The BMW Group closed 2013 with record sales in Portugal. In the year just ended BMW sold 7,629 cars, an increase of 20% compared to 2012.
The total was bolstered by good sales of the highly popular Mini which were up 18% on 2013.
BMW gained its best market share ever in Portugal at 7.2% making it the forth best selling brand in the country. The Mini’s market share of 1.2% was its largest ever.
João Moreira Rato, the chairman of Portugal’s debt management agency IGCP, said there are many international investors interested in new Portuguese debt issues.
Rato’s argument is that with the opposition finding some common ground with the government on the reform of company taxation rates there now is a good argument to convince international investors to acquire Portuguese debt.
Rato indicated that the agency which he chairs plans to return to the markets before the end of the rescue plan in May by issuing five or ten year bonds.
Portugal footballing legend Eusébio, top scorer at the 1966 World Cup, has died at the age of 71.
Born in the Portuguese colony of Mozambique in 1942, Eusébio da Silva Ferreira went on to play 64 times for Portugal, scoring 41 goals in a career that saw him enter the footballing hall of fame.
The Benfica striker's nine goals at the 1966 World Cup in England included four against North Korea. Considered by all as one of the best players of all-time, he scored 733 times in 745 professional matches.
João Carvalho now has been sentenced to the maximum term for a triple murder, but will continue to enjoy freedom, for the present at least.
The court may next week decide to lock him up but in the meantime he is free, as he has been since 2005 when he killed his girlfriend and her parents in acts of violence that shocked Portugal.
The French government’s proposed eco tax, scheduled for 1 January 2014, was suspended but the protests have continued.
After waves of demonstrations in the country, especially in Brittany, the government decided not to implement the tax demand on the planned date.
The Spanish government has entered talks with Panama in the hope of easing a row over the expansion of the Panama Canal.
The group carrying out the work is lead by Sacyr, a Spanish company.
A pensioner facing charges of raping a child has been arrested in the Canary Islands.
Frank Burgon, 76, from Hartlepool, was released on bail in the UK but used his brother’s passport to flee the country in November. Posing as his brother, he travelled through several countries before settling in Gran Canaria.
Olhão’s €32 million budget was kicked out by an opposition voting in unison, claiming the figures concealed a hidden trick.
Olhão’s council will carry on managing the municipality from month to month until a new budget can be agreed. The council can spend the equivalent to 1/12th of last year’s budget every month in the meantime. This is 22% more than the 2014 budget was set to spend but it is hoped that restraint will be shown.
