APPLE has released an important security update and has urged all iPhone owners to install it now.

Earlier this week, the tech giant released a new iOS update for iPhones and iPads: iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.

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“This update provides important bug fixes and security updates and is recommended for all users,” Apple said.

Regarding the iPhone, the updates have been released for the iPhone XS and later.

iPads that could get the update include the “iPad Pro 12.9-inch 2nd generation and later, iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 6th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later,” Apple said.

WHY DO I NEED TO UPDATE?

Updating your operating system ensures that your device has access to the latest security measures available.

“Keeping your software up to date is one of the most important things you can do to maintain the security of your Apple product,” Apple says on its website.

Security updates actually patch several vulnerabilities, saving you the need to spend money on antivirus software, experts say.

Conversely, if you don’t update, your iPhone is more susceptible to malware and bugs.

HOW TO UPDATE YOUR IOS

To manually update your iPhone, first go to Settings and then tap General.

Select Software Update and you should see if there is an update available for your device.

If you see an update, tap Update Now or Update Tonight.

If you choose to update tonight, the installation will only start when the device is locked and the battery has sufficient power.

It’s always best to set updates to automatic, so make sure you enable that option at the top as well.

To update your macOS, open the Apple menu > System Preferences > click Software Update.

If Software Update finds a new update, click the button to install it.

The process for updating iPadOS is similar: go to Settings > General > Software Update.

The screen will show which version of iPadOS is currently installed and whether an update is available.

THE LATEST VERSIONS

To make your life easier, we have shared the latest updates for all Apple products below.

The latest version of iOS and iPadOS is 17.4.1.

The latest version of macOS is 14.4.

The latest version of tvOS is 17.4.

The latest version of watchOS is 10.4.

The latest version of visionOS is 1.1.1.

META has urged WhatsApp users to update their app today to fix a bug that automatically saves photos twice instead of just once.

Thousands of users have complained about it on social media and customer support channels in recent days, saying it had become a “constant battle” to manage their storage.

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In a support discussion in the Apple community, one iPhone owners said after received more than 8,700 votes from people who had experienced the same problem.

The bug affects WhatsApp’s “auto save to camera roll” feature, which downloads all images shared in the app to a user’s photo album.

But image storage has doubled, putting a strain on a phone’s storage space.

We are introducing a solution for users and recommend everyone involved to download the latest version of the app.

Meta spokesperson

It also cannot be fixed by simply disabling the feature, users claim.

“I thought my new iPhone was hacked or something. This is annoying!” they said wrote on Reddit.

Another replied: “I’m having the exact same problem. It’s driving me crazy.”

While a third user wrote: “Same here, started happening yesterday.

“Maybe it’s a recent update with a bug. It will probably be corrected soon.”

Initially, iPhone owners thought the problem was caused by Apple’s latest update iOS 17.4, which was rolled out on March 5.

But Apple pointed iPhone owners to WhatsApp’s customer service channels as more people experiencing the bug said they hadn’t yet updated to the latest iOS.

A spokesperson for Meta told The Sun: “We are aware that a small number of iPhone users are experiencing issues receiving media, resulting in it being saved twice to their camera roll.

“We are introducing a solution for users and recommend that everyone involved download the latest version of the app.”

It comes just over a week after Meta was plagued by outages, which mainly affected the Facebook and Instagram platforms.

Millions of users around the world were left believing they had been hacked while experiencing issues with their Facebook and Instagram connections.

She’s been nominated for a Tony Award, is an alumna of the Yale School of Drama and had her big screen break starring opposite Eddie Murphy in the Netflix film Dolemite Is My Name… yet Da’Vine Joy Randolph is hardly a household name.

However, that will likely change starting today after the 37-year-old Philadelphia-born actress won Best Supporting Actress at the 96th annual Academy Awards on Sunday.

She’s been working in the industry for more than a decade, but Da’Vine is now the toast of Hollywood for her turn as grieving chef Mary Lamb in boarding school drama The Holdovers, in which co-star Paul Giamatti plays grumpy teacher Paul Hunham.

The actress – who beat Oppenheimer’s Emily Blunt and Barbie’s America Ferrera to her gong – has proven unbeatable this awards season after big wins at the Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globes, BAFTA and Critics’ Choice Awards.

But performing as an actor on stage and screen was never a lifelong dream for Da’Vine, who trained as an opera singer before her mother urged her to take acting lessons.

“I didn’t think I should do this as a career. I started out as a singer,” a tearful Randolph told the crowd at the Dolby Theater.

“And my mother said to me, ‘Go across that street to that theater department.’ There’s something for you.’ And I thank my mother for that.

“I thank all the people who have come my way and guided and guided me. I’m so grateful for all you beautiful people there.’

Da’Vine was born on May 21, 1986. As a youth, she attended the prestigious Interlochen summer arts camp in Michigan for theater.

At Temple University in Philadelphia, she initially focused on classical music and opera performance before switching to a musical theater major.

She refined those skills at the Yale School of Drama, where she received her master’s degree.

A year later, Da’Vine turned heads on Broadway and received a 2012 Tony nomination for her portrayal of psychic Oda Mae Brown in “Ghost: The Musical.”

She made her big screen debut in 2013 in “Mother of George,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and starred Danai Gurira.

On television, she appeared in the cult favorite “Selfie” and guest-starred on several shows, including “The Good Wife,” “Veep,” “This Is Us” and the musical drama “Empire.”

Da’Vine’s film breakthrough came in the well-received 2019 Netflix film “Dolemite Is My Name,” starring Eddie Murphy.

Voice work in several animated films followed, along with appearances in ‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday” opposite Andra Day, and “The Lost City” starring Sandra Bullock.

On television, she scored recurring roles on “High Fidelity” and “Only Murders in the Building.”

And then director and screenwriter Alexander Payne called about The Holdovers. I find that actors who are skilled in comedy can play dramatic roles without being somber about it,” Alexander told USA Today. “She can laugh a lot and also make you cry.”

Da’Vine also appeared in another Oscar-nominated film last year, “Rustin,” starring Colman Domingo, in which she played gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, who sang at the March on Washington.

Upcoming projects include the action thriller “Shadow Force” starring Kerry Washington and Omar Sy, and the action comedy “Bride Hard” starring Rebel Wilson.

“I’m very grateful for people’s appreciation of my talent, but in no way have I shown my potential,” she told The New York Times ahead of the Oscars. “I’m now starting to have a growing platform to do this. Let’s do it!’

She was all along favored to win Best Supporting Actress for The Holdovers, but she brought many to tears with a moving speech about her path to victory.

“I always wanted to be different for so long,” Da’Vine said. “And now I realize that I just have to be myself.”

Thanking a mentor, she said, “When I was the only black girl in class, you saw me and told me I was enough.”

And she thanked her publicist and said she knew that was unusual “but you don’t have a publicist like I have a publicist!” Da’Vine added near the end, “I pray to God I can do this more than once.”

Da’Vine’s tears first began to flow as she sat in her seat as Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o stood on stage and paid tribute to the actress. Lupita spoke about the amazing performance of Da’Vine, who wore her grandmother’s glasses in the film.

“What an honor to see the world through her eyes and yours,” Lupita said.

Along with her grandmother’s glasses, Da’Vine said she used other accessories in the film as a “love letter to black women.”

‘I knew this would be a difficult role. It would take a lot of vulnerability on my part,” she said.

“I knew that (my grandmother) was someone in my life who would allow me to return to my center. But it was a lot of other women.

‘I did a lot of research and some subliminal messages with hairstyles, details and accessories beyond the glasses, paying tribute to women – from (American sitcom) The Jeffersons, (American singer and actress) Phyllis Hyman, things like that.

“So I included all these women who were ‘impressed’ by me… and that meant a lot because it felt like a love letter to black women.”

Her The Holdovers character Mary is one of the few black faces on the New England campus, where the film is set in the 1970s.

She mourns her son, one of the school’s few black graduates who died in the Vietnam War and was stuck on campus at Christmas.

One of Da’Vine’s big moments in the film comes when Mary unexpectedly attends a family party with moody teacher Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) and anxious student Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), and catharstically releases some of her grief.

“I was pleasantly surprised to see how much context Mary had, the emotion of a completed storyline,” Da’Vine told the Los Angeles Times late last year. “That may sound trivial and silly, but it’s not always available, especially to people of color.”

‘Mary, oh Mary. You’ve changed my life. You made me feel seen in so many ways that I could never have imagined,” the actress said in her Golden Globes acceptance speech.

Aid groups and international organizations have sounded the alarm about the catastrophic levels of hunger and near-famine affecting Gaza’s 2.2 million residents, five months after Israel began its war in Gaza. The number of aid convoys entering the area has remained well below pre-war levels and humanitarian organizations say much more aid is needed to meet staggering needs across the enclave.

Hopes for an imminent deal to pause the fighting are dim after Hamas negotiators left talks in Cairo on Thursday without a breakthrough. The same day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue Israel’s ground offensive, including pushing into Rafah, in southern Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Gazans have sought shelter from bombing and fighting.

Human rights experts have called on Israel’s main arms suppliers, the United States and Germany, to halt military aid. Last month, the Senate approved a foreign aid package that included $14.1 billion requested by the Biden administration for military aid to support Israel’s war with Hamas. The same package set aside $10 billion for humanitarian aid to civilians in conflict zones around the world, including Gaza.

Officials said U.S. plans to deliver aid to Gazans by sea would require hundreds or thousands of U.S. troops on ships just off the coast and would take 30 to 60 days to implement. The extraordinary undertaking is a sign that the Biden administration’s pleas to Israeli leaders to reduce human suffering in Gaza have had no effect. The United States has already conducted airdrops of aid, a move that some observers criticized as expensive, inaccurate and insufficient compared to the need.

Mr Biden also said Israeli authorities would announce the opening of a third border crossing into northern Gaza, where food and aid shortages have been particularly extreme. Two border crossings are open at the southern end of the strip, but the flow of aid is limited, and humanitarian groups are struggling to navigate security risks in a landscape of ruins to get supplies to the north, where hundreds of thousands of people still reside.

In his speech, the president, addressing Israeli leaders directly, said: “Humanitarian assistance should not be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip.”

Progressive lawmakers and activists tried to use the State of the Union opportunity to criticize Mr. Biden’s decisions on the war in Gaza. A representative from Missouri invited as a guest a Palestinian graduate student who said she had lost 35 family members. Activists staged a protest outside the White House demanding an end to US military aid to Israel.

Running the country requires being fit as a fiddle – so for the two men competing for the top job in this year’s general election, it couldn’t be more important to look after their health.

However, Labour peer Peter Mandelson has ruffled feathers within his party today after suggesting leader of the opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, needs to ‘shed a few pounds’ ahead of his campaign to win over the electorate.

It’s not the first time Starmer’s health has been under the microscope – last year the Mail on Sunday reported his own frontbench had held discussions on whether or not they should stage an intervention on their leaders weight after claiming he had added ‘a few extra pounds’.

Despite such reports, the Labour leader does seem to lead a fairly healthy lifestyle, following a pescatarian diet and playing five-a-side football in North London whenever he can.

Similarly, the health of Rishi Sunak has come under scrutiny in recent months, after the prime minister revealed he carries out a diet of intermittent fasting and doesn’t eat a single thing on Mondays.

Sunak, a fan of Peloton, also set tongues wagging when he was reportedly spotted rocking up to a Taylor Swift-themed spin class in California last year – much to the surprise of other people booked onto the class.

But, policies aside, how does the prime minister shape up to the Labour leader in the fitness stakes? FEMAIL takes a closer look into their diets and exercise regimes to find out…

Exercise 

It’s clear the Prime Minister values an active lifestyle – and he has made many headlines for his various fitness pursuits.

Back when he was chancellor, Rishi revealed that he started his days with a 6am Peloton session to Britney Spears songs.

Mr Sunak’s favourite exercise instructor is Cody Rigsby, 36, a professional dancer from New York who describes himself as an ‘opinionated homosexual’ to his 1.3 million Instagram followers.

Rishi has been enamoured with the £1,750 Peloton, which requires a monthly membership, since he got one in 2021 – when sales of the modern stationary bike boomed by 172 per cent during lockdown.

It features a large touchscreen tablet fixed between the bike’s handlebars so users can join virtual exercise classes from across the world.

Mr Sunak said having his exercise routine punctuated with the dulcet tones of the American star’s pop tunes is ‘no bad thing’, according to The Times.

In February 2020, Rishi revealed taking on the role of the chancellor of the exchequer wreaked havoc on his routine, and while he would like to take part in the classes twice a week, he is unable to.

However, when possible Rishi would finish his workout before he saw his children in the morning and started work at 7.45am.

It is believed he may have picked up some of his Californian lifestyle habits when he lived in the sunshine state while studying at Stanford University and met his wife Akshata Murthy, 43.

Rishi also revealed he likes mixing up his workouts with treadmill runs or high intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions at a community leisure centre in Richmond, north Yorkshire.

Last May, he was snapped posing with a jogger after taking part in a 10km fun run.

The prime minister was among hundreds of runners taking part in a race in the North Yorkshire town of Northallerton, within his Richmond constituency.

But after the race, he was pictured standing next to ‘avid parkrunner’ Nick Dent, who said he outran the Prime Minister with a time of 47 minutes and 46 seconds in the ‘tough’ contest.

‘A tough Northallerton 10K but really pleased with a chip time of about 47:46 on an undulating course ~ and I also beat this guy…’ Mr Dent said in a caption to the picture posted on Twitter.

The runner’s victory over the prime minister came after Mr Sunak said: ‘I haven’t done any exercise in a long time, I’ve been a little bit busy, but I’m going to try and do it in under an hour. It’s great to have everyone here so thanks for coming.

Last August, Rishi took his family on what was thought to be their first holiday together in four years.

The PM maintained his fitness regime and was reported to attend a Swift-themed indoor cycling session during the family holiday.

Downing Street did not deny reports the PM  took part in a workout class in LA set to the Shake It Off singer’s music.

A SoulCycle participant said Mr Sunak was at the Swift-themed indoor session. Hannah Harmelin posted a video on TikTok saying she spotted the PM at the end of a 7am class in Santa Monica.

Asked if Mr Sunak was a ‘Swiftie’ – as fans of the mega-star are known – the PM’s official spokesman told reporters: ‘I’m not going to guide you away from it.’

While Rishi undertakes various forms of exercise on a daily basis, Keir keeps it simple with weekly football games. 

He’s regularly photographed on the pitch taking part in five-aside games with friends at Sunday league for Homerton Academicals in north London.

Engaging in the group sport was described as a ‘normal’ routine for Keir back in 2022 after he was ambushed by a mob of anti-Covid restriction demonstrators while leaving a five-aside match, according to The Independent.  

More recently, in January 2024, the Labour leader could be seen throwing his hands into the air after letting two balls slip past him as goalie.

And when he’s not on the pitch himself, he’s donning red and white to cheer on his beloved Arsenal.

While he’s a diehard Arsenal supporter, it’s not the only team Keir follows, and last August he called for the Lionesses to be given honours after their inspirational World Cup campaign.

The Labour leader demanded formal recognition for their efforts. He said: ‘The Lionesses have galvanised the whole nation through their historic achievement in becoming the first England team to make the World Cup final.

‘But they’ve also inspired a generation of women and girls to play football, take up sport, and to remove any doubt in their minds that they too can go all the way in their chosen field.

‘There’s no doubt that they should be recognised by the honours system.’

The leader of the Labour party also takes an interest in tennis, having watched Wimbledon live from the royal box in 2022.

The politician was spotted among the seats in Centre Court’s Royal Box, alongside his wife Victoria, on women’s semi-finals day.

As well as engaging in a public display of affection with his spouse, Sir Keir was also seen sharing jokes with fellow attendees.

Dietary requirements 

The leader of the Labour Party follows a pescatarian diet – and has done so for over 25 years, despite admitting he still pines for bacon sandwiches and a chicken curry.

So, why does he cut out meat? For health and environmental reasons. In a 2020 interview on Sky’s Ridge on Sunday, the Opposition Leader said: ‘I gave up [meat] as a matter of principle years ago on the basis that eating meat wasn’t the right thing for the body and the planet but I have to say, I miss meat.’

Asked what he specifically missed he looked wistful and replied: ‘Oh, bacon sandwiches, chicken curry, you name it, almost everything!’

The 61-year-old extended his diet onto his children and didn’t let them eat meat until they were 10 years old.

Speaking on the Table Manners Podcast, hosted by pop singer Jessie Ware and her mother Lennie, the Labour leader said he and his vegetarian wife Victoria did not have meat or fish in the house when they were raising their son and daughter.

Once their son turned ten, Keir and Victoria said he could ‘do what you like’, and he immediately started eating KFC and McDonald’s.

However, he told Jessie and Lennie that his daughter has still never eaten meat or fish.

It marks a clear shift from Keir’s diet growing up, a time when meat was a staple part of his diet with foods including ‘sausages, mash, meat, and vegetables’ making a regular appearance on the dinner table. 

Sir Keir has spoken previously about becoming vegetarian 25 years ago, before reintroducing fish to his diet.

He said he found avoiding seafood ‘too much’, but described his wife as a ‘proper vegetarian’.

‘I struggle with it because I love meat. I love it. If you give up fish or meat on a matter of principle you still hanker after it,’ he said.

The couple’s son is now aged 15, while their daughter is 12. Describing their parenting, Sir Keir said: ‘We don’t have meat or fish in the house, we don’t cook it, until they’re about 10 obviously they’re just eating with us.’

He added: ‘And then at the age of 10 we said, ‘you can do what you like’ and our boy said ‘great’, so the moment we go out there’s a Deliveroo for Kentucky Fried Chicken or McDonald’s.

‘So he’s taken full, sort of, liberty with the license to do what he likes.’ However, Sir Keir said his daughter ‘has never in her life tasted meat or fish’.

When Lennie Ware challenged Sir Keir that many vegetarians cook meat for their children, he replied: ‘We never did.’

The Labour leader also insisted the family has no issue if their son wants to order non-vegetarian meals when they eat out. ‘We’re not bothered by that,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Rishi takes a different stance when it comes to meat, eating all but beef due to his Hindu faith.

The 43-year-old’s position might come as a surprise following his mother-in-law’s devotion to pure vegetarianism – having even sparked a Twitter debate after revealing she takes her own food with her everywhere she goes.

Sudha Murty, 73, who claimed she is the reason for the British Prime Minister’s success, describes herself as a ‘pure vegetarian’ – meaning she does not even eat eggs.

On a popular food show called ‘Khaane Mein Kya Hai?’, roughly meaning ‘What’s for lunch/dinner?’, the mother and grandmother revealed that ‘one of my biggest fears is that the same spoon may have been used for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes’.

‘So, when I travel, I look for a pure vegetarian restaurant. And I carry an entire bag full of food,’ she said.

The remark quickly caused a storm on social media, with opinions divided between those criticising and supporting her.

Typical breakfast 

Rishi is said to opt for a healthy choice of Greek yogurt and blueberries for his breakfast each morning. 

But weekends are where the real breakfast magic happens in the Sunak household.

He told The Times: ‘We have a full cooked breakfast on Saturdays and on Sundays we alternate between pancakes and waffles… we do pancakes American-style, so the thin crispy bacon, blueberries, strawberries.’

And while the Prime Minister is often associated with a healthy lifestyle, he made waves online after claiming he enjoys a McDonald’s breakfast from time to time.

Rishi was mocked in 2022 after he claimed to always enjoy a McDonald’s breakfast wrap when out with his daughters – despite the item having not been on sale since March 2020.

The Tory leader was accused of a faux pas during a TV interview, in which he was quizzed about what he ordered when he recently visited a McDonald’s restaurant.

Appearing on ITV’s This morning , the former chancellor was asked the ‘killer question’ of what items he had chosen from the McDonald’s menu.

‘I was there at about I think, gosh, 7.45 in the morning or 7.30 – so it was not a burger and nuggets! I got breakfast,’ Mr Sunak replied. ‘I get a bacon roll with ketchup and the pancakes.’

Asked by show host Rochelle Humes if he had also ordered a hash brown, the Conservative MP added: ‘I didn’t yesterday but if I’m with my daughters then we get the wrap.

‘With my eldest daughter… if I’m with her, that wrap with the hash brown and everything in it is what we do.’

But aficionados of McDonald’s were quick to point out that the breakfast wrap hasn’t been on sale for nearly two-and-a-half years.

Meanwhile, Keir has caused surprise after revealing his breakfast go-to, but for a different reason.

The 61-year-old has kept his favourite breakfast foods relatively under wraps.

However, during a 2021 Labour Party conference, Keir was snapped holding a plate of breakfast foods after taking his pick from a buffet.

Keir walked round the buffet, but instead of piling eggs and pancakes on his plate like most tend to, he went for a much healthier choice, consisting of fruit, fish, and cheese.

In an image shared by The Times, Keir looked pleased with his choice, despite the fact that others might consider his choice to be on the stranger side.

Alcohol  

Keir Starmer has been seen to enjoy a pint of beer on many occasions, whether that be after playing in a football match or after work. 

However, it’s Rishi that rejects alcohol in favour of soft drinks, and he famously admitted to being a coke addict, before clarifying the drink not the drug.

And while he’s a self-professed lover of  carbonated drinks, alcohol is not a liked beverage for Rishi.

‘I really tried [to drink alcohol],’ he told The Times. ‘My family all drink, my wife definitely drinks. It massively irritates her that I don’t.

‘My parents do, my dad was upset that I wouldn’t share a glass of wine with him but thankfully my younger brother came along and that was all right.’

During the 2022 interview Rishi went on to recall that he once did some shots with his family in the lead up to his wedding, but didn’t like the taste.

And while his family and friends described him as happy while drunk, drinking alcohol was never an activity Sunak relished, even during his youth.

Favourite treats  

Keir offered insight into his favourite treats during the Table Manners podcast with Jessie and Lennie Ware last year.

When asked what his final meal would be if he was on a deserted island, he named a selection of relatively healthy Indian foods.

The meal included a seaweed salad for starter, tandoori salmon from his favourite curry house in Glasgow for main, along with dahl, plain naan and pilau rice.

And he’d round things up with a baked lemon cheesecake while sipping on a glass of pinot grigio.

In comparison, Rishi has more of a sweet tooth. On top of his love of Coca-Cola, the Prime Minister has also declared his love of cinnamon buns, specifically ones from Gail’s Bakery.

Despite Sunak observing an intermittent fasting diet – meaning he restricts his calorie intake on certain days of the week – on more lenient days he eats a sugary pastry after his Greek yoghurt breakfast.

Eating routines 

If Keir follows diets, he has kept it out of the public eye. Meanwhile, Rishi has taken a different stance and disclosed he follows an intermittent fasting regime. 

At the start of this year, Rishi said fasting on a Monday is an ‘important discipline’ which allows him to indulge later on.

Despite his demanding schedule as Prime Minister, Mr Sunak said avoiding eating for 36 hours at the start of each week is good for a ‘balanced lifestyle’.

The self-confessed ‘Coca-Cola addict’, who has a preference for a Mexican variety made with pure cane sugar, said fasting helps him to combat his ‘weakness for sugary things’.

Mr Sunak told the BBC : ‘I’m not sure people are that interested in my diet but I tend to try and do some fasting at the beginning of every week as part of a general balanced lifestyle but everyone will do this differently.

‘I think it’s important we have healthy lifestyles, that’s part of what I do, but I also have a weakness for sugary things which I indulge in the rest of the week.’

Asked about how he fasts for a day despite the demands of his office, Mr Sunak said: ‘That’s an important discipline for me but it means that I can then indulge myself in all the sugary treats that I like for the rest of the week, which I tend to enjoy.

‘That’s where I balance it with my job and everything else.’

Friends of Mr Sunak told The Sunday Times that he does not eat anything for 36 hours at the start of each week, from 5pm on Sunday until 5am on Tuesday.

Downing Street insiders disputed the timeline but confirmed that he typically fasts on Mondays.

ASDA shoppers are being urged to check their receipts after confusion over the loyalty program.

The retailer will convert 470 convenience stores acquired from the Co-op and EG Group into smaller Express stores at the end of March.

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It comes as the chain aims to become Britain’s second largest supermarket.

But the retailer is not yet allowing shoppers participating in the Rewards program to process vouchers or scan rewards.

Asda confirmed that the loyalty program is not available at Express stores as it operates under a different technology platform.

Yet customers have been left baffled after discovering they cannot redeem their loyalty points at Asda’s smaller Express stores.

One said: “Can someone please explain why you can’t use Asda rewards in Asda Express stores. I’m really confused by this.”

Another said: “Is this going to be fixed? I’m losing points!”

Meanwhile, a third added: “Why can’t you use the Asda rewards app in Asda Express stores, shocking.”

Consumer expert Martyn James is urging all Asda shoppers to ensure they check and keep their receipts. These can serve as proof of what you’ve spent in store and could come in handy if you want to redeem points at an Asda superstore elsewhere.

He said: ‘We tend to ignore the option of a receipt these days, but it’s crucial to have one when you shop, just in case a situation like this arises.

“Not only can you prove what you’ve spent, but you can also ask a supermarket to credit you with the correct points or provide an address as to why you couldn’t use your vouchers in store.”

Asda has stated on its website that its loyalty program is not available in its Express stores.

The loyalty program terms and conditions page states: “Asda Rewards is not available at Asda Express stores.

“This means you will not be able to earn or use your ‘Asda Pounds Cashpot’ in these stores.”

Asda added that the loyalty program will be rolled out in the future, but did not say exactly when, and that it is currently operational across all other Asda sites.

It said: “Asda Express is a new store format for us and we are currently going through a process of updating the systems to accept Asda Rewards.

“We have a team of people focused on this and expect this to be rolled out across all our stores in the future.”

It comes as Asda continues to roll out the opening of 470 smaller convenience stores acquired from the Co-op and EG Group.

The EG Group, a global convenience and fuel station retailer owned by the Issa brothers, bought Asda from Walmart in 2020.

Meanwhile, Asda bought 132 fuel stations and convenience stores from Co-op and EG for £438m in August 2022, with the takeover approved in June last year.

By the end of February, the supermarket will have converted 369 former Co-op and EG Group locations.

Express stores have opened across the UK, including in Plymouth, Reading, Leeds, Dundee and London.

The Express stores are smaller and more local, compared to Asda’s superstores, which are often found outside city centres.

The recently opened smaller sites offer a range of products including branded and non-branded items.

How does Asda’s Rewards program work?

Asda Rewards allows shoppers to build up “Asda Pounds” when they shop in-store or online and complete certain tasks.

These pounds go into a “Cashpot” which you then convert into vouchers that allow you to get cash on future purchases.

For example, one of the tasks currently available is that customers who spend €10 on cleaning products will receive €1 directly into their Cashpot.

You can also get €1 in your Cashpot if you spend €10 on skin care and cosmetics.

You can download the loyalty app for free on your smartphone via Google Play or the App Store.

Every time you shop you need to scan the app at the checkout and the pounds will be added to your account.

In other news, sausage roll fans are furious after Greggs closed a branch in East Grinstead, West Sussex.

Additionally, money-saving expert Martin Lewis has warned shoppers to “do it now” due to the big change in Nectar points set to happen in just a few weeks.

Do you have a money problem that needs to be solved? Get in touch by emailing money@the-sun.co.uk.

Moreover, you can join us Sun Money chats and tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories.

MANCHESTER UNITED have been urged to sign Callum Wilson from Newcastle United.

The Red Devils are crying out for more depth up front and club legend Steve Bruce believes Wilson could be the answer.

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Bruce, who played for Man Utd and managed Newcastle, has cited Wilson's record in front of goal as the main reason for luring him to Old Trafford.

I speak on behalf of BoyleSports who offer the latest Betting on the Premier Leaguehe said: “Man Utd are always connected to players and what we have just seen in January is a reality check, that you cannot break this [FFP] regulations.

“You had to follow these rules and that's why we didn't see much activity. I don't think I've seen a quieter January, that's for sure.

'I would like to know what the actual figures are, but it seems to me as if there has been a reality check across the country.

“Wilson is a proven goalscorer, just look at his numbers. The boy is performing well. Unfortunately he has had a few injuries, but when he is fit he is a very good player.”

“I'm not surprised at all that he's got links with clubs like Man Utd because if you look at his record, especially since he's been at Newcastle, he's made himself a very, very good number nine.”

Bruce was the man in charge at St James' Park when Wilson arrived from Bournemouth in 2020.

And the star has been in and out of the Newcastle squad since then as injuries hampered his playing time.

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The 31-year-old has been sitting for no less than a year 404 DAYS injured since arriving on Tyneside in 2020.

And Toon boss Eddie Howe announced this week that he will spend another lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Wilson is expected to miss nine to 12 weeks after undergoing surgery on his chest, putting his hopes of a place in Gareth Southgate's squad for the 2024 European Championship in doubt.

When Wilson is on the pitch, he has excelled in the black and white of Newcastle.

The centre-forward scored 46 goals and 11 assists in his 104 appearances for the club.

Man Utd's attackers had struggled in the first half of the season and a fit Wilson would boost their attacking threat.

But £72million man Rasmus Hojlund has now kicked into gear with the Dane in each of his last five Premier League appearances.

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3

DO NOT rely on passwords if there is a better alternative.

Security experts have revealed how people using popular apps such as Google, TikTok, Amazon and Uber should check their settings immediately.

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There is a new type of login technology called passkeys that allow you to log in without entering a password.

They are usually linked to some type of authentication on your computer iPhone or Android – such as a fingerprint scanner, Face ID or your passcode.

However, not all apps and websites support this yet, but over time more and more apps and websites will make this possible.

Cyber ​​experts at Keeper Security urge users to try them because they are so much more secure than passwords.

What is an access key?

Passwords are very dangerous.

For starters, many people opt for simple passwords that can be “cracked” in seconds.

And people with complex passwords often reuse them, so a single hack can lead to multiple accounts being broken into.

Even if you use a strong and unique password, it can still be leaked or stolen in the event of a breach by malware on your device.

Passwords are much more secure in comparison.

A report from Pentasecurity described the passkeys as “unhackable”, “non-phishable” and “non-stealable”.

“In addition to providing a convenient and seamless user experience, passkeys are also one of the most secure authentication options available.” noticed.

Password keys consist of two things: a public key and a private key.

The public key is stored with the app you log into, such as Google or Uber.

And the private key is stored on your device.

“Passkeys are also generally more secure to use than passwords because they are phishing-resistant, error-resistant, and by design they support two-factor authentication (2FA),” says Aranza Trevino of Keeper Security.

“Since passkeys are not user-generated but are automatically generated using public key cryptography, they are also fail-safe against common password errors and cannot be easily compromised.”

Which apps use passcodes?

Many apps now use passkeys, and you probably already have some installed.

Keeper Security said Google, TikTok, Amazon and Uber all support passkeys – and urged users to set them up.

For example, to set one up on Google, log in and go to your account settings.

Navigate to Security > How to sign in to Google > Passwords and then verify your identity.

You will then be guided through setting up your access key.

You can do the same process on TikTok, Amazon and Uber to enable passcodes.

ANDROID owners have been urged to check a 'hidden number' on their phones, which could be the key to longer battery life.

Experts from Android-based phone company OnePlus have revealed that the trick is best used in emergency situations when you really want to save every last drop of juice.

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“Before I even get started, I know some of you might be wondering why we need battery tips… what if you're traveling and forget your charger, or you go on a long hike and don't have power? ,” brand ambassador Abhishek wrote on a OnePlus community forum.

“There can be countless such scenarios and that's why it's important to have these tricks on hand and use them when the time is right!”

Most Android owners are familiar with the “efficient” battery saver mode, which Abhishek says is “perhaps the simplest method to save power.”

But few people know this 'hidden number' trick.

What 'hidden number'?

The so-called 'hidden number' relates to the device's screen refresh rate.

Your phone's screen refresh rate is the number of times per second the image on the screen is refreshed.

For example, a 60 Hz screen updates the screen 60 times per second.

Depending on which Android phone you have (and how old it is), your screen refresh rate could be anywhere between 10Hz and 240Hz.

But most devices are around 60 Hz to 90 Hz.

According to Abhishek, “In situations where you really want to save your device's battery, you can change the refresh rate [from 90Hz] up to 60 Hz can be extremely useful.

While some phones automatically switch to 60Hz under certain conditions, Abhishek says, “If you keep the battery constantly at 60Hz, you can get an extra boost in battery life as it reduces the load on the hardware.”

The immediate benefit of this is better battery life.

This is because the screen can reduce the refresh rate to as low as 10Hz to consume less power while displaying static content.

The list of phones that can reduce their screen refresh rate to 10 Hz is small, such as the Samsung Galaxy S23+, Google Pixel 7 Pro and the OnePlus 11.

A high refresh rate is useful while scrolling through lists, playing games optimized for such refresh rates, and watching high frame rate content such as Netflix.

But aside from these activities, there is little point in constantly refreshing a screen at 120Hz as it will drain the battery.