The weak economy in France has given rise to makeshift mechanics creating a black market for car repairs.
All over greater Paris as well as in the rundown housing estates surrounding many French cities, amateur repair ‘shops’ spring up in the open air as well as in underground car parks, disused factories and warehouses and even supermarket parking areas.
The inhabitants of Farol on Culatra island in the Ria Formosa have reacted with understandable joy and relief as the anxiously awaited ruling from Loulé court is in, and it calls an indefinite halt to the programme of property destruction by Polis Litoral Ria Formosa.
Loulé’s administrative court has stopped the demolition programme of houses making up the community of Farol due to a rare and rather lovely chameleon which needs its habitat protecting, its habitat being the gardens and greenery in and near the islanders’ homes.
Not content with spending €15 million hiring BNP Paribas to advise on the creation and sale of Novo Banco, the Bank of Portugal also has contracted to spend up to €800,000 for independent advice and assessment from TC Capital in London.
Both financial companies have been hired by direct private contract without the Bank of Portugal asking for competitive quotes and without any supervision as to the suitability of the appointees.
The French parliament has approved legislation to ban supermarkets from destroying unsold food and forcing them instead to give it to charity.
Unsold but edible food will be devoted to charity or for use as animal feed or compost.
Voices in the tourism sector are urging the Brazilian authorities to take action after a 57-year-old visitor was stabbed while cycling around a scenic lake just behind Ipanema beach.
Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas will be the site of the Olympic rowing and canoeing events next year.
The economy minister, António Pires de Lima, expects that a decision will be made by the Council of Ministers to select the buyer for TAP during the first half of June.
Deciding then that ‘loose talk costs lives’, the minister added "This process is now entering a delicate stage and I should be sparing in my comments because any statement can be interpreted and used against the national interest by either of the two competitors."
A large majority of creditors have agreed to the terms of a Special Revitalisation Plan for Tivoli Hotels & Resorts.
In a statement, the company says it now awaits "the procedural steps for the plan's approval."
Filipe Silva, the policeman who violently attacked two men after a football match in Guimarães last Sunday, has put himself at risk of an eight year jail sentence.
Silva has not apologised to José Magalhães (pictured) or his father, both of whom were attacked by the PSP commandante in front of José's 9 and 13 year-old children outside the Guimarães stadium.
