The FBI has been sending surveillance planes over a number of major cities in the US.

The planes were operated under fictitious aviation companies.

The Ministry of Finance tried to argue today that there was no conflict of interest at all in appointing a former Deputy Secretary of State for Public Administration to investigate the VIP Taxpayers List affair, even though Conceição Baptista was employed by the very ministry under investigation.

The inquiry commissioned by the Tax and Customs Authority into the VIP Taxpayers List was conducted by Baptista who until one year ago was a member of the Ministry of Finance and more worryingly, was a colleague the Secretary of State for Fiscal Affairs, Paulo Nuncio who of course was found to be blameless.

The face of Germany could change rapidly as its birth rate has plunged to the lowest level in the world.

As longevity increases, the country’s workforce will begin to shrink by 6 million over the coming 15 years, menacing the viability of Europe’s most productive economy.

The Financial Times reported today that, in its well-informed opinion, Novo Banco will be sold to a Chinese bidder.

The sale will yield more than €4 billion with Anbang Insurance and Fosun International vying for the bank formed last August as part of the Bank of Portugal’s 'resolution' when Banco Espírito Santo went bust.

Brits are busy spending again after the confines of the Great Recession and there is only one country where people spend more on children’s toys.

The average British consumer forked out £508 on toys and games for each child in 2013.

Faro council has managed to put on a brave face as it announced the reopening of a vital link into the city

The Penha road was closed due to works involving the northern Faro bypass, and its reopening has been lauded by the city hall as "good news for the people of Faro, despite the delay of 1,460 days."

The official swimming season has started along Portugal’s coast with designated beaches having life guards in place and concessions looking forward to a record year.

The dangers of swimming pools again are in the news as two families already have suffered the tragedy of having a toddler drown.

Britain’s housing shortage could be alleviated by the sale of properties owned by a significant number of older people.

Nearly one-third of homeowners over the age of 55 – which is 3.3 million people - said they have considered downsizing to smaller properties in the last five years.