Diyarbakir /Â AFP A news outlet linked to the IS said its fighters staged a bombing that killed 11 people in southeastern Turkey, according to US-based monitors, after Ankara blamed Kurdish militants for the attack. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Friday’s bombing was carried out by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) which has regularly targeted security forces since ending ...
Read More »Desert scourge for Morocco oasis
Rissani / AFP On the edge of the southwestern town of Rissani, Abdelrahman Ahmidani sighs as he reflects on the state of the Moroccan oasis, endangered by drought and climate change. “Whoever lives here,†he says, “is condemned to a life of poverty.†In Rissani, the sinuous mountain oasis of Tafilalet gradually disappears into the Sahara desert, after snaking ...
Read More »Exploring the wilds
Hamburg / DPA He’s the last man in Europe to hold down a dream job of journalism: exploring the world’s wildernesses, writing about it and getting paid a generous full-time salary for his pains. Following in the footsteps of Henry Morton Stanley of Africa fame and Tintin the fictitious boy reporter is Lars Abromeit, a German whose unique editorial ...
Read More »New recall crisis for Samsung as washing machine ‘explodes’
AP In another black eye for one of the world’s leading consumer brands, US authorities announced a recall of nearly 3 million Samsung washing machines following several reports of injuries — including a broken jaw — due to “excessive vibration.†The recall comes a month after the South Korean manufacturer recalled millions of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones from ...
Read More »Ford to bring self-parking car into mainstream
Relaxnews We may be a full decade away from fully autonomous cars, but by 2018 there is a good chance that your next Ford Sedan or SUV will be able to take the strain, at least when it comes to parking. A 2016 BMW 7 Series can park itself, whether the owner is at the wheel or not, simply ...
Read More »Mobile and tablet internet usage surpasses desktop
Relaxnews Internet usage from mobile devices (51.26%) overtook usage from desktop devices (48.74%) for the first time in October 2016, according to data from StatCounter. In fact, smartphones alone now account for 46.53% of web use, with traffic from tablets at 4.73%. While internet usage from tablets has remained relatively stable year on year, at around 5%, it’s smartphone ...
Read More »Huawei takes jab at Samsung with ‘no explosion’ phone
Relaxnews Chinese electronics firm Huawei has unveiled its latest Mate 9 smartphone in Munich, designed to challenge global market leaders Apple and Samsung with features including a high-quality camera and higher- capacity battery. As Korea’s Samsung struggles with negative publicity following the high-profile recall of its flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphone in response to reports of it catching fire ...
Read More »An ‘Instagram’ take on fashion
Bloomberg Since Instagram’s inception in 2013, stylishly-curated posts have inspired a unique frenzy to buy things — from the perfect shade of brown lipstick for the fall, to the uber-flattering off-the-shoulder top worn by your favorite social media influencer that promises to be the solution to all your wardrobe woes. And the fashion industry has taken to Instagram like ...
Read More »Apple star Marc Newson designs Fashion Awards 2016 trophy
Relaxnews Industrial designer Marc Newson has teamed up with The British Fashion Council and Swarovski to create the trophies for the upcoming Fashion Awards 2016. Fabricated from Swarovski Crystal, the hexagonal trophy was inspired by the idea of “crystal clusters and rock structures.†Each piece measures 245mm by 67mm and will be handcrafted at Swarovski’s headquarters in Wattens, Austria, ...
Read More »Artists give ‘Lady Dior’ handbag a revamp
Relaxnews Dior has teamed up with seven different artists to reimagine its classic ‘Lady Dior’ handbag. Back in June, the French fashion house partnered with British contemporary artist Marc Quinn on a limited edition accessories collection that included several versions of the bag incorporating his own oil paintings, to mark the opening of the brand’s London boutique. Dior has ...
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