Month: March 2026

WE’VE officially entered the first month of spring after what feels like a long, cold and wet winter.

And now the sun is starting to come out again and the days stretch longer, you are probably willing to leave the house a little more often.

Well, luckily for those venturing outside, the beginning of spring also brings a lot of new free events across the UK.

This month there are some big dates in the calendar, including St Patrick’s Day, to look out for.

So without further ado, here are some of the top events you can head to this month without spending a penny.

World Book Day, various

World Book Day officially takes place on March 5, but up and down the country destinations are running events over the coming week.

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For example, in London, children aged between two and 15 that are dressed as a book character get a free 30-minute ride on the London Eye, from March 7 to 10.

And over at Battersea Power Station, there is A Station of Stories festival, which will be a year-long celebration.

As part of the event, this World Book Day weekend there will be a number of events.

Visitors can step into the world of Mr Men Little Miss through interactive activities including a treasure hunt, for example.

There will also be other free creative workshops across the weekend and the chance for kids to meet their favourite book characters.

If you are based in or near Manchester, then you can head off on the Manchester Literature Trail which explores multiple venues across the city and informs participants of Manchester’s literary history.

A map for the trail can be downloaded online.

St. Patrick’s Day, various

St Patrick’s Day falls on March 17 this year and across the week there will be events all over the country.

For example, you could head to the parade in Digbeth, where there will be floats, marching bands and of course, a lot of green.

The parade is taking place on March 15 on Digbeth High Street.

One of the world’s largest celebrations outside of Ireland will take place in London with a parade starting from Hyde Park Corner at 12pm on March 15.

There will be a free event at Trafalgar Square too, with live Irish music, dancing and food stalls.

In Manchester Irish Festival Parade, which is the biggest outside of London, there will be 30 floats and marching bands, and it will take place on March 15.

Earth Hour, London

For something a little different, head into central London on March 28.

For one hour, in the evening, London will switch off its lights for the World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour to raise awareness about the impacts of global warming.

Households can take part too, but it might be your only chance for a year to see the famous sights of London go dark.

Southend City Day

Southend City Day takes place on March 7 and celebrates Southend getting city status in 2022.

The event will involve a number of performances, workshops and family-friendly activities such as face painting and pig races…

For example, there will be a stage at the top of the high street which will host performances by local dancers and youth music groups.

Fancy seeing something sparkle? In the evening make sure to catch Disco City’s light installations that will stretch across Royal Square and Pier Piazza.

For classic car fans, make your way to City Beach where there will be a lineup of parked classic cars over 25 years old between 11am and 4:30pm.

River Race, London

On March 28, you can head down to the Thames to watch the River Race.

Now this isn’t the Oxford versus Cambridge race (that happens in April), but during this River Race you will see up to 400 teams of eight racing down the river.

Six Nations, various

The rugby isn’t quite over yet which means you still have time to catch a game with your friends.

Lots of pubs up and down the country show the matches on their TVs, or you could head somewhere like The Old Crown in Digbeth, which has large outdoor screens, a heated garden and live DJs.

If you are in the capital, make your way to Walthamstow’s Big Penny Social – which is supposedly the biggest beer hall in the UK spanning across 2,415sqm.

Entry is free, though you will need to pay for a tipple if you want one from one of the 20 taps of beer on offer…

For something a little more unusual, head to Battersea Barge, where each match is being shown on the lower deck via a large projector.

It is free to attend, though if you do pre-purchase a £1 ticket you can grab a free pint of Camden Hells on arrival.

National Lottery Open Week, various

Between March 7 and 15 – so spanning both this weekend and next – hundreds of attractions that you usually have to pay entrance to across the UK, are opening for free or less than the usual admission fee.

If you are based down in Cornwall, or perhaps visiting for Mother’s Day weekend, then head to the Eden Project which is slashing its entrance fee.

For free, you can explore the largest indoor rainforest in the world, measuring 3.9acres.

Or perhaps you’re a history fan? Well, then venture to one of the many English Heritage properties across the UK scrapping entrance fees for the week.

Examples of properties include Audley End House and Gardens and Eltham Palace.

Head to the National Lottery Open Week’s website and enter your postcode to see attractions and destinations near you.

St Piran’s Day Lantern Parade, Cornwall

Have you ever wanted to experience a moment like that scene in Tangled where they are on the lake watching hundreds of lanterns venture into the sky?

Then get down to Helston’s St Piran’s Day Lantern Parade on March 7.

The event begins at 5:30pm with live music at Helston Boating Lake and Coronation Park and then the lantern parade will begin at 6:30pm.

Members of the public including school groups show off their handcrafted lanterns, alongside installations by City of Lights.

On The Line: 100 Years of Solidarity and Strikes, Manchester

Launching this month at the People’s History Museum in Manchester is a new exhibition which takes visitors on a journey through a century of industrial relations.

The exhibition begins with the 1926 General Strike and then addresses key moments throughout the past century of communities facing poor working conditions.

It also delves into the impact strike action has on society and will start on March 21.

For more things to do this spring, here’s a huge list of 100 free family days out in the UK – from concerts to kids festivals.

Plus, the UK tech-free attractions that my kids prefer to theme parks – and spring is the best time to visit.

The House of Pies, a Los Feliz institution, is bustling on a chilly January morning.

It wouldn’t be shocking if some of the patrons here for breakfast were casually chit-chatting about the cultural behemoth that “KPop Demon Hunters” has become. After all, the 2025 animated saga about three music stars fighting otherworldly foes is now the most-watched movie ever on Netflix; “Golden,” its showstopping track, has since become the first Korean pop song to ever win a Grammy.

But for Danya Jimenez, 29, who sits across from me sipping coffee, the reception to the movie she began writing on back in 2020 isn’t entirely surprising, but certainly delayed.

“When we first started working on it, I was like, ‘People are going to be obsessed with this. It’s going to be the best thing ever,’” she recalls. But as several years passed, and she and her writing partner and best friend Hannah McMechan, 30, moved on to other projects. They weren’t sure if “KPop” would ever see the light of day. Production for animation takes time.

It wasn’t until she learned that her Mexican parents were organically aware of the movie that Jimenez considered it could actually live up to the potential she initially had hoped for.

“Without me saying anything, my parents were like, ‘People are talking about this’ — like my dad’s co-workers or my aunt’s friends — that’s when I started to realize, ‘This might be something big,’” she says.

“But never in my life did I think it would be at this scale.”

“KPop Demon Hunters” is now nominated for two Academy Awards: animated feature and original song. And that’s on top of how ubiquitous the characters — Rumi, Mira and Zoey — already are.

“Everyone sends me photos of knockoff ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ dolls from across the border,” Jimenez says laughing. “My friend got me a shirt from Mexicali with the three girls, but they do not look anything like themselves. She even got my name on it, which was awesome.”

After graduating from Loyola Marymount University in 2018, Jimenez and McMechan quickly found their footing in the industry, as well as representation. But it was their still unproduced screenplay, “Luna Likes,” about a Mexican American teenage girl obsessed with the late chef and author Anthony Bourdain, that tangentially put them on the “KPop” path.

“Luna Likes” earned the pair a spot at the prestigious Sundance Screenwriters Lab, where Nicole Perlman, who co-wrote “Guardians of the Galaxy,” served as one of their advisors. Perlman, credited as a production consultant on “KPop,” thought they would be a good fit.

Jimenez didn’t see the connection between her R-rated comedy about a moody Mexican American teen and a PG animated feature set in the world of K-pop music, but the duo still pitched. Their idea more closely resembled an indie dramedy than an epic action flick.

“If [our version of ‘KPop’] were live-action, it would’ve been a million-dollar budget. It was the smallest movie ever. Our big finale was a pool party,” Jimenez says. “We had all of the girls and the boys with instruments, which obviously is not a thing in K-pop, and everyone was making out.”

Even though their original pitch wouldn’t work for the film, Maggie Kang, the co-director and also a co-writer, believed their voices as two young women who were best friends, roommates and creative collaborators could help the movie’s heroines feel more authentic.

“Maggie had already interviewed all of the more established writers, especially older men,” Jimenez says. “She knows the culture. She knew K-pop, she’s an animator. She just needed the girls’ voices to come through, so I think that’s why we got hired.”

Kang confirms this via email: “It’s always great to collaborate with writers who are the actual age of your characters! Hannah and Danya were exactly that,” she says. “They were very helpful in bringing a fresh, young voice to HUNTR/X.”

Neither Jimenez nor McMechan were K-pop fans at the time. As part of their research, they both started watching K-pop videos, but it was McMechan who got “sucked into the K-hole” first. Still, it didn’t take long until the video for BTS’ “Life Goes On” entranced Jimenez.

“K-pop is a river that you fall into, and it just takes you,” Jimenez says. BTS and Got7 are her favorite groups. For McMechan, the ensemble that captivates her most is Stray Kids.

In writing the trio of demon hunters, the co-writers modeled them after themselves. The characters’ propensity for ugly faces, silliness and a bit of grossness too, stems from the portrayals of girlhood and young womanhood that appeal to them. Jimenez, who says she was an angsty teen, most closely identifies with the rebellious Mira.

“I have a monotone vibe,” says Jimenez. “People always think that I’m a bitch just because I have a resting bitch face,” she says. “But as you can see in the movie, Mira cares so much about having everyone be really close. I feel like that’s how I’m with all my friends.”

Characters with strong personalities that are not simplistically likable feel the truest to Jimenez. In “Luna Likes,” the prickly protagonist is directly inspired by her experiences growing up, as well as the bond she shared with her dad over Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown” show.

“There’s a pressure to show that Mexicans are nice people and we’re hard workers. I was like, ‘Let’s make her kind of bitchy and very flawed,’” Jimenez says about Luna. “She’s a teenager in America and she should be given all the same opportunities — and also the forgiveness for being an ass— and [as] selfish at that age as anybody else.”

Hannah McMechan, left, and Danya Jimenez, co-writers of “KPop Demon Hunters,” met in college.

(Carlin Stiehl / For The Times)

Though their upbringings were markedly different, it was their shared comedic sensibilities that connected Jimenez and McMechan when they met in college. The two were close long before deciding to pen stories together. “Having a writing partner is the best. I feel bad for people who don’t have a writing partner, no offense to them,” says Jimenez.

McMechan explains that their writing partnership works because it’s grounded on true friendship. And she believes they would not have gotten this far without each other. While McMechan’s strong suit is looking at the bigger picture, Jimenez finds humor in the details.

“Danya is definitely funnier than me,” says McMechan. “It’s really hard to write comedy in dialogue versus comedy in a situation because if you’re putting the comedy in the dialogue, it can sound so forced and cringey. But she’s really good at making it sound natural but still really funny.”

Though she had been writing stories for herself as a teen, Jimenez didn’t consider it a career path until as a high schooler she watched the romantic comedy “No Strings Attached,” in which Ashton Kutcher plays a production assistant for a TV series.

“He is having a horrible time. But I was so obsessed with movies and TV, and I was like, ‘That looks incredible. I want to be doing what he’s doing,’” she recalls. “And my dad was like, ‘That’s a job.’”

Danya Jimenez grew up in Orange County.

(Carlin Stiehl / For The Times)

As an infant, Jimenez spent some time living in Tijuana, where her parents are from, until the family settled back in San Diego, where she was born. And when she was around 5 years old, Jimenez, an only child, and her parents relocated to Orange County. Until then, Jimenez mostly spoke Spanish, which made for a tricky transition when starting school.

“I knew English, but it just wasn’t a habit,” she recalls. “I would raise my hand and accidentally speak Spanish in class. My teachers would be like, ‘We’re worried about her vocabulary.’ That was always an issue, so it’s really funny that I turned out to be a writer.”

As she points out in her professional bio, it was movies and TV that helped with her English vocabulary, especially the Disney sitcom “Lizzie McGuire.”

Jimenez describes growing up in Orange County with few Latinos around outside of her family as an alienating experience. She admits to feeling great shame for some of her behaviors as a teenager afraid of being treated differently and desperate to fit in.

“I would speak Spanish to my mom like in a corner because I didn’t want everyone else to hear me speak Spanish,” Jimenez confesses. “If my mom pulled up to school to drop me off playing Spanish hits from the ‘80s or banda, I was like, ‘Can you turn it down please?’”

Like a lot of young Latinos, she’s now taking steps to connect with her heritage, and, in a way, atone for those moments where she let what others might think rob her of her pride.

“During the pandemic I cornered my grandma to make all of her recipes again so I could write them down,” she recalls. “Now I have them all written down on a website. Or if my mom corrects me for something that I’m saying in Spanish, I now listen.”

At the risk of angering her, Jimenez describes her mother as a “cool mom,” and compares her to Amy Poehler’s character in “Mean Girls.” Raised in a household without financial struggles, Jimenez doesn’t often relate to stories about Latinos in the U.S. that make it to film and TV. Her hope is to expand Latino storytelling beyond the tropes.

“That’s very important to me, to just tell Latino stories or Mexican stories in a way that’s just authentic to me and hopefully someone else is like, ‘Yes, that’s me,’” she says. “A lot of people have certain expectations for Latino stories that I’m not willing to compromise on.”

Though they still would like to make “Luna Likes” if given the chance, for now, Jimenez and McMechan will continue their rapid ascent.

They’re “goin’ up, up, up” because it is their “moment.” They recently wrapped the Apple TV show “Brothers” starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson that filmed in Texas. They are also writing the feature “Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman” for Tim Burton to direct, with Margot Robbie in talks to star.

“I feel like I’ve just been operating in a state of shock for the past, I don’t know how many months since June,” says Jimenez in her signature deadpan affect. “But if I think about it too much, I’d be a nervous wreck.”

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been handed a 15-month suspended sentence by a Greek court following an incident on the island of Mykonos in August 2020.

England international Maguire was given a suspended sentence of 21 months and 10 days in prison in 2020, after initially being found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery, violence against public employees and insult.

The following day Maguire’s legal team lodged an appeal against the verdict. In accordance with Greek law, the appeal nullified his conviction and meant there would be a full retrial.

The retrial was postponed on four occasions between 2023 and 2025, before it restarted in Syros on Wednesday.

It concluded that Maguire was guilty of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery.

In accordance with the reduced severity of the defender’s crimes, Maguire’s sentence was reduced to 15 months.

Sources have told BBC Sport that Maguire denies wrongdoing and plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Maguire has rejected a number of opportunities to settle the case out of court, as he is determined to clear his name legally.

The 32-year-old is in the Manchester United squad for Wednesday’s Premier League game at Newcastle United (20:15 GMT), despite having to come off during the win against Crystal Palace on Sunday with illness.

CYPRUS is one of the European countries that has been drawn into the Iran crisis.

Flights were cancelled earlier this week after a drone strike from Iran hit an RAF base, resulting in a major airport being temporarily evacuated.

Here is everything you need to know about travelling to Cyprus right now.

Is Cyprus safe to travel to?

Cyprus is still on the safe travel list, with no areas deemed too dangerous for travel.

However, there is some updated advice following the RAF base attack.

The UK Foreign Office website currently states: “On March 2, 2026, the Sovereign Base Areas Administration confirmed a suspected drone impact at RAF Akrotiri.

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“British nationals in the Sovereign Base Areas should follow instructions from the Sovereign Base Areas Administration British Bases Cyprus Facebook British nationals in the Republic of Cyprus should follow any instructions from Cypriot local authorities.”

This is mainly for Brits living in the area, rather than tourists in the resorts of Larnaca and Paphos.

The latest travel advice for the rest of Cyprus states: “Regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption.”

Are flights to Cyprus affected?

Some flights to Cyprus have been cancelled in recent days.

EasyJet and British Airways cancelled a number of flights from the UK on Monday and Tuesday.

Today, easyJet cancelled four flights from the UK today – London Gatwick flight to Larnaca, as well as flights from Bristol, Manchester and Edinburgh to Paphos.

TUI cancelled four flights to Cyprus, affecting flights from Bournemouth, East Midlands, and Cardiff to Paphos.

A TUI spokesperson told Sun Travel: “In light of the evolving situation in the Middle East, we have taken the decision to cancel the four TUI Airways flights scheduled to travel to Cyprus on March 4.

British Airways cancelled its London Heathrow flight to Larnaca today as well.

Brits with flights later this week should keep on eye on the current status as they could still be cancelled at short notice.

What if I have a holiday booked to Cyprus?

With travel still deemed safe in Cyprus, holidays are still going ahead.

If you decide to cancel, you will be left out of pocket as tour operators are under no obligation to issue a refund.

The Sun’s Head of Travel Lisa Minot said: “Only if the advice were to change, would your travel company have to offer you the chance to amend your travel to a different date or offer you a full refund.

“We have had lots of questions about holidays to Cyprus – both Larnaca and Paphos, later in June, July and September and the advice really remains the same.

“Unless you have paid a minimal deposit, you should continue to make payments.

“If you cancel now you could lose money – and discover that holidays are significantly more expensive when you look to book again.”

“What is important is to make sure you have bought good travel insurance NOW to cover you in the run up to your holiday dates. A lot can happen in the coming months.”

The Sun’s Head of Travel has answered some other questions regarding holidays right now.

Reports are emerging that the US and Israel are supporting separatist groups in Iran to launch attacks. The reports claim its part of an evolving US strategy to weaking Iran’s defences and possibly collapse the Islamic Republic. Soraya Lennie breaks it down.

Global energy markets remain in a state of high alert after several Gulf states suspended oil and gas production following escalating tensions in the region.

Since Saturday’s attacks by the United States and Israel, Tehran has targeted various sites in Israel and across several Gulf countries.

Initially, these Iranian attacks focused primarily on US military assets, but Gulf states have reported that Iran has since broadened its scope to target civilian infrastructure, including hotels, airports and energy facilities. Iranian officials have publicly denied targeting Gulf energy facilities, however.

The Middle East remains the world’s dominant source of hydrocarbon reserves and a major driver of crude oil and natural gas output.

How much oil and gas does the Middle East have?

Nearly half of the world’s oil reserves and exports come from the Middle East, which contains five of the seven largest oil reserves in the world.

Once refined, crude oil is used to make various products, including petrol, diesel, jet fuel and a wide range of household items such as cleaning products, plastics and even lotions.

After Venezuela, which has 303 billion barrels, Saudi Arabia holds the world’s second-largest proven crude oil reserves, estimated at 267 billion barrels.

The Middle East’s largest oil reserves:

• Saudi Arabia: 267 billion barrels
• Iran: 209 billion barrels
• Iraq: 145 billion barrels
• UAE: 113 billion barrels
• Kuwait: 102 billion barrels

Saudi Arabia is also the world’s top oil exporter with an estimated $187bn of crude in 2024, according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC).

The Middle East’s top oil exporters:

• Saudi Arabia: $187bn
• UAE: $114bn
• Iraq: $98bn
• Iran: $47bn – largely sold at a discount due to US sanctions
• Kuwait: 29bn

Other Middle Eastern countries with sizeable oil exports include: Oman ($28.9bn), Kuwait ($28.8bn) and Qatar ($21bn).

In addition to crude oil, the Middle East is a global powerhouse for natural gas, accounting for nearly 18 percent of global production and approximately 40 percent of the world’s proven reserves.

Natural gas is primarily used for electricity generation, industrial heating, and in chemicals and fertilisers.

The heart of Middle Eastern gas is a single, massive underwater reservoir called the South Pars/North Dome field. It is the largest gasfield in the world, and it is shared directly between Qatar and Iran.

Gas is transported either through pipelines or by tankers. When using pipelines, the gas is pressurised and moved through steel networks. When pipelines are not feasible, such as across oceans, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is used.

To create LNG, the gas is cooled to approximately -162C (-260F), shrinking its volume and allowing it to be safely loaded onto specialised tanker ships for global transport.

To transport oil and gas, tankers from various Gulf states must navigate the narrow waterway known as the Strait of Hormuz. Approximately one-fifth of global oil and gas passes through this strait, primarily heading to major markets in Asia, including China, Japan, South Korea and India, as well as to Europe.

Which energy facilities have been attacked?

Here are the facilities which have recorded damage as of Wednesday:

Saudi Arabia – Ras Tanura oil refinery

On Monday, one of the world’s largest oil refining complexes, the Ras Tanura oil refinery owned by Saudi Aramco, was forced to halt operations after debris from intercepted Iranian drones caused a small fire.

Saudi Aramco is one of the world’s largest companies, with a market capitalisation exceeding $1.7 trillion and revenue of $480bn. Headquartered in Dhahran, in eastern Saudi Arabia, Aramco controls 12 percent of global oil production, with a capacity of more than 12 million barrels per day (bpd).

On Wednesday, Saudi defence officials reported a second drone attempt on the facility but this was successfully intercepted with no damage or disruption to operations reported.

Qatar – Ras Laffan Industrial City LNG facilities

On Monday, Qatar’s Ministry of Defence reported that Iranian drones had targeted an energy facility in Ras Laffan belonging to QatarEnergy, the world’s largest LNG producer.

While no casualties were reported, QatarEnergy suspended the production of LNG and other products at the impacted sites.

QatarEnergy’s 81 million metric tonnes of LNG exports are mostly bound for Asian markets, including China, Japan, India, South Korea, Pakistan and other countries in the region. The halt in production hiked global gas prices to a three-year high this week.

Qatar – Mesaieed Industrial City

Qatar’s Defence Ministry said the country was attacked by a second drone launched from Iran on Monday, targeting a water tank belonging to a power plant in Mesaieed, without reporting any casualties.

On Tuesday, QatarEnergy also stopped production of some downstream products like urea, polymers, methanol, aluminium and others.

UAE – Fujairah and Mussafah oil terminals

On Monday, a fire broke out at Mussafah Fuel Terminal in southwest Abu Dhabi after it was struck by a drone.

On Tuesday, falling debris from a drone interception caused a fire at the Fujairah Oil Terminal along the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates. No injuries were reported.

Oman – ports of Duqm and Salalah

On Tuesday, multiple Iranian drones struck fuel tanks and a tanker at the port of Duqm, with at least one direct hit on a fuel storage tank, causing an explosion.

On the same day, a drone strike was recorded at the Port of Salalah, which handles fuel and industrial minerals.

Athe Nova – oil tanker

On Monday, the Athe Nova, a Honduran-flagged tanker positioned off the coast of Khor Fakkan, UAE, was struck by Iranian drones as it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, setting it ablaze. Despite the fire, the vessel managed to exit the chokepoint into the Gulf of Oman, and no casualties were reported.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the strike, identifying the Athe Nova as an “ally of the United States”.

On the same day as the attack, Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, warning that any ship attempting to pass would be “set ablaze”.

Since then, several other tankers have been hit.

Other regional energy disruptions

Although not directly targeted, the following energy sites suspended operations in response to Iranian retaliatory attacks:

Israeli offshore gasfields – Major gas production fields such as Leviathan and Tamar were shut down as a precaution following regional drone and missile launches linked to Iran.

Oil fields in semiautonomous Iraqi Kurdistan – Producers including DNO, Gulf Keystone and Dana Gas halted output as a safety measure amid the escalation.

Rumaila oilfield – Operations at Iraq’s largest oilfield – operated by BP – in southern Iraq were halted on Tuesday as a security precaution due to its proximity to the escalation zone.

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The competition closes at midnight on 5th April 2026 and the winner will be selected at random. Good luck!

FLYING with United Airlines should be more peaceful after it vowed to boot off selfish passengers who refuse to wear headphones.

Travelers have applauded the rule change after being infuriated by audio blasting from fellow flyers binge-watching videos.

In what is believed to be an industry-first, the carrier has issued a permanent flying ban policy over noise in cabins, according to travel sources.

United Airlines updated its contract of carriage last month to include a section on listening to personal electronic devices.

It now warns that passengers who refuse to don headphones while listening to audio or watching video can be removed from the aircraft.

The threat comes under its “breach of contract of carriage – failure by passenger to comply with the rules of the contract of carriage” section.

United said it could “remove passengers who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content.”

UA also stated it had the “right to refuse transport on a permanent or temporary basis.”

The warning was published under rule 21 – one of 30 rules published for passengers, including service complaints and baggage policies.

“The contract of carriage was updated Feb. 27 to add the headphone language,” a spokeswoman confirmed to The U.S. Sun today.

She said it followed last year’s introduction of Starlink Wi-Fi with connectivity across both personal devices and inflight entertainment screens.

“We’ve always encouraged customers to use headphones when listening to audio content,” she added.

“And our Wi-Fi rules already remind customers to use headphones.

“With the expansion of Starlink, it seemed like a good time to make that even clearer by adding it to the contract of carriage.”

United had “quietly amended its contract of carriage,” commented CBS News yesterday.

“It’s usually only a small number of folks on airplanes who are making noise by not using headphones, so this is a graceful way to handle those folks,” said travel expert Scott Keyes.

He told the broadcaster that he didn’t know of any other major U.S. airline with a similar rule.

United Airlines’ strong line has been widely applauded by flyers and travel experts.

“Some flyers have become such inconsiderate pigs,” said one man.

“If you’re one of those a***holes that blasts audio from your phone without headphones, United Airlines might just ban you from their flight,” warned another on social media.

“This is a rule I can get behind!” wrote one thrilled passenger.

“The sheer volume of people who seem to think I want to hear their phone conversations/video/music in public spaces is only growing.”

United Airlines to ban passengers who don’t wear headphones

The new rule targets travelers using personal electronic devices

Rule 21 Refusal of Transport:

“UA shall have the right to refuse transport on a permanent or temporary basis or shall have the right to remove from the aircraft at any point, any passenger for the following reasons:

“Breach of contract of carriage – failure by passenger to comply with the rules of the contract of carriage.

“Passengers who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content.”

Source: United Airlines

One travel writer, Johnny Jet, said it was one of his “pet peeves.”

He said it had become a “widespread habit” that is “inconsiderate.”

United’s “revised language specifically includes passengers who fail to use headphones,” he noted.

The rule is aimed at flyers who “violate a basic form of etiquette and common courtesy,” reported Simple Flying.

The travel website added that many carriers – including American Airlines – have quiet cabin policies.

But, the difference with United Airlines’ stance is that it’s the first to ban travelers without headphones who blast audio from their devices.

The nostalgia factor is strong

They might appear to be a relic of bygone days, but there’s still a demand for the modest cassette. CDs and digital streaming appeared to spell the end for the mixtape, yet in a corner of Manchester’s Northern Quarter they’re flying off the shelves.

That’s down to Mars Tapes, widely regarded as the last cassette shop in the UK. Operated by Alex Tadros and situated inside Manchester’s independent shopping haven, Afflecks Palace, it’s been hugely successful and is now gearing up for its next phase.

“After seven years of growth, we are entering into our third expansion. This time moving down to a much larger unit on the 1st floor of Afflecks Palace — one of the biggest units in the building,” Alex says.

Mars tapes stocks a selection of classics, a ‘Rewind’ series — official tapes missing their paper inserts — mixtapes and consignments of new music from major labels.

The new premises will showcase an enlarged library of cassette tapes, a broader selection of refurbished vintage audio equipment, and the launch of the Mars Tapes Listening Cafe — a designated area where patrons can savour a coffee whilst listening to tapes from the shop’s collection, reports the Manchester Evening News.

To mark the expansion, they’re throwing a weekend party on March 7 and 8.

The venue will feature a Dave Haslam DJ set on the Sunday and a live gig from emerging Glasgow outfit Cowboy Hunters on the Saturday — the latter will be dropping a new EP on cassette through Sour Grapes Records.

The weekend will also welcome Horace Panter (The Specials), who will be showcasing his cassette artwork throughout both days. There will be a range of in-store discounts for various cassette products, with food and drinks specials available as well.

“Our cassette shop launched back in 2019 in perhaps the smallest unit in Afflecks Palace, and we never expected to grow in the way we have,” adds Alex.

“Now in the midst of our third expansion, into one of the biggest spaces in the building we wanted to celebrate with all of the cassette aficionados that made it possible! We’re offering food, drinks and in-store deals, alongside some fantastic live music from Cowboy Hunters, and DJ sets from Dave Haslam and Glue Tape Jockeys (a cassette DJ set).

“We’re also excited to be bringing down Horace Panter of The Specials who will be exhibiting some of his fantastic cassette based artwork. It’s gonna be a tape heads dream weekend and we can’t wait to welcome everyone down to the new store.”

The launch celebration will run on March 7 and 8 at Afflecks Palace, 52 Church St, Manchester M4 1PW. Complimentary tickets can be secured via Skiddle.

WITH the current ongoing Iran crisis, Brits are quite fairly worried about their upcoming holidays.

Concerns have risen over the safety of Turkey, after NATO was forced to shoot down a missile in Turkish airspace earlier today, resulting in debris falling in the Dortyol district.

Here is everything you need to know if you have any travel to Turkey this year.

Is Turkey safe to travel to?

Yes, most of Turkey is still considered safe to travel to.

The only parts of Turkey that the UK Foreign Office warns against is the border of Syria, which is along the east of the country.

It warns: “FCDO advises against all travel to within 10km of the border with Syria due to fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism.”

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However, most Brits visit the west coast of Turkey, particularly the seaside resorts, which are hundreds of miles away.

The only advice currently for the rest of Turkey is: “Regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption.”

Do keep an eye on the latest travel advice on the government website here.

Are flights to Turkey cancelled?

No, flights to Turkey are being unaffected for anyone travelling from the UK to Turkey.

Some flights coming from the Middle East, such as from Dubai and Doha, are likely to be affected to Turkey right now.

However, Brits travelling from Britain will still be able to fly to Turkey without cancellations caused by the Iran crisis.

What if I have a holiday booked to Turkey?

If you have a holiday booked, you will not be able to cancel it without being left out of pocket.

As Turkey is safe to travel, you will not be given your money back if you choose not to travel.

Holidays to all tourist destinations in Turkey are still be going ahead.

This includes destinations such as Istanbul, Bodrum, Antalya and Fethiye.

The Sun’s Head of Travel Lisa Minot explains: “As the advice is that it is safe to travel, tour operators and airlines are under no obligation to offer you a refund if you choose not to travel.

“While some people may feel uneasy, the distances involved mean it is extremely unlikely that anything would impact your holiday.

“With all package holidays, you have enhanced protection should the situation change.

“If the Foreign Office changes its advice to all but essential travel, you will have extra rights to a refund or amended date.

“But right now, that is not necessary as trips to the popular Mediterranean Turkish resorts are safe.”

The Sun’s Head of Travel has answered some other questions regarding holidays right now.

THE Brit Awards have always been known for controversial moments and risky jokes – especially when you have Jack Whitehall as host.

But it seems this year’s glitzy bash may have gone too far as horrified viewers slammed ITV with complaints to Ofcom following Saturday’s ceremony.

At the weekend, the Brits was broadcast on ITV with a slight time delay from Manchester‘s Co-Op Arena.

However, viewers were left disgruntled by a series of static sounds that were heard throughout the broadcast, which were used to censor the show.

This came about whenever ITV deemed a joke or a comment too risky to air, and instead edited out what had been said before it went out live.

But viewers weren’t happy that the show had been censored so much, and took to Ofcom to complain.

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They were also unhappy about some of host Jack‘s jokes, which included his swipe at the Bafta Film Awards following its N-word controversy during last weekend’s ceremony, which aired on the BBC.

Ofcom have confirmed to The Sun there were almost 150 complaints in total and the majority related to elements of the show being edited out, including acceptance speeches.

While other complaints related to jokes made by presenter Jack.

The comedian, who has hosted the Brits for five years now, is known for his close to the mark humour.

Earlier in the show, Jack had one of his links bleeped after he spoke to a table of politicians including Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Lisa Nandy.

After commenting on the table, he was bleeped as declared: “So many politicians! I thought I saw Peter Mandelson on the list.

“Oh no sorry, that was another list, my bad.”

Meanwhile, fans were also unhappy that big moments on the show were being edited out by ITV, and replaced by the static noise.

This came when I’m A Celeb winner Angry Ginge took to the stage alongside darts champ Luke Littler to present an award.

Salford native Ginge – real name Morgan Burtwistle – told the audience that he was glad that “people are realising that London is a s**thole”, which was also muted from the air.

After that, any insulting or risky language or jokes were taken out of the broadcast.

When Geese picked up their award for International Group, the New Yorker also suffered the static noise when the band’s drummer Max Bessin took to the stage, thanked the crowd before the award, before declaring: “Free Palestine, F**k ICE”.

Shaun Ryder and Bez also got in trouble when talking to Jack about their famously-hedonistic and drug-fuelled youth, some of which was also cut from broadcast.

Noel Gallagher also got muzzed towards the end of his appearance on stage as he was awarded Songwriter of the Year for his 35-year career with Oasis and the music that has influenced the generations since.

The comment clearly divided the audience, with cheers and boos alike, but we can confirm it was actually “Up The Blues” as a nod to football team, Manchester City.

Meanwhile the big winner of the night was Olivia Dean, who won three of the five awards she was nominated for.

These included Album of the Year and Artist of the Year.

She also performed on the evening, as did Raye, Harry Styles and Mark Ronson.

The Brit Awards are available to watch now on ITVX.