Dramatic escape as boat capsizes

BRITISH tourists travelling on a sightseeing boat in Portugal’s Algarve had a lucky escape on Monday, February 20, when their vessel capsized in the sea. A total of 36 people were returning from a trip to visit the famous sea caves in Benagil when the incident occurred.

Four children were said to have been among the passengers as the craft started taking on water before turning upright in the sea. Sources informed a news outlet that there were at least five British and two Irish nationals on board at the time.

“I thought I was going to die. The water wasn’t really high to start with and I was calm but then it started rising very quickly and I began to panic,” Lila Evangelista from London told the newspaper.

A spokesman for Portugal’s National Maritime Authority said “an alert was received at 1.25pm and members of the Portimao Maritime Police and Ferragudo Lifeguard Station were immediately sent to the site. The people who were on the boat were all in the water when they arrived with their life jackets on.”

“Some were showing signs of hypothermia and they were evaluated and assisted by the medical teams at the scene. The damaged vessel was later towed to a shipyard in Portimao.”

Unconventional coffee

ONE of the world’s most famous coffee chains, Starbucks announced a new line of drinks in its Italian locations on Wednesday, February 22. The new line of products has a uniquely Italian twist, they are infused with olive oil.

The coffee chain is launching several new drinks featuring the traditional Mediterranean ingredient in its new Oleato range. Drinks include a latte with olive oil, steamed with oat milk, an iced shaken espresso and a cold brew coffee featuring Patanna extra virgin oil blended with a vanilla cream foam.

Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz spoke about the unconventional pairing as the company announced the news, talking of the olive oil’s “unexpected, velvety, buttery flavour” which “enhanced the coffee and lingers beautifully on the palate.”

Shultz nodded to the unusual concept in an announcement made on the company’s website, saying, “Now, there’s going to be people who say, olive oil in coffee? But the proof is in the cup!”

The global coffee chain is thought to have made the decision to give its products a unique selling point in a tough market, which is dominated by traditional Italian cafes and family­run businesses.