Portuguese Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) lost 350,000 jobs between 2008 and 2013, a 13.5% reduction in five years, the European Commission has reported.

On a more positive note, the Economy Minister Pires de Lima speaking in Vilamoura this weekend pointed to last year’s creation 35,000 companies, saying that this entrepreneurship is the way forward.

Brussels says that Portugal’s SMEs have limited access to financing and public contracts which hamper their growth. This has been a constant complaint during the recession as banks hoard their cash to shore up their battered balance sheets.

The missing British tourist has been found alive and well by the police in Portimão.

Keith Edward Newing, a 69-year old visitor from Manchester went missing last Thursday night from the Pestana Delfim hotel in Alvor.

Portimão council today announced it has approved the winding up of the municipal company Portimão Urbis and now has 15 days to submit plans on the fate of the remaining 111 company employees.

The proposal for the dissolution of Portimão Urbis was presented by the president of the municipality, Isilda Gomes, and approved unanimously on Thursday at a meeting of the Chamber.

Australia again has received top marks as the best destination for British expats.

European countries did not appear on the survey until France was put in 10th most popular country, followed by Spain and then Portugal in 12th spot.

A Spanish court has handed down a landmark decision by awarding compensation to four British families who were caught up in the illegal property sales scandal in Andalusia.

Thousands of British people bought properties in Spain in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Many of them found out only too late that their homes would never be legal.

Consumer activity in Portugal took a good leap in August as more people took to the shops.

Retail trade rose by 2.3% in August compared to July. July was already 2.4% up from a fall in June.

The Ministry of the Environment, Planning and Energy has been asked for a justification as to why the Institute for Housing and Urban Renewal has allowed the electricity supply to be cut to the residents of social housing financed by the government in Ferreiras, Albufeira.

After meeting with residents, a delegation including Algarve MP Paulo Sá, considered this an "unacceptable" situation.

Italy has won a helpful verdict from the European Commission over British health warnings on food.

The British "traffic light" system against obesity labels food according to fat, salt and sugar content, using green for healthy food, amber for moderately healthy and red for unhealthy.