Amorim and dos Santos lose over €100 million on Galp share sale

amorimCompanies controlled by Portugal’s richest man and Angola’s wealthiest woman have lost more than €100 million on the sale of Galp shares.

The holding company, Amorim Energia, owned 55% by Américo Amorim and 45% by Angolan oil company Sonangol and Isabel dos Santos, yesterday sold 5% of Galp Energia for €484.69 million.

Portugal's empathy towards refugees shames meaner countries

refugeespenelaPortugal is one of the top European countries when it comes to compassion towards Syrian refugees and a willingness to offer them new homes.

In an international poll released today by the non-governmental organisation International Rescue Committee (IRC), of the respondents from Portugal, 21% were ‘greatly in favour’ of hosting Syrian refugees in Portugal, with 46% saying they were ‘in favour.’

S&P maintains Portugal rating as 'junk' with the outlook 'stable'

eurozoneThere has been no change for Portugal from Standard & Poor's which has kept its debt rating at BB+, and the outlook as 'stable.'

The agency forecasts a decelerating economic recovery with the government committed to policies that support a better balance in the public accounts.

Record heat threatens greater ice melt in Greenland

greenlandIceGreenland’s vast ice sheet began melting faster and earlier this year aided by record-breaking warm weather, according to the Danish Meteorological Institute.

Around 12% of the ice sheet starting melting a month earlier than had been the case in earlier years.

Missing Ben Needham 'killed in digger accident 25 years ago'

kosThe mother of missing toddler Ben Needham has been told to “prepare for the worst” by detectives who suspect the toddler may have died 25 years ago in an accident with a digger and was buried by the driver.

Forensics teams are to begin excavating at two sites close to where Ben was last seen as he played near his grandparents' home on Kos in 1991.

Transport sector: cheap diesel to match Spanish pump price

lorryPortugal’s government has launched its ‘cheap diesel’ trial for HGVs filling up close to the border with Spain.

For a test period of fourteen weeks, drivers of goods vehicles of 35 tonnes and over, may fill up in border filling stations at a 13 cents per litre discount to encourage them to spend money on fuel in Portugal, rather than nipping across the border to access cheaper fuel in Spain.

Lisbon: Chinese couple charged over daughter's fall from 21st floor

pokerA Chinese couple who left their five-year-old daughter alone while they went off to the Lisbon Casino are to be charged after a six month investigation.

The horrific accident on February 19th this year took place in the luxury São Rafael apartments at the Parque das Nações development, Lisbon.

Doñana national park in grave peril

donanaNationalParkSpainSpain's Doñana wetlands area is reported to have lost 80% of its natural water supplies, putting it at risk of being listed as ‘in danger’.

The Anadalusian reserve of sand dunes, shallow streams and lagoons is being starved of water due to marsh drainage, intensive local agriculture, and water pollution from the mining industry.