Portugal’s Prime Minister has denied that the country’s impressive growth in tourism is anything to do with "problems in other regions of the world," stating that the recent good results are due to the smart strategy of the government which has been putting its promotional effort into developing out-of-season tourism.

"Some think that this growth is cyclical and due to problems existing in other regions of the world. I think it is an unjust statement," António Costa said at the 4th Internal Tourism Forum in Leiria.

The fishing communities on the Ria Formosa islands of Armona and Culatra long have rued the day when a major area of sea became out of bounds to locals after it was sectioned off and licensed for aquaculture.

Islanders took the opportunity of ‘Day of the Fishermen,’ June 1st, to highlight the folly of leaving productive fishing grounds abandoned with fewer than 25% of the 60 licensed lots being used for their intended purpose.

A new laboratory to develop technology related to the sea is being developed by research centres in Oporto and Faro, with European funding of around €5.3 million.

The TEC4Sea laboratory, created by the Institute of Systems and Computers, Technology and Science Engineering (INESC TEC) and the Centre for Technological Research of the Algarve (CINTAL), intends to "train highly qualified human resources," - also known as 'people.'

During the first year of the new points system for driving offences, not a single driver has lost his license.

Road deaths rose by 8%, a slight increase in the last 12 months, with 462 people losing their lives as a result of road traffic accidents, an increase of 35 victims.

Intrepid tourists in the Algarve managed to clock up 587,000 visits to the region’s tourist offices last year.

Most popular were the offices in Faro, Lagos and Tavira with the regional capital’s refurbished site receiving an average of 1,700 visitors a week.

The Águas de Portugal group is to spend €18 million between now and the year 2020 to double its renewable energy production and shear €5 million a year off its electricity bill.

The State-owned company has announced an Energy Efficiency and Production Plan which outlines a renewable energy production target of 50 Gigawatt hours, more than double its current production.

The Sagres lifeboat crew helped deal with the carcass of a 12-metre-long whale that was spotted floating in the sea off Baleeira and endangering shipping.

According to the Maritime Authority, the adult whale was spotted by the crew of a fishing vessel which alerted the authorities.

Officers from the Judicial Police have made an arrest in Madeira related to the Alvor acid attack that left a British travel rep seriously injured.

Cláudio Gouveia, Eleanor Chessell’s former lover, has been arrested for attempted homicide, according to a statement from the Portimão PJ.