News Porto.

The German Head of State Frank-Walter Steinmeier had a full day in Porto, in the context of his official visit to Portugal, from 1 to 2 March. Street tours with the President of the Portuguese Republic and with the Mayor of Porto, Portuguese folk greetings, selfies, the enthronement of the German President by the Confraria of Porto Wine, a visit to the Municipal Museum, to the UPTEC - Scientific and Technologic Park from the Porto University and to the São Francisco Church were the highlights...

The security control of Porto Airport has been optimized, improving passenger and baggage processing by more than 60%. Last December, the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport reached a new record of 10 million passengers served. This number may very well rise, taking into consideration the new security remote screening equipment installed and the increased response capacity, providing the traveller greater comfort.

How will political power be exercised in the future? What are the challenges facing municipal power in a future of decentralisation? How will the European dream be fulfilled? These are the most significant topics under debate today at the TSF radio station, marking its 30th anniversary with a special broadcasting in Porto.

"O rapazinho do carvão" [The charcoal little boy] is the title of the shadow theatre performance that visual artist Beniko Tanaka, based in Portugal, features in Porto on 3 and 4 March, at the Court Room of São Bento da Vitória Monastery (2nd Floor).

The president of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier is holding a two day official State Visit to Portugal, from 1 to 2 March. After visiting Lisbon, where he is welcomed by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Steinmeier will travel to Porto, on 2 March, where he will meet with Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira and visit the UPTEC, the Scientific and Technologic Park from Porto University.

Over 70 school projects will enliven the "Porto. City of Camellias". As of Friday, 2 March and until 12 March, gardens and squares in Porto will take the role of an open-air museum. The artwork will be on display on the traditional city street lamps at São Bento da Vitória Street, Cordoaria garden, Carregal garden, Passeio das Virtudes and Azevedo de Albuquerque Street.

Frost by Sharunas Bartas premieres at Campo Alegre Theatre, on 1 March at 6.30 pm, repeating at 10 pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, there is an extra screening at 3.30 pm. The film was selected as the Lithuanian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards, in 2018.

Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, was the main speaker at the most significant European event devoted to Urban Sustainability, in the framework of the Urban Future Global Conference, which is organised in Vienna and is running till 2 March. Moreira was the main lecturer of the session "How to lead change in your city", in the opening day of the event, where cities share and explain which policies they are making towards a sustainable future.

The Book Market edition of 2018 will run from 1 to 18 March, featuring around 165 thousand titles, magazines, text books, comics, fiction books, cookery and travel books, and also antique books. The Book Market is organised by Calendário de Letras Publishing House. It is opened daily, between 10 am and 8 pm. Entrance is free.

The news portal "Porto." now provides the talking version of its online text, with the added ReadSpeaker functionality. This Text-to-Speech technology not only allows people that suffer from reading disabilities, dyslexia, and visual impairment to access the news website but also assists non-native Portuguese users and people who choose not to read from screens or who don't have the chance to read.