Following the big news last week that the Environmental Protection Agency in the US  had uncovered special software inside diesel-powered Volkswagens sold there could "defeat" emissions testing, making them appear compliant with clean air standards when they are not, Volkswagen board chairman Martin Winterkorn issued an apology and this week resigned.

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board (EPA and CARB) revealed their findings that while testing diesel cars of the Volkswagen Group they have detected manipulations that violate American environmental standards.

Loulé Court has upheld the suspension of the planned demolition of 41 primary residences on Farol island, part of the Ria Formosa island chain south of Faro and Olhão in the Algarve.

In April 2015 the same court decided to suspend the demolition orders for 137 threatened island homes whose owners had filed injunctions in response to formal letters from the Polis Ria Formosa Society which informed homeowners that they were to lose their property without compensation.

The highest court in France has dismissed an appeal by US-based Uber, leaving the road open for French taxi drivers to take passengers for a ride.

France banned the ride-sharing app UberPop last January. The move came after incensed taxi drivers around the country protested.

Portugal now is to host around 4,500 - 5,000 refugees, the majority coming from camps in Italy and Greece, confirmed the Ministry of Internal Affairs today after an emergency meeting of the EC Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels.

At the meeting, additional measures were laid down to cater for the refugee influx many of whom are in Italy and Greece which can not cope with the numbers.

Portugal’s taxi driver union boss today announced that his members will be striking daily until Uber is banned.

The union leadership is attempting to put pressure on the justice minister whom they want to ‘enforce the law’ which they interpret as requiring Uber vehicles to hold a license to carry passengers.

TAP and Google today announced that the they have begun to work together to 'speed up the electronic transformation of the airline to maximise customer loyalty in the digital ecosystem.'

The deal is for a series of projects and initiatives to be developed over the next three years.

The British prime minister is being urged by fellow Conservatives to quicken his pace with a bill to re-enfranchise British expats.

The Queen’s Speech in May said the “15 year rule” would be abolished. The rule means that about one million British expats are denied a vote.

A rare cliff showing unique geological strata created more than 250 million years ago may be at risk after council works near Praia do Telheiro beach in Vila do Bospo.

A path leading to the cliff top has been bulldozed to make it easier for vehicles to get to the beach area. Internationally known Portuguese geologist Galopim de Carvalho is horrified that this work will affect this geological gem as stones and rocks have been pushed to one side and clumps of greenery destroyed to widen the access.