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"Inhumane" sign at airport shocks travellers

A sign at a New Zealand airport has sparked outrage among travellers, with the policy controlling people's emotional farewells. Photos of the sign at Dunedin Airport have gone viral, with the sign reading, "Max. hug time 3 minutes. For fonder farewells please use the car park,” in an attempt to combat airport traffic congestion. Despite the reasons behind the unusual signage, some users on Facebook slamming the “inhumane” limit on travellers’ allotted time to say goodbye to loved ones. “You can’t put a time limit on hugs! that’s inhumane,” one person wrote. Another person chimed in, “I love it. It shows warmth and compassion. My local airport it would be ‘you can’t stop there’ – there’s a £100 fine if you stop and a minimum £5.00 to drop someone off in the drop-off zone. I love Nice airport – they have ‘Kiss and Fly.’” Others also joined in poking fun at the strange new rule, with one person writing, “I can see the airport worker now … 2:56, 2:57, 2:58, 2:59 OK time to break it up!” Another joked, “In America, they don’t even want you to stop. Just come to a slow roll and push your passenger out.” The airport's CEO Daniel De Bono said that it redesigned its drop-off zone to improve safety and congestion around the terminal, telling New Zealand’s RNZ radio the change was made due to space considerations. He said, “There’s only so much space we have in that drop-off area and too many people are spending too much time on their fonder farewells in the drop-off area. There’s no space for others.” De Bono then citied a study that suggests a measly 20-second hug is enough to get the oxytocin and serotonin release people get from hugging, saying, “We’re not here to tell people how long they should hug for. It’s more a message of, ‘Please move onwards.’ If you’re going to spend however long, sit in the car park. You get 15 minutes free and it provides space for others who only want a 20-second hug.” Image credits: Facebook

Travel Trouble

Grandparents found hugging after being killed by fallen tree

Marcia Savage, 74, and Jerry Savage, 78, had already turned in for the night as Hurricane Helene roared outside. Their 22-year-old grandson, John Savage, had checked in on them to make sure they were fine after he heard a snap. “We heard one snap and I remember going back there and checking on them. They were both fine, the dog was fine." he recalled. But not long after disaster struck and John and his father heard a "boom" as one of the largest trees on their property in Beech Island, South Carolina came crashing down on top of his grandparents' bedroom, killing them. “All you could see was ceiling and tree,” he said. “I was just going through sheer panic at that point.” John said his grandparents were found hugging one another in the bed, in what he described as a final heroic act from Jerry who tried to protect his wife. “When they pulled them out of there, my grandpa apparently heard the tree snap beforehand and rolled over to try to protect my grandmother,” he said. Jerry did all sorts of handy work but worked mostly as an electrician and carpenter. Jerry went “in and out of retirement because he got bored”. “He’d get that spirit back in him to go back out and work," his grandson said. Marcia was a retired bank teller who was very involved in their church. Their daughter Tammy Estep said Marcia loved cooking for her family, especially for Thanksgiving, and was known for her banana pudding. The couple were high school sweethearts and were married for more than 50 years, with Tammy recalling that "their love was immediate, and it was everlasting”. “They loved each other to their dying day,” John said. The couple are among more than 150 people confirmed dead in one of the deadliest storms in US history. A GoFundMe organised for their funeral expenses says that they were survived by their son and daughter, along with their four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Images: Facebook

Caring

"I miss her hugs": British acting legend shares heartbreaking loss

Actor Warwick Davis has shared the heartbreaking news of his wife's death. The actor, known for his roles in Harry Potter and Star Wars, took to social media to share the news of his wife Samantha's death, who passed away at the age of 53. “Her passing has left a huge hole in our lives as a family. I miss her hugs”, Warwick, 54, said. He added, “She was a unique character, always seeing the sunny side of life she had a wicked sense of humour and always laughed at my bad jokes. “Without Sammy, there would have been no Tenable quiz show, no Willow series. No Idiot Abroad Series 3.” Warwick said Samantha was his “most trusted confidant and an ardent supporter of everything I did in my career”. The couple’s children, Harrison and Annabelle, added, “Mum is our best friend and we’re honoured to have received a love like hers “Her love and happiness carried us through our whole lives”. Warwick and Samantha met on the set of the movie Willow in 1988 and got married three years later. Samantha had achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder that causes disproportionate dwarfism. Warwick has previously opened up about his wife’s health after she was rushed to hospital with sepsis in 2018, and had to undergo several different surgeries to stabilise her condition. Warwick, co-founder of charity Little People UK, has often spoken out about the health battles related to his condition, as well his wife’s. He was born with Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SED), an extremely rare genetic form of dwarfism, which has been inherited by both their daughter Annabelle and son Harrison. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

What your hugs say about your relationships

When you go in for a hug with a loved one (or a not-so-loved one), chances are you aren’t thinking too much about it. It’s a sort of natural, automatic response, right? Well, it turns out your hugs actually say a lot about your relationship with the person you’re embracing. <a style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;" href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00426-018-0985-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A study </a>has found that the side we lean to when hugging someone speaks volumes about how we feel towards them. German researchers analysed more than 2,000 hugs in departures and arrivals at an airport and compared them to 500 embraces between strangers. What they found was that during more intense, emotional hugs we lean to the left with our left arm reaching out first to our partner’s right arm, while in less emotionally-charged embraces we turn to the right, extending our right arm to our partner’s left arm. “This is because of the influence of the right hemisphere, which controls the left side of the body and processes both positive and negative emotions,” lead author, Julian Packheiser of Germany’s Ruhr University Bochum, said. “When people hug, emotional and motor networks in the brain interact and cause a stronger drift to the left in emotional contexts.” However, the rules change when it comes to two men embracing. In this case, researchers noticed a strong inclination towards the typically more emotionally-charged left-side hugs even when in neutral situations. “Our interpretation is that many men consider embraces between men to be something negative; therefore, they tend to perceive hugs as negative even in a neutral situation, such as saying hello,” the study’s co-author Sebastian Ocklenburg explained. However, some are sceptical as to the accuracy of the study, which assumed that people hugging in airport departures were feeling negative emotions while those hugging in arrivals were experiencing positive emotions. “I personally don’t buy that,” body language and communication expert Dr Lillian Glass told <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/show-me-how-you-really-feel-hugging-left-right-reveals-your-true-emotions-says-791417" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Newsweek</a>. “When you hug someone there’s a great deal of various emotions that are involved. Also, most people are statistically right-handed, so you’re going to go to the right side.” So, the next time you give someone a hug, try and notice which side you’re leaning towards and see if these findings apply to your relationships. Image credit: Shutterstock

Relationships

"We all need a big warm hug": Melissa Doyle and Kochie reunite after a decade

For the first time in nine years, Melissa Doyle has made an unexpected return to Sunrise. Melissa was all smiles on the couch as she reunited with former co-anchor Kochie on Thursday morning's show. While she is not back in the hosting chair, Mel appeared on the morning show to promote her latest TV venture. The 52-year-old shared her role as the presenter of the This Is Your Life reboot, which showcases the life of a guest celebrity, sports star, performer or high achiever in a certain discipline each episode, with contributions from family and friends. "It's just time for feel-good, warm nostalgia," she said of the show, which last aired on Channel Nine in 2011. "I think we all need a big warm hug, so hopefully that's what it'll do." Mel also shared an update on her personal life, revealing her son Nick is now 21 and studying abroad, while her daughter Tully, 18, just started university. "They were all born during the show!" Kochie exclaimed. "I know," Mel replied. 'Everyone knows them since they were tiny little babies. It's nice to come back and see you guys." Mel hosted Sunrise from 2002 until 2013, when she was replaced by Sam Armytage. Image credits: Sunrise

News

Health benefits of hugging, backed by science

Hugs may have more benefits than you realise The benefits of hugs go beyond just spreading joy and enjoying a good squeeze with someone you care about. It’s important to note that not everyone feels comfortable with the same level of physical touch, but, in many cases hugs are thought to positively impact both your mental and physical health. Read on for reasons you should get – and give – more hugs on the daily (under appropriate circumstances, and with consent of course). Hugs may boost immunity If you feel under the weather, hugging may help. A study published in 2014 in the journal Psychological Science found that hugs may help reduce the severity of cold symptoms. Experts from Carnegie Mellon University intentionally exposed adults in this study to a common cold virus. Then, they examined ‘the roles of perceived social support and received hugs in buffering against interpersonal stress-induced susceptibility to infectious disease.’ The results? Social support and frequent hugs seemed to predict ‘less-severe illness signs.’ Hugs may lower stress The next time you feel a conflict coming on, you may want to hug it out. A study published in PLOS ONE in 2018 found that ‘[…]both men and women may benefit equally from being hugged on days when conflict occurs.’ While additional research is needed to more fully support this stress-alleviating idea, it can’t hurt to reap this specific benefit of hugging. Hugs may increase your self-esteem If your self-esteem needs a boost, consider the benefits of hugs. It stands to reason that the feel-good gesture may help a low mood. After all, human touch signifies bonding and social connection. As a result, hugging may bolster your self-esteem by reinforcing your own ability to give and receive love. Hugging promotes trust A surge of the hormone oxytocin is yet another benefit of hugging. Oxytocin alleviates stress and promotes relaxation. It may also play a role in your ability to trust and be trusted. For example, an older study published in Nature, a leading international weekly journal of science, points to an association between oxytocin and a “substantial increase in trust among humans, thereby greatly increasing the benefits from social interactions.” Hugging may reduce depression Hugging can be critical to emotional well-being and actually helps release our own natural “anti-depressant,” serotonin, according to relationship expert, Dr Deb Castaldo. “We also know that hugging our loved ones promotes healthy emotional attachment and intimacy, which is the foundation of a happy, healthy long-term relationship,” she says. Hugging may be critical for survival, in some cases While most adults will be fine without a hug (although they are nice), physical touch is sometimes critical to physical and emotional survival. Dr Castaldo explains that babies, and sometimes even animals, that are deprived of physical touch may become so depressed they stop eating. “This condition is called ‘failure to thrive.’ To boost your well-being and health and ensure happy relationships, get your hugging on,” Dr Castaldo says. “I recommend hugging until you’re completely relaxed, a minimum of six minutes per day.” Add six seconds of kissing to the mix, and she says “you’re good to go.” Hugging shows appreciation In a relationship, it’s easy to take your better half for granted. One of the overlooked benefits of hugging is that it can re-affirm your love. “It’s valuable to know that something as simple as time spent touching or hugging can have measurable neuro-biological consequences,” explains marriage and family therapist, Dr Stan Tatkin. Hugging can also be a great way to smooth over a disagreement. “Moreover, giving each other the touch you need may well have the capacity to reverse damages,” he says. Plus, giving hugs is one of the many ways to boost your self-confidence instantly. Written by Erica Lamberg. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/culture/health-benefits-of-hugging-backed-by-science" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> Image: Getty Images

Caring

Pete Evans puts forward “hugging” and “self-love” as "the best vaccine in the world"

Celebrity chef Pete Evans has suggested that “hugging” and “self-love” could be "the best vaccine in the world" during an interview with an anti-vaxxer political candidate. The former My Kitchen Rules judge spoke candidly with Allona Lahn, a Sunshine Coast candidate in the Queensland state election for the Informed Medical Options Party, in a controversial interview last week. Ms Lahn’s is a self-described “natural health advocate and freedom of choice ambassador” who believes “it is time to investigate Australia’s mass drugging agenda with vaccination and fluoride being first and foremost,” as per her website. The pair discussed a wide range of controversial topics, including COVID-19, vaccination, home schooling and politics. He kicked off the interview by sharing an experience he had while walking his dog, saying that along his trek, he saw a mobile vet van that advertised microchipping and vaccinations. “It’s so fascinating when you see it’s right in our faces,” he said. “They talk about ‘microchipping will never happen’ (but) they’re doing it to our pets.” The two also openly discussed the “insanity” surrounding a potential COVID-19 vaccine. Evans went on to claim that he had spoken with “so many experts around the world” who told him the coronavirus crisis was over. “If people want to have a vaccine then so be it. That’s their prerogative, it’s their choice,” he said. “And if other people don’t want to have a vaccine then that’s their choice too. “The insanity about a COVID-19 vaccine, I mean, I’ve spoke with so many experts from around the world — they’re all basically saying it’s gone now, it’s done, it’s finished. “Anybody that doesn’t believe that it’s finished is insane or they have an agenda, because next year another virus or another form of whatever it will be will travel the world again. “It won’t be COVID-19, they’ll make up some other f...ing name, excuse my language. “I’ve heard that they’re calling it COVID-21 next.” Ms Lahn told the chef that his theories “resonated with her”. Evans also took aim at Australian political leaders such as Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, saying the political system was “crumbling under its own weight”. “The system is corrupt. Every single which way you look at it.” He also highlighted the ICAC hearings in New South Wales, and used the turmoil surrounding the Victorian government as an argument - saying politics in general is “a sh..show” and saying “they are clowns without a ringleader”. “They’re actors on a stage, and very bad ones at that. They don’t even know their lines.” The TV star also went on to say that politicians and public figures such as billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates are not the vaccination experts they claim to be. “Maybe these experts know that there are other options out there rather than mandatory vaccines,” he said. “Maybe sunlight could be the best vaccine in the world. Maybe good nutrition could be the best vaccine in the world. “Maybe self-love, maybe hugging and connecting to other human beings and looking at different points of view could be the best vaccine in the world for our community moving forward.”

Body

Ita Buttrose says millennials lack resilience and “need hugging”

ABC chairwoman Ita Buttrose has said young workers lack resilience and “almost need hugging”. Speaking at the Australia-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Buttrose said the younger generation has grown more demanding of the office culture. “The younger workers like more transparency,” she said, as reported by the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/buttrose-says-millennial-workers-lack-resilience-and-need-hugging-20200722-p55ekh.html">Sydney Morning Herald and The Age</a>. “It seems to me that today’s younger workers, they need much more reassurance and they need to be thanked, which is something many companies don’t do. “They’re very keen on being thanked and they almost need hugging – that’s before COVID of course, we can’t hug any more – but they almost need hugging.” The 78-year-old media figure said younger workers “seem to lack the resilience that I remember from my younger days” and suggested it might have resulted from “bad parenting”. “We older parents have very set views about resilience and, you know, I think it’s something we need to foster in everybody from a very young age,” she said. The comments were made under Chatham House Rule, which is meant to prevent the identification of the person, and were relayed to the outlets by sources attending the event. Buttrose has received backlash over the comments, citing the lack of secure employment in recent years. Former ABC’s Four Corners journalist Sophie McNeill wrote on Twitter: “Lack resilience? How insulting. Us millennials at the ABC were usually paid less but expected to do so much more than many of our older colleagues, plus many are on insecure contracts for years – [Buttrose] clearly needs to go and meet more of them.” “Strange thing to say in the middle of ABC job losses, while youth unemployment is at a 23 year high,” posted Shalailah Medhora, journalist at ABC’s national youth broadcaster Triple J. Fellow Triple J journalist Avani Dias said Buttrose declined her team’s invitation to speak with “young workers … the very young people who are more likely to have lost work during the pandemic and be in unstable jobs than older Australians”.

News

Man makes “cuddle blanket” to hug his gran amid coronavirus pandemic

A man in the United Kingdom has shown he will go to great lengths to make sure his loved ones still get their daily dose of happiness despite the strict social distancing measures in place due to coronavirus. 29-year-old plasterer Antony Cauvin’s came up with an innovative method to maintain social distancing rules by placing a humble shower curtain between him and his granny. Antony altered the curtain to have arms so he could still hug his nana without touching her. He dubbed his ingenious invention as the “Cuddle Curtain” with his wife posting a video of it in use on Facebook on the weekend. Since then the clip has gone viral, with over 68,000 likes. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmiriam.butt.92%2Fvideos%2F10163787073690551%2F&show_text=0&width=267" width="267" height="476" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> Cauvin explained to Sky News that he first tested the idea with his parents. “We giggled about it but thought, “this could actually work”,” he said. In the touching video, Cauvin gets to hug his gran Lily for the first time in months. Cauvin disinfects the sleeves after every hug and requires that he and his grandma wear gloves for hygiene purposes. “We never touched any part of Grannan at all – I’m a believer in social distancing and don’t want to put anyone at risk,” he said. “When you’ve known someone all your life, to be able to hug that person again… it brought a tear to everybody’s eye.”

International Travel

Just hug me: Rare light-hearted moment for Meghan Markle caught on film

It is safe to say it has not been a smooth week for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after the release of their documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey. However, in typical royal style, the Duchess took it in stride when attending the One Young World Summit’s opening ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall in London. It was there she shared a beautiful and heartwarming moment when she insisted a presenter hug her instead of curtsying. <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B39GdQtneUM/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B39GdQtneUM/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by HELLO! Magazine (@hellomag)</a> on Oct 23, 2019 at 1:57am PDT </div> </blockquote> A video posted to the Sussex Royal Instagram Account showed the moment a founder of the nonprofit, Kate Robertson, began to dip into a respectful curtsy to greet the Duchess. However the royal mother had her arms outstretched in preparation to embrace Robertson, who she has known since 2014. The Duchess appeared to shake her head "no" as Robertson began to curtsy, instead pulling her up to finish the warm hug. It is the first appearance Markle has made since the release of her’s and Prince Harry’s controversial documentary which outlined their struggle of being a modern royal couple. <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B37w7v7pHzy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B37w7v7pHzy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal)</a> on Oct 22, 2019 at 1:26pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Both the Duke and Duchess were incredibly candid about navigating a relationship so closely followed by the British press. The Duchess revealed a friend warned her to end her relationship with Prince Harry when they first began dating. "My British friends said to me, 'I'm sure he's great, but you shouldn't do it, because the British tabloids will destroy your life,'" she recalled. "And I very naively - I'm an American and we don't have that there - said, 'What are you talking about? That doesn't make any sense! I'm not in tabloids!' I didn't get it." Markle also revealed that while she "really tried to adopt the British sensibility of a stiff upper lip," she has struggled with the ongoing scrutiny. "It's not enough to just survive something, right?" she said. "That's not the point of life. You've got to thrive, you've got to feel happy." Scroll through the gallery above to see Duchess Meghan’s sweet moment in pictures.

Beauty & Style

"I miss to be hugged": Celine Dion's emotional confession

Award-winning singer Celine Dion has confirmed that she’s still “not ready to date” after her husband René's passing back in 2016. Dion sat down with NBC’s Sheinelle Jones on the TODAY show and admitted that she pours herself into her work and a new tour instead of dating. “I don't date,” Dion said matter-of-factly. “I'm not ready to date. I'm very lucky and happy to have so many people in my surrounding to make me — they make me laugh, but I miss to be touched.” Dion also said that she misses being “hugged”. “I miss to be hugged. I missed to be told "you're beautiful." I miss what a boyfriend and I miss what a husband would do.'” Dion also recalled her last conversation with her husband of more than 12 years back in 2016. “He called me before a show and give me a little message: ‘I love you’ and when I came home that night, it was very, very late ... And I didn't want to come and wake him up to give him a kiss, to wake him up and then he can't find sleep again. “And the next morning, he was gone. So, we talked before. And he sent me a text message. So we said goodbye.'” <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BPO3dQkgotI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BPO3dQkgotI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Il y a un an, le 14 janvier 2016, René Angélil nous quittait. Son souvenir reste à jamais gravé dans nos cœurs. Today, January 14th, it’s been a year since René left us. He will always be in our hearts. -Team Céline ❤</a> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/celinedion/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Céline Dion</a> (@celinedion) on Jan 13, 2017 at 9:01pm PST </div> </blockquote> Despite Dion focusing on the love and support of her close friends and her three children, she still finds things difficult. “This is my first English album without René,' she said. 'When I say without René, without René physically, because René will always be part of me.” “Before I talk, he goes through my mind,” she said. 'Would he do that? Is it too edgy? Would he be like approving that?’ I believed in him so much. And I still do. “But there's a point that he's not here anymore. I have to take charge of my life.” Scroll through the gallery to see Celine Dion, her late husband René and their three children through the years.

Music

"Racism is taught": Heartwarming video of toddlers hugging each other goes viral

A video of two toddlers running down the street to give each other a hug has gone viral, garnering headlines across the globe. The video, posted by Michael Cisneros to social media last week, shows his two-year-old son Maxwell running towards and hugging his best friend Finnegan after unexpectedly spotting him on the New York street. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMichaelDCisnerosNYC%2Fvideos%2F10217659556234176%2F&show_text=0&width=476" width="476" height="476" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> Cisneros told CBSN New York that the two boys hug every time they see each other. The father said the video has attracted thousands of views and shares online because of the growing racial tensions in the US and around the world. “Honestly, I think it has gotten so big because of the race issue in our country and also around the world,” Cisneros said. “Racism is taught. Hatred is taught. These two boys don’t see anything different within each other. They love each other for who they are and that’s exactly how it should be. “We just want to raise loving, caring boys, and I think the world likes to see a little bit of hope.” Cisneros said Maxwell and Finnegan first became friends when their parents met at a restaurant a year ago. He added that today the toddlers celebrate their birthdays together and are always “super excited to see each other, even if they’ve only been apart for a day or two”.

Caring

Mick Schumacher hugs F2 driver Anthoine Hubert’s family after tragic death

Motorsport is mourning the death of Formula Two driver Anthoine Hubert, who was killed in a heavy crash during a race at the Belgian Grand Prix on Saturday. Drivers observed a minute’s silence in memory of Hubert alongside the late French racer’s mother and brother with heads bowed in the Spa-Francorchamps paddock on Sunday. Mick Schumacher, son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, embraced Hubert’s family before they stood in silence to honour the young sportsman. Schumacher was taking part in the same F2 qualifying session when Hubert’s collision occurred. He joined other racing drivers in paying their respects to the Frenchman. “Fate is brutal. The loss is endless. Anthoine, we miss you already,” Schumacher wrote on Twitter. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Fate is brutal. The loss is endless. Anthoine, we miss you already. — Mick Schumacher (@SchumacherMick) <a href="https://twitter.com/SchumacherMick/status/1167870176613715969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Mick Schumacher, Anthoine Hubert family, Belgian Grand Prix tragedy <a href="https://t.co/zBtkn8YR7P">https://t.co/zBtkn8YR7P</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sports?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sports</a> — THE PRESS (@pres5ar) <a href="https://twitter.com/pres5ar/status/1168150008069316608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2019</a></blockquote> Five-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton, who led a minute’s silence ahead of the Grand Prix, shared a tribute on his Instagram account. “Yesterday a great young talent passed away here. Let’s remember him today,” he wrote on Sunday. “Rest in peace Anthoine Hubert.” Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc said Hubert’s death was “a big shock”. “We lose someone on track, a track where you need to race the day after. It’s obviously quite challenging to then close the visor and go through the exact same corner [where the crash happened].” <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B11gQn0oWAI/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B11gQn0oWAI/" target="_blank">I can't believe it. Rest in peace.</a> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/charles_leclerc/" target="_blank"> CHARLES LECLERC</a> (@charles_leclerc) on Aug 31, 2019 at 10:01am PDT </div> </blockquote> Hubert died at the age of 22 after his car collided with 20-year-old US driver Juan Manuel Correa’s car at an estimated speed of 160mph (257kph). Correa suffered fractures to both his legs and a minor spinal injury, and is recovering in intensive care at the CHU Liege hospital.

Caring

How the power of a hug can help you cope with conflict

Friends, children, romantic partners, family members – many of us exchange hugs with others on a regular basis. New research from the United States, <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0203522">published in PLOS</a>, now shows hugs can help us to cope with conflict in our daily life. Hugs are considered a form of <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1088868316650307">affectionate touch</a>. Hugs occur between social partners of all types, and sometimes even strangers. They often arise in positive contexts – while greeting, celebrating an achievement, or simply enjoying the presence of a loved one – but they can also occur in negative contexts when support is needed. Affectionate touch buffers anxiety associated with potential negative events. For instance, in one <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2006.01832.x">study</a>, brain activity among participants who held their romantic partner’s hand during a stressful situation reflected less intense threat responses compared to that of participants who held a stranger’s hand, or no hand at all. Hugs and conflict The <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0203522">research</a>, led by Carnegie Mellon’s <a href="https://murphypsychology.com/about/">Michael Murphy</a>, reveals the important role that hugs can play in buffering against the negative impact of interpersonal conflict such as disagreements and arguments. This study used data from 404 generally healthy adults. They were interviewed via phone by a researcher at the end of the day, each day, for 14 days. Participants indicated whether or not they had experienced any interpersonal tension or conflict during their day, and whether anyone had hugged them in the past 24 hours. They also rated their experience of both positive affect (such as happy, calm, cheerful) and negative affect (for instance, unhappy, angry, tense) that day. Most participants (93 per cent) reported receiving a hug on at least one day of the interview period. The same was true for interpersonal conflict (69 per cent). Four per cent of total days of interview data involved conflict with no receipt of a hug. Ten per cent of days involved conflict and receipt of a hug. How did interpersonal conflict and hugs contribute to emotional experience? On days when individuals experienced conflict when they had had a hug, they experienced less negative affect and more positive affect than on days when they experienced conflict when they had had no hug. The pattern for negative affect even carried over to the next day. You might wonder how robust these results were. When the researchers examined participant sex, they found a few overall results (e.g., men reported both more conflict and more hug receipt than women), but the key finding above held for both sexes. Further, in all analyses, the researchers controlled for participants’ age, ethnicity, marital status, education, and the number of unique individuals participants had interacted with on a given day – thus ruling out many alternative explanations. What we don’t yet know is the causal order of this relationship. The study design only assessed whether a hug was received and whether interpersonal conflict had occurred. So, it’s unclear whether the hug preceded or followed from the conflict. We also don’t know whether the hug and the conflict involved the same person, nor do we know the type or severity of the conflict. So we should be careful about advocating “<a href="https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hug%20it%20out">hugging it out</a>”. Those caveats aside, this research fits within a broader <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763408001723">field of research</a> that points to the importance of affectionate touch – for both physical and social wellbeing. For instance, other <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797614559284">findings</a> from this research team show that receiving hugs reduces the likelihood of catching the common cold, and reduces the severity of symptoms even if infected. Why are hugs beneficial? Why might hugs be beneficial? Being hugged leads to release of the hormone <a href="https://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2016-02-03/the-health-benefits-of-hugging">oxytocin</a>, setting off a range of downstream outcomes that could explain the benefits of hugging. Oxytocin is involved in a <a href="https://www.nature.com/news/neuroscience-the-hard-science-of-oxytocin-1.17813">complex range</a> of social processes, but has been implicated romantic bonding and trust. Other research suggests the benefits of hugs and affectionate touch more generally rest within the cardiovascular system. One <a href="https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/1802/c19b1e7fb2e3a61966e37101c9ed0b329c32.pdf">study</a> found lower systolic blood pressure in the husbands of couples asked to increase the frequency of affectionate touch with one another. Other <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301051104001632">research</a> documents lowered blood pressure and heart rate among women who receive frequent hugs. Psychologically, hugs and affectionate touch more generally communicate social support. We hug to convey that we care, that we’re grateful for a benefit received, that we share in an achievement. Receiving a hug therefore serves as a signal that the social relationship is characterised by closeness and concern. It’s no surprise then, that relationships characterised by frequent affectionate touch are <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0146167213497592">happier relationships</a>. Hug specifics Not all hugs are alike. Does variability in hug characteristics matter? Does giving hugs carry similar benefit as receiving hugs? Some <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031938417301336">research</a> indicates that being on the receiving end of affectionate touch has the most benefit. Chances are, though, that fully reciprocal hugs are equally beneficial. Can the benefits of affectionate touch carry beyond humans? The answer is yes. Hugging and affectionate touch with <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8172336">robots</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/therapy-dogs-can-help-reduce-student-stress-anxiety-and-improve-school-attendance-93073">therapy dogs</a> and <a href="http://time.com/4728315/science-says-pet-good-for-mental-health/">pets of all types</a> produce a range of positive outcomes, likely supported by the same underlying mechanisms as human to human touch, such as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3408111/">oxytocin release</a>. Does the number of hugs and the number of people you hug matter? More hugs are better, at least among <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15740822">romantic couples</a>, but we don’t yet know if more frequent hugs with a larger number of people is important. Does the duration of the hug matter? Most hugs are <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2011/01/hugs-follow-3-second-rule">three seconds</a> long, but evidence suggests that hugs of <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4131508.stm">20 seconds</a> are those that kick off the cardiovascular benefits mentioned above. So seek out a hug. Chances are, you’ll be better for it.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/104318/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Written by Lisa A Williams, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, UNSW. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-power-of-a-hug-can-help-you-cope-with-conflict-104318">The Conversation</a>.

Relationships

Helen Mirren wows in figure-hugging red gown

Helen Mirren has stepped out in a stunning figure-hugging red gown to promote her new horror movie Winchester. The 72-year-old looked typically glamorous in a floor-sweeping red frock with sequined sleeves that showed off her curves. She finished the look with statement earrings and perfectly coiffed hair. <img width="375" height="563" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/14/11/492F053500000578-5389865-All_eyes_on_Helen_The_stunning_star_showcased_her_effortless_ele-a-5_1518608470340.jpg" alt="All eyes on Helen: The stunning star showcased her effortless elegance as she arrived in a gothic-inspired bus to the screening" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-45201de0638c3e"/> <img width="368" height="553" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/14/11/492F074D00000578-5389865-Capping_it_off_Her_look_was_completed_with_red_peep_toe_heels_an-a-7_1518608470398.jpg" alt="Capping it off: Her look was completed with red peep toe heels and a box clutch" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-b9ddd0561ac80760"/> Promoting the thriller in Italy, Mirren, who plays an eccentric heiress haunted by lost souls, got right into character posing for photos holding a dagger. <img width="363" height="546" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/14/09/492F678D00000578-0-image-a-30_1518598912464.jpg" alt="Menacing: Helen Mirren was pictured playing up to her new menacing role in Winchester on Tuesday, as a party was held to celebrate the film in Rome, Italy " class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-92ceb181b261fc94"/> The film Winchester will be out in cinemas next week.

Beauty & Style

Why you shouldn’t force children to hug or kiss relatives this Christmas

The Girl Scouts of America have released a reminder to parents in the lead up to Christmas not to force children to hug or kiss relatives this holiday season. The organisation published a <a href="http://www.girlscouts.org/en/raising-girls/happy-and-healthy/happy/what-is-consent.html" target="_blank">blog post</a> this week arguing that forcing kids to hug relatives and family friends could muddy the waters when it comes to the notion of consent later in life. “Have you ever insisted, ‘Uncle just got here—go give him a big hug!’ or ‘Auntie gave you that nice toy, go give her a kiss,’ when you were worried your child might not offer affection on her own? If yes, you might want to reconsider the urge to do that in the future,” the blog post reads. The blog continues: “Think of it this way, telling your child that she owes someone a hug either just because she hasn’t seen this person in a while or because they gave her a gift can set the stage for her questioning whether she “owes” another person any type of physical affection when they’ve bought her dinner or done something else seemingly nice for her later in life.” Of course, many children will want to hug and kiss their family members, but the organisation urges parents and guardians to read their children and if they’re reticent, not to force them. The blog post adds: “Of course, this doesn’t give [children] license to be rude! There are many other ways to show appreciation, thankfulness, and love that don’t require physical contact.”

Family & Pets

"Can I give you a hug?" Prince William shows soft side while comforting victims

In recent years, Prince William (along with Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cambridge) has made it his mission to raise awareness of mental illness and put an end to bullying. So, when he met up with two victims of cyberbullying – an issue close to his heart – the dad-of-two was understandably emotional. The 35-year-old hosted campaigners Lucy Alexander, who lost her son to suicide due to online abuse, and Chloe Hine, who attempted suicide herself at the age of just 13 as a result of cyberbullying, at Kensington Palace. “It is so brave of you both to speak so honestly about it," the prince told Lucy and Chloe, who shared their heartbreaking stories in the video below. <blockquote class="twitter-video"> You can watch The Duke share his motivation to tackle cyberbullying with Lucy and Chloe here → <a href="https://t.co/FFWwQMy1Tc">pic.twitter.com/FFWwQMy1Tc</a> — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/930811035526860800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2017</a></blockquote> “I know it can’t have been easy, but I can’t thank you enough. I only wish that neither of you had gone through what you’ve gone through.” At the end of the touching clip, William proved he’s certainly inherited his mother Princess Diana’s empathy, asking, “Can I give you both a hug?" Watch the video for yourself and tell us in the comments, what do you think of the young royals’ crusade against bullying? Image credit: @KensingtonRoyal/Twitter.

Caring

Twin babies hug each other in their sleep

A pair of newborn twin siblings have melted hearts after their older sister shared a photo of them hugging each other in their sleep. “My mum left my twin brother n sister like this then when she got back from picking up my sister from school, they ended up like that,” wrote twitter user @mmryaah. <img width="500" height="363" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/37042/capture_500x363.jpg" alt="Capture (33)"/> <img width="498" height="669" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/37044/capture_498x669.jpg" alt="Capture (34)"/> She was soon targeted on the internet after people thought the mum has left the babies alone. The older sister was forced to clarify that the twins' Nana had stayed with them while mum did the school run. Image credit: Twitter/mmryaah

Family & Pets

Dog-hugging cat becomes an internet sensation

While children’s cartoons would have you think otherwise, cats and dogs can get along (in the right circumstances) and today we’ve got the footage to prove it! In this adorable video that was posted by US-based Twitter user Cole Ferry, his cute little cat reaches over to its canine companion and gives it an adorable hug. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> make this go viral <a href="https://t.co/39eL0Ypr7B">pic.twitter.com/39eL0Ypr7B</a> — cole ferry (@ColeFerry) <a href="https://twitter.com/ColeFerry/status/860198481939615744">May 4, 2017</a></blockquote> And just to prove it wasn’t a fluke, Ferry filmed it happening again. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://twitter.com/ColeFerry">@ColeFerry</a> it happened again <a href="https://t.co/AivaFDxOqv">pic.twitter.com/AivaFDxOqv</a> — cole ferry (@ColeFerry) <a href="https://twitter.com/ColeFerry/status/863117754676727809">May 12, 2017</a></blockquote> How lovely. Have you ever had a pair of pets become best friends? Video credit: Twitter / Cole Ferry

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How the power of a hug can help you cope with conflict

Helen Mirren wows in figure-hugging red gown

Why you shouldn’t force children to hug or kiss relatives this Christmas

"Can I give you a hug?" Prince William shows soft side while comforting victims

Twin babies hug each other in their sleep

Dog-hugging cat becomes an internet sensation

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