”If you are married in the Philippines, there’s no way you are getting out of that marriage until you die.”
Divorce remains illegal for most people in the Philippines – making it the only country besides Vatican City where it’s banned. With no legal pathway out, activists say women are often forced to stay in abusive or unwanted marriages.
Rachel Zegler has had her fair share of criticism after her recent role in Disney’s Snow White, but it seems the public have changed their minds, as the talented performer gives the streets of London a free show.
Redefining herself as ‘the people’s princess’, the 24-year-old star has embraced her latest part as the lead in the West End musical Evita, so much so that she gave Londoners a performance from the balcony of the London Palladium, completely free of charge.
The show is brought to the stage by the award-winning director Jamie Lloyd, alongside Tim Rice and, of course, the play’s creator Andrew Lloyd Webber, in a limited 12-week run. Its story follows the tumultuous life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón, from her humble beginnings to rising power and eventually her death.
READ MORE: Snow White star Rachel Zegler blamed for Disney live action flop but why?
Videos have flooded TikTok of the actress performing outside of the London Palladium to fans who didn’t get tickets to see the show. One video shows her ethereally singing to the streets, as fans explain the real significance of this unusual move.
A user commented: “Absolutely stunning idea and a beautiful symbol – while the rich sit inside the theatre watching from the screen, Evita is outside on the balcony of the theatre addressing all those who can’t afford to go to the theatre and/or are living on the streets of London. The whole idea of staging the song this way is truly incredible. Emotional. It says a lot, and I am here for it!”
Another shared: “Singing to the people on the street while the people who bought tickets have to watch through a screen is genuinely amazing directing. So badly wish I could see this.”
Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We’d love to hear from you!
People walking the streets of London and fans waiting by the stage door have been pleasantly surprised by the breath-taking performance during one of the shows’ biggest songs. ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ is a poignant part in the play for her character and stands out amongst the other renowned hits.
However, some have criticised the creative decision, with one user saying: “Imagine paying to see the show and the biggest song isn’t even performed on stage (I get it, but I’d still be gutted).”
Dozens more people have been killed as Israeli soldiers yet again opened fire on crowds trying to reach Gaza’s Israeli and United States-backed food distribution centres.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on Monday’s shootings, reported to Al Jazeera by medical sources. The 38 people killed, mostly in the Rafah area in the south, made it the deadliest day since the new aid system was launched last month.
After previous shootings, which have been a near-daily occurrence since the aid centres opened three weeks ago, the military has said its soldiers had fired warning shots at what it called suspects approaching their positions, although it did not say whether those shots struck anyone.
Palestinians say they face the choice of starving or risking death as they make their way past Israeli forces to reach the distribution points, which are run by a private contractor, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
More than 300 people have been killed and more than 2,000 wounded so far while trying to collect aid from GHF sites, which began operating in late May.
Palestinians are desperate to feed families suffering from hunger amid food shortages created by Israel’s blockade of the enclave. A trickle of aid has been allowed through since last month.
Israel and the US say the GHF system is intended to replace the United Nations-led humanitarian operation that had delivered aid across Gaza since the start of the war 20 months ago.
Israel contends that the new mechanism is needed to prevent Hamas from siphoning off aid.
However, UN agencies and major aid groups deny that there is widespread theft of aid by Hamas and have rejected the new system.
They say it cannot meet the population’s needs and turns food into a weapon for Israel to carry out its military goals, including moving the more than two million Palestinians into a “sterile” enclave in southern Gaza.
Speaking at Britain’s House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday, an official with Doctors Without Borders (or Medecins Sans Frontieres, known by its French acronym MSF) said Israel’s claims of extensive diversion by Hamas were “specious and cynical”, and were intended “to undermine a humanitarian system which was actually functioning”.
“This is neither a humanitarian enterprise nor a system. This is basically lethal chaos,” said Anna Halford, a field coordinator for the group.
Experts warn that Israel’s continuing military campaign and restrictions on aid entry put Gaza at risk of famine.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 55,432 people and wounded 128,923, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Liam Payne’s girlfriend took to social media to share a heartbreaking message to the star eight months after the death of her “angel”. Kate Cassidy shared a number of snaps of the singer to mark the date, devastatingly admitting she thought “I had so much more time and life left to share” with the former One Direction man.
Kate penned in the Instagram upload: “8 months ago today, I lost my best friend and someone I thought I had so much more time and life left to share with. Liam was the kind of person you’d start missing the moment you walked out the door.
Even when leaving the house for a few hours, I’d find myself rushing home to be with him again out of excitement. Now facing the reality that I live in a constant state of missing you is something I still can’t fully wrap my head around.”
The emotional post continued: “Knowing I can’t just come home and see you, hear your voice, or feel your hug, it’s a type of pain I can’t fully put into words. I can’t seem to tell if life is flying by without you or moving so slow none of it fully makes sense.
But I am trying to live my life as best I can for now and live it for you. I miss you more than words can say.
“One day, I’ll see you again, and I’ll have so much to tell you. So much to catch up on. I love you my angel. 444”
Among the images was Liam and Kate in a bedroom as she appeared to be wearing a “Payne” shirt. Another showed the pair enjoying a laugh at a formal event. While Kate was wearing a striking red blazer, the singer was seen in a beige suit and hat combination.
Kate also shared a screen shot of her phone from August 1. In it, there are a number of message alerts from Liam, including a sweet message that read: “I literally couldn’t love you more if I tried and somehow I will tomorrow.” He also told his girlfriend: “I can’t wait to see you.”
Liz Hurley’s son Damian was among those sharing a comment on the touching post. He wrote: “Charge Liam’s Apple Watch,” with a crying with laughter emoji. He continued to tell her: “I love you so much.”
Last week it was revealed two men accused of supplying former One Direction star with cocaine shortly before his death will face trial. Prosecutors revealed Waiter Braian Nahuel Paiz and ex-hotel worker Ezequiel David Pereyra will stand trial for their alleged part in the singer’s death last October.
They duo have been behind bars since January after they were charged in connection to Liam’s death at a Buenos Aires hotel. The pair face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of drugs offences. Prosecutors also revealed Liam had taken cocaine in his CasaSur Palermo Hotel and and consumed it “up to a few minutes before his death”.
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.
Joss Stone says she is “so in love” after welcoming her fourth child. The 38-year-old singer – who has Violet, four, Shackleton, two, and Bear, seven months with her her husband Cody DaLuz – revealed her new arrival on Monday as she shared the first photo of herself cuddled up with her daughter.
She wrote alongside the snap on Instagram: “Happy #mummymondays. Welcome our beautiful Nalima Rose to the world. We are so in love.”
Joss and Cody found out she was pregnant just weeks after adopting baby boy Bear. Back in December, she wrote on Instagram: “Honestly. Shocked was an understatement. Nothing and no one can take our joy now.
“We are so chuffed !!!! Maybe we should call the ‘Less is More’ tour the preggo tour. (sic)” she announced after discovering the news before she was about to hit the road.
The Super Duper Love star,38, revealed she found the adoption process far from smooth-sailing, with numerous setbacks along the way.
Joss said she’d always dreamed of adopting a child and discussed it with her partner within the first few weeks of them dating.
After making the decision after having two children naturally together, Joss said they spent a year and a half trying to make it happen.
“We had some adoptions fall through,” Joss revealed. “We’ve had moments where we were chosen, but we couldn’t get there in time. There’s been lots of things that have happened, and you start to feel like it’s not going to happen.
“And then, we got that call. And it’s just the most beautiful thing. He’s so sweet and his birth mother is so sweet. She could not be any nicer. It’s just like everything is perfect. We haven’t got to deal with a difficult situation. It’s all love. Everyone is just full of love for this little guy.”
Joss said her husband was adopted as a child and it’s something he always wanted to do.
But the journey to collect their little one Bear did not go entirely smoothly, as the couple ended up in the wrong hospital and became confused about where to go.
Joss explained: “We were in the wrong hospital. I knew it! That’s why Tummy Mummy said eighth floor, and the guy downstairs said second floor because they are totally different hospitals!”
When Bear was just weeks old, Joss revealed he had problems with his lungs and doctors have warned them not to take him out anywhere.
In a video posted on Instagram, Joss was seen sitting in her car with Bear and saying: “I am sat in the car with him because he is so little that he can’t go out because he was so premature his lungs are a little bit vulnerable.
“I’m just here with little man hanging out.”
While she was told not to take Bear out, she still had to get him to a doctor’s appointment.
The pop star added: “At the hospital they said: ‘Don’t take him out anywhere’. “But shortly after they said but make a doctor’s appointment and I thought: ‘Hang on you just told me not to take him out as his lungs are too vulnerable but you want me to bring him to the doctors where there are all these germs and stuff?’ “
New Zealand captain Sophie Devine will retire from ODI cricket after the World Cup later this year.
The 35-year-old, who will skipper the side at the 50-over World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, will remain available for T20Is.
One of the finest all-rounders in world cricket, Devine is fourth on New Zealand’s all-time run-scorers list with 3,990, while she is one of only two players – alongside Lea Tahuhu – to have taken more than 100 wickets.
Appointed captain in 2020, Devine led the White Ferns to T20 World Cup glory against South Africa in 2024.
“It’s important that everyone knows I’m focused and dedicated to giving this group everything I can before I step away.
“I’m really excited by where this young group’s going and I’m looking forward to playing my part in the next six to nine months.”
Liz Green, head of New Zealand women’s performance, said Devine had the team’s “full support” after her decision.