Latest news with #Italian-designed
The Irish Sun
04-06-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
New Canyon smartwatch has 25 sports modes, is fully waterproof and, lasts up to 8 days between charges
CANYON has launched a new watch called the Smartwatch Otto SW-86. It's Italian-designed and features a unique, octagon-shaped bezel that's made from aluminium and is very lightweight, only 44mm in size, and is fully waterproof too. 2 The Canyon Smartwatch Otto SW-86 is available with different coloured straps Credit: Canyon 2 It comes with a USB charging cable and user guide Credit: Canyon It does all the regular things a watch does like tell the date and time, but it's also a smartwatch so packed with loads of modern features. The Smartwatch Otto SW-86 can receive notifications on calls and messages, you just need to sync it with your smartphone. And once linked to your phone, you can control your music playback and camera via the watch's touchscreen and view the weather forecast. You can also receive push notifications from social media apps, and get calls and SMS messages right on the 360x360 resolution screen. Read more in Tech And if you don't like the watch face that it comes with you can choose from six different pre-installed ones, just hold down the watch face then swipe to choose a different design. Alternatively, you can use the Watch-Face Gallery on the Canyon Life App to choose from 380 different options. And as it's also a sports watch it comes with 25 sports modes. It can monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, sleep, count steps, and will remind you when it's time to hydrate and have a drink. Most read in the Irish Sun Plus, it has a built-in pedometer, burnt calories, and distance tracker and can monitor your sleep, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. But that's not all as the Smartwatch Otto SW-86 has a reminder for physical activity, and as mentioned earlier, it is completely waterproof thanks to its IP68 water rating, so suitable for swimming, wearing in wet weather or while rinsing and bathing. Canyon Smartwatch Otto SW-86 Key Facts: Case Material: Aluminium and Plastic Time Display: Digital Removeable strap: Yes Strap: White Silicone Strap Band Size: 260mm x 20mm Display Size: 1.30" Display Technology: LTPS Display Touchscreen: Yes Display Resolution: 360x360 Operating System: Android 8.0 and later (smartphones with BT 4.0+ and Google Play services support, Android GO has no notifications support) iOS 14.0 and later Warranty: 24 months Battery Capacity: 280 mAh Internal Memory Size: 192 KB And you don't have to charge it daily because the Smartwatch Otto SW-86 has a brilliant battery life, lasting up to 8 days in active mode. It costs €89.99 to buy in store from Tesco, but use your Clubcard for a special offer of just €49.99, saving you €40.
Morocco World
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
The Forgotten Military Legacy Behind Bab El Makina in Fez
Rabat – Bab El Makina is just a striking stone structure to most passersby. But beneath the weathered arch lies a story that's been largely overlooked: a bold chapter in Morocco's military modernization under Sultan Hassan I, and a powerful reminder that the North African country once dared to stand shoulder to shoulder with Europe's great powers. To understand Bab El Makina, you have to look beyond the façade. Built in 1886, this Italian-designed structure was no mere gate, it was the entry point to a military factory and academy. The word 'Makina,' borrowed from the Italian 'macchina,' wasn't a poetic flourish; it marked the site of Morocco's first major attempt at industrializing its defense system. Sultan Hassan I ordered its construction with a clear purpose: to drag a declining military machine into the modern era, one rifle at a time. By the late 19th century, Morocco's military had lost its former glory. The victorious days of the Almoravids, Almohads, and Merinids were ancient history. Even the triumph of the 1578 Battle of the Three Kings, where Morocco stood tall against the Portuguese, had become a distant memory. More recent history was less kind: the humiliating defeat against France in the Battle of Isly (1844) and another blow from Spain during the Tetouan War (1859–60). These weren't just military losses, they were existential alarms. Hassan I inherited a Morocco still smarting from these defeats. His predecessors had tried to modernize but were often undermined by foreign meddling, religious conservatives, and sheer logistical nightmares. His father and grandfather had opened the door to European military instructors, imported outdated rifles, and tried (with mixed results) to assemble a standing army. The Moroccan navy had already been dismantled in 1817. The country's technological edge was slipping, and fast. Determined not to follow in the footsteps of Egypt or Tunisia, both of which had succumbed to European financial control, Hassan I moved decisively. He invited Italian engineers and officers to Morocco, and in 1885, struck a deal to create an arms factory in Fez. The location? A large tract of land west of the royal palace, close to the flowing waters of Oued Fes, which would power the machinery. Under the supervision of Colonel Giorgio Broccoli and three Italian engineers, construction began. The result was a sprawling military complex equipped with metal forges, carpentry workshops, and imported tools, some from Venice itself. Production began around 1889, but the factory wasn't fully operational until 1891. The facility could produce up to five rifles a day, modest by European standards, but revolutionary for a country like Morocco. But not everyone was cheering. This project faced internal sabotage from elites who profited off arms imports. Traders, smugglers, and brokers who had long held Morocco hostage to foreign supply chains didn't want to see a self-sufficient army. They rallied conservative clerics to denounce the factory as a dangerous innovation, even heretical. Students returning from Europe with new ideas about science and military reform were painted as threats to tradition. Despite the resistance, Hassan I pushed forward. He sent military students to Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, and even Spain to study modern tactics. He brought in foreign officers to train Moroccan troops, dressed them in European-style uniforms, and experimented with standardized drills. The goal wasn't just to dress like a modern army, but to act and fight like one. What set Hassan I apart was not just ambition, but foresight. He knew Morocco couldn't remain a sovereign state if it didn't adapt. At the 1880 Madrid Conference, he managed to win international recognition for Morocco's independence, a diplomatic victory that rested heavily on the credibility of his modernization program. Still, the dream was short-lived. By 1912, when the French Protectorate was imposed, the factory was shut down, and the Moroccan army dissolved. The building was repurposed for rug production. Today, almost nothing remains of the original military infrastructure, except for Bab El Makina itself. It stands there quietly, often overlooked by tourists snapping photos or attending music festivals in the nearby square. But for those who know its past, Bab El Makina is more than a gate. It's a monument to a moment when Morocco tried boldly, imperfectly, and under immense pressure to chart its own future. A century and a half later, it still whispers the story of a nation that once looked East and West and chose to build. Tags: Bab El MakinaFezThe history of military
Scottish Sun
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
New EV from China that's ‘over £5,000 cheaper than Tesla' coming to the UK in weeks
Italian-designed electric SUV promises big savings — but can it overcome its range and charging drawbacks? ROLL OUT New EV from China that's 'over £5,000 cheaper than Tesla' coming to the UK in weeks A NEW electric vehicle from China is set to shake up the UK market — and it's over £5,000 cheaper than the Tesla Model Y. The electric SUV, the Changan Deepal S07, promises style, technology, and value — and it's set to arrive on British roads in just a few months. 4 The first customer deliveries are planned for September Credit: Getty 4 Inside, the car offers heated and ventilated front seats, creating a luxury feel that's often missing from similarly priced models Credit: Getty The Italian-designed Deepal S07 starts from £39,950, putting it in direct competition with the Skoda Enyaq and Hyundai Ioniq 5, and narrowly undercutting fellow Chinese challenger XPeng G6. Only the Renault Scenic beats it on price, starting at just under £37,000. While the Deepal S07 grabs attention on price, its 295-mile claimed range falls short compared to rivals. Tesla's Model Y leads the pack with up to 387 miles, and even the base version offers 311 miles. This makes the S07 less appealing to drivers worried about long trips between charges. Charging is another area where the S07 struggles to keep up. With a maximum charge speed of 92kW, it takes 48 minutes to go from 10 per cent to 80 per cent battery. Many rivals, like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, can manage that in under 20 minutes, meaning less time spent waiting around at public chargers. Where the Deepal S07 does shine is in its impressive list of standard equipment. Buyers get a panoramic glass roof, powered tailgate, a huge 15.6-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a head-up display with augmented reality navigation, and a premium 14-speaker sound system with speakers built into the headrests. New EV from China that's 'over £5,000 cheaper than Tesla' coming to the UK in weeks Inside, the car offers heated and ventilated front seats, creating a luxury feel that's often missing from similarly priced models. The interior design is minimalist but modern, dominated by the large central touchscreen and clean, flowing lines. On the outside, the Deepal S07 was styled in Italy to create a sleek, dynamic look. The S07 has also achieved a maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. It comes packed with advanced driver assistance systems as standard, including adaptive cruise control, driver fatigue monitoring, and a 360-degree surround-view camera. Changan may not be a household name in the UK, but it's one of China's largest car manufacturers, with a history going back over 40 years. The company has joint ventures with major brands like Ford and Mazda in China and even runs a UK research centre in Birmingham. Looking ahead, Changan has ambitious plans for the UK market. Alongside the S07, it will also bring in the smaller Deepal S05 SUV, which will be offered in both electric and hybrid versions. An electric pick-up truck, the E07, is also on the cards, though details are still under wraps. For now, the focus is on the S07, which is expected to go on sale this summer. The first customer deliveries are planned for September. Changan plans to work with traditional UK dealerships and has set up a European parts hub in the Netherlands to make sure customers get proper support and aftercare. 4 The interior design is minimalist but modern, dominated by the large central touchscreen and clean, flowing lines Credit: Getty
