Martha Stewart bought Edsel Ford's 63-acre estate in Maine in 1997 and restored its landscape
Times of India •

Martha Stewart bought Edsel Ford's 63-acre estate in Maine in 1997 and restored its landscape

In 1997, Martha Stewart took over the Skylands estate, diligently preserving its historic architecture and the stunning landscape, initially crafted by Jens Jensen. This remarkable property, once owned by Edsel Ford, encapsulates pivotal elements of American architectural history connected to the Ford lineage. With the help of landscape architect Patrick Chassé, Stewart revitalized the estate’s ga...

Drumcree talks break up without agreement on fifth day of standoff

Drumcree talks break up without agreement on fifth day of standoff

The Guardian •

Dispute over march will now go to legal appeal on Monday after talks hosted by Northern Ireland secretary endTalks aimed at resolving the Drumcree parade dispute have broken up without agreement, with the Northern Ireland secretary, Chris Bryant, describing the situation as being between a “rock and a hard place”.Speaking on Thursday night after the latest talks with the Orange Order and residents...

France closes 400 high schools as teens protests escalate

France closes 400 high schools as teens protests escalate

France 24 •

Almost 400 high schools were closed across France on Friday over a week-long protest movement by pupils over inadequate conditions at schools including overheated classrooms and a lack of teachers. The protests have seen students clash with police with some 2,000 people arrested, with pupils also blocking access to schools. France 24’s Olivia Bizot reports from outside a high school near Paris whe...

Hong Kong raises helpers’ monthly minimum wage to HK$5,220

Hong Kong raises helpers’ monthly minimum wage to HK$5,220

SCMP •

Hong Kong authorities have raised the minimum wage for domestic helpers by 2.35 per cent to HK$5,220 (US$665) per month, while keeping their food allowance unchanged, citing “more favourable” socioeconomic factors. The government announced on Friday that the minimum wage for domestic workers would rise from HK$5,100, with the new rate applying to all contracts signed on or after Saturday. Authorit...

Hong Kong to raise helpers’ monthly minimum wage to HK$5,220

Hong Kong to raise helpers’ monthly minimum wage to HK$5,220

SCMP •

Hong Kong authorities have raised the minimum wage for foreign domestic helpers by more than 2 per cent to HK$5,220 (US$665) per month, while their food allowance will be unchanged, citing “more favourable” socioeconomic factors. The government announced on Friday that the current minimum wage of HK$5,100 for foreign domestic helpers, or FDHs, would be increased by 2.35 per cent, and the adjusted ...

UK is not facing diesel shortage despite fears of Trump export ban, minister says

UK is not facing diesel shortage despite fears of Trump export ban, minister says

The Guardian •

In effort to avoid panic at pumps, Keir Mather insists supply of fuel to Britain is ‘inherently resilient’Business live – latest updatesThe government has moved to avert panic at the pumps, insisting that the UK is not facing a diesel shortage after Donald Trump threatened to cut off US supplies of the fuel.The transport minister Keir Mather said on Friday that the UK has a wide range of sources o...

Can AI play a role in reducing inequality?

Can AI play a role in reducing inequality?

France 24 •

In the debate about how best to regulate artificial intelligence, what about its role in development and aid? Warnings about the potential for exacerbating inequality are rife – but the World Bank argues that the technology could be harnessed for good.

Hong Kong IPOs falter, China aids homebuyers, EU trade talks

Hong Kong IPOs falter, China aids homebuyers, EU trade talks

SCMP •

Hong Kong stock debuts are losing steam as a deluge of initial public offerings (IPOs) overwhelms investor appetite. Seven of September’s 12 IPOs fell on the first day of trading, raising the third-quarter total to 15 flops out of 31, based on Bloomberg data. By contrast, there were only 14 declines among 77 debuts in the first half of the year. Medcaptain Medical Technology led September’s first-...

Flydubai hero pilot tells Modi 'I could not let all those people die'

Flydubai hero pilot tells Modi 'I could not let all those people die'

France 24 •

Smit Machchhar, the Indian captain who was attacked by his co-pilot onboard the Flydubai flight 1073 in an apparent attempt to crash the plane, on Friday told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that although he was severely injured in the altercation, “I could not let all those people die”. Although collapsed, he made a last-ditch effort and managed to push the door to the cockpit open.

Crop outputs grew up to 100% in China’s big agricultural experiment: scientists

Crop outputs grew up to 100% in China’s big agricultural experiment: scientists

SCMP •

Large-scale field trials across China show that irrigation water treated with natural minerals radiated by sunlight could dramatically increase the yields of several crops, according to Chinese scientists behind the experiments. The team said the trials, including on rice, wheat, soybeans, peanuts, sweet potatoes, sugar cane and vegetables, improved photosynthetic efficiency. Their study, conducte...

Calls grow for US death penalty halt after ‘torturous’ botched execution of Christa Pike

Calls grow for US death penalty halt after ‘torturous’ botched execution of Christa Pike

The Guardian •

Pike alive but in critical condition as experts call ordeal that unfolded in Tennessee Wednesday ‘unimaginably barbaric’Top lawyers, doctors and members of the faith community are calling for a moratorium on the US death penalty after Tennessee’s failed attempt to execute Christa Pike left the prisoner alive but in critical condition and receiving life-saving medical care.The recent spate of harro...

Eastern Spain braces for torrential rain and flooding

Eastern Spain braces for torrential rain and flooding

The Guardian •

Up to 300mm of rain could fall in places, while extreme downpours bring deadly landslides to NepalTorrential rain and potentially damaging flooding are forecast in eastern Spain over the coming days, as cold upper air moves over the warm, humid surface air of the Mediterranean Sea, fuelling violent, slow-moving thunderstorms near Spain’s east coast. The weather pattern, known as a Dana, occurs mos...

Row erupts over Cairo mural depicting Tutankhamun and Nefertiti with dark skin

Row erupts over Cairo mural depicting Tutankhamun and Nefertiti with dark skin

The Guardian •

Artwork created in Tahrir Square for Chinese president’s state visit to Egypt is painted over amid allegations it revived Afrocentric claims about Pharaohs’ originsOn the eve of Chinese president Xi Jinping’s state visit to Cairo last month, the city authorities were busy removing a 66-metre-long mural from the esteemed guest’s line of sight.Depicting the Pharaoh Tutankhamun and Queen Nefertiti, t...

Consumer spending picks up in Hong Kong, with retail sales rising 5.6% in August

Consumer spending picks up in Hong Kong, with retail sales rising 5.6% in August

SCMP •

Hong Kong’s retail sales rose by 5.6 per cent year on year in August, with the latest figures showing consumer spending picking up after growth eased for two consecutive months. The retail sales value reached HK$32 billion (US$4.1 billion), according to provisional figures released by the Census and Statistics Department on Friday. Sales in the first eight months of the year rose by 8.5 per cent c...

Recent lobbyist for Palantir had key role in helping Andy Burnham become PM

Recent lobbyist for Palantir had key role in helping Andy Burnham become PM

The Guardian •

Exclusive: Martha Dalton worked closely with Burnham’s team on byelection that secured his return to parliamentA recent lobbyist for the controversial $450bn US tech company Palantir played a senior role in helping Andy Burnham become prime minister, it has emerged.Martha Dalton, whose company Lodestone worked for Palantir in 2024 and 2025, campaigned for Burnham in the Makerfield byelection that ...