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What causes the itch in mozzie bites? And why do some people get such a bad reaction?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p>Are you one of these people who loathes spending time outdoors at dusk as the weather warms and mosquitoes start biting?</p> <p>Female mosquitoes <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-ento-120811-153618">need blood</a> to develop their eggs. Even though they take a tiny amount of our blood, they can leave us with itchy red lumps that can last days. And sometimes something worse.</p> <p>So why does our body react and itch after being bitten by a mosquito? And why are some people more affected than others?</p> <h2>What happens when a mosquito bites?</h2> <p>Mosquitoes are attracted to warm blooded animals, including us. They’re attracted to the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bulletin-of-entomological-research/article/abs/role-of-carbon-dioxide-in-hostfinding-by-mosquitoes-diptera-culicidae-a-review/2506B86EF63852B2D02EC3FCEE1E3B8B">carbon dioxide</a> we exhale, our body temperatures and, most importantly, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-08/mosquitoes-climate-change-skin/104548122">the smell of our skin</a>.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.cell.com/trends/parasitology/abstract/S1471-4922(21)00237-3">chemical cocktail</a> of odours from bacteria and sweat on our skin <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(23)00532-8">sends out a signal</a> to hungry mosquitoes.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X21000522">Some people’s</a> skin smells more appealing to mosquitoes, and they’re more likely to be bitten than others.</p> <p>Once the mosquito has made its way to your skin, things get a little gross.</p> <p>The mosquito pierces your skin with their “proboscis”, their feeding mouth part. But the proboscis isn’t a single, straight, needle-like tube. There are multiple tubes, <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/06/07/480653821/watch-mosquitoes-use-6-needles-to-suck-your-blood">some designed</a> for sucking and some for spitting.</p> <p>Once their mouth parts have been inserted into your skin, the mosquito will inject some saliva. This contains a mix of chemicals that gets the blood flowing better.</p> <p>There has even been a suggestion that future medicines could be inspired by the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2018/03/29/mosquito-saliva-vital-to-the-discovery-of-future-drugs.html">anti-blood clotting properties</a> of mosquito saliva.</p> <p>It’s not the stabbing of our skin by the mosquito’s mouth parts that hurts, it’s the mozzie spit our bodies don’t like.</p> <h2>Are some people allergic to mosquito spit?</h2> <p>Once a mosquito has injected their saliva into our skin, a variety of reactions can follow. For the lucky few, nothing much happens at all.</p> <p>For most people, and irrespective of the type of mosquito biting, <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1024559/full">there is some kind of reaction</a>. Typically there is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161589023002304?via%3Dihub">redness and swelling of the skin</a> that appears within a few hours, but often more quickly, after just a few minutes.</p> <p>Occasionally, the reaction can cause pain or discomfort. Then comes the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2023-01-20/mosquito-bites-itchy-calamine-heat-ice-antihistamine-toothpaste/101652608">itchiness</a>.</p> <p>Some people do suffer severe reactions to mosquito bites. It’s a condition often referred to as “<a href="https://www.webmd.com/allergies/what-is-skeeter-syndrome">skeeter syndrome</a>” and is an allergic reaction caused by the protein in the mosquito’s saliva. This can cause large areas of swelling, blistering and fever.</p> <p>The chemistry of mosquito spit hasn’t really been well studied. But it has been shown that, for those who do suffer allergic reactions to their bites, the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091674904022183">reactions may differ</a> depending on the type of mosquito biting.</p> <p>We all probably get more tolerant of mosquito bites as we get older. Young children are certainly more likely to suffer more following mosquito bites. But as we get older, the reactions are less severe and may pass quickly without too much notice.</p> <h2>How best to treat the bites?</h2> <p>Research into treating bites <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0161589023002304">has yet to provide</a> a single easy solution.</p> <p>There are many <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/outdoor-health/home-remedies-for-mosquito-bites">myths and home remedies</a> about what works. But there is little scientific evidence supporting their use.</p> <p>The best way to treat mosquito bites is by applying a cold pack to reduce swelling and to keep the skin clean to avoid any secondary infections. Antiseptic creams and lotions may also help.</p> <p>There is some evidence that <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10309056/">heat may alleviate</a> some of the discomfort.</p> <p>It’s particularly tough to keep young children from scratching at the bite and breaking the skin. This can form a nasty scab that may end up being worse than the bite itself.</p> <p>Applying an anti-itch cream may help. If the reactions are severe, <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/insect-bites-and-stings">antihistamine medications</a> may be required.</p> <h2>To save the scratching, stop the bites</h2> <p>Of course, it’s better not to be bitten by mosquitoes in the first place. Topical <a href="https://theconversation.com/insect-repellents-work-but-there-are-other-ways-to-beat-mosquitoes-without-getting-sticky-171805">insect repellents</a> are a safe, effective and affordable way to reduce mosquito bites.</p> <p>Covering up with loose fitted long sleeved shirts, long pants and covered shoes also provides a physical barrier.</p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/are-mosquito-coils-good-or-bad-for-our-health-88548">Mosquito coils and other devices</a> can also assist, but should not be entirely relied on to stop bites.</p> <p>There’s another important reason to avoid mosquito bites: millions of people around the world suffer from mosquito-borne diseases. More than <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria">half a million people die</a> from malaria each year.</p> <p>In Australia, <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1005070">Ross River virus</a> infects more than 5,000 people every year. And in recent years, there have been cases of serious illnesses caused by <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/how-rains-pigs-and-waterbirds-fueled-shocking-disease-outbreak-australia">Japanese encephalitis</a> and <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1256149/full">Murray Valley encephalitis</a> viruses.</p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-causes-the-itch-in-mozzie-bites-and-why-do-some-people-get-such-a-bad-reaction-243044">original article</a>.</em></p>

Body

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"What did we do?": Bride shares heartbroken reaction to empty wedding

<p>A bride has recalled the devastating moment she made a grand entrance to her wedding, only to discover almost no guests showed up. </p> <p>Kalina Marie took to TikTok to share the gut-wrenching video of the moment her and her new husband Shane stepped inside the lavishly decorated hall with their son, as they tried to come to terms with the fact that only a handful of people showed to celebrate with them. </p> <p>“This is our entrance to our Masquerade ball,” Ms Marie, who is from Oregon in the US, wrote in the caption of her clip, which has since amassed over seven million views. </p> <p>“The Masquerade ball that I have talked EXCESSIVELY about for the last 10 months. The same ball that I not only digitally invited over 75 people to. But ALSO spent money to send 25 beautiful invitations out to."</p> <p>“FIVE PEOPLE SHOWED UP!!!!!!! Like, are you kidding me!?!? As you see in the video, we enter the venue. And no one is there. The invite said 1pm. My mum messaged me at 1:15pm that no one was there. My husband and I finally showed up at 2 o’clock, to five people, in a venue planned for 40.”</p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: currentcolor !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px; max-width: 100%; outline: currentcolor !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7433899067664551198&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40kalina_marie_23%2Fvideo%2F7433899067664551198&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-pu-sign-useast8.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast8-p-0068-tx2%2F7f29587f56a44788903eea92cd974c62_1730839526%3Flk3s%3Db59d6b55%26x-expires%3D1731499200%26x-signature%3DbUQfTW%252F8BrelG0Dy5rCNSzBBbiQ%253D%26shp%3Db59d6b55%26shcp%3D-&amp;key=5b465a7e134d4f09b4e6901220de11f0&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p>She said she “dreamt” that she would walk into a bunch of people “hooting and hollering” for them, but instead ended up having to “hold herself together” because she had “no idea” how to deal with her venue being almost completely empty.</p> <p>“All the wasted food and drinks,” Ms Marie continued. “All the empty tables and chairs. Every moment of my reception changed to adapt.”</p> <p>“It just makes me think, like, why? What did we do? Am I that bad of a person? What did my husband ever do to deserve any of this?” she questioned. “Why couldn’t we matter enough for people to show up?”</p> <p>She revealed that it makes her “sick” that she still has “friends” who haven’t even messaged her to congratulate her or tell her why they didn’t come, adding, “I honestly can’t wrap my head around this yet.”</p> <p>The heart-breaking video quickly wrapped up millions of views and comments, with many empathising with the new bride, with one person writing, "This hurts my heart for you."</p> <p>Thousands of others tried to lighten the mood, praising Ms Marie for how beautiful she looked and vowing to attend a do-over wedding.</p> <p>“NAH, RE-DO THIS. WE ALL SHOWING UP,” read a top comment, while another wrote, “Let’s do it over. This time invite me and the rest of us. We’ll show up and out. I love you beautiful and congratulations!!” </p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Relationships

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Royal artist reveals King Charles' reaction to official portrait

<p>Jonathan Yeo, who is known for his portraits of royal family members, has revealed the King and Queen's reaction to the most recent <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/art/king-charles-unveils-first-post-coronation-portrait" target="_blank" rel="noopener">portrait of King Charles</a> which made headlines. </p> <p>The portrait, which was done in four sittings from 2020, featured the King in his crimson Welsh Guards uniform, with a butterfly hovering above his shoulder. </p> <p>"People don't know their own faces, so it's much more useful to see the reaction of someone who knows that person well because they know in a split second if you've captured them," he told <em>The Times</em>. </p> <p>"Sometimes they'll say it, but more often you see it in their face – amazement, pleasure or recognition."</p> <p>He recalled how during his and Charles' final sitting in November, Camilla told him: "Yes, you've got him," with a look of recognition across her face. </p> <p>Yeo also revealed that the King saw the portrait when it was half completed and despite the surprise at the intense colour, he smiled at the painting and said: "It is remarkable how it has turned out." </p> <p>The artist said that the King and Queen were prepared for the mixed reactions from the public. </p> <p>"They knew what to expect," he told the publication, before revealing that the King appeared in good health despite his recent cancer diagnosis. </p> <p>"[Our last sitting] was before his diagnosis. He didn't look remotely ill to me, and he looked amazingly well on Tuesday."</p> <p>"We already had a bit of a rapport and that definitely makes it easier," Yeo said of the painting process. </p> <p>"He was really relaxed and I think it helped that he is interested in the process. We spent a lot of time talking about art and artists, as well as the environment."</p> <p><em>Image: Aaron Chown-PA/POOL supplied by Splash News/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p> <p> </p>

Art

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Queen Camilla's hilarious reaction to becoming a Royal Barbie Girl

<p>In a moment that could only happen in the whimsical world of royalty, Queen Camilla found herself face-to-face with an unexpected miniature version of herself during a reception at Buckingham Palace.</p> <p>But this wasn't just any Barbie doll; it was a bespoke creation, meticulously crafted in Her Majesty's likeness, complete with her signature style and regal flair!</p> <p>The Queen's reaction was nothing short of priceless, as she quipped that the designers had managed to shave off a good few decades from her appearance. "You've taken about 50 years off my life," she joked, "we should all have a Barbie."</p> <p>One can only imagine the possibilities if all it took to turn back the clock was a custom-made doll! However, the hilarity didn't end there. Despite the uncanny resemblance between Queen Camilla and her plastic counterpart, there was a slight wardrobe mishap that caught Her Majesty's discerning eye.</p> <p>It seems she had inadvertently misplaced her WOW badge, wearing it on her dress instead of her cape, unlike her miniature twin. Oh, the horror of a mismatched ensemble in the halls of Buckingham Palace! One can only imagine the flurry of royal assistants scrambling to rectify the situation, lest the fashion police be summoned.</p> <p>But among the giggles and guffaws, Queen Camilla seized the opportunity to reflect on a more profound message, delving into the history of women's rights and the symbolism of two stones preserved from a 1914 suffragette protest. As she eloquently put it, "These stones were picked up and handed to Queen Mary, who decided to keep them for posterity. I thought today we might, to quote Shakespeare, find 'sermons in stones'."</p> <p>Indeed, the juxtaposition of a miniature Barbie and historical artefacts provided a reminder of the progress made in the fight for gender equality, while also serving as a testament to the timeless spirit of hope and resilience embodied by women throughout history.</p> <p>In the end, Queen Camilla's encounter with her Barbie alter ego may have been a lighthearted affair, but it also served as a reminder that even in the most regal of settings, laughter and humility are never far from reach. After all, who says queens can't have a little fun with their plastic doppelgängers?</p> <p><em>Images: Getty / YouTube</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Bruce Willis' heartwarming reaction to granddaughter amid dementia battle

<p>Bruce Willis' daughter Rumer has shared what the actor is like as a grandfather, amid his battle with frontotemporal dementia.</p> <p>Rumer candidly revealed that the now-retired actor is “incredibly loving and kind” and despite his FTD, his face “lights up” whenever he sees his granddaughter Louetta.</p> <p>“His face lights up when he sees Louetta,” Rumer told <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/02/01/entertainment/bruce-willis-face-lights-up-with-granddaughter-amid-dementia-battle/?utm_medium=browser_notifications&amp;utm_source=pushly&amp;utm_content=Entertainment/Living%20Audience&amp;utm_campaign=4164834" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The New York Post</em></a>.</p> <p>“And I’m just so grateful to have that kind of spark of mischief and fun and and play no matter what age I am.”</p> <p>Louetta is Rumer’s 9-month-old baby girl with partner, Derek Richard Thomas.</p> <p>Rumer also shared that her father is most like David Addison Jr, a character he played on the hit 80s show <em>Moonlighting</em>.</p> <p>“So charming, so funny, so silly … kind of mischievous glint in his eye, kind and sweet,” she said.</p> <p>“And so I feel like that’s really the epitome of who my dad is.</p> <p>“And that is so true to this day.”</p> <p>Despite his dementia diagnosis, Rumer said that her father has not lost any of his trademark silliness and sense of humour.</p> <p>“He’s so incredibly loving and kind,” she said.</p> <p>“My dad is absolutely the reason I (have) my taste in music (and) some of my humour.</p> <p>“Both of my parents are so silly.”</p> <p>In 2022 Bruce's family announced that the <em>Die Hard</em> star was going to retire, as he was diagnosed with <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/bruce-willis-forced-to-retire-after-medical-diagnosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aphasia</a>, a disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate.</p> <p>A year later it was revealed that it had progressed to <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/cruel-disease-bruce-willis-given-heartbreaking-new-diagnosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">frontotemporal dementia</a>.</p> <p>His family have since kept fans updated on the star's health.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Mind

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"Blah": Brutal reactions to royal family's 2023 Christmas card

<p>Royal fans have shared their mixed reviews of the 2023 Christmas card portrait, featuring Prince William, Kate Middleton and their three children. </p> <p>The Prince and Princess of Wales shared their family photo to their Instagram account on Sunday, with the snap showing the royal family of five all dressed in similar outfits: simple black pants or jeans, and white button up tops.</p> <p>The photo, taken in black and white, shows Kate and William standing behind their three kids, while Prince George and Prince Louis standing around Princess Charlotte, who was seated for the photo. </p> <p>The post of their family Christmas card picture has racked up over 2 million likes, with thousands of people sharing their thoughts on the snap in the comments. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0pf0IXNv15/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0pf0IXNv15/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Many were quick to comment on the similarities between the younger royals and their predecessors, with many stating that "Princess Charlotte looks like a young Queen Elizabeth", while others shared their thoughts on how much Prince Louis is looking like his mother. </p> <p>Despite many royal fans delighting over the card, there were some mixed reactions from others. </p> <p>Royal commentators online were quick to point out how this year's card, all in black and white, is a stark contrast to last year's photo, which shows the family walking hand-in-hand in the sunshine. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmH_qcOtUx_/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmH_qcOtUx_/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>While acknowledging that the photo is objectively lovely of the family, some wish that the portrait had a bit more Christmas spirit. </p> <p>One person wrote on X, "This doesn’t look like a Christmas Card. Looks like a Vogue edit’s choice cover from the 90s. Beautiful but not Xmassy!"</p> <p>Another added that the image looked like it was "taken at a photo studio in a shopping mall," while another disappointed fan said it was "Kind of... Well, blah."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Priscilla Presley's reaction to movie based on her life

<p>Priscilla Presley has shared how "emotional" she became after watching the new movie based on her life with her late rock star husband. </p> <p>The 78-year-old attended the premiere of the new film <em>Priscilla</em>, which was based on her 1985 memoir <em>Elvis &amp; Me. </em></p> <p>Priscilla took to the red carpet at the Venice International Film Festival on September 4th alongside director Sofia Coppola and the cast.</p> <p>"It was very difficult to sit and watch a film about you, about your life, about your love," she explained at a media call following the premiere screening.</p> <p>"Sofia did an amazing job. She did her homework, we spoke a couple of times and I really put everything out for her that I could," she added.</p> <p>Priscilla went on to explain why she thought her love story was so intriguing to a public audience, as she spoke about the early days of her relationship with the late rock star. </p> <p>"It was very difficult for my parents to understand that Elvis would be so interested in me and why, and I really do think [it was] because I was more of a listener," she said.</p> <p>"Elvis would pour his heart out to me in every way in Germany: his fears, his hopes, the loss of his mother which he never, ever got over. And I was the person who really, really sat there to listen and to comfort him. That was really our connection."</p> <p>She continued, "Even though I was 14, I was actually a little bit older in life, not in numbers. That was the attraction. People think, 'Oh, it was sex.' No, it wasn't. I never had sex with him. He was very kind, very soft, very loving, but he also respected the fact I was only 14 years old."</p> <p><em>Euphoria</em> star and Aussie actor Jacob Elordi plays Elvis in the new film, with Cailee Spaeny in the title role of Priscilla, which traces Priscilla's early years and relationship with the music icon.</p> <p>Elvis Presley estate officials reportedly slammed the movie, with <em><a title="TMZ" href="https://www.tmz.com/2023/06/22/elvis-presley-estate-officials-slam-priscilla-movie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TMZ</a></em> claiming unnamed officials were displeased with news of the production, labelling it a "money grab."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Movies

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Sarah Ferguson’s emotional reaction to Princess Eugenie's baby name

<p dir="ltr">Sarah Ferguson has shared her initial reaction to the moment when her daughter, Princess Eugenie, revealed that she had named her second son after the duchess’ late father.</p> <p dir="ltr">This is the Princess’ second child with her husband Jack Brooksbank, and the couple <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/princess-eugenie-welcomes-her-second-child" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed their baby’s name</a> earlier this week, following his birth on May 30.</p> <p dir="ltr">His name, Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank, pays tribute to both Ferguson’s late father, Major Ronald Ferguson, and Jack’s father, George.</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking on her new podcast <em>Tea Talks with the Duchess &amp; Sarah</em>, Ferguson revealed that she was in the middle of shopping for her new grandson, when Princess Eugenie told her the sweet news.</p> <p dir="ltr">"He's a very, very seriously beautiful little boy. And of course everybody says that, but of course he is,” she gushed.</p> <p dir="ltr">"When Jack and Eugenie told me it was so moving that they'd put my dad in there. It was very kind I thought.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It made me cry, of course…at the time, I'd popped into a children's shop and bought some little blue booties and that's when she told me," Ferguson revealed.</p> <p dir="ltr">In an earlier post, Ferguson shared an image of Ernest with the caption: “Amazing..the importance of Ernest thank you so much… clever Eugenie and Jack and August Brooksbank…”</p> <p dir="ltr">She also revealed that she’s called "Gee Gee" by her grandchildren.</p> <p dir="ltr">A snippet of the podcast was shared on Ferguson’s Instagram, and many have taken to the comments to share their joy.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CtOH5sdq4OB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CtOH5sdq4OB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sarah Ferguson (Fergie) (@sarahferguson15)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Congratulations! What a blessing a new baby is…especially grandchildren!” wrote one fan.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I saw the picture Eugenie posted and he is a seriously beautiful baby! You have every right to say that. Congratulations Granny!” commented another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Congratulations!! Being called GG is perfect for Sarah; a modern &amp; fun twist on grandmother, just like herself,” wrote a third.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ernest is Ferguson’s third grandchild. She has one granddaughter, Sienna, from Princess Beatrice and two grandsons August, and Ernest, from Princess Eugenie.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Mum speaks out after reaction to cling wrap video

<p><em style="color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder; box-sizing: border-box;">Warning: This article contains disturbing content which some readers may find distressing. </em></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">A TikTok influencer said her son was temporarily taken from her home by child protection authorities after she </span><a style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;" href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/mum-slammed-for-cruel-cling-wrap-prank" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted a video</a><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> of her husband pushing the child around while he was swaddled from the neck down in cling wrap.</span></p> <p>The mum, Savannah Glembin, who has 1.1 million followers on TikTok, appeared emotional as she announced in a clip that authorities took her son, Gunner, away following the initial video.</p> <p>“Gunner has been taken from us until CPR can evaluate our home because I posted a video of my husband and son playing," she said.</p> <p>The video of the incident sparked concern among TikTok users, Gunner, who appears to be about two years old, was tightly wrapped in cling wrap while being moved around by his father, Hank.</p> <p>Savannah defended their actions in the video, saying it was “just a funny thing Hank did because Gunner was getting into the stove that day and tried putting a fork in a socket”.</p> <p>Several TikTok users commented how they were left feeling uncomfortable and disturbed by the video, which has since been taken down, with one user @auntkaren0 reposting the video, calling it “feels like abuse”.</p> <p>At one point the boy is placed standing on the bed before he falls forward onto his knees, unable to move his arms as he’s constrained by the cling wrap.</p> <p>“He’s a worm”, his father joked.</p> <p>“If you have a grumpy toddler all day, this is the only way,” the mum is heard saying in the background of the video.</p> <p>Hank, in military uniform, then proceeded to place Gunner face down on the bed before he was flipped over onto his back.</p> <p>User @auntkaren0, who reposted the video, also said, “I don’t see what’s funny here. I don’t understand how putting your toddler in an uncomfortable position is funny and then posting it for views.</p> <p>“Not only did you not just do this for your own entertainment, you thought this was going to be everybody’s entertainment.</p> <p>“This is why I don’t like family channels like this, because they will go to any length for views.”</p> <p>Many other TikTok users shared their concern for the child, one comment said, “My anxiety when he fell forward and I was like omg he’s going to suffocate.”</p> <p>Another comment read, “That gave me anxiety. The feeling of not being able to move! That poor kid.”</p> <p>A third user said, “That gave me anxiety. The feeling of not being able to move! That poor kid.”</p> <p>Addressing the initial video, Savannah appeared tearful, saying, “Right now, we're dealing with a situation where Gunner has been taken from us until CPS can evaluate our home because I posted a video of my husband and son playing.</p> <p>“That video was skewed in a way [that resulted in] people thinking we were abusing our child. But he was laughing and smiling and it was just a funny thing Hank did because Gunner was getting into the stove that day and tried putting a fork in a socket.</p> <p>“Hank playfully wrapped him in cling wrap - he had room to move. He looked like a little worm, like a little cucumber. He was at no point in distress or crying.</p> <p>“We would never hurt our son, we would never hurt our child. He is the best thing that's ever happened to us.</p> <p>“I posted that video two days ago and the response that it had gotten was positive so like I didn't know that someone had thought it was bad until yesterday when cops showed up at our door and separated us, his family.</p> <p>“We went down and made our statements, thinking Gunner was going to be returned to us that day and that CPS would do their investigation and see that our home is safe.”</p> <p>“All I can say is that my son is so loved and cherished. He is my miracle baby, he was my fourth pregnancy after three miscarriages, and he's the light of my life.” She added.</p> <p>“We made a mistake and we don't deserve our child taken away because of it.”</p> <p>The mumfluencer then posted another TikTok that appeared to show the child was back home in the custody of her and her husband.</p> <p><em>Image credit: TikTok</em></p>

Legal

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Queen's reaction to Prince Harry's romance with Meghan Markle

<p>The Queen’s reaction to Prince Harry’s romance with Meghan Markle has been revealed in a new book, "Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait"</p> <p>Gyles Brandreth has claimed the Queen truly liked the Duchess of Sussex and did “everything to make her feel welcome”. However, the upcoming biography says that her majesty had one important concern about their relationship.</p> <p>It explains: “The only concern the Queen let slip in the early days of the Sussexes’ marriage was to wonder to a friend if Harry wasn’t “perhaps a little over-in-love”.</p> <p>“This was as far as she came – to my knowledge at least – to ever uttering a word against the new Duchess of Sussex.”</p> <p>It also claims, contrary to claims made by Meghan in her infamous interview with Oprah, that the Queen and the royal family greeted Meghan with open arms.</p> <p>The book states that the Queen was “devoted” to Harry and that and “she truly wished him well in his new life abroad” – and that this love was also extended to Meghan when she was brought into the family.</p> <p>An excerpt of the book, published in The Mail On Sunday, says: “The truth is that when her grandson told her he was marrying Meghan Markle, she was truly delighted by the prospect.</p> <p>“She liked Meghan and told lots of people so. And she did everything she could to make her future granddaughter-in-law feel welcome.”</p> <p>It claims the Queen even suggested she keep working as she was “concerned for her future happiness”. One passage in particular reads: “At their first meeting, the Queen said to Meghan: ‘You can carry on being an actress if you like – that’s your profession, after all.’”</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/caring/new-book-points-to-queen-elizabeth-s-true-cause-of-death" target="_blank" rel="noopener">same biography</a> has also claimed that the Queen secretly battled bone marrow cancer in the final year of her life, and says that she was in considerable pain leading up to her death.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Books

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A man’s unusual reaction to a ham roll five years on

<p dir="ltr">A UK-based father who claims he “cannot stop farting” after eating a ham roll in 2017, has launched a legal bid for $350,000.</p> <p dir="ltr">Tyrone Prades, 46, says the snack sparked life-changing flatulence which wakes him at night and embarrasses him in public.</p> <p dir="ltr">The ham sandwich’s victim reports he had a severe tummy ache within hours of consuming it at a Christmas market, and was then bed-bound for five weeks, his lawyers have allegedly told the High Court.</p> <p dir="ltr">He and others who ate at the same stall were said to have been infected with salmonella. Within hours of eating the ham roll, he had stomach cramps, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, the court heard. His lawyer, Robert Parkin, said he was sick for months and was still flatulent five years on with churning noises in his gut. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The claimant continues to suffer from excessive flatulence, which causes him a great deal of embarrassment.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The symptoms are, primarily, fatigue and altered bowel function associated with ‘churning’ within his abdomen and flatulence. The claimant’s stomach continues to make frequent churning noises to the extent his sleep can become disrupted.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Parkin claimed the ham had been contaminated with salmonella bacteria and other customers also fell ill.</p> <p dir="ltr">The barrister added: “The extent of the symptoms has been life-changing.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He said the stall was closed and deep-cleaned following Public Health England investigation.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Prades, of Chippenham, Wilts, is suing the operator, Frankfurt Christmas Market Ltd, for at least £200,000 (AU$347,014), although the company denies any blame.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-56df7068-7fff-2f29-58d6-273718966b4c"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The company’s barrister, Philip Davy, admitted council environmental health officers found e.coli on a knife but no salmonella. The case will now go on trial at a later date.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Dad’s priceless reaction upon learning he’s having another girl

<p dir="ltr">A father’s reaction at his wife’s baby shower has been slammed when it was revealed she was having another daughter.</p> <p dir="ltr">Expectant mother KC Fulton shared the reveal on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@kc.fulton/video/7085045940910083374?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> where she is holding one of her daughters and another daughter stands nearby with the father.</p> <p dir="ltr">She opens the umbrella where pink petals fall  to reveal she is having another baby girl.</p> <p dir="ltr">The father immediately walks off saying “f**k” despite the fact that KC captioned the video: “Baby Fulton #3 is a……. I swear he’s happy.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Before the clip ends, he once again walks in front of his family and swears. </p> <p dir="ltr">KC has disabled the comments on the video which has already been seen more than 44 million times but it has been shared widely on social media with many calling out her partner's reaction. </p> <p dir="ltr">“This guy doesn’t deserve daughters. What a disgusting display of misogyny to a girl child not yet born,” one comment read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have 6 beautiful daughters and this video makes me quite upset. In today's day with all the negativity in the world this is not the attitude we need. There should have been nothing but joy and excitement in my opinion,” another wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As a guy, I don’t get dudes like that. I have two little girls and they changed my life,” someone else commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“How invaluable his daughters must feel,” another commented.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Family & Pets

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“No, I hate it so much”: Woman’s reaction to engagement ring goes viral

<p dir="ltr">A woman who hated the engagement ring her fiancé bought her has forced him to swap it out for one that’s DOUBLE its price. </p> <p dir="ltr">The bride-to-be took to <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@beefinnagain/video/7073846184753827115?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> and shared the story to her 450 followers about how she was “not being too much” for asking to swap the ring.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I asked him to replace it, so I’m probably going to get a lot of hate for this and honestly, I’m OK with that; I’m aware I’m a lot,” she said. </p> <p dir="ltr">She explained the pair had been dating for a while but the whole time she was in “marriage headspace”. </p> <p dir="ltr">The woman said she explained to her boyfriend specifically what she wanted: “I want a ring with a halo. I want the little diamonds around the main ring.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Don’t talk to me about marriage,” she claims he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The woman however said that she would not move in with him unless he proposed. </p> <p dir="ltr">She emphasised that she “didn’t care about the size, cut, or clarity of the diamond” and that all she wanted was a “little halo on the inside diamond”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The time comes, he proposed and it literally was a princess cut diamond with no halo. It was a beautiful diamond, but it was just not what I wanted,” she rambled on. </p> <p dir="ltr">“So after he proposed I literally went home and my mum was like, ‘Do you like the ring?’</p> <p dir="ltr">“And I like bawled, I was like, ‘No I hate it so much and I have to wear it forever.’”</p> <p dir="ltr">It took her a week to tell her boyfriend that she was not happy with the ring and that she wanted a new one.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I called him and was like, ‘Hey this is going to be a hard pill to swallow but like I hate the ring – it is just not what I wanted and I am willing to wait for something that I do want but like I just need you to know that. Can we try and fix this?” she asked.</p> <p dir="ltr">“All is well in the world. He was able to get a refund and swap it out and it was fine … I made him pay double for the ring because he took me to the store and I told him what I liked.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: TikTok</em></p>

Relationships

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Could pain and fever medication affect our reaction to Covid?

<p dir="ltr">New research has made some surprise findings about common pain and fever medication and its impact on infections like COVID-19.</p> <p dir="ltr">A team of Australian pain researchers combed through studies that evaluated the effects of these medications - which include morphine, paracetamol, and aspirin - on the immune system, as well as the effects they have on a person’s risk of infection.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Christina Abdel-Shaheed, the lead author on the review and a pain researcher at the University of Sydney, said the team were initially interested in studying the possible impacts of paracetamol during the coronavirus pandemic as people began hoarding the medication during the early months of the pandemic.</p> <p dir="ltr">Instead, they made several findings related to several other conditions, including chicken pox and Covid, and in relation to vaccination.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Our review shows some of the common pain and fever medications may work with the immune system to fight infection, whereas others work against it and increase the risk of contracting or responding badly to infectious diseases,” Dr Abdel-Shaheed <a href="https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/are-medicines-affecting-our-response-to-infections-like-covid-19">said</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">For example, they found that aspirin could be an affordable and accessible treatment option for tuberculosis, while morphine increases the risk of infection, particularly after cancer surgery, because it suppresses key cells in the immune system.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Justin Beardsley, an infectious disease researcher at Westmead Hospital and the Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, said this was an important finding as morphine is one of the most commonly used drugs in post-surgical care.</p> <p dir="ltr">He noted that its effect of increasing the risk of infection is particularly important for cancer patients and immunocompromised patients in general “who are already vulnerable to COVID-19”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Taking paracetamol or ibuprofen before or immediately after vaccination - for example for COVID-19 - to try and prevent mild fever or headache is not recommended, because this could reduce the body’s desirable immune response to the vaccine,” Dr Abdel-Shaheed explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">“For chickenpox, the use of ibuprofen is not recommended as it might increase the risk of secondary bacterial skin infections.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Professor Ric Day, a co-author from UNSW and St Vincent’s Hospital, said research in this area was still catching up and that investigating these medications could have considerable impacts.</p> <p dir="ltr">“One of the problems is that widely used medicines - such as paracetamol, nonsteroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, and corticosteroids such as prednisone - have been around for decades and in the past we didn’t tend to consider their impacts on the immune system because it has been an under-recognised area,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“From community use to hospital and acute care, these classes of pain and fever medications are among the most popular drugs worldwide but we need to consider the significant impact these can have on our immune system and our response to infectious diseases, including COVID-19.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The clinical review was published in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.15281" target="_blank" rel="noopener">British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology</a></em>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b8c0294d-7fff-d7ef-7268-8cf46134c4ea"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Body

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Woman shares terrifying reaction to eyebrow lamination

<p dir="ltr">A woman has shared a tale of caution <a href="https://style.nine.com.au/beauty/womans-horrible-allergic-reaction-to-brow-lamination/da7baba1-cede-4570-95cb-43157fbb0729" target="_blank" rel="noopener">following</a> her horror eyebrow lamination experience.</p> <p dir="ltr">Eyebrow lamination, the beauty treatment that offers the same full and feathery look as microblading without needling or pain, has become quite popular recently, seeing women such as Elizabeth Stirba give it a try.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, Ms Stirba took to <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@elizabethstirba_/video/7053842175850941742?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> to reveal that she had a horrible allergic reaction after her first treatment.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a montage of progress photos, Ms Stirba showed how her eyebrows went from looking slightly red and irritated to completely swollen and inflamed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Never getting a brow lamination ever again,” she captioned the clip.</p> <p dir="ltr">Some of the photos showed that Ms Stirba’s eyebrows were so swollen that she could barely open her eyes, and that the swelling seemed to continue below her eyes.</p> <p dir="ltr">The clip was quickly swamped by commenters sharing their horror and concern for Ms Stirba.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Oh no!! Dear friend… so sorry. Hope you’re back to 100 %,” one person commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You poor thing! Ouch!” another said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Others asked if she had gotten a patch test done before her full treatment.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Were you allergic to the solution? How long did you symptoms (swelling) last?” one concerned user asked.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I guess so!! got a test patch in December but still had this. It’s been over a week and I’m just red now but took lots of meds!” she wrote in response.</p> <p dir="ltr">Eyebrow lamination <a href="https://www.elle.com.au/beauty/eyebrow-lamination-22517" target="_blank" rel="noopener">uses</a> a chemical solution to soften the eyebrow hair and allow it to be shaped so they can grow in a way that makes them look fuller and tidier.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is supposed to be a painless treatment, but a patch test is usually done before a full treatment to ensure clients don’t react.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite claiming she had a patch test, Ms Stirba still experienced a painful reaction.</p> <p dir="ltr">Some shared similar experiences they had with the treatment.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What meds did you take (because) I had a similar reaction with the chemical burns and it’s still visible,” one fellow beauty lover wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Sorry you experienced this! I just did mine and they’re slightly red.. I’m worried..” another shared.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I also had an allergic reaction but not as bad. Glad you’re ok,” a third said.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e498921e-7fff-54fc-357f-847bf9e85c6b"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @elizabethstirba_ (TikTok)</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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The best reactions to The Wiggles’ Hottest 100 win

<p dir="ltr">Each year, national broadcaster Triple J counts down the Hottest 100 songs of the previous year, as voted by the Australian public.</p> <p dir="ltr">This year, an unlikely candidate was tipped to take out the top spot: The Wiggles.</p> <p dir="ltr">At the beginning of 2021, the children’s musical act covered a song by indie artist Tame Impala in Triple J’s Like A Version studio, which saw the original Wiggles unite with the newer group members.</p> <p dir="ltr">The cover of the song, titled <em>Elephant</em>, racked up millions of views on Youtube, delighting fans of all ages as they combined the song with their famous Fruit Salad hit.</p> <p dir="ltr">As the cover won the coveted number one spot, social media went into meltdown at the iconic win.</p> <p dir="ltr">While some music sceptics were annoyed at the win, most were thrilled with the recognition.</p> <p dir="ltr">Thousands flocked to Twitter to share their thoughts on the win, with many calling it a remarkable win for the Australian music scene: particularly for the generation who grew up with The Wiggles and turned into avid Triple J listeners.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">The Wiggles winning the 2021 Hottest 100 is the kind of thing that you gets more remarkable as you look at it written down.</p> — Rudi Edsall (@RudiEdsall) <a href="https://twitter.com/RudiEdsall/status/1484814710868361218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Never underestimate this country’s love for the Wiggles <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hottest100?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hottest100</a></p> — Jacqui Dodd (@doddsie161) <a href="https://twitter.com/doddsie161/status/1484814376943366151?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">They tapped into that sweet venn diagram intersection of people who listened to fruit salad in 2000 as a toddler and tame impala last year as 20-year olds. Diabolically genius.</p> — Ruby Redshoes (@Ruby__Redshoes) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ruby__Redshoes/status/1484818453035122692?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">I don’t want to call voter fraud on The Wiggles’ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hottest100?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hottest100</a> win, but when one of your band members can get you eight votes at once using each arm it seems dodgy. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wiggles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wiggles</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheWigglesForHottest100?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheWigglesForHottest100</a></p> — adam rozenbachs (@arozenbachs) <a href="https://twitter.com/arozenbachs/status/1484829361673216005?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr"><span>The Queensland Police Twitter account even got involved, with others pointing out how The Wiggles’ win is also a win for Australian band The Cockroaches, whose guitarist Murray Cook is also known as the Red Wiggle.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Investigations have commenced into how The Wiggles created such a banger. 🎵 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wiggles4Hottest100?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wiggles4Hottest100</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hottest100?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hottest100</a></p> — Queensland Police (@QldPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/QldPolice/status/1484719126438629376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">The Cockroaches were really playing the long game for a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hottest100?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hottest100</a> win. Change your name, target pre-schoolers and wait for them to grow</p> — Imogen Hines (@Imi_cycles) <a href="https://twitter.com/Imi_cycles/status/1484817251971002369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Only in 2022 could The Wiggles top the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hottest100?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hottest100</a> and it not feel like a strange thing.</p> — Sam Robinson (@samsquareeyes) <a href="https://twitter.com/samsquareeyes/status/1484815440023269379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Can we all acknowledge that thousands of millennials just worked together to get the wiggles to win the hottest 100, beating some of the biggest Artists in the world. This is payback for the real ppl who raised us! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hottest100?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hottest100</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wiggles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wiggles</a></p> — Patrickoliosis (@Patrick96380290) <a href="https://twitter.com/Patrick96380290/status/1484814925591871490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">You can <span>check out The Wiggles’ winning cover of </span><em>Elephant</em><span> below.</span></p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a13WnqsRc5g" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Instagram @thewiggles</em></p>

Music

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Woman has shocking reaction after lip filler

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After Morgan Proudlock went to get a small amount of lip filler, she decided to go on a night out drinking with her friends. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When she woke up the next morning, her lips were extremely puffy and swollen, and she was in an extreme amount of pain. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sharing her experience on TikTok, she said drinking alcohol after her procedure was the “worst thing” she could’ve done. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“(The) pain was ridiculous,” she said in the clip.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Morgan said she didn’t drink “that much”, but even a small amount of alcohol was enough to cause a severe reaction. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s because I drank and you not meant to straight after so I’d advise you avoid alcohol for a few days,” she told viewers looking at getting the procedure.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She said despite her “horrid” reaction, the pain and swelling eventually subsided. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to </span><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/lip-fillers-aftercare#what-to-avoid"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Healthline</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, alcohol acts as a blood thinner, meaning people should avoid drinking at least 24 hours after similar cosmetic procedures. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Alcohol can also cause inflammation, increase the likelihood of bruising, and make swelling worse,” the site explains. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s also a good idea to avoid alcohol a few days before your appointment.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Several women commented on Morgan’s video, saying that they had “learned their lesson” about lip filler protocol, not wanting the botched look Morgan managed to achieve. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: TikTok</span></em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Serbia's reaction to Djokovic deportation

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anger has grown in Serbia after Novak Djokovic’s visa was cancelled for a second time, with the country’s President claiming the Australian government has “humiliated” itself.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Djokovic’s legal bid to overturn the cancellation of his visa once again was shot down on Sunday, after three federal judges upheld the decision on public order grounds.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The World No.1 was </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.co.nz/news/news/djokovic-escorted-out-of-australia" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ordered to leave the country</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, departing from Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport late on Sunday night with a retinue of aids and officials. The Emirates flight EK409 to Dubai took off at 10.51pm local time, according to an AFP reporter on board.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Srdjan Djokovic, the tennis champion’s father, took to Instagram with claims Djokovic was subject to an “assassination attempt”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The assassination attempt on the best sportsman in the world is over, 50 bullets to Novak’s chest. See you in Paris,” he wrote.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile in Belgrade, Serbia 😍 Home country is waiting for its hero.<br /><br />Source: Srdjan Djokovic, IG <a href="https://twitter.com/NovakFanClub?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NovakFanClub</a> <a href="https://t.co/snC0ebfBPq">pic.twitter.com/snC0ebfBPq</a></p> — Yerik_nolefamkz 🇰🇿 (@yerikilyassov) <a href="https://twitter.com/yerikilyassov/status/1482802376549576708?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Serbian President Aleksander Vučić also shared his criticism over Djokovic’s treatment, saying the latest hearing was “a farce with a lot of lies”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“They think that they humiliated Djokovic with this 10-day harassment, and they actually humiliated themselves,” he told reporters on Sunday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Djokovic can return to his country with his head held high.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If you said that the one who was not vaccinated has no right to enter, Novak would not come or would be vaccinated.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Djokovic was granted a “medical exemption” by organisers of the Australian Open based on his positive PCR test results from December.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, organisers had previously been warned that infection with COVID-19 would be insufficient proof for a player to be unvaccinated and allowed in the country, prompting Djokovic’s visa to be cancelled the morning after he arrived in Melbourne on January 5.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The decision saw Djokovic stay at a hotel housing immigrants in detention for several days, before his visa was returned to him following a successful appeal at the Federal Circuit Court.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite his legal victory, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke used his personal powers to cancel Djokovic’s visa for a second time, prompting the tennis star to appeal the decision again in federal court.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">I welcome today’s unanimous decision by the Full Federal Court of Australia, upholding my decision to exercise my power under the Migration Act to cancel Mr Novak Djokovic’s visa in the public interest. <br /><br />I can confirm that Mr Djokovic has now departed Australia. <a href="https://t.co/8CapwFeDCS">pic.twitter.com/8CapwFeDCS</a></p> — Alex Hawke MP (@AlexHawkeMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexHawkeMP/status/1482683424720945152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Vučić reportedly told the BBC that the relationship between Australia and Serbia would need work in order to improve, insisting that the saga was about “truth and justice, not just Djokovic”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You were saying medical exemptions and medical exemptions and he came there with a medical exemption proposal and then you were mistreating him for 10 days,” he told the BBC.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Why did you do it? And then doing that witches’ hunt campaign against him, that is something that no one can understand.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić also weighed in, describing the decision as “scandalous”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I am disappointed and I think it has shown how the rule of law functions in some other countries, i.e. how it doesn’t function,” she told Belgrade’s Beta News Agency, according to a CNN translation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/tennis/novak-djokovic-deportation-sparks-outrage-around-the-world-as-his-father-slams-assassination-attempt/news-story/edcb04ad8f9b86ef4e1772b7ee052606" target="_blank">In a statement</a> posted online, the Serbian Olympic Committee said they believed “Novak came out as the winner again” despite his deportation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We are proud of Novak Djokovic and the way he coped with these extremely difficult and unpleasant circumstances. Despite this scandalous decision, we believe Novak came out as the winner again,” they said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Djokovic’s family also spoke out, sharing their disappointment in a statement published by local media.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We are very disappointed by a federal court ruling and the fact that Novak has to leave Australia,” the family said in the statement.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“These are difficult moments, notably for Novak, but what we all have to do - namely us, his family - is to give him support more than ever.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

News

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Centenarian's priceless reaction to virtual tour of childhood town

<p>A 100-year-old grandmother has broken down in tears while exploring her hometown in Armenia through the use of a virtual reality headset.</p> <p>The woman, who now lives in the US, became emotional while using VR to take a tour around her hometown of Vagharshapat - something she never thought she would do again.</p> <p>Upon seeing the Etchmiadzin Cathedral that she used to visit as a child, she was hit by a wave of emotion and started to tear up.</p> <p>The woman's granddaughter, Michelle, captured the heart-warming moment and shared it on TikTok, where it racked up over three million views in just a few days.</p> <p>Michelle captioned the video, "Showing my 100-year-old Armenian grandma the Etchmiadzin Cathedral in virtual reality," that shows her grandmother, whom they call Nene.</p> <div class="embed"><iframe class="embedly-embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2F7034663525347953967&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40shmellywelly%2Fvideo%2F7034663525347953967%3Flang%3Den%26is_copy_url%3D1%26is_from_webapp%3Dv1&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" scrolling="no" title="tiktok embed" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div> <div class="embed">Nene dons the extravagant VR headset while her family members instruct her to look around, as they follow what she is seeing on their own screen.</div> <p>Suddenly, Nene becomes emotional, as someone behind the camera asks, "Why are you crying?"</p> <p>"It's so beautiful," she responds, attempting to wipe away her tears with a tissue.</p> <p>The breathtaking Etchmiadzin Cathedral is often considered the oldest cathedral in the world, and a shrine for Armenian Christians.</p> <p>The comments on Michelle's video were flooded by people praising the sweet gesture, as one person said, "This is what VR should be used for."</p> <p>Another commenter noted, "She went from a time when televisions didn't exist to VR in her living room. Protect and love this sweet woman."</p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok @shmellywelly</em></p>

Technology