An Italian judge has ordered the trial of more than 140 people for their parts in assisting the southern-based ’Ndrangheta mafia infiltrate northern parts of Italy.

Judge Francesca Zavaglia set a trial date of 23 March.

Residents of Spain’s seaside town of Roquetas de Mar started celebrating Tuesday when it was realised that many residents were in luck from the country’s massive lottery.

El Gordo, “the fat one”, is an annual draw held at Christmas time. Millions of people around the land pool together with friends, family and work mates to buy tickets.

Brussels has approved the €3 billion the Portuguese taxpayers may have to pay to sort out the Banif scandal, but helpfully adds that "banks cannot be kept artificially afloat using taxpayers' money."

European Commissioners said they have long expressed concerns about state bailouts and taxpayer funded rescues. This did not stop commissioners giving the OK for more of the same as, after all, it’s not their money.

Spain’s outgoing PM Mariano Rajoy said he will seek to form a new government.

His conservative Popular Party won the most seats in Sunday’s general election, but not enough to gain an absolute majority. Nevertheless, with the most votes, he will have the first shot at forming a government.

The defence lawyer representing the Sikh activist arrested in Albufeira on terrorism charges says that extradition to India could lead to the death penalty for his client.

UK based Paramjeet Singh was arrested last Friday while enjoying a family holiday in the Algarve and now is in Beja jail pending an extradition request from the Indian authorities.

Not everyone who reaches Germany and claims asylum is granted entry.

By the end of November this year, 18,363 deportations took place of individuals whose asylum applications had been denied, according to documents from the country’s Interior Ministry.

The Algarve’s regional health inspection service said Legionella has been detected in an Algarve health centre but that "there is no risk for users.”

Ana Cristina Guerrero from Saúde do Algarve said that Legionella was found during one of the regular inspections made in hospitals, hotels and other public buildings and confirmed that the bacteria had been found “in an area of the health centre in Vila Real de Santo António."

In a painful yet necessary resolution to the Banif collapse, Portugal's taxpayers end up losing around €2.2 billion despite Banif's 'good bank' assets being sold off to Santander for €150 million.

Portugal's Prime Minister António Costa blames previous government, with 100% justification, for passing on a problem that should have been dealt with in March this year. Costa's Socialist Party and those of his left-wing support group are to demand a parliamentary inquiry into this fiasco.