easyJet launches new route to European paradise island that's famed for its sunny weather
easyJet has launched a brand new route to a European paradise island where sunny weather is almost guaranteed.
The low-cost airline has announced direct flights from London to Portugal's stunning Funchal.
Famed for its warm weather and wine, the picturesque spot is the capital city of Portugal's Madeira archipelago.
easyJet will operate a twice-weekly service from Luton Airport, with flights taking off every Monday and Friday throughout summer 2025.
The new route is also available to book as a package holiday through easyJet Holidays.
Ali Gayward, who is the airline's UK manager, said Funchal is 'a fantastic addition' to their schedule.
She said: 'We are really pleased to be celebrating the launch of another new route from London Luton this summer.'
Funchal, which is named after a sweet-smelling herb traditionally known as fennel, sits on a slope facing the Atlantic Ocean.
The city has plenty of activities for tourists, including the Botanical Garden Cable Car, allowing you to take in panoramic views of the city and surrounding nature in the hills
The city has plenty of activities for tourists, including the Botanical Garden Cable Car, allowing you to take in panoramic views of the city and surrounding nature in the hills.
Funchal is also famous for its Madeira wine, with local vineyards offering tours as well as tastings.
Day tours on offer include dolphin and whale watching, as well as a Jeep safari-themed trip that takes you to remote villages and the Pico do Arieiro mountain.
easyJet's new route comes after bosses launched direct flights from Birmingham Airport to Gibraltar.
Running all year round, it will operate a twice-weekly service to the holiday hotspot, with flights on Thursdays and Sundays.
It adds to easyJet's already existing London Gatwick, Bristol and Manchester to Gibraltar routes, taking the total number of flights to the British Overseas Territory to 13 a week.
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Telegraph
26 minutes ago
- Telegraph
The best camping chairs, including folding and lightweight options for summer 2025
Which is the best camping chair? You'll never know how important that question is until you've spent all day exploring, or travelling hard to your chosen campsite, only to find that the chair you've brought is uncomfortable, hard to assemble or, worse still, you don't have one at all. I've pitched hundreds of tents in every corner of the globe. Each time, once the last peg is banged in, whether I'm family camping, chilling with friends at a festival or alone in the wild, all I want to do is take the weight off my feet and collapse onto something comfortable with good back support (beer optional). To save you from some of the more uncomfortable camping trips I've been through, I've done the work for you by trying and testing the most popular camping chairs on the market, including £30 budget options and premium slouchers which cost more than £100. From Vango's big padded moon chairs to Helinox's low-to-the-ground beach chairs, I've tried them all. My in-depth reviews are below, followed by FAQs on how to choose the right one for you. But if you're in a hurry, here's a quick look at my top five: Which are the best camping chairs? At a glance How to choose the best camping chair First, comfort is key – look for chairs with good back support and plenty of padding so you don't end up stiff or sore. Some chairs even let you adjust the backrest or armrests, making it easier to find the perfect position, whether you're reading or relaxing. Durability is important too. Camping chairs need to withstand all kinds of weather, so pick ones with strong frames made from materials like steel or aluminium. The fabric should be tough as well – often called ripstop polyester, which means it's designed to resist tearing. Portability matters if you're hiking to your spot. Lightweight chairs that fold up small and come with a carry bag are much easier to carry. Also, check the weight limit to make sure the chair can safely support you. Finally, handy extras like cup holders or pockets for your phone and snacks can make your camping chair feel extra special. How I tested the best camping chairs From years spent wild camping on mountainsides using my rucksack as a backrest, I know the value of the right camping chair. Whether folded, inflated, hanging or compact, if it's been made for outdoor use the chances are that over the last 14 years I've sat in it. (I've also spent time reviewing the best sleeping bags and best camping stoves.) For this review, I tested the latest offerings from the manufacturers I've come to trust. Specifically, I was testing how much weight a chair could hold, how light and portable each was, their seat height and most importantly of all, comfort. These are the best of the bunch. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best product. No manufacturer ever sees Telegraph Recommended reviews before publication and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. From tents to walking boots, all reviews are based on independent expert opinion and our hands-on testing. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. Best camping chairs 1. Best Buy Camping Chair: Vango Embrace Chair When the sun sets on a campsite, there's nothing better than sinking down into your chair and enjoying a sundown but usually, when that happens, the temperature drops and even a light breeze can chill you through the fabric of a standard folding seat. Not so with the Vango Embrace, a luxuriously quilted and padded number that wraps around your entire body – a style sometimes known as a moon chair – and keeps you well off the ground, meaning that you stay warmer and comfortable even when night falls. It's made from a sturdy steel frame (it can take a weight of 19 stone!) that's easy to unfold – I could even do this with one hand – and when you're done, it easily pushes down and back into its carry bag. The fabric is Vango's own trademarked offering that feels soft to touch but is durable and hardwearing – even if you spill your drink on it and need to vigorously clean it (trust me, I speak from experience). You do, of course, pay for this unrivalled comfort and not just with money. At 5kg, it's considerably heavier than most standard two-person tents. Fitting it into the boot of a smaller car will see it take up a lot of space, too. But if you're car camping for several days, it's definitely worth the bulk. Key specifications 2. Best Value Camping Chair: Trespass Folding Padded Camping and Garden Deck Chair Paddy Whereas the other padded and value options here tend to fold in on themselves in a cuboid shape, this model from Scottish brand Trespass folds flat (good for storing in the shed between trips or behind seats in a campervan or caravan) and still manages to pack in a good amount of comfort in a padded foam seat. The frame is made from steel, hence the slightly heavier weight compared to other options, but this does make it sturdy to sit on, so good for those who are less steady when sitting down. The sitting height is average and the maximum load is decent for the price. It was easy to fold away and set out. For campers who feel the cold, the design of this one will mean draughts as it's not the bucket style, which keeps wind at bay, but that can be mitigated by using a blanket or a good jacket. My only niggle is the finish, though the fabric feels fairly robust, the stitching in places feels like it might fray with use relatively quickly. Still a decent option for the low price. Key specifications 3. Best Camping Chair for the Garden: Hi-Gear Kentucky Classic Chair Recommended by Rebecca Astill This is my camping chair of choice for days spent watching my boyfriend play cricket. It's strong, stable, padded and comfortable enough to sit in all day. Plus, the insulated cup holder keeps a glass of rosé lovely and cool. (Making it an excellent choice as an occasional garden chair, too.) It comes with a carry bag which the chair easily collapses back into and its long handle means it can be slung onto my back while barely noticing the weight. The polyester fabric is nicely padded. It's even breathable in 30C heat, which is impressive. The only thing I'd change is to make the headrest slightly more upright; it slopes back, which means you have to sit up to chat to anyone or, in my case, watch cricket. I've seen other camping chairs which have a zip in the headrest to store the bag, which then creates a cushion. I do think this would make an excellent addition, but other than that it's a practical, comfortable chair. Key specifications 4. Best 'just in case' Camping Chair: Helinox Chair One (re) For something light and packable with more comfort than the featherweight model, I like Helinox's newly designed Chair One (re). First hitting the shelves in 2012 when the South Korean father-and-son founded company produced what became the first in its field of portable camping furniture, the previous iteration was always quite low to the ground (34cm) and could be a little unstable (especially for larger users). The new version has addressed both of these issues. Thanks to added tension in the body of the chair it now feels a lot sturdier and adding four extra centimetres to the sitting height – it's now a little over 38cm – means it's closer to the standard-sized camping chair, yet still packs down remarkably small - 39cm x 13.5cm x 12cm (about the size of a bowling pin). Its green credentials have also improved, with the frame now partly being made from repurposed aluminium (basically the scraps of metal left of the factory floor that would have been discarded) and the fabric is certified recycled polyester. The addition of a side pocket is handy for storing a phone or keys and setting it up is fairly straightforward. It may be a little more expensive than the bulkier models, but for those wanting to save space in the car or backpack and not sacrifice as much comfort for the privilege, this is a great 'just in case option' on all camping trips. Key specifications 5. Best Luxury Chair: Isabella Thor Chair In 1957 Denmark's Søren Odgaard decided that no tent on the market was quite right for him, so he designed one in his basement. Now his company, Isabella, has a reputation for camping accessories that focus on comfort and quality. The Thor Chair embodies this – it's made from a lightweight aluminium frame, but feels sturdy. The seat and padded headrest are made from a ventilated but hardwearing material and it is reclinable – they claim eight positions, though I felt it was a bit of an over-sell, seeing as it only seems to relate to the number of notches on the arms. Either way, it is certainly comfortable to sit in and there are optional add-ons to pimp it out for even greater luxury, from a foldable footrest to a detachable side pocket and even a made-to-measure towel. The only real drawback is the size. Although easy to fold, it still has a total length of 120cm and width of 61cm, meaning I couldn't fit it in the boot of my small car. If you have a large vehicle, though or even better a campervan, this won't be an issue. Key specifications 6. Best Picnic Chair: Regatta Director's Chair with Side Table For those of us who firmly believe that food eaten outdoors tastes better, then a chair with an added foldaway table can turn a good picnic into a great one. Styled like a Hollywood director's pew, Regatta's offering is easy to set up with a quick pull on its arms. The polyester fabric is comfortable yet durable and the table will easily take a drink (in a dedicated cup holder) and a small plate or snack. With a seat height of 46cm you are kept well off the floor and folding it away is straightforward. It is a flatpack affair – though despite the table, it is slightly smaller – meaning great for storing in a caravan or shed, but a little trickier in a small car boot. It is mid-range weight-wise and takes up to 15 stone, but considering that you're essentially taking a table and chair with you, it's a comparatively small price to pay. Key specifications 7. Best Lightweight Chair for Taller Campers: Sitpack Campster 2 Following a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign, this new version of the lightweight, foldaway, previously three-legged backpacker's chair now features an infinitely more stable four-leg design. On first glance, it is much like Helinox's Chair Zero below – the Campster also folds down to 35cm, roughly the size of a water flask. It is also easy to put up, allegedly in five seconds, which I found impossible, but it is straightforward. So you might be wondering how they manage to sell it for £35 less. Firstly, it should be pointed out that it's heavier by a whole kilogram. If you're camping with the car, this won't be a dealbreaker, but for backpackers, this might (pardon the pun) tip the scales in favour of Helinox. If you're after comfort over grams, or are a taller or heavier camper, however, then the Campster II is for you. Not only does it have a higher seat, making it easier to get in and out of and can take an additional three stone, but also comes with some fairly luxurious add-ons for an additional price – and weight of course – including a snuggly fleece seat warmer. It has two side pockets, which I felt a tad unnecessary given that using just one affects the stability. But, overall, a decent compact option for those wanting comfort and portability. Key specifications 8. Best Lightweight Camping Chair: Helinox Chair Zero It's easy to baulk at the price tag of this one – especially when you see the packed size of the item you're purchasing (it folds down to smaller than a thermos flask), but as is often the case with outdoor gear, what you are paying for is the lack of bulk. While similar to Helinox's Chair One above, the Chair Zero is even more compact. For me, as an ardent wild camper, the idea of taking a camping chair when I head to remote places used to be laughable. Their weight made them a comfort I'd just have to do without. But then the Helinox came along in 2012, at the time weighing in at just under 1kg. Since then, I have been tempted on several occasions to throw one in my backpack to avoid evenings hunched over in my tent. Hitting the scales at half a kilogram (that's less than an iPad), this latest lightweight version is still sturdy and strong – it can hold a whopping 18 stone (that's more than some full-size chairs here) – and is insanely easy to put up. The strong aluminium alloy poles, a higher grade than used in aircraft, simply slip into the fabric pockets and it's ready to sit in. Admittedly, the one sacrifice is the low seat height, which on snowy or uneven ground could be cold or less comfortable. People with weaker legs who struggle to rise should opt for something higher. But, with such a low weight, this will always be a great option for backpacking, camping and even on long walks. Key specifications 9. Most Comfortable Camping Chair: Coleman Forester Series Bucket Chair Armless bucket chairs that you can sink into seem to be rising in popularity, like the Vango in our number one spot and this Coleman Forrester bucket chair. Unlike the Vango, this one isn't padded – but rest assured, it's still extremely comfortable. I thought I'd miss having armrests to relax my arms, but I barely noticed they weren't there and it made the chair lighter. The one downside is that the drinks holder has to be strapped onto the bottom, as you can see in the photo. It holds a water bottle, but up-ends any glass with a stem, predictably. I'm not sure I could sit in it all day, because of the lack of back support with the bucket design, but the fabric is pulled tight enough to give a reasonable amount of rigour. The back also comes up high, meaning you can comfortably rest your head while chatting. Be warned, it sits quite low, which is noticeable if you're in a group of mismatched camping chairs. Other than that, I love the simplicity and relaxed style of this chair. Key specifications 10. Best Compact Camping Chair: Outwell Cardiel For something equally as low bulk and weight as the Helinox, at a fraction of the price, there is Outwell's Cardiel Black. Essentially two sit mats lashed together with adjustable straps to create a seat with a backrest, it folds down easily to fit into most backpacks or chuck into your car 'just in case'. The obvious sticking point for some will be the lack of height off the ground – this doesn't only look like a sit mat, it basically is a fancy version of one. However, this can work well for a number of scenarios, in particular on the beach when other chairs would sink into the sand, or to simply make standard campsite benches more comfortable and supportive. The fabric is tough and durable and easy to clean and folding it out is simple and fast. There's even a small pocket great for stashing keys or a phone. Key specifications 11. Best Heated Camping Chair: Vango Radiate Grande DLX If the idea of sitting outside leaves you a little cold, then Vango's heated range offers a solution. There's a near-invisible heating element built into the lower panel of the backrest, which runs off a power bank (not supplied) that can fit snugly in the inbuilt pocket under the seat. It has four temperature settings controlled by a large button – one click for red (hottest), down to blue (coolest). Despite my scepticism on how much heat I could get from a single panel, once paired with a blanket over my legs, it did indeed keep me toasty well after sunset. The seat can be adjusted from upright to near lie flat – with seven options available – meaning you can completely chill, without actually getting chilled. The fabric is robust and durable, yet comfy to touch and is padded and designed to radiate heat, meaning once the pad warms up (which literally takes seconds), you feel the benefit almost immediately. It comes with a moveable headrest for added comfort and there's a tall option available too. When not in use, it packs down flat, so easy to store at home, though it is still quite large (111cm x 9cm x 75cm) and less portable than others, especially if you have a small car. The main drawback is the high price tag, though for glampers who love a little luxury (and warmth) or those with back issues, it'll be worth it. Key specifications 12. Best Children's Camping Chair: Kampa Mini Tub If there's one thing I've learned after having my son, now nearly two, it's that the camping chair he most wants to sit in is whichever one I am currently occupying. That all changed when I got this specially made-for-kids option. Featuring a range of designs – unicorns, cars and woodland creatures – he was immediately taken with the owl on the latter while I, meanwhile, was enamoured with the fact that, unlike most kids' options, there were no open sides he could inadvertently slip through or try and climb between. It's also well-padded for comfort, easy to fold away and with a seat height of 28cm, he can easily get in and out of it himself. It is, unsurprisingly given the padding, a little bulky, but it takes an impressive weight load, meaning it should last him a while. At a push, it can even just about take my weight when he undoubtedly steals my seat again… Key specifications Weight: 2.7kg Seat height: 28cm Maximum load: 60kg (9.4 stone) 13. Best Folding Camping Chair for Festivals: Snow Peak Take Bamboo Score: 8/10 We like: Lifetime guarantee, bamboo and canvas design We don't like: It's heavy and not cheap Rocking up at a festival with your camping gear is not just about comfort and practicality, but about what your kit says about you too. With this bamboo and canvas designed foldaway number – which not only takes a reasonable weight, packs down easily to fit in your car/campervan and features a long back and decent seat height for maximum comfort – it shows that you care as much about sustainability as you do about style. As well as the wood being responsibly sourced, the chair is guaranteed to last a lifetime, with Snow Peak pledging to repair it no matter how old it is. It may not be the lightest offering here, but those eco-creds do take a weight off your mind and thanks to the removable and washable canvas seat, you can enjoy the festival knowing that any food or drink mishaps are easily dealt with. Key specifications Camping chair FAQs Which is the comfiest camping chair? There are a lot of padded options, including the Vango Embrace which I have made my number one pick. Some also have extras, such as reclining functions or built-in tables. But these are bulky and best suited to people heading to their campsites by car. I believe the most important thing when choosing a camping chair is to check out the seat height: some are low and not easy for everyone to get in and out of. Child-sized camping seats are available, too. For wild camping aficionados like me, or those who want to take minimal gear with them, look instead for small pack size, low weight and fabric durability. Finally, no matter if you're going wild or mild, always check the chair's maximum load weight. You want to be sure that every member of your party can be safe and comfortable. What material are camping chairs made of? The first portable folding stool is believed to have been made over 4,500 years ago in Mesopotamia, but JB Fenby's 1881 folding chair in wood and canvas set the standard and still inspires many of the camping chairs made today, including the Snow Peak bamboo chair above. The arrival of lightweight aluminium post-WW2 expanded the possibilities and nowadays there's a huge range of specially-designed outdoor seats to choose from, usually made from weatherproof synthetic fabrics and meshes.
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Four former Monte Paschi executives to stand trial in bad loans case
MILAN, June 6 (Reuters) - An Italian judge has ordered four former executives of bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena ( opens new tab to stand trial for alleged false accounting in 2015 and the first half of 2016 over the classification of impaired loans, judicial and legal sources said on Friday. Former presidents Alessandro Profumo and Massimo Tononi, former CEO Fabrizio Viola, and ex-accounting manager Arturo Betunio are set to face charges of false accounting and market manipulation at a Milan court on Oct. 16. Lawyers for the four did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but all have consistently denied wrongdoing. The case marks the latest development in a series of legal proceedings linked to the troubled Tuscan lender's 2017 rescue. Milan prosecutors have alleged that false accounting from 2014 to 2017 was used to obscure the bank's insolvency, which would have blocked its state bailout, according to judicial documents. Milan judge Fiammetta Modica on Friday cleared five other MPS executives, including former presidents Alessandro Falciai and Stefania Bariatti, and former CEO Marco Morelli, of all charges related to the other years under investigations. Prosecutors had previously requested no proceedings for these periods. The alleged offence relates to the misclassification of loans as "performing" rather than "impaired". Italy pumped 5.4 billion euros ($6.15 billion) into MPS in 2017 under a so-called precautionary recapitalisation. Under European Union rules, this applies only to viable companies, so that public money is not used to cover any actual or expected losses. The European Central Bank conducted a health check on MPS at the time to unlock state aid in compliance with EU competition rules. Italy's Treasury negotiated the bailout terms with the European Commission and eventually committed to reducing its stake in the bank, which after the bailout stood at 68%. Under CEO Luigi Lovaglio, the bank has restructured, benefiting from higher interest rates and lower costs. Lovaglio raised 2.5 billion euros in late 2022 to fund redundancies. In October 2023 Italy's Supreme Court confirmed an appeals court's ruling that overturned a previous verdict and acquitted all defendants of charges related to derivatives deals that prosecutors alleged had helped MPS hide losses. In December 2023, MPS's former CEO and chairman were also acquitted on appeal, after serving six years in prison in a related case. The verdict was upheld by Italy's Supreme Court in February 2025. ($1 = 0.8776 euros)
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Ange Postecoglou departs Tottenham in glory but sacking him was the logical choice
He will always have Bilbao. The manager who, in his forties, was in charge of Whittlesea Zebras in the Melbourne suburbs won a European trophy 16 years later. No other manager has had a journey quite like Ange Postecoglou 's. But then no one has had a season the same as Tottenham's, the club who recorded the lowest ever league finish of any side to lift continental silverware. It was why the emotional choice would have been to keep Postecoglou. The rational one, delivered 16 days after Europa League glory, was to dismiss him. 'One of the toughest decisions we have had to make,' Spurs said in their explanation, and easy a target as chairman Daniel Levy can be, he merits some understanding in this instance. Postecoglou ended a 17-year wait for a major honour and dragged Tottenham to a historic low. The impression in his heady first few months was that he was a manager who brought back the Spurs way. Tottenham's traditions involved being a cup team; but never this much of one, never as hopeless in the league. The ignominy of coming 17th could only partly be explained by a focus on Europe; they were 13th domestically even before playing a knockout tie in the continental competition. The probability is that any successor – and Thomas Frank is the frontrunner – will finish higher in the table but not win anything. Postecoglou's bravado in saying he always won something in his second season was justified and he called his sophomore year with Spurs 'outstanding'; but it also stood out for many a wrong reason. Tottenham have never lost more league games in a campaign. Their 22 defeats included 10 on home soil; the supporters who pay for famously expensive tickets even saw Ipswich and Leicester win in N17. Their tally of 38 points was – if three were awarded for a victory in every season – Spurs' lowest since 1914-15. It was underachievement on an extraordinary scale, given what is probably the seventh biggest wage bill, a gifted group of players and, despite Levy's famous frugality, an outlay on transfers of around £400m over the last couple of years. Feat as it was to claim European silverware, especially in the context of Tottenham's inability to win anything since 2008, it only required one remarkable result, the away win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals. Even the final was against a Manchester United team who came 15th in England. So Tottenham had to conduct an assessment of Postecoglou's reign and the whole season. They cited his record over the 66 league games that followed the heady beginning of the first 10 that produced 26 points and a table-topping start. Those 66 matches produced just 78 points, an average of just 1.18 per game. Of the 17 clubs in the division throughout that time, only Wolves took fewer points, and by a mere one. Spurs conceded 116 goals in that time, 1.76 per match. It underlined a design flaw in Angeball: an openness to the counter-attack. The warning signs were there in his debut campaign when, individually, the first-choice back four and goalkeeper all had fine seasons and yet Spurs were breached 61 times. When Angeball was at its best it was brilliant; the 4-0 evisceration of Manchester City this season was football at a very high level. Yet there was not a consistent formula to win games. He was not the first managerial import to struggle against the Premier League 's middle-ranking clubs, to discover its strength in depth. Postecoglou also had other issues. He was irritated by suggestions his training and tactics injured his players but Tottenham struggled to compete on multiple fronts; they won the Europa League by sparing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven Premier League duties. But, again, that blueprint scarcely felt repeatable as they enter a Champions League season. Tottenham's league form, ultimately, was impossible to justify. Postecoglou instead seemed to believe that his were the only team to suffer from injuries, as though everyone else could be judged by their results, but Spurs should not be. There were the car-crash post-match interviews of a manager who seemed to regard questioning of his methods and style of play as illegitimate. On a personal level, he nevertheless merits considerable sympathy. The Europa League gives him a place in history: the third Tottenham manager, alongside the great Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw, to win European silverware, the first Australian coach to do so with any club. He released a dignified statement on his departure. 'My overriding emotion is one of pride,' he said. But one of the questions his employers had to answer was whether it would be substantially different if they persevered with Postecoglou for another year. To reframe it, and despite the Europa League, would another Premier League club appoint Postecoglou now? After all, if he took Tottenham to 17th, logic may dictate he could relegate a mid-table club. If many a managerial appointment is the opposite the previous one, it is notable those who have seemed on Spurs' radar – Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva, Oliver Glasner and Frank – have found ways to get results with lesser resources in England, to punch above their weight with the mid-table teams. But as he goes, Postecoglou can argue he was the antithesis of managers like Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte. Because none of them took a trophy to Tottenham. And he did.
