Portugal has been placed in the very top league as one of the best countries in the world for girls.

A new global report from the Save the Children listed Portugal in eighth place out of the 144 nations scrutinised.  

Lagos council has decided to examine the government’s new plan to lease the Forte da Meia Praia, known more correctly as Forte de São Roque, to a commercial enterprise in the Revive programme.

Aware that the monument on Meia Praia beach is on the government’s first list of 30 national monuments that are to be leased from between 30 and 50 years to corporate owners, the council is going to make a comment.

An 2.6 Richter scale earthquake, with its epicenter between Monchique and Portimão, was registered at 16:50 this afternoon, Monday 10th October.

The epicenter was located about 10 kilometres south of Monchique and 9 kilometres north of Portimão and was picked up by the Mainland Seismic Network, according the Portuguese weather service.

Many Chinese ‘Golden Visa’ holders feel let down a deceived by the Portuguese government which they feel has not kept its side of the bargain.

Investors from China who have spent a minimum of €500,000 on a property to qualify for a range of tax and travel benefits, annually have to reapply for visas, under the terms of the Golden Visa scheme, but these are taking a disproportionate amount of time to be approved.

Alentejo wine soon will be in short supply with production dropping 20% this season due to a baking hot summer with only sporadic and short-lived rainfall.

The region’s winemaking commission say the wine will be good but admits there will be a supply shortage from the region’s 1,900 producers who last year produced 115 million litres.

The Bank of America has pulled out of its role in advising Amorim Energia, a company tied to the Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos, on its sale of a stake in Portugal’s Galp Energia after one of the bank’s key internal committees felt unable to approve the bank’s involvement due to a risk to its overall reputation.

In June, the Angolan President, José Eduardo dos Santos, appointed his daughter Isabel to the position of chairwoman of the state oil company Sonangol, amid cries of ‘nepotism’ from Angola’s main opposition party and international observers.

Genetically modified crops will not be introduced into Europe, according to the German chemical company Bayer.

Bayer is in the midst of taking over the American pesticide giant Monsanto, also known for its production of GM seeds.

No fewer than six places in Portugal have been recognised on the Sustainable Destinations ranking of the top 100 spots.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is more than any country in the world with the sole exception of the Netherlands which has eight desinations.