Wednesday, June 21, 2023

WEDNESDAY BRIEFING


Mid-week headline news – June 21


Heatwaves coming

Meteorologists are forecasting a heat wave to start tomorrow, Thursday, with temperatures rising to 40C or more in the interiors of the Algarve, the Alentejo and the Tagus Valley. It is expected to be hot, though, less so, across the rest of the country. The heat wave is expected to last for weeks.

Don’t waste water!

A national campaign to raise awareness about the need to save water has been launched in the Algarve region. Further droughts are predicted across the country as summer sets in. The levels of water in reservoirs have continued to drop despite recent rainfalls.

Solar farm concerns

Amnesty International Portugal has accused the government of a lack of transparency and an absence of dialogue with local inhabitants in the building of photovoltaic power plants in the Alentejo and the Algarve in a document that reveals concerns about the local economy, according to Luca News.

Alagoas Brancos latest

Portugal’s minister of the environment and climate action has been asked by a group of environmental organisations to intervene in the long and bitter dispute over a plan, backed by the Lagoa municipal authority, to allow a development to be built on the Alagoas Brancas wetland situated on the verge of the city. The minister has been asked to ensure immediate protection for this Algarve wetland, which is rich in plant and bird life.

Short-term lets

Restrictions on short-term lets of particular interest to holidaymakers are proving to be a highly contentious way of tackling the housing crisis for local residents.  The main opposition Social Democratic Party has proposed the elimination what it calls “the most damaging” aspects of the government’s initiative.

Lisbon Airport improvements

The government is finishing its assessment of proposals to improve operations at Lisbon Airport, the minister of infrastructure said this Wednesday morning.  A commitment to alleviate difficulties this summer has been guaranteed.

Worst port pollution

The ports of Lisbon and Funchal in Madeira are among the top 10 ports in Europe with the highest levels of pollution associated with cruise ships. This is according to a study released on Monday by the environmental association Zero.

Also, on the front pages

Other top stories in the major Portuguese newspapers so far this week include: Illegal immigration, betting scandals, a possible tax break for landlords, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s reaction to winning his 200th international cap.

 

 

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