Ryanair - people prefer the motorway

ryanair2Despite having a new communications director in a bid to cease the often ill-timed utterances of Ryanair’s chief executive Michael O’Leary, he is at it again.

His Holiness today announced that Ryanair will not resume the route between Lisbon and Faro which was suspended at the end of April.

Stolen statues on their way back to Estói Palace

estoipalaceTwo iconic statues stolen from Estói Palace in 2006 have been returned to the Algarve having been tracked down and recovered in Spain by police.

The life-size female figures were stolen during a period when the Baroque palace was closed to the public, and well before the venue became a fully-fledged Pousada.

Portugal’s industry leaps ahead

 

shipyardIndustrial production in Portugal shot up by 6.7% in April, showing a good recovery for the 4% drop it experienced in March.

This was the highest jump in any eurozone country.

Algarve’s ‘Boa Esperança’ sizzles in Seville

boaesperancasevilleThe Algarve’s flagship has been the venue on which to impress our Spanish neighbours in a session of ‘showcooking’ with the regional tourist board hosting the first of a series of on-board events.

More than 100 people joined Algarve tourism representatives on board the replica caravel in Seville for a showcooking session organised by the Algarve tourism board. The show drew journalists, Seville’s great and good, and leaders of Spanish travel businesses.

Fuel poverty deepens in Britain

gasThe ever increasing charges for gas and electricity have kicked a record number of UK families into fuel poverty.

Official statistics just released show that the number of households with dependent children who were classified as fuel poor are projected to have risen to an estimated 2.33 million, or 10% of all households.

EU to decide if obesity is a disability

fatmexicanThe top court in the EU is considering a test case which could define obesity as a disability.

The matter arose when Denmark asked the Court of Justice to clarify European law by considering a case involving a male childminder who claims he had been sacked because of his weight.

Bank of Portugal's impartial assessment - €7 billion of cuts still needed

bop2Portugal’s central bank warned today that the country’s fiscal consolidation is not complete and that three years of austerity measures so far have raised only half the amount needed for the government to hit its own target.

Approximately €7 billion in additional austerity measures (4% of GDP) will have to be found for the structural deficit to reach 0.5% by 2019, as planned.

New British Ambassador to Portugal appointed

britishambassadorMrs Kirsty Isobel Hayes has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Portuguese Republic.

Mrs Kirsty Isobel Hayes has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Portuguese Republic in succession to Mrs Jill Gallard, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mrs Hayes will take up her appointment during August 2014.