The Jerónimo Martins group has inaugurated its first distribution centre in the Algarve, a project that will create 130 jobs and bring much needed relief to the Algoz area's shops, bars and restaurants.
The group has invested €27 million in the massive high-tech building in the wasteland to the south of the town which will enable it to supply all the group’s stores in the south of Portugal.
Airlines using Portugal’s airports have as one objected to the increases in charges levied by French company Vinci, through its Portuguese subsidiary ANA.
Several companies have seen the impact of prices rises on their balance sheets and now the Representative Airline Association (RENA) has complained that "ANA has acted with the sole purpose of maximizing its profits, burdening companies in an intolerable manner" says Paul Geisler, president of RENA.
The financial basket case Globalgarve may continue to be propped up by the Algarve councils if management pleas are acted on.
Under the expert tutelage of former Faro mayor Macario Correia, Globalgarve ‘invested’ in a 200 kilometre fiber optic network across the Algarve to link councils together. This cost €10 million to no discernable benefit to the community.
Visits to the UK reached a record number in 2013.
A record of 32.89 visits were made, an increase of 6% over 2012. The previous high record was in 2007 when 32.78 million visits took place.
Unemployment in Greece continues on its upward trajectory, escalating to a record high of 28% in November.
For the country’s young people under the age of 25, the rate hit 61.4%.
Argentina ordered the British flag to be taken down from a cruise liner when it docked in Buenos Aires.
The captain of Cunard’s Queen Victoria was threatened with a hefty fine if he continued to fly the red ensign, the British merchant fleet flag, while in port.
Last winter’s tax amnesty programme cost the state €494 million, according to a response from the Ministry of Finance to a question in Parliament.
The well publicised tax amnesty allowed those paying before the 2013 year end legally to avoid most interest charges, fines and court costs on money claimed by the state in taxes and fines.
The General Council of Portugal’s Bar Association has expressed its "vehement rejection" of the new judicial map for Portugal which will see many of the nation's courts close completely while others are to be downgraded.
The Association's Council said that it expresses solidarity with those affected by the closures by its rejection of the reduction in the number of courts in the country whereby “many council areas now have their court in regional capitals, twenty courts are to close, and a further 27 downgraded to mere ‘counter service’ and of the measures included in the approved legislation which affect citizens’ rights and freedoms, and the guarantee for citizens of the fundamental principle of access to justice and the rule of law.”
