List of All Articles with Tag 'p'

Portugal’s Prime Minister Antonio Costa has resigned in a televised address, just hours after prosecutors detained his chief of staff in a probe into alleged corruption in his administration's handling of lithium mining and hydrogen projects. The 62-year-old, Portugal's Socialist leader since 2015, asserted his innocence but said that "in these circumstances, obviously, I have presented my resignation to the president of the republic". The state prosecutor's office said the Supreme Court was examining suspects' "use of the prime minister's name and his involvement" when carrying out allegedly illicit activities. It said the minister of infrastructure, Joao Galamba, and the head of the environmental agency were among those named as suspects. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa quickly accepted Mr Costa's resignation. He is expected to dissolve parliament and call for a new election. He said in a statement that he is calling parliament to convene on Wednesday, and he will speak to the nation after the Council of State gathers on Thursday. The prime minister teared up while thanking his family for their support. "I totally trust the justice system," he said. "I want to say eye to eye to the Portuguese that my conscience is clear of any illicit or censured act." He acknowledged that he was not "above the law". An investigative judge had issued arrest warrants for Mr Costa's chief of staff Vitor Escaria, the mayor of the town of Sines, and three other people because they represented a flight risk and to protect evidence, the prosecutor's office said in a statement. The judge is investigating alleged malfeasance, corruption of elected officials and influence peddling related to lithium mine concessions near Portugal's northern border with Spain and plans for a green hydrogen plant and data centre in Sines on the south coast. The police raids included the premises of the ministry of the environment, the ministry of infrastructure, Sines town council, private homes and offices. Portugal's lithium mines and green hydrogen projects are part of the continent's green initiative being pushed, and heavily funded, by the European Union. Mr Costa has been a major backer of the projects and an ally of Spain's acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. He had looked set to remain in power for several years after his Socialists scored a landslide victory in elections last year, but in December 2022, his infrastructure and housing minister was forced to quit amid an outcry over a €500,000 (£434,000) compensation payment made to a board member of state-owned flag carrier TAP Air Portugal. The junior minister for infrastructure also stepped down. Ten senior government officials have left their jobs since Mr Costa's party won the 2022 ballot. Mr Costa said he had no prior indication he was being scrutinised by legal authorities. "This is a phase of my life that comes to an end," he said. Associated Press Read More Hundreds gather at vigil held for Ukrainian soldiers killed in missile attack Where the GOP presidential candidates stand on the war in Ukraine Orcas sink another yacht in relentless 45-minute attack Hundreds gather at vigil held for Ukrainian soldiers killed in missile attack Where the GOP presidential candidates stand on the war in Ukraine Orcas sink another yacht in relentless 45-minute attack

Boston University said Tuesday that its initial inquiry into the antiracist research center run by best-selling author and academic Ibram X

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner says he questioned current and former players along with staff on whether to keep Aaron Boone before deciding the New York manager will return next year

US officials will seek to limit some access to Federal Home Loan Banks after multiple failing lenders turned

Which of the last five NBA first overall picks tops the list?

San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama has experienced the wide spectrum of highs and lows during this first couple of weeks in the NBA

The list of companies to go public through a blank-check merger only to go bankrupt shortly thereafter has

John Paulson asked a judge to sanction his former Puerto Rico business partner and his lawyers for filing

Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott speaks exclusively to 90min about being at the club he supported as a child, his relationship with Jurgen Klopp and his ambition to remain at Anfield for the rest of his career.

US Treasuries may face renewed selling pressure into the new year if one measure of the nation’s swelling

Political prognosticators are monitoring the races for clues a year before the 2024 presidential election.

American wheat shipments dropped to the lowest ever, hampered by a shrinking Mississippi River and competition from ample