(MENAFN - AFP) Thousands of Portuguese rallied in Lisbon on Saturday, calling for the resignation of the government whose austerity policies they claimed have exacerbated the country's recession.

"Government out", "Against exploitation and impoverishment", screamed slogans brandished by protestors at the demonstration called by the country's main union CGTP.

"We ...

(MENAFN - AFP) The world's top chefs say it's only a matter of time before Latin America, home to Brazil's black bean stew "feijoada," Peru's refreshing raw fish "ceviche" and Mexico's street tacos, cooks its way into gastronomy's elite.

Spanish pastry king Jordi Roca and Danish chef Rene Redzepi, who runs the kitchen of Copenhagen's famed Noma restaurant, praised the ...

(MENAFN - AFP) Around a hundred gay rights activists marched in Ukraine on Saturday despite fears of violence, marking the first gay pride event in the ex-Soviet country, where homophobia is widespread and socially accepted.

"This can be considered a historic day," Elena Semyonova, a representative of the organisers, said after the event.

"We felt like we were full-fledged ...

(MENAFN - AFP) Brazil said on Saturday it plans to cancel $900 million (700 million euro) worth of debt in 12 African countries, as part of a broader strategy to boost ties with the continent.

"The idea of having Africa as a special relationship for Brazil is strategic for Brazil's foreign policy," presidential spokesman Thomas Traumann told reporters on the sidelines ...

(MENAFN - AFP) China's Premier Li Keqiang has slammed the European Union for plans to probe the country's telecom products and impose taxes on its solar panels, Chinese state media reported on Saturday.

Cited by the Xinhua news agency, Li said the planned measures would "not only cause serious damage to related industries, enterprises and employment in China, but will ...

(MENAFN - AFP) The European Commission is set to rap Belgium this week for failing to do enough to trim its budget deficit but is unlikely to go as far as imposing a fine, according to a press report on Saturday.

"Belgium can breath easy," said business daily L'Echo ahead of the release Wednesday of the European Commission's recommendations to EU countries on how to remain ...

(MENAFN - AFP) Japan's premier on Saturday pledged "all possible assistance" to kick-start Myanmar's ailing economy, hailing a major industrial zone near Yangon as a symbol of development for the impoverished nation.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is touting the potential of Japanese businesses to boost the once junta-ruled nation's economy, visited the Thilawa project ...

(MENAFN - AFP) Having taken five Volkswagen Beetles and compressed them into spheres, artist Ichwan Noor was always going to grab attention at the inaugural Hong Kong Art Basel.

Noor is known in his native Indonesia but is hoping the glittering, champagne-soaked art fair will give him further recognition beyond his home borders.

Such are the opportunities that await ...

(MENAFN - AFP) Spain's bailed-out lender Bankia on Friday announced it would sell City National Bank of Florida to Chile's BCI for around 683 million euros ($883 million).

The bank said in a statement it had "made provisions in late 2010 to cover losses" of City National, meaning it "hopes for a net capital gain of around 180 million euros" from the sale to Banco de Credito ...

(MENAFN - AFP) Canadian pharmaceutical company Valeant is close to a deal to acquire US eye health company Bausch & Lomb for about $9 billion, a person familiar with the matter said Friday.

A deal could come as soon as next week, the person said.

Unless the deal falls apart, the transaction will replace a plan launched in March for Bausch & Lomb to undertake ...