The Portuguese Cycling Federation has developed and launched the ‘Cyclin'Portugal Algarve’ programme which aims to make the Algarve ‘the great centre for cycling competitions’ and training in Europe.

"We want to transform the Algarve into the center stage for European cycling. The weather, the terrain, the lack of road traffic, the variety of routes and the hotels on offer are some of the qualities of the region that should be seized," said the president of the Federation, Delmino Pereira, at a press conference held in Faro today in conjunction with the launch presentation of the 41st ‘Volta ao Algarve’ cycling competition.

In what must rank as the undestatement of the year to date, an independent audit delving into Portimão’s labyrinthine financial affairs, has revealed 'several irregularities' and cites careless and sloppy management by the team under the fiscally challenged former mayor Manuel da Luz.

The report already has been sent off to the Attorney General's Office and questions will be asked as to how a council can end up with debts of €160 million with no higher authority calling a halt to its madcap spending.

A pack of eight wild wolves has been spotted just 50 kms from Hamburg, Germany’s second largest city. They were strolling down a woodland path.

The animals are gradually spreading westward across northern Europe. But the farther west they go, the more they enter densely populated areas.

Nearly half of British business leaders say they value their current ties to Europe. According to 45%, Britain’s relationship with the EU should remain the same as it is presently.

Only 1% said they wanted the UK to get out of the European Union.

Germany and the UK are in the midst of a quarrel over spying.

With the publication of the leaked Snowden documents last year, which suggested that the UK and the US had been spying on Germany, the German parliament set up a parliamentary enquiry.

Pousadas de Portugal performed better last year than its management expected.

Miguel Velez, the man at Pousadas de Portugal which is managed by the Pestana Group, said the results were "very encouraging,” with national and foreign client numbers up showing results that were "better than initial expectations."

Cash in running out of favour in the UK as “contactless” cards rise in popularity.

These ‘tap and go’ payments are made by swiping debit or credit cards on a terminal.   By 2014 some 58m such cards were in use in the UK, with transactions more than trebled during the year worth £2.3bn.

A man and a woman in their 30s were found with severe head injuries by a GNR officer on Thursday morning on the access road between the Lake Resort Hotel and the popular Falésia Beach in Vilamoura.

Each had been shot in the head but were still alive when they were attended to by GNR personnel at around 10.30am.