In 1969, a Nevada man built a desert home from junk; today, Thunder Mountain is a free attraction

This California mansion has a train, tunnel and station

A luxurious estate in La Cañada Flintridge was recently sold for $8.5 million, attracting numerous potential buyers. The property includes a custom five-passenger garden railway that enhances its unique appeal and charm. Additionally, the house consists of six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and a gourmet kitchen perfect for entertaining. Extensive outdoor features include a swimming pool, vegetable garden, and manicured landscapes recognized with multiple awards.

Restoration Ecology Study Findings: Tidal flows fuel Marsh Wren surge; broader marsh birds gain

California's initiative to revive the Dutch Slough wetlands has led to a stunning resurgence of Marsh Wren numbers. Recent bird surveys from 2020 to 2025 indicate significant increases in the density of various marsh-dwelling species. This restoration process involved planting indigenous plants and reinstating tidal flows to previous agricultural terrains. While some species saw a decline, overall avian diversity thrived in these rejuvenated areas.

Texas-bound American Airlines flight diverted to New York's JFK after six out of eight lavatories stopped working: 'Only two potties?'

Pregnant woman & 2 children among 9 killed in Pennsylvania shooting; gunman dies by suicide

David Gilmour sold his guitars for $21.5 million to fund climate change and nature protection work

In June 2019, David Gilmour sold over 120 guitars, significantly benefitting ClientEarth with the proceeds. Among them was the iconic 1969 Fender Stratocaster, which achieved a record sale price. These funds were dedicated to advancing environmental law initiatives aimed at combatting climate change. This remarkable auction intertwined rock legacy and ecological activism, illustrating Gilmour's commitment to fostering a sustainable future through music.

'Cockroach' group leaders among hundreds detained in Delhi protest

Tens of thousands of security personnel were deployed and roads barricaded ahead of the demonstration.

Headmaster detained after BBC investigation into alleged sexual abuse of students

Former students launched their own investigation, spending years collecting evidence and testimonies from others who say they were abused by the headteacher.

EU, China strike interim trade deal that could cut Chinese hybrid exports, EU envoy says

HONG KONG — The top trade envoys for China and the European Union agreed Friday on a broad initial deal following two days of talks aimed at calming escalating tensions over trade imbalances, the EU trade commissioner said. Neither side provided clear details on the preliminary deal, but European Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic said it includes lower tariffs for some European goods to China as well as measures to stabilize rare earth supply chains. The EU trade envoy said the deal could cut up to 50 percent of Chinese electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle imports to the EU and could lower tariffs on products benefiting “almost every” EU nation. The deal would require approval from leaders across the 27-nation EU. He said that “by this step we are actually preventing several millions of car exports from China to the European Union.” The two sides were seeking to resolve key factors behind China’s growing trade surplus, which hit 360 billion euros ($410 billion) last year. China’s Commerce Ministry posted online that Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao expressed concerns

Flydubai co-pilot planned suicide attack on Tel Aviv airport: UAE prosecutor

DUBAI — The co-pilot who attacked the captain of a flydubai jet last week had planned to crash the plane into Tel Aviv's international airport, the United Arab Emirates' top prosecutor said on Friday. The Omani co-pilot had drawn inspiration from Al-Qaeda's September 11, 2001 suicide attacks on the United States, and carried out his attempt "with the aim of causing the greatest possible loss of life", according to the prosecutor's findings published by state media. "The findings showed that he had met the professional and security requirements for employment, including holding a pilot's licence, providing a certificate of good conduct and completing the required checks." Passengers described rushing the cockpit and a fight for control after the plane suddenly plunged by around 5,000 metres (17,000 feet). The plane's Indian captain was wounded when the co-pilot attacked him with an axe, but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the attacker and force an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The passengers on board the aircraft were overwhelmingly Israel

UN calls US plans to livestream execution 'abhorrent'

The United Nations on Friday called U.S. plans to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, the gunman who killed 13 people at the Fort Hood military base in 2009, "abhorrent" and said it could be a violation of prohibitions against torture. "These kinds of public executions we've seen in other countries, whether it's Iran or Afghanistan ... can constitute a form of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, or punishment," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a daily UN briefing in New York. "Showing it live is tantamount ... to it being public, and could be a violation of the prohibition against torture," he said. "A government executing someone in public, or in front of live cameras, frankly, is abhorrent." Hasan is set to become the first person to be executed by U.S. military firing squad since 1945. The execution is scheduled for December 3 at the same sprawling Texas base where Hasan opened fire with a handgun in a medical facility.

US stocks rise toward finish of record-breaking week

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks are rising toward the finish of their record-setting week on Friday, even as other financial markets remain indecisive. The S&P 500 rose 0.6 percent and clawed back most of its two straight days of losses since setting its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 388 points, or 0.8 percent, as of 12:47 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.6 percent higher. The moves were tentative as oil prices continue to yo-yo because of uncertainty about when the war with Iran will allow the global energy industry to return to normal. The price for a barrel of Brent crude bounced between $102.50 and $105 in the morning, and it was most recently at $104.15, down 0.1 percent. Treasury yields flipped up and down in the bond market following their own sharp moves earlier in the week. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was most recently at 5.24 percent, up from 5.22 percent late Thursday. It recently touched its highest level since 2002 because of worries about high inflation, the U.S. government’s massive debt load, signals that the U.S. economy is cont