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The European resort where holiday prices have dropped nearly £500 – and five other destinations that are cheaper in 2025

THE best holiday destinations for savings this year have been revealed.

TravelSupermarket have done their research and have discovered the top 12 holiday spots that are cheaper this year compared to 2024.

Promenade next to Finikoudes beach in Larnaca, Cyprus.
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Larnaca in Cyprus is the holiday destination with the biggest savings[/caption]
Person on a wooden platform overlooking a beach with palm trees and beach chairs at sunset.
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The beach has a palm tree-lined seafront and historical old town[/caption]

Larnaca, a city on the southeast coast of Cyprus, has emerged as the holiday destination with the biggest price drop.

According to TravelSupermarket, the holiday comparison website, prices of a holiday to Larnaca have fallen by £495 per person.

The average price in 2024 was £1,292.04 and in 2025 is £797.97 – a 38 per cent decrease.

It’s a beautiful destination for a break from the palm tree-lined seafront to the sandy beaches and historical old town.

Chris Webber, Head of Holidays and Deals at TravelSupermarket, explained: “We’re seeing remarkable shifts in pricing across multiple destinations.

“The Cyprus market has experienced notable fluctuations due to regional instability, leading to these substantial reductions.”

For anyone travelling to Larnaca, a Whizz Air flight takes just four hours and 45 minutes and offers a round trip for £54 per person.

It’s not just Larnaca that has dropped in price, there are lots of other destinations that have significantly changed and would make for a cheaper getaway than last year.

Holidays to Kefalonia in Greece have dropped by 28.11 per cent and have savings of £188 in 2025.

The island in the Ionian Sea is a front-runner when it comes to breaks with up to 14 hours of sunlight a day and top temperatures of 31C in summer.

The famous Myrtos Beach in Kefalonia tops the list of the best Greek beaches and ranks among the best in the world for more than a decade.

In the 2025 TripAdvisor Traveller’s Awards for ‘Best Beaches’ in the world, it came in at number ten.

The average price for a trip to Kefalonia in 2024 was an average of £668.88 and this year has dropped to £480.86.

Also offering big savings in 2025 is the coastal Turkish city of Izmir.

The holiday destination had an average price of £840.44 last year, but has dropped to £633.06 with savings of over £200 in 2025.

Izmir is famous for its Bazaar district and Keremalti Market as well as the blue mosque, and views of the Aegean Sea from the busy docks.

C0F2J8 World famous Myrtos beach in Kefalonia island. In the background in that small peninsula you can see Assos village. Greece
The world-famous Myrtos Beach in Kefalonia has won numerous awards
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Colorful Assos village in Kefalonia, Greece, overlooking a turquoise bay.
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Beautiful Kefalonia came in second with savings at just under £200[/caption]

Also on the list is Sardinia in Italy which had a price drop of just over 22 per cent with savings amounting to £155.65.

There were also two destinations in Thailand that had big savings according to TravelSupermarket.

Both Pattaya and Phuket made the top 12 list of biggest price drops.

Pattaya had savings of over £220 while Phuket came in with a price drop of 12.47 per cent in the last year.

Chris added: “Thailand’s increased accessibility, with British Airways returning to Bangkok after a four-year absence and Etihad boosting its flight frequency.

Here's what we discovered in Larnaca

Sun Travel took a trip to Larnaca where we discovered bustling food markets and a rooftop bar...

In Larnaca, the new Rise Street Art Hotel brought a fantastic funkiness to the city. Street art is everywhere in this place, from the fabulous facade to the rooms and the rooftop bar, where guests get a free welcome drink.

It is a handy base for exploring the city’s Finikoudes Beach and its palm-shaded promenade, where Militzis Restaurant tempted me with its lavish meze. Appetisers of creamy tahini dip, tzatziki and salad topped with halloumi set me up for kleftiko (slow-cooked lamb), grilled chicken and pork souvlaki.

After a nose around Larnaca’s food market and the colourful streets of the old town, I headed off to the village of Skarinou near the foothills of the Troodos Mountains. There, I was given a masterclass in how to make halloumi, the “squeaky” cheese from Cyprus.

It is now found all around the world — but this stuff was the real deal, and bursting with intense flavour. It was one of the activities offered by Golden Donkeys Farm, one of Europe’s biggest sanctuaries for the animals — and one of the cutest places I’ve ever seen.

“This has created more competitive pricing across three fantastic Thai destinations, two of which feature in season three of HBO sensation, The White Lotus.”

Other honourable mentions to holiday destinations that have dropped in price go to Raa Atoll in the Maldives with savings of £224 and New York City where you can save £100.

Aerial view of Larnaca's seaport, coastline, and city.
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Holidays to Larnaca in Cyprus has dropped by almost £500 this year[/caption]
Aerial view of Sirince village, Izmir, Turkey.
Alamy
Izmir in Turkey is famous for its Bazaar district and Keremalti Market[/caption]

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Beaming King Charles awards MBE to Strictly star Amy Dowden at glittering Buckingham Palace reception

KING Charles was beaming as he awarded an MBE to Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden.

The dancer, and composer John Rutter, were among those honoured by the King at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.

Sir John Rutter being knighted at Buckingham Palace.
PA
Sir John Rutter, Composer, is made a Knight Bachelor by King Charles[/caption]
King Charles III bestowing an MBE on Amy Dowden at Buckingham Palace.
PA
Amy Dowden smiles as she is made a Member of the Order[/caption]
Anya Hindmarch receiving the Dame Commander of the British Empire award from King Charles III at Buckingham Palace.
PA
Anya Hindmarch was made a Dame Commander to recognise services to fashion and business[/caption]

The Welsh dancer was formally made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to fundraising and raising awareness of inflammatory bowel disease, while Sir John received a knighthood for services to music in a ceremony on Tuesday.

Dowden revealed in 2019 that she was living with Crohn’s disease before fronting a BBC programme titled Strictly Amy: Crohn’s And Me, in which she spoke about her struggles with the condition.

Three years later, she was admitted to hospital in Manchester following a Crohn’s flare-up while on the Strictly live tour.

In 2023, the dancer was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after coming back from her honeymoon with husband Ben Jones, and revealed in the 2024 BBC documentary Strictly Amy: Cancer And Me that she has frozen some embryos.

Sir John, who is also a conductor, editor and arranger, is best known for his choral compositions, including Christmas carols, anthems and extended works such as the Gloria, the Requiem and the Magnificat.

He has previously had compositions commissioned for major royal events including Queen Elizabeth II’s golden jubilee and for the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2011.

More recently, the first two choral items sung at the late Queen’s platinum jubilee national service of thanksgiving in June 2022 and six pieces performed at the coronation of King Charles were arrangements by Sir John.

Sir John was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to music in the 2007 New Year Honours, and in 2023 he became a Fellow of The Ivors Academy.

Among other recipients who were honoured on Tuesday were Jasvinder Sanghera, who was made Dame Commander for services to the victims of child, forced marriage and honour-based abuse.

Dame Jasvinder, from Derby, was just 14 years old when she was faced with the prospect of a forced marriage, but defied her parents’ wishes by refusing and leaving home.

Ostracised by her family, she later founded the charity Karma Nirvana in 1993, described as the first specialist charity for victims and survivors of honour-based abuse in the UK.

In November last year, she was appointed by Harrods as an advocate for survivors of alleged abuse by its late former owner Mohamed Al Fayed.

Dame Jasvinder said she was “honoured to be a part of this project” because she believed the department store wished to “get this right”.

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Kelsey Parker hits back at trolls accusing her of ‘milking’ Tom’s death as she reveals daughter came up with baby’s name

PREGNANT Kelsey Parker has hit back at “sick” trolls who have accused her of “milking” spouse Tom’s death for money.

The 34-year-old is mum to Aurelia, 5, and Bodhi, 4, with her late husband, and is expecting her first child with new partner Will Lindsay.

Kelsey Parker speaking.
Kelsey Parker has hit back at trolls who have cruelly accused her of “milking” husband Tom’s death
YouTube
Kelsey Parker speaking.
The remark came after pregnant Kelsey revealed her daughter wanted to call her new baby ‘Parker’
YouTube
Tom Parker and Kelsey Parker in a selfie.
Kelsey shared two children with The Wanted star Tom, who tragically passed away in March 2022
Instagram

As she announced her “amazing and bittersweet” pregnancy news, Kelsey revealed the family had already started thinking of names for the tot – with Aurelia saying she liked the name Parker for a boy.

However, that revelation led to backlash and nasty comments from trolls, one of whom said: “Naming the baby Parker will give her more material to milk Tom further for money.

“She moved on from Tom as soon as she got with that other bloke, just a couple of months after his funeral.

“It won’t be for any sentimental reasons as this woman is driven by attention and money.”

Married at First Sight’s Paul C Brunson read out the troll’s horrid remark as he spoke to Kelsey for his podcast We Need to Talk, and asked her: “What do you say about that?”

“You are sick,” a visibly shaken Kelsey responded.

“I don’t know.

“What… where do you live?

“I have two children that are Tom’s – do you want me to segregate them from my life?

“And also that comment… on the (photo)shoot, Aurelia was asked what she would like her little baby brother and sister to be called.

“For a girl, she likes Violet from The Incredibles, and for a boy, she likes Parker.”

Kelsey said that while Aurelia is five and “believes that unicorns are real”, she wonders if she might have come up with the name Parker for a deeper reason.

“Maybe she feels like she wants us all to have the same last name,” she mused.

“Maybe she does intuitively feel that I want the baby to be called Parker somewhere because I don’t want my mum now to segregate us.

“And it’s the Parkers and then the Lindsays.”

She went through hell. Why doesn’t she deserve happiness?

TikTok commenter

Kelsey concluded by saying that those who watched her “do everything” for Tom when he was battling his brain tumour should know better than to “begrudge” her happiness.

“If you’ve been on that journey with me, you would not begrudge me having a little bit of happiness because that’s all I actually deserve,” she said.

“Happiness and joy.”

As a video of the emotional moment in the interview was shared on TikTok, people were quick to offer their support to Kelsey.

“She deserves all the happiness in the world!” one wrote.

“Kelsey did everything for Tom – the husband & father of her two children who she loved very much.”

“I think naming it Parker if a boy is a lovely touch,” another added.

“It connects Tom’s children to the new baby as they will have different last names.”

“She went through hell. Why doesn’t she deserve happiness?” a third questioned.

“Why does she have to be the poor widow forever? It’s so cruel.”

“I watched her grieving for her husband,” someone else commented.

“She deserves to be happy. There’s some evil people in this world.”

Kelsey Parker responding to online criticism.
She called the trolls “sick” as she spoke about how she’s coped following Tom’s death
YouTube
Portrait of Paul.
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She was speaking to Paul C Brunson on his We Need to Talk podcast[/caption]

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‘Good things come to an end’ – Daniel Wiffen reveals next stage of swimming career after ending era that yielded 18 wins

DANIEL WIFFEN admitted “good things always come to an end” after reaching to end of an era in his swimming career.

The double Olympic medallist enjoyed another success-laden weekend at the BUCS Championships.

Daniel Wiffen of Team Ireland celebrating with his bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Daniel Wiffen competed at the BUCS Championships for the last time
Sportsfile - Subscription
Daniel Wiffen of Ireland swimming in the men's 1500m freestyle final.
He won three gold medals for Loughborough
Reuters

The Loughborough swimmer came away with three gold medals – the 1,500m freestyle, 800m freestyle, and 400m freestyle.

It marked the end of a very successful chapter in his career, with it being his final time competing at the BUCS Championships.

Wiffen caps off his run with six BUCS records, over 18 titles, eight men’s championships, and eight team championships.

The Irishman was also named MVP on five occasions in four years.

On Instagram, the 23-year-old posted a farewell to the competition.

He said: “Good things always come to an end and yesterday was my last time competing at the @bucssport championships for @lboroswimming @lborosport

Over 4 years of competing I hold 6 BUCS records and I have won 18+ titles, 5 MVP trophies, 8 Men’s championships and 8 team championships for @lboroswimming

Thank you to everyone that supported me and thank you @bucssport for always putting on a great event

It was his first time in the pool since the Paris Olympics, and came a year after he won a World Championship gold medal.

He had to contend with his twin brother Nathan, who finished second in the 1,500m.

It was the latest sign of Wiffen’s prediction coming true that both men will be vying for medals at Los Angeles 2028.

In Paris, Daniel won a bronze medal and a sensational gold medal, while also shattering the 800m freestyle Olympic record.

And as far he is concerned, it will not be a case of IF he will return to the podium, but one of how many medals he takes home.

Speaking at the RTE Sportsperson of the Year awards, he said: “No doubt I will be on the podium. It will be more of how many I can get.

“That’s my goal. I am thinking three golds!”

Wiffen is confident he will not be alone at LA 2028, and has backed twin brother Nathan to join him there.

Having narrowly missed out on qualifying for Paris, Nathan sought to bounce back at his first World Championships.

He finished ninth in the 1,500m freestyle, clocking a personal best in the process.

And Daniel added: “I was watching Nathan at the World Championships and he is getting quite close.

“I do think I have to step my game up. He made two finals.

“He will probably be on the podium with me [in LA]. That is my special moment for LA, to be on the podium.

“Hopefully joint first.”

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I tried new €30 barrel jeans from Dunnes Stores – I fell in love, here’s how I styled them

A FASHION fan has found the perfect pair of jeans for a comfy outfit – and they cost just €30.

The Savida Raw Hem Barrel Jeans are available online and in stores around the country now.

Screenshot of an Instagram post showing a woman modeling jeans, along with comments and likes.
instagram
Monica loved the new barrel jeans[/caption]
Screenshot of an Instagram post showing a woman modeling jeans and a cardigan, along with comments and likes.
instagram
The jeans are available for €30 now[/caption]

They are the perfect pair for the in-between weather often seen during springtime.

Monica, who goes @mon.fesa on Instagram, has shared how she styled the pair.

Posting on social media, the fashion fan wrote: “And we’re back @dunnesstores with @savida.ds today.

“I can’t believe how well the barrel jeans look on; try them if you don’t own a pair, because you’ll fall in love with them.

Which top do you like more, the super soft knit or the Bow cardi??? Let me know…

The jeans cost €30 and come in sizes 6 up to 18, but there’s bad news for some shoppers.

Size six has already sold out online due to its popularity, although it might still be found in stores.

Fashion bosses called the item “trend-forward”.

An official description of the item reads: “Made from a blue cotton denim, these jeans from Savida are designed with wide barrel legs and a raw hem.

“A trend-forward addition to your denim collection, they pair wonderfully with sneakers and a relaxed tee.

“Savida is available exclusively at Dunnes Stores.”

Monica paired the jeans with the Savida city girl cardigan, a black and white number that’s been a massive hit among shoppers.

It’s available in burgundy or ivory, and comes in sizes XXS up to XXL – and it’s priced at €25.

According to the retailer: “From Savida, this classic cardigan is elevated by two self-tie bows at the neck and chest, adding a bold, feminine touch.

“Finished with a contrasting striped trim and ribbed texture, it’s an essential for your wardrobe.

“Savida is available exclusively at Dunnes Stores.”

Monica also paired the jeans with a soft brown jumper with short sleeves.

With both outfits, she paired the jeans with high-heeled cream boots.

And she wore a small cream camisole underneath the cardigan for a polished look.

Screenshot of an Instagram post showing a woman modeling jeans.
instagram
The happy shopper showed off how she styled the jeans[/caption]

THE HISTORY OF DUNNES STORES

DUNNES Stores opened its first store on Patrick Street in Cork in 1944 - and it was an instant hit.

Shoppers from all over the city rushed to the store to snap up quality clothing at pre-war prices in Ireland’s first ‘shopping frenzy’.

During the excitement, a window was forced in and the police had to be called to help control the crowds hoping to bag founder Ben Dunne’s ‘Better Value’ bargains.

Dunnes later opened more stores in the 1950s and began to sell groceries in 1960 – starting with apples and oranges.

The retailer said: “Fruit was expensive at the time and Ben Dunne yet again offered Better Value than anyone else in town.

“Over time, our food selection has grown and that spirit of good value has remained strong.

“Now we offer a wide range of carefully-sourced foods from both local Irish suppliers and overseas.”

The retailer’s first Dublin store opened its doors in 1957 on Henry Street and a super store on South Great Georges Street was unveiled in 1960.

They added: “In 1971, our first Northern Irish store opened, and many others soon followed.

“Expansion continued in the 1980s in Spain, and later into Scotland and England.”

Dunnes now has 142 stores and employs 15,000 people.

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South Carolina vs LSU prediction, pick, college basketball odds

It’s time to continue our College Basketball odds series with a South Carolina-LSU prediction and pick. Find out how to watch South Carolina LSU. The South Carolina Gamecocks enter the final 10 days of February knowing they won’t get many better chances to pick up their first SEC win of the college basketball season. In […]

The post South Carolina vs LSU prediction, pick, college basketball odds appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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Fresno State vs. San Diego State prediction, pick, college basketball odds

The 20th-ranked San Diego State Aztecs will try not to suffer an upset loss as they host the Fresno State Bulldogs as significant favorites. The Bulldogs will have trouble overcoming the Aztecs’ dominance over the past few years, losing ten consecutive games since 2020. San Diego State sits in third in the Mountain West with […]

The post Fresno State vs. San Diego State prediction, pick, college basketball odds appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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The 10 ‘under the radar’ signs of ovarian cancer revealed by top gynaecologist – as ‘silent’ disease kills 200K a year

LIKE many cancers, ovarian cancer has long been known as a ‘silent’ disease.

This is because it’s symptoms tend to be vague, easy to miss, or mistaken for something else.

Illustration of ten under-the-radar signs of ovarian cancer.

New research from Censuswide found over a third (38 per cent) of British women aren’t familiar with any symptoms of ovarian cancer.

At least 97 per cent per cent of the 2,000 women surveyed didn’t know indigestion as one of the symptoms, for example.

While 92 per cent were not aware nausea, and difficulty emptying the bladder are both signs.

There are about 7,400 new ovarian cancer cases in the UK every year, and 4,000 deaths.

Almost six in 10 diagnosed at a late stage – which experts partially put down to the vague symptoms.

Meanwhile globally, the most recent data from 2022 recorded around 324,603 new cases of the disease, with 206,956 deaths.

This makes ovarian cancer one of the deadliest cancers for women, with relatively low survival rates worldwide.

According to figures from Ovarian Cancer Action, only three in 10 women diagnosed with the disease beyond 10 years. 

While we do have a very good cervical screening programme in the UK this doesn’t detect ovarian cancer, which is why knowing the symptoms yourself is so important.

“A difficult issue with ovarian cancer is that many of the symptoms are often quite mild, and can be associated with other common conditions,” explained Dr Susanna Unsworth, a top gynaecologist from INTIMINA.

“The most well-known symptoms are a bloated feeling, along with abdominal or pelvic pain.

“These symptoms could often be associated with many other problems, and often resolve quickly.”

It is often misdiagnosed as bowel problems like irritable bowel syndrome, or mental health disorders like stress and depression.

As March marks ovarian cancer awareness month Dr Susanna has revealed the 10 ‘under-the-radar’ signs of the disease to watch out for before it’s too late.

  1. Urinary symptoms: increased frequency or urgency to pass urine
  2. Bowel changes: a change in bowel habit, either becoming more constipated or having looser stool
  3. A change in appetite or feeling full much more quickly when eating
  4. Indigestion symptoms: acid reflux or excess gas
  5. Low back pain
  6. Unexplained weight loss
  7. Excessive fatigue
  8. Pain when having sex
  9. A change in vaginal bleeding pattern:either in between periods, or after having sex, or developing bleeding after menopause
  10. Nausea and vomiting

“If you experience any of these issues that do not resolve within two to three weeks, I would encourage you to see your doctor,” she explained.

All the ovarian cancer symptoms you need to know, plus little known symptoms of other gynaecological cancers

What is ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer is where abnormal cells in the ovaries begin to grow and divide, and eventually form a tumour.

If left untreated, these cancer cells can spread into surrounding tissues and make their way to other organs in the body.

“It can affect anyone with ovaries,” Dr Susanna explained.

“However, it is more common in women post menopause, with the risk increasing as women get older,” when the body starts making mistakes.

More than half the cases diagnosed in the UK are in women over the age of 65, according to Cancer Research.

What increases the risk?

Beyond ageing, there are several other factors that can up likelihood of developed ovarian cancer.

“Women who carry a faulty gene (e.g. BRCA genes) are more likely to develop the disease, as well as women who have had a history of endometriosis are at a higher risk,” the doctor said.

There is also some link between the number of periods a woman has and chance of having the disease.

“Women who started their periods early, go through menopause late, or have not used any hormonal contraception (which reduces ovulation) do appear to be also at higher risk,” she added.

There are also lifestyle factors that can also influence risk, including being overweight and smoking.

There is also a very small association with the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), although this risk is very small.

“Data mainly from older forms of HRT, showing around 1 extra case for every 1000 women who use HRT for more than 5 years,” she said.

World’s first ovarian cancer vaccine ‘could eliminate the deadly disease’

Scientists at the University of Oxford are creating OvarianVax, a jab which teaches the immune system to recognise and attack the earliest stages of ovarian cancer.

The hope is that the shot could be given to women preventatively on the NHS with the aim of eliminating the disease.

Experts suggest it could work in a similar way to the human papillomavirus (HPV) jab, which is on track to stamp out cervical cancer.

HPV jabs are currently dished out to secondary school children and people at high risk of the virus, cutting their risk of getting conditions linked to HPV – including cervical cancer and genital warts.

Prof Ahmed Ahmed, director of the ovarian cancer cell laboratory at MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Oxford, and his team are working to identify cellular targets for their ovarian cancer vaccine.

They will establish which proteins on the surface of early-stage ovarian cancer cells are most strongly recognised by the immune system, and how effectively the vaccine kills mini-models of ovarian cancer in the lab.

They will then move on to human clinical trials in people with BRCA gene mutations – which massively increase the risk of ovarian cancer – and healthy women in the general population to see if the disease could be prevented.

Cancer Research UK is funding the study with up to £600,000 over the next three years.

Prof Ahmed said that, if the jab is successful, he would expect to start seeing an impact within the next five years.

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F1 stars’ dizzying 2025 salaries revealed with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton earning nearly DOUBLE nearest rival

MAX VERSTAPPEN and Lewis Hamilton top the list of Formula One’s highest earners – as they prepare for another Championship battle.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton is preparing to make his Ferrari debut after a shock switch from Mercedes.

Max Verstappen celebrating his F1 World Championship win.
Getty
Max Verstappen remains F1’s top dog – both on the track and earnings[/caption]
Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari gear greeting fans.
Splash
Lewis Hamilton has made the switch to Ferrari for the upcoming season[/caption]
George Russell celebrates his Formula 1 race win.
Getty
It leaves George Russell as Mercedes’ top driver – and he has the salary to prove it[/caption] Illustration of 2025 F1 driver salaries, ranked by annual salary.

Hamilton will be behind the wheel for the first time at the season opener in Melbourne on March 16.

The 40-year-old has penned a two-year deal with the Italian giants.

And it sees him earning a staggering £48million as he targets an eighth world crown.

Reigning champion Verstappen will pocket the most cash in 2025 – just as he did last year.

The Dutchman is given £52m-a-year by Red Bull, with his current deal running for a further three seasons.

In sharp contrast, Verstappen’s new teammate Liam Lawson, 23, will pocket just £800,000.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc bags £27m, over £20m less than new teammate Hamilton.

While George Russell, now the top dog at Mercedes, will earn a cool £12m.

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

Lando Norris had a season to remember in 2024 with four wins and a second-placed overall finish.

His lucrative deal with McLaren runs until next year – and he currently bags £16m in annual salary.

At the other end of the spectrum, both Jack Doohan of Alpine and Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar will take home £700,000 this year.

And Lance Stroll’s open contract with Aston Martin sees the 26-year-old earn £2.3m each season.

Verstappen’s dominance of the sport in recent years has seen him win four consecutive titles.

He won nine races last year – the least of any of the last four seasons.

2025 Formula 1 season calendar.

Verstappen admitted: “Last year has been challenging at times.

“Of course, we had a lot of good moments, of course, also some tough moments.

“I hope that we can be, let’s say, a little bit more stable and a little bit more all-round throughout the season.”

Ex-F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone recently gave his opinion on whether Hamilton could challenge Verstappen in his Ferrari.

And the 94-year-old pulled no punches with his response.

Ecclestone told The Telegraph: “Hamilton won’t last [two years].

F1 2025 grid

Here are the confirmed driver line ups for the F1 2025 season:

Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson

Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes: George Russell and Kimi Antonelli

McLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll

Williams: Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz

Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto

Alpine: Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan

RB: Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar

Haas: Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon

“Piero Ferrari, who has taken him there, still thinks they’ve done the right thing.

“I hope they have. I hope they haven’t just jumped in and end up wishing they hadn’t.”

Verstappen and Hamilton will join the rest of the F1 drivers for a special event on February 18.

For the first time in the sport’s history, all ten teams are coming together to unveil their new liveries.

The 2025 F1 1 season begins with a double-header, starting with the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne on March 16.

Just a week later, Shanghai will host the Chinese Grand Prix on March 23.

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Brother recalls moment he found murdered sister at bottom of quarry & blasts ‘heartbreaking’ 52-year fight for justice

A MAN whose sister’s murder remains unsolved 50 years after her death has blasted their wait for justice.

Marian Beattie was on a night out at a charity dance with her best friend, Nuala Wilson, and her brother Isadore, on March 30, 1973 in Aughnacloy, Co. Tyrone.

Memorial stone for Marian Beattie, 1954-1973.
Marian Beattie’s murder has gone unsolved for close to 52 years
Collects

She was just 18 when she was last seen by her brother leaving the venue with a boy she had been dancing with and promised to be back at their van by 2am.

But she never returned and her body was found hours later at the bottom of a quarry in just her underwear.

Isadore recalled: “We drove straight to the quarry and the strange thing about it is that when we pulled up to the quarry, we just drove straight to where she was within 50ft, 60ft. . . I could see her lying on the bottom of the quarry.

“My first reaction was to run down and get her and the two policemen said, ‘No don’t, we cannot allow you to go there and get her.’”

He added: “Just looking at her you knew it wasn’t an accident because accidents don’t happen like that.”

It emerged she had been hit with a piece of metal.

Isadore told TG4 documentary Maru Inar Measc: “People will tell you time is a great healer. 50 years later it feels no different. When you take your younger sister away to enjoy herself and bring her home in a coffin, it’s not a good feeling.

“To watch your own mother and father almost collapse in grief, that was one of the most hardest things that has ever happened to me in my life. Gut-wrenching and heartbreaking at the same time.”

The case then went unsolved for decades, until the family convinced the PSNI in 2013 to reopen it, all while they carried out their own investigations. This discovered that evidence was missing.

In 2022, a report was sent to the Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson which identified five possible suspects.

Isadore added: “If somebody can tell me that it takes 50 years to get justice for your sister, for your daughter, there’s something wrong with the system.”

Maru Inar Measc airs on Wednesday at 9.30pm on TG4.

Portrait of Marian Meattie.
Marian Beattie was murdered in 1973
Social Media Collect

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