Whilst the press focuses on the big stories, a few media outlets picked up upon the startling revelation that the Swedish population were actually (and voluntarily) overpaying their taxes!
In an economy with negative interest rates, the Swedish Government agreed to pay a nominal ‘income’ on overpaid tax returned to individuals and businesses, resulting in a remarkable rush to overpay against tax demands: we live in interesting times!

The Algarve city of Olhão de Restauração is about to have a riverside face-lift that will change the two parks at either end of the famous markets into tourist areas ‘par excellence,’ according to mayor António Pina.

The council’s plans were presented on Thursday evening to an open session that attracted around 100 locals.

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Lisbon is the administrative, business and tourism centre of Portugal. The national economy has long been on the mend, and the number of global investors interested in obtaining real estate in the Portuguese capital is growing.

Some observers call Lisbon "the new Barcelona": in 2016, the city took seventh place in the PwC Investment and Development Prospects ranking.

The new 24,000 m2 IKEA store is to open earlier than expected this March at a cost to the Swedish company of around €200 million.

IKEA Loulé's newly appointed manager, Abdelhak Ayadi, today confirmed the date today and commented, "With the opening of IKEA Loulé, we will be even closer to our customers in the south of the country and will help contribute to the dynamism of the region."

Caixa Geral de Depósitos has rejected a rescue deal for the Keys, based at the Quinta do Lago estate.

The taxpayer-owned bank is owed €278 million but has concluded that it was not worth agreeing to a Special Revitalisation Plan for its client, Birchview Imobiliária.

The normally gloomy head of the Algarve hoteliers’ association, Elidérico Viegas, said with rare enthusiasm that last year’s hotel occupancy growth was double the expected rate.

Despite getting this 2016 estimate wrong by 100%, the association chief says that the prediction for this year is for a 3.1% increase in tourist occupation rates in the Algarve, a 6.1% increase in hotel turnover and a 3% increase in average hotel room rates.

The Cultural Directorate of the Algarve has announced a €4.3 million spend on some of the region’s most important national monuments, including the castles at Silves and Paderne.

The magalithic remains at Alcalar, the Roman buildings at Milreu and the fort at Sagres all will benefit from the grant under the CRESC Algarve 2020 programme.