Government's oil exploration stance reiterated at BP conference

SeguroSanchesContinuing to blame the oil and gas exploration and extraction licenses on the last government, the Secretary of State for Energy is sticking to the agreed political mantra that the government ‘only wants to know what resources are out there.’

"It does not make sense that the country does not want to know its resources," said Jorge Seguro Sanches, talking to journalists at the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2018, in Lisbon.

In2south launched to boost ecotourism

aradedamIn2south presents the South of Portugal as the ideal location for practicing ecotourism and creative tourism, in perfect symbiosis with the values of responsible tourism.

Proactivetur’s new brand is aimed at travellers looking for walking tours, bird watching, creative and gastronomic experiences based around local culture and get-together activities with villages, always in a close sustainable relationship with the values of the territory and local communities.

Intact Roman wine amphora found in the Arade River

diverA beautifully preserved, intact Roman amphora has been discovered by an underwater archaeological team working in the waters of the Arade river in Portimão.

The June discovery of the amphora, used to ship wine around 2,000 years ago, is said by team leader Cristóvão Fonseca, to be the best example in Portugal to have been found in situ.

BPN gravy train continues as former managers share bonus

BPNOliveiraParvalorem, the company that manages the toxic assets of the former Portuguese Business Bank (BPN,) has handed out €500,000 to managers last year.

Some of those managers were part of the former team at Banco Português de Negócios under whose management the bank went bust and was bailed out with taxpayers’ funds.

Salir's only bank is to close it doors

creditoagricloaAlgarve MP, Paulo Sá, has continued to muddle the decisions of a privately owned bank with ‘public service.’

Concerned about the impending closure of Caixa Agrícola in Salir, leaving locals without a bank, the communist MP has raised the matter in parliament and now wants an answer from the Minister of Finance.

EN125 road company quits

roadworksPortugal’s maligned national infrastructure authority now is in control of the Algarve’s EN125 - along its entire length.

The concession holder, Rotas do Algarve Litoral, announced on Friday, 6th June, that is was quitting and immediately suspended its 14 road safety managers, claiming that it has not been paid for the work it has completed on the EN125 western section.

Tourists increase visits to Algarve's cultural sites

sagresfortTourists and locals have been visiting the Algarve’s monuments in increasing number as the region’s Culture Directorate announces a 17% rise so far this year.

The monuments under the care of the Regional Directorate of Culture of the Algarve are the Sagres Fortress, Ermida de Guadalupe in Raposeira, Vila do Bispo, the Megalithic monuments of Alcalar, Portimão and the Roman ruins of Milreu in Estoi, Faro.

Boris quits - "Brexit is the biggest problem in the history of EU-UK relations" says Tusk

borisJohnsonTheresa May's acceptance of the resignation handed in by Brexit Minister, David Davis, was trumped later on Monday with the resignation of Britain's Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson.

As expected, Brexiteers now openly are discussing a no-confidence vote that could see the end of May's reign which has been dominated by one topic, Britain's withdrawal from Europe.