“It’s such a special meeting, it’s like no other week in racing – you could sort of equate it to FA Cup finals, Ryder Cups and things like that.”
Newmarket trainer George Scott and jockey Callum Shepherd proved a winning combination when Isle Of Jura won the Hardwicke Stakes at last year’s Royal Ascot and they can’t wait to get back there for this week’s meeting.
Scott expects to saddle nine or 10 runners from his Eve Lodge Stables yard over the course of the four days and is upbeat about the chances of more success.
“I’m just excited to take a bunch of horses there in this form – this is the first time we’ve taken a proper team,” he told BBC Look East.
“Of course, that moment with Isle Of Jura is very special but we move on. We’ll be looking to try and do it again in some capacity. As long as the horses turn up healthy, then we should be OK.”
Scott became a trainer 10 years ago and 2024 was his most successful to date with 48 winners at home and abroad, including Isle Of Jura’s victory.
It was an especially sweet moment for Shepherd, whose friend and fellow jockey Stefano Cherchi died after a fall in Australia a couple of months earlier – and who had been replaced as rider of Ambiente Friendly, which finished second, for the 2024 Derby at Epsom.
“It’s the best moment I’ve ever had on a horse, the best moment I’ve ever had in sport,” said the 27-year-old Shepherd.
“The buzz was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced and he set the narrative, set the tone for the second half of the season last year where we were just incredibly successful. That followed into the winter with success in Dubai, Bahrain, the German St Leger, to name just a few.
‘We understand each other’
BBC Look East
Former public schoolboy Shepherd has a rival for sporting glory within his own family – his golfing brother Laird won the British Amateur Championship in 2021.
But it is his relationship with Scott which is helping progress his career and it is one that he believes has “grown and got stronger” since they first began working together “four or five years ago”.
“We really do have an excellent working relationship. We’ve had success all over the world now and we understand each other very well,” he said.
“He knows how I like to ride and obviously likes that. It suits our horses, suits our approach to racing. Now we don’t really need to say a lot to each other before races. He knows I’ve done my homework and I’ve got to know the horses as much as I can – it works pretty well.”
Scott believes there is a “basis of trust” underpinning their working relationship.
And he added: “We knit together nicely. We’re lucky to have Callum. It’s really been the perfect pair. He’s on this upward trajectory for the first time, as am I, and I’m really enjoying the fact that we’re doing it together.
Scott’s leading contenders
BBC Look East
Among Scott’s horses for Ascot, he has high hopes for Staya in Wednesday’s Queen Mary Stakes, a five-furlong race for two-year-old fillies.
“She’s only run once and won very impressively at Yarmouth. She’s by Havana Grey who’s doing fantastically [at stud], especially with his two-year-olds. She’s one of the favourites [for the Queen Mary], near the head of the market off one run, so we’re hoping for a big run from her.”
He is also keen to see how Gaga Mate will fare in the Windsor Castle Stakes on the same day, having only recently joined the yard.
“He seems very uncomplicated. You can see with him, he’s moving well. Everything’s sort of straightforward with him,” said Scott.
“The more horses go into the big meetings, the more pressure. But 10 runners spread over five days is very manageable. It’s really amazing when you think about someone like Willie Mullins, who takes 50 or 60 horses to the Cheltenham Festival.”
Royal Ascot begins on Tuesday, when Scott hopes to have runners in the King Charles III Stakes, Wolferton Stakes and Copper House Handicap.
“I go into it with a lot of excitement. There’s a lot of live chances,” said Shepherd.
“I’ve got some good rides for other people as well, other than George, and I think the confidence you take from having been there and done it before puts you in a good position to go and do it again.
If you’re looking for the ultimate summer body product, Maura Higgins swears by this £35 Sol de Janeiro body oil for glowy and radiant holiday skin
Grace, Grace Salmon Shopping Writer and Emma Banko, Shopping Intern
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Maura Higgins on a recent trip to Mykonos(Image: Instagram @maurahiggins)
There’s nothing better about being on holiday than spending a day at the beach in the sun, coming back to your room and getting ready for an alfresco dinner out. And if you want to continue that back-from-the-beach glow (whether you’re jetting off or staying local), Maura Higgins has just the product to use.
The product we’re on about is the Sol de Janeiro GlowMotions Copacabana Bronze Glow Body Oil, priced at £35 here. We spotted Maura using this shimmering body oil on her recent Grecian holiday, and loved the glowy results it gave.
It’s essentially sunshine in a bottle. Packed full of bronze shimmer, plus a skin-softening blend of cupuaçu butter, antioxidant-rich açaí oil and nourishing coconut oil, not only does this oil make you look amazing, but it’s actually beneficial for the skin.
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Maura gets her glowing holiday skin thanks to Sol de Janeiro(Image: Instagram @maurahiggins / Space NK)
These hydrating, and skin-loving ingredients leave behind smooth, pampered and bronzed skin. It’s perfect for all skin types and is so easy to apply, it will become your new summer go-to for radiant skin.
It’s on the pricer side at £35, and is prone to selling out, so we’ve rounded up a few more of our favourite shimmering body oils starting from £22.
Best shimmer body oils
NUXE Huile Prodigieuse® Or Shimmering Multi-Purpose Dry Oil
Available for £22 here
NUXE Huile Prodigieuse® Or Shimmering Multi-Purpose Dry Oil(Image: Boots)
If you’re looking to enhance your summer glow, Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse is a must-have. Its nourishing blend of seven botanical oils deeply hydrates the skin and is suitable for all skin types.
In addition to softening and plumping, the natural ingredients in this elixir offer anti-aging and antioxidant properties, as well as the ability to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks. With notes of orange blossom, vanilla, and magnolia, this dry oil not only smells amazing but gives you the radiant glow you’ve been looking for.
Coco & Eve Antioxidant Glow Shimmer Body Oil
Available for £28 here
Coco & Eve Antioxidant Glow Shimmer Body Oil(Image: LookFantastic)
For those who want to take their summer tan to the next level, real or fake, Coco & Eve’s shimmer body oil is the perfect option. This lightweight oil is designed to complement your bronze with a silky, luminous finish.
Fast-absorbing and non-greasy, it leaves your skin feeling smooth, plump, and moisturised in all the right places. Whether you’re heading to the beach or stepping out for a night in the city, this oil is your secret to a sun-kissed look all season long.
Rituals The Ritual of Karma Shimmering Body Oil
Available for £24.90 here
Rituals The Ritual of Karma Shimmering Body Oil(Image: Boots)
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To revive dull-looking skin and add a touch of sparkle to your summer glow, Ritual’s shimmer body oil delivers just the right amount of subtle shimmer.
The Labubu craze continues with the rise of toy charm bouquets. Dubbed “Labubu mania,” one witness reports a fights breaking out in Pop Mart store over sold-out plushie
Labubu mania continues with a bigger and better way to gift the collectables: a Labubu bouquet
The viral Labubu craze has reached new heights with a student receiving a Labubu-themed bouquet in a heart-warming display of support during exam season.
In a video posted on X, a mother welcomed back her daughter after a university entrance exam with a bouquet of six Labubu toys and dried pampas, leaving us to wonder whether this is now the next step-up to congratulatory flowers, made simple by the toy charms.
Situated in the Jiangsu province, China, one happy student spoke to a crowd as she was filmed holding her huge selection of the sold-out toy, standing outside what appears to be the exam hall where the testing had taken place.
Surrounded by waiting parents holding various floral arrangements, the girl held her pastel bouquet and additional Labubu box labelled “Big into Energy,” her post-exam presents being all the more impressive considering how Pop Mart continues to stay out of stock of the quirky soft toys.
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READ MORE: Labubu alternatives to add to your shopping haul before they sell out too
According to Times Higher Education, the annual Chinese national college entrance exam, Gaokao, is considered one of the hardest school exams of the world and includes “Chinese Literature, Mathematics and a foreign language (usually English)”. There are also additions for liberal art and science students.
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The mother’s response to her daughters exams is currently trending on Baidu, a search engine, for her supporting comment, as well as the outlandish Labubu gift. She said: “Gaokao is just one exam in life,” and insisted that the state of her daughter’s happiness was her priority at that moment, not her performance.
With celebrities like Dua Lipa, Rihanna and BLACKPINK’s Lisa spotted with the ‘love or hate’ collectibles, conversation around the iconic Labubu has reached an all-time peak. Social listening platform, Sprout Social, conducted research on “Labubu Mania” on social media apps and found that the viral dolls had accumulated a total of 235,984 mentions in 2025 alone.
Labubu bag-charms are now celebratory gifts as mother greets her daughter with a bouquet of the collectables (Image: yicaichina/X)
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Struggling to satisfy the enormous demand of crazed shoppers, Pop Mart took to Instagram on May 19 to warn fans: “Due to the increasing demand for our beloved Labubus, we’ve seen a significant rise in customer turnout on restock days – with long queues forming outside our stores and Roboshops. To ensure the safety and comfort of everyone, we will temporarily pause all in-store and roboshop sales of THE MONSTERS plush toys until further notice”.
Sir David Beckham’s mum remains very private on social media, with most of her accounts private – but since his knighthood a very sweet post she dedicated to him has emerged
David Beckham (R) sits in the Royal Box with his mother Sandra Georgina West(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Sir David Beckham shared a rare insight into his relationshp with his mum as he reposted a sweet message from her following his knighthood news.
Sir David Beckham has reached many amazing achievements throughout his longstanding career in sport and showbiz – all of which are now likely to be topped by last night’s announcement that he is to be knighted.
The 50 year old star, who is being recognised in the Kings Birthday Honours List for his services to Sport and Charity, has finally secured his long awaited knighthood. Speaking out about the incredible recognition, Sir David said he was “humbled” in a statement shared with the Mirror.
He said: “I’m so lucky to be able to do the work that I do and I’m grateful to be recognised for work that gives me so much fulfilment. It will take a little while for the news to sink in but I’m immensely proud and it’s such an emotional moment for me to share with my family.”
READ MORE: Romeo Beckham’s sweet four-word message to dad after he finally gets knighthood
David and Victoria are on of Britians most-loved celebrity couples(Image: AP)
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David’s wife Victoria Beckham penned a gushing tribute to her husband, sharing her pride at his new knighthood status. The message, shared to David, 50, via Instagram, also made reference to the star’s dedication to his family – which could be a dig at the couple’s reported feud with their eldest son Brooklyn.
Lady Beckham, 51, posted a sweet snap of her kissing a smiling David on the cheek as she wrote in the caption: “You’ve always been my knight in shining armour, but now it’s official. Sir @davidbeckham!!! What an honour, I couldn’t be prouder of you. Your dedication to the things that matter most — your country, your work, your passion, and most of all, your family — has never wavered. The way you’ve touched so many lives over the years with kindness and humility speaks volumes about the man you are and continues to inspire us everyday. But above all else, I’m so, so proud to call you mine.I love you so much xxxx”.
One of the latest congratulations messages Sir David shared on Instagram was from his mum Sandra. Sandra wrote: “Such a special 50th year you’ve had! I’m busting with so much pride and happiness that you have been knighted. From the boy who dressed up as Pince Charles now stands before him. I couldn’t be more proud of the person you are and all the hard work you do. I know two people who would be looking down on you with so much pride. Love you lots.”
Sandra had some lovely things to say about David.
The sweet message shows is a rare insight into what Sandra posts onlin due to her account being priivate, but it shows the pair are very close and shows that Sandra clearly has a lot of love for her son.
With the prestigious title comes a string of VIP privileges only afforded to those who receive a knighthood. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams tells us: “The Chapel of Knights Bachelor is in St Paul’s Cathedral and he would be entitled to request the use of the Chapel for weddings, baptisms and memorial services. As a knight he is also entitled to apply for a coat of arms – perhaps golden balls will feature!”
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Meanwhile, like every person who has received a knighthood, Sir David will be treated to an official ceremony. The ceremony, which often happens at Buckingham Palace, will see David kneel in front of a monarch – which can be either the King or another member of the Royal Family such as Princess Anne or Prince William – who will then touch the recipient’s shoulder with a sword.
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the US – will meet on Sunday in the remote town of Kananaskis, Alberta, nestled in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, for three days of intense discussions.
This will be the 51st G7 summit meeting. The first took place in 1975 in Rambouillet, France. Back then, it was known as the G6 meeting, as Canada did not become a member until the following year.
Russia joined the forum in 1998, making it the G8, but was effectively expelled in 2014, following its annexation of Crimea. Since then, the forum has been known as the G7.
Tensions at this year’s gathering, taking place June 15-17, are likely to be high for many reasons.
Intense discussions are expected about the unfolding crisis in the Middle East after Israel carried out massive strikes on military and nuclear sites in Iran on Friday. This year’s meeting also takes place against the backdrop of aggressive trade tariffs set – and then paused for all countries except China, which has now reached a deal with the US – by US President Donald Trump earlier this year.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney may also still be reeling from comments by Trump that Canada should become the 51st US state. In May, Carney stated that Canada was “not for sale … ever” during a meeting with Trump at the White House.
The G7 represents 44 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) but only 10 percent of the world’s population. Within the group, the US is by far the largest economy. Having campaigned for the presidency on an “America First” message, Trump has frequently expressed displeasure about how much it contributes to global affairs.
At the last G7 summit attended by Trump in 2018, his national security adviser, John Bolton, posted on social media: “Just another G7 where other countries expect America will always be their bank. The President made it clear today. No more.”
So, who is coming this year and what will they be talking about?
Who is attending the G7 meeting this year?
Canada is hosting this year’s G7 meeting – it’s the seventh time it has assumed the presidency of the group. Besides leaders of the G7 countries and the EU, which is also represented at the summit, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has invited several heads of state from non-G7 countries as guests.
These include Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who confirmed her attendance on Monday after saying in May that she was undecided, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was invited, but it is unclear whether he will attend.
The invitation for Modi has raised eyebrows in Canada. Relations between India and Canada have been strained since former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of assassinating a Sikh separatist leader in Canada in 2023. The World Sikh Organisation said Carney’s invitation was a “betrayal of Sikh Canadians”, and the Sikh Federation of Canada called it “a grave insult”.
But Carney, who is trying to diversify Canadian trade away from the US, defended his decision, saying it makes sense for the G7 to invite India, since it is the world’s fifth-largest economy and is at the heart of a number of trading supply chains.
“In addition, bilaterally, we have now agreed, importantly, to continued law enforcement dialogue, so there’s been some progress on that, that recognises issues of accountability. I extended the invitation to Prime Minister Modi in that context,” Carney told reporters in Ottawa.
In March, Carney also invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to this week’s gathering.
Leaders of Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa and South Korea are also expected to attend.
[Al Jazeera]
Will they discuss US trade tariffs?
During his current tenure as president, Trump has imposed broad tariffs on every member of the G7, as well as on most other countries around the world, sparking a global trade war in the process. Trump says he wants to reverse large trade deficits between the US and other countries.
However, it is unlikely this issue will be formally addressed during G7 discussions as Carney will primarily be trying to prevent a fallout over trade between the member states, many of whom are still scrambling to secure trade deals with the US.
The UK reached the first trade agreement with the US in May, when it agreed to reduce tariffs on US goods from 5.1 percent to 1.8 percent and provide greater access for US goods. In return, the US dropped higher tariffs, leaving only its universal 10-percent tariff in place.
Both the EU and Japan are hoping to strike their own agreements before the July 9 end of Trump’s 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs.
Trump also had a rocky relationship with the G7 during his first term as US president and left the 2018 summit – also in Canada – in a huff. At the end of what was thought to be a successful gathering, Trump wrote on social media that he had directed his staff not to sign the final communique – the statement G7 countries issue in a show of unity at the end of the summit – and called then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “very dishonest and weak”.
Even though the communique is never usually formally “signed”, the incident pointed to Trump’s unpredictability, experts say.
John Kirton of the G7 Research Group, based at the University of Toronto, said Trump is less likely to cause a scene this year. He told Indian channel NDTV World that Carney is on better terms with Trump and noted that the US is due to host the G7 in 2027. “He doesn’t want to kill the G7 golden goose before he can produce the ‘biggest, best summit ever’ for the whole world stage two years from now,” Kirton said.
So, what will be on the agenda for this G7 meeting?
The G7 2025 summit website lists three core actions on the agenda for this year’s discussions: “Protecting our communities around the world”; “Building energy security and accelerating the digital transition”; and “Securing the partnerships of the future”.
But G7 leaders are likely to focus on the unfolding conflict between Israel and Iran.
If this does not dominate discussions entirely, other items on the agenda at this year’s G7 summit are likely to be global trade issues, the Russia-Ukraine war and China.
Israel-Iran crisis
Julia Kulik, director of strategic initiatives for the G7 Research Group at the University of Toronto’s Trinity College, said conversations on global peace that would have focused on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Israel’s war on Gaza will now likely pivot to Iran.
“There will be tough questions from other leaders around the table to Donald Trump about what went wrong with the negotiations and about what he’s going to do to get Israel to de-escalate before things get worse,” Kulik told Al Jazeera.
The G7 “was designed to be a crisis response group with the ability to act and adapt quickly to international challenges … so in some ways it’s good they’re meeting this weekend as they’ll have the ability to respond quickly”, she added.
Robert Rogowsky, professor of trade and economic diplomacy at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, said there is no way G7 members can avoid the subject of the latest crisis in the Middle East. “That attack, counterattack, and the US declaration that it was not involved and its warning about staying away from American assets as targets is likely to be the first thing discussed, as it now creates the possibility of a real, all-out war in the Middle East. The major neighbouring parties will have to decide how to align themselves.” Rogowsky said.
Global trade
While Carney is hoping to cover uncontroversial themes, such as building friendlier global supply chains for materials like critical minerals, China may also be a focus of discussions.
Following a meeting of G7 finance ministers in Canada in May, the group issued a joint communique saying they would continue to monitor “nonmarket policies and practices” which contribute to imbalances in global trade. The statement did not mention China, but “nonmarket policies” often refer to export subsidies and currency policies that the Trump administration says provide an advantage in international trade. The statement was seen as a swipe at China’s trade practices, in particular its lending practices, which many see as adding debt for poorer countries.
Leaders of the G7 are also expected to discuss concerns about rising tensions between China and Taiwan in the East and South China Seas, as well as China’s expanding military presence there.
Russia-Ukraine war
A joint statement of G7 foreign ministers following an earlier meeting in Quebec in mid-March expressed strong support for Kyiv. It said finance ministers had “discussed imposing further costs on Russia” if Moscow did not agree to a ceasefire.
The UK and the EU announced a new round of sanctions against Russia in May, but Trump, who has been conducting discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said the US would not follow suit.
Sanctions against Russia and achieving a ceasefire may, therefore, also be a focus of discussions this week.
Global development
This could be a thorny issue.
Global development, particularly in African countries, has long been a primary focus of G7 discussions. However, this year, the US has made clear that it wishes to de-prioritise economic and humanitarian assistance for other countries. It has largely shuttered the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and says it plans large cuts to funding for other health and development initiatives overseas, as well.
What meetings could take place on the sidelines of the G7 summit?
US-EU
Donald Trump is expected to hold meetings with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Japan’s prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba. Both leaders are eager to agree on a trade deal with Trump as soon as possible to avoid reciprocal tariffs, due to come back into place following a pause in early July.
US-Canada-Mexico
Trump, Carney and Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum may also hold a separate meeting of North American leaders on trade and border security. In February, Trump postponed his planned 25-percent import tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods at the last minute. Canada’s then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sheinbaum both agreed to increase border security to prevent the trafficking of drugs and migrants into the US, averting a trade war. Trump says he has been particularly concerned about the flow of the drug fentanyl into the US from both Canada and Mexico.
Vicky Pattison just shared with fans she’s been loving this LED hair growth helmet from CurrentBody that promises to reduce hair thinning and hair loss, for healthier, longer locks
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Vicky Pattison uses this CurrentBody LED hair growth helmet to prevent hair loss(Image: Vicky Pattison/Instagram)
Vicky Pattison recently revealed the beauty gadget she’s been using in her self-care routine to reduce and prevent hair loss and thinning—and we know where you can shop for your own.
Taking to social media, Vicky enjoyed some RNR while wearing this CurrentBody Skin LED Hair Growth Helmet. This red light therapy device promotes hair regrowth, stimulating new hair’s strengthening and faster growth while reducing hair loss and thinning with every use.
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Vicky used this CurrentBody Skin LED Hair Growth Helmet(Image: Vicky Pattison/Instagram/CurrentBody)
Clinically proven to give up to 126% more growth than topical, laser and supplement treatments alone, this CurrentBody LED helmet uses natural, cellular LED light therapy treatment to encourage thicker hair and new hair growth.
This helmet is equipped with 120 LED bulbs that deliver 18 J/cm² of precise red (640nm) wavelengths. It stimulates the blood flow of oxygen and essential nutrients to hair follicles, increasing hair density and faster growth. Boasting a unique shape that ensures full, optimal scalp coverage without any patches missed.
Set to provide results after hands-free 10-minute daily treatment at home, this LED helmethas been proven to enhance hair quality significantly and is even more effective when used with complementary hair regrowth treatments. Plus, CurrentBody promises noticeable results after a matter of weeks.
Perfect for men and women alike, the helmet comes in two sizes to offer the best coverage for your unique head shape. Both the small/medium and medium/large size options retail for £649.99 on Amazon and directly from CurrentBody.
Though the helmet hasn’t received any reviews on Amazon yet, plenty of CurrentBody shoppers have been singing its praises. One 5-star reviewer raves: “I have been using this now for about 6 weeks. Not always consistently but my hairdresser and my husband have said things like “Wow your hair has gotten so long” or “Your hair seems thicker.” Not sure if this is all from the Hair Growth Helmet but I must admit it seems to have a lot more little hairs growing and I notice it when I am blowing my hair dry. I love the face, neck and hair growth helmet!”
Another buyer beams: “I’ve been suing this device since Dec 15th, 2024 and have already seen sooo much new hair growth. I had ascari g alopecia (Discoid Lupus on my scalp) and all though I know won’t get complete hair regrowth on the scared tissue, I’m still seeing lots of new hairs. If you’re on the fence, don’t wait! I started seeing results in less than 2 weeks.”
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And further songs of praise come from this shopper who says: “This really has been a complete gamechanger for my hairloss and regrowth. I’ve used this every single day, without a single day off, for 7 months and have seen significant reduction in hairloss and significant increase in hair growth. Now, what I would say is that hairloss reduction could be down to a number of different factors (I upped my iron and vitamin D, for instance, as I was suffering from extremely bad hairloss following some medication I took), but the regrowth speed is categorically down to this device. So while stopping hairloss is not something I can fully vouch for, I will say that the regrowth using this has been speedy and really impressive.”
