A sparkling diamond knuckle-duster or a pair of pretty gold earrings says a lot about your style and taste. But, when it comes to human rights and the environment, there is another side to jewellery — and it’s not pretty. For decades, precious metals and stones have been mined in some of the world’s poorest […]

They say that inner beauty radiates to the surface. But without a warm complexion, smooth textured skin and fewer wrinkles, many of us find it difficult to feel our beauty glow. From ancient Egyptian times women have used cosmetics to beautify themselves and through the ages creams and lotions have been the key to youthful […]

Can a mother’s eating habits while pregnant affect her child? A new study suggests, it might. It’s well known that rats that are underfed during pregnancy produce fat babies with metabolic problems. To do the same studies with humans is difficult. Yet a “natural” experiment was provided during World War II when the German invasion […]

Jane Fonda became an international sex symbol when she starred as a sexy intergalactic detective in 1968 science fiction film Barbarella. Forty-three years later, Jane wants to make a sequel to the hit movie, despite being a 73-year-old grandmother. In a world increasingly obsessed with youth, it is refreshing to see Jane and other older […]

Chef David Thompson explains how he was part of a movement that changed attitudes to Thai food in Australia. His latest trick is to take Thai food back to the Thais. “Australian Thai food was simply bad years ago,” Thompson says. “I remember dining at a restaurant called Siam in 1979 which was one of […]

A campsite in Wales is hosting an event for Londoners who want to avoid the hysteria surrounding the upcoming royal wedding. Prince William will marry Kate Middleton on Friday, April 29, in London’s Westminster Abbey. Millions of tourists and locals are expected to flood the streets on the big day to watch the wedding procession […]

Watching a crazy guy trapped by a rock for 127 hours is hardly the formula for a moving story. But in the hands of Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) and James Franco (Spider-Man, Eat Pray Love) you get an experience that will stay with you a lot longer. Aron Ralston (Franco) is a 26-year-old rock climber, […]

Question: What can I wear to work when it’s boiling hot outside without exposing too much skin? Answer: Dressing for the summer season is not as breezy as one might hope. While spaghetti straps, short skirts, shorts and flip-flops are not appropriate office attire, there are a few easy ways to keep cool while still […]

This is the season for jam makers. Even better, it’s the season when gardeners with laden trees give baskets full of fruit to jam enthusiasts — and the jam makers say “thank you” by giving the gardeners a jar or two of their best conserves. Homemade jam is rich in fruit and fragrant because it’s […]

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