The union representing cabin crews employed by Grupo SATA’s Airlines has given notice of a strike on August 23rd until August 26th, one of the busiest periods of the year.

Grupo SATA’s management has advised its passengers to change their plans to travel on these dates, confirming that there will be no charges for those moving bookings to other, non-strike, days.

Pensioners who, financially, were forced to ‘do their bit’ during Portugal’s long period of austerity are to have their pensions increased as from August 10th.

The unfreezing of pensions payable to Portugal's retirees was included in the 2017 State budget but only now is coming through, eight months into the year.

Internal Affairs Minister, Constança Urbano de Sousa, has ordered another report and investigation into the Pedrógão Grande fire to determine "possible responsibilities" for events during the inferno in which 64 people lost their lives.

The conclusions of the audit of the SIRESP communications system, undertaken by the General Inspectorate of Internal Administration, were limited to 'highlighting the procedures that should have been followed' in the operation of the communications system.

Portugal’s headline unemployment rate has dropped to 8.8% at the end of the second quarter of 2017

It is the lowest figure since 2009 and Minister, Vieira da Silva, said he is convinced that the rate will continue to fall.

The annual Publituris Portugal Travel Awards has listed 20 of the Algarve’s most noted businesses for its 2017 line-up.

The Algarve is named in the "Best National Tourism Region" category in the awards, known in the trade and media as the ‘national tourism Oscars.’

The largest trail-running competition in the Algarve, at Rocha da Pena near Salir, starts on August 13th with fearless participants competing in three gruelling races of different lengths.

This fourth competition over the hills of the Algarve’s interior indicates an increasing appeal of this sport where runners speed along countryside trails, whatever the temperature.

The opposition Social Democrats (PSD) wants to scrap the new tax laws that raise rates for multiple property owners.

The so called 'Mortágua tax,' that over 200,000 taxpayers will have to pay in September, "corresponds to an attack on savings, an attack on investment, an attack on the middle class."

National banks' lending valuations for property increased in April to a new six year high with the Algarve being the most expensive region as the price per m2 is 25% higher than the country average.

The latest figures cover April, 2017, and show the average bank evaluation per m2 for housing in Portugal was €1,110, the highest value since July 2011, according to the National Statistics Institute.