Shin Yamada, a Japanese international, has signed for Celtic from Kawasaki Frontale for four years.
Since 2023, the 25-year-old has made 32 goals in 121 club appearances and has been a force in the J-League.
Manager Brendan Rodgers reported to club media, “He is a strong player who can score goals for others and create goals for ourselves,” and “I think he is someone who can definitely add an important dimension to our forward line.”
After losing to SC Sagamihara on Wednesday, Yamada bid a public farewell to Kawasaki fans.
He joins his former club, which is currently sixth in the J-League, having scored twice in his 21 starts.
The 5-foot-8-inch forward told CelticTV that the Scottish champions made their initial approach in late 2024 after scoring 19 goals in 38 league games in the previous campaign.
This summer’s Scottish champions will welcome Yamada along with fellow forwards Benjamin Nygren and Callum Osmand, defenders Hayato Inamura and Kieran Tierney, and goalkeeper Ross Doohan.
He claimed that Celtic is “one of the top names in world football.” I’ve already seen how well my countrymen Daizen, Mahada, Reo, Haiti, and Kyogo Furuhashi perform at Celtic, and I want to make the same impact.
The Waleses will undoubtedly be participating in a years-old tradition that Prince William struggles with each year as Prince George approaches his 12th birthday.
Prince George will be celebrating his 12th birthday next week(Image: Getty Images)
With Prince George ’s 12th birthday just around the corner, the royal family will no doubt be celebrating the milestone day. With many birthday traditions to honour as the second in line to the throne approaches his adolescence, the Waleses are expected to pull out all the stops to make the day special.
Princess Kate has previously shared details of a series of birthday traditions the family indulge in, including the fact that Kate will often stay up until midnight to make birthday cakes for her children’s big days. However, there is one cheeky tradition that was originated by Princess Diana, that Prince William struggles with each year.
With Prince George’s 12th birthday around the corner, Prince William is destined to be terrorised by a cheeky birthday tradition, started by Princess Diana(Image: Getty Images)
The custom first developed when Princess Diana would give noisy presents to Julia Samuel’s children, both for the children’s entertainment and for the parents, in equal measure.
One of Prince George’s seven godparents, Julia, has since passed the tradition on to the Wales family, which means Prince William is resentful of the tedious task year after year.
In an episode in 2020 to celebrate Diana’s 59th birthday, Samuels first discussed the funny custom when she was a guest on the podcast How to Fail with Elizabeth Day and said, “I do to George what [Diana] did to us, which is give impossible toys that are really noisy and take a lot of making.
Then, “William must spend days putting them together.” Then combine everything, and the machinery makes terrible toting noises, flashing lights, and other things.
The tradition first began when Princess Diana would give the children of her good friend, Julia Samuel, noisy gifts that were difficult to put together(Image: PA)
She continued, “William struggles with the presents, especially George, with great pleasure, with the rest of the family.” She stated that it “makes]her] laugh and that it makes George laugh.
Julia responded, “Amazing,” calling her close friend Diana, who would have also adored her royal godson George. He’s funny, feisty, and cheeky, and, she said, “Diana” would have loved him so much. They all experience heartache because of that.
Princess Diana never got to meet her grandchildren, as she was just 36 years old when she tragically died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. Prince William was 15 years old at the time of his mother’s death, while Prince Harry was just 12.
Prince William has long compared how he keeps Diana’s memory alive with his three children by making sure they are all aware of details about her life, despite the fact that Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis were never able to meet her grandmother.
The Waleses will be celebrating Prince George’s 12th birthday on July 22(Image: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)
During an appearance in the 2017 ITV documentary Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy, William said: “So we’ve got more photos up round the house now of her and we talk about her a bit and stuff. And it’s hard because obviously Catherine didn’t know her, so she cannot really provide that level of detail.
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“So I try to keep George or Charlotte at bed every day, talk about her, and just try to remind them that their lives both had grandmothers. And so it’s crucial for them to be aware of who she was and why she was there.
ExCLUSIVE: Following their sold-out tour last year, Kimberley Walsh honored their late bandmate Sarah Harding and explained how their children were blown away on tour.
Daniel Bird Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor
Kimberley Walsh has opened up about the dynamic of Girls Aloud following their reunion tour(Image: Tom Dymond/REX/Shutterstock)
Kimberley Walsh admits that she and her Girls Aloud bandmates are now in a “different stage” of their lives. The chart-mauling group, which launched in 2002, reunited last year to celebrate their 20th anniversary and also honour their late bandmate, Sarah Harding.
On September 5, 2021, Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer, which had spread to other areas of her body, and she passed away at the age of 39. Prior to her death, the singer had told her bandmates it was her wish that they carry on and honour her, as well as the legacy of the band.
Sarah’s memory was kept alive throughout the tour thanks to her iconic roles from Something New and The Promise blasting out to audiences night after night, something the girls were eager to keep in the show.
Kimberley Walsh and her Girls Aloud bandmates reunited for a special reason last year(Image: James McCauley/REX/Shutterstock)
“I think people were having a really good time,” Kimberley exclusively told the Mirror, adding: “It did feel really special.” Speaking about including Sarah, the Bradford-born singer, actress, and presenter said: “That was the biggest challenge and that was the focus for all of us during those creative meetings, ‘How do we give Sarah her moment and keep her flowing throughout the show?’
We wanted to feel as though she was still with us because that was so crucial to us. I do think we achieved that, we tried to bring it back to her whenever possible and give everybody that time to reminisce and celebrate her. Sarah’s lead vocals were heard on I’ll Stand By You, a recording the band found while making tour preparations.
Kimberley said: “That was a tough moment every night, but we all needed it too, we all needed to take that minute. As hard as it was, I loved that part of the show.” The tour was also very different, with Kimberley, Cheryl and Nadine’s children seeing their mum, and Auntie Nicola as popstars for the first time.
Throughout the show, the band kept Sarah’s legacy and vocals in the show – a decision they found emotional, at times, but agreed this had to be done(Image: Getty Images)
“I think it was a little bit mind-blowing for them,” Kimberley laughed, before explaining her children, Bobby, nine, Cole, seven and two-year-old Nate, know her mainly for her presenting work. “I don’t think they really got it until they turned up at the arena for the first show,” she explained.
But it was the reaction from the sold-out audience which left her children baffled. “They started off finding it weird and ended quite enjoying it,” she laughed. The group had their children on the tour buses with them. There’s just six months between Nadine’s daughter, Anaíya and Kimberley’s eldest, Bobby.
” There’s only a few months between Cole and Bear]Cheryl’s son with the late Liam Payne], and everyone just looked after Nate because he was the baby, “she said, adding it was fun for the children to enjoy the celebrations together. We’re in a very different stage of our lives, Kimberley said, so we were able to enjoy it for ourselves while also seeing it through their eyes.
Her children were blown away after seeing their mum, Cheryl, Nicola and Nadine on stage(Image: Getty Images)
Kimberley, however, has put her solo career on hold following the birth of Nate in June 2021. Her debut album, Centre Stage, which charted at Number 18, became a fan favourite. “I’ve taken a step back from musical theatre over the last few years, with Nate being so young,” she said.
She explained that she didn’t want to miss any vital moments of her children’s lives, as she feels as though she’d just had Nate”. She joked that her children might not care if she’s at home at night every night because it made sense not to be in the theater over the past few years.
She said, “I love the album, it is a real passion of mine, and I loved it.” Adding:” I’d just discovered my voice a bit more, realising what I was capable of doing, which was a bit of a revelation for me. Being able to challenge myself was fun. Part two of Centre Stage would be a dream come true for me.
Her eldest son, Bobby, is following in Kimberley and Justin’s showbiz footsteps
Kimberley might soon return to the stage, though. She expressed her desire to return to the theater because it embodies something so unique. “That is an environment her children haven’t been” properly immersed in “yet, due to their young ages.
Although her husband, Justin Scott, was formerly a member of the boy band Triple 8, and young Bobby wants to be a “singing builder,” Kimberley is not the only singer in their household. Kimberley pointed out that Bob had been wanting to model for a while. He’s really quite serious about it, “she said, before explaining that it was great for his confidence.
She continued, “We’re all learning, aren’t we, and we never really know what the right choice is,” adding that she and Bobby share traits. Kimberley performs a variety of shows in Manchester, including Morning Live, which she credits with being flexible with her schedule.
She said: “I don’t want to be away from the kids too much. And the tour is probably one of the most full-on things I’ve done over the last few years. But again, they were able to be involved. They were thrilled about that. They were able to come on the bus and be on tour with us, which was a really good experience for them.”
With Wickes, the singer and actress just released Blush Rose, her most recent paint shade.
Most recently, she launched her third paint shade, Blush Rose, with Wickes. “I’ve always been really into DIY and interiors,” she said, adding it’s been one of the most exciting projects she’s done. “And I’ve done a lot of fun stuff over the years! But in my life now, I absolutely love my home. I love interiors,” Kimberley laughed.
Speaking about getting her London home to where she wants it to be, the singer said: “When I started working with Wickes three or four years ago, my house really needed to be redecorated. I’d been in it for over ten years, and it was looking a bit tired. I was so ready to transform it. So now, I feel like it’s like we’ve just moved in! I love walking into each space and seeing the changes I’ve made – seeing my paint colours in all their glory. They really suit my home. I’ve got a really traditional home, and a lot of the paints have that vintage feel to them.”
The majority of the redecorating was done during Nate’s nap times. She said: “I’ve really enjoyed the time I spent decorating and doing DIY in the home. It’s a nice way of escaping for a minute. When I get time to just paint all day, I can really get into it—put my music on, get the tea flowing, get the biscuits out, and just forget about everything but be mindful. Because as a mum of three with various jobs, my brain’s quite busy! It’s actually a positive thing.”
Away from Morning Live, singing and acting, Kimberley also fancies fronting a new “amazing concept” for a DIY show. “I know there’s a lot of them around, but it’s tricky to find a different angle sometimes, but they are so addictive,” she joked. She continued: “I think it would need to be geared more around giving people the tools to do stuff themselves, because it can be expensive to pay tradesmen, you should only be doing that if it’s something you can’t do yourself. Just give it a go, but we’ll see, we’ll work on that!”
Speaking about social media and helping people with ideas, Kimberley said: “If money is tight and you’re trying to do a transformation, you need to save money where you can. For me, with something like painting, practice makes perfect. Also, there’s so many tutorials online. DIY can feel overwhelming, but nothing is impossible!”
Kimberley Walsh’s Matt Emulsion Paint in Blush Rose retails for $14 at Wickes and is available online at wickes. co. uk
London’s bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships has received a confirmation from the UK government.
If successful, the event would take place at London Stadium, which was last there in 2017.
A UK bid for the World Paralympics in 2029 is also being supported by ministers who pledge to “take it] beyond the capital with a host city confirmed in due course.”
The government stated that “it has agreed to provide significant funding for both bids, [subject to funding from partners being confirmed].”
According to information obtained from BBC Sport, the London Mayor’s office is expected to provide about £10 million in public funding, with central government donating another $35 million.
More than 100 of Britain’s top athletes wrote to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in an open letter in June to demand support for London’s bid to host the World Athletics Championships.
Concerns about a bid’s potential risk were raised in response to the estimated $45 million that the government was being requested to pay as a result of spending cuts, despite claims that the event would have an economic impact of $400 million.
When ministers released a half-billion pounds of sporting event investment during a spending review last month, the championships were not mentioned.
However, discussions with UK Athletics and UK Sport have been ongoing, and Starmer expressed his satisfaction in supporting the bid.
“We would have a great national pride in welcoming the World Athletics Championships to the UK,” he said, “building on our reputation as a global venue for memorable sporting events that showcase the very best talent.”
“Organizing these championships would open up opportunities for UK athletes,” said the next generation, who would also be inspired to get involved and pursue their goals.
The event would encourage UK businesses, support jobs, and unite our communities.
After winning numerous medals on the world, Olympic, and paralympic stages over the past few years, UK athletics is on an upward trend thanks to new partners, record-breaking participation, and sold-out stadiums. This encouragement will help the sport reach new heights.
Olympic medalist and 1500m world champion Josh Kerr said, “London 2017 was my first senior World Championships, and it lit a fire in me.
“London has a good chance of winning,” the statement read.
Former British athlete and BBC Sport commentator Steve Cram
I’m delighted that this has taken place because I believe it would be significant. The government had a little bit of an angst about backing the bid for 2029, and it seemed like a great idea to do that.
The London Stadium was intended to host major championships. Although it hasn’t been used annually for a Champs, it hasn’t been for 12 years. It would be incredible.
We know that London has a great chance of winning with government support because athletics requires venues where 60, 000 people can attend each session.
Since it’s almost time to return to Europe, London, which is easily accessible to everyone in Europe, has a good chance of winning.
Gregg Wallace and John Torode are no longer on MasterChef, but Jessica Boulton’s brutal rundown of the showbiz week reveals the EIGHT stories you should be talking about instead. This includes the only cancelled BBC star who actually deserves our tears.
Naked yoga, novel book launches, British Emmy nominations and one very heated situation in the Masterchef kitchen…. Jess Boulton takes a no-holds-barred dive into this week’s most bizarre showbiz shenanigans
Jessica Boulton, a columnist for the Daily Mirror, presents Jess Saying, her wry, funny, and slightly whimsical analysis of heroes and villains, winners and losers, and the outright outrageous showbiz shenanigans that keep us amused this week. Where else is a better place to start than….
JUSTICE FOR BBC ICON MONDAY
I’ve always considered myself to be woke. I’m left-wing, open-minded and look good in red (in the UK, definitely not in the US). I’d fully support trigger warnings on Bambi and The Lion King. And I’d argue there should be one on Titanic (for “scenes of disturbing door hoggery”). But this week I’m afraid to say, even I think the woke world has gone too far. For a true BBC icon has outrageously and undeservedly been cancelled. It’s a sad, sad state of affairs after 30 years of excellence. But it’s a sign of the times: one day everyone loves you and the next…you’re persona non grata, written off as a bad fit for the Gen Zs of today (who don’t watch TV anyway, so why are we pandering?). So which iconic BBC veteran has been tragically stripped of work this week? Clue: they first appeared in 1995 – and won millions of fans overnight. Yes, you’ve guessed it. There’s only one BBC star I’m weeping for: Mr Darcy. Well, his Wet White Shirt, to be precise.
Colin Firth’s Wet White Shirt makes its TV debut in BBC’s 1995 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. It went on to become a TV icon in its own right (Image: BBC)
For three decades, the sterling performance of Colin Firth’s infamous Pride and Prejudice shirt has never been equalled. But its outstanding contribution to entertainment has now been called into question – over fears it’s been objectifying men. Yup. It’s true. Some buttoned-up bores at Netflix are currently debating what’ll make the cut and what won’t in their upcoming P&P remake.
READ MORE: MasterChef bosses decide BBC show fate for coming years after show scandal
Considering Slow Horses’ Jack Lowden is the new Darcy (alongside The Crown’s Emma Corrin as Lizzie Bennet), I was FERVENTLY in support of the decision to completely remove the Wet White Shirt, at first.
But then I realized I had the wrong handle. I’m only teasing of course. I’d like to draw people’s attention to two minor things, though:
POINT 1 What else would Netflix need to change to fit a more ‘ 2025-friendly ‘ adaptation? After my woke rewrite, Jane’s famous first line undoubtedly loses a certain quality:
A single man, sorry, dependent-free gender-neutral person who has a disproportionate amount of wealth thanks to genetic privilege and the unjust dominance of patriarchy must be in need of a wife, or a loving relationship that equally fulfills the needs of both you and your consenting partner(s), but does not necessarily adhere to any societal expectations.
And POINT2: ……Season 2, Episode 5 of NETFLIX’S Bridgerton. Look familiar, guys?
Jonathan Bailey said this scene in Netflix’s Bridgerton was a homage to Colin Firth’s white shirt in 1995’s Pride & Prejudice (Image: LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX)
NAKED AMBITION TUESDAY
The Primetime Emmy nominations are finally in! Adolescence was the UK’s biggest contender this year – with nods including Best Actor for Stephen Graham and Best Supporting for 15-year-old Owen Cooper (I’d argue it should be reversed).
Meanwhile, leading the way with a mindblowing 27 noms was Apple’s truly genius Severance – a drama in which people clock off at 5pm and all memory of work from that day is completely wiped. (You can decide for yourselves if that’s a good thing or not.)
The most delightful Emmy news of all? Nobody Wants This, with my all-time celeb faves Adam Brody and Kristen Bell, landed nods for best comedy series, actor and actress. It was an achievement Kristen’s hubby Dax Shepard immediately celebrated with this pic – of Kristen’s naked yoga workout.
Dax posted this picture of Kristen doing naked yoga to celebrate her Emmy nod
Dax Shepard and the newly-Emmy-nominated Kristen Bell (Image: WireImage)
I’m not married, so maybe I’m wrong… But should Dax really have gone so very public with his congratulations? A great big bear bare hug may have been the better choice.
WEDNESDAY END OF TORODE
Talking of draaaaaama and cancellations… it was all going off the boil at MasterChef this week. Just days after Gregg Wallace was given the heave-ho after vowing to fight the dozens of allegations against him, his co-star John Torode was ALSO left with egg on his face. Torode was accused of making a racial slur – said to be “the worst word possible” – in a social setting some years ago. Torode denied it. But it left Auntie with a sour taste, so he was sent packing with a P45 as well.
The poor BBC now has an entire as-yet-unreleased pre-recorded series of MasterChef with not one but TWO disgraced hosts. That’s got to be tough to swallow. It also explains the reasoning behind one of its latest new hires. For even wholesome Blue Peter has had its share of scandalous stars…
So when faced with finding its latest prestigious presenter, the Beeb hired someone who’s been nothing but a safe pair of hands their whole career. Some might even go as far to say he’s the perfect corporate puppet.….(see below).
CBBC stalwart Hacker T. Dog has landed a top job on Blue Peter, no strings attached. He’ll join Shini Muthukrishnan, Abby Cook, Joel Mawhinney, and Henry the Labrador as the first non-human presenter(Image: PA)
INSULTS FISHING? THURSDAY
Gregg and John might be in for a grilling over their alleged behaviour, but another under-fire celeb, Sacha Baron Cohen, was probably feeling a little, um, roasted this week. Yes, his actress ex-wife Isla Fisher has not had the most amicable of splits with Da Ali G and Borat actor. So some social media users took her quip on Instagram to be a tiny dig at his expense (literally). The Confessions Of A Shopaholic star wrote: “For all the men who say ‘Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?’, here’s an update for you. “Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage. Why?
In happier times: Isla Fisher gets her hands on a cardboard cut-out of her then-husband Borat, aka Sacha Baron Cohen(Image: COPYRIGHT UNKNOWN)
“Because women realise it’s not worth buying an entire pig… just to get a little sausage.” No porkies there! I’d rather bring home the bacon alone than be stuck with a man who’s the literal wurst. So, bravo, Isla! That took proper chops.
FRIDAY FACTORS
You can’t make this one up. And to be fair, whatever you say about Katie Price, at least she can take the mickey out of herself. Which is why she’s made a startling admission this week. Apparently Katie was travelling and got pulled over by security at passport control – because she’s had so many trips under the knife, the scanners couldn’t recognise her passport photo. Yes, Katie might have been accused of being two-faced in the past, but, as she’ll admit herself, she’s been through at least 10 of them now. On the upside, it’s something to add to her CV next time she’s bankrupt. After all, everyone wants their staff to multi-faceted nowadays.
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
She’s always been a woman with Klass. So it’s good to see Myleene hasn’t let her newly-award MBE go to her head. Ahem.
Myleene Klass MBE is keeping things real as she takes a quick soak(Image: INSTAGRAM)
Yes, Myleene received the award this week for her tireless charitable work, which included raising awareness of the emotional impact of miscarriage. But it looks like the Hear’Say singer might be taking the honour a little too literally.
For the morning after receiving the medal – alongside fellow honouree Leona Lewis OBE – Myleene posted this bathtime snap.
Um …. It looks like you’ve got a little something in your hair, Myleene. To be fair, there were potential problems. She might have posed for a photo of her in her tiara. sitting on the throne.
JESS A QUICKIE
Myleene’s not the only one having some bathroom fun. Charlotte Crosby decided to promote her new fiction tome by sitting in a bath of books. It makes sense: she’s always swimming with novel ideas.* *Sorry I couldn’t help myself
I mean, it’s probably better than a bath of baked beans, but it’s not what they mean when they say relax in the tub with a good book, Charlotte!
Do you share your opinion? Tell me about it in the comments or via IG/X @JessicaBoulton.
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As gang violence continues to afflict the Caribbean nation, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has made a significant show of support for Haiti by making a second trip there this year.
The Colombian government said Petro’s visit focused on discussions involving security, commerce, education, agriculture, and the fight against drug trafficking.
Petro announced the opening of a Colombian consulate in Port-au-Prince, the nation’s capital.
He has also offered to train Haitian officers and pledged to assist in strengthening its security. A state-owned arms manufacturer in Colombia has been visited by Haitian delegations to learn more about its defense capabilities.
Petro’s brief speech at the new embassy was shared by the Colombian government as “the time has come to truly unite.”
Por fin, Hait’s embajada.
What are the impediments in the cancillera that cause a national embajada in the country after our independence was slain?
Seriously, because we received a negotiable message from our libertad, what happened? pic. https://tpdpmBptCz.twitter.com
Finally, Haiti now has an embassy. What elements in the Foreign Ministry were preventing the establishment of an embassy in the nation that gave rise to our independence? Could it be that the Black slaves who gave themselves for us were the ones who gave us our freedom?
Petro arrived in Port-au-Prince, where gangs control 90 percent of the city. Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez was one of the officials who came with him.
Petro met with Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council, which is under pressure to hold general elections before February 2026, and Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime during his visit.
Less than a week prior, Haitian authorities killed four suspected drug traffickers and sequestered more than 1, 000 kg (2, 300 lb) of cocaine off the nation’s north coast.
Haiti’s National Police, which is working with Kenyan police and UN-backed teams to combat gang violence, is still understaffed and underfunded.
While Port-au-Prince is the main location for the violence, gangs are razing and enraging a growing number of towns in Haiti’s central region.
According to a recent UN report, at least 4, 864 people have been killed in Haiti between October and June, with hundreds of others being abducted, raped, and trafficked.
In recent years, 1.3 million people have been displaced by gang violence.
Petro had previously spent much of January in Haiti. Haitian officials spent about $3.8 million on projects that would have more than double the runway at the airport in Jacmel, renovate the town, and bring back electricity for a population that has been living in the dark for at least three years prior.
