Why Farage’s migrant deportation plans don’t add up

Nigel Farage has unveiled radical plans for the mass deportation of asylum seekers, including children, to address what he claimed was a “rising anger” among the British public towards the UK’s small boats crisis.

At a press conference in London, he claimed the party would remove 600,000 asylum seekers under the first parliament of a Reform government, should they win power.

He also pledged to scale up detention capacity for asylum seekers to 24,000 and secure deals with countries such as Afghanistan, Eritrea and Iran to return migrants to their countries.

Reform claims the plan – which would require the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and replace the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights – will cost £10bn to implement but save £7bn currently spent on illegal migration during the first five years.

The party has said it would also ban anyone who arrives illegally from being able to claim asylum and allow asylum seekers to be detained until deportation.

The plans were condemned by the Refugee Council, which said “toxic narratives” were fuelling fear and division and real public concerns “are being exploited for political gain”, while Labour minister Matthew Pennycook said the plans were like “something put together on the back of a fag packet”.

Lawyers and campaigners have also criticised plans to quit the ECHR, with the proposals being dubbed both “legally extreme” and “a gift to repressive regimes”.

Reform’s latest intervention comes as Labour desperately attempts to get a grip on the migration narrative, as small boat crossings hit record highs, and the UK has seen a string of violent protests in response to the housing of migrants in hotels.

Reform claims its plan will cost around £10bn over five years, at an average of £2bn a year.

But an analysis by The Independent, based on the latest cost estimates, found that it could mean spending £6.3bn each year on deportation flights alone and £3.6bn a year on converting detention facilities, as well as the unknown costs of a deal with third-party countries that agree to take in migrants deported from the UK.

The party has claimed that the current illegal immigration system costs £7bn a year, though it is unclear how this figure has been calculated.

Former chair Zia Yusuf and self-styled head of the party’s Department of Government Efficiency – made in the image of Elon Musk’s controversial cost-cutting Doge in the US – has claimed that Reform’s plan would save £7bn over the first five years. He claimed this would quickly jump to £42bn saved over a decade, but the party did not give any breakdown of where these savings would come from.

Reform is pledging to carry out five deportation flights a day, which would mark an unprecedented shift in the UK’s removal policy.

That would total 1,825 chartered flights a year – a 3,967 per cent increase on current levels.

The Labour government has only chartered 46 flights since coming into power, according to Home Office figures from March. These figures are in line with those under the previous Tory government.

The exact costs of deportations are unknown and vary significantly, but previous Home Office figures range from £8,000 to £15,000 per person.

A 2023 impact assessment, the latest available, estimated that flight and escorting costs would be as high as £22,000 per person for those being deported under the Tories’ failed Rwanda scheme. This does not include costs of detention, Home Office expenses from handling cases or enforcement costs.

If these prices still hold, then the cost of deporting up to 288,000 illegal migrants a year – as claimed by Mr Farage today – could be as high as £6.3bn for flights alone.

A key part of Reform’s plan is to detain asylum seekers as soon as they arrive in the UK.

But the cost of detaining migrants, in prison-style conditions, is more expensive than housing asylum seekers in other accommodation, averaging £133.51 per day, according to the latest Home Office figures.

Detention requires round-the-clock security and enforcement, leading to higher costs than temporary accommodation.

By comparison, it cost £77.05 per day on average to house asylum seekers in 2024-25, Migration Observatory figures show, and £118.87 per person, per night for migrant hotels in March.

Reform’s aim would likely be to offset this by holding migrants for short periods before deportation, while current asylum wait lists are often over six months.

However, it is hard to guarantee that officials would be able to handle the high levels of processing needed to speed up deportations, meaning that the average stay for a detainee would be unknown.

Ramping up immigration detention will also require a significant investment in new facilities.

Reform plans to convert RAF bases into “secure immigration removal centres”, which would involve building two-person rooms, canteens, and medical suites.

The cost of similar facilities, such as the former RAF base in Wethersfield, which is now used as asylum housing, has been criticised for its “eye-watering” costs.

And in 2024, the National Audit Office (NAO) warned that using large accommodation sites, like the Bibby Stockholm barge, cost the government £46m more than hotels.

Wethersfield costs over £100m a year but can house fewer than 600 people, according to a report last year by the Helen Bamber Foundation.

Reform is hoping that these converted facilities would house up to 24,000 people, up from the 2,500 housed at similar sites last spring.

If the costs of Wethersfield are anything to go by, Reform could end up spending up to £3.6bn a year for the new detention facilities.

Mr Farage also floated the idea of third-country deportations, which could include possible deals with Rwanda and Albania.

Though no cost was provided for these third-country deals, the previous government’s Rwanda scheme cost £700m, according to the home secretary, Yvette Cooper – with just four people deported.

A 2023 impact assessment estimated that third-party countries would bear the cost of up to £100,000 for every relocated migrant. Reform would therefore have to make any arrangement worth their while.

Leaving the ECHR would require parliamentary approval to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998, which incorporates ECHR rights into UK law.

But such a move would also breach the Good Friday Agreement – the 1998 peace accord that ended decades of conflict in Northern Ireland – as this guarantees the convention’s enforceability in Northern Ireland.

There are fears that such a move would undermine the UK’s international standing, with Downing Street saying it would put Britain in the same camp as Russia and Belarus.

Dominic Grieve, co-president of European Movement UK and former attorney general, told The Independent that quitting the ECHR would lead to a “whole host of political problems”.

He warned: “It would unravel the Good Friday Agreement, destabilise our devolution settlements, and collapse our security and trade deal with the EU – undermining data sharing, extradition, and policing cooperation that keep us safe”, he said, warning it would lead to a “profound loss of influence, security and stability”.

Kolbassia Haoussou from Freedom from Torture dubbed the plans “a gift to repressive regimes” and said Britain would be abandoning one of humanity’s “clearest moral lines”.

Adam Wagner KC, a human rights lawyer, said Mr Farage’s proposals were both “legally extreme” and misleading.

“A lot of the rights contained in the European convention come from British common law: the right to a fair trial, freedom of religion, and the right not to be tortured,” he told The Guardian.

Israel faces global outrage and widespread protests after hospital strike kills 20

Israel is facing global condemnation after 20 people were killed in an attack on a hospital in Gaza, as domestic protests calling for a ceasefire, led by families of hostages taken by Hamas, swept the country.

The victims on the fourth floor of Nasser Hospital were killed in a double-tap strike, with one missile hitting first, then another moments later as rescue crews arrived, an eyewitness told The Independent.

The attack, in which five journalists were killed – including Maryam Abu Daqqa, who worked for The Independent’s sister site Independent Arabia – was among the deadliest to have hit journalists over the course of the war.

The US, the European Union, Canada, Britain, Egypt, China, France, and Spain denounced the attack, while Germany called for an investigation.

The Israeli military said after its initial investigation that the strike aimed to take out a Hamas surveillance camera, along with several people it claimed were militants belonging to the group.

The military said it had established that none of the five journalists killed were among the six Hamas targets it says were killed in the two strikes, and that the journalists were not suspected of being militants. The military claimed that they were not the target of the strikes.

The chief of general staff acknowledged several “gaps” in the investigation so far, including in relation to the kind of ammunition that was used to take out the camera. A further inquiry has been ordered into how the decision was made to target the hospital.

The US president, Donald Trump, said: “I’m not happy about it. I don’t want to see it. At the same time, we have to end that whole nightmare.”

He added that a “very serious” diplomatic push to end the war is underway, and that there may be a “conclusive ending” in Gaza in the coming weeks, but he did not offer any further details.

Britain’s foreign secretary David Lammy said he was “horrified” by the attack and called for an “immediate ceasefire”.

Separately, Israeli protesters across the country have blocked major highways as they continue to demand the release of the people taken hostage by Hamas on 7 October 2023.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum started their “national day of struggle” at 6.29am local time, the same time as Hamas launched their attack two years ago.

“Advancing the plan to conquer Gaza while there is an agreement lying on the table for the prime minister’s signature is a stab in the heart of the families and the entire nation,” said Itzik Horn, father of Eitan Horn and captivity survivor Iair Horn.

Footage shared online shows traffic grinding to a halt as a large fire blazed across parts of a road between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

The coastal highway on the outskirts of Tel Aviv was also closed to traffic around Yakum junction.

Demonstrators plan to march from Savidor station in Tel Aviv to “hostages square” for a large rally this evening, the forum told media.

The forum is directly appealing to Mr Trump to finalise a ceasefire deal and return the hostages. Israel believes 20 of the hostages are still alive.

A joint letter to Israel, AP and Reuters said: “We are outraged that independent journalists were among the victims of this strike on the hospital, a location that is protected under international law. These journalists were present in their professional capacity, doing critical work bearing witness.”

The five journalists who were killed in the attack included cameraman Hussam al-Masri, who worked for ; photographer Mohammed Salama, who worked for Al Jazeera; Independent Arabia’s Maryam Abu Daqqa; Moaz Abu Taha, who worked for NBC; and Ahmad Abu Aziz, a journalist with Palestinian youth news agency Quds Feed Network, the Palestinian government media office said. A rescue worker was also among those killed, health officials added.

An Israeli military spokesperson claimed that the army does not target civilians and that it had launched an internal investigation into the strikes.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces launched a rare daytime raid on Tuesday in the heart of the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, where the Palestinian Authority is headquartered. Dozens of Palestinians were wounded, according to local medics.

Israel has attacked hospitals numerous times throughout the war, claiming that Hamas embeds itself in and around the facilities.

The latest attack followed Israel’s plans to widen its offensive to heavily populated areas in an attempt to destroy Hamas.

Israeli defence minister Israel Katz has vowed to press on with the offensive against Gaza City, despite alarm abroad and objections at home.

A sixth journalist, Palestinian correspondent Hassan Douhan, was killed in a separate incident in Khan Younis in the south of Gaza, Al Jazeera reported.

More than 62,000 Palestinians have died since 7 October, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Around 1,200 people were killed by Hamas in its initial attack, and around 250 were taken hostage.

Third victim of Isle of Wight helicopter crash pictured for first time

The third victim of a fatal helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight has been named by his “broken” family and described as a “wonderful and intelligent” father, police have said.

Simon Hewitt, 54, was on board the Northumbria Helicopters-operated aircraft, when it was seen “spiralling” toward the ground near Shanklin on Monday morning.

Justyna Czoska, 52 and Wojtek Kowalkowski, 49, were a couple who also died in the crash, Ms Czoska’s “devastated” daughter revealed, before police later confirmed their identities.

A fourth person remains in hospital in a serious condition following the crash, now being investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).

Mr Hewitt was from Barton-upon-Humber, and was described by his family as a “the most wonderful, intelligent, kind man and father” who “brought so much joy and light into our lives”.

Ms Czoska and Mr Kowalkowski were from Banbury in Oxfordshire and had gone on the flight as part of a birthday present from Ms Buzar for her stepfather.

Following Monday’s incident, Ms Buzar’s husband, Jacob Butler, has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to bring the couple’s bodies back to their native Poland.

Sharing the fundraiser on her Facebook page, Ms Buzar wrote: “I have no words, the world took my mum too soon, she was the best mum you could ask for, loved by everyone.

“I never thought I’d be writing something like this. Please if anyone could help bring them back to Poland so they can be with [their] families, it would mean the world to me. Rest in peace mum and Wojtek.”

The fundraising page has so far raised more than £700 through dozens of donations.

Wojciech Kowalkowski’s family said he was “the father of two loving children, and will be deeply missed”, and Ms Buzar said he “always made me happy and always made my mum happy and always made what was a family. He helped and was a heart-filled person”.

Mr Butler wrote on the site: “My partner’s beloved mum and her partner tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight.

“This sudden and devastating event has left all us heartbroken and struggling to cope with the loss. We are now trying to bring them both back to Poland so they can be laid to rest with their families, in the place they called home.

“The cost of repatriation, funeral arrangements, and travel is more than we can manage alone, and we are asking for support during this incredibly difficult time. Any donation, no matter how small, will help us give them the farewell they deserve.”

On Tuesday, the AAIB confirmed its investigation into the crash near the A3020 Shanklin Road was ongoing after it sent a team to the crash site. The investigation is likely to take a year to complete.

A spokesperson said: “Our current focus is on gathering physical evidence from the accident site and interviewing witnesses. The remains of the helicopter will then be recovered and transported back to our headquarters in Farnborough, Hampshire for further detailed investigation.”

Tracking data showed the helicopter was a Robinson R44 II helicopter, with Civil Aviation Authority records stating it was owned by Adventure 001 Ltd, but operated by Northumbria Helicopters.

In a statement reported by The Times, Northumbria Helicopters said the aircraft departed on a flying lesson from Sandown airport at around 9am with four people on board, including the pilot. The crash took place at around 9.20am.

Leigh Goldsmith, a witness to the crash, told the Isle of Wight County Press she was driving towards Shanklin when she saw the helicopter “spiralling” before it went out of sight and came down in a hedge.

Shanklin Town Council said it was “shocked to hear about the incident involving a pleasure flight helicopter crash landing on the outskirts of the town”. In a statement to the BBC, it praised the pilot for “bringing the helicopter down” away from urban areas.

The island’s two MPs – Richard Quigley and Joe Robertson – led the reaction on social media.

Mr Quigley said: “My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families and friends of those involved. And my thanks to each and every one of the island’s emergency services who attended the incident.”

Mr Robertson added: “It is very sad and tragic news during what should have been a happy bank holiday helicopter flight from Sandown Airport. The whole community is in shock.”

Donna Jones, the police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: “My thoughts are with the families of the three people killed in the Isle of Wight helicopter accident in Ventnor this morning. A fourth person is critically ill in hospital. This is a tragic incident. The families and loved ones of those involved are being supported.”

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said in a statement: “We can confirm that three people have died following a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight. Four people in total were on board, with one person currently in hospital in a serious condition.”

Taylor Swift engagement sparks reactions from Trump and royals

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement has sparked reactions from around the world, with US president Donald Trump, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and the Prince and Princess of Wales among those responding to the news.

The pop megastar, 35, and the Kansas City Chiefs tight-end, also 35, announced that they were engaged in a joint post to Instagram, with photographs allowing fans to see close-up shots of the engagement ring Kelce designed himself.

“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” they captioned the post.

The Duchess of Sussex and the official Instagram account for the Prince and Princess of Wales were among those who “liked” the post.

Meanwhile Trump, who has long-been one of Swift’s most vocal critics, was asked about the news during a cabinet meeting.

“Well, I wish them a lot of luck,” he told reporters. “I think it’s— I think he’s a great player, I think he’s a great guy and I think that she’s a terrific person. So I wish them a lot of luck.”

The news comes not long after Swift announced the impending release of her next album, The Life of a Showgirl, which is widely expected to be heavily inspired by her romance with Kelce.

Follow the latest updates below.

Australia police shooting suspect’s family speaks to officers amid manhunt

The partner and children of Dezi Freeman, accused of killing two police officers in rural Porepunkah in Victoria, Australia, were interviewed by detectives on Tuesday, authorities confirmed.

Mr Freeman, 56, was allegedly involved in a shooting at a property where police officers were executing a search warrant, reportedly for historical sex offences against him.

The shooting killed a 59-year-old detective and a 35-year-old senior constable and wounded a third officer, who was reportedly recovering after undergoing surgery at Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital.

Mr Freeman was “still at large”. He vanished into dense bushland, prompting police to impose a no-fly zone over Porepunkah as the search intensified.

Authorities urged residents to stay inside and limit travel for their safety.

Victoria police chief commissioner Mike Bush said Mr Freeman was believed to be heavily armed and considered “very dangerous”.

Mr Bush said on Wednesday morning that an interstate flight had not been ruled out. But NSW police said there was currently no indication he had crossed the border north. Porepunkah is just an hour’s drive from the NSW border.

“He will know that area better than us so that is why we are putting in every expert, supported by local knowledge,” he said, referring to the suspect. “Our understanding is that he understands bushcraft well which provides a challenge to us.”

Helicopters, drones and heavily armed tactical police flooded the area after the shooting to search for Mr Freeman.

To protect the operation, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau imposed a no-fly zone until 11.30pm on Friday.

“Please be advised this includes all aircraft, including drones,” the Victoria police said in a statement. “Given the suspect in this matter is heavily armed, this condition has been granted due to the risk to aircraft and drones, as well as potential implications associated with the suspect tracking police movements based off media coverage.”

The shooting has left Porepunkah rattled. The rural town of just over 1,000 people is 300km northeast of Melbourne.

“We’ll band together, we are a resilient bunch, through fires, floods, and lots of other unfortunate farming accidents or tragedies that have occurred in the community,” Porepunkah resident Linda told the ABC. “It’s quite a bit of a shock, but we all seem to band together and look after each other.”

Victoria’s State Emergency Service said its volunteers had been helping police since Tuesday but “they’re not currently assisting on scene”.

On Wednesday morning, police cleared the 50-hectare property at Rayner Track where Mr Freeman was living on a bus with his family.

Scattered belongings, including a sleeping bag and shattered glass, were found on the roadside. A man identifying himself as a resident blocked access. “I am here to protect the owners,” he said, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. “You have to know you are trespassing.”

Residents say a community of people live on the property, though details remain unclear.

Mr Freeman, police said, described himself as a “sovereign citizen”, a movement known for promoting conspiracy theories and hostility towards law enforcement.

The killings drew immediate comparisons to the 2022 Wieambilla massacre in Queensland when two constables were lured and murdered by radicalised “sovereign citizens”.

On Tuesday, prime minister Anthony Albanese said that the threat of “sovereign citizens” and extremist ideologies must be taken seriously.

“We saw a tragic loss of life in Queensland as well previously, and I attended the funeral service – which was so sad – of the officers there,” Mr Albanese told the ABC.

Alpine Shire mayor Sarah Nicholas called it a “day of deep sorrow and shock”.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Alpine Shire Council shut all its facilities, including libraries, transfer stations, and customer service centres.

“I think reality really set in – that this is a really, really horrible situation,” resident Emily White told the BBC.

“We’re such a small community, and we’ll leave our cars unlocked, and we’ll leave our front doors open. Nothing like this ever happens.”

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

SpaceX’s Mars rocket completes successful flight after year of mishaps

Elon Musk’s mega rocket Starship, which the tech billionaire hopes will one day carry humans to Mars, has completed its first successful test flight, following a year of – at times explosive – mishaps.

The SpaceX ship blasted off from the Starbase launch site in South Texas just after 6:30 p.m. before deploying a test payload of eight dummy satellites into space. It then coasted through space for around an hour before coming down as planned in the Indian Ocean.

No crew members were aboard the demo launch.

Tuesday’s blast off was the tenth test for the world’s biggest and most powerful rocket which SpaceX and NASA hope to use to get astronauts back on the moon later this decade.

Ahead of the launch, Todd Harrison, a senior fellow at the Washington-based think tank the American Enterprise Institute described the stakes of the mission as “the highest they’ve ever been for a Starship launch.”

Starship’s success also came after a year of failures, with back-to-back tests in January and March ending after just minutes with fiery wreckage raining into the ocean. The ninth and most recent test in May also ended when the spacecraft tumbled out of control and broke apart.

The first Starship exploded minutes into its inaugural test flight in 2023.

The 400-foot-tall vehicle consists of an upper-stage spacecraft, the Starship, and a powerful booster stage, with 33 engines, known as the Super Heavy.

SpaceX later redesigned the Super Heavy booster with larger and stronger fins for greater stability, according to a company post on the social platform X this month.

During Tuesday’s launch, the booster also returned successfully, splashing down in the Atlantic after testing a landing-burn engine sequence.

Starship itself orbited the Earth — passing from daylight in Texas through night and back into daytime again — ahead of the planned splashdown. Before the craft hit the waves, its engines fired, flipping its position so it entered the water upright with the nose cone pointed upward.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Watching With Love, Meghan is like being gaslit by a multimillionaire

“There are easy ways to show up lovingly,” Meghan Sussex, nee Markle, says during the second season of her Netflix lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan. In fact, the word “easy” seems to be the watchword for the entire eight-episode run – and boy, is it doing some heavy lifting.

Making homemade graham-cracker s’mores with vanilla-bean turmeric marshmallows and here’s-one-I-made-earlier tonal chocolate bark is, apparently, “easy”. Whipping up boba tea and persimmon-topped sourdough is “easy”. Crafting necklaces using pressed flowers for your children’s individual birth months and setting them in UV resin is “easy”. In the surreal and saccharine world created by the actor turned royal turned Instagram-grid-come-to-life, nothing, it seems, is complicated.

This second outing of the madly aspirational hostessing show doesn’t stray far from the format of its predecessor. Each instalment sees an impeccably if blandly presented Meghan swaddled in neutral tones as she invites guests round to a house in Montecito, California.

It’s not her house, obviously, but a rental property down the street, which makes the whole “at home with” brand feel slightly bogus. References to spouse Prince Harry and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, are generally kept sporadic and vague – “I would’ve told H to come!” she trills to an awkward John Legend, who, one assumes, is contractually obliged to duck into the kitchen when dropping off wife Chrissy Teigen.

Her visitors range from good friends, like repeat guest Daniel Martin, her makeup artist, to people she’s never met, such as Queer Eye’s Tan France or celebrity chef David Chang. Each episode sees Meghan throw together an OTT snack and drink for her guests’ arrival before forcing them to participate in a mandatory making-and-baking activity (painting children’s aprons using limes as stamps feels particularly unhinged). Oh, and just to ensure no one goes away empty-handed, she presents an aggressively thoughtful handmade gift to each person who crosses the threshold: homemade rosewater, say, or a silk scarf with a water marbling effect.

Here, aesthetic is everything. Edible flowers are sprinkled with alarming abandon, ribbons are tied in perfect bows around colour-matched presents, and even when the bright, airy kitchen is being used to marinade steaks and pummel flatbread, it somehow never gets truly messy – thanks, one must presume, to the 80-strong crew who work tirelessly to curate the “effortless” vibe. It’s like an AI was fed every Nancy Meyers film ever made and instructed to burp out a TV series.

I can just about see the appeal of a show that sells pure escapism at a time when the world feels increasingly uncertain and hostile. The stakes in With Love… are so low as to be non-existent. “Drama” comes courtesy of attempting to weigh out exactly 113g of water for a sourdough starter; “I don’t like the pressure!” squeals Meghan when Chang says he’s excited about trying her vinaigrette. But there is no pressure. Nothing can or will ever go wrong in this cossetted, fictional slice of California lifestyle.

Netflix must be fairly confident, too, given that the streamer announced earlier this month the extension of a “multi-year, first-look deal” for future films and TV shows with Harry and Meghan’s Archewell production company. This, despite With Love…’s viewing figures hitting a paltry 5.3 million for the first season, meaning it didn’t even rank in the streamer’s top 300 shows for the first half of 2025.

But the main takeaway word for the casual viewer is “inadequate”. For how else are the rest of us supposed to feel when gaslit by a multimillionaire insisting that constructing homemade necklaces or flower arrangements is a cinch – a statement she’s making from the comfort of her “craft barn”? When she lectures us while grilling French toast that “it’s not as complicated as most people think it is” to make a hot breakfast for your partner and kids every morning?

I’m merely a working woman, not even a working parent, and I can still feel the burgeoning tendrils of shame blossoming when I consider my own morning “ritual” of chucking cereal into a bowl. And yet the show’s purpose doesn’t seem to be to demonstrate how one might pull off these ridiculous feats. Recipes are only half explained; specifics of paints and craft materials aren’t actually shared. It’s as if they already know that no one in their right mind is going to attempt this stuff.

In which case, it’s a show that needs to be carried by the “talent”, kept afloat by so much warmth, wit and charm that it resembles “a hug in a mug”, as Meghan describes one of her homemade beverages. Unfortunately, she is not the woman to deliver such a thing, plumping instead for cloying sentimentality and flavourless wholesomeness.

“It brings me so much joy to see everyone just having fun and trying so many cool new things,” Meghan says earnestly at the end of episode one, as she toasts marshmallows over the bonfire with her new friends. Excuse me while I book an emergency dentist appointment – the whole thing’s as sickly sweet as a vanilla-bean and turmeric s’more…