Hortense Martins, a Socialist Party MP with shares in the hotel group 'Investel, Investimentos Hoteleiros,' played a key role in developing the legislative amendments to the Alojamento Local laws that will disadvantage owners of properties that are part of a condominium.

The legislative initiative was signed off by MPs Filipe Neto Brandão and Carlos Pereira but it was Hortense Martins who played a decisive role in preparing the details which stops apartment owners wishing to let their properties should anyone in the same condominium, object.

The modernisation of the Largo de São Sebastião in the centre of São Brás de Alportel has been completed.

A plaque was unveiled yesterday, June 1st, and ceremonies were held that included the local Scouts, Fire Brigade and the São Brás de Alportel Band.

The Rector of the Algarve's University is not putting his name forward for consideration for a second term of office this autumn.

In a statement released this week, António Branco cited "personal reasons" for his decision, but hinted that his criticism of some aspects of externally imposed policy has not gone down too well.

Faro council has presented a proposal, 'Farformosa,' to the Algarve Ports Commission for a new marina and hotel development, plus a maritime research centre, at the all-but-abandoned commercial dock area of the city.

"This is a vision we have for this space. It is our contribution. Obviously, whoever has the jurisdiction can accept it or not, or modify it,” said mayor, Rogério Bacalhau.

The Governor of the Bank of Portugal, Carlos Costa, today has been moaning about politicians, saying that they demand that banks don’t take risks, while at the same time insisting that they should refinance the economy by lending to companies.

Costa says that “we live contradictory times in relation to the management and evaluation of risks” thus displaying his continuing lack of comprehension as to his role.

Portugal is the third most peaceful country in the world, and of the top three, certainly is the most lively.

In a ranking of 163 countries in the 2017 Global Peace Index, Iceland came top, followed by New Zealand.

Portugal’s Prime Minister has denied that the country’s impressive growth in tourism is anything to do with "problems in other regions of the world," stating that the recent good results are due to the smart strategy of the government which has been putting its promotional effort into developing out-of-season tourism.

"Some think that this growth is cyclical and due to problems existing in other regions of the world. I think it is an unjust statement," António Costa said at the 4th Internal Tourism Forum in Leiria.

The fishing communities on the Ria Formosa islands of Armona and Culatra long have rued the day when a major area of sea became out of bounds to locals after it was sectioned off and licensed for aquaculture.

Islanders took the opportunity of ‘Day of the Fishermen,’ June 1st, to highlight the folly of leaving productive fishing grounds abandoned with fewer than 25% of the 60 licensed lots being used for their intended purpose.