Spain heads to the polls, again

4794King Felipe VI has put in motion a process to dissolve parliament and to have another general election in Spain.

The move comes after four months of jockeying about with no resolution. Coalition talks have failed repeatedly to find sufficient agreement for a ruling majority.

Germany celebrates its pure beer

beerdrinkerCritics today say that the law is merely a marketing device, but the Brewers Federation president hailed it as a selling point, saying “in contrast to our colleagues abroad, German brewers don't use artificial flavours, enzymes or preservatives".

Brewers hoping to make craft beers can feel inhibited by the prohibition on ingredients as can others.

Neanderthal cave found at Portimão sewage treatment plant site

neanderthalcaveTraces of human occupation from Middle Paleolithic period have been found in a cave, unearthed after long-awaited work started at the new waste water treatment plant at Companheira on the banks of a tributary of the Arade River near Portimão.

The 40,000-year-old home is that of Neanderthal Man and luckily the cave is not directly on the plot that is being cleared for stage one construction.

Algarve gas exploration - what is really going on near Aljezur?

pollution5smallOn the 21st and 22nd of April, 2016 the western Algarve population was alerted to a worrying development at the Perdigão area of Aljezur, at the site where alleged “water drilling” activity has been taking place for months.

Dozens of photos published today by anti-oil and gas campaining organisation ASMAA show the impact of a chemical foam used in the drilling process - but water was found at this site three months ago, so why does drilling continue? The suspicion is that the instigator is using a water drilling license to cover up a search for oil and gas.

EC may fine Portugal and Spain for poor budget performances

europeanparliamentThe European Commission has plans to penalise both Spain and Portugal for missing their respective budget deficit reduction targets. As it is hardly helpful to start issuing fines, the idea is to give each government more time to get to grips with their budgets.

The all-powerful Commissioners plan to impose sanctions and immediately suspend them, just to make a point.

Migrant numbers in Germany subside

refugeesThe number of North Africans reaching Germany has plummeted since January, according to government figures.

New arrivals from Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria were but 480 in March, compared to 3,356 in January.

Carnation Captains back on parade for April 25th

carnation1974The heroically named Captains of the Carnation Revolution this year returned to Portugal's parliament building for the April 25th remembrance event.

For four years in a row the surviving military personnel who were instrumental in the peaceful uprising against Salazarism have boycotted the April 25th events in protest against the policies of the previous Passos Coelho coalition government and its rigid adherence to a raft of austerity policies.

Scramble to beat UK stamp duty ignites property market

cottageProperty sales soared ahead in Britain as investors rushed to beat the rise in stamp duty.

Transactions surged in March before the extra 3% stamp duty on additional property was imposed on 1 April.