Lifestyle

French minister defends Playboy shoot as criticism mounts

A feminist French minister who posed for Playboy told the magazine she backed the right of women to pose nude if they wanted to amid fresh criticism from her cabinet colleagues about her stunt on Wednesday.. "If some (women) want to pose in a men's magazine and enjoy it, I think that we shouldn't blame them," Schiappa told the magazine.

In one US archdiocese, 600 children abused over decades: report

More than 600 children in the eastern US state of Maryland were abused by over 150 clergy and other Catholic Church members, according to a study made public Wednesday that covers six decades.. "The duration and scope of the abuse perpetrated by Catholic clergy was only possible because of the complicity of those charged with leading the Church and protecting its faithful," the study said.

Climate change spurring surge in dengue, chikungunya: WHO

The World Health Organization warned Wednesday that dengue and other diseases caused by mosquito-borne arboviruses were spreading far faster and further amid climate change, warning global outbreaks could be looming.. All three are caused by arboviruses carried by Aedes aegypti mosquitos, which have been spreading into new territory as the planet warms.

Raw sewage blights once-idyllic beaches on Isle of Wight

On the Isle of Wight, one of England's most popular seaside holiday destinations since Victorian times, a pipeline stretches out from the shore to pump raw sewage into coastal waters.. The Isle of Wight, a mecca for yachtspeople off England's southern coast, has three entries.

Rooted in war and symbol of peace: Jordan's national dish

In Jordan, a sumptuous dish that has its roots in an ancient war has evolved over the centuries to be widely cherished as a symbol of peace and hospitality.  . Long before it became a symbol of peace -- traditionally shared to mark the end of tribal feuds -- mansaf was born on the eve of battle, according to one version of history.

Japan govt survey finds 1.5 million living as recluses

Nearly 1.5 million working-age people in Japan are social recluses, according to a new government survey, with a fifth citing the Covid-19 pandemic as the main reason for their withdrawal.. This was closely followed by the pandemic, which was cited as the main reason by 18 percent of recluses aged 15-39 and 20 percent of those aged 40-64.

UK bell enthusiasts clamour to 'ring for the king'

At the top of 52 steep, narrow steps at All Saints Church near London, expert bell ringers are showing the ropes to two new recruits ahead of King Charles III's coronation.. The novices are two of more than 1,000 people who responded to an appeal for new recruits by the UK's Central Council of Church Bell Ringers. 

India's 'brown beauty' make-up influencers go global

Under the glow of a ring light in the spare bedroom of a Mumbai high-rise apartment, Indian make-up maven Debasree Banerjee has found fans across the world with a simple philosophy: brown is beautiful.. Banerjee, 34, began experimenting with make-up videos in her spare time a decade ago, after graduating from university and moving to Mumbai to work in sales.

Brazil favela chefs say poor should eat well, too

Brazilian chef Ana Lucia Costa is putting the finishing touches on an exquisite dish of marinated pork loin with lime and ginger, preparing to serve around 100 diners.. Da Silva got up at 3:00 am to cook a dish of rice with saffron and black sesame seeds, served with roasted vegetables.