Estradas de Portugal managed to stay in the black in the first half of 2013 with a net profit of €14 million, according to a trading statement issued today.
Toll revenues increased 13% over the period, raking in €108 million despite traffic volume falling, most especially on the Via do Infante where traffic is down 70% from the pre-toll days.
The debate in Parliament ran along predictable lines today as sensible proposals to upgrade the Algarve's railway line were voted down by the government.
‘No money’ was the standard response to the Green party and the Left Bloc’s attempts to remedy some of the problems in an attempt to develop a train system for the Algarve that is capable and efficient.
Ryanair, running scared of falling sales, is to cut charges for baggage check-in and will allow a 24 hour period of grace to rectify booking errors.
The government has given the go-ahead for the reintroduction of Iberian lynx to Portugal. The lynx have been successfully bred and reared at the specialist lynx centre in Silves, and could be let loose near Moura next year.
A new law in the UK could make it easier to challenge the wills made by British expats.
Currently, a claim can be made only if the person died while domiciled in England or Wales.
Fuel poverty in the UK is second only to Estonia among all European countries, according to campaigners.
More than five million British households are already in fuel poverty, which occurs when people have to pay more than 10% of their income on energy just to keep warm.
Madeleine McCann’s parents are 'very satisfied' with the reopening of the investigation into the disappearance of their daughter in May 2007.
Gerry and Kate McCann expressed their delight in a statement to the press today, saying “We are very pleased that the investigation to find our missing daughter Madeleine has been officially reopened in Portugal.
"We hope that this will finally lead to her being found and to the discovery of whoever is responsible for this crime.
President Jose dos Santos of Angola is still irritated in the extreme with Portugal's cheek in taking legal action against some of Angola's business cummunity but the president of the Industrial Association of Angola, José Severino, said today that although he was "concerned" about the tension between Portugal and Angola but believes that "the storm" will end.
"We are convinced that this is a storm that soon will be over. It’s essential that relations between Angola and Portugal return to normal, but it’s worrying of course," said Severino speaking after statements made on Wednesday on Angolan Television by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Georges Chikoti who stunned Porttugal’s business community by announcing an end to cooperation with Portugal, choosing instead to develop trading relations with South Africa, China and Brazil.
