Mortgage lending in the UK has tailed off to the same level as that in June 2013.

This has been put down to the introduction of stricter lending criteria coupled with the prospect of an increase in interest rates.

Four of the 28 branches that BPI has closed today, June 30, are in the Algarve. Branches in Sagres, Olhos de Água and Ferreiras in Albufeira, and Porta Nova in Tavira have shut.

BPI has been cutting branches and its head count in order to reduce operating costs and meet the goals of a restructuring plan agreed with the European Commission, having received bailout money in 2012.

Portugal's new ‘judicial map’ pushed through by government to streamline the country’s court system, while reducing the number of courts and employees, is in danger of stalling.

The plan is due to go live on September 1st but Jorge Fernando, President of the Union of Judicial Officers, said today that there will not be enough staff to run the system so his members are going on strike for an as yet undefined period before launch date.

More sand for the beaches in Albufeira and Lagoa council districts will cost €1.6 million, plus VAT, and for Lagos, an additional €1.6 million.

The operation to add sand to beaches at some of the Algarve’s prime tourist locations will be performed during the height of the summer tourist season.

Portugal’s Finance Minister has involved herself in the BES scandal by assuring the public that the crisis within the Banco Espírito Santo Group does not threaten the financial stability of the country and that the state should not interfere.

Minister Maria Luís Albuquerque was reacting to news that the Luxembourg authorities now have launched an investigation into three businesses within the Espírito Santo Group due to alleged breaches of corporate law.

Two young lads, one Irish and one Portuguese, have died following a quad bike accident.

A third boy, also Irish, aged seven is 'stable but poorly' in intensive care in Coimbra hospital.

Facebook has carried out a massive psychology experiment in secret without informing participants.

More than 600,000 Facebook users were involved in the research into how users respond to positive and negative messages.

Fierce hailstorms in France over the weekend have bought fear to the hearts of French winegrowers.

This summer is the third in a row where hail has battered Burgundy’s vines.

Winds of 60mph accompanied by hailstones the size of golf balls hit on Saturday afternoon.