Head of Portugal’s ambulance service sacked

inemINEM chief Paulo Campos already was under suspension after the previous Health Minister Paulo Macedo decided to investigate an allegation that a patient, supposedly known personally to Campos, has been transported by helicopter from Cascais to Abrantes when not gravely ill.

The Health Minister decided this week to dismiss Paul Campos from his post at the head of the National Institute of Medical Emergencies (INEM).

Galp ditches power station project

galpGalp Energia is about to forfeit €8 million for not building a gas fired power station in Sines.

The deposit held by Caixa Geral is payable to the government if Galp fails to build the power station which, after years of delays and excuses, it now is unlikely to.

Charlie Chaplin revisited – his Swiss home turned into museum

chaplinA museum dedicated to the life and works of Charlie Chaplin is finally set to open in April after more than 15 years of planning, seven of which appear to have been spent in legal procedures and Swiss courts.

Situated in the village of Corsier-sur-Vevey in the Vaud canton, the museum will be in the manor house which the Chaplin family occupied.

EDP lodges complaint over €7.5 million 'social tariff' fine

edpEDP has appealed against its fine of €7.5 million imposed by the Regulatory Authority for Energy Services.

The fine was issued due to infringements in the tariff scheme designed to help poorer customers.

First journey on the new Silk Road

silkrouteThe caravans which used to ply the old Silk Road trade route have been replaced by a 32-container cargo train which just completed its first journey on Monday.

The train covered 10,399 km in just 14 days from China’s eastern province of Zhejiang to the Iranian capital, Tehran.

Irish voters may follow the Portuguese with 'anti-austerity' vote

4794Portugal is paying a “horrendous” price for political instability according to the Prime Minister of Ireland, Enda Kenny.

The premier was quoted by Bloomberg having announced legislative elections for February 26th and seeing the current polls which indicate that the coalition he leads is unlikely to command a majority.

Estate agencies chief calls for Golden Visa scheme to be scrapped

vilamouraBetween December 2015 and January 2016, the issuing of Golden Visas to non-EU foreigners fell by 31% and real estate professionals are complaining that the scheme is discredited.

Luís Lima, the head of the Association of Professionals and Real Estate Companies (APEMIP) says the current scheme should be cancelled as it has picked up too many negative connotations.

Government lets Chinese money into TAP

tap2Portugal’s Partido Popular (CDS-PP) has accused the government of misleading parliament, and it has a valid point.

The CDS, formerly part of the ruling coalition and now in opposition, has criticised the secrecy of Prime Minister António Costa’s administration over letting Chinese capital into the Gateway consortium and thus allowing Hainan Airlines become a shareholder of TAP.