The Social Democrat party leader in the Algarve, David Santos, had commented that the weighting attributed to sun exposure to work out property tax is "illogical and unreasonable."

The so-called ‘sunshine tax’ will hit the Algarve harder than other regions in Portugal, says Santos, as "on the one hand, on average, properties located in the Algarve have more sun exposure than in the rest of the country. On the other hand, because the region has the largest concentration of properties located in coastal areas with a sea views, this will be reflected in the amount of tax to be paid by the owners."

A section of cliff collapsed onto a popular beach in Albufeira just before 1pm on Sunday.

The authorities claimed there were no injuries, thankfully this proved to be true after 1,000 tonnes of rock collapsed onto the sand.  Maria Luísa beach was the scene of the 2009 tragedy (pictured) when five people were crushed to death.

Loulé council has given the anti-oil awareness campaign a boost by donating three huge billboards to Plataforma Algarve Livre de Petróleo (PALP) so the organisation can put up posters until the end of the summer.

"These public awareness materials will be placed in high visibility locations where thousands of vehicles go past each day, especially at this time of year.

A Social Democrat MP, the long-serving Cristóvão Norte, was also on the freebie trip to the Euro2016 Hungary vs Portugal game paid for by Galp.

This is the same Galp that is in partnership with the corrupt Italian state-owned oil company ENI and has a concession to explore and produce oil or gas off the west coast of the region.

The Algarve’s main hotel association has stated that the amendments to the way property rates are determined "penalises the Algarve’s tourism economy."

The amendments in the decree published on Monday will have "a direct impact on tourism in the Algarve, including residential tourism" warns the Association of Hotels and Resorts in the Algarve (AHETA), in a statement responding to the so-called ‘sunshine tax’ that will hit owners of south facing properties with pleasant views by an estimated 20% rise in their annual rates bill.

The government formally has renewed the operating licenses for about 1,000 shellfish nurseries in the Rias Formosa and Alvor, giving operators a further six years of unthreatened activity.

The measure announced by the Minister of the Sea on a visit to the Algarve, is part of a long-overdue aquaculture plan for the sector and those involved now are able to apply for and access EU funds to develop their businesses and improve productivity."

The Galp furore continues with the head of the CDS-PP, Assunção Cristas demanding that parliament fully discusses the ‘tickets for favours’ trip, while accusing the prime minister of hiding away until the dust has settled.

Cristas says the prime minister’s attitude to revelations that three secretaries of state went on a trip paid for by Galp to watch the Euro2016 football "is inadmissible."

Novo Banco has started to sell off non-core assets with two deals in two days helping to reduce liabilities and boost the loss-making bank’s cash position and capital ratios.

The sale of a 40% stake in road toll operating company Ascendi leaves Novo Banco with €240 in cash and the other seller, Mota-Engil with €360 million by reducing its shareholding from 60% to a minority stake.