In the drip feed of information about the new ‘Fatura da Sorte’ invoice lottery it has been revealed that the number of chances of winning a prize will depend on the value of the invoice submitted.

The Secretary of State for Fiscal Affairs, Paul Nuncio, confirmed today that the draw will be performed based on the overall value of each invoices registered by the taxpayer, so a 60 cent coffee will not be equal to the purchase of a €1,000 sofa, the invoice for the sofa will have more chances allocated.

Italy is struggling to cope with its ‘massive influx’ of refugees landing on its shores.

In 2013, a total of 2,925 vessels delivered a cargo of some 43,000 people, including almost 4,000 children.

This is an increase of 325% over 2012.

The average house price in the UK has gone up to £175,546.

The figure represents a leap of 7.3% when compared to the same period last year, according to the UK’s largest mortgage lender, Halifax.

Prices are still 12% below the peak of £199,612 in August 2007.

Agency 'Fitch Ratings' believes that Portugal should apply for a precautionary programme of stand-by credit rather than fending unaided in the international funding market.

According to principal analyst for Fitch in Portugal, Michele Napolitano, it would be a significant and positive move in terms of Portugal’s overall credit rating if the government applied for a precautionary programme.

An ageing population and emigration have a lot to do with the marginal drop in Portugal’s unemployment figures which in the last quarter of 2013 was 15.3%.

After starting 2013 with the highest unemployment rate ever seen, combined with mass job losses, the unemployment rate of 15.3% compared with 16.9% in the last quarter of 2012. This is the first time since 2008 that employment showed a year-on-year growth, interrupting a period of five and a half years of decline but much of this is due to emigration.

Data for 2013 from the Portuguese Association of Oil Companies show that the Portuguese spent less on petrol and diesel last year due to many giving up their vehicles, driving in a fuel-efficient manner, and fewer miles being driven as there are fewer drivers commuting as there are fewer jobs to commute to and from.

The government has pressed ahead with its plan permanently to close twenty courts across the country, including the one in Monchique. Despite two years of objection and negotiation by mayor Rui André (pictured), the closures were confirmed at a meeting of the Council of Ministers.

André reacted immediately to lodge an injunction to try to halt the closure of the Monchique court and commented that he disagrees with the unspeakable action of the Ministry of Justice, saying that his council team was fully behind him in taking out an injunction. André is still waiting for an "urgent audience" with the minister responsible whose behaviour he condemned as "unqualified."

The Portuguese court system has failed to complete and judge an average of four crimes per day, including serious offences such as rape and murder.

According to the Ministry of Justice, over 7,000 defendants have escaped a possible conviction in criminal proceedings between 2008 and 2012.