Portimão fire truck destroyed in Marmalete fire

bombeirosA fire in Monchique on Monday afternoon had all the conditions to spread uncontrollably as the hot weather and breeze allowed the blaze rapidly to gain strength and coverage.

The alert was given at 3:37 pm in Portela do Vale in the Marmelete area with the western Algarve’s fire teams soon on the scene with 137 people and 48 vehicles involved.

EN125 road works - deadline extended for 'non-essential' Ponte Nova tower

aradeWith just over two weeks to go for the western section of the EN125 road works to be completed, according to the timetable offered by the Minster for Infrastructure, Pedro Marquês, works on the west tower of Ponte Nova over the River Arade between Lagoa and Portimão is are "almost restarting,” according to information given to Sul Informação which contacted the concession holder, Rotas do Algarve Litoral.

Work on the bridge was suspended a year ago after the first tower was refurbished, with a width and speed restriction left in place as workmen left the project half-completed.

Albufeira's rubbish

rubbishWith the annual increase in the local population during the summer months, more rubbish is produced and the Algarve's council's collection services often can’t cope.

Many people find local rubbish containers overflowing with any overload simply dumped on the ground near collection points.

Algarve pharmacies - one in four is insolvent

pillsA reported 25% of the Algarve’s pharmacies are insolvent or have official charges over their assets (penhoras), according to a statement from the National Association of Pharmacies.

The study released today shows that the number of pharmacies in Portugal that are insolvent, or that have penhoras attached to their assets, continues to rise with a five year increase of 145% showing the financial difficulties the sector faces.

State appointments to TAP board - 'only one of the six has airline experience'

tap2Unsurprisingly, the Left Bloc has questioned the Government on the criteria it used in deciding board appointments at TAP as only one of the seats allocated to the State is to be occupied with someone with experience in the air transport sector.

In a question addressed to the Ministry of Planning and Infrastructures, the Left Bloc’s Heitor de Sousa demanded that in future anyone appointed to the boards of companies in which the State has a shareholding should be scrutinised by parliament.

Douro Azul ship deal - 'a case of flagrant corruption' according to MEP Gomes

duoroThe management of Douro Azul, the Oporto area’s most influential and successful boat owner and operator, has demanded that parliamentary immunity for MEP Ana Gomes be withdrawn so she can answer for her comments in the press that the company was involved in corruption.

The European Parliament received the official request following a formal complaint from the Douro Azul group about statements Gomes had made about the company’s purchase and subsequent sale of the Atlântida ferry.

After Banco Popular was sold for €1 - two more Spanish banks are in trouble

questionAfter the purchase by Santander of Banco Popular, two more Spanish banks are in trouble.

The Santander purchase of Banco Popular, for a nominal €1, is being followed up by a €7 billion rights issue to bolster Popular’s finances.

Polis funds dunes work and new walkway on Faro Island

faronewbridgePolis Litoral Ria Formosa Society, the company responsible for the demolition programme affecting hundreds of Ria Formsa island properties, is spending some money on Faro Island to sort out the dunes and install an 800 metre long walkway.

The dunes’ vegetation is always getting trampled over as people go to the beach and house owners go to and from their beachside properties.