Construction and civil engineering work in the EU began to show some improvement, rising by 0.8% in April compared to the month before.

But this followed a fall of -0.3% in March.

The Longitude Prize deadline for votes is looming.

Voting closes at 7.10 pm on 25 June this year.

April's tourism figures are just in and show an increase in overnights stays by residents and non-residents with the Algarve making excellent progress with help from one big conference contract from Mercedes-Benz.

The Mercedes Global Training event at Salgados, Albufeira, and the housing of maintenance workers in Sines significantly  increasing the country’s overall figures.

The caravel Boa Esperança has reached the aptly named Puerto Sherry in Cádiz and now is safely moored at the Honra jetty where it will repeat the successful entertainment formula used in Seville to promote the Algarve region as a tourist,  gastronomic and wine rich destination over the next seven days.

Two weeks out from Lagos the replica C16th caravel has at last been put to a useful purpose with a cargo of promotional materials and merchandise from the Algarve that will be sold off at cost price to the Spanish public and passing tourists.

In March 2014 Portugal’s environment minister, Jorge Moreira da Silva, announced that he was to 'move forward' with the demolition of 835 buildings in areas “at risk of coastal erosion” on the islands off Faro and Olhao. Needless to say, nothing has happened.

These 'illegal homes' in the Ria Formosa still are due to be razed in an operation that is planned to finish at the end of 2015 at a cost of €16.6 million, but now Faro council has spoken out against the plan.

Portugal has one of the lowest rates of job vacancies in the euro area.

Its score was 0.6% while the average in the region was 1.7% for the first three months of 2014.

Ryanair is trying a family friendly approach and plans to introduce incentives for people travelling with children.

Its “family extra” package is to include free 5 kg baggage allowance for infants, milk warming and nappy changing facilities on board and a 50% reduced charge for allocating seats for youngsters. Infant fees have been cut to €20 from €30. Families will be allowed to check two pieces of infant equipment (such as buggies, booster seats and travel cots) into the hold.

China and the UK have agreed a trade deal worth £14bn.

It is believed that the state’s China Development Bank wants to invest in the contentious High Speed 2, new nuclear power stations and telecommunications, among other infrastructure projects.