5 d. ago ‘A tapestry of stone’: the first Ismaili Centre in the US rises in the heart of Texas

Architect Farshid Moussavi is behind a tranquil and timeless new building where Houston’s 40,000-strong Ismaili Muslim community can come together. But how has she created something that looks so delicate out of stone?On a hot autumn day in southern Texas, monarch butterflies flit around the gardens of Houston’s new Ismaili Centre. Fragile and gaudy, they are on their way south to overwinter in Mexico, travelling up to 3,000 miles in a typical migration cycle, an epic feat of insectile endurance.Their combination of delicacy and stamina is an apt metaphor for the Ismaili Centre, a building that has taken seven years to realise and is designed to last for a century or more. It’s a place where Houston’s 40,000-strong Ismaili Muslim community, one of the largest in the US, can practise their faith but it’s also a venue for shared activities. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago The Greater Manchester park perfect for a walk on a crisp autumn day

As the weather turns cooler, wrap up warm and head out on a refreshing walk

Politics

1 week ago The Beta Blacks: Alpha days are gone for New Zealand and their aura with it

A lack of experience has lessened the impact of the All Blacks as many key players are ineligible for selection after moving to JapanThursday afternoon, and the All Blacks are out on the training ground around the back of the Lensbury hotel on the banks of the Thames, it’s a warm autumn day, and the mood is pretty free and easy, Will Jordan is practising catching high balls, Beauden Barrett is taking shots at goal, the forwards are packing up after running some drills, head coach, Scott Robertson, is chatting happily with the media before his press conference. Someone asks if his team are looking to make a statement against England on Saturday, the sort that reminds everyone exactly how good they are.“A statement performance?” Robertson says, perplexed. “We’re just looking for a result.” Time was when every All Blacks performance was a statement performance, and their head coaches didn’t go looking for results against England, or anyone else, they expected them. The remark hung in t...

Politics

1 week ago Make memories this autumn and winter with these incredible days out and trips

Our top pick of guided tours, rides, destinations and sights are sure to be unforgettable

Politics

2 w. ago Lando Norris wins São Paulo Grand Prix: Formula One – live reaction

Antonelli second, Verstappen charges up to thirdShare your thoughts with Alex via email“I’ll try and make it entertaining,” Oscar Piastri tells Martin with a grin which suggests he’s not feeling the pressure. Perhaps doing the chasing in the title battle will take a weight off his shoulders?“A bit of mist in the air – it’s a British autumn day out there,” says Oliver Bearman, who will start in eighth. Continue reading...

Sport

2 w. ago Fairy tale castle 'full of autumn magic' under 90 minutes from London perfect for day with the kids

Fairy tale castle 'full of autumn magic' under 90 minutes from London perfect for day with the kids  MyLondon

Politics

2 w. ago 'Fairytale' castle just an hour's drive from London is perfect Autumn day trip

'Fairytale' castle just an hour's drive from London is perfect Autumn day trip  MyLondon

Politics

2 w. ago Four top tips for your garden over autumn & winter to help save cash in the long run

JUST because the weather has turned, don’t stop giving your outdoor areas some love and attention. Making the effort over autumn and winter will not only give you a space to enjoy when it’s chilly, but will help save cash in the long run. Follow these tips . . . TIDY UP: Use sunny late autumn days to...

Economics

3 w. ago How scientists are shining light on the biology behind seasonal affective disorder

Researchers tracking large cohorts are discovering the effects of sleep, light and therapy on people impacted by winter’s arrivalFor some, the darkening days of autumn bring more than the annual ritual of reviving woolly jumpers and turning on the central heating. As the evenings close in and the mornings grow murky, energy ebbs and a heavy sadness settles in.Although seasonal affective disorder (Sad) was only formally recognised by psychiatrists in the 1980s, the link between the seasons, mood and vitality has long been observed. Continue reading...

Science

3 w. ago Hidden valley has stunning garden which is the only one of its kind in UK

The Painswick Rococo Garden is one of the most beautiful places in Gloucestershire - and it's perfect for an autumn day trip or weekend escape.

Politics

4 w. ago Next's boucle cardigan hailed as the 'perfect layering piece' by shoppers and it's under £40

Next's new £38 boucle cardigan is available in two hues - chocolate brown and red - offering a subtle yet stylish way to embrace the festive season

Economics

4 w. ago Next's new £38 cardigan is the 'perfect layering piece' for chilly autumn days

Next's new £38 cosy cardigan comes in two colours that are perfect for autumn, and shoppers are praising how 'comfortable' it is

Economics

4 w. ago From Steel City to Cottonopolis: a new walking trail through a post

The nostalgic Steel Cotton Rail Trail between Sheffield and Manchester has 14 day-length sections, with walks for urban explorers and summit-bagging hikers alikeThe Pride of Cumbria train carried me out of Piccadilly station and, eventually, beyond built-up Manchester. After Marple, everything turned green as the valleys narrowed. It was a classic northern autumn day: the clouds were low, the mizzle and mist were closing in and the world was grey-filtered but for the glow of dead leaves all around.South-east of Manchester is a bit of an unknown for me. Between the city and the Derbyshire borough of High Peak, you don’t quite enter national park territory, but it’s nonetheless a charming and eye-calming landscape. The Mancunian Kinder Scout trespassers of 1932 probably came this way, as do Pennine Way-farers bound for Edale. But the region is also post-industrial and close to conurbations. The Steel Cotton Rail Trail, which officially launched earlier this month after several years o...

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