Sifting through the wreckage of fires of biblical proportions, people in Greece have been turning their anger on the authorities in much the same way as they did in Portugal a year ago.
But this time round, Greek media has a precedent: the example of minister of internal administration Constança Urbano de Sousa who (finally) resigned after the worst two fire tragedies in Portugal’s living memory.
In the wake of endless protests over lack of manpower and conditions, the government has finally announced that it is making 1234 places available for young doctors up and down the country.
Despite the fact that the number itself looks like it has been pulled out of a hat, the country’s association of doctors has said it simply isn’t enough.
Following the awful death of six-year-old Belgian boy Vic Wanzeele in Azeitão ten days ago, the child’s parents have emerged from their grief to demand a “rigorous investigation” into how a pool open to holidaymakers could have been left to become a death-trap.
Ansie Van Aerschot and Michael Wanzeele have also revealed the heartbreaking events that led to their son’s death.
The competitive advantage rideshare giants have over local taxi firms is their ability to burn cash, as investors eagerly subsidise each ride.
A fresh flash point has broken out between Uber and the highly mobilised taxi drivers of one of its most febrile markets, Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia.
Cash machine operator, Euronet, claims that the stiff fees charged to dual-function debit and credit cards is down to the banks, not Euronet.
"The fees charged by banks to their customers on certain dual functionality debit /credit cards for cash withdrawals at our ATMs in Portugal are not charged by Euronet, nor does Euronet receive these fees in whole or in part," the company said in a statement.
The Government, Estradas de Portugal and owners of the road concessions involved in 'ruinous' Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), all entered into a secret agreement to get around the Court of Auditors rejection of the controversial funding scheme.
The Judicial Police at last is investigating these PPP contracts and has evidence of deals done behind closed doors, to the detriment of Portugal's long-suffering public.
Portugal is boosting its renewable energy production with the authorisation of 31 new solar power plants, a total of over 1,000 MW of production capacity.
The €800 million investment will see operational capacity by 2021, when “we will be able to triple the solar capacity in Portugal, from the current 572 MW to close to 1600 MW,” said Jorge Seguro Sanches, Portugal’s Secretary of State for Energy.
An arrest warrant has been issued and executed to bring in the Algarve’s regional head of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) in Albufeira, accused of issuing 'no questions asked' Residency documents at €500-a-time.
Joaquim Patrício is now helping police with their inquiries and faces question relating to the 'documents for cash' alegation made initially by an SEF whistleblower.
