The controversial closure of a pedestrian level crossing in Olhão has caused upset, annoyance and disappointment for locals as their elected politicians until now have appeared inept and impotent when dealing with overpowering national bodies such as the railway company Refer.

The closure "for no good reason" of a pedestrian crossing across the railway line near Olhão station has forced people to use a long, narrow underpass which elderly already are having difficulty in successfully navigating as it narrows to 1 metre making passage difficult and at times dangerous.

Owners of homes that have been designated as illegal dwellings on Praia de Faro have been notified to leave them before they are knocked down, or be charged for the demolition.

Letters have been sent to the 120 homes that have been deemed illegal. Polis Litoral Ria Formosa have informed the fishermen that they have until November 28th to clear their belongings and leave.

The goodwill invasion of Spain is over and the Portuguese neighbour was conquered by the caravel ‘Boa Esperança’ which already is safely anchored back in the Algarve.

The ship sailed this sumer from Lagos to various ports in Andalusia on a promotional campaign that promoted the best of the Algarve to Spanish council luminaries, local businesses, the Spanish public and foreigners on holiday in Spain.

J Sainsbury is struggling to accommodate changing shopping habits in Britain.

Its new CEO, Mike Coupe, said: "The supermarket industry has changed more rapidly in the last three to six months than any time in my thirty years in the industry."

Norway got the highest marks as the country where it is best to live as an older person, despite its reputation for deep snow, long winter nights, and expensive prices.

But its long-established policies provide financial security to retired people as well as a good amount of employment opportunities for senior citizens. Norway has one of the highest levels of over-60s in work.

Victims of trafficking have been tattooed by gangs which want to show “ownership”, according to the UK’s National Crime Agency.

A spokesperson said there was emerging evidence that tattoos had been used to mark victims “like cattle”.

Portugal’s Justice Minister, Paula Teixeira da Cruz, (pictured) has taken action in the Citius computer system fisaco and after a month of the country’s court system remaining at a standstill, is ‘preparing’ a law to suspend judicial deadlines.

The Ministry of Justice informed an eager press today that the embattled minister is preparing a legislative project to suspend judicial deadlines as the computer system has failed to function for the past month.

Portugal’s Economy Minister has praised Novo Banco boss Stock da Cunha while distancing himself and the government from a sale timetable, "It is not for the Government to conduct" the sale of the bank.

Pires de Lima said today that he expects the administration of Novo Banco to complete the sale of the institution during 2015.