PARIS, France (AFP) — A sketchbook of drawings by Dutch post-Impressionist master Vincent Van Gogh has been discovered and will be published in November, the French publisher Seuil announced Thursday. “This sketchbook was known only to the owners, myself and the publisher,” Seuil official Bernard Comment told AFP, calling the discovery “stunning, dazzling”. The artwork will be released under the title “Vincent Van Gogh, Le Brouillard d’Arles” (The Fog of Arles), he said. The prolific […]
Lifestyle
Can coffee cause cancer? Only if it’s very hot, says WHO agency
(REUTERS) There is no conclusive evidence that drinking coffee causes cancer, the World Health Organization’s cancer agency said on Wednesday in a reverse of its previous warning, but it also said all “very hot” drinks are probably carcinogenic. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) had previously rated coffee as “possibly carcinogenic” but has changed its mind. It now says its latest review found “no conclusive evidence for a carcinogenic effect” of coffee […]
Italy’s Osteria Francescana named world’s best restaurant
Osteria Francescana ascended to the top of the annual ranking of world’s best restaurants for its inventive twist on traditional Italian dishes, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list released on Monday (June 13) showed. The restaurant in Modena, Italy, which was runner-up on last year’s list, switched the top spot with the 2015 winner El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain. The list, compiled by trade publication Restaurant magazine since 2002, was based on […]
Indian sand artist pays tribute to victims of Florida mass killing
ODISHA, India (Reuters) — A sand artist in India has paid tribute to victims of Florida mass killing with a sculpture created on Puri Beach in eastern Odisha state on Monday (June 13). The artist’s sculpture read “One world, one message, end terrorism” on the five feet high sand sculpture. A number of tourists gathered at the beach to watch the sculpture being created. The shooting claimed the lives of 50 people, including the […]
The fashion industry pays tribute to musician David Bowie at the CFDA Fashion Awards
The late David Bowie was among the honorees at the 2016 CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) Awards in New York on Monday (June 6). The annual event celebrates the best in American design for the year, and also recognizes those whose influence has impacted the industry. CFDA President and CEO, Steve Kolb said the tribute to Bowie would be a special part of the evening. “I was just watching dress rehearsal and Tilda […]
Artist uses new technology to bring historic photos to life
An artist living in Jordan is unlocking the mysteries of the past by restoring historical photos of Jordanian and Middle Eastern sites. Kelvin Bown, a self described globe trotter, said he looks for pictures of the region that date back to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, and uses modern technology to bring the photos back to life. For Bown, restoring the images is more than just art, it is a portal into a time […]
Pakistani father of 35 aims for 100 children
by Maaz KHAN QUETTA, Pakistan (AFP) — A Pakistani father of 35 is now searching for a fourth wife as he romps towards his goal of 100 children, a dubious ambition in the conservative Muslim country where polygamy is rare but still practiced. Sardar Jan Mohammad Khilji, 46, says he believes it is his religious duty to have as many children as possible. Insisting it is “very rare” that he mixes up his children’s names, […]
Facebook apologises for banning ‘undesirable’ plus-sized model
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Facebook has been forced to backtrack after it banned an Australian ad featuring a bikini-clad plus-sized model promoting positive body image, initially saying the photo’s depiction was “undesirable”. The social networking giant blocked the ad for Melbourne’s “Cherchez La Femme: Feminism and Fat” gathering, saying the image violated its advertising guidelines. When organizers questioned the decision, the Facebook Ads Team wrote back saying the ad did not comply with their health […]
Rare silver dollar may break record for most valuable coin ever sold at auction
Two legendary U.S. coins, one of them more than 200 years old, are expected to bring a total as high as $27 million (USD) when they hit the auction block on Tuesday (May 24) in New York City, according to Sotheby’s. An 1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar is estimated to sell for $10 million to $15 million and an 1822 Capped Head Left Half Eagle is estimated to sell for $8 million to $12 million. […]
Twitter eases 140-character limit for tweets
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Twitter announced Tuesday it was easing its 140-character limit for tweets, allowing users to add links, attachments and some other features within the short messages. The move comes as Twitter’s efforts to increase its user base and engagement have been sputtering, raising questions about its growth trend. “Over the past decade, the tweet has evolved from a simple 140-character text message to a rich canvas for creative expression featuring photos, […]
Record $31mn sale of biggest vivid pink diamond at Geneva auction
GENEVA , Switzerland (AFP) — A 15.38-carat vivid pink diamond, the biggest of its kind to go on auction, was sold for a new record total of $31.56 million (27.88 million euros), Sotheby’s auction house said Tuesday. Two telephone bidders battled for the prized jewel before some 150 people attending the auction held at a luxurious hotel in Geneva. “It’s a new world record… It’s the highest price ever paid for a fancy vivid pink […]
Japanese billionaire mystery buyer of Basquiat painting
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — A Japanese billionaire is the mystery art collector behind the $57.3 million purchase of a huge self-portrait by Jean-Michel Basquiat at auction earlier this week, his art foundation said Thursday. “Jean-Michel Basquiat is coming to Japan,” businessman Yusaku Maezaw wrote on his Instagram account, posing in front of the painting. Maezawa, who made his fortune in the clothing trade, bought seven works of art in two days for a […]
