The association involved in the anti-oil fight in Loulé Administrative Court, ASMA, reports that over 700 people endorsed its right to represent the 42,000 members of the public who earlier had signed an anti-oil petition.

Individuals and associations signed and sent a letter to Loulé Court after the government’s lawyers successfully petitioned the judge with the argument that, as the original 42,000 people had signed the petition a while ago, they might have changed their minds.

A head-on crash involving two vans on the EN125 near Mexilhoeira Grande left one man dead and two people injured early this Saturday afternoon.

One of the vehicles was owned by the Portimão waste company EMARP whose driver was injured.

The parliamentary group of the Left Bloc has submitted yet another draft resolution recommending the government abolishes tolls on the Algarve’s Via do Infante (A22).

"What has to be abolished as soon as possible the tolls on the Via do Infante, because their continuation continues a very negative and tragic error for the Algarve," state the Left Bloc's MPs.

The Portuguese Environment Agency, Monchique Council and local environmental association ‘A Nossa Terra’ have signed a partnership to promoting environmental education and volunteering activities, especially in Natura 2000 areas in Monchique.

The partnership will be funded under the EU's LIFE project for volunteering* which will be rolled out to all of the Algarve municipalities - Monchique being the first due to the recent fire and the government’s need to for some positive news after the fire that burned 27,000 hectares of land and forest this summer.

Lagoa Council may well decide against the new Algarve Tourist Tax, joining Silves council in voting against the controversial measure when it comes up for debate in their Council Assemblies.

The Mayor of Lagoa, Francisco Martins, voted in favour of the tax at a key meeting of AMAL, the Algarve mayors’ association, but he is not convinced that the tax will receive a positive vote in Lagoa when it is debated and voted on next year.

A controversial judge has been selected to decide whether or not the trial of those accused in Operation Marquês should go ahead.

Madeiran, Ivo Rosa, will see if the evidence against the accused was gathered in a legal way and whether cases should proceed.

Albufeira Council and the city’s promotional agency have presented plans for a New Year's Eve that aims to attract 150,000 people.

One of the aims is to spread the event across the city rather than everyone crowding into the main square.

As promised in Sunday morning’s algarvedailynews.com newsletter, here is the important information on the 'Anti Offshore Oil Drilling' class action that ASMAA lodged in Loulé’s Administrative and Fiscal Court, on how the class action is in danger of being kicked out of Court and on how we can make sure that doesn't happen.

At the end of this message, there is a link to letter for you to print off, fill in, scan and email to Loulé Court. Please help - it's five minutes max.