Latest news with #TikTokInfluencers
News24
03-07-2025
- News24
Cape Town woman accused of kidnapping baby to remain behind bars for now
A Cape Town woman accused of abducting a baby in Bellville last weekend, will remain behind bars while the State gathers bail information. Shamiema Jacobs is charged with kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice. The case was p ostponed for a week. A 37-year-old Mitchells Plain woman accused of abducting a days-old Strandfontein baby in a busy Bellville shopping mall last weekend, will remain behind bars for now. When Shamiema Jacobs made her first appearance in the Bellville Magistrate's Court on Thursday, the case was postponed for a week to give the State time to gather bail information. She was arrested on Monday in connection with the baby boy's disappearance and has since been charged with kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice. Jacobs looked slightly bewildered and stared blankly at the magistrate while members of the media took pictures of her in the dock. She wore a scarf around her head, which covered parts of her face, as well as a face mask. The public gallery was packed to capacity as relatives and friends of the Strandfontein family filled the court. Several TikTok influencers also took up seats. The court dealt with media applications for permission to take photographs of the accused. Through her Legal Aid lawyer, Jacobs objected to having cameras inside the courtroom, saying that she 'feared for the safety' of her three children. After Magistrate Theo Marx established that the children were not inside the court, he said: 'Mrs Jacobs, this is an open court, and in the interests of justice, the media will be allowed to broadcast the proceedings and take pictures inside the court.' Prosecutor Salaahuddeen Simon did not object to the media's request. The State requested the postponement for bail information and said it would oppose Jacobs' request for bail. Jacobs' lawyer did not oppose the postponement request. The case is back in court on 10 July. The disappearance of the infant caused widespread panic in the city.
The Sun
07-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Does honey really do anything to ease hay fever symptoms? I tried it for a week and grilled experts to find out
HAY fever season has well and truly arrived. And with a staggering 16million Brits affected, it's no wonder we are always on the lookout for a miracle cure. 4 A growing number of TikTok influencers - and some family members - claim local honey is the wonder hack guaranteed to ease your itchy eyes and runny nose. And a quick social media or Google search brings up dozens of posts claiming that a spoonful is all it takes to provide the relief you need. The theory is that local honey contains small amounts of pollen from nearby plants, and by consuming it, your immune system becomes accustomed to the pollen, reducing sensitivity and the severity of reactions over time. But is there any scientific research to back up the claims? Sadly, GP Dr Helen Wall says the evidence is 'slim'. 'Some small studies and anecdotal reports suggest that locally sourced, unprocessed honey might reduce symptoms,' she tells Sun Health. 'It is based on the idea that it could act like a natural desensitisation process. 'Desensitisation is a therapy that can be used to cure allergies by slowly introducing the allergen in small amounts so the immune system can get used to it. 'But controlled clinical trials are lacking and systematic reviews do not support honey as an effective treatment for hay fever.' Despite what you may hear, honey does not work like an antihistamine. When your hay fever symptoms could really be signs of cancer 'Antihistamines are medications that block histamine receptors which then prevent the release of a chemical called histamine, which is released when your body thinks it has come across a threat,' Dr Wall says. 'It is meant to be a protective mechanism, but in people with allergies, histamine is triggered unhelpfully and this is what causes allergy symptoms. 'Honey does not block histamine receptors so it doesn't work in the same way as many medications would.' And if you stop taking your usual medicine, you may find your symptoms worsen. 'If someone relies solely on honey, they may suffer from poorly controlled hay fever which can impair sleep, concentration and quality of life,' Dr Wall says. 'It often builds up over time, so getting on top of it early can be beneficial. 'I recommend starting antihistamines and steroid sprays four weeks before hay fever starts in those known to suffer. 'In people with allergic asthma, untreated hay fever can worsen respiratory symptoms and trigger asthma.' Dr Sophie Farooque, a consultant allergist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and one of the UK's leading allergy experts, says that while local honey may be 'delicious' and soothe a scratchy throat, there is little scientific evidence that it will reduce symptoms. 'The theory that honey may help stems from the idea that pollens contained in honey will desensitise you,' she says. 'However the pollen in honey is from flowers and not from the pollen that causes hay fever, which is from tree, grass and weed pollens.' 4 A 2002 study by the University of Connecticut compared taking a tablespoon of locally produced, unfiltered honey with a tablespoon of nationally produced pasteurised honey, and honey flavoured corn syrup (the placebo) in patients with hay fever. None of the three groups noticed a reduction in the symptoms. Further research in Malaysia evaluated 40 patients with hay fever and divided them into two groups. Half ate honey and half did not. 'Those who consumed the honey noticed a very slight reduction in symptoms compared to those that didn't, but participants had to eat a jar a week every day for months and the pollen in Malaysian honey will be different to the UK,' Dr Farooque adds. 'Some patients will swear by local honey, and I don't doubt their experience, but medically I can't explain it nor recommend it. 'There isn't good data and scientifically, it doesn't make sense. 'If patients want to go drug-free then saline rinses have far stronger evidence and I often suggest these. 'Of course eat honey for pleasure, but not in the belief that by doing so you are desensitising yourself and reversing the common immunological processes that cause seasonal allergies. It's a myth.' Hay fever first aid kit Analyse your symptoms and find the best medication kit for you... Antihistamines Antihistamines (cetirizine or loratadine) work by blocking histamine in the body, which is released when the body detects something it thinks is harmful. Histamine causes blood vessels to expand and the skin to swell, but in people with hay fever, also causes an allergic reaction. That's the watering eyes, blocked nose, rashes and so on. Max Wiseberg, airborne allergens expert and creator of HayMax, says that many antihistamines are available on prescription, such as Telfast, which you can see your GP for or get through an online doctor, such as LloydsPharmacy. Telfast, and other prescription-only antihistamine tablets, work in the same way as over-the-counter antihistamines, but are stronger and intended to help with more severe symptoms. 'Get your prescription in advance of the season so you have your medication in time to start taking it at the right time,' he says. 'Some are best taken at least one month before the hay fever season starts." Nasal sprays A nasal spray can be effective in controlling congestion and stuffiness. Pharmacists can advise on nasal sprays (sodium cromoglicate, ipratropium bromide or decongestant), and eye drops, too. Nasal sprays can also help with other symptoms of hay fever 'because the medicine is targeted directly to the nose, which is where the vast majority of allergens enter the body', Max says. Independent pharmacist Rita Ghelani says: 'Try Xlear nasal spray, which contains xylitol, and has anti-bacterial properties and keeps the nasal lining moist. 'If symptoms are more severe, then try an anti-inflammatory nasal spray – sometimes referred to as a steroid nasal spray – which can take a few days to work. 'Start with one that contains beclomethasone, which is used twice a day, in the morning and at night.' Rita also advises cleaning the nose with a saline nasal spray before a steroid spray, saying: 'It will remove sticky mucus from the nasal passage, thus improving the effectiveness of the medication.' Eye drops If itchy eyes are your primary concern, Rita says: 'Try using sodium cromoglicate eye drops. "These make the eyes less sensitive to allergens such as pollen and reduce irritation. "They need to be used four times a day to keep the levels of the active ingredient high enough to be effective. "Keep using them even if symptoms improve. 'Using a good eye drop to lubricate the eyes may also help with dry eyes during the summer months.' While it might not help with your hay fever sniffles, honey does of course have other health benefits. Researchers at the University of Oxford found it can effectively relieve cough and cold symptoms. It also contains vitamins, minerals, enzymes and phytochemicals, which are anti-inflammatory and contain cancer -fighting antioxidants. But that doesn't mean it's good for everyone, as it's also very high in sugar. Dietitian Emma Shafqat said one tablespoon contains around 6g, so she recommends consuming it 'in moderation'. Excess sugar intake can contribute to tooth decay, weight gain and blood sugar spikes, so people with diabetes should take particular care. Emma added that honey should not be given to children under the age of one as there is a risk of botulism - a rare but serious condition where the body's nerves are attacked by a toxin. MY TEST 4 HAVING suffered from hay fever since I was a teenager, I was keen to put this theory to the test. While the evidence is scant, lots of people swear by honey so I was hopeful it might have some effect. First of all, I had to work out how much to take. Researchers recommend around 1g per kilogram of body weight daily. For a person weighing 80kg, this is four tablespoons a day. I weigh about 60kg so that means around 2.8 tbsp. That's quite a lot and I was concerned about the extra sugar in my diet. But if it could stop the itchy eyes and sneezing, I was happy to give it a go! I bought a jar of Kentish honey from a farm shop near me. It wasn't cheap, costing a whopping £8.45. I started taking some in the morning with breakfast and stopped taking my antihistamines. Quercetin is a flavonoid found in apples, onions and berries. It has anti-inflammatory and antihistamine-like effects Dr Helen WallGP I definitely loved having it in my porridge, but I'm not sure it had any effect. The pollen count was exceptionally high on the week of the test and my itchy eyes and sneezing continued as normal. I struggled to sleep because of it too and after seven days, I had to go back on the antihistamines as I looked as though I'd been crying. I admit to being disappointed. I'd far rather have taken honey to ease my symptoms than medication. But it just didn't do the job. 4 DO ANY NATURAL REMEDIES WORK? SO honey doesn't work, but what else can you try? Nasal irrigation is the 'strongest contender' for a natural hay fever remedy, according to Dr Wall. She says a saline rinse may flush out allergens and reduce congestion. As a treatment, it is safe and low risk. But there are other options to try. 'Quercetin is a flavonoid found in apples, onions and berries,' Helen says. 'It has anti-inflammatory and antihistamine-like effects. 'Again there is limited evidence in humans but there have been some positive results in reducing nasal symptoms in particular, and these are foods which are good for you anyway.' Some studies have also found spirulina (blue-green algae) may work as a treatment. It's thought to reduce allergic rhinitis symptoms and it's an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. A 2018 Chinese study also recommended acupuncture as an effective treatment, particularly for nasal congestion and sneezing.
News.com.au
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Twins who played Ross and Rachel's baby in Friends are all grown up
The twins who played Ross Geller and Rachel Green's daughter Emma in Friends are now drop-dead gorgeous TikTok influencers. Alexandra and Athena Conley starred as baby Emma in iconic TV series Friends – but they're all grown up now. Now 23-year-olds, the sisters often appear together on social media and Alex recently shared a post joking about how she'd told a guy she'd worked as an actress as a baby. Telling her followers he'd assumed she had appeared in TV commercials, Alex then shared a photo of her with Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer on the show. Rushing to comment, one person said: 'NO WAAAAYYYYYYY I DIDNT know this was you as a beeeebeeee.' Someone else wrote: 'This is such a flex.' And a third added: 'I would make this my entire personality.' While the pair have had success on social media, Athena has also become an NFL cheerleader for the Denver Broncos. Alex and sister Athena played Emma from January to March 2003 – but they weren't the only young stars to portray the character. Twins Noelle and Cali Sheldon also shared the role of Ross and Rachel's little girl. In the show Ross had another child, son Ben who he shared with first wife Carol (Jane Sibbett). Ben was played by four different child actors but most notably, from season six to eight, the role was filled by Cole Sprouse. Earlier this month another former show star left fans stunned when she resurfaced on TikTok, looking like she'd barely aged a day since her time on the series. Elizabeth 'E.G.' Daily – who played Phoebe Buffay's songwriting partner Leslie – shared a post and added: 'Everybody says that I look like the girl who sang 'Smelly Cat' on Friends. Probably because I am!' One stunned fan wrote: 'You age like wine, GORGEOUS,'. Others chimed in with praise, calling her 'beautiful,' 'hot' and asking: 'How do you look so young?' Someone else gushed: 'Dear gawd, please let me be this pretty when I'm her age.'
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Twin sisters, 23, who played Rachel and Ross' baby daughter on Friends shock fans with new career
They were just babies when they were cast as Rachel Greene and Ross Geller's daughter on the beloved 90s sitcom Friends. Now, decades later, twin sisters Alexandra and Athena Conley are college grads with their own impressive social media following. The girls are 23-years-old and TikTok influencers who each boast tens of thousands of followers on the platform. Over the weekend they reminded fans of their role of Emma Geller-Greene as they shared a throwback photo from the episode The One Where Rachel Goes Back To Work. The image showed one of the girls, clad in a coat with a pink bow in her hair, being held by David Schwimmer as Jennifer Aniston stood nearby. The TikTok post began with a photo of one of the twins striking a pose that was captioned, 'told him I was on TV as a baby.' A selfie followed which read, '"oh so you did like Gerber commercials?"' The post then ended with the photo of them from Friends which was hashtagged, '#holyairball.' Fans flooded Alexandra's comments section with their Friends-related questions, with one asking Alexandra if she believed Ross and Rachel were indeed on a break. 'Soooooooo do you think they were on a break? Or not?' one wrote. 'Is baby got back your favorite song?' another posted, referencing the song Aniston danced to while bonding with her child on the show. Two said they were named after the character: 'I was literally named after your character,' several Emmas posted. According to IMDb, Alexandra and Athena appeared on the show from January to March 2003. Nowadays they are recent college grads embarking on their next chapter in life. Athena became a cheerleader for the Denver Broncos last year and has earned a fan in her sister Alexandra. Alexandra shared a photo from one of her sister's games which she captioned, '@ 's #1 fans.' The sisters even attended Stagecoach together this past year where they embraced their twin status with matching outfits. Their TikTok and Instagram accounts contained plenty of posts showing off their various twin antics. Alexandra has also plugged Kim Kardashian's SKIMS brand to her TikTok with video of her in the brand's sheer cotton collection. 'will be wearing this all summer @SKIMS #skimspartner #skims #summerinspo #summerstyle,' she captioned the video. The role of baby Emma was the result of a one night stand between Aniston and Schwimmer's characters who was introduced during the two-part season eight finale in 2002. In addition to the Conley sisters, twins Noelle and Cami Sheldon and Genevieve and Elizabeth Davidson played baby Emma. Numerous big names got their start as children on Friends, including Cole Sprouse, who played the son of Ross Geller and Carol Willick.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
What you can claim on tax in Australia and the deductions that could get you in BIG trouble
The end of the financial year is six weeks away - which means it's time to do the dreaded annual tax return again. But there are shortcuts to save you time. Work-related claims can be made without a receipt, provided they add up to less than $300. There are also deductions for things like using your car, working from home and clothing - in limited circumstances. Tax accountants are also warning Aussies to ignore TikTok influencers who suggest a luxury handbag can be claimed as a deduction if it can be used to carry a laptop computer. Daily Mail Australia looks at what can and can't be claimed as a tax deduction. No receipts under $300 Australians doing their tax return for 2024-25 don't need receipts if all their work-related expenses add up to less than $300. H&R Block's director of tax communications Mark Chapman said work-related clothing, self education, professional subscriptions and union fees and laundry expenses could be claimed without a receipt under this threshold. 'The total must be under $300, and while receipts are not required, you still need to demonstrate that you actually spent the money,' he told Daily Mail Australia. What $300 rule doesn't cover Car use, travel and overtime meals aren't covered by the $300 rule, meaning receipts are required. 'You can't claim for car, travel, and overtime meal allowance expenses under this threshold,' Mr Chapman said. Those claiming car use need to calculate their work-related distance - so kilometres could be converted into cents. That means keeping dockets in case there's an Australian Taxation Office audit. 'Keep written evidence: receipts, invoices, and bank/credit card statements,' Mr Chapman suggested. 'Be ready to justify the work-related purpose of all expenses.' Upcoming $1,000 rule Anthony Albanese promised at the election that Aussies would be able to make tax claims of up to $1,000 without the need for a receipt from July next year. The Prime Minister and Treasurer Jim Chalmers argued this would benefit the 39 per cent of taxpayers - adding up to 5.7million workers who typically claimed less than $1,000 a year on their tax claim. Mr Chapman said while legislation is yet to be passed, it could mean the end of the Australian Taxation Office's concession allowing for $300 claims without a receipt. 'The $300 threshold is an ATO concession,' he said. 'The proposed $1,000 threshold is a government-legislated initiative. 'We don't yet know how they'll interact – it's possible the ATO will withdraw the $300 concession if it becomes redundant.' Most common tax claims Car use, working from home expenses, work-related travel, work-related clothing and self-education expenses topped the list. 'These topped the list because they are the most frequently incurred and claimed by Australians,' Mr Chapman said. Can luxury handbags be claimed? TikTok influencers have urged women to claim a luxury handbag on tax, arguing a Gucci accessory carried a laptop computer and was therefore legitimate. CPA Australia tax lead Jenny Wong, who represents Certified Practising Accountants, said it was misleading to suggest a luxury handbag could be claimed on tax. 'We've seen TikTok posts suggesting that taxpayers can take advantage of this to purchase expensive designer bags that are clearly not intended for carrying work laptops,' she said. 'Some 'finfluencers' exaggerate the potential for certain claims to garner attention and likes. This is not serious advice. It should be ignored. 'Having a large following on TikTok doesn't automatically make someone an expert on a particular subject, especially one as complex as the Australian tax system.' Mr Chapman, however, said a handbag that could carry a laptop could be claimed on tax - providing it wasn't an excessively priced fashion accessory. 'Yes – if it's used for work purposes, like transporting a laptop or paperwork, it's claimable,' he said. 'However, the ATO may scrutinise high-end purchases - e.g. a Gucci handbag - to assess if they're truly required for work.' Fashion items are generally not tax deductible unless they were specifically designed for work. 'Generally not claimable unless it's occupation-specific, protective, or branded uniform,' he said. 'Conventional clothing isn't deductible, even if work-related.' Working from home Electricity, heating, lighting, internet and phone costs can be claimed on tax. So can depreciation of office equipment and furniture and items like stationery and printer cartridges. Australians working from home can calculate the hours they worked from home and multiple that by 70 cents for the fixed-rate method. Alternatively, someone can manually add up all their working-from-home bills as part of the more time-consuming actual cost method of making claims. Work-related items like a desk or an office chair can be claimed in one financial year provided they cost less than $300. Items worth more than $300 but less than $1,000 can be claimed over several years, at and annual rate of 37.5 per cent to account for depreciation. Donations to a registered charity or non-profit group are tax-deductible if they are more than $2 but there must be a receipt. Small and medium-sized businesses, with a turnover of up to $10million, can claim equipment purchases of up to $20,000 as a tax claim provided items like tools and office furniture are installed and ready to use by June 30, the end of the financial year. An October 31 deadline applies for those filing their own tax return but someone can register with a tax agent by this date to get an extension to May 15 next year.
