Almaraz - 800,000 Portuguese would be affected by nuclear accident

nuclearAs parliament today waits to question the Foreign Affairs and Environment ministers about Portugal’s climb-down on the threat from Spain’s Almaraz nuclear power station development, news has been released that a Portuguese Army team under NATO reported back in 2010 that 800,000 people in Portugal would be affected by a radioactive cloud if there was an accident on the scale of Chernobyl in the Ukraine.

The military simulation was carried out seven years ago, yet only now has been revealed on Radio Renascença, showing that the north of Portugal would be the region most affected if the Almaraz plant, 100kms from the Portuguese border, caught fire and blew up.

Abandoned Estômbar pig farm to become five-star hotel

aradeAnimal breeding and feed producers Euroinveste is branching out into the agri-tourism hotel business with the announcement today that Hotel Riverade is to be built on an old farm leading to the banks of the Arade near Estômbar, Lagoa.

The 50 hectare livestock farm was abandoned years ago and is to be converted into a 31-room, five-star hotel at a cost of around €5 million.

Olhão Socialists thwarted as António Pina is reselected as candidate for mayor

PinaJeSuisTShirtThe Socialist Party's Algarve District Political Commission has confirmed António Pina as the party’s choice as the candidate in the October 1st local elections, despite the city’s Socialists earlier deselecting Pina, citing a litany of undemocratic decisions and a too-close relationship with the opposition PSD that has enable him to rule the chamber.

Pina walked out of a Olhão council meeting to select candidates when he realised his name was not on the selection list and went straight to Algarve regional headquarters to start the process of having himself directly appointed, over the heads of the local Olhão Socialists.

Opposition claims excellent economic growth is 'all down to the last government'

shipyardThe excellent economic growth figures for the Portuguese economy is all down to the reforms of the previous government, sais the previous government.

The former coalition partnership of the CDS and PSD has welcomed the positive economic data, "We are pleased with the recovery of the Gross Domestic Product this quarter which is due to the reforms made by the previous Government and a more favourable international and EU environment."

Guadiana to be made navigable upstream from Alcoutim

alcoutimLong awaited dredging works are closer to happening as those concerned with this stretch of the Guadiana River, between Alcoutim and Pomarão in Mértola, have got together, resulting in the announcement of a start date of 'early 2018.’

Those at this key meeting looked at the current situation and managed to lay down a programme of 'things that need to be done' to sort out the navigability of the upper Guadiana which at the moment is generally navigable only to Alcoutim.

Algarve's water and sewage systems improve

water2Lagoa council has taken its leaking water supply system and, since 2013, has renewed significant sections in an effort to reduce water loss.

According to the 2016 report from the council’s water supply service, the percentage of water lost at the year-end was 29.5%, a drop of over 10% compared to 2013 when 40% of domestic water was lost between supplier and consumer.

Matt Wallace wins Portugal Open at Morgado Golf Resort

mattWallaceEngland's Matt Wallace has won the Portugal Open at the Morgado Golf Resort near Portimão.

Wallace led from start to finish and claims his first European Tour title after a final round of 69 to finish ahead of  Julian Suri from the US.

Cyber-attack spread to 150 countries

6208aThe worldwide WannaCry virus has affected 200,000 victims, according to Europol which said this number inevitably will rise on Monday when people get to work and turn on their computers.

"We had never seen anything like it," said Europol’s director Rob Wainwright, who said the virus has hit 150 countries and affected mostly companies.