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The 12th edition of the European Prize for Urban Public Space
an initiative of the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB)
has seen the participation of a total of 297 projects
the international jury chose a total of 10 finalist works for the General and Seafront categories
The European Prize for Urban Public Space is a biennial and honorary competition that
recognizes the best interventions for the creation
transformation and recovery of public spaces in European cities
the official award ceremony took place at the CCCCB
In the case of the winning project in the General category, the park on the Warsaw Uprising Hill
the Jury highlights the fact that the project offers a public space that connects in an innovative way with the memory of the place
revitalizing an urban area and honouring its history
creating a unique integration between memory
On the other hand, in the category of Seafronts, the 2024 European Prize for Urban Public Space has distinguished the project for improving the beach and redevelopment of the edge of the port of Porto do Son
the work of the studios CREUSeCARRASCO and RVR Arquitectos
The jury considers that the project solves the previous poor coexistence between the port and urban activities of Porto do Son
and favors direct contact between the city and the sea
The Jury especially values the project's ability to embrace the memory of this place through its materiality: the rubble that makes up the hill
coming from the remains of the Second World War
is transformed into concrete to create the new structures of the park
The design recognizes that the space and experience of citizens become part of a collective memory
The project stands out for recognizing the complexity of public space
which comprises multiple layers of meaning and interaction
Reconfiguring the traditional aesthetic of an urban park
it reimagines the park as a deep ecological entity
accepting invasive species and embracing an element of “unfinished” imagination that encourages user engagement and reveals a new aesthetic for urban parks
the Jury highlights its dual purpose: to renaturalise the seafront with dunes protecting an existing park and to reconstruct the relationship between port activities and the local community
The project solves the poor coexistence between port and urban activities in Porto do Son and favours direct contact between the city and the sea
the project's bold and even radical decision to preserve the old wall that protects the city from a particularly rough sea
These new facilities will bring new urban life to a space that was previously reserved exclusively for port facilities
The members of the Jury particularly applaud the fact that the project demonstrates a deep understanding of the problems it addresses
including the need to protect and integrate architecture and seafront defences; the urgency of ensuring access to water for all members of the community by connecting this experience as much as possible with the urban fabric; the need to provide infrastructure that improves pedestrian use of the promenade and the importance of safeguarding and restoring natural systems in a situation of urbanisation and climate change
care and extensive architectural experience
resulting in a design that responds to urban needs and is respectful of natural systems
The finalist works in the General category are:
· Paseo de la Boca de la Mina. Reus, Spain. Batlleiroig.· Seven interventions in Monte
AgwA and architecten jan de vylder inge vinck.· Urban forest
The finalist works in the Seafront category:
· Redevelopment of the Dún Laoghaire baths. Dublin, Ireland. DLR Architects’ Department, A2 Architects.· Seafront promenade. Palamos, Spain. He studied Martí Franch Landscape Architecture, Ardevol Consultors Associats.· Maritime park. Rimini, Italy. Benedetta Tagliabue - EMBT Architects.· Beach boulevard
Batlleiroig is an architecture multidisciplinary office based in Barcelona
Founded in 1981 by Enric Batlle and Joan Roig
it is made up of over 140 technicians from various disciplines
Committed with the environment and involved in the search for solutions to solve our planet's climate emergency
Batlleiroig has been talking about Landscape and Nature since its foundation.With a holistic view
which always seeks to link the definition of urban to the logic of landscape
a visionary commitment to innovation and a stable
Batlleiroig works in three different disciplines: City and Territory
trying to be highly specialized in each of them
but without forgetting the essential transversality that is required today to develop any project.The versatility of their work and the implication that it demonstrates to ensure the well-being and health of people
has given them the credibility and rigor to be considered
one of the leading practices in solutions linked to the future development of cities.Medal CSCAE from the Superior Council of the Associations of Architects of Spain in 2017 for their business performance and FAD 2012 Prize for Architecture and Criticism
they have also received numerous awards for their built work
among which are: The International Architecture Awards in 2020 and in 2014
IAKS-International Olympic Committee Award 2015
multiple WAF Awards and the European Prize for Urban Public Space 2004.Their work is presented in the monographic publications: Merging City and Nature
Arquitectura Viva (2017); Batlle i Roig Architecture 2008-2018
TC Cuadernos (2017); Twenty Gardens 1981-2011
Paisajismo (2011); Batlle i Roig Architecture 1996-2009
TC Cuadernos (2009); Architecture Described
Benedetta Tagliabue was born in Milan (June 24
1963) and graduated from the University of Venice in 1989
In 1991 she joined Enric Miralles’ studio eventually becoming a partner
includes several high-profile buildings and projects in Barcelona: Parque Diagonal Mar (1997-2002)
Head Office Gas Natural (1999-2006) and the Market and Quarter Santa Caterina (1996-2005)
including the School of Music in Hamburg (1997-2000) and the City Hall in Utrecht (1996-2000).In 1998 the partnership won the competition to design the new Scottish Parliament building
Tagliabue took leadership of the team as joint Project Director and the Parliament was completed in 2004
winning several awards.She won the competition for the new design of Hafencity Harbor in Hamburg
and the Spanish Pavilion for Expo Shanghai 2010 among others.Today under the direction of Benedetta Tagliabue the Miralles-Tagliabue-EMBT studio works with architectural projects
trying to conserve the spirit of the Spanish and Italian artisan architectural studio tradition which espouses collaboration rather than specialization.Their architectural philosophy is dedicating special attention to context.Benedetta has written for several architectural magazines and has taught at
the University of Architecture ETSAB in Barcelona
She has lectured at many international architectural Forums as
the Architectural Association and Bartlett School in
Archive Art
has given the 2024 European Prize for Urban Public Space
to ‘Park at the Warsaw Uprising Mound,’ a work of the firms topoScape and Archigrest
The rubble from World War II that formed the hill was transformed into the concrete used to create the park’s new structures
which centered on adapting the mound area to the needs of park-goers
this meant providing footbridges and creating artificial ravines
As part of an education and dissemination mission
an open-air exhibition was put together with Warsaw’s reconstruction and the new landscape generated as themes
The project has reinforced citizens’ sense of belonging to the place
and gives the city a new green zone resilient to climate change
the jury distinguished ‘Beach improvement and redevelopment of the harbour edge of Porto do Son (A Coruña),’ by Creus e Carrasco and RVR Arquitectos
This award is part of the Cultural Regatta
a program of activities organized by the Barcelona City Council to accompany the Catalonian capital’s sailing event
The 12th edition of the European Prize for Urban Public Space
brought in a total of 297 entries from 35 European countries
In June the jury drew up a shortlist of 10
Results of the 2024 European Prize for Urban Public Space
Beach improvement and redevelopment of the harbour edge of Porto do Son (A Coruña)
there arent any match using your search terms
the projects were appreciated for their sensible response to local memory and an understanding of the interplay between various elements that interact with urban life
the designers chose to integrate the materials
thus highlighting their ecological and pedagogical potential
The complexity inherent in the public space is also curated through multiple layers of meaning and interaction
and by accepting the 'unfinished' image that encouraged continuous user engagement
recognizes outstanding projects that create
and recover public spaces in European cities
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Jan 10 (EFE).- A large cleanup operation was underway Wednesday on beaches along Spain’s northern coast after millions of tiny plastic pellets were spilled by a cargo vessel
raising fears of an environmental disaster
Workers from the central Ministry for the Ecological Transition joined locals and volunteers on the Spanish coast
one day after the regional governments of Galicia and Asturias issued alerts to trigger assistance and more resources from the Spanish state
a Liberian-flagged vessel operated by Danish company Maersk
lost six containers off the northern coast of Portugal
25-kilogram sacks of non-biodegradable plastic pellets
The European Commission has warned that the “25 tons of plastic pellets that spilled on the Galician coast threaten the marine environment and economic activities like fishing,” Commissioner for Environment
Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius said Wednesday
The issue has sparked a political row between the Galician regional government – helmed by the conservative People’s Party – and the Socialist-led central government in Madrid
The first pellets were seen washing up on the Galician coast on Dec
but regional authorities didn’t issue a plan until Jan
Portuguese officials have confirmed to EFE that they alerted their Spanish colleagues of the issue on Dec
“We would like to know what happened from that moment until Jan
which was the first official communication the Galician government received on the matter,” Galicia’s environment minister Angeles Vazquez said Tuesday
She also pushed back against claims from Madrid that the Galician government was aware of the issue on Dec
13 through emergency calls from members of the public
“The (Galician government) receives an average of 2,600 emergency calls per day
There is a protocol (…) to transfer it to the competent body
to Spain’s Maritime Safety and Rescue Society (Sasemar)
which is dependent on the state,” Vazquez explained
Vazquez pointed out that only 10% of the 1,000 sacks had been collected so far
adding that sea currents were pushing the pellets further along Spain’s northern coast and could even reach France
Spain’s Minister for the Ecological Transition Teresa Ribera said in a post on X on Monday that she had “conveyed the government’s availability to help.”
“Our teams are prepared to respond as soon as requested,” she said
Galicia’s president Alfonso Rueda on Tuesday said hundreds of the spilled sacks had not yet reached the shore and that there was “still time” to collect them
Rueba urged that “work be done at sea so that these sacks do not reach the coast
which is the State’s responsibility.” EFEnac/vm-ks
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There are many reasons why we might be spending more time at home this time of year
Winter is Netflix and blanket season (or Amazon Prime
we still yearn to travel and discover the most beautiful corners of the region
There are dozens of films shot in Galicia that allow you to see the region from the comfort of your own sofa
get out of the house and visit one of these ten film destinations
Just because the carnival is over doesn’t mean that the party stops
At least not for the characters in A Esmorga
a film based on the novel of the same name by Eduardo Blanco Amor
live a series of adventures and misadventures on a night out on the streets of Ourense
which in the film and novel goes by the fictional name of Auria
The book and film have become so famous that there is even a walking tour of the filming locations
and emblematic landmarks such as As Burgas are just some of the corners of Ourense that can be seen on the screen
But the capital is not the only town in the wider province of Ourense that appears in the movie
locations were chosen such as the Pazo of Tor
where both indoor and outdoor scenes were filmed
Ourense can lay claim to being the film set of Galicia
documentaries and even video clips are set in and around the streets and surroundings of its towns
One of the latest to join the long list of films shot in the province was Cu�ados
This comedy was released in 2021 and is set in the world of wine cellars
And what better backdrop than the stunning landscapes of O Ribeiro
San Cibrao das Vi�as and the capital itself were also some of the locations where the actors Xos� A
Award-winning director Isabel Coixet also found the inland province of Galicia to be the ideal place to film Elisa y Marcela
A Netflix production that tells the story of the first marriage between two women in Spain
one of them had to pass herself off as a man
A story about love and the fight for LGTBI rights that found its perfect setting in Ourense
Although most of the story between Elisa and Marcela actually took place in A Coru�a
the teachers’ school where the protagonists fall in love is in fact the monastery of San Salvador
one of the jewels of Celanova’s rich heritage
Other locations in the province that appear on the screen include Pazos de Arenteiro and Moldes
you feel like visiting the places where the real story took place
why not treat yourself to a guided tour of the city of A Coru�a
where the Corcubi�n guesthouse where they spent their wedding night was located
If we had to name one director who was in love with Ourense
Despite being a native of Castile-La Mancha
the filmmaker felt a close affinity with Galicia and
Little surprise then that Galicia served as the setting for more than one of his films
This is indeed the case with Butterfly (La lengua de las mariposas)
The Blind Sunflowers (Los girasoles ciegos) and All Is Silence (Todo es silencio)
The director’s first big commitment to the region took place in 1998
when he filmed Butterfly (La lengua de las mariposas)
it portrays the end of the Civil War and the beginning of the dictatorship through the eyes of a boy from a Galician village
who sees how his teacher is repressed by the regime
The streets of the historic town centre of Allariz were used to recreate the rural Galicia of 1936
But not everything remained in the picturesque town
Some of the scenes were filmed in other parts of the province of Ourense and in the city of Pontevedra
the last scene is set in Plaza da Le�a and calle Figueroa
Another big name from the world of cinema who chose Galicia as their set is Pedro Almod�var
The director filmed some the scenes of Julieta in the municipalities of Ares and Mugardos
decides to write her story for her daughter
This starting point is the seafaring Galicia of the 1980s
the Spanish director chose several locations in the R�as Altas
Mugardos harbour or the Puerta del Sol in Ares were some of the locations chosen by Almod�var
its narrow streets and its Indian-style buildings enchanted the director
And there must be something truly special about this small enclave of brightly coloured houses that serve as the backdrop for the Ares estuary
as the presence of cameras and spotlights has become an almost daily occurrence
Speaking of places that are often used as movie sets
we would be remiss not to mention the beach of As Furnas
Located between the estuaries of Muros e Noia and Arousa
it is one of the key settings in The Sea Inside (Mar Adentro)
the film that earned Alejandro Amen�bar an Oscar
a Golden Globe and 14 Goyas and thrust him into the limelight
The director wanted to capture the story of Ram�n Sampedro
the first person to request euthanasia in Spain
in the places where the real events unfolded
And it was on the cliffs of the Porto do Son beach where the protagonist suffered the accident that left him quadriplegic
the villages of Abelendo and O Castelo were used to film the outside of his house
Portos�n and the beach of Seiras were some of the locations chosen by Amen�bar and which today form part of a route running through Porto do Son that made it to Hollywood back in 2004
The filming of The Sea Inside was much like winning the lottery as it benefitted the whole area lying between the two estuaries
the images of the food market were filmed in Noia
while in Ribeira scenes were filmed in the port of Insuela and at the Dunas de Corrubedo sand dunes
The mountain of A Curota in A Pobra or the town centre of Boiro were other locations selected in and around the Arousa estuary
While the beach of As Furnas first rose to fame with the story of Ram�n Sampedro
it became known to the younger generations with Fari�a
a series focused on the origins of drug trafficking in Galicia
And the same theme serves as the backdrop in Eye for an Eye
a film by Paco Plaza that tells the story of a retired drug dealer who
befriends a nurse who looks after him in a care home
his sons bite off more than they can chew as they take over the family clan and try to bring the old capo back into the fray
the home of great drug trafficking clans such as Los Charlines and Sito Mi�anco
was one of the chosen settings for the film
a seafood treatment plant in Cambados and the beach of As Sinas in Vilanova
while the plot takes place in the R�as Baixas
most of the scenes were filmed in the city of A Coru�a
the Calvo Sotelo Institute and the San Amaro cemetery are just some examples
While the Arousa estuary is shadowed by the stigma of drug trafficking
the Vigo estuary has long been associated with the industrial reconversion
it was chosen as the setting for Mondays in the Sun
a film about the plight of workers affected by factory lay-offs at the end of the 20th century
Although the name of the city is not explicitly mentioned in the film and the plot could easily have happened to pretty much any worker in any industrial town
the exterior locations were shot in and around Vigo
The first example of this can be found in the poster for the film
Javier Bardem and Luis Tosar sitting in the sun on the boat that connects the city with Cangas
the shipyards and the neighbourhoods of Teis
Coia and O Berb�s joined the list of locations
But to make a complete tour of the shoot locations you will also need to head to Pontevedra and more precisely
While the most dramatic stories of coastal Galicia have to do with the sea
one of the tales from inland Galicia stars a natural element caused by human hand: fire
Forest fires capable of ravaging huge swathes of the landscape were the theme chosen by Oliver Laxe for Fire Will Come (O que arde)
the film that catapulted him to the Goya Awards
The director focused on the mountains of Lugo when telling the story of an arsonist who returns to his village after being released from prison
Most of the locations are found within the county of Os Ancares
more precisely the municipalities of Cervantes
going out in search of the places where the film was shot brings us closer to the rural world
the characters were played by local residents
who won the Goya for best new actress at the age of 84
Now that we are in the throes of the Xacobeo Holy Year
It might not be a specific location or so extensive that visiting it requires an actual pilgrimage along the film routes
but there are numerous films — Galician
Spanish and foreign — that take place in this setting
a film starring Martin Sheen and directed by his son Emilio Est�vez
that helped to popularise The Way across the pond
The film tells the story of a man who decides to make a pilgrimage with the ashes of his son
who died while on one of the stages of the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela
Almost all the scenes were filmed along different stretches of the French Way
in and around the cathedral of Santiago and in Mux�a
Political row as Galicia says central government kept news of spill quiet for weeks
Officials in northern Spain have issued alerts after millions of tiny plastic pellets spilled by a cargo ship off Portugal last month washed up on beaches
raising fears of environmental damage and triggering a political row
Spanish state prosecutors have also launched an investigation after receiving information suggesting the non-biodegradable pellets could be toxic
The emergency began on 8 December after the Toconao
a Liberia-registered vessel chartered by the shipping firm Maersk
lost six containers while sailing about 50 miles (80km) off the coast of northern Portugal
One container held 1,000 25kg sacks of the tiny balls
which are used in the manufacture of plastic products
millions of the pellets have washed up on beaches in north-west Spain
prompting a clean-up operation by regional workers and volunteers
the regional governments of Galicia and neighbouring Asturias issued level 2 alerts
which will allow more personnel and resources to be assigned to the task as well as logistical assistance from the Spanish government’s environment and transport ministries
Alfonso Rueda, the regional president of Galicia, said there was still time to stop more pellets washing up on the shoreline. “There are hundreds of sacks right now that have not reached the coast,” he said on Tuesday
It seems there will be currents these days that will make it a little easier.”
View image in fullscreenSome of the pellets that washed up on the Galician coast at Seiras beach in Porto do Son
Photograph: Brais Lorenzo/EPAThe regional government of Asturias said it has raised the alert level after detecting “a significant increase in the strip of coast affected and an increase in the number of spots identified”
The incident has led to a political row between Galicia’s conservative regional government and the socialist-led central government
Rueda said the central government had known about the spillage for two weeks before it informed his administration on 4 January
The Galician government has also said it is satisfied that the pellets are not toxic
Asked why he had waited so long to secure central government help by declaring the level 2 alert
Rueda said his team had found out about the situation only “a few days ago”
while the national government “has known the details for a month”
had previously said the government was ready to help as soon as its assistance was sought
View image in fullscreenPeople work to clean O Vilar beach of the pellets on Galicia’s coast at Corrubedo natural park, A Coruña province, on Tuesday. Photograph: Lavandeira Jr/EPA“The pellets have reached beaches in Asturias,” she said in a tweet on X on Monday
“I’ve called the regional president and told him – just as I told Alfonso Rueda yesterday – that the government is available to help
Our teams are ready to respond as soon as they’re called on.”
Voters in Galicia go to the polls next month in a regional election. As the political squabbling continued, ecological groups called for a quick and coordinated response, saying the situation was already reminiscent of the confused reaction to the disastrous Prestige oil spill in Galicia two decades ago
SEO/Birdlife and the WWF said there could be “no repeat of the nightmare management of an environmental crisis”
“Environmental organisations are monitoring the Galician regional government’s reaction to the spill with concern as it serves as a bitter reminder of the black tide of the Prestige in 2002 and 2003 and the lack of coordination with the central government,” the letter said
“We ask that no partisan use is made of the catastrophe and that joint efforts are made to tackle the long-term impact of the spill
and to reinforce the rules on the production
The European Commission warned of the dangers posed by plastic pellets three months ago
“Once in the environment, these small particles of plastics do not biodegrade and cannot be removed,” it said in October
and are consequently also consumed by humans in food
They contribute to the pollution with microplastics
freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems as well as in food and drinking water.”
Archive Urbanism-Landscape
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The Reggio School in Madrid by Andrés Jaque (Office for Political Innovation)
The Reggio School in Madrid by Andrés Jaque (Office for Political Innovation) and the Gabriel García Márquez Library in Barcelona by SUMA Arquitectura have on an equal footing won the 65th FAD Award for Architecture
and Arquitectura du Bocalhau e otras espécies
by André Tavares and Diego Inglez de Sousa
This year the FAD Awards features a new accolade, the Re-FAD, created to draw attention to revamp, reuse, and regeneration. The first Re-FAD goes to the environmental restoration of the Rec. Comtal in Vallbona (Barcelona)
Gabriel García Márquez Library in Barcelona by SUMA Arquitectura
Renovation of the Garciaz Farmhouse in Cáceres
Refurbishment of the harborfront of Porto do Son (A Coruña)
Twist (Madrid)
House for Susan in San Antonio (Texas)
The Dark Line, an ecohistory route between Mudan and Sandiaoling (Taiwan)
Environmental restoration of the Rec. Comtal in Vallbona (Barcelona)
Asunta Fong Yang was adopted as a baby by a wealthy Spanish couple
sat nervously on a flight to China beside her husband Alfonso Basterra
Porto swallowed two tablets of Orfidal – a common anti-anxiety medicine that she had used before then – but remained too agitated and excited to sleep
The couple had had no trouble persuading local Spanish authorities that they would make good parents and that their child would be surrounded by a loving extended family
Porto’s father was a lawyer who had been honorary consul for France in Santiago
and her mother was a university lecturer in history of art
They had given their daughter a flat that occupied a whole floor of a four-storey block in what some call Santiago’s “VIP zone”
The flat was decorated in the bold tones – blues
curiosities and colourful rugs from around the world
The child’s bedroom would have wallpaper covered in clouds and suns
Adopting a baby girl from abroad brought the satisfaction and, for some, the moral cachet of rescuing a child in need. In the progressive, cultured environment in which the Basterra Porto family moved, they could expect nothing but praise. Porto, who inherited her father’s role as honorary consul, even appeared on local television to share her wisdom and experience about adopting.
Read morePsychologists’ reports painted a positive picture of the couple
a strong character who makes his own decisions.” The Porto family
undersized nine-month-old baby girl from Hunan province called Asunta Fong Yang awaited them
after navigating the Chinese red tape and making the required payments
they brought the little girl home to Santiago
Her new Spanish identity documents showed that she was now Asunta Fong Yang Basterra Porto
though she remained slight and suffered the routine ailments of childhood: fevers
gastroenteritis and other illnesses that scare parents but pass quickly
In the circles in which Porto – “Charo” to friends and family – moved
There was no need to go to the public health centre
where a paediatrician had been assigned to Asunta
where a friendly consultant would oversee future care
Even prescription-only medicines could be obtained from friendly pharmacists
but this was how things worked in Santiago – a charming
tranquil city that functions as the capital of the increasingly self-governing region of Galicia
Santiago can be very complacent,” the Galician writer Miguel Anxo Murado told me
The couple were happy to use their contacts
They were simply doing their best for Asunta
Over time it became apparent that Asunta was special
By the time she reached secondary school she was deemed so bright that she skipped an academic year
Her parents both pushed her and fretted about her abilities
they are a good thing,” Porto told friends after reading up on gifted children
“But they can be a problem.” There were private classes in English
the Portuguese-tinged language of this green
violin and piano – often demanded by Asunta herself
“She once told us what her Saturdays were like,” Asunta’s ballet teacher
And then there was violin and piano.” Asunta’s proud parents followed her progress carefully
but exuberant at home – playing practical jokes
haranguing her parents with mock political speeches or flouncing around in her ballet costumes
while her mother became involved in the Ateneo
a liberal cultural club that arranged talks
then did FrenchBy the time she turned 12 in September 2012
Asunta might have been expected to be getting fed up with being
a project child – someone who was determinedly being shaped into a prodigy
when her mother was going through a list of after-school activities in front of acquaintances
the girl snapped: “That’s one that I’m doing because you like it!” But mostly Asunta seemed happy
sharing her few concerns with Carmen González
“To me they seemed an idyllic family,” said González
But the family had started to show some cracks
Porto spent two nights in a private psychiatric hospital
and she felt in competition with her own mother
“She [Porto] gets very irritable with her daughter
who is a bother,” a psychiatrist wrote in her notes
Porto discharged herself and only returned for one of the regular checkups that had been scheduled for her
Porto had recovered her balance and began to think about sending her daughter away to school in England for a year
This would allow her to polish her English and help ensure that Asunta lived up to her natural brilliance
spending a year at school in Oxford as a teenager and
travelling to France as an Erasmus exchange student
She had lasted only a few months in France
they treated me with greater consideration,” she explained later
and it was during her time in France that a cycle of occasional tailspins into acute anxiety or depression had started
Porto began working in her father’s law practice after graduating and later posted a CV online in which she claimed to have completed her Erasmus year and studied at the London High School of Law
Asunta started back at school after a long summer holiday that included several happy weeks with her nanny in her home village and with her godmother at a local beach resort
swimming in the sea and going to local fiestas
Her parents were nearby in Santiago or at their own beach apartment
but spent only a week of that six-week period with Asunta
They were recovering from an emotionally draining 18 months
This black period had started with the deaths of Porto’s mother and
Asunta had spent lots of time with her grandparents
strolling through the city’s Alameda park with her grandfather
Her maternal grandmother had been the family’s driving force
The losses exposed the faultlines in Porto’s marriage
Porto’s enthusiasm for a man she saw as excessively puritan
apathetic and unpredictable had run out long before
She admitted to a friend that she had tired of her underachieving “house-husband”
energetic and successful businessman called Manuel García
staying with relatives in the Basque country
Porto had sat Asunta down and given her the divorced parents’ talk
full of reassurances that her parents adored her but that mummy and daddy no longer loved each other
Basterra bombarded his ex-wife with emails reminding her of all the household tasks that would now fall on her
knowing that her inability to organise herself would make her anxious
“I doubt if she has ever even boiled an egg,” said one friend
who was still married and who Basterra regarded as vulgar – only added to his sense of resentment
The perfect certainties of her world were being dismantled
and her trust in her parents must have been shaken
View image in fullscreenAlfonso Basterra and Rosario Porto suddenly divorced in 2013
Photograph: Lavandeira Jr./epa/CorbisIn June 2013
Porto had a nervous breakdown that provoked acute physical symptoms
including dizziness and the seizing up of one side of her face
Basterra rushed to his ex-wife’s hospital bed and
They had meals at his place and he even thought they might move back in together
Asunta carried on with her many extra activities
When she laid her study books out in a fan shape across the colourful rug on her bedroom floor on the afternoon of Saturday 21 September 2013 – after she and her mother had eaten lunch at her father’s flat
followed by a game of cards and an episode of The Simpsons – it seemed that the family had overcome its recent traumas and that Asunta’s life was firmly back on course
Alfredo Balsa is well-known to police in and around Santiago de Compostela
An assiduous visitor of clubes de alterne – the legal
neon-lit bar-brothels that sit on the edges of every Spanish town – he had the habit of driving around drunk in his home parish of Teo
By September 2013 he had been caught so often that his driving licence had been taken away
but the nearest club de alterne – the Satay – was only a mile away
and the chances of being caught driving there were almost non-existent
he and a friend rolled out of a bar in the village of Feros
and drove down the broad track to the back of the Satay
and it was among these that Balsa glimpsed something strange
pointed the headlights towards the spot and
a human shape lay stretched out on a gently-sloping bank just two metres from the track
They got out of the car and stepped cautiously towards it
A girl lay on the bed of fallen pine needles
with one arm half-inside a matching top and a white T-shirt pulled above her stomach
The girl’s left arm was curled up to her shoulder
and there was a small amount of blood-tinged mucus under her nose
made stranger in this quiet country area because the girl was Asian
Police knew immediately who the victim was
Rosario Porto and Alfonso Basterra had appeared at the main Santiago police station
a honey-coloured stone building in a manicured barrio near the cathedral
at 10.17pm that night to report that Asunta had gone missing
The police record noted that Asunta had been left at her mother’s apartment doing her homework at 7pm while Porto went to the family’s country house – a walled retreat built by her parents
20 minutes from Santiago and some four kilometres from where the body was found
When Porto returned at 9.30pm the girl had disappeared
obedient child – not the sort to wander off – so her mother had rung Basterra and they had waited a few minutes to see if she was walking from one parent’s apartment to the other
that they had called a few of Asunta’s friends
but nobody had heard from her since Porto had gone to the country house
Basterra reminded Porto to tell Vilacoba about a strange incident from earlier in the summer
When she rushed to the girl’s room she found a man dressed in black with latex gloves
he pushed past Porto and bruised her cheek
They had left the keys in the outside lock of the apartment by mistake
though Porto did not know how the man – who she assumed knew about a safe box containing thousands of euros in cash – had entered the building
Porto had consulted police at the time but decided not to make a formal report of the incident
I did not want her to feel unsafe in her own home,” Porto said
made stranger by the fact that she did not inform her neighbours
But witnesses noticed Porto’s bruised face and the fact that something very frightening had obviously happened
“Today someone tried to kill me!” Asunta texted to a friend
Inspector Vilacoba gave Asunta’s parents the news at 4.45am
He and Basterra had smoked a cigarette together outside the apartment building in the warm night air a few hours earlier
Basterra had muttered that Asunta must be dead and that he hoped she had not been raped
View image in fullscreenA memorial to Asunta at her school in Santiago de Compostela
Photograph: EPA/CorbisThe next two days were a blur of police interrogations
Porto’s parents had both been cremated and on 24 September
Wakes are public affairs in Spain and the crematorium was packed
Porto and her ex-husband took mobile phone photographs of the closed white coffin – which had been displayed behind a glass screen
surrounded by large wreaths of white roses and lilies – before it went into the incinerator
stepped forward as the family’s spokeswoman and when someone suggested that the parents were under investigation
and would walk through fire to prove her belief in Porto’s innocence
He whispered something into her ear and they walked off together
It took a while for anyone to notice her absence
Soon news came through from Spain’s Civil Guard police
which investigates crimes committed in rural areas
the idea that Rosario Porto might kill her own daughter was ridiculous
I never saw Charo mistreat Asunta in any way,” a neighbour
An energetic and controversial investigating magistrate named José Antonio Vázquez Taín
who sometimes writes novels based on his cases
It was the maverick Taín – famous for bounding out of his office in jeans and T-shirts to greet visitors – who had ordered the arrest
Even though there was no physical evidence
the police had sound reasons for arresting her
The most compelling evidence came from a CCTV camera at a petrol station near her apartment
The footage showed Porto driving the family’s old
green Mercedes Benz on a route that led towards their country house
The timecode revealed that the footage had been taken at a time when
Porto admitted that the passenger was her daughter
pills and shame at the girl’s death for blurring her memory
They had briefly gone to the country house in Teo
but Asunta felt ill and had insisted on being taken home
She had dropped her off near the apartment in Santiago
Porto claimed to have then spent most of the evening driving around on errands that
Porto’s behaviour had already seemed suspicious
When police had taken her to the country house hours after the body was found
she had rushed towards a room that contained a wastepaper basket with snippets of orange baler twine inside
The twine was similar to some found next to the body
must have been used to tie Asunta’s limbs together
A roll of the same kind of twine – which is common in rural areas – was discovered in a storeroom
but forensic scientists were unable to say if the bits found by the corpse came from that particular roll
it seemed likely that she must have had an accomplice
Porto would have had trouble lifting Asunta’s corpse and laying it neatly by the roadside without leaving drag marks
a place where anonymity is impossible and appearances count
She had made a point of hiding her problems behind a cheery disposition
but not at all snobbish and given to sudden
her mother rang around friends with smaller daughters
they would package them up and bring them round,” said Demetrio Peláez
a journalist who worked with Basterra at El Correo
a university lecturer who gave English classes to Porto as a teenager
found herself spontaneously invited round for Christmas dinners after running into her decades later
View image in fullscreenRosario Porto being arrested on suspicion of murder
Photograph: Europa Press via Getty ImagesBasterra specialised in travel journalism
He attempted to build a career in radio but his speaking voice was notoriously dull
“He was like a dead mosquito,” said another person who worked with him
Basterra irritated his fellow journalists at El Correo by abandoning half-written news items in order to make sure he was at the theatre or concert hall on time
“We couldn’t afford to go to the Caribbean,” said one
Basterra’s family came from the Basque city of Bilbao and had been well-off before his father frittered away the money
clung onto the importance of class and gentlemanly conduct as part of what he called “the honour of the Basterras”
Those who knew the couple well were aware that Porto could be capricious and demanding and some saw Basterra as a mousy
with what Duncan-Barlow called a condescending attitude to his “little woman”
On various occasions Basterra had lashed out and hit Porto
though investigators did not find this out until much later
There was very little physical evidence to implicate Basterra
who claimed to have been alone in his apartment
cooking or reading a book with his phone turned off
meaning their movements could not be tracked from data picked up by cellphone towers
Asunta had spent the final night of her life in a bunk bed at her father’s flat after Porto had called to say she would be late back from an exhibition that was being held out of town
Her absence was a sign that Basterra’s hopes of a return to normal family life were fantasy
when offering to care for Porto after her breakdown
that she ditch her lover García – who had originally hired her to help with real estate deals in Morocco
but secretly took up with him again on the day before the murder
sailing off in his boat for an afternoon of lovemaking
there was one more reason to suspect the couple
Forensic scientists had tested Asunta’s blood and urine
revealing highly toxic levels of lorazepam – the main active ingredient in the Orfidal pills that Porto had long used to calm anxiety attacks
Initial results suggested that Asunta had been drugged and then smothered
Teachers at two music academies recalled that in the months before her death
Asunta had sometimes been dopey and stumbling
unable to read her sheet music or even walk straight
“I took some white powders,” she told Isabel Bello
No one tells me the truth,” she complained to a violin teacher
Porto wrote a note explaining that she had reacted badly to some medicine
Forensic scientists tested a strand of Asunta’s hair and discovered the presence of lorazepam along the first three centimetres
Since hair grows at about a centimetre a month
they concluded that she had also been ingesting smaller doses of the drug for three months
This matched the stories told by her teachers
Investigators began to develop their theory
had grown tired of the girl they had “bought” a decade earlier
The killing had been a carefully planned attempt to rid themselves of an increasingly bothersome pre-adolescent child
The plot had included experimental dosing of the girl with Orfidal
and an arrogant belief that they would be able to convince people that Asunta had been abducted and murdered
Porto was the driving force behind the crime
and had been unhinged by the recent deaths of her parents
A psychologist who had treated her in the weeks before the murder said that she had felt “overwhelmed” by Asunta
They are two of the most selfish people I've met
He thinks he's superior to the rest of the worldImmediately after his arrest
Basterra was put in a police cell next to his wife
separated by a flimsy partition through which they could speak – and be secretly recorded on video
The police amassed hours of tape but at no point in the recorded conversations was there any admission of guilt or any other evidence to use against Basterra and Porto (a court would also later declare the recordings inadmissible)
“Look what trouble your overheated imagination has got us into,” was one of several enigmatic phrases used by Porto
View image in fullscreenAsunta’s adopted father Alfonso Basterra was also arrested
Photograph: AFP/Getty ImagesBut the tape did reveal something unexpected
“Silence!” he commanded Porto when it seemed she was talking too much
“It seems they took it in turns to be dominant.” Basterra
was just as likely to be the main instigator
“They are two of the most selfish people I have met,” one of the interrogators told me
He thinks he is superior to the rest of the world.”
as the police investigation proceeded sluggishly
Spain’s popular tabloid television shows speculated wildly about guilt
while spreading unsubstantiated rumours that Basterra was a paedophile or that Porto had murdered her parents
Details of the police investigation were leaked and rumours circulated freely
Everybody seemed to have an opinion about the guilt or innocence of Porto and Basterra
yet nobody could explain such an apparently motiveless crime
Cases in which children are murdered by adoptive parents are exceedingly rare
In the few instances where parents kill children
the crime is typically the result of a moment of rage or overpowering feelings of inadequacy
Asunta did not fit the profile of a victim of this kind of crime
Nor did her parents fit the profile of child-murderers
Porto may have suffered depression and anxiety attacks
but those do not turn mothers into killers
It was not until 1 October 2015 that the prosecution finally laid out its case before a jury
in the anodyne surroundings of Santiago’s smartest courtroom
Two years of prison had taken their toll on Porto and Basterra
who had suffered the taunts and insults that prisoners reserve for child abusers
Porto had spent much of her jail time in a weepy
had developed a fierce hatred of Taín and the police investigators
maintaining an indignant and occasionally sneering attitude during questioning and mouthing silent expletives – his dark eyebrows bouncing up over thick-rimmed glasses – when upset
with sudden moments of coherence and a determination to persuade the jury that her memory lapses were part of wider nervous troubles
through long sessions that started at 10am and sometimes lasted until evening
a jury of nine men and women listened to the evidence
although – like most Spaniards – they had probably already heard or read vast amounts about the case
Other than the music and ballet teachers who had seen Asunta dazed or upset
all the witnesses described Porto and Basterra as model parents
“To me they were always a perfect family,” said González
but those do not turn mothers into killersProsecutors continued to insist that the pair had spent months devising a cold-blooded conspiracy to eliminate their own daughter – though they eventually downgraded the charges against Basterra
depicting him as an accomplice to his ex-wife’s murder plot
Porto was still unable to explain her initial lies about her movements on the day of Asunta’s death
(described in a perfunctory manner during the trial by his ex-wife
who insisted he had been a marvellous father) was the Orfidal
During the trial it was revealed that he had obtained at least 175 pills over 10 weeks – some legally with his wife’s prescription
and still more with a prescription he obtained after lying to his own doctor
insisted that she had only used them occasionally
had somehow been made to swallow at least 27 ground-up pills – nine times as powerful as a strong adult dose – on the day she died
and both claimed that they had only given her pills to treat hayfever on the days she appeared dizzy
After three and a half days of deliberation
the jury produced a verdict that was even harsher than that sought by the prosecutor
They accepted the evidence of a 15-year-old acquaintance of Asunta who claimed to have seen her in the street with Basterra on the day of the crime when he was meant to be alone at home
may have hidden in the back seat of the car when Asunta was driven to the country house
The judge handed Basterra and Porto 18-year sentences
as the crime was committed before a new law introduced life sentences for child-murderers
Both have appealed to have their convictions overturned
The guilty verdict threw up a fresh set of unanswerable questions
Investigators can only guess at why the couple decided to adopt
“I think they wanted to project the stereotype of a happy family,” said one investigator
he becomes violent.” It is impossible to say whether
any of this might have been spotted earlier
Court-appointed psychologists who interviewed Porto after the crime (Basterra refused to be profiled by them) deemed her narcissistic and depressive
but capable of distinguishing between right and wrong
It is understandable that those who assessed their suitability as adoptive parents never imagined Porto and Basterra turning into child-murderers
But the guilty verdict ought to have provoked some soul-searching
It is now clear that Porto’s psychiatric problems began well before the adoption
but they were either kept secret by Porto or discounted by the psychologists who assessed her adoption application
Officials from the regional government of Galicia repeatedly refused to say whether they had carried out an internal enquiry or revised procedures in light of Asunta’s death
According to adoptive parents of other Chinese children in the region, the selection process for parents in Galicia wanting to adopt is now exhaustive. China has since tightened its adoption rules and far fewer girls like Asunta are leaving the country
international adoptions have fallen to below half their 2004 peak of 45,288
reflecting concerns about both trafficking and the new levels of protection offered by host countries
Events as shocking as the murder of Asunta Fong Yang remain
A 12-year-old child has had few opportunities to leave a lasting mark on the world
One is a blog she used to practise her written English
where she showed a taste for murder mysteries
“Once upon a time there was a happy family; a man
“One day the woman was assesinated (sic).”
The site where Asunta’s corpse was found has become a small shrine
populated by slowly disintegrating cuddly toys
plastic flowers and the occasional fresh bunch of chrysanthemums
the crematorium’s manager had to ask Taín what he should do with them
They were eventually given to a friend of Rosario Porto
It will be up to her adoptive parents – also now her convicted murderers – to decide what happens to them
Follow the Long Read on Twitter at @gdnlongread, or sign up to the long read weekly email here.
Text description provided by the architects. Motivated by different conflicts of use such as the difficult coexistence between port traffic and citizens, massive parking, or the growing commercial activity and staying in this emblematic place of 25.843 m2, its transformation is proposed, integrating different expectations of the urban and port front of Porto do Son (A Coruña).
Arranging the access and separating the main road from the facade, allow a large public space, green and paved, which recovers the relationship between the old town and the port. Old and new places put in value a process of exchange with readings beyond the strict functional resolution. O Cruceiro, recovered as an entrance space and suggested a tree-lined viewpoint. The retaining wall is used as a prefabricated walkway.
The shape of the building takes advantage of the wall and gives it an end
He is the founder of the Office for Political Innovation
He is also the Dean of the Graduate School of Architecture
In 2014 he received the Silver Lion at the 14th Mostra Internazionale di Architettura
He is the author of award-winning projects such as Plasencia Clergy House (Dionisio Hernández Gil Prize)
House in Never Never Land (Mies Van der Rohe European Union Award's finalist)
TUPPER HOME (X Bienal Española de Arquitectura y Urbanismo)
He has also developed architectural performances as well as installations that question political frameworks through architectural practice; including IKEA Disobedients (MoMA Collection
Mies as Rendered Society (Mies Barcelona Pavilion
2012) or Superpowers of Ten (Lisbon Triennale
Andrés Jaque is a Professor of Advanced Design at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture
and Preservation (GSAPP) and Visiting Professor at Princeton University's School of Architecture
1980) graduated at the ETSAB in Barcelona in 2005
From the beginning of his career he has combined his professional work with research
and obtained a Master degree in Theory and Practice of Architectural Projects from the UPC where he is currently a PhD Candidate
His thesis deals with the temporary occupations in the public space in Barcelona.Associate lecturer in Projects at the ETSAB since 2016
he taught Projects and Urban Design at the Reus School of Architecture and
He was also visiting professor in the Extra-Local workshop organised by Columbia GSAPP in 2019
has collaborated on international master’s degrees such as the BIARCH in 2012 and the master’s degree in Restoration at the UPC in 2014
and directed the Vertical Workshop at the UIC Barcelona School of Architecture in 2018.Carles Enrich’s aim of producing practice-based knowledge led him in 2013 to set up Carles Enrich Studio
where he develops projects that cover the entire habitable territory
The quality and rigour of the practice’s built work are endorsed by consecutive nominations for the European Union Mies Award (2017
2019) and the Lisbon Triennale Début Award 2016; the Spanish Architecture and Urban Design Biennale Awards in 2016 and 2018
They were also recognised in the studio’s participation in the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2012
with the exhibition Context in “Architectural Rowers” in the Catalan Pavilion and
which earned the Spanish Pavilion the Biennale’s Golden Lion
Archive Prizes
Print If you’ve ever held a pastel-yellow box full of Cuban pastries in Los Angeles
you’ve most likely tasted the legacy of Raul Porto Sr
On Wednesday the patriarch and co-founder of Porto’s
one of the region’s most popular bakery chains
“Porto’s has become its own language, to the extent that its baked and hot foods no longer just represent Cuba — they’ve come to represent Los Angeles,” former L.A. Times Food columnist Lucas Kwan Peterson wrote in a review last year
Rosa Porto died in 2019 at the age of 89. Rosa and Raul Sr. are survived by generations of Portos, including multiple grandchildren. Their three children — Beatriz, Raul Jr. and Margarita — all grew up helping out in their parents’ bakery operation, then went on to run the business themselves.
Food
The Cuban bakery chain Porto’s has been a Los Angeles favorite for decades and is still going strong. Pro tip: You can order any cafe item from any line; pick the shorter one.
The Portos, from Manzanillo, Cuba, had hoped to move to the U.S. for years and placed themselves on a waiting list during Fidel Castro’s rule — a period that saw Raul Porto Sr. sent to a labor camp as Rosa Porto lost her job. She began baking cakes and pasteles to support the family, and carried those recipes with her when they emigrated in 1971 to build a better life for themselves.
The cake orders began immediately, and the couple sold her treats out of their home kitchen for years.
When the Portos arrived in Los Angeles, Raul Porto Sr. found work as a janitor and other jobs while his wife’s underground bakery business took off, and together they built Porto’s into an L.A. legend.
An appreciation of Rosa Porto, who died Friday at 89, creator of one of the most beloved food institutions in Los Angeles. In one of her last interviews, she and her daughter Margarita Navarro spoke about the origins of Porto’s Bakery & Cafe.
“We want to express our heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of love and support we’ve received following the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Raul Porto Sr.,” the Porto Family said in an email to the L.A. Times. “All the kind words and shared memories have been a great comfort to us during this time of loss.
As we navigate through our grief, we are deeply touched by the affection we’ve received. Your tributes show the impact he had on so many lives, and for that, we are forever grateful. Thank you for honoring his legacy with us.”
Stephanie Breijo is a reporter for the Food section and the author of its weekly news column. Previously, she served as the restaurants and bars editor for Time Out Los Angeles, and prior to that, the award-winning food editor of Richmond magazine in Richmond, Va. Born and primarily raised in Los Angeles, she believes L.A. to be the finest food city in the country and might be biased on that count but doesn’t believe she’s wrong.
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Small plates in Lisbon, fancy soaps in Porto, sandcastles on the beaches of the Algarve: Portugal is country with something for everyone.
How does one become fascinated with a place? What role does beauty play? I suppose I’ve always felt drawn to photos of Lisbon’s old-world grandeur and its buildings covered in tiles the color of the ocean.
The store of a soap company that dates back to 1887 might not appeal to most children, but Lulu is a child who loves fancy things. The ornate vintage designs on the brand’s famed packaging spoke to her, as did the scents.
During one of our post-dinner strolls, I’d spotted a stylish fiftysomething American couple traveling with their teenager. A glimpse of the future, I thought. What would life be like eight years from now? Where would we travel with Lulu? Who would she become? Would she still enjoy spending time with us?
Spotting another box on the coffee table, she said, “I’m just going to see if it has my name on it.” On her pillow, she found a woolen puppy with LULU embroidered on the side.
It was a test, in a way. Whether the memories of this trip would last in my heart and mind, even without the perfect family pictures. Whether Lulu would remember.
Print The potato ball is as good a place as any to start when talking about Porto’s
They are divine racquetball-sized orbs of fluffy mashed potato filled with a picadillo spiced meat mixture laced with onions
peppers and what tastes like just a hint of olive and cumin
The balls are coated in breadcrumbs and fried to a deep
The mild crunch of the exterior yields to the silky potato-y mass
only to reward further with tender meat and mild gravy
To eat one is to truly grasp the concept of positive reinforcement in behavioral psychology
To eat one is to see the potential of what shepherd’s pie could have been
They are worth every penny of the $1.09 they cost
Rosa Porto died Friday, leaving behind a husband of 64 years, children, grandchildren and legions of customers loyal to the business she created, Porto’s Bakery & Cafe
who had started an illegal cakes business in Castro-era Cuba to make money for her family while waiting for the opportunity to come to the U.S.
grew her life’s work into what became far more than just a Cuban bakery
Porto’s adapted to its environs over the years — changing Los Angeles demographics and a dwindling Cuban population — and shifted its menu constantly according to evolving tastes
the small bakery that began at Sunset and Silver Lake Boulevards in 1976 became the quintessential L.A
restaurant — and an incredible story of American success
The first thing you’ll notice at any Porto’s
food runners dodging those lurking to nab the first empty table
The Saturday-at-Disneyland-like crowds and long queues of people waiting to get pastries
sandwiches and snacks can be off-putting to the uninitiated
Because the second thing you notice at any Porto’s is how quickly the line moves
“What’s your name?” a young man behind the counter asks after I place my order
“I’ll meet you over at the register,” he says and disappears into a sea of two-dozen fellow employees
all balancing cardboard boxes stuffed with potato balls
like he’s someone going off to war — surely I’ll never see this person again
and it’s soon thereafter that the third and most important realization about Porto’s hits you: it all tastes really good
Mara Serrano fries potato balls at Porto’s Bakery & Cafe in Glendale
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) A menu as vast as that at Porto’s — more than 100 bakery items
soups and salads — would be worrisome at most places
the pan-Asian bistro that serves Thai food and Chinese food and sushi never does much of it well
Whether it’s the flaky croissants or the cheesecake or the Cuban sandwiches
Porto’s tries to be all things to all people — and
The feverish civic loyalty to a Cuban-ish bakery with just five retail locations
Does it explain the travelers jamming the distinctive yellow-and-brown boxes full of goodies into overhead compartments on flights out of L.A
I spoke with Rosa Porto in her home in October
“I lived with an aunt who liked to do cakes and pastries,” Porto said in Spanish
She lived with the aunt for several years after her father died at a young age
would inspire her once she began her own business
After attending boarding school in Havana as a teenager
Porto returned to her hometown of Manzanillo
When I asked her if owning a bakery had been a lifelong dream of hers
they fired you from your job.” Families that asked to leave the country were marked as enemies of the state — they were called worms
“You lived in a little bit of fear,” she said
“Because there were neighborhood committees.” These “committees” rooted out possible subversion — subversion like owning an illegal business
they take inventory of everything,” Navarro said
to make sure you don’t sell anything or try to take it with you
your house and everything in it does not belong to you.”
after the family formally applied to leave Cuba
“It was either custard or guava,” Porto said
And I got recipes for pasteles; meat and chicken from a local baker.” Ingredients
which were hard to come by under the Castro regime
dodging inspections and slowly building a clientele
Her one concern was to avoid being the subject of neighborhood gossip
“Que me denunciaran,” she said: That she would be ratted out for her underground cakes business
Freedom Flights brought hundreds of thousands of Cuban refugees to the shores of the United States
It didn’t take long for Cuban immigrants in the States to start asking Porto for her cakes
“In the airport when we arrived,” she said
Rosa Porto decorates a cake as Urvicia Garcia watches
who began selling cakes from her home in Cuba over 50 years ago
(Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times) “In the beginning,” Porto said
“we made bread.” Porto and her husband (who worked the night shift at the now-defunct Van de Kamp’s bakery)
opened their first bakery in a strip mall in Silver Lake with a bank loan
They knew they’d have to sell more than the cakes Porto had been baking in Cuba
To build up day-to-day business and foot traffic
“We made Mexican bread because that was the neighborhood,” Navarro said
“We started changing based on whatever the clientele demanded
“In the beginning there were a lot,” Porto said
The small menu spiraled out wider and wider
“We realized that the more product we added only pulled in more people,” Navarro said
We found that Filipinos loved mango mousse as well as Cubans
… The Chinese loved the strawberry shortcake
On a recent weekend afternoon at the flagship Glendale location
cranking through freshly-squeezed orange juice
sang the praises of Porto’s cupcakes and empanadas
“Porto’s is not like any other place,” she said
was patiently queued up at the end of the bakery line
It’s different than our culture,” said Otuzbiryan
“There are pastries and stuff like guava that we don’t have.”
The guava cheese strudels, or Refugiados (“refugees”) are probably the next logical step in any visit to Porto’s, after the potato balls. Flaky pastry, as light and buttery as any viennoiserie in the city, shelters a mixture of tangy, soft cheese combined with the bright, tart fruit. It’s a Caribbean-meets-Continental-Europe mashup that makes Girl Talk look like a rank amateur.
“We tried to make it well and if we liked it, we thought, ‘Why not?’” Salazar said. “We were making biscotti. We made scones. People thought we were crazy. We were making pastrami sandwiches up until a few years ago.” Salazar emphasizes that much of the menu still has a strong Hispanic feel to it. “We never lost that, but due to the fact that we live in L.A. we make a lot of different things. It kind of makes it exciting.”
Rosa Porto may be gone, but her legacy will surely endure. Not merely for the good food, but for the open embrace of a city and country that welcomed her in return. Instead of turning inward, Porto looked to her new city for guidance. And when she saw the neighborhoods morphing and evolving, so did she. “We came and we melted into the pot,” said Navarro. “We kept our Cuban traditions at home but we were open to the community.”
Porto was modest when I asked what she wished for the future of her business. “That my grandchildren keep the business going,” she said. And any secrets to her success? “A little luck,” she said. “And hard work.”
Lucas Kwan Peterson is a former columnist and video producer for the Food section of the Los Angeles Times.
to urbanization projects in previously untouched areas
urban growth has driven the creation of green infrastructures such as botanical gardens
and reserves that aim to protect the environment while being sustainably open to the public
Below, we have selected 12 outstanding infrastructure and landscape projects in Spain
Related Article Restoration as a Method of Revalorizing Built Heritage in Spain
Conditioning of The Harbor of Porto do Son / CREUSeCARRASCO Arquitectos + rvr arquitectos
© Luis Díaz DíazParque Montornés Norte: Regeneración Urbana / Hiha Studio
Footbridge over Ripoll River / Infraestructures de Muntanya + JBP Enginyeria. Image © Simón GarcíaSon Caulelles Archaeological Site / Montis Sastre Arquitectura + ACN Arquitectura
Son Caulelles Archaeological Site / Montis Sastre Arquitectura + ACN Arquitectura . Image © Lluís BortDel Castillo Lookout / Acid consultoría técnica
Camino de Santiago Trek French Arrival Ramp / CREUSeCARRASCO Arquitectos. Image © Luis Díaz DíazPedestrian Connection Between Barcelona and Montcada i Reixac / Batlleiroig
Pedestrian Connection Between Barcelona and Montcada i Reixac / Batlleiroig. Image © Jordi SurrocaPromenade en Les Coves de Vinromà / Bona fide taller
Promenade en Les Coves de Vinromà / Bona fide taller. Image © Oleh Kardash HorlayLandscape Regeneration of the Camí de Cabrianes / 08014 arquitectura
The bunker has opened to the public on July 5
with the purpose of reconnecting the community with the iconic structure and its complex history
aimed to create a concept for the restoration of the monument
which is set to be rebuilt in its external Neoclassicist form of 1939
the building and it’s significance is revisited through this photo series
Aerial view of the Hanford Construction camp. Image Courtesy of National Archives and Records AdministrationIn 1942, less than a year after the United States was pulled into World War II
the U.S Army Corps of Engineers quickly and quietly began acquiring large parcels of land in remote areas in three states
began arriving at these sites that were heavily shielded from public view
Workers there constructed hundreds of buildings including houses
and testing facilities at unprecedented speed and scale
MiniLook Berlin from Okapi on Vimeo
Interior perspective of The Evidence Room with models of Auschwitz gas column and gas-tight hatch, plaster casts, and model of gas-tight door. Photo by Fred Hunsberger, University of Waterloo School of Architecture.Widely acclaimed as a critically important work on its debut at the 15th International Architecture Exhibition of the 2016 Venice Biennale, The Evidence Room examines the chilling role architecture played in constructing the Auschwitz death camp.
the centerpiece of an exhibition that presented a vision of hope for things to come
© Metropole MarketingThis article was originally published on Business Insider as "Hitler's 3-mile-long abandoned Nazi resort is transforming into a luxury getaway."
Three years before Germany invaded Poland in 1939
Adolf Hitler ordered the construction of the world's largest tourist resort
located on a beachfront property on the island of Rügen
Capable of holding more than 20,000 residents at a single time, Prora was meant to comfort the weary German worker who toiled away in a factory without respite. According to historian and tour guide Roger Moorhouse
it was also meant to serve as the carrot to the stick of the Gestapo—a pacifying gesture to get the German people on Hitler's side
But then World War II began
and Prora's construction stalled—until now
Back Sectional Elevation of The Evidence Room (Siobhan Allman, Anna Longrigg, Donald McKay, Michael Nugent, Nicole Ratajczak, Alexandru Vilcu). Image © The Evidence RoomIn 2000, in a trial held in London, the notorious British Holocaust denier David Irving sued an American historian and her publisher for libel
He posited that the Holocaust didn't really happen – "was the planned and systematic murder of six million European Jews an elaborate hoax?" The battle over the meaning of the architectural evidence took centre stage
forensic interpretation of the blueprints and architectural remains of Auschwitz became crucial in the defeat of Irving
in what remains to date the most decisive victory against Holocaust denial
This edition is curated by the team of Sevillian architects María González García, Juan José López de la Cruz, and Ángel Martínez García-Posada
who have proposed an exhibition concept that demonstrates the double opportunity of architecture to respond to the challenges of the present and anticipate the future of our habitat and territory
1. Cap Cotet
2. The Dark Line
3. Conditioning of the port edge of Porto do Son
4. Environmental restoration of the surroundings of the Rec Comtal in Vallbona. biodiversity viewpoints
5. Renovation of the Ciprián Traditional Shipyard
6. Public Library of Córdoba
7. 24 Public housing in Platja d'en Bossa
8. Renovation and expansion of the Fuentes de Andalucía Town Hall
9. Reggio School, El Encinar de los Reyes
10. Blazon. Elements for industrial recovery
11. New Munch Museum
12. Renovation of the House of Culture as a Municipal Library and Theater
13. Nomade Olympus
14. 4 VPO in Garralda
Remodeling of the Plaza de España and its surroundings
16. Social Housing 1737
17. Restoration of hermitages on the French Camino de Santiago through Aragon
18. Raw Rooms (Earth Houses), 43 social housing in Ibiza
18. Social housing in Ibiza
20. Ham Farmhouse House
The 10 winners in the field of research and dissemination are:
María González García, Juan José López de la Cruz, and Ángel Martínez García-Posada.
XVI Spanish Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism
From September 22 to November 20 at the Royal Artillery Factory of Seville.Schedule.- Tuesday - Saturday:Mornings 11:00 - 14:00Afternoons 17:00 - 20:00Sundays and holidays:11:00 - 14:00Closed Monday
1961) graduated in architecture from the ETSAB (Barcelona School of Architecture) in 1989
Between 1989 and 1993 he practiced a professional partnership with Tonet Sunyer
Jordi Badia combined his professional task as an architect with that of a professor at the Department of Architectural Projects at ETSAB since 2001 and at ESARQ-UIC since 2009
He also collaborated with the newspaper ARA since 2010 and has been editor of the Hic Architecture since 2009
He curated the Catalan and Balearic Pavilion
at the 13th Venice Architecture Biennale 2012.The practice is currently working on various projects
including the town hall in Montroig del Camp
the headquarters of the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre and the new premises of the MUHBA (Museum of History of Barcelona) in Poblenou district
The office is also working on the citizens building in Palamós
the extensive rehabilitation of the Alta Diagonal office building in Barcelona and the Radio and TV University in Katowice
Ángela García de Paredes (1958) and Ignacio García Pedrosa (1957) are architects from the Architecture School of Madrid
Invited professors in other Spanish and foreign universities for teaching
They founded Paredes Pedrosa Studio in 1990
after collaborating with José María García de Paredes for several years
Their work has been recognized with the 2007 Spanish Architecture National Award
Gold Medal International Prize for Sustainable Architecture
Mediterranean Sustainable Architecture Award and 'Golden Medal for the Merit in Fine Arts' 2014
given by the Culture and Sports Spanish Ministery
Their work has been exhibited in many national and international architecture biennials
1958) is architect from the Higher Technical School of Architecture of Madrid in 1982 and a doctor
Extraordinary Prize for doctoral thesis - dedicated to the work of her father
José María García de Paredes - from the Polytechnic University of Madrid in 2015
where she is a professor in the Department of Architectural Projects
She began working as an architect collaborating
became Paredes Pedrosa arquitectos Estudio de Arquitectura
She is vice president of the Manuel de Falla Foundation
and Academician of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando for the Architecture Section
In 1990 he joined forces with Ignacio Pedrosa with whom he shares his professional and research activities
having obtained numerous first prizes in competitions and having built more than twenty buildings
and having been awarded the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts 2014
his work has been exhibited at the Venice International Architecture Biennale in various editions
1957) is architect from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid
receiving an extraordinary award for his thesis Auditorium
Since 1995 he has been an associate professor of Architectural Projects at the ETSAM and has been a guest professor at various institutions such as the IUAV in Venice
the School of Architecture of the Polytechnic University of Valencia
In his professional career they have won first prizes in competitions and built more than twenty buildings
highlighting public works of a cultural nature and public housing
Architecture firm founded in 2014 by Juan Herreros
who transformed Herreros Arquitectos into estudioHerreros
The firm brings together the almost 40-year career of Juan Herreros
accompanied since 2014 by his partner Jens Richter
after serving as Director of the studio after 10 years of collaboration with Juan Herreros
the studio is internationally recognized with awards
in which 20 architects of various nationalities collaborate
The studio has important achievements in the art world such as the Edward Munch Museum in Oslo currently under construction
the requalification of the exhibition areas of the Reina Sofía Museum
the contemporary art space SOLO in Madrid and a number of designs for art fairs
or artist studios such as that of Luis Gordillo
intellectual and media activities constitute an essential reference due to its connections between architecture
estudioHerreros operates globally through a strategic positioning and a working method in accordance with a time defined by the complexity of architectural production processes
which nevertheless demand simplicity and efficiency
and the transdisciplinary nature of the agents involved in the project
which makes its well-known motto "Architecture in Dialogue" the basis of its projects around the world
estudioHerreros' list of significant projects includes the Santiago intermodal station
the Ágora-Bogotá events centre in Colombia and the Tacubaya Strategic Plan in Mexico
His latest built projects include the Munch Museum and the Trosten Sauna in Oslo
Argentina and the Mistral Urban Complex in Marseille
all of which have won international competitions
Projects under construction include the High Speed Station in Santiago de Compostela
the Adakar Collection of contemporary art space in Bilbao
the new SOLO headquarters in Madrid and the Gulia advanced neighbourhood in Romania
the series of mixed-programme complexes in the design phase in Madrid
Guadalajara (Mexico) and Santo Domingo deserve special mention
Extudio is an architectural studio based in Madrid
They are a transversal office dedicated to thought
creation and production of Architecture in several fields such as individual and collective housing
interior design and ephemeral installations
1975) holds a degree in architecture from the ETSAM (National Technical University of Madrid)
After 10 years as a partner at dosmasunoarquitectos
an architectural practice where he develops his professional activity in various fields related to architecture: from design to dissemination
He is the designer of widely awarded and publicised buildings
including: 102 homes in Carabanchel (Ecola Awards and Enor Awards 2009)
the Social Services Center in Móstoles (Architecture Plus Award 2012
AIT Award – Architektur Innenarchitecktur Technischer Ausbau Hamburg 2012
and the Municipal Library and Theater of Boadilla del Monte (COAM Award 2022
the Comprehensive Security Center in Boadilla del Monte
and the Spanish Pavilion at the 2025 Osaka World Expo are currently under development as winners of first prizes in competitions
Founded in 2005 by Marta Peris and Jose Manuel Toral
both graduated from ETSAB, peris+toral.arquitectes is an architecture practice based in Barcelona
which combines its professional activity with the academic one
They are currently working on different projects
while working as teachers in the Faculty of Architecture in Barcelona (ETSAB) and IED
Their work has been published in architecture books and magazines
the practice has published articles in architecture books and magazines
Fundamentos and DC Papers are to highlight
Their work has been recognized with awards such as AJAC Joves Arquitectes 2011
and Saloni d’Arquitect award finalists
Premio Europeo di Architettura MATILDE BAFFA UGO RIVOLTA 2021
85 Viviendas sociales en Cornellà2021 Gold Award
85 Viviendas sociales en Cornellà2021 First Prize
Premios MAPEI a la Arquitectura Sostenible 2021
85 Viviendas sociales en Cornellà2021 Winner Jury's TOP PICK
85 Viviendas sociales en Cornellà2021 Winner
85 Viviendas sociales en Cornellà2021 Winner Best of best
ARCHITECTURE MASTERPRIZE AMP 2021 - Residential Multi Unit
85 Viviendas sociales en Cornellà2021 Winner ex-aequo
Premio CATALUNYA CONSTRUCCIÓ 2021 - Innovació a la construcció
Premio A+ by DAIKIN - Vivienda plurifamiliar
XV Premios NAN Arquitectura y construcción 2021 - Residencial
85 Viviendas sociales en Cornellà2021 Awarded
2023The iconic Ribeira district of Porto on the banks of the Douro River.Hercules Milas/Alamy.Save this storySaveSave this storySaveAs Rabbi Daniel Litvak stepped out of the cab at the airport in Porto one Thursday morning last March
a cluster of plainclothes Portuguese cops swarmed him
watched in shock as more than a dozen men halted traffic
The officers were from a branch of the federal Polícia Judiciária
They drove Litvak three hours south to their headquarters in Lisbon
alongside a man from Pakistan arrested for attempted murder and a local arrested for armed theft
The eventual charges against Litvak included document forgery
based on an anonymous tip that he was trying to leave the country
Roman Abramovich celebrates Chelsea FC’s victory at a 2021 championship game in Porto
the Lisbon team expanded their dragnet in Porto
including the city’s Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue
named for a wealthy Jewish dynasty whose family members had helped fund the synagogue’s completion in the late 1930s
just before thousands of Jewish refugees began passing through neutral Portugal as they fled Nazi persecution
the country’s fascist dictatorship supported a policy known as “Re-Christianization” that left little room for minority religions
The building fell into disrepair until this century
when legislation to offer citizenship to those with Portuguese Jewish descent accelerated the revival of the Jewish community
The Comunidade Israelita do Porto is now 1,000 strong
with a headquarters and a small museum sitting catty-corner to the synagogue’s front gate
a young French Israeli dentist who moved to the city in 2015
and some of them climbed the stairs to the entrance
bonjour?”—was rebuffed with a stern response—“Search warrant”—as officers barged in brandishing a clutch of documents
told Vanity Fair that magistrates are not allowed to comment on specific cases
and the investigations “are covered by legal secrecy.”)
Boris Johnson’s government had imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on Abramovich—by then already a Portuguese citizen
Zekri spotted a highly recognizable name on the papers mentioned as probable cause
though the person had never set foot in the synagogue
It belonged to a Jewish man who had recently been granted Portuguese citizenship: Roman Abramovich
The day of Litvak’s arrest in March 2022—14 days into Russia’s war in Ukraine—Boris Johnson’s government had imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on Abramovich
known as “Putin’s wallet,” and his estimated $12 billion
The European Union followed suit five days later
the oligarch had certified his heritage as the descendant of Jewish people long ago expelled from Portugal; by the following April
he had consequently gained Portuguese citizenship—and thereby the possibility of lifelong residency in the European Union
as well as the ability to challenge European sanctions imposed on him
(A spokesperson for Abramovich said he did not “wish to comment” for this story.)
who grew up an orphan in Russia’s frozen north
made the bulk of his fortune buying a state-owned energy conglomerate from the Yeltsin-era Russian state on the cheap before selling it back to a Putin-led government a decade later for more than 50 times the value of his original stake
his $350 million Boeing 787 Dreamliner the stuff of legend
But the global reaction to the war in Ukraine severely hampered his ability to flit between mega-yachts and luxurious properties like the Château de la Croë on France’s Cap d’Antibes; in April 2022 French authorities froze the villa that had been home to royalty from Britain
as well as Aristotle Onassis and Stavros Niarchos
Abramovich had acted as an occasional mediator between the Kremlin and Kyiv
even suffering a bout of suspected poisoning there
despite demands from some members of Congress
Abramovich’s unlikely citizenship from a small
sunny western European nation like Portugal had been public knowledge before Putin initiated his campaign
But the extraordinary details behind Abramovich’s citizenship application and its approval by Portuguese authorities
reveal unsettling truths about the allure of wealth
At a time of deep political agitation between Russia and the West
Abramovich’s rapid procurement of European Union citizenship has caused embarrassment for authorities in Portugal
according to current and former politicians
But Litvak’s story also raises serious questions about the fairness of the country’s justice system and the powerful persistence of antisemitism
his grandparents having fled Europe in the early 20th century
As a young man he had moved to Israel to finish his rabbinical studies
He began working in Porto in 2007 and has been the rabbi there ever since
and his six children live full-time in Israel
where he had been heading before his arrest
his role and responsibilities in Porto expanded considerably
mirroring the growth of the community he serves
in the city where his Jewish faith had—long ago—been almost entirely obliterated
what was once a patchwork of fiefdoms across the Iberian peninsula had narrowed through centuries of conflict and compromise to just two major powers: the kingdom of Portugal and the combined kingdom of Castile and Aragon
issued an edict calling for the expulsion of their country’s hundreds of thousands of Jewish residents
where a Portuguese king promised them protection
Historians say that while a small number of expulsions were carried out
King Manuel did not want successful Jewish people to abandon his economy
so he forcibly converted them to Christianity
though some maintained their faith in private
particularly in the country’s more remote regions
Those families became known much later as “crypto Jews,” or by the Hebrew term Bnei Anusim (roughly “descendants of forced ones”)
Abramovich’s global travel on a $350 million Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the stuff of legend
but the Russian invasion of Ukraine severely hampered his ability to flit between mega-yachts and luxurious properties
the Roman Catholic Inquisition hunted down any conversos perceived as insincere
Porto’s old walled Jewish neighborhood became known as Vitória
or Victory—alluding to Christianity’s conquest of the heretical Judaic faith
Hundreds of Jewish families understandably fled elsewhere
either to more welcoming cities in Northern Europe like Antwerp and Amsterdam or to existing communities in the Ottoman Empire and North Africa
after the Hebrew word for the Iberian peninsula
Successive financial crises left tiny Portugal on its knees—no longer able to exploit the wealth of former colonies
instead reliant on an almost $100 billion bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund in 2011
Desperate for foreign investment and with an aging population
politicians turned their focus to immigration policy
In 2012 the government in Lisbon introduced a program that offered residency permits to wealthy foreigners if they invested more than $600,000 in property
(More than 5,000 Chinese applicants and over 500 from the US have obtained these so-called “golden visas.”)
The Russian billionaire reportedly owns this $9.3 million villa in the country’s Algarve region
Solarpix.com.The head of Parliament’s foreign affairs committee
envisioned a similar program that might generate not just investment but goodwill
He’d been contacted on Facebook several years earlier by a Jewish man in New York
where the oldest Sephardic community in the US had been founded in the 1650s
had asked if any statutes might offer him and his community citizenship
Ribeiro e Castro recounted in his Lisbon office
The politician consulted the law book and indeed discovered an avenue
As Spanish authorities began to develop a similar “law of return,” several Portuguese lawmakers from the Socialist Party proposed legislation
Ribeiro e Castro—a Christian Democrat—heartily endorsed the “process that honors Portugal,” as he put it in an op-ed at the time
“It was a symbolic reparation,” he said to VF
and a way to restore “the composition of the national tissue of the country.”
In early 2015 Portugal rolled out the pathway to naturalized citizenship
In short: just a clean criminal record and proof of Sephardic ancestry
which would typically require authentication by boards representing either of the country’s two largest Jewish communities
Only once Sephardic heritage had been certified could a person apply for citizenship
For the volunteer board members in both communities
Israeli authorities had developed vast government departments over decades to determine Jewish descent
but there was no recognized legal or scientific standard for affirming specifically Sephardic ancestry as distinct from
the Portuguese communities were being given just months to set up their systems
The government provided no formal estimate for the number of people worldwide who might qualify
and the new regulations were vague about the threshold to prove a person’s Sephardic roots
giving community leaders significant discretion
the board began hiring graduate students and PhDs to trawl through archives from the Inquisition and compare their findings with applicants’ family trees
bigger than the universities,” said José Ruah
the treasurer and longtime board member of the Lisbon community
whose own family returned to Portugal from North Africa around the same time the Inquisition finally sputtered in the 1820s
people requesting Sephardic certification did not need to identify as Sephardic Jews
only prove a link to family who once had been
Porto’s leaders chose to interpret the new law’s criteria rather differently
Applicants would have to identify as Jewish or be the child of a Jewish parent and provide an attestation from their local rabbi that they “had a tradition of belonging to a Sephardic community of Portuguese origin,” alongside evidence that might include the etymology of their surname
the use in their family of a language called Ladino (largely derived from Old Castilian Spanish and Portuguese)
Final approval of all applicants would fall to Litvak and others working under community guidelines—and decisions would be made with minimal delay
The Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue in Porto is one of the biggest synagogues in Europe
Comunidade Israelita Porto/ CC BY-SA 4.0.In the eyes of the state
neither community’s approach was necessarily more correct than the other
and for the first few years not a single official raised a red flag or published any complaints
The Sephardim had been the world’s first truly global Jewish community
Folders filled with multilingual marriage certificates and photo albums flooded in from all corners
By far the largest surviving number of Sephardim can be found in Israel
A bustling avenue to Portuguese citizenship rapidly developed there
with several corporations springing up to service the interest
the vice president of the Israeli Bar Association
who was initially skeptical about having non-lawyers involved
He had personally helped a couple hundred Sephardim apply
from his office opposite the Waldorf Astoria in Jerusalem
But the more he saw of the larger operators
the more he grew to admire their seriousness and professionalism
second stage.…” He trails off to pull out his phone and show me several slick commercials produced by one such firm
His grandparents had fled Turkey during an early 20th-century conflict with Greece
and he successfully gained Spanish and Portuguese citizenship thanks to Sephardic ancestors in both his parents’ families
But he told me his Portuguese certification from the community in Porto required far less documentation than the endless back-and-forth with the designated Jewish community in Spain
“The difference between the Portuguese procedure and the Spanish procedure is like when you have two girlfriends,” he explained with a hint of mischief
The subsequent deluge of citizenship and passport requests—the latter as proof of the former—began to outpace Portugal’s poorly staffed civil service
foreign minister Augusto Santos Silva appeared before Parliament to ask for change
“There are an increasing number of people who come to that consulate,” he said
quoting a telegram from Portugal’s ambassador to Israel
“both to prepare applications and to collect their citizen cards or passports
who manifest complete ignorance about Portugal
even declaring they have no intention of visiting our country.” Israeli firms
had been advertising Portuguese citizenship applications during Black Friday sales
of the country’s nationality “damaged Portugal’s international reputation.” Another lawmaker proposed adding a two-year residency requirement
Various Jewish communities began to worry that the right of return wouldn’t last much longer
an applicant with the Hebrew name of “Nachman ben Aharon” emailed the Porto community
“I am a Sephardic Jew member of Sephardic community
Rabbi Boroda interviewed me and attested my Sephardic origin
Roman.” Attachments included a birth certificate
a PDF file entitled “Letter from the Rabbi,” copies of Russian and Israeli passports
and a Microsoft Word document entitled “Roman Abaramovich [sic] Family tree.” It included two parents
born in the “Russian Impire [sic].” One hour and 53 minutes later someone responded
Approved” and requested some information be sent in a different format
a SWIFT payment receipt shows Abramovich instructed his bankers at UBS in Switzerland to pay a “charitable contribution” of 250 euros to the Jewish Community of Porto’s account at the local subsidiary of Spanish banking giant Santander
multiplied across tens of thousands of applicants over several years
has helped Porto’s Jewish community accomplish a great deal
including feature films about Judaic history in Portugal
Abramovich supplied the reformatted information and proof of payment
“I plan to donate you [sic] on the permanent basis for the long term.” His application was immediately passed to the Porto community’s back office
the community’s current president—using the pseudonym Berel Rosenstein
as he commonly did to avoid hassle from pushier applicants
he explained to me—alerted other members of the “support committee.” He suggested the group send an email of thanks
(“Those who doubt Abramovich’s Sephardic origins do not know the law
or do not know both,” Senderowicz told VF.)
King João I established the city’s Jewish quarter in 14th-century Porto
His successors’ enforcement of the Inquisition led to the murder or expulsion of many Jewish citizens
iStock/Getty Images.Abramovich’s “Letter from the Rabbi” had been written by Alexander Boroda
the head of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia
In 2018 Boroda had officially recognized Abramovich for two decades—and half a billion dollars—of contributions to the federation
The two men have been close for many years: They were photographed enjoying lunch together at Basil Pizza & Wine Bar in Brooklyn back in 2013
Boroda wrote in the certification letter that his friend’s heritage was “based on my acquaintance with Roman Abramovich testimonies and a personal interview that I conducted.” He added the billionaire “preserves Sephardic rituals
traditions and food customs.” When asked what food customs distinguish a Sephardic family in Russia
“I don’t know exactly.” Boroda added that he’d offered Sephardic assurance for “20
not more” Russian Jewish people seeking Portuguese citizenship
and noted that a 23andMe test had put his own genetic heritage at 0.6 percent Spanish and Portuguese
Boroda did not mention something that Senderowicz did
however: that he sought Porto’s Sephardic certification for himself
a representative said Boroda was on a “personal holiday” and unable to comment
a member stated that the certification of Abramovich’s Sephardic roots from Boroda was “reliable.” The note went on to say that though the Porto community had “always been quite averse to accepting such cases
fundamentally because of the difficulty of treatment,” Abramovich was not only deserving of a certificate thanks to his community of origin
but also because he was rich enough to buy citizenship elsewhere and was instead choosing to become part of a “small dignified country unfortunately on the brink of bankruptcy.”
the Porto community wrote to the prime minister’s office saying that Roman Abramovich was an example of a Sephardic Portuguese Jew who would “try to mobilize to help Portugal.” By early September Abramovich was emailing a member of the Porto board that he had “heard many good things about your community from Rabbi Boroda,” adding that he planned to “become a member of your community and participate in all activities.”
Abramovich filed his application for Portuguese citizenship at the Conservatória dos Registos Centrais in Lisbon
Abramovich’s desire for Portuguese citizenship emerged against the background of some very specific geopolitical circumstances
two Russian military officers posing as tourists attempted to poison a former Russian spy in the English cathedral city of Salisbury
cratering the UK government’s relationship with Moscow
Abramovich—whose British investor visa was already facing scrutiny—withdrew his visa renewal request after the original expired that May
that Abramovich might have Sephardic heritage
Abramovich jetted to Tel Aviv after Israel confirmed his eligibility for citizenship
he went from Britain’s 13th wealthiest resident to Israel’s richest citizen (he is now second to the late casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson’s wife
Abramovich continued to pursue residency options in Europe
directed the release of a police report that had blocked Abramovich’s two-years-long attempt to set up residence in Verbier
Local officials had described him as “a very attractive taxpayer for the community” and approved his application
but the police ultimately decided his presence would constitute a reputational risk—and potential security risk—for Switzerland
citing 1990s-era allegations of money laundering as well as alleged ties to criminal organizations
Abramovich’s Swiss lawyer issued a response insisting that “Mr
thorough background checks by government and business partners over the years and such unsubstantiated allegations have never been at issue.”
a Porto board member wrote to Maria de Lurdes Serrano
the head of the central registry office in Lisbon
requesting a “declaration of urgency” for processing Abramovich’s application
invoking reasons this was in the national interest including “Portuguese Jewish diplomacy in the world,” “recovery of the national economy,” and the “prestige of Portuguese State institutions.” Nothing about the letter was illegal
nor is there any evidence of a financial quid pro quo involving the Porto community
the letter stated: “Given the brutal increase of anti-Semitism in Europe and the certainty that the following information would cause headlines and outcry against Jews
as taught by Jewish history in European territory
we ask Your Excellency to take all measures so that said information never falls into the public square.”
assuring that the Abramovich application would “not take more than 10 months.” She soon instructed a staff member on the fourth floor
where some Sephardic nationality applications were handled
to “place this urgent request in the process…and follow along its processing
so as not to exceed the period of 10 months.” Ten months is the statutory minimum—so her reiteration of that time frame
and the fact she copied two central registry office board members
struck at least one person with related experience as a sign that Lurdes Serrano understood her correspondence might be examined in the future
Both the country’s intelligence service and the Polícia Judiciária—who are still investigating Litvak and several other members of Porto’s Jewish community—confirmed in response to her that they had no opposition
“nada consta,” to Abramovich’s application
clerks wait several weeks or even months for a police response; Abramovich’s case was actioned within just 24 hours
A spokesperson for the Polícia Judiciária did not answer VF’s questions about the timing
as Portugal’s citizenship application portal makes explicit
candidates can expect to wait 24 to 29 months
but Abramovich waited only nine weeks from the February date the Porto board flagged his application for Lurdes Serrano to the time he was granted a “naturalized citizen birth certificate” on April 30
Lurdes Serrano confirmed to the board that Abramovich’s citizenship had been granted: “I inform you that the respective nationality registration has already been carried out.” A rare surviving billionaire from Russia’s “gangster capitalism” era who still retained a direct line to Vladimir Putin now possessed EU citizenship
Even his own local lawyer told VF she had been “surprised” at the speed
the Portuguese government agency that oversees that central registry office said “disciplinary procedures” were ongoing
Rabbi Daniel Litvak was arrested shortly after Abramovich’s Portuguese citizenship was recognized
Leonel de Castro/Global Imagens.At the end of that month
Abramovich visited Porto to watch his soccer team
clinch victory in the finals of Europe’s Champions League tournament
a team owned by the brother of Abu Dhabi’s ruler
who also happens to be the ruler of Dubai’s son-in-law
(This was before the UK government forced him to sell the club amid war-related sanctions.) On the pitch afterward
though he did not mention his new citizenship
Portugal had been left on its knees—no longer able to exploit the wealth of former colonies
It was ultimately Alexei Navalny—the Russian opposition leader currently in a Siberian jail—who directed global attention to Abramovich’s citizenship in December 2021
shortly after the Portuguese press first confirmed it
He criticized Portuguese authorities for “carrying suitcases of money” and wrote on his Twitter account that the oligarch had “finally managed to find a country where you can give some bribes and make some semi-official and official payments to end up in the EU.” Santos Silva
the Portuguese foreign minister who back in 2020 had advocated for changes to the law
pushed back against Navalny’s claims in a press conference
“The idea that Portuguese public sector employees carry suitcases of money is insulting,” Santos Silva said
it also has no pertinence.” (VF has seen no evidence that Porto’s board members or civil servants working in the Conservatória dos Registos Centrais received any payment beyond the standard processing fee.) A spokesperson clarified to VF that Santos Silva had not meant to imply that Abramovich’s application procedure was legal
however; around the time of Litvak’s arrest in March last year
Santos Silva asserted that action was needed to keep the law from being “manipulated”—pervertida
has acknowledged that Abramovich will not lose his nationality as a result of EU sanctions
nor can he be prevented from visiting Portugal (barring an extraordinary outcome from the Litvak investigation)
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa formally proposed a new set of regulations on Sephardic nationality: Applicants would have to prove inheritance of property or corporate shares in Portugal or show evidence of regular trips to Portugal throughout their lifetime to “demonstrate an effective and lasting connection.” David Mendoza
the London-based president of the Sephardic Genealogical Society
considers this an obscene undermining of the original offer; the Inquisition was efficient in its terrors
“My last living relative in Portugal was burnt alive in 1732
and they have an inventory of everything they confiscated from him,” he says
“How can we inherit property if everything was confiscated hundreds of years ago?”
Portugal has become a popular destination for a host of influential people
straining the housing market in a nation with one of Europe’s lowest average incomes
is now a citizen thanks to his Sephardic heritage
Others have found nationality through different Portuguese immigration exceptions
the 49th hereditary head of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims and a billionaire
was granted citizenship even more quickly than Abramovich following an urgent request from Rebelo de Sousa
Two children of former Angolan strongman José Eduardo dos Santos are Portuguese on paper
They join various international boldface names who own Portuguese real estate
though some are already European or are simply foreign investors: Designer Philippe Starck and Fiat heir Lapo Elkann have purchased luxurious homes along the coast
who converted to his father’s Judaic faith in 2009
Litvak won an appeal to lift some of the punitive measures against him: the confiscation of his passport
which rendered him unable to leave the country
and thrice weekly check-ins with the police
The judges heavily criticized the behavior of the prosecutors and law enforcement
relating to which naturalization process?” they wrote in their decision
“There is nothing in the file that tells us that these payments were of criminal origin.” The judges concluded with a rhetorical question: “How does one defend oneself only from generalities?” The attorney general’s office said inquiries are ongoing
with “analysis of the extensive documentary compilation seized.”
the Porto community board wrote a letter to Rebelo de Sousa requesting an apology for the raids and the arrest
which was forwarded to the prime minister’s office; at the time of publication
there has been no response from the prime minister or president
where he and his wife made a simple lunch of white rice and homemade meat dumplings
they have the right to stop this: ‘We don’t want the law
do that if you want,” he told me in slightly hesitant English
He emphasized that the ultimate controversy was in the government’s own hands: “We didn’t give the nationality to Abramovich.”
the Portuguese government announced plans to end the Sephardic nationality law altogether at the end of 2023
“The purpose of reparation,” the proposal declares
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The Asunta Case is now available to stream on Netflix
If you've watched one of Netflix's latest crime dramas
you might still be reeling from the shocking events it depicts
The six-parter tells the story of 12-year-old Asunta Basterra
who was adopted as a baby from the Hunan province in China by a Spanish couple
when her body was found after her parents reported her missing
Netflix's dramatisation is based on a true story – but what actually happened
On the night of Saturday 21st September 2013
Rosario Porto and Alfonso Basterra reported the disappearance of their daughter Asunta
shared responsibilities of caring for Asunta
Porto had told police that Asunta was at her apartment doing homework and Porto had left her there as she went to the family's country home in Teo parish
Porto had called Basterra to see if their daughter had just gone to visit him
then the pair called some of Asunta's friends to see if they had heard from her
Porto and Basterra were informed just a few hours later that Asunta's body had been found next to a road outside Santiago de Compostela
After days of interviews and a wake for Asunta
Porto was arrested at the funeral on 24th September after police had recovered CCTV footage that didn't match up with Porto's story of the night of Asunta's disappearance
The petrol station footage revealed that both Porto and Asunta were on their way to Teo at 6:20pm and after being confronted with the new timeline of events
Porto changed her story to explain that Asunta had accompanied her to the country home
She then said she took Asunta back to Santiago to do her homework and went out to a store
realised she left her purse in Teo and drove back to retrieve it
After examining the CCTV footage of the surrounding areas and roads Porto claimed to have taken in this journey
the police found no evidence of her car and were led to believe that the mother and daughter had arrived in Teo around 6pm
When Asunta's body was found in the parish of San Simón de Ons of Cacheiras – just 5km from Porto's Teo country home – Porto and the police went to the country house where Porto was told not to touch anything
which led to outspread public shock within Santiago
where the couple were well known within the community and affluent circles
the trial finally began in October 2015 and the appointed jury found both Basterra and Porto guilty of the murder of their adopted daughter
A teenage acquaintance of Asunta's had provided evidence in the trial stating that she had seen Asunta and her father on the day of the crime when he was meant to be at his home
The jury deduced that Basterra could have hidden in the backseat of Porto's car as they drove to the country house
The coroner had determined that Asunta had died of asphyxiation and had been given at least 27 Lorazepam pills on the day of her death
which is more than nine times a high dosage amount for an adult
The jury determined that Asunta had been smothered at the Teo country house and then her body dumped on a country road
The judge sentenced both to 18 years in prison for aggravated murder with aggravating circumstances of kinship and abuse of authority
the High Court of Justice of Galicia amended the verdict after it was found that it could not be proven that Basterra was in Porto's car and accompanied her to Teo
They maintained that Basterra planned and collaborated in the murder but that it was Porto who had caused the asphyxiation
The High Court dismissed the appeals of Porto and Basterra's lawyers and confirmed the 18-year sentence for both
The motive for Asunta's murder was never fully explored in the trial
as both parents maintained their innocence
it was found that Asunta had been ingesting smaller doses of Lorazepam for at least three months
This was concluded after forensic scientists tested a strand of Asunta's hair and discovered the presence of Lorazepam in the first three centimetres
This backed up claims from Asunta's teachers at two music academies who had said that
Asunta had told Isabel Bello
who ran one of the academies: “I took some white powders.\" She also told another violin teacher: “I don’t know what they are giving me
Porto had told investigators in Asunta's case that she had previously been awoken by Asunta's screams on a July morning
She told officers that when she had rushed to Asunta's room
she had found a man dressed in black with latex gloves bending over her daughter
he injured Porto's cheek and Porto said that they had accidentally left the keys in the outside lock
although she did not know the man in question had entered the building
Porto chose not to inform the police at the time as she didn't want to make Asunta \"feel unsafe in her own home\" and also did not inform her neighbours of the incident. Asunta had texted a friend at the time: “Today someone tried to kill me!” with a photo of finger marks on her neck
After the widespread media speculation about Asunta's murder
some believed that this masked man incident could have possibly been a first attempt on Asunta's life
while others assumed it could have been a reason to give Asunta Lorazepam
Porto's neighbour gave evidence at the trial and claimed that nobody could have entered the house that night, as her dogs would've barked and they did not. The judge eventually concluded that her parents were the perpetrators of this attack
although Porto's defence claimed otherwise
Porto took her own life on 18th November 2020
was admitted to the prison infirmary for depression
She had been placed in anti-suicide protocol programs at all three prisons where she served time
and maintained her innocence until her death
Basterra is serving his 18-year sentence in Teixeiro prison in A Coruña
a landmark documentary was made about the case
Lo que la verdad esconde: Caso Asunta (What the Truth Hides: The Asunta Case) and for it
He wrote at the time (before the death of Rosario Porto): “When I regain my freedom
which is none other than to be a free man again and reunite with my girl
I have already thought about the how and the where
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Asunta Case true story: What happened to Asunta Basterra?The Asunta Case is now available to stream on Netflix
Netflix's dramatisation is based on a true story – but what actually happened
MANUEL FERNANDEZasVALDES/NETFLIXOn the night of Saturday 21st September 2013
Porto had told police that Asunta was at her apartment doing homework and Porto had left her there as she went to the family's country home in Teo parish
then the pair called some of Asunta's friends to see if they had heard from her
Porto and Basterra were informed just a few hours later that Asunta's body had been found next to a road outside Santiago de Compostela
Porto was arrested at the funeral on 24th September after police had recovered CCTV footage that didn't match up with Porto's story of the night of Asunta's disappearance
When Asunta's body was found in the parish of San Simón de Ons of Cacheiras – just 5km from Porto's Teo country home – Porto and the police went to the country house where Porto was told not to touch anything
A teenage acquaintance of Asunta's had provided evidence in the trial stating that she had seen Asunta and her father on the day of the crime when he was meant to be at his home
The jury deduced that Basterra could have hidden in the backseat of Porto's car as they drove to the country house
the High Court of Justice of Galicia amended the verdict after it was found that it could not be proven that Basterra was in Porto's car and accompanied her to Teo
The High Court dismissed the appeals of Porto and Basterra's lawyers and confirmed the 18-year sentence for both
Candela Peña as Rosario in The Asunta Case
MANUEL FERNANDEZ-VALDES/NETFLIXThe motive for Asunta's murder was never fully explored in the trial
This was concluded after forensic scientists tested a strand of Asunta's hair and discovered the presence of Lorazepam in the first three centimetres
This backed up claims from Asunta's teachers at two music academies who had said that
Asunta had told Isabel Bello
who ran one of the academies: “I took some white powders." She also told another violin teacher: “I don’t know what they are giving me
Porto had told investigators in Asunta's case that she had previously been awoken by Asunta's screams on a July morning
She told officers that when she had rushed to Asunta's room
he injured Porto's cheek and Porto said that they had accidentally left the keys in the outside lock
Porto chose not to inform the police at the time as she didn't want to make Asunta "feel unsafe in her own home" and also did not inform her neighbours of the incident. Asunta had texted a friend at the time: “Today someone tried to kill me!” with a photo of finger marks on her neck
After the widespread media speculation about Asunta's murder
some believed that this masked man incident could have possibly been a first attempt on Asunta's life
Porto's neighbour gave evidence at the trial and claimed that nobody could have entered the house that night, as her dogs would've barked and they did not. The judge eventually concluded that her parents were the perpetrators of this attack
although Porto's defence claimed otherwise
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He wrote at the time (before the death of Rosario Porto): “When I regain my freedom
"I have only one reason to stay alive
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast
Morgan CormackDrama WriterMorgan Cormack is a Drama Writer for Radio Times
covering everything drama-related on TV and streaming
She previously worked at Stylist as an Entertainment Writer
Alongside her past work in content marketing and as a freelancer
Molly MossTrends WriterMolly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times
She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian
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up to half of the annual predicted rain fell in just 10 days – the third such event in a year
Experts say it is time to plan for a new normal
the city was hit by another fierce bout of rain
The storm destroyed furniture and appliances and left walls stained with mud
After losing everything for the third time
she says she no longer has the strength to live in the city
Rio Grande do Sul, a state home to almost 11 million people, has witnessed the most extensive climate catastrophe in its history and one of the greatest in Brazil’s recent history
Over the course of 10 days at the end of April and beginning of May, the region recorded between a third and almost half of the yearly rainfall predicted – between 500 and 700 millimetres, depending on the area, according to measurements by Metsul Meteorologia
and Gravataí rivers – tributaries of the Guaíba – to overflow
According to the Civil Defence
and nearly 400 people injured in 425 affected municipalities
At least 232,125 people have left their homes: 67,542 are in shelters
and 164,583 are homeless or temporarily staying with family or friends
and villages such as Cruzeiro do Sul were devastated in what the state governor
described as “the greatest catastrophe of all”
the state capital and one of Brazil’s largest urban centres
surpassing the 4.76 meters reached during the historic floods of 1941
0:49Aerial footage shows scale of flooding in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul – videoNeighbourhoods close to the river were submerged
and power and water-treatment plants went down
causing electricity and drinking water shortages in several areas
A dam in a northern suburb failed and flooded a large portion of the city
Viewed from an army helicopter
the neighbouring city of Eldorado do Sul looks like a set of canals stretching along narrow strips of land and buildings
one of the most critical roads in the country’s south
hundreds of people are waiting for transport to shelters
who is leading research on the unfolding catastrophe in Porto Alegre
Infrastructure is key to understanding what happened in the state capital
explaining that an extended network of 42 miles (68 kilometres) of dykes
and more than 20 drainage pumps prevented a more severe situation
the lack of maintenance of the flood protection system over the years may have been a factor
but it has already shown sealing problems,” he says
“The gates and pump houses have already shown weaknesses
Extreme floods were relatively uncommon in Rio Grande do Sul. However, scientists believe that climate factors are now accelerating such events
View image in fullscreenFlooding in Praça da Alfândega
Porto Alegre’s central squareThese include an intense wind current in the region
which destabilised the climate; an atmospheric block
which emerged after a heatwave that made the centre of Brazil drier
concentrating the rain in the country’s northern and southern extremes; and a moisture corridor from the Amazon
Twenty years ago, a study produced by the climate researchers José Antonio Marengo and Wagner Rodrigues Soares identified a significant increase in precipitation in southern Brazil and warned of its consequences
A more recent study published by the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) indicated that the number of days Porto Alegre suffers “extreme precipitation” – rainfall above 50 millimetres – has more than doubled since the 1960s
This number increased to 44 days between 2001 and 2010 and rose to 66 days from 2011 to 2020
“These climate events gain power as we have El Niño and La Niña periods. Over time, we have seen that the rainfall regime and temperatures are different,” s Marcelo Dutra da Silva, a professor of ecology at the Federal University of Rio Grande and one of the country’s leading figures warning about climate effects
“This is creating climate and ecological troubles and an economic problem.”
View image in fullscreenShoulder-deep in water
a man pulls a boat through the flooded streets of São Leopoldo
Dutra warned public authorities that cities in the southern region were not prepared for natural disasters
There is absolutely no environmental planning to consider the climate changes and events happening,” he said
Carlos Nobre, a renowned climatologist, principal investigator at the Institute of Advanced Studies (IEA) of the University of São Paulo, and the co-chair of the Science Panel for the Amazon
says climate models had already indicated the risk of increased rainfall in southern Brazil
bringing more water into the atmosphere and thus facilitating the occurrence and increasing the frequency of extreme weather events
“What we have seen happen is absolutely devastating,” Nobre says
“We have data on this in Brazil: due to climate change
the forecast is for increased rainfall [in the southern regions].”
View image in fullscreenThe Humaitá neighbourhood
showing the flooded pitch of the Arena do Grêmio
home to one of the two main football clubs of Porto AlegreFor Nobre
a critical problem for regions suffering climate events such as extreme floods is that “the infrastructures were built for a climate that no longer exists”
He says it is time for governments to reconsider planning better adaptation to avoid future catastrophes
Another study
produced in 2015 during the administration of President Dilma Rousseff
showed projections that now seem closer to our climate reality: heatwaves
water scarcity in south-east Brazil and intense rainfall in the south
Natalie Unterstell, an expert in climate change policy and negotiations and one of the study’s authors, says the extreme floods in the Rio Grande do Sul are precisely what she has been warning about for years. “What is happening today in Rio Grande do Sul is our new reality and not a ‘sad exception’,” she posted on Instagram
Brazil’s presidency says that it is not possible to estimate the exact extent of the current damage and how much reconstruction will cost as the water has not receded
“The country will spare no effort to assist in the reconstruction and resettlement of people who have lost their homes,” itsaid in a statement
“It’s likely that there will be properties that cannot be rebuilt in the same location due to the risk of new floods.”
View image in fullscreenRescue teams and volunteers come to the aid of those affected by flooding in the Menino Deus neighbourhood
just to the south of central Porto AlegreHowever
on Thursday the state governor announced his first estimate of the damage : about 19bn reals (£2.9bn)
which is expected to rise in the coming days and weeks
Leite – who has relaxed nearly 500 environmental protection regulations since 2019 when he took office – says his administration will develop a housing plan for people affected by the flood
He had previously said that the state would need “a Marshall plan” to recover
referring to the American programme to rebuild after the second world war
says his administration has carried out maintenance but acknowledged that the flood prevention system “is old”
Amid increasing public pressure for political leaders to be held accountable for their indifference to adapting to the climate crisis
Melo says his efforts are focused on the rescue operations and the displaced shelter
“It’s not time to look for culprits,” he says
Mother Bernadette Pacific is murdered
and the quilombola movement demands justice
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Quilombola leadership of Pitanga de Palmares
member of the National Coordination of Articulation of Black Rural Quilombola Communities (Conaq)
former secretary of Policies for the Promotion of Racial Equality
Yalorixá and leadership of terreiro are some of the various titles that mother Bernadette carried
in the last six years searching for justice for the murder of her son Binho do Quilombo
mother Bernadette was shot dead this Thursday (17th)
the fact that happened to her son happened and she was always demanding justice for what they did
A strong woman who fought against everyone out of respect for Binho do Quilombo”
quilombola leader from São José Ramos de Freitas
Mother Bernadette was not given this name for no reason
She carried with her the strength of her ancestors and
“Talking about mother Bernadette is the same as talking about my mother
talking about our ancestral mothers and our mother Omolu
Since 2010 I met mother Bernadette at the meeting she had in Seabra (BA) and from then on we built a bond from son to mother
Mother Bernadette for us will always be present in our lives
respected and dear mother Bernadette never stopped fighting and resisting the constant threats she received and the struggle for the rights of quilombola communities
“She never stopped fighting for the rights of the community
for justice for her children and especially for religious prejudice
which was one of the things she was always discussing about her subject”
Mãe Bernadete recorded a campaign statement against a Direct Action of Unconstitutionality (ADI) in the STF that questioned the title of quilombola territories
authorities such as the Minister of Racial Equality
Anielle Franco and the Minister of Human Rights and Citizenship
lamented the murder of mother Bernadette and indicated actions to investigate her death
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) also expressed his opinion: “The federal government
through the ministries of Racial Equality and of Human Rights and Citizenship
sent representatives and we await the rigorous investigation of the case
My condolences to the family and friends of Mother Bernadette”
Dismayed by the murder of mother Bernadette, yalorixá, former Secretary of Policies for the Promotion of Racial Equality and leader of the quilombola community of Simões Filho, in the Metropolitan Region of Salvador. She was cowardly killed on Thursday night with gunshots to her face. pic.twitter.com/9Uaj8kWtDn
a quilombola leader who was shot dead in Salvador
Bernadette Pacífico was Secretary of Policies for the Promotion of Racial Equality in the city of Simões Filho and demanded justice for the murder of her son
I received with regret and indignation the news of the death of Mãe Bernadete, a friend and great quilombola leader in Bahia. I determined that the Military and Civil Police immediately go to the place and that they be firm in the investigation. pic.twitter.com/L1sav8co0o
The President of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) and the National Council of Justice (CNJ), Rosa Weber, published a note lamenting the death of mother Bernadette and demanding urgent measures from the local authorities so that those responsible are held accountable
“It is absolutely appalling that the quilombolas
whose ancestors fought with all their might and lost their lives to escape slavery
still live in a situation of extreme vulnerability in their lands
quilombolas need to live in peace and have their individual rights respected."
Em note
Conaq repudiated the murder of the quilombola leader and asked the State to act so that justice is served
“While we mourn the loss of this courageous leadership
we must also unite in solidarity and determination to continue the legacy he left behind
May your memory inspire new generations to continue the fight for a world where all voices are heard
all cultures and religions are respected and all rights are protected
Conaq demands that the Brazilian State take immediate measures to protect the leaders of the Quilombo de Pitanga de Palmares
It is the State's duty to ensure that there is a swift and effective investigation and that those responsible for the crimes that have victimized the leaders of that Quilombo are duly held accountable
We want justice to honor the memory of our lost leadership
acts of violence against quilombolas will not be tolerated.”
The Socio-Environmental Institute (ISA) regrets the tragedy that occurred with mother Bernadette Pacific
sympathizes with her family members and with all those who loved her
Follow and also demand justice with the hashtags #QuemMatouBernadetePacifico and #JustiçaPraQuilombos
The most relevant news for you to form your opinion on the socio-environmental agenda
LAST ISSUE
The diminutive 18-year-old has enjoyed a breakout campaign in Liga NOS having wowed onlookers with his dribbling ability as a youth-team player
When managers find themselves coaching their own offspring
Either the trainer can think too much of their own child
and find themselves accused of nepotism if things do not work out as they hoped
the manager may want to avoid such accusations
they are ready to take on more responsibility
That was the situation facing Porto manager Sergio Conceicao last season after two of his own sons signed professional contracts with the club in the summer of 2020
and it was made clear when he signed that the 21-year-old would spend the majority of the campaign playing with the 'B' team
was always likely to be far more difficult
has been highly touted since arriving at the Porto academy in 2017
and was quickly christened 'Messi do Olival' due to the similarities between his game and the Argentine maestro and in reference to the club's training ground
pressure was on the Dragoes' boss to blood Chico through the first half of the campaign before he finally relented against Boavista in February
A post shared by Francisco Conceição (@francisco.conceicao7)
Introduced with 13 minutes left and Porto trailing 2-1
within five minutes he had won the penalty from which Sergio Oliveira equalised
Chico wriggled through the visitors' defence before his low shot was parried into the path of Evanilson to score what looked to be the winner
The teenager turned instinctively towards his father
who in turn had sped down the touchline to greet his son in an embrace that soon went viral around the world
VAR saw fit to rule the goal out for offside
though Chico's performance had certainly caught the eye
Any doubts over his ability were put to bed a week later when
having come off the bench against Maritimo
he won yet another penalty in a 24-minute cameo that earned him the Man of the Match award
though he is a star who - in part - was made across the country in Lisbon
Chico's formal footballing education began around the age of eight when his father returned to Portugal after his first managerial role at Standard Liege in Belgium
At that point the youngest of the Conceicao brothers
was enrolled at Belenenses only for it to quickly become clear that he was a special talent
A post shared by Francisco Conceição (@francisco.conceicao7)
he has always been very strong," Joao Plantier
one of Conceicao's first coaches at Sporting
"He is not and has never been afraid of having the ball and taking a risk
And it is not easy to maintain this courage throughout training
Francisco understands the game well and is not afraid to take a risk or give it to someone who is better placed when it is needed
easily changes his trajectory and is extremely aggressive in defending and attacking."
Chico spent six seasons with Sporting before
his father was hired as the new manager of Porto
As someone who came from a very tight-knit family group
the youngster took the decision to follow Sergio to Estadio do Dragao
Sporting's loss was undoubtedly Porto's gain
and after a run of 15 games in which he scored 15 goals for the club's Under-17s side in 2018-19
the diminuitive left-footer who plays predominantly off the right-hand side was beginning to turn heads
"Francisco is similar to Messi," ex-Porto defender Eduardo Luis told Record
"To compare him with someone well-known
The kid has all the conditions to become a great player."
was not so pleased to hear such comparisons being made
"This is bad," he told A Bola in January 2019
"I think it is bad because it can take you to a different state of mind than what I think a 16 or 17-year-old kid has to have
Football for him has to be played with pleasure
A post shared by Francisco Conceição (@francisco.conceicao7)
"Do not think that you have reached your maximum by doing two or three dribbles
but then when you track back you drop off a little bit
this attack to defence transition has to be stronger
with Chico also having been on a strict diet over the past year
particularly when he found himself at home during the coronavirus-enforced lockdown in spring 2020
That tough love certainly seems to have paid off
with Chico having finished the season with 17 first-team appearances
including a Champions League debut against Juventus that saw him become Porto's second-youngest player in the competition's history
The 18-year-old's performances earned him a call-up to the Portugal squad for March's U21 European Championship group stages
where he in turn became the team's youngest-ever goalscorer at the competition after netting against Switzerland
He will back in action on Monday when Portugal take on Italy in Monday's quarter-final
with the knockout stages set to be played out over the course of seven days ahead of the senior European Championship this summer
Conceicao's selection for that squad certainly cannot be linked to any kind of favouritism
'Messi do Olival' has the tools to go right to the very top
Extravagant lifestyle and past controversies of Montenegro-based volunteer raise awkward questions for Reform leader
It’s an enigma at the heart of Nigel Farage’s general election campaign: why has a 30-year-old businessman
self-confessed high-stakes gambler and convicted fraudster flown in from a glamorous Balkan resort to act as his unpaid aide
George Cottrell was at Farage’s side when the Reform UK leader was milkshaked on the campaign trail in Clacton
and on a private helicopter flight with him from Ashfield in Nottinghamshire to London
He also pitched up in Merthyr Tydfil for the party’s manifesto launch in Wales
Reform says Cottrell is just one of many party volunteers on the campaign trail
but his extravagant lifestyle and past controversies raise some awkward questions for Farage
One photograph from earlier in the campaign shows Cottrell in a beer garden in Clacton with Farage
Both men are in similar poses: smoking and on the phone
View image in fullscreenGeorge Cottrell
has been seen at Nigel Farage’s side over recent weeks
Photograph: Carl Court/Getty ImagesThe British locations are a far cry from Cottrell’s usual lifestyle
He is said to drive a £300,000 Lamborghini
stay in an £8m townhouse when in London and to have taken Westminster friends including Farage out to his home in Montenegro by private plane from London’s Biggin Hill airport
moved to the tiny Balkan country some time after 2017 when he was convicted in the US and then spent eight months in an American jail after being accused of offering money-laundering services on the dark web
He served time for a single count of wire fraud after 20 other charges were dropped as part of a plea deal
He is now a familiar figure in the luxurious coastal resort of Porto Montenegro
with its gleaming marina a haven for the super-rich with shiny mega-yachts
upmarket restaurants and designer shops such as Dior and Rolex
George Cottrell has a villa but also owns a more modest apartment at a hotel in Porto Montenegro
Photograph: PRSources told the Guardian he had entertained friends at a villa during trips to the country
with one particular bedroom favoured by Farage
although he reportedly owns a more modest apartment at the five-star Regent Porto Montenegro hotel
Cottrell’s time in Montenegro has not been without controversy
he reportedly lost €20m (£16m) in a single poker game
which sparked a public row with his former girlfriend Andjela Vukadinovic
Speaking to the Guardian in Montenegro a fortnight ago
said Cottrell and Farage were “very close”
View image in fullscreenGeorge Cottrell and Nigel Farage are ‘very close’
says Cottrell’s former partner Andjela Vukadinovic
Photograph: Instagram“[George] respects him so much
He always talks about him like Nigel is No 1 for him
like he was mentioning him every day but it was fine for me
four months he mentions him all the time,” said Vukadinovic
Cottrell is also known for his links to the political scene of Montenegro
including the country’s now prime minister
As Spajić was on the brink of power last year
a search and arrest warrant was sought against Cottrell in relation to accusations that he was illegally financing the party
His lawyers said a presiding magistrate rejected the request as being without basis and “part of a political game” and described the episode as part of a political disinformation campaign because of Cottrell’s links to the insurgent politician
View image in fullscreenGeorge Cottrell is also known for his links to Montenegro’s political scene
Photograph: Anadolu/Getty ImagesVukadinovic said Cottrell had been close to Spajić
who she had previously met in Porto Montenegro
[George] doesn’t want to speak about that – I asked him a few times
Cottrell’s business in Montenegro is registered as a company called Private Family Office, set up under the name George Co. He used the same name on a passport when he flew by private jet last summer, according to the Montenegrin newspaper Vijesti
Lawyers for Cottrell said he had official permission to use the shortened name for reasons related to his personal safety
was privately educated on the luxury Caribbean island of Mustique followed by Malvern college in Worcestershire
Nicknamed “Posh George” by the Brexit campaign donor Arron Banks
Cottrell was previously a volunteer for Farage in 2016
after being introduced by his aristocratic uncle Lord Hesketh
a former treasurer of Reform’s predecessor party Ukip
View image in fullscreenGeorge Cottrell was privately educated in Mustique and at Malvern college in Worcestershire
Photograph: Patrick Steel/AlamyHe was with Farage on the night of the Brexit referendum when he sensed a gambling opportunity
I couldn’t believe I was still getting 9/1 [for a majority leave vote],” he told the Telegraph newspaper afterwards
“We were in our campaign office and I was tracking all the major stock indices
I was getting my managers out of bed to get me another 50 grand on here
Cottrell claimed to have won a six-figure sum from shorting the pound but said he promptly “lost most of it the next day” on a horse
Farage was present when Cottrell was arrested on money-laundering charges in the US as the pair were preparing to return to Britain after the Republican convention
Free daily newsletterMake sense of the UK election campaign with Archie Bland's daily briefing
Banks’s memoir recalls that Cottrell was initially detained on the way out and they thought it was because he was “from a very wealthy family and routinely carries around thousands of pounds”
Banks wrote: “Nasty shock today as Nigel got Posh George’s full rap sheet
He’s been indicted on 21 counts of crimes including money laundering
wire fraud and blackmail.” He added that he thought Cottrell was “very young and I suspect he’s been caught up in something way over his head”
Photograph: Federal Bureau of PrisonsA judge in Arizona jailed Cottrell for eight months after he ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud as part of a plea deal under which the other charges were dropped
before he worked for either the anti-EU party or Farage
who once described Cottrell as “like a son to me”
said reports that her son was wealthy enough to have a £250m trust fund were “ridiculous
Cottrell talked about having made his living before 2016 working for offshore banks
including “enabling and promoting aggressive tax avoidance programmes”
His lawyers have said he does not have access to family money
but has made his considerable wealth by working since the age of 17 – and that he no longer works for offshore banks on tax avoidance schemes but has a portfolio of investments
After the 2017 conviction, Farage appeared to distance himself from Cottrell, saying he could not be accountable for everything people around him got up to. But the pair have been photographed together several times since then, once in Montenegro at a polo match in 2019
again having lunch in west London in 2021 with Cottrell’s former on-off girlfriend Georgia Toffolo
and again at Scott’s restaurant in Mayfair this year
View image in fullscreenOne photograph from earlier in the campaign shows George Cottrell and Nigel Farage striking similar poses
Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The GuardianVukadinovic said Cottrell had been gearing up to support Farage over the last few months but that she had no idea what his role was
that’s all I know because I don’t ask too much
So he’s full-time there [in the UK] preparing Nigel for that I guess,” she said
said she was present after he lost €20m in the Triton poker series
a high-stakes tournament held at the five-star Maestral casino resort in Budva on the Adriatic coast
She said he gambled away the money over several hours in the VIP room
She said she left after trying to warn Cottrell
who admitted in an interview with the Telegraph in 2017 to having a gambling problem in his youth that he later kicked
said she believed Cottrell had been playing against Chinese billionaires and celebrities
he was all the time on the same table [playing poker] in the private room,” she said
‘this is gonna be a disaster’ – and it was.”
View image in fullscreenPorto Montenegro marina is a haven for the super-rich with mega-yachts
Photograph: Marko Đurica/ReutersHe has also been a regular customer at the Salon Privé
a private members’ club and casino in Tivat
and has brought friends from the UK to the casino
Such machines are used to buy and sell cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin
The casino’s lawyers told the Vijesti Online publication at the time that the crypto machine had been legally acquired for legitimate cryptocurrency trading
Cottrell has repeatedly said he has no financial ties to the casino and company records show it is owned by a Malaysian accountant from London
Cottrell’s lawyers said he was aware of reports that a crypto machine had been imported but that he had never operated such a machine
One businessman in Tivat described Cottrell as a friend and client since 2017 and told how he met Farage and Toffolo through him
He sang Cottrell’s praises saying: “I have nothing bad to say against him
Cottrell declined to comment on the record
Reform and Farage were also approached for comment
Essaying the pop culture that matters since 1999
Brazilian miniseries Filhos do Carnaval (Sons of Carnaval) deserves more attention for its portrayal of the bitterness that marks the country's race relations and the beauty that exists alongside it
Filhos do Carnaval can be watched in Portuguese in its entirety on Youtube
although it pains me to see that HBO has not made this fantastic and Emmy-nominated miniseries more widely available through legitimate means
it does not appear on HBO’s app and it cannot be found on iTunes
DVD box sets are available for sale on Amazon and on Latin-American e-commerce sites such as Mercado Livre
the series saw airplay in a few Latin-American countries
so it is possible to buy DVD box sets in Spanish online
Whether any of these box sets have an option for subtitles in English remains to be seen (and the person who uploaded the episodes on Youtube did not enable language subtitles either)
fiery atmosphere at Roberto Clemente Coliseum
with fans filling the seats well before tipoff on this early July night
dancing and cheering and chanting in anticipation of the biggest basketball game on Puerto Rican soil in years
we don't like each other," Puerto Rico star Jose Juan Barea (as he's called at home instead of by the initials known by NBA fans) said a few nights earlier after a surprisingly competitive 84-80 win over Cuba in what was expected to be a warm-up of sorts for this matchup with archrival Mexico
Barea keeps the crowd in a frenzy by feeding big man Jorge Bryan Diaz for an assist off a pick-and-roll on the opening possession
then driving for a baseline floater the next trip down the court
Every Puerto Rican bucket is cause for celebration
A few minutes later the crowd falls into a hush. Barea had just crashed into a video board located on the baseline after driving and delivering a leaping dime to Javier Mojica for an open 3-pointer
The fans, perhaps many of whom lined the San Juan streets for a parade that backed up traffic for miles when Barea returned home after helping the Dallas Mavericks win the 2011 NBA championship
are suddenly scared into silence as their hero writhes in pain on the hardwood
A bruised hip can keep him on the bench for only 80 seconds
This game -- part of a FIBA World Cup qualifying window and a progress report of sorts for the island's comeback story -- means way too much to Barea
who has never played a game of this magnitude for the national team in front of his home crowd
Inside an arena that last September served as a shelter for people displaced in Hurricane Maria's devastating wake
Barea's adrenaline overrides any pain as he makes his way back to the court
Barea finally managed to get in touch with his parents
He found a family friend with a working phone in the Mayaguez neighborhood where he grew up and where Jaime and Marta Barea still live
They ran to the house when the neighbor told them their youngest son was on the phone
"I was thinking that I'm going to tell him
we need to do something,'" Jaime Barea says
his son said that Mavs owner Mark Cuban had agreed to let him use the team plane to fly down to Puerto Rico
Barea told his father that he'd make the trip the next day -- missing the first practice of training camp -- and rattled off a list of items his group would deliver
who raised six figures in an online fundraiser he launched the day the Category 4 hurricane struck Puerto Rico and received additional donations from various corporations
several in Dallas' Latino community and many in the Mavericks organization
the needs that we have here in Puerto Rico," says Luis Molinary
the national team doctor and a neighbor of one of Barea's uncles
"When we saw Jose Juan coming in that plane with all that stuff for the people that needed it the most
"That's the big heart that he has for us."
Danny BollingerBarea had lived through Hurricane Georges in 1998, when his family went without electricity for a month, and saw the carnage that storm caused. He knew from following the news that Maria was much worse, with extensive damage throughout the island and an official death toll that would grow to 2,975
regardless of the federal government's role
that it was his duty as a high-profile professional athlete to help struggling Puerto Ricans as much as possible
"We have an example: Roberto Clemente," Barea says
referring to the Puerto Rican baseball legend and humanitarian who died at 38 years old in a Dec
1972 plane crash while en route to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua
a couple of months before the coliseum named after him opened
"That's our example; we've got to follow it
Many Puerto Ricans who play in the major leagues helped provide aid to their homeland after the hurricane, perhaps most notably Houston Astros star shortstop Carlos Correa
For Barea's part in helping Puerto Rico, he earned the NBA's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award and the Hall of Fame's Mannie Jackson Award recognizing human spirit
Barea traveled to Puerto Rico once in the wake of the hurricane last fall
but the Mavericks' team plane made the trip five times
delivering more than 100,000 pounds of food
a former Miss Puerto Rico who is now a stay-at-home mom to their 2-year-old daughter Paulina
focusing full time on the relief efforts while Jose Juan prepared for the season
pitching in by fundraising and helping load the plane
Last September Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico with massive flooding and damage
and some areas are still without power more than a year later. EPA/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTIONOrtiz organized the missions with the assistance of their parents and other relatives in Puerto Rico
who served as liaisons to local government officials
The efficiency improved as their relief efforts continued
as selected cities provided orders to fill
including specifics such as medicine prescriptions
whose 11th-story beachfront condominium in San Juan had doors blown off and sand and water blown in but no major damage
different cities came with different trucks
We went to different communities that needed a lot of help."
Most of Puerto Rico went months without electricity after Maria
and many streetlights still don't work a year later
The dark streets and unrepaired roads are daily reminders of the storm in San Juan
and some luxury beachfront hotels still haven't reopened due to damage from sand or water
but Puerto Rico's capital city is in relatively good shape
That's not the case for many of the inland towns
You see it every day," says Fernando Sepulveda
a doctor who has been a friend of Barea's since childhood
"I still have patients who don't have a roof over their heads
It's not so much an issue of having water or food at this point
Construction costs have soared in Puerto Rico due to demand and
the difficulty of getting supplies to the sites
The poverty level hovers around 50 percent throughout much of the island
Ortiz's hometown of Corozal has a median household income of $16,219 with 52.9 percent of the population living below the poverty line
Barea wants to help Puerto Ricans in those situations, dedicating much of the funds raised by his foundation to put roofs over the heads of families whose homes were damaged, including all of the proceeds from his annual golf tournament
"In the middle [of the island] are the worst
I'm guessing there's got to be like 20 percent that are still without electricity
FANS GO WILD when teammate David Huertas hits a 3-pointer while falling into the courtside seats
one of four triples the former Ole Miss star made in the first quarter
this one putting Puerto Rico up nine and causing Mexico to call a timeout
waving and screaming at the crowd to keep up the energy
Puerto Rico coach Eddie Casiano sprints from the bench across the court and hollers at the crowd
animatedly pointing at the floor as if to say
and Ayon attempts to get even on the next possession
intentionally sliding his foot under Sanchez as the Puerto Rico center shoots a corner 3
Things often got heated when Puerto Rico met its rival in FIBA qualifying
we don't like each other." GDA via AP ImagesSanchez swished the shot and exchanged a few choice words with Ayon
Technical fouls were called on both players
Ricky!" the crowd chants as Sanchez slowly walks to the free throw line and Barea stands in front of the bench
motioning with his arms for the fans to keep it coming
The rivals keep their emotions in check the rest of the game
Mexico leads by one when Barea checks back in with seven minutes remaining
Puerto Rico takes the lead seconds later when Gian Clavell
a shooting guard who was briefly Barea's Mavs teammate while on a two-way deal last fall
hits a 3 and then another off a Barea assist the next possession
Wearing a pair of LeBron 15s painted as Puerto Rican flags, Clavell scores all 17 of his points in the second half, celebrating so much after one 3 that Barea had to remind him to run back on defense. Clavell hopes for another crack at the NBA, but he's reporting late to the Golden State Warriors' Summer League team so he can play in this game
"I'VE DONE THIS drive like 500 times," Barea says as he cruises the sometimes scenic 2½-hour ride from San Juan to Mayaguez in his Maserati SUV
reminiscing about all the times his hand-me-down Volkswagen Jetta made the journey after practices with the junior national teams
Barea gets to his hometown on the west coast of the island only a few times a year
but one of his first stops is usually the neighborhood of Barrio Paris
He pulls up at an outdoor basketball court with a metal roof and bleachers
who coached Barea beginning when he was a 3-year-old who could dribble the ball with either hand
He still donates uniforms and equipment for the youth leagues run by Zapata
The kids hooping on the court play it cool when Barea shows up on a summer afternoon
waiting until their pickup game ends and his conversation pauses before asking to take selfies with the local legend
Barea usually gets swarmed for pictures during public appearances in Puerto Rico
where Barea's father used to drive daily to pick up his sons' teammates
whose father is an engineer and mother is a retired professor and volleyball and tennis coach
grew up in an upper-middle class neighborhood a few miles away
Barea points to a section of the wall that showcases the advanced degrees of his brothers (Jaime
an engineer) above his high school diploma
a subtle reminder from his parents that he's about 12 credits shy of getting his college degree from Northeastern
There is, of course, no truth in that jest. The walls in his parents' office are lined with photos of him -- Barea's favorite is of him slicing between LeBron James and Dwyane Wade for a layup during the 2011 NBA Finals -- and his awards
His father Jaime has a stack of the biography Puerto Rican sportswriter Chu Garcia penned about Jose Juan
titled: "BAREA: PEQUENO PERO GRANDE" (small but big) -- and proudly hands one to a visitor
Barea's parents beam most about how their youngest son has maintained his gentle
giving nature as the spotlight on him has intensified
Barea is a bigger deal in Puerto Rico than he ever imagined while growing up
when his goal was to play for the national team
He started dreaming bigger in his late teens
when he matched up against NBA prospects in international competition
and carved out the longest NBA career of any Puerto Rican-born player (12 seasons and counting
coming off his best statistical year) despite going undrafted
Basketball is nearing baseball in popularity in Puerto Rico
Barea has been the lone active NBA player from the island for much of his career
while the island produces Major League Baseball players by the bunches
adding to the adoration of him in his homeland
J.J. Barea helped deliver a title to Dallas in 2011, when the underdog Mavs took down LeBron James and the Heat. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty ImagesBarea's celebrity really exploded in 2011 for two reasons: He played an important role in the Mavericks' surprising championship run, joining little-used 1980 Los Angeles Lakers guard Butch Lee as the only Puerto Rican natives to win NBA titles
a former Miss Universe who is a famous Puerto Rican actress and model
Barea became a crossover celebrity of sorts at home
the mother of his 6-year-old son Sebastian
"It's a little bit difficult to get used to that
because we're low-key people and family," says Jaime Barea
who shooed paparazzi away on the day that his son married Ortiz
He has learned to live with it better than us
I'm not that used to that publicity or fame
but he has taken it very well because he has a humble personality."
Barea picks his spots carefully to go out in public in San Juan
frequenting restaurants where management can accommodate him to allow some privacy
step-smile routine to keep it moving while posing for selfies as he walks in public
"Maybe people will come here the first day that he's around
because we never thought Jose was going to be this great celebrity."
Barea makes a point to use his celebrity to benefit Puerto Rico's basketball culture
his foundation focused on refurbishing basketball courts like the one he grew up playing on in Barrio Paris
He holds several basketball clinics each summer throughout the island
"That's where it all started for me," says Barea
who has also played and coached in Puerto Rico's summer pro league
My best times in life was playing basketball
learning how to play basketball and competing in basketball all over Puerto Rico
from high school to when I was 8 years old playing against different cities in Puerto Rico
"Everything in Puerto Rico got me ready to go to the States and be able to go to college and then to make it to the NBA
It feels like I've got to give back to the kids."
They're a means of providing joy and hope throughout Puerto Rico
and coordinated by confidante Jose "Chino" Torres
a scout and assistant coach for Puerto Rico
Barea throws a party for the entire community around his basketball camps
put up bouncy houses for the younger children and bring in doctors to give care to those who can't afford it
the center for the national team who has played with Barea since they were teens
"The people know that Jose Juan is part of Puerto Rico
WITH THE CROWD doing its best to will Puerto Rico to the win against Mexico
when he snapped out of a shooting funk in sweltering conditions (the arena's old air conditioning unit struggles when the place gets packed) to score eight of his 15 points in the final 2 minutes
Yo soy boricua!" the crowd chants in a sing-songy cadence -- some media members on media row even joining in -- as Barea goes to the line after an and-1 drive to put Puerto Rico up four with 4:54 remaining
a power forward from New York who barely speaks any Spanish
for two dunks and a layup off pick-and-rolls
Barea has struggled with his shot again (1-of-6 on 3s
3-of-7 from the line) despite a two-hour solo shooting workout the day after the Cuba win
but he dominates this game with his playmaking
There is a little drama left, happening when Huertas sprinted up the sideline and away from the referee after a questionable foul call with 1:32 remaining
that the stands shake as Mexico misses all three free throws
A Barea drive and lefty finish to beat the shot-clock buzzer with 35 seconds remaining provides the dagger
He grabs the final defensive rebound to seal Puerto Rico's 84-79 win
starting the postgame celebration by spiking the ball on the court
Ceeeeer-veza!" Barea and Torres playfully chant in the locker room
wanting to crack open some beers to toast the win
A cooler full of 10-ounce Coors Lights arrives soon
Carmen Yulin Cruz, the San Juan mayor who rose to prominence for publicly pleading for assistance and criticizing the emergency response from President Donald Trump's administration after Hurricane Maria
going locker to locker to express her appreciation
Each player is also handed an envelope stuffed with $500 in cash
further proof of this game's importance to Puerto Rico
who has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of his own money traveling with his family and buying team dinners while competing around the world with the national team
has ever been paid for playing for Puerto Rico
as he does with all of his endorsement and appearance fees from his homeland
This night is so sweet because it's much bigger than basketball
"There's no words to describe that feeling -- the game against Mexico
"This is going to be a process to recover from the hurricane
for the [people] that couldn't go to the game and watched it on TV and for everybody that was there
THE PUERTO RICO national basketball team's unofficial victory party has been going for a couple of hours in the roped-off corner section of Eco Sports Park's busy rooftop bar
overlooking pickup soccer games played well past midnight on fields that were flooded last fall
Barea savors the feeling of one of the best nights of his life as he sips rum and Coke
enjoying a beautiful 78-degree night at the complex
which also features basketball and sand volleyball courts and is located just a strong-armed long toss from Roberto Clemente Coliseum
Barea hasn't felt this kind of emotion after a game since wrapping a Puerto Rican flag around his shoulders when the Mavericks claimed the Larry O'Brien Trophy after clinching the 2011 NBA title
it's up there," Barea says with a smile that hasn't left his face since the final buzzer sounded
but playing here in San Juan in front of my people with a crowd like that
Puerto Rico's plight is never far from Barea's mind
He and his wife continue to commit much of their free time to aiding the recovery from the storm
one that Barea has been hoping for his whole life
The party kicks into another gear when the karaoke machine gets cranked up in the section where he's hanging with several teammates
Barea's better half grabs the microphone and delivers a concert-quality performance
the kind of karaoke show one might expect from a former Miss Puerto Rico whose sister is an opera singer
sporting a sleeveless version of the white Puerto Rico basketball T-shirt her husband is wearing
She nails every note of the verses adapted by Marc Anthony to the celebrated song by Rafael Hernandez about Puerto Rico's beauty
closing her eyes and extending her left hand toward the sky as she passionately belts out the chorus
Puerto Rico," a verse that perfectly captures the vibe of the night
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Manchester City have signed Spanish midfielder Nico Gonzalez from Porto on a four-and-a-half year contract
The 23-year-old becomes City’s fourth arrival of the January transfer window following an impressive start to the season in Portugal
scoring seven goals and providing six assists across 29 appearances in all competitions
“This is the perfect opportunity for me at this stage of my career,” Gonzalez said on Man City's website
“I am 23 and I want to test myself in England
There’s no better club than Manchester City for me to do that
There isn’t a footballer in the world who would not want to be part of this set-up
“I know the reputation Pep has and I cannot wait to work with him
I am honoured he wants me to play in his team
A message from Nico! 🩵👋 pic.twitter.com/VDbeFgJ1wG
Spain Under-21 international Gonzalez is City’s first midfield signing of the window
boosting an area of the pitch where they’ve struggled this season following the long-term knee injury suffered by 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri back in September
able to operate as both a deep-lying playmaker and a box-to-box midfielder
His youthful energy and ability to cover ground in midfield should make him a welcome addition for the champions
He is set to compete with the likes of Mateo Kovacic
Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva for a place in City’s starting XI
loaned and sold by Premier League clubs during the January 2025 transfer window
Gonzalez began his youth career at local side Montaneros before joining Barcelona’s academy at the age of 11
He progressed to make his first-team debut against Real Sociedad in August 2021 and made 29 appearances in all competitions in his debut season before moving to Valencia on a season-long loan for the 2022/23 campaign
Gonzalez played 26 LaLiga matches for Valencia before joining Porto on a permanent basis in the summer of 2023
who is the son of former Deportivo La Corona midfielder Fran Gonzalez
has gained both UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League experience during his time in Portugal
Gonzalez has represented Spain at Under-17 and Under-21 levels
but is yet to make his debut for the senior side
He could make his City debut in their FA Cup fourth-round tie at Leyton Orient on Saturday
while his first chance to play in the Premier League will be at home to Newcastle United seven days later
Michael Owen and Steve Cooper discuss the top-five race and who they think will be in the competition next season
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Jot down these school holidays in 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 to plan ahead your vacation or childcare arrangements in Portugal
By Gary Buswell
Portuguese schools have fewer school holidays throughout the year
but have a longer-than-average summer break
Learn when your children are next off school by reading the following:
The dates for school holidays are set by the Ministry of Education in Portugal. General holiday dates are the same across the country
however there may be variations between regional districts and schools on additional holiday dates or days off
schools have four holidays across the year:
Private international schools in Portugal have their own holiday schedules
which may differ slightly from the general dates
Be sure to check with your child’s school for exact dates
There are also additional days off for public holidays and other school-related activities in Portugal
In addition to the main school holidays in Portugal
there are other days throughout the year when schools may be closed
These include national public holidays and local (municipal) holidays
You can learn more about these additional holidays in our article on public holidays in Portugal
Childcare in Portugal is limited in terms of daycare provision compared to many northern European countries
Many locals expect families to look after kids during the holidays
If you need to arrange care for your child during the school holidays in Portugal
ask your child’s school or check with your regional authority for information on local providers
there are several providers of summer camps offering fun activities in the Portuguese sun
Additionally, check the Expatica directory for a list of providers
Gary has been freelancing for Expatica since 2016
An expert writer with experience in social research and community development
he focuses on topics such as politics and current affairs
From regular checkups and dental care to mental health and more
we explain all you need to know about children’s healthcare in Portugal
By Joana Taborda
this article covers everything you need to know about children’s healthcare in Portugal
Want access to the best private medical services in Portugal
Speak to the healthcare professionals at Cigna Global today and find a policy that’s right for you
Take advantage of their global network of doctors
therapists and more with coverage tailor-made for you and your family
If you’re starting a new life in Portugal
which this is usually the case for expat parents arriving with family
your children can receive free medical care
In 2020, Portugal spent 10.1% of its GDP on general healthcare, which was in line with most European countries. All children can receive free public healthcare in Portugal. However, parents will need to register and contribute to social security to cover the costs
As mentioned, anyone who lives or works in Portugal can access public healthcare
and children born in Portugal are automatically placed in the system
The first step is to register for social security
you can sign up with a GP at your local health center (centro de saúde).
You will need to bring along a few documents
Guide to getting health insurance in Portugal
While the quality of public healthcare in Portugal is generally quite good
there may be long waiting times for certain services
General healthcare treatments are free for children in Portugal
Some health centers also have dedicated youth departments which are known as centros de atendimento para jovens. These are aimed at children and young adults between the ages of 12 and 21. The centers provide free support and information about general healthcare, including sexual and reproductive health
Some of the main international health insurance providers that operate in Portugal include:
Pediatrics is one of the top medical specialties in Portugal, with 7.6% of doctors practicing in the field
Children can see a pediatrician for general healthcare until the age of 18
Portuguese pediatricians work at health centers
Usually, your child is assigned a family doctor at your local health center. They will be the one to guide you through regular checkups. They can also refer you to a specialist such as a a pediatrician, whenever it makes sense. This is part of the state healthcare plan
Alternatively, you can register for a pediatrician at a private hospital or clinic. In this case, you can choose your own doctor. While most doctors in Portugal speak fluent English
it is often easier to find an English-speaking practitioner at a private institution
Between their third and sixth day of life, your child will have to do the Guthrie test (teste do pezinho) to detect phenylketonuria
they should see the family doctor at the following times:
you will receive the booklet directly at the maternity
You can also get it later when you register at a public health center
While vaccinations are generally not mandatory in Portugal, there are a few exceptions, such as the Diphtheria and Tetanus shot. In fact, your child must have these in order to access school in Portugal
Other available vaccines include Chickenpox
as they are not part of the Portuguese National Vaccination Program
When it comes to children’s healthcare
your family doctor is usually your first port of call
You can register your child with a GP at your local health center and state healthcare will cover the costs
That said, there may be times when your child needs to see a specialist. In this case, you can find specialist doctors at a hospital or private clinic. Unless it is an emergency
you will need a referral from the GP to access a public hospital
allow you to book an appointment directly with your chosen specialist.
Beyond pediatrics, the Portuguese healthcare system includes several specialist services for children such as ENT
You can find specialist children’s hospitals in the main Portuguese cities
Children can receive free dental care in Portugal until the age of 18 as long as they are registered with the SNS
an oral hygienist will conduct an initial screening at your children’s school and refer them to a dentist
While preventive dental care is free under public healthcare
you will have to pay for specific treatments such as braces or retainers
Part of the strategy included creating more mental health facilities for children
The Ministry of Health is responsible for developing preventative healthcare measures for children in Portugal. These are part of the National Child and Youth Health Program (Programa Nacional de Saúde Infantil e Juvenil)
Schools also play a major role in providing advice and promoting a healthy lifestyle
the ministry has also created the National Program for School Health
In addition to these, local councils have also started their own community programs. For example, the Comboios de Bicicleta helps children cycle to schools in Lisbon
Joana spends her time between the Portuguese capital
she writes about it all for the likes of Atlas Obscura
Searching for a primary school in Portugal
Learn to navigate the primary education system in Portugal by reading the following:
the primary education system (ensino básico) has three stages or cycles
public schools (escolas públicas) are free to attend
parents may still need to pay for additional supplies
These activities vary between schools but often include football
which means that children will need to be familiar with the language when they begin school
Portugal also has partially state-controlled schools
which are known as the ensino cooperativo
The school week in primary schools in Portugal typically runs from Monday to Friday
Lessons are usually 60 minutes long and each class has around 20 students
The core subjects taught at state primary schools include:
children also have at least two hours of physical education per week
It is also mandatory to have English lessons from the third grade
children begin learning a second foreign language
Some schools also offer religious and art education
Students must complete a few written assessments throughout the year, and teachers also evaluate class participation and homework assignments. At the end of the ninth grade, students must pass two exams in Portuguese and mathematics, before they can progress to secondary school
Although there are some final assessments in other years
these two exams are the only ones that count toward the student’s average grade
A student’s final grade is based on a sliding scale that ranges from 1 (very poor) to 5 (excellent)
if students score grades below 3 for both Portuguese and mathematics
if their grades in three or more subjects are below 3
they also don’t progress to secondary school in the next school year
they can retake the exams in June and July
if they still don’t pass both subjects
The school year for primary schools in Portugal usually starts around the second week of September and is divided into three terms
In Portugal, children enjoy several school holidays throughout the year. This includes Christmas, Carnival, Easter, and a long summer break between each grade. Schools also close on public holidays
state schools in Portugal come with both advantages and disadvantages
and this is something you will want to consider when deciding if this is the most suitable option for your child
Below are some of the biggest factors to weigh up
Public primary schools in Portugal are free to attend, which is a big advantage for parents. They also offer a convenient way for pupils to integrate into the local culture and learn the local language as schools only teach in Portuguese
if your child doesn’t speak Portuguese
you can request one-on-one sessions to help them develop their language skills
State schools do come with a few disadvantages
the quality of education can vary from region to region
there’s often a lack of resources or even teachers for a specific subject
This means that you might have to supplement your child’s education with extra materials or classes
they have to start attending primary school that year
Schools in Portugal have a catchment area which means that parents need to register their child at one within their area of residence or workplace
Registration must be done online via the Portal das Matrículas enrollment portal (if you have a Portuguese citizen card) or directly at your chosen school
you can prioritize up to five school choices
While students usually get their first option
it’s always good to have alternatives
You should submit your application by 16 July
the deadline for first graders usually ends in early May
Applications may be accepted past this date
it’s always best to check with the school to see if there are places available first
You will need to present the following documents when you apply to a primary school in Portugal:
When transferring schools, you should also provide a verified certificate of qualifications (certificado de habilitações) which is translated into Portuguese. This is where a translation service such as Lingoking can help
When it comes to primary education in Portugal
some parents prefer to enroll their children in private primary schools (escolas privadas)
There are different types of private primary schools worth considering
so many private primary schools often have ties with Catholicism
This is the most popular choice among Portuguese families when choosing private schooling
This is partly because the standard of education is often higher than in state schools
and they offer more extracurricular activities
Religion takes center stage in these schools
with students praying before class and attending mandatory religion classes
You will find a few Montessori schools in Portugal but these are generally designed for children who are younger than seven
These schools promote independence and creativity and respect each child’s learning rhythm
Some parents choose to complement their child’s primary education by creating a Montessori environment at home or attending workshops at organizations such as Atelier Montessori
Portugal is home to many international schools
Children attending these schools follow a country-specific curriculum
Many expat families enroll their children in international schools because they provide an easy transition if you are considering moving countries again
International primary schools in Portugal include:
Tuition fees can range from anywhere between €9,000 and €15,000 per year
this excludes registration fees and extra costs for school lunches or field trips
Just like state schools in Portugal, international schools also come with their own advantages and disadvantages. Below are some of the biggest factors that you might want to consider when deciding if this is the right option for your child. You can also read more about how to choose a good international school in our guide
Studying at an international school in Portugal has many advantages
these schools often provide a higher level of education than state schools and have access to more activities and resources
children develop in a multicultural environment by engaging with staff and peers from around the world
The main downside of international schools is
the substantially higher costs when compared to a free state school
children also tend to integrate less into Portuguese culture and don’t grasp the language as well due to the lack of connection with the local community
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AC Milan have sacked head coach Paulo Fonseca just six months after his arrival at the club
Fonseca has overseen a disappointing start to the season which sees Milan sit eighth in Serie A – 14 points adrift of leaders Atalanta
The last straw came in Sunday night’s 1-1 draw at home to Roma
Milan announced Fonseca’s departure on Monday morning with a 41-word statement on the club’s social media channels
It read: “AC Milan announces that Paulo Fonseca has been relieved from his duties as Head Coach of the Men's First Team
The Club extends its gratitude to Paulo for his great professionalism and wishes him the very best in his future endeavours.”
Ex-Porto manager Sergio Conceicao was later announced as the man to replace Fonseca at the San Siro
Winger Francisco Conceicao is currently on loan at Juventus from Porto - and the Old Lady face AC Milan in a Supercoppa Italiana semi-final on Friday
The 50-year-old spent six years in Serie A during his playing career including a stint at Milan’s city rivals Inter
Conceicao left Porto in June just nine days after leading them to Portuguese cup success.
his spell in Milan will be viewed as a huge disappointment after a period of relative success under Stefano Pioli
The sacking would not have come as any surprise to Fonseca
who bizarrely plotted his own downfall prior to Monday’s confirmation
Despite pouring cold water on a potential exit in his post-match interview
Fonseca later told reporters that his time with the Rossoneri was up
Quizzed on his future as he left the stadium in his car
Fonseca revealed that he had helped crunch talks with club directors
Milan sit seven points outside of the Champions League qualification places and club chiefs hope a change of management can help instil some impetus in the second half of the season
There is still plenty to play for both domestically and in Europe with Milan currently 12th in the Champions League table and set to at least qualify for February's play-off round
Senior figures at the club will hope the change may improve relations with the club's Ultras who have vented their anger at the direction of the club in recent weeks
Protests have taken place at various Serie A matches of late with the most recent air of discontent shown at Sunday's clash with Roma
Owner Gerry Cardinale and the board have been the main target of the boo-boys
The Ultras want American business Cardinale to sell the club and have been vocal about their desire with chants of
We're not American and ‘This club doesn’t deserve us’
Discover everything you need to know about childcare in Portugal
including the different options available to parents
Naturally, arranging daycare can be a concern for parents relocating to a new country with children. However, if you happen to be moving to Portugal with little ones, or decide to have a baby there
you will be pleased to know that the country offers a range of high-quality and affordable options
This includes a variety of daycare facilities as well as home-based care such as childminders and nannies
this article includes the following information:
Parents in Portugal can enroll their children in a nursery (berçário) from the age of three months to three years old and then move them to preschool/kindergarten (jardim de infância) until they start primary school at the age of six
they can choose a more personalized service such as a childminder or nanny
There are both public and private daycare facilities to choose from in Portugal
public provision remains underdeveloped and many expat families opt for private nurseries and kindergartens where English-speaking sessions are more available
Portugal scores reasonably well in terms of its quality of childcare services
so much so that preschool teachers need ISCED 7 (postgraduate-level) qualifications
the staff-to-pupil ratio in Portuguese preschools is around 1:17
which is just above the OECD (1:15) and EU (1:14) averages
Responsibility for childcare and early years education in Portugal is split between the Ministry of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security (Ministério do Trabalho, Solidariedade e Segurança Social – MTSS) and the Ministry of Education (Ministério da Educação)
Mothers in Portugal get 90 days of fully-paid maternity leave after the birth of their child
They can also take an extra 30 days either before or after the birth
maternity leave is compulsory for the first six weeks after the birth
Unfortunately, according to OECD statistics
Portugal scores below average in terms of flexible working entitlements
only around 40% of Portuguese employers allow both flexible start/finish times and accumulated hours
with around 20% of employers allowing neither
you need to be a resident in order to access public childcare services in Portugal
all European Union (EU) citizens and those from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA – Iceland
and Switzerland) can access daycare services in Portugal
Non-EU/EFTA nationals, on the other hand, usually need either a temporary or permanent residence permit
there are many private carers and centers that you can use as long as you can pay the fees
Portuguese visas: how to immigrate to Portugal
To receive parental allowance payments, you need to be a resident of Portugal and register for social security
Payments are usually based on social security payments
meaning that you will probably receive less if you haven’t made sufficient payments
children as young as three months old can access early years daycare options and continue until they start school at the age of six
And while preschool classes are not mandatory
many families choose to take advantage of the local facilities on offer
Nurseries/crèches provide full-day care for children from the age of three months until three years and offer groups of around ten to twelve children
The staff on hand typically consists of childcarers
and the emphasis lies on developing early social and communication skills
Classes are typically divided into 0 to 1-year-olds and 1 to 3-year-olds
Typical hours are 09:00 to 15:00 but can be longer or shorter
Most nurseries in Portugal are private and parents have to pay fees. However, there is some funding for low-income families and the government is in the process of introducing free childcare for children under the age of 3 over the next few years
These centers are for children aged between three and six years old. Around 93% of Portuguese children attend preschools
Sessions focus on early learning skills including basic reading and writing
and voluntary preschool centers across the country
although parents usually have to pay for certain services such as meals
places at state centers are limited with low-income families being given priority in most areas
many expat families choose to send their children to a private kindergarten
public and private preschools in Portugal are fairly similar in terms of content and hours and usually run from 09:00 to 15:00; although some may open later
the typical class size in a public center is 20 to 25 children whereas it’s only around 10 to 15 in a private center
You can find international nurseries and preschools in Portugal that teach lessons in foreign languages such as English. However, these are usually in the private sector and are more expensive. Many international schools in Portugal include preschool care and accept children from around two or three years of age
If you are thinking of enrolling your children in an international school
just bear in mind that fees are likely to be expensive
Alternative educational establishments also offer daycare options. You can find both Montessori and Waldorf schools in Portugal which use different pedagogical approaches based on child-centered development
and an emphasis on arts and creative pursuits
Childminder and nanny – babá or sometimes ama (carer) – are interchangeable terms in Portugal
They are available through public and private services
with public childminders typically caring for children in their own homes or in a nursery
and private carers offering care for children in the family home
Childminders and nannies are usually qualified with at least a child first aid certificate and will have police clearance
Public carers should be registered with the local authorities
there are private carers that are unregistered and who operate without qualifications
it is very important to do your homework and conduct a thorough background check if you are considering hiring one
Childminders in Portugal look after children until the age of three (before they move on to preschool) and can legally only care for a maximum of four at once
This includes domestic and basic childcare duties
Babysitters are a more temporary and informal form of childcare in Portugal
Parents generally hire them for short periods of time when they don’t have family
or neighbors available to look after their children
they don’t need any form of qualification or regulation and can be anyone from teenagers looking to earn pocket money to retirees
If you need a babysitter in Portugal, there are many agencies that provide these services and can supply sitters that have undergone a background check. Alternatively, you can use an online babysitter service such as My Babysitter to find available babysitters in your area
It is not common for workplaces in Portugal to provide childcare facilities
you may find that some larger international companies offer crèche facilities or childcare payments as part of their employee benefits package
it is worth asking your employer about this if you are unsure
as some provisions might be on a first-come-first-served basis
If you have school-age children, you can find before– and after–school clubs at many primary schools in Portugal to help with out-of-hours care. On average, 48% of 6 to 11-year-olds in Portugal enroll in out-of-hours care
Before-school clubs will typically be breakfast clubs that start around 08:00 or sometimes earlier
are available later in the day and usually revolve around leisure activities such as sports
You will need to enquire with your child’s school to see what childcare options they provide
There may also be other local youth groups that provide after-school activities
either independently or through school contracts
there is support available for low-income and disadvantaged families
also run services all year round and occasionally have extra spaces which are worth looking into
You can also find private summer camps in Portugal that run activities during the summer holidays, such as Campo Aventura and Nomad Surfers
These are typically for primary and secondary school kids
You can search for activities on Páginas Amarelas (the Portuguese Yellow Pages)
You can use the following resources to search for private childcare in Portugal:
There are a number of different factors to consider when looking for childcare services in Portugal
Childcare costs in Portugal are relatively low compared to many other countries. In fact, according to OECD figures in 2021
full-time care for two children aged 2 to 3 costs just over 20% of the average weekly earnings
this declines to around 4% when you take into account benefits and subsidies
which is below both the EU and OECD averages
Payment rates for childcare in Portugal are usually based on family income. Most public provision is free apart from contributions towards things such as meals, which usually amount to around €50 a month
Here is what you can expect to pay for private childcare in Portugal:
When it comes to family benefits, Portugal is a relatively low-spender, contributing just under 2% of its GDP towards family assistance measures
its assistance programs are targeted toward those most in need
and low-income groups and families with children with disabilities receive higher levels of support
with daycare being made available for all preschool age groups by 2025
places will be limited and those most in need will be prioritized
In addition to the parental allowances mentioned earlier
benefits and allowances in Portugal include:
There are also a number of deductions you can include in your tax return relating to the support and care of your children
You can find more information on the ePortugal portal and our article on the tax system in Portugal
There are also a number of child healthcare specialists in Portugal
You can also choose to use private healthcare services for children. This involves paying fees or taking out private health insurance. However, benefits include being able to access specialist care without a GP referral. Of course, insurance quotes will vary according to your child’s medical needs
You will typically have to undergo four years of polytechnic or university training in order to become a professional carer in a nursery or preschool in Portugal
Some facilities also offer junior or assistant jobs where the minimum level of training is typically child first aid
Childminders or nannies looking after children in their own Portuguese home will need to be at least 21 years old and should complete at least child first aid training
Those providing public childcare usually have to undergo additional training and register with the local authorities
Here’s what you need to know about emergency numbers in Portugal
By Stephen Maunder
you can call the Europe-wide emergency phone number 112
there are a wide range of other numbers and useful helplines that offer support
you can call the emergency number (112) from any telephone to speak to the emergency services
the operator subsequently routes you through to the medical service
it’s important to try to remain calm and speak clearly when providing your name
Many operators speak some English but are unlikely to be native speakers
It’s important that you only call 112 in a genuine emergency
misuse can result in delays for callers who require immediate help
call the emergency number (112) to report it immediately
The Portuguese fire service is made up of professional as well as volunteer firefighters (Bombeiros)
There are 2,000 professional firefighters in addition to 40,000 volunteer firefighters in Portugal
Both are represented by the Portuguese Firefighters League (Liga dos bombeiros Portugueses)
There are three main police organizations in Portugal: the Judicial Police (Policia Judiciária or PJ), the National Gendarmerie (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR), and the Public Security Police (Policia de Segurança Publica or PSP)
The PJ deals with complex and high-level criminal investigations on a national scale
The GNR is Portugal’s paramilitary security organization; they are generally responsible for policing all areas of the country except for major cities
You can find national GNR contacts online, as well as details of the nearest PSP police force
Some other useful emergency numbers for police in Portugal are the following:
you can get help regardless of your insurance coverage or residence status
you must provide evidence to access further treatment once your condition is stable
who can prescribe you medicine or refer you to a specialist if necessary
you can also call Health Line 24 (Saúde 24) at 0808 24 24 24
Some other useful emergency numbers in Portugal for healthcare include the following:
You can find out even more about the Portuguese healthcare system in our full guide to healthcare in Portugal
Mental healthcare services in Portugal are provided through the Portuguese health service
Your first port of call is to contact your doctor
who can also refer you to a specialist if necessary
Some mental health services are available through the public healthcare system
call 112 or one of the other emergency numbers instead to contact the police
What to do in the event of an accident in Portugal depends on its severity
both parties should exchange details and fill out an accident report
which you then submit to the insurance companies
if there is a disagreement over what happened
don’t sign any documentation at the scene
contact the emergency services immediately
Some other key contacts are the following:
A popular tourist destination and a hub for the lusophone world, Portugal is home to scores of embassies and consulates ready to help those in need. EmbassyPages has a full list of embassies and consulates in Portugal
Some of the most relevant embassies to tourists and foreign residents of Portugal include:
If you lose an item on public transport in Portugal, you should contact the relevant transport company (e.g., CP for items lost on a train)
You can also contact the Public Security Police (PSP) to report a loss or theft at 218 444 530
If you lose a bank card, report it to the local police station. The police then provide a certificate (Auto de Denúncia de Furto) for the issuing bank. You should also report the lost or stolen card to SIBS (Sociedade Interbancária de Serviços) at 808 201 251 or 217 813 080
If you have an emergency anywhere in Europe
you can call 112 to access emergency services
Calls to 112 are free and can be made from any landline
When you call one of the emergency numbers in Portugal
An award-winning finance writer and editor
Stephen has been writing for Expatica since 2016
covering a range of financial topics across Europe
he’s worked for breaking news broadcasters
President Michael D Higgins laying a floral tribute to the memory of those who died in the recent train tragedy
in the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostella
Tue 27 Aug 2013 at 15:57President Michael D Higgins has laid a floral tribute in the cathedral in Santiago in memory of those killed in the train crash near the Spanish city
Mr Higgins attended the pilgrimage site and offered his personal condolences to local dignitaries
Seventy-nine people were killed when the train derailed at speeds of 111mph in Santiago de Compostela in July
faces multiple charges of negligent homicide over the tragedy
President Higgins met the president of the Xunta de Galicia
in Porto do Son and expressed sympathies over the rail disaster
Mr Higgins visited Santiago de Compostela and met local mayor Angel Curras Fernandez and Archbishop Julian Barrio Barrio
the Archbishop and Ireland's ambassador to Spain Justin Harman for the floral tribute in the cathedral - the final destination for thousands of pilgrims on the Camino of St James
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The Primeira Liga leaders came back from 2-0 down at half-time to beat Estoril 3-2 away from home on Saturday night thanks to their teenage match-winner
19-year-old Conceicao had only been on the pitch two minutes when he slammed home Liverpool target Luis Diaz's square ball to snatch all three points in the 89th minute
Having been handed his senior debut by his dad when he was still 18 in February last year
Conceicao's winner on Saturday was just his second goal for the club
Conceicao whipped his shirt off in celebration as he ran for the corner flag and was swarmed by his ecstatic teammates
to celebrate with his dad as the pair embraced on the touchline
Conceicao senior repeatedly patted Francisco on the back of the head before giving him a slap on the cheek as they separated
What is the best father/son duo in football history? Let us know in the comments section below.
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The teenage midfielder has a knack for producing cameos off the bench, with just five of his 34 Porto appearances coming from the start.
Conceicao's goal gave Porto a crucial win in the Portuguese title race as they moved three points clear of reigning champions Sporting, who lost to Santa Clara on Friday night.
It is like father like son for Porto, though, with Francisco following in the footsteps of his father, who had three spells with the club during his playing career.
Across these spells he was part of a title-winning side on three separate occasions, before returning as manager in 2017.
He has since gone on to win a further two league titles, with the second coming as part of a domestic double in the 2019/20 season.