Cyprus says it received a diplomatic protest from an unnamed Arab Gulf state after tourists were attacked during anti-migrant violence in...

A team of surgeons in New York said Thursday they had performed the world's first transplant of an entire eye in a procedure described as a medical breakthrough, although it isn't yet known whether...

If travel is about getting away from it all, then a flit to the countryside to escape the grind of modern life definitely fits the bill. Outside of the urban hubs, Britain and Ireland are blessed with country houses that have been transformed into elegant rural hideaways in which to spend the night. As the Good Hotel Guide award winners for 2024 are announced, The Independent can reveal the picks for the best 10 country house hotels in the UK and Ireland. Whether you're after Michelin-starred dinners in Devon or a hearty Cumbrian breakfast to start the day, whether exploring ancient woodlands or lounging beside a pool appeals, there's no shortage of options across this green and pleasant land. To find out more, visit the Good Hotel Guide website. But for now, here are some exceptional hotels that are sure to inspire an escape to the country. Viewfield House Portree, Isle of Skye, Scotland A house-party atmosphere prevails at this 19th-century mansion in 20 acres of woodland garden, home to the Macdonald family for 200 years. Victorian interiors are filled with antiques and paintings, and you won’t find a TV in your bedroom – though it might have dual-aspect windows, a pedestal desk and original fireplace. In a dining room hung with ancestral portraits, guests sit down to a full Scottish breakfast, kippers or a vegetarian option, while at night there is home-made soup, cheese and charcuterie, devilled smoked salmon and vegetarian platters. Mallory Court Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England Built in 1916 in the romantic Elizabethan vernacular and set within formal gardens and pleasure grounds, Mallory Court welcomes families and their dogs. Described as “sumptuous and relaxing”, bedrooms in the main house blend traditional and contemporary style. Elsewhere, you’ll find places to relax over afternoon tea after a game of croquet or tennis, and in the spa or pool. Dinner in the panelled dining room is formal and fine. Gidleigh Park Chagford, Devon, England A single-track lane leads to this 1920s Tudor-style house, amid 107 acres of gardens and woodland on the banks of the North Teign. It’s home to a Michelin-starred restaurant, tennis court, croquet lawn and putting course. It is family friendly, with picnic hampers available to order and Dartmoor almost on the doorstep. Accommodation ranges from contemporary “classics” to spacious “master” rooms, up to the vast Spa Suite (where guests will find panoramic views of the valley). Chef Paul Eden’s “nouvelle but exquisite” dishes might include steamed turbot, mixed squash, pumpkin seeds, caviar and seaweed. Langar Hall Langar, Nottinghamshire, England This Georgian house in the Vale of Belvoir has been welcoming guests since the late Imogen Skirving was inspired by a dream to open her doors, greeting strangers as friends. Granddaughter Lila Arora now presides over a delightful, faintly eccentric operation. Bedrooms have intense charm; Cartland was a favourite of the late Dame Barbara, and Bohemia, featuring a four-poster bed, has poetry on the walls. Public rooms are filled with antiques and curios. Chef Gary Booth cooks locally sourced dishes, such as assiette of Langar lamb and warm salad of garden beetroot. langarhall.com Enniscoe House Castlehill, County Mayo, Ireland In wooded grounds on Lough Conn, against the backdrop of solitary Mount Nephin, this ancestral home is the very epitome of a Georgian country house in Ireland. Guests are hosted by Susan Kellett and her son, DJ, in a warm, inviting ambience. Bedrooms are spacious, and there is a comfy drawing room with open fire and much-faded Adam wallpaper. Guests meet over drinks before excellent, pared-back suppers cooked by Susan with produce from the organic walled garden. After breakfast, explore the 19th-century pleasure grounds, fish in the Lough, or follow nature trails through ancient woodland. Ty Mawr Brechfa, Carmarthenshire, Wales On the edge of Brechfa Forest in the Cothi valley, this 17th-century country house wins plaudits as “a lovely comfortable hotel”, with individually styled bedrooms, locally sourced food, and great walks from the door. Lastingham Grange Lastingham, Yorkshire, England There is a home-from-home ethos at this former farmhouse on the edge of Spaunton Moor, owned by the Wood family for 70 years, where comforts include tea with scones, a dinner menu that changes each night, and breakfasts of kippers and Yorkshire ham. Warwick Hall Carlisle, Cumbria, England Fishing is popular on the River Eden, which loops around the estate at this dog-friendly mansion, where the day begins with a hearty Cumbrian breakfast, tea is served by the drawing room fire, and guests convene for dinner in the dual-aspect dining room. The Priory Wareham, Dorset, England Four acres of English cottage gardens on the banks of the River Frome surround this former monastery, home to smart and stylish bedrooms and a glass-walled dining room, where chef Stephan Guinebault’s menus draw inspiration from his grandmother’s cooking on her Loire Valley farm. The Old Rectory Martinhoe, Devon, England In a remote hamlet in rolling countryside between Exmoor and the sea, Huw and Sam Rees-Prosser have created the kind of hotel where friends would love to gather, hosting guests for drinks and canapés before they dine from an imaginative nightly menu. oldrectoryhotel.co.uk Read reviews of the best UK hotels Read More Best UK hotels 2022 Best luxury hotels in Scotland for 2022 Family-friendly hotels in the UK for style, location and value Best Isle of Wight hotels 2023 Best hotels in Devon 2023 Best hotels in Europe 2023

You've got to hand it to Fujifilm for variety. Just a week after dropping details

Lando Norris wanted to turn the air blue following his accident with Lewis Hamilton at the Spanish Grand Prix – but stressed his compatriot did not do anything wrong. Norris started third after a fine performance in qualifying, but his race was over inside two corners when he drove into the back of Hamilton’s Mercedes. Norris was forced to pit for a new front wing, relegating him to the back of the field. The 23-year-old Briton eventually took the chequered flag in 17th place. Hamilton continued without damage, finishing runner-up to Max Verstappen. Asked what went through his mind following his first-lap prang, Norris said: “F***. Max [Verstappen] went off the track and a bit wide, so he had to bounce over the kerb at Turn 2. Everybody checked up and I was too close to Lewis to react and brake so it was just unlucky in my opinion, and a racing incident. “Lewis didn’t do anything wrong. I touched his wheel, nothing happened to him, maybe it made him quicker today.” Following a brief resurgence, McLaren are on something of a downward spiral. Norris has scored only a dozen points from the opening seven rounds, leaving him 11th in the standings. And the highly-rated Briton, who is under contract with McLaren until the end of 2025, painted a gloomy picture for the remainder of the campaign. “The pace was as expected as it was today which was bad,” he said. “I don’t think we expected anything else. “We were slow and we have been all year. Yesterday was a special day. Some of the good teams struggled and some of the worst teams did a better job. People made mistakes and we capitalised on that. “But we are clearly nowhere near as quick as the top-five teams so there is no point thinking about finishing in the points because we are not quick enough. “There are no new parts on the car. We had an upgrade in Baku and that was about it. It maybe brought us half-a-tenth to a tenth. “A lot of teams have brought upgrades to the last few races and we haven’t. We are not expecting anything more than we are doing and if we get in the points it is an amazing day but the expectation is that we won’t.” Read More Max Verstappen maintains dominance but Mercedes show their teeth at Spanish Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton accuses George Russell of ‘dangerous’ driving: ‘He just backed off’ ‘Best driver in the world’ needs more than just a Formula One title, claims rival championship boss Hamilton and Russell collide as Verstappen claims Spanish GP pole Max Verstappen sets the pace again but little to cheer for Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton toils in 12th as Max Verstappen and Red Bull dominate in Spain

TL;DR: As of August 23, you can get a refurbished iPad mini 2 for just

The European Union has raised concerns with China about the detailed product information that cosmetics companies like L’Oreal

Alyssa Farah Griffin's outfit catches Jim Gaffigan's attention on 'The View'

Giorgio Armani closed Milan Fashion Week with good vibes and a front row that included Cate Blanchett, Juliette Binoche and Lily Allen. Australian actor Blanchett – a global ambassador for Armani Beauty – championed sustainable fashion by wearing an embellished black jumpsuit with a plunging neckline. The outfit comes from Armani Prive’s autumn/winter 2009 couture collection, and Blanchett is obviously a fan – she previously wore it to the Palm Springs Film Festival in January. Blanchett sat next to Chocolat actor Binoche, who kept things simple in a black leather jacket and black wide-legged trousers. Singer Lily Allen was also on the front row, sporting a sleek blunt cut bob and a pink and black ensemble. Armani’s spring-summer 2024 collection mirrored a sky’s shifting colours and light at dusk – an idea conveyed with changing colours on the back wall of the showroom in his historic, central Milan headquarters. The 89-year-old designer employed translucent, diaphanous fabrics alongside silks and satin to create lightness and movement. The palette captured the mood, moving from bronze on silvery grey to jewel blue, green and purples which bled together, and back to dusky shades of grey and silver which faded to white. “No beige,” Armani joked after the show. The collection conveyed elegance but also practicality: clothes that put the wearer at ease in any context and without prodding toward overt, revealing sexiness. Satiny trousers anchored many of the looks — jackets, transparent blouson layers, shimmering tops and off-shoulder chiffon dresses. “Vibrations, that means colours, that means movement, that means a structure that moves on the body,” Armani said. To demonstrate his vision, a model in a shimmering long dress and a diaphanous cape danced down the runway. Flat shoes finished all of the looks. “Women should not be enslaved to height or to a feline nature, being sexy at all costs,” the designer said. “There can be also a normal woman but who hopefully has a twinkle in the eye.” Armani for years has lamented a Milan fashion scene that tries too hard, focusing on novelty instead of what he sees as the essence of fashion: dressing women to express themselves. The designer said he sensed a change in this season’s Fashion Week, which ended on Sunday, with less frivolity. “Finally, I saw collections, from the photos, with a lot of normality. There is also a little research, which has to be part of this craft.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live 7 gardening books you shouldn’t be without this autumn Kate Moss shares her wellness practices ahead of reaching milestone 50th birthday Naomi Campbell wears black lingerie on Dolce and Gabbana catwalk

If you’ve been following our ongoing coverage of wedding dress trends or alternative wedding dresses here at Refinery29, it’s likely you’re already familiar with For Love & Lemons, a fashion brand that, for us, has become synonymous with all things nuptial attire — whether it’s for the bride, bridesmaid, or wedding guest.

Every business needs a website, whether it's a fully functioning e-commerce setup or a simple

Experts are using strong language to warn Maui residents in Lahaina and Upper Kula not to filter their own tap water