State prohibits sale of houses rebuilt after fires

FirePedGrandeCarIn a bizarre, restrictive and possibly unconstitutional new piece of legislation, the Government is to ban the unrestricted sale of private homes that had to be rebuilt after last summers fires in the Central region.

The Council of Ministers is preparing to approve a new decree-law that, retrospectively in some cases, will force owners of homes that have been rebuilt with State funds, to sign a ‘no sale for ten years’ agreement.

VAT for bullfighters is "an attack on Portuguese culture"

BullDeadPortugal’s bullfighting federation has accused the People Animals Nature political party of "cultural censorship" and of "attacking Portuguese culture" by proposing the end the current VAT exemption on bullfighting services.

In a statement released today, the federation contests PAN’s action, adding that it is by no means confirmed that the VAT exemption is to be ditched on the 2019 State Budget.

Banks hoard properties to force prices higher

apartmentsPortugal’s banks continue to hoard repossessed properties, releasing few onto the market.

The banking sector, keen as mustard to seize properties when the crisis hit, grabbed €5.5 billion’s worth of homes, most of them have lain empty ever since to help push house prices upwards.

Spain scraps 'solar tax' to thwart further renewables investment in Portugal

pvSpain’s Council of Ministers has approved a package of measures to speed up the country’s energy transition, including scrapping the ‘sun tax’ that has seen major solar farm projects switch from Spain to Portugal where the tax regime has been views as less punishing.

Other measures are included in a wide-ranging decree to ensure Spain gets closer to complying with its renewable energy objectives.

1918-2018 - Albufeira remembers its WWI soldiers in new exhibition

ww1With the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI approaching in November, Albufeira Council has launched two exhibitions in commemoration.

Both are in the Espaço Multiusos de Albufeira. The first, roughly translated as 'Tears and mud... 14-18 through the eyes of a soldier,' has been created by the Portuguese-French association, Cívica, represented by Paulo Marques.

Why is October 5th a holiday?

portugalOctober 5th in Portugal is known as Implantação da República. It celebrates the proclamation of the Portuguese First Republic in 1910.

The 5th is a national holiday in Portugal, for most people it’s the day that in 1910 King Manuel II was deposed and the Portuguese republic was proclaimed but for others there is a different significance.

Altice to open technology 'incubator' near Olhão

alticeLogoThe head of Altice Portugal, Alexandre Fonseca, has been in the Algarve, spreading the munificence of the international telecoms company.

Fonseca said that, among other initiatives, Altice Portugal will sign a collaboration agreement with Faro's University to "promote the capture and retention of talent in the region, as well as the development of academic projects of public interest or business that boost the regional economy."

Cristiano Ronaldo accused of 2009 Las Vegas rape

ronaldoCristiano Ronaldo has been excluded from the Portugal football squad for international matches due to an investigation into rape allegations reopening this week.

The 33-year-old Juventus footballer has denied accusations made by Kathryn Mayorga that the superstar player raped her in a Las Vegas hotel nine years ago.