At the opening ceremony for the new judicial year, the President of the Republic of Portugal called for an urgent change in the way Portuguese society viewed justice and called for a pact between politicians and the judiciary.

The President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said Portugal needs to "turn justice into a political priority," and appealed to partners to go "much further than ever before" to establish a pact.

Brazil’s president Dilma Rousseff has been removed from power after 61 senators voted in favour of impeaching her against 20 who were against it.

Two thirds, or 54 of the 81 senators, had been required to finalise the president’s termination of office.

The bid for a second term in power by Spain’s acting prime minister was rejected by the country’s parliament on Wednesday.

The first confidence vote in parliament, as mandated by the constitution, resulted in 189 votes against Mariano Rajoy’s candidature and 170 in favour.

The decision not to press charges against Sir Cliff Richard over allegations of sexual abuse that date back decades is being reviewed.

The singer has been investigated by South Yorkshire Police over accusations made by four men of sexual assault in the years between 1958 and 1983.

Portugal’s Prime Minister, António Costa, expects the 2016 deficit to stay "comfortably below 2.5%"

The prime minister today accused the parties that made up the former ruling coalition (PSD and the CDS-PP) of systematic failure in forecasting now that they are in opposition.

Ratings agency Moody's said today that the recapitalisation plan for Caixa Geral de Depósitos was "positive" and says the financial rescue of the State owned bank is in line with European rules.

The €4.6 billion refinancing agreement reached between Lisbon and Brussels was approved by the European Commission last Wednesday (August 24) and the inbuilt safeguards for institutional creditors has enabled Moody’s to give the thumbs up.

The loss-making State owned bank Caixa Geral de Depósitos has set aside €700 million to spend on staff payoffs including severance pay and early retirement packages.

The money is ‘part of the bank recapitalisation process’ say the bankers whose new board has agreed to shed up to 3,000 jobs in an effort to turn the bank around.

The eurozone unemployment rate remained at 10.1% in July where it has been since at least April this year, according to EU agency Eurostat.

But it has reduced steadily from 10.8% in July last year and is at its lowest since July 2011.