Anti-bullfighting campaigners are planning their biggest public protest outside the Albufeira bullring in opposition to what is expected to be one of the country’s most attended bullfighting events of the year.

The campaigners have unveiled a huge billboard by the side of the N125 between Boliquieme and Albufeira proclaiming in Portuguese and English: “Bullfighting = shameful torture. We demand abolition!”  

Portuguese high street bank Montepio Geral has a worrying level of exposure to the collasped Espírito Santo Group and already has written down €150 million that has little chance of being repaid as the group has sought protection from creditors in Luxembourg.

The Bank of Portugal has required that all financial institutions in the country write down at least 50% of bad debt in the Espírito Santo Group and in other companies that are unlikely to repay loans.

The Left Bloc said that the Prime Minister’s speech at the Algarve ‘Pontal’ rally held on Friday night contained a long list of lies.

"Pedro Passos Coelho interrupted his holidays to stir up a PSD supporters’ rally and when opening his 2015 election campaign began to lie to the Portuguese," said Left Bloc Political Commission member Pedro Soares.

Portugal's Constitutional Court has rejected further government’s proposal to increase the tax rate for better-off pensioners.

The judges also have kicked out the plan to increase pay cuts for public sector workers on a salary of €1,500 a month or more.

Mussel farmers in western France have requested emergency state funding to help the economy get through a 90% devastation of mussels.

The farmers have blamed pollution from pesticides and sludge from the harbours for the critical drop in production which started six months ago. Scientists believe it is a combination of bad weather and bacteria.

The British Foreign Office has warned of the danger of pickpockets in Rome, causing the city’s mayor to accuse the Foreign Office of spreading lies.

Tourists are often "hassled and jostled to distract them," by thieves before accomplices move in to steal belongings, warned the Foreign Office.  

Cambridge University is seeking a research candidate to gain a PhD in the study of chocolate.

The crucial test is to find a way to make chocolate stay solid when it is stored and sold in the world’s warmer countries.

The provision of house wine has been compulsory at many categories of bars, eating houses and restaurants since 1984.  

The law had become unenforceable, in fact it always had been unenforceable despite the food inspection authority ASAE prosecuting outlets from time to time.