Switzerland has retained the title of the “most competitive” country in the world.

It is the seventh consecutive year topped the Work Economic Forum’s global competitiveness chart.

Portugal’s water regulator says that the country's tap water is "close to perfection" but 12,000 households still have no access to a mains supply and over half of the water sources have significant levels of pollution.

Tap water quality remains high, with levels "close to perfection" in 98.4% of tests according to an official at the regulatory authority, ERSAR.

It’s shaping up to be the closest contest in Portugal’s post-revolution democracy, but such is the level of apathy, angst and anger over politics that a record number of eligible voters may not bother to cast their ballot on Sunday.

Those who do vote may end up concocting a parliamentary configuration that will make governing this country much more complicated than it has been for years.

... but only for Novo Banco senior management, following the example set by Chief Executive Stock da Cunha who from now will struggle along on €320,000 a year.

Due to the indefinite postponement of the sale of the bank, the senior managers and board are ‘making some adjustments’ to their pay starting with a reduction in their salaries.

People in Britain are finding the pace of their lives so hectic that they are abandoning family meals.

The tradition of three meals a day is faltering under the pressures of modern life, according to a study by BBC Good Food.

“Portugal still has room to increase the tax burden and must use it to strengthen fiscal consolidation in the medium term.”

This is one of the findings of the ‘Fiscal Reforms for EU Member States in 2015,’ released yesterday with Brussels believing that it is possible for Portugal to raise taxes on consumption, property and the environmental as a way of easing income tax.

Portugal is to host the spectacular tall ships race in July next year.

After the successful 2012 event, the tall ships race returns to Lisbon and between 22 and 25 July the cruise ship terminal in Lisbon will host more than 50 iconic sailing ships from around the world.

Confidence in the eurozone among business and consumers has continued to build, topping its highest point in more than four years.

Positive sentiment was found in all major industries, except for the construction sector. Encouragingly, the employment expectations were good among manufacturers, services companies and retailers.