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‘Everyone has the same dream’: Mount Fuji grapples with rise in tourism

Millions visit Japan’s highest peak each year, creating pollution and putting pressure on medical centre The hum of anticipation, like the gathering clouds, hangs over the fifth stage of Mount Fuji, the preferred starting point for climbers to begin their ascent of Japan’s highest and best-known mountain. They fuel up on noodles and curry, complete with a conical-shaped portion of rice, while those coming in the opposite direction buy mementoes of their time on the sacred peak – everything from branded whisky to Fuji-shaped cakes. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/YV8mOBG

Boomerang adults: the young New Zealanders moving back in with their parents

Working adults living in the family home sign of acute housing pressures with parties split on how to ease crisis ahead of election Freya Adams managed as a solo mum of twin six-year-old girls for almost three years after separating from her partner. Then, mortgage repayments on her two-bedroom apartment were set to double. Food and petrol prices continued to soar. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/bVZ5DGH

Mohamed Al Fayed, former Harrods and Fulham FC owner, dies aged 94

Egyptian businessman and self-made billionaire dies almost 26 years to the day after his son was killed in Paris car crash Mohamed Al Fayed, the Egyptian-born businessman who owned the department store Harrods, has died aged 94. His death comes almost 26 years to the day after the car crash in Paris that killed his eldest son, Dodi, and Diana, Princess of Wales, on 31 August 1997. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/T5PDtkb

Ex-Tory MP apologises for ancestors’ links to slavery

Antoinette Sandbach ‘struggling with difficult history’ after initially threatening to sue University of Cambridge over academic’s research A former Conservative MP has apologised “for the acts of my ancestors” after an academic named her as a descendant of a merchant with links to the slave trade. On Thursday, Antoinette Sandbach had threatened to sue the University of Cambridge over an online TED Talk given by Malik Al Nasir. On Friday she said she had raised the matter with the university over concerns for her personal safety, but that she did not object to being linked to a history “that is absolutely there”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/9jVDaHS

‘Strong highlighter energy’: why tennis stars are dazzling on court

From Jelena Osropenko’s neon yellow ensemble to Grigor Dimitrov’s radioactive shirt, the athletes are putting on a colourful show at the US Open “She’s come dressed as a giant tennis ball” was one fan’s verdict on Jelena Ostapenko’s neon yellow ensemble as the Latvian number one took to the court at Flushing Meadows. “It’s giving strong highlighter energy” was another illustrative comment on social media. But Ostapenko has not been the only luminous presence at this year’s US Open, with neon yellows and fluorescent limes dominating. In her drama-filled opening match, home favourite Coco Gauff was resplendent in her own neon yellow-green two piece, custom-made by New Balance. The Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk was a blinding vision in her dress (and matching hi-vis shoes) by Wilson, the Chicago-based sports equipment and apparel brand she signed a head-to-toe deal with earlier this year. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/J9CZbSR

Common wealth: how Birdsville adapted an age-old English custom for the outback

Home to goat herds, dirt bike races and thousands of tourists, this tiny town’s big shared space reimagines an ancient concept Get our morning and afternoon news emails , free app or daily news podcast A sun-scorched sign at the entrance to Birdsville informs visitors the town’s population is 115 – plus or minus 7,000 people. The hordes of visitors who will flock to the far-flung town this week for its iconic horse races accounts for the numerical equivocation. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/gKZLoRk