Tras-os-Montes was connected to Lisbon by a regional airline a couple of years ago which helped people get around and saved time for those far northerners visiting the capital for business or pleasure. 

The route was scrapped as it could not be made to pay, but there is a new plan to link the north of Portugal to the south of the country, with stops in between - and government money to subside the service.

A British woman was stabbed at least ten times in the early hours of Thursday morning in the holiday resort of Albufeira.

The only suspect in the case is another Briton, aged 22, who was arrested at the scene will be up before the court late on Thursday.

An unexpected rise in unemployment has hit Germany while the rate in France climbed to a new record high.

New figures show that 2.9 million people in Germany are currently without work. This figure, for May, is the largest monthly jump since April 2009.

Concern is mounting over the growing use of antibiotics on farm animals, often with no medical supervision.

Fears are particularly acute over the US where authorities say the antibiotics contribute significantly to resistance. Estimates say that 80% of all antibiotics purchased in the US are for farm animals.

The world’s obesity epidemic now has 2.1 billion people in its grasp.

The number in 1980 stood at 875 million.

The hotel near Óbidos housing Portugal’s elite national football squad was visited yesterday by members of the world governing body for football’s anti-doping unit, carrying testing equipment.

The 20 Portuguese players who hope to represent Portugal in the World Cup in Brazil all underwent blood and urine tests.

An event to launch a new hush hush German car is to necessitate the closure of the old bridge, an arterial route in and out of Portimão old town.

The October closure is to allow the space to be used for a series of outdoor dinners for members of the press.

Chairman of Portuguese bank BIC, Mira Amaral, said today that there was no excuse for the actions of the men who robbed him while he was enjoying a holiday in the Algarve.

The men entered Portugal with false identities and went on a three day spree of robberies in Lisbon, Faro and at beaches and luxury hotels in Quinta do Lago.