From 1 January, a tourist tax will come into force in the Portuguese-owned Azores. The fee will be levied on the archipelago's main island, Sao Miguel.more

Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi has launched a limited edition of wine in collaboration with wine producer MM Winemaker. The beverage has been available for a few days in the producer's online shop, the Swiss-based company, which collaborates with the footballer, announced.more

Passengers will be allowed to use expired identity documents to travel to the UK because of flaws in the eVisa system, a minister has told the Guardian. Seema Malhotra, the migration and citizenship minister, said the government had postponed a planned full shift to the new digital immigration system amid “real fear” of another Windrush-style scandal among minority communities.more

Yasmin - not her real name - came from Iran to study for a master’s degree at a new university in the UK, but she was "shocked" to find many of her fellow students had limited English, and only one or two were British. "How is it possible to continue this coursework without understanding a British accent or English properly?" she tells BBC File on 4.more

The Post Office has announced that it is expecting Monday, December 9, to be its busiest day across UK branches for sending Christmas parcels and post.more

Trophy defending champions Bayer Leverkusen won against Bayern Munich 1:0 at the Allianz Arena in the 1/8 finals of the German Football Cup. The Bavarians played in a weakened position from the 17th minute after a red card for goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. In the second half, the winning goal was scored by Nathan Tella with his head.more

“Italian” tomato purees sold by several UK supermarkets appear to contain tomatoes grown and picked in China using forced labour, the BBC has found.more

The average increase in butter prices in shops has been around 30 per cent year-on-year in recent months, and the number of promotions is falling, according to a report by UCE Research. Experts estimate that the average price of a cube of butter could reach £10 in the first half of next year, but predict significant promotions in December.more

Plans for a new Overground line linking Hounslow with Hendon have taken a step forwards, after Sadiq Khan confirmed this week that “feasible solutions” have been identified for “all elements” of the project. more

In Italy, a ban has been introduced on the online registration of tourists in rental flats and the placing of special lockers on the door with keys for them. Under an Interior Ministry decree, guests of rental flats must be received in person in order, as noted, to avoid risks to the local community.more

Barcelona won away against Mallorca 5:1 in an away match of the 19th round of the Spanish Premier League football competition. Robert Lewandowski was a substitute for the first time in the season for the entire encounter. Wojciech Szczęsny again did not get the chance to play.more

Journalists at the UK's Guardian and Observer newspapers, owned by the Scott Trust, began a 48-hour strike today in protest at the planned sale of the Observer to Tortoise Media, British media reported. This is the first strike at the Guardian in more than 50 years.more

Although the EU has allocated more than €1 billion to migrant integration in recent years, including language training and career guidance, the effectiveness of this aid has not been demonstrated, EU auditors revealed yesterday. In 2023, migrants accounted for 6.1 per cent of the Community's population in the EU.more

A new map shows the London boroughs with the biggest increase in people coming from abroad. Every area of London had a net increase in migration. This means more people moved in from abroad than moved away.more

Germany is developing an app to help people locate the nearest bunker in the event of attack. Sweden is distributing a 32-page pamphlet titled If Crisis or War Comes. Half a million Finns have already downloaded an emergency preparedness guide.more

The Davis Cup finals for the next three years will be held in Italy, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced.more

Just over a stone's throw away from London, two hours to be exact, lies one of the world's most beautiful villages that has become an international sensation, drawing visitors from as far as Japan. Bibury, nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds, has been dubbed "the most beautiful village in England" and it's easy to see why it garners global attention.more

A third of Poles are already planning trips for the holidays, while 26 per cent are still thinking about it, according to a survey carried out by ‘ARC Rynek i Opinia. As added, one in three respondents intends to spend more than PLN 3,000 per person.more

The prime minister has rejected any suggestion that the UK must choose between closer ties with the US or the European Union, when Donald Trump returns to the White House.more

Nearly half of UK mortgage holders are set to see their payments rise over the next three years, according to the Bank of England (BoE). The central bank estimates that around 4.4 million mortgages will experience higher payments by 2027, with 420,000 households facing hikes of £500 per month.more

Ruud van Nistelrooy was disappointed to leave Manchester United as caretaker manager, but the Dutchman admitted he understood why new manager Ruben Amorim wanted to bring his assistants to the English Premier League club.more

The Ministry of Defence is war-gaming a major conflict to "stress-test" supplies of ammunition and equipment in a war time scenario. The MoD says it is the first war games to involve representatives of the defence industry – alongside military commanders and officials. more

Londoners have mocked the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree as it was installed in place in central London on Monday. Officials have said the spruce needs time to unfurl after being transported hundreds of miles from Norway’s Nordmarka Forest last week before appearing at its full “majestic” height of 66ft.more

The Spanish Interior Ministry has recorded a record number of illegal immigrants arriving in the Canary Islands this year, according to data released by the ministry yesterday.more

A van containing 2,500 pies destined for a Christmas market has been stolen, prompting an appeal from a Michelin-starred chef. Tommy Banks, who runs award-winning restaurants in North Yorkshire, says "nearly a tonne" of pies, worth £25,000 in total, were taken after the van was driven away from Barker Business Park in Melmerby on Sunday night.more