Irishman takes top job at Novo Banco

novobancoshinylogoMark Bourke, a Director and the Chief Financial Officer of Allied Irish Bank since April 2014 is moving to Novo Banco as its Chief Financial Officer.

Bourke announced his departure from the Irish lender last week and will sign up with Novo Banco early in 2019.

Lisbon developer evicts Albufeira beach bar owner

PraiaTomatesThe reason for the illegal land clearance work at Praia dos Tomates, between Vilamoura marina and Praia da Falésia, has been revealed.

In May this year, readers reported their horror as earth moving machinery started to clear land by the beach, fearing environmental laws were being trampled over as the area is protected. (HERE)

Pro-oil Sea Minister advised all along by senior Galp employee

galpLogoSo, this is how it all works at the Ministry of the Sea where the blinkered, single-minded and desperately pro-oil Minister, Ana Paula Vitorino, is using taxpayers’ money to fund Galp’s appeal against the oil drilling suspension off the Aljezur coastline.

Vitorino employed Ruben Eiras as her advisor at the ministry, between January 2016 and January 2018, while his proper job was at Galp Energia.

Suspicious twin Monchique fires being investigated by Police

FireGoisFirefighters were back in the Monchique area last night as two blazes took hold on Saturday evening, starting in an area of scrubland and eucalyptus near the county capital.

Around 180 firefighting personnel were involved in battling the fires which were soon brought under control, helped slightly by recent lower temperatures and higher humidity.

Novo Banco does not have to repay €179 million to Amorim Group companies

novobancoshinylogoThe Court of Appeal has upheld the ruling that Novo Banco does not have to repay €179 million lent to it by two companies in the Amorim Group in the form of commercial loan notes.

The losses suffered by BES creditors included an investment made when Amorim was being run by its doughty chairman, Américo Amorim, whose daughter Paula has taken over the management of the group since his death in July 2017.

One-in-three houses sold within three months

14400The average selling time of a property has fallen from the dark days of recession when owners could expect to wait over two years before a buyer was found.

The turnaround has been extraordinary, in 2017 almost 85% of the homes that were put on the market took less than six months to find a new owner.

Faro Parish Councils' free gift for owners registering their dogs

dogpooThose parishes making up the municipality of Faro have launched an awareness campaign to reduce the amount of dog excrement being left in streets and public places countywide.

Each dog owner registering their pet, or renewing the obligatory annual dog licence, at any of Faro’s parish councils will receive a free gift - an attractive, blue, bone-shaped, poo-bag dispenser.

Portugal's 'best preserved Roman port' discovered in Budens, Vila do Bispo

ViladoBispoLogoThe Vila do Bipso municipality is becoming an archaeological hot spot after further evidence of the Roman occupation of the Algarve has been unearthed in Budens.

A two thousand year old Roman port has been revealed at Boca do Rio beach by a Portuguese-German team from the Universities of Algarve and Marburg.