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.

Cacela Velha - 40 hectares of protected land destroyed with ICNF permission

CacelaVelhaLandThe Algarve’s social media has been ablaze with justifiable indignation after ecological land at Cacela Velha, Vila Real de Santo António, was been scraped bare by machinery which cleared vegetation and tore out many protected trees.

The GNR’s environmental protection division, SEPNA, explained that the destruction had been authorised by the Institute of Nature Conservation and Forests, but was prompted to organise a second inspection.

Ryanair staff plan 48-hour strike in July

ryanairRyanair cabin crew from four European countries, including Portugal, are to mount a 48-hour strike later in July in a move that will cause severe disruption for holidaymakers.

Cabin crew and ground staff from Portugal, Spain, Italy and Belgium are withdrawing their labour on July 25 and 26, blaming Ryanair management’s failure to address a list of demands about economic safety, rostering and workplace culture.

Minister to promote Beja Airport to tour operators

bejaThe 'Marquês Plan' aims to lure tour operators away from Lisbon airport next summer, by offering Beja Airport as a 'competitive destination.'

The Minister of Planning and Infrastructures, Pedro Marquês, informed a parliamentary committee that the government and French-owned Aeroportos de Portugal are joining forces to promote Beja Airport to take the heat off Lisbon's Humberto Delgado airport, which is a maximum capacity.

Novo Banco to shut down another 30 branches by the end of July

novobancoshinylogoAs part of a €134 million spend, Novo Banco’s management is ‘releasing’ 400 workers this year with a further 30 branches due to close by the end of July.

The target for branch closures is 73 in 2018, with 30 already shut down between January and the end of April this year

Remains of Iron Age settlement discovered in Moura

archaelogicalDigOnly two weeks of digging were required at Castelo Velho de Safara, in the municipality of Moura, Beja, for the international team from South-West Archaeology Digs* (SWAD), under the scientific direction of Portuguese archaeologists, to unearth remains from the period between the 4th and 1st centuries BC.

"Castelo Velho de Safara is an Iron Age site located in the south of Portugal, at the confluence of the Ardila and Safareja rivers. Located at the top of a hill in a commanding position, it presents three defensive wall-towers and walls," explained the archaeologists at SWAD's website.

Taxman investigates Portugal's top footballers

Football2018WorldCupSpurred on by the Spanish tax authority successfully relieving Cristiano Ronaldo of €18.8 million in back taxes and fines, the Portuguese tax authority confirmed today that it has been investigating the tax affairs of footballers based at Portugal's top clubs.

The taxman has been tightening control on the business side of football that involved players and coaches and currently is assessing 90 cases its investigations have given cause for suspicion, especially in the areas of transfers and players' image rights.

Landlords go legal as tourist rental property registrations nearly double

alThe number of short-term holiday rental properties now registered in Portugal increased from 26,151 in 2016 to 51,014 by the end of 2017 - an increase of 85%.

The number of beds this represents went from 101,841 to 205,261, a 102% increase.