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Journalist quips that ‘children’ could fact-check Trump

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 03:10:07 +0000

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Children could fact-check President Donald Trump, CNN’s Daniel Dale said after the commander-in-chief’s Michigan fib-packed rally Tuesday night commemorating his 100 days in office.

While speaking to supporters at the Macomb County Community College Sports Expo Center in Warren, near Detroit, Trump (again) repeatedly claimed he won three back-to-back elections in the state.

“We just had the biggest victory in Michigan,” Trump said. “We won it twice … We actually won it three times … But remember, I like the victories. I like the three victories, which we absolutely had.”

He absolutely didn’t.

Asked to comment on the president’s remarks, Dale, CNN’s chief fact-checker, responded: “I think there are actual schoolchildren who could fact-check some of this for us.”

President Donald Trump speaks during a rally to mark his 100th day in office, at Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan (REUTERS)

“President Trump did not win three victories,” he told CNN host Jake Tapper.

“He won in 2016 and 2024. He lost in 2020. He did not win Michigan three times. He, again, won in 2016 and 2024, lost in 2020 to Joe Biden by more than 150,000 votes,” Dale added.

“If anyone is surprised that he’s still lying about not only the election more than four years ago, but the election he won, as he did tonight, they haven’t been paying attention.”

Dale continued to call the president’s comments “nonsense,” adding: “No amount of fact-checking appears to have deterred him on the subject.”

Polifact listed a number of other Trump lies or baseless claims at the rally, including his assertion that his administration has cut “billions and billions of dollars in waste, fraud and abuse.” Trump has slashed federal agencies, jobs and services, but he has presented no evidence proving any cuts in fraud and abuse.

He also boasted he “brought back Columbus Day” (it never went anywhere) and again falsely claimed gas is selling for $1.98 a gallon. Gas station tracker GasBuddy hasn’t found a single station in the nation selling gas for $1.98. The nationwide average last week was about $3.14 a gallon.

At one point during the rally, CNN contributor Scott Jennings was invited up on stage by the president and addressed the crowd.

“Michigan, we were flying in here today and I said look at these farms, I gotta get a farm in Michigan because when you own as many [liberals] as I do, you gotta put a place to put them all,” Jennings said from the podium before leaving the stage.

A poll from the outlet released days before the rally found voters have a deeply negative view of the president’s policies and gave him a mere 41 percent approval rating, the lowest for any newly elected president at the 100-day mark since Dwight Eisenhower.

The best Lake District hotels for 2025, with lakeside views, spas and Michelin stars

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 02:20:51 +0000

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Aside from magnificent fells, glittering lakes, craggy valleys and striking whitewashed villages, the Lake District’s awe-inspiring landscape is home to some of the UK’s best hotels.

You don’t have to be a seasoned fell walker to enjoy the Lake District’s natural offerings, as the area’s beauty can be enjoyed from lake cruises. There are also grand houses with grand gardens, plus the homes of writers, poets and artists to explore (poet William Wordsworth arguably put the region on the map). What’s more, there is a jaw-dropping food and drink scene, with 13 Michelin-starred restaurants, and numerous craft breweries and distilleries.

With England’s highest mountain, longest lake and deepest waters, not surprisingly, it’s one of the country’s most popular national parks.

To match the variety of things to see and do, there’s a variety of places to stay rounded up in our expert hotel reviews: swanky hotels for the spa lovers, restaurants with rooms for the foodies, country inns that welcome walkers, keenly priced B&Bs with brilliant breakfasts, town-centre pubs with buzzing atmospheres, and glorious one-offs with funky designs and a proud Lakeland character.

Best hotels in the Lake District

At a glance

1. Gilpin Hotel & Lake House

Crook, near Windermere

Luxury can be found in one of the Gilpin’s spa suites (Gilpin Hotel)

This is indulgence with a capital I. A modern country-house hotel, 10 minutes from Windermere’s lakeshore, it has expanded from the original Edwardian house at its core to offer a variety of rooms and suites across its 21 acres. These vary from the lavishly cossetting (bright colours, thick fabrics, plump cushions, plants and books; most with hot tubs) to apartment-sized, stand-alone chalets with floor-to-ceiling windows, and personal spas including sunken hot tubs. A separate six-bedroom ‘Lake House’, a mile away and wrapped in woodland and with an indoor pool as well as a lake, offers a more homely – though still grand – style.

Both the main hotel and Lake House have small spas: the former with a rooftop garden; the latter overlooking the lake. Service levels are very much ‘your wish is my command’ and there’s a choice of Michelin-starred dining at SOURCE or pan-Asian tapas – in fun-coloured surrounds – at the well-named, Spice.

Address: Crook Road, Windermere LA23 3NE

Highlights: Best for foodies

Close to: Windermere, Bowness-on-Windermere

2. The Yan hotel

Grasmere

The bistro is the heart of The Yan (The Yan)

This dog-friendly bistro-with-rooms, in converted farm buildings a 15-minute walk from pretty Grasmere, is both smart and fun. Its relaxed atmosphere is in no small part due to the fact it’s a family affair; kicked off by mum and dad, and now largely run by daughters Jess and Georgina and their husbands, all of whom have excellent knowledge of the area.

At its heart is the bistro (with Jess’s husband Will at the helm) with its tangy take on Lakeland food – slow-cooked Herdwick lamb with pea mash and ratatouille, for example – and in rustic surrounds of slate floors, exposed rafters and recycled timber tables. On warmer days, eat outdoors on the terraces with their views to the fells. Each of the seven bedrooms offers a fell view, too. Sleek, minimalist rooms in pale greys and whites, with oak doors, wool fabrics and timber headboards, they’re carefully designed to make the most of the spaces. Compact bathrooms are bright and modern with decent showers; all you need after a day on the hills.

Address: Broadrayne Farm, Grasmere, Ambleside LA22 9RU

Highlights: Boutique stay, dog-friendly

Close to: Helvellyn

Book now

3. Kirkstile Inn hotel

Loweswater

This inn is cosy and comfortable (Kirkstile Inn)

This whitewashed 17th-century inn, tucked away from the mainstream crowds near quiet Loweswater, requires a little persistence to find – though plenty do. It has all you’d expect of a traditional Lakeland inn: low beams, flagstone floors, toasty fire and a series of little snugs. There’s smart and robust food on the menu – it’s important to leave room for the home-made fruit crumble – and their own-brew beers at the bar.

A long grassy terrace beside the beck at the rear looks up at the magnificent Melbreak fell, one of several walks that are possible from the front door. Many of the neat, country-fresh bedrooms (some in a separate building) share the same view. With black-painted beams, pine or oak furniture, colourful fabrics and creaking floorboards, they have a simple yet smart style. Sensibly, only the outside rooms have televisions.

Address: Loweswater, Cockermouth CA13 0RU

Highlights: Best for a cosy stay

Close to: Melbreak fell, Brackenthwaite Hows

4. Brimstone hotel

Chapel Stile, Langdale

Luxury and outdoor adventure meet at Brimstone (Lee John Mann Photography)

This hotel proves that you don’t have to give up your luxuries to enjoy an outdoor-adventure break (although the latter activities are not compulsory). The modern, chalet-style building of slate, timber and glass, and on the edge of a forested estate in the Langdale valley, has just 16 suites. Each comes with a ‘host’ who acts as a modern-day butler, and can kit guests out in walking gear, provide walking and cycling routes, offer a drop-off and pick-up service, and even the loan of an electric BMW car. All provided free, subject to availability. If that’s all too much, guests can totter across to a swanky spa, plus a leisure centre with a 20-metre pool.

Suites are ridiculously large, and furnished in an understatedly luxurious way with pale-oak floorboards, wool-covered sofas, real fires and soft countryside colours. Everything is on a grand scale, from beds to sofas to bathrooms – some have freestanding baths in the rooms, all but one have balconies. There’s a jolly bistro on the estate (shared with another hotel plus chalet-style lodges), plus 24-hour complimentary drinks and snacks.

Address: Great Langdale, Ambleside LA22 9JD

Highlights: Best for luxury, best for couples

Close to: Grasmere

Book now

5. Inn on The Square hotel

Keswick

Scandi design permeates this smart townhouse (Lee John Mann Photography)

Plum in the centre of the jolly market town of Keswick, this smart townhouse hotel has all-round appeal whether for weekend-breakers here to stroll the shops and cruise on Derwentwater, walkers keen to climb Skiddaw, or families and dog-lovers wanting to do a bit of everything. There’s a cocktail bar at the front, a family-friendly pub at the rear (serving food until early evening) and a bright and breezy steakhouse restaurant with an open kitchen.

The 34 bedrooms have a light and fresh Scandi design – pale grey palette, retro-patterned fabrics, neat fitted furniture - that makes the most of sometimes small spaces. The wall-sized photographs of the local Herdwick sheep as a bedhead feature is a fun touch. Views are either over rooftops to the fells or to the marketplace.

Address: Market Square, Keswick CA12 5JF

Highlights: Near a town centre, family-friendly

Close to: Keswick, Derwentwater Lake

6. The Swan Hotel & Spa

Newby Bridge

Looking for something for everything? Try The Swan (The Swan)

Away from the crowds, in a riverside setting close to the southern end of Lake Windermere, this family-friendly hotel ticks plenty of boxes: it offers something for the kids, something for the grown-ups, something for couples – and all wrapped up in a breezy, modern style.

It’s a big hotel – originally a 17th-century coaching inn but considerably extended to 84 rooms – and goes big on colour, too. Expect to find clashing pinks and hot oranges, dazzling floral wallpapers and slate walls in the public areas while bedrooms have cottage-garden colours and bright-patterned wallpapers. Larger rooms might have white-painted floorboards and freestanding baths, and most rooms have views either over gardens or river.

There’s a swanky inside-outside spa with outdoor Finnish spa, plus a pool and gym and, for the children, an adventure playground, nature trail and games room. With a choice of pub food and smarter dining, everyone should be happy.

Address: Newby Bridge, Ulverston LA12 8NB

Highlights: Bold decoration, family-friendly, couple-friendly

Close to: Fell Foot, Lake Windermere

7. The Royal Oak Hotel

Rosthwaite, Borrowdale

The character at the Royal Oak remains despite various updates over the years (Royal Oak Hotel)

In the centre of Rosthwaite village, in the heart of Borrowdale – arguably, the area’s most scenic valley – this landmark 18th-century inn has been carefully updated without losing its much-loved, traditional character. There’s a fire in one of the low-beamed snugs, a tree trunk holds up a beam in the dining room, slate floor in the cosy bar, and a warm welcome to dogs and walkers. The latter have a smart drying room for boots and clothing.

Bedrooms, which are spread between the main building and converted barn and cottages across the rear courtyard, have a contemporary cottage style with chunky wooden furniture, panelled headboards and soft countryside colours. Some can be compact but all have surprisingly large and modern bathrooms. The short-choice, daily changing menu mixes classics and more sophisticated dishes. Cooked-to-order breakfasts provide fuel for a day on the hills, and there are home-baked scones every afternoon.

Address: Keswick CA12 5XB

Highlights: Near a village centre

Close to: Rosthwaite, Eagle Crag, Dale Head

8. The Drunken Duck Inn hotel

Barngates, near Ambleside

The Drunken Duck is a modern elevation of a country pub (The Drunken Duck Inn)

This legendary inn, at a lonely crossroads high above Windermere, was one of the first gastropubs in the area, and very much goes its own way. You’ll find locals drinking in the bar (the pub has its own microbrewery) while dining guests enjoy eclectic dishes such as wood pigeon with spicy pumpkin seed sauce, venison loin with sour cabbage, and salt-baked celeriac with miso gratin.

The style is a contemporary take on a country inn – faded rugs on oak floors, white-washed rafters and polished-plaster walls, pictures and prints crammed joyfully – that never falls into rustic-chic. Bedrooms – some across the courtyard – are smart but homely with a mix of vintage and mid-century furniture, deep-hued feature walls and cottagey curtains. Most are modest in size but often have clawfoot baths as well as showers. A rear courtyard plus front veranda are lovely spots after a long walk.

Address: Barngates, Ambleside LA22 0NG

Highlights: Best for beer-lovers, best for foodies

Close to: Black Fell Peak, Lake Windermere

9. Ambleside Townhouse hotel

Ambleside

Lay your head just 15 minutes from Lake Windermere (Ambleside Townhouse)

Outside Ambleside’s busy town centre, and a 15-minute stroll from Lake Windermere, this smart townhouse B&B offers well-priced rooms in a handy location. And there’s free parking, too; a rarity in Ambleside. The handsome Victorian villa, with its bay windows and high ceilings, has been given a light and modern makeover while keeping things fresh and simple. Guests step straight into a ground-floor dining room, which doubles as reception and lounge (help-yourself hot drinks are available all day), and is neat with pale-grey walls, stripped-wood floors and bright teal and burnt orange dining chairs.

The 15 rooms are similarly neat and simple, and with bright modern bathrooms, most with a bath as well as a shower. Lower ground-floor rooms have restricted views but are larger and with bold wall-size local landscape photographs. With private entrances, these rooms are useful for families and groups of friends.

Address: Lake Road, Ambleside LA22 0DB

Highlights: Free parking, best for families, best for groups

Close to: Lake Windermere, Wansfell Pike

10. Forest Side hotel

Grasmere

Michelin-starred dining sign, Forest Side is a very cool, modernised country house hotel (Forest Side)

Despite the grand size of this Victorian-Gothic building, with tall chimneys and castellated parapets, it’s easy to drive past the hotel’s entrance. Set back from the main road, on the outskirts of Grasmere, it doesn’t shout its presence. But the vast kitchen garden above the car park very much does wave the flag that food is the thing here.

With its Michelin-starred restaurant, Forest Side is a foodie destination set in a sleekly modernised country house hotel. Grand Victorian features of high ceilings and ornate fireplaces have been married with pale-grey colours, oak flooring and Lincrusta wallpapers. Bedrooms have softly shimmering wallpapers, crushed velvet fabrics and sleek bathrooms.

The tasting menu dishes are similarly understated in presentation but this belies clever food combinations that deliver unexpected taste sensations: smokily poached monkfish, for example, or jammy-tasting beetroot with iced goats’ cheese. Always make time for one of their whacky-sounding cocktails beforehand: plum-infused gin, perhaps, or a Douglas Fir negroni.

Address: Keswick Road, Grasmere, Ambleside LA22 9RN

Highlights: Best for foodies

Close to: Grasmere, Grey Crag

11. Another Place, The Lake hotel

Ullswater

For rooms wiht a country house aesthetic threaded throughout its design, head to Another Place (Another Place)

This hotel manages that rare trick of ticking the boxes for couples, families, adventurers, romantics, energetic children and dog owners alike. Sitting on the shores of Ullswater, with grounds running down to the lake, it is very focused on all things water-y: wild swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, sailing and kayaking. If you prefer your water a little warmer, there’s a 20-metre indoor pool with double-height windows overlooking the lake and fells. After which you can relax in the spa or in the terrace hot tub.

Rooms have a contemporary country-house vibe, some in the Georgian hall, others in the slate-and-glass extension. Alternatively, families might choose one of the cottages while romantics could opt for a shepherd’s hut with a stargazing glass panel, wood-burning stove and fire-pit. Meal options range from casual pub-style and wood-fired pizzas to a smarter bistro.

Address: Watermillock, Ullswater, CA11 0LP

Highlights: Best for couples, families, dog owners, watersports

Close to: Ullswater

Price: Double rooms from £270

Book now

12. Langdale Chase hotel

Windermere

Langdale Chase’s contemporary country house design is rivalled only by its proximity to Windermere (Langdale Chase)

In an enviable position on the shores of Windermere, this hotel retains a Victorian grandeur subtly mixed with a sleek modernity. Built for a wealthy widow, the sprawling stone mansion bristles with turrets, terraces and tall chimneys while inside plasterwork ceilings, a grand staircase and stained-glass windows mix with modern art and designer sofas. Fires burn in numerous sitting rooms which, together with a glass-walled dining room, make the most of the lake views. Most bedrooms, too, have lake views, and a classic country-house feel jazzed up with bright-patterned rugs and bold feature wallpapers. Bathrooms are luxuriously large.

Food ranges from posh fine dining to posh comfort food with an eye-popping afternoon tea – exquisite cakes – if you get hunger pangs. And there are bento boxes for the private cinema. In the summer, take a trip on the hotel’s vintage motor yacht, with a picnic and champagne. Or make use of the free kayaks and paddleboards.

Address: Ambleside Road, Ecclerigg, Windermere, LA23 1LW

Highlights: Best for foodies, film lovers, watersports

Close to: Windermere

13. Low Wood Bay hotel

Windermere

The pool at Low Wood Bay offers exceptional views across Lake Windermere (Low Wood Bay)

One of the longest-established hotels in the Lake District – originally an 18th-century coaching inn – and owned by the same family for over 70 years, Low Wood Bay knows its guests well; families, couples, spa bunnies, mini-breakers all feel at home. Set back from the lakeside road around Windermere, it has enviable views across the lake to fells, including the iconic Langdale Pikes. You can enjoy these from one of the hotel’s two outdoor infinity pools, part of an extensive spa including outdoor sauna and hot tub, indoor thermal journey – with complimentary facials - and ESPA treatments. There’s also a leisure club with large pool plus a watersports centre and activities such as outdoor yoga.

The range of rooms covers most budgets from modern courtyard rooms and swish lake view rooms to art deco-style original hotel rooms and swanky affairs in a separate glass-and-slate chalet-style building. Dining is a choice of Modern British in the elegantly colourful W restaurant, and grills in the buzzy, open-kitchen Blue Smoke.

Address: Ambleside Road, Windermere LA23 1LP

Highlights: Best for families, couples, spa, outdoor pools

Close to: Windermere

FAQs

When is the best time to visit the Lake District?

For a better chance at receiving glorious weather with less of a chance of downpours, the summer months are the best time to visit.

However, this means that it is also the busiest period, as everyone else is trying to chase a slice of the sun.

For fewer people in the villages and on the trails, try and avoid the school holidays and visit mid-spring or early autumn.

In the winter, the weather will be a lot harsher, but there are plenty of cosy pubs to dive into after admiring the frosty landscape.

What time of year are hotels cheaper?

Autumn into winter is not the Lake District’s busiest tourist season, so prices may be lower during these months.

How to save on Lake District hotels

Booking.com has more than 1,000 stays to book across the Lake District in popular spots such as Windermere, Keswick and Ambleside.

If you’ve decided on a last-minute trip to the Lake District, it’s worth checking if National Trust cottages are available to book. Use the discount code below on a booking that starts in the next 14 days and you’ll get 25 per cent off and free access to National Trust sites during your stay.

What are the most popular Lake District areas?

There are plenty of places to discover in this sweeping National Park, but arguably the most famous and popular area is Windermere, where you will find glorious mountain vistas, England's largest lake and the charming towns of Ambleside and Bowness-on-Windermere.

For fans of Beatrix Potter, her 17th-century cottage can be found in Hawkshead, while Grasmere and Keswick have a supply of pubs, cafes and shops to explore before setting off on rambles around the nearby walking routes and trails.

For the best views of Lake Windermere, several routes will take you around the top scenic spots, including Bowness on Windermere Circular and Windermere Lake and Queen Adelaide’s Hill Circular.

How to travel around?

If travelling by train, the West Coast mainline runs to the east of the Lake District, stopping at Oxenholme (near Kendal), Penrith and Carlisle and connecting with London and Glasgow.

A direct train runs from Manchester to Windermere, while local trains from Oxenholme call at Kendal, Staveley and Windermere.

National Express coaches and Stagecoach buses also run through the area, while many minibus tour companies operate throughout the Lake District.

To make the most of the Lake District’s landscape, many people walk, hike or cycle on days out around the area.

To get to the national park by car take J36 and A590 for the southern end of the Lake District, or take J40 and A66 or A592 for the northern end of the Lake District.

Best walks in the Lake District?

There are 912 square miles of the Lake District to discover. Some of the best walks around the fells, lakes and market towns include Helvellyn from Thirlmere, the Whitehaven coastal walk and Scafell Pike via The Corridor Route.

EasyJet issue three-day Spain and Portugal travelling warning after power blackout

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 02:20:49 +0000

Travel operator easyJet has issued a three-day travel warning for Spain and Portugal following a major power blackout.

Around 500 flights were cancelled in total due to the blackout, according to an estimate by The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder, following the blackout on Monday (28 April).

Despite power being returned around Spain and Portugal on Tuesday morning, travel chaos continued into its second day.

Simon explained: “If you are flying with easyJet, they have said you have got three days, you can fly back on any of those days, just rearrange your flight and there will be no charge.

“Other airlines are similar, but if you are on a package holiday with TUI or Jet2, it is their problem to get you home and not yours.”

JetBlue to announce partnership with US carrier after deal with American Airlines collapsed in acrimony

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 02:17:46 +0000

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JetBlue Airways is reportedly preparing to announce a partnership with another U.S. airline, according to the carrier's president.

The Tuesday announcement has left those in the industry wondering which carrier will partner with JetBlue. The company attempted to acquire Spirit Airlines last year, but the move was blocked by the Justice Department. It was also in talks to partner with American Airlines, but that plan fell apart after it lost an antitrust lawsuit in 2023.

The airline, based in New York, has reportedly been in talks with several carriers for a partnership. The company's president. Marty St George, said during an earnings call that the company expects to announce which carrier it will partner with sometime this quarter, according to CNBC.

He said the larger network provided by the partner company will allow JetBlue's customers to earn and use loyalty points on JetBlue flights.

“If you are a customer in the Northeast and you love JetBlue for leisure, but twice a year you have to go to Omaha or Boise, these are places that you can’t earn TrueBlue points on now and when this partnership goes forward, you will be able to,” the president said.

CNBC spoke to Alaska Airlines, which said it does not have any plans to partner with JetBlue and is focused instead on its merger with Hawaiian Airlines.

The outlet also spoke to Southwest Airlines, which declined to offer a comment, and Delta Air Lines, which said there was no pending announcement for a partnership.

The airlines with the best and worst in-flight food and drink revealed - with Emirates and Ryanair on the list

American Airlines had previously been in talks to partner with the company, but an antitrust lawsuit stopped that development.

On Monday, American Airlines announced that it was suing JetBlue following the collapse of the proposed partnership. The airline's vice chair and chief strategy officer Steve Johnson said the airline made a "very attractive proposition" during the talks, but said that JetBlue was "focused on different business priorities."

"Ultimately, we were unable to agree on a construct that preserved the benefits of the partnership we envisioned, made sense operationally or financially, or was consistent with the travel rewards and co-branded card business objectives that are so important to our strategy and our customers," he said.

The lawsuit seeks to "recover money owed to American" after the proposed partnership dissolved.

A JetBlue spokesperson told Axios that the company is reviewing American Airlines complaint but did not offer further comment due to pending litigation.

Alaska Airlines announces new Disney livery, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Flyer

"We've previously said we are talking to multiple airlines about a new partnership," the spokesperson said. "We have been making good progress and expect to announce a partnership agreement in the second quarter."

The only other major U.S. carrier operating in the Northeast that might be partnering with JetBlue is United Airlines.

The Independent has requested comment from United Airlines about a possible partnership.

Holidaymaker shares £50k hack that has taken him across the globe: ‘I basically travel the world for free’

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 02:17:32 +0000

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A London flight attendant has revealed his "clever" hack for travelling the world "for free" – and it's helped him visit nearly 20 different cities, resorts, and islands. Andre Hellstrom, 56, has saved an estimated £50,000 by swapping homes with people across the globe.

For over a decade, Andrew has been using HomeExchange, a platform that allows users to exchange their homes for agreed-upon dates. Alternatively, members can earn GuestPoints by lending their homes without a reciprocal exchange, which can then be used for future travel.

Andre, who lives near Westbourne Park station, often opts for long-term swaps, typically lasting three to five months. This approach has allowed him to explore a diverse range of countries, including Australia, Italy, Mexico, Indonesia, Spain, and France.

His career as a flight attendant provides the flexibility needed to make the most of these extended stays, allowing him to work while experiencing life in different locations. He explained that home-swapping "literally opens doors around the world," enabling him to travel cheaply and extensively.

Andre says he would encourage anyone to join HomeExchange (Family handout/PA Real Life)

“HomeExchange definitely is a clever way to travel,” Andre said.

“Since I fly cheaply, I have lots of flexibility with my schedule, so if I get an offer from Bucharest in Romania – somewhere that’s maybe not top of my list – I’ll think, ‘OK, why not?’

“Then I’ll move around my days and I’ll go for a short weekend or something, so it’s quite exciting sometimes.”

Andre explained that travelling is his “big passion” and, being a flight attendant, he is able to explore the world “all the time”.

He said he enjoys documenting his various trips with photography and believes he “must have been an explorer in (his) previous life”.

Recalling one of his earliest travel memories, he said: “My parents took me on a holiday to Madeira in Portugal and I just knew, then and there, that I wanted to travel.”

Andre now lives in a one-bedroom flat in London, which boasts “hard to beat” views overlooking the canal.

The father-of-two said he heard about HomeExchange from a friend while in San Francisco years ago, but he initially thought the concept was “strange”.

“I met him in San Francisco and they checked into this home, and I just thought, ‘Oh my God, this is strange to live in someone else’s home’,” Andre said.

“But then I started thinking and it makes a lot of sense… it’s all built on trust.

“It’s quite extraordinary because everybody on the site is very respectful and you feel like you’re part of a secret community.”

Andre skiing in Chamonix (Family handout/PA Real Life)

Andre joined the platform in around 2010 and has since completed 42 exchanges, visiting places such as Stockholm, Paris, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Maui, Bali and Sydney.

From staying at The Westin Maui resort for two weeks, to spending a month in Chamonix skiing, Andre believes he has saved around £50,000 to date.

“I basically travel for free and exchanges are almost free too,” he said.

“It just requires a lot of planning and a wish to be a good host to your guest.

“I’m surprised that not more people do it.”

Andre said one of his first exchanges was in Barcelona and he had “the best summer of (his) life”.

On other trips, he has experienced “drag shows and parties” but said he cannot reveal too much about these events.

In his own home, he has welcomed a journalist and an author, and he will soon be hosting two film producers who live in “mansions in LA”.

Recalling one of his most memorable stays, he said: “There are so many different ones, but the one in Rio, I have to say, that flat is amazing.

“I mean, you just wake up and you have amazing views of the Christ the Redeemer statue, and I love Rio.

“That flat, if it was on Airbnb, for a whole month it would probably cost £8,000.”

Along with visiting new places, Andre said he has made many new friends on HomeExchange and he continues to stay in touch with them.

One of the members who lives in Bali – where Andre had an “amazing experience” in a property with a pool – even helped him ship juju feather hats to his London home.

Andre exploring Ibiza (Family handout/PA Real Life)

“That was a really good exchange because she was an interior designer, and I’m really into interior design,” he explained.

“I wanted to buy a juju hat – it’s something with feathers – and she helped me find people to make them and she shipped them to the UK.

“It was a bit of a nightmare… so she did me a huge favour.”

On another occasion, Andre was staying in Paris and had to look after a cat – but this did not quite go to plan.

“The cat hated me,” he said.

“I really love cats… and I thought she would love me after a while, but she never loved me.”

This August, Andre is planning to go back to Madrid for three months and said he will continue using HomeExchange for the foreseeable future, with hopes of going skiing in Switzerland or Austria.

He said he has never had any negative experiences using the platform and he would encourage others to try it, particularly if they enjoy solo travelling.

He would advise others wanting to join HomeExchange to pay for a “good cleaner” and ensure they have a “passion for hosting people”.

Andre has been using HomeExchange for more than a decade (Family handout/PA Real Life)

To those who may be hesitant, Andre said: “You have someone sleeping in your bed, but think of the money that you’re saving and you’ll forget about that.

“I feel so lucky, it literally opens doors around the world and that’s why it’s a no-brainer.

“For me, it’s just perfect. I love it.”

Jessica Poillucci, PR manager of HomeExchange, said: “HomeExchange advises people considering home-swapping to check the legalities of working remotely from your intended destination.

“Some countries may require specific visas or permits if you’re planning to work, even if it’s just remotely for your home company.

“It’s also worth noting working from a different jurisdiction can also have tax implications.

“With regards to both visas or permits and tax, it’s important to bear in mind the length of your stay as this can have an impact on both of these areas.”

Novak Djokovic withdraws from Italian Open in blow to French Open preparations

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 01:03:44 +0000

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Six-time champion Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from this year's Italian Open, in a blow to his French Open preparations.

Djokovic, who has been chasing a 100th tour-level title, will miss the Masters 1000 event in Rome for the first time since making his first appearance in 2007.

The Serb former world number one was handed a shock straight-sets defeat by Matteo Arnaldi in the second round of the Madrid Open over the weekend.

The 37-year-old said he was facing a “new reality” after his defeat to the unseeded Italian and he will now head to Roland Garros without a single win on clay this year.

“Trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament – it’s a completely different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years of professional tennis,” Djokovic said after his Madrid Open defeat.

“It’s a challenge for me mentally to really face these kinds of sensations on the court, going out early now regularly in tournaments.”

The 24-times grand slam champion has not won a title on the men's tour since his ATP Finals triumph in 2023, when he won three out of four major titles.

Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal can ‘do something special’ in return leg in Paris

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 01:03:41 +0000

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Mikel Arteta insisted Arsenal are capable of producing a special moment to overturn their first-leg defeat against Paris St Germain and reach the Champions League final.

Arsenal will head to the French capital next week trailing by a single goal in the last-four fixture after Ousmane Dembele stunned the Emirates when he struck inside four minutes.

Although Mikel Merino had a second-half goal ruled out for offside, PSG substitute Goncalo Ramos struck David Raya’s crossbar in the closing minutes and Arteta’s men might count themselves fortunate to still be in the tie.

But Arteta said: “We are at half-time, and my message is exactly the same as it was after we beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of the quarter-final. We have to go to Paris and win the game, and we are more than capable of doing it.

“If you want to win the Champions League final, you have to do something special, and we are going to have to do something special in Paris to be there. We still have a lot of chances to be in that final.”

Arsenal secured a comfortable 2-0 win against PSG back in October, but Luis Enrique’s reformed side raced out of the blocks on Tuesday night and totally dominated the majority of the opening period.

Arteta said he was forced into a tactical switch, which he would not disclose, midway through the first half, and Arsenal improved with Gabriel Martinelli forcing a fine save from Gianluigi Donnarumma before Merino’s header just 90 seconds after the interval was chalked off by VAR.

Leandro Trossard tested Donnarumma again, but Bradley Barcola almost added a second for the visitors with 10 minutes to go when his shot fell narrowly wide and Ramos then struck Raya’s woodwork.

“We had two one-on-ones with Donnarumma and if they go in, it is a different story,” added Arteta. “But he made the saves, and that’s the difference in the Champions League. The margins are so small, and it didn’t go our way.”

PSG saw off Manchester City in the group stages before beating Liverpool on penalties in the last 16 and then knocking out Aston Villa in the quarter-finals.

And following their win against Arsenal – which puts them in pole position to face either Barcelona or Inter Milan in next month’s showpiece – PSG boss Luis Enrique said: “There was an incredible atmosphere inside the stadium, it was deafening, but we got off to a wonderful start and the early goal gave us a boost of confidence.

“It is mission accomplished for this evening. But our objective is to win the second leg at home. With Arsenal we cannot let our guard down or be complacent because they can score quickly and we are back to square one.

“Nothing is in the bag. We need to win when we are at home because Arsenal now have nothing to lose.”

World Snooker Championship 2025: Results, draw and schedule in full

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 01:01:22 +0000

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The World Snooker Championship rolls on with the action at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield heating up as the tournament reaches the quarter-final stage.

A number of top contenders have already fallen, including defending champion Kyren Wilson - pipped by Lei Peifan in the first round - and four-time winner Mark Selby, who was knocked out by training partner Ben Woollaston.

There have been no such problems so far, though, for a returning Ronnie O’Sullivan. The seven-time champion made a mockery of his recent period of inactivity by reeling off three centuries in five frames as he completed a 10-4 win over Ali Carter to reach the second round, and backed it up with a routine win over Pang Junxu to reach a record-extending 23rd quarter-final.

Ronnie O’Sullivan got his campaign off to a great start against Ali Carter (Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

The 49-year-old decided to play at the Crucible despite admitting he was “scared to go near a snooker table” during his break from the game and feared he had lost his bottle. The first-round clash had the potential to be a grudge match, with O’Sullivan calling Carter “not a nice person” and a “f****** nightmare” following a heated Masters match last year but it was ultimately played in a good spirit.

The World Snooker Championship got underway on Saturday 19 April with the final played over two days starting on Sunday 4 May.

Results so far

Second round

Ronnie O'Sullivan 13-4 Pang Junxu

Luca Brecel 13-4 Ding Junhui

Si Jiahui 13-10 Ben Woollaston

Shaun Murphy 10-13 Judd Trump

Chris Wakelin 13-6 Mark Allen

Hossein Vafaei 10-13 Mark Williams

John Higgins 13-12 Xiao Guodong

Lei Peifan 10-13 Zhao Xintong

First round

Kyren Wilson (1) 9-10 Lei Peifan

Xiao Guodong (14) 10-4 Matthew Selt

Mark Williams (6) 10-8 Wu Yize

Neil Robertson (9) 8-10 Chris Wakelin

Barry Hawkins (11) 9-10 Hossein Vafaei

Jak Jones (16) 4-10 Zhao Xintong

Mark Allen (8) 10-6 Fan Zhengyi

John Higgins (3) 10-7 Joe O'Connor

Ding Junhui (10) 10-7 Zak Surety

Shaun Murphy (15) 10-4 Daniel Wells

Ronnie O'Sullivan (5) 10-4 Ali Carter

Judd Trump (2) 10-4 Zhou Yuelong

Luca Brecel (7) 10-7 Ryan Day

Mark Selby (4) 8-10 Ben Woollaston

World Snooker Championship draw and schedule in full

(All times BST)

Tuesday 29 April

Quarter-finals

10:00

Zhao Xintong 6-2 Chris Wakelin

John Higgins 5-3 Mark Williams

14:30

Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Si Jiahui

Luca Brecel 3-5 Judd Trump

19:00

Zhao Xintong 12-4 Chris Wakelin

John Higgins 8-8 Mark Williams

Wednesday 30 April

Quarter-finals

10:00

John Higgins 8-8 Mark Williams - to a finish

Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Si Jiahui

14:30

Zhao Xintong 12-4 Chris Wakelin - to a finish

Luca Brecel 3-5 Judd Trump

19:00

Ronnie O'Sullivan v Si Jiahui - to a finish

Luca Brecel v Judd Trump - to a finish

Thursday 1 May

Semi-finals

Friday 2 May

Semi-finals

Saturday 3 May

Semi-finals

Sunday 4 May

Final

Monday 5 May

Final

How Arsenal exposed a PSG weakness – while revealing one of their own

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 01:01:20 +0000

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The demand from Mikel Arteta is now obvious, but the manner Arsenal get there is not. He said his team need “something special” after this 1-0 home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. There was then the same caveat as after Real Madrid. “It’s only half-time.” Luis Enrique went further, insisting this tie “has only started”.

That should make it even less of a surprise that both managers described this as a game “of different phases”.

There are duly a few ways to look at it, beyond the fact PSG have yet another lead against an English side. The night could have been so much worse for Arsenal, as they had a few issues exposed. They similarly know they can be better. Arsenal showed there are weaknesses to be exploited in the French side, but also so many strengths to try and stop.

Arteta’s side risked being blown away in the early stages (Getty)

It was notable that Arteta made such a point of saying Arsenal solved one “very specific” issue from the first 20 minutes with how his team moved the ball. That may still mean the tie ends up being decided by two very different individual moments at either end of this first leg.

There was obviously Ousmane Dembele’s superb goal after just three minutes; that remains the difference. There was then PSG’s flurry of late chances, and particularly Goncalo Ramos’s strike off the bar. It maybe says much about the night that Arsenal anxiously watched some of those efforts go astray, in the hope that a 1-0 defeat still gives them a significant chance in Paris. That could be fateful. Arteta may well lean on that.

In between, there was how performances ebbed and flowed. PSG had significant periods when they looked like the best team in Europe, and a level above.

There were then long stretches where Arsenal rallied, with Enrique admitting that Arteta’s team occasionally “dominated”. The timing of Merino's disallowed goal probably didn't help. Just as Arsenal were building an emotional momentum after half-time, it was suppressed by both the decision and the long wait. There was never the same heave.

Perhaps this is where Arteta’s absences really had an effect in Europe. That’s where the margins start to matter. It was like, with the absences they had, Arsenal had to figure out how to restructure their team on going behind.

Thomas Partey’s suspension, in particular, was to prove crucial in that one key moment. There was also the thinness of Arsenal’s attack. They were no longer just missing their main forward in Kai Havertz but also had such a shallow and young bench.

It was maybe no coincidence that Luis Enrique’s side had the better of the late chances, after a game that had become quite tactical. Arsenal had to try and force the opening, and did enjoy a lot of space on PSG’s left side. The problem was how many warnings they had on stepping out.

Enrique’s team start quickly and could have scored more on the night (Getty Images)

This might not be about how it finishes, though. It might be about how it started, which is evidently such a lesson with PSG.

You can prepare and think you have covered every angle, only for Enrique or one of those attackers to come up with a move you hadn’t imagined. In this case, it was the manner in which Dembele took up space in the false nine. Arsenal initially didn’t know how to deal with it, and it definitely didn’t help that was specifically where they were missing Partey’s energy.

Rice felt he had to help double-up on the electric Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who of course created space and rolled the ball across for Dembele. The forward obliged and sent the ball into David Raya’s far corner.

Dembele finishes off a 26-pass move that cut through Arsenal’s press (Reuters)

It was the worst possible start, near the beginning of a 20-minute spell of extended excellence. This is what people are talking about when they enthuse about PSG as the best team in Europe. It is these sensational spells, when they combine an astonishing intensity with electric attack. That approach currently feels unique, and why an Enrique team is so different to Pep Guardiola’s.

There’s the speed of the transition, and then there’s the speed of the feet. Kvaratskhelia and Dembele can bring teams to areas they don’t want to go. It’s even more dispiriting for the opposition because, if they don’t get you by swarming your own box, they can easily get you when you’re trying to swarm theirs. As Arsenal repeatedly had to be on guard, you can be patiently building an attack only to find yourself relying on a desperate challenge near your own goal seconds later.

Arsenal are sharp defensively to cut out PSG’s counterattacks (Action Images via Reuters)

There is another side to that, too, though. It is impossible to indefinitely sustain. Arsenal also stopped Joao Neves playing those passes through, which may have been that “specific” issue Arteta was referring to. PSG consequently ebbed, and there is a residual vulnerability when you go at them.

That is especially the case on their right. Achraf Hakimi leaves such space behind, and Marquinhos can struggle to cover it. Most of Arsenal’s best moments – and certainly their best chances – came from there. Arteta might well insist they could have had three, even if that would have been a charitable scoreline given the general pattern of play.

Neves had to intercept superbly when the area seemed to open up for Merino, before Gianluigi Donnarumma then stopped superbly from similar breaks. In the first half, he turned Gabriel Martinelli’s effort away. In the second, it was Leandro Trossard’s. The latter was especially impressive given the power of the effort.

Donnarumma makes two big saves to deny Martinelli and Trossard (Action Images via Reuters)

But that was kind of it. Unable to really bring much more quality in attack on, other than the teenage Ethan Nwaneri, the game kind of flattened out into this tense occasion.

Even PSG didn’t get forward in the same way until they made subs. There was a general sense of playing it out for the second leg.

Arsenal know they need to do so much more, though. This wasn't the epic night that Arteta demanded. It was something altogether odder. At the least, they know everything comes down to Wednesday in Paris. It's going to be about how they finish, having seen how PSG started.

Met Gala 2025: Will Rihanna attend star-studded event as partner A$AP Rocky hosts?

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 00:12:43 +0000

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With the 2025 Met Gala just one week away, eager fans are wondering who will be ascending the coveted steps this year to celebrate the forthcoming spring exhibit: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”

Scheduled for the first Monday in May, the glamor-steeped event, also known as “fashion’s biggest night out,” promises appearances from designers, artists, A-listers, and athletes, all hand-picked by Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour.

On the list of those expected to be there on Monday night are co-chairs Pharrell Williams, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, LeBron James, and A$AP Rocky.

The entire 2025 committee — Simone Biles and her husband, Jonathan Owens, Dapper Dan, Doechii, Edward Enniful, Ayo Ediebiri, Jeremy O Harris, André 3000, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Grace Wales Bonner, Jordan Casteel, Regina King, Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee, Rashid Johnson, Audra McDonald, Jeremy Pope, Angel Reese, Janelle Monáe, Sha’Carri Richardson, Usher, Olivier Rousteing, Tyla, and Kara Walker — will also likely be in attendance.

Vogue’s red carpet live stream hosts Teyana Taylor, TV star La La Anthony, influencer Emma Chamberlain, and Saturday Night Live’s Ego Nwodim are expected to make the scene as well.

After Rihanna was a last-minute no-show last year, fans are wondering if the singer will grace the steps this year. Considering her partner, A$AP, is a co-chair, her chances of attending are very high. Her attendance, however, has not yet been confirmed.

We can assume Rihanna will be at the 2025 Met Gala alongside her partner, A$AP Rocky, who is a co-chair this year (AFP via Getty Images)

Rihanna and A$AP, often referred to as “Met Gala royalty,” have previously stunted on the red carpet in exquisite high fashion to pay homage to each exhibit. From their grand entrance in 2023 to their late arrival in 2021, the couple’s moments have been hard to miss.

The Fenty Beauty founder and the “Praise the Lord” vocalist, however, were noticeably absent from the event last year.

Citing sources, People reported Rihanna had come down with the flu and couldn’t make it.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky arrived late to the Met Gala in 2021 (Getty Images)

Her lack of attendance was instantly met with disappointment online. On X/Twitter, one user wrote after Vogue’s red carpet livestream ended promptly at 8:30 p.m. EST: “Met gala is over ??? No Rihanna? No Blake Lively?”

Another fan wrote: “I’m really sad Rihanna isn’t going anymore.”

Though it’s not been confirmed yet, the Kardashians and Jenners — Kim, Kylie, and Kris — will most likely be in attendance as they’re known to elicit buzzy red-carpet moments.

The 2025 theme was announced back in October 2024 during a press conference at the museum. Andrew Bolton, the head curator for the Costume Institute, said “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” was inspired by Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.

Guests will be expected to honor this year’s concept in unique ways while adhering to the dress code, “Tailored for You.”