Her Majesty the Queen has awarded David Thomas, as President of Safe Communities Portugal, the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2016 New Year Honours List in recognition of  “services to crime prevention and awareness within the British and international community in Portugal.”

Safe Communities Portugal was registered as an Association in December 2014 based on the development of Safe Communities Algarve which was formed two years earlier. The organisation works with the international communities in Portugal helping to maintain Portugal as a safe place to live and visit.

Portugal’s GNR will be out in force from Thursday 31st December to deter and catch those who decided to drive while under the influence of alcohol.

‘Operation New Year’ involves the GNR increasing patrols and roadside checks to and from the locations where this year's festivities will be taking place.

Apple has agreed to pay €318 million to Italy’s tax office to end a tax investigation there.

The sum is what the authorities had demanded, according to a tax office official. But it is well below the €880 million the company had reportedly been accused of hiding.

Having manifestly failed to take the advice of the regional hydrographical board in the past, Albufeira council now is to employ the good offices of Professor José Saldanha Matos from the Higher Technical Institute in Lisbon.

The task for the Professor is to sort out the botched flood management scheme introduced by former Albufeira mayor Desidério Silva.

Cities across Italy are taking measures to halt the rise of severely high levels of smog witnessed in recent weeks.

The environment minister launched a €12 million fund for city councils to spend on public transport and car-sharing initiatives.

In 2014, 44 people died in Portugal from alcohol overdose, twice as many as died from drug overdoses on cocaine or heroin.

"Alcohol overdoses numbered more than those due to drug use. In 2014 there were 44. The most prevalent age group was 45-54-year-olds and below" said drug doctor Manuel Cardoso, who confessed a mix of surprise and shock at the new data.

The Bank of Portugal yesterday approved the transfer of €1.985 in bonds from Novo Banco back to Banco Espírito Santo to boost Novo Banco's balance sheet.

Novo Banco received €4.9 billion when it was set up in the wake of the BES collapse in August 2014 and this devious financial move means Novo Banco suddenly is nearly €2 billion better off and now fit for sale.

The mystery of what happened to Madeleine McCann is slipping unsolved into its ninth year. Investigations seem set to continue at high cost but dubious worth.

The Metropolitan Police Service investigation codenamed Operation Grange has so far cost £12.5 million but has it come up with any substantive evidence to show what happened to Madeleine?  The Met is not saying.