Tavira island gets new ferry terminal as Polis starts doing its job

tavira2A new pier for Tavira island and sand dredging to deepen access channels is to cost €2.5 million, according to a protocol between Polis Litoral Ria Formosa Company, Tavira Council and State-owned, Docapesca.

The public protocol for technical and financial cooperation for the construction of the infrastructure has been signed off by the Minister of the Environment, João Matos Fernandes, and the Minister of the Sea, Ana Paula Vitorino.

Algarve attracts the most incoming foreign residents

beachpenecoalbufeiraDiscerning foreigners have been moving to the south and the north with the districts of Faro and Oporto showing the biggest increase in registrations between 2015 and 2016.

The districts of Faro, covering the Algarve, increased its registered foreign intake by 9% in a year, with the north in second place with a 5% boost.

Bruce Forsyth dies at 89

BruceForsythLegendary TV presenter Sir Bruce Forsyth has died, aged 89.

Forsyth's career aged 14 and spanned more than 75 years, at times Britain's highest-paid TV star after hosting a stable of game shows including The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right and The Price is Right.

Agriculture struggles through the drought

droughtFish, concentrated in what is left of the water in several of the Alentejo’s reservoirs, are making the water undrinkable.

At least 150,000 kilos of fish, mostly carp, are now being captured in operations at  Vigia, Monte da Rocha, Pego do Alter and Divor reservoirs in the Alentejo.

Galpgate - company's chief pulled into 'euro2016 free trip' inquiry

galpLogoThe so-called ‘Galpgate’ inquiry is steaming ahead with two new official defendants named today: the Galp president and a former secretary of state, no less.

Galp’s chief, Carlos Gomes da Silva and Carlos Costa Pina are the seventh and eighth defendants in the investigation into the freebies dished out to politicians and high-up State employees by Galp to watch the Portuguese national team play in euro2016 football matches.

Portuguese grandmother mown down in Barcelona terror attack

barcelonaPortugal’s President has been in contact with Spain’s King felip VI to condemn “with vehemence, the terrorist act," that left 13 people dead after a van was driven through crowds of shoppers in Barcelona on Thursday.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also expressed support today for the family of a Portuguese woman died when the van deliberately was driven into members of the public ambling along Las Ramblas, possibly Barcelona’s most popular tourist street.

Real estate developers in shock over new property tax bills

financasIn September, property owners with €500,000 in total property assets will be charged an enhanced amount for the annual property tax, or IMI.

This new tax includes real estate development companies, many of which have many properties in stock, the value of which now is totted up and the total value is taxed at 0.4% of the total taxable value (VP) of their stock.

"Don't invest in Portugal" says British couple in desperate fight to save their Armona home

armonaAirielThe British couple, whose Armona home has been condemned for demolition, staged a demonstration outside Olhão’s town hall this morning with a crowd of around 200 people agreeing that when it comes to property, "there is a dark side to Portugal."

James Tod and Paul Roseby’s half-built island home has been targeted for demolition by Sebastião Teixeira, head of the Algarve’s Environment Agency. The property is collateral damage in a long-running battle between Teixeira and local Olhão mayor, António Pina.