The southern eurozone countries closed out last year in poor economic shape despite low oil prices and central bank cash injections to stimulate growth.

Spain was the only star in the group with a growth rate of 0.8% in the final quarter of 2015.

The businessman from Leiria, convicted in 2010 of shooting dead a thief in front of a policeman and fleeing overseas, has been caught in Guinea-Bissau.

António Bastos, 62, was tracked down by Portuguese police with the help of colleagues in Brazil and locally in Guinea-Bissau and was arrested. He had been on the run for five years and was taken to court to face a deportation hearing.

Paramjeet Singh is to be released from jail in Beja on the say-so of the Portuguese authorities and soon will return to the UK.

India’s flimsy extradition request was rejected by Evora High Court on the advice of Portugal’s Minister of Justice, Francisca van Dunem, and Singh, arrested last December as he enjoyed a family holiday in Albufeira, will soon be on his way home to the delight of his family and the thousands of Sikhs who have batted for justice and his release.

The British newspaper, the Independent, has confirmed that it will no longer print paper newspapers but will rely exclusively on its digital format.

It said it was “the first national British newspaper to go digital-only.”

João Cotrim Figueiredo has quit his job as head of Turismo de Portugal, citing 'personal reasons.' He was chosen for the post by the Secretary of State for Tourism in the previous Government, Adolfo Mesquita Nunes, in December, 2013, replacing Frederico Costa.

"My departure is a decision I have taken at a time when the country can be proud of the performance of tourism in Portugal,” said Figueiredo remarking on the success of the sector in recent years that he claims is due to the companies and public bodies involved.

Precisely 232,090 visitors visited Silves castle in 2015, an average of 640 a day and continues the positive trend for the Silves areas' main cultural tourist attraction.

"This represents an increase of 27,318 people, up 13.3% from 2014 and clearly an important contribution to the development of the local economy," commented a council spokesman.

Cod from the North Sea could be back on British dinner tables by next year.

It is believed North Sea cod could be deemed “sustainable” by then and could be certified for the first time by the Marine Stewardship Council blue label.

The Secretary of State for Regional Planning and Nature Conservation, Célia Ramos, has looked at the proposal for the 380 hectare estate to be used for tourism with two hotels, eight tourist villages and a golf course and said “we will follow the project with caution.”

The territory is covered by the Natura 2000 network, admitted Célia Ramos at a hearing of the Environment Committee called by the Left Bloc, but said the development still was at an early stage.