Ghislaine Maxwell rejects Andrew claims and calls infamous picture ‘literally a fake’

Ghislaine Maxwell has repeated her claim that a photograph showing Prince Andrew with Virginia Giuffre is “fake”.

In an interview with the US Department of Justice, conducted last month, Maxwell said: “I believe it’s literally a fake photo.”

The imprisoned former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein also dismissed as “rubbish” Giuffre’s claims that she was paid to have a relationship with Prince Andrew and that he had sex with her at Maxwell’s London home.

The disgraced socialite claimed one of the motives behind the story was to attack the Royal Family.

Maxwell was interviewed by the deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche, over two days in Tallahassee, Florida – just a week before being moved to a minimum-security prison camp in Bryan, Texas.

While the name at the centre of the discussion on Prince Andrew had been redacted, it is circumstantially highly likely to be Giuffre, given the conversation, as well as the timelines and mention of an infamous photograph.

It is not the first time she has questioned the photograph. During a 2023 interview with TalkTV, after having been sentenced to 20 years in a Florida prison, she said: “It’s a fake. I don’t believe it’s real for a second, in fact I’m sure it’s not.

“Well, there’s never been an original and further, there’s no photograph, and I’ve only ever seen a photocopy of it.”

The photograph, said to have been taken at Maxwell’s London home in 2001, shows the Duke of York with his arm around Giuffre, who was then 17. Maxwell can be seen smiling in the background. The picture has been central to allegations made against Andrew, which he has strongly denied.

Questions over the photograph’s authenticity have surfaced repeatedly. Prior to her death last year, Giuffre had insisted it was genuine and said she gave the original to the FBI.

Photographic experts have told various media outlets that there is no clear evidence that it has been doctored.

Earlier in the transcript from July’s interview, Maxwell also denied that Andrew could have had sex with Ms Giuffre because her London house was too small.

“The idea of him doing anything of that nature in my house, that’s the size of this room, is so mind-blowingly not conceivable to me,” she said.

The remarks are the latest in a series of denials Maxwell has issued since being convicted in 2021 of trafficking underage girls for Epstein, the financier and sex offender who died in a New York jail in 2019.

Prince Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing. In 2022, he reached a financial settlement with Giuffre in a US civil case without admitting liability.

His legal team at the time said he was making the settlement in order to avoid prolonging the case and to allow him to dedicate himself to public service.

In the interview, Maxwell also described the first time that Epstein and Andrew became acquainted, claiming that she had never thought about introducing them as they were like “chalk and cheese”.

She said the pair met in the early 2000s “either in Nantucket or the Vineyard”, at an event separate to Maxwell, and that they quickly became close, making her feel “left out”.

Maxwell also claimed that it was Sarah Ferguson who had introduced Epstein and Andrew, after she met with the financier in the Bahamas. She described accusations that she was the one to introduce them as a “flat untruth”.

Israel destroyed Gaza’s water plants. Now a deadly disease is spreading like wildfire

From the grey rubble of Gaza’s bombed water treatment plants, a rare and deadly paralytic disease has emerged that has brought a new crisis to a region already devastated by starvation and illness.

An unprecedented surge in acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) – a condition which causes a rapid onset of muscle weakness and paralysis – has seen 110 people diagnosed in the past three months. In previous years, Gaza saw just one or two cases of AFP per year.

The symptoms occur when the body’s immune system is triggered by certain viruses, in some cases causing it to attack its own nervous system. In Gaza, the rapid spread of water-borne infectious diseases has led to a striking rise in AFP cases.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Dr Ahmed al-Farra, head of paediatrics at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, told The Independent that Israel’s destruction of Gaza’s vital water treatment plants is largely responsible for the spread of these diseases.

“To see 110 cases, this is incredible. This is an outbreak, it is alarming for us to see that number,” Dr Farra said, describing the situation as “one of the most challenging” medical incidents Gaza has seen since 2023.

Acute flaccid paralysis is associated with a variety of causes, including Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS), a rare autoimmune condition and the main cause of AFP in Gaza. Severe cases of AFP and GBS can cause lifetime paralysis, or respiratory failure, potentially resulting in death.

Gaza’s health ministry says 36 per cent of the reported cases of GBS were in children aged under 15. In Nasser Hospital and Al-Shifa hospital, the hotspots of the outbreak, at least nine people have died of AFP so far.

Senior Palestinian and Israeli medics, along with the WHO, have told The Independent that critical and lifesaving treatments are not available anywhere in the ravaged enclave.

The Israeli military denies that it prevents the entry of medicine into the strip, and says it “continuously and consistently facilitates the operation of medical services” in Gaza. It blames its destruction of water infrastructure on Hamas, which it accused of “embedding its military assets among the civilian population”.

Other factors such as overcrowding in shelters, malnutrition, and restricted access to healthcare have all exacerbated the crisis, a WHO spokesperson said, adding that the abrupt nature of the recent surge in cases is partly due to improved monitoring processes.

Lab testing samples came back positive with enterovirus, a group of viruses which typically spreads through humans or water. Most samples also contained Campylobacter jejuni, a species of bacteria commonly found in animal faeces, Dr Farra said.

The lab findings show that “water that the patients are receiving is completely polluted by sewage” due to the “destruction of the sewage system”, he said.

In July last year, Oxfam reported that Israel had destroyed 70 per cent of all sewage pumps and 100 per cent of wastewater treatment plants in Gaza. It accused Israel of restricting the entry of Oxfam’s water testing equipment.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said on Thursday that Israel is “deliberately depriving people of water in Gaza”. Since June 2024, Israel has only approved one in every 10 import requests of items for water desalination, the charity said.

“Israel must begin allowing the importation of critical equipment for water supply and distribution, at scale,” MSF added. “The Israeli military must stop its destruction of water infrastructure and allow the immediate repair of water systems that have been damaged to ensure people have life-sustaining access to water.”

Such is the desperation for clean water that health officials in Gaza are advising people to place water which they want to drink in sunlight, so it is as sterilised as possible before they drink it, Dr Farra said.

An IDF spokesperson said the military “does not seek to harm civilian infrastructure and strikes only military targets, in accordance with international law”.

It added that the IDF “works to ensure humanitarian water supply in Gaza”, and said millions of litres are provided daily via Israel’s water lines alongside the local water system.

But medics and humanitarian organisations in Gaza say that a shortage of clean water is behind the increase of AFP – which they are struggling to address without the proper treatments.

Severe cases can need months to recover in hospital, but beds are in high demand. An Australian medic who recently left Gaza told The Independent that all 50 intensive care beds in Nasser Hospital are filled up, each and every day.

AFP requires a “long time” for recovery with “challenging treatment”, Dr Farra said.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), an expensive treatment for GBS which prevents respiratory failure, is not available in Gaza. Neither is plasma exchange, a procedure in which blood is filtered.

Israeli paediatrician Prof Dan Turner, a human rights activist and deputy dean of the medical faculty at the University of Hebrew, helps coordinate the entry of medical aid into Gaza. He told The Independent he had received an “urgent call” for IVIG from physicians within the strip last week.

The WHO said it needs “unimpeded access to get medical supplies” into Gaza and to “rehabilitate the water, sanitation, food and health systems”.

But the Israeli military denies that it prevents the entry of medicines and other aid into the Gaza Strip, and said that “45,000 tons of medical equipment have been transferred to Gaza via more than 3,000 trucks”.

It added: “The IDF continuously and consistently facilitates the operation of medical services through aid organisations and the international community, maintaining ongoing communication with international aid agencies in the Strip to meet hospital needs.”

Diagnosis with AFP – which can lead to long-term or even permanent paralysis, particularly if not treated properly – has been made more difficult due to the lack of MRI machines and cerebral spinal fluid analysis, Dr Farra said.

Many are asking to be medically evacuated to undergo comprehensive treatment in foreign countries.

“Unfortunately, when the approval comes for the evacuation, and lots of connections and phone calls are made, the patient is already dead,” Dr Farra said.

Family of missing woman found living among lost ‘African’ tribe in Scottish forest speak out

A missing Texas woman found living with the self-proclaimed leaders of a lost “African” tribe in a Scottish forest insists she is there by her own free will, despite her family’s fears she is lost to the sect forever.

Kaura Taylor was recently found living in the woods with the group after vanishing from her home three months ago, leaving relatives distraught.

“It is very stressful, and difficult. It breaks our heart. We’re overly concerned about Kaura, but she doesn’t think anyone is concerned about her,” Taylor’s aunt Teri Allen told The Independent.

In a message posted to Facebook after 21-year-old Taylor, mother to a one-year-old child who she took with her to Scotland, said that she was not missing lashed out at reports she “disappeared.”

“I’m very happy with my King and Queen, I was never missing, I fled a very abusive, toxic family,” Taylor wrote, following up with a video message telling U.K. authorities to leave her alone in the woods in Jedburgh, 40 miles south of Edinburgh. She added that she is “an adult, not a helpless child.”

However, Allen on Thursday pushed back stridently against those assertions, describing her niece’s younger years as “very sheltered and protected.”

She said Taylor “was brought up in church, but not their religion. Not this thing that they got going. It’s a bunch of hogwash.”

Speaking to The Independent from her Dallas-area home, Allen said Taylor kept it “totally hidden from the family” when she began communicating in 2023 with so-called Kingdom of Kubala leader King Atehene, a former opera singer and PR agent from Ghana whose real name is Kofi Offeh, and his wife Jean Gasho, who now goes by Queen Nandi.

Queen Nandi did not respond to a request for comment. An email seeking comment from King Atehene bounced back as undeliverable.

The Kingdom of Kubala claims to be a lost Hebrew tribe that aims to retake the land they say was expropriated when Queen Elizabeth I expelled native black Jacobites from England in the 1590s.

The trio in Jedburgh hope to add to their numbers by bringing other supposedly lost tribes back to their purported ancestral homeland.

Allen said she thinks Taylor, who now answers to Asnat of Atehene, handmaiden of Queen Nandi, discovered the group online through a high school classmate.

She then cut herself off very suddenly from loved ones, refusing to attend family gatherings and stopped celebrating holidays altogether, Allen recalled.

At the time, Taylor was living with her aunt Vandora Skinner, Allen’s sister.

In a separate interview with The Independent, Skinner said: “She went missing in May. But she wasn’t missing at all, she left to go live with these people.”

Taylor, who lived with Skinner during her teenage years, was, according to her aunt, a “very very unruly” teen who could be “very disrespectful,” but was always given a lot of latitude at home.

“She lived in a four-bedroom house, with her own room, and maybe I shouldn’t have been as light on her as I was,” Skinner said. “I allowed her boyfriends to come over, but maybe I shouldn’t have. But I did get her to graduate high school. ”

Taylor tried to get her then-boyfriend to relocate to the Scottish forest with her, but he was turned off by King Atehene and Queen Nandi’s “ungodly rituals” and decided against it, according to Skinner. The 21-year-old then ended the relationship and in May headed to Scotland with her then-eight-month-old daughter, whose father was no longer in the picture, Skinner said.

About two days later, Skinner said Taylor texted her, saying, “We had to get out and explore a little bit.” When Skinner asked where she was, she didn’t get a response.

“She said she would have to call me when she got connected to wifi, but then I never heard from her again,” Skinner said.

Skinner did, however, hear from Taylor’s best friend, who spoke to her every day. So when the friend started asking Skinner about Taylor, she said she knew something wasn’t quite right.

The friend told Skinner that Taylor had talked about going to live with “these people,” but that she didn’t know anything further.

“And I said, ‘What people?’ And they said they didn’t know, so I started to call around,” Skinner went on. “I called her ex-boyfriend and that’s when he told me about the [Kingdom’s] Facebook page and that she said she was going to the U.K. I looked up the Facebook page and sure enough, there she was.”

Skinner immediately told Allen, who passed the news along to their other sister, Taylor’s mother.

“She thought it was photoshopped, but it turned out to be true,” Skinner said.

Skinner then began searching Facebook for more information, and saw that Atehene and Nandi had previously set up an almost identical living situation with another young American woman.

What really upset Skinner, she continued, was spotting Taylor in a video posted to the social network saying that while she wasn’t actually married to King Atehene, she still considered herself to be his second wife.

“Now she’s talking about, she’s married to this man and he can have as many wives as he wants?” Skinner said in disbelief.

Skinner eventually connected with a Jedburgh-area resident in the comments section beneath a news article about the group. The couple had fought a losing battle against eviction from their patch of woods.

The Jedburgh resident suggested Skinner contact Scottish police, and gave her a number, so she reported Taylor and her daughter, who turned a year old in June, missing.

Taylor is believed to have flown to the U.K. on May 25 on a six-month tourist visa that would mean her time there is due to end in November, after then her aunts hope she’ll be forced to leave the country and return home to Texas.

Britain felt safer for trans people in the 90s, says first trans judge

Britain felt like a safer place to be trans in the Nineties than it does now, the UK’s first transgender judge has said, raising the alarm over what she sees as a backslide in attitudes towards trans people.

Giving her first interview since lawyers acting on her behalf began the process of taking the government to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) over April’s bombshell Supreme Court ruling on biological sex, Dr Victoria McCloud expressed concern that the ruling could impact young trans people who are considering coming out.

“When I came out, things were bizarrely rather better. That was the Nineties – we didn’t really have any rights, but there was less of a climate of fear,” McCloud tells The Independent.

The retired judge, who has been heralded as a symbol of the modern judiciary’s diversity, said she no longer sees the UK as a “safe place”.

“Since the decision was taken in Scotland, we’ve seen a declaration of genocidal intent made by the Lemkin Institute in relation to the United Kingdom to warn people about what’s going on. We’ve seen concerns from the United Nations and from the Council of Europe”, she says.

In June, the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security condemned “recent judicial and governmental developments” in Britain, which they said “attempt to harm transgender and intersex people by stripping them of privacy and segregating them as ‘others.’”

“The Lemkin Institute believes these moves are part of a broader process of erasure. It is not only government action but also the media narrative that has fuelled hostility to and debate about the humanity of trans and intersex people while ignoring their voices,” the body said.

McCloud, who now lives in Ireland after leaving Britain in 2024, says she is “very cautious” when she returns to London – something she is doing more at present as she begins the process of challenging the judgment.

“I’m very cautious. When I come over, I don’t see it as a safe place to go. Lovely cis[gender] friends are great at helping me to stay out of risky situations where I might be confronted or even potentially assaulted, because, of course, my face is quite well known.

“I’m particularly at risk of becoming a target of some of the more extreme people from the gender critical ideological movement. And that’s a worry. But I think it’s important that I do carry on, and I do have to come back for things like media interviews and so on occasionally,” she said.

McCloud has set up the Trans Exile Network (TEN) to help other trans people who want to leave the country.

“There are families involved in that who are leaving the UK for the sake of their children. And that’s a really quite a large network, because there’s a lot of worry about the future of children and the messages that they’re getting”, she says.

Lawyers acting on behalf of McCloud, 55, who stood down last year, filed an appeal in the ECHR last week arguing a breach of her rights under Article Six – the right to a fair and impartial hearing by an independent tribunal.

The judge claims the Supreme Court refused permission for her to intervene on how the case would affect herself and other trans people, saying they didn’t give any reason for it.

“Decisions about us that fundamentally change our rights shouldn’t be made without us.

“The case relates fundamentally to fairness. What’s known as Article Six, and it was a situation where nowhere throughout the whole of the case, trans people were heard or represented at all.”

Gender critical campaigners were elated after the ruling in April, hailing it as a victory which would protect the rights of biological women.

But speaking about the impact of the ruling, McCloud said she is worried about how it has affected lesbian women, or other cis women who do not conform to feminine norms because of the new emphasis on subjective appearance.

“I’ve had lots of stories about people who are not trans being abused for being trans. It’s really common, and indeed, not just lesbian women, just anyone who’s maybe a tall woman or whatever.

“It’s leading, I think, to more abuse of non-trans people than it is to trans people, because most trans people actually are quite invisible – we go to quite a great length to be invisible, whereas people who are non-trans don’t see the need to do that. They’ve got a perfect right to be what they want.”

McCloud, who retired in 2024, jokes that it is nice to “be the client for a change” – instead, letting her trans led legal team take the lead.

The first case in history to be brought by such a team, McCloud is being represented by Oscar Davies, the UK’s first openly non-binary barrister and Olivia Campbell-Cavendish, the founder and executive director of the Trans Legal Clinic and the first black trans lawyer in the UK.

Her team expect the case to take between 12 and 18 months – but it could take up to seven years if it is not treated as a priority case by the ECHR.

The Supreme Court’s ruling has been praised by gender critical groups as being a victory for women, arguing it will help to protect single sex spaces.

Asked what she would say to cis women with fears about trans people entering single sex spaces, McCloud said trans people were able to access single sex spaces for decades before the ruling, with no reported incidents.

“I do understand the fact that in theory, you could get a man who says, ‘I’m a woman’, and walks in and attacks someone, but they can walk in any anyway. Those aren’t transsexual people. They aren’t trans people, and it’s important to separate the two”, she says.

“In my case, for example, to get a gender recognition certificate, I have a medical diagnosis. I have medical expert reports. A court had to consider my case and evidence – so it’s very tightly regulated.”

McCloud also points out that, statistically, trans people are “much more likely to be assaulted by non-trans people than the other way around”.

“There are very few of us. You’re very unlikely to actually run into one of us and those with gender recognition certificates – there’s only ever been 8,500 of us in a country of 66 million.”

Kyiv bombards Russia with major drone attack on its Flag Day

A Ukrainian drone strike caused a brief fire at Russia’s Kursk Nuclear Power Plant on Sunday, damaging an auxiliary transformer and reducing output at one reactor to 50 per cent, Russian officials reported. No injuries were reported and radiation levels remained normal.

Russian air defences also intercepted a drone headed for Moscow, prompting temporary closures at several regional airports, including Izhevsk, Samara and Nizhniy Novgorod. Authorities said dozens of flights were delayed.

The attack coincided with Ukraine’s Independence Day, marking 34 years since its separation from the Soviet Union. Ukrainian flags will appear above Downing Street and several Whitehall buildings, the UK government has announced, underscoring international support amid continued Russian attacks.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon is reportedly restricting Ukraine’s use of US-made long-range missiles against targets inside Russia, limiting Kyiv’s operational options, according to the Wall Street Journal.

US president Donald Trump has given Moscow a two-week deadline to agree to peace talks with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, warning he will take further action if no progress is made.

Summer escapes made easy: find your perfect sunbreak fuss-free

When it comes to booking your summer getaway, finding the perfect break can sometimes feel like a bit of a challenge. Whether it’s a fun-packed family holiday, a romantic couples trip, an activity-filled solo break or a group trip where you need to tick everyone’s travel boxes, there’s a lot to consider, and a vast range of options to choose from. So it can be tricky knowing where to start.

To make it easier to plan your perfect break, holiday experts Travel Republic have you covered, whether you’re researching dream destinations or making last-minute plans. With over 20 years of travel know-how, plus big-name airlines, top hotels and exciting attractions – they make booking your next great value getaway easy, affordable and totally stress free.

From trending destinations to incredible money-saving deals and travel ideas tailored to you, Travel Republic has everything you need to find and book your perfect trip. On top of all that, they offer flexible payment plans, super low deposits, are ATOL protected and offer all the holiday extras you need such as car hire, airport parking, transfers and travel insurance.

Ready for some travel inspo? Here’s our guide to four diverse, versatile destinations that offer it all: dreamy beaches, family entertainment, culinary delights, active adventure, and history and culture by the spadeful.

With over 6000 islands and islets, 200 of which are inhabited, not to mention a culture-rich mainland, Greece definitely has something for every type of traveller. For couples, friends and singles looking to party, head to the clubs and beach parties of Ios, Zante (Zakynthos) or Mykonos – enjoy the growing foodie scene in the pretty white-washed, streets of Mykonos Town, while adrenaline junkies will feel at home on the water, with kitesurfing, windsurfing, scuba diving and jet skiing on offer. For sandy beaches and calm waters, book into the islands of Rhodes or the family friendly Kos. If chilling on the beach is your priority, some of the world’s best can be found in Crete or Halkidiki – sporty types take note of the 13km scenic coastal cycling route. Or head to Faliraki with the kids for banana boat rides, snorkelling and splashing about at Faliraki Waterpark.

History lovers won’t want to leave Greece: explore the archeological wonder that is the Athens Acropolis, walk the capital’s charming old Plaka neighbourhood and stop at one of the many local cafes to enjoy souvlaki, moussaka and gyros. For another UNESCO World Heritage Site, visit the island of Corfu’s Old Town and submerge yourself in a world of Venetian cobbled streets, fortresses and tunnels.

Whether you want the perfect package holiday with breathtaking beaches, buzzing bazaars and cafes on your city break or a boutique stay to explore a multitude of ancient ruins, Turkey has a dream holiday for everyone.

Istanbul will keep every generation entertained: visit the impressive Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosques, go haggling in the Grand Bazaar, then grab a traditional pide (folded pizza) and a Turkish tea before making a trip to the array of castles and fortresses. There’s also a zoo, aquarium and entertainment parks.

Turkey has an abundance of historical sites, with many accessible from top beach resorts such as Side and Izmir. Head to the Dalaman region, often referred to as the Turquoise Coast in reference to the picture-perfect Blue Lagoon beach. Make the short journey from Daylan town to the magnificent ancient port city of Kaunos, which dates back to the 9th century BC and be sure to go turtle spotting at the neighbouring İztuzu Beach. Thrill seekers should head to the nearby resort of Fethiye, to spy its rugged scenery and historic sites from a paraglider. While Marmaris offers everything from parties and waterparks to romance. Head inland to Anatolia to experience the ‘fairy chimney’ rock formations of Cappadocia from the skies in a hot air balloon — a true bucket list experience.For resorts that offer a bit of everything, choose Bodrum and Antalya for everything from Roman ruins, bazaars and nightclubs to yacht-filled marinas, waterparks and pristine beaches. Lots to keep little ones entertained, and party goers busy while couples can enjoy luxe adult-only hotels.

From the Costas to the Canaries and Barcelona to the Balearics, Spain really does have it all. If it’s a city break you’re after, choose the cosmopolitan capital of Madrid: take in art at the impressive Prado Museum, stroll through the peaceful Royal Botanic Gardens and tour the famous Bernabeu Stadium, home to the mighty Real Madrid. Or if you like beach vibes with your culture, opt for the city of Barcelona. Visit the Gothic Quarter for breathtaking architecture, marvel at the iconic Sagrada Família and enjoy tapas and cava in the narrow streets of the El Born district – home to the Moco and Picasso museums.

For full-on beach action, stay on the mainland and choose between Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, Costa Brava or the ‘Golden Coast’ of Costa Dorada. Here,Salou is a good option for those looking for buzzing restaurants and bars, active types keen on coastal walks, kayaking and snorkelling and kids keen to mix rollercoasters and waterparks at PortAventura theme park.

If you’re more about ‘island life’ there’s no shortage of options: head to Ibiza or Majorca for parties galore and secluded beaches with crystalline waters or opt for one of the equally idyllic Canaries. For a break that feels out of this world, choose volcanic island Lanzarote, which offers pristine white sand beaches across the island, including the main holiday resorts of Puerto del Carmen, Playa de los Pocillos, Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca. The latter offers a wealth of bars and restaurants, waterparks, 5km promenade and lively marina with a daily market.

Dramatic coastlines with crystal clear waters, buzzing city life with pop-up restaurants and dolphin and whale watching for wildlife lovers are just some of what is on offer in Portugal, making it a must-visit for group and solo travellers alike. Head to the south coast for the holiday haven of the Algarve, home to some of Europe’s top beaches. There’s 30km of coastline to enjoy at Albufeira alone, peppered with beachfront family friendly and adult-only hotels. Be sure to explore the cobbled streets and palm tree-lined squares of the Old Town before settling down for local seafood specialities including the Cataplana stew. Want to get active? Hike the coastal Seven Hanging Valleys Trail for views of rock formations against the backdrop of turquoise waters. While nightlife lovers should head to the Algarve cities of Lagos and Faro for rooftop cocktails and tunes that play until the sun comes up.

For culture fans, head to capital city Lisbon for countless museums, galleries and beautiful historic buildings including the huge, Gothic Jerónimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lose yourself in the cobbled alleyways of the Old Town of Alfama and soak up the smells and tastes of Portuguese baking including the delicious Pastéis de Belém. Beach lovers worry not, you can have sand between your toes after a quick bus ride, while surf lovers can train it to Estoril or Cascais to catch some waves.

For more travel ideas, inspiration and great value getaways, visit Travel Republic

A top coach’s four pre-9am daily habits guaranteed to boost health

Do you want to feel fitter and healthier as you navigate life? Do you also want to feel a little bit smug while sitting at your desk? Then start your day with a few health-promoting habits.

Waiting until the evening to exercise or eat a nutritious meal creates myriad opportunities for these plans liable to be derailed. But, by front-loading your day with positive behaviours, you’re making a healthy deposit in your body’s bank before too many distractions can creep in.

“Win the morning, win the day,” quotes Dan Lawrence, a performance coach who works with everyone from elite athletes to chief executives through his company Perform 365. “If you can nail your morning then the likelihood of you having a good day is substantially higher.

“You don’t need to make a complete 180-degree shift in your lifestyle and only eat chicken and broccoli while training six days per week. If you can just move more, and you have a bit of a system involving positive things you can do on a daily basis, then give it four weeks and see how you feel – it will make a difference.”

“Someone can start the day with every intention of doing a 7pm workout, but with every hour that goes by post-midday, the likelihood of that session is reduced,” Lawrence says. “We know people are often putting out fires at work; they have loads of things going on and they are thrown constant curveballs, which is why I think most people should be training first thing in the morning.

“Of course, this is context-specific – if someone has kids or an irregular schedule it might not work. But generally, that’s why ‘win the morning, win the day’ is such a powerful approach, particularly regarding exercise.”

By doing this on a regular basis, you build a “consistent win” into your day to reinforce positive habits, Lawrence adds. “This will wake up your body, improve circulation after hours of laying down stationary, and prime your nervous system to prepare for the day.”

Whatever type of movement you choose, Lawrence recommends utilising the “RAMP protocol” – an acronym for raise, activate, mobilise and prime – for your morning workouts to enhance focus, fight sluggishness and leave your body feeling limber.

Read more: Do these five things daily for 90 days to see a ‘profound difference’ in your health, fitness and energy levels

Or, if you prefer a gentler start to the day, Lawrence suggests waking up with a short mobility flow.

“Carrying out mobility work in the morning can set you up for the day ahead,” Lawrence says. Some of the benefits include increasing blood flow, lubricating joints and activating muscles.

“It also improves focus and energy for the rest of the day through increased oxygen delivery to the brain.”

To start, try the two moves below:

Read more: If you struggle to stay fit, try adding these nine simple science-backed behaviours into your week

Lawrence’s second recommendation is to spend at least five minutes outside in the sun shortly after waking.

“This regulates your circadian rhythm, which can lead to an improvement in sleep quality,” he says. Our circadian rhythm, or internal body clock, is plugged into pretty much every bodily process, so maintaining a regular routine and using this habit can act as a catalyst for improving the function of many systems such as hormone regulation, cellular function and metabolism.

“[Morning exposure to sunlight] also boosts serotonin and mood early in the day, and supports hormonal balance, including natural cortisol peaks that help energy levels and alertness,” Lawrence adds.

Accessing the sun in the UK is easier said than done, he admits, but the key is simply spending this time outside.

“Even on an overcast morning in the UK, outdoor light intensity is usually 5,000–10,000 lux, compared to only 100–500 lux indoors. That’s still enough to signal your brain to start the cortisol awakening response and suppress melatonin.”

Read more: Five stretches you should be doing every day according to a flexibility expert

Though hydration needs will differ on a case-by-case basis, Lawrence finds that drinking 500-750ml of water within 30 minutes of waking up has been beneficial for clients. For active clients, he also recommends adding electrolytes – sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium – to their morning water.

“This will replenish fluid lost overnight through respiration and sweat, and support mental clarity and physical performance later in the day,” he explains.

“It can reduce cravings and mid-morning fatigue caused by dehydration, as well as serving as a reset – it’s a far better way to start your day than smashing a coffee and diving into your phone*

“Having a coffee right away can impact cortisol and your body’s natural circadian rhythm, or sleep/wake cycle.”

Read more: I’m a trainer specialising in longevity – these are the five changes that have the biggest impact on my clients

How sunscreen became the subject of troubling conspiracy theories

A man clutching a tiny microphone strides purposefully towards the sun care aisle in his local pharmacy. He picks up the orange and yellow bottles, scans the labels and quickly, performatively rejects them with a pantomime shake of the head. Why? Because he’s convinced that sunscreen is filled with “toxic chemicals” that, he claims, are “doing more harm than good”. And if you watch his video for long enough, he’ll probably start recommending the “natural” option he’s switched to instead. He might even (falsely) claim that, rather than protecting you from skin cancer, sunscreen increases the risk.

Variations on this scene are cropping up on social media with alarming frequency. Over on TikTok, this backlash against SPF (sun protection factor), known as the “anti-sunscreen movement”, has been brewing for a couple of years, but in the summer of 2025, it seems to have moved from a conspiratorial niche into something more mainstream.

Back in July, former The Only Way is Essex star Sam Faiers told her 2.5 million Instagram followers that she doesn’t use sunscreen, and neither does her family, including her young children. “Over the years, the kids have built up a really good tolerance to being in the sun,” she said, before claiming that many sunscreens “are actually pretty harmful and full of toxic ingredients”. In the same month, actor and influencer Kelsey Parker revealed that she avoids using SPF on her children, too (she said she uses a homemade “organic” version instead, made from beeswax and “no bad stuff”).

Their concerning beliefs aren’t outliers, either. Recent research has suggested that Gen-Zers are particularly susceptible to sunscreen myths. Last year, a study from the American Academy of Dermatology found that 28 per cent of 18- to 26-year-olds believe that getting a tan is more important than the risk of skin cancer, with 37 per cent admitting to only using sunscreen when they’re nagged by others to do so. And new data from health insurance provider Vitality found that 18 per cent of Gen Z respondents believed that you don’t need sun protection if you tan easily (there’s the myth of “good tolerance” again).

To properly examine the anti-sunscreen backlash, we need to get to grips with exactly how this product works. “The sun emits ultraviolet radiation in the form of UVA and UVB rays, both of which can cause damage to the skin,” says Dr Ross Perry, medical director of Cosmedics skin clinics.

UVA rays, he explains, “penetrate more deeply” into the skin and are responsible for signs of ageing, like wrinkles, sagging and pigmentation, while “UVB rays affect the surface, causing sunburn and direct DNA damage, which increases the risk of skin cancer”. Cancer Research UK estimates that 85 per cent of cases of melanoma (a type of skin cancer that develops in melanin-producing cells) are caused by overexposure to UV radiation; their analysis has also found that melanoma rates have increased by almost one-third over the past decade.

A broad spectrum sunscreen, Perry adds, is designed to shield us against both UVA and UVB rays. There are two main types of sunscreen: those that use chemical filters, which “work by absorbing UV radiation and converting it into harmless heat”, and those that use mineral filters, such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These “sit on the skin’s surface to reflect and scatter rays away”.

It’s the first category of creams and sprays, those with chemical filters, which tend to be the focus of anti-sunscreen sentiment. That’s because a handful of studies have discovered UV filters such as oxybenzone and avobenzone in people’s blood stream after applying sunscreen. These chemicals are benzophenones, a type of chemical that may influence the endocrine system, which is in charge of creating and releasing hormones in the body.

Anti-sunscreen crusaders will often tout these studies as a way of lending their claims an air of scientific legitimacy. But – spoiler alert – discussing complex research in a 90-second video doesn’t always convey a full and nuanced picture. Dr Perry notes that although ingredients like oxybenzone have “shown hormone-like effects” in “very high laboratory doses”, “the amounts used in sunscreens are far lower and there’s no evidence they cause harm in real-world use”. Plus, all the active filters in sunscreen, be they chemical or mineral, will “have been rigorously tested and approved by regulatory authorities in the UK, Europe and the US”. And if you truly wanted to avoid benzophenones, you’d probably have to ditch half the contents of your washbag, because they’re common in other makeup and skincare products too.

Consultant dermatologist Dr Magnus Lynch takes a similar view. “It is true that certain chemicals used within sunscreen can be absorbed in small quantities through the skin,” he says, “however, there is little evidence that these are harmful.” Plus, “since sunscreen is used by so many people, even if there were a small negative effect, this would be very evident”. And yet he is still seeing patients “who are scared to use SPF” now, after seeing “myths amplified on social media” by people with no medical expertise. “I do understand the appeal of natural products and avoiding chemicals”, he adds, but “the risks of sunlight exposure are far greater”. For those who are worried about chemicals, he suggests swapping to a mineral sunscreen instead.

As for the idea of sun “tolerance” that seems to be cropping up all over social media? That’s a misconception. “You cannot train your skin to become safely resistant to UV,” explains consultant dermatologist Dr Rakesh Anand. “A tan is a visible sign of DNA damage, not a shield.” It might provide, at best, “an SPF of roughly two to four, which is nowhere near adequate”, he adds (the NHS recommends using at least SPF 30). “Relying on this ‘tolerance’ leads to cumulative damage, photoageing and higher skin cancer risk.”

Another concern for dermatologists is influencers sharing at-home “sun care” recipes. Last year, for example, model Nara Smith shared a video in which she mixed up coconut oil, shea and cocoa butter, jojoba oil, beeswax and zinc oxide. “These homemade concoctions are not tested for UV protection, may offer inconsistent coverage, and could result in uneven or insufficient protection, raising the risk of burns and long-term damage,” Dr Perry says. Beef tallow (an animal fat, also appealingly known as beef dripping) is another “natural” ingredient that anti-sunscreeners often praise. Perry describes its use for sun protection as “complete nonsense and potentially very dangerous”. “Beef tallow has absolutely no SPF or UV-blocking properties, so applying it to your skin gives you zero protection against sunburn, sun damage or skin cancer,” he adds.

He describes home remedies like these as not just ineffective but outright irresponsible, “because they give people a false sense of security in the sun, and that’s when real damage occurs”.

So why has sunscreen suddenly become the site of conspiracies? The backlash seems to have gained momentum in the wake of the pandemic, riding the wave of medical misinformation and scepticism about traditional medicine that emerged with the arrival of the vaccine. At the same time, there’s been a fresh focus on “clean” or “natural” products, which, as Dr Anand puts it, “sometimes frames ‘chemical’ as a synonym for ‘harmful’, which is misleading”.

Medical advice, Perry says, can often feel “technical or confusing, so myths and conspiracies offer an easier narrative, often framed as ‘big companies’ trying to hide the truth’”. In videos criticising sunscreen, for example, you might hear influencers claiming that doctors are simply telling us that the sun is bad so that “Big Pharma” can make millions from SPF products.

Social media only exacerbates the problem. “Platforms like TikTok reward short, emotive messages,” says Dr Jonathan Kentley, consultant dermatologist at Montrose Clinic London and the Lister Hospital, so influencers attempt to craft “a catchy narrative that cuts through, even if it’s completely untrue”.

Throw in “a growing mistrust of institutions”, he adds, “and you have fertile ground for health misinformation to flourish. It’s part of a wider trend: we’re seeing ‘DIY wellness’ and anti-medical narratives become popular online because they’re framed as empowering and rebellious”. Unfortunately, though, Kentley adds, these narratives “often end up doing more harm than good. We as doctors are finding it increasingly challenging to present the facts in an age where many get their primary source of information from social media platforms”.

So next time you find yourself drawn in by spurious claims about sun care, it’s worth keeping Kentley’s words in mind. “Decades of rigorous research show that sunscreen is one of the safest and most effective tools we have to reduce the risk of skin cancer and premature skin ageing,” he says. And while “there is no case of cancer that has ever been linked to sunscreen”, he adds, “conversely, as a busy dermatologist, I can assure you that I have personally seen hundreds of cases of cancer caused by not wearing sunscreen”.