The cost of Portugal’s Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) increased by almost 60% in 2014 compared to 2013, reaching €1.544 billion, according to an estimate from the government department that analyses the state budget which warns also that these agreements "constitute a considerable source of financial risk".

In a note on the implementation of these PPPs, the Unidade Técnica de Apoio Orçamental (UTAO) has revealed that the total net charges, including ongoing charges and financial balance replenishment, rose between 2013 and 2014 to 0.9% of gross domestic product.

A new El Niño weather cycle has started, according to the Bureau of Meteorology in Australia which says the changed weather of prolonged hotter, drier conditions are expected to dominate the climate there in the second half of the year.

They do not anticipate that a new El Niño will affect only Australia but will his other parts of the tropical Pacific region.

Economists have spotted a worrying recent trend in Greece: people there are buying cars.

The purchases have given a signal that the country is in the midst of a run on the banks.

The Algarve Tourism Board has never been accused of missing out on a good party.

The opening of direct air connections to Faro from Madrid by Air Nostrum, and Barcelona by Vueling, is all the impetus needed for a full PR blast at the Portuguese embassy in Madrid.

Miguel Pais do Amaral has given up on buying TAP, according to today’s Diário Económico, as he is concerned about the impact of the pilots strike which ended last night.

Just four days before final bids must be submitted, the businessman already has told his team of consultants and advisors to stand down.

Silver was the most important trading commodity in the 16th century, making an inestimable contribution to the power and wealth of Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands. At the time, mines in Peru, Bolivia and Mexico produced three-quarters of world production.

Over time, it was reduced to being the poor man’s precious metal as gold eclipsed silver in value.

Speculation and well leaked information refers to the Algarve’s favourite Arab, Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber, as ‘preparing to buy’ the resort of Vale de Lobo in the Algarve’s so-called Golden Triangle.

The Saudi Arabian businessman of course is richer than most deities, Forbes has him down for around seven billion USD, and he owns a raft of assets in the Algarve including the Dona Filipa Hotel in Vale do Lobo, the famous Penina Hotel in Portimão and the San Lorenzo and Pinheiros Altos golf courses.

The deputy prime minister, Paulo Portas, long has championed Portugal’s exporters and seems to have backed a winner as the latest export figures are indeed pointing in the right direction.

Portas commented today on data released by the National Statistics Institute which showed a first quarter 4% increase in exports which, combined with a fall of 1.4% in imports, has brought cheer to his otherwise troubled dossier.