Algarve crime rate up 4% this year

burglaryThe number of crimes in the Algarve to October 31st this year has increased by 4% over last year, a rise that the Public Security Police commander says can be explained by the greater number of visitors to the region.

Superintendent Ricardo Matos added that "There have been 120 more criminal cases registered in the first 300 days in the six cities where we are located.  It is a slight increase and it is not worrying."

Faro mayor wants to turn the docks into another marina

cimporA collapse in commercial activity at Faro’s port has made it necessary for a rethink, according to council mayor Rogério Bacahlau who is keen on turning the defunct dock into a marina.

The port’s one customer, Cimpor cement in Loulé, (pictured) has all but ceased exports to Africa which was keeping the facility open for business but without this vital throughput, the area stands idle.

"I intend to live forever” - Leonard Cohen dies (1934 - 2016)

leonardCohenLeonard Cohen, the hugely influential singer and songwriter whose work spanned nearly 50 years, died at the age of 82. Cohen's label, Sony Music Canada, confirmed his death on the singer's Facebook page.

"It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter and artist, Leonard Cohen has passed away," the statement read. "We have lost one of music's most revered and prolific visionaries. A memorial will take place in Los Angeles at a later date. The family requests privacy during their time of grief." A cause of death and exact date of death was not given.

Concerns grow over nuclear dump 100kms from Portugal's border

nuclearPortugal’s request for an urgent meeting with Spain over plans to extend the operating life of an old and possibly unsafe nuclear power station near the border is being ignored.

Portugal's Environment Minister João Pedro Matos Fernandes said in September that Spain’s nuclear security authority had approved plans for a nuclear waste landfill site at its Almaraz nuclear power station just 100 kilometres from the Portuguese border.

Portugal's ocean areas polluted with floating rubbish

plasticatseaPortugal’s seas, despite the preferred image of pristine, crystal clear and unpolluted water, contain an estimated 750,000 pieces of rubbish just floating around.

The 'rubbish study' looking at the amount of floating items in the Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) was carried out by a team of biologists from the University of Aveiro in 2011 whose results are only now being released, to the shock of environmentalists.

An afternoon of Algarve road accidents with two dead near Odelouca

accident125A collision on the EN124 between Silves and Odelouca left an 87-year-old driver and his wife dead at the scene and a passenger in a serious condition early this afternoon.

The crash happened at 12:04 on a bend on the road in the Vale da Lama area with the car hitting a refuse truck head-on.

VRSA offering 90% grants to 'rescue and renovate' old buildings

vrsaVila Real de Santo António's inspired council has signed a protocol with the Institute of Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU) to work together on the "Renovate to Rent - Affordable Housing" scheme set up to rescue and renovate old properties.

The council aims to inject some energy into the rental market by adapting private and council-owned properties and making them fit for the rental market.

Ronaldo celebrates €1.1 billion Nike sponsorship deal

ronaldoPortugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has celebrated signing a mega €1.1 billion deal with sports giants Nike by overseeing a football training session at the club where he first signed on at as a professional layer: Sporting Lisbon.

A spokesperson for Nike told SunSport: "The successful partnership between Nike and Cristiano Ronaldo will continue well into the future with a new, long-term contract.