What women are talking about today, Wednesday February 2.

In exciting news (depending on how you feel about the series) it looks like And Just Like That will be getting a second season, thanks to some interesting clues dropped in a new interview.

And Kourtney Kardashian responded to followers who called her out for photoshopping her Instagram photos, in the same week as her sisters Kim and Khloe were caught doing the same thing. The conversation around the damage caused by famous women photoshopping their images is a tale as old as time, but there’s a sentence in Kourtney’s response we can’t look away from.

Plus, Jennifer Lopez has given her first in-depth interview about Ben Affleck since the stars rekindled their infamous romance and it’s not following any of the relationship rules we’ve come to expect from Hollywood It Couples.

Listen to Laura and Kee discuss all this on Mamamia's entertainment podcast, The Spill, now. Like right now: 

2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame has spoken for the first time about those non-smiling photos taken of her next to Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

In a Twitter post, she wrote: “The survival of abuse culture is dependent on submissive smiles and self-defeating surrenders. It is dependent on hypocrisy.”

The survival of abuse culture is dependent on submissive smiles and self-defeating surrenders. It is dependent on hypocrisy.

My past is only relevant to the extent that I have seen—in fact I have worn—the consequences of civility for the sake of civility.

— Grace Tame (@TamePunk) February 1, 2022

She noted that her choice to not smile was not “an act of martyrdom in the gender culture war”, referencing the fact that so many of us women are sick of being told to smile (often by men).

Rather, it was a stand against “the visibility rotting status-quo” that impacts “all of us”. 

Go Grace!

For more, please read: 

'If you're telling Grace Tame to smile, you might just be part of the problem.

On Monday, Whoopi Goldberg was heavily criticised following “reprehensible” comments she made about the Holocaust on TV talk show The View.

Goldberg suggested the Holocaust was “not about race: these are two groups of white people.”

In response, the network behind The View announced Goldberg will be suspended for two weeks, saying they have asked the showbiz veteran to take the time to “reflect” and “learn” about the impact of her words.

It comes as just last week we honoured International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

To read more about the Holocaust, and the rise of antisemitism in Australia today, you can read my colleague Rebecca’s article:

Planned escape routes, Neo-Nazis and violence: Antisemitism is rising in Australia.

Some of the biggest questions around COVID right now are not so much about the virus itself, but rather 'long COVID' - the symptoms people are experiencing months after contracting the virus. Fatigue. Brain fog. Loss of taste and smell.

It's a distressing aspect of the pandemic, and one that has been shrouded in mystery - with health experts struggling to answer why some patients recover soon after infection, while others struggle with lingering symptoms for months on end.

In this article, we look at some of these findings and ask GP Dr Imaan Joshi from Skin Essentials to break it down for us.

READ: There are 4 factors that could lead to 'long COVID'. Here's what to look out for.

I’m tired. 

That’s not true. I’m exhausted. 

It’s the singular thought that bobbles around in my head as I chug down my fresh fruit smoothie – spiked with a powder that promises luminous skin, and açai that apparently improves brain function, and spinach, because, well, it’s green and bonus points if you put something green in a smoothie, right?

But I also know that no matter how many super-boosted smoothies I drink – or the coffees that preceded them – I’m still gonna feel… absolutely stuffed. 

You see, it’s February and we’re meant to be recharged and motivated for the year ahead, because #goals. And I do have moments of inspiration; fleeting moments, that shine and allure… and then they…. evaporate. A mirage of ambition. And that’s fine, I guess, because maybe I’ll just take a nap instead?

But let me just say, this is not me in “normal” times. I’m the girl that gets heart flutters when entering Officeworks, because the opportunities for productivity and organisation are Quite. Literally. Endless. 

But mental capacity has been achieved and this chica is on hiatus. Instead, intentions, objectives and resolutions have given place to just – getting through the day.

I guess that’s what two years of living in a pandemic does to you. To us.

Read my piece on 'The Great Exhaustion' here.

Early last week, Channel 10 political reporter Peter van Onselen wrote an opinion about the behaviour of 2021 Australian of the Year, Grace Tame.

Tame had been filmed and photographed looking visibly uncomfortable with the prime minister during an Australia Day function at The Lodge.

In The Australian, Peter van Onselen asked: Grace Tame: If your disdain for the PM is so great why go?

The reporter labelled the childhood sexual abuse survivor's behaviour as "embarrassing," describing her as "ungracious, rude and childish". 

Then, yesterday, he had his own moment in front of Scott Morrison.

For the full opinion, read below.

Peter van Onselen: If you were going to be rude to the PM at the National Press Club, why go at all?

In some heartwarming news for your Wednesday, a Queensland property manager has helped raise thousands for an elderly pensioner at risk of eviction.

Jamie Wernert, a property manager with Schmith Estate Agents on the Gold Coast, started a GoFundMe page to help elderly tenant, Denis, find a new home after the owners could no longer offer him another lease agreement.

Wernert decided to set up the fundraiser after putting a call out to a number of different Facebook groups, including the Life Uncut Discussion Group.

"Denis is finding himself in a very tough situation not only having to find somewhere to move, but also having the funds to get a removalist as his pension only allows very minimum money left each week as it is," she wrote on the fundraiser.

"He is the most lovely soul (and tenant) and I hope by raising some money for him, it may help him ease the finance stress which his struggling health does not need."

Image: GoFundMe.

The fundraiser has now raised over $43,000 and counting (you can visit the page here if you want to help it along too). 

"I am absolutely speechless," Wernet told Mornings on ABC Radio Brisbane on Tuesday. 

"Yesterday, I met with Dennis in our office to try and make a few calls and help him. And I showed him and it was at $6,000 and he was blown away."

Wernet is now working to find Denis a new home and judging by the photo she shared (see above), he's pretty chuffed about it.

This post deals with child loss and might be triggering for some readers.

Good morning everyone! Anyone else especially tired this morning? It's very difficult to get enough sleep when there are approximately 13 hours of reality TV you need to watch each evening.

Obviously, MAFS is back. Have you been reading Mamamia's recaps? 

Then there's Australian Survivor: Blood V Water, and The Voice: Generations too. And we can expect a new season of SAS Australia later this month too. It's a lot, and I'm still trying to figure out what I can bring myself to get invested in this year. Can the networks chill? We have lives, you know!

Beyond stressing about lack of sleep, the story I cannot stop thinking right now is Nick Cannon announcing that he is expecting his eighth child.

The pregnancy news comes three months after Cannon announced the passing of his youngest child, five-month-old Zen, which is absolutely heart-wrenching.

This story is fascinating to me for a few other reasons: this will be Cannon's eighth child with a fifth woman, and he seems to have really... ramped up the baby-making in the past couple of years.

Cannon was previously married to Mariah Carey for eight years, from 2008 to 2016. The pair welcomed twins on April 30, 2011 - Moroccan and Monroe - who are now 10 years old.

He has two children with model Brittany Bell: a son, Golden, born February 2017, and a daughter, Powerful Queen, born December 2020. And in 2021, he welcomed twins with DJ Abby De La Rosa just nine days before the birth of Zen.

Now, he's preparing to have another with model Bre Tiesi.

I would LOVE to know what holidays look like in the Cannon household.

If you're as confused as I was, my work pal Isabella Ross has put together a really comprehensive overview of the whole thing. You can read it here: Two months after the death of his 5-month-old son, Nick Cannon is expecting baby number 8.

If this has raised any issues for you or if you would like to speak with someone, please contact the Sands Australia 24-hour support line on 1300 072 637. Help is always available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 for support or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.

Good morning, I don't know about you but I am still reeling at the leaked text messages between Scott Morrison and former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. 

That's where we are going to start this morning as we look at the five biggest stories making news: 

1. Berejiklian allegedly calls Scomo a "horrible person." 

The news broke yesterday afternoon at the Press Club, with Network 10 journalist Peter Van Onselen telling Scomo (to his FACE) that Berejiklian had allegedly said in a text that he was a "horrible, horrible person."

Awkward. Imagine saying that about your boss and then having them find out?!?! EEEK. 

In one text, Berejiklian reportedly described Morrison to an unnamed current Liberal cabinet minister as “a horrible, horrible person” who she “did not trust” and that he “more concerned with politics than people”. 

The unnamed cabinet minister then reportedly called the PM a “fraud” and a “complete psycho”.

This was Scott Morrison's reaction:

#Exclusive: Scott Morrison has responded to a leaked text exchange between Gladys Berejiklian and a Liberal MP that slammed him as a "fraud" and "psycho".

"I obviously don't agree with it. And I don't think that's my record," he said at the National Press Club. #auspol #NPC pic.twitter.com/eQQIdwhsxZ

— 10 News First (@10NewsFirst) February 1, 2022

In a statement, Berejiklian reiterated her “strong support” for the PM: she didn’t deny making the comments but said she had “no recollection of such messages”.

2. 100,000 signatures on petition against Brisbane school.

The chorus of voices speaking out against a controversial enrolment contract from a Brisbane Christian college is growing following a warning by the Human Rights Commission.

A petition demanding the Citipointe Christian College recall their enrolment contract has now reached more than 130,000 signatures, as Queensland ministers, the Brisbane Lord Mayor and former students share their dismay. 

"It's unacceptable for myself as a parent of a non-binary child, and it's very distressing," Education Minister Grace Grace said on Tuesday.

The contract, portions of which have been posted on social media, says the college believes any form of sexual immorality is sinful, and lists gay and bisexual acts alongside incest and adultery among others.

Here's some content we published yesterday to get you across this story:

• 'I'm gay and went to Catholic school. Citipointe's homophobia will cause deep mental anguish.'
• Everything we know about Citipointe Christian College's controversial new enrolment contract.

If you think you may be experiencing depression or another mental health problem, please contact your general practitioner. If you're based in Australia, 24-hour support is available through Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.

3. Her name was Arnima Hayat. 

The family of 19-year-old Arnima Hayat has told 9News they tried to stop her from seeing and moving in with her husband, alleged killer Meraj Zafar. 

The young woman was found murdered in her North Parramatta unit on Sunday, with her body found in a bathtub filled with acid.

The young couple married only weeks before her death and moved into the unit six months ago. She was an aspiring surgeon. 

Her parents told 7NEWS, since moving in with Zafar, they lost contact with her. 

If this post brings up any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. It doesn’t matter where you live, they will take your call and, if need be, refer you to a service closer to home.

4. Morrison seeks to defend record on women (puts foot in it... again).

Further to the awkward text messages, Scott Morrison has sought to defend his record on women insisting federal parliament is a safer place since the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins in a minister's office.

He pointed to an independent complaints mechanism set up last year in the wake of Brittany's alleged rape, and mandatory sexual harassment training which had been implemented for coalition ministers and staffers.

But then he said this: "it provides an environment should, God forbid, that ever happen to anyone ever again, that they will find a situation very different to the one Ms Higgins found herself in."

He was rightly called out by Brittany herself for his phrasing....

Oh, wow.

Sounds like someone is in need of some empathy training.

— Brittany Higgins (@BrittHiggins_) February 1, 2022

5. NZ reporter in Afghanistan allowed home.

A pregnant New Zealand journalist who was stranded in Afghanistan by her home country's COVID-19 border policy will return home after her government finally offered her a pathway back.

The government offer amounted to a backdown by New Zealand after officials had earlier insisted Charlotte Bellis needed to reapply for a spot in the country's bottlenecked quarantine hotels after rejecting her application.

"I will be returning to my home country New Zealand at the beginning of March to give birth to our baby girl," Bellis said in a statement on Tuesday. 

"I thought back to August, and how brutally ironic it was, that I had asked the Taliban what they would do to ensure the rights of women and girls. And now, I am asking the same question of my own Government." https://t.co/GvXiUr2YuU

— Mamamia (@Mamamia) January 31, 2022

Speaking of Afghanistan, in an appointment that's shocked everyone, the Taliban government has named doctor Malalai Faizi as the director of a maternity hospital in Kabul in the first ever appointment of a woman as the head of an Afghan public institution under the Islamist administration.

The appointment is an unprecedented moment in the Taliban's policies towards women since the Islamists seized power on August 15 as women had been excluded from public offices so far.

Dr. Malali Faizi has been announced as the Head of Malali Gynecology Hospital. While it’s a female focused hospital so the head of it needs to be a female Dr. still, I felt great by hearing this news.
Dr Malalai is the first female head of an office announced by Talib Government. pic.twitter.com/FMDt2sdhPR

— Zarifa Ghafari (@Zarifa_Ghafari) January 31, 2022

And you're up to date!

We'll keep popping back into this feed throughout the day to keep you on top of the stuff you need to know.

- With AAP

The UK has one of the highest death tolls from Coronavirus in the entire world, which has seen the Brits live through some of the harshest and longest lockdowns over the past two years.

Despite the many restrictions, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his colleagues have been outed for having allegedly dozens of illegal parties while members of the public, and even the Queen, remained isolated.

The Quicky looks into just how many social gatherings happened at 10 Downing Street since 2020, and speaks to an expert in British politics to find out whether Mr Johnson will survive the findings of both an internal and police inquiry into the boozy events.

Feature image: AAP/Twitter.

READ:

• Tuesday's live news stream.