The pound has climbed to its highest level against the euro in more than seven years, passing €1.40 and giving a welcome boost to the Algarve as British holidaymakers take advantage of their buying power.

Compared to a year ago, British visitors changing £100 will get an extra €22 to spend and the region's tourism industry is changing from a mood of quiet confidence to one of great expectations.

The first deep water oil well to be sunk off the Alentejo coast will be started this autumn or early in 2016, according to the Chief Executive of Galp.

The cost of the drilling is expected to be in excess of €90 million with the probability of success of 20%.

In the continuing inquiry into the collapse of Banco Espírito Santo, the former Finance Minister Vítor Gaspar said that he only learned of the financial difficulties in Grupo Espírito Santo at the end of 2013.

Gaspar sent written responses to questions posed by the parliamentary committee of inquiry into the Espírito Santo Group case.

The Chinese have obtained the most Golden Visas, followed by Brazilians and Russians, according to the Association of Professionals and Real Estate Companies of Portugal.

In February, 103 Chinese citizens bough real estate in Portugal under the programme taking the total awarded to 1,777 Chinese spending €500,000 or more on property since 2012.

The Ministry of Health today announced an incentive scheme to attract doctors to the Algarve, starting with an extra €900 a month.

Despite local concerns, the Algarve is included in the incentive scheme which has been set up to help the poorer interior areas of the country.

Portugal is up there with the big players in ensuring that the country has a high proportion of its energy from renewable sources.

While the EU average was 15%, Portugal saw to it that 25.7% of total energy used came from renewable.

The administration of the ports of Sines and the Algarve plans to invest €21.5 million this year, most of which will be in Sines.

The ports chief, João Franco, today announced the investment in the three ports under his management and admitted that €18.8 million will be invested in the Alentejo ports, leaving the Algarve ports of Faro and Portimão with the balance.

The European Parliament is planning to cap the fees which retailers are forced to pay in order to process debit and credit card transactions.

If successful, the move should mean cost reductions for consumers as the fees are very often passed on to customers.