More than 60 amendments to Portugal’s Road Traffic Act came into force on New Year’s Day, including the lowering of the alcohol limit for professional drivers and drivers who recently have passed their test, new rules for cyclists and new rules for the nation’s multitude of beautifully constructed roundabouts.

The Highway Code now provides for the creation of ‘residential areas of coexistence,’ ie where man and machine operate in perfect harmony with specific rules for traffic such as speed limits reduced to a gentle 20kmph.

Albufeira council has sent its best wishes for a good year in 2014 and its thanks to all those whose work in 2013 has started to develop the city for the better.

The mayor took the opportunity to highlight the efforts and commitment undertaken by associations, entrepreneurs and promoters of Albufeira throughout the year, also praising the New Year programme in Albufeira which he considers to be of national quality, "Albufeira remains a benchmark for its New Year's Eve celebrations and for the partnerships that it has developed which allows us to attract thousands of people each year."

Five horses have been shot dead on land next to a roundabout in Beja which gives access to the IP2 road to the Algarve.

The owner of the horses has been identified and the police have started an urgent investigation to determine the circumstances in which the killing occurred.

Portugal's Tax Authority is to give away cars as prizes to those who submit invoice details on the Finanças web portal and whose numbers are subsequently picked in a new lottery scheme.

The draws are set to start in March 2014. The first draw will include invoices already logged from January 1st, 2014.

Portugal’s President Cavaco Silva has passed the 2014 State Budget which will increase taxes and income cuts for those in Portugal who have an income.

The President did not forward the budget to the Constitutional Court to be assessed he did decide to sent it on for checks as to the constitutionality of its contents, to avoid challenges from affected parties.

These glorious insults are from an era before the English language became boiled down to 4-letter words.

A member of Parliament to Disraeli:

"Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease."

"That depends, Sir," said Disraeli, "whether I embrace your policies or your mistress."

The number of patients treated from Portuguese-speaking countries in Portugal’s private hospitals has reached tens of thousands, bringing in millions of euros, according to data provided by the major private hospitals.

Information supplied by Espírito Santo Saúde (ESS), José de Mello Saúde (JMS) and from Hospitais Privados de Portugal (HPP) indicate that the number of patients from Lusophone countries, especially Brazil and Angola, has easily reached 10,000 this year, representing a turnover that in the case of ESS, exceeded €8 million.

Internet access and use across the European Union is now widespread, averaging 79% of households in 2013.

In the six years since 2007, that percentage has soared from 55%.

In Portugal, 62% of households have internet and broadband access.