Placeholder Content Image

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

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><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.<!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></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> </div>

Body

Placeholder Content Image

"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

Placeholder Content Image

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

Placeholder Content Image

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

Placeholder Content Image

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

Placeholder Content Image

"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

Placeholder Content Image

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> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: 'Proxima Nova', system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Fira Sans', 'Droid Sans', 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; caret-color: #333333; color: #333333; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"> <div class="ob-smartfeed-wrapper feedIdx-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div id="outbrain_widget_0" class="OUTBRAIN" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" data-src="//celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/priscilla-presley-gets-emotional-after-very-difficult-viewing-of-priscilla/d6fd2f98-d746-4664-ada4-e5662a435aea" data-widget-id="AR_8" data-external-id="3820c6a948ab8b24c8020cab9d348600" data-ob-mark="true" data-browser="safari" data-os="macintel" data-dynload="" data-idx="0"> <div class="ob-widget ob-feed-layout AR_8" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; position: relative; width: auto; min-width: 0px; clear: both;"> <div class="ob-widget-header" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 24px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: bold; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: #303030; direction: ltr; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: center;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Movies

Placeholder Content Image

"Creepy" reaction to Robert Irwin debuting his girlfriend on social media

<p>Robert Irwin finally made his relationship with Rorie Buckey Instagram official with a cute selfie shared to his four million followers. </p> <p>While many were supportive of the couple's budding romance, a few others couldn't hide their disappointment as their dreams of having their own fairytale romance with the conservationist were crushed. </p> <p>“You just broke the hearts of tens of thousands of young girls across the world. Congrats tho,”  commented one person. </p> <p>“Siri play that should be me by Justin Bieber,” commented another. </p> <p>"So this is what heartbreak and betrayal feels like," commented a third. </p> <p>"I don’t think I can ever recover from this," wrote fourth. </p> <p>"What if this was my last straw robert," wrote another. </p> <p>One fan even asked him: "HOW COULD U CHEAT ON ME !?😭"</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/CwUpgBprVDf/?utm_source=ig_embed&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/CwUpgBprVDf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Robert Irwin (@robertirwinphotography)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The post itself gained almost 400,000 likes in the first eight hours after it went live, and a few comments have called out the fans who were disappointed in the star. </p> <p>“Some of these comments are creepy as,” wrote one.</p> <p>“This comment section is disappointing remove yourself from whatever parasocial relationship you’ve constructed and treat people with kindness,” commented another. </p> <p>“As much as I do have a celebrity crush on Robert, I think everybody should be happy for him. His life,” wrote a third. </p> <p>"Why are these comments so creepy? If you cant be kind, just stop. They look happy, leave them be," added another. </p> <p>The couple were first spotted cuddling at a Queensland beach late last year, and made their first <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/robert-irwin-makes-red-carpet-debut-with-girlfriend" target="_blank" rel="noopener">red carpet debut </a>at Sydney's International Convention Centre last month. </p> <p>Buckley, who is late star Heath Ledger's niece, is currently living in Perth, so the young couple are currently making their relationship work long-distance. </p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

Placeholder Content Image

“Get me there”: Bride’s reaction to news of tragic bus crash

<p>Following the tragic bus crash in the Hunter Valley that saw <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/more-than-we-can-bear-hunter-valley-bus-crash-victims-identified" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10 people lose their lives</a>, a wedding guest of Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell has recounted the horror.</p> <p>Edsell’s cousin has revealed the devastating moment the bride learned of the crash, saying she demanded to be taken to the scene.</p> <p>The passengers were heading to The Royal Hotel in Singleton where several guests were staying, returning from the wedding venue Wandin Estate Winery in Lovedale, when the bus rolled near the Hunter Expressway off-ramp at Greta just after 11:30pm.</p> <p>It is now believed to be Australia’s worst bus crash in three decades.</p> <p>Edsell’s cousin Kynan Stanford was with the bride when she found out about the crash and told 7NEWS, “The bride was pretty much kicking down the door trying to get in the car, saying, ‘Get me there, I need to go’, and we were like, ‘No, you don’t need to go’.”</p> <p>Emergency services smashed the windscreen of the bus as they reached to rescue passengers trapped inside.</p> <p>The victims of the heartbreaking incident are being remembered as vibrant people with promising lives ahead of them.</p> <p>The tight-knit Hunter Valley town of Singleton has been shaken, with seven of the 10 deceased believed to be locals.</p> <p>A junior doctor, a husband and wife and a mother and daughter are among those who passed away.</p> <p>Two of the victims were Nadene McBride, a coach for the Singleton Roosterettes, and her 22-year-old daughter Kyah who played on the team.</p> <p>Husband and father Graham “Banger” McBride remains in hospital.</p> <p>“There are no words to describe the grief our family is feeling at this time,” the McBride family said in a statement.</p> <p>Kane Symons, Kyah’s boyfriend is among one of the deceased and is being remembered as a keen surfer, a remarkable leader and a genuine friend by his former Tasmanian Carlton Park Surf Life Saving Club.</p> <p>Singleton husband and wife Andrew and Lynan Scott, who both played for Singleton Rooster teams, were also victims of the crash and have two young children.</p> <p>Another victim, Tori Cowburn was captain of The Roosterettes and also played basketball, netball, tennis and touch football.</p> <p>Darcy Bulman, a 30-year-old investigator for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, travelled from Melbourne with her partner for the wedding festivities.</p> <p>She sadly passed away and her partner is thought to be among one of the injured.</p> <p>Rebecca Mullen, a junior doctor and Singleton local working at Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital was one of the younger victims.</p> <p>NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said Mullen had a “long and illustrious career in medicine” ahead of her.</p> <p>“This has made a very dark day even darker for NSW Health,” Park told reporters on June 13.</p> <p>Zach Bray, a mining engineer in the Hunter region, and engineer Angus Craig, who had worked with mining company BHP in Queensland.</p> <p>Singleton Mayor Sue Moore said her close-knit community was struggling to come to terms with the heartbreaking incident.</p> <p>Community members poured in for a vigil held at the Singleton Baptist Church to show their support on June 13.</p> <p>The owners of local hotels have started offering accommodation to the victims’ families, with many needing to extend their stay in the area.</p> <p>The bus driver, Brett Button, 58, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/hunter-valley-bus-driver-faces-court" target="_blank" rel="noopener">faced Cessnock Local Court</a> on June 13 with 10 counts of deadly dangerous driving.</p> <p>Image credit: 7NEWS</p>

Caring

Placeholder Content Image

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.com.au/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

Placeholder Content Image

Mum speaks out after reaction to cling wrap video

<p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; 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; background-color: #ffffff;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Warning: This article contains disturbing content which some readers may find distressing. </em></span></p> <p>A TikTok influencer said her son was temporarily taken from her home by child protection authorities after she <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/mum-slammed-for-cruel-cling-wrap-prank" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted a video</a> of her husband pushing the child around while he was swaddled from the neck down in cling wrap.</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

Placeholder Content Image

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.com.au/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

Placeholder Content Image

Aussie toddler's heart-breaking reaction to father's death

<p>The father-in-law of a man who died in NSW floodwaters has opened up about the devastating toll their loss has had on his 19-month-old son. </p> <p>“My gorgeous grandson keeps asking for his dad,” Simon Moujalli wrote on a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/sarah-and-little-isaiah" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-ylk="slk:GoFundMe page" data-rapid_p="9" data-v9y="1">GoFundMe page</a> set up to raise money for Ghosn’s widow and toddler, “and waits for him to have breakfast with him as he always did, and sing and dance together before he headed off to work.”</p> <p>Mr Ghosn and fellow Sydney father Bob Chahine died when their ute was swept off a flooded causeway in the Southern Tablelands on Monday night.</p> <p>It’s believed both men were riding in the back tray of the vehicle, while another two men in the ute’s cab managed to escape and swim to safety before raising the alarm for help. </p> <p>A large-scale search operation was launched to find the pair at Bevendale, about 50 kilometres east of Boorowa.</p> <p>Two bodies have since been found, and while they are yet to be formally identified, NSW Police say they believe they belong to the two missing men.</p> <p>“There are no words to describe the hell my daughter Sarah is living at the moment,” Mr Ghosn’s father-in-law wrote online.</p> <p>“Having lost her soul mate, her true love, the father of their little toddler and her whole world. My daughter’s heart is crushed.”</p> <p>Mr Moujalli went on to explain that he was “asking for help” for his daughter and beautiful grandson, Isaiah. “My son-in-law, God rest his soul, will never see his little boy grow up and my daughter Sarah is left broken and a widow at such a young age.”</p> <p>He added that he was setting up the fundraising page to “help Sarah with the long road ahead of her. To help ease the financial burden of raising a child as a single mother and help with bills until she is able to move on, and to give her time to mend her broken heart".</p> <p><em>Image credits: GoFundMe</em></p>

Family & Pets

Placeholder Content Image

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

Placeholder Content Image

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

Placeholder Content Image

“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

Placeholder Content Image

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

Placeholder Content Image

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

Placeholder Content Image

The best reactions to Grace Tame's bong blunder

<p>Aussies have rallied to the defence of former Australian of the Year Grace Tame after a photo emerged of the  then 19-year-old sitting next to a bong with a beaming smile on her face. </p><p>Grace was pictured in the Instagram photo from 2014 sitting on a lounge with a water pipe used for smoking marijuana, as a friend next to her appears to be rolling a joint. </p><p>After the Daily Mail published the now-deleted photos, a slew of celebrities, journalists, comedians and politicians took to Twitter to voice their support for Grace. </p><p><em>The Project</em> host Peter Helliar said, "Fair chance that bong photo gets Grace Tame nominated for Australian of the Year again", while Victorian councillor Tim Baxter defended, "I'm the Deputy Mayor and I smoked bongs as a teenager. And I've still never been as cool as Grace Tame."</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Fair chance that bong photo gets Grace Tame nominated for Australian of the Year again!</p>— Peter Helliar (@pjhelliar) <a href="https://twitter.com/pjhelliar/status/1493134692832677888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Oh no! Grace Tame once smoked a bong?!?!?<br /><br />I'm the Deputy Mayor and I smoked bongs as a teenager. And I've still never been as cool as Grace Tame.</p>— Cr Tim Baxter 🏳️‍⚧️ (@BaxterTim) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterTim/status/1493113995774947329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Grace Tame held a bong when she was 19. Scott Morrison, at 53, just told indigenous people they have to forgive for all they went through. If the former is more concerning to you, you may want to reevaluate your life. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a></p>— Hayley Down (@hayleyjdown) <a href="https://twitter.com/hayleyjdown/status/1493167044962840576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">People need to realise that every Tasmanian is constantly sucking on a massive bong merely to keep warm, and also to blot out the existential despair inherent in living in this awful place I would not recommend coming here.</p>— Jon “Semi-Fungible Airships” Kudelka (@jonkudelka) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonkudelka/status/1493125744385347587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote><p>Activist Felicity Reynolds also chimed in on the debate, saying, "To anyone who may be troubled by the idea of Grace Tame (or anyone) using a mind altering substance….just a quick reminder that every time I see video of the PM at the footy, he’s holding a beer."</p><p>TV host James Mathison also had something to say, sharing a photo from Grace's recent controversial meeting with Scott Morrison saying, "Here’s Grace Tame with an empty vessel full of hot air and here’s Grace Tame with a bong."</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">To anyone who may be troubled by the idea of Grace Tame (or anyone) using a mind altering substance….just a quick reminder that every time I see video of the PM at the footy, he’s holding a beer.</p>— Felicity Reynolds (@FlickReynolds) <a href="https://twitter.com/FlickReynolds/status/1493134963432390656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Here’s Grace Tame with an empty vessel full of hot air and here’s Grace Tame with a bong. <a href="https://t.co/laZ1Pi7d6r">pic.twitter.com/laZ1Pi7d6r</a></p>— James Mathison (@jamesmathison) <a href="https://twitter.com/jamesmathison/status/1493157289012133888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">I've upgraded my life goal of "have a beer with Grace Tame" to "rip a massive cone with Grace Tame"</p>— Jim Malo (@thejimmalo) <a href="https://twitter.com/thejimmalo/status/1493085802511073281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Re the Grace Tame bong story... Malcolm Turnbull admitted in 2008 that he had smoked pot, and went on to become prime minister ... who cares?</p>— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paul_Karp/status/1493080116007956482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">id rather see grace tame with a bong than scott morrison with a ukulele literally any day of the week</p>— andie (@anndeejam) <a href="https://twitter.com/anndeejam/status/1493082942293245954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote><p><em>The Project</em> host Lisa Wilkinson said the attacks on Grace online for the photo in question were "utterly deplorable" as she encouraged people to donate to the <a href="https://www.thegracetamefoundation.org.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Grace Tame Foundation</a>, which helps fund initiatives to prevent and respond to sexual abuse. </p><p>As well as sharing words of support, many journalists also decided to share photos of themselves under the influence of substances in order to normalise Grace's predicament, and call for recreational marijuana to be legalised throughout Australia. </p><p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

Our Partners