16 hours agoBlogsComments Off on Wimbledon 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Djokovic and Gauff ON NOW after Jack Draper THROUGH as Baez RETIRES and Zverev CRASHES OUT
WIMBLEDON is underway at the All England Club – with Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff ON RIGHT NOW!
Jack Draper is through to the second round after Sebastian Baez retired with an injury in the third set, with Djokovic and Gauff starting their campaigns.
Earlier, No 1 seed Jannik Sinner raced home to victory in straight sets against his Italia compatriot Luca Nardi.
The day did not start as strongly for the Brits as yesterday – with Heather Watson and Johannus Monday exiting at the first round – before Dan Evans made it to the second round.
America’s Taylor Fritz is into the second round after a five-set thriller from big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, after the match was suspended 40 minutes before the 11pm curfew.
16 hours agoBlogsComments Off on Vice Ganda Shares Inspiring Reminder To PBB Collab Housemates
Recently, Vice Ganda visited the PBB house, and here’s his message to the duos. Among the recent houseguests of PBB is Vice Ganda, and here’s his inspiring reminder to the duos of the program. As the program closes to the Big Night, Unkabogable Superstar Vice Ganda entered the house as a houseguest, and though the ... Read more
16 hours agoBlogsComments Off on Vice Ganda Shares Inspiring Reminder To PBB Collab Big 4
Recently, Vice Ganda visited the PBB house, and here’s his message to the Big 4. Among the recent houseguests of PBB is Vice Ganda, and here’s his inspiring reminders to the Big 4 duos of the program. As the program closes to the Big Night, Unkabogable Superstar Vice Ganda entered the house as a houseguest, ... Read more
ITVLove Island viewers will see Shakira rage about Helena tonight[/caption]
Shakira is fuming with Helena following her antics last nightErotemeIt came after she whispered a naughty message in Harry’s earErotemeShakira wasn’t a fan of the game’s resultsEroteme
Tonight’s episode is set to be filled with high drama and new bombshells.
Kneeling on the floor, she suggestively sucked his finger.
She then whispered in Harry‘s ear: “I want to f*** you.”
Afterwards, the results of the challenge were revealed and it turned out Helena‘s routine got Harry’s heart racing more than any other girl.
The fall out from this will play out on tonight’s episode when Shakira finds out what Helena said to he man.
The next day, some of the other girls fill her in on Helena’s saucy message to Harry, and Shakira is not happy.
In a sneak peek to tonight’s episode, Alima is heard telling her: “Helena whispered on his ear, ‘I can’t wait to f*** you’ and I think that’s the reason why his heart went like that.
“He knew that she whispered that and I think he should have told you last night…”
Yasmin then added: “He replied something back to her.”
Confirming this, Toni revealed Harry said, “Do you still wanna f*** me?”
A raging Shakira is then heard saying to her friends: “Now I know why everyone’s f**king whispering and laughing and expecting me to kick off at him. Helena can f**k off!”
NEW BOMBSHELLS
However, it’s not all doom and gloom for Shaikra tonight as she’ll soon get a text revealing she has been asked on a date by new bombshell Ryan.
When she gets the news, she is heard saying: “Talk about perfect timing!”
Antonia Laites: Love Island’s first bombshell revealed as sexy Las Vegas pool party waitress.
Yasmin Pettet: The 24-year-old bombshell hails from London and works as a commercial banking executive.
Emily Moran: Bombshell Welsh brunette from the same town as Love Island 2024 alumni Nicole Samuel.
Harrison Solomon: Pro footballer and model entering Love Island 2025 as a bombshell.
Giorgio Russo: The 30-year-old will be spending his summer in the sun, potentially his sister Alessia’s successful tournament at the Euros in Switzerland.
Departures:
Kyle Ashman: Axed after an arrest over a machete attack emerged. He was released with no further action taken and denies any wrongdoing.
Sophie Lee: A model and motivational speaker who has overcome adversity after suffering life-changing burns in an accident.
Blu Chegini: A boxer with striking model looks, seeking love in the villa.
Malisha Jordan: A teaching assistant from Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, who enteredLove Island 2025as a bombshell.
Shea Mannings: Works as a scaffolder day-to-day and plays semi-pro football on the side.
Caprice Alexandra: The 26-year-old bombshell owns a nursery in Romford.
Poppy Harrison: The bombshell broke up with her boyfriend after finding out she would be in the villa
Will Means: The fourth fittest farmer in the UK according to Farmers’ Weekly in 2023 entered the villa as a bombshell
Megan Clarke: An Irish actress part of the OG line-up.
Remell Mullins: Boasts over 18million likes and 500k followers on TikTok thanks to his sizzling body transformation videos.
16 hours agoBlogsComments Off on ‘The exact number of minutes needed for children to become TikTok addicts’ & the hidden dangers posed by ‘filter bubble’
IT’S an attention economy and social media companies will do anything they can to keep your eyes on the screen.
Now, US President Donald Trump has revealed “a group of very wealthy people” are lined up to buy Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok in the US.
It takes around 35 minutes for a kid to get addicted to TikTokGetty Images - GettyOlga Cronin wants Dail reps to back a motion to force social media companies to stop using algorithms on childrenPR Handout
The app has been ordered to find a US owner or face being banned in the States.
This is due to concerns that Americans’ data could be passed on to the Chinese government.
But where is the concern about what these social media sites and their addictive algorithms are doing to our children?
We all know the horror stories of worrying content about eating disorders, violence or misogyny being pushed the way of our kids.
So, campaign group People Before Profit has tabled a Dail motion that would force social media companies to stop using these algorithms on children.
Here, Olga Cronin, senior policy advisor at the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, tells Irish Sun readers why she believes it is important for all politicians across the Dail to back this bill.
JUST 35 minutes – that’s all it allegedly takes for a child to become hooked on TikTok.
Not only that — should a child appear interested in an unhealthy type of content, TikTok’s algorithm feeds the child similar unhealthy content in a “filter bubble”.
TikTok users are placed in filter bubbles after just 30 minutes of use in one sitting.
These disturbing details were revealed in confidential company documentation disclosed and referenced in a US court filing last year which should be required reading for all Irish politicians.
Why? Because an opportunity has arisen for Irish politicians to support a new bill which could help end this predatory nature of manipulative, harmful and profit-driven social-media algorithms which push content concerning self-loathing, self-harm and suicide into children’s feeds.
ALGORITHMIC PROFILING
As the recent Online Safety Monitor from the Children’s Rights Alliance called for regulations to require algorithmic profiling to be disabled by default for child and young users, a bill has been put forward by People Before Profit providing for the same.
The bill also states that any algorithms based on profiling or sensitive personal data should have to be actively turned on by adult users.
The aforementioned US court filing is crucial to understanding why we must demand that these algorithms are turned off by default.
TikTok’s business model, according to the lawsuit, is based on keeping users engaged for as long as possible, in order to collect valuable data and expose them to more advertising — which in turn generates more revenue.
The court document, from a case taken by the state of Kentucky against the platform, explains: “Defendants [TikTok] know that all it takes to hook an average user is viewing 260 videos.
“While this may seem substantial, TikTok videos can be as short as eight seconds, and are played for viewers in rapid-fire succession, automatically. Thus, in under 35 minutes, an average user is likely to become addicted to the platform.”
THREE STAGES
The filing notes how in an internal presentation devoted to increasing user retention rates, TikTok identified three “moments” when forming a TikTok habit.
First there is the Set-up Moment when a young user watches their first video. Next is the Aha Moment when TikTok’s algorithm has begun to discern what content a user will respond to, after a child has watched 20 videos or more on their first day on the platform.
And finally, there is what they call the Habit Moment in which “new users start to form a habit of coming to TikTok regularly” which occurs if a youth has watched 260 videos or more during the first week of having a TikTok account.
TikTok is aware of negative impacts on its users.
The court filing notes how internal reports observed “compulsive usage correlates with a slew of negative mental health effects like loss of analytical skills, memory formation, contextual thinking, conver-sational depth and emp-athy, and increased anxiety” — and that “compulsive usage interferes with essential personal responsibilities like sufficient sleep, work/school and connecting with loved ones.”
And yet, the lawsuit alleges TikTok has failed to disclose these harms and continues to mislead the public.
The document outlines how the platform’s design exploits psychological triggers that cause compulsive usage, such as low-friction variable rewards (where users are randomly rewarded with engaging content), social manipulation (where users are encouraged to interact and engage with the content), and ephemeral content (which creates urgency by presenting time-sensitive material).
CYCLE OF ADDICTION
These features make it difficult for users to control their time on the platform, creating a cycle of addiction.
But this is not just about TikTok.
All Big Tech companies are using algorithms to addict children, and polarise adults, as shown by mounting research demonstrating these algorithmic harms.
Tackling this problem is long overdue and, if 35 minutes is all it takes to addict a young child to TikTok, time is not on our side.
Politicians of all hues should get on board with this bill and have these manipulation machines turned off.
16 hours agoBlogsComments Off on Jack Draper storms into Wimbledon second round as opponent Sebastian Baez retires in TEARS after slipping on grass
JACK DRAPER, this is not what Wimbledon expects from its British No1s.
As Union Jack became the home nation’s standard-bearer at the All England Club for the first time, it was all too easy.
PAJack Draper cruised into round two at Wimbledon[/caption]
APSebastian Baez applauds the No1 Court crowd after being forced to retire[/caption]
Britain has become used to Andy Murray and Tim Henman putting them through the mincer in tense late-night epics – and maybe there will be some of that to come during this fortnight.
But fourth-seed Draper cruised to victory over Argentina’s Sebastian Baez – who retired hurt, two sets and a break down – as he booked a second-round date with former U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic.
Draper has all many of the attributes which will make him a darling of the middle-England housewives who dominate the crowd here.
He is a tall, chiselled Burberry model with a walloping forehand, a booming serve and impressive athleticism.
Murray is to have a statue here, but Draper is statuesque.
Perhaps the 23-year-old southpaw needs one of those seesawing five-set marathons to truly get the British public enraptured by him. We need to experience the agonies together before we can truly appreciate the good times.
But on a blazing-hot 30-degree day at Wimbledon, this match was the sort of breeze we all needed – Draper leading 6-2 6-2 2-1 before it was called off.
Baez, a clay-court specialist, was blown away in just 74 minutes before he surrendered.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
Draper had reached the second week at every other Grand Slam but has never made it past the second round here on home turf.
His ranking has soared over the past year – via a U.S Open semi-final – and so this was the first time he had truly carried the nation’s hopes at the All England Club like Sir Andy and Tiger Tim before him.
Fittingly, Draper was handed the prime-time late slot – striding on to Court One to muted cheers. Outside of the lawn-tennis hardcore, the public haven’t quite got to know him yet.
The Brit had already beaten Baez in their two previous meetings and at 6ft 4in, he was almost a foot taller than the Argentinian titch.
The first set took just 26 minutes.
He broke the Baez serve in a lengthy, scrappy opening game and again in the fifth. In between he was thudding down four aces.
One booming cross-court service-return winner, as Baez served to stay in the set, brought a huge roar from the Pimmsed-up faithful.
Draper broke again in the opening game of the second set, Baez slipping near the baseline – and soon needing lengthy treatment.
The Brit’s serve was firing, his velocity and variety overpowering Baez. It was more like a bloke playing fetch with a puppy.
Draper broke again with a whipped forehand winner and, just after the hour mark, he was two sets to the good, having dropped only four points on his own serve.
In the third, Draper had to wait until the third game to break Baez, who then hoisted up the white flag and retired with a bruised ego.
There had been good news for Draper before he went on court when his tricky potential third-round opponent, Alexander Bublik – who had defeated the Brit in the French Open, suffered a shock defeat to Spain’s Jaume Munar.
Still, he is slated to face 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals and Jannik Sinner in the semis before the possibility of reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
Should Draper advance into that sort of company, then we can really get to know him.
16 hours agoBlogsComments Off on Tennis legend tells Wimbledon to scrap historic all-white kit rule and urges sport to follow football with major change
BILLIE JEAN KING has told Wimbledon to change its strict dress code.
The all-white outfits at the Championships date back to the tournament’s first edition, all the way back in 1877.
GettyThe all-white outfit rule is synonymous with Wimbledon[/caption]
GettyPaula Badosa and Katie Boulter wore identical kits for their Wimbledon match[/caption]
In 1963, the All England Club officially introduced the law that players must be dressed in predominantly white.
These days, the ruling is very clear that clothes must be white, not off-white or cream, with a maximum 1cm trim of colour.
White was chosen for various reasons including keeping cool but also its history of elitism because it showed households had the resources to keep clothes clean.
But King – one of the founders of the WTA Tour and a huge campaigner for women and women’s tennis for decades – is calling for a big shake-up for another reason.
Suggestions have been made for tennis to do more to avoid kit clashes to help fans watching on TV distinguish who is who – similar to ‘home’ and ‘away’ kits in many sports.
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“Tennis people say, ‘Well, the mark is next to their name’ [to indicate who is serving].
“I shouldn’t have to look at a mark, I shouldn’t have to look at anything. I should know [who’s who]. My sport drives me nuts.
“They shouldn’t have the same uniforms on. They both have white on. You can change tradition.”
King even suggested tennis should adopt names and numbers to players’ shirts.
Football has had names for many years – and rugby and cricket have followed suit in recent years.
King added: “I’d have merch with their names on the back so they’d make money, the tournament makes money, everybody makes money.”
“We’re losing out on millions and millions because of that. Numbers are really important.
“Kids love numbers and they can retire numbers – like a Federer. It’s so obvious. Take what other sports are doing and what people like from other sports.”
GettyCricket has adopted names and numbers for players[/caption]
GettyBillie Jean King won six Wimbledon titles at SW19[/caption]
AlamyKing called for the big change to appeal to the TV viewers[/caption]
16 hours agoBlogsComments Off on Staggering 5-figure sum forked out over ‘completely unnecessary’ renaming of State’s planning watchdog after scandals
THE contentious renaming of An Bord Pleanala to An Coimisiun Pleanala has cost just under €77,000.
New figures provided by the State’s planning watchdog show an outlay of €22,045 on new signage.
The €76,921 outlay also included a spend of €18,450 on architect consultancyGetty Images - Getty
This includes an external over-entrance sign and two corner projection signs with the new name at the agency’s Marlborough Street HQ in Dublin 1.
The €76,921 outlay also included a spend of €18,450 on architect consultancy which provided design, coordination and project management services for internal ground floor signs and external signage.
The spend also included €18,450 on a radio ad campaign; €5,380 on a new sign installation cancellation fee; €6,363 on newspaper notices and €3,637 on the change of name on the corporate seal and rubber stamps.
Sinn Fein Housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin called the expense “completely unnecessary as there was no need to change the name of An Bord Pleanala”.
When first mooted in 2023 in the wake of scandals at the agency, trade union Forsa opposed plans to change the name as it would amount to a “collective punishment”.
In correspondence with then Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien, the union’s Ian McDonnell said the Forsa branch within An Bord Pleanala had passed a motion “expressing their opposition to this proposed name change”.
McDonnell said that the proposed change “reflects negatively on all who work in the organisation” and is akin to “collective punishment of all (past and present) in the organisation.
O Broin said that as a member of the Oireachtas Housing Committee he tabled an amendment to the then Planning and Development Bill to have the name of An Bord Pleanala retained but this was rejected by Government.
Asked about staff’s attitude to the name change, a spokesman for An Coimisiun Pleanala said: “In terms of staff feeling on the name change, while there was some unhappiness about the changing of the name when it was first suggested in early 2023, now the name change has taken place, the staff and planning commissioners of the Commission have embraced and accepted the name change.”
He stated that “good developments are built on solid foundations and An Coimisiun Pleanala is built on the most solid of foundations, which is down to the part played by all former staff and Board members who have served with An Bord Pleanala over the last 48 years”.
REDUCING BACKLOG
As part of the bid to reduce the backlog in appeals, the number of senior planning inspectors at An Coimisiun Pleanala totals 60 at the end of June 2025 compared to 45 at the end of December 2023.
The appeals board now has two Directors of Planning while the number of planning inspectors has reduced from 39 at the end of last year to 35 now though five new appointees are due to start in July and August.
The most recent quarterly figures show that the number of cases on hand at the end of March this year was 1,369 which was down 878 or 39 per cent on the 2,247 cases on hand at the end of March 2024.
Renaming An Bord Pleanala to An Coimisiun Pleanala cost just under €77,000Getty Images - Getty
16 hours agoBlogsComments Off on Myles Smith lifts lid on ‘crazy’ Glastonbury and reveals ‘wild’ backstage antics on Ed Sheeran’s tour
MYLES SMITH’s feet haven’t touched the ground since the release of his breakthrough EP You Promised Me A Lifetime last year.
In the last few months alone, the Luton-born singer has been named as one of Time 100’s most influential people, picked up a Brit Award, supported Ed Sheeran on his world tour and performed a huge show at Glastonbury.
Shutterstock EditorialMyles Smith’s feet haven’t touched the ground since the release of his breakthrough EP You Promised Me A Lifetime[/caption]
As I chatted with him on site at Worthy Farm an hour after he finished, he had already filmed a segment for CBeebies kids’ TV and was on his way to be interviewed by The One Show at the Park Stage.
“Physically, my feet haven’t been on the ground a lot,” Myles told me with a grin.
“It’s been crazy.
“I’ve toured the world two times in the last year.
“Mentally for me though, it’s about being in the moment and enjoying the fact I’m getting to do the thing I’ve wanted since I was ten years old.”
The power of his hits including my favourites Stargazing, Nice To Meet Ya and Wait For You, are propelling Myles to stardom.
“I thought Time 100 had made a mistake,” he said with a laugh.
“Maybe it’s actually Time 1,000.
“I’m among Nobel Prize winners and scientists who have figured out the atom, which is pretty cool. I’m just really grateful for all of the work I’ve been doing and all of the messaging I’ve been trying to get out about funding in schools for music and being able to support grassroots venues.
“It’s about really changing the infrastructure landscape of music in the UK and the world.
“I think I’ve gone a long way in helping with that.”
Myles had to leave Glastonbury straight after his set to catch a flight to Stuttgart, to rejoin Ed on his tour.
Of his Woodsies stage performance, he joked: “It was the perfect balance of overwhelming and heat stroke.
“It’s so f***ing hot.”
Myles will be performing at Ed’s three homecoming shows at Portman Road in Ipswich.
He said: “Backstage it’s going to be rocking.
“It’s going to be wild.
“We’ve been in France, Germany and everywhere the last few weeks, and to come home and do it all again is incredible.
“To do it with the ginger legend himself is even better.”
SQUAD BID GETS KELLY ON SIDE
FORMER Lioness Kelly Smith is backing a campaign to get more girls into football.
She has teamed up with EE for its Everyone Needs A Squad initiative to coincide with the start of the Women’s European Championships that get under way today.
Kelly Smith has teamed up with EE for its Everyone Needs A Squad initiativeSupplied
As a youngster I played with the brilliant England rugby star Emily Scarratt and loved being part of a team.
New research has revealed 93 per cent of girls aged between 13 and 18 think being within a football set-up helps young women cope with the pressures of social media.
I couldn’t agree more. Grassroots football is so important and we need to get behind it.
DJ VERNON KAY missed his Radio 2 show yesterday after being stuck on a train.
Gary Davies was forced to step in and cover for the presenter.
His Chiltern Railways service into the capital broke down and lost air con, only for a second train to also develop a fault.
Vern wrote on Instagram: “Send deodorant and coffee.”
Thanks a bunch Rita
RITA ORA might have been partying non-stop at Glastonbury – but she didn’t forget what’s important to her.
The Heat singer wore this tiny bikini and huge belt paired with boots during one afternoon at the festival.
Rita Ora/InstagramRita Ora wore this tiny bikini and huge belt paired with boots during one afternoon at the Glastonbury[/caption]
She took time out to send a message and massive bunch of flowers to Glaswegian rising star Nyree Huyser.
Rita, who mentored her on The Voice Australia, made the gesture to celebrate her two homecoming gigs in Scotland over the weekend.
Nyree narrowly missed out on the 2023 final after being picked by Rita to be in her top three.
It’s not the first time Rita has been praised for not turning her back on talent show singers.
X Factor winner Louisa Johnson also spoke of Rita’s dedication to helping up-and-coming stars after she won the ITV show in 2015.
Rita got her big break after making tea for staff at a record label, so she knows about the graft and dedication needed to make it big.
THE secret fiancé of AJ Odudu has been revealed as an American art director called Peter Gibson.
She announced the surprise engagement last month and it’s now emerged the TV host has been making visits to the US to see him, although he is planning a move to the UK.
The Big Brother star is now in Seattle, while they plan their future together.
ISLAND EP IS A JOY FOR MAE
MAE MULLER is returning to music with an impressive EP called My Island.
I’ve had an early listen of the five-track project, which will be out on July 18, and it’s the best music she’s ever made.
SplashMae Muller is returning to music with an impressive EP called My Island[/caption]
The singer, who represented the UK at Eurovision in 2023 with I Wrote A Song, said: “I want people to feel the joy. Because that’s what it’s been for me – finding the joy again.”
Meanwhile, Australian musician G FLIP has just announced that new album Dream Ride will be out on September 5, preceded by the single In Another Life on July 10.
Miley wares it well
MILEY CYRUS gave Naomi Campbell a run for her money in the supermodel stakes when they teamed up for her latest video.
The pair, wearing black bodysuits, are in an abandoned warehouse for the visuals to Every Girl You’ve Ever Loved.
Miley Cyrus gave Naomi Campbell a run for her money in the supermodel stakes when they teamed up for her latest videoThe pair, wearing black bodysuits, are in an abandoned warehouse for the visuals to Every Girl You’ve Ever LovedMiley and Naomi together in the music videoThe track is the latest to be released from Miley’s album Something Beautiful
It is the latest to be released from Miley’s album Something Beautiful, and will form part of the companion film of the same name.
It features videos to all 13 tracks and will be available to stream on Disney+ from July 30.
They’ll be hoping the new clip will help turn around the success of the record, because despite Naomi and Miley teaming up for a signing of their single in London last month, it has failed to chart.
Perhaps Naomi should stick to the catwalk after all.
Olivia’s no big Ed
OLIVIA RODRIGO is getting a name for herself as one of the most laid-back people in the music industry.
And it’s not hard to see why.
GettyOlivia Rodrigo is getting a name for herself as one of the most laid-back people in the music industry[/caption]
My insiders backstage at American Express Presents BST Hyde Park tell me organisers pulled out all the stops for Olivia and her special guest Ed Sheeran to make her feel relaxed on Friday night.
“Olivia’s area had been decorated with wildflower plants to make it feel relaxing and summery for her and Ed,” my mole said.
“They even infused her water with strawberries to suit her tastes. But Olivia didn’t need anything special. She just chowed down on boiled eggs and toast before the show and hung out with Ed.
“Her team arrived in ten blacked-out cars with a massive wardrobe of clothing but Olivia just chose one outfit and decided not to change again.
“Everyone was talking about how lovely and low key both her and Ed were.”