Latest news with #restoration
BBC News
7 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Vintage train carriage lifted from couple's garden in Somerset
A rare, vintage train carriage which a couple had used as makeshift shed has been lifted out of their garden to be donated to a railway Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust will restore the carriage, which a couple found in their new home's garden. It was lifted from their property by a 100-tonne-crane on Cripps and George Pike from Cannington in Somerset decided to donate the carriage to get it "back to where it deserves to be"."It's really unusual. A lovely little surprise when we viewed the house," Ms Cripps said. The couple moved into the home two years ago and had used the carriage "as a shed" until they decided to donate it in March this year."We just knew we couldn't take care of it properly," Mr Pike Marshman, director of the trust, came to pick up the carriage and said it was "like Christmas"."How often do you get a railway carriage at the back of a garden? We snapped it up," he added. According to Mr Marshman, the carriage had likely been retired in 1930, after being built in 1880. It is one of only five of its kind in will be restored at Shillingstone in Dorset, which used to be part of the Somerset line."It had a good life before it was retired," Mr Marshman added."The idea is to get a whole train fully restored with passengers. It would be a dream come true."
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
The White House Rose Garden Lawn Is Officially Gone: See the Latest Pics of Donald and Melania's Concrete Redesign
The president and first lady have pioneered a "restoration" project in the historic White House Rose Garden that includes paving over a Kennedy-era green space The White House Rose Garden is almost unrecognizable as President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump continue their summer renovations. A new photo taken on Tuesday, July 22, showed the large concrete slab that now rests where grass once covered the historic space, which was given a central lawn in 1961 at the request of President John F. Kennedy. In a March interview with Fox News' Laura Ingraham, Trump explained the decision to put down concrete and design something more similar to a presidential patio. 'You know, we use [the Rose Garden] for press conferences, and it doesn't work because the people fall,' he said. "The terrain can be wet, and the soft ground can be an issue for some... Women, with the high heels, it just didn't work.' When the renovations began in early June, a White House official described the new construction as a "restoration" and told PEOPLE that Donald and Melania "have deep respect for the history of the White House and for the Rose Garden." "This restoration to the Rose Garden preserves the beauty of the space and builds on the work done in 2020," the official said, "with a focus on enhancing practical use and guest experience for those attending special events.' Melania faced significant backlash when she initially changed up the Rose Garden in 2020. The first lady even made a rare public statement after NBC News presidential historian Michael Beschloss described her botanical vision as 'grim.' "Evisceration of White House Rose Garden was completed a year ago this month, and here was the grim result — decades of American history made to disappear," Beschloss said in 2021, referencing the limestone border Melania laid down in the outdoor space, which often hosts speeches and receptions for visiting dignitaries, sports teams and more. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Melania's office fired back at Beschloss on X, sharing a different photo that showed the garden in full bloom. ".@BeschlossDC has proven his ignorance by showing a picture of the Rose Garden in its infancy. The Rose Garden is graced with a healthy & colorful blossoming of roses," her office wrote at the time. "His misleading information is dishonorable & he should never be trusted as a professional historian." While many disliked the severe look of Melania's limestone border, the 2020 project did aim to improve drainage and sunlight to the Rose Garden, whose namesake flowers had failed to thrive over the years. Only 12 original rose bushes remained when Melania oversaw the addition of 200 new ones. The updates — which are being completed by the National Park Service and funded by the Trust for the National Mall — are expected to be finished by mid-August 2025. The new construction comes amid recent viral attention to Trump's other changes to the White House, including the gilding of the Oval Office. An April report in The Wall Street Journal revealed that the president had enlisted his "gold guy," cabinetmaker John Icart, to create golden borders for his political portraits, gilded carvings for the fireplace mantel, a gold Trump crest in a doorway. Icart has previously worked on projects at Mar-a-Lago, and the flashy style echoes Trump's infamous Trump Tower apartment as well. The updates are a stark contrast to the simple designs favored by past presidents like Joe Biden and Barack Obama. Read the original article on People
CTV News
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Construction work for Saint John theatre slated to begin this fall
The Saint John Theatre Company has unveiled its design plans for the former Sydney Street courthouse on King's Square. The long-awaited construction work to restore an historic Saint John, N.B., courthouse ahead of its transformation into a theatre space is set to start this fall. The Saint John Theatre Company says the restoration work at the Sydney Street Courthouse will begin with an official groundbreaking ceremony in the fall. The structure, which was built in the 1820s, will be the future home of the Courthouse Stage and the Atlantic Repertory Company. 'This essential phase of development will focus on masonry and site preparations, with a particular emphasis on securing the exterior envelope of the building,' a release from the Theatre Company reads. 'Work will target the eastern-facing rear exterior wall, which has been significantly compromised over time due to deferred maintenance and decades of water infiltration, followed by freeze/thaw cycles.' The Theatre Company originally announced its plans to turn the courthouse into a theatrical space in 2019 and it took over ownership of the space in 2020. The construction work will change the building into a multi-purpose performance and event venue. 'The new venue will not only retain local talent but also attract artists from across Canada and beyond, cementing Saint John's place as a hub for creativity and culture,' the release reads. 'Alongside the existing BMO Studio Theatre, this additional space will allow ARC and SJTC productions to run simultaneously, doubling the artistic offerings for the community and solidifying Saint John's reputation as a destination for high-quality theatre.' For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
The Independent
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
The US decision to leave UNESCO again puts a spotlight on what the agency does and why it matters
With the support of international partners and the mobilization of $115 million, the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO recently helped rebuild the Iraqi city of Mosul after it was devastated by the Islamic State group. The restoration of the historic city's iconic Al-Nouri Mosque and Al-Hadba Minaret was just one of many programs run by the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which is in the spotlight because the United States is leaving it once again. The decision to pull U.S. funding and participation from UNESCO will deal a blow to its work preserving cultural heritage around the world. President Donald Trump exited the agency during his first term, accusing it of promoting anti-Israel speech. The Biden administration had rejoined UNESCO in 2023 after citing concerns that China was filling the gap left by the U.S. in UNESCO policymaking. Beyond the diplomatic disputes, here's a look at the work that UNESCO does: World Heritage Sites UNESCO names World Heritage sites, including landmarks like the Great Wall of China, the Egyptian pyramids, the Taj Mahal and the Statue of Liberty, and gives them special protection under its World Heritage Sites program. Its World Heritage Committee each year designates sites considered 'of outstanding value to humanity' and intervenes when sites are in danger of destruction or damage. The program provides countries with technical assistance and professional training to preserve the sites. It now also includes 'intangible' heritage such as folk songs and traditional dances, crafts and cooking in its lists. A World Heritage site designation is coveted and seen as a boost to tourism. Holocaust Education Like the rest of the U.N., UNESCO was created in response to the horrors of World War II, and particularly Nazi crimes. Amid concerns that the agency's Arab members have used UNESCO to pass anti-Israel resolutions, UNESCO has worked in recent years on Holocaust awareness projects. That includes educational materials and organizing visits to former Nazi concentration camps. Empowering Girls UNESCO works to improve literacy, with a special focus on girls in countries hit by war or disasters who get little or no schooling though programs such as the Malala Fund for Girls' Right to Education. In Tanzania, for instance, over 2,500 girls benefited from the creation of safe spaces in 40 secondary schools, The agency provides teacher training and materials and encourages programs for girls to pursue careers in science. Climate Change One of the agency's goals is coordinating climate knowledge and improving international education about how global warming occurs and affects people around the world. Over 30 UNESCO programs are designed to help its members adapt to climate change and favor sustainable development. Ethics of Artificial Intelligence UNESCO adopted in 2021 what it calls 'the first and only global standard-setting instrument on the ethics of artificial intelligence.' Applying to all 194 member states, the recommendation emphasizes the protection of human rights and dignity, grounded in principles like transparency, fairness, and human oversight of AI systems. Operating without the U.S. UNESCO director general Audrey Azoulay said the U.S. decision to leave was expected and that the agency has prepared for it. While the U.S. had previously provided a notable share of the agency's budget, UNESCO has diversified its funding sources. 'Thanks to the efforts made by the organization since 2018, the decreasing trend in the financial contribution of the US has been offset, so that it now represents 8% of the organization's total budget compared with 40% for some United Nations entities,' Azoulay said. She added that the agency's overall budget has increased and that it has the steady support of "a large number of member states and private contributors.'
Washington Post
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
The US decision to leave UNESCO again puts a spotlight on what the agency does and why it matters
PARIS — With the support of international partners and the mobilization of $115 million, the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO recently helped rebuild the Iraqi city of Mosul after it was devastated by the Islamic State group. The restoration of the historic city's iconic Al-Nouri Mosque and Al-Hadba Minaret was just one of many programs run by the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which is in the spotlight because the United States is leaving it once again.
