While eurozone unemployment fell slightly to 11.7% in April, Portugal made the greatest strides in reducing its rate.

In March 2013, the jobless rate was 17.3% but by April this year it was down to 14.6%. There was a steady decline over the months.

Passport renewal times for expats have been lengthened, according to new guidance from Her Majesty’s Passport Office.

A spokesman said: "We are updating our guidance on estimated processing times for customers who apply for a passport overseas. Applications from overseas can take significantly longer than those made in the UK due to additional security checks.’’

It is certain that at least 50 vehicles have been vandalised in a trail of wanton destruction between Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António, according to early police estimates.

Judicial Police and GNR officers have been identifying the vehicles that were attacked overnight and are still counting...the total may be as many as 200.

Plans formed in 2013 by Portugal’s national tourism agency are paying off.

The development of tourism promotion using the internet is reaping positive results and has contributed to the reduction of Turismo de Portugal’s multi-million expenditure by at least 30%.

Police today gathered in Praia da Luz and then moved with their geo-radar equipment and sniffer dogs to a search area overlooking the holiday resort.

Two dozen officers from Portugal’s Judicial Police and Britain’s Scotland Yard were outnumbered by three dozen members of the press, eager to cover the story that has been running since 2007.

Portugal’s Constitutional Court has rejected three items in the 2014 State Budget but luckily for the treasury the judges’ decisions will not be backdated, but the financial hole will have to be plugged by an increasingly frustrated Treasury.

At issue was a cut in salary for state workers earning over €675, a 5% cut in sick pay, a 6% cut in unemployment benefit and changes to widows’ pensions. All have been rejected as cost saving measures.

Manufacturing output in the eurozone slowed during the month of May, despite having expanded during the previous 11 months.

At the same time, the overall health of the area’s economy was still up by 0.5%.

The average person in the UK relies heavily on the use of debit cards and uses cash for purchases of just £9.47.

Shoppers have switched to the use of debit cards, credit cards and make more purchases online. While cash is still in play, the number of transactions and the average amount spent has fallen year-on-year.