Media outlets amplify Israel’s narrative about its attack on Iran.
Israel has launched an unprovoked assault on Iran, including strikes on nuclear facilities and assassinations of several senior military commanders and scientists. In front of the world’s media, however, the Netanyahu government is spinning the attack as “preemptive”.
Contributor: Negar Mortazavi – Host, The Iran Podcast
On our radar:
This past week, phone and internet services virtually collapsed across Gaza, as Israel repeatedly bombed transmission stations and communication towers.
Meenakshi Ravi explains how Gaza now risks digital isolation.
Showdown in LA: A very Trumpian spectacle
President Trump has turned Los Angeles into an ideological battleground amid protests against anti-immigration raids. His mobilisation of the National Guard and marines – without the approval of California’s state government – has produced made-for-TV images of the kind likely to appeal to the MAGA faithful.
For many others, it is yet another sign of a dangerous turn away from civil liberties under his presidency.
As royal fans around the world prepare to watch Trooping the Colour – one of the highlights of the royal calendar – expert Jennie Bond reveals why Prince Harry will not be among them
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
It is one of the rare occasions where the whole of the Royal Family is out in force standing shoulder-to-shoulder. And that is exactly what is expected to happen today when the Firm stands united to celebrate Trooping the Colour.
The event, which is the King’s official birthday celebration, is full of pomp and pageantry and includes the King leading his family out to the Buckingham Palace balcony for the exhilarating RAF flypast that includes the Red Arrows. However, in recent years, there has been no sign of the King’s estranged son, Prince Harry, or his wife, Meghan Markle, joining the event.
Harry and Meghan at Trooping the Colour in 2018(Image: Getty Images)
They last appeared on the palace balcony with the rest of the royals in 2019 – just months before they dramatically quit their royal roles. Since then their relationship with the royals has crumbled after railing against them in their Netflix series and Harry’s memoir, Spare.
Just weeks ago, Harry revealed he is no longer speaking to his father, but admitted he would like reconciliation with him and his older brother Prince William. But despite Trooping the Colour giving Harry a chance to watch his family in action, royal expert Jennie Bond says she is not sure if the Duke of Sussex will even tune in on TV.
The former BBC royal correspondent told the Mirror : “There’s no way Prince Harry will be watching the ceremony – after all, it will be the middle of the night in California. I don’t suppose he wastes much time looking at events he is no longer part of.
Article continues below
“But it must be strange to see his whole family on parade, doing their duty and being cheered by huge crowds while he lives such a different life so far away.
Harry and Meghan at Trooping the Colour in 2019(Image: Getty Images)
“The day is also a chance for us all to see the family unite around the King, and the balcony moment is always a highlight. Over the years, we have seen a toddler Prince Harry sticking his tongue out, Prince George looking distinctly bored, a young Princess Charlotte looking a little tearful and Savannah Phillips clapping her hand over George’s mouth to keep him quiet! It’s always a heyday for Royal watchers!
“Of course, that must make it a bit of an ordeal for the Royal Family: everyone has to be on their best behaviour. It must also require some pretty skilful horsemanship from the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal and Prince Edward to keep their steeds under control for the best part of two hours.
“But they will know that there is a powerful symbolism about such senior members of the Royal family riding as escort to guard the King. And William has been quoted as saying that he really enjoys it.”
The royals at Trooping the Colour last year (Image: PA)
The annual event of Trooping the Colour has marked the official birthday of the King or Queen for more than 260 years. The ceremony involves hundreds of horses and soldiers carrying out complex battlefield drill manoeuvres to military music. More than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together for the impressive display.
During the parade, the royals will travel from Buckingham Palace down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade in a procession – either on horseback or in carriages. At Horse Guards, they then watch the military display before joining the procession back to Buckingham Palace once it is over.
After the parade, the royals then gather on the Palace balcony for a march-past and the fly-past by the RAF, which includes the Red Arrows, and will conclude the day’s celebrations.
And Jennie added: “Trooping the Colour is a dazzling spectacle. It’s held in June in the hope that the sun will be shining, the crowds will be warm and the breastplates and swords of the Household Cavalry will be sparkling. It marks the Monarch’s official birthday and is a chance to see all the pomp and pageantry that Britain excels at.
“Historically, the Colour (or flag) was trooped – or displayed – on the battlefield as a rallying point for the soldiers. Today it is not only an exercise in military precision, but also a rallying point for crowds and the TV audience to unite around the monarchy.
Article continues below
“I’ve been lucky enough to attend several Troopings and I defy anyone to keep their feet still as the drums thump out the beat to the military music and the horse’s hooves go thundering by. It really is a spectacle and a half.”
Despite concerns over ticket sales and player fatigue, FIFA’s new expanded Club World Cup will throw up several intriguing storylines this summer in the United States.
AFP Sport picks five things to look out for on the pitch as teams compete to conquer the world and claim their share of $1 billion in prize money.
Messi back in the spotlight
Former Barcelona great Lionel Messi has spent the last two seasons at MLS side Inter Miami, but the Club World Cup pits him against European opposition once again.
The 37-year-old superstar still possesses supreme quality, but there are question marks over whether he and former top-level stars Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets can seriously compete against the cream of the crop.
Inter Miami face Porto in their second group match in Atlanta, a team Messi has faced once before, beating them with Barca in the UEFA Super Cup back in 2011.
Messi also featured against Porto in a friendly with Barca back in 2003, which was his first ever appearance for the club at 16 years old.
READ ALSO: De Bruyne Signs For Napoli After Leaving Man City
If he nets at the tournament, Messi would become the oldest ever Club World Cup goalscorer, while both he and Suarez trail the competition’s all-time top scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, by two goals.
A new stage for Doue
Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League final romp over Inter Milan was inspired by thrilling forward Desire Doue, who turned 20 earlier in June.
His spectacular burst into the limelight over the past few months means he is one of the players to watch this summer at the Club World Cup.
He struck twice in the final against Inter, as well as setting up another goal and drew comparisons to Spanish starlet Lamine Yamal, who will not be playing this summer as Barcelona did not qualify.
PSG’s opening clash against Atletico Madrid at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles immediately gives Doue another stage to shine on as the world at large continues to discover his immense talent.
Revamped City
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City endured a poor season by their lofty standards and immediately took action in the special transfer window to bolster their squad for the Club World Cup.
The Abu Dhabi-owned club have already splashed more than £100 million ($136 million) on Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki.
With holding midfielder Rodri also returning to fitness after injury, City are hoping they can step up their game significantly.
French 21-year-old attacking midfielder Cherki is an exciting talent looking to show his quality at the top level.
“I really believe he can become a world-class player with our support and direction,” said City’s director of football, Hugo Viana.
South American threat
While Europe’s elite are at the end of a long, hard season, South American clubs are midway through their campaigns and will be energised.
They have long revered the competition to a far greater degree than European sides, as it represents the chance to face the very best teams in the world.
Fans who do not regularly follow South American football can look forward to discovering some of the most exciting emerging talents in the world.
River Plate’s Argentine playmaker Franco Mastantuono will join Real Madrid after the tournament, while Chelsea-bound striker Estevao Willian is hoping to end his time at Brazilian side Palmeiras with a bang.
Atletico hunger
Atletico Madrid ended the season trophyless despite looking like potential contenders in Spain and Europe.
Diego Simeone’s side are proud of having reached the tournament ahead of La Liga rivals Barcelona, and the coach has not hidden his desire to succeed this summer.
“I hope we can advance in the Club World Cup and lead Atletico Madrid to a privileged position,” said Simeone.
Atletico have not won a single trophy since lifting La Liga in 2021, and their last success outside of Spanish football came in 2018 with Europa League and UEFA Super Cup wins.
Their elimination by Real Madrid in the Champions League after Julian Alvarez’s controversial ‘double-touch’ penalty was disallowed sent them into a spiral, which they only managed to shake off in the final weeks of the season, after their chances of success had vanished.
This tan remover has been making waves with beauty buffs as it promises easy tan removal in just 60 seconds, but does it really work? Shopping Writer Meghan has put it to the test
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
‘I tried a TikTok viral 1-minute tan remover and I didn’t expect these results’(Image: Meghan Coon)
If there’s one thing I hate about tanning through the summer, it’s needing to remove it. Whether you’re stripping the fake tan for good or clearing the canvas for a freshened look, taking off fake tan can be a hassle, sometimes taking an age. So, when I saw this tan remover going viral on TikTok for its quick and convenient removal, I was intrigued.
The Rose & Caramel Purity Excel 60 Second Fake Tan Remover, which retails for £23.99 on Amazon, as well as at Boots and Debenhams, promises to remove fake tan in a singular minute. And it’s not an empty promise, beauty buffs on social media have been showing off how fast and stress-free this remover is. So I thought I’d take it for a spin.
READ MORE: Stacey Solomon’s new ‘Sunshine Spritz’ shimmer mist drops in time for festival season
READ MORE: ‘Incredible’ LG speaker system gives ‘cinema-quality sound’ and is reduced from £1100 to £430
This tan remover is said to work in just 60-seconds(Image: Meghan Coon)
This rapid fake tan remover is said to remove all your self-tan within just 60 Seconds. The viral remover is perfect for stubborn false tan stuck to dry patches, old self-tan that’s seen better days, or faded fake tan that needs replacing, without any harsh scrubbing needed.
Set to be compatible with any brand of fake tan, tanning mousse, tanning lotion, spray tan, etc., this Rose & Caramel remover is an exfoliating body scrub that promises to not only remove fake tan in seconds but also rejuvenate your skin, deeply exfoliate, remove dead skin cells, reduce ingrowing hairs, and provide the skin with intense moisture for silky, smooth, fake tan-free skin, a perfect fresh canvas for your next sunkissed look.
Apparently, it’s that easy. You simply mask your body with the luxury body scrub over all areas that need self-tan removal and leave to soak into the skin for 60 seconds. Then you can just jump into the bath or shower and use exfoliating mitts to gently buff away your old self-tan, leaving your skin exfoliated, super soft and ready for your next application of tanning mousse.
Available in two scent options, including scent-free, the exfoliating tan remover that I opted for is formulated with a fruity mango and pomegranate scent, leaving the skin smelling and feeling fresh.
First thing to note from my experience with this tan remover, which I’ve used twice now, is that I didn’t notice any overly strong scent during or after use. This probably isn’t a huge downside for everyone, and I will admit I have a terrible sense of smell, so it could just be my nose.
I have tried removing fake tan with soap or other exfoliators, alongside my exfoliating gloves, and it’s been a real chore, which is why I was os keen to test out this 1-minute miracle worker.
Did this body scrub live up to the expectations of 60 seconds, and the tan just washes away? No. I covered all of my body that had fake tan on, prioritising dry areas where tan tends to cling, and waited over a minute before hopping in the shower. As I said, the tan didn’t immediately disappear, though I did see some colour coming off in the water. But the results still surprised me.
It only took gentle scrubbing with my exfoliating gloves while under running water, and it definitely did not take any aggressive scrubbing for the most part. I used more of the tan remover and a bit of a heavier hand on my hands, feet, elbows and knees where old tan likes to stick around, and to my shock, the tan lifted ten times easier than I’ve found with other exfoliating body scrubs.
It isn’t a miracle solution to ridding your body of old tan; you still need to exfoliate with gloves or a brush, but the process is massively reduced and doesn’t take nearly as much effort to shift stubborn old tan. I wouldn’t say it works in 60 seconds, but I had all of my tan removed in around 10 to 15 minutes while in the shower, which is significantly shorter than it’s taken in the past.
Plus, for £23.99, you get a 440ml tub, which is sure to last for months to come. I’ve barely used a third of my tub, and I’ve used this exfoliating body scrub twice. Try it for yourself and shop at Amazon, Boots, or Debenhams.
Article continues below
If you’re interested in knowing what tan and exfoliating mitts I was using, I’ve been swearing by this Loving Tan 2hr Express Tanning Mousse (£29.56) in the shade Medium. For removal, I used these Amazon exfoliating gloves (£5.99).
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.”
Sadly for the new Sir and Lady Beckham, the star’s huge achievement has been tainted as the couple are currently embroiled in a sad fallout with their eldest son Brooklyn Peltz Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz Beckham. And it appears that feud is still ongoing as Brooklyn appears to have snubbed his dad’s huge achievement on his social media pages.
Amy Denman
Cruz’s sweet post to dad David
Adding to the string of sweet tributes, David’s son Cruz, 20, also shared his pride over his dad’s big achievement with a gushing Instagram story share.
Musician Cruz posted a picture of his beloved dad smiling while sat in a forest and wrote on top: “I’m so proud dad I love you” before he added: “Sir David Beckham Has a nice ring to it”.
Cruz made a sweet tribute to his dad
Amy Denman
Romeo Beckham’s sweet tribute to dad
Romeo Beckham gushed over his pride for his dad in a sweet Instagram post, shared shortly after the news was released last night.
The 22 year old son of David and Victoria posted a photo of himself and his dad at David’s 50th birthday celebration – which son Brooklyn was noticibly absent from – on his Instagram story. The image showed a smiling Romeo looking lovingly at his dad as David pulls a face at the camera.
“So so proud of you,” Romeo gushed as he added four white heart emojis to the post.
Romeo Beckham shared a sweet tribute to his dad David
KEY EVENT
Sir David Beckham reacts to knighthood
Sir David, who was made an OBE in 2003 and has been in the running for a knighthood for more than a decade, said in a statement to the Mirror: “Growing up in East London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour. To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career and literally a boyhood dream come true. Off the pitch I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to represent Britain around the world and work with incredible organisations that are supporting communities in need and inspiring the next generation.
Amy Denman
David Beckham named in the King’s Birthday Honours List
Days after speculation of David’s upcoming knighthood, the King’s Birthday Honours List finally confirmed he has received the long-awaited title.
The ex-England and Manchester United player, who was given an OBE in 2003, said he was “immensly proud” for the gong to services to sport and charity. Sir David joins 1,215 recognised in the Honours List, including The Who singer Roger Daltrey, Hollywood icon Gary Oldman, TV legends Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, and teenage darts sensastion Luke Littler.
David Beckham has been awarded a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours List (Getty Images)
Hollyoaks actress Jorgie Porter, who has son Forest and daughter Peony, has candidly opened up on motherhood and plans to marry Oliver Piotrowski after a four year-long engagement
Jorgie Porter opens up about being a mum of two under three(Image: themissyporter/Instagram)
Soap star Jorgie Porter has revealed how she’s finding being a mum of two children under three in a candid new, exclusive chat.
Hollyoaks actress Jorgie, 37, gave birth to her second child, a baby girl called Peony, in December. She also has her first child, a son called Forest, who she welcomed in November 2022.
Jorgie shares both her children with her real estate developer fiancé Oliver Piotrowski, who also has a son Alfie, ten, from a previous relationship. Just a few months after giving birth, Jorgie has candidly opened up about how she’s finding being a mum of two children under the age of three.
Hollyoaks’ Jorgie gave birth to daughter Peony in December(Image: themissyporter/Instagram)
When asked how she’s finding the new phase of motherhood, Jorgie tells the Mirror at the launch of the Pro Am Padel tour: “It’s hard. Nobody tells you that it’s the hardest thing in the world because you’ve got a toddler that wants all your attention and you’ve, obviously, got a little baby that’s attached to you, literally that is another level of mum-ness. It is hard. We’re in the trenches, this is the trenches we’re deep in there.“
Juggling two children is tricky for a number of reasons, but Jorgie reveals she finds her son Forest’s jealousy particularly difficult – but is making slow progress helping her eldest adjust to the new family dynamic. She explains: “Honestly, it’s great but I think there’s jealousy bits when the toddler is like, ‘you’re my mummy, get off this one, put her in the carseat’, like, ‘No Forest, we’re cuddling her’.
Article continues below
“It’s tricky because he can’t understand that I’m her Mummy, too. But he does know, it’s weird. It’s very hard to navigate. It’s going there, it’s brilliant. I think there’s everyday you go, ‘Oh that’s a win, that’s brilliant, we’re out together in a pram, we did it’. So it is going well.”
Hollyoaks’ Jorgie gave birth to daughter Peony in December(Image: themissyporter/Instagram)
Jorgie has had a busy few years growing her wonderful family and juggling her career, as she plays Theresa McQueen on Hollyoaks. One thing she hasn’t got around to doing just yet is planning her wedding to Oliver.
The couple announced their engagement in December 2021 but are yet to walk down the aisle.
When asked if there are any wedding plans, Jorgie jokes about her lengthy engagement. “How long? Four years I think! I didn’t plan this,” she quips.
The soap star mum then reveals why there is yet to be wedding bells for her a Oliver. “No I’m stupid at planning, I’m a bad planner,” she confesses. “Because whenever I’ve had Hollyoaks work we never are scheduled so I never know what day it is. We even work on Saturdays. You can ask me now what day it is, I don’t know. I don’t know the day, the month, because you have to always be ready to work because they can call you up because…
Article continues below
“So planning for me is just… I’m waiting for the wedding to come to me I think. It’ll just come when it’s ready. Maybe a padel wedding, I’m joking!”
