Latest news with #MirrorOnline
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Daily Mirror
WhatsApp finally confirms 'exciting' free upgrade millions have been waiting for
WhatsApp is back with a big update that finally brings its messaging app to the iPad. It's been a very long time coming but WhatsApp has finally confirmed its popular app is now available on iPad. Yes, owners of these popular tablets now have access to a dedicated application rather than having to use workarounds such as WhatsApp via the web. "We're excited to announce that WhatsApp is now available on iPad," WhatsApp said in an update sent to Mirror Online. The Meta-owned firm has also confirmed that this upgrade has been one of its "biggest requests" and those with an iPad should find the all-new application available right now on the Apple App Store. Along with answering the usual texts and joining group chats, WhatsApp also says it has made WhatsApp for iPad ideal for multitasking so users can get more done. "Take advantage of iPadOS multitasking features such as Stage Manager*, Split View, and Slide Over to view multiple apps at once, so you can send messages while browsing the web, or research options for a group trip while on a call together," the chat service confirmed. Another bonus is that WhatsApp also works with Apple's Magic Keyboard accessory and the Apple Pencil stylus. It will also sync to all other devices so there's no worries about missing a message which switching between an iPhone, Mac or the iPad. WhatsApp is also boasting that it gets the same security which makes sure all chats stay safe. "WhatsApp for iPad uses our industry leading multi-device technology to keep everything in sync across your iPhone, Mac and other devices while protecting your personal messages, calls and media with end-to-end encryption, no matter what platform or device you're messaging," WhatsApp added. "Our extra layers of privacy, such as chat lock, mean that you can have private conversations in confidence even if you share your iPad with others." If you fancy giving it a go, head to the App Store on your iPad now
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Fourth Wing fans must read magical new fantasy by BookTok star Hazel McBride
A Fate Forged in Fire is perfect for fans of Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and House of the Dragon by George R. R. Martin From Fourth Wing and A Court of Thorns and Roses to Powerless, there's no shortage of existing romantasy series to get into. But for readers looking for something new to sink their teeth into, the first book in a new duology featured in Goodreads' list of the most anticipated 2025 romantasy novels could be the answer. A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride is a Celtic-inspired romantasy. Tìr Teine was once a territory built on matriarchal rule, but it has been without a female heir for centuries. Aemyra, a blacksmith's daughter gifted with rare fire magic, has hidden in the shadows, waiting for the king to die so she can bond to his dragon and protect her fellow people. But when her plan is foiled, Aemyra finds herself in the middle of a dangerous game of politics and plots, involving Prince Fiorean a dragon rider and fire wielder who also happens to be her biggest adversary. Speaking to Mirror Online ahead of the book's publication, Hazel, who has over 70,000 followers and 6.5 million likes on TikTok, discussed how TikTok has helped boost the popularity of the romantasy genre in recent years. "There's always corners of the internet that can be toxic and I think you have to go in with an open mind," she said. "But as a bookish community in general, they're so supportive and they really do just come together. And I think it is a community made up primarily of women, I think that's what's also helped to give rise to the romantic genre as well. "It is a genre primarily written and read by women. So it's only natural that we talk about it and recommend it to our friends. "I think there's a certain safety in it as well, especially potentially when we're seeing a rise of violence against women in our reality, to read a man written by a woman. It's a nice escape to read about these female main characters who are being treated so incredibly well and having all of their needs met. It has this kind of escape of yes, this is our hope, this is what we want, which I think is really lovely." Being a TikTok creator comes with its challenges too, however, with Hazel explaining: "The way TikTok works, it's not like other social media, like Instagram or Facebook and YouTube [where] people who are seeing your content are like 90 per cent people who follow you so they know your backstory, they know who you are, they won't be so quick to take things out of context. "Whereas on TikTok you're just fed random videos most often from people you've never seen before. And if that's the only video that they see, they might form a different opinion of it, or the algorithm could feed it to the wrong side of TikTok." Sharing her advice for other authors on TikTok, Hazel continued: "But I think it's I think it's overwhelmingly positive. But I think any author that's using it needs to protect their mental health and understand that it's okay to have a boundary here, whether that's, you know, I only post a certain amount every week, I only talk about certain things, et cetera." A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride is published in hardback at £20 by Renegade Books on May 27, 2025. You can find out more and order it here.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mastercard paying customers up to £70 each even if you don't have one
Mastercard is set to pay out £200million in compensation after a huge new legal ruling from the Competition Appeal Tribunal. The payouts are due after consumers lost out financially due to Mastercard's "unlawfully high" card fees, reports MirrorOnline. The long-running case has been ongoing for the past ten years, with Walter Merricks, a former financial ombudsman, having first launched the legal claim in 2016. READ MORE: Government could change £425 car tax for UK drivers after demands Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp , click the link to join According to Merricks, customers are set to receive payments worth up to £70 each from the overall £200million settlement. British consumers will soon be able to register to receive a payment by completing an online form, regardless of whether they have ever held a Mastercard. Merricks said it was anticipated payments will be made to consumers who registered before the end of the year. But it was not clear how the money would be distributed to those affected. The case is one of the biggest settlement of a group litigation for the benefit of UK consumers. The final figure is significantly lower than the £10 to £15billon Merricks claimed shoppers were originally owed. He said: "I started this case because I believed Mastercard's fees paid by retailers for processing card transactions had been unlawfully high and virtually all UK consumers had lost out for long by periods paying higher prices than they should have done as retailers passed on those costs. "As the evidence came to be known through the litigation process, this was the position only in a relatively small proportion of transactions and the settlement reflects that. "The settlement that has been finally approved represents a fair and just outcome for UK consumers. "On any view, recovering £200million by way of a settlement for UK consumers is a huge sum, and that will translate into a meaningful impact in the pockets of UK consumers. "During the long course of the case which involved winning a key Supreme Court decision, I have established important precedents to ensure that other collective actions that have followed mine, will have a greater prospect of succeeding. "And I am pleased to have forged this new path towards a UK regime that allows consumers to get meaningful access to justice, and that will act as a deterrent to companies from acting unlawfully. "I am proud to have achieved a substantial settlement sum, indeed the largest settlement for a group of UK consumers through the English courts."
Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones' friendship 'blossoms into a deeper connection'
Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones' close friendship is developing into a deeper connection, it has been claimed. The single stars - close pals thanks to their time together on Morning Live - have both had their hearts broken after Gethin's engagement to Katherine Jenkins was called off, and after Helen split from ex-husband Richie Myler back in 2022. They were spotted leaving the BAFTAs together last weekend, and got tongues wagging as they laughed together at the bash. Now it has been reported that they are both growing close and there are suggestions that sparks are starting to fly between them. "Helen and Gethin have an extremely close working relationship and there's a feeling in recent months their friendship has blossomed into a deeper connection. They're both keen to keep a lid on it to avoid public scrutiny but there's no denying their closeness both on and off screen," a source told MailOnline. MirrorOnline have approached reps for the stars. Welshman Gethin has not given up hope of finding the one but has been single since 2023 having dated First Dates star Cici Coleman two years ago. The Strictly Come Dancing star Helen, 40, has revealed that her stint on the BBC One competition allowed her to grieve her marriage which ended abruptly as she admitted that she was 'blindsided' when Richie announced that he was in a new relationship just a few short months after their split. Helen and Leeds Rhinos rugby player Myler had welcomed their third child, Elsie, four months before ending the marriage. Helen shocked her followers at the time when she broke the upsetting news on Instagram. "Very sad to say that Richie and I are no longer a couple. He has left the family home. We will be doing our best to co parent our small children," she wrote. Following their shock split, rugby league Richie, 34, began dating Stephanie Thirkill - whose millionaire father Andrew Thirkill is president of Richie's club, Leeds Rhinos. Since going public with their romance last year, Richie and Stephanie have since welcomed a baby of their own. Gethin met fellow Welsh celebrity Katherine on the set of Strictly, where he was a contestant and she performed as a guest. Their romance led to an engagement in February 2011, but by the end of that year, they had parted ways, announcing their separation on Twitter and expressing their shared heartbreak. Following their split, Katherine admitted to being emotionally devastated during her tour, describing herself as a "total mess" and "in pieces". In a candid conversation with Tom Bryant on The Mirror's Outdoors in Mind podcast, Gethin revealed that he struggled with depression after the breakup. He shared a particularly poignant moment: "I remember doing BBC Radio 5Live and going into the toilet at 5.30am going, 'All right. Come on. Just focus for the next three hours, and then you can go back to being sad again.' I definitely had a bad bout of depression during that time."
Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Eurovision 2025 live updates as EBU boss addresses Celine Dion rumours
It's the night we've all marked in our calendars – the Eurovision Song Contest is finally here! As we prepare to switch on our tellies for a night of epic live performances, with perhaps a special one from a music icon, Mirror Online will be bringing you all the latest updates right here. Tonight's show, which will see UK's entry Remember Monday take to the stage against 25 other international acts, will be available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The action kicks off on TV at 8pm – but plenty more is going on before the live finale show. For the first time ever, Eurovision will be going inter-galactic, with a special episode of Doctor Who. The sci-fi programme will air The Interstellar Song Contest just before the grand final. During the special episode, the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) will travel to the 803rd contest, which is co-hosted by Rylan Clark. Doctor Who star Ncuti, 32, was also set to be a spokesperson for Eurovision, but he has since withdrawn from the competition due to "unforeseen circumstances" – however some fans have speculated this is due to Isreal's inclusion in the competition. Amid all the off-stage drama and conflict, could the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest final in Switzerland be pulling out the big guns? Thanks to her private jet being spotted in the area, Eurovison - and general - legend Celine Dion is rumoured to be involved in tonight's show in some way. Celine, who won for the Swiss in 1988 with Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi, could take to the St Jakobshalle stage, amid her stepping back from touring due to health issues. The It's All Coming Back To Me hitmaker is no stranger to making surprise appearances at big cultural events - famously popping up on top of the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Olympics last year. She did appear during the first semi-final on Tuesday, where she sent a video message saying she wants 'nothing more' than to be in Basel, and recalling her triumph as a 'life-changing moment'. Switzerland had not seen a winner until Nemo last year. At a press briefing on Saturday, Eurovision director Martin Green, from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), commented on Celine, saying: 'My answer was going to be, Father Christmas exists, you'll have to wait and see.' Bit of a nothing answer from Martin there but we'll have to do what he says and wait and see! The Remember Monday girls are giving fans a reminder that they need to get voting this evening! Ahead of tonight's performance, the group – who are set to perform their tune What The Hell Just Happened – shared their excitement for the show as they wrote a post on Instagram, which read: "Hey everyone, if you're reading this, firstly, thank you for supporting us on this crazy journey. "We've come from singing silly little songs in carparks during lockdown to the craziness that is the Eurovision Song Contest and we wouldn't be here without all your support and encouragement. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. "WE DO NEED YOUR HELP THOUGH! If you can spare 2 minutes, head to and vote#08 for the UK and our song 'What The Hell Just Happened'. You can vote up to 20 times each so tell your friends and family to help us if you can! See you tonight! Aaaaaaaa!!!" The Eurovision Song Contest famously claims to be apolitical, citing its slogan 'United By Music' but the annual event has been unable to distance itself from global events over recent years. In May 2022, the EBU made the decision to kick Russia out of the competition due its invasion of neighbouring country Ukraine. On this basis, many have called Israel to also be banned due to its ongoing actions in Palestine. Last year saw multiple protests from activists take place, amid calls for music fans to boycott and refrain from watching the contest, and it looks like this year's final will be hit with similar demonstrations. A small group were ejected from the arena after Israeli singer Yuval Raphael's rehearsal on Thursday was disrupted by what appeared to be pro-Palestinian demonstrators with "oversized flags and whistles", and the EBU confirmed it has received a complaint from Israeli broadcaster Kan over another incident. This year, there is no ban on types of flags brought in by fans, unlike acts, but there are restrictions on their sizes, as Palestinian symbols have been seen inside the arena this week. There were pro-Palestinian protests in Basel on Sunday and Wednesday, which were attended by no more than 150 people, police said, a significant drop from Malmo 2024, which saw thousands of marchers demonstrating against Israel's inclusion. On Thursday, a protest was held against antisemitism by around 150 people, which went without incident.
