New Forest hotel named among UK's best for stays under £150
Travel experts at The Times released a list of 33 of the best hotels across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that cost less than £150 a night. New Park Manor Hotel on Lyndhurst Road in Brockenhurst has been praised by the paper, who also called the bed and breakfast the "Best Family-Friendly Hotel" in the UK. READ MORE: Popular Southampton hotel scoops top awardThe Times' review said: "We all know that family-friendly really means parent-friendly — something New Park Manor has down to a fine art. New Park Manor Hotel boasts its own spa, with a 16-metre indoor pool, and a heated outdoor pool open from May 19 to September. New Park Manor Hotel's attentive staff were also praised, and the review noted that bed and breakfast double rooms start at £130, with main meals from £20.
Source:The Times
March 30, 2025 08:47 UTC
Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes emerges as Real Madrid transfer target - Paper Talk
The top stories and transfer rumours from Sunday's newspapers...SUNDAY EXPRESSManchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes has emerged as a surprise transfer target for Real Madrid, according to reports. Chelsea's sporting director Laurence Stewart reportedly made use of his club's weekend off by travelling to France on a Ligue 1 scouting trip on Friday night. Incoming Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has been tasked with seeing the signing of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi over the line. Eintracht Frankfurt are set to play hardball with Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United over in-demand striker Hugo Ekitike this summer. Manchester United fan group The 1958 are planning a sit-in protest at next weekend's Manchester derby after they and breakaway club FC United held a joint protest against the Glazers on Saturday.
Source:The Times
March 30, 2025 08:25 UTC
Newspaper headlines: PM urged to 'get tough with Trump' and 'police raid Quaker meeting'
"Harry is a bully, says charity chief", is the Telegraph's headline, referring to comments made by Sophie Chandauka after the Prince resigned last week. The Sunday Express, external carries a picture of a collapsed clock tower in the city of Mandalay where it says many people are still trapped. The Sunday Times, external leads with the arrest of six women at a Quaker meeting house in London, who had met, it says, to discuss "climate change and Gaza". The Times says it's the latest accusation against the force that it's over-policing the "right to protest and free speech". The Telegraph, external says the BBC's director-general, Tim Davie, has refused the offer of anti-Semitism training for the broadcaster three times since 2019.
Source:The Times
March 30, 2025 08:15 UTC
Government to host international summit to combat people-smuggling gangs
More than 8,000 adverts on social media were taken down last year where smugglers were promoting crossings, before moving to encrypted channels. Some 600 engines were seized and hundreds of people arrested for facilitating journeys in efforts to crack down on smuggling gangs. The legislation is continuing through Parliament with plans to introduce new criminal offences and hand counter terror-style powers to police and enforcement agencies to crack down on people-smuggling gangs. The addition announced on Sunday will widen the right to work scheme for gig economy workers not currently covered in existing laws. Ahead of the international summit, the Conservatives said Labour’s claims of being tough on immigration were “risible”.
Source:The Times
March 30, 2025 06:14 UTC
Latest planning applications submitted to Cumberland Council
Below is a listed overview of all the applications submitted to Cumberland Council this week:Langfauld Farm, Langrigg, Wigton, CA7 3LL. No: FUL/2025/00312, Victoria Road, Cockermouth, CA13 9PA. No: WTPO/2025/001217 Sunscales Avenue, Cockermouth, CA13 9DY. Proposal for a single-storey rear extension and widening of the driveway access with additional dropped kerbs. No: FUL/2025/0026Cragg Farm, Eaglesfield, Cockermouth, CA13 0SG.
Source:The Times
March 30, 2025 04:42 UTC
Oxford's grass verges cut for first of three times this year
In 2023, Oxfordshire County Council introduced a new verge maintenance policy, which resulted in grass verges in Oxford being cut once a year. The county council pays Oxford City Council to manage the majority of the grass verges in the city. The updated maintenance schedule follows budget approval from Oxford City Council last month. The nine areas are Abberbury Road Roundabout, Abingdon Road, Church Cowley Road, Eastern Bypass Central Reservation, Grenoble Road, Green Road, Marston Ferry Road, Oxford Road in New Marston, and Sunderland Avenue. Parks and green spaces are mown eight times a year, with additional litter picking at peak times.
Source:The Times
March 30, 2025 01:05 UTC
Fairer chocolate trade ‘transforming mothers’ lives in Ivorian cocoa villages’
The west African nation is the biggest producer of cocoa in the world, with farmers in the region of Tonkpi supplying chocolate global markets, including the UK. The group has put women through leadership programmes, built basic maternity clinics and set up entrepreneur associations in several remote villages. Women dancing outside the maternity clinic in the village of Podiagouime, near the city of Man (Chris Terry/Fairtrade/PA)“When a woman is about to deliver, it’s not comfortable. Midwife Ferehala Diarrasouba in the maternity clinic in the village of Podiagouime, near the city of Man (Chris Terry/Fairtrade/PA)“If a woman is independent, it really helps society. Members of the women’s Village Loan and Savings Association in Gouele, near the city of Man (Chris Terry/Fairtrade/PA)“My children are the ones who motivate me in this.
Source:The Times
March 30, 2025 00:15 UTC
A manor house with silk walls and a ballroom is on sale for £10.75m
Ayot Bury is a grade II listed Georgian manor house with nine bedrooms and 41 acres. It’s on the edge of the village of Ayot St Peter, two miles from Welwyn Garden City. Period highlights include a near-1,200 sq ft ballroom with an elaborate marble fireplace and a drawing room with hand-painted silk panels. A two-bedroom annexe can be accessed from inside the house or from a separate entrance. The landscaped garden has rose beds, rhododendrons and a pond; there is also a tennis court and manège.
Source:The Times
March 30, 2025 00:01 UTC
Parents arrested after making 'disparaging' comments about school in WhatsApp chat
“The arrests were necessary to fully investigate the allegations as is routine in these types of matters. Following further investigations, officers deemed that no further action should be taken due to insufficient evidence. In relation to the police visit on 20 December, a complaint was submitted which was reviewed by our Professional Standards Department. It was deemed that the service provided by officers was appropriate.”
Source:The Times
March 29, 2025 23:32 UTC
Harry’s ‘toxic brand’ impacted charity he founded in honour of Diana, says chair
Harry announced, earlier this week, he had quit as patron for Sentebale, the charity he co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006, amid a boardroom battle within the organisation. The charity was set up in honour of the duke’s mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, to help young people and children in southern Africa, particularly those living with HIV and Aids. The Duke co-founded the charity in honour of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales (Dominic Lipinski/PA)The move came as several trustees left the organisation in a dispute with the chair of the board, Sophie Chandauka, having requested her resignation. According to The Times newspaper, the dispute among trustees and the chair arose around a decision to focus fundraising in Africa. In a separate interview on Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Dr Chandauka criticised the manner of Harry’s resignation.
Source:The Times
March 29, 2025 23:11 UTC
The Cumbrian Dregpike: the legend of the mythical beast
The YouTube video in which this material was delivered to me, unprompted by anything I had been consciously searching, is entitled The Cumbrian Dregpike. It is striking that the kelpie was supposedly indigenous just over the border, not at all far away from its Cumbrian cousin, the dregpike. He was acquainted with the legend of the dregpike and considered writing a story about it but changed it into something else. His elder brother, trying to protect their sister, shouted repeatedly at the huge fish. After 20,000 years, the dregpike may still be present in Ullswater's dark waters, close to our paddling or swimming feet.
Source:The Times
March 29, 2025 20:53 UTC
Parents arrested after complaining about school in WhatsApp group
Jackie Spriggs, chair of governors, then told parents that ‘inflammatory and defamatory’ comments had been seen on social media. It was then that Mr Allen and Ms Levine were banned from the school for ‘casting aspersions,’ according to Mrs Spriggs. The parents then contacted the school over Sascha’s needs because she has epilepsy, is neurodivergent and registered disabled. Mr Allen has accused the school of trying to ‘silence parents’. But Mr Allen, a Times Radio producer, and Ms Levine, a television producer, both claim they didn’t step foot in the school since July.
Source:The Times
March 29, 2025 19:34 UTC
'Tarnished India’s reputation': BJP demands MEA to ban Mamata's future foreign visits
"West Bengal chief minister Smt. Undermining India's achievements on foreign soil. Mamata Banerjee was asked about India's economic progress, leaving behind the UK as the fifth largest economy in the world. Mamata Banerjee should not travel in future, to any foreign country, in the capacity of the chief minister of West Bengal, aided and assisted by Indian embassies and missions located overseas," Adhikari said. "I hope you would consider my request and conduct a thorough probe to ascertain the anti India Pitch made by Smt.
Source:The Times
March 29, 2025 18:56 UTC
Solar Eclipse 2025 Date: Surya Grahan Timings and Its visibility in India
Image Source: FreepikSolar Eclipse 2025 Date and TimeSurya Grahan 2025: Visibility in IndiaWill there be Sutak Kaal on March 29, 2025 Solar Eclipse? What is Partial Solar Eclipse? Saturn in Pisces coincides with Solar Eclipse in Pisces:One of the most important celestial event, Solar Eclipse is going to happen today, on March 29, 2025. Solar Eclipse and Shanichari Amavasya is also a great combination, when people can perform various religious and spiritual activities. Other countries - like USA, Canada, the UK, Russia, and Norway will be able to experience the event.Surya Grahan Begins - March 29, 2025 - 02:21 PM ISTMaximum Surya Grahan - March 29, 205 - 04:17 PM ISTSurya Grahan Ends - March 29, 2025 - 06:14 PM ISTIndia would not be able to witness this partial solar eclipse.
Source:The Times
March 29, 2025 17:56 UTC