Portugal

LISBON, March 19 (Xinhua) -- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged on Friday the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) to implement the EU's new action plan against racism 2020-2025.

At the opening of the first European Summit Against Racism, promoted by the Portuguese presidency of the European Council, von der Leyen said that the plan recognizes that structural racism exists in all areas and that the Member States must act.

LISBON, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was inaugurated on Tuesday for his second term as head of state, promising "good use of European funds, with good management" of financial resources to help the country's post-pandemic recovery.

Addressing Parliament, he said that his mission will be to end fear, "restore the confidence of the Portuguese people" and restore the "balance of health services."

In his oath of office, Rebelo de Sousa pledged to "defend, comply and enforce the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic."

LISBON, Mar 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The Portuguese government announced yesterday that, it had spent 915.9 million euros (1.11 billion U.S. dollars), on fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Official data showed, expenditure on the health system increased by 11.3 percent in Jan, 2021, compared to the same period last year, with most of it being paid for professionals and medical equipment.

The Ministry of Health reported having contracted 981 hospital beds by the end of Jan this year, with 745 beds from the private and social sectors and 236 from the Armed Forces.

LISBON, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Portuguese parliament approved on Friday the legalization of euthanasia "practiced or helped by health professionals" in the country with 136 votes of deputies in favor and 78 against, in addition to four abstentions.

According to the bill, a person aged over 18 can be medically assisted in death "whose will is current and reiterated, serious, free and enlightened, in a situation of intolerable suffering, with a definite injury of extreme severity in accordance with scientific consensus or incurable and fatal disease."

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal is in a terrible phase of the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said, warning that it would be some weeks before things might start to improve and only limited help could be expected from abroad.

With a total of 668,951 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 11,305 deaths, including a record 293 dead on Wednesday, Portugal has the world’s highest seven-day average of new daily cases and deaths per million inhabitants.

The situation was not “bad”, it was “terrible”, Costa told the TVI broadcaster overnight.

Lisbon, Jan 25 (AP-PTI) Portugal's president was returned to office for a second term Sunday, in an election held amid a devastating COVID-19 surge that has made the European country the worst in the world for cases and deaths.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa captured 61.5% of the vote, with 98.5% of districts reporting. He had been widely expected to win.

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal’s president was returned to office for a second term with a resounding victory Sunday in an election held amid a devastating COVID-19 surge that has made the European country the worst in the world for cases and deaths.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who had been widely expected to win, captured 61% of the vote.

Rebelo de Sousa, a center-right moderate and former leader of Portugal’s Social Democratic Party, will serve a 5-year term that will be his last due to term limits.

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal held a presidential election Sunday, with the moderate incumbent candidate strongly favored to earn a second five-year term as a devastating COVID-19 surge grips the European Union nation.

The head of state in Portugal has no legislative powers, which lie with parliament and the government, but is an influential voice in the running of the country.

23 Jan 2021; MEMO: Portuguese and Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo has turned down a multi-million advertising offer from the Saudi Arabia tourism authority. According to The Telegraph Sport, the football star was offered €6 million (£5.3m) annually to be the face of the Saudi Arabia as an attractive holiday destination.

LISBON, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa met here Friday with the College of European Commissioners led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss the program and priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU).

Costa said that the priority of the Portuguese presidency will be "economic recovery" to "ensure that all the instruments that were built become effective" and that the EU support funds reach the 27 member countries.