News

Ria Formosa islands - Polis fails as 14 properties escape demolition

27 February 2018

A team from Polis Litoral Ria Formosa landed on Culatra early this morning, along with 40 Maritime Policemen in case there was any trouble in seizing 22 island properties prior to their demolition.

Of the properties due to have their walls daubed with numbers, signifying possession by the State, only eight legally could be processed as Loulé court had accepted embargos lodged by 14 property owners.

Revolutionary, activist and 'Captain of April' - João Varela Gomes dies at 93

Peter Booker 27 February 2018

João Varela Gomes (1924 - 2018) died peacefully on Monday 26 February at the grand old age of 93, writes Peter Booker.

Although Varela Gomes (JVG) is eulogised for his contribution to the fight against the Salazar dictatorship, the editors of Portugueses Célebres in the series Portugal Século XX did not find space for him among the 2,350 entries.

For decades, JVG was outstanding in the struggle against Salazar´s right-wing regime. He actively supported the candidature of Humberto Delgado for the Presidency of the Republic in 1958 and he was also involved in the Cathedral Conspiracy in 1959. Incredibly, the army allowed him to stand for election to the National Assembly, and he became notorious for his rhetoric and incitement of his audience to stand up against the regime.

Citigroup analyst marks EDP shares as a 'sell'

26 February 2018

One of Citigroup’s top investment analyst has marked down EDP’s share price, saying that new regulation leaves the company’s financial structure "unbalanced" and that high debt and a generous dividend policy is not helping.

For Citigroup, recent regulatory changes have meant that part of the EDP group is not able to sustain debt costs, nor the company’s "generous dividend policy" under Chief Executive, António Mexia.

Portugal's councils can not clear trees and scrub in time

26 February 2018

Portugal’s councils today warned of the almost impossible task of according with the law that requires the cleaning of the scrub and trees near to houses and along the side of public roads, in the time allocated.

Not before time, the board of the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP) today got together to discuss the new laws on forest and countryside management.

Algarve Wine Laboratory to raise quality of region's production

26 February 2018

4779 The Algarve Wine Commission in Lagoa now operates the only winemaking laboratory in the region, helping winemakers improve their product before it is bottled.

Tests are available not only to the region’s blooming wine sector producers, but also to any public or private body that wants to have wine analysed. Simply complete an analysis request form, send in the sample and the results will be emailed.

405 civil servants charged with corruption in 2017

26 February 2018

Of a total of 1,725 reports received last year by the Corruption Prevention Council (CPC), in 405 there was sufficient evidence of a crime committed by a government official, to lead to prosecution and conviction.

In a report on the prevention of corruption in public administration, it was noted that 41% of the cases involved civil servants in Central Administration bodies such as the health service, education, notary offices and the justice department.

Algarve - heavy rain forecast from Monday onwards

25 February 2018

The rain is coming. From tomorrow afternoon, Monday 26th, the Algarve should get some rain which will spread north over the next few days.

On Monday and Tuesday, the rain will be pachy with the heaviest rainfall due on Wednesday, according to the IPMA weather service which shows daytime temperatures in the Algarve at a comfortable 17-18 degrees Centigrade.