Greek PM Ousted in Landslide Election Oct 5, 2009
Papandreou's victory, along with a recent election win by socialists in Portugal, bucks a European trend that has seen a conservative surge in the continent's powerhouse economies, including most recently in Germany, where Chancellor Angela Merkel won re-election last week. "This is a historic victory for PASOK, which means great responsibility for us," senior party official and former minister Evangelos Venizelos said. (CBS News)
Across Europe, the left loses clout Oct 4, 2009
The left can take some comfort from having been reelected in Portugal last month, and it s expected to win today s election in Greece. Socialists are also in power in Spain, a major European economy. (Boston Globe)
Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty Oct 2, 2009
LISBON TREATY PROGRESS Approved by parliament: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK Defeated by referendum: Irish Republic Challenges: Czech and Polish presidents yet to sign treaty. If they reject it a second time, the treaty could be scuppered. (BBC News -- Europe)
On the sidelines of the summit: G-20 leaders Barroso and Medvedev talked candidly at Pitt Sep 30, 2009
The tables at the lunch were decorated with red carnations, the symbol in his home Portugal of the 1974 revolution that got rid of an autocratic government and colonialism in Portugal's African colonies. Mr. Barroso's relaxed relationship with Pitt made it possible for him to speak with frankness about the issues of the summit. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Disenchanted! Disappointed! Disgusted! Sep 30, 2009
LovingGOPmeltdown wrote on Sep 26, 2009 9:58 AM:" Merriam websterMain Entry: entitlement Pronunciation: \-t-tl-mnt\2 : a government program providing benefits to members of a specified group (American citizens); also :funds supporting or distributed by such a program. To Outraged: Why single out Cuba? Government provided healthcare exist in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan,... (New Iberia, LA)
The Record Europe on the re-election of Jose Manuel Barroso as Commission president Sep 22, 2009
The former Prime Minister of Portugal, Jos; Manuel Barroso, has been re-elected for a second term as president of the European Commission. But it has been a bumpy ride, as MEPs from all sides pushed for their demands to be met before giving their stamp of approval. (BBC News -- Europe)
Dos Santos marks 30 years Sep 20, 2009
A presidential poll the first since 1992 and only the second to take place since Angola's independence from Portugal 34 years ago had been put off this year until a new constitution outlining the electoral system is adopted. The process has now been further delayed by Dos Santos's recent suggestion that Angola's president should be elected by the parliament and not directly by voters. (iAfrica.com)
US 'should take terror detainees' Sep 17, 2009
Other nations which have already done so or have pledged to help include France, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Belgium. One of Mr Fried's successes was the deal he struck with Bermuda, which took four Guantanamo prisoners, all of them Chinese Uighurs - an ethnic minority from north-west China. (BBC News -- Americas)
Deaths in the news: Gertrude Baines Sep 12, 2009
Born in 1894 in Shellman, Baines claimed the title of the world's oldest living person when a 115-year-old woman, Maria de Jesus, died in Portugal in January. "I'm glad I'm here. I don't care if I live a hundred more," Baines said in November after casting her vote for Barack Obama in the presidential election. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Kirk Clennan Sep 5, 2009
Along the north and west coast of Spain or Portugal, New Zealand or the South Pacific. How long have you been the economic development director in Leander. (Austin Business Journal, TX)
Portugal PM in 'censorship' row Sep 5, 2009
Portugal's Prime Minister Jose Socrates is embroiled in a row after a national TV channel shelved a programme dealing with alleged government corruption. Chief editors of the privately run TVI channel resigned after the broadcast - due on Friday - was dropped. (BBC News -- Europe)
Solar power in Japan: Land of the rising subsidy Sep 3, 2009
In March Mitsubishi, a large trading company, acquired 34% of Amper Central Solar, a power plant in Portugal. Showa Shell, an oil distributor and panel-maker, plans to enter the generation business with Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia s state-owned oil giant. (The Economist)
Cautionary tale Aug 29, 2009
Guantanamo inmates' Portugal move. WATCHED/LISTENED. (BBC News -- UK)
Obama praises Afghans for voting Aug 22, 2009
Page last updated at 20:41 GMT, Friday, 21 August 2009 21:41 UK. Election officials have said ballot counting is over. (BBC News -- South Asia)
NZ votes against child smack ban Aug 22, 2009
WHERE SMACKING IS BANNED Austria, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Latvia, Moldova, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela Source: Endcorporalpunishment ... Landslide at Portugal beach. (BBC News)
Obama praises Afghans' courage Aug 22, 2009
Landslide at Portugal beach. The 'other Iraq' - Kurdistan. (BBC News -- Americas)
Clinton presses Angola to democratize Aug 10, 2009
After Angola won independence from Portugal in 1975, the United States bankrolled what turned out to be a brutal rebel movement. The rebels lost; the Communist, Cuban-backed movement won; and though the Angolan government today says that it has outgrown Marxism, the nation s flag still looks much like the Soviet hammer-and-sickle. (Boston Globe)
Spain: When good politics is bad economics Aug 1, 2009
Next door in Portugal, the socialist government looks headed for defeat in an election in September; so does Britain s Labour government next year. But Mr Zapatero s Socialist party has slipped only slightly behind the opposition People s Party, according to an opinion poll this week. (The Economist)
Sanha wins Guinea-Bissau election Jul 30, 2009
Mr Vieira led Guinea-Bissau for most of the period after independence from Portugal in 1974 - serving as president for a total of 23 years between 1980 and 2009. Drug-smuggling haven. (BBC News -- Africa)
Macau chief Ho goes out with a whimper Jul 29, 2009
There's little question that Ho presided over Macau's most eventful decade since buccaneers plied the Pearl River, leading the 16th century Ming Dynasty to grant Portugal permission to occupy the city in exchange for securing the trade route ... "Ho failed to realize that transforming a society can't be done without its citizens," said Azevedo, who came to Macau from Portugal as a reporter two decades ago. (Asia Times Online)
Country profile: Spain Jul 29, 2009
Spain shares the Iberian peninsula with Portugal and its territory includes the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands and two North African enclaves. From Velazquez in the seventeenth century, through Goya straddling the eighteenth and nineteenth, to Picasso in the twentieth, Spain has the proudest of traditions in art. (BBC News -- Europe)
Guinea-Bissau holds presidential run-off Jul 26, 2009
Guinea-Bissau has long suffered coups and coup attempts since its independence from Portugal in 1974. The country of 1. (Xinhuanet, China)
Profile: Jose Manuel Barroso Jul 10, 2009
"Solidarity" is a word never far from the lips of European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, once a Maoist student activist in Portugal ... At the time Portugal was in political ferment, after years of right-wing dictatorship. (BBC News -- Europe)
Rude cuckold gesture costs Portuguese minister his job Jul 4, 2009
MP's cuckold sign shocks Portugal ... Portugal's Economy Minister Manuel Pinho has resigned after making a rude cuckold gesture at an opposition MP. ... Mr Pinho had been questioned about his handling of talks at the troubled Aljustrel zinc mine in the south of Portugal. (BBC News -- Europe)
Macau progressleaves out politics Jul 3, 2009
MACAU - In the nearly 10 years since Portugal left the then-sleepy Macau, the former enclave has made stunning economic progress. As a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China, with a high degree of autonomy under the "one country-two systems" principle, Macau's per capita gross domestic product (GDP) has nearly tripled as billions of dollars of mainly foreign investment in new resorts has made it the world's leading gambling destination. (Asia Times Online)
Voters To Replace Slain President In Guinea-Bissau Jun 29, 2009
The shooting of President Joao Bernardo "Nino" Vieira on March 2 was another setback for Guinea-Bissau which has had successive coups since independence from Portugal in 1974. Weeks before the election in another example of violence, one of the presidential candidates was shot dead. (CBS News -- World)
FACTBOX-Unstable Guinea-Bissau holds election Jun 28, 2009
June 28 (Reuters) - Guinea-Bissau, which holds a presidential election on Sunday, has suffered chronic instability since independence from Portugal in 1974. Here are some key facts about Guinea-Bissau. (AlertNet)
Guinea-Bissau Holds Elections Sunday Jun 27, 2009
Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has been beset by a series of coups, military revolts and political assassinations. The lawlessness has in recent years attracted South American drugs traffickers, who have used the country as a transit point for shipping cocaine to Europe. (CBS News -- World)
Guinea Bissau: Another Go At Stability - 28 June Election Jun 27, 2009
Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has been hit repeatedly by coups and attempted coups, political assassinations and military uprisings. In the last 15 years, no president has completed the five-year term and in the last nine years, three chiefs of staff have been assassinated, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG). (allAfrica.com)
Macau's election a sure bet Jun 25, 2009
That apparent consensus behind Chui could be good news for Macau, which faces a host of problems in spite of, and because of, breakneck growth that's seen the gambling haven's per capita gross domestic product (GDP) nearly triple since the 1999 handover from Portugal to China. Chui also has the endorsement of gaming mogul Stanley Ho, who has reasserted himself as the top dog in the casino business that provides the overwhelming majority of Macau's tax revenue and economic activity. (Asia Times Online)
Lisbon's light-touch drugs policy Jun 23, 2009
Fears that Portugal would become a haven for drug tourists have not come true and the number of deaths from drugs has decreased ... Before decriminalisation Portugal had 100,000 hard drug users in 2001 ... Fears that Portugal would become a haven for drug tourists have not come true and the number of deaths from drugs has decreased. (BBC News -- Europe)
Full Story » Jun 22, 2009
Portugal to take 2 or 3 Guantanamo detainees - Yahoo ... Portugal to take 2 or 3 Guantanamo detainees ... LISBON, Portugal Portugal will take in two or three Guantanamo detainees once they are released by the U.S. detention center, the foreign minister said. (Yahoo News -- Politics)
Portugal to take 2 or 3 Guantanamo detainees Jun 22, 2009
LISBON, Portugal Portugal will take in two or three Guantanamo detainees once they are released by the U.S. detention center, the foreign minister said ... The Portuguese government is now working out the legal issues involved in bringing two or three former prisoners to Portugal, Foreign Minister Luis Amado was quoted Sunday as saying by state broadcaster RTP's Web site ... He did not say which countries they might be from or whether they would be treated as prisoners in Portugal as well. (Yahoo News -- Politics)
Heroes' Welcome For NKorean Soccer Team Jun 21, 2009
But their freewheeling method on the pitch was no match for Portugal, led by soccer great Eusebio. After an early three-goal lead, the Red Mosquitoes lost 3-5 in the quarterfinals. (CBS News -- World)
France: Can the country ban a church? Jun 20, 2009
" Patrick Maisonneuve, lead attorney for the church, however, said a church ban would symbolize a narrow and intolerant side of France. Scientology is recognized in Portugal, Sweden, Spain, and elsewhere, he said. Will French authorities "burn Ron Hubbard's books in the courtyard of the Sainte Chapelle while the international community stares in bewilderment. " [Editor's note: Scientology bears no relationship to the Christian Science church, which publishes this newspaper.] Get Monitor stories... (Christian Science Monitor -- World)
Iranian voices: Peaceful rally Jun 19, 2009
Page last updated at 18:55 GMT, Thursday, 18 June 2009 19:55 UK. Ayatollah set to address nation. (BBC News -- Africa)
Fresh air to power South Africa? Jun 19, 2009
Page last updated at 08:11 GMT, Monday, 15 June 2009 09:11 UK. Fresh air to power South Africa. (BBC News -- Africa)
US official in Spain for Guantanamo talks Jun 17, 2009
Fried also plans to visit Portugal and Hungary, a State Department official in Washington said on condition of anonymity because of the delicacy of the negotiations. Obama has pledged to close Guantanamo Bay by early next year. (Yahoo News -- Politics)
Obama: Italy to take 3 from Gitmo Jun 16, 2009
Fried plans to visit Spain, Portugal and Hungary on his mission, they said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the delicacy of the negotiations. (MSNBC -- International)
Italy To Take 3 Guantanamo Detainees Jun 16, 2009
" The announcement did not provide details on the names of the countries or the number of prisoners they might take. The tiny Pacific island nation of Palau, meanwhile, said it would accept 13 Chinese Muslims from Guantanamo. On Monday in the Oval Office, Obama credited Italy for its participation in the EU agreement. "It will give us an opportunity to create a lasting and durable international legal framework for dealing with terrorism that I think is very important on both sides of the... (Click2Houston, TX)
Four takes on British history Jun 16, 2009
Jim Currie, Funchal, Portugal. Interesting article - but the "social interpretation" makes a blunder, repeating the idea that life expectancy in earlier times was only 30 years or so. (BBC News -- UK)
New round of marathon election Jun 6, 2009
Thursday: UK and Netherlands Friday: Ireland, Czech Republic Saturday: Latvia, Cyprus, Malta, Slovakia, Italy and Czech Republic Sunday: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and SwedenResults from 2000 GMT Sunday. Mr Wilders is facing prosecution over anti-Islamic statements. (BBC News -- Europe)
Dutch far-right 'gain' Jun 5, 2009
Thursday: UK and Netherlands Friday: Ireland, Czech Republic Saturday: Latvia, Cyprus, Malta, Slovakia, Italy and Czech Republic Sunday: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and SwedenResults from 2000 GMT Sunday. If confirmed, the Freedom Party's result is second only to Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's Christian Democrats (CDA), which dropped almost 5% to just... (BBC News -- Europe)
Charlemagne: Lonely at the top Jun 5, 2009
The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has endorsed a second term for Mr Barroso, a former centre-right prime minister of Portugal ... The centre-right leaders who hold power in most of Europe have endorsed Mr Barroso, as have the (nominally) centre-left leaders of Britain, Spain and Portugal ... It matters greatly that Mr Barroso grew up under a dictatorship in Portugal. (The Economist)
Newsweek: Why Europe's left is in trouble Jun 4, 2009
The left-wing prime ministers of Britain, Spain and Portugal all back the current right-wing European Commission president, Jos Manuel Barroso. And without a common leader, what can the manifesto offer. (MSNBC -- International)
Italian royalty, Lithuania reality show host spice up Euro poll Jun 4, 2009
From Finland to Portugal, some 375 million votes will be cast between Thursday and Sunday to elect 736 deputies for a five-year term ... In Portugal, 86-year-old author Jose Saramago, who won the Nobel literature prize in 1998, is running for the second consecutive time on a left-wing list. (Yahoo! Asia News)
Proud Europeans Jun 2, 2009
Page last updated at 16:19 GMT, Monday, 1 June 2009 17:19 UK. In search of Europe: Italy. (BBC News -- Europe)
Europe's desperate bid to bring out voters May 31, 2009
Portugal expects a record abstention rate. The stakes are higher now however as the parliament is likely to win a bigger voice in decisions that affect the EU's 500 million population if the Lisbon treaty comes into force. (Yahoo News -- Politics)
EU's 'death' is greatly exaggerated May 30, 2009
In Portugal, Italy, and Romania, citizens perceive the EU as less corrupt and arbitrary than their own politicians ... It accelerated the transition of Portugal from a 19th- into a 21st-century nation ... One prominent campaign billboard for the European Parliament elections here proclaims, "Change Europe, change Portugal" in that order. (Christian Science Monitor)
European families' election views May 28, 2009
SOFIA DUARTE, 46, IT consultant, Lisbon, Portugal ... Once more, the European elections in Portugal are either fully focused on national issues or are non-existent, in terms of the little amount of coverage or interest they receive ... I have even heard candidates of the ruling Socialist Party saying that they were going to the European Parliament for a few years to "make a name" for themselves, whatever that means, and come back - in this case it was a city hall president of a city in the north... (BBC News -- Europe)
Europe may elect 'virtual MEPs' May 26, 2009
LISBON TREATY PROGRESS Approved by parliament: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK Defeated by referendum: Irish Republic Challenges: Legal objections delaying ratification in Germany, Polish president also delaying ratification, Czech president yet to sign treaty. In this election Spain has... (BBC News -- Europe)
Threat from the right May 25, 2009
The latest "Euro barometer" poll found that only a third of Europe's potential electors intended to make use of their vote in a contest stretch from Portugal in the west to Romania in the east, with voting from June 4-7. Campaigning is increasing attention but there is a danger that in the latest five-yearly contest the turnout will be a record low, beneath even the 45 percent of voters who turned out in 2004 -- back in 1979 it was 62 percent. (CNN -- International)
Election country-by-country May 22, 2009
Portugal will hold national parliamentary elections later this year, so the European vote is seen as a dress rehearsal - a key test for the Socialist government of Prime Minister Jose Socrates ... But the economic hardship that many Portuguese are suffering now means the Socialists will struggle to repeat their 2004 performance, when they won half of all Portugal's seats in the European Parliament. (BBC News -- Europe)
Britain's credit rating in jeopardy May 22, 2009
If it happened, Britain would be the fifth country in Western Europe after Greece, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain to have its credit rating lowered. But Britain's latest bond auction of $7. (Boston Globe)
* World News Quick Take May 18, 2009
In a statement, the McCanns said: We, together with our three children Madeleine, Sean and Amelie, are taking this legal action against Goncalo Amaral over his entirely unfounded and grossly defamatory claims X made in all types of media, both within Portugal and beyond X that Madeleine is not only dead, but that we, her parents, were somehow involved in concealing her body. Portuguese police named Kate and Gerry McCann as arguidos, or formal suspects, in their daughters disappearance... (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
Malta returns to Eurovision final May 13, 2009
The singer, who finished 3rd in 2008 and was runner-up in 2005, went through along with Sweden, Armenia, Iceland, Portugal and Israel ... Israel Malta Bosnia-Hercegovina (pictured) Iceland Sweden Portugal Finland Romania Turkey Armenia. (BBC News)
Sovereignty battle May 13, 2009
Page last updated at 15:24 GMT, Tuesday, 12 May 2009 16:24 UK. In search of Europe: UK. (BBC News -- UK)
Armstrong riding to support Astana teammate Leipheimer May 6, 2009
Estoril Open: Second-seeded Nikolay Davydenko rallied from two breaks down in the second set to beat Andrey Golubev 6-1, 7-6 (4) on Tuesday in the first round of the Estoril Open in Portugal. In the women's event, second-seeded Maria Kirilenko beat Sharon Fichman 6-7 (8), 6-4, 6-3, and third-seeded Sorana Cirstea won 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 against Kimiko Date Krumm. (News & Observer -- Sports)
Swine flu cases top 1000 May 5, 2009
Portugal gets swine flu. Portugal was the latest country to record a case of swine flu, while France announced two new confirmed cases as did Italy, doubling their previous caseloads. (iAfrica.com)
THE PRESIDENT'S INTERVIEW Apr 30, 2009
When we went for the African Union-European Union Summit in Portugal, the Chancellor of Germany discussed specifically spoke to me on Siemens and assured me that the German government had taken all the steps required and that it had made the company itself-Siemens - to undergo such restructuring and changes. The German government pleaded for the sake of our relationship that we lift the blacklisting because the company now had a totally new management and that the German government was giving... (Guardian News, Nigeria)
Britain would consider taking Gitmo detainees Apr 28, 2009
Several European nations, including Portugal and Lithuania, have said they will consider taking such detainees. Some nations, such as Germany, are divided on the issue. (MSNBC -- International)
Rick Steves: What's new in Europe for 2009 Apr 19, 2009
In northern Portugal, the city of Coimbra is developing its long-neglected riverside. A park stretches past a variety of fun restaurants to a romantic new pedestrian bridge named for Dom Pedro and Dona Ins (Portugal's Romeo and Juliet). (San Francisco Chronicle -- Travel)
Nigeria: U.S.-Halliburton Fallout [analysis] Apr 15, 2009
Soon after TSKJ was formed, it set up three companies registered in Madeira, Portugal to recruit two "consulting companies," Tri-Star Investment Ltd, and Marubeni Inc, with the mandate to bribe Nigerian "officials of the executive branch of government, NNPC and NLNG officials, and political party leaders," according to a sealed indictment filed at the United States District Court in Houston, Texas. Three early decisions taken by TSKJ were: hiring a British lawyer, Jeffery Tesler, to coordinate... (allAfrica.com)
Timeline: Indonesia Apr 9, 2009
1975 - Portugal grants East Timor independence. 1976 - Indonesia invades East Timor and incorporates it as a province. (BBC News -- Asia-Pacific)
Gay marriages expected to begin in Iowa April 24 Apr 9, 2009
But many progressive, enlightened, forward-thinking nations have extended fairness to gays- among them are: Andora, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Luxemberg, Mexico, The Netherlands,New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Uraguay. Pretty remarkable, huh. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
