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PRINCE Andrew’s accuser Virginia Giuffre has died by suicide at the age of 41, her family has said. The mum-of-three, who was sex trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and accused the Duke of York of sexually abusing her when she was 17, is said to have died at her home in Western Australia last night. Virginia Roberts Giuffre, pictured with a photo of herself as a teen, has died at the age of 41Getty Images - Getty Virginia sued Prince Andrew in 2021, claiming she was trafficked and forced to have sex with the Duke on three occasions Her family have said the toll of the abuse became ‘unbearable’PA:Press Association Her family said the toll of her abuse was “so heavy” it became “unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight”. They said in a statement today: “It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia. “She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking.” They added: “Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors. “In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight.” Virginia was one of the most outspoken accusers of convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and his ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. She alleged they trafficked her to the Duke of York when she was 17 – a claim Andrew has denied. Police confirmed emergency services were called to reports of an unresponsive woman at a property in the Perth suburb of Neergabby on Friday night. “Police and St John Western Australia attended and provided emergency first aid. Sadly, the 41-year-old woman was declared deceased at the scene,” a police spokeswoman said. “The death is being investigated by Major Crime detectives; early indication is the death is not suspicious.” Paying tribute on Saturday morning, Virginia’s long-time publicist Dini von Mueffling said her client was “one of the most extraordinary human beings I have ever had the honour to know”. “Deeply loving, wise, and funny, she was a beacon to other survivors and victims,” she added. “It was the privilege of a lifetime to represent her.” Sigrid McCawley, a lawyer for Virginia, said in a statement: “Her courage pushed me to fight harder, and her strength was awe-inspiring. “The world has lost an amazing human being today. Rest in peace, my sweet angel.” It comes just weeks after Virginia, who was believed to have separated from her husband, was treated in an Australian hospital following a bus crash. She was charged with breaching a family violence restraining order in Ocean Reef, near Perth, on February 2, Western Australia Courts said. Virginia’s case was first heard in Joondalup Magistrates’ Court in northern Perth on March 14, where she did not enter a plea. The matter was adjourned to June 11 for a plea hearing, according to Western Australia Courts. Who was Virginia Giuffre? VIRGINIA Roberts - later Virginia Giuffre, 41, was an American-Australian campaigner and a prominent victim of the sex trafficking ring of Jeffrey Epstein. She made claims against Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, as well as Brit socialite Ghislaine Maxwell – Jeffrey Epstein’s ex-lover. Giuffre alleged in court documents that she was procured by Maxwell, 63, the daughter of disgraced tycoon Robert Maxwell, as a teenage “sex slave” for Epstein. She released a manuscript just hours before Epstein’s death, which added to more than 2,000 documents of a lawsuit pending against the former financier and his pals. The legal documents were released in a defamation case involving Giuffre, who has claimed in court documents that Prince Andrew slept with her three times. In 2019, Virginia Roberts claimed that she had sex with Prince Andrew in a toilet when she was 17, after a night where he had allegedly been plying her with vodka in a posh London club. On February 15, 2022, it was announced that Prince Andrew settled the lawsuit – sparing him a humiliating court battle. American-born Virginia lived in Australia for years, becoming an advocate for sex trafficking survivors after emerging as a central figure in the prolonged downfall of disgraced paedophile financier Epstein. The mum, who leaves behind three children, sued Prince Andrew in 2021, claiming she was trafficked and forced to have sex with the Duke on three occasions when she was a teen. It was the first time she had brought action against him after going public with the allegations in 2011. She claimed she was trafficked and forced to have sex with the Andrew for the first time at Maxwell’s house in London after a night out at the club Tramp. Virginia also claimed she was forced to have sex with the Duke on at least two further occasions by Maxwell and Epstein. Her legal team argued she was a “frightened, vulnerable child with no one there to protect her” when she was allegedly abused by Andrew, saying “no person, whether President or Prince, is above the law”. She claimed she feared for her life when she was allegedly forced to have sex with Andrew, who is accused of having been aware of her age and status as a “sex-trafficking victim”. The Duke has ignored repeated calls to tell US authorities what he knows about paedo Epstein’s criminal behaviour. In his notorious Newsnight interview five years ago, Andrew vowed to help the probe into Epstein and his warped madam Maxwell. But the royal has remained silent – and claimed he knew nothing of Epstein’s vile crimes despite their friendship. Andrew has denied any wrongdoing and has denied allegations made against him. Epstein took his own life in jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with him to sexually abuse minors. Virginia Giuffre was one of the most outspoken accusers of convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine MaxwellPA Media Virginia is seen arriving at federal court in the US with lawyer David Boies, and fellow Epstein accuser Annie Farmer, in August 2019Getty - Contributor Police confirmed emergency services received reports of an unresponsive woman at a property in the Perth suburb of Neergabby on Friday nightGetty - Contributor Virginia Giuffre is seen giving a news conference outside a Manhattan court following the jailhouse death of Jeffrey Epstein in 2019AP:Associated Press AFPConvicted sex offender Epstein avoided justice after being found dead in his cell in 2019[/caption]

A GLOBETROTTER has become the youngest man in the world to visit every single country on Earth. Luca Pferdmenges, 23, completed the impressive feat on Thursday after landing on Palau, an island nation in the Western Pacific Ocean. SWNSLuca Pferdmenges become the youngest man in the world to visit every single country on Earth after landing in Palau on Thursday[/caption] SWNSLuca in Palau after completing the impressive feat[/caption] SWNSLuca has travelled to all 195 countries – making incredible memories along the way[/caption] SWNSLuca shared his favourite and most underrated destinations[/caption] SWNSLuca now lives in Dubai (pictured) but often returns to Germany[/caption] Luca took on the monumental challenge in 2017 while working as a juggler with a travelling circus. Fast forward eight years and he has become the youngest man to visit all 195 countries in the world. The content creator from Mönchengladbach, Germany, shared his favourite destinations from his adventures. Luca said: “I like to rate countries in categories such as safety and affordability, but I would say Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia are my favourites.” But Mexico came out on top thanks to its incredible people, atmosphere and, of course, food. Luca also shared his favourite cities, saying: “City-wise, I did really like Tel Aviv in Israel. “Bhutan is a really fun because it’s like a little town in the Himalayas. I want to travel to places that no one has ever been to.” He added that the best food he tried was in Ethiopia, while his most underrated destinations were Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Myanmar. Luca left fellow travellers with some wise words: “You have to give every country a chance, you have to be open-minded. “You have to give every country a chance.” Luca has made so many memories while on his adventures including a memorable visit to North Korea, getting spotted in Tuvalu, and having a tribal shower with a cow in South Sudan. He said the Palau was the perfect place to finish his world tour and hinted at some exciting plans for the future. Luca reflected on his travels, saying: “One of my biggest takeaways from these trips is that people are kinder than you think. “I walked through the streets of Haiti, I went to the Barrios of Venezuela, and I’ve visited some of the most dangerous countries in the world, and I was greeted with smiles and open hearts. “I couldn’t care less about the world record because I have other Guinness world records from my juggling. “For me, it’s all about the experiences and the lessons, and the learning.” Luca's top travel destinations By Lydia Doye LUCA said his favourite destinations were Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia – with Mexico just coming out on top thanks to its incredible people, atmosphere and, of course, food. His favourite cities included Tel Aviv and Bhutan. Luca’s most underrated destinations were Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Myanmar. And his top destination for food was Ethiopia. Luca took his first ever flight in August 2017 – racking up a whopping 70 countries before he quit the circus in 2020. He said: “At the end of 2017, I took my first solo trip with a friend to Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and other Balkan countries. “The first trips were mainly to Europe’s Balkans, and I went to countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, and Poland – some of the easier countries to visit. “Just after Covid, it was pretty difficult as I had to do Covid tests and some countries were closed. “In recent times, North Korea has opened up to tourists.” Some of Luca’s trips lasted just a few days allowing him to travel with one backpack and a small bag for food and drink. He stayed in other places for a few months, but said these trips were much harder as he needed more luggage. Luca funded his travels mostly through brand partnerships spending around £85,000. SWNSLuca took his first ever flight in August 2017 before deciding to take on the challenge[/caption] SWNSWhen he started travelling he was a part of a circus[/caption] SWNSLuca sometimes spends a few days at a destination, or sometimes a few months[/caption] The 23-year-old can speak an impressive six languages – including French, Spanish and Hebrew. These have all come in handy on his travels with Spanish being particularly helpful in South America and French in some African countries. Luca now lives in Dubai but occasionally returns to Germany for short stays to visit family and friends. Luca stole the globetrotter crown from Brit James Asquith who achieved the feat aged 24 in 2013. The current youngest person to travel to every country is Lexie Alford, an American, who achieved the record aged 21 in 2019. SWNSLuca said that everyone he met was kinder than he thought[/caption] He is excited to plan more exciting things in the futureSWNS

2X23P43 19 April, 2024. Barcelona, Spain: In Barcelona’s Gracia Quarter people passes by an anti-tourism graffiti reading ‘Your Tourism, Our Misery.’ Protests against mass tourism have been going on for years in the Catalan capital, one of the main tourist destinations over the world. Credit: Jordi Boixareu/Alamy Life News BRITS jetting off to four holiday hotspots this summer have been warned they could face misery upon arrival. Locals across Europe are fed up with tourists driving prices – and have refused to rule out targeting airports to keep them away. An anti-tourism protests in Barcelona, Spaingetty Riot police manage the crowds in Barcelonagetty A poster in Palma de Mallorca, Spain reads ‘It’s time to stop’ REUTERS/Stringer Spain, Italy, France and Portugal are expected to hold anti-tourist protest in the coming months. Locals pledge the high volume of visitors has fuelled soaring rent and a lack of affordable homes. They claim accommodation is snapped up for tourist lets and land is bought for building resorts. At a summit in Barcelona, protester Elena Boschi yesterday told the Mirror: “We want tourists to have some level of fear about the situation – without fear there is no change.” The teacher from Genoa, on the Italian riviera, added: “Our cities and regions are not for sale and there is an urgent need to limit the growth of tourism, demand a change of course and decide on a path to tourism de-growth as a way out.” The summit was held by SET European Network Against Touristification, made up of protest groups representing 17 cities, islands and communities across southern Europe. Representatives from each area gathered for a three-day summit to call for an end to “predatory tourism” which they say has left “beaches and natural areas visibly damaged.” When asked about the possibility of demonstrations at airports, leader Daniel Pardo told the Mirror: “It is a possibility – but, it is difficult to say because each territory will decide how they want to take action, there is no one set strategy.” Locals from the Canary Islands have plotted mass protests, while its government is already ripping up the tourism rulebook. Holiday hotspots like Tenerife are also bracing for a summer of unrest as residents rise up against what they claim is a “predatory model” of tourism that’s pushed locals to the brink. Activists have vowed to storm popular tourist attractions, disrupt public events and “confront political leaders” in a fiery new phase of protests kicking off May 18 — right as peak holiday season begins. “From now on, we will take our fight to the very spaces where their predatory model is perpetuated,” declared pressure group Canarias tiene un límite (The Canaries Have a Limit). “We will boycott public events, confront political leaders during their appearances and occupy symbolic tourist spaces to make it clear that we will not stop until real change is achieved.” The movement — now spreading beyond Tenerife — insists it’s no longer business as usual for tourism in the region. “The Canary Islands can no longer be a postcard backdrop for the enjoyment of a privileged few,” the statement read. Locals pledge mass tourism has fuelled soaring rents and a lack of affordable homesJordi Boixareu/Alamy Life News

THE family of a man found dead on a Benidorm beach this week have paid heartbreaking tributes. Jeff Duffield’s body was discovered washed up on the Spanish shore on Wednesday. FacebookJeff Duffield was found dead after a body washed up on a Spanish beach[/caption] His family shared the news of his tragic death on social media. One family member posted in a Facebook group that “we have unfortunately found out that Jeff has passed away. “Thank you for all your lovely comments and please allow my mam the privacy she deserves. “Not the usual happy post I imagine this group is used to so I apologise.” Another pal wrote: “Very sad news today to hear about the passing of a top lad and dedicated family man and old friend Jeff Duffield.” An appeal had previously been put out in the same group while the search for Jeff was underway. His wife had posted the urgent appeal to help find Jeff. She shared: “My husband Jeff Duffield has been missing in Benidorm since 12.30 23/04/2025. “I’ve reported it to police if anyone sees him please could you contact me, I’m worried sick. Thank you.” It comes after a man’s body was found washed up on a beach in Benidorm earlier in the week. His body was discovered on Wednesday evening by National Police in Spain. Cops said the body was found without any ID, prompting a probe to identify him. A force spokesperson said that the body belonged to a white male. They said at the time: “We can confirm that a body was found on a beach in Benidorm last night. “The individual has not been identified as there was no ID on his person.” Cops provided no further details at the time as they focused on trying to identify the body. A police source has since said: “There’s nothing at this stage pointing to this tragic death being suspicious or the result of a crime.” The Sun understands the UK Foreign Office was not approached for assistance. The tragedy comes amid a surge in crime and gang activity on the Costa Blanca. Tourists are warned by police to be on the lookout for gangs in the area – who often target holidaymakers. One particular street, dubbed “Muggers Alley”, is a known hotspot for criminal activity. A dad-of-two from Belfast, John George, was killed in the region in December last year. Jonny Smyth was arrested in Portugal last month over his death. FacebookJeff was reported missing on April 23[/caption]

TOWN hall bunglers are in the soup for dumping a valuable Andy Warhol print during a clear-out. They are thought to have put the 1980s silkscreen print of Queen Beatrix in the trash along with 45 other artworks during a building renovation. It is unlikely any of the discarded pictures, together worth nearly £20,000, will be recovered. Hans van der Pas, mayor of the Maashorst municipality in the Netherlands, said: “That’s not how you treat valuables. “But it happened. We regret that.” The Warhol print, part of his colourful series Reigning Queens, featuring four monarchs including Queen Elizabeth II, was kept in a town hall basement. But the £13,000 work was thrown out when the builders moved in last year. Queen Beatrix reigned as queen of the Netherlands from 1980 until she abdicated in 2013, when she was succeeded by her son King Willem-Alexander. A council investigation concluded: “Ownership was not properly established, no policies and procedures were established regarding the renovation and insufficient action was taken when the artworks turned out to be missing.” US-born pop artist Warhol, known for his Campbell’s soup can paintings, created the Beatrix print in 1985, two years before his death. Council officials are under fire after dumping a valuable Andy Warhol print during a clear-outGetty