Portugal's Economy Minister, António Pires de Lima, said today that Volkswagen cars produced at Portugal’s Autoeuropa factory did not incorporate the special software package that fiddles engine performance when tested for emissions.
Pires de Lima said he already has spoken with management at Autoeuropa and can assure everyone that the "vehicles produced in Portugal in recent years, do not have the special fraudulent kit incorporated. I have every reason to believe Autoeuropa."
Despite lauded language skills in the tourists areas of the Algarve, the Portuguese in fact have the lowest EC score for learning a foreign language in school.
The recently announced 2013 figures from Eurostat show that just 35% of ‘first cycle’ pupils learned a foreign language, the lowest percentage in the Community, but from this academic year it is mandatory for third year pupils to learn English.
Portugal’s Minister of Finance said today that the reduction in the income tax surcharge will go ahead for next year, whatever the year end national deficit.
Keen to assure vacillating voters that her pledge remains in place despite yesterday's shock deficit figure for 2014, Finance Minister Maria Luís Albuquerque reiterated that the reduction in the austerity surcharge on personal income tax will go ahead and that it does not depend on hitting the deficit target for this year.
Banker José Maria Ricciardi has accused his cousin Ricardo Salgado of "absolutely disgraceful and ruinous management" as the head of Grupo Espírito Santo.
Ricciardi (pictured) added that Salgado "manipulated and controlled" the family and other major shareholders in exchange for "perks".
With disregard for the continuing grief, distress and sensitivity surrounding the hushed up university prank that saw six students swept away and drowned at Meco beach in December 2013, a fresher at the University of the Algarve has ended up in hospital being buried up to her neck on Faro beach and force-fed alcohol, according to early reports.
The Rector of the University of Algarve today announced the opening of an investigation into an incident ‘related to academic pranks’ which required the student to be admitted to Faro hospital.
Sales of electronic books fell by the greatest drop since e-books were first marketed.
E-book sales had been growing robustly, except for a small dip in 2013.
Malta is facing judgement by the EU’s top court because of its controversial tradition of shooting birds which are migrating in spring.
The EU has long been uneasy with the island nation over the matter.
The Portuguese Consumer Law Association (APDC) president today said the new ‘couverts’ law is failing.
Restaurants may not charge for couverts that have not been requested by customers. If they do, they risk a minimum fine of €300 and a maximum fine of a stonking €180,000.
