When international creditors released Portugal from onerous loan conditions two years ago, they hailed the nation for some major reform achievements - not least, an overhaul of the judiciary.

The International Monetary Fund applauded Lisbon for reforming a dysfunctional court system which had been a brake on the economy. And with the European Union, it approved Portugal's exit from a 78 billion euro ($83 billion) bailout program which had begun in 2011, writes Andrei Khalip for Reuters

Barcelona city council fined three banks a total of €1.26 million for keeping four apartments in their possession empty for more than two years.

The council issued an unpredecented levy of €315,000 for each of the vacant flats.

Portugal’s much feared Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE) said that last week its officers carried out a crack-down on food and drink outlets in downtown Faro.
 
As a result, 21 locations were inspected resulting in three criminal proceedings and nine cases of misconduct.

Reconstruction work in São Brás de Alportel started this Monday as the Largo de São Sebastião starts to be turned into a modern space designed to be 'less confusing for traffic and pedestrians.'

As reported yesterday in algarvedailynews, (http://algarvedailynews.com/news/10424-sao-bras-de-alportel-s-main-square-to-be-modernised-in-315-000-contract) mayor Vítor Guerreiro has decided that the square should be ‘facing the future’ and is spending €315,000 on redeveloping the area with promises of "green spaces, fountains that can be turned on and off so that people walk around the space freely, scenic lighting to enhance the heritage that exists, not only the statue of Bernardo Passos but the interesting buildings from a heritage point of view such as the old pharmacy building."

The 41st anniversary of the death of General Francisco Franco on Sunday motivated some 200 people to offer the fascist salute when they gathered in Madrid’s Plaza Oriente.

Under the flag which represented the country under the dictatorship, those assembled sang the anthem song of the Falange party, the only legal party at the time, and held up posters with slogans such as “Make Spain Great Again”.

A major survey commissioned by Turismo do Algarve, ‘The profile of the tourist who visits the Algarve’ concludes that tourists visiting the Algarve are the region’s best ambassadors.

The University of Algarve study aimed to quantify not only the numbers but also the feelings and attitudes of visitors, what they liked and did not like and whether they would recommend the Algarve to friends.

São Brás de Alportel’s main square, the Largo de São Sebastião is ‘facing the future’, according to the council which is to spend €315,000 on redeveloping the area.

Within five months, the Largo de São Sebastião, will be unrecognisable as the council's contractor has transformed it with fountains, scenic lighting and ambient music.

Portugal is to have a new research centre. The Multidisciplinary Research Center for Excellence in Regenerative and Precision Medicine will be created following a national application under the HORIZONTE 2020 Programme.

The Research Center will focus on multidisciplinary research which will be translated into innovative methods to be applied in the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.