Operation Albare has resulted in the arrest of a group of Chinese, suspected of criminal association, money laundering, qualified tax fraud and the sale of counterfeit goods.

Group members are suspected of laundering €40 million: computer equipment and mobile phones also have been seized in evidence.

The mayors of Vila Real de Santo António and Castro Marim have demanded that the government suspends suspend the tolls in the Visa do Infante between Olhão and Vila Real de Santo António, while work is underway on the EN125.

Mayor, Maria da Conceição Cabrita, from VRSA said at a hearing in the Committee of Economy, Innovation and Public Works, that the current appalling state of the EN125 is, "seriously damaging the county in terms of tourism."

The Algarve branch of the Social Democrat Party has met to discuss the government’s proposed 2019 State Budget and is not impressed, claiming the region "is becoming indistinguishable from the Sahara."

"The 2019 Budget ignores the fundamental needs of the Algarve, which translates into a flagrant violation of commitments, with the Algarve having being left out of the Government's planning for the last four years".

For those with a religious bent, or just an appreciation of beautiful and interesting buildings, Turismo de Portugal has launched a website for its latest market sector; religious tourism.

'Caminhos da Fé,' in Portuguese, French, Spanish, Italian and English is an information resource dedicated to religious tourism and aims to position the country internationally as a destination of spiritual and cultural appreciation.

Money to pay for the repair of houses damaged in the August fire that tore through the Monchique region is expected "next week," according to Rui André, the local mayor.

The total or partial reconstruction of 50 houses affected by the fire will cost "approximately €2 million," according to the town hall.

Portugal premier environmental association, ZERO, has joined more than 120 organisations worldwide in declaring that the large-scale use of forest biomass for energy production is a "dangerous illusion."

This record number of environmental organisations in 30 countries state that burning forest biomass does nothing to halt climate change, calling for the end of State subsidies and political support for the large-scale use of bioenergy.

An aircraft belonging to the Sevenair Group came to an inelegant halt without its landing gear down, forcing the emergency closure of a runway at Tires Municipal Aerodrome in Cascais.

The aircraft was on a training flight, controlled by an instructor with over 23,000 flying hours.

Ryanair finally has paid €5,500 in compensation to a passenger but only because one of its aircraft was going to be seized at Porto airport in lieu of debt.

The Irish carrier failed to comply with an order from a Lisbon court to pay compensation to a passenger for a series of flight delays.