The director of the European Policy Centre said today that Portugal’s bailout programme was absolutely necessary, but that the country had suffered from the inexperience of the European institutions that funded the rescue package - the Troika.
Fabian Zuleeg sees the Portuguese case as a successful one as it approaches the end of the Troika involvement and its return to the international funding markets, but that the price paid in social terms has been very heavy and the damage will remain.
Saddening news has been released this afternoon of the death of a Dutch couple near Lagos Marina.
The couple died today just after noon after they apparently fell from their balcony at the Fábrica tourist apartments near Lagos Marina.
Loulé council has emphasised its commitment to the construction of the research centre at Fonte da Benémola near Querença, but if the project does not proceed, 'it will not be the council's fault.'
Local news service SulInformaçao reports that Loulé municipality has responded to an item in yesterday’s 'Correio da Manha' which said the €10 million investment is likely to be abandoned due to local council bureaucracy.
To mark the 40th anniversary of Portugal’s Carnation Revolution, the old chaimite tank decorated with peace signs has once again trundled along the Avenida da Liberdade. People walked the streets holding carnations and singing the verses of Grândola vila morena, the song by Zeca Afonso that has become the symbol of the Portuguese revolution.
Andalusia’s wetland haven for rare birds and wildlife is still being hit by local farmers in their quest to provide early season strawberries to northern Europe.
The nearby strawberry farms are fed by boreholes, many illegal, which have lowered Doñana’s water table. Silt washed from nearby farms is also choking the channels that crisscross the park.
A film version of the classic TV comedy Dad’s Army is reported to be ‘in the works’.
The original aired on TV for nine series from 1968 to 1977. It has been hailed as one of the UK’s greatest TV comedies. It was voted fourth most popular British sitcom in a BBC vote in 2004.
The Attorney General for Lisbon has ordered the Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa website (www.pgdlisboa.pt) to be suspended ‘preemptively to ensure data protection’ after the site was attacked by Anonymous Portugal and the police that are investigating suggested that staff systems may be vulnerable.
The portal went off air on Saturday leaving an error message. It will be several days before any flaws in the hacked system have been identified and resolved, according to the Attorney General for Lisbon, Francisca Van Dunem.
The poll was conducted online by readers of the prestigious magazine who chose Portugal for its combination of culture, cuisine, fine wines, beaches, golf courses, history, and especially for the Portuguese hosts who were described as an affable, open and "very sincere" people. Portugal also was considered to have a "striking variety" of landscapes.
This is the second time that Portugal has been selected for this award. In this 6th competition, Portugal vied with Spain, USA, Italy, Mexico, and Switzerland winniinig the 'Best Country' section.
