• Three Hours for Makeup and Household Chores: Japanese Prime Minister’s Admission Sparks Public Debate

  Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has said her daily schedule is significantly more demanding than those of her male predecessors. In addition to her official duties, she spends several hours a day on makeup, bathing, cooking and other household tasks. Her remarks have sparked a heated debate about gender stereotypes and the expectations placed on Japanese women, The New York Times reports...

• “Grandparents Now Need Permission to Hug”: Controversial Ad Pulled After Backlash

  A controversy has erupted in Ireland over a public awareness campaign urging grandparents to ask their grandchildren for permission before hugging them. The video, created by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and funded by the Department of Justice, sparked accusations of absurd political correctness, disrespect toward older people and the misuse of public funds. The justice minister eventually demanded that the video be taken down...

• The Pharaohs Forgot to Sign the Paperwork: Scottish Museum Removes Mummies Over Lack of Consent

  A scandal worthy of a museum exhibit of its own has erupted in Scotland: ancient Egyptian remains have been removed from a Glasgow museum because people who died thousands of years ago never gave permission for their bodies to be displayed in public. Visitors are now greeted by explanatory signs instead of mummies — apparently the safest exhibit in an era when even pharaohs have suddenly been found to have personal-boundary issues...

• Hermès Steps Up Boutique Security After Riots in France

  French luxury house Hermès has tightened security at its stores following widespread protests in France, during which one of the brand’s boutiques in Marseille was looted. The company is also facing a new challenge: demand for its products is slowing, and sales of clothing and accessories have declined for the first time in several years, Reuters reports...

• Outrage Over Inaccessible Luxury: Why Dior and Hermès Boutiques Were Looted in France

  Riots in France have led to the looting of boutiques belonging to Dior, Celine, Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Saint Laurent. Images of ransacked stores have become some of the most widely discussed scenes from the protests sweeping the country. But, as The New York Times fashion critic Vanessa Friedman observes, the attacks on luxury brands may reflect not only street violence but also growing resentment over social inequality...

• Luxury Yachts, Secret Palaces and Private Hunting Grounds: How the World’s Most Brutal Dictators Spent Their Holidays

  While millions of North Koreans struggle with hardship, Kim Jong Un appears to spend his summers very differently — aboard a luxury yacht equipped with swimming pools and water slides, the Daily Mail reports...

• Kylie Jenner’s $50 Million Fantasy Bra Set for Private Sale: Who Could Own the Most Expensive Victoria’s Secret Showpiece?

  The $50 million Fantasy Bra worn by Kylie Jenner during her Victoria’s Secret runway debut in 2026 is being prepared for a private sale. According to Page Six Style, the extraordinary piece will return to Jacob & Co.’s New York boutique, where wealthy buyers will have the opportunity to purchase it...

• French Looters Regret Stealing iPhones After Apple Locks Devices and Tracks Their Locations

  Looters who ransacked an Apple Store in Lille, France, during widespread riots have faced an unexpected consequence: the stolen iPhones have been disabled, and their locations are being tracked...

Australia has held its first-ever burial using an unusual and eco-friendly coffin made from fungi and hemp. A 70-year-old woman named Carolyn became the first person in the country to be buried in what is known as a “Living Cocoon.” Her funeral service was held in Faulconbridge, with the burial taking place at Springwood Cemetery in the picturesque Blue Mountains.

The innovative coffin was developed by Dutch biotechnology company Loop Biotech.

The coffin is made from mycelium — the underground root-like network of fungi — and recycled hemp fibers. Its interior can be lined with a choice of natural materials, including soft moss, wool or organic cotton.

Growing one of these eco-friendly coffins takes just seven days, while after burial it naturally decomposes and returns to the earth in an average of 45 days.

Mycelium plays a key role in decomposition and soil nourishment, acting as a natural catalyst that encourages new life and enriches the soil with carbon.

Carolyn’s family chose the Living Cocoon as a tribute to her love of nature and her lifelong desire to help others. “It’s so much like Carolyn. She was always ready to help other people,” her husband, Donald, said. “It feels very right that even after her death, she continues to do good and give something back to nature.”

Similar mushroom-based coffins have already been used in the United Kingdom, but this marks the first such burial in Australia.

Loop Biotech founder Bob Hendrikx noted that just five years ago, the concept seemed like little more than a bold idea dreamed up by students at Delft University of Technology. Today, he says, families around the world have the opportunity to leave behind a positive legacy.

In the UK, the coffins cost between £2,595 and £2,803, while the final price in Australia depends on funeral providers, logistics and the package of services selected.

Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram