Al-Noor is a UNRWA centre in Gaza providing education and support for visually impaired children. Operating since 1962, it faces unprecedented pressure as Israel’s war on Gaza has left more than 1,500 people visually impaired since 2023.
Published On 18 Apr 202618 Apr 2026
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MANCHETER isn’t short of fun hotels, but Yotel knows how to be cheeky without having to splash the cash.
So here’s what you need to know about staying at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.
A short walk from the main train station, Yotel Manchester Deansgate is in the heart of the city centre.
Being on the corner of Deansgate, this means you have all of the top attractions, restaurants and bars on your doorstep.
Expect funky decor when you walk in too, with neon signs and mismatched furniture.
The hotel even has umbrellas and power banks you can rent, so all the bases are covered.
Read more on hotel reviews
My King Room had more than enough space, with a working desk, sofa and bold tropical print wallpaper transporting me to another country.
Every room has everything you need – smart TVs, fast WiFi and almost too many plug sockets.
Bathrooms are fully equipped with strong power showers and Korean-Australian toiletries by Urban Jungle.
If you need a cup of tea or coffee, or an iron, you’ll find them in the hallway ‘station’ to take back to your room.
On a budget? Opt for the Compact or Twin rooms – smaller but still with all the amenities.
Otherwise choose rooms on the 9th floor for great views overlooking the city.
Rooms start from £64 on a room only basis. See yotel.com
The Motley restaurant is the place to be with a great atmosphere all day.
There’s something for everyone, from braised beef short ribs to mushroom risottos, although I was especially impressed with the small plates, especially the bread with honey and lavender butter.
It might have been helped to go down thanks to the raspberry martini that accompanied…
Bring the pup – they get a free ‘doggy meal’ per dining guest.
The buffet breakfast was just as good. Along with the usual hot and cold options, they also had veggie dishes including shakshuka and tofu hash to choose from.
While it doesn’t have a gym, guests can book a free 45-minute work out classes at boutique fitness centre TRIB3.
If you want to do some shopping, the huge Arndale Centre is a five minute walk away too.
The hotel has Premium King rooms that sleep three, with a king size bed and sofa-bed.
Otherwise cots can be requested, with interconnecting rooms too.
There are accessible King Rooms, which have step-free access as well as roll in showers, shower seats and height adjusted sinks.
They also have visual and vibrating alerts, and widened doorways.
THE Cotswolds are well-known for having celebrity visitors and the tiny village of Batsford even welcomed an unlikely A-Lister this week.
Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively was spotted there earlier this week on a visit to the region.
Blake Lively posted snaps of herself exploring the English countryside, including a tiny spot called Batsford.
She and her family visited the Falconry Centre – which coincidentally is right next to Batsford Arboretum, one of the biggest attractions in the area.
Batsford Arboretum is home to a unique collection of some of the world’s most beautiful and rare trees, shrubs and bamboos all spread across 60 acres.
There are over 1,500 tree species from Japanese maples to pines and oaks.
One of the rarest is nicknamed the ‘dinosaur tree’.
The species was believed to be extinct for two million years before it was discovered in 1994.
Two of its off-spring were then planted at Batsford Arboretum in 2007 – and you can see them there today.
The arboretum brings in lots of visitors and is open year-round, but lots say one of the best times to go is in autumn when the leaves change colour.
Another added: “The arboretum is interesting whatever the season. From snowdrops through to autumn displays.
“Even in the depth of winter it is a pleasure to appreciate the architectural structure of the mature trees – and somewhere there is always something in flower. The collection of Daphnes is particularly noteworthy.”
However, it’s also one of the best places to see cherry blossom in the UK from late March through and April.
Tickets into Batsford Arboretum for adults start from £10.90 and day tickets for children start from £3.15.
It also has a visitor centre where the café, garden centre and gift shop are – all of which are completely free to enter.
One visitor even called it “the best I’ve been to in a long time.”
After having a gander around the plants, head to the café which serves lunch, and a range of freshly baked cakes.
The huge Batsford House is on the estate of a Victorian country house built in 1892, but is a private residence and isn’t open to the public.
Blake Lively was in the Cotswolds visiting former Celebrity Bake Off judge, Prue Leith, who lives just 5-minutes from Batsford in Moreton-in-Marsh.
Blake Lively and her family set up shop at Soho Farmhouse in Great Tew which opened 10 years ago.
The hotel is surrounded by 100 acres of countryside, and has 113 bedrooms, cabins along with a health club, spa and gym.
There are indoor and outdoor pools, sunken hot tubs as well as plenty of activities like horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, tennis and padel.
When it comes to celebrities, Blake Lively isn’t the only one that’s been spotted in the Cotswolds.
The ‘golden triangle’ covers the most popular towns in the area; Chipping Norton, Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford.
Chipping Norton is where a number of celebrities live like the Beckhams, Jeremy Clarkson and Kate Moss.
It’s also home to Clarkson’s famous farm Diddly Squat.
Stow-on-the-Wold is said to be one of the UK’s prettiest towns and uniquely claims to have the most photographed door.
This was rumoured to have inspired Lord of The Rings author J.R.R Tolkien’s book Doors Of Durin.
Burford is a pretty Cotswolds town dotted with lots of independent shops and a popular garden centre.
Beyonce and Jay Z were rumoured to have been spotted there before.
Here’s more on the stunning Cotswolds village with its own sandy beach and lagoon – miles from the English seaside.
And Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey, who grew up in the Cotswolds, reveals her favourite town to visit.
Afghan officials say a suspected Pakistani air strike hit a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul, killing hundreds of patients and staff and leaving the facility in ruins. Pakistan denies targeting civilians, as tensions escalate between Islamabad and Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government.
Published On 17 Mar 202617 Mar 2026
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Rescuers are combing through the wreckage of a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul where Afghan officials say a Pakistani strike has killed at least 400 people.
Published On 17 Mar 202617 Mar 2026
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