Government announces four year 'Tagus pollution' action plan

TejoFoamWith perfect timing, the Portuguese government has announced a €2.5 million investment in an action plan to prevent future episodes of pollution in the Tagus River, where high pollution levels were recorded this year.

A film of the still-foaming Tagus was posted on Facebook today, showing the keen need for government action that clearly has failed to halt the dumping of waste from pulp factories situated along the banks of the river. (HERE)

Anti-oil protestors to occupy 25 beaches on Saturday, July 7th

OilReferendumSMALLSaturday, June 7, heralds an anti-oil drilling protest all along Portugal’s coastline, from the Algarve to Aguçadoura beach to the north of Porto.

The action is focused on the Galp-ENI concession that aims to start with a test well 46 kilometres off the Aljezur coastline but also expresses public opinion against government plans to turn Portugal into an oil and gas producer.

Faro's swimming pool services face closure

swimmingpoolFaro Council's executive has accused its political opposition of affecting the municipality’s sports service provision by refusing to agree to the renewal of a private contract to run Faro's swimming pools and other sports facilities.

According to an irate mayor, Rogério Bacalhau, the voting down of his proposal to continue with a private company means the end of exercise and swimming classes for the elderly and for school children.

Tourists increase waiting times for locals in Algarve's NHS hospitals

doctorpaedoThe maximum waiting time for an appointment with a consultant doctor in the Algarve’s national health service is set at 120 days.

The average currently is over a year with one instance of a patient waiting 856 days to be seen.

'Handy' cop gets three years for 2015 truncheon attack

justiceThe case of a vicious and unprovoked attack by a PSP officer on a grandfather and his adult son, finally has been judged.

The incident, outside Estádio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimarães, goes back to May 2015 when Silva attacked Benfica supporter, José Magalhães, with his truncheon.

Tourist number continue to decline for Algarve hotel sector

HOTELRECEPTIONGALEHoles are starting to appear in the Algarve’s tourism sector as the region's hoteliers’ association confirmed today that nearly 5% fewer tourists came to the region in June this year than last.

The average occupancy rate per room in the Algarve was 79% in June 2018, down 4.5% on the same period last year.

Ombama returns to Portugal after eight year gap

ObamaBarack Obama returns to Portugal, after an eight year absence, to speak at the ‘Climate Change Leadership Porto 2018 Summit’ on Friday, June 6, at the Porto Coliseum.

The 44th President of the United States will address environmental issues involving climate change, its worldwide impact and the challenged it presents - a subject the former President championed when in office.

Environment Agency denies 'tacit approval' for Australis test drilling

AustralisLogoThe president of the Portuguese Environment Agency explained today that when the agency stated that it could not offer an opinion on the need for an environmental impact assessment at the Aljubarrota drilling site, this was as good as a "no."

Batalha Council was concerned that, when the agency offered no opinion on the environmental aspect of Australis Oil & Gas drilling proposal, this meant the company could go ahead.