Algarve business community shocked by news of Peter Rexstrew's death

peterRextrewThe Algarve business community and thousands of private clients have been shocked to hear the news of Peter Rextrew's death.

The Chief Executive of PremierFX, the foreign exchange company Peter founded in Almancil and which later expanded into offices in the UK and Mallorca, died on 16th June after a period of poor health.

New Alcoutim treatment plant to reduce sewage levels in the Guadiana

alcoutimAlcoutim Council has announced that it has been granted European funding to build a waste water treatment plant in Montes do Rio, thus halting a flow of effluent into the Guadiana river.

The Council will receive up to 85% of the total cost of €200,000 to build the modern plant that will take the sewage from Montinho das Laranjeiras, Laranjeiras, Guerreiros do Rio, Álamo and Cortes da Donas.

Taxpayers still on the hook at TAP

tapTaxpayers may have to shovel more money into TAP if there is a call to capitalise and finance the business which is at the start of an extensive fleet replacement programme.

State owned holding company, Parpública, controls the company with 50% of TAP’s shares, which aggravates "the financial responsibilities of the State.”

Four-year dig at Cacela Velha to reveal Medieval Algarve

CacelaVelhaLagoonA new programme of archaeological excavations will increase knowledge of the medieval period of occupation of Cacela Velha, close to the old fortress which remains in danger of collapse.

The excavations will concentrate in the old well area, where the old Islamic quarter is located, and will look for a possible connection to the port and a Christian necropolis.

Thunder, lightning and downpours sweep across the Algarve

RainLogoThe Algarve and lower Alentejo remain under a thunderstorm warning this evening after a day of turbulent weather.

"Heavy downpours, hail and accompanied by wind gusts," are still expect on Wednesday evening, according the weather service whose forecast yesterday of a low chance of rain was swiftly upgraded today as storms swept across the Algarve.

Minister comes clean over Montijo airport delay

airplaneThe Minister of Planning and Infrastructure has admitted the Montijo airport project is in a mess.

Stating that the government is in negotiations with the French-owned airports concession holder, Vinci Group, Pedro Marquês hopes these will be concluded “later this year” - which can be anything from tomorrow until December 31st.

Sharp rise in immigration helps counter Portugal's shrinking population

passportbulgarianPortugal welcomed nearly 47,000 foreigners in 2016, the highest figure since 2010 and gave refugee status or international protection to 400 people, double the 2015 number but lamentably low as Portugal rejected two out of every three asylum request.

"Portugal continues to fulfil its commitment, under the European migration agenda, to welcome and settle 4,574 people from Greece and Italy by December 2017," reads the report, skirting around the issue of low numbers choosing Portugal and more than half of those that initially do settle, leave shortly afterwards.

Altice sells of Portuguese assets to reduce debt pile

alticeLogoAltice Europe based in the Netherlands is selling parts of its Portuguese telecoms business to pay off some of its huge borrowings.

French assets also are being realised with a private equity company taking a 49% stake in the national mobile phone mast business.