The Algarve Observer has learned that the ceremony for assuming office has been scheduled for Wednesday in Lisbon, in the ceremonial room of the Ministry of Internal Administration at 5.30 pm in the presence of the minister Rui Pereira. Isilda Gomes, who holds a degree in Maths and Science Education, is 55 and originally from Mide in the district of Guarda: she is giving up her post as regional delegate of the Institute of Employment and Professional Training.

Once upon a time there was a daddy dolphin, who was getting on a bit but was still young at heart. He got together with the mummy dolphin and they had another baby. Iara has recently arrived at Zoomarine. Iara is the daughter of Sam, the oldest bottlenose dolphin in the world. Sam lives at Zoomarine and is 47 years old, but he still has the energy to procreate. The mother, Missy, aged 29, is delighted, along with all the staff at the Oceanographic Park. Iara was given a name of Tupi-guarani origin – which means "lady of the waters" and "mother of the waters".

Yesterday the company Águas do Algarve signed the contract for supplying water and treating domestic wastewater on the islands of Culatra, Farol (Faro) and Armona (Olhão). The work, which was blocked for months because of environmental concerns, will cost about 5.8 million euros. The execution of the underwater pipe between the city of Olhão and the barrier islands should be complete within 300 days, connecting the people who live there to the multi-municipal systems of water supply and sanitation.

Music from the four corners of the earth, accompanied by the best cuisine and handicrafts: the Med Festival in Loulé is being held for the fourth time and promises to be up to expectations. The creator of the soundtrack to “Babel” has already said he’ll be there. “The best and most varied programme of all the Festivals of the Mediterranean to date”. This is how the Loulé Council describes the fourth staging of the MED, which will be providing summer entertainment in Loulé for five days from 27th June to 1st July.

An idyllic setting with music to match and some 6000 people dancing at one of the biggest summer parties in Portugal: the third Algarve Beach Party promises to stir up the sand on the Algarve “Batata” beach, with performances already announced by the Brazilian DJ Patife and the Jamaican Earl 16, among others. As in previous years, the event will be divided into two distinct areas: electronic music and reggae – operating simultaneously.

When the curtain goes up at the Teatro das Figuras there will be seven actors on stage, three opera singers and 31 musicians, to perform this comic opera by Mozart, which, in the production directed by Paulo Matos, will have a component that is interactive with the audience. Mozart’s work focuses on the idiosyncrasies of the theatre world, including the clashes of personality between the prima donnas and the problems of funding, which, ironically, continue to be as topical as ever, an aspect that is highlighted by the director.