News Porto.

The country is battling a rapid outbreak of Covid-19 new infections; as such, the Municipality of Porto continues to ensure both the safety of municipal workers performing essential activities and the regular functioning of services.

Buying groceries at Bolhão Temporary Market is still ensured, amid the hardening of the pandemic preventive measures, although business hours have been adjusted, as of 26th January.

Applications to the 9th edition of the Municipal Programme “Porto Solidário” are extended until 15th February. This programme is targeted at granting economic support to economic vulnerable households regarding house rent or purchase. This economic relief can go up to 350 euros per month. See how to apply here.

Natixis, the second-largest banking group in France, which inaugurated its Technological and Information Skills Centre in Porto, in 2018, will shift jobs from its Parisian headquarters to the city of Porto. This means that circa 200 work stations will add to Natixis services portfolio in Porto, operating in the former Central Shopping building, in Porto.

Rui Soares da Costa, surgeon, composer and musician, granted an interview to “Porto.”, and explained a project of his that has been around for a while, which he is now trying to get to new horizons: to set to music a project themed “Natal Português”, with poems written in the PALOP and East Timor, and offers cues on how to assess music, by explaining the difference (or not), between lyrics and music, as well as clarifying how he composes music.

The Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira announced he is to put forward a proposal to open a new Emergency Support Line to Associations in Porto, within 15 days’ time, during the private Executive Meeting, held on 25th January, by videoconference.

The Municipality of Porto suspended all payment obligations, as regards outdoor parking spaces, starting 25th January. This measure is in line with the hardening of measures amid the Covid-19 pandemic, namely the mandatory curfew and the closing of schools.

Porto City Hall reactivated the programme to support vulnerable families amid the hardening of the pandemic crisis; as such, meal service is available in designated schools for the children that need it, as well as for children whose parents and tutors have to work as essential workers and do not have a household background to support them.

WOMEX Festival is scheduled for October 2021, in Porto. The application period for artists to take part in the line-up at Casa da Música is ongoing. The World Music Expo, one of the most relevant music support and development projects in the global music scene will make its absolute debut in Portugal, in the city of Porto and it will gather thousands of music lovers and music makers in the Invicta, from over 90 countries.

Get your information right with the support of the students of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP), under the “Ciência em 3 minutos” [“three minutes of Science”, free translation] project. The purpose is to counter the level of misinformation battling for people’s attention on social media.