U.N. meeting debates aviation emissions goal through cleaner fuels
By Allison Lampert (Reuters) -Global aviation officials on Friday sought to agree an interim target for cutting carbon emissions from
2023-11-24 22:54
Police probing bomb threat at major New Jersey mall - governor
Police in New Jersey are investigating a bomb threat at the American Dream Mall and all shoppers are
2023-11-24 22:46
Retailers offer big deals for Black Friday but will shoppers spend?
Expect big discounts and other enticements to lure shoppers to stores for Black Friday
2023-11-24 22:28
Ornamental Health: 8 Tips for Decorating Your Christmas Tree
From stringing lights to hanging ornaments, here’s how to keep your holiday tree from becoming a flocking mess.
2023-11-24 21:17
Retailers hope to draw picky Black Friday shoppers to stores
By Katherine Masters NEW YORK (Reuters) -Retailers are hoping forecasts for a cool, dry Black Friday across much of the
2023-11-24 20:20
‘Smelling a mince pie could kill me’ says woman allergic to Christmas scents
A woman so allergic to the scent of Christmas that even “smelling a mince pie could kill [her]” almost died after a festive trip to a garden centre sparked an asthma attack. Anne Murray, 61, an engineer who lives alone in Lanark, Scotland, was diagnosed with severe asthma as a baby and has been allergic to traditional festive staples such as citrus and cinnamon since she was a child. According to the NHS, severe asthma means the condition is uncontrolled even when sufferers are taking their medication. When they are exposed to an allergen that irritates the airways, it can trigger asthma symptoms. Murray realised the seriousness of her condition at the age of 11 when her mother, Mary, collapsed and died from an asthma attack at the age of 34. Seven years later, Murray’s childhood best friend, Julia, also died from an asthma attack. Both deaths made her “live life to the full” and she has since done a bungee jump and travelled the globe. Murray had a near-death experience herself in November 2016 when she smelt “pine cones impregnated with citrus” in a garden centre. “I had difficulty breathing,” she recalled. “I grabbed my inhaler and ran quickly out of the garden centre.” On the drive home, her condition worsened. “It felt like someone was sitting on my chest.” Once home, she used her nebuliser – a device that enables her to breathe by giving her medicine as a mist – but could not get to sleep that night as she kept coughing, and whenever she laid down, it felt like she was “choking”. Two days later, and still struggling to breathe, she visited her GP and was barely able to stand up. An ambulance was called straight away, and Murray was given oxygen and strong nebulisers, before returning home with seven days’ worth of steroids. “They all told me it was a close call so it was lucky I had my nebuliser on me.” Since that incident, Murray has finished her Christmas shopping by September to avoid being near festive smells in shopping centres, and often turns down invites to Christmas parties. “It can be quite isolating,” she says. “If friends want to go out around Christmas, I have to ask them to go to different places where I know are safe. I can’t eat or be anywhere near things that smell like Christmas, or eat anything Christmassy like mince pies and stollen cake – I don’t touch them with a 10-foot barge pole. Just smelling a mince pie could kill me. So many things have Christmassy spices that you wouldn’t normally think of, too.” Following the dual losses of her mother and best friend, Murray learnt that she would have to make day-to-day adjustments to her life in order to maintain her own safety. When travelling, she often has to call the airline in advance to request that passengers only eat or peel oranges once they get off the plane. She also has to inform all her work colleagues not to wear festive perfume in the office. “I wish shops would put up signs saying they have festive scents in store,” she adds. “It would be so helpful for me, and stop them getting complaints too.” Today, she makes sure to keep her own Christmas planning low-key. “I don’t go anywhere near supermarkets and that sort of thing – it’s not worth the risk,” she says. “It can be embarrassing a lot of the time – if I go to a restaurant and tell them about my allergies, I get turned away and we have to find somewhere else to go. Or, I get loads of staff around me and I just don’t want the attention.” This year, Murray is looking forward to spending Christmas Day alone and visiting her dad, Archie, and stepmum, Alice, in Scotland. She says: “I still like Christmas, and I’m excited to be on my own this year – I can put my feet up and watch the telly, and eat whatever I want.”
2023-11-24 18:49
Shoppers Get Ready to Splash Out on Christmas: The London Rush
Hi, I’m Leo from Bloomberg’s UK Breaking News team, catching you up on this morning’s business stories. Britons
2023-11-24 16:58
Thailand Turns to Chinese Influencers to Allay Tourist Concerns
Thailand plans to tap Chinese social-media influencers and companies like Huawei Technologies Co. and Alipay to promote the
2023-11-24 16:46
Deutsche Sees Any Rate Cut by RBI Boosting India’s Bond Market
An interest rate cut by India’s central bank next year can boost the country’s bond market that has
2023-11-24 16:29
Namibia’s Oil Company Strikes Gunvor Deal After Record Loss
Namibia’s state oil company signed a supply deal with Gunvor Group Ltd. after reporting an “unprecedented” loss because
2023-11-24 15:53
Foxconn Founder Gou Set to Drop Out of Taiwan Presidential Race
Foxconn Technology Group’s billionaire founder Terry Gou is quitting the race to become Taiwan’s next president, people familiar
2023-11-24 12:55
Christian McCaffrey's big first half carries NFC West-leading 49ers to 31-13 victory over Seahawks
Christian McCaffrey rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, and the San Francisco 49ers built a 21-point lead by halftime, rolling to a 31-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks
2023-11-24 12:50