The latest step has been taken in an attempt to build a bridge to Faro island, a long running saga that has kept locals and newsrooms entertained for years.
The new tender is for €3.5 million, €1.12 million higher than the last tender in October that not a single contractor was lured by, as it was based on out-of-date figures.
In a year full of environmental news and incidents, ZERO has identified some of the key moments that demonstrate the many weaknesses that persist in environment protection.
On January 24, there was serious pollution in the Tejo river causing a thick blanket of foam to form on the river in the Abrantes area, (pictured). This capped more than two years of recurrent pollution in the upper and middle sections of the Tejo. Following the foam episode, more assertive measures were taken by the government to ensure the improvement of water quality. Test results over the next year will show whether this is working.
Ourique’s mayor was a model of politeness, enthuiasm and optimism as he signed a deal with energy supplier EDP for its engineers to connect rural customers in the Baixo Alentejo to the electricity supply.
This modern wonder has been denied in many areas of the municipality as it has not been economic to run power cables to farms and cottages whose inhabitants had been judged as potentially low users.
The GNR, stepped up patrols on the busiest routes to 'help drivers along their way' and caution or fine those who, despite adequate warning and inadequate penalties, fail to ensure their own safety and that of other road users.
GNR patrols made 218 arrests and registered 6,912 vehicle related infractions between the 21st and 27th of December, with 304 drivers done for drinking and driving, 144 of which officially were deemed to be so drunk that they had committed a criminal offence.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has warned of the risks of an extended pre-election period next year and does not want the electioneering to start too early.
Portugal’s President is concerned that, with the European elections just five months off, a period of political disruption will kick off and not stop as the national elections are to be held next autumn.
Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated on the day after Christmas Day. It originated in the United Kingdom, and is celebrated in a number of countries that previously formed part of the British Empire. Boxing Day is on 26 December, although the attached bank holiday or public holiday may take place either on that day or two days later.
In the early days of Christianity, boxes were placed in churches for charities and were opened on Christmas Day. The contents were distributed next day and called the "dole of the Christmas box," or the "box money."
Portugal’s Prime Minister, António Costa, delivered his Christmas message, saying that Portugal is much better but that he is under no illusion that there’s a long way to go.
The PM said that Portugal has turned the page of the most difficult years and is now better, but still has much work ahead, having to win "great challenges" over the country’s concerning demographic trends and the “exploitation of its territory.”
Every Christmas Day afternoon, Britain's reigning monarch delivers a television message to the Commonwealth, detailing the events of the last 12 months and wishes for the future. This usually lasts around 10 minutes.
There have been only three occasions when there was no message on radio or television; 1936 (due to Edward VIII’s abdication a few weeks before), 1938 and in 1969 when a written message was issued. This was because a special documentary film, 'Royal Family', had been made during the summer of 1969 and it therefore was decided not to broadcast at Christmas.
