Portugal’s ‘Route 66’ Passport now on sale

Route66PassportThe longest road in Europe, Portugal’s EN2 from Faro in the Algarve to Chaves in the far north, passes through São Brás de Alportel where a new ‘passport’ is now for sale.

The Association of Municipalities of the EN2 is keen to encourage national and foreign tourists to drive along the 738.5 kilometres, stopping off along the way to get their special passport stamped while enjoying the drive and frequent stops in the 36 council areas traversed.

Loulé forest fire reached Alentejo before being put out

fireAlmost 400 emergency services personnel and seven aircraft fought a wildfire in the Loulé area of Ameixial that started on Saturday morning.

The Civil Protection service ordered full on support to quell the flames that continued through the afternoon and into the evening.

French Prince threatens Comporta sale with deft eco move

ComportaAerialTwists and turns in the sale process for the Herdade da Comporta estate have been added to, with the setting up of an environmental association, ‘Comporta.Utopia - Association for the Sustainability of Comporta.’

This charitable entity has been set up by Louis-Albert de Broglie, the French prince who submitted one of three proposals for the purchase of the estate, before the process was scrapped at a shareholders' meeting.

Attempted murder in Ponte de Sor - Portugal seeks Iraqi twins

iraqiBoysA new legal twist in the case of the Iraqi twins, accused of attempting to murder a young man in Ponte de Sor in 2016, has seen the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sending a 'letter rogatory' to the Iraqi authorities from the Attorney General's Office.

In January this year, the Prosecutor's Office issued an indictment against Ridha and Haider, sons of the former Iraqi ambassador in Lisbon, Saad Mohammed Ali. They are accused of the attempted murder of Rúben Cavaco, in the early hours of August 17, 2016, in Ponte de Sor, Portalegre in the Alentejo.

Refurbishment of Olhão's 1991 sewage pumping station to bring local relief

sewagepipeÁguas do Algarve has worked out that its new sewage treatment plant, currently being constructed between Olhão and Faro, will not be able to work at peak efficiency if the various pumping stations that shove effluent its way are liable to malfunction.

With this in mind, the region’s water and sewage company has finalised a contract to renovate the seven Sewage Pumping Stations in Faro and Olhão at a cost of €3.8 million.

Algarve's new look tourist board supports Better Living in Portugal Expo

portimaoarenaUnder the new directorship of João Fernandes, the Algarve’s regional tourist board is returning to two of the most important promotional events in the Algarve scheduled for the latter part of the year.

The Mediterranean Diet Fair, held in September in Tavira and the BLiP EXPO taking place on October 13th and 14th in the Portimão arena.(pictured)

Premier FX collapse - media blamed for customers' anger and despair

PremierFXA stiff letter from the Premier FX solicitors was recieved by media on Thursday, claiming current Directors, Charlie Rextrew and Katy Grogan, founder Peter Rexstrew's children, have been threatened on social media "fuelled in no small part by misleading press articles, based on assumptions and suspicion, with no evidential material to support the same."

The foreign exchange business shut down on July 27th, leaving hundreds of customers without funds, many losing their life savings and at least one losing the money destined to purchase their Algarve retirement home.

Bankers divided over releasing details of major debtors

novobancoshinylogoAntónio Ramalho, the boss of Novo Banco, does not have a definitive answer on the disclosure of large debtors and says the banking system has to regain public confidence

One of the steps in the noble but unachievable objective of bankers regaining public confidence, may be, in "very exceptional" cases, to reveal which debtors have caused such problems in the banking sector.