The thousands of tax-shy French moving to the Algarve now have more choice and can opt to fly directly to Faro from Paris on an air service run by Aigle Azur.

The route is not a new one for this airline, Aigle Azur started flights from Paris to Faro in 2008, but it now operates all-year-round due to the rise in demand from French tourists visiting the sun, and those in Portugal who are romantically inclined using the Thursday to Sunday option for a romantic lomg weekend in Paris.

Cocaine tea has been ordered off the shelves in Italy.

The coca tea from Peru has been available for sale for years but after analysis showed that it had significant levels of cocaine, Italian police said it had to be removed.

"Without access to credit and with seasonality, tourism has to reduce costs" according to the view of Elidérico Viegas, the president of the Association of Algarve Tourism Hotels (AHETA).

Viegas says that the tax burden on his members is too high and it affects the sector's competitiveness:

"Without access to credit and with seasonality, tourism is forced to reduce costs"

A desperate father, whose son was left to writhe in agony on the waiting room floor of Faro hospital, was confronted by security guards and police - so decided to ‘go private.’

Mario Castro was distressed that his son was in pain and vomiting blood while he sat waiting for a doctor to see the boy from midnight on Christmas day.

Banif’s directors have lost money on their shares and have had their accounts frozen in the collapsed lender.

The board members now will have to prove that the bank’s destruction was not their fault before they can access their accounts.

Portugal’s prime minister is confident of a new period for the country and wants a policy of dialogue to keep his left wing supporters on side.

António Costa, in his Christmas speech to the republic, spoke of the construction of "a new era" for Portugal, with growth, employment and financial consolidation, and the political feasibility of a "common platform" based on dialogue, transparency and commitment.

Pope Francis delivered the above plea in his Christmas “Urbi et Orbi” message to thousands in St. Peter’s Square, Rome.

Pope Francis in his Christmas Day blessing address urged the international community to crack down “unanimously” on the ISIL jihadist group and to end "atrocities" in the Middle East and Africa.

The Queen will use her Christmas broadcast to urge people to keep up their hopes at the end of a year that has been marked by disasters, including deadly extremist attacks and a refugee crisis that has seen millions flee their homes.

The monarch will use her 63rd speech to emphasise her belief that light will overcome dark. And she will seek to remind the country that Christmas is a “time to remember all that we have to be thankful for”.