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News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
I lost $1000 after carrying a product I was assured was travel friendly
As a frequent traveller and travel journalist, I feel I have mastered the art of travelling. I'm no stranger to carry-on restrictions or security screenings, and I've got packing my bags down to a fine art. Travelling with expensive camera gear means I ensure it is safely packed in carry-on, and I even take the batteries out for easy inspection. I'm so used to it, I like to think of myself as a pro-packer. The latest backpack that fits all you need, I have it. Suitcases that roll so easily they could walk themselves, I'm taking it. From the latest travel gadgets to make life on the move easier, such as pocket power banks, to water bottles that purify water, and even reversible jeans that give you extra outfit options in one, I have them all. For me, it's all about convenience, comfort and minimising weight (because no one likes lugging around bags when travelling). So, when I saw ghd offered a cordless hair straightener that promised to be 'Flight Friendly', I was sold. No longer would my wild hair that turns into a bird's nest at the mere whisper of the word humidity be an issue while travelling. I could whip out my compact, travel-friendly hair straightener and slick that unruly hair back down where it belonged. It was sleek, compact, and sold with promises of 'hybrid co-lithium technology' and 'flight-friendly' status in line with IATA guidelines on carriage of portable electronic devices. Additionally, it fully charges in just two hours and comes with a heat-resistant case for safe storage. And all for a starting price of $475 AUD. It was in my cart and purchased faster than I could say ghd. Perfect! I tried it out at home first, and it did everything it promised. So, it was the first thing I packed in my checked-in bag ahead of my trip to New Zealand. I used it daily throughout my week-long adventures around Northland, and when it came time to fly home to Brisbane from Auckland, I had it packed safely in my checked-in bag again. This is where my lesson in lithium batteries, international regulations – and why even 'flight-friendly' doesn't always mean airline-approved – began. I returned home to Brisbane and discovered a note in my suitcase from the New Zealand Aviation Security Service, saying they had 'confirmed the inspected item was unsuitable for air carriage and the item was removed', listing 1 ghd Hair Straightener. I was devastated, not only at the loss of a $475 personal item (gulp), but also that I'd lost my handy travel companion. Undeterred (and still committed to good hair days on the road), I replaced the confiscated unit with the same model before a trip to Japan. This time, I decided to follow what I believed were IATA-aligned guidelines more closely and packed it in my carry-on bag. Departing Australia, there was no issue. The straightener passed through security at Brisbane Airport, and I used it during my stay in Tokyo without trouble. But when I went to fly from Haneda to Sapporo, I was stopped at screening. The ghd straightener was swiftly and unapologetically confiscated. Two hair straighteners down and a day into Hokkaido's 40-degree summer heat with a frizzy mass of hair, I decided to go sleuth on the subject of 'what can and cannot be taken on a flight'. According to the Aviation Security Service (AvSec) website, they now prohibit certain cordless hair straighteners from being packed in either carry-on or checked baggage — unless they meet specific safety conditions. Under the new guidelines, cordless styling tools without a flight-safe mode — such as the ghd Unplugged — are no longer allowed on flights from New Zealand. The issue stems from their battery configuration. If a device doesn't have a way to disconnect the heating element from the battery (either via a removable battery or a flight-safe tag), it poses a potential fire hazard. By contrast, devices like the Dyson Corrale, which include a flight mode that isolates the battery, are permitted on board — provided the flight-safe tag is removed before travel. Standard plug-in hair straighteners powered by mains electricity are unaffected by the changes and can continue to travel in both checked and carry-on luggage. It seems several other airports are following suit, with these updated policies focusing on the fire risk posed by battery-powered heating devices. Many airlines and airport security agencies have strict and varying rules around battery-powered devices, particularly those containing lithium-ion or lithium-metal batteries, due to fire risk. Even if the device is powered off, certain types of lithium batteries are not allowed in checked baggage at all. And in carry-on luggage, regulations can differ by country and even by airport. When I put my recent experience to ghd customer care, while they were 'sorry' for my experience, the decision whether the device can be taken on board or not 'rests with individual airlines and airport authorities, whose policies may vary.' 'The ghd unplugged fully complies with IATA guidelines for portable electronic devices,' the statement read. 'As you've experienced, some security teams may confiscate devices containing non-removable lithium batteries despite compliance. Unfortunately, this is outside ghd's control. As outlined in the safety guidelines included in the packaging, we recommend contacting your airline prior to travel for advice on how to carry your ghd unplugged.' What this experience taught me is that 'flight-friendly' doesn't mean universally accepted. Even if a brand markets a device as compliant with international air travel guidelines, interpretation of those rules can vary dramatically between countries — and airport security has the final say. Had I known, I likely would've saved myself the cost of two cordless straighteners and the inconvenience of dealing with inconsistent enforcement. For travellers who rely on styling tools, consider packing a corded straightener or one with removable batteries instead. And always check your airline's dangerous goods information page before packing. Because the only thing worse than a bad hair day … is losing your favourite straightener to airport security, twice.
Health Line
3 hours ago
- Health
- Health Line
Eating Right for Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Knee
Key takeaways Eating certain foods can help keep your knee joints healthy and reduce inflammation, which may slow down the progression of osteoarthritis. Keeping a moderate weight is very important because extra weight can put more stress on your knees and increase inflammation in the body. Vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants found in colorful fruits, vegetables, and spices can help protect your joints and reduce osteoarthritis symptoms. Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee happens when cartilage wears away in a joint, and the bone starts to erode. Apart from tissue damage, you'll probably start to experience pain and inflammation. Some dietary choices can help you take care of your joints. In this article, find out what you can eat to help boost the health of your knee joints. How food helps OA How and what you eat may affect the development of osteoarthritis. Scientists say that when inflammation occurs, the body produces molecules known as free radicals. Free radicals form in the body in response to toxins and natural processes, including inflammation. When too many free radicals build up, oxidative stress results. Oxidative stress can contribute to cell and tissue damage throughout the body. This includes damage to the synovium and cartilage, which play a role in cushioning the knee joint. Oxidative stress can also trigger further inflammation. Antioxidants are molecules that can help protect the body from free radicals. They're present in the body, and you can also obtain them from plant-based foods. Researchers don't know exactly how free radicals and oxidative stress affect OA, but some have suggested that consuming antioxidants may help. Foods to eat Various nutrients may help boost joint health and reduce inflammation. The following foods may help delay the onset or progression of osteoarthritis: fruits and vegetables, which provide antioxidants low-fat dairy foods, which contain calcium and vitamin D healthy oils, such as extra virgin olive oil These foods are a part of an anti-inflammatory diet. Foods to avoid Some foods can increase the risk of oxidative stress. Foods that may have this effect include: highly processed foods foods that contain added sugar unhealthy fats, such as trans fats and saturated fats red meats Eating these foods could increase levels of inflammation. The importance of losing weight According to guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology and the Arthritis Foundation, maintaining a healthy weight is essential for managing or reducing the risk of osteoarthritis of the knee. This is because: Having extra weight puts additional pressure on the knee joint. Scientists have found a link between obesity and inflammation. Body fat produces hormones and chemicals that can increase levels of inflammation. Ways of reducing or managing weight include: Dine in. Dining in can help you better manage what you eat and how meals are prepared. Opt for healthy options when dining out. Choose a salad or other light option when you eat out. Also, steer clear of all-you-can-eat and buffet lunches. Limit your portions. A simple step that can help you limit your portions is using a smaller plate. Take just one serving. Put enough on your plate the first time so you won't be tempted to take more. Wait at least 20 minutes before going back for a second helping. It takes 20 minutes for your stomach to signal your brain that you're no longer hungry. Avoid the dessert aisle. Instead, stock up your shopping cart with fresh fruits and vegetables. Color your plate. Fill up half your plate with fresh vegetables of various colors. Avoid fat- and sugar-heavy processed foods. Opt for fruit-based desserts and make your own salad dressing with lemon juice and olive oil. Learn more here about the impact of body weight on knee pain. Vitamin D and calcium Some scientists have suggested that vitamin D may help prevent or manage osteoarthritis, but the findings have been mixed. A 2019 review didn't find any evidence that vitamin D can prevent osteoarthritis from progressing but concluded that it may help relieve joint pain in people who have low levels of vitamin D. Another study found lower levels of osteoarthritis damage in people with high levels of calcium in their blood. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. Consuming foods with these nutrients may offer some protection. You can boost your vitamin D levels through controlled, daily exposure to sunlight, but some vitamin D–rich foods also provide it. Foods that contain vitamin D, calcium, or both include: seafood such as wild-caught salmon, cod, sardines, and shrimp canned fish, such as tuna fortified milk and other dairy products eggs yogurt green leafy vegetables Other foods that either contain or are fortified with vitamin D or calcium are: orange juice breakfast cereals tofu Current guidelines do not recommend taking vitamin D supplements for osteoarthritis, due to the lack of evidence that it can help. Always discuss any supplements with a doctor before you use them, as some supplements may not be suitable for everyone. Beta carotene Beta carotene is another powerful antioxidant. You can identify it easily because it gives fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, their bright orange color. Beta carotene is beneficial for your skin, eyes, and hair. Other excellent sources include: Omega-3 fatty acids Some studies have suggested that having a higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids compared with omega 6 fatty acids may help prevent osteoarthritis. Tips for getting the right balance include: using omega-3 oils, such as olive oil, for cooking and salad dressings eating oily fish twice a week cutting down on red meats and other animal proteins consuming a quarter cup of nuts or seeds a day Omega-3s may work to reduce inflammation in your body by limiting the production of cytokines and enzymes that break down cartilage. Foods that are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids are: salmon, either wild, fresh, or canned herring mackerel, but not king mackerel sardines anchovies rainbow trout Pacific oysters omega-3-fortified eggs ground flaxseed and flaxseed oil walnuts Omega-6 fatty acids are present in: meat and poultry cereals eggs nuts and seeds some vegetable oils Current guidelines recommend not taking fish oil supplements, as there is not enough evidence that they can help. Spices The nutrients in some spices have anti-inflammatory effects, too. Among the most promising are ginger and turmeric. In one small study, 30 people who took 1 gram of powdered ginger every day for 8 weeks experienced a reduction in knee pain and improvements in mobility and quality of life. To add ginger to your diet, try the following: Grate fresh ginger into stir-fries or salad dressings. Infuse chopped ginger in boiling water to make ginger tea. Add powdered ginger to high-fiber, low-fat muffins. Add fresh or powdered ginger to cakes, cookies, curries, and apple dishes. Turmeric is a mustard-yellow spice from Asia and the main ingredient in yellow curry. It consists mainly of curcumin. Studies have shown that taking around 1 g of curcumin for 8–12 weeks may help relieve pain and inflammation in osteoarthritis. You can buy turmeric products and supplements online. Always check first with your doctor to make sure any supplements are safe for you to use.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Connie Francis' 'Pretty Little Baby' became an unexpected TikTok hit - 63 years after its release
Connie Francis was a giant of 1950s and '60s sugary-sweet pop, notching more than a dozen hits. In the months leading up to her death, announced Thursday, she experienced one more in 'Pretty Little Baby,' which has become a viral hit on TikTok six decades after its release. As of Thursday, more than 22.5 million TikTok videos have been created using the sound, often partnering videos of baby animals, toddlers, makeup tutorials and retro fashions. According to TikTok, those videos have amassed more than 45.5 billion views, globally. Celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian and North West have used it, too, with West lip-syncing along to the track. Hooky, feel-good pop songs tend to do well on TikTok, and 1962's 'Pretty Little Baby' is an exemplar of that phenomenon. Users gravitated toward the song's wholesome simplicity, sweet vocals, delicate organ and upstroke riffs. 'You can ask the flowers / I sit for hours / Telling all the bluebirds / The bill and coo birds / Pretty little baby, I'm so in love with you,' Francis swoons on the verse that has picked up steam on the platform. And all of this has transpired in mere months: According to Luminate, an industry data and analytics company, 'Pretty Little Baby' was earning just over 17,000 on-demand audio streams in the U.S. during the week ending April 10. A month later, that number had climbed to 2.4 million. That's a growth of over 7,000%. The song has earned over 29 million streams this year so far. In one popular video, which garnered over 56 million views, a user posted about baby teething hacks for first-time moms. Another user, Amari Goins, posted a video, with over 112 million views, of her 2-year-old daughter singing along to the lyrics, noting that her toddler picked up the song because of how often they heard it on TikTok. Most recently, TikTok users have begun posting covers of 'Pretty Little Baby' as part of a singing challenge, where they exaggerate Francis' performance with their own stylized vocal runs. Francis, who died at 87, herself joined TikTok as a result of her song's popularity, and her first two videos — which earned 16.3 million and 31.2 million views, respectively — furthered engagement. In her first video, posted in early June, she said she was 'flabbergasted and amazed' at the song's resurgence. 'To think that a song I recorded 63 years ago is captivating new generations of audiences is truly overwhelming for me,' Francis said in that first post, which she followed with a clip of herself lip-syncing to the song. For decades, the song lived in relative obscurity — written by Don Stirling and Bill Nauman for Francis, it was never a single and was originally released in the U.K. as the B-side of her 1962 single 'I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter.' It appears on her album 'Connie Francis Sings 'Second Hand Love,'' released the same year. More than 60 years later, the song reached No. 20 on Billboard's Digital Song Sales chart in June 2025 and hit both the Hot 100's Bubbling Under chart and the Billboard Global 200. In Francis' last TikTok video, posted late last month, she thanked the 'many wonderful artists' who paid tribute to her, and all the users who sang along with her. Peter Lemongello Jr., a singer and performer who called Francis a friend, posted a TikTok in May where he sang the song to Francis, what he wrote on Facebook was 'one of the greatest and most exciting moments of my career so far.' The video garnered over 15 million views. 'There are no words to express this monumental loss,' he wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday. 'I will be forever grateful to her for the help she gave me with my career.' Ian Paget, a TikTok creator, posted a tearful video Thursday and said he hopes Francis and her family 'have felt that love from the younger crowd learning who she is.' The TikTok popularity of 'Pretty Little Baby' prompted her label Republic/UMe Records to reissue versions Francis had sung in French, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish in 1962. Bruce Resnikoff, president and CEO of UMe, wrote in a statement that the global catalog division was saddened but took 'comfort in knowing how joyful and fulfilled she felt in these last few months, as a new generation discovered her music and celebrated her legacy.' In May, as the song took off, Francis thanked TikTok and its users for 'the wonderful, and oh so unexpected, reception' in a Facebook post. As for her reaction to having a 'viral hit'? She continued: 'Clearly out of touch with present day music statistics terminology, my initial response was to ask: 'What's that?' Thank you everyone!' Maria Sherman And Itzel Luna, The Associated Press
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Connie Francis' 'Pretty Little Baby' became an unexpected TikTok hit — 63 years after its release
Connie Francis was a giant of 1950s and '60s sugary-sweet pop, notching more than a dozen hits. In the months leading up to her death, announced Thursday, she experienced one more in 'Pretty Little Baby,' which has become a viral hit on TikTok six decades after its release. As of Thursday, more than 22.5 million TikTok videos have been created using the sound, often partnering videos of baby animals, toddlers, makeup tutorials and retro fashions. According to TikTok, those videos have amassed more than 45.5 billion views, globally. Celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian and North West have used it, too, with West lip-syncing along to the track. Hooky, feel-good pop songs tend to do well on TikTok, and 1962's 'Pretty Little Baby' is an exemplar of that phenomenon. Users gravitated toward the song's wholesome simplicity, sweet vocals, delicate organ and upstroke riffs. 'You can ask the flowers / I sit for hours / Telling all the bluebirds / The bill and coo birds / Pretty little baby, I'm so in love with you,' Francis swoons on the verse that has picked up steam on the platform. And all of this has transpired in mere months: According to Luminate, an industry data and analytics company, 'Pretty Little Baby' was earning just over 17,000 on-demand audio streams in the U.S. during the week ending April 10. A month later, that number had climbed to 2.4 million. That's a growth of over 7,000%. The song has earned over 29 million streams this year so far. In one popular video, which garnered over 56 million views, a user posted about baby teething hacks for first-time moms. Another user, Amari Goins, posted a video, with over 112 million views, of her 2-year-old daughter singing along to the lyrics, noting that her toddler picked up the song because of how often they heard it on TikTok. Most recently, TikTok users have begun posting covers of 'Pretty Little Baby' as part of a singing challenge, where they exaggerate Francis' performance with their own stylized vocal runs. Francis, who died at 87, herself joined TikTok as a result of her song's popularity, and her first two videos — which earned 16.3 million and 31.2 million views, respectively — furthered engagement. In her first video, posted in early June, she said she was 'flabbergasted and amazed' at the song's resurgence. 'To think that a song I recorded 63 years ago is captivating new generations of audiences is truly overwhelming for me,' Francis said in that first post, which she followed with a clip of herself lip-syncing to the song. For decades, the song lived in relative obscurity — written by Don Stirling and Bill Nauman for Francis, it was never a single and was originally released in the U.K. as the B-side of her 1962 single 'I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter.' It appears on her album 'Connie Francis Sings 'Second Hand Love,'' released the same year. More than 60 years later, the song reached No. 20 on Billboard's Digital Song Sales chart in June 2025 and hit both the Hot 100's Bubbling Under chart and the Billboard Global 200. In Francis' last TikTok video, posted late last month, she thanked the 'many wonderful artists' who paid tribute to her, and all the users who sang along with her. Peter Lemongello Jr., a singer and performer who called Francis a friend, posted a TikTok in May where he sang the song to Francis, what he wrote on Facebook was 'one of the greatest and most exciting moments of my career so far.' The video garnered over 15 million views. 'There are no words to express this monumental loss,' he wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday. 'I will be forever grateful to her for the help she gave me with my career.' Ian Paget, a TikTok creator, posted a tearful video Thursday and said he hopes Francis and her family 'have felt that love from the younger crowd learning who she is.' The TikTok popularity of 'Pretty Little Baby' prompted her label Republic/UMe Records to reissue versions Francis had sung in French, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish in 1962. Bruce Resnikoff, president and CEO of UMe, wrote in a statement that the global catalog division was saddened but took 'comfort in knowing how joyful and fulfilled she felt in these last few months, as a new generation discovered her music and celebrated her legacy.' In May, as the song took off, Francis thanked TikTok and its users for 'the wonderful, and oh so unexpected, reception' in a Facebook post. As for her reaction to having a 'viral hit'? She continued: 'Clearly out of touch with present day music statistics terminology, my initial response was to ask: 'What's that?' Thank you everyone!'
Associated Press
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Connie Francis' 'Pretty Little Baby' became an unexpected TikTok hit — 63 years after its release
Connie Francis was a giant of 1950s and '60s sugary-sweet pop, notching more than a dozen hits. In the months leading up to her death, announced Thursday, she experienced one more in 'Pretty Little Baby,' which has become a viral hit on TikTok six decades after its release. As of Thursday, more than 22.5 million TikTok videos have been created using the sound, often partnering videos of baby animals, toddlers, makeup tutorials and retro fashions. According to TikTok, those videos have amassed more than 45.5 billion views, globally. Celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian and North West have used it, too, with West lip-syncing along to the track. Hooky, feel-good pop songs tend to do well on TikTok, and 1962's 'Pretty Little Baby' is an exemplar of that phenomenon. Users gravitated toward the song's wholesome simplicity, sweet vocals, delicate organ and upstroke riffs. 'You can ask the flowers / I sit for hours / Telling all the bluebirds / The bill and coo birds / Pretty little baby, I'm so in love with you,' Francis swoons on the verse that has picked up steam on the platform. And all of this has transpired in mere months: According to Luminate, an industry data and analytics company, 'Pretty Little Baby' was earning just over 17,000 on-demand audio streams in the U.S. during the week ending April 10. A month later, that number had climbed to 2.4 million. That's a growth of over 7,000%. The song has earned over 29 million streams this year so far. In one popular video, which garnered over 56 million views, a user posted about baby teething hacks for first-time moms. Another user, Amari Goins, posted a video, with over 112 million views, of her 2-year-old daughter singing along to the lyrics, noting that her toddler picked up the song because of how often they heard it on TikTok. Most recently, TikTok users have begun posting covers of 'Pretty Little Baby' as part of a singing challenge, where they exaggerate Francis' performance with their own stylized vocal runs. Francis, who died at 87, herself joined TikTok as a result of her song's popularity, and her first two videos — which earned 16.3 million and 31.2 million views, respectively — furthered engagement. In her first video, posted in early June, she said she was 'flabbergasted and amazed' at the song's resurgence. 'To think that a song I recorded 63 years ago is captivating new generations of audiences is truly overwhelming for me,' Francis said in that first post, which she followed with a clip of herself lip-syncing to the song. For decades, the song lived in relative obscurity — written by Don Stirling and Bill Nauman for Francis, it was never a single and was originally released in the U.K. as the B-side of her 1962 single 'I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter.' It appears on her album 'Connie Francis Sings 'Second Hand Love,'' released the same year. More than 60 years later, the song reached No. 20 on Billboard's Digital Song Sales chart in June 2025 and hit both the Hot 100's Bubbling Under chart and the Billboard Global 200. In Francis' last TikTok video, posted late last month, she thanked the 'many wonderful artists' who paid tribute to her, and all the users who sang along with her. Peter Lemongello Jr., a singer and performer who called Francis a friend, posted a TikTok in May where he sang the song to Francis, what he wrote on Facebook was 'one of the greatest and most exciting moments of my career so far.' The video garnered over 15 million views. 'There are no words to express this monumental loss,' he wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday. 'I will be forever grateful to her for the help she gave me with my career.' Ian Paget, a TikTok creator, posted a tearful video Thursday and said he hopes Francis and her family 'have felt that love from the younger crowd learning who she is.' The TikTok popularity of 'Pretty Little Baby' prompted her label Republic/UMe Records to reissue versions Francis had sung in French, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish in 1962. Bruce Resnikoff, president and CEO of UMe, wrote in a statement that the global catalog division was saddened but took 'comfort in knowing how joyful and fulfilled she felt in these last few months, as a new generation discovered her music and celebrated her legacy.' In May, as the song took off, Francis thanked TikTok and its users for 'the wonderful, and oh so unexpected, reception' in a Facebook post. As for her reaction to having a 'viral hit'? She continued: 'Clearly out of touch with present day music statistics terminology, my initial response was to ask: 'What's that?' Thank you everyone!'
