Birds’ V flying pattern mystery unravelled

ducksThe V formation adopted by flocks of birds has been finally understood.

Researchers have discovered that the purpose is to save energy. Every bird other than the leader is able to gain lift from the bird in front by remaining close to its wingtip.

Study showed that the birds time their wing beats perfectly to match the good air coming from the bird in front. Additionally, their heart rates went down when flying in a V.

Widening wealth gap is biggest threat to world security

beggarThe increasing gap between rich and poor is perceived to be the biggest risk to global security, according to the World Economic Forum.

Its annual report warned the worsening levels of income disparity could lead to greater social unrest in the coming decade leading to the dissolution of the fabric of society.

Faro court gives suspended sentence to illegal immigration boss

passportA man accused of aiding illegal immigration was convicted by the Judicial Court of Faro to one year and nine months in prison, suspended for the same period, according to Portugal’s Foreigners & Borders Service (SEF).

The non-Portuguese man was involved in "illegal acts to ease the passage over the Portuguese border to foreign nationals whose final destination was the UK," according to the court report.

Lynx number 37 released

lynxThe Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF) today announced the release into nature of one of the lynx born at the special breeding unit in Silves. This brings the total number of lynx bred in captivity and released in Spain to 37.

The ICNF said the latest lynx to be released, named Junípero, was released in the Guadalmellato area in Cordoba, southern Spain.

Of the 37 animals released to date, 12 were born in the Silves breeding unit with six of the going to the Guadalmellato zone and the remaining six in the Guarrizas area in Jaén, also in Andalucia.

Top Algarve hotels still not paying staff

albufeirabeachStaff in some of the Algarve’s luxury hotels are complaining of wage arrears despite high occupancy rates across the region in 2013.
 
Employees and the Union of Hotels in the Algarve have complained that "there are people living very desperate situations."

Government 'will not privatise Portugal's water industry'

alquevaThe government is not discussing or even considering the privatisation of Portugal water supply industry according to the Environment Ministry in a statement released to clarify its current position.

The Wednesday statement from the ministry which oversees the company Águas de Portugal (AdP) read that "the Government's strategy is to restructure the water sector so as to provide greater social and territorial cohesion, environmental quality and economic and financial sustainability through the aggregation of multi-municipal systems."

Tax on Portugal's exports is scrapped

containersPort charges paid by exporters are to be eliminated at a cost to the Portuguese state of €25 million a year in lost revenue.

The Secretary of State for Transport confirmed also that other export charges still in force will not be increased this year.
 
Sérgio Monteiro, the Secretary of State for Infrastructure, Transport & Communications announced today that port charges levied on companies exporting goods from Portugal will be eliminated in a welcome move that is backdated to 1 January.

Finanças staff earn record bonuses from taxpayer misery

financasPortugal’s tax department has collected €1,918 million of tax debts from customers threatened with seizure of assets.

The coercive tax system in 2013 has the dubious honour of having collected the most money ever in the history of this often brutal and inflexible collection method.

The Ministry of Finance announced on Wednesday that the tax authority collected more than € 1,918 million of tax debts where the taxpayer was threatened with the loss of assets such as vehicle, family home and furniture.