“We realised that nature is truly abundant,” Malik added. Many other middle and upper-middle class families who used to live in sprawling bungalows or big city flats are now choosing to live in smaller mud houses, largely on the outskirts of small towns, opting for simpler living while coping with climate change.Designers, planners and architects are helping them to build minimalist homes with primarily mud, but also other locally-sourced materials including bamboo, recycled wood, lime, baked bricks, cow dung, wheat husks and stones.

Swimming This article is more than 10 years oldDiana Nyad supporters rebut claims of cheating on Cuba-Florida swimThis article is more than 10 years oldLong-distance swimmers have been debating online whether Nyad got a boost from the boat that was accompanying herDiana Nyad's 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida has generated positive publicity and adoration for the 64-year-old endurance athlete – along with skepticism from some members of the small community of marathon swimmers, who are questioning whether she accomplished the feat honestly.

A 22-year-old Freeport man was thrown from a motorcycle in a crash early Monday, according to a news release from the Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Office. About 8:45 a.m., the Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a motorcycle crash on Highway 20 near Tranel Road in rural East Dubuque. “The reporting party indicated that a motorcycle appeared to have been crashed but there was nobody near the crash site,” the release says.

Prices for Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet watches appreciated by an average of 20 per cent a year since mid-2018, outpacing the S&P 500 Index, as values for pre-owned luxury timepieces surged, a new report shows. The S&P 500 stock index averaged annual returns of eight per cent from August 2018 to January 2023, while a basket of pre-owned watch models from top Swiss brands grew at more than twice the pace, the report from Boston Consulting Group Inc.

It's been just 48 hours since the Princess of Wales caused a major stir with the unveiling of her new It-girl hairstyle. On Thursday, the royal took her newly-cut bangs for another spin as she attended a joint engagement with her husband, Prince William.  The royals headed to Hereford on Thursday, where they were poised to attend two engagements at Madley Primary School's Forest School and Kings Pitt Farm, exploring how the two organisations are promoting mental wellbeing.