Despite receiving a “boozy kiss” at a BAFTAs afterparty earlier this year, Maura Higgins is riding higher than ever as a R expert claims she “played a blinder.”
Former Love Islander Maura Higgins is hot property right now(Image: Ben Symons/Peacock via Getty Images)
Maura Higgins had a rocky start to 2025, splitting from Pete Wicks then facing a backlash over “that” kiss with married McFly star Danny Jones at the Brits afterparty. But not only has she weathered the storm, she’s set to celebrate her biggest year yet, as OK! reports.
According to PR expert Dermot McNamara, Maura’s played a blinder by refusing to get caught up in the drama and, thanks to her hosting gig on Love Island USA: Aftersun, her career is just getting stronger. “This had all the makings of a PR disaster, but Maura turned it into a non-event,” he said. “The scandal could have derailed her, but she’s back on screen, bigger than ever.”
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Maura and Danny met in the I’m A Celeb jungle last year(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
The reality star, 34, resurrected last week with the spin-off series while oozed confidence. And despite the fact that she may have recently been in the news for all the wrong reasons, a source claimed that the negative press has not helped her reputation.
They claimed that “working in America gave her a clean slate.” Maura was unfairly called a “homewrecker” in the UK. She didn’t want it to have an impact on her career because of it. While she was dating Pete, she met Danny while appearing on I’m A Celebrity in December.
Danny, meanwhile, has been married to model Georgia Horsley – who he shares seven-year-old son Cooper with – since 2014. Maura and Danny stunned onlookers when they were caught kissing at the Brits afterparty, prompting Danny to issue a grovelling apology.
However, Maura kept a dignified silence as Danny battled to save his marriage. Don’t add more fuel to the fire, Dermot remarked. “It’s the golden rule of reputation management. She responded to the rumors without dignifying them, and she did so by refusing to give them oxygen.
The source agreed that Maura was canny in how she dealt with the furore. “She still hasn’t spoken about the kiss – she acts as if it didn’t happen,” they said. “McFly aren’t as well-known in the US, so it’s a weight off her shoulders when she’s there.” Maura began hosting Love Island USA: Aftersun last year, but took time away to film for the US version of The Traitors.
The former ring girl has come a long way since her villa days(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
Then, last week, she made a fantastic comeback for the finale. According to the source, “Maura is hot property in America.” She also has no intentions of easing up, according to the source, who claims that Maura is working hard to prevent Danny’s scandal from becoming a distant memory. The former ring girl has been juggling two sizable TV shows, according to Dermot, who described it as incredible.
“These prominent roles demonstrate that networks and brands still want her in the spotlight,” she said. A charismatic TV host with a rising star reputation.
Alongside the likes of Molly-Mae Hague and Olivia Attwood, Maura is one of Love Island’s biggest success stories. It’s because she knows how to play the fame game, the source said, adding, “She’s come out of this debacle unscathed, while Danny still seems to be picking up the pieces.”
From thrillers and romances, to autobiographies and historical fiction, we’ve rounded up 11 of the best new books to read this summer – wherever you’re spending it
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Summer 2025 is the season for page-turners that will have you sitting up into the small hours of the morning to read just one more chapter(Image: Getty Images)
You might have packed your sun cream, bikini and hat for your summer holiday – but no holiday is complete without a stack of good books. Whether you’re jetting off to a picturesque beach, an intriguing city or simply enjoying a staycation at home, there’s a wealth of novels to help you unwind.
Summer 2025 is the season for page-turners that will have you sitting up into the small hours of the morning to read just one more chapter. We’ve pulled together our list of our top recommended reads to pack in your luggage or curl up on the sofa with.
The Woman In Suite 11 by Ruth Ware
The Woman In Suite 11 by Ruth Ware (Image: Amazon )
A decade later, this gripping sequel to the New York Times bestselling author’s The Woman In Cabin 10 – adapted into a Netflix series featuring Keira Knightley – is set on the stunning shores of Lake Geneva where a terrified woman is confined in a suite owned by the hotel’s billionaire proprietor. It sees the return of journalist Lo Blacklock, now married with children, who is invited to the grand opening of the exclusive Swiss hotel, only to find herself being asked for help by the wife of the billionaire, who alleges she is being held captive in her marriage.
The Woman In Suite 11 is out now.
Somewhere Only We Know by Cathy Bramley
Somewhere Only We Know by Cathy Bramley(Image: Amazon )
The bestselling author of The Lemon Tree Café presents a woman mourning the loss of her daughter, but when she discovers her late child’s travel journal, she embarks on the gap year journey the 23 year old had dreamed of undertaking. Memories of a romantic summer in Bali soon resurface, along with an old flame.
Somewhere Only We Know is out on July 31.
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry(Image: Amazon )
The TikTok sensation and bestselling romantic novelist, whose books have sold over 10.5 million copies worldwide, presents readers with this fantastic beach read. It follows journalist Alice Scott as she tracks down former heiress and party girl Margaret Ives on a remote US island, eager to write the reclusive star’s memoir. However, when a rival journalist arrives, things heat up both professionally and personally.
Great Big Beautiful Life is out now.
A Particularly Nasty Case by Adam Kay
A Particularly Nasty Case by Adam Kay(Image: Amazon )
For those planning a late summer getaway who enjoyed former junior doctor Adam Kay’s hilarious and heartbreaking memoir This Is Going To Hurt, his debut novel is a must-read. Described as ‘hilarious, macabre and heartrending in equal measure’, it kicks off when a hospital consultant dies of a heart attack and a fellow doctor suspects foul play. But when another doctor dies under similar circumstances, an investigation begins.
A Particularly Nasty Case is out on August 28.
My Other Heart by Emma Nanami Strenner
My Other Heart by Emma Nanami Strenner(Image: Amazon )
Female friendships are at the core of this coming-of-age story that spans continents and generations, penned by a journalist who has spent much of her life living in southeast Asia, Australia and the US.
Starting in 1998, the story follows Mimi Traung who tragically loses her toddler at Philadelphia Airport and is hastily sent back to Vietnam, seemingly losing her daughter forever. Fast forward 17 years, she returns in search of her child.
Simultaneously, two best mates, both part Asian but from vastly different backgrounds, embark on a journey to discover their roots. Eventually, these three women’s paths cross, forcing them to confront their true identities.
My Other Heart is out on July 17.
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The Compound by Aisling Rawle
The Compound by Aisling Rawle(Image: Amazon )
For those who view reality shows with a healthy dose of scepticism, this debut novel from an Irish ex-bookseller is a must-read. It offers a literary take on Love Island and Big Brother, focusing on Lily who finds herself in the titular compound surrounded by other stunning girls, all awaiting a group of men who have crossed a desert to escape a war-ravaged world.
Initially, it appears to be a typical shallow setting until the producers start demanding contestants undertake disturbing challenges, leading to horrifying outcomes. While dark humour is plentiful, the underlying message of this literary gem highlights the perils of materialism and the extremes some will go to for fame.
The Compound is out now.
The Treasures by Harriet Evans
The Treasures by Harriet Evans(Image: Amazon )
The first in The Sevenstones Trilogy – a fresh family saga spanning 50 years and three generations, penned by the bestselling author of The Beloved Girls – is set in 1965. It tracks Alice and Tom as they mature in New York and Notting Hill respectively, their lives eventually intertwined by a misplaced treasure, an overlooked letter and a life-altering phone call.
Amidst the tumultuous backdrop of the Vietnam War and counterculture movement, Sevenstones – a house brimming with history and secrets – remains a steadfast presence.
The Treasures is out now.
Whistle by Linwood Barclay
Whistle by Linwood Barclay(Image: Amazon )
Bestselling thriller writer Linwood Barclay ventures into horror for the first time with this narrative about successful children’s author Annie. Following the sudden death of her husband and a scandal sparked by one of her books, she relocates with her young son Charlie to a small town in upstate New York.
However, when Charlie discovers a forgotten train set in a locked shed at their new home, things take a chilling turn. Annie starts hearing a train at night despite no railway line for miles, and begins sketching a menacing new character who has no place in her children’s books.
Whistle is out now.
Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie(Image: Amazon )
For those who might have overlooked this release in spring, grab a copy of this distinguished author’s first novel in 12 years, focusing on the complex female experience shaped by race, wealth and shame. It delves into the lives of four African women residing on both sides of the Atlantic, under vastly different circumstances, yet somehow interconnected.
One is an affluent travel writer in search of love, while her best friend, a lawyer, is acutely conscious of her ticking biological clock. The narrative also includes a housekeeper and a high-flyer trying to figure out her life’s desires.
Dream Count is out now.
You Are Here by David Nicholls
You Are Here by David Nicholls(Image: Amazon )
Freshly available in paperback for those without an e-reader or room for a bulky book, this love story carries all the signature wit, heartbreak and optimism of Nicholls’ work, from One Day to Us and Starter For Ten, all of which were adapted for screen.
The plot throws two solitary individuals together on a coast-to-coast walk, often amidst driving rain and damp anoraks, courtesy of a mutual friend. Gradually, through their personal struggles – he’s a geography teacher grieving his failed marriage, she’s a divorced copy editor – they discover friendship, solace and hope in each other.
You Are Here is out now.
Men In Love by Irvine Welsh
Men In Love by Irvine Welsh(Image: Amazon )
For those who prefer more hard-hitting narratives, this follow-up to Trainspotting sees the return of Renton, Spud, Sick Boy and Begbie as they abandon their heroin habits in search of happiness on the dance floor during the twilight of the Thatcher era. Their path to salvation leads them through Edinburgh, London, Amsterdam and Paris – culminating at Sick Boy’s wedding day.
The Belgian Grand Prix, which will take place from July 25 through July 27, will kick off Formula 1’s second half of the season.
Because Saturday’s 15-lap race is a sprint weekend, extra points will be offered.
Lando Norris’ recent victories in the drivers’ championship lead McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri by eight points, compared to Lando Norris’ previous two victories.
Start times for the sessions and BBC coverage
Most intelligent speakers will be able to hear commentary on the race on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, BBC Sport, and the BBC Sport website and app.
Download the Chequered Flag podcast, which reviews and previews each season’s race.
All times BST
Friday, July 25th.
(BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2, BBC Sounds, and smart speakers) Practice time: 11:30 – 12:30
15:30-16:14 (BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2, BBC Sounds, and smart speakers) for Sprint qualifying.
Saturday, July 26
Sprint race at 11:00 (Smart speakers, BBC Radio 5 Live, Sports Extra 2, and BBC Sounds)
(BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2, BBC Sounds, and smart speakers) 15:00-16:00 (QQ)
Sunday, July 27
What is the forecast for Spa’s weather?
The Ardennes Forest’s Spa has a reputation for being unpredictable, and the early forecast suggests that this year will not be one of them.
A new Red Bull boss
PA Media
Laurent Mekies takes over for the first time since Christian Horner’s dismissal as the Red Bull team’s principal and chief executive following his promotion from Racing Bulls.
The 48-year-old Frenchman, who was previously Ferrari’s racing director, had been with Racing Bulls since the start of the 2024 season.
Since Red Bull’s main F1 team’s debut in 2005, nobody has taken charge of them other than Horner.
Seoul, South Korea: Sideny Sim had the opportunity to travel to the US for business a long time ago, which was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
Sim had long admired the US as a global force as well as a cultural juggernaut like many South Koreans.
Sim, a 38-year-old engineer who lives close to Seoul, doesn’t feel any of this love for the nation at this time.
Sim cannot help but feel betrayed as US President Donald Trump threatens to impose a 25% tariff on South Korea starting August 1.
According to Sim, “If they were once a nation that was regarded as a leader in culture, the economy, and the perception of being “good,” the US is now a threat to geopolitical balance.”
Deep and lasting ties exist between South Korea and the US.
With about 28, 000 US troops serving as a bulwark against North Korea, South Korea is one of Washington’s most enmity allies in Asia.
South Korea has a larger diaspora than any other nation in the US.
These ties are becoming jeopardized as a result of Trump’s “America First” campaign campaign returning to Washington, D.C.
In a Pew Research Center survey earlier this month, 61 percent of South Koreans had a favorable opinion of the US, down from 77 percent in 2024.
If South Korea can’t agree on a trade deal with the Trump administration by the August deadline, South Korea will likely experience severe economic disruption.
More than 40% of the Asian nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) is generated by exports, making it a major exporter of electronics, ships, and cars.
Trump also stated in a letter to South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung that the country pays “very little” to support the US Forces Korea (USFK) presence earlier this month that he had also addressed a letter to Lee Jae-Myung outlining his tariff threats.
Trump’s comments heightened rumors that he might demand an increase in the government’s funding for the USFK or increases in its national defense spending.
An “in-principle” agreement was possible by the deadline, according to Seoul’s top trade envoy after Trump last week told reporters that South Korea “wants to make a deal right now.”
Many South Koreans are upset about Trump’s trade policies because the time is running out for a deal.
Kim Hyunju, a Korean customer service agent, claimed Trump’s trade speeches did not seem fair despite the fact that her company would not be directly affected by the tariffs.
According to Kim, “It would only be fair if they are okay with us raising our tariffs to the same level as well,” Kim continued, noting that her feelings toward the US had been brought on by the Trump administration.
“I can’t help but think that the US is a powerful country that uses pure power plays and money to serve its interests,” Kim said.
“I’ve always seen the US as a special ally for us, particularly in terms of national defense,” he said. I appreciate how important it is for us to keep this friendly relationship, but when Trump also demanded more money for the US military’s presence in our nation, I kind of lost faith.
Kim Hyun-ju claims that Trump’s policies have caused her to feel hostile toward the US.
Kim Chang-chul, an investment strategist in Seoul, acknowledged the potential harm to South Korean businesses from Trump’s trade policies, but she still remained optimistic about them.
Kim told Al Jazeera, “The US tariff policy is a burden on our government and businesses, but the move really shows how thoughtful and strategic the US is,”
Trump wants South Korea to play a bigger role in US energy plans for Alaska. It is a result of US efforts to restore economic balance and geopolitical alignment.
The US opened discussions with South Korean officials earlier this year, which helped spur US liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to South Korea, a major LNG importer.
A US ally like South Korea has had to struggle to understand Trump’s comments and actions, according to Keum Hye-yoon, a researcher at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP).
According to Keum, “Trump’s use of “fairness” in his tariff policy is based on unintended expectations of improving the US trade balance or reinforcing economic strength in some industries.”
Disregarding these structures and imposing high taxes will likely put a burden on US businesses and consumers because allies like South Korea work closely with US companies that share supply chains with them.
South Korean manufacturers have already reported some disruption, despite Trump’s most severe tariffs still pending.
According to preliminary data released by the Korea Customs Service on Monday, exports to South Korea decreased by 2.2 percent over the first 20 days of July from the previous year.
Exporters in the auto, steel, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical industries were particularly hit by Kim Sung-hyeok, the head of research at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Labor Institute.
Production orders in domestic factories have decreased significantly since the tariff announcements, according to Kim, who told Al Jazeera.
“Some steel and automotive production lines have temporarily shut down, and others have completely shut down.” Some of these places have seen a rise in voluntary resignations and redeployments.
Kim claimed that small businesses could be hit hardest by the tariffs because they are unable to “move their manufacturing plants to the US” or “diversify their trade routes outside of the US.”
These small businesses will also experience a shortage in product delivery volume, which will lead to employment disputes, he said, as major corporations are currently experiencing a general decline in exports.
On July 8, 2025, a port in Pyeongtaek, southwest of Seoul, will export vehicles.
The Korea Development Institute predicted that, in comparison to the 160, 000 increase in last year, the number of employed South Koreans would increase by just 90, 000 this year, in part because of the uncertainty in the economy.
US-South Korea relations had previously experienced difficult times even before Trump’s political emergence.
Two middle-school girls from South Korea were killed in a 2002 car-vehicle strike by the US Army.
The nation experienced an upsurge in anti-US sentiment and protests after the US soldiers involved in the incident were found not guilty of negligent homicide by a US military court.
Following a South Korean government’s decision to continue importing US beef despite concerns about the spread of Mad Cow Disease, nationwide protests began in 2008.
President Lee, who was elected in June, has stressed the importance of upholding good relations with China, which is the country’s biggest strategic rival and rival.
According to Keum, the US-South Korea relationship has developed into a “conditional ally,” in which “economic interests take precedence over traditional alliances.”
She said that the US is increasingly requesting South Korea to support its other socioeconomic initiatives, including China’s containment strategy.
To lessen the effects of Trump’s agenda, Keum argued that South Korea will need to look for alternative markets and diversify its exports.
Suspended snooker player Mark King advises that anyone found guilty of match-fixing be permanently barred.
He told BBC Essex, “I don’t think anyone should come back. You should never be able to play again,” and he defended his position.
The 51-year-old was suspended for the first time in March 2023 by the sport’s governing body.
That was after a suspicious betting report about his Welsh Open defeat to Joe Perry by a 4-0 margin was made.
Perry was unconcerned with any accusations.
King has always rejected the accusation, which he lost in May. He was required to pay costs totaling more than £113, 000.
There was no more serious violation of the rules than match fixing in betting, according to the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, and it had a “long track record of thoroughly investigating such allegations.”
King had been implicated in fixing match results, according to the WPBSA.
“In this case, King faced serious legal challenges, which necessitated compliance with the WPBSA’s Conduct Regulations.” The findings of two independent KC Chaired Tribunals confirmed this, according to a statement.
Family strain
Former Northern Ireland Open champion King claimed that his family was under strain by the circumstances.
My wife is probably the hardest hit, in my opinion. Not long after the investigation began, he continued, she was fitted with a pacemaker.
“It really took a toll on her,” she said.
The Essex player is a recovering gambling addict who placed 11th in the world in 2003.
Since receiving his suspension for the first time, he claimed to have struggled with poor mental health.
According to the WPBSA, players’ mental well-being is always top of mind.
Mark King received a full range of support from the beginning of this case, the statement read.
Images courtesy of Getty
King claimed that Mark Williams, a three-time world champion, and a few other professional players called him after receiving his suspension.
Mark Williams was one of the first players to call me right away, King claimed.
He said, “Listen, I don’t care what’s happening,” “. I’m just calling to let you know how you’re doing. We’ve known each other for a long time, so that’s a genuine friend.
King claimed he was having difficulty paying the costs.
He responded, “Well, I obviously don’t have £113, 000 in my back pocket for a start.”
“I’m out of work because I’m a 51-year-old man, after all.” I did a little bit of labor, but it was way too much for me.
When his suspension was lifted in less than three years, he said he was unsure whether he would play again.
He continued, “I honestly don’t know at this time.”
A team of international scientists has identified a number of foods that have seen price increases as a result of extreme climate events since 2022, including South Korean cabbage, Australian lettuce, Japanese rice, Brazilian coffee, and Ghanaian cocoa.
In April 2024, the study cites a 280 percent increase in global cocoa prices following a heat wave in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, as well as a 300 percent increase in lettuce prices in Australia following floods in 2022.
In the majority of cases, prices increased quickly following heatwaves, with increases of 70% for cabbage in South Korea and 48% for rice in Japan, and 81 percent for potatoes in India in early 2024.
Other price increases were related to drought, such as the one that occurred in Brazil in 2023, which came before the global coffee prices rose by 55% the following year, and the one in Ethiopia in 2022, which occurred before overall food prices there rose by 40% in 2023.
Prior to the United Nations Food Systems Summit, which Ethiopia and Italy will co-host from July 27 to July 29, the research was released by six European research organizations along with the European Central Bank.
On July 31, 2024, Hasan Basri, a 55-year-old farmer, pulled out his rice after it was severely dehydrated in Aceh Besar, Indonesia.
The report’s lead author, Maximillian Kotz from the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, stated in a press release that “extreme weather will only get worse until we get to net zero emissions, but it already hurts crops and raises the price of food all over the world.”
People are beginning to notice that rising food prices are second only to extreme heat in terms of the number two climate impacts they experience in their lives, Kotz continued, noting that low-income families are frequently the ones who are most affected when “the price of food shoots up.”
The report comes as many voters have been paying attention to the cost of living, including food affordability, as well as the cost of food, in recent years, including in Japan, where the cost of rice was high as many voters were planning to vote this weekend.
In the United States and the United Kingdom, respectively, in 2024 and 2023, and in Argentina, respectively, were key election issues.
On August 22, 2024, Kim Si-Gap, the head of the High-Altitude Cabbage and Radish Producers’ Association, walks through his kimchi cabbage field in Gangneung, South Korea.
According to one of the report’s co-authors, Amber Sawyer from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), “climate change added £360]$482] to the average household food bill in the UK over the years 2022 and 2023 alone.
Following extreme rainfall that scientists claimed was made worse by climate change, the UK had its third-worst arable harvest on record, and England had its second-worst, respectively.
Governments have committed to reducing the global emissions that are causing the climate crisis by 2.6% between 2019 and 2030 in accordance with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
However, these commitments fall far short of the reductions that scientists claim are necessary to maintain the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2. 7 degrees Fahrenheit).
