The government has been fannying around again, this time over gas charges that should have been removed from consumers’ bills some two years ago.

The rate charged by municipalities to various natural gas distribution companies is still being added to domestic bills despite the charge to consumers being eradicated in the 2017 State Budget.

Paris-based UN educational and scientific body UNESCO has unveiled the list of projetcs on best practices for the protection of underwater cultural heritage, which includes schemes from France, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia and Mexico.

Participants at the Meeting of States Parties to the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage on 20 June designated the five examples that included the Subaquatic Archaeological Charter of the Azores.

It’s starting in Spain, then will hit la belle France and will reach central Europe with full force - a potentially dangerous heat wave promises to raise temperatures to around 40 degrees Celcius.

In Portugal, there will be some showers and mild temperatures with increasing sunshine intensity from mid week - no cause for alarm at all.

The Algarve needs 66 doctors to maintain cover this summer.

The Regional Health Administration, with the unfortunate abbreviation, 'ARS Algarve', last Friday announced the list of needs for the region, adding that it’s now up to doctors to apply for the vacancies - but it remains unlikely that many vacancies will be filled.

On July 2^nd, Parliament is scheduled to debate a ban on greyhound racing in Portugal.

Two bills have been submitted, by the Left Bloc and the People Animals Nature party, to have dog racing banned and to legislate for fines and prison sentences for those who break the law, if it is passed.

An elderly couple, who say they fear losing their home in southern Portugal because of a scam, have turned to a reformed criminal for help, writes Len Port.

All the characters in this remarkable saga are British. The victims are Richard and Jane Wallinger, who fell in love with Portugal’s lifestyle and people on their first short visit in 2002. They sold their home in the UK in 2004 and used the funds to buy a house 30 kilometres from the town of Ferreiras do Alentejo in the district of Beja.

Workers at three of the Algarve’s hotels are going on strike over the treatment of fellow workers for whom they demand the withdrawal of discliplinary procedures.

Staff at Golfe da Quinta do Lago will trike on June 28 and workers at Praia da Oura and Oura Praia Hotel in Albufeira, will strike on June 29.

Four aircraft have been helping to battle a fire that broke out this afternoon, June 17, at Monte das Mestras, Almodôvar.

The Beja District Relief Operations Command confirmed that the fire remained active at 5pm this afternoon, June 17^th.