David Cameron and his wife Samantha have begun their summer holiday with a visit to a Portuguese fish market.

Stage race wins all season, second in last year's Tour, the absence of Bradley Wiggins, no mishaps in the final build-up to Saturday's start and a team clearly dedicated to getting him to Paris wearing yellow: Chris Froome's status as overwhelming Tour favourite is as solid as ever. But the feeling is growing stronger that Richie Porte, nominally Sky's Plan B, could well be in the frame for a top-three placing in Paris as well.

There's plenty to attract property buyers and investors, writes Monica Woodley – not least a resilient market

They say involvement of Metropolitan Police now means hunt is escalating

This Moorish-style guesthouse is a sophisticated base for exploring the region's natural delights, says Katie Monk

Luxury escapism, olive groves and natural lagoons

Less than £200... For the price of £169pp, BA Holidays has four nights of warm winter sun in Spain on the Costa del Sol. It includes flights from Gatwick on 5 March and self-catering accommodation at the Benalmadena Palace, which has a pool and beach, close to Torremelinos. Britishairways.com

Southern migration

Less than £200... Armed with The Independent’s latest 48 Hours in Paris, take  Eurostar from London St Pancras on 26 January for two nights in the French capital for £193 – including B&B at the two-star Hotel Americain, close to Place de la République. Upgrade the train for £104 per person. Crestaholidays.co.uk

A Briton wanted by police over an alleged multi-million pound cocaine smuggling plot in 2007 has been arrested in Portugal after a separate haul of the drug was found on a yacht.

Head coach irritated by fitness saga but insists he had to give triple jumper chance to 'fulfil his dream'

The odds about Phillips Idowu making the 2012 Olympics – or at least making them in anything approaching medal shape – lengthened yesterday when it emerged the former world triple jump champion would be staying in London to have private treatment to "an ongoing injury" instead of attending the British athletics team's pre-Games "holding camp" at Monte Gordo in Portugal.

The odds on Phillips Idowu making the 2012 Olympics – or at least making in them in anything approaching medal shape – lengthened yesterday when it emerged the former world triple jump champion would be staying in London to have private treatment to "an ongoing injury" instead of attending the British athletics team's pre-Games "holding camp" at Monte Gordo in Portugal.

Flames threaten apartments, hotels and houses above Funchal, the capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira. A school was among buildings to be evacuated.