Italian explorer Christopher Columbus has long been fingered for introducing syphilis to Europe after he returned from the New World.
But researchers at the Medical University of Vienna believe they have identified cases of congenital syphilis in skeletons that pre-date Columbus’ trips.
Olhão’s Mayor António Pina held a meeting at the Real Marina Hotel to report the council’s financial results of its first two years in office and to outline fun things that may or may not be achieved in the next two years.
Pina was accompanied by his executive, departmental heads, advisors and faced journalists while presenting his achievements which included reducing debts by €7 million from the 2013 figure of €27 million.
Some of Vale de Lobo’s sizeable debts have been made public, the money owed to state owned bank Caixa Geral anyway, with the sum of €300 million being bandied around in the weekend papers.
Late payments relating to 12 separate loans have been noted in Saturday’s Público newspaper, yet no repossession orders have been sought.
Man-about-town José Sócrates has accused Portugal’s president of being allied to the right wing, rather than remaining independent, while he delays choosing the next government.
Accusations against Cavaco Silva of conduct based on ‘resentment’ were leveled by Sócrates as he addressed the ‘José Sócrates Sempre’ movement at a Lisbon lunch.
The Vatican has ordered the trial of five people concerning the “unlawful disclosure of information and confidential documents”, including transcripts recorded secretly of the Pope’s private conversations.
Magistrates notified the accused that the trial will commence on 24 November.
The head of the Tax Authority has proposed to the public prsecutor that José Sócrates should be sent a rather unwelcome tax demand for undeclared income between 2010 and 2011.
According to Paulo Silva, the coordinator of the Finanças team looking in to the ex-prime minister’s expenditure, Sócrates faces a tax demand of €19 million and normally would need to pay it before entering into any negotiation.
A steep decline in the international oil price will work its way through to the pump price in Portugal in the coming week, Monday 22nd onwards, especially in the cost of petrol.
In New York, the quoted price for a barrel of oil was below USD40 reflecting an oversupplied market with Saudi Arabia continuing to pump maximum volumes.
In a motion pushed through by the dominant Socialist/Left wing majority, the law that will allow gay couple to adopt now nears formal legislation.
The matter has been voted on before, but the past four votes were defeated - today’s therefore marks a significant victory for gay rights pressure groups.
