After a long-awaited drop in prices, fine Bordeaux vintage wines are again being south after, particularly by rich investors in Asia.

Demand for exclusive Bordeaux, such as Petrus and Chateau Margaux, has already risen by 30% in Asia this year.

The long-awaited and much criticised Environmental Impact Statement relating to the proposed IKEA site near Loulé will be decided on in the first half of July and a decision published.

The pro-business Committee for Coordination and Regional Development of the Algarve today announced a short deadline for its decision and it is hoped that members will have had time properly to read the document and debate the potential impact and options available.

At least 55,000 illegal immigrants sought refuge in the EU during the first four months of 2014. Of these, nearly 26,000 made the dangerous sea crossing from Libya. But significant numbers are also coming from Afghanistan, Eritrea and Albania.

The sharp rise is four times as many as gained entry in the same period of 2013.

While property prices in most parts of Spain have suffered dramatic falls, houses in Majorca have seen regular increases in value.

Luxury property in the Balearics has never lost its appeal, but prices in Majorca grew by 16% over the past year, outstripping even the sexiest of London boroughs, including Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster.

An epidemic of parasitic bedbugs is being reported from Madrid and other parts of the country.

The huge rise in infestations across the country has gone up by 70% in the last five years. Pest control experts say the problem is now bordering on an “epidemic”.

The GNR today announced the seizure of approximately 30 kilos of hashish pollen and the arrest of two men, one of whom is serving in the Portuguese Navy.

The drugs were being taken in a high-powered car to Lisbon from the Algarve but the dim-witted couriers chose to start their journey at 2.00am in the morning, immediately drawing the maximum attention to themselves.

The EU average wage is €2,000 with Portugal struggling to match half this amount among its poorly paid workers.

According to Eurostat data Portugal is in 18th place with an average wage of €1,000, behind even Greece and far from the average salary in Spain.

The market for real estate in Portugal, in the retail and office markets, was boosted by foreign investors during the first quarter of this year, announced consultants Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL)

According to the company, referring to data taken from the latest Market Pulse survey, the investment volume recorded between January and March of €28 million was exclusively provided by foreign investors.