### A Night for Everyone
As the year 2024 comes to a close, **Algarve** is set to offer a variety of **celebratory events** to cater to all tastes and budgets. Whether you're looking for **street performances** or extravagant dinners, there's something for everyone.

![New Year's Eve in Algarve](https://asset.skoiy.com/tsfiqogiwkcugyug/akxeltu26vwz.jpg?w=1852&q=80)
*Photo by DESIGNECOLOGIST on Unsplash*

### Diverse Celebrations
In Algarve, you can choose from **affordable street shows** that bring the community together to **exclusive dining experiences** that can cost nearly **1,000 euros** per person. The region is known for its vibrant atmosphere, making it a perfect spot to ring in the new year.

### Fun for All Budgets
Whether you're a local or a tourist, the last day of the year in Algarve promises **excitement and joy**. From family-friendly activities to upscale events, everyone can find a way to celebrate the arrival of 2025 in style.

Há iniciativas para todos os gostos e bolsas neste último dia de 2024

Experience the Best New Year's Eve in Algarve: From Street Shows to Luxurious Dinners!

### Rolling Stones' Portugal Performance Update

The **Rolling Stones** have not performed in **Portugal** for 11 years, and it appears that this hiatus will extend even longer. Just a week ago, it was reported that the legendary **British band** was set to play in **Lisbon** this year on **May 20**. However, a recent update from **Blitz** has dashed fans' hopes, revealing that the much-anticipated **European tour** will not take place.

Despite rumors of a potential **Hackney Diamonds Tour** in Europe circulating for weeks—mentioned by **Ronnie Wood** on **BBC Radio**—there has been no official announcement from the band or their representatives regarding the tour. **Blitz** reports that logistical challenges, particularly concerning the concert production at **Barcelona's Olympic Stadium** and **Estádio da Luz** in Lisbon (which were to host the first three tour dates), have led to the decision. Importantly, there are no health concerns regarding the musicians.

When contacted by **Time Out**, **Álvaro Ramos**, founder of **Ritmos e Blues** (now part of **Live Nation**, the international live events company behind the Rolling Stones concerts), declined to comment, stating there has never been an official announcement about this tour.

The last time the band, famous for hits like **"You Can't Always Get What You Want"** and **"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"**, performed in Portugal was during **Rock in Rio Lisboa** in 2014. Their history in the country dates back to **1990** at **Estádio José Alvalade**, with subsequent performances in **1995**, **2003**, **2006**, and **2007**.

![Rolling Stones in Amsterdam](https://media.timeout.com/images/106233693/750/422/image.jpg)
*Photo: Shutterstock | The Rolling Stones at the Johan Cruyff Stadium in Amsterdam, July 2022.*

Representante da Live Nation em Portugal não comenta notícia, uma vez que nunca houve confirmação oficial do espectáculo.

Rolling Stones Concert in Lisbon: A False Alarm for Fans!

### The Scandal Behind the Game  
When he was still a deputy for **Chega**, Miguel Arruda was allegedly caught by authorities **stealing luggage** in the baggage claim area of **Lisbon Airport**. The suspect denies all allegations, but there are reportedly **surveillance footage** and other evidence collected during the investigation. Indications are being evaluated that the now independent deputy was selling some items on the platform **Vinted**.

### Test Your Skills in 'Caça-malas'  
How does one steal bags in such a **monitored** area like an airport? If you think you could pull it off, prove it in the **new game** from Observador, titled **“Caça-malas”**. The instructions are straightforward: 
1. Use the **arrow keys** on your screen or keyboard to move Deputy Miguel Arruda to the baggage carousel, where you can grab one or more bags.  
2. Then, make your way back to the computer to sell everything on **Vinted**.  

**Caution**: You must complete your return journey while the **officer** has their back turned—otherwise, it's **game over**! Try to accumulate as much **money** as possible.

No novo jogo do Observador pode perceber se é mais hábil do que Miguel Arruda, o deputado suspeito de roubar malas no aeroporto. Mostre quanto dinheiro consegue ganhar até ser apanhado.

Can You Outsmart a Scandal? Play the 'Caça-malas' Game Inspired by Miguel Arruda!

### Vítor Escária Interrogated
Vítor Escária was interrogated this Thursday morning at the **Central Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DCIAP)** as part of an inquiry stemming from **Operation Influencer**, which investigates alleged breaches of state secrets. This confirmation came from **Amadeu Guerra**, the Attorney General, during statements to the press.

According to reports from **CNN** and confirmed by **Observador**, the **former chief of staff of ex-Prime Minister António Costa** has been formally constituted as an accused in this case, suspected of crimes such as **illegitimate access** and potential breach of state secrets.

### Contents of the Investigated Pen Drive
Escária reportedly stated in the interrogation that the **pen drive** had been in the office safe since the time of his predecessor, **Francisco André**, who is currently the **EU ambassador to Mexico** and is also expected to be constituted as an accused.

This morning, Guerra assured that “**necessary individuals will be heard**” to uncover “the truth,” during a visit to the **Porto Este district** in Penafiel. He emphasized, “We are investigating. The investigation concerns only a ‘pen’ that was there,” denying the existence of more **computer storage devices** in the possession of the **Public Ministry** in this case.

Additionally, he acknowledged information regarding the **Public Ministry's** lead related to **Marco Aragão**, a citizen previously deemed **not criminally responsible** in two earlier cases, during which he accessed data from the **Social Security** of police officers, spies, and judges.

### Previous Investigations and Findings
Guerra mentioned an underlying previous case involving a person already judged, hinting at possible connections to this situation. He stated, “We will investigate this; we have requested the original case to compare what happened in both situations.”

As reported by **Sábado** and confirmed by **Observador**, this new investigation emerged from searches conducted at the official residence of the Prime Minister on **November 7, 2023**, where a **pen drive** was discovered in Escária's office. This device allegedly contains data on agents from the **Information and Security Service (SIS)**, **Strategic Information and Defense Service (SIED)**, **Judicial Police (PJ)**, and **Tax Authority (AT)**.

The data includes sensitive information on various officials, including **Luís Neves**, the director of the Judical Police, and **Rui Fiolhais**, the former president of the Social Security Institute, among dozens of police, spies, and prosecutors whose details were stored on the pen drive found in Escária's office. 

The information retrieved from the device, discovered during the November searches as part of **Operation Influencer**, has sparked a new inquiry by the **Public Ministry**, with suspicions of **breaching state secrets** and **tax confidentiality**. There are also concerns regarding **unauthorized access** due to the tax declarations stored on the pen drive.

The seized pen drive was kept in a transparent plastic bag inside a safe in Escária's office, where approximately **€75,000** in cash was also found, stored in envelopes and a champagne box.

*(Article updated at 14:10)*

Procurador-geral da República confirma interrogatório ao ex-chefe de gabinete de Costa no inquérito que investiga origem da pen que continha dados pessoais de dezenas de altos dirigentes do Estado.

Scandal Unveiled: Ex-Cabinet Chief Vítor Escária Interrogated in State Secret Breach Investigation

# The Celestino Project: Transforming Homelessness into Poetry

Living on the streets may not seem poetic, yet the experiences of those without shelter often reveal profound stories. The **reality of homelessness** is one that transcends mere survival, capturing the essence of human experiences that often go unheard. This is the inspiration behind the poetry book **Caderno de Rua**, launched by **Poets & Painters**, featuring works by 24 homeless individuals from Lisbon and Amadora.

![Capa do livro “Caderno de Rua”. Foto: Poets & Painters.](https://i0.wp.com/amensagem.pt/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/CADERNO-DE-RUA-CAPA.png?resize=608%2C828&quality=80&ssl=1)

The book, set to launch on January 31st at 18:30 in Alcântara, showcases the **poetic voices** of nine women and fifteen men from various backgrounds, including Portuguese, Brazilian, Nepalese, and Mozambican. This initiative was made possible through collaboration with social intervention units like the **Grupo Ativista em Tratamento (GAT)** and **Espaço Ímpar-Crescer**.

## The Inspiration Behind the Project
The project is inspired by **Luís Celestino**, a well-known figure among the streets of Lisbon, often seen reading peacefully amid the city's chaos. His transition from a reader to a storyteller prompted him to share his life experiences through poetry, thus giving birth to the Celestino Project.

## Rui Sousa's Journey
In March 2020, **Rui Sousa**, a poet from the Azores, moved to Lisbon with aspirations of selling his poetry on the streets. However, the pandemic forced him into homelessness. After discovering a shelter, Rui began to interact with the homeless community, leading him to meet Celestino.

![Rui Sousa with his desire to write poetry. Foto: Álvaro Filho.](https://i0.wp.com/amensagem.pt/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_6496-scaled.jpg?resize=780%2C581&quality=89&ssl=1)

Rui learned about Celestino's interest in writing and gifted him a notebook and pens, sparking the idea of creating a poetry collection from the experiences of the homeless.

## Collaboration with Young Poets
Rui's path crossed with young poets **Inês** and **Diogo**, who were involved in various poetic initiatives in Lisbon. Together, they organized poetry sessions, inviting the homeless to share their stories and transform them into poetry. Their efforts were supported through funding from the **European Solidarity Corps** and logistical assistance from GAT and Espaço Crescer.

![Inês and Diogo working on the project. Foto: Álvaro Filho.](https://i0.wp.com/amensagem.pt/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_6449-scaled.jpg?resize=780%2C537&quality=89&ssl=1)

The project emphasized **expression and freedom** rather than aesthetic judgment, ultimately culminating in the publication of **Caderno de Rua**, which includes heartfelt poems and images from the sessions.

![Poema da poeta Patrícia Gomes. Foto: Poets & Dragons.](https://i0.wp.com/amensagem.pt/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot-2025-01-27-at-16.19.05.png?resize=419%2C221&quality=80&ssl=1)

The Celestino Project extends beyond poetry, inspiring a series of documentaries that capture the lives of these poets, showcasing their stories on both the page and the screen.

Três poetas criaram o Projeto Celestino para estimular sem-abrigo de Lisboa e Amadora a transformarem experiências em um livro de poesia.

Meet Celestino: The Homeless Poet Who Inspired a Unique Poetry Project in Lisbon

**Severe winds** sweeping through the Algarve region have led to **37 recorded incidents** since midnight on Thursday, January 30th, primarily involving fallen trees. According to the **Sul Informação**, the majority of these events occurred in the **Sotavento** area, with additional reports of two advertising structures being downed. 

### Incidents by Location
Data from “ocorrências.pt” indicates that the **municipalities affected** include:  
- **Loulé**: 2 incidents  
- **Tavira**: 17 incidents  
- **Vila do Bispo**: 2 incidents  
- **Olhão**: 3 incidents  
- **São Brás de Alportel**: 3 incidents  
- **Vila Real de Santo António**: 2 incidents  
- **Faro**: 2 incidents  

In Tavira, incidents were reported in areas such as **Fonte Salgada**, **Palheirinhos**, **Santa Luzia**, **Santo Estevão**, and **Cabanas**. Loulé saw an occurrence in **Almancil**, while in Vila Real de Santo António, it happened in **Vila Nova de Cacela**. **Olhão** also reported fallen trees in **Fuzeta**.  

### Weather Warnings  
The **Faro district** remains under a **yellow warning** until later today due to strong northwesterly winds, with gusts reaching **80/90 kilometers per hour** along the coast, as per the **Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere**. The Algarve coastline was previously under a **red warning** for maritime agitation until 9 AM today, which has since downgraded to **orange** until 3 PM.

Quase todas as ocorrências registaram-se no Sotavento

Severe Winds Cause 37 Incidents in Algarve: Trees Topple and Structures Fall

### Legislative Impasse in Madeira

The **socialist deputy** elected in **Madeira** to the Assembly of the Republic, **José Miguel Iglésias**, has justified the **PS party's** rejection of an initiative aimed at resolving a legislative **quagmire** that prevents Madeirans from voting in mobility. He emphasized that the candidate lists for the upcoming elections on **March 23** must adhere to the **gender parity** requirement, which he claims is a correction that would be "**illegal and unconstitutional**."

### Blame Not on PS

Iglésias clarified that the **mess** surrounding the new electoral law not applying to the upcoming regional elections is not the **PS's** responsibility. He pointed out that the **referendum date** set by the Prime Minister led to the **dissolution decree** of the **ALRAM** taking effect before the electoral law was amended, a situation that has been widely reported.

### Consequences of Political Errors

He stressed that attempting to remedy this **gross political error** would clearly be illegal and unconstitutional, risking the **need to repeat the elections** if any challenges arise. Iglésias mentioned that the **PS** was one of the parties that expressed reservations about this potential **illegality**, and that trying to correct one error with another would not be a solution.

### Delays and Responsibilities

Iglésias concluded by stating that all delays in the approval of changes to the electoral law have been well documented, originating from **ALRAM** and culminating in the recent **mess**. He reiterated that these issues are regrettable but not the **PS's** fault.

### Potential Impact on Elections

It was noted that all parties had agreed on a common understanding for applying the new electoral law, except for the **PS**, which raised objections. Without a constitutional solution, it seems unlikely that **early voting in mobility** will be feasible for the elections on **March 23**, particularly affecting **Madeiran students** studying away from the region.

Efforts by **José Pedro Aguiar Branco**, the President of the Assembly of the Republic, to reach an agreement among parties for the law to take effect in these elections have failed, despite a recorded **unanimity** in voting intentions. The President of the Republic had previously delayed the regional parliament's dissolution, opting for elections on **March 23** instead of **March 16**.

O deputado socialista eleito pela Madeira à Assembleia da República, José Miguel Iglésias, justifica a inviabilização, pelo PS, da iniciativa que pretendia a resolução do imbróglio legislativo que impede que os madeirenses votem em mobilidade e as listas candidatas às próximas eleições de 23 de Março tenham, necessariamente, que cumprir a paridade entre homens e mulheres, como uma correcção que seria "ilegal e inconstitucional".

Political Chaos in Madeira: PS Party Denounces Proposed Changes as Illegal and Unconstitutional

## Festival Overview

The **Portuguese Guitar Festival** is set to make its debut on **February 7-8, 2025**, in **Lisbon**, celebrating the centenary of the legendary Carlos Paredes. This festival will gather a diverse array of musicians from different generations, showcasing various interpretations of the Portuguese guitar.

![Festival de Guitarra Portuguesa](https://www.guiadacidade.pt/pim/phpThumb.php?src=http://www.guiadacidade.pt/assets/uploads/artigos/317000/capa_316962.jpg&w=928&h=522&zc=1)

## Event Highlights

This annual festival will take place at **Capitólio, Teatro Variedades, and Cinema São Jorge**, featuring a rich program of concerts, talks, and documentaries. It aims to honor the timeless and universal legacy of Carlos Paredes, one of the most notable figures in Portuguese guitar music.

### Program Schedule

**Friday, March 7**  
- 18:30 – Sinfonietta + Paulo Soares at Cinema São Jorge  
- 20:00 – Entre Paredes, Bernardo Moreira Sexteto at Capitólio  
- 20:00 – Armindo Fernandes at Teatro Variedades  
- 21:00 – Bernardo Couto & Martin Sued at Capitólio  
- 21:00 – Henrique Fraga at Teatro Variedades  
- 22:00 – Armindo Fernandes at Teatro Variedades  
- 22:00 – Entre Paredes, Bernardo Moreira Sexteto at Capitólio  
- 23:00 – Henrique Fraga at Teatro Variedades  
- 23:00 – Bernardo Couto & Martin Sued at Capitólio  

**Saturday, March 8**  
- 16:30 – Luísa Amaro presents Sounds of the Guitar – 100 years of Carlos Paredes at Capitólio  
- 16:30 – Luís Coelho at Teatro Variedades  
- 17:30 – M-Pex at Teatro Variedades  
- 17:30 – Pedro de Castro invites David Ribeiro & Eurico Machado at Capitólio  
- 18:30 – Daniel Freire at Teatro Variedades  
- 18:30 – Pedro Caldeira Cabral at Capitólio  
- 19:30 – Luís Coelho at Teatro Variedades  
- 19:30 – Luísa Amaro presents Sounds of the Guitar – 100 years of Carlos Paredes at Capitólio  
- 20:30 – José Manuel Neto at Cinema São Jorge  
- 22:00 – Pedro Caldeira Cabral at Capitólio  
- 22:00 – Daniel Freire at Teatro Variedades  
- 23:00 – Pedro de Castro invites David Ribeiro & Eurico Machado at Capitólio  
- 23:00 – M-Pex at Teatro Variedades  

**Production**: Museu do Fado | Lisboa Cultura and Ghude  
**In partnership with**: Ministry of Culture and Lisbon City Council  

[Click here for Tickets](https://208.87.241.149/pt/go/out/blueticket.meo.pt/aHR0cHM6Ly9ibHVldGlja2V0Lm1lby5wdC9wdC9ldmVudC8xMzQ5OS9mZXN0aXZhbC1kZS1ndWl0YXJyYS1wb3J0dWd1ZXNh?__cpo=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ3VpYWRhY2lkYWRlLnB0)

As celebrações do centenário de nascimento de Carlos Paredes dão o mote para a primeira edição do Festival de Guitarra Portuguesa. Reunindo…

Experience the Best New Year's Eve in Algarve: From Street Shows to Luxurious Dinners!

Summary:

A Night for Everyone

Diverse Celebrations

Fun for All Budgets

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Other Latest News

Rolling Stones Concert in Lisbon: A False Alarm for Fans!

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Scandal Unveiled: Ex-Cabinet Chief Vítor Escária Interrogated in State Secret Breach Investigation

Meet Celestino: The Homeless Poet Who Inspired a Unique Poetry Project in Lisbon

Severe Winds Cause 37 Incidents in Algarve: Trees Topple and Structures Fall

Political Chaos in Madeira: PS Party Denounces Proposed Changes as Illegal and Unconstitutional

Experience the Inaugural Portuguese Guitar Festival: A Tribute to Carlos Paredes

Other Latest News

Rolling Stones Concert in Lisbon: A False Alarm for Fans!

Can You Outsmart a Scandal? Play the 'Caça-malas' Game Inspired by Miguel Arruda!

Scandal Unveiled: Ex-Cabinet Chief Vítor Escária Interrogated in State Secret Breach Investigation

Meet Celestino: The Homeless Poet Who Inspired a Unique Poetry Project in Lisbon

Severe Winds Cause 37 Incidents in Algarve: Trees Topple and Structures Fall

Political Chaos in Madeira: PS Party Denounces Proposed Changes as Illegal and Unconstitutional

Experience the Inaugural Portuguese Guitar Festival: A Tribute to Carlos Paredes