bought

A former fisheries ship bought by Eric and Wendy Schmidt became a research vessel; by 2022, it had mapped 1.3 million square kilometers of seafloor

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Originally built in 1981 for fishery protection, Falkor was acquired by Eric and Wendy Schmidt in 2009 and converted into a research ship offering scientists free access. It completed 81 expeditions before being donated to Italy’s National Research Council in 2022 for continued ocean research. (Wikimedia Commons)

Originally built for fishery protection, scientists later used the ship for ocean research. Named Falkor, the 82.9-meter ship was originally built in 1981 as a fishery protection vessel. According to Schmidt Ocean Institute, Eric and Wendy Schmidt acquired it in 2009, when they founded the institute, and subsequently commissioned a two-year refit to convert it … Read more

Steve Jobs bought a 30-room California mansion in 1984; when it was torn down in 2011, workers saved its pipe organ and other fixtures

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After Steve Jobs’s 2011 demolition of the historic Jackling House, its pipe organ, architectural details and other relics were salvaged. (Wikimedia Commons)

Deconstruction includes careful dismantling of a building so that its components can be salvaged for reuse and recycling. One of the most closely followed examples in California was a Spanish Colonial Revival mansion in Woodside, a wealthy town south of San Francisco. Steve Jobs bought the property in 1984. He spent years fighting in court … Read more

Indian national Syed Murtuza Kablazada, living in Illinois, admits role in $227 million Medicare COVID fraud; medical data bought from Pakistan

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Illinois resident Syed Murtuza Kablazada used stolen Medicare beneficiary data to bill for COVID-19 test kits that were never requested or delivered. (Unsplash)

An Indian national living in Des Plaines, Illinois, has pleaded guilty to his role in a $227 million Medicare fraud scheme. Personal information of hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries was used to submit false claims for COVID-19 test kits that were never requested or delivered, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced. Illinois resident … Read more

In 2004, Ken Griffey Jr. bought 11.58 lakefront acres near Orlando for $2.575 million; the custom-built mansion is now listed for $27 million

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Ken Griffey Jr.’s Windermere mansion is listed for $27 million, making it the Orlando area’s most expensive home for sale, according to Orlando Weekly. The three-story estate features seven bedrooms, extensive indoor and outdoor amenities, and community boat-ramp access to the Butler Chain of Lakes. (Getty Images via AFP)

Ken Griffey Jr. paid $2.575 million for a lakefront property outside Orlando in April 2004, while he was still playing for the Cincinnati Reds. Now the Baseball Hall of Famer wants $27 million for what stands there today: a custom-built mansion in Windermere, Florida, that Orlando Weekly calls the most expensive home for sale in … Read more

A Houston lawyer bought a mansion listed at $15.5 million to demolish it; he plans to salvage $4 million in materials and create a garden

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Representative image of a mansion being demolished as its materials are salvaged for reuse, with landscaping planned for the site. (AI- generated/ ChatGPT)

A luxury mansion in Houston’s River Oaks neighborhood faces an unusual fate: demolition rather than a new owner moving in. Trial attorney Tony Buzbee and his wife, Frances, bought the 15,000-square-foot property at 1708 River Oaks Blvd., which had been listed for $15.5 million. Representative image of a mansion being demolished as its materials are … Read more

Seven mass deportation jets bought under Kristi Noem sit mostly idle at Louisiana Airport

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A fleet of seven Boeing jets bought to support deportations has barely flown, and DHS is exploring other uses for some aircraft. (AP Photo)

Seven Boeing Co. 737-700 jets, acquired for hundreds of millions of dollars and meant to ramp up President Donald Trump’s deportation campaign, have barely left the ground at southwest Louisiana’s Lake Charles Regional Airport. A fleet of seven Boeing jets bought to support deportations has barely flown, and DHS is exploring other uses for some … Read more

In 1989, CNN's Ted Turner bought 113,613 acres of Montana ranchland and traded cattle for bison; the land is now home to bison, bears, and wolves

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HT US Desk

The Hindustan Times US Desk brings you the latest news and developments from across the United States. The team covers everything from breaking news and politics to sports, business, entertainment and stories that are trending across the country. Our coverage includes the White House, Congress, US elections, immigration and visa updates, H-1B, green cards, Social … Read more

Actor Peter Strauss restored a California ranch he bought in 1976; it later became a public recreation area hosting concerts beneath oak trees

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Peter Strauss Ranch evolved from automotive engineer Harry Miller’s private retreat into the Lake Enchanto amusement destination, then returned to residential use under actor Peter Strauss. Now part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, its historic structures and natural setting host visitors and cultural events. (Wikimedia Commons)

Large oaks shade a California ranch where visitors gather for outdoor music performances. Peter Strauss Ranch is now part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, but its history spans several generations and uses. It began as a private retreat, developed into a recreational destination, and later returned to residential use before becoming public … Read more

In 1997, Sting bought a 16th-century Tuscan estate as a family retreat; the 865-acre property now produces organic wine, olive oil, honey and fruit

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In 1997, Sting bought a 16th-century Tuscan estate as a family retreat; the 865-acre property now produces organic wine, olive oil, honey and fruit

PC: Il Palagio Official website​ Above the Tuscan town of Figline Valdarno, among the hills of the Chianti Colli Fiorentini, Il Palagio occupies a large stretch of farmland with a history reaching back centuries. The estate became part of Sting and Trudie Styler’s life in 1997, when the couple bought the historic property and began … Read more

In 2018, Ron Burkle bought Bob Hope’s 5-acre Los Angeles estate for $15 million; after restoring it while preserving Hope’s oak library and golf hole, he sold it for $26 million in 2023

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In 2018, Ron Burkle bought Bob Hope's 5-acre Los Angeles estate for $15 million; after restoring it while preserving Hope's oak library and golf hole, he sold it for $26 million in 2023

An iconic piece of Hollywood history in Los Angeles has changed hands for $26 million (£20 million) after undergoing a sensitive multi-year restoration project. American businessman Ron Burkle acquired the sprawling five-acre Toluca Lake compound that once belonged to the legendary entertainer Bob Hope in 2018 for $15 million (£11.5 million). Following a meticulous restoration … Read more