abroad compared to five years ago.

To avoid being ripped off while on holiday, 50% have avoided carrying large amounts of cash, while 37% have only used licensed taxis or ride-hailing apps.

Airalo launched an activation in London, creating a ‘Tourist Trap’ featuring overpriced croissants with the price tag of €15 to alert passers-by to the pitfalls faced on holiday.

To help holidaymakers dodge extra costs this summer, the brand is offering new users 20% off sitewide data plans with the code ‘CROISSANT’, ensuring travellers stay connected and protected.

A spokesperson for the brand added: “Even seasoned travellers can be caught out when they’re unfamiliar with local customs, prices, or payment methods.

“Taking a few simple precautions before and during your trip can make a real difference, helping you feel more confident when making purchases or booking experiences.

“Ultimately, being prepared means you can spend less time worrying about unexpected costs and more time enjoying everything your destination has to offer.”

TOURIST TRAPS HOLIDAYMAKERS HAVE EXPERIENCED ABROAD:

1. Food, drinks, and merchandise sold at inflated prices because of a location’s captive audience
2. Overpriced taxi rides or taxi drivers taking deliberately longer routes to increase the fare
3. Hidden charges while eating out (e.g. paying for ‘complimentary bread’ left on the table)
4. Expensive local souvenirs which turn out to be cheaply mass-produced
5. Being charged more than a local would be in a restaurant
6. Card machines or ATMs secretly applying large hidden conversion fees
7. ‘Free’ gifts or bracelets which later require payment
8. Tour guide rip-offs (i.e. paying a premium for a low-quality tour)
9. Tourist photo scams (e.g. being charged unexpectedly for photos)
10. Paying for unsolicited ‘help’ with luggage at airports or train stations

EUROPEAN borders have been consumed by long queues recently thanks to new travel rules introduced back in April – and it’s about to get worse.

Europe‘s new Entry/Exit System (EES) was fully rolled out at the beginning of April and applies to all Brits entering Europe.

Upon your first entry to a Schengen country, you must register – which means having your photo taken as well as fingerprints.

However, this registration process has been causing long queues and delays at border control across European airports, with some travellers waiting hours and others even missing their flight.

And soon it could get much worse.

Come September 6, a flexibility allowance introduced across Europe is due to expire.

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EU member states are currently allowed to pause EES checks in “exceptional circumstances” which includes when queues get too long.

According to the EU border security agency Frontex, the flexibility won’t be renewed in September, despite industry bodies calling for it to be, reports The Times.

Countries including Greece, France, Portugal and Spain currently all switch off EES when they need to.

However, when the flexibility expires in September these countries could once again experience long queues at their airports.

At some airports, the machines even have to be shut down and turned on again when they get overwhelmed, just to get them to work.

Air France-KLM told Politico: “When lines form during the busy summer months, the system is shut off to ensure smooth transit at our hubs in Paris and Amsterdam.”

Other airports that have had problems with the technology include Brussels Airport, where the system is still not fully operational.

It comes as other issues with the new system have emerged including taking the fingerprints of elderly people.

In some cases, the new system has been unable to scan fingerprints of elderly people as they are too faded.

According to The Telegraph, one Brit who recently travelled to Majorca but when she got to the EES kiosks, her fingerprints weren’t recognised.

The woman then had to wait in a long queue of mainly families for her passport to be manually stamped.

However, anyone who cannot give fingerprints will be exempt from having to give them.

THE devastating reality of raising twins with a life-limiting condition has taking a huge toll on Jesy Nelson. But now she has revealed a secret strategy which she has kept from fans, that is helping her cope.

The former Little Mix star opened up about how she’s dealing with her twins’ health taking a turn for the worse – admitting it’s “got her through” her lowest of times since her one-year-olds Ocean Jade and Story Monroe were diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1.

Last month The Sun told how, at the girls’ most recent three-month review at St Ormond Street’s Children’s Hospital, doctors warned they are not responding to treatment the way they had hoped.

It came days after she said she “can’t stop crying” over her “bittersweet” victory to change Government policy to test all babies in England with SMA – knowing it came too late for her twin daughters.

Now Jesy says she is using the devastating death of her friend’s child to combat fears she’ll be “heartbroken every day for the rest of her life” – after admitting she’s struggling to cope with her daughters’ prospects.

The 35-year-old told The Sun in an emotional interview: “One thing I constantly remind myself – and I think about it every single time I go to Great Ormond Street – is that there are always people worse off than you.

“I’ve got someone really close to me who lost their little girl and the pain that I feel for her every day…

“She would give anything to have her little girl back, whether she had what the twins have or whatever.

“I have to remind myself that, yes, I’m in this situation and it’s f***ing hard, it’s heartbreaking, but it could be worse.

“I just have to be grateful that my girls are still here and they are happy and I still get to see them every day.

“That is what gets me through. Genuinely, that is what I have to just remind myself every day.”

Jesy’s fight to add screening for spinal muscular atrophy to the NHS newborn blood spot test featured in her new Prime Video documentary, Jesy Nelson: Life Changing.

Every year 50 babies born with the condition will now find out they carry the genetic condition at birth. It means they can be given treatment before nerves and muscles are damaged beyond repair.

During the 60-minute programme, Jesy broke down in tears over the guilt she carries and worries her children will blame her, when they’re older, for not spotting the signs sooner.

The late diagnosis means the girls will most likely never be able to walk and will have problems breathing, eating and drinking on their own.

Jesy said it was a “tough pill to swallow” and she struggles to accept the diagnosis.

“I constantly battle between manifesting they’re going to defy the odds and trying to come to accept that that may not happen.

“It’s a really weird position to be in because you you think ‘well, if that doesn’t happen, am I just going to feel heartbroken for the rest of my life?’

“Then you worry, if I accept it, am I also manifesting that?”

She added: “Another friend of mine whose friend lost a child gave me advice, which I thought was really poignant.

“Basically he said, ‘you can’t live your life feeling heartbroken if it doesn’t happen’.

“He pointed out ‘you’re never going to enjoy the special moments with your girls because you’re constantly going to be thinking, ‘but I want this and I wish this had happened.’

“I’ve really tried to make peace with that. It’s a constant mind battle.”

Jesy now has to face both twins needing further operations – as well as Story being diagnosed with scoliosis, the abnormal curvature of the spine in an S-shape.

After recent test results, she told us: “Unfortunately, some of the numbers have gone down. We had a long discussion and there’s a possibility they may have to go back on treatment, which is just heartbreaking.”

The girls – who are on feeding tubes – will both undergo an op soon to repair trauma to their nose and throat.

Doctors will find an alternative way to feed the girls to avoid further damage.

Meanwhile Story will have to have an operation every six months because of her scoliosis.

“It’s never-ending,” added Jesy.

Asked how she copes on her toughest days, Jesy said: “I don’t really get a lot of time where I get to be by myself, but I think music is one of the biggest forms of therapy.

“So if I have to go to the shops, and my mum is obviously looking after the girls, I’ll get in my car and that’s one of my favourite times because I can blare out my music, which I never get to do.

“It’s the best and I just find it so therapeutic.”

A phased rollout to enforce SMA screening in England will begin in October 2026, but Jesy’s fight doesn’t end there.

She is continuing to raise awareness of the condition because the screening won’t be available in other parts of the UK.

“I hope as many people as possible see the documentary because I wanted to raise as much awareness as I could about it and the signs to look out for”, added Jesy.

“As amazing as the rollout is, Northern Ireland and Wales are still not part of the heel-prick test, meaning many babies will still be undiagnosed and not treated in time.

“I’m just praying that if they watch this documentary, they will spot the signs early enough, take them to the doctor and get them treatment.”

• Jesy Nelson: Life Changing is available exclusively on Prime Video.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Showers and thunderstorms triggered a flash flood warning for Manhattan and northeastern New Jersey on Saturday, but the rain also helped blow out the smoke from Canadian wildfires that had choked the tristate area for days and threatened to disrupt Sunday’s World Cup final at MetLife Stadium.

Concerns about hazardous air quality led the White House and FIFA to hold informal discussions Friday over the possibility of moving the game, with the most likely venue being Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

On Friday, before the storms, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in East Rutherford was around 160, which was considered unhealthful. But that was down from a “very unhealthful” reading of 245 on Thursday.

By 6 p.m. EDT on Saturday, that level had dropped further, to 89, posing only a moderate health concern for a very small number of people. That number was expected to continue falling into the early hours of Sunday, and the level at kickoff was projected to be 66, although forecasters warned that shifting winds could bring smoke back into the area, causing temporary spikes in the AQI.

Dr. Mukesh Kapila, former UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, warns the current crisis in El Obeid, Sudan could be even worse than what unfolded in El Fasher in 2024-2025. However, he says sustained international attention and Al Jazeera’s continued coverage could help deter the RSF.

As the European Union tries to fight its record-high €1 billion deficit per day with China, the bloc’s leaders are increasingly pointing to the problem of currency manipulation, which they say Beijing is using to make products even cheaper on the EU market – which is already flooded with Chinese imports.

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“An artificially low currency is an advantage for those who want to improve their economic competition positions,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said after the European Council summit on 19 June.

The matter of the Chinese currency and its management was also high on the agenda of last week’s G7 summit in France.

The signs are that this is a new front in Europe’s trade battle against Beijing. To understand why the devaluation of the yuan (or renminbi) matters, here are three things to know.

What’s wrong with the Chinese currency?

According to a report by the Haut Commissariat à la Stratégie au Plan, a French government advisory body, the undervaluation of the yuan is estimated at around 20-25 percent.

“While there is no universally recognised method for determining unequivocally whether a currency is significantly overvalued or undervalued, the assessment that the renminbi (RMB) is significantly undervalued is now widely shared, including among international institutions,” the report said.

In theory, China’s trade surpluses should naturally create demand for the yuan, leading to an appreciation of the currency, but it is not the case.

However, the devaluation of the yuan might not be the direct result of central bank intervention. Alicia Ferro Herrera, an expert at the Brussels-based think tank Bruegel, told Euronews that China prevents its currency from appreciating faster by not bringing all of its export revenues back to the mainland.

“They stay in Hong Kong and they are not converted into RMB,” she said.

How does it impact trade between China and the EU?

The EU deficit with China hit a record-high €359.9 billion in 2025. That same year marked the first time that all EU member states had a trade deficit with Beijing, including Germany, the EU’s largest economy.

“This is simply not sustainable,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said last Friday.

According to the Haut Commissariat au Plan report, the undervaluation of the yuan plays a large part in keeping Chinese products competitive; as things stand, they are assessed by EU industry to be around 30-40 percent cheaper than European equivalents.

However, Ferro Herrera pointed out that the inflation differential also plays a great part.

“My estimate is that the inflation differential and its accumulation in Europe since the invasion of Ukraine explains about three quarters of the loss in external competitiveness,” she said.

What can the EU do?

In his remarks last Friday, Merz suggested the EU begin dialogue with China on the currency issue.

“We have to talk about this topic with each other,” he said. “It is in the interest of both sides.”

The German chancellor cited the 1985 Plaza Agreement, which saw the US, Japan, West Germany, the UK and France agree to depreciate the US dollar against the Japanese yen and the Deutsche Mark. The goal was to head off a protectionist turn from the US as its trade deficit deepened.

Merz also referred to the European Monetary System, which before the adoption of the euro relied on exchange-rate bands to limit currency fluctuations.

“That was a system where countries could coordinate through exchange-rate corridors,” he said.

Conversely, Ferro Herrera points out that the US did not push for any such negotiation when economic imbalances were discussed during the G7 last week.

In her view, Europe should monitor China’s export prices for major sector-by-sector deviations, since this is an important sign of overcapacity, as negative price growth occurs when goods cannot be sold.

Losses by 6-0. 15-2. 10-1. How do you want to spin the Angels now, GM Perry Minasian? Are things still grand in Arteville?

Humiliations galore!

Jim Fredrick
Manhattan Beach

Really? The Angels cannot hit, cannot pitch and certainly cannot field. Their hitting coach, pitching coach and manager Kurt Suzuki‘s terrible management are much higher on the list of what’s wrong with this miserable team this year. So sad.

Michael Reuben
Anaheim Hills

The recent emergence of shirt-waving fans at Angel Stadium urging ownership to “sell the team” is an opportunity for reflection. With the long ago departure of the controversial former Clippers owner Donald Sterling, is Arte Moreno now truly the worst owner in sports? Sterling was truly detestable in his time, but at least he fielded a highly competitive and exciting Lob City squad led by legendary coach Doc Rivers. For the 2026 Angels, the dog days have already begun — before Memorial Day weekend.

Rob Fleishman
Placentia

Going into Memorial Day weekend, the Dodgers are in first place and the Angels are in last place. Plus the Angels’ shirtless fans in the stands are screaming at owner Arte Moreno to “Sell The Team!” The more things change, the more they stay the same. Ho hum.

Chris Sorce
Fountain Valley