The Pestana hotel group is working on a project to create a huge nature reserve bordering the Odelouca dam in Silves to offer customers using its coastal hotels the opportunity to the Algarve’s natural landscape, flora and fauna.

The plan is being developed with Silves and Monchique councils, the mayors from each being positive that this new style of natural tourism is timely and could help counter the current shift of people and activity away from rural areas.

Ryanair has crowed that it will see off its German rivals Air Berlin and Eurowings.

“Low costs are our philosophy. We’re the Aldi of air travel,” Michael O’Leary said. “I’m hoping for a price war.”

She’s done it: Portugal’s Justice Minister Frances Van Dunem has decided that 20 courts, closed by her often 'tired and emotional' predecessor Paula Teixeira da Cruz, are to be staffed and reopened early next year with a further 27 formerly downgraded courts reopened for smaller cases.

The minister said she was in talks with the ministry of finance over staffing levels but a January 2017 start date is the target with an additional budget of €500,000 a year.

Using the EU Merger Regulations, the European Commission finally has approved the acquisition of Açoreana Seguros by Apollo Global Management, of the US.

The American company is a private equity investor active in various industry sectors, has had to wait five months to get the green light and now can complete the Açoreana purchase.

A Lufthansa pilot said he was obliged to dodge three drones while attempting to land his aircraft at Bilbao, northern Spain.

The incident happened on Saturday and the pilot reported it to air traffic control.

The travel guide Lonely Planet has issued its 2016 list of “best in Europe” locations.

Portugal does not feature among the top ten and the closest destination is Extremadura in Spain which ranked number seven.

With the sale of Novo Banco still not settled, its boss Eduardo Stock da Cunha (pictured) is to move back to London in September, leaving behind as much uncertainty and disruption as when he took over.

The loss-making Novo Banco must be sold by August, according to the government's own timetable, and “at no loss to the taxpayer”, according to Prime Minister António Costa.

A senior executive of the Security Information Service (SIS), Frederico Carvalhão Gil, has been arrested in Rome for selling secrets to the Russians. This marks the end of Operation Top Secret and the final chapter in a cat and mouse game that has been going on for decades.

Gil was caught red handed alongside a spy from the Russian secret service who also was arrested and hauled off by the Italian police for questioning.