Central bank surprises see June become bumper 2023 rate hike month
By Karin Strohecker and Vincent Flasseur LONDON The world's major central banks delivered in June the biggest number
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China accuses UK of harbouring Hong Kong fugitives
The UK had criticised Hong Kong for placing bounties on eight pro-democracy activists based overseas.
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What is the TikTok summer tan filter trend?
A TikTok trend has received a mixed response online for depicting unrealistic beauty standards. The 'tanning' filter is exactly that. It alters users' complexion with a sunkissed glow, and many have taken to the platform to share the noticeable difference. In one clip that racked up over 50,000 likes, one user wrote: "My biggest red flag is that I'd rather look like an oompa loompa than be pale. This. Is. Concerning." The self-recorded footage showed the woman stunned by her newfound tan achieved by the filter. One person questioned: "Why does everyone hate on their pale skin, like, what’s the issue?" Another added, "felt this heavy," to which the TikToker responded: "The hard reality of our tanning addictions." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter In a separate clip that racked up 5.6 million views, TikToker Em (@orig_faygo) compared her before and after shots. "Proof everyone looks better with tan," she wrote as the on-screen text. @orig_faygo i finally got to tan again, the filter was my before ? [NOT A FAKE TAN] #trending #audios #real #relatable #tan #fyp #fy It comes after yet another problematic filter, the Bold Glamour makeup. The TikTok filter applies an incredibly realistic full face of makeup to users, with many suggesting it's more damaging than it's worth. Generally, filters glitch and sometimes slip away from the face. In this case, it doesn't. The filter is so advanced that if TikTok didn't disclaim it was being used in videos, viewers wouldn't know any different. In a viral video viewed over 4 million times, TikToker Joanna (@joannajkenny) urges people to not use the filter. "I don't want to say this about myself but I actually look ugly when I take this filter off," she said, adding: "I've done a lot of work to unlearn that I owe prettiness to anyone." She continued: "Here's a reminder for anyone who needs it, filtered skin is not a skin type." Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
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Federal judge blocks Florida election law that would have set limits on voter registration
A federal judge on Monday blocked a Florida election law that would have set limits on voter registration in the state.
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Flea wants to re-record most unpopular Red Hot Chili Peppers album
Flea has named their self-titled album as the one he regrets the way they made it.
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Oligarch Fridman Bemoans a Life ‘Destroyed’ by EU Sanctions
The life of Mikhail Fridman, one of Russia’s original oligarchs, was “destroyed” after he was hit by European
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Steven Gerrard Named New Manager of Saudi Football Club Al-Ettifaq
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ettifaq soccer club named former England and Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard as its new manager, the
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AllianceBernstein Joins Global Money Firms Setting Up in Dubai
AllianceBernstein LP is opening an office in Dubai, joining a raft of international finance firms flocking to the
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CTE: Brain disease diagnosed in female athlete for first time
The degenerative brain disease - chronic traumatic encephalopathy - is linked to contact sports.
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Steven Gerrard keen to bring Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho to Saudi Arabia
New Al Ettifaq manager and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is interested in bringing ex-teammates Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho to Saudi Arabia.
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China just played a trump card in the chip war. Are more export curbs coming?
A trade war between China and the United States over the future of semiconductors is escalating.
1970-01-01 08:00
TikTok's 'lettuce water' trend explained as people use method to fall asleep
Apparently lettuce has a use other than being eaten in salads and sandwiches, according to a new TikTok trend. Apparently, some people swear that lettuce water can help you fall asleep. TikToker, Shalpa Hoque tried the hack out for herself and documented her process. “So apparently drinking lettuce water makes you sleepy, sis don’t sleep so imma try it out,” she wrote in the clip. Shalpa then ripped up some of the leafy greens and stuffed them into her mug before pouring in some boiling hot water. She mixed her lettuce water with peppermint tea because she was “scared it was going to taste like sh*t.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter After leaving it to soak in the water for 10 minutes, she then takes the lettuce out and takes a sip, “it takes like nothing,” Shalpa says. Later she provides an update on how she’s feeling after the drink. “Update, I do feel slight drowsy, not hella sleepy like knockout, but I do feel sleepy.” Cut to some time later, and in another update the drink seems to have affected Shalpa more. @shapla_11 if you can’t sleep, try this #lettucewater #insomnia #lifehacks #fyp “Another update, lettuce has crack because your sis is gone,” she said in bed with her eyes closed. TikTok users seemed to be intrigued by this so-called sleep hack, as the video now has 7.2m views, and over 1.4m likes. However, Marie-Pierre St-Onge, an associate professor of nutritional medicine and the director of the Sleep Center of Excellence at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, told Insider that there is no research to prove that lettuce water helps us fall asleep. However, this has been found to be the case for rats where lettuce has helped them doze off. In a 2017 study, researchers looked at whether low and high doses of red romaine lettuce extract helped mice stay asleep longer. Results show that it worked for the rats, but it’s unclear whether TikTokers were using this particular lettuce to improve their sleep. St-Onge also questioned how effective stewing the lettuce in boiling water would be - even if it was the red romaine TikTokers were using. “How much of those lettuce extracts are you getting from water? I’m not sure,” she said. But those on the app insist they’ve been able to fall asleep quicker from it - so what’s the possible reason for this? This may be caused by the placebo effect, according to St-Onge. It’s when you convince yourself and your body that a treatment is working - even if that is not the case. “If you expect something to work, then you probably feel more sleepy,” St-Onge added. While consuming and getting wrapped up in these bizarre trends, it’s easy to forget the simple steps we can take to improve our sleep that are scientifically proven to work on humans. From reducing our screen time to reducing light, to mindfulness and physical exercise - soggy lettuce doesn’t seem quite as appealing somehow. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
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