North Korea says it has simulated a nuclear missile attack to warn US of 'nuclear war danger'
North Korea said Sunday it had simulated a nuclear missile attack to warn the United States of "nuclear war danger."
2023-09-03 09:21
Plane hits hangar where people were sheltering in storm in Poland. Pilot and 4 others die and 8 hurt
Authorities in Poland say five people have been killed and another eight others injured when a Cessna 208 crashed into a hangar at a sky diving center in bad weather
2023-07-18 10:26
Why do we crave brand new clothes and how can we resist the urge to buy them?
Switching half our clothes in each of our wardrobes to pre-loved could prevent carbon emissions equivalent to those produced by 261,000 flights from London to Greece, Oxfam have suggested. So what is the allure of buying brand new clothes, when we know it’s worse for the environment? Well, there’s a reason we refer to shopping as ‘retail therapy’. Whether it’s a going-out top grabbed on your lunch break or a designer bag you’ve had your eye on for months, fashion acquisitions in particular have the power to lift your mood, thanks to the chemical dopamine. “Dopamine is known as the reward agent,” said cognitive psychologist and business consultant Dr Carolyn Mair, author of The Psychology of Fashion. “We produce more dopamine when we’re on the hunt for something that’s going to give us a positive outcome or make the situation we’re in at the moment more easy to bear. “It can become an addiction, certainly, because the same neurotransmitters and same behaviours are involved.” And buying an on-trend outfit provides more of a thrill than loading up a supermarket trolley because it satisfies our desire to fit in. “It’s a fundamental psychological drive that we want to belong to communities – part of the way we do that is through the way we dress,” said Mair – who is working with Oxfam for the launch of its Second Hand September campaign – but it’s a double-edged sword. “Fashion can do wonders for us in terms of highlighting or concealing parts of our bodies that we love or don’t love so much,” Mair continued. “But it can also be quite damaging when we feel that we have to join in with other people’s ideas about what’s fashionable.” Peer pressure can have a powerful effect, as can the boredom. “We get bored with what we’ve got, and we’re also very much influenced by fashion trends, celebrities, social media and so on,” said Mair. “There’s quite often a temptation to join in with those trends and be part of that… It can be quite difficult for people to resist that.” Even, that is, when we know that the fashion industry is hugely detrimental to the enviroment in terms of carbon emissions and unwanted garments going to landfill. “I think the huge majority of people already know [the environmental impact],” said Mair, and yet fast fashion brands continue to churn out millions of items a year and consumers lap them up. Instead of telling people to quit clothes shopping altogether, she said to ask ourselves: “How can we get the pleasure from fashion by not buying brand new, but by buying something else?” That’s why she encourages fashion fans to make more sustainable choices, starting with ‘shopping your wardrobe’. “You can make something you’ve already got feel new by upcycling it or changing it a little bit, if you’re creative. We can swap with friends, because then it’s ‘new to me’.” Hunting on sites like Vinted, eBay or Depop is a great way of “finding treasures so that’s giving us the dopamine hit and we’re saving money”, she added. If the proceeds are going to a good cause you’ll get an extra altruistic boost as welll. “We know from positive psychology that one of the best ways to feel good about ourselves is to do good for someone else,” said Mair. “Whenever we buy secondhand from a charity shop we know that our money is going towards doing good.” She’s also a big fan of rental sites like HURR Collective, Hire Street and By Rotation that offer premium pieces to hire for a fraction of their retail price. “Rental sites are great, particularly for special occasions when we think ‘I need to buy something new,’ because that’s the social norm,” she said. “Rental is a great way to keep an item of clothing in use for longer so it’s worn by more people and looked after.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live How can I improve my teenager’s low mood? Drinking alcohol does not make people look more attractive, study suggests Maya Jama and Stormzy: Can you make it work with an ex?
2023-08-30 17:56
Turks abroad begin voting in presidential election runoff
By Daren Butler ISTANBUL Turkish citizens based abroad began voting on Saturday in Turkey's presidential runoff election between
2023-05-20 17:25
Analysis: Poland is a key Western ally. But its government keeps testing the limits of democracy
When US President Joe Biden visited Poland in February, his second visit in less than a year, it was something of a vindication for the Polish government. A clear sign that Poland was still a key ally -- despite accusations that its government is undermining democracy and the rule of law.
2023-06-10 15:52
What is Incel? Tristan Tate blames men for having 'standards' for women after he watches video labeling Jessica Alba as 'ugly'
Tristan Tate holds men accountable for setting certain 'standards' for women, which he thinks leads to the creation of Incels
2023-11-08 18:58
How tall is Ron DeSantis? Unveiling the mystery behind his boots amid discrepancies about his height
As DeSantis embarks on this political journey, his height has garnered attention, thanks to the boots with a heel he's purportedly been seen wearing
2023-08-10 18:54
Heat, drought and fire: Europe's year of extremes in 2022 will not be a 'one-off,' new report finds
Last summer was the hottest on record for Europe and caused more than 16,000 excess deaths, according to the report.
2023-06-19 22:24
Bristol Myers plans to double experimental treatments to expand research pipeline
Bristol Myers Squibb said on Thursday it plans to double the number of treatments it is testing in
2023-09-14 20:58
Vietnam set to raise effective tax rate on multinationals as part of global deal
HANOI Vietnam's parliament is set to approve on Wednesday a top-up tax for multinationals, which will raise the
2023-11-27 10:57
How did Tina Turner die? 'Queen of Rock 'n' Roll' dead at 83
The singer died on Wednesday, May 24
2023-05-25 03:50
Why wasn't Matthew McConaughey in 'Magic Mike' sequels? Channing Tatum says he was 'special' in first movie
Tatum praised McConaughey's performance in the first film, reminiscing how the actor would eagerly watch his own scenes during the editing process
2023-06-08 19:18
You Might Like...
Putin marks anniversary of annexation of Ukrainian regions as drones attack overnight
Former Wells Fargo executive avoids prison time for her role in fake-accounts fraud
Ecuador legislature moves forward on president's impeachment
Battle for China's electric SUV market heats up at home and abroad
A popular restaurant sues Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over the implementation of a law they say targets drag shows
Dixie D’Amelio addresses romance rumors with Josh Richards: 'I just hate that there was so much drama'
Police arrest suspect in knife attack on a train in western Japan. 3 were slashed and injured
Internet takes a dig at Logan Paul for Instagram dump featuring Nina Agdal: 'You are a joke’