Grand Designs team to make show set in wealthy English countryside that promises to be part glittering social whirl and part bloodbath
gowns and Agas: could Ladies of the Cotswolds be reality TV’s next big thing?Grand Designs team to make show set in wealthy English countryside that promises to be part glittering social whirl and part bloodbath
such as Gabriela Peacock (nutritionist entrepreneur married to hedge fund banker David Peacock
and pals with Joan Collins and Princess Beatrice)
Plum Sykes (author of last year’s Cotswolds-set novel Wives Like Us) is thought to be scripting the voiceover
Then there’s “Suzie Jet” (Suzannah Harvey)
How marvellously down to earth and relatable they all sound
Taylor Swift is thought to have stayed near Great Tew when she was performing on the UK leg of her Eras tour
Beyoncé and Jay-Z are said to be contemplating buying a property in the Cotswolds area
View image in fullscreenThe success of Rivals was further proof of the Brit obsession with the generationally wealthy
rolling hills and stately piles and more with toff influencers pushing lifestyle aspiration on social media
rather an uber-gentrified brand redolent of honey-hued cottages
it’s apparently difficult to secure housekeepers and grooms
there are problems with overtourism and locals being priced out of the area
multiple kitchens and stables with Range Rovers
The very best that rural England (stealth wealth division) has to offer
All of which makes it strange to hear that Ladies is inspired by The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and the extended Real Housewives global franchise
while The Real Housewives of London is mooted
Real Housewives content tends to have three main components: grooming
shellac nails and almost daily gown-fittings and it’s part glittering social whirl
How would this brand of “reality” land in the Cotswolds
where the properly wealthy don’t require the cash
and the famously private don’t need the exposure
An area where high-flying financiers don’t want their lives turned into reputational rubble
and landowners wouldn’t know a Molly-Mae Hague from an irrigation trench in the fallow field
there are reports of Cotswold establishments being disinclined to give Ladies permission to film on their premises
In terms of Cotswolds sensibilities and etiquette
would appearing on reality TV be considered a faux pas
that aristocrats have sometimes allowed cameras to film their estates and themselves
often to help finance the astronomical upkeep
View image in fullscreenIt is thought that Beyoncé and Jay-Z are looking for a property in the Cotswolds
Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/ReutersWouldn’t wealthy Cotswolds types consider appearing on reality TV naff
“They’d just see it as unnecessary,” Wesson says
adding that Debrett’s wouldn’t take a view
“We tend not to opine on this sort of thing.” Would such an area produce reality-style material
“There are plenty of people who want to be on TV and are prepared to sign up to what I think the professionals call heightened reality
Most people will know it isn’t real life – it’s just a curated version
I’m sure the people on it will look beautiful
That in itself is enough to draw people in.”
Playing into all this is the ever-shifting nature of reality TV itself
Its content (augmented; premeditated; soft-scripted) has long been disparaged as the enemy of creativity
Gary Oldman called it “the museum of social decay”
adding of the Kardashians: “My dog has more dignity than those fuckers.”
bar Made in Chelsea and the odd aristo-participant (Lady Colin Campbell; Lord Brocket) in I’m a Celebrity …
drama rather than reality is where our longstanding fascination (and scorn
and sometimes affection) for the rich and privileged has played out: historically (Brideshead Revisited) and more recently in Succession; The White Lotus; and Rivals
Are wealthy people less likely to play the reality TV game because
Is this going to be a problem for Ladies of the Cotswolds
there can be only so much enthralment watching wealthy sorts collecting honey from photogenic hives
there’s only so much aspirational swanking audiences can take
before they cry: “Where’s the dirt?” And they don’t mean scraping good honest Cotswold mud off Le Chameau wellies
does it matter so long as we all get to peek inside their Aga Rangemasters
This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025
The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media
4 ways to reduce cybersecurity risks with artificial intelligence and machine learning
Building Business Cases for Turbulent Times
said that the hardest variable they have to accommodate is shifting funding needs and changing leadership priorities
indicated that performance metrics are the most important element of an effective business case
but only 11% said that they’re easily accessible
reported that staff bandwidth is a top challenge for developing business cases
with half of CFOs requesting FY 2025 funding to hire and train skilled staff
Jennie brings more than 18 years of experience helping public agencies transform their grants and financial management functions in alignment with mission objectives
David has 11+ years in financial management services
Felice has 18+ years of experience developing process and data-driven solutions enabling justification and optimization of resource and funding needs to achieve mission priorities
Al-Hussaini graduated from Brown in 1995 with a degree in comparative literature
Last week, Prince Rahim al-Hussaini ’95 was named the spiritual leader of millions of Ismaili Muslims after his father
a title given to the 50th imam of the Nizari Ismaili branch of Shia Islam
Although the Ismaili Muslim community is estimated to include only 12 to 15 million people
the Aga Khan has traditionally held a prominent global position
largely due to the family’s wealth and international philanthropic influence
His father, Prince Karim al-Hussaini and the late Aga Khan IV, gave a commencement speech in 1996
where he spoke about improving both the relationship between the Islamic world and the West and the perception of Muslims in Western media.
The University also issued an honorary Doctor of Law degree to Aga Khan IV in 1996
The late Aga Khan IV returned to College Hill in 2014, delivering a Stephen A. Ogden Jr. ’60 Memorial Lecture on International Affairs. The series offers lectures from an array of world leaders on “pressing matters of global concern,” according to the program’s website
On Monday, the new Aga Khan V was formally granted the title of “His Highness” by King Charles III
in accordance with a tradition dating back to Aga Khan I.
According to the press release from the British Royal Family
“the designation of the title ‘His Highness’ to the Imam of the Ismailis by the British Monarchs is a reflection of the strong relationship which has existed over time between the families.”
The late Aga Khan IV also founded the Aga Khan Development Network
a global organization rooted in philanthropic pursuits
including the establishment of schools and food security programs.
Al-Hussaini has shown particular interest in the AKDN’s programs involved in environmental protection and combating climate change, and has attended global climate action summits in recent years.
He will serve as Aga Khan V for the remainder of his life.
Samah Hamid is a senior staff writer at the Herald
Massachusetts and plans to concentrate in Biology
Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker
The Annual General Adjustment (AGA) that caps rent increases is 3%
for units subject to the City of Pasadena’s rent control provisions under Article XVIII
Monday, Mar 10, 2025Firefighters put out the fire following a Russian rocket attack in Dobropillya, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Saturday. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)LONDON — Russian special forces walked inside a gas pipeline to strike Ukrainian units from the rear in the Kursk region
Ukraine’s military and Russian war bloggers reported
as Moscow claimed fresh gains in its push to recapture parts of the border province that Kyiv seized in a shock offensive
Ukraine launched a daring cross-border incursion into Kursk in August
marking the largest attack on Russian territory since World War II
Ukrainian units had captured 386 square miles of territory
including the strategic border town of Sudzha
and taken hundreds of Russian prisoners of war
According to Kyiv, the operation aimed to gain a bargaining chip in future peace talks and to force Russia to divert troops away from its grinding offensive in eastern Ukraine.
its soldiers in Kursk are weary and bloodied by relentless assaults of more than 50,000 troops
including some from Russian ally North Korea
Tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers are at risk of being encircled
According to Telegram posts late Saturday by a Ukrainian-born, pro-Kremlin blogger, Russian operatives walked about 9 miles inside the pipeline, which Moscow had until recently used to send gas to Europe. Some Russian troops spent several days in the pipe before striking Ukrainian units from the rear near Sudzha
The town had some 5,000 residents before the full-scale February 2022 invasion of Ukraine
and it houses major gas transfer and measuring stations along the pipeline
which was once a major outlet for Russian natural gas exports through Ukrainian territory
said fierce fighting was underway for Sudzha
and that Russian forces managed to enter the town through a gas pipeline
Russian Telegram channels showed photos of what they said were special forces operatives
wearing gas masks and moving along what looked like the inside of a large pipe
Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed Saturday evening that Russian “sabotage and assault groups” used the pipeline in a bid to gain a foothold outside Sudzha
it said Russian troops were “detected in a timely manner” and that Ukraine responded with rockets and artillery
The enemy’s losses in Sudzha are very high,” the General Staff reported
A third Russian war blogger argued that the attacking force lacked the logistical backup to succeed
evacuating the wounded … Two or three groups in the rear without all this — that’s a disaster,” the blogger
who describes himself as a soldier with the call sign Thirteenth
The Associated Press could not independently verify the accounts
The Russian Defense Ministry reported Sunday that its troops had taken four villages north and northwest of Sudzha
with the closest lying some 7.5 miles from the center of the town
The claim came a day after the ministry reported the capture of three more villages near Sudzha
Ukraine did not immediately comment on the Russian claims
In an interview with Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” Trump was asked about a warning from Polish President Andrzej Duda “that without American support, Ukraine will not survive” and whether he was “comfortable” with that outcome.
He replied, “Well, it may not survive anyway.” He added, “But we have some weaknesses with Russia. You know, it takes two.”
In other developments, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu said Sunday that France will use profits from frozen Russian assets to finance an additional $211 million in arms for Ukraine, the latest in a series of military aid deliveries funded through the assets.
In an interview with the La Tribune Dimanche newspaper, Lecornu said Paris will send new 155mm artillery shells and glide bombs for Mirage 2000 fighter jets it previously gave to Ukraine.
Elsewhere, Russian officials and Telegram channels reported that Ukrainian drones targeted oil infrastructure in southern and central Russia overnight into early Sunday. One drone struck an oil depot in Cheboksary, a Russian city on the Volga River about 620 miles from the border, the local governor reported. According to Oleg Nikolaev, nobody was hurt, but the depot needed reconstruction work.
Footage circulated on Russian Telegram channels of what appeared to be a fire at or near one of Russia’s largest oil refineries, in the southern city of Ryazan. Shot, a news channel on Telegram, cited local residents as saying they heard several nighttime blasts near the refinery. The local governor, Pavel Malkov, said Ukrainian drones had been shot down nearby. He claimed there had been no casualties or damage.
Ukraine did not immediately comment on either incident.
Concerns that Elon Musk could turn off Starlink satellite internet service to Ukraine prompted a sharp exchange Sunday on X involving Musk, the Polish foreign minister and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski wrote that if Musk’s rocket company SpaceX, which runs Starlink, “proves to be an unreliable provider,” Poland “will be forced to look for other suppliers.”
Musk told Sikorski: “Be quiet, small man. You pay a tiny fraction of the cost. And there is no substitute for Starlink.”
Rubio told Sikorski: “No one has made any threats about cutting Ukraine off from Starlink. And say thank you because without Starlink, Ukraine would have lost this war long ago and Russians would be on the border with Poland right now.”
In fact, Russians are already on the border with Poland because the Russian region of Kaliningrad lies on Poland’s northern border.
The back-and-forth between the three concluded with Sikorski thanking Rubio: “Thank you, Marco, for confirming that the brave soldiers of Ukraine can count on the vital internet service provided jointly by the U.S and Poland. Together, Europe and the United States can help Ukraine to achieve a just peace.”
Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Paris and Zeke Miller in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.
Facebook pageTwitter feedRSS feedDefense News © 2025
Ruti Aga and Dawit Wolde achieved an Ethiopian double at the C&D Xiamen Marathon
both athletes setting course records to win the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on Sunday (5)
Aga and Wolde were the fastest athletes in their respective fields and Aga won the women’s race in 2:18:46
claiming a dominant victory ahead of her compatriot Gutemi Shone Imana in 2:23:11
while Wolde secured the men’s title in 2:06:06 ahead of Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana
Aga lined up as the Chinese all-comers' record-holder thanks to the PB of 2:18:09 she set in Dongying in 2023
The 30-year-old now owns the two fastest women’s marathon performances ever achieved in China
as she was just 37 seconds off that mark in Xiamen
It was a return to winning ways for the 2019 Tokyo Marathon champion
who won the Daegu Marathon last April and then was runner-up in the Sydney Marathon in September
Her time of 2:18:46 improved the previous course record by more than a minute
That course record of 2:19:52 had been set by Aga’s compatriot Mare Dibaba in 2015
the year in which she became the world marathon champion in Beijing
Dibaba was also part of the field in Xiamen on Sunday and this time she ran 2:27:49 to finish fifth
Fikrte Wereta Admasu completed an Ethiopian sweep of the podium as she was third in 2:23:15
while Kenya’s Mercy Jerop Kwambai was fourth in 2:23:58
While Aga was joined only by pacemakers in the final stages of the women’s race
Wolde still had three athletes for company as the men’s race reached the 40km mark
But he managed to move away from his rivals to eventually claim a 12-second victory
Behind Wolde and Ramakongoana was Ethiopia’s defending champion Asefa Boki Kebebe
His compatriot Chalu Deso Gelmisa was fourth in 2:06:45
Ramakongoana’s performance took 1:40 off the national record he had set when finishing seventh at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Women1 Ruti Aga (ETH) 2:18:462 Gutemi Shone Imana (ETH) 2:23:113 Fikrte Wereta Admasu (ETH) 2:23:154 Mercy Jerop Kwambai (KEN) 2:23:585 Mare Dibaba (ETH) 2:27:49
Men1 Dawit Wolde (ETH) 2:06:062 Tebello Ramakongoana (LES) 2:06:183 Asefa Boki Kebebe (ETH) 2:06:324 Chalu Deso Gelmisa (ETH) 2:06:455 Ablelom Kesete Maryo (ERI) 2:07:05
Results
ShareThe Aga Khan Emerald: ‘We might see an emerald of this quality come up for sale once every five or six years
It’s one of the rarest treasures on Earth’This storied gem was part of a brooch commissioned from Cartier in 1960 by Prince Aga Khan for his bride
François Curiel witnessed its sale at Christie’s to Van Cleef & Arpels
and describes its reappearance at the auction house today
The Aga Khan Emerald. A Cartier emerald and diamond brooch, 1960
Sold for CHF 7,765,000 (US$8,859,865) on 12 November 2024 at Christie’s in Geneva
On 1 May 1969, Christie’s held its inaugural Magnificent Jewels sale at Le Richemond Hotel in Geneva. ‘Christie’s Geneva had opened its doors just six months before the sale,’ says Max Fawcett, head of Jewellery at Christie’s in Geneva
the Swiss banks were booming and few tariffs were applied to the sale of jewellery
making Switzerland a hotspot for luxury brands and jewellery sales
‘Christie’s looked at opening offices in Zurich and Basel
but Geneva made the most sense as a centre of luxury.’
The catalogue for the inaugural Magnificent Jewels sale held by Christie’s in Geneva on 1 May 1969
headlining the property of the late Nina Dyer
The sale cataloguing described the ‘magnificent emerald and diamond clip brooch
composed of a superb square-cut emerald in a border of twenty navette-cut diamonds forming a fancy lozenge-shaped cluster
Paris — approximate weight of emerald 37.41 carats
and approximate total weight of diamonds 12.04 carats’
‘I was 21 years old and fresh out of gemmological school,’ recalls François Curiel
who accompanied his father to both the dealer preview and the inaugural Magnificent Jewels evening auction
‘It was a very chic event: all the ladies were beautifully dressed
many of the clients in attendance had travelled to Geneva in the hope of acquiring one of the 45 jewels offered for sale from the collection of Nina Dyer
The inaugural Magnificent Jewels sale in Geneva
with then Christie’s Chairman Peter Chance at the rostrum
The auction achieved a total of CHF 12.7 million
with the emerald and diamond clip brooch selling to Van Cleef & Arpels for CHF 900,000
Photo: Pfändler / RDB / ullstein bild via Getty Images
and within a year Dyer had met Prince Aga Khan
the second son of Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III
the hereditary Imam of the Ismaili sect of Shi’ism
Prince Aga Khan and Nina Dyer photographed in Antibes on the French Riviera
before their marriage in August of that year
Photo: René Vital / Paris Match via Getty Images
Dyer and the prince married in 1957, and Dyer took the name Princess Nina Aga Khan. Over the course of their marriage, the prince lavished her with splendid gifts, including luxury sports cars and precious jewels by celebrated makers such as Cartier, Mappin & Webb and Harry Winston.
‘Nina Dyer’s jewellery collection epitomised elegance, refinement and good taste,’ recalls Curiel, adding that each piece offered for sale was of exceptionally high quality. ‘The atmosphere in the saleroom was electric. Bids came from all over the room, and some lots took more than five minutes to sell because of the great number of people bidding for them.’
Among the top lots offered was an emerald and diamond brooch commissioned by Prince Aga Khan from Cartier Paris in 1960. The centrepiece, a 37-carat square emerald, was bordered by 20 marquise-shaped diamonds with an approximate total weight of 12.04 carats.
The Aga Khan Emerald. A Cartier emerald and diamond brooch, 1960. Square-shaped emerald of 37.00 carats, marquise-shaped diamonds, platinum and 18k yellow gold. 4.9 cm high. Sold for CHF 7,765,000 (US$8,859,865) on 12 November 2024 at Christie’s in Geneva
the Cartier-designed brooch sold to Van Cleef & Arpels and was later acquired by Harry Winston
‘The fact that it has passed through the hands of three of the greatest jewellers in the world attests to its exceptional quality’
even green colour and high degree of transparency made it exceptionally rare
‘The fact that it’s set in an original piece by Cartier is the cherry on the top,’ says Fawcett
‘Emeralds have been treasured since antiquity,’ says Fawcett, adding that Cleopatra had her own mines in Egypt. ‘Since the colonial era, however, Muzo emeralds have been considered the most beautiful and valuable in the world, thanks to their intense green colour and high degree of transparency.’
One remarkable feature of the Aga Khan Emerald is its unusual shape: ‘It’s extremely thin and flat
but this one is a completely even green’
Although it is natural for emeralds to feature inclusions and surface-breaking fissures
this emerald is particularly clean and crisp
‘Surface fractures are often filled with oils and polymers to improve the clarity and sometimes the stability of an emerald,’ explains Fawcett
‘To find a stone of this size with no indications of clarity enhancement is extraordinary.’
Another remarkable feature is its unusual shape
and so it looks like a 50-carat stone,’ says Fawcett
but this one is a completely even green.’
In 1969, the Aga Khan brooch sold to Van Cleef & Arpels for CHF 900,000
which achieved a total of CHF 12.7 million
The brooch was later acquired by Harry Winston
‘The fact that it has passed through the hands of three of the greatest jewellers in the world attests to its exceptional quality,’ says the specialist
a weekly newsletter delivering our top stories and art market insights to your inbox
Fawcett expects the gem to attract great interest from private collectors around the world when it returns to Christie’s in Geneva
and this one ticks all the boxes,’ he says
The fact that it is fresh to market only increases its desirability
‘We might see an emerald of this quality come up for sale once every five or six years,’ he adds
‘It’s an exciting opportunity for jewellery collectors to acquire one of the rarest treasures on Earth.’
Featuring a curated selection of historical and modern jewellery from houses such as as Harry Winston, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction will take place at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva on 12 November 2024
own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article
and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment
Indiana University provides funding as a member of The Conversation US
View all partners
Prince Karim Aga Khan, who died on Feb. 4, 2025, served as the religious leader of Ismaili Muslims around the world since being appointed as the 49th hereditary imam in 1957
He came to be known around the world for his enormous work on global development issues and other philanthropic work
The Ismaili community considers the imam a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. Ismaili Muslims are considered to be a branch of Shiite Islam. They constitute the second-largest community within the Shiite sect
An estimated 15 million Ismaili Muslims live in 35 countries, across all parts of the world. In the U.S., with around 40,000 Ismailis, Texas has the largest concentration of the community
As a scholar of Muslim philanthropy
I have long been impressed by the philanthropic and civic engagement of the Ismailis
Following the death of the Prophet in A.D. 632, differences emerged over who should have both political and spiritual control over the Muslim community. A majority chose Abu Bakr, one of the Prophet’s closest companions, while a minority put their faith in his son-in-law and cousin, Ali. Those Muslims who put their faith in Abu Bakr came to be called Sunni, and those who believed in Ali came to be known as Shiite
Like other Shiite sects, Ismailis believe that Ali should have been selected as the successor of the Prophet Muhammad
They also believe that he should have been followed by Ali’s two sons – the grandsons of Muhammad through his daughter Fatima
The key difference among other Shiites and Ismailis lies in their lineage of imams. While they agree with the first six imams, Ismailis believe that Imam Ismail ibn Jafar was the rightful person to be the seventh imam
They both agree that Ali was the first imam and on the next five imams
who are direct descendant of Ali and Fatima
The Ismaili sect split into two branches in 1094. Aga Khan was the leader of the Nizari branch, which believes in a living imam or leader
The second branch – Musta'lian Tayyibi Ismailis – believes that its 21st imam went into “concealment”; in his physical absence
a vicegerent or “da'i mutlaq” acts as an authority on his behalf
Ismailis believe that God sent his revelation to the Prophet Muhammad through Archangel Gabriel
they differ on other interpretations of the faith
the Quran conveys allegorical messages from God
They also believe Muhammad to be the living embodiment of the Quran
Ismailis are strongly encouraged to pray three times a day
Ismailis believe that the esoteric meaning of fasting involves a fasting of the soul
whereby they attempt to purify the soul simply by avoiding sinful acts and doing good deeds
In terms of “Zakat,” or charity – the third pillar of Islam, which Muslims are required to follow – Ismailis differ in two ways. They give it to the leader of their faith, Aga Khan, and believe that they have to give 12.5% of their income versus 2.5%
Ismaili history has a strong connection to pluralism – part of their philosophy of embracing difference
The Fatimid Empire that ruled over parts of North Africa and the Middle East from 909 to 1171 is said to have been a “golden age of Ismaili thought.”
It was a pluralistic community, in which Shiite and Sunni Muslims, as well as Christian and Jewish communities, worked together for the success of the flourishing empire, under the rule of the Ismaili imams
In the modern period, Ismailis have sought to further pluralism within their own communities by arguing that pluralism goes beyond tolerance and requires people to actively engage across differences and actively embrace difference as a strength. For example, Eboo Patel, an Ismaili American, has established the nonprofit Interfaith America as a way to further pluralism among faith communities
Prince Karim Aga Khan established the Aga Khan Development Network and Aga Khan Foundation in 1967
The Aga Khan Medical University in Karachi
is considered to be a leading medical school globally
While previous imams or leaders also led charity and development projects
the Aga Khan was the first to create a formal
The Aga Khan Foundation operates in countries with Ismaili populations or historical connections to the Ismaili community
The foundation also has offices in Australia
focusing primarily on raising funds and advocating for the foundation
According to the foundation, in 2023 it served over 20 million people through 23,310 civil society partner organizations
Many Samoans share eerie and often terrifying experiences with aitu
Beliefs in different aitu are deeply rooted and seriously respected within Samoan culture
During the National Park Service (NPS) studies to establish the park
locals on Ofu warned the planners not to wander along To'aga beach after sundown or at high noon
as the area was believed to be inhabited by aitu
park researchers recently discovered a compelling excerpt from an official Public Health Department report detailing aitu encounters experienced by U.S
Navy pharmacist’s mates stationed at Ofu many years ago:
warning that To'aga was well-known as the meeting place of the aitu (evil spirits) of the entire Manu'a Group
a pharmacist’s mate on duty heard knocking at the door
he was confronted by the apparition of a headless man
his wife was terrorized by unseen forces who noisily tramped through the house and moved the furniture in broad daylight
They accepted a return ride that night in the longboat of a High Chief
The group embarked on the four-mile journey to To'aga
leaving the nurses behind to follow on foot the next day
including the very nurses they had just left behind on Ofu
While the truth of this story has been disputed
the dispensary was torn down and relocated to Ofu village
old women advise the island's Medical Practitioner not to pass by To'aga at high noon or after dark
the remnant foundations of the old To'aga dispensary still stand
serving as a visible reminder of this old aitu story and the enduring respect for Samoan spiritual beliefs
History of Naval Medical Activities in Samoa
Download the NPS app to navigate the parks on the go
Spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims and billionaire businessman who enjoyed a jet-setting lifestyle
yachts and racehorses are not the usual accoutrements of religious leaders
but they fitted the lifestyle of the Aga Khan
the spiritual leader of the world’s 12 million Ismaili Muslims
Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, claimed direct descent from the Prophet Muhammad through his daughter Hazrat Bibi Fatima and his son-in-law Hazrat Ali, the fourth rightly guided caliph of Islam
The Ismaili sect sees no contradiction between spiritual and material wellbeing
As the Aga Khan said: “It is not an Islamic belief that spiritual life should be totally excluded from our more material everyday activities.” Or
as he told Vanity Fair magazine: “We have no notion of the accumulation of wealth being evil
it’s how you use it … if God has given you the capacity or good fortune to be a privileged individual
you have a moral responsibility to society.” His personal wealth may have topped £13bn and he was probably richer than the British royal family
the Aga Khan was a familiar and revered figure to members of the sect scattered in minority communities not only in the Indian subcontinent and Africa
They donated tithes of their earnings to him
his foundation and development network and in return his organisation has provided hospitals
schools and scholarships to their communities
On a trip to Africa with him to visit the Ismaili community in Kenya in the early 1980s
Pick witnessed the reverence with which he was held: “I felt that between the Aga Khan and his followers there was an extra element
I noticed during the Kenya trip that any cup from which he drank and even the jeep he drove during a safari instantly became treasured museum pieces
On the fourth Aga Khan’s accession in 1957 Queen Elizabeth II formally granted him the style of His Highness
“in view of his succession to the imamate and his position as spiritual head of the Ismaili community
many members of which reside in Her Majesty’s territories”
He remained close to the British royal family and was appointed KBE in 2004
View image in fullscreenThe Aga Khan on his wedding day to Sally Croker Poole in Paris
Photograph: PAT/Gamma-Rapho/Getty ImagesProbably the most famous horse in the world at the time
Shergar had won both the English and Irish Derbies and five of the seven races he had run before being put to stud
but the Aga Khan refused to pay the £2m ransom demanded
subsequently also won both Derbies and a third
He was fascinated by the science of horse breeding but never betted
Prince Karim was born in Genthod, Switzerland
daughter of the British peer Lord Churston
an international playboy and son of the third Aga Khan
who was commissioned to write his biography
it was a lonely childhood for the boy and his younger brother
Deauville and Gstaad in the charge of an English nanny by parents whom they rarely saw
They spent the war in a dilapidated family house in Nairobi
Both of the boys were sent to an exclusive boarding school, Le Rosey in Switzerland, which at least provided some stability as their parents divorced in 1949: their father went on to marry the Hollywood film star Rita Hayworth and their mother the newspaper proprietor Viscount Camrose. Aly Khan was killed in a Paris car crash in 1960.
Read moreThe Aga Khan took all his responsibilities to his co-religionists seriously, as Pick observed during the Kenya trip: “Certainly for most of the days and also large chunks of the night
I watched a workaholic beavering away at his desk … there were meetings on hospital projects and other planned developments in Kenya
There were other meetings about the major hospital and medical centre being built in Karachi and on and on with still more projects.” Her planned biography was eventually vetoed
by conservative Ismaili leaders who believed the Aga Khan had opened himself up too much to an outsider
The range of the Aga Khan’s business interests
real estate and mines and top of the range hotels including the Costa Smeralda beach resort in Sardinia and the Serena hotel in Kabul
View image in fullscreenThe Aga Khan, the owner of Harzand, with Queen Elizabeth II at the Derby in 2016. Photograph: Colorsport/ShutterstockPhilanthropic initiatives funded through the Aga Khan Development Network included medical facilities in rural areas
a rural support programme to improve living conditions in the African bush and a hydro-electric power network in Uganda
“There is a remarkable degree of ignorance … I am talking about human society and civilisation
first in 1969 to the English model Sarah (Sally) Croker Poole
Rahim – who now succeeds as the 50th imam – and Husain
That marriage ended acrimoniously in 2004 with protracted divorce proceedings in British and French courts
spiritual leader and philanthropist,born 13 December 1936; died 4 February 2025
Prince becomes spiritual leader of millions of Ismaili Muslims after death of Karim al-Hussaini aged 88
View image in fullscreenThe Aga Khan IV in 2010
Photograph: Yoan Valat/EPABorn in October 1971
the new Aga Khan is the eldest son and the second of three children born to his father and Sarah Croker Poole
The couple divorced in 1995 and the Aga Khan IV later married Gabriele Thyssen
Prince Rahim grew up between Geneva and Paris
spent his winters in Saint-Moritz and summers in Sardinia
studied literature at Brown University in the US and business in Barcelona
and then joined the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)
the Aga Khan’s main philanthropic organisation
working in more than 30 countries with an annual budget of about $1bn for nonprofit development
the group of international development agencies employs 80,000 people and has helped to build schools and hospitals and provide electricity for millions of people in the poorest parts of Africa and Asia
Prince Rahim serves on the boards of several of the network’s agencies
reportedly following particularly the work of the Institute of Ismaili Studies and the Ismaili community’s social governance institutions
The headline of this article was amended on 6 February 2025
An earlier version stated that Prince Rahim al-Hussaini was the 50th Aga Khan
The To’aga site on the island of Ofu is one of the most important archeological sites in Samoa
offering a rich and continuous record of human occupation spanning nearly 3,000 years
This deeply stratified site provides invaluable insights into the ancient history of the Samoan people
and the impacts of early human activity on the island’s ecosystem
The site is particularly notable for its long sequence of ceramics
and its evidence of early landscape and biota modifications
The To’aga site covers an exceptionally long period of Samoan archeology
from about 3,200 to 1,900 years before the present
The site is especially rich in artifacts and environmental evidence from the early period of human settlement
making it a focal point for understanding the development of Samoan society and the ways in which early inhabitants interacted with their environment
Ceramic Findings: Archeologists have uncovered a long and continuous sequence of ceramics
These ceramics provide a timeline for understanding the progression of human culture and technological advances in pottery across millennia
the findings at To’aga show how early Samoan people used the island’s resources to create tools and everyday items
Landscape and Biota Changes: The early peoples of Ofu significantly altered the landscape and the local ecosystem
Archeologists discovered middens—refuse heaps that contain the remains of meals and other waste—that contained the bones of birds that no longer inhabit the island
These included species such as petrels and shearwaters
which were heavily exploited for food by the island’s early occupants
One of the key discoveries at the To’aga site was the evidence of bird species that were once plentiful on Ofu but have since been driven to extinction due to human activity
Among the species identified in the archeological layers were:
provide evidence of the impact of early human settlement on the island’s fragile ecosystem
particularly hunting and habitat modification
led to the depletion or extinction of these bird populations
Archeological evidence from To’aga mirrors findings across the Pacific
where early human settlers significantly affected local wildlife
especially vulnerable bird species like petrels and shearwaters
A comprehensive study of the To’aga site was published in The To’aga Site
funded by the Samoa Historic Preservation Office with support from the National Park Service
contributing significantly to the field of Pacific Island archeology
Though the To’aga site is no longer occupied today
its significance continues through the deeply held spiritual beliefs of the local Samoan community
the aitu—the spirits of ancestors—are said to inhabit the ancient grounds of To’aga
These spiritual connections reflect the Samoan belief in the presence of their ancestors
a tradition that underscores the enduring link between the past and the present
Honoring Ancestral Spirits: The belief in the presence of aitu at To’aga is part of a broader Samoan tradition that respects and honors the spiritual world
the spirits of their ancestors remain a vital part of their cultural and spiritual lives
influencing how they view and care for significant historical sites like To'aga
Cultural Continuity: These beliefs highlight the deep connection between the Samoan people and their ancestral lands
While archeologists study the physical evidence of past societies
oral traditions help preserve the spiritual significance of these ancient places
ensuring that the cultural heritage of Samoa remains alive and respected
The To’aga site is more than just a window into the ancient past—it serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between humans and their environment
The extinction of species like the shearwater and the megapode reveals the profound impacts early human settlers had on the ecosystems they inhabited
These lessons from the past are crucial for understanding the importance of conservation and sustainability today
the To’aga site continues to offer new insights into Samoa’s rich cultural heritage
Visitors to the National Park of American Samoa are encouraged to learn more about this unique site and the important role it plays in preserving Samoa’s history
Through his building programmes and the Aga Khan Award
the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims was an important champion of architecture
There is no other discipline in the world that touches all levels of society – from leaders to commoners – and has a more direct impact on the quality of life of every individual than architecture
few voices have been as consistent and compelling in championing the transformative power of architecture as His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV
His perspective on architecture transcended mere aesthetics
positioning it as a fundamental force in shaping human experience
preserving cultural identity and fostering societal progress
when he became the 49th Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims in 1957
one manifestation of his hereditary responsibilities was a deep engagement with development to enhance the quality of life not only for his 15 million followers but for society at large
And he identified architecture as an important means to that end
His engagement with architecture started with building schools and health facilities in the most remote places in Asia and Africa
as well as creating high-quality projects in the developing world
He saw the lack of dialogue and understanding between the various parties involved in projects
and tried to reach his development goals through promoting research
dialogue and identifying examples of excellence
championing the social and community side of architecture – today an increasingly integral part of the discipline
The 15 winners of the initial 1980 awards juxtaposed conservation
including the establishment of the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at MIT and Harvard – where Aga Khan IV had himself studied after early schooling in Switzerland
The award – now in its 16th triennial cycle – has continued to promote new realities of architecture from different parts of the world
Engagement in preserving neglected historic urban centres and in creating new urban spaces led to the formation of the Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme
which has implemented iconic projects in many cities including the Al-Azhar Park in Cairo
Going through the list of architects and others involved in the various programmes listed above
one notices that most of the leading architects of the late 20th and early 21st centuries have been involved in various capacities
and each contributed to the cause of making a better built environment
To take just a few examples, Fumihiko Maki designed three projects for him, including the Aga Khan Centre in King’s Cross
while Arata Isozaki designed universities in central Asia
Henning Larsen designed a headquarters for the Nation Media Group in Kenya – one of the numerous enterprises established by Aga Khan IV around the world (the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network alone have annual expenditures of around $1 billion)
Bruno Freschi and Charles Correa were responsible for Ismaili Centres in Canada
All testified that his vision led them to designing their projects in different ways to how they had worked with other clients. Another important project is to be completed later this year: the Ismaili Centre in Houston, USA, designed by Farshid Moussavi Architecture with engineer Hanif Kara of AKT II.
For Aga Khan IV the essence of architecture was deeply intertwined with the concept of pluralism. He believed in architecture as a powerful medium for intercultural exchange and understanding. ‘We shape our built environment – and then our buildings shape us,’ he was fond of saying, expressing the sentiment that architecture is not a passive backdrop but an active participant in the human story.
During his lifetime, Aga Khan IV offered a compelling blueprint for how architecture can address some of the most pressing challenges of our time, creating spaces that not only shelter but elevate the human spirit.
Farrokh Derakhshani is director of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and an International Fellow of the RIBA.
Sign up to receive regular briefings, updates and our weekly newsletter – all designed to bring you the best stories from RIBAJ.com
Sign up to receive regular briefings, updates and our weekly newsletter – all designed to bring you the best stories from RIBAJ.com
Prince Karim al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan and spiritual leader of the world’s Shia Ismaili Muslim sect, has died
Photograph: Intercontinentale/AFP/Getty Images
Photograph: Hank Walker/The Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Photograph: Matt Campbell/EPA/Shutterstock
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini, center, who was named Wednesday as the new Aga Khan, carries the coffin during the funeral of Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV, at the Ismaili Muslim community center in Lisbon, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)
Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini, who was named Wednesday as the new Aga Khan, carries the coffin during the funeral of Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV, at the Ismaili Muslim community center in Lisbon, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)
Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, arrives to attend the funeral of Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV, at the Ismaili Muslim community center in Lisbon, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)
Spain’s former King Juan Carlos arrives to attend the funeral of Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV, at the Ismaili Muslim community center in Lisbon, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)
Sheikh Thani Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar arrives to attend the funeral of Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV, at the Ismaili Muslim community center in Lisbon, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)
Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini, who was named Wednesday as the new Aga Khan, carries the coffin to a hearse during the funeral of Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV, at the Ismaili Muslim community center in Lisbon, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)
Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini, who was named Wednesday as the new Aga Khan, watches with his children the coffin being placed in a hearse during the funeral of Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV, at the Ismaili Muslim community center in Lisbon, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)
Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini, who was named Wednesday as the new Aga Khan, watches the coffin being placed in a hearse during the funeral of Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV, at the Ismaili Muslim community center in Lisbon, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)
The Ismaili religious community said Prince Karim will be laid to rest during a private burial ceremony in Aswan, Egypt, on Sunday.
The Aga Khan is considered by his followers to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and is treated as a head of state.
Prince Karim was given the title of “His Highness” by Queen Elizabeth in July 1957, two weeks after his grandfather, the Aga Khan III, unexpectedly made him heir to the family’s 1,300-year dynasty as leader of the Ismaili Muslim sect.
Over decades, the late Aga Khan evolved into a business magnate and a philanthropist, moving between the spiritual and the worldly with ease. A defender of Islamic culture and values, he was widely regarded as a builder of bridges between Muslim societies and the West.
The Aga Khan Development Network deals mainly with issues of health care, housing, education and rural economic development. It says it works in over 30 countries and has an annual budget of about $1 billion for nonprofit development activities.
Ismailis lived for many generations in Iran, Syria and South Asia before also settling in east Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East, as well as Europe, North America and Australia more recently. They consider it a duty to donate up to 12.5% of their income to the Aga Khan as steward.
This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data.
You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.
A burial service for Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary imam of the Shiite Ismaili Muslims, was held in the southern Egyptian province of Aswan on Sunday. After a procession through the streets, his body was carried down the Nile in a white boat. (AP video/Radwan Abu Al Majd )
People carry the coffin of Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV and 49th hereditary imam of the Shiite Ismaili Muslims, who died Tuesday in Portugal, to be buried at the Aga Khan mausoleum, in Aswan, Egypt, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Haytham Fahmy)
People surround the coffin of Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV and 49th hereditary imam of the Shiite Ismaili Muslims, who died Tuesday in Portugal, to be buried at the Aga Khan mausoleum, in Aswan, Egypt, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Haytham Fahmy)
Relatives of Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV and 49th hereditary imam of the Shiite Ismaili Muslims, who died Tuesday in Portugal, walk during a funeral ceremony at the Aga Khan mausoleum, in Aswan, Egypt, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Haytham Fahmy)
The governor of Aswan welcomed Prince Karim’s family at the southern Egyptian’s provinces airport on Saturday.
“When his will was opened, it was found that he had requested to be buried in Aswan near his grandfather, Sultan Muhammad Shah, and his grandmother, Om Habiba,” said Maj. Gen. Ismail Kamal.
Ismaili mourners marched as bells rang during the burial ceremony in the country’s southern Aswan province, as Prince Karim’s body was taken in a van. They carried his body, draped in a white shroud, and placed it on a yacht on the Nile River.
Prince Karim, 88, was given the title of “His Highness” by Queen Elizabeth in July 1957, two weeks after his grandfather, the Aga Khan III, unexpectedly made him heir to the family’s 1,300-year dynasty as leader of the Ismaili Muslim sect.
The late Aga Khan evolved over decades into a business magnate and a philanthropist, moving between the spiritual and the worldly with ease. He was a defender of Islamic culture and values, but also widely regarded as a builder of bridges between Muslim societies and the West.
Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account
Like their partners in the Canadian news industry
the country’s media agencies are undergoing unprecedented transformation
The National Post is holding conversations with leaders of Canada’s largest agencies on the fast-changing fundamentals
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience
I think the fundamentals are still very true around – our job is to focus on consumers
with the amount of fragmentation that has happened and the change from a landscape standpoint
we have to continue evolving how we find consumers
and that goes from planning all the way through to buying
Because certainly there are many more platforms we need to consider
and we need to ensure that we’re still reaching our audience and our target with respect to each of our client’s business
I think the other side is the identification of the diversity of the Canadian population
that has certainly changed over my time here and it continues to evolve within our country and ensuring again
and make sure that we’re making those right choices for our clients and our brands
Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc
The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox
Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.
It’s 100% our requirement – and I talk about this all the time from an individual perspective as well – it is our responsibility to stay on top of all these changes
particularly with our brands that are open to taking risks and open to shifting their dollars
Test and learn has never been more important
but I always love the 70/20/10 rule of making sure that we’re always taking that 10% of our budget and testing new channels in order to move it into the 20 area and then the 70 and scale it up for ourselves
but certainly sometimes they do … We need to continue to be relevant to our consumers
And we need to look at where generations are investing their time and investing their energy
and how they’re responding to brands and ads being served to them
New business for us starts internally with respect to evaluating an opportunity
is it the right fit for both our agency as well as the client
Will we be able to deliver value to that client
Is it the right scale for both of us to deliver value
is this brand the right fit for our agency culturally
have to look at whether it’s an open category for us
an area of the business that we want to be a part of and do we have a competitor in that space or is that something that’s open to us
what I’m seeing is there’s been a lot of discussion as of late around doing more with less
And we’re facing really difficult economic times
We’ve always had a pressure to do more with less
but it’s almost never been more real or it’s even a bigger pressure today
And having to prove and justify our media investments are delivering results to a business is critically important
We’ve certainly had a big swing to performance marketing and making sure we are maximizing every single dollar of what it can return to a client’s business
But many more clients and many more marketers are also thinking about the upper funnel and making sure we’re bringing enough new customers into our brand
I think they’re really facing questions around will our brand exist five to 10 years from now
all clients are also thinking about brand safety
we often say just because we can doesn’t mean we should use a particular data
I think having those conversations with the client
making sure you’re workshopping all those elements before jumping in and continuing to evaluate each of those areas
whether biannually or on an annual basis to make sure it’s still laddering up to a brand’s ethos is important
Justifying the investments has to ladder back to media principles and strong media planning
And even though there might be something that’s new or on the horizon
is this the right time necessarily to get involved
You really need to stay sharp on… breaking through in the channels you are using in the platforms that you’re in versus spraying wide necessarily
It goes back to strong media planning and strong media fundamentals and believing in your principles
So as much as sometimes there’s a shiny bobble – and we love shiny bobbles – when you’re going through this kind of time
we really need to make sure that we are doing the best
most effective and most efficient planning and execution activation
I think what’s really exciting for the industry is commerce
Retail commerce is playing a far larger role in our business today than obviously it ever has
I think the opportunity for increasing commerce interactions with consumers directly through channels
taking that to the next step where we can make a transaction for consumers seamless through that channel is very exciting
And how commerce will continue to be infused in all channels
transmission or republication strictly prohibited
This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
You can manage saved articles in your account
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement
Gas ranges come with a handful of advantages
Fortunately, the problem is usually something you can resolve yourself. Learn about the common reasons why your gas stove won't ignite and how to fix it.
Problem: It's clogged with food debris Whether it's grease buildup or food crumbs, one of the most common causes for a gas burner that has trouble igniting is debris blocking gas flow to the igniter.
The fix: Begin by removing the grate covering the troubled burner
The sealed burner base will either lift off or you may need to remove a couple screws before removing it
Soak the sealed burner base in vinegar or warm water and use a stiff brush to remove any debris
clean any remaining debris out of the burner holes with a toothpick
cover the grill and try igniting the burner once more
there could be a kink in the gas supply line or a larger issue
and you may want to consult a professional
While there aren't a ton of moving parts on a stovetop
it is possible for connections to come loose
particularly during cleaning or installation
If the wires which connect the igniter to the control module aren't making a solid connection
you won't get the spark needed to properly ignite the burner
kill power to the appliance by unplugging it from the wall or flipping the breaker switch
Remove the grate and burner cap from the problematic burner
Remove the sealed burner base and look for loose connections or disconnected wires
Secure any loose connections and reconnect any disconnected wires
Restore power to the stove and test the connection
If you have removed debris from the burner base and secured any loose connections
A quick way to tell if the igniter needs to be replaced is by switching the lights in the room off and turning the control knob to the ignite position
If the igniter sparks yellow or orange instead of a bright bluish-white
you will likely need to replace the igniter
The fix: Cut the gas and power to the stove
remove the burner cap and use a screwdriver or hex driver to disconnect the burner base
Disconnect the wires coming from the igniter
igniters use a quick disconnect system so you won't need to cut or splice wires
Use the model number of your stove to determine which replacement igniter you should purchase
Restore gas and power to the stove and test the burner
If none of these quick fixes remedy a stubborn burner
you may need to replace the igniter switch
igniter control module or contact a professional for a more in-depth diagnosis
There might be an issue with the ignition system
start by carefully checking if the igniter is sparking
clean and dry the burner thoroughly and make sure the cap is properly aligned
You can expect your gas stove to last about 10-15 years
The easiest Derby winner ever was his greatest triumph but the horse’s fate at the hands of the IRA haunted him
Shergar was the most emphatic Derby winner in the Classic’s 201‑year history when he romped to a 10-length success under Walter Swinburn at Epsom in June 1981, but it was his subsequent kidnapping from the Aga Khan’s Ballymany Stud in County Kildare by an armed gang in February 1983, barely a year after his retirement from the track, that projected Shergar on to the front pages of newspapers around the globe.
Read moreThe gang, believed to have been members of the Provisional IRA, held the family of James Fitzgerald, Shergar’s stud groom, at gunpoint while Fitzgerald was ordered to lead the stallion into a horsebox. Fitzgerald was then forced into another car and driven around the local area before being left at the roadside having been supplied with a codeword that the kidnappers intended to use in negotiations.
The days that followed were the opening chapters of a mystery that remains unresolved more than 40 years later. A police investigation of the kidnapping descended swiftly into the realms of farce, including an attempt to use a clairvoyant to divine Shergar’s whereabouts.
Negotiations also began between the kidnappers and the stallion’s group of owners – the Aga Khan, by this point, had only a minority stake as Shergar had been syndicated into 40 shares – but broke off after four days when the owners did not accept an attempt by the kidnappers to prove that Shergar was still alive.
Shergar was never seen again and his final resting place remains unknown. In the aftermath of the Troubles, a number of second-hand accounts by former IRA members emerged, which seemed to outline a plot that was ill-conceived from the start.
In particular, the gang members sent to steal the five‑year‑old had no experience with handling a highly strung, full‑grown thoroughbred stallion, and one account suggests Shergar was shot only a few hours after his abduction after he became panicked and out of control, before being buried in remote mountains near the border with Northern Ireland.
Read moreThe loss of one of the greatest Derby winners from the Aga Khan’s breeding operation after siring only 35 foals was a significant setback for an owner-breeder who inherited an extensive bloodstock operation from his father in 1960
But his lifelong passion for breeding and racing thoroughbreds ensured that many more outstanding champions raced in his colours
The Aga Khan owned five Derby winners in all – Shahrastani (1986), Kahyasi (1988), Sinndar (2000) and Harzand (2016) were the others – and four winners of the Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe, including the brilliant, unbeaten filly Zarkava in 2008
View image in fullscreenChristophe Soumillon and Zarkava after their triumph in the 2008 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Photograph: Lucas Dolega/EPAThere were other moments of controversy too
not least after the victory of Aliysa in the Oaks in 1989
the Aga Khan’s first in the Epsom fillies’ Classic
The three-year-old was an easy and impressive three-length winner
announced that Aliysa’s post-race urine test had been positive for camphor
The rules of racing were clear that Aliysa had to be disqualified
and while her owner mounted a sustained legal challenge to the Jockey Club’s testing procedures
the decision to award the race to Snow Bride
The Aga Khan immediately removed all 90 of his horses in training in Britain
most of which were stabled with Michael Stoute and Luca Cumani in Newmarket
and his colours were absent from British racecourses for several years
he turned his focus to expanding his racing and breeding operations in France
where Dermot Weld – the trainer of Harzand – and John Oxx had significant strings of horses in his colours
The late Aga Khan built on the legacy of both his father – who owned the brilliant racemare
who also owned five Derby winners between 1930 and 1952
for many years the holder of the record time for a Derby winner
is also an enthusiastic owner and breeder whose winners to date include Mandesha
Her colours – green with brown epaulettes – blend her father’s silks with those of his predecessors as Aga Khan – green and chocolate hoops – and seem likely to extend the family’s bloodstock operation into a fourth generation
takes part in a 2004 honorary degree ceremony inside U of T’s Convocation Hall with Governing Council Chair Thomas H
Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, known around the world as His Highness the Aga Khan, is being remembered as a man of vision, faith and incredible generosity – and for an extraordinary life of service, the Globe and Mail reported
The 49th hereditary spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, the Aga Khan is celebrated for his international development efforts via the Aga Khan Development Network, which employs 80,000 people through international agencies to build schools and hospitals in Africa and Asia, according to the CBC.
In 2004, the Aga Khan addressed graduating students in the University of Toronto’s Convocation Hall after receiving an honorary degree “for his contributions to community service, higher education and philanthropy” from then-U of T Chancellor Vivienne Poy
He was introduced to the graduating class by then-U of T President Robert J
“A quality civil society is independent of government, pluralist and led by merit-based, educated leadership,” the Aga Khan told graduating students
“I am sure you will wish to seize the opportunities for sharing your knowledge with future generations in Canada.”
In 2013, Trinity College awarded the Aga Khan an honorary degree for his service to humanity
including global efforts to “improve the health
education and living conditions of the poorest people of the world by empowering them to achieve self-reliance.”
“His encouragement of pluralism and dialogue among all races and religions
and the global institutional framework he has established in many troubled areas of the world to further these goals and provide education and health services through the Aga Khan Development Network
is an inspiration to us all,” said the late Bill Graham
Under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, the CBC reported
Canada took in thousands of Ismaili refugees who were abruptly expelled from Uganda in 1972
leaving a lasting legacy for the Ismaili diaspora here in Canada
including The Aga Khan Museum in Toronto.
“Countless Canadians have benefited from His Highness's contributions to our country and have participated in his endeavours to improve the lives of the less fortunate around the world,” Shafique Virani
an associate professor of historical studies at U of T Mississauga, told the CBC
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year
the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States
Today's profile is Rosalee Agas-Yuu of OPEIU
Rosalee Agas-Yuu is a transport nurse at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children
flying from Honolulu to the other Hawaiian islands to transport critically ill children and babies
she is a strong union leader and longtime chief steward at her facility
she plays an integral role in the administration of the local
Internationally renowned structural engineer and Harvard Professor Hanif Kara OBE
in collaboration with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture
is delighted to announce a distinguished public lecture
launching a series of collaborations between the two institutions
to be delivered by internationally renowned structural engineer and Harvard Professor Hanif Kara OBE
at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) at 6.30pm
a celebrated leader in the fields of structural engineering and design practice
will explore the critical intersections between architecture
offering profound insights into how collaboration and innovation are reshaping contemporary approaches to the built environment
Through a combination of real-world case studies and academic reflections
Professor Kara will illustrate the evolving partnership between architects and engineers
and the transformative potential of interdisciplinary design thinking
Professor Kara’s portfolio includes contributions to some of the most iconic architectural projects globally
recognised for its pioneering approach to material intelligence
has influenced both professional practice and architectural education worldwide
he will reflect on the lessons learned from practice
and share his vision for the future of design excellence
The event forms part of Qatar Museums’ broader mission to develop cultural dialogue
and promote intellectual engagement across disciplines
continues to provide a platform for thought leaders and creatives
Tuesday
World Subscribers only Israel prepares large-scale Gaza offensive to achieve lasting occupation
World Subscribers only Romania enters government crisis amid election
World Subscribers only In Zurich
the leaf blower war or the anti-'woke' backlash
World Subscribers only Germany's Friedrich Merz is embracing pragmatism
World Subscribers only Founder of Sant'Egidio community fears next pope could undo Francis's legacy
Opinion Subscribers only 'Russian gas and Europe is an old story that ended badly
Economy Subscribers only Europe's steel industry flattened by crisis
World Subscribers only How European countries plan to fund defense efforts
France Subscribers only Macron announces citizens' convention on school schedules
France Subscribers only 21 charged over French prison attacks as investigation narrows in on drug traffickers
France Subscribers only French mosque stabber was driven by 'morbid fascination,' prosecutor says
France Subscribers only At the trial of Kim Kardashian's robbers
Videos World expos: From Paris 1855 to Osaka 2025
Videos How the Trump administration is attacking scientific research in the US
Videos Tesla cars set on fire in Las Vegas as calls to boycott Musk's company grow worldwide
Videos Can France's nuclear deterrent protect Europe
Opinion Subscribers only 'The American dream is dying'
Editorial European call to aid foreign researchers is too modest
Opinion Subscribers only John Bolton: 'The term chaos is commonly used to describe the top of the Defense Department'
Magazine Subscribers only Tracking down the pianos taken from French Jews during the Nazi Occupation
Magazine Subscribers only Eve Rodsky
the American helping couples balance the mental load
Magazine Subscribers only Desecration or more glory
Joan Didion's private diaries are revealed
Magazine Subscribers only For Jewish cartoonist Joann Sfar
2025."> Pixels Subscribers only Golden Owl solution is revealed
but leaves players of 31-year hunt disappointed
Pixels Subscribers only Secrets of decades-long Golden Owl treasure hunt to be revealed
Lifestyle Inside Chanel's French leather workshops
Culture Subscribers only The marvelous bronzes of Angkor on display at the Musée Guimet in Paris
he was also the imam of the Nizari Ismaili faith
an esoteric branch of Shia Islam that changed the history of the Middle East
By Gaétan Supertino
He had the ear of almost all of the world's leaders – and also regularly made the front pages of celebrity magazines – and was
despite the prominent role it played in the Middle East's history
has always been the source of many legends and fantasies and remains largely unknown
Here are five keys to better understanding the religious tradition
temporal and spiritual power is vested in the imams
or those who lead their followers from "in front," who are appointed from among the descendants of Fatima
broke away from the other branches of Shia Islam around the year 765
You have 88.99% of this article left to read
Lecture du Monde en cours sur un autre appareil
Vous pouvez lire Le Monde sur un seul appareil à la fois
Ce message s’affichera sur l’autre appareil
Parce qu’une autre personne (ou vous) est en train de lire Le Monde avec ce compte sur un autre appareil
Vous ne pouvez lire Le Monde que sur un seul appareil à la fois (ordinateur
En cliquant sur « Continuer à lire ici » et en vous assurant que vous êtes la seule personne à consulter Le Monde avec ce compte
Que se passera-t-il si vous continuez à lire ici
Ce dernier restera connecté avec ce compte
Vous pouvez vous connecter avec votre compte sur autant d’appareils que vous le souhaitez
mais en les utilisant à des moments différents
Nous vous conseillons de modifier votre mot de passe
Votre abonnement n’autorise pas la lecture de cet article
merci de contacter notre service commercial