Five lifeguards from Spain have been arrested in Greece on suspicion of people trafficking refugees.
"A preliminary investigation has been opened," a Greek coastguard spokeswoman said, adding that the suspects were likely to be charged with "attempting to facilitate the entry of illegal migrants."
A German tourist in California has said she is “humiliated and angry” at discovering a hidden camera in her Airbnb rental.
Yvonne Schumacher is taking Airbnb to court in San Francisco for negligence, claiming that the firm does not vet owners of the properties who use Airbnb to attract renters.
The Sikh Federation UK has sent in an update on Paramjeet Singh, given asylum in the UK 15 years ago but remaining in detention in Portugal, awaiting extradition at the request of the Indian authorities.
On Monday January 11th, John Spellar MP (Paramjeet Singh’s local MP in the UK) challenged the Home Office Minister (James Brokenshire) in Parliament.
A survey reveals that drop in VAT from 23% to 13% for the restaurant and hotel sector announced for January wil lead to a boom in staff hires.
More than two thirds of Portuguese restaurant and hotel companies are looking to recruit more staff when the VAT rate is reduced from 23% to 13% "in January" according to the Socialst Party promise. The survey was commissioned by the Association of Hotels and Restaurants of Portugal (AHRESP).
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, has decided that Portugal should increase exports of goods, and warns that the country cannot become "tourism-dependent" so must diversify.
In terms of exports, "the country's progress has been remarkable in recent years," said the minister, adding that "in 2011, the exports of goods and services were worth 30% of the Portuguese GDP. In 2015 we exceeded the target of 40%. Are we happy? We are. Are we satisfied? No. We want more, we want exports worth more in terms of GDP and that the relationship between goods and services in these exports improves as well," said the minister, to an audience of 280 young people who are part of the ‘INOV contact’ programme.
Anyone owing UK tax on an overseas income could face a fine of at least 30% of the tax due, according to new draft legislation in Britain.
In addition, criminal prosecution could be pursued.
HMRC can have a look back of 20 years into the person’s tax affairs, meaning that penalties could mount for any previous failures to report.
The weedkiller Glyphosate is at the centre of an international row over the safety of its use.
The EU is due shortly to announce a decision on its continued use.
The continuing case involving John Hodgson, the alleged aggressor in a violent incident that left a 23-year-old Portuguese man on a life support system in 2011, has been back in Portimão court.
Ricardo Teixeira suffered a catastrophic head injury and was in a coma for a week in Faro Hospital where later he was allowed to die as the life support machines were switched off as he was brain dead and would not recover, according to his medical team.
