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The end to 'roaming' charges is nigh, but Portual will lose out

mobmastThe European Parliament today passed a law to end mobile 'roaming' fees by 2017.

The law was approved as part of a larger package that sought to strengthen 'net neutrality' protection across the European Union, but which failed to close major loopholes that could be used to create internet ‘fast lanes.’

'Air Cocaine' pilots flee home to France

cocaineTwo French pilots have fled the Caribbean and managed to return to France despite being under judicial supervision for their alleged role in drug smuggling.

In a case widely dubbed as “Air Cocaine”, four Frenchmen were given prison sentences in the Dominican Republic.

PM announces new Ministers as 'no confidence' vote looms

parliamentThe new Passos Coelho government was announced today with the prospect of new ministers being in post for a matter of days before a vote of ‘no confidence’ brings down the coalition.

Maria Luís Albuquerque and Rui Machete have clung on to their briefs as ministers of state (Finance and Foreign Affairs) and Paulo Portas remains as deputy prime minister having had his magnanimous offer to vacat his post in favour of socialist leader António Costa rejected out off hand.

British death in Spanish police custody

benidormA British father-of-two has died while in police custody in Spain.

Antony Abbott, 36, was reported dead two hours after his arrest at the Hotel Palm Beach in Benidorm late on Thursday night. The arrest was reported to have been for rowdy behaviour after drinking.

Portugal's family debt burden increases

taxHalf of Portugal’s families with children live on less than €1,000 per month and 18% cannot afford to pay household bills such as water, electricity and gas, according to a study by DECO.

Pordata’s figures yesterday showed that one in five people in work in Portugal earned the minimum wage last year.

Hoteliers blame Secretary of State for failure of 'local lettings' scheme

HOTELRECEPTIONGALEThe president of Turismo de Portugal gave a keynote speech at the 27th Congress of the Portuguese Hoteliers Association in Évora, saying that innovation is one of the main factors that has led to the current positive results of the tourism sector in Portugal.

João Cotrim Figueiredo was speaking on behalf of the Secretary of State for Tourism, who sensibly was unavailable, saying that "the path taken so far is a successful path" and that "these results are no accident, but are down to work and investment without which it would not have been possible. "

Gas bottle row flares up

gasThe head of Galp Energia has waded in to the bottled gas row, questioning why there needs to be new legislation in a market that was working perfectly well before the government interfered.

Carlos Gomes da Silva of Galp says the new law for bottled gas is complex, needs to be clarified, has security risks and will add costs that the hapless consumer will end up paying.

Portugal to receive its first refugees next week

refugeesThe refugees destined to test Portugal’s response and resettlement mechanisms are still in a camp in Egypt and should have arrived in Portugal in September.

Most of the 45 are Syrian and a statement from Portugal’s Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) announced that the refugees are arriving under a UNHCR resettlement process and are nothing to do with the process of resettling 4,500 refugees under the EC master-plan which has yet to be tested.