The refugees destined to test Portugal’s response and resettlement mechanisms are still in a camp in Egypt and should have arrived in Portugal in September.

Most of the 45 are Syrian and a statement from Portugal’s Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) announced that the refugees are arriving under a UNHCR resettlement process and are nothing to do with the process of resettling 4,500 refugees under the EC master-plan which has yet to be tested.

One in five workers in Portugal was on the minimum wage last year, a pretax sum of €505 a month in 14 payments.

In 2001, only 4% were on the then minimum wage and in 2013 the total was 12% of workers.

Pope Francis has upheld the dignity of European gypsies, but told them to lay off swindles.

The pope condemned xenophobia and discrimination against gypsies, but also said they must play their part in society, obey laws and send their children to school.

State revenue from fines and penalties has increased yet again with an upsurge of 21% to September this year.

One of the increases was in the money paid over by drivers who have been pulled over and fined. The €70 million paid out for ‘breaches of the highway code’ is a 42% increase over the same period last year.

With parliament officially closed and the general election formally called, Spain’s prime minister has announced that he will not try to retain his post if his party does not win an outright victory.

Mariano Rajoy’s People’s Party (PP) won an absolute majority in parliament in 2011 when it trounced the Socialists (PSOE).

The former socialist Prime Minister José Sócrates is back in the nation's political life and has made it clear why coalition leaders were happy that he remained behind bars in the lead up to the general election.

Target number one for the skilled orator was the President of the Republic, Cavaco Silva, whose mishandling of the election aftermath has not been his finest performance.   

Under the heading of ‘Major Planning Options 2016’, Lagos council has outlined a range of initiatives for next year, now that its finances are under control.

The council board meeting on October 21st saw the proposed budget and the Major Planning Options section discussed and approved.

China’s burgeoning middle class has now become the largest in the world, overtaking the United States.

Asia continues to be the area of the greatest expansion of the world's middle class, said Credit Suisse, in its annual report on the distribution of wealth.