ISIS map shows invasion of Portugal and Spain by 2020

alentejoThe extremist group ISIS intends to take over the Iberian Peninsula by 2020, also the Middle East and North Africa, according to a BBC journalist.

The book, "Empire of Fear: Inside the Islamic State", includes maps and plans of the terrorist group for 2020.

If the UK leaves the EU - what are the implications for expats?

eumapIf the UK votes next year to withdraw from the EU, what will be the impact on British ex-pats living elsewhere in the EU?

The answer isn’t straightforward and will depend on many decisions which have not been debated in the British parliament.

No Vote, No Voice

No Vote, No VoiceTO EVERY BRITISH CITIZEN WORLDWIDE - this concerns every citizen.

Please sign this petition either for your own sake, or for solidarity with the British Citizens in Europe.

Magna Carta - 800 years of freedom

magnacartaNot surprisingly, given it was written 800 years ago, there’s much in Magna Carta that sounds alien to our 21st-century ears.

From its heartfelt plea for ‘standard measures’ of wine and ale ‘throughout the kingdom’ to its rumination on what should happen to a man’s fortunes should he die while in debt to Jews, the medievalism of the document sings through its 63 clauses.

Wonky weekend for European Union

europeanparliamentA weekend is a long time in politics. It certainly was last weekend, especially for the future of the European Union.

Immediately before the election in Britain, it was no more than a possibility that the UK would hold a referendum on its membership of the EU. After the votes had been counted, possibility had shot up to certainty.

Armenia remembers the 100th anniversary of its genocide

armeniaflagFriday 24th April was a very important day for Armenia, marking as it does the 100th anniversary of the start of the Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire on the Armenian people in 1915 which is described by Wikipedia as “ the Ottoman government's systematic extermination of its minority Armenian subjects inside their historic homeland.

“The total number of people killed as a result has been estimated at between 1 and 1.5 million. The genocide was carried out during and after World War I and implemented in two phases: the wholesale killing of the able-bodied male population through massacre and subjection of army conscripts to forced labour, followed by the deportation of women, children, the elderly and infirm on death marches leading to the Syrian desert.

April 25th - time for another big change?

carnation1974Forty-one years on from the joyous Carnation Revolution that ended half a century of dictatorship, the Portuguese are unhappy. According to the latest Eurostat opinion poll on the subject, the only less happy people in the whole of the European Union are the Bulgarians

“Overall, how satisfied are you with your life these days?” the Eurostat poll wanted to know. The answers showed that the least dissatisfied were those in the 16 to 24 age group.

Election Update from Harry Shindler

Election - MAy 7Below is a letter from Harry Shindler before the Election on May 7th, and some general updates regarding voting and the Winter Fuel Payment.