Cortisol belly: the real reason you can't lose weight from your belly or just another TikTok buzzword?
Last year it was 'cortisol face', this year 'cortisol belly' has taken over as the latest health craze to sweep TikTok.
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The Star
21 minutes ago
- The Star
Monsters and memes: Labubu dolls ride China soft-power wave
SHANGHAI: Small, fuzzy and baring sharp teeth, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart's Labubu monster dolls have taken over the world, drawing excited crowds at international stores and adorning the handbags of celebrities such as Rihanna and Cher. Beijing-based Pop Mart is part of a rising tide of Chinese cultural exports gaining traction abroad, furry ambassadors of a "cool" China even in places associated more with negative public opinion of Beijing such as Europe and North America. Labubus, which typically sell for around US$40, are released in limited quantities and sold in "blind boxes", meaning buyers don't know the exact model they will receive. The dolls are "a bit quirky and ugly and very inclusive, so people can relate", interior designer Lucy Shitova told AFP at a Pop Mart store in London, where in-person sales of Labubus have been suspended over fears that fans could turn violent in their quest for the toys. "Now everything goes viral... because of social media. And yes, it's cool. It's different." While neighbouring East Asian countries South Korea and Japan are globally recognised for their high-end fashion, cinema and pop songs, China's heavily censored film and music industry have struggled to attract international audiences, and the country's best-known clothing exporter is fast-fashion website Shein. There have been few success stories of Chinese companies selling upmarket goods under their own brands, faced with stereotypes of cheap and low-quality products. "It has been hard for the world's consumers to perceive China as a brand-creating nation," the University of Maryland's Fan Yang told AFP. Pop Mart has bucked the trend, spawning copycats dubbed by social media users as "lafufus" and detailed YouTube videos on how to verify a doll's authenticity. Brands such as designer womenswear label Shushu/Tong, Shanghai-based Marchen and Beijing-based handbag maker Songmont have also gained recognition abroad over the past few years. "It might just be a matter of time before even more Chinese brands become globally recognisable," Yang said. Through viral exports like Labubu, China is "undergoing a soft-power shift where its products and image are increasingly cool among young Westerners," said Allison Malmsten, an analyst at China-based Daxue Consulting. Malmsten said she believed social media could boost China's global image "similar to that of Japan in the 80s to 2010s with Pokemon and Nintendo". Video app TikTok -- designed by China's ByteDance -- paved the way for Labubu's ascent when it became the first Chinese-branded product to be indispensable for young people internationally. Joshua Kurlantzick from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) told AFP that "TikTok probably played a role in changing consumers' minds about China". TikTok, which is officially blocked within China but still accessible with VPN software, has over one billion users, including what the company says is nearly half of the US population. The app has become a focus of national security fears in the United States, with a proposed ban seeing American TikTok users flock to another Chinese app, Rednote, where they were welcomed as digital "refugees". A conduit for Chinese social media memes and fashion trends, TikTok hosts over 1.7 million videos about Labubu. Cultural exports can "improve the image of China as a place that has companies that can produce globally attractive goods or services", CFR's Kurlantzick told AFP. "I don't know how much, if at all, this impacts images of China's state or government," he said, pointing to how South Korea's undeniable soft power has not translated into similar levels of political might. While plush toys alone might not translate into actual power, the United States' chaotic global image under the Trump presidency could benefit perceptions of China, the University of Maryland's Yang said. "The connection many make between the seeming decline of US soft power and the potential rise in China's global image may reflect how deeply intertwined the two countries are in the minds of people whose lives are impacted by both simultaneously," she told AFP. At the very least, Labubu's charms appear to be promoting interest in China among the younger generation. "It's like a virus. Everyone just wants it," Kazakhstani mother-of-three Anelya Batalova told AFP at Pop Mart's theme park in Beijing. Qatari Maryam Hammadi, 11, posed for photos in front of a giant Labubu statue. "In our country, they love Labubu," she said. "So, when they realise that the origin of Labubu is in China, they'd like to come to see the different types of Labubu in China." - AFP
The Star
21 minutes ago
- The Star
S. Korean taxi driver under fire for sexually harassing Thai tourist
SEOUL: A South Korean taxi driver is facing public backlash after allegedly making a sexually inappropriate comment to a Thai tourist, raising safety concerns among travellers. According to a video posted on Thursday (June 19) by a Thai woman in her 30s, her friend was verbally harassed while taking a taxi to Seoul Station to board a KTX train to Busan. She posted the video on TikTok with a warning that read, 'Be careful when taking taxis in Korea.' The driver, attempting to communicate using a translation app, allegedly asked inappropriate personal questions such as 'Do you have a boyfriend?' and 'Why aren't you married yet?' He then suggested he could help her find a job, saying: 'It's not hard. You just need to clean rooms.' When the alleged victim mentioned she was travelling to Busan, the driver reportedly responded, 'Shall we go to Busan in this taxi?' and added, 'If you don't have money for the fare, you can pay with your body.' The account owner said the most frightening moment for her friend was when the driver stopped the car and kept talking to her. Before reaching the destination, he gave her his phone number and asked when she would return to South Korea. 'Korea is a safe country and has many good people,' the Thai national wrote in the caption, 'but don't assume it is 100 per cent safe.' The video quickly spread on social media, prompting outrage among South Korean netizens. Many condemned the driver's behaviour, calling it 'a disgrace to the country' and noting that such incidents unfairly damage the reputation of other taxi drivers. Some users left apologetic comments on the TikTok account, with one writing, 'As a Korean, I'm sincerely sorry', and another added, 'You came to Korea expecting good memories, but now you're leaving with a traumatic experience. As someone who loves Thailand, I'm truly sorry.' - The Korea Herald/ANN
The Irish Sun
22 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Meet the VERY glam British & Irish Lions WAGs… including stunning blonde who underwent jaw-dropping body transformation
THEY'RE the sporting superteam made up of the finest rugby players from England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. The 19 Nika van der Merwe and her husband Duhan van der Merwe, 30 Credit: Instagram/neeks_vdm 19 Fashion model Beth Dolling, 25, is dating English rugby player Marcus Smith 19 Emma Canning, 28, with partner Scottish rugby player Finn Russell, 32, and kids Credit: Instagram/@ec4nning 19 Emma is a former heptathlete Credit: Instagram/@ec4nning The talented squad are followed by a legendary group of fans - known as the "Sea of Red". But their biggest supporters are closer to home - and will be cheering them from the touchline as they take on the Wallabies down under, as well as playing seven pre-Test matches. Here we look at the loyal WAGS who celebrate every try alongside their very own Lionhearts. Emma Canning and Finn Russell, Scotland Former Scottish heptathlete, READ MORE IN WAGS They had a brief split in 2021 but have since patched up their relationship and now share The family currently live in Bath, but prior to moving and becoming a mum, Emma was a promising track and field athlete. Unfortunately, she suffered a stress fracture to her shin when she was just 19 which impacted her training and performance and led to an operation to put a metal plate in her leg. In 2018, she took the decision to have the plate removed because she was "training in pain" but she was forced to take a lengthy break from competing, which left her admitting she "struggled mentally, emotionally and physically." Most read in Rugby Union This year she has returned to competitive athletics and recently hit back at a troll who commented: "Must be invigorating to know your only talent is to be in a relationship with a talented person.' She replied: 'Actually – there's room for two Scottish athletes in our relationship. Lol,' accompanied by a video of her long jump competition. Andy Farrell picks Simon Easterby among British & Irish Lions coaching team Beth Dolling and Marcus Smith, England 19 Beth has 37,000 followers on social media Credit: Instagram @bethdolling 19 She has been dating Marcus since 2019 London-based fashion model The brunette beauty has appeared in campaigns for online fashion giants such as PrettyLittleThing, Missy Empire, Rebellious and more. She has 37,000 followers on Instagram and frequently shares photos of her Last month she posted a loved up snap of the couple with the caption: "5 years together with the loml! Love you with my whole heart." As well as modelling she is also budding singer, occasionally showing off her vocals to fans on TikTok. Dina Celina and Blair Kinghorn, Scotland 19 DIna Celina, 32, is a registered nutritionist Credit: 19 She is the fiancee of Blair Kinghorn Credit: Instagram Nutritionist Dina Celina, 32, is originally from Norway and is the fiancee of Scottish ruby player Blair Kinghorn, 28. The pair revealed their engagement in November last year after three years of dating. The proposal took place during a romantic break at the posh Gleneagles Hotel and the date has been set for August 25. Dina has a BSc Honours in Nutrition from Queen Margaret University with a Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr) accredition. She maintains that gut health is the main driver of health and posts videos of the healthy, anti-inflammatory meals she makes for Blair when he is in recovery from injury. The couple now live in France, where Blair plays for Toulouse. Sophie De Patoul and Josh van der Flier, Ireland 19 Sophie De Patoul is a digital marketing freelancer Credit: Instagram/@sophie_depatoul 19 The Irish beauty is in a relationship with Josh van der Flier Credit: Instagram/@sophie_depatoul Dublin born The happy bride shared a picture with the caption: "Got to marry my best friend." The pair have been together since 2019 but Josh didn't pop the question until 2021. Back in her college days, Sophie attended Muckross Park College before attaining a BA in Business and Spanish at Technological University Dublin. She also spent time studying at Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko in Spain where she brushed up on her Spanish. Sophie, who is also Belgian, worked part time as a waitress and as a sales adviser at Brown Thomas. Now, she works as a digital marketing freelancer. Nika van der Merwe and Duhan van der Merwe, Scotland 19 Nika van der Merwe has 21,000 followers Credit: Instagram/neeks_vdm 19 The gorgeous Scottish couple got married two years ago Edinburgh-based content creator Nika van der Merwe, wed As a content creator and "social media expert", Nika frequently shares work updates and glimpses into her personal life to Instagram. Nika is also the founder of social media agency, Sound Colour Social, and the women's hiking club, She Wanders. She also owns two adorable French bulldogs called Moosie and Ziggy. In the past, fans have referred to her as the "queen of the wags". Chloe Rose and Luke Cowan Dickie, England 19 Chloe loves to post fun snaps to her Instagram Credit: Instagram/chlo_rosexx 19 Chloe Rose is the wife of English hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, 31 Credit: Instagram 19 She has recently posted pics of her incredible body transformation after slimming down Credit: Instagram/chlo_rosexx The couple welcomed their son Arlo during the 2020 Six Nations, just weeks before the 2019 World Cup. Sharing the news on social media, Luke wrote: 'So this is my little man, Arlo Cowan-Dickie, and he is already my [world]. Thanks for the kind messages – him and mum are doing great.' The Chloe has recently been on her own fitness journey and often shares snaps of her herself flaunting her incredible body transformation, looking honed and toned. Mimi Fall and Maro Itoje, England 19 Mimi Fall and Maro Itoje met at a modelling shoot 19 They married just weeks ago Mimi revealed the engagement via social media captioning a picture of her shiny ring "Mrs I to be." They tied the knot last month in a glamorous ceremony in London's Mayfair, with Mimi posting: "We cried, laughed and danced - yes I had 5 outfits because life is for living." The pair, who are also models, allegedly met during a photo shoot. Today, Mimi models for W MODEL MGMT and Boom Models Agency. She is also a talented artist with her own dedicated page @mimifallart. Mimi is also a lover of food and shares artsy snaps of her dishes via her page @comedinewithmi. Katherine Egan and Dan Sheehan 19 Katherine Egan is Daniel Sheehan's, 26, long-term girlfriend 19 The pair have been together since around 2017 Irish beauty The pair have shared adorable pics together over the years with one snap dating back to 2017. . While the Dan has made his name in rugby, Katherine has sporting pedigree in her own right as a hockey player with UCD, where she also studies Medicine. Ever supportive of one another, they attended the 2022 The pair also seem to love travelling together to a variety of exotic destinations such as Bali and Santorini.
