New research claims a third of New Zealanders have shopped online boozed up, buying anything from pets to airfares If you ask the people around you, everyone seems to have a confessional story about when they’ve succumbed to impulsive online shopping after one too many drinks . One person I asked admitted to buying a border collie puppy after some beer-fuelled TradeMe browsing with her boyfriend at the time. Someone else bought a treehouse ladder to hang out her window so she could get in and out of her room without having to make small talk with her flatmates. READ MORE: Top tips for teaching children and young people about money Why makeup shares may be about to boom Why Millennials are New Zealand's top second-hand shoppers Drunk shopping is big business Another spent an eye-watering $700 on an oversized wearable blanket - known as an Oodie ; someone else bought tap shoes with the best intention of learning how to dance with them. It’s clear these … [Read more...] about Kiwis splash out online under the influence
Online shopping return policy
The retailers setting up shop in the metaverse
By Andrea Murad and Will Smale Published 17 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing There is a well-known saying when buying property that the three most important things to consider are "location, location, location". Well, it now appears that this mantra also applies in the virtual universe that some are hailing as the future of the internet, the so-called metaverse. Still very much in its infancy, this is the immersive, online space where cartoon-like 3D representations of ourselves, known as avatars, can walk around, and talk and interact with others. You typically access it by wearing a set of virtual reality (VR) goggles connected to your computer. The company formerly known as Facebook is so convinced that the metaverse is the future of the internet that last year it changed its name to Meta. Meta and its boss Mark Zuckerberg think that eventually … [Read more...] about The retailers setting up shop in the metaverse
Copenhagen shooting: Gunman kills three in Field’s shopping mall
By Alys Davies Published 7 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A gunman has killed three people and injured another four at a shopping mall in Denmark's capital Copenhagen. The victims are two Danish 17-year-olds and a 47-year old Russian. Two Danes and two Swedes were wounded - one remains critical. Police said the suspected shooter, 22, had mental health issues and there is no indication of a terror motive. The suspect, who was described as "an ethnic Dane" by police, will face questioning by a judge on Monday. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Denmark had suffered a cruel attack. She said she wanted to encourage Danes to stand together and support each other in this difficult time. "Our beautiful and usually so safe capital was changed in a split second," she said. The deadly shopping mall attack took place as Denmark celebrated … [Read more...] about Copenhagen shooting: Gunman kills three in Field’s shopping mall
Mum shares easy money tips after slashing weekly food shop by £45
Martin Lewis Extreme Savers: Woman opts for reusable toilet roll Get pensions news and advice plus latest money alerts for FREE now SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Financial educator Charlotte Jessop, from Norwich, says it’s a “tough time”, with soaring inflation and rising house prices. But the former Maths teacher has a host of tips for Britons on how to reduce their bills, calling on her own experience of living frugally. Related articles How to check if you get a £330 cash boost next month Tesco Clubcard warning as your vouchers may soon expire She managed to slash her weekly groceries bill for her family of four, from £125 to less than £80 per week. Top tips to achieve this include … [Read more...] about Mum shares easy money tips after slashing weekly food shop by £45
South Korea returns to nuclear power’s warm embrace
South Korea's new President Yoon Suk-yeol has wasted no time in committing his administration to resurrecting the nation's nuclear energy sector. This marks a dramatic policy reversal from his immediate predecessor, whose approach was condemned by both sides of the atomic energy debate. Yoon was recently in Europe for the G7 and NATO summits, where he held meetings to promote South Korean nuclear energy technology. The issue was discussed with the leaders of Poland and the Czech Republic — both of which are close to selecting contractors for their new nuclear power plants — while Britain, Romania and the Netherlands are also seen as potential customers. "We will go all in to win orders for nuclear power plants," Choi Sang-mok, senior presidential secretary for economic affairs, told reporters in Madrid this week. 'Contradictory situation' "For the past five years, we saw a contradictory situation where at home we were seeking to go nuclear-free, but overseas we were … [Read more...] about South Korea returns to nuclear power’s warm embrace
Return to Waco
Once you have clambered over the huge tank tracks in the mud and negotiated large areas of weeds and brush scrub, the evidence of a decade-old tragedy is plain to see: a pair of charred leather boots, a single high-heeled pink and white shoe, several glass bottles, the burned and tattered remains of a dress and a table lamp, its metal base contorted by the heat. Ron Goins picks up a small piece of bone. "I don't figure this is human bone, but a number of people weren't recovered after the fire," he says. Waco, Texas, will forever be known for the siege that began in February 1993 when agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms raided a compound owned by the Branch Davidian religious sect to investigate allegations of weapons hoarding. A 51-day stand-off between sect members and the FBI ensued and ended on April 19 when the complex was tear-gassed and a fire engulfed the building. Eighty Branch Davidians died, either in the fire or from gunfire. The dead included their … [Read more...] about Return to Waco
EastEnders spoilers: Walford in shock as resident returns from the dead
The following article contains spoilers for this week’s EastEnders episodes, which have NOT yet aired on TV, but can now be viewed on BBC iPlayer in the form of a boxset . Phil Mitchell ’s (Steve McFadden) life is on the line in upcoming scenes, as he’s targeted in prison by fellow inmate Craig Erskine (Connor Mills). The hard-man attempts to make it clear that he’s not to be messed with, but Erskine retaliates by issuing a threat on his life, informing Phil that he has less than 48 hours to live. DI Keeble, meanwhile, gets wind of the violence on the wing, and gives Phil a lifeline, telling him that pressing the ‘3’ key on his burner phone will send a pre-written text straight to her if he’s in danger. Doing so, however, will mean that he’ll have agreed to take the deal she’d previously offered him. Phil reiterates that he’s not a ‘grass’, and does whatever he can in order to buy protection from inmate Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara), but when Ravi ends up in … [Read more...] about EastEnders spoilers: Walford in shock as resident returns from the dead
Cost of living: Stoke widower ‘forced to sell wife’s keepsakes’
Published 3 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A disabled widower says he has been forced to sell his late wife's treasured possessions to survive the cost of living crisis. Jason Alcock said since the Covid pandemic, he had been "living below poverty" as his bills had more than doubled. The 51-year-old from Stoke-on-Trent called for more financial support for disabled people amid price hikes. The government said financial support was available. Mr Alcock, who has autism, ADHD and bipolar disorder, said he had sold items totalling £8,000 following the death of his wife Paola in 2018. He explained his conditions made leaving the home, and interaction with others, difficult, and as a result, he was tied to technology to communicate from home. But with domestic bills increasing, and his income coming from Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment … [Read more...] about Cost of living: Stoke widower ‘forced to sell wife’s keepsakes’
Hospitals bring back mandatory face masks as number of Covid patients soars to highest figure since April
Hospitals are set to bring back the wearing of face coverings and reinstate social distancing measures in a bid to curb a recent surge in Covid cases. Trusts from Cambridgeshire, Hampshire, Nottinghamshire, Devon and Wales have all reinstated guidance that urges people to mask-up because of a spike in infections. Figures from NHS England show there were around 10,658 patients hospitalised with the virus on Monday. Infections have doubled in a fortnight across England — with around 1,000 patients now being admitted with the virus each day. There are fears that a new sweep of the latest Covid variant could decimate NHS staff levels once more, causing knock-on effects for ambulance wait times and the availability of specialists and operations. Data from the Office for National Statistics showed 2.3million people had coronavirus in the week ending June 24, a 32 per cent rise from the previous week. Experts believe the latest flare-up in cases are likely linked to the BA.4 and … [Read more...] about Hospitals bring back mandatory face masks as number of Covid patients soars to highest figure since April
Boots stock market float back on the table as £5bn sale collapses
T he American owners of Boots may revive plans for stock market float next year after scrapping the sale of Britain’s biggest chemist to a Wall Street buyout fund and Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani. Walgreens, which merged with Boots in 2014 in a deal worth £9bn, said none of the offers for the “adequately reflects the high potential value of Boots and No7 Beauty Company”. The Illinois-headquartered company said bidders had struggled to arrange bank loans to buy Boots after financial markets “suffered unexpected and dramatic change”. Private equity fund Apollo and Mr Ambani had been in pole position to acquire Boots after Walgreens chairman Stefano Pessina put the business up for sale in January. But a £5bn approach — considerably lower than the £7bn Mr Pessina is said to have wanted — fell through. Ornella Barra, Boots operating chief, wrote to the company’s 56,000 staff saying she was “happy to confirm that it has been decided that Boots and No7 Beauty Company will … [Read more...] about Boots stock market float back on the table as £5bn sale collapses