Announcing engagement to friends

If you’re a big fan of GIFs , you’ll be happy to hear that you can now add them into your Instagram Stories. Instagram has launched the feature in the hopes of giving people a new way to enhance photos and videos on Stories. From today, users will have access to thousands of GIPHY stickers, which they can then add to any photo or video in Stories. GIFs can be searched for by key word, or you can browse trending stickers to match your mood. Instagram has launched GIF stickers in Stories ( Image: Instagram) In a blog announcing the update, an Instagram spokesperson said: “Today we're bringing the expressive language of GIFs to Instagram Stories. “Now, you can add vibrant, animated GIF stickers to any photo or video and immediately turn any moment into something fun and sharable.” To use the new feature, capture a photo or video on the Instagram app, and you should see a smiley face icon at the top of the screen. Video Loading Video Unavailable … [Read more...] about Instagram launches GIF stickers in Stories so you can send the perfect animation to your friends

Paddy and Christine McGuinness have announced they are separating after 11 years of marriage. The Top Gear presenter, 48, and former The Real Housewives Of Cheshire cast member, 34, who share twins Leo and Penelope , nine, and younger daughter Felicity, six, are focusing on being the 'best parents' to their three children as they announced they have separated. In a lengthy joint statement released on Instagram the pair stressed they felt they needed to 'clarify' after the speculation surrounding their relationship and had made the 'difficult decision' to move forward for their family. Paddy McGuinness had failed to acknowledge his wife participating in The Games publicly which was one of many hints their relationship was struggling ( Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images) The statement reads : “We hadn’t planned on sharing this publicly until we were ready but after the lack of privacy surrounding our personal life, we feel left with no other option but to clarify. … [Read more...] about Paddy and Christine McGuinness’ split statement in full as they announce their separation

Serena Williams has said she is "evolving away from tennis" and is looking to "grow her family" as she announced plans to retire. Unlike her friend Caroline Wozniacki, however, who "felt a sense of relief when she retired in 2020", Williams has admitted there is "no happiness in this topic for me". She writes in Vogue magazine: "I feel a great deal of pain. It's the hardest thing that I could ever imagine. I hate it." She continues: "I'm torn: I don't want it to be over. I love to win. I love the battle. I love to entertain." But she knows "this is it, the end of a story that started in Compton, California, with a little black girl who just wanted to play tennis". Advertisement And it appears that the US Open - beginning in New York on 29 August - may be her last tournament. The American sports star remembers "feeling the energy of the crowd", "night matches in Arthur Ashe Stadium at Flushing Meadows" and "hitting an ace on set point". Family is … [Read more...] about Serena Williams announces plan to retire: ‘I’m evolving away from tennis’

Chris Pratt is very proud of his Amazon Prime series The Terminal List after the thriller was panned by critics. The Jurassic Park World frontman stars as James Reece in the action series, who returns home after his entire platoon of Navy SEALs gets ambushed. However, he soon discovers new dark forces working against him and endangering the ones he loves. From the synopsis alone, the series – which is based on the best-selling novel by Jack Carr – sounds thrilling, especially as Chris also serves as an executive producer . However, critics weren’t captivated by the action. On review site Rotten Tomatoes , The Terminal List has been given positive reviews by just 37% of critics, with the critics’ consensus reading: ‘While Chris Pratt fully commits himself to The Terminal List’s mission, this thriller’s unrelenting gruffness is no meat and all potatoes.’ While Variety dubbed it a ‘miserable sit that would be tough to take as a two-hour film.’ Chris on the … [Read more...] about Chris Pratt takes savage swipe at critics slamming ‘anti-woke’ action series The Terminal List

Snapchat is introducing a new in-app tool to enable parents to get more insights on how their teenagers use Snapchat. The new ‘Family Center’ feature will show parents their children’s friend list and who is communicating with them without being able to view the content of their conversations. To use the tool, parents will need to have their teen add them on Snapchat. Parents will then be able to confidentially report any concerning accounts connected with their child using the ‘Family Center’. ‘Family Center is designed to reflect the way that parents engage with their teens in the real world, where parents usually know who their teens are friends with and when they are hanging out – but don’t eavesdrop on their private conversations,’ Snapchat said in a blog post announcing the tool. ‘Our goal is to help empower parents and teens in a way that still protects a teenager’s autonomy and privacy. We look forward to continuing to work closely with families and online … [Read more...] about Snapchat allows parents to monitor who their teens are talking to on the app

Former reality TV star Jack Osbourne has announced the arrival of his first child with fiancee Aree Gearhart. Taking to Instagram Jack, who was 16 when he shot to fame with his famous family on the MTV series The Osbournes, uploaded a photo of his newborn daughter and shared her birth weight READ MORE: Jack Osbourne's life - working with dad Ozzy, tragic health battle and drug addiction The 36-year-old captioned the post: "I’m very happy to announce Maple Artemis Osbourne! Born 7-09-2022. 7.13lbs. Aree and Maple are doing great and are happy and healthy." In the snap, baby Maple is laying on a bed wearing a knitted bear onesie. Aree has been vocal on social media throughout her pregnancy and announced Maple's arrival with the same photo. Her caption read: "My soulmate, Maple Artemis Osbourne, came to us earth side on July 9, 2022 at 8.07pm. new level of love unlocked." Jack already shares three children with his ex-wife Lisa Stelly, who he separated from in May … [Read more...] about Jack Osbourne welcomes fourth baby as his fiancee gives birth to adorable baby girl

The United States has stepped up diplomatic engagement in the Pacific with President Joe Biden set to meet leaders from the island nations in the White House next month, the US Indo-Pacific co-ordinator, Kurt Campbell, said on Monday. Campbell's comments come amid rising concerns over China's expanding presence in the region , underlined by a security pact Beijing signed with the Solomon Islands in March. The US-China fallout has escalated in recent days after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, which the Chinese claim is a breakaway province. China's Defence Ministry warned Pelosi’s visit would bear "serious consequences" and Beijing responded with test launches of ballistic missiles over the Taiwan Strait. READ MORE: NZ ties 'incredibly valuable' to US, visiting diplomat says US has been strengthening support for Taiwan – now it needs to ease tensions with China Senior United States officials warned Solomon Islands of US 'response' to feared Chinese … [Read more...] about Biden set to meet Pacific leaders in Washington amid China tensions

Boris Johnson marries Carrie Symonds 'in private ceremony' SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Boris Johnson married fiancee Carrie Symonds in a secret ceremony at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday, with details emerging today. The couple announced their engagement in February last year, and have one son together, Wilfred. Their quiet wedding comes after more than a year of lockdown restrictions preventing lavish ceremonies. Related articles Carrie Symonds' wedding dress: Bride stuns in unique embroidered gown Royal poll: Should Brexit flagship be named after Prince Philip? This marriage is Mr Johnson's third, having previously been married to Allegra Mostyn-Owen from 1987 to 1993, and Marina … [Read more...] about How did Boris Johnson marry in catholic Westminster Cathedral after divorce? ‘Not valid’

Snapchat will allow parents to monitor who their teenagers are talking to, without prying on their private conversations. The social media app popular with teens will launch a new tool called Family Centre, which links to their child’s Snapchat. It requires parents to have an account on the app and to be friends with their child’s account. The safety hub will show parents who is on their child’s friends list and who they are talking to, but will not allow them to access the content of their chats. Parents will be able to confidentially report accounts they are concerned about to the tech company’s safety team. Snapchat said: “Family Centre is designed to reflect the way that parents engage with their teens in the real world, where parents usually know who their teens' friends are and when they are hanging out – but don’t eavesdrop on their private conversations." The company said the new feature would protect “a teenager’s autonomy and privacy”, while boosting safeguards . … [Read more...] about Snapchat allows parents to see who their teenagers are talking to

Standing outside the Stratford Centre, a dozen Metropolitan Police officers get ready to stop and search people they suspect are involved in crime. One young man approaches and jokes to his friends ‘I’m not going to be stopped and searched’ – before the uniformed cops pull him aside. He is put in handcuffs while they carry out a full body search, as witnessed by a Metro.co.uk reporter. No drugs, knives or weapons were found – just one example of the tens of thousands of searches that do not end with a ‘positive outcome’, as it’s called by Scotland Yard . There were 128,796 searches for suspected drugs from June 2021 to June 2022, and the Met found drugs on 33,850 occasions. This standalone incident showcases the controversy around stop and search – both for the communities it impacts and for the police who enforce it. Young people from BAME backgrounds are disproportionately affected, with them nine times more likely to be stopped than white people. The Met … [Read more...] about Metropolitan Police launch targeted stop and search – but does it work?