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Açores - US withdrawal may cause 10,000 locals to leave

lajesairbaseThe reduction of civilian personnel at the Lajes US airbase in the Açores could lead to the eventual emigration of 10,000 inhabitants of Terceira island.   

Studies released by the University of the Açores estimate emigration of between 5,000 and 10,000 people if the US military reduce its operations and associated local personnel to the level it plans and if there is no effort to create jobs in other industries on the remote island.

Portugal’s ongoing flirtation with deflation

eumapEurozone annual inflation stood at an average of -0.2% in December, down from 0.3% in November.

This was the lowest rate since September 2009.

Portugal's filling stations forced to stock low cost fuel

galpEvery filling station in Portugal has until mid-April to start selling low cost fuel, according to an announcement in the Official Gazette today.

"Without prejudice to the free market of petrol and diesel with additional additives beyond the minimum necessary for the performance of its specifications, petrol stations should also market simple fuel," reads the order which must be complied with within 90 days.

Algarve launch of 'regional strategy' for motorcaravans

motorcaravan1The Algarve soon will have a strategy for motorcaravans as the organisations that decide such things are to sign off a protocol on January 21st, 2015.

A press release today informed an expectant public that ‘the Commission for Coordination and Regional Development of the Algarve, the Intermunicipal Community of Algarve, the Algarve Tourism Board and the Algarve Tourism Association will sign a Cooperation Protocol for the implementation of a regional strategy to host motorcaravanning.’

Confirmed: 2014 the hottest in at least 134 years

droughtLast year proved to be the world’s hottest year on record, according to climate experts.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed that 2014 was the hottest around the world since records began in 1880.

Withdrawals leave Greece in a tight spot

acropGreek businesses and savers have been hauling their money out of the country’s banks at a rate not seen since the 2012 summer.

Speculation swirled at that time and again at this of a potential default or exit from the eurozone, making the markets jittery.

Golden Visa numbers hit by bad publicity

GoldenVisaThe number of Golden Visas granted in December last year was half that of November with estate agencies blaming the corruption allegations against those running the scheme.

Only 86 of the valuable Golden Visas were granted in the same month that 11 people involved in administering the scheme were arrested on suspicion of corruption, money laundering, influence peddling and embezzlement.

Cyber assault on France

fibreopticFrance suffered renewed attack when Islamist cyber assaults hit nearly 20,000 French websites.

Several French news websites were forced offline on Friday morning, including Le Parisien and L’Express.