Syria’s ailing water network could spark epidemics: Red Cross

By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) – Syria's water network, heavily damaged by bombs and shelling, is at risk of collapse as its civil war drags on, increasing the threat of deadly typhoid or cholera outbreaks, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Wednesday. Millions of people in Aleppo and Damascus are cut off from water supplies for days at a time, a tactic used by all warring sides to exert control in divided cities, the ICRC said. ICRC aid workers have helped water boards and engineers to maintain and repair aging pumping stations throughout Syria since the conflict began in March 2011

Read more

Disney unboxes the Force to drive buzz for ‘Star Wars’ toys

By Piya Sinha-Roy and Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – When technology and geek culture enthusiast Chris Pirillo purchased his iPhone 6 last year, he rushed home to broadcast himself unboxing the item live on YouTube. The video has garnered nearly 50,000 views and is part of the growing craze of 'unboxing' that is a centerpiece of a live global Walt Disney event, starting on Wednesday evening in Australia, to unveil new toys from its December movie “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” The goal? The Disney event, to be live-streamed online, is the most high-profile embrace to date of unboxing, where people film themselves opening and trying out new toys and gadgets

Read more

Net-A-Porter founder quits, will not be on merged group’s board

MILAN/PARIS (Reuters) – Natalie Massenet, founder and executive chairman of online fashion group Net-A-Porter (NAP) abruptly resigned on Wednesday ahead of its planned acquisition by Italy's Yoox. Massenet, regarded as the fashion visionary of the soon-to-be-merged business, was to become its executive chairman and oversee its editorial content, one of NAP's main strengths

Read more

Young and quirky YouTube stars lift traditional book publishers

By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Videos like “Walking Around Naked” and “Apps That Need to Be Invented” made Connor Franta a star on YouTube. With that kind of appeal to young readers, Franta is part of a generation of YouTube stars giving a boost to the book publishing industry

Read more