The Secretary of State for Tourism, Ana Mendes Godinho, admits that the fall in the number of British tourists coming to Portugal is worrying but draws comfort from the work already done to spread the word in other markets.

Ana Mendes Godinho says of the drop in British numbers, "it is a worry because it is one of the main markets," but there already is growth from other nations."

In 2017, 1,683 new licences were issued for carrying weapons, 397 more than in 2016. There now are more than 300,000 Portuguese that are fully authorised to have such weapons at home.

The number of citizens who obtained new licenses last year increased 31% compared to 2016.

The Judicial Police and the Security Intelligence Service feared violent clashes at the Faro bikers’ festival on July 19th to 22nd so worked in unison to avoid shootings and fights.

The authorities predicted retaliation from the Bandidos gang against the Hell's Angels following violence in March at a Prior Velho restaurant when several Hell’s Angels members attacked a rival gang and members of the Nova Ordem Social (NOS).

Romanian Defence Minister, Mihai Fifor, has announced he intends to move forward with the procurement of an additional five F-16 fighter jets from Portugal.

The aircraft will progressively replace part of Romania’s fleet of Russian built MiG-21 Lancer fighter aircraft.

Another top international post has gone to a Portuguese national as António Manuel de Carvalho Ferreira Vitorino is to become the Director General of the International Organisation for Migration on October 1st.

The Portuguese lawyer and politician, with an extensive career in public service, has been elected to head the United Nations' migration agency.

Jean-Claude Juncker was stumbling, walking awkwardly, swaying and losing his balance as he made his way to a gala dinner in Brussels on Wednesday.

The European Commission President was attending the dinner at the NATO summit in Brussels, attended by US President Donald Trump and other world leaders.

Speeding remains a national pass-time with 2,244 drivers done for exceeding the limit last week alone.

The National Republican Guard (GNR), says that excess speed on Portugal’s roads continues to dominate the infraction figures. Between July 6th and 12th, there were 9,485 infractions registered by these sturdy enforcers, of which 2,244 were for speeding - just under a quarter.

Those landlords that have been holding the breath for today's announcement of the new rules for Alojamento Local (short-term property rentals to tourists) will have to waiting until next week as parliament ran out of debating time.

The Local Accommodation Working Group approved the postponement of a vote on the diplomas to change the AL system but hopes it will be finalised on July 17th.