'Autumn opening' for the final retail area at Loulé's IKEA shopping site

ikea2The Designer Outlet Algarve, which its developer says will be the largest such example in the south of Portugal, will be opening its doors this autumn.

Located next to the new IKEA store near Loulé, the development is being promoted by Retail Outlet Shopping,* an Austrian company which is talking of 110 stores being built in two phases.

Portimão council announces the birth of another white elephant

autodromeUnable to resist creating yet another money-wasting white elephant, Portimão council has thrown its weight, and ratepayers’ money, behind its latest poorly-thought-out idea – to turn part of the international autodrome into a ‘business incubator’ called ‘Startup Portimão.’

This will open on August 10th in two floors of the round building in the middle of the empty racetrack, a business which also is being propped up by taxpayers through Portugal Capital Ventures.

Lottery prize-winners in Portugal now subjected to money laundering checks

lotteryLottery prize collection rules have been changed, using the all encompassing excuse of ‘anti money laundering measures.

Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, which runs Portugal’s lottery, is changing its rules for the payment of prizes of between €2,000 and €5,000 as from today, August 6th.

Oil workers' training centre launched in Paderne - 10kms from the sea

oilrig2With an embarassed silence still surrounidng the Algarve region's existing white elephants, the mayor of Albufeira is pushing ahead with his pet project, a maritime and oil services training centre in Paderne at an old factory site on the Ferrarias road at Mem Moniz.

Mayor, Carlos Silva e Sousa, said this is an "investment that he feels very proud of" and wishes to see the “enormous potential” realised.

Brexit Brits lose interest in the Algarve

brexitLenThe Algarve's hotels association reported today that the effects of the UK decision to leave the European Union are hitting tourism in Portugal.

“British tourists are losing interest in the Algarve and the cause is Brexit,” according to the association as the number of trips decreased by 12.6% in July compared to the same period last year.

Cessna emergency landing - instructor and trainee pilot questioned over two deaths

aircraftAlmadaBeachThe flight instructor and trainee pilot of the Cessna that landed on a crowded beach near Lisbon, appeared in court on Thursday over the violent deaths of José Lima, 56, and Sofia António, aged just 8.

The two men refused to speak to reporters as they arrived at the court in Almada for questioning by a prosecutor.

Bribery did not work as border GNR seize €430,000 in cash from Chinese national

gnrstopPortugal’s GNR military has seized €430,000 in cash from a Chinese citizen at the border in Caia, Elvas.

The man was arrested on suspicion of money laundering, bring more than €10,000 in cash into the country and attempting to bribe his way out of trouble.

Alcoutim temperature to hit 39°C on Saturday as the Algarve swelters

6199High temperatures across the Algarve region will increase from the already high 30s with the whole region on yellow alert until Saturday evening.

According to the Portuguese weather service, thermometers will reach 37°C in Faro on Saturday with Alcoutim reaching 39°C (102°F).