Talk Elections

General Politics => International General Discussion => Topic started by: Mike88 on December 26, 2019, 03:45:46 PM



Title: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 26, 2019, 03:45:46 PM
The Portugal's politics and election thread is dedicated to all policy and election info in the country, and in this thread, general events, with policy intent and not, crimes, financial and others, and outright weird stuff will be posted. We may be a small country of 10,5 million people but really weird, and unexpected, stuff happens here. ;)

Today, December 26th, this story broke:



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Credito Agrícola subsidized wife of bank CEO to ensure "emotional stability".
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Since 2016, Crédito Agrícola (CA) has paid more than 2000 euros per month to the Group President's wife. Licínio Pina claims that his wife guaranteed him emotional stability, but the payment was suspended after a controversy triggered by anonymous letters involving the Bank of Portugal.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on December 26, 2019, 05:56:17 PM
Massive floods near Coimbra start to decrease but recovery could last months:  (https://www.dn.pt/pais/a-dimensao-das-cheias-no-mondego-vista-por-satelite-11649697.html)


Satelite view of the floods.


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Despite the "clear signs of improvement and decrease in the degree of risk" evidenced by Carlos Luís Tavares, with "less flow and less intensity", the operational commander warned that the risk of flood continues.

The effects of the bad weather, which have been felt since Wednesday, (December 18) have already caused two deaths and one missing, leaving 144 people homeless and 352 displaced as a precaution, with over 11 600 occurrences, mostly floods and tree falls. .


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on December 27, 2019, 02:03:08 PM
Despite Brexit, Portuguese emigration to the UK is growing again:  (https://observador.pt/2019/12/27/emigracao-de-portugueses-para-o-reino-unido-volta-a-crescer-apesar-do-brexit/)


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Brexit not halting rise of emigration to the UK.

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The number of Portuguese workers who emigrated to the UK between September 2018 and the same month this year has increased by 27%, according to British Social Security data reported this Friday by the Jornal de Notícias. There were 23,570 people, 5,076 more than in the previous year.

Statistics now indicate that, despite the imminent departure of the country from the European Union, emigration continues to grow. Speaking to Jornal de Notícias, Rui Pena Pires, president of the Emigration Observatory, predicts that the Portuguese departure to the United Kingdom should grow again by 15% in 2019, contrary to the 50% reduction that had suffered last year - the lowest value of the decade.

Still, the sociologist explains that the numbers point to a stabilization of emigration to the United Kingdom. Although Portugal remains the country of the European Union that most emigrates to that country - and the third in the world - "the emigration curve is already starting to point towards stabilization, which will always happen at a higher level than before. of the crisis", predicts Rui Pena Pires to the Jornal de Notícias.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on December 29, 2019, 12:01:16 PM
Lithium exploration may start in the first months of 2020:  (https://rr.sapo.pt/2019/12/28/pais/governo-exploracao-de-litio-arranca-no-primeiro-trimestre-de-2020/noticia/176696/?utm_medium=rss)



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The minister of environment and climate action was convinced that lithium exploration in the country could start in the first quarter of 2020, following the approval of a decree that makes clear "the new environmental requirements".

(...)

For João Matos Fernandes, lithium exploration "is a great opportunity for Portugal" and it is necessary to "combine all this into a new legal framework".

The government wants to set up a lithium and battery industry cluster in 2020 and will launch a public tender for lithium prospection rights in nine areas of the country.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 01, 2020, 02:46:27 PM
Abortion rates fell 28% since 2011:  (https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/pais/1385810/interrupcoes-de-gravidez-por-opcao-da-mulher-diminuiram-4-em-2018)


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Fewer pregnancy terminations by woman's choice in 2018

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According to the document, entitled 'Report on Pregnancy Interruption Records - 2018', last year 14,928 pregnancies were carried out under article 142 of the Penal Code, which provides for five grounds for exclusion of illegality. The one with the highest number of miscarriages was "by choice of women up to 10 weeks" with 14,306 cases, which corresponds to 95.83% of the total.

(...)

The DGS points out in its concluding remarks that "the total number of terminations of pregnancy and the number of women choosing to choose during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy are both decreasing since 2011, both when considering absolute numbers and when considers the female population resident in Portugal ".

(...)

"The number of interruptions carried out on national territory, when compared to other European countries, has always been below the European average", is another of the report's conclusions.

Regarding the distribution of cases of voluntary interruptions by health regions and area of residence of women, this report reveals that these are more frequent in the region of Lisbon and Tagus Valley (58.8%) and in the North (19.9% ).

As for the age group that had the most pregnancies, the report says, "it is still 20/24 years old, with a record of 1,260 interruptions per 100,000 women. This is followed by the group of women aged 25-29 (1,230 per 100,000).

In terms of age, the DGS also points out that in 2018 approximately 56% of pregnancies in children under 15 ended in interruption, a percentage that was 40% in pregnancies between 15 and 19 years.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 04, 2020, 12:09:09 PM
Renewable energy provided 51% of all consumed energy in 2019:


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From December 18 to 23, there was a 131-hour period in which renewable energy production surpassed national consumption. This is the longest period this has ever happened.

Renewable energy provided 51% of all electricity in Portugal during 2019. The strike in Sines coal plant was a factor, but it's still a huge landmark. During 2019, energy was provided by the following:

32% Natural gas
27% Wind power
17% Hydroelectric
10% Coal
  5% Biomass
  2% Sun power
  7% Imported energy

Coal energy production fell to lowest rate ever and wind power achieved the highest rate ever.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 05, 2020, 08:06:42 AM
Problems in the NHS: Three cases of violence against doctors in less than a week.  (https://www.publico.pt/2020/01/03/sociedade/noticia/tres-casos-violencia-medicos-menos-semana-1899103)


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In the midst of chaos, it only takes a spark.

Three cases of violent attacks on doctors within a week sounded the alarms, but per month there are over 100 episodes of violence against health professionals.

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It was ten minutes of panic in the office until the hospital policeman broke down the door. Inside, a female doctor and her husband - also a doctor and someone she called for help - found themselves trapped by a sick person after a four-hour wait to be seen at the emergency room of St. Bernard's Hospital, where days before another doctor had been beaten.

(...)

This last case in Setúbal happened on the same day that a doctor, who was doing complementary care at the Moscavide health center, was beaten by a 21-year-old man who saw his medical leave not renewed, as it expired a few days earlier.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 12, 2020, 08:47:05 AM
Marches across the country after the assassination of a Cape Verde student in Braganza city last December:


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In silence, hundreds of people honored Giovani in Terreiro do Paço

Thousands of people participated in marches across the country, the biggest were in Lisbon and Braganza, to honour Luís Giovani, a young man from Cape Verde who was studying in Braganza, after he was stabbed by a group outside a bar in Braganza city. Luís Giovani stayed in a coma until 31 December until he died. The case came to national spotlight after it was found that the police downplayed the case and only started investigating it 11 days after the stabbing. The police is being a accused of incompetence and racism, as, at the same time, another young men was stabbed in Lisbon and that case was solved in days. The case has also created some diplomatic tensions between Portugal and Cape Verde, with Cape Verde authorities demanding a response from the Portuguese police.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 14, 2020, 02:27:14 PM
Number of births increased to almost 87,400 in 2019:  (https://www.dinheirovivo.pt/economia/nasceram-mais-500-bebes-em-portugal-em-2019/)


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There were 500 more births last year. Almost a third was in Lisbon

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In 2019, at least 87,364 babies were born in Portugal, 537 more than the previous year and 4,264 more than in 2014, according to data based on the "little foot test", released by the Ricardo Jorge National Health Institute (INSA). Compared to 2018, when 86,827 newborns were studied, under the National Neonatal Screening Program (PNRN), known as the "little foot test", 537 more babies were born, according to data submitted to Lusa.

(...)

Lisbon was the district with the most "little foot test" performed (26,281), followed by Porto (15,701) and Setúbal (6,723), as the advanced data report shows to the Lusa agency. Portalegre (621), Bragança (629) and Braga (697) were the districts with the least tests performed in 2019, (...).

The months with the highest number of tests were October (8,516), followed by January (8,291) and August (7,599).

(...)

The National Early Diagnostic Program (PNDC), better known as the "little foot test", started in 1979 to diagnose children suffering from genetic diseases who may benefit from early treatment, preventing the occurrence of mental retardation, serious illness. irreversible and even death.

(...)

Although not mandatory, the National Neonatal Screening Program currently has a coverage rate of 99.5%, with an average treatment initiation time of 9.9 days.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 15, 2020, 05:51:55 PM
Immigration to Portugal reaches a record high in 2019: 580,000.  (https://www.dinheirovivo.pt/economia/estrangeiros-a-viver-em-portugal-ultrapassam-os-500-mil-pela-primeira-vez/)


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Portugal has over half a million immigrants.

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Foreigners residing in Portugal exceeded 500,000 last year, which happened "for the first time in the country's history," the minister of internal affairs announced today in Parliament.

"Preliminary data led us to say that in 2019, for the first time in our history, the barrier of half a million foreign citizens residing in Portugal has been crossed," said Eduardo Cabrita as part of the special discussion at the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal, of the State budget for 2020.

According to the minister, 580,000 foreign citizens resided in Portugal at the end of last year and, in 2018, that number was 490,000. The  minister also stressed that the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) went from 35,000 to 135,000 new residence permits, comparing 2015 to 2019.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 16, 2020, 05:44:58 PM
Interesting article:



Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 18, 2020, 07:57:12 AM
Portuguese football league asks for an emergency meeting with the government after several torches were thrown in Sporting Stadium during the Sporting-Benfica match:  (https://observador.pt/2020/01/17/liga-portugal-pede-reuniao-com-urgencia-ao-mai-por-incidente-com-tochas-no-sporting-benfica/)


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Football - Torches interrupt game and extinguish Sporting in the derby against rival Benfica

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The League of Clubs requested an urgent meeting from the Minister of Internal Affairs after the incident with torches, smoke pots and petards that invaded the pitch of the José Alvalade Stadium during this Friday's derby between Sporting and Benfica. The game was stopped for five minutes at the beginning of the second half because a rain of pyrotechnic devices fell on the lawn (and on the benches), burning up part of the field.

(...)

The League also says that it will demand "more rigorous and effective" magazines from supporters at the entrance to the stadiums, so as to "definitively end the entry of dangerous and prohibited objects in sports venues". Meanwhile, Pedro Proença intends to analyze the incidents with pyrotechnic devices with the Minister of Internal Affairs in order to "find effective measures to combat this scourge".


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 19, 2020, 06:16:15 PM
Luanda Leaks: International investigation on the wealth of Isabel dos Santos, daughter of former Angolan leader José Eduardo dos Santos, involves highprofile politicians, business leaders, banks and law practices in Portugal.



Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 23, 2020, 02:33:29 PM
Luanda leaks: Executive banker close to Isabel dos Santos found dead in his home in Lisbon.


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Executive at Portuguese bank co-owned by Isabel dos Santos is found dead

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A senior manager at a Portuguese bank co-owned by Isabel dos Santos, the Angolan businesswoman at the centre of the Luanda Leaks scandal, has been found dead in Lisbon.

The death of Nuno Ribeiro da Cunha, 45, was confirmed by police hours after the banker was named alongside Dos Santos and three other individuals as a suspect in a criminal investigation in Angola into alleged embezzlement at the state oil company, Sonangol.

The national director of Portugal's judicial police, Luis Neves, said preliminary reports indicated Ribeiro da Cunha's death was suicide and that nobody else was involved. He told reporters his staff were prepared to help with the Angolan corruption investigation whenever a formal request is made.

Things are getting weird...


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 25, 2020, 09:03:40 AM
Problems in the suburbs of Lisbon: Black women says she was beaten by a police officer with no reason, while the bus driver who accused her of resusing to show her daughter' transport pass is also beaten by someone.  (https://observador.pt/2020/01/25/caso-da-amadora-agredido-motorista-que-chamou-a-policia-para-denunciar-claudia-simoes/)

This case dominated headlines this week. A video of a police officer beating a black woman in Amadora city, suburb of Lisbon, sparked controversy. The police said it was called after a woman refused to show her daughter's bus pass to the driver and, after the police arrived, she insulted the police, while the woman's version is that the police started to beat her violently and she had to bite the arm of the police officer in order not to choke.


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Portugal - Driver, who reported woman to PSP in Amadora, beaten.

The woman is charged of assaulting a police officer, but the Internal Affair Ministry has open an investigation into the case. Now, the driver of the bus was beaten in the head by someone and was sent to hospital.


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Chega considers police action in relation to women in Amadora "legitimate"

This case has also motivated political reactions. CHEGA leader, André Ventura says the police actions were legitimate and accused many people of being against the police forces just because of their paranoia towards racism. A police union is also in the middle of this controversy, after posting on social media a facebook post in which they hoped the police officer, who was bitten by the woman, "didn't contract any illness" (https://rr.sapo.pt/2020/01/24/pais/agressao-na-amadora-sindicato-da-psp-alvo-de-queixa-apos-publicacao-no-facebook/noticia/179486/). The post was later deleted.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 31, 2020, 05:48:16 PM
General strike of public workers against the government's 2020 budget wage increases of just 0.3%:  (https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/escolas-hospitais-administracao-publica-e-a-primeira-greve-nacional-desde-que-antonio-costa-tomou-posse-e-os-sindicatos-esperam-que-se-faca-sentir?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter)


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Public Administration workers carry out strike - Antena 1, RTP Notícias

Hospitals, schools and government services were closed or, in some cases, working in half as public workers went on strike to protest the government's 2020 budget wage proposal for public workers, a 0.3% increase in wages. Many schools across the country were shut down for the day, as well many government services, and in many hospitals, minimum services were activated. The strike is supported by the two major unions in Portugal, CGTP (close to the PCP) and UGT (close to the PS).


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 01, 2020, 10:12:36 AM
Coronovirus scare: Although just a scare, the hospitalization in São João hospital revealed weaknesses in the health aid in Portugal:


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Coronavirus: hospitalization in São João revealed weaknesses in aid in Portugal

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The Italian businessman who was in Felgueiras and who was admitted to the São João Hospital, in Porto, this Friday is not infected with the coronavirus. The analyzes were negative, but the hospitalization process revealed weaknesses in the relief system in Portugal.

The 62-year-old patient waited a total of five hours before being transported by an INEM team to the Infectious Diseases Unit of Hospital de São João, in Porto, where he was isolated in negative pressure.

None of the employees at the Felgueiras plant, who were in contact with the Italian, were evaluated or transported to the hospital.

The 90 workers all returned home at the end of the day without any control

The businessman, who arrived from China on January 22, should now be re-evaluated by a medical team so that he can be discharged.

So far, Portugal has no confirmed case of coronavirus


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 04, 2020, 05:33:56 PM
First wildfires of the year in Madeira, as temperatures reach almost 30ºC (85ºF) in the islands:  (https://rr.sapo.pt/2020/02/04/pais/madeira-incendio-na-calheta-lavra-ha-quase-dois-dias-e-comeca-a-ameacar-habitacoes/noticia/180843/?utm_medium=rss)


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Madeira fire puts homes at risk

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A forest fire that broke out on Monday in the parish of Ponta do Pargo, west end of Madeira Island, is being tackled by four fire brigades this Tuesday, at a time when the wind makes operations difficult.

(...)

The fire initially broke out at the Lombada Velha site, at 5:16 am on Monday, and since then there have been small outbreaks in various locations in the parish. The hot and dry weather that is felt in Madeira, with temperatures exceeding 25 degrees, has already caused several outbreaks of rural fires all over the island.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 13, 2020, 06:55:34 PM
Venezuela-Portugal tensions: Venezuela accuses TAP Portugal and the Portuguese government of helping  Guaidó and of transporting explosives.


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Maduro accuses TAP of assisting Guaidó and transporting explosives

Caracas accuses the airline of having hidden the identity of Juan Guaidó and allowed the transport of explosives on the flight.

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The Venezuelan Government accuses TAP of violating "international standards", for allowing the transport of explosives and for hiding the identity of the opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, on a flight to Caracas.

Venezuelan authorities also accuse the Portuguese ambassador in Caracas, Carlos Sousa Amaro, of interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs, by interceding for Juan Guaidó's uncle, Juan Marquez, who was arrested on Tuesday when he landed on the same TAP flight, accused of carrying explosives.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: PSOL on February 14, 2020, 01:09:48 PM
 Portuguese communities lock horns with lithium miners to save their land (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-portugal-environment-lithium-insight/portuguese-communities-lock-horns-with-lithium-miners-to-save-their-land-idUSKBN2080GV?il=0)
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Signs of change already give him sleepless nights. Hundreds of drill holes across the countryside show where miners want to excavate the land for lithium, a vital ingredient for batteries used in electric cars, smartphones and energy storage.

“If my livelihood is taken away from me, I won’t have a future elsewhere,” said 45-year-old Pires, whose village lies in the municipal district of Boticas.

Pires and his idyllic surrounds are on one of the frontlines of a battle pitting companies eager to exploit Portugal’s 60,000 tonnes of known lithium reserves against locals determined to preserve their rights over the land and stop the exploitation.

It puts the minority government in a tight spot at home. Growing opposition to lithium exploration by local groups, which communally own and manage rural areas, could mean miners reach an impasse and seek government support to expropriate land.

I wish the protestors the best of luck. Can anyone else give us more information on what’s happening?


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 14, 2020, 02:32:00 PM
Portuguese communities lock horns with lithium miners to save their land (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-portugal-environment-lithium-insight/portuguese-communities-lock-horns-with-lithium-miners-to-save-their-land-idUSKBN2080GV?il=0)
Quote
Signs of change already give him sleepless nights. Hundreds of drill holes across the countryside show where miners want to excavate the land for lithium, a vital ingredient for batteries used in electric cars, smartphones and energy storage.

“If my livelihood is taken away from me, I won’t have a future elsewhere,” said 45-year-old Pires, whose village lies in the municipal district of Boticas.

Pires and his idyllic surrounds are on one of the frontlines of a battle pitting companies eager to exploit Portugal’s 60,000 tonnes of known lithium reserves against locals determined to preserve their rights over the land and stop the exploitation.

It puts the minority government in a tight spot at home. Growing opposition to lithium exploration by local groups, which communally own and manage rural areas, could mean miners reach an impasse and seek government support to expropriate land.

I wish the protestors the best of luck. Can anyone else give us more information on what’s happening?

The lithium exploration started very badly and it doesn't seem to be going well. The government's reaction to the protests was, and still is, quite arrogant and they aren't explaining to populations the impacts of all the lithium exporation. If the health concerns are real worrisome, the way the company that won the exploration was selected is, let's just say, weird. The company that won the exploration, Lusorecursos Portugal Lithium, S.A, created a new company, 3 days before being selected, in 2018, that only had capital of just 50,000 euros, but won a exploration of around 300 million euros. Not to mention that the headquarters of the new company is a PS led parish building, and the chairman of the company is a PS member. Plus, the selection was made after no environment study was done.

These accusations and schemes are currently being investigated by the police and the DA office, but there's no sign of when the investigations will be over.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 14, 2020, 08:55:01 PM
2019 GDP: Economy grows 2% in 2019 as GDP per capita is expected to surpass the 20,000 euros mark for the 1st time.


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GDP exceeds estimate and grows two percent in 2019

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The Portuguese economy grew 2.0% in 2019, one tenth above what was estimated by the Government, according to the release of the figures of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) made by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

According to the INE, in the fourth quarter of 2019 the national GDP grew by 2.2% year on year (compared to the same period in 2018) and 0.6% in the chain (compared to the third quarter of 2019).

The figures released by INE are one tenth higher than those estimated by the Government, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Public Finance Council, but are in line with the forecast of the Bank of Portugal and European Commission.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 15, 2020, 09:00:50 AM
CGTP national congress: Largest workers union in Portugal elects their first female leader.


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CGTP: Isabel Camarinha elected the new CGTP general secretary

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Choice was confirmed this morning. Largest union is led for the first time in 50 years by a female leader.

Union leader Isabel Camarinha, a name unknown to most public opinion, but with three decades of union experience, was elected the new general secretary of the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP) early on Saturday.

Her name was voted in the first meeting of the new national council of the union central, having obtained 115 votes in favor among the 147 members of this central body, that is, a support of 78%. There were 25 white votes and one invalid. A minority, the Socialist current had proposed Fernando Gomes as secretary-general, but, unsurprisingly, Isabel Camarinha, of the communist current, was the name appointed by the new executive committee to go to votes in the national council.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 16, 2020, 05:52:04 PM
Racism controversy during FCPorto-Vitoria SC match as Vitoria fans throw racist slurs at FCPorto player Marega.  (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/feb/16/porto-striker-moussa-marega-walks-off-the-pitch-racist-abuse)


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Marega left the field after hearing racist insults coming from the bench in Guimarães.

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Porto striker Moussa Marega had to be restrained by teammates as he tried to walk off the pitch after he was apparently racial abused during his side's 2-1 win over Vitoria de Guimarães. Marega scored what turned out to be the winner on the hour mark but felt unable to continue, his final act was to raise his two middle fingers to the home supporters.

After scoring Porto's second, Marega celebrated his goal by pointing to his skin. In response Vitoria fans aimed abuse and threw seats from the stand at Mali international. Marega even celebrated with one of the discarded plastic seats but then made his way to the side of the pitch, with his thumbs down and seemingly booing the home supporters.

As Marega walked to the touchline, players from both teams attempted to calm down the striker and convince him to stay on the pitch but were unsuccessful. Porto head coach Sérgio Conceição also spoke to Marega but ultimately decided to grant him his wish of leaving the pitch and brought on Wilson Manafá to replace the goalscorer.

There are already several reactions to this incident:  (https://observador.pt/2020/02/16/esta-gente-tem-que-ser-banida-do-futebol-interditada-nao-pode-entrar-nos-estadios-diz-marques-mendes/)

The Government says that those who committed these insults will be punished and that the police is already working to identify the people responsible for the racist slurs.

Political parties have are also reacting condemning the Vitória fans actions. André Ventura, CHEGA leader, however, isn't condemning the actions of Vitória fans.

Catarina Martins, BE:
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I don't follow football, I don't have a club and I rarely follow what goes on at games. But today I adore #Marega, I confess. Racism is not an opinion. It's a crime.

Tiago Barbosa Ribeiro, PS:
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The racist offensive against Marega in Guimarães, forcing the player to leave, covers Portuguese football with shame.

Livre party:
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In a democratic society, racist attitudes are unacceptable. Racism is a crime. All our solidarity with Marega.
LIVRE demands from Vitória de Guimarães and the League an unequivocal condemnation of these behaviors.

André Ventura, CHEGA leader:
Quote
A country of hypocrisy in which everything is racism and everything immediately deserves a shower of regrets and historical analysis - megalomaniacs. Our problem is not racism. It is hypocrisy. It is the Joacine syndrome that begins to invade mentalities. They won't pass through me "


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 19, 2020, 06:01:39 PM
British tourists in Portugal: Portugal considers subsidising UK tourists' post-Brexit healthcare.



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Portugal is considering offering British tourists subsidised post-Brexit healthcare in an effort to retain their custom in the Algarve, Lisbon and beyond.

It is one of several novel measures being considered by the Portuguese government in an effort to minimise the disruption of Brexit to its economy.

Rita Marques, the tourism minister, said the country was examining a unilateral offer to ensure cover offered by the European health insurance card (Ehic), the EU reciprocal system, can continue if a deal is not struck on it during this year’s trade talks.

She said: "The Portuguese and the UK are the oldest allies in the world and no matter what happens the Portuguese will stand by the British. The British traveller is very important to us.

"We are looking to guarantee this health cover next year. We are currently looking at how often it is used and if it is making a positive impact. We are in the process of testing this and the other ideas right now.

"If these are issues that are important to the British traveller, then we have to go for it. We are trying to minimise the disruption to British tourism."

About 2 million Britons visit Portugal every year. The latest figures show the Algarve is the No 1 destination with 1.2 million British tourists in 2019.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 20, 2020, 03:50:48 PM
Two cases dominating headlines in Portugal:

Young women (19) watered with flammable liquid and set on fire by boyfriend (33):  (https://www.publico.pt/2020/02/19/sociedade/noticia/homem-rega-namorada-combustiveis-pegalhe-fogo-1904717)


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Cacém: young woman attacked has 10% of her body burned.

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A man watered his girlfriend with flammable liquid and set her on fire, in Agualva (Sintra), at dawn on Wednesday. The 19-year-old was burned "severely on her hands, torso and face," said the commander of the Voluntary Firefighters of Agualva-Cacém, Francisco Rosado. The PSP announced in the meantime that it had already arrested the alleged aggressor and that this was not the first situation of domestic violence in the couple.

The firefighters were called by the young woman's neighbors, whom she went to call for help, added the head of the corporation, specifying that the woman's companion, who is 33, will have "thrown thinner and other combustible products on her hands while she slept.".

(...)

The Lisbon Metropolitan Command, through the Sintra Police Division, announced in the meantime that it detained the girl's boyfriend "for being a suspect in the practice of the crime of domestic violence".

(...)

According to Diário de Notícias, (https://www.dn.pt/edicao-do-dia/20-fev-2020/comecou-como-uma-historia-de-amor-e-terminou-com-uma-rapariga-queimada-pelo-namorado-11839815.html) the man accused of this was married with another woman and had a son. The case is shocking the inhabitants of this Lisbon suburb.


A famous bullfighter, João Moura, was arrested for mistreatment of several greyhounds in his estate. (https://observador.pt/2020/02/20/gnr-divulga-imagens-dos-caes-subnutridos-e-sem-condicoes-do-cavaleiro-joao-moura/) Police said that they found the 18 greyhounds malnourished and living in horrible conditions. One of the greyhounds died when it was found. The police unveiled photos of the place where the dogs were found.


Quote
Images show the degrading conditions where João Moura's greyhounds were kept

João Moura, the bullfighter in question is downplaying the case. He wrote in his blog:
Quote
Now they will instruct the process and move on. I have already made my statements and I am at home calm and with a clear conscience. I didn't kill anyone, I didn't steal anyone, I didn't treat my dogs badly, some were thin, but I didn't treat them badly!.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: lfromnj on February 20, 2020, 04:06:20 PM
Despite the lack of replies to this thread still appreciate the effort and its always helpful to keep a quick check on whats happening around the world.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 22, 2020, 06:58:24 AM
Scandal in the Justice system, as it is revealed that many judge selections could have been rigged.  (https://rr.sapo.pt/2020/02/21/pais/juizes-e-advogados-querem-investigacao-rapida-a-alegada-viciacao-de-sorteios-nos-tribunais/noticia/182847/)


Quote
Judges want investigation into the distribution of cases in the Court.

Quote
The suspicions fall on the former president of the Lisbon Court of Appeal, Vaz das Neves, who is said to have addicted to the electronic drawing of judges.

The Union of Judges and the Portuguese Bar Association want a quick investigation into the alleged addiction to the electronic drawing of cases at the Lisbon Court of Appeal, which involves former President Vaz das Neves. The suspicions arose in connection with the investigation into the Lex case.

In a statement sent to Renascença, the Union Association of Portuguese Judges asks the Superior Council of the Judiciary to "immediately order an urgent inquiry into the procedures for the distribution of cases at the Lisbon Court of Appeal, to check whether there are or are irregularities and to determine its correction".

"Citizens can have no doubts about the impartiality of their courts or the integrity of those who work in them. Judges fulfilling their duties cannot be under a blanket of unfair suspicion and disturbing the proper performance of the function, "says the same text.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: CumbrianLefty on February 22, 2020, 07:29:37 AM
Despite the lack of replies to this thread still appreciate the effort and its always helpful to keep a quick check on whats happening around the world.

Seconded :)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 27, 2020, 03:18:36 PM
Tension during the funeral of the victims of an illegal race in Lisbon, as friends invaded with motorbikes the graveyard and police was forced to control the situation:


Quote
Dozens of friends of the victims of the accident in the 2nd Circular invaded Prazeres Graveyard


Quote
Police pulled a gun to stop biker siege during funeral of Second Circular victims

Quote
A group of bikers invaded the Prazeres Graveyard, in Lisbon, during the funeral of one of the victims of the brutal accident in the Second Circular.

In the videos you can see hundreds of people with motorcycles and some of them entering the cemetery.
Quote
Several bikers who participated in the funeral of one of the fatal victims of the Second Circular accident in Lisbon, surrounded a PSP car and confronted the police, this Tuesday.

In the video it is possible to see an agent pulling a gun when he is being surrounded by several men.

The accident in the Second Circular happened last Friday. The three friends died in the early hours of Friday in a brutal accident.

The Public Security Police (PSP) reinforced the security teams for the funeral.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 29, 2020, 08:27:16 AM
Final 2019 GDP numbers: Economy grew 2.2% and GDP per capita surpasses the 20,000 euros mark for the first time.  (https://www.jn.pt/economia/economia-portuguesa-cresceu-22-em-2019-11868636.html)


Quote
Portuguese economy exceeds expectations and grows 2.2% in 2019

The INE has released the final numbers for the GDP in 2019. The Portuguese economy grew 2.2%, more 0.3% than predictions, reaching 212,3 billion euros. GDP per capita also reached a record high, around 20,700 euros, the first time it surpasses the 20,000 euros mark.

Overall, the final numbers of the 2019 economy are the following:

- GDP growth: 2.2%
- GDP: 212,3 billion euros
- GDP per capita: 20,658 euros*
- Unemployment: 6.5%
- Debt: 249,7 billion euros
- Debt %: 117.6%
- Deficit: -0.1%*

*Provisional data


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 04, 2020, 03:30:57 PM
Corruption investigations: Prosecutors and tax authorities raid the main football clubs in Portugal, today.


Quote
Benfica, Sporting and Porto searched by the Prosecutors and Tax Authorities

Quote
Public Prosecutors and Tax Authorities also search SAD for other professional clubs.

House of presidents and offices of Jorge Mendes also targeted by searches.

More than 200 officials from the Public Ministry and the Tax Authority are conducting searches on the FC Porto, Benfica, Sporting and Braga SADs this Wednesday, due to alleged illegalities in the execution of contracts, according to CMTV.

In addition to the big three, Vitória de Guimarães, Marítimo, Estoril, Portimonense and other clubs are also under investigation, as well as the houses of Presidents Pinto da Costa, Luís Filipe Vieira, Frederico Varandas and António Salvador.

According to "Saturday", Jorge Mendes' offices and home are also being investigated, in addition to Casillas, Jackson Martinez, Maxi Pereira and Danilo Pereira.

At issue is the alleged use - by clubs, agents and players - of fictitious documents to increase costs, in order to avoid paying taxes. Commissions paid to representatives and image rights contracts are also under investigation.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 07, 2020, 07:17:47 PM
5.3 magnitude earthquake felt this evening in Madeira islands:  (https://observador.pt/2020/03/07/sismo-de-magnitude-5-3-na-escala-de-richter-abala-a-madeira/)



Quote
A 5.3 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale shook the Madeira archipelago this Saturday night, according to data from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). The earthquake was recorded at 8:58 pm at 40 kilometers southwest of Deserta Grande (the largest in the Desertas Islands sub-archipelago) and originated at 4.7 kilometers deep.

Half an hour after the first shock, at 9:22 pm, a replica of magnitude 2.4 was recorded on the Richter scale. The epicenter of the second earthquake is about 35 kilometers south of Câmara de Lobos, in a region close to the origin of the first earthquake. According to the IPMA, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 24 kilometers.

In a telephone interview with the Observador newspaper, Miguel Gouveia, Mayor of Funchal, confirmed that "there is no record of any material damage, nor any information of people injured" by the earthquake.

(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 23, 2020, 02:46:04 PM
Coronavirus crisis in Portugal: Emergency room visits fall 50% in the last few days, as GDP forecasts also say the Portuguese economy could drop more than 4.5%:


Quote
Covid-19. Urgencies drop more than 50% and health centers give vaccines and morning-after pills

Quote
Suddenly, the waiting rooms for general emergencies were emptied, those for pediatric patients as well and those for obstetric gynecologists as well. Hospitals are seeing what they have never seen before. Urgent services to be used rationally and to carry out the functions for which they are open door - to respond to urgent cases and with waiting times reduced to a minimum. In the wards, hospitalizations are also less and there are no extra beds or stretchers in the corridors.

For fear of the epidemic or for the sake of conscience, following the guidelines of the health authorities in order to leave these services only for serious situations so as not to exhaust the capacity of the National Health Service (SNS) in responding to the treatment of patients infected with covid-19, the Portuguese are proving that, after all, the official number presented on false urgencies, about 40%, corresponds to reality.

According to the latest report on the Portrait of Health in Portugal 2018, hospitals received more than six million emergencies (precisely 6,318,359), of which "40% of visits refer to less priority visits, green, blue and white bracelets" , it reads in the document. It also states that 6 023 845 users observed in the emergency room were exempt from a moderating fee.


Quote
Coronavirus: Portuguese economy should suffer negative impact of 4.5% of GDP or higher

Quote
The Portuguese economy is preparing to enter a recession in 2020, a year in which, in a "mild" scenario of the impact of the new coronavirus, in which the country remains stationary for a month and a half, a retraction of 2.9 %. To get an idea of the speed at which the changes are taking place, the State Budget promulgated this Monday by the President of the Republic - and already clearly dated - points to a GDP growth of 1.9%.

The estimate is by Nuno Fernandes, professor of finance at IESE. According to the calculations of this economist, former director of the Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics, released this Monday, in this same scenario the economic impact will be of the order of 4.5% of GDP (close to 10 billion euros) .

(...)

"The higher the weight of tourism, the greater the impact" of the new coronavirus, the analysis reads, so the estimates point to countries like Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece being among the most affected. In the case of Spain, for example (it is Portugal's largest trading partner), the contraction will be 3.9% in this scenario. Germany would attend -3.6% and Greece -4.6%.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 30, 2020, 11:44:35 AM
3 agents of the Foreigners and Borders Service are arrested due to strong evidences practice murder of an Ukrainian emigrant:



The Police detained three inspectors from the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) for "strong evidence of the practice of a crime of murder" of a 40-year-old Ukrainian citizen at Lisbon airport.

According to a note sent to newsrooms, inspectors aged 42, 43 and 47 were responsible for the death "of a 40-year-old Ukrainian man who had tried to illegally enter the country by air on March 10th ".

The same note goes on to state that "the facts were committed on the premises of the Temporary Installation Center, at Lisbon airport, on the 12th, after the victim allegedly caused some disturbances on the spot."

The detainees will be present at the first judicial interrogation, in which they will be ordered to impose coercion measures.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on April 08, 2020, 04:41:12 PM
Corruption in Portugal: Hacker Rui Pinto, from Football Leaks, is sent to house arrest, after a year in prison, and will collaborate with the police.  (https://tvi24.iol.pt/sociedade/hackers/noticia-tvi-rui-pinto-sai-prisao-e-passa-a-colaborar-com-a-pj?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ed-tvi24)


Quote
TVI News: Rui Pinto leaves prison and starts to collaborate with the PJ

Quote
The Judiciary Police and Rui Pinto reached an agreement in recent days, against all expectations.

TVI knows that the Portuguese hacker agreed to collaborate with the Justice, leaving the preventive prison, where he has been for precisely a year.

Rui Pinto starts to work side by side with the elements of the PJ, daily, in combating phenomena of economic and financial crime that his computer intrusions have allowed to unveil in different areas of society.

This collaboration agreement, validated by the investigating judge Cláudia Pina in a three-page order, provides mitigations to the extent of the sentence in view of the foreseeable future conviction for various crimes of illegitimate access and, for now, the easing of coercion measures. Rui Pinto leaves the prison and lives in the PJ, safely 24 hours a day.

Meanwhile, the hacker commits to decrypt the 10 external disks that the PJ seized in Hungary, with terabytes of information, but which he has not yet been able to open.

It is suspected that, in emails and other documentation, they contain real time bombs with regard to corruption in football and webs of influences in politics, in the business world, in banking and in the advocacy sector.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on April 19, 2020, 02:10:03 PM
Covid-19 lockdown lifts: PM António Costa will meet with the Cardinal of Lisbon to discuss the lift in religious restrictions.


Quote
Covid-19: Government prepares lifting of the current restrictions on religious celebrations

Quote
The Prime Minister, António Costa, will meet this Monday with the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, D. Manuel Clemente, to start preparing the lifting of some of the current restrictions on religious celebrations.

At the meeting, scheduled for 9 am, at the Olivais Seminar, in Loures, the current ban on community masses will be on the table, as well as the postponement of weddings and baptisms. Likewise, and in a ban that applies to all types of funeral ceremonies, funerals are reduced to a minimum. Presents can only be the immediate family members and the funerals can be made but only on the day the person is going to bury, and without the usual funeral procession. According to the same logic of minimizing the risk of contagion, burials began to take place without mass.

The news, released by Rádio Renascença and confirmed by the PUBLICO, thus allows us to glimpse the relaxation of some of these prohibitions, which have been in force since the 13th of March, predicting that, after more than a month, masses may return to have assistance, even though, as it is more likely, this is done under certain conditions that safeguard the distance between the faithful and minimize the risk of contagion by the new coronavirus. This meeting takes place less than a month before the May 13th celebrations, which bring together thousands of believers and pilgrims every year in Fatima, which this year may be held with some limitations.

(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on April 20, 2020, 06:44:33 AM
Textile companies file for an European request to produce and export millions of masks to all EU countries:


Quote
Portugal moves forward with plan to sell masks to 515 million Europeans.

Quote
In times of difficulty, Portuguese textiles have already shown that they know how to be resilient, proactive and inventive. Proof of this are the more than 200 companies that made themselves available to manufacture social masks in less than a week since the announcement of this possibility, made last Monday by the Government.

Moretextile, which brings together in Vale do Ave three of the largest Portuguese home textile companies (António de Almeida & Filhos, JMA Felpos, SA and Coelima Indústrias Têxteis), is one of these more than 200. In the three factories it has in Guimarães and Santo Tirso, 17 prototypes of social masks are being developed, which it is then up to CITEVE to approve.

"They may not all be approved, but we hope there will be several. So the customer can also have a choice and several ranges can be created, for example," explains Artur Soutinho, CEO of the Moretextile group. As each prototype is ready, it is sent to CITEVE. Some already have tests underway and will be ready later this week. As a result, it will be a few more days for Moretextile to start production again and Artur expects to have the first deliveries of masks "in early May, if all goes well".

(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on April 24, 2020, 11:54:31 AM
New York Times article questioning Benfica's power influences in Portugal creates controversy:  (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/22/sports/soccer/portugal-benfica-football-leaks.html)

With the title "The Soccer Club as Sovereign State", the NYT report on the Benfica corruption police investigations and their influence in the justice and political system is creating some controversy in the country.



Benfica reaction was very weird and leaving many analysts confused. Benfica sent a memo accusing the NYT of being "envy of the club' several years of success". The journalist who wrote the article, Tariq Panja, said that perhaps there is self-censorship in Portugal, adding that the cases involving the 3 main football clubs in Portugal, Benfica, FCPorto and Sporting CP, are very curious and should be shared with the world:


Quote
Football: "Maybe there is self-censorship in Portugal", says a New York Times journalist who wrote a text about Benfica


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on May 01, 2020, 12:32:33 PM
Pitagórica poll to JN/TSF radio on the Covid-19 impact:  (https://www.jn.pt/nacional/infografias/efeitos-da-crise-provocada-pela-covid-19-12141786.html)

Q1: Tell me if you agree or not with the following statements:

"Many businesses are taking advantage of firing employees, closing down or laying-off workers when they don't need to"

61% Agree/Totally agree
16% Disagree/Totally disagree
18% Undecided

"The government should forbid the firing of workers during the State of Emergency"

61% Agree/Totally agree
19% Disagree/Totally disagree
15% Undecided

"Workers unions have behaved well and in a moderate way during this period"

45% Agree/Totally agree
17% Disagree/Totally disagree
28% Undecided

Q2: Do you agree with the Labour day unions demonstrations?

82% Disagree/Totally disagree
12% Agree/Totally agree
  6% Undecided

Q3: How did your income been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic?

55% Stayed the same
42% Decreased
  1% Increased
  1% Didn't tell

Q4: In the next month, how do you foresee your income?

71% Will stay the same
22% Will decrease
  2% Will increase
  5% Undecided

Q5: The NHS capacity:

"Has the NHS been prepared for the current number of cases?" (compared with last poll)

78% Yes (+31)
20% No (-30)
  2% Undecided (-1)

"Will the NHS be prepared within a month?" (compared with last poll)

61% Yes (+43)
26% No (-46)
13% Undecided (+3)

Poll conducted between 15 and 26 April 2020. Polled 605 voters. MoE of 4.07%.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on May 02, 2020, 01:17:01 PM
Population of Lairosa beach, Figueira da Foz, protest against the gypsy community in that parish, who they accuse of destroying cars and robberies, but violate the rules that forbids protests during the State of Emergency:


Quote
Figueira da Foz: Police demobilizes hundreds of people protesting at Leirosa beach.

Quote
The police demobilized hundreds of people this Saturday afternoon, belonging to the population of Praia da Leirosa, in Figueira da Foz, who had gathered to protest against various acts of vandalism that have occurred in the area in recent times. The demonstration was organized in a state of emergency due to the covid-19 pandemic, and gatherings were prohibited.

"What happened was that there was a gathering of people, more than one or two hundred, who were in protest against the actions of a community that lives nearby that caused damage to vehicles, such as flat tires, among others," explained to PÚBLICO the lieutenant-colonel João Nunes, of the GNR General Command.

According to popular people heard by TVI24, who was at the scene, the population protested against the inaction of the authorities in the face of acts of vandalism carried out by a Roma family, which has been causing contempt and destruction of property for about two years. .

"Various means in the area were deployed on the ground" and "a certain amount of confusion" was generated between the GNR and the population, and an intervention team was activated that ended up not intervening.

And of course, there were fights between the protesters and the police:


So much for social distancing...


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on May 06, 2020, 11:53:49 AM
1st time in 35 years that no coal is used to produce power in Portugal:


Quote
Portugal without power from coal for the first time in 35 years

Quote
The information was released today by REN - Redes Energéticas Nacionais, which revealed that the production of the Sines and Pego coal plants was "null" in April, an unprecedented feat since its creation in 1985.

"The production of coal, which was already very low, was really nil in April, which happens for the first time since the existence of the current coal plants in Sines and Pego", explained the manager of the national electricity grid, at a time when the closure of the two plants is expected.

In October, the Government announced that it was prepared to close the Pego thermoelectric plant in late 2021 and to stop production at the Sines plant in September 2023.

According to REN, in April, hydrological conditions were favorable, with the hydroelectric productivity index standing at 1.17 (with the historical average equal to 1), while in wind farms the index stood at 0.85 ( historical average equal to 1).

Renewable production supplied 69% of national consumption, non-renewable production 17%, while the remaining 14% were supplied with energy imported from Spain.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on May 06, 2020, 02:36:47 PM
Bank of Portugal: Covid-19 hurts more the income of the more wealthy rather than the poorer.


Quote
Carlos Costa. Pandemic penalizes more income for the rich than for the poor.

Quote
The wealthier families will be more penalized in terms of loss of income than the poorest, concludes a study by Banco de Portugal (BdP), included in the May economic bulletin, released this Wednesday.

Carlos Costa's institution was to see what the "average impact on disposable income and net income from work resulting from the pandemic, in the short term" can be, that is, assuming that the disease does not worsen, nor that there is a second wave, that leads to extending the lay-off regime and leads to even more redundancies and unemployment and more company closures.

In the new bulletin, BdP says that, "on average, the monthly income of households resident in Portugal has a reduction of 5.3%, due to a reduction of 8.2% in income from work".

(...)

Additionally, the Bank assumed that there are "just over one million workers in lay-offs". In addition to these, there are those who lost their jobs or were left behind in wages. Here the wage reduction can be even more brutal. For workers not covered by the lay-off measures "it was assumed that they did not receive any remuneration when the company ceases to be active due to the pandemic. Depending on the employment situation of individuals, this hypothesis can be interpreted as job loss, absence of income from self-employment or overdue wages ".

But the impact differs. The poorest of all, those who have no income from work, for example, and the oldest (pensioners) practically do not feel the financial struggle because they have no income from work or wages. It couldn't be otherwise.

(...)

As mentioned, "the pandemic has no impact on income for a considerable percentage of families. It is mainly the case of families who have no income from work and those where all members work in sectors not affected by the pandemic, which represent about 50 % of the total of families ", says the study.

The Bank then explains that "the impact of the pandemic on household disposable income grows" as more depends on wage income. "And the same goes for the level of education.

"In the group of 20% of families with the lowest income, the average disposable income is reduced by 2.4%, which compares with a reduction of 7.8% in the group of 10% of families with the highest income".


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on May 09, 2020, 02:05:37 PM
Homicides increased during the Covid-19 lockdown compared with 2019:


Quote
Homicide crimes rose in the pandemic.

Quote
The Judiciary Police (PJ) surveyed three major areas of crime between March 2 and April 26, a period marked by the pandemic. Compared to last year, crimes against life increased more than 40%, both in consummated and attempted homicides. The confinement of millions of families at home may explain the increase in conflict. In any case, the PJ emphasizes that the increase in homicides does not have a major impact on the trends of global crime, which have declined.

Another story is dominating headlines in the last few days: the disappearance of a 9 year girl in Peniche, Leiria district.


Quote
Portugal - GNR fights against time to find missing girl in Peniche.

Quote
GNR will continue to search overnight to find the 9-year-old child, who has disappeared in the municipality of Peniche since Thursday morning, an official source from the Leiria Territorial Command said today.

"We will continue overnight on the ground with 'drones' and territorial patrols," said the same source to the Lusa agency.

In addition to these teams, kinotechnical binomials (dogs) were integrated in the daytime searches, but demobilized at night.

So far, "there has been no evidence" of the child's whereabouts, the same source said.

As of today, police continues to search for the girl and people of the village where the girl lived are also taking part in the search. Girl clothes were found in a field next to the village (https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/video--populares-juntam-se-as-autoridades-para-encontrar-valentina-de-9-anos-em-peniche-veja-as-imagens-das-buscas?ref=HP_PrimeirosDestaques) as the police updates that they have no clue of the whereabouts of the girl.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on May 10, 2020, 07:17:14 AM
Sad update in the missing girl case in Peniche:  (https://observador.pt/2020/05/10/crianca-de-9-anos-desaparecida-em-peniche-foi-encontrada-morta-duas-pessoas-foram-detidas/)

The police found her body and have arrested the father and the stepmother of the little girl, as the father confessed to have murdered the girl.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on June 04, 2020, 08:59:00 AM
The Maddie case: The saga continues with a new suspect.


Quote
Who kidnapped Maddie? 13 years later, German pedophile is the prime suspect

Quote
"We will never lose hope of finding Madeleine alive, but whatever the outcome, we need to know, we need to find peace," said Kate and Gerry McCann, as soon as they were informed on Wednesday that there are "strong indications. "that a German pedophile may have been involved in the abduction.

He is a 43-year-old man, currently detained in Germany, who lived in Portugal between 1996 and 2007 - the year that Madeleine McCann disappeared without a trace.

He was near the resort of Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, on the night of May 3, 2007, when Maddie disappeared, and had a phone conversation that ended just over an hour before Kate McCann realized that her daughter he had disappeared from the room where he slept with his twin brothers.

(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on June 04, 2020, 06:36:40 PM
Violence in football: Benfica's bus hit by several rocks, two players were sent to hospital.


Quote
Benfica bus stoned. Weigl and Zivkovic injured

The Portuguese football league returned yesterday, with FCPorto losing in Famalicão and, today, Benfica draw with Tondela in Lisbon. Both FCPorto and Benfica are tied in first place with 60 points each. But tonight, while leaving the stadium, rocks were thrown against Benfica's bus damaging the bus and hurting with some severity two players of the club.

The police is investigating the case and still doesn't know who threw the rocks.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on June 07, 2020, 05:16:31 PM
Black Lives Matter demonstrations took thousands to the streets in Lisbon:


Quote
LISBON: Demonstration against racism takes thousands of people on Avenida Almirante Reis !!!

Many people filled the streets of Lisbon in solidarity for the demonstrations in the US surrounding the death of George Floyd and police brutality. The demonstration was also against racism and police brutality in Portugal.

However, many are criticizing the demonstration due to the ongoing surge of cases of Covid-19 in Lisbon. In the last 2 weeks, 90%+ of all cases in Portugal were from the Lisbon area and health officials were worried about the demonstrations and pleaded for responsibility and social distance.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on June 12, 2020, 06:28:30 AM
Statue of Father António Vieira (1608-1697) vandalized in Lisbon with the word "Decolonization"


Quote
Racism: "Decolonization": statue of Padre António Vieira vandalized in Lisbon

Quote
The statue of Father António Vieira, in Largo Trindade Coelho, in Lisbon, was vandalized with the word "decolonize" painted in red. The cleric's mouth, hands and habit were dyed red and on the chest of the indigenous children who are represented around him a heart was painted. During the night of this Thursday, the City of Lisbon cleaned the statue. "All acts of vandalism against the collective heritage of the city are inadmissible", reads the official Twitter of the municipality.

At the end of the day, the Public Security Police (PSP) had not yet been informed of the occurrence, as the spokesman for this security force told the PÚBLICO. Meanwhile, PSP criminal investigation teams have been mobilized, who have investigated the site "to collect more and better evidence" that could lead to the identification of the perpetrators, a source from the Lisbon Metropolitan Command of the PSP told Lusa.

(...)


Quote
Fernando Medina, Mayor of Lisbon: The best response to vandals is cleanliness.

This is creating some controversy as Father António Vieira was a Jesuit that did missionary work in Brazil, when it was still a colony of Portugal, and defended the rights of indigenous people by fighting slavery and by evangelizing the community. He was also a staunch anti-Inquisition.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on June 15, 2020, 08:01:22 AM
Portugal's population grows for the first time in 10 years:


Quote
National Statistics Institute: Portugal with more population for the first time in ten years

Quote
According to INE data, released this Monday, the estimates pointed out that at the end of last year 10,295,909 people resided in Portugal, 19,292 more than in 2018. "The effective growth rate was thus positive (0,19%), after nine years of population decrease", points out the document, which also explains that the population increase "resulted from the increase in the migratory balance (from 11,570 in 2018 to 44,506 in 2019), since the natural balance (difference between births and deaths) remained negative (-25,214 in 2019)"-"for the 11th consecutive year".

Population by region: (diff between 2018/2019)

  3,575,338 North (+2,755)
  2,217,285 Center (+716)
  2,863,272 Lisbon (+16,940)
     704,558 Alentejo (-920)
     438,406 Algarve (-458)
     242,796 Azores (-50)
     254 254 Madeira (+309)

10,295,909 Portugal (+19,292)

The national census, carried out every 10 years, will happen in March 2021.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on June 17, 2020, 05:02:56 PM
Lisbon will host the final tournament of the UEFA Champions league:



Quote

UEFA has confirmed that the culmination of this year's Champions League will be played out as an eight-team tournament in Lisbon.

The eight teams remaining in the competition will take part in a straight knockout tournament between August 12 and 23.

The four remaining last 16 second leg matches, including Manchester City versus Real Madrid, will take place on August 7 and 8.

UEFA is yet to determine whether those matches will take place at the respective host stadiums, or in Portugal.

(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on June 18, 2020, 06:47:16 AM
Migrants from North of Africa that landed in the Algarve will be expelled from Portugal:


Quote
Migrants who landed in the Algarve will be installed in temporary centers and later expelled from Portugal

Quote
The 22 migrants from North Africa, detected off Quarteira, Faro district, will be transported to temporary settlement centers overnight, the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) said on Tuesday.

In a statement, SEF clarifies that the migrants, all of whom were male, were present at the Judicial Court of Loulé, on Tuesday, "having been subjected to the installation coercion measure in the installation coercion measure was applied to them in a Temporary Installation Center (CIT) for removal from national territory within the scope of the expulsion process for irregular entry and stay "in Portugal.

The Foreigners and Borders Service adds that the 22 migrants will be installed, "this evening", at the CIT at the Santo António Housing Unit, in Porto, in the Space Equated to the Temporary Installation Center (EECIT) at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, also in Porto, and the EECIT at Faro airport.

(...)

However, some authorities are worried that a new illegal migration route could be forming in Portugal, but the Interior minister rejects the idea as it's not comparable the 7,500 illegal migrants in the shores of Spain with the just 48 in Portugal's shores, since last December.


Quote
They leave Morocco and arrive in the Algarve: is there a new illegal migration route? "It depends on several factors, including the reaction of Portugal"

Quote
Four different groups of Moroccan men have landed on the Algarve coast since December - 48 people have left El Jadida, not far from Casablanca, Morocco. What happened to them? Some have disappeared, others will be deported, only one - a minor - had his asylum application accepted by the Portuguese government. The last 22 men who arrived earlier this week did not ask for international protection, contrary to what had always happened before.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on June 19, 2020, 10:18:19 AM
Dolphins return to the Tagus river in Lisbon as pollution and boat traffic drops:


Quote
Group of dolphins returns to the Tagus River in Lisbon

Quote
Several dolphins were photographed and filmed swimming in the Tagus river, next to the 25 de Abril bridge, in an image that had not been seen for some time.

The images were shared by the website Terra Incógnita, a sailing school in the capital area.

According to the Terra Incógnita website, this was the sixth consecutive day that it was possible to spot dolphins in the area.

In the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Tagus estuary has had much less movement of boats, and this gives rise to the appearance of animals that are not normally seen very often.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on June 19, 2020, 12:30:20 PM
Young man suspected of being infected with coronavirus tied up in the street by people in a Lisbon neighborhood:  (https://www.cmjornal.pt/sociedade/detalhe/video--populacao-amarra-na-rua-jovem-suspeito-de-covid-19-que-circulava-em-bairro-de-lisboa-veja-as-imagens)



Quote
A young man suspected of being infected with Covid-19 was, this Wednesday, tied to a balcony in Padre Cruz Neighborhood, in Carnide, Lisbon. According to a witness, the young man has tested positive for the disease several times, but still goes out on the street daily.

The man was tied to a balcony and the PSP called to the scene. For Correio da Manhã, the police confirmed the popular action without revealing any other details.

The witness heard by Correio da Manhã states that several complaints have been made to the PSP for the allegedly circulation the man in the neighborhood previously. Despite the complaints, the young man has often left home and so the population has now decided to arrest the young man.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on June 23, 2020, 04:33:29 PM
Well, this happened and shows the state of the railways in Portugal:


Quote
CP: Train runs out of diesel 1700 meters from the station

Quote
The train that daily leaves Espinho at 1:30 pm and should have arrived at 2:32 pm in Oliveira de Azeméis station, stopped in the middle of the road, due to lack of fuel, when 1700 meters were left to reach the destination.

A CP supply truck would eventually come to the site to fill the railcar's tanks to continue the journey. The delay, however, was an hour.

This is not the first time that one of the trains on the Vouga line runs out of fuel. In April of this year, a train that was due to leave Aveiro for Sernada de Vouga did not come out because the driver realized that it had not been filled with diesel, and the train was suppressed.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on July 07, 2020, 11:20:47 AM
EDP, Energies of Portugal, chairman suspended from office by judge orders:



Quote
The ruling was reported by news website ECO earlier on Monday.

Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade, currently chief financial officer of EDP, will take over as interim CEO while Mexia is suspended, according an EDP statement published by Portugal’s market regulator CMVM.

Portugal’s public prosecutor indicted Mexia and EDP Renovaveis (EDPR.LS) CEO Joao Manso Neto three years ago on suspicion of corruption in a case that involved former Portuguese Economy Minister Manuel Pinho in 2007. EDP, the two executives and Pinho have always denied any wrongdoing.

(...)

The public prosecutor has alleged that Pinho personally benefited when he approved a scheme to compensate EDP for the early end of fixed multi-annual Power Purchase Agreements (PPA), and a 25-year extension of 27 dam concessions without public tender.

The public prosecutor has said EDP subsequently sponsored a renewable energy course at a major U.S. university, taught by Pinho, as a reward.

In a court document seen by Reuters, Mexia and Manso Neto rejected the prosecutor’s claims, calling them “fictional narrative” and said the proposed suspension was “illegal” as a manager can only be dismissed by shareholders.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on July 08, 2020, 09:37:45 AM
Young Dutch tourists in Albufeira, Algarve, criticize the police force against them:


Quote
“The police are out of control”: Dutch tourists complain about the police charge in Albufeira

Quote
In Albufeira, spirits began to calm. The muscular attitude of the authorities reduced the number of young Dutch people on the streets of Oura, who seem to have opted for private parties.

Meanwhile, the news of some police charges about students on vacation has reached the Netherlands and parents are asking young people to return home.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on July 10, 2020, 07:03:32 PM
Controversy in Portugal: Owner of brothel reveals the name of the judge who asked for oral sex while hearing depositions of minors.


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Brothel owner reveals name of Mafra judge who asked for oral sex while listening to reports of minors

Quote
Ana Loureiro, the head of a brothel and one of the biggest defenders of the legalization of prostitution in Portugal, revealed this Thursday, July 9, at the Lisbon Court of Appeal, the identity of the judge who she accused of receiving sexual services while watching videos of children reporting sexual abuse they had suffered.

The judge in question will be Joaquim Manuel Silva, placed in the Family and Minors Court of the Court of Mafra, where he gained notoriety for working to defend the interests of minors in cases of parental regulation - having even participated in several televised debates on the topic .

During the time that she was heard by the court, Ana Loureiro said that the magistrate used the services of one of the companions who works with her in her alternate home. And that the latter, while listening to the reports of the minors he followed in each case, asked for oral sex.

(...)

The seriousness of the revelations was enough for the Assembly of the Republic to send a letter to the Attorney General's Office, writes the newspaper "Observador". The idea is to inform the Public Ministry of "affirmations of an alleged knowledge of facts that indicate practices that constitute public crimes."


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on July 12, 2020, 05:55:56 PM


I was on the street when a massive wind started to blow almost everthing up.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on July 16, 2020, 05:04:05 PM
Wildfire in the suburbs of Lisbon reaches some houses:  (https://www.ojogo.pt/extra/noticias/cascais-fogo-em-mato-atingiu-telhados-de-dois-predios--12432527.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter)


Quote
Fires: Fire that broke out in the bush area in Cascais dominated

Quote
The fire that broke out at the end of Thursday afternoon in the bush area in Alvide, Cascais municipality, hit the roofs of two buildings, but these outbreaks were "quickly eliminated", said the mayor, Carlos Carreiras.

"We had outbreaks in two buildings, but they were quickly dealt with" by the aerial means that are on the ground, he explained to the agency Lusa Carlos Carreiras, adding, by 20:00, that, "at the moment, there is no dwelling in danger, although the fire is not yet under control ".

The mayor added that there is still no information on whether the fire entered the buildings or whether it was confined to the roofs.

According to the information available on the website of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC), at 20:10, there were 254 operatives fighting the flames, supported by 69 vehicles and six aerial means.

FCPorto championship win celebrations ended in violence in the early hours of the morning, yesterday, as police tried to end gatherings due to the Covid-19 pandemic:


Quote
The images of violence in the Aliados at the end of the Porto party

Quote
The blue and white party on Avenida dos Aliados ended, at dawn, with violence between the PSP and the fans of F. C. Porto. The police dispersed the Portistas with batons, kicks and punches.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on July 17, 2020, 03:30:06 PM
BES case: DA office accuses Ricardo Salgado of 65 crimes and losses of almost 12 billion euros due to his crimes.


Quote
BES case. Ricardo Salgado accused of 65 crimes - RTP Notícias.

The DA office has concluded their investigation on the management of former chairman of Espirito Santo Bank, Ricardo Salgado, and has accused him of 65 crimes that cost the bank and the group almost 12 billion euros. The DA office also revealed a series of financial schemes and the creation of several illicit funds. One of these illicit funds was used to fund the reelection campaign of former President Cavaco Silva in 2011.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on July 21, 2020, 07:14:59 PM
Revolt in Santo Tirso as a wildfire destroys an illegal kennel killing more than 70 dogs:


Quote
Hundreds of people gather in vigil to pay homage to animals killed in Santo Tirso fire

Quote
Animal rights: Number of animals killed in Santo Tirso rises to 73

Last weekend, a massive wildfire in the outskirts of Porto, between Valongo and Santo Tirso, lasted for some days and destroyed an illegal kennel located in the woods. Police is being accused of letting the dogs die but police forces already released a statement saying that the violence of the fire prevented any rescue of the animals, however it seems to contradict an earlier statement by the police, on Monday, saying that the police rescued, with success, the majority of the dogs. Nonetheless, many people are revolted by the situation as the illegal kennel was known for several years and many gather in a vigil in Santo Tirso's main square to honour the animals. Many others are also protesting against the owner of the kennel and had stood in front of her house protesting against her.

In other parts of the country, protesters are also calling the police to shutdown illegal kneels. In Santa Maria da Feira, south of Porto, police was called as protesters demanded the closing of an another illegal kennel. The owner was insulted and confrontations between her and protesters were prevented by the police.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on July 22, 2020, 09:58:43 AM
Another boat of migrants from Marrocos arrives in the shores of the Algarve. Foreigners and Borders Agency union says Algarve is a new illegal route:  (https://www.publico.pt/2020/07/22/sociedade/noticia/migracoes-69-migrantes-ilegais-interceptados-algarve-oito-meses-1925425)


Quote
Migrants intercepted in the Algarve and other highlights in 60 seconds

Quote
In the last eight months, 69 migrants from the North of Africa were intercepted to illegally land in the Algarve, with the last case recorded late Tuesday afternoon, on Farol island, Faro municipality.

The group of 21 migrants, apparently Moroccan, according to the authorities, was intercepted on the sands of Ilha do Farol, at 7:45 pm, having spent the night in a pavilion in Olhão, where they are under the guard of SEF and GNR.

The Algarve has been sought by illegal migrants as a gateway to Europe, a trend that has been accentuated in recent months. Since December, 69 migrants from North Africa have been intercepted in the region.

(...)

The Union of Inspectors of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) speaks of the Government's failure to control the Portuguese coast.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on July 25, 2020, 01:10:25 PM
Police investigates an alleged hate crime as an 80 year old guns down a 39 year old black man in a busy street in the suburbs of Lisbon:


Quote
Shooting in Moscavide. "Detainee was held back by people"

The police was called, in the early afternoon of this Saturday, as a shooting occurred in the Lisbon suburb of Moscavide. The victim, a 39 year old black man, was shoot down by an 80 year old man in the middle of the street. Witnesses say the 80 year old man was insulting the victim by saying racial slurs but the incident seems to go back to the middle of this week and involves the victims dog. It's still unclear how the shooting started.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Lord Halifax on July 25, 2020, 02:08:17 PM
Migrants from North of Africa that landed in the Algarve will be expelled from Portugal:

How and to where?


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on July 25, 2020, 02:55:27 PM
Migrants from North of Africa that landed in the Algarve will be expelled from Portugal:

How and to where?

According to the report, they claim to be from Morocco so I assume they will be deported back to Marocco.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on July 26, 2020, 05:24:11 PM
Christopher Columbus statue in Funchal city, Madeira, was vandalized during last night:


Quote
History: Columbus statue overthrown and vandalized in Funchal

Quote
The statue of navigator Christopher Columbus, located in the Saint Catherine park, in Funchal, was knocked down and vandalized at dawn on Sunday, a source from the municipal presidency office told Lusa.

"We contacted the police as soon as we heard about it," said the source, adding that the statue "has some cracks". He also informed that "the city council is trying to understand whether there is greater damage or not" and that "the best way to collect it for restoration and put it back as soon as possible" is being evaluated.

(...)

The Mayor of Funchal, Miguel Gouveia, posted the following message on Facebook: "Funchal is a cosmopolitan and multicultural city that has always cultivated tolerance to differences, welcomed those who visited, fought for equity and justice and embraced its identity with proud. Today will be no different. This Sunday the city dawned tainted by some episodes of urban vandalism perpetrated during the past dawn. Whether they are the result of nocturnal excesses or to underline any ideological position, nothing justifies attacking the heritage, material or immaterial, of Funchal. To those who seek to extract dividends, whatever their nature, wounding, boycotting and vandalizing our city of Funchal, know that you will find a hardened opponent in this team."


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on July 27, 2020, 05:03:15 PM
First floating wind farm in Europe is operating in the coast of Viana do Castelo:


Quote
Money - Europe's first floating wind farm is Portuguese and already operational

Quote
WindFloat Atlantic, the first floating wind farm in Continental Europe, is already fully operational and providing clean energy to Portugal's electricity grid, EDP announced.

All that was missing was the connection of the last of the three platforms to the power cable that runs the 20 kilometers of distance that separate the wind farm from the station installed in Viana do Castelo - an operation that was successfully concluded and that allows these wind farms installed in the middle of the ocean already supplying power to the grid.

The energy that is being generated comes from 8.4 MW turbines, the largest in the world ever installed on a floating platform.

"WindFloat Atlantic, which has a total installed capacity of 25 MW, is the world's first semi-submersible floating wind farm and will generate enough energy to supply the equivalent of 60,000 users per year, saving almost 1.1 million tons CO2 ", informs EDP, in the note sent to newsrooms.

This project is the result of a partnership between EDP Renováveis, which holds the majority share of 54.4%, and Engie (25%), Repsol (19.4%) and Principle Power (1.2%). These companies formed Windplus.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on July 31, 2020, 11:28:49 AM
At least 2 deaths and 37 injured in a derailment of a high-speed train near Coimbra:



Quote
According to sources at the scene, the driver is said to have been incarcerated. For the moment there is confirmation of the death of two people and the existence of seven seriously injured and three dozen light injuries among the 280 passengers.

Mário Jorge, Mayor of Soure, confirmed that INEM teams are already present at the site of the derailment of an Alfa Pendular, in an accident that registers injuries are being evacuated from the site.

In view of the scale of the accident, a field hospital is being set up on site.

The district commander of Civil Protection, Carlos Tavares, said that all the wounded had already been removed from the composition and transported to Coimbra Hospital.

The train was going in a south-north direction and the derailment occurred after the collision between the Alfa Pendular and a working machine, and the alert was given at 15:30, according to the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC).


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on August 02, 2020, 06:11:03 PM
Police investigates an alleged hate crime as an 80 year old guns down a 39 year old black man in a busy street in the suburbs of Lisbon:


Quote
Shooting in Moscavide. "Detainee was held back by people"

The police was called, in the early afternoon of this Saturday, as a shooting occurred in the Lisbon suburb of Moscavide. The victim, a 39 year old black man, was shoot down by an 80 year old man in the middle of the street. Witnesses say the 80 year old man was insulting the victim by saying racial slurs but the incident seems to go back to the middle of this week and involves the victims dog. It's still unclear how the shooting started.

During the weekend, rallies against racism in Portugal and rallies defending that there's no racism in Portugal were held in the aftermath of last weekend assassination of a 39 year old Bruno Candé:


Quote
Hundreds of people paid tribute to Bruno Candé in Lisbon


Quote
Racism: CHEGA brings together a few hundred people in Lisbon to show that “Portugal is not racist”

Last Friday, hundreds of people, between 1,000 and 2,000, took part in anti-racism rally in Lisbon to pay tribute to Bruno Candé, the 39 year old black man assassinated last weekend in a street of a Lisbon suburb by a 80 year old man. Protesters say that Portugal is racist and that mentalities need to change. Other rallies were held in Porto and Coimbra cities.

CHEGA party hold a counter rally and march in Lisbon also with the motto, again, "Portugal isn't racist". The same number, somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000, took part in the rally. CHEGA leader André Ventura said that there's no structural racism in Portugal and that the ghost of racism everytime a tragedy occurs needs to be removed.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on August 06, 2020, 05:19:31 PM
Wildfires - One of the worst days so far this year in terms of wildfires. 113 wildfires across the country, some quite big, mobilizing 4,600 firefighters. Some were injured during the combat:


Quote
"One of the most complicated days": Civil Protection takes stock of the various fires that plague the country

Quote
Civil Protection says that today was one of the "most complicated" days in terms of fires, because there were many and at the same time, counting until 7:30 pm, 113 fires, which mobilized 4,600 operatives.

The assessment was made in a balance of the day at a press conference of the second national commander of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC), André Fernandes.

(...)

According to the data released, the most worrying fires at 7:30 pm were Mirandela and Torre de Moncorvo (Bragança), Sernancelhe (Viseu), Alijó (Vila Real), Sabugal (Guarda), and Fundão (Castelo Branco). The Porto de Mós fire (Leiria), which had been plowing since 2 am, was "almost overpowered", the same with Mirandela's, said André Fernandes.

The districts with the most fires were Porto (23), Viana do Castelo (13), Braga (12), Aveiro (12) and Vila Real (nine).

André Fernandes said he had no information of homes in danger and reported a serious wounded, a civilian burned in the Alijó fire, and four lightly wounded operatives throughout the day, in addition to six assisted at the fires. An EDP worker was reported missing, but it was a false alarm.

There is also, said the official, no major routes cut due to the flames (only the A4, in Mirandela, was momentarily cut).

(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on August 11, 2020, 06:15:50 AM
SOS Racismo organization files complaint to the police and the DA office after a protest in front of their headquarters, labeled a "KKK parade" by them:


Quote
SOS Racismo will make a complaint to the DA office for a "Ku Klux Klan parade"

Quote
SOS Racismo filed a complaint with the Public Prosecutor's Office after its headquarters hosted a far-right demonstration.

The case goes back to the last weekend and the participants could be members of the National Resistance, which brings together activists from the New Social Order, National Renovator Party and Portugal Hammer Skins. According to Público newspaper, the association accuses them of "inciting hatred and violence".

In the images posted on social media, it is possible to see the group dressed in black, with white masks and holding torches - in everything similar to the organization that emerged in the United States, from 1865 to 1866, right after the American Civil War - which led SOS Racismo to classify the action as a "Ku Klux Klan military parade".

The far-right group claims that it spoke out against "anti-national racism" and paid tribute to "dead policemen", according to a Facebook post.

(...)

This is so weird...


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on August 22, 2020, 05:22:25 PM
Poverty in Portugal: Number of people asking for State support rises 6% in five months after 2 years of going down.


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"It is a serious problem." There are more 12,000 people receiving RSI since the pandemic began

Quote
In the last five months, the number of people receiving Social Insertion Income has risen from 200,000 to 212,000, according to Público newspaper, a figure that interrupts a downward trend that had been maintained for almost two years. The European anti-poverty network calls for taking the increase in the number of poor people in Portugal very seriously.

The magnitude of this increase surprises Father Agostinho Jardim Moreira, president of the section of the European anti-poverty network in Portugal, stating that it is "a very high number", a "serious problem" that can come to " affect health, school and will have a series of very serious consequences ".

"It is a lot of people in a short time", he recalls, since the data are from "the last two or three months", which should lead the country to "face the problem with great care and responsibility".

(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on August 26, 2020, 12:12:42 PM
Budget deficit: The deficit has risen almost 1800% since January.


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Public deficit from January to July explodes almost 1800%

Quote
The accumulated public deficit in the period from January to July this year reached 8,332 million euros, which represents an increase of this imbalance in the order of 1770% compared to the same seven months of last year (the deficit in July 2019 was 445 million euros euros), indicates a note sent to newspapers by the office of the Minister of Finance, João Leão.

According to the ministry, in just one year (until the end of last July) there was a “worsening as a result of the pandemic of 7,853 million euros compared to the same period”.

(...)

For example, the Finance ministry highlights “the reduction in tax and contributory revenue as a result of the sharp decrease in economic activity caused by the more intense period of collection and use of the lay-off”. The lay-off regime, which cut wages and working hours for almost 900,000 workers, was in effect from late March to late July.

In addition to the impact of the pandemic on income and expenditure, João Leão's tutelage also highlights “the following extraordinary policy measures to support families and companies” that explain “a further deterioration of the balance of at least 2,271 million euros”.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on August 27, 2020, 09:10:03 AM
Camarate 1980 case: New book defends that members of the US Republican Party and the CIA planned the air crash the killed the then PM Francisco Sá Carneiro and his defense minister.


Quote
Camarate: "Sale of arms to Iran by the US motivated the attack" that killed Sá Carneiro

Once in a while, the Camarate case poops in the headlines. This time, a new book written by Alexandre Patrício Gouveia, brother of one of Sá Carneiro's aides that was also killed in the crash, reveals that the air crash was planned by at least 5 members of the US Republican Party and several members of the CIA. The reason of the attack seems to be the sale of weapons to Iran. Defense minister, Adelino Amaro da Costa, opposed the sale of the weapons and wanted to prevent Portugal to become a path of shady and illegal sales of weapons. According to Mr Gouveia, the support of PM Sá Carneiro was the last straw and that the Americans would not accept that a little country like Portugal would block the deal.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on August 29, 2020, 05:41:34 PM
Few protesters in the anti-masks rally in Lisbon:


Quote
Coronavirus: Few dozens demonstrated in Lisbon to “unmask Portugal”

Quote
Without social distancing , protesters call for an end to the mandatory use of a mask in places where it is required because it is one of the ways to prevent the transmission of droplets that can carry the virus. They speak of “fear narrative” and want “immediate return to normal working hours” and school without masks.

Without masks and with little distance, about a hundred people asked this Saturday afternoon to “unmask Portugal”, in Rossio Square, in Lisbon. The demonstration had been convened through Facebook by the “Inconvenient Truth” movement, having been disseminated on pages where negationist theories were propagated. Although four hundred said they would participate, the number of people who appeared in downtown Lisbon was lower.

(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on August 30, 2020, 05:52:12 PM
Big brawl between rival groups in a garden in Vila Nova de Gaia. Intervention Police was called:  (https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/varios-jovens-feridos-em-desacatos-no-jardim-do-morro-em-gaia?ref=HP_PrimeirosDestaques)


Quote
Coronavirus: Gathering of around two hundred in Gaia ends in disagreements among young people

Quote
Several young people were injured and were identified this Sunday in the late afternoon, following disagreements, in the garden of Morro, in Gaia, between two large groups.

A 19-year-old man was transported to Hospital de Gaia.

According to the PSP, some young people tried to stone elements of the police but the officers were not injured.

The intervention of the special police unit, which arrested one of the attackers, was necessary.

The case occurred between 8 pm and 9 pm.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on September 02, 2020, 06:06:50 AM
Some headlines of the last few days:

Approved the first medicine course in a private university in Portugal:


Quote
Medical course at the Catholic University was approved. The first of a private

Quote
The Medicine course at the Portuguese Catholic University (UCP) was accredited by the Higher Education Assessment and Accreditation Agency (A3ES), the institution's dean announced on social media. It will be the first private medical course and accreditation will take place after a negative decision in 2019.

Isabel Capeloa Gil wrote on Twitter that the "Catholic University Medical Course has just been accredited by A3ES. A great day for Higher Education and for the national scientific system".

(...)

Fátima sanctuary will fire around 50 employees due to the Covid-19 economic crisis:


Quote
Crisis hits Fatima Shrine. Restructuring plan foresees redundancies

Quote
Up to 50 workers at the Fátima Sanctuary are expected to lose their jobs. The pandemic caused an abrupt drop in revenues and visits by pilgrims and, to deal with the crisis, a restructuring plan was launched.

The news was released this Tuesday by TVI and confirmed to TSF by the Sanctuary spokeswoman. Carmo Rodeia justified the decision to restructure with the high revenue drop due to the lack of pilgrims because of the pandemic.

"The cancellation of travels by pilgrimage groups and tourist activity had a very large impact on the economic and financial management of the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary has started an internal restructuring process aimed particularly at reducing fixed costs. Workers were invited to reflect their situation, negotiating voluntary exits. This restructuring plan foresees a reduction of workers that will not reach half a hundred ", said the responsible.

(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Battista Minola 1616 on September 02, 2020, 06:56:16 AM
There is something that feels completely absurd in the idea of a sanctuary laying off employees, but alas, I guess that is how the world works.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on September 02, 2020, 07:08:39 AM
There is something that feels completely absurd in the idea of a sanctuary laying off employees, but alas, I guess that is how the world works now.

Yeah, plus Fátima's finances have always been surrounded in a big mystery. The media is also reporting that they don't publish their annual accounts since 2006. The lay off of many workers is creating some controversy as there were huge investments in a new modern church, urban development in the last few years. This controversy may not go away. We'll see.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Battista Minola 1616 on September 02, 2020, 07:14:50 AM
There is something that feels completely absurd in the idea of a sanctuary laying off employees, but alas, I guess that is how the world works now.

Yeah, plus Fátima's finances have always been surrounded in a big mystery. The media is also reporting that they don't publish their annual accounts since 2006. The lay off of many workers is creating some controversy as there were huge investments in a new modern church, urban development in the last few years. This controversy may not go away. We'll see.

I understand.

By the way, does the other headline mean that there were no medicine courses in any private universities in Portugal before this year? If so, why?


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on September 02, 2020, 09:15:55 AM
There is something that feels completely absurd in the idea of a sanctuary laying off employees, but alas, I guess that is how the world works now.

Yeah, plus Fátima's finances have always been surrounded in a big mystery. The media is also reporting that they don't publish their annual accounts since 2006. The lay off of many workers is creating some controversy as there were huge investments in a new modern church, urban development in the last few years. This controversy may not go away. We'll see.

I understand.

By the way, does the other headline mean that there were no medicine courses in any private universities in Portugal before this year? If so, why?

Yes, it's the first private school medical course to be approved in Portugal, and there were no private medical courses before this decision. The university, Catholic University of Lisbon, will start receiving students maybe this year and definitely next year.

The debate of private medical courses in Portugal is going on for many years. Supporters of the idea say that because vacancies in the public medical universities are very few a year, plus adding the high grade of admission, 18/19 out of 20 grades, many students leave the country to study in foreign universities or drop the idea of forging a medical career. Opponents of the idea say that to be a doctor you need very high grades, plus that there are already many doctors without any vacancy to specialize in and others, like the Medical Bar Association, says that private universities will have "insufficient resources" and could fail to provide students full access to study all pathologies. To add, that the wage of a NHS doctor in Portugal is quite small and many work in public and private hospitals at the same time. The argument that this will create doctors to be unemployed is also used.

Private universities had always interest in having private medicine courses but very high investments and other legal issues made it hard. But governments, both PS and PSD, saw with interest this possibility as vacancies in public universities were drooping and the current minister suggested the solution is to finally open a private course.

I believe these are the main reasons, that I'm aware of.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Battista Minola 1616 on September 03, 2020, 05:13:42 AM
There is something that feels completely absurd in the idea of a sanctuary laying off employees, but alas, I guess that is how the world works now.

Yeah, plus Fátima's finances have always been surrounded in a big mystery. The media is also reporting that they don't publish their annual accounts since 2006. The lay off of many workers is creating some controversy as there were huge investments in a new modern church, urban development in the last few years. This controversy may not go away. We'll see.

I understand.

By the way, does the other headline mean that there were no medicine courses in any private universities in Portugal before this year? If so, why?

Yes, it's the first private school medical course to be approved in Portugal, and there were no private medical courses before this decision. The university, Catholic University of Lisbon, will start receiving students maybe this year and definitely next year.

The debate of private medical courses in Portugal is going on for many years. Supporters of the idea say that because vacancies in the public medical universities are very few a year, plus adding the high grade of admission, 18/19 out of 20 grades, many students leave the country to study in foreign universities or drop the idea of forging a medical career. Opponents of the idea say that to be a doctor you need very high grades, plus that there are already many doctors without any vacancy to specialize in and others, like the Medical Bar Association, says that private universities will have "insufficient resources" and could fail to provide students full access to study all pathologies. To add, that the wage of a NHS doctor in Portugal is quite small and many work in public and private hospitals at the same time. The argument that this will create doctors to be unemployed is also used.

Private universities had always interest in having private medicine courses but very high investments and other legal issues made it hard. But governments, both PS and PSD, saw with interest this possibility as vacancies in public universities were drooping and the current minister suggested the solution is to finally open a private course.

I believe these are the main reasons, that I'm aware of.

Do medicine faculties have numerus clausus (i.e. only a set number of students can enroll to the courses each year) in Portugal?
In Italy, where medicine courses at private universities have always existed, they do have it.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on September 03, 2020, 05:29:03 AM
There is something that feels completely absurd in the idea of a sanctuary laying off employees, but alas, I guess that is how the world works now.

Yeah, plus Fátima's finances have always been surrounded in a big mystery. The media is also reporting that they don't publish their annual accounts since 2006. The lay off of many workers is creating some controversy as there were huge investments in a new modern church, urban development in the last few years. This controversy may not go away. We'll see.

I understand.

By the way, does the other headline mean that there were no medicine courses in any private universities in Portugal before this year? If so, why?

Yes, it's the first private school medical course to be approved in Portugal, and there were no private medical courses before this decision. The university, Catholic University of Lisbon, will start receiving students maybe this year and definitely next year.

The debate of private medical courses in Portugal is going on for many years. Supporters of the idea say that because vacancies in the public medical universities are very few a year, plus adding the high grade of admission, 18/19 out of 20 grades, many students leave the country to study in foreign universities or drop the idea of forging a medical career. Opponents of the idea say that to be a doctor you need very high grades, plus that there are already many doctors without any vacancy to specialize in and others, like the Medical Bar Association, says that private universities will have "insufficient resources" and could fail to provide students full access to study all pathologies. To add, that the wage of a NHS doctor in Portugal is quite small and many work in public and private hospitals at the same time. The argument that this will create doctors to be unemployed is also used.

Private universities had always interest in having private medicine courses but very high investments and other legal issues made it hard. But governments, both PS and PSD, saw with interest this possibility as vacancies in public universities were drooping and the current minister suggested the solution is to finally open a private course.

I believe these are the main reasons, that I'm aware of.

Do medicine faculties have numerus clausus (i.e. only a set number of students can enroll to the courses each year) in Portugal?
In Italy, where medicine courses at private universities have always existed, they do have it.

Yes, each year medical universities open a limit number of course vacancies, but the government always criticizes it for being to small, and then you have the pressure of the government on private universities to invest in medicine courses to increase the number of vacancies, that is now reality.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Battista Minola 1616 on September 03, 2020, 08:06:29 AM

Yes, each year medical universities open a limit number of course vacancies, but the government always criticizes it for being to small, and then you have the pressure of the government on private universities to invest in medicine courses to increase the number of vacancies, that is now reality.

I see. In Italy instead the pressure is always (but for obvious reasons especially this year) to abolish numerus clausus (although it still has not happened).


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on September 03, 2020, 10:56:06 AM

Yes, each year medical universities open a limit number of course vacancies, but the government always criticizes it for being to small, and then you have the pressure of the government on private universities to invest in medicine courses to increase the number of vacancies, that is now reality.

I see. In Italy instead the pressure is always (but for obvious reasons especially this year) to abolish numerus clausus (although it still has not happened).

Universities want to increase vacancies but the problem is the constant and structural lack of funding many universities have and that makes them to limit vacancies.

In other news:

Starting from today, throwing cigarette butts to the ground is worth a fine of up to 250 euros:



Quote
From Friday, cigarette butts on the floor will cost between 25 and 250 euros in fine under a law published a year ago.

The Law No. 88/2019 to reduce the impact of cigarette butts, cigars or other cigarettes on the environment approves measures for the collection and treatment of tobacco residues and punishes with fines between 25 and 250 euros for throwing butts onto the public road.

Under the law, cigarette butts, cigars or other cigarettes containing tobacco products are now treated as solid urban waste and, therefore, their "disposal in public space" is prohibited.

Published on September 3, 2019, the law provided for a "transitional period of one year from the date of entry into force" so that entities could make the necessary adaptations.

According to the law, "commercial establishments, namely, restaurants and bars, establishments where recreational activities take place and all buildings where smoking is prohibited, must have ashtrays and proper equipment for the disposal of undifferentiated and selective waste produced by its customers, namely receptacles with tilting lids or other devices that prevent the spread of waste in public space ".

(...)

In addition to fines of 25 euros to 250 euros for those who throw butts to the ground, the law also determines that it constitutes an offense punishable by a minimum fine of 250 euros and a maximum of 1,500 euros if commercial establishments, companies that manage public transport, municipalities, concessionaires of public transport stops, higher education institutions, hotels and local accommodation do not place ashtrays or clean the waste produced.

(...)

Inspection is the responsibility of the Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE), city councils, Municipal Police, Republican National Guard, Public Security Police, Maritime Police and other police authorities.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on September 04, 2020, 05:09:25 AM
Trial of hacker Rui Pinto to start today:


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Rui Pinto's trial will start with exceptional security measures - RTP Notícias

Quote
Rui Pinto's trial begins this Friday. The hacker accounts for 90 crimes. Rui Pinto wants to prove that it was the man who raised the alarm against corruption. He was the Whistleblower, the denunciator and not the criminal.

The trial was going to take place in the largest courtroom at the Justice Campus in Lisbon, but the day before the security forces' report forced a change of location.

The process will take place in a room on the 6th floor, with a more limited capacity, and the session will be transmitted by videoconference in another building.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on September 05, 2020, 05:02:54 PM
Police hunt for man who murdered his ex-wife on the middle of a street in a parish in Lamego ends as he is found dead just meters near to the crime scene, 23 days after the crime.  (https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/encontrado-o-corpo-do-presumivel-autor-de-homicidio-em-lalim_v1256904)


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Body of man who murdered ex-wife in Lalim was near the crime scene

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The body of the alleged perpetrator of the murder of a woman last August 14, was found in the parish of Lalim, in Lamego.

In a statement, the Judiciary Police reported that Henrique Carvalho's body was located in a forested area, close to the murder site.

According to the authorities, everything indicates that the man ended his life shortly after he killed his ex-partner.

The case sparked some social alarm, with a three-week hunt for the man.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on September 15, 2020, 05:52:35 PM
Massive wildfire in Oleiros, Castelo Branco, ongoing:


Quote
"Very violent fire." Fogo in Oleiros has 60 kilometers of perimeter (37 miles).

Quote
It is a "very violent fire" with "60 kilometers of perimeter". In 29 hours, the fire that started in Oleiros and passed to Proença-a-Nova, has destroyed "500 hectares per hour". The estimate, although "abstract", is that of Civil Protection.

In a briefing by the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority, operational commander Luís Belo Costa said that the fight has been very difficult due to the conditions on the ground due to the violence of the fire, which has already destroyed some houses, at least "one of second homes, vacant houses. and agricultural sheds ".

To the journalists, the commander confirmed that there were residents who were removed from their homes as a precaution. Luís Belo Costa admitted that the fire fighting is evolving favorably, but anticipated that there is a lot of work to do on the ground in the coming hours.

The fire is somewhat controlled now, but there's still 10% of fire to be controlled. The fire burned an area almost double the size of the city of Lisbon and more than double the city of Porto:


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on September 18, 2020, 01:56:00 PM
Subtropical storm Alpha arrives at the coast of Portugal:



Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on September 24, 2020, 10:41:46 AM
2021 census: INE will cooperate with police and the Department of General Health (DGS) in order to conduct the census.


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Covid-19: 2021 Census relies on collaboration from DGS and security forces

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The Department of General Health the security forces will collaborate with the National Statistics Institute (INE) to prepare and put into practice the fieldwork for the 2021 Census.

The decision was approved this Thursday in the Council of Ministers, which explains that this collaboration is part "within the scope of the preparation and execution of field work related to the XVI General Census of the Population and the VI General Census of Housing".

Due to the covid-19 pandemic, INE even considered the possibility of postponing the process, which takes place every 10 years, but ended up deciding to proceed with the 2021 Census which will count on the work of about 15,000 people .

The Census will thus proceed with a contingency plan that guarantees the quality of the work and safeguards the risks for the population in general - who responds to the questionnaires - and for those who are doing this work.

In November, the process for gathering information will be tested and in January 2021 the personnel recruitment process will start, according to information provided by Dinheiro Vivo, which indicates that INE aims to be able to carry out this work with about half of the employees that were needed in 2011.

The 2021 Census will be the first to favor online surveys.

(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on September 28, 2020, 10:36:27 AM
Police forces: Officers have six months to remove racist tattoos and "curly mustaches" are forbidden.


Quote
PSP agents have six months to remove racist tattoos and are prohibited from wearing curly mustaches

A new executive order signed by the PSP national chairman has ruled how police officers have to act, dress and look:

Quote
PSP agents will have six months to remove tattoos that "contain symbols, words or drawings of a party, extremist, racial or violence-promoting nature", which are now expressly prohibited. This stems from an order signed last Tuesday by the national director of the PSP, Manuel Magina da Silva, which updates the so-called “rules regarding the uprightness, presentation and wearing of uniforms”, which were defined more than 12 years ago.

(...)

The new directive will force police officers to remove any racist tattoos in any part of the body. One of the stewards in the police force, Nuno Carocha, says that "These types of tattoos are totally unacceptable on PSP, even in non-visible areas". It's unclear how many officers have it, but there will be punishments for not removing tattoos.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on September 29, 2020, 10:45:25 AM
Part of Lisbon subway tunnel collapses near a station, 4 people injured:  (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2020-09-29-Desabamento-em-obras-do-Metro-de-Lisboa-faz-quatro-feridos-ligeiros)


Quote
See the images of the place where the collapse occurred on the Blue Line of the Lisbon Subway

Quote
The collapse of a gallery in the Lisbon subway, at Spain Square station, this Tuesday, caused four slight injuries and led to the interruption of the circulation on the Blue line, between that station and that of São Sebastião, confirmed the source of the company.

Speaking to journalists, the president of Metro de Lisboa, indicated that the incident happened when a reinforced concrete structure was demolished. Apparently, a “technical error” related to the works on the site will be at stake, but an investigation was opened to ascertain the causes with all rigor.

Of the injured, three were situations related to anxiety attacks, added a representative of the Lisbon Chamber, explaining that “a piece of stone fell on the carriages”, and that the driver had to make an emergency stop. About 300 people were on the subway train affected.

Circulation will continue  interrupted for at least two days, the journalists were told, with Metro, together with Carris, reinforcing the creation of alternatives for passengers.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on October 01, 2020, 04:42:55 PM
Defense ministry wants to ban from the army expressions that are derogatory to both men and women:


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Portugal - Ministry of Defense forbids expressions like "behave like a man"

Quote
The Defense Ministry wants to eliminate, in the Armed Forces, oral expressions that describe women "in a non-evaluative or even derogatory way", even when "used in insults to men". Among them, it is given as examples, "stop being a sissy", "you look like a girl" and "behave like a man". Written expressions that indicate genres are also prohibited, being replaced by "neutral terms".

The decision is contained in a document, from the general secretary of the ministry directed by João Gomes Cravinho, to which the Correio da Manhã had access, with the title "Directive on the Use of Non-Discriminatory Language".


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on October 02, 2020, 06:37:15 PM
Defense ministry wants to ban from the army expressions that are derogatory to both men and women:

Defense minister cancels the directive against "discriminatory language" in the Armed Forces.


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Cravinho cancels directive against "discriminatory language" in the Armed Forces

Quote
The Minister of National Defense signed this Friday an order to annul a directive that ordered the use of "non-discriminatory language" in the armed forces.

In the dispatch, to which the DN had access, João Cravinho implies that the said order was sent in absentia. "I became aware of the sending by the General Secretariat of Offices (...) with the title 'Directive on the use of non-discriminatory language', addressed to EMGFA, Ramos, and the central services of the ministry, supplemented later by the letter (...) As it lacks superior approval and because it is a working document that does not show an adequate state of maturity, these letters should be considered annulled ", writes the Minister of Defense.

The decision comes at the culmination of a week in which criticisms from the most representative associations (officers and sergeants) to the said directive accumulated and caused unease among the military, starting with the fact that it was a secretary-general who signed the directive.

(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on October 03, 2020, 07:14:22 AM
17 illegal migrants fled from Tavira, Algarve, military barracks last Thursday morning. 16 were already found and captured by the police:


Quote
Four more fugitive migrants captured. Only the last of the group that fled Tavira is missing

Quote
After the Spanish Guardia Civil, on Friday afternoon, found one of the migrants in Ayamonte (Spain), this Saturday there were "four more captured by the GNR in Castro Marim", with only one of the men who was part of the escape missing, said the source from the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) to the Lusa agency.

Portuguese SEF sources indicated on Friday that the man found in Spain was located by the Spanish authorities in Ayamonte, the town closest to the border with the Algarve, about 40 kilometers from Tavira, from where the group had escaped in the early hours Thursday.

On Thursday, nine were intercepted and during Friday, authorities located three more migrants.

(...)

On Thursday, 17 migrants fled the barracks of the Tavira detachment of the Army's 1st Infantry Regiment, where they waited for the enforcement of the court order and were quarantining, after two of them had been diagnosed with covid-19 after their irregular entry into Portugal.

The group that landed on September 16 without documents on the Deserta island, in Faro, was composed of 28 migrants: 24 men, who were installed in the barracks in Tavira, three women, one of them pregnant, and a minor.

The three women were installed in the Santo António Housing Unit, in Porto, while the minor was handed over to the Family and Minors Court in Faro.

The Minister of Home Affairs on Thursday called for the opening of an investigation into the escape of the migrants, to find out "the circumstances of the said escape and possible disciplinary responsibilities of elements" of the SEF and PSP.

On the same day, Eduardo Cabrita, said that Portugal is discussing with Morocco, at an advanced stage, a legal immigration program, which he hopes to conclude soon.

This was the sixth illegal landing on the Algarve coast involving migrants from North Africa.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on October 11, 2020, 10:44:34 AM
Economy: Exports recover and are almost at the same level of 2019, as Bank of Portugal upgrades GDP forecast to -8.1%, compared to 9.5% projected in June.


Quote
Exports already almost cured of the pandemic. Imports fall 11.6%

Quote
After a 30% drop between April and June, national exports began to show the first signs of recovery in July. In the eighth month of the year, this path continued to be followed, having dropped only 1.4% in August, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE). Meanwhile, the purchase of goods from abroad fell only 11.6%, after having fallen more than 20% in July.

Both sales abroad and purchases show signs of recovery, after three months of being heavily impacted by the coronavirus. Both indicators continue to fall, but show an improvement over the past months. Exports fell 1.4%, after falling 7.3% in July, while imports decreased 11.6% from a 20.4% decrease in July.

(...)


Quote
GDP sinks, but recovers faster than in the troika period

Quote
The Portuguese economy is experiencing an unprecedented contraction, associated with the covid-19 pandemic. But the recovery is expected to be much faster than in the last crisis, marked by the international rescue of the country. This is the unanimous opinion of the Bank of Portugal and the economists heard by Expresso. This week, at the presentation of the “Economic Bulletin” of the Bank of Portugal, the governor, Mário Centeno - former Minister of Finance and president of the Eurogroup -, made a point of marking the distances from the last crisis, which had a “long recessive period it's very strong".

The institution eased the scenario for this year, expecting a contraction of the gross domestic product (GDP) of 8.1%, and no longer 9.5%, and Centeno pointed out that the “recovery that we project is rapid, sustained by the policies adopted and preparing the Portuguese economy to respond to the challenges ”. The governor went further: "I do not risk saying recovery in V, due to the high uncertainty, but many indicators point in that direction."

(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on October 31, 2020, 11:02:59 AM
Several universities and high schools in Lisbon were vandalized with racist graffiti last Friday:


Quote
Catholic University vandalized with racist messages

Quote
The Portuguese Catholic University (UCP), in Lisbon, was vandalized with racist and xenophobic messages during the dawn of this Friday. On the walls of the university, phrases like "Long live the White Europe", "Long live the white race" and "Out with the blacks" were written.

(...)

A complaint was made to the DA office, the UCP confirmed to Sábado. The images are being analyzed.

UCP's dean, Isabel Capeloa Gil, also considered that this is "a direct attack on the university and its values" and challenges "discrimination based on race, gender or other factors". The Catholic official even considered that what was written on the walls of the university are "unacceptable acts" and the walls have already been cleaned.

In addition to the Catholic University, photographs of racist messages appeared in social media in schools in Portela, Olivais and Sacavém, all in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on October 31, 2020, 11:22:53 AM
This week was also marked by a huge crowd that gathered in Nazaré to watch the traditional big waves. (https://www.publico.pt/2020/10/29/local/noticia/multidao-arribas-nazare-proibe-acesso-farol-1937170) Last Thursday, the gathering violated all Covid rules and caught authorities off guard:


Quote
Crowd in Nazaré: authorities caught off guard

Quote
Nazaré city hall and the Captaincy of Nazaré decided to cut pedestrian access to the road to Farol, to contain the excessive concentration of people that watches the giant waves and ensure safety conditions, informed the captain of Porto.

“Pedestrian access is going to be banned and we are going to appeal to the dispersion of people concentrated near the Forte de S. Miguel to try to reduce clusters,” Zeferino Henriques, commander of Porto da Nazaré (district of Leiria), he told Lusa.

At issue is the presence of thousands of people who concentrated on the cliffs of Praia do Norte, after having been announced on social media that giant waves were expected for Wednesday and Thursday. The scenario "attracts many foreign and Portuguese surfers to surf on Praia do Norte and simultaneously people from various countries who travel to watch", told the Mayor of Nazaré, Walter Chicharro to Lusa.

(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Lord Halifax on October 31, 2020, 11:52:47 AM
What's the risk that Portugal will go into full lockdown before Christmas? Is the tourist sector too important for a travel ban?


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on October 31, 2020, 12:05:57 PM
What's the risk that Portugal will go into full lockdown before Christmas? Is the tourist sector too important for a travel ban?

There's the government proposal to impose a "though" lockdown in early December, where there are 2 national holidays, to, according to governmental officials, "save Christmas". But this is just an idea and many are criticizing the announcement of a confinement a month before, saying it doesn't makes sense. Other ideas is to declare the state of emergency but not with the same characteristics as of the March one, and impose curfews and mandatory tele-working. However, these are all ideas and there's no big consensus on what the path forward should be. The government will announce new measures during this Saturday.

A travel ban is impossible, IMO. The tourism sector is very important in the Portuguese economy and Portugal is, I believe, the forth EU economy with the biggest share of tourism in GDP, around 19%. Azores and Madeira have a different system than the rest of the country. Every tourist arriving at the islands has to do a test and so far, the number of cases in both island are overwhelmingly from tourists, 80%+.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on November 09, 2020, 01:59:39 PM
Legionella outbreak in Vila do Conde/Póvoa de Varzim:


Quote
64 cases of 'legionella' detected in the north of the country (46 in Póvoa de Varzim)

Quote
Sixty-four cases of Legionnaires' disease have been reported since October 29 in the north of the country, with 46 belonging to the same outbreak located in Póvoa de Varzim and Vila do Conde, according to the Director-General of Health.

Asked today at the covid-19 regular update conference on the 'legionella' outbreak in these two locations in the north of the country, Graça Freitas began by stating that, despite there being “an epidemic of covid, other diseases continue to manifest up and the system is glad that it can detect them ”.

"Legionnaires 'disease is a seasonal disease, it is time to have this type of disease, and what we found is that since the 29th of last month in the North region 64 cases of legionnaires' disease have been reported", he added.

(...)

The Director-General of Health wanted to leave “a word of tranquility” to everyone in this region: “this is not a disease that is contagious, from one person to another. It passes through environmental sources, through aerosolization of this bacterium called 'legionella' and through inspiration or inhalation ”.

(...)

The news is a bit misleading. It seems that the outbreak center is in Vila do Conde but my hometown hospital is receiving patients from Vila do Conde, as normal as both cities are basically "twin cities".


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on November 10, 2020, 05:31:14 AM
In the 1st night of curfew, due to Covid-19, a shooting occurred in one of Lisbon's main avenues:


Quote
Footage - Shooting creates panic on Liberty Avenue in Lisbon

Quote
A shooting, at dawn on Tuesday, caused panic on Avenida da Liberdade, in Lisbon.

Several men were following in two different cars when they fired several shots in progress. The snipers managed to escape.

Bullet wrappers were found at the scene.

According to what CM reported with the authorities, the shots left only marks on a building in an adjacent artery of that avenue.

For the field, elements of the PSP, Municipal Police and inspectors of the PJ were highlighted for their respective expertise.

Traffic was cut off for several hours.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Orwell on November 10, 2020, 08:34:46 PM
Portuphiles, do you guys have any good statistics in relation to the Portuguese decriminalization of drugs? I am writing an argumentative essay on the decriminalization of drugs and was wondering if you guys had any good sources.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on November 10, 2020, 08:54:51 PM
Portuphiles, do you guys have any good statistics in relation to the Portuguese decriminalization of drugs? I am writing an argumentative essay on the decriminalization of drugs and was wondering if you guys had any good sources.

Hi there! :)

What kind of sources do you need? I found some essays online, they are all in Portuguese, sorry. I found this one: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/uploads/04a1698a-6d38-4147-b9fd-d07a5235b276/drug-policy-in-portugal-portuguese-20111206_0.pdf

and this one: https://www.scielo.br/pdf/sssoc/n114/n114a07.pdf

This blog has also some statistical graphics, but don't know if they're usefull:

https://cartacampinas.com.br/2017/09/coleta-de-dados-mostra-o-sucesso-inequivoco-da-descriminalizacao-das-drogas-em-portugal/

The Guardian also had a very good report on the issue that is even highlighted in the Portuguese NHS website:

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/dec/05/portugals-radical-drugs-policy-is-working-why-hasnt-the-world-copied-it

Hope this helps :)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on November 13, 2020, 12:38:08 PM
Protest of restaurant owners in Porto city against the Government ended in tensions between protesters and the police.


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Clashes between protesters and police in protest of restaurant owners in Porto

Quote
Entrepreneurs from the restaurant and hotel sectors who gathered this Friday afternoon in Aliados, in Porto, for yet another protest from the "Bread and Water" movement, were involved in clashes with the police.

The demonstration "Bread and Water", by businessmen from the restaurants, bars and shops, scheduled for this Friday, at Aliados Avenue, in Porto, was marked by clashes between protesters and PSP agents.

The protest, which started at 4 pm, was attended by several hundred entrepreneurs who contest the measures imposed by António Costa in the context of the new state of emergency.

During the demonstration bottles were thrown at police agents and one of the demonstrators was reportedly identified by the police.

In addition to throwing bottles, protesters put coffins [symbolizing the death of the sector] on fire, forcing police intervention.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on November 18, 2020, 12:57:33 PM
Update on the Legionella outbreak: Two factories in Matosinhos are closed as tests show bacteria in cooling towers.


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Legionella. Cooling towers at two factories are suspended in Matosinhos. There are 97 cases and 9 dead

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Since the 29th of October, there has been an increase in the number of cases of legionella in the northern region. So far, there have been a total of 9 deaths and 97 confirmed cases, of which 72 are clusterable, on the coast of the geographical area of the Póvoa de Varzim / Vila do Conde Health Center Group and the Matosinhos Local Health Unit.

The origin of the outbreak is still to be determined, but the Northern Regional Health Administration (ARS) of the North believes that the geographical dispersion of the cases “is compatible with an eventual environmental source subject to the effects of climate change from the Bárbara depression, which occurred in the territory during the incubation period of these cases ”.

In a statement, the ARS do Norte said that local health authorities are developing epidemiological and environmental research, in accordance with the rules and guidelines of the Directorate-General for Health, being “attentive to the evolution of the situation and will take measures additional information necessary to control the situation ”. “As a result of this investigation and as a precautionary measure, the ULS Health Authority of Matosinhos, suspended the operation of the cooling towers of two industries, located in the municipality of Matosinhos.”

(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on November 30, 2020, 10:06:34 AM
GDP growth: Economy grows 13.3% compared with the 2nd trimester, but falls -5.7% annually:


Quote
Portuguese economy down 5.7% in the third quarter.

The National Statistic Institute (INE) released today the final GDP numbers from the 3rd trimester in Portugal. The economy grew 13.3% compared with 2nd trimester but fell -5.7% compared with the 3rd trimester of 2019. Private consumption and exports helped to improve the economy in this 3rd trimester. However, it's expected another drop in growth, in the last trimester of 2020, due to the Covid restrictions in the last few weeks, since mid October. GDP could still pass the 200 billion euros mark, but it's still in doubt. Unemployment also dropped a few points in October to 7.5%.

Another report, this weekend, painted a grim picture for the Portuguese economy within the EU. Expresso newspaper looked at the projected 2020 numbers and concluded that Portugal is falling, year after year, in the raking of GDP per capita:


Quote
GDP per capita. Poland and Hungary have never been this close of stealing Portugal's place

The 2020 projected numbers show that Portugal is on the verge of being surpassed by Hungary and Poland in the ranking of income per inhabitant. Portugal is currently placed at 18th place, with 77% of the EU average, but Poland and Hungary are surging at 76% and 75% respectively. Slovakia and Romania are also very close at 72% and 71% respectively. If the numbers play out, Portugal could fall to 21th place by the end of 2021, and further down in the future as Romania is having a very strong economic performance, putting Portugal on the top bottom of Europe's poorest countries.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on December 13, 2020, 11:21:39 AM
Police officer run over by a prison guard who has beating his wife on the street:


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Évora's PSP agent was killed when he tried to end a situation of domestic violence

Quote
It was the aggressor who killed the policeman. He ran away, but was eventually arrested. The suspect is a prison guard.

In a note published on the website of the Presidency of the Republic, it can be read that "it was with deep consternation that the President of the Republic became aware of the death of Principal Agent António José Pinto Doce, victim of a brutal trampling in fulfillment of his mission in Rossio de São Brás, in Évora ".

"Another national example of someone who, even though not in service, gave his life for his neighbor and to whom Portugal owes a tribute", adds the note.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has already spoken personally to the Agent's widow, "addressing the most heartfelt condolences also to his children, family and friends, as well as to the Public Security Police, whose National Director receives this afternoon in Belém, and in particular to Évora District Command where António José performed his mission on a daily basis ".


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on December 14, 2020, 11:35:33 AM
Several people run over during a shellfish protest in Murtosa, Aveiro district:


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Several people run over during shellfish protest in Murtosa.

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Several people were run over during a protest with about 300 shellfish gatherers (bivalve catchers), this Monday, in Murtosa. The professionals have been in protest for several weeks, as they are prevented from going to sea because of the analyzes made to the waters.

According to what the Correio da Manhã was able to ascertain, a shellfish gatherer who is not from the area started the march when he was prevented by the other protesters and elements of the GNR from selling seafood that he caught elsewhere.

Two people were injured, both with fractures.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on December 20, 2020, 07:30:21 AM
Massive explosion in a building in Lisbon injures 5 people and 2 are missing:


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Images show destruction caused by building explosion in Lisbon

Quote
At least five people were injured, one in serious condition, during an explosion followed by a fire in a residential building on Rua de Santa Marta, in Lisbon, with two still missing, the Firefighters said.

Speaking to the media on the spot, the commander of the fire department, Tiago Lopes, informed that the fire was extinguished on the front of the building, being, shortly after 9 am, still fought in the afternoon, although circumscribed and without danger of passing to adjacent buildings.

According to the councilor for Civil Protection of the City of Lisbon, Carlos Castro, there are five injured, one of whom was in serious condition, but nine people lived in the building, two of whom are missing and two were not in the building.

(...)

"If the dogs do not detect any life, we have to enter, with the removal of the rubble in a meticulous way so as not to create further damage to the neighboring buildings," he said, stressing that it is a job that can take hours.

(...)

According to councilman Carlos Castro, the explosion may have been caused by a gas explosion.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on December 21, 2020, 09:24:13 AM
GALP, Portugal's main petrol company, will shut down their production in Matosinhos refinery next year:


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Galp: closure of the Matosinhos refinery puts 350 jobs in question

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Galp announced, this Monday, that it will concentrate its refining operations and future developments in the Sines complex and discontinue refining in Matosinhos starting next year.

As far as TVI was able to ascertain, that decision could jeopardize 350 direct jobs. The refinery will be transformed into a logistics center, which will house some of these workers, while others will have to be transferred, through the mobility plan, to the Sines complex. Still, it will not be possible to safeguard all workers.

This process, which has been talked about for the past 10 years, has been accelerated due to the covid-19 pandemic, since the service has been virtually stopped since the summer.

In a statement, Galp said that "structural changes in the consumption patterns of petroleum products motivated by the regulatory context and the Covid-19 context have had a significant impact on Galp's industrial downstreaming activities", and stated that "the supply and the distribution of fuels in the country will not be impacted by this decision ”.

(...)

The Government has already reacted, saying that Galp's decision "raises concerns" in relation to the fate of workers, "demanding from the company all the commitment and social sensitivity to seek solutions for the near future".


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on December 21, 2020, 12:52:05 PM
Competition Authority issues a multimillion record fine to supermarkets and beverage companies:


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Competition applies record fine of 304 million to supermarkets and beverage suppliers for agreeing prices

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Price concertation in the sale of beverages to consumers, almost all alcoholic, led to the imposition of total fines of 304 million euros in two cases brought by the Competition Authority. This amount of fines is the highest ever decided by the competition regulator in a process involving the main supermarket chains in Portugal and two beverage suppliers, albeit through two convictions.

The sanctioned practice is the same: indirect price concertation, a behavior that, according to the Competition Authority, has harmed consumers for almost 10 years, by preventing competition through prices, resulting in the practice of rising prices. More investigations are underway that cover the same chains and suppliers of other consumer products.

(...)

Modelo Continente of the Sonae group was the company that received the highest fine: 121.9 million euros, followed by Pingo Doce from Jerónimo Martins, which was sanctioned at 91 million euros.

Continente Modelo: 121.9 million euros
Pingo Doce: 91.090 million euros
Sociedade Central de Cervejas (SCC): 29.5 million euros
Auchan: 22.250 million euros
Intermarché: 19.390 million euros
Lidl: 10.550 million euros
Prime Drinks: 7,010 million euros
E. Leclerc: EUR 2,060 million
SCC Administrator: 16 thousand euros
Director of Modelo Continente: 2 thousand euros


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on December 21, 2020, 06:55:32 PM
Nature Conservation Institute opens investigation after the slaughter of 540 animals in a farm in Azambuja, Lisbon:


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Portugal - ICNF opens process to investigate slaughter of animals at Torre Bela estate

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The Institute for the Conservation of Nature opened a process to find out from the Torre Bela Tourist Hunting Area "the facts that have occurred and any illicit events" related to the slaughter of 540 animals on a mount in Azambuja.

The online newspaper O Fundamental reported on Sunday that 540 animals, mostly deers and wild boars, were slaughtered on a mount at Quinta da Torre Bela, in the municipality of Azambuja, in the past few days.

The slaughter, according to the newspaper, was "advertised" on social networks "by some of the 16 "hunters" who participated" in the initiative.

In a note sent today to the media, the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF) states that "it had no prior knowledge of this action", which took place in a hunting area licensed as a Tourist Hunting Area (ZTC) from Torre Bela Agricultural Society of Quinta da Visitação, SAG, Lda.

"The ZTC's Spatial and Exploration Plan provides for the exploitation of deer and wild boar, by the methods provided for in the law, which include mounts", adds the ICFN.

The ICFN also adds that, "considering the number of animals slaughtered" reported by the media, it started a process of investigations with the ZCT management entity to "investigate the facts and possible illicit acts in accordance with the legislation in force".

(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on December 22, 2020, 03:49:24 PM
Shooting in a supermarket in Seixal, Lisbon suburb, between police and a gunman:


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Man who shot GNR in Seixal died. There are two wounded officers and one suspect detained

Quote
Two GNR officers were shot during an approach near a supermarket in Fernão Ferro, in the municipality of Seixal, in the late afternoon of this Tuesday. One of the suspects involved in the feud was struck during the ensuing fire and died. The suspect has about 40 years old. There is also the registration of an injured woman: she was accompanying the suspect who died when the military approached.

One of the GNR soldiers was hit in the abdominal area and is in serious condition, having been taken to Barreiro Hospital. The other soldier was shot in the leg.

According to CM, it was a civilian patrol. The altercation between the suspect who shot and the military started in the hypermarket and, outside, there was an exchange of shots.

In a statement, GNR clarifies that the approach to the group took place following the execution of an arrest warrant.

"The Guard's military approached the suspect, who was accompanied by a woman, who reacted and fired at one of the officers, followed by an exchange of fire. From this situation, both the military and the woman were injured, and medical assistance was provided", explains the GNR in a statement, adding that a man was arrested for resistance and coercion.

The PJ is also at the scene to collect evidence. The traffic on that road, which connects Seixal to Barreiro, has been cut and a large and muscled police operation is set up on the spot.
The alert was given at 18h22.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on December 25, 2020, 01:33:00 PM
Floods in the north of Madeira island force evacuations and there are multiple damages:  (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2020-12-25-Derrocadas-casas-inundadas-e-estradas-intransitaveis-devido-a-chuva-forte-na-Madeira)


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Thunderstorm in Madeira forces the withdrawal of people in the north of the island

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The heavy rain that has been felt since Thursday night on the north coast of Madeira caused havoc this Friday. The crisis office is meeting to evaluate the procedures for the next few hours.

There are flooded houses and flooded roads. The correspondent of SIC in Madeira said, live on SIC Notícias, that at least 10 people were removed from home as a precaution and confirmed that the situation is serious in the archipelago.

On social media, several videos of bad weather circulate.

Cited by the Diario de Noticias da Madeira, the president of the Ponta Delgada parish council, in the municipality of São Vicente, José Miguel Freitas Luís, says the situation is serious. He adds that all roads are impassable and adds that several people had to be taken out of the house as a precaution.

The parish of S. Jorge is also being strongly affected. There are even records of some defeats. In Funchal, hail fell.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 02, 2021, 09:15:06 AM
Highest number of deaths in Portugal since 1920:


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Not since 1920 has so many people died in a year in Portugal

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The number of deaths in Portugal last year, was the highest in 100 years. Data from the eVM (real-time mortality surveillance system that analyzes death certificates), for January 1, indicate that 123,667 people died in Portugal last year.

According to the JN, this rise in the number of deaths compares with the 144,000 people who died in 1920, indicate the data contained in the archives of the National Statistics Institute (INE). Just as last year is associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, the years 1918 to 1920 were marked by a high mortality associated with the Spanish flu.

In 1918, 253 thousand people died in Portugal, in 1919 there were more than 154 thousand and in 1920 144 thousand people.

Analyzing the data since 1960 (when they started to be systematized by INE), until 2020 the worst year had been 2018, with 113,051 deaths. At the time, writes the JN, the highest number of deaths had been explained by the aging population and a heat wave. Now, it is due to the pandemic but also to the so-called collateral deaths (for lack of timely assistance). Covid-19, writes the newspaper, accounts for about half of the total excess mortality.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 11, 2021, 11:27:51 AM
5.4 magnitude earthquake felt in the Azores:


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Magnitude 5.4 earthquake felt on four islands in the Azores

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An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale was recorded late Monday morning in the islands of Faial, Pico, São Jorge and Terceira, informed the Civil Protection of the Azores.

In a statement, the Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service of the Azores added that, according to the Azores Seismovolcanic Surveillance and Information Center (CIVISA), the event took place at 11:47 am local time (12:47 pm in Lisbon) and had a magnitude of 5.4 on the scale from Richter and epicenter about 67 km to WNW (west-northwest) from Capelo, on the island of Faial.

(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 13, 2021, 06:09:17 AM
Prosecutor ordered police to spy on reporters regarding a judicial case:


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A DIAP prosecutor in Lisbon decided, without authorization from a judge, to place the police in the footsteps of two journalists, one of whom was from Sábado magazine

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The prosecutor Andrea Marques of the Department of Investigation and Penal Action of Lisbon ordered and the PSP fulfilled: to do vigilances to journalists. The targets of the Public Prosecutor were two: Carlos Rodrigues Lima, a Sábado magazine journalist, and Henrique Machado, a former journalist for Correio da Manhã, currently on TVI.

With such diligence, according to the case, the prosecutor wanted to know who both journalists were contacting in the universe of the courts, despite the fact that the investigation concerned only concerned a possible violation of the secrecy of justice in the E-toupeira case.

(...)

The due diligence was ordered to the PSP (police) without any warrant from an investigating judge, nor did the prosecutor in this case reveal any legal concern about breaking the journalist's confidentiality through surveillance. According to the law, only a higher court can order the breach of journalists' confidentiality.

Next Thursday, January 14th, Sábado will reveal all the details of the surveillance, photos and reports of the PSP, the profile of attorney Andrea Marques, as well as the war between the DIAP in Lisbon and the Judiciary Police.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: CumbrianLefty on January 13, 2021, 09:52:07 AM
Highest number of deaths in Portugal since 1920

A few other countries reporting similar stats - "bUt ThErE iS nO vIrUs!!!??!!!111!!"


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Battista Minola 1616 on January 14, 2021, 09:41:40 AM
Highest number of deaths in Portugal since 1920

Interesting that it's exactly a century. But yeah, that's really bad.

However, how far back does it go if one takes the relative death rate instead of absolute numbers? I assume that in 1920 Portugal's population was quite smaller.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 14, 2021, 12:35:31 PM
Highest number of deaths in Portugal since 1920

Interesting that it's exactly a century. But yeah, that's really bad.

However, how far back does it go if one takes the relative death rate instead of absolute numbers? I assume that in 1920 Portugal's population was quite smaller.
In 1920, Portugal had around 6 million inhabitants, so the death rate was 2.4%. In 1918, in the height of the Spanish flu, the death rate reached 4.2%. With the current population, 10,3 million, the death rate is 1.2%.

And the media is also reporting that the number of total deaths in the last few days are also breaking records: 11 January was the most deadly day since 2009, and not since the massive heat wave of 1981 that in two consecutive days have been more than 600 deaths.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 16, 2021, 08:18:49 AM
Queues of ambulances in several hospitals across the country yesterday. Situation is near breaking point according to doctors.


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Hard night. Ambulances lined up at Torres Vedras and Santa Maria hospitals

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Photographs shared on social media showed the queue of about 10 ambulances for Torres Vedras's covid-19 emergency and the hospital administrator acknowledged this Saturday that the last night "was very complicated". Also at the Saint Mary Hospital, in Lisbon, there were queues outside the emergency room, according to photos also published on social networks.
(...)
According to Marta Soares, firefighters ambulances are being held with patients in many of the hospitals in this country for hours. "We arrived at the hospitals, there are no stretchers, and often they are on our stretchers for hours, some inside the ambulances themselves, to the point that citizens have already died inside the ambulances themselves, and many times our stretchers are held there, in the corridors, in the emergency room, where these hospitals actually use our equipment to guarantee the protection of the patients, since they have no capacity for beds or stretchers "to make the reception, he described.
(...)
According to Elsa Baião, chairman of the board of directors of West Hospital Center (CHO), to which the Torres Vedras unit in the Lisbon district belongs, "the situation was very complicated, because there was no capacity" and, as such , it was necessary to "create another ward with 21 beds", he revealed to the Lusa agency.

Hospitalization capacity for covid-19 increased from 45 to 66 beds. According to the administrator, today, "by 8:00 am the situation was calmer, despite the emergency room being still full".
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 26, 2021, 09:30:02 PM
2021 Census: National Statistics Institute is hiring almost 11,000 volunteers to conduct the Census.  (https://www.dinheirovivo.pt/geral/ine-esta-a-recrutar-11-mil-pessoas-para-o-censos-2021-13280040.html)


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Statistics Portugal is hiring for Census 2021. Applications close on February 15

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The National Statistics Institute (INE) is in the process of recruiting 11,000 enumerators for Census 2021 under service providers. The Census is INE's largest statistical operation, which involves counting all citizens and families in the country, as well as all houses and buildings intended for housing.

The institute seeks people with a smartphone or tablet with an internet connection, good knowledge of the geographic area for which they apply, with availability to work on the weekend and part-time during the week, and preferably with a High-school degree and their own transport.
(...)
The contract will have a duration of about two months, between April and June 2021 and, underlines the institution, "the payment for the services provided varies depending on the results presented (a census enumerator with 600 assigned accommodations and finishing his work in 6 weeks will receive an average of € 1500) ".
(...)

The majority of inquiries in the Census are expected to be online rather the in person. The Census will occur during April and June.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 27, 2021, 02:30:10 PM
2020 Population: Not since 2015 that few babies were born in Portugal


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Natalidade: Since six years ago that few babies were born in Portugal

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About 85,500 babies were born in Portugal in 2020, the lowest figure since 2015, the year in which 85,056 “little foot tests” were carried out, reveal data released this Wednesday by the National Institute of Health Ricardo Jorge. Last year, 85,456 newborns were studied, 1908 fewer babies than in 2019 (87,364), under the National Neonatal Screening Program, which covers almost all births in Portugal.
(...)
Lisbon was the city that tracked more newborns, totaling 25,014, less 1267 compared to 2019, followed by Porto, with 15,734, 33 more compared to the previous year. Braga registered 6538 births in 2020, minus 96 compared to 2019, and Setúbal 6459, minus 264, advance the data of the “little foot test”, carried out from the third day of life, through the collection of blood droplets on the child's foot . This test allows the diagnosis of some serious diseases that are difficult to diagnose in the first weeks of life and that can later cause severe neurological changes, liver changes, among other situations.

Although Bragança is the district with the lowest number of births (596), the number increased compared to 2019, with 33 more “foot tests” performed, the same happening in Portalegre, which tracked 631 babies, 10 more compared to the previous year . The autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira also registered a drop in the number of tests performed, totaling 2051, 53 less than in 2019, and 1818, 77 less, respectively.
(...)
The demographic balance will probably be almost -40,000, the highest figure since 1918.

Also, curious to see the data the 2021 Census will reveal. Current estimates, from different sources, put Portugal with a population between 10,100,000 and 10,300,000. In the last 3 census, 1991, 2001 and 2011, the INE failed, mainly in 1991 and 2001, in predicting the actual number of people living in Portugal compared with the Census results. We'll see.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 28, 2021, 05:41:03 PM
Clients in a restaurant flee from the police and hide in a tunnel but had to be rescued by the police or they would drown:


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Coronavirus - Restaurant customers escape the police through flooded tunnel and end up rescued

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The Lisbon Police (PSP), through a division of Loures, on the 23rd of January carried out the inspection of a recreational group in Camarate that was functioning as a restaurant establishment.

The establishment had its doors closed and was working improperly. As far as PSP tried to enter in order to inspect within the scope of the preventive measures and compliance with the Covid-19 standards, it did not get any response either from the owner or from the customers who were inside.

Moments later, the police found that customers were fleeing from the back of the space into an outflow tunnel "of considerable length, which it is not possible to see its extent beyond 10 meters," describes the PSP statement.

The authority adds that the tunnel, in addition to having no light, was equipped with enough curves. The exit was about 50 meters after the entrance, going "to flow into a stream that, in turn, flows into the Trancão River", he adds.

Knowing the location of the offending customers, the police tried to contact them but received no response. A running source of rainwater was entering the tunnel and, for fear that the offenders would be trapped in the tunnel, "the Camarate Volunteer Firefighters were called to the scene in order to rescue the offenders," explains the authority.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 31, 2021, 11:18:44 AM
Man arrested after using the national flag in cleaning:  (https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/psp-apanha-homem-a-limpar-pes-a-bandeira-nacional?ref=HP_OutrasNoticias1)


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Detained for using national flag in cleaning

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A man was detained by the PSP early Friday afternoon for a crime of outrage at a national symbol. He was caught by a patrol wiping his feet with a Portuguese flag.

PSP Lisbon Command source told the CM that the crime occurred at 2:30 pm on Friday, next to the Military College. Two agents saw the man wearing a national flag, it is still unknown how he obtained it, to clean several pieces of clothing and the shoes he was wearing. He was immediately approached and arrested. The same police source explained that the man was notified to appear in court.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on January 31, 2021, 12:35:58 PM
2.7 magnitude earthquake felt this morning in Lisbon metro area:  (https://sol.sapo.pt/artigo/723038/sismo-sentido-em-oeiras-e-cascais)



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A 2.7 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale, with an epicenter located about 10 kilometers south of Oeiras, was felt this Sunday, at 11:44 am in the Lisbon area, reported the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere.

The earthquake was felt in São Domingos de Rana, Oeiras, Caxias, Paço de Arcos and Carcavelos. Ao i, a 75-year-old resident of a building in the Historic Center of Paço de Arcos, explained that she was unaware of the earthquake. "I was cleaning up the kitchen, honestly, I didn't notice anything", she revealed. However, a neighbor of hers, 48, explained that "the furniture shook a lot, the floor shook all over." "I am very afraid of the replicas, I hope this will not happen again," she said.

"This earthquake, according to the information available so far, did not cause any personal or material damage and was felt with maximum intensity III (modified Mercalli scale) in the municipalities of Cascais and Oeiras", it is possible to read in the statement sent by IPMA to the media.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 02, 2021, 05:55:15 AM
2020 economy: GDP falls 7.6% in 2020, but the economy still grew 0.4% in Q4 compared with the Q3.


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The historical drop in GDP is unprecedented in INE's current statistical series and is related to the effects of the pandemic, which has placed the world in a deep recession

Quote
Portugal's gross domestic product suffered a 7.6% drop in 2020, according to the quick estimate published this Tuesday by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

The historical drop in GDP is unprecedented in the current statistical series of INE and is related to the effects of the pandemic, which put the world in a deep recession, due to the sharp contraction of exports and consumption, which penalized sectors such as tourism, trade and restoration.

The 7.6% contraction in 2020 comes after the 2.2% growth in 2019 and is "the most intense in the current series of National Accounts, reflecting the markedly adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on economic activity", explains the note from INE.

The annual drop in GDP is the first since 2013, the year in which the Portuguese economy contracted 0.9%, at the end of a three-year cycle of recession due to the request for international assistance.
(...)
With regard to the fourth quarter, the INE's rapid estimate shows a 0.4% growth in chain, an evolution that is surprising since the restrictions were worsened in that period due to the advance of the pandemic in the country.
(...)
In comparison with the fourth quarter of 2019, Portugal's GDP decreased 5.9%, worsening the negative variation of 5.7% in the third quarter.

For performance in the fourth quarter, "the contribution of domestic demand to the annual variation in GDP was less negative than that observed in the third quarter, reflecting, to a large extent, the less intense decrease in investment, despite the more pronounced reduction in private consumption. ", says INE.

They add that "net external demand made a more negative contribution in the fourth quarter, with a more intense contraction in Exports of Goods and Services than that observed in Imports of Goods and Services".
(...)
The detailed results of the Quarterly National Accounts for the fourth quarter of 2020 will be released on February 26, 2021.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 05, 2021, 08:56:34 PM
Several explosions heard in a Lisbon suburb after a fire reached a gas cylinders warehouse:


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Fire in gas warehouse causes several explosions in Sesimbra

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A fire in a gas cylinder warehouse in the town of Aiana-de-Cima, in Sesimbra, in the district of Setúbal, caused several and strong explosions, which scared the population.

The alert was issued at 23.15 hours on Friday and, according to the District Relief Operations Command (CDOS) of Setúbal, the first indications pointed to "a fire in a shed where a vehicle and several bottles of gas were" . With the means of assistance in place, it was confirmed that it was a warehouse where there was a vehicle and about 30 gas cylinders for resale, which may have been the cause of several explosions.

Francisco Jesus, Mayor of Sesimbra, confesses that it was "a great scare". On his Facebook page, he explained that "the explosions heard throughout the territory of Sesimbra were in a gas warehouse, in the Roça area (between Alfarim and Aiana)". He further confirmed that "there are no victims to register yet. Only material damage".

The several explosions that followed the fire alarmed the inhabitants of the region, being very strong and, therefore, visible and audible quite a distance from the place, according to videos that were recorded by people and posted on the internet.

The warehouse is located on a farm and is not located close to homes.

Eleven vehicles and 24 operational personnel from the Sesimbra Fire Department, GNR and Civil Protection were mobilized to the site. The fire was said to have subsided around 00.30 hours.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 09, 2021, 12:03:50 PM
Movement "Doctors for the Truth" ends: Group of doctors and medical professionals that rejected the severity of the pandemic closes all online pages. The movement had links to CHEGA.


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End of “Doctors for the Truth”: CHEGA and the affinities that VISÃO uncovered

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Without pomp, but wounded by circumstances, the Doctors for Truth movement suspended its activity and closed its website and pages on social networks. “Our will and our determination to disseminate science and to expose alternatives are still alive and will continue, but the concentrated and repressive environment in which we live and which has been accentuated since our foundation, advises that for now we do not go further in this format. We will suspend our page and our website until we are all free again ”, announces in a statement posted on the official website of the movement associated with the negative theses about the seriousness of the pandemic. According to the Observer, the coordinator Alfredo Rodrigues referred to the end of the group in a video broadcast on Facebook, with accusations inside it: “The overwhelming majority of the group's members always failed when it was necessary to be present”.

Since October, Doctors for the Truth have come under criticism because of their stances against the management of the pandemic - the gravity of which it contested - the widespread use of masks, the isolation of asymptomatic patients and the use of PCR tests. Social networks were his thing, but his actions and opinions, many of them without any medical and scientific basis, led the Ordem dos Médicos to open an inquiry into the group's activities. Officially, the movement and its objectives will now be ... rethought.

CHEGA hidden with movement from outside?

It was in December that a VISÃO investigation allowed to illuminate the backstage of Doctors for Truth and uncover the profile of its coordinator. From the outset, Chega's long arm in the multiplication of movements “for the truth” that sprang up on Facebook and grew there like mushrooms stood out. André Ventura's party, its members and supporters contaminate and share pages of alleged journalists, jurists, nurses and teachers “for the truth”, all with thousands of followers, real or fictional, sometimes throwing weapons for denialism or feeding other conspiracies.

At the time, VISÃO spent a few days at Doctors for Truth's virtual address, then with almost 43,000 followers. The idea will have started out with the best of intentions: bringing together health professionals concerned with the sick and the health of children, young people and older people in times of pandemic. But it soon became apparent that the “house” set up on Facebook had no insurance against “infiltrations”. 
(...)

Good riddance for these bunch of loonies.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 09, 2021, 01:03:24 PM
Controversy as a new petition wants to stop Lisbon city hall's requalification project of Empire Square which will remove the coats of the Portuguese Empire of arms in the gardens:  (https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/economia/1683485/nova-peticao-contra-retirada-de-brasoes-da-praca-do-imperio-em-lisboa)


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New petition against removal of coat of arms from Praça do Império in Lisbon with 5,500 signatures.

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In 2016, Lisbon city hall (PS majority) approved, with the opposition voting against, the decision of the jury of the ideas contest launched to renovate the garden of Empire Square that did not provide for the recovery of the floral coats.

Several voices later appeared against the decision, petitions that were submitted to the Lisbon Municipal Assembly, considering that the removal of the floral crests from that garden "was a crime" against the city.

However, just over a month ago (December 29) the contract was awarded by the Lisbon municipality to the company Decoverdi, Plantas e Jardins, in the amount of about 730 thousand euros, according to the base public procurement portal.

Then, a new online petition appeared, entitled "Against the erasure of the coat of arms of Praça do Império, with the first signatory of the president of the Nova Portugalidade Association, Rafael Pinto Borges, and the signatures of former ministers António Barreto and Bagão Félix, as well as the former Mayor of Lisbon Carmona Rodrigues.

In the list of subscribers are also deputies to the Assembly of the Republic Telmo Correia (CDS-PP) and Paulo Neves (PSD) and the presidents of the Belém and Estrela parishes  - both of the PSD - Fernando Ribeiro Rosa and Luís Newton.

The elected representatives of the Lisbon Municipal Assembly Aline Beuvink (PPM), Diogo Moura (CDS-PP), José Inácio Faria (MPT) and Rodrigo Mello Gonçalves (independent, ex-PSD) are other proponents of the petition, which today at 16:30 had 5,510 signatures.

"The changes that the Chamber intends to impose on Empire Square will in no way enrich it. Unfortunately, for the sake of our Lisbon, the promoters of the project did not understand the spirit of the space and much less what it represents for the city, for Portugal and the world ", is defended in the text.

The subscribers consider that the project was commissioned by the municipality of Lisbon "with the clear, undisguised and purely ideological purpose of removing the coat of arms, in particular those that allude to the former Portuguese overseas, in an act of regrettable cultural Talibanism".

Therefore, they request the suspension of the current project and defend the promotion of a new one that does not foresee formal and conceptual changes, valuing the entire existing structure and fully preserving it for the future, including all floral, historical and overseas coats of arms, there represented.
(...)
The garden of Empire Square was built in 1940, at the time of the "Exhibition of the Portuguese World", an event commemorating 800 years of Independence from Portugal and 300 years of Restoration of Independence.

Years later, as part of another exhibition, 30 floral compositions in the form of a coat of arms representing the arms of Portuguese capitals and former overseas provinces were placed there. 


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 10, 2021, 06:31:09 AM
Unemployment stood at 6.8% during 2020:


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Unemployment rate stands at 6.8% in 2020, below all forecasts.

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In the last three months of 2020, the unemployment rate stood at 7.1%, 0.7 percentage points (pp) less than in the previous quarter, according to data released this Wednesday by the National Statistics Institute ( INE). The four-quarter average indicates that, for the year 2020 as a whole, the unemployment rate stood at 6.8%, below the estimates of the António Costa's government, the Bank of Portugal and the Council of Public Finance.
(...)
All in all, in the year in which the pandemic started, the unemployment rate was 6.8%, a jump of just 0.3 pp compared to 2019, much lower than was estimated. Even so, in the rate of underutilization of labor, there was a jump of 1.2 percentage points to 13.9%. It should be noted that, especially in the first months of the pandemic crisis, the inactive helped to “hide” unemployment.

Also, more data from the INE:

Population on the Q4 2020: 10,305,300
Active population Q4 2020: 5,232,700
Population employed Q4 2020: 4,859,500
Population unemployed Q4 2020: 373,200

The population numbers seem to indicate that the population in Portugal grew in 2020, but the 2021 Census, due to start in late March, will confirm this or not.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: CumbrianLefty on February 10, 2021, 09:57:37 AM
Movement "Doctors for the Truth" ends: Group of doctors and medical professionals that rejected the severity of the pandemic closes all online pages. The movement had links to CHEGA.

What.....a.......SURPRISE!!


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 11, 2021, 06:16:43 AM
Movement "Doctors for the Truth" ends: Group of doctors and medical professionals that rejected the severity of the pandemic closes all online pages. The movement had links to CHEGA.

What.....a.......SURPRISE!!
Gasp!! xD


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 12, 2021, 06:13:06 PM
3.5 magnitude earthquake felt, this evening, in Rio Maior, 51 miles/82 km from Lisbon:  (https://rr.sapo.pt/2021/02/12/pais/sismo-de-magnitude-35-sentido-em-rio-maior/noticia/226563/)



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A magnitude 3.5 earthquake on the Richter scale was recorded on Friday night, near Rio Maior, in the district of Santarém.

According to a publication on the social network Twitter, the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere, the shock was registered at the stations of the Seismic Network of the Continent at 22h08, with an epicenter in the town of Alcobertas, about eight kilometers north of Rio Maior .

This earthquake was felt throughout the West, in the municipalities of Caldas da Rainha, Alcobaça and Benedita.

Up to this point, there has been no record of casualties or property damage.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 23, 2021, 03:08:34 PM
2021 Census: 60,000 people applied for 11,000 vacancies to conduct the Census.


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Census 2021. INE received 60 thousand applications for 11 thousand vacancies

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The National Statistics Institute (INE) was looking for 11,000 census takers for the 2021 Census, but received almost six times as many applications - 60,000 - despite the pandemic and the possibility of face-to-face contact with citizens. The application period ended on Sunday and the selection will be made by the local authorities during the month of March.

The vacancies were for service contracts, with a duration of about two months, between April and June. According to the announcement published by INE, the salary varies according to the “results presented”. For example, “a census enumerator with 600 assigned residencies and finishing his job in 6 weeks will receive an average of € 1500“.

In a statement, the institute revealed, this Monday, that “about 60 thousand applications were received at national level”. The selection will be made by the municipalities, "only candidates who best fit the defined requirements are called for selection interviews". After this selection, there will be a training period. The Censuses start in April and will be carried out “preferably over the Internet”. “As of April 5, all residencies will receive a letter with the necessary information for responding to the 2021 Census on the Internet, distributed by the enumerators”, says INE.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 24, 2021, 06:33:33 AM
Police identifies a young man who confessed raping a girl in a social media live podcast in Viseu:


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Viseu Police seizes cellphone to young man who said he raped girl

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A young man was identified by the Police (PSP) of Viseu after stating in a live video from the social network Instagram, that he raped a girl.

In the right promoted by humorist Fábio Alves, he asks what was the most "bizarre and erotic" thing practiced during a sexual act.

The young man, now identified by the PSP, starts by replying that he cannot tell on the social network, but a friend who is next to him says that he raped a girl, leaving her until she was rescued by INEM.

The young man ends up confirming the violation: "I left her there and then INEM went to get her (...)". Asked by the comedian if he actually committed the violation, the young man adds: "Believe me, it was only once".

Viseu's PSP commander, Vítor Rodrigues, confirmed to JN that the criminal investigation elements when they realized the video on Instagram are being investigated. "We identified the young man, who is from the Viseu area and, as a precautionary measure, we apprehended the cell phone that will be sent for examination," he said.

Also according to the superintendent, it is not clear whether the claim of the raoe is true or not, having only one certainty: "In recent times we have not received any complaints related to rape," he said.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 24, 2021, 12:21:35 PM
Crimes: Trial of the lesbian couple who killed and dismembered a man's body in order to steal his money, started today.


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Dead for 70 thousand euros: the case of the young man murdered and dismembered by a couple in the Algarve goes to trial - SAPO 24

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The defendants, a nurse and a security guard, are accused by the Public Ministry (MP) of the death of Diogo Gonçalves, in March 2020, in order to seize the money he had received in compensation for the death of his mother - run over in Albufeira, in 2016. The case ended in the death of the 21-year-old, after being drugged and asphyxiated.

The two women are accused by the MP for crimes of qualified homicide, desecration of a corpse, two crimes of illegitimate access, a crime of computer fraud, simple theft and use of a vehicle.

Maria and Mariana were girlfriends and lived together. After being arrested, writes Expresso newspaper, they shared a cell in Tires' chair, but ended up getting angry, separated and now each accuses the other of having been the real instigator of the murder.

According to the MP, the defendants, Mariana Fonseca, 24, nurse, and Maria Malveiro, 21, security, “went to the victim's home, a computer engineer, located in the Silves area, where they gave him disguised drugs to make him fall asleep and then squeezed his neck until they kill him ”. The objective was to steal money from him, as he had received 70,000 euros in compensation for the death of his mother, run over in Albufeira area in 2016.

After having removed several valuables, including his cell phone, from his home, they took him “in his own car to the defendants' house, located in the Lagos area”.

The weekly Expresso newspapers details what happened next. The next day, after having breakfast, they chopped up the corpse in the garage with a cleaver they stole from a supermarket. "They cut off his head, arms and feet. They still thought about removing his teeth, but, as the boy's tongue had been stretched forward (that's what happens to suffocation victims), they gave up. They also couldn't cut the legs, because the blood started to splash and they got scared. They put everything in big garbage bags and went to rest ".

Also as in the series, the body was stored in several trash bags, and these were left in two places. Those that contained part of the body, the trunk and the severed fingers, were thrown into the sea next to Forte Beliche, in Sagres. The rest, with their heads, arms and feet, were abandoned in Pego do Inferno, near Tavira.

The MP indicated that, during those days and until they were detained on April 1, the defendants made payments and picked up with the victim's debit card and cell phone. In total, they had used just over 2 thousand euros.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 26, 2021, 06:21:35 AM
INE confirms GDP fall of -7.6% in 2020:


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Statistics Portugal confirms historical GDP drop of 7.6% in 2020

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The pandemic caused a 7.6% drop in the Portuguese economy in 2020 compared to 2019, confirmed the second estimate from the National Statistics Institute (INE) released this Friday. The last Government forecast made in October pointed to an annual contraction of 8.5%, but Finance Minister João Leão had already admitted that the performance of GDP had been better. The stronger performance of the fourth quarter compared to the one anticipated contributed to this result, continuing the economic recovery.
(...)
The biggest negative contribution (-4.6 percentage points) came from domestic demand, mainly due to the contraction in private consumption. Net external demand (exports minus imports) made a negative contribution of three percentage points, "mainly reflecting the unprecedented decline in tourism exports".

Overall 2020 numbers:

GDP: 202,7 billion euros
GDP per capita: 19,688 euros
Unemployment: 6.8%
Debt: 270,5 billion euros
Debt %: 133.5%
Deficit: -5.1%


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on February 28, 2021, 12:01:32 PM
Violence in football: Benfica files complaint against vandalism and death threats towards their President.


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Benfica will file complaint for death threats to Vieira and vandalism in the Houses, “Rua Vieira” movement demarcates itself from these actions

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Benfica will move forward with several complaints of the strips that have been posted not only in the vicinity of Estádio da Luz but also scattered throughout the city of Lisbon and in the Benfica Club Houses throughout the country.

The final straw arrived at dawn from Thursday to Friday, after the elimination of the "reds" in the Europa League against Arsenal, with a stripe with death threats to Luís Filipe Vieira, president of the club. “Vieira, resign or we will kill you” and “Death to the Vieira family” were the two inscriptions placed on transparent canvases in black ink in the vicinity of Luz, in the tunnel leading to the stadium through the Colombo entrance.

“These types of demonstrations are negligible and discredit all the protests that various movements have made. We also appreciate that you do not send us messages to threaten family members of officers or anyone else. If you want to help orderly, on 03/03/21 at Cosme Damião roundabout and Casas do Benfica all over the country !!!! Just to make it clear, this last stripe left in Luz, was not made by the same group that made all the others they have seen on the Internet. Benfica doesn't give up! ”explained the“ Movimento Rua Vieira ”on its Facebook page, following a text with the image of a conversation sent in the same direction.
(...)
Benfica officials will also complain about the vandalization of several Benfica club houses, with inscriptions against Luís Filipe Vieira and the current "red" leaders who have already been condemned by Domingos Almeida Lima, vice-president of the Board who regretted that they were acts “presumably done by people from Benfica ”.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 02, 2021, 09:49:24 AM
Aviation regulator knock down Lisbon new airport project:  (https://rr.sapo.pt/2021/03/02/pais/anac-trava-construcao-do-aeroporto-do-montijo/noticia/228764/)


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Regulator blocks construction of Montijo airport

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The National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) announced the rejection of the request for prior appraisal of the feasibility of the construction of the Complementary Airport in Montijo, thus halting the progress of the project.

The request had been made by ANA - Airports of Portugal and was now "struck down" by the aviation regulator.

At issue in the process presented by ANA is the lack of an opinion on the part of the municipality of Moita, one of the cities in the confluence area of the Montijo air base.

"Within the scope of the instruction of the request, ANA annexed, among other elements, opinions from the Municipal Councils of the potentially affected municipalities, either for unobstructed surfaces or for environmental reasons, with the existence of two favorable opinions, two unfavorable and the failure to present an opinion by one of the Chambers ", says the ANAC in a statement released this Tuesday.

The law, explains the regulator, determines that "it constitutes a basis for preliminary rejection on the absence of a favorable opinion from all the municipal councils of the potentially affected municipalities".

For this reason, ANAC considers that "it is obliged to reject the request outright, in compliance with the principle of legality and the mandatory command of the legislator contained in the aforementioned legal provision, with no technical assessment of the merit of the project".

In February last year, the Minister of Infrastructure, Pedro Nuno Santos, defended in Parliament the change of the current airport certification legislation.

“The legal framework that regulates these matters obviously needs to be revised, because it is absolutely incomprehensible that it was the mayor of Moita to deny” an opportunity that affects the country, defended Pedro Nuno Santos.

"It should not be the president of the Moita City Council to decide for the country, for the Lisbon region and even now, if we want to get closer, for Alcochete, Barreiro and Montijo", added the minister with the portfolio of infrastructure.

In reaction to the Government's intentions, the mayor of Moita, Rui Garcia (CDU), at the time rebelled against this Government position and even spoke of “cheating”.

"In common language this is called cheating, but from the point of view of governance, I don't know what to call it," Rui Garcia told Renascença.

ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal and the State signed, on January 8, 2019, the agreement for the expansion of Lisbon airport capacity, with an investment of 1.15 billion euros until 2028 to increase the current airport of Lisbon and transform the Montijo air base into a new airport.

The new airport controversy goes on, and on, and on... A saga that began in... 1969. Yep xD


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 02, 2021, 02:56:09 PM
Violence in the suburbs of Lisbon: Police attacked by a mob that wanted to stop the police to detain a person.


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PSP attacked by a group of 30 people in the neighborhood of Oeiras. See the images

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An alert for noise on a public road ended with a siege of PSP agents in Navegadores neighborhood, in Talaíde, Oeiras. Two officers were injured and three members of the same family were arrested.

According to the Metropolitan Command of Lisbon, the case occurred at 1:00 am on Tuesday, when a patrol responded to a report that a group of people were making excessive noise.

But as soon as the patrol arrived, it was surrounded by a group of 30 people, some with sticks, stones and bottles in their hands. A 51-year-old man even assaulted one of the policemen and was arrested.

This situation ignited even more the spirits. Family members and friends of the detainee tried to avoid detention and only the arrival of reinforcements prevented this. The videos posted on social networks demonstrate only the end of the police intervention.

At this time, two relatives of the first detainee, aged 24 and 26, were also arrested. Throughout the situation, the agents were threatened with death. At the police station, a knife was discovered in the possession of the 51-year-old man who had been initially detained.

The three detainees are charged with crimes against authority, threats and illegal possession of a weapon.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 06, 2021, 07:21:59 PM
Covid-19: F**k fair in Monção canceled, once again, because of the pandemic.


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F**k fair falls to the ground again because of the pandemic

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For the second consecutive year, the already famous Feira da Foda (F**k Fair) will not be held, an event that marks the calendar of the parish of Pias, of the municipality of Monção and that, in general, distributes “good mood” throughout the country as soon as it is announced , for obvious reasons. But the fact is that the theme of the fair is food: it is dedicated to roast lamb in the style of the land and, thanks to the popularity that gave it its baptism name, it was in a good rhythm of growth and affluence. This was exactly one year ago, when it was one of the first events to be canceled due to the declaration of a pandemic. "Tears come to my eyes, believe me," Agostinho Correia, of the Confraria da Foda and the parish council of Pias, which organizes the event, commented to Fugas, after confirming the cancellation of this year's edition.

The fair, which opened in 2017, should have had a mega edition in 202o, after its success in 2019, in which it received about 35,000 visitors: “We were going to more than double the space and triple the seats”, recalls Correia, adding that there would be a kind of upgrade, even in the concept, including "more comfort" and "decorations alluding to the dish" that gives the party its name. "When we started, from Porto down, nobody knew what Foda was and people sometimes laughed or admired, now everyone knows what it is", says the co-founder.

Therefore, everything was prepared to grow the fair. "The idea was to have a covered space with some 3500m2 and seating for 1250 people", says Correia, indicating that, although the plans were in cod waters because of the pandemic, these remain and should come into force in 2022. And there is already a date, to keep hope: 1, 2 and 3 April.

The fair, which has the official motto “Degustar da Foda”, focuses on showing the “typical dish” consisting of the “Monção style lamb, in a clay bowl, taken to the wood oven”, well accompanied for another jewel in the crown, the “Alvarinho, red and sparkling”. The highlights of the program usually also include “tasquinhas, producers of cattle, agricultural machines, market stalls, regional handicrafts, popular music and Minho festival”.
(...)

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How was the fair born?

The name is "assumed" as provocateur, says co-founder Agostinho Correia. The official website of the event created to promote the typical local dish, summarizes “The genesis of Foda”. The story told is like this: the inhabitants who went to the fair to buy rés (cattle) were faced with sly sellers, who, so that the animals appeared to be fatter, put “salt in the forage, which forced the cattle to drink a lot of water”. "At the fair, the cattle appeared with their bellies full of water and heavy, looking really well cared for, very fat. The unwary, who were unaware of the 'morning' bought those authentic" water balloons "and, when they realized the deception , exclaimed in a good Minho way: “What a great f**k!” And from here, comes the the expression, says the fraternity: the term has become “popularized, over time, and the dish has come to be called Foda.” In such a way, it is read in the organization's texts, which is “Often, at festive times, you hear women from Minho exclaim: 'O Maria, have you ever f****d the f**k?'.

I was actually planning to go last year. Let's see if next year there is the opportunity. :D


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 09, 2021, 10:26:15 AM
Infarmed approves costly medicine after intense social pressure for treatment of a 24 year-old woman with cystic fibrosis:


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Infarmed approves treatment request for Constança Bradell.

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Infarmed approved 14 requests for the Special Use Authorization (AUE) of Kaftrio, for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, including six from Lisbon North University Hospital Center (CHULN), a source from the agency confirmed to Lusa.

Among the approvals is the request for the use of Constança Bradell's medicine, which exposed, on social media, the delay in the approval in Portugal of the treatment for cystic fibrosis, a genetic, hereditary and rare disease.

The CHULN clinical director said on Monday that innovative treatment could soon reach five more patients at that hospital, which includes Santa Maria Hospital and Pulido Valente Hospital.

Constança Braddell used social media to expose the fight against cystic fibrosis, at a time when the disease began to have a serious impact on her daily life.

After the indignation generated on social media about the case, Infarmed clarified that he had not received any request for AUE from Santa Maria Hospital, which accompanies the young woman's case. A source from CHULN explained to PUBLICO newspaper that Constança was being negotiated in the early access program for the medicine, but the hospital decided this Monday to make the request for AUE to ensure that the young woman had access to the medicine.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 09, 2021, 02:27:01 PM
Airlines crisis: Groundforce Portugal, a subsidiary company of TAP Air Portugal, in crisis as workers demand unpaid salaries and the main Private shareholder has his shares pledged.


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Groundforce at risk of insolvency. Nationalization is a last resort.

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Groundforce remains without money to pay salaries and negotiations between the private shareholder and the Government are at a deadlock. Nationalization is seen as a last resort, although it is not excluded, but insolvency is also an option on the table.

The owner of Pasogal (which owns 50.1% of Groundforce), Alfredo Casimiro, and the Government have been in the past few days negotiating the release of money for the overdue wages of 2,400 workers. The financing was an advance on services to be provided to TAP (which, in addition to holding 49.9% of Groundforce, is also a customer).

For this, the entrepreneur was asked to give his participation as a guarantee. But part of these actions is already under another pledge, making the deal impossible. There is already more than a pledge on part of Casimiro's shares in Groundforce, according to ECO, making it very difficult to keep the support patterns as they were being defined.

TAP is trying to understand the conditions of these existing pledges, in particular what the value is, whether or not it is being executed and in favor of who it is. Part of it relates to the bank (which will initially not have an interest in managing participation by offering the possibility of selling or possibly another entrepreneur), but there is another pledge that is not held by the bank.

Trying to resume the same solution, but with the pledge holder is one of the possibilities. If it is not possible, then it will be necessary to explore other options. Insolvency is a possibility, but it would oblige TAP to come up with a plan B for the expected resumption of the summer, which could include doing its own handling, creating a new company or hiring services from Portway.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 11, 2021, 02:20:26 PM
Minister of Infrastructures files a court complaint against the main shareholder of Groundforce for tapping and leaking a meeting about the Groundforce crisis to the media:


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Minister advances with criminal complaint against Casimiro for disclosure of private conversation

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The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Pedro Nuno Santos, filed a criminal complaint against Groundforce's private shareholder, Alfredo Casimiro, for the unauthorized recording and disclosure of a private conversation between the two about TAP. At stake is a two and a half minute recording of one of the meetings, on March 2, about the situation of the handling company.

"The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing advanced with criminal participation in the Public Ministry against Alfredo Casimiro", revealed an official source of the ministry to ECO, when questioned about the recording. The Public Prosecutor's Office will now investigate whether there was a crime in improper recording and disclosure of private conversation.

The conversation is part of a larger meeting and a section on TAP is cut off. In this, Casimiro is heard to question the minister about the injection of public money into TAP and whether the private shareholder, Humberto Pedrosa, is also placing capital in the same proportion. Pedro Nuno Santos replies that he does not and explains that the Government is still negotiating with Brussels, but that in the context of the restructuring of TAP it should be required that part or all of the 1.2 billion loan be converted into capital.
(...)
It is not possible to understand from the recording why the private shareholder of TAP was being the subject of conversation between them, but it may have been a parallel with the situation of financial difficulties of Groundforce (which is 50.1% owned by Pasogal de Casimiro and 49.9% by TAP). The conversation took place at the beginning of negotiations between Pedro Nuno Santos and the businessman to try to find an emergency solution for the overdue wages of 2,400 workers.

Shortly after the exchange on TAP, Casimiro took the floor, saying he regretted that they had not reached any conclusion, that they had not found a solution to present to the workers and also due to the negative impact that the situation has for himself, the minister and for the state. The businessman also guarantees that he tried all the possibilities to reach an agreement.

The recording ends in the middle of a sentence in which the shareholder says there is a "serious" problem and the minister's response is not heard. ECO tried to contact businessman Alfredo Casimiro, but it was not possible to obtain a comment.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 16, 2021, 10:47:05 AM
Not since 1886, has there been so few marriages in Portugal:


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Instituto Nacional de Estatística: For 134 years, there were not as few marriages as in a pandemic year

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In 2020, 18,889 marriages took place in Portugal, according to preliminary data published this Tuesday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). This means that, in the year of the pandemic, the number of marriages was the lowest ever, reaching even the historic mark of being the lowest in 134 years, since the INE long series contains data from 1886.

On the same day that it publishes vital statistics for the past year - with data on births and deaths - INE updates the database on the number of marriages with the figure for December (1499), which makes it possible to find the number preliminary for the year as a whole.
(...)
The health crisis ended up dictating a historic drop in the number of marriages, according to data from the statistical institute. In INE's long series - which starts in 1886 - two years with low numbers of marriages stand out: 2014, when the troika left Portugal after the financial rescue program that implied austerity policies since 2011; and 1918, the last year of the first world war that began in 1914. In 2014, 31,478 weddings took place and in 1918 30,236 were celebrated. It was these records, already low, that have now been exceeded.
(...)
On the other hand, in the entire long series, the year with the highest number of marriages took place in 1975, a year after the revolution of April 25, 1974, when, according to INE records, there were 103,126 marriages.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 18, 2021, 06:05:47 AM
3.4 magnitude Earthquake felt this morning in the Lisbon area. Epicenter was just 13km away from Lisbon city center:  (https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/sismo-sentido-em-lisboa)



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According to information updated by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), the Lisbon region was hit by a magnitude 3.4 earthquake (Richter) whose epicenter was located about ten kilometers northwest of Alcochete.

The initial information showed that the earthquake had an epicenter about eight kilometers east of Loures.

The quake was recorded at 9:51 am on the continent's Seismic Network stations.

On Twitter, several users say they have felt the shock.

Earthquakes are classified according to their magnitude as micro (less than 2.0), very small (2.0-2.9), small (3.0-3.9), slight (4.0-4.9 ), moderate (5.0-5.9), strong (6.0-6.9), large (7.0-7.9), important (8.0-8.9), exceptional (9, 0-9.9) and extreme (greater than 10).

Contacted by Lusa, the Lisbon District Relief Operations Command (CDOS) indicated, shortly after 10:00 am, that it had no record of occurrences associated with this earthquake.

The Lusa agency received reports that the quake was felt in several municipalities in Greater Lisbon, such as Lisbon, Loures, Odivelas, Cascais, Amadora and Sintra.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 18, 2021, 10:37:59 AM
Chinese businessman sentenced to 25 years in jail for the ordering of a deadly fire in a building in Porto in 2019:


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25 years in prison for Chinese businessman accused of deadly fire in building in Porto

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A Porto city Court sentenced a Chinese businessman to 25 years in prison this Thursday, accused of setting two fires on a building in that city and causing the death of one of the tenants, in order to eliminate obstacles to real estate speculation.

The man convicted of murder, fire and coercion will also have to pay a compensation of 160,000 euros to the son of the deadly victim of the fire, which occurred on March 2, 2019.

The accusation and the pronouncement confirm that the businessman commissioned two employees to start the fires because he was determined to resell, without tenants, the building he had bought near the Mercado do Bolhão, on Alexandre Braga street, number 100, in Porto, and was unable to negotiate the exit of the only tenants left on the third floor: an octogenarian and three children.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 20, 2021, 02:23:26 PM
3,000 people protested in Lisbon against the government's Covid lockdown policies:


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Covid-19: Close to 3,000 people protested in Lisbon against the management of the pandemic

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Lisbon, 20 March 2021 (Lusa) - Almost 3,000 people demonstrated today in Lisbon against the management of the covid-19 pandemic in Portugal and for greater individual and social freedom, in a protest that was also repeated in several European and world cities .

The demonstration began at Edward VII Park and went down Liberty Avenue until it ended at Rossio, where most of the people were concentrated, where chants were sung and where the speeches of the representatives of the various movements involved were spoken.

The vast majority of the protesters showed up without an individual protection mask and did not keep a social safety distance, with many still appearing with Portuguese flags and posters with protest messages, such as: 'Covid-1984', 'Give back freedom' , 'Let the children live', 'The virus is the media', 'We know how to think and decide' or 'Costa, Marcelo and DGS: See you in Nuremberg'.

Over the course of more than three hours of protest action, the national anthem or 'Grândola Vila Morena', by Zeca Afonso, was also sung, but the focus was on the speeches of the different speakers, who criticized the dimension of the restriction measures and remembered the non-covid victims, who said they were left alone and forgotten in this pandemic.

This action was organized on the Internet and was monitored by a device of the Public Security Police, which did not register any incidents, with the exception of a few cases brought up by alcohol consumption on the public road.

In Portugal, 16,762 people died from 817,080 confirmed cases of infection, according to the most recent bulletin from the Directorate-General for Health.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 21, 2021, 07:55:03 AM
3.0 magnitude Earthquake felt last evening in the Leiria area, just north of Lisbon:  (https://tvi24.iol.pt/sociedade/21-03-2021/sismo-de-3-0-sentido-em-leiria)



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An earthquake of 3.0 was recorded in Leiria, indicated the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere this morning.

The concussion took place in the early hours of Sunday, specifically at 01:35, according to the IPMA.

The epicenter was eight kilometers northeast of Leiria.

On Twitter, several users confirm that they felt the earthquake, with a person describing that it seemed like a subway was passing.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: CumbrianLefty on March 21, 2021, 09:30:47 AM
So one of Lisbon's main parks is named after a British monarch - never knew that before :)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 21, 2021, 11:24:53 AM
So one of Lisbon's main parks is named after a British monarch - never knew that before :)

Yep, originally called "Liberty Park", it was renamed after Edward's VII visit to Lisbon in 1903 to strengthen the Anglo-Portuguese alliance. It's actually a nice park and with good views of the Tagus river and Liberty avenue:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eduardo_VII_Park





Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 22, 2021, 06:15:18 PM
3,000 people protested in Lisbon against the government's Covid lockdown policies:

One of the organizers of last weekend's protest in infected with Covid-19:


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Covid-19. Protest organizer against confinement is infected.

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One of the organizers of the protest against confinement, which brought together 3,000 people in Lisbon on Saturday, is infected with covid-19.

The news is advanced by Tomar TV, which reveals that the man is at home in isolation.

Most of the protesters did not wear a mask or maintain their social distance. They mainly protested against the Government's measures to combat the pandemic.

This action was organized from the Internet and was monitored by a device of the Public Security Police, which did not register any incidents, with the exception of a few cases brought up by alcohol consumption on the public road.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 23, 2021, 10:43:22 AM
There seems to be a shooting between police and residents in a neighborhood in the Lisbon suburb of Seixal:  (https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/alerta-cm--um-baleado-em-troca-de-tiros-entre-psp-e-moradores-em-corroios?ref=HP_PrimeirosDestaques)


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Videos - PSP Special Operations Group surrounds neighborhood in Seixal

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The PSP was called to the area of Santa Marta de Corroios, in the municipality of Seixal due to some disturbances, having been received with several shots.

The warning was given by 12:20 pm on Tuesday.

The authorities exchanged some shots with residents of the neighborhood. One person is said to have been hit.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 23, 2021, 07:22:10 PM
There seems to be a shooting between police and residents in a neighborhood in the Lisbon suburb of Seixal:  (https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/alerta-cm--um-baleado-em-troca-de-tiros-entre-psp-e-moradores-em-corroios?ref=HP_PrimeirosDestaques)

Update on the Seixal shooting:

The police siege is over, but two gunmen fled while one was detained:  (https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/policia-recebida-a-tiros-dezenas-de-agentes-da-psp-em-operacao-policial-no-seixal-13490411.html)


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Corroios: “I have been since two and so o'clock without eating, without coming home” - police siege ends with suspects still on the run

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After almost eight hours, the police siege ended in the neighborhood of Quinta das Lagoas, in Corroios, where PSP agents were shot this Tuesday. According to TVI, a suspect was arrested and two others are still at large.

The police operation, which counted on dozens of operatives, started shortly before 12:30 pm, in the Quinta das Lagoas neighborhood, in Santa Marta de Corroios, in Seixal.

The agents, who went to the Quinta das Lagoas neighborhood, in Santa Marta de Corroios, in Seixal, following "disorders and assaults", were shot and responded with gunshots, while the group of suspects hid inside of a bar ".

According to the PSP, no officers were injured, but according to a source, the shooting will have injured one person.

In the middle of the afternoon, the PSP announced that it had advanced to negotiations with the suspects. "Verbal contact with the suspects will be initiated - negotiation - tending to resolve the incidents without the need for tactical intervention," said PSP commissioner Sara Ferreira, at around 5.30 pm, speaking to reporters at the scene.
(...)
The Quinta das Lagoas neighborhood is one of the areas of illegal construction in the municipality of Seixal and has been covered by resettlement projects since 2015.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 25, 2021, 10:47:21 AM
Social media on fire as an American fashion stylist sells a traditional Portuguese jersey as her own creation:


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Fashion: Shame on You - Portuguese invade Tory Burch's social networks, accused of usurping the traditional Poveira shirt

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Everything identical to the poveira jerseys, a tradition with more than a century, continues to be sold for almost 700 euros by the American stylist, without any reference to its origin.

PUBLICO disclosure that the American fashion designer Tory Burch is selling traditional folk jerseys for almost 700 euros, or copies of them, as one of her creations, without any indication of origin, has led dozens of people to invade the networks of the businesswoman, to accuse her of usurpation of an element of the cultural heritage of Póvoa de Varzim. In between, stories of other Burch problems are recovered with alleged copies of clothing.
(...)

My hometown is furious with this. The mayor is trying to contact Tory Burch but with no success. However, they have erased the original description of the jersey, which stated it had Mexican origins LOL, meaning they are already aware of the controversy.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on March 25, 2021, 06:18:37 PM
Social media on fire as an American fashion stylist sells a traditional Portuguese jersey as her own creation:

Update on this controversy:

The American fashion designer apologized but Póvoa de Varzim city hall says that's not enough and will sue the fashion designer in the US:  (https://maissemanario.pt/camisola-poveira-estilista-pede-desculpa-e-camara-avanca-com-processo/)


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Apologizing is not enough: Póvoa wants to repair damages caused by wearing a sweater. “I don't spare them anything. A lot of people died with that shirt ”

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After the news and protests through social media, Tory Burch, an American stylist who plagiarized the folk shirt, has already made an apology on social media. She herself says that she will work with Póvoa de Varzim City Hall to recognize the tradition.

On Thursday afternoon, Tori Burch admitted the mistake in posting on Twitter and Facebook. "We sincerely apologize to the Portuguese - it was brought to our attention that we mistakenly attributed a shirt from our Spring 2021 collection as inspired by Baja-Mexico".

The North American states that the team is “immediately correcting the error and working together” with the Póvoa de Varzim City Council “in order to find the best solutions to support local artisans”. “We are correcting this error right away, and we will notice and honor that this shirt was inspired by Portuguese traditions. We want to recognize this important tradition even more ”.

Póvoa de Varzim City Hall moves forward with process:

In turn, at JN online, Aires Pereira, mayor of Póvoa de Varzim, guaranteed that “we will, even today, legally sue the company. We demand the recognition of intellectual property and there will be consequences ”, and added that he already has a lawyer to handle the lawsuit, which will have to be filed in the USA.

It all started weeks ago when the Póvoa Parish Council wrote to Tory Burch about plagiarism without mentioning the fact that the Camisola Poveira. Ricardo Silva said he wrote to the stylist. “I wanted to know if there had been an error in the department of new creations. “I never received a response, but on the website, it went from being” Baja inspired Sweater ”to being“ Sweater Tunic ”and, in the description, references to Mexico disappeared, but there is still no reference to the popular shirts”.

The subject experienced an exponential increase of indignation on the part of the people after the publication of an article in the newspaper Público on Wednesday, in which it explains the creation of the stylist.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, crimes)
Post by: Mike88 on March 26, 2021, 01:12:21 PM
There seems to be a shooting between police and residents in a neighborhood in the Lisbon suburb of Seixal:  (https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/alerta-cm--um-baleado-em-troca-de-tiros-entre-psp-e-moradores-em-corroios?ref=HP_PrimeirosDestaques)

Update on the Seixal shooting:

The police siege is over, but two gunmen fled while one was detained:  (https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/policia-recebida-a-tiros-dezenas-de-agentes-da-psp-em-operacao-policial-no-seixal-13490411.html)

So, we now know the real story: Drunken resident invented snipers.


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Siege in Seixal: alcoholic resident invented snipers.

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The police siege of the neighborhood of Santa Marta do Pinhal was motivated by an emigrant who returned this week, after 15 years in France, and who, drunk shot three shots from the roof of his house, into a cafe where several residents were. When the police arrived, he said he was defending himself from hooded barricades in his home, which triggered the entire security apparatus. Witnesses assured JN that the emigrant had been the only one to shoot and there were no other interveners. The man was taken by the PSP, but was released overnight.

Alerted by residents, the police arrived in the neighborhood at 12.20 pm on Tuesday. The sniper, named Roberto, shot at the agents before trying to escape through the roof and surrender, telling the story of the hooded men. After eight hours of a siege that involved the Special Police Unit and negotiators, the agents entered the house and found it empty. On the floor, only casings of cartridges fired by Roberto, who was taken by PSP and released during the night, having returned to the neighborhood.

On Wednesday morning, the suspect was seen being driven out of the neighborhood again by policemen, now handcuffed, but not by the PSP, despite the fact that this force has returned to the scene, to assist a feud between neighbors. The Judiciary Police, which is investigating the case, had not formally made any arrests on Wednesday night, without confirming that they had taken Roberto.

The police intervention on Tuesday night left residents unhappy, as they had waited more than eight hours to be able to return to their homes. However, they showed understanding for the zeal of the PSP. "The agents had to do their job, for the safety of all of us residents," one resident told JN, anonymously. Alberto Cabral, 52, was surprised by the case, as he considers the neighborhood peaceful. "There are many workers, there was never any conflict inside because the neighborhood is full of children, who always play on the street", he guarantees.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on March 27, 2021, 11:32:07 AM
Man fined for eating a sandwhich in his car:


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Footage - Man fined while eating sandwich in car in Torres Novas.

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The Torres Novas PSP fined a man, in Lapas, this Thursday, during an inspection action within the scope of the curfew control.

The fined, Rúben Marques, isn't silencing his revolt, as he considers the fine undue. “I work for a cleaning company and for two animal associations, one of them in Lapas. When I came home from work, I stopped the car in a deserted place to rest and eat a sandwich. The police showed up and they fined me 200 euros ”, he complains.

“I have three justifications for the entities I work for. The PSP agent did not accept the explanations ”, he says. Contacted by the CM, the PSP says that the fine was due to the breach of the duty to pay and that the assessed person can contest.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on March 27, 2021, 12:13:36 PM
Economy: Deficit increases to 5.7% in 2020 and public debt reaches 133.6% of GDP.


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Deficit soars to 5.7% of GDP in 2020, the largest since the troika.

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The pandemic caused a shock in the public accounts in 2020. The budget surplus of 0.1% of GDP achieved in 2019, the first of Portuguese democracy, turned in just one year into a budget deficit of 5.7% of GDP, of according to the estimate released this Friday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). As the Ministry of Finance had already anticipated, the value is closer to that estimated in the Supplementary Budget (6.3% of GDP) in June than that forecast in the State Budget for 2021 (7.3% of GDP).

“Preliminary data for 2020 show that the overall balance of PA [general government] deteriorated by 11.7 billion euros between 2019 and 2020, resulting in a financing need of 11.5 billion euros in 2020 (- 5.7% of GDP) ", reveals the INE, specifying that" this negative evolution resulted, simultaneously, from an increase in expenditure (+ 7.8%) and a reduction in revenue (-5.0%) " .
(...)

Final 2020 economic data:

GDP growth: -7.6%
GDP: 202,5 billion euros
GDP per capita: 19,647 euros
Public debt: 270,5 billion euros
Public debt %: 133.6%
Deficit: -11,5 billion euros
Deficit (%): -5.7%
Unemployment (%): 6.8%


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on March 27, 2021, 06:46:07 PM
Storm causes a blackout across the island of Madeira:


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Lightning causes blackout in Madeira

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The island of Madeira went under a blackout earlier this Saturday night, due to the effect of the storm that was felt on the archipelago this day.

According to the Diário de Notícias da Madeira, an electrical discharge caused by lightning brought down the Vitória Power Plant system, which supplies the island. In Porto Santo, the light was not affected.

The Jornal da Madeira reports that 24 513 Atmospheric Electric Discharges (DEA) were recorded in the archipelago of Madeira until 6 pm this Saturday, with a range of 150 kilometers from the city of Funchal.

The blackout took place on a day of strong storm in Madeira, with intense rain that left impassable roads and cars partially submerged.

The Portuguese Institute for the Sea and the Atmosphere had issued a red warning until nine o'clock this Saturday night.

The heavy rain that was felt caused dozens of floods in the center of Funchal. Dário Silva, one of those responsible for the Theater's café, next to the Baltazar Dias Theater, right in the center of the city, told TSF that "the roads are all full of stones, they are all closed, there are walls on the floor and everything is blown up ... You can’t even see anything because we’re out of light ".


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on March 30, 2021, 05:14:31 AM
Italian mafia leader arrested in a Lisbon hospital while hospitalized with Covid-19:


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Italian mobster hunted in Lisbon hospital with covid-19.

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A leader of the Calabrian mafia, the Ndranghetta, was captured, this Monday, at the St. Joseph Hospital, in Lisbon, where he was hospitalized with covid-19.

The arrest was reportedly accompanied by the Italian police, neither the Portuguese nor the Portuguese authorities having released information about the operation.

Francesco Pelle, 44, has been on the run from Italy since 2017, the year he was sentenced to life in prison for his involvement in the violent episode in the German city of Duisburg in 2007, which resulted in six deaths.

The killing was the culmination of a war between the Vottari and Pelle families in San Luca, Calabria, which had to do, moreover, with disputes over land for investments in the area of restoration.

Francesco Pelle was even prevented in Italy. But the term of pre-trial detention has expired and, when the Supreme Court of Italy confirmed his conviction, the suspect had already fled to Portugal.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on March 30, 2021, 07:17:32 AM
Police is on the hunt for a dozen migrant refugees that landed in the Algarve yesterday:


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PSP is looking for more than ten migrants in Vila Real de Santo António.

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In addition to the three detainees, of Moroccan nationality, the Public Security Police (PSP) of Vila Real de Santo António revealed, this Tuesday, that there are 13 to 14 more migrants escaped in the city. These migrants also traveled on the boat found yesterday at Santo António beach.

This is the seventh vessel that has arrived in the Algarve coast from North Africa, since December 2019.

PSP deputy chief Hugo Marado said at the press conference that the authorities are now looking for other migrants.

"The information was transmitted to the security forces and services in the region and our apparatus, namely o Sotavento, is especially attentive to this issue. It is possible that some are still in Portugal, but the opposite may have happened, in the event of a possible trip to Spain", indicated Hugo Marado.

The PSP deputy also added that the three men who were in detention were found while walking around the city.

"One of our patrols found the conduct and posture of three citizens, strangers from the city, strange, showing some fatigue and disorientation, certainly the result of the lack of knowledge of the place where they were. A set of indications that led us to approach and intercept the three citizens, that later we came to realize that they were in an irregular situation ", explained the representative of the PSP.

At 3 pm today, the three men will be taken to court.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Tender Branson on March 30, 2021, 10:31:21 AM
JFYI:

Portugal also uses a traditional census with an online component - instead of a register-based census like in Scandinavia and here.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on March 30, 2021, 11:34:44 AM
JFYI:

Portugal also uses a traditional census with an online component - instead of a register-based census like in Scandinavia and here.

Yep, but this time it will be mostly online this time. We will start to receive next week, by mail, the logins to file the online inquiries. Between April 19 and May 3, people who have the logins and ability to file online data, have to submit their census inquiries. Those who don't have the ability to do online can contact city halls and parishes for help. And those who don't submit by May 3, will receive a visit of census takers, I believe.

By July, it's expected the preliminary results. According to the INE, this may be one of the last "traditional" census, as the goal is to create a register-based census, by crossing data from different sources.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 01, 2021, 06:36:04 AM
Ship colides with pillar of the 25 April Bridge in Lisbon. The bridge is now being inspected:


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Lisbon: Merchant ship collides with south pillar of the 25 April Bridge

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A merchant vessel crashed, on Wednesday afternoon, on the south pillar of the 25 April Bridge, which links Lisbon to Almada, but there were no casualties "nor apparent structural damage on the bridge", announced the National Maritime Authority.

In a statement, the National Maritime Authority explains that a “Marshall Islands flag merchant ship crashed this afternoon on the south pillar of the 25 April Bridge, while sailing on the Tagus River, having caused no casualties or apparent structural damage to the bridge".

The alert was received at 5 pm and, following the incident, the vessel anchored “next to the 25 April Bridge”. A team from the Captaincy of the Port of Lisbon inspected the ship to look for possible structural damage.

However, the note does not advance if there was considerable damage to the vessel.

The case was handed over to the Maritime Police.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 02, 2021, 10:02:34 AM
Galp Energy company, was satirized by activist group against the companies explorations in Mozambique. Galp is planning to sue the activists.


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Lisbon woke up today with several fake advertising panels satirizing Galp, criticizing the closure of the refinery in Matosinhos and the natural gas extraction projects in Mozambique.

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At Alameda D. Afonso Henriques, in Figueira Square or next to Entrecampos station, in Lisbon, some ads with the graphic image of Galp could be seen this morning. A careful reading of her messages, however, implied that something was not right.

With phrases like "Our future is CO2lonialism" - denouncing Galp's involvement in natural gas exploration projects in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique - or "More Profit, Less People" - criticizing the company's decision to close its refinery in Matosinhos - the posters were an initiative designed for April Fool's Day and were part of an international campaign.

In a statement sent to newsrooms, the Lisbon activist collective Climáximo indicated that this guerrilla action is part of the initiative #CleanGasIsADirtyLie ("Clean gas is a dirty lie"), which took place in 10 European countries and takes advantage of the motto of April 1 to "help the fossil gas industry finally tell the truth about 'natural' gas."

In a series of publications made by the "Gastivists Network" account on the social network Twitter, it is possible to see that the action carried out in Portugal was accompanied by the placement of posters criticizing Shell in the Netherlands, Iberdrola in Spain or Engie in Belgium .

To SAPO24, Mariana Rodrigues, spokesman for Climáximo, indicated that it was not her collective responsible for this action, but that she "sympathizes" with it, without revealing who the interveners were, indicating only that "the action is claimed for the campaign. "

In a statement, Galp attributes the act to Climáximo and says it has been "the target of a malicious action since yesterday, which improperly uses the brand and the good name of the company". In addition, the company regrets that the campaign takes advantage of "the tragic situation Mozambique is living to spread false news and try to denigrate the company's image on posters ".

JCDecaux Portugal, which owns the advertising spaces that were targeted by the action, has also commented, informing that "the case in question constitutes an act of vandalism and bad faith, stressing that it has never had prior knowledge and / or involvement".
(...)
The placement of the fake posters coincides with the sending of a fake email sent on behalf of Galp that said the company would sell the stake it holds in the new gas exploration projects in Cabo Delgado.

If, on the one hand, the energy company has already denied the false statement, on the other, Mariana Rodrigues denies that it was sent under the #CleanGasIsADirtyLie, despite being "related in content", also not knowing who the authors were.
(...)
The Cabo Delgado region, in northern Mozambique, has been the target of instability and violence by jihadist insurgent groups for the past three years, but the situation has worsened and became headline in the last week by the terrorist invasion of the village of Palma, which resulted in several deaths and injuries, as well as hundreds of displaced people.

This region, rich in natural gas, is where several megaprojects for the extraction of this fossil fuel are being developed, including the largest private investment in Africa, led by the French company Total. Galp owns 10% in one of them, that of Area 4 of the Rovuma basin, led by the Italian oil company Eni and the American company ExxonMobil.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 03, 2021, 07:43:48 AM
Census 2021 to began next Monday:


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Operation Census 2021 based on the Internet kicks off Monday with delivery of codes.

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The 2021 Census operation begins on Monday with the delivery of letters enabling citizens to respond online to the census questions, conditioned this year by the Covid-19 pandemic.

If in the 2011 Census about 50 percent of the responses were made via the Internet, the National Statistics Institute (INE), which coordinates the entire census, expects this year to increase the number of responses sent electronically.

As of Monday, households will begin to receive letters with codes and passwords that will be used to access censos2021.ine.pt, where they will be able to give their answers from the census day, scheduled for April 19.

It is at this date that all responses must be reported, although the population has until May 3 to send their responses.

Although responses via the Internet are the preferred mode, with the e-Censos application accessible by computer, tablet and mobile phone, INE has alternatives.

People who have no way of accessing the Internet or who cannot be contacted in person can use the support number 210542021 to be able to answer, they can use the e-counter at their parish council or fill out the classic paper questionnaires delivered by the enumerators, who will follow a “strict public health protocol”.

This face-to-face work, which is expected to be “residual”, will also be distributed among the approximately 11,000 enumerators recruited by INE between the end of January and April, who will enter the scene from May 31 to collect responses that have not yet been arrived by phone or by electronic means.

In answering the questions, a procedure for pre-filling variables related to accommodation and buildings will be used for the first time with the data collected in 2011, which can be confirmed or changed.

In the question about profession, economic activity or higher education there will be a new function that gives suggestions to those who are filling out the questionnaire.

The questions to be answered in the questionnaire have some differences this year, with variables coming out and others coming in.

In the questions about the individual situation, one appears about the reason for the migration, if applicable, and there were questions about where the census is being answered, the level of education attended, the number of hours worked or how many workers there are. the company.

In the housing item, you start to ask yourself how long you have lived in the accommodation and if you benefit from renting support, asking questions about the water supply system, sanitary and bath facilities or the source of energy used for heating.

The questionnaire also includes several questions about the type of construction of the building where you live.

Altogether, around 15,000 people will be involved in the realization and treatment of the 2021 Census data.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 13, 2021, 12:03:00 PM
2021 Census: 66% of all households have received, so far, the codes to file the Census.


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Statistics Portugal: 2021 census has reached more than four million households

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The 2021 Census has already reached more than four million households, 66% of the total, without scams being registered, the president of the National Statistics Institute (INE) announced this Tuesday.

Francisco Lima said that INE intends to conclude by April 18 the process of distributing letters with codes that will allow the Portuguese to participate in Census 2021 via the Internet as of April 19.

"We have 11 thousand enumerators distributing letters to the entire population and, in truth, they are already doing more than that, because they are already part of the housing census. One of the novelties in these Censuses is that there is an association between the letter received with the code and the accommodation that receives it ", explained the president of INE in a presentation session, where the Public Security Police (PSP) was also present.

Citizens who do not have the possibility to answer the 2021 Census remotely or need support can go with the INE letter to the E-counters of the parish councils to do so or, "as a last resort", wait for the questionnaires in paper, which will be delivered from May 31 directly by the enumerators, complying with public health security protocols.
(...)
The response phase begins on April 19, when citizens must complete the Census "preferably via the Internet" through the 'website', but they can also do so by telephone - 21 054 20 21, which in addition to a support line allows, for the first time, to respond to the Census, according to the president of INE.

INE's expectation is that it will not be necessary to impose fines for lack of answers, because there is no history of this situation, however if they are applied they may go up to 25 thousand euros.

INE predicts that the data collection for the 2021 Census will be completed by the end of June and in August the first results will be released.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 16, 2021, 12:40:56 PM
Several protesters arrested after support rally for Judge who denies the gravity of the Covid-19 pandemic:


Quote
Several detainees in support of a denialist judge in Lisbon

Quote
Lisbon, April 16, 2021 (Lusa) - This afternoon, the PSP detained several people who demonstrated with the Superior Council of the Judiciary, in Lisbon, where Rui Fonseca e Castro, a denialist judge of the covid-19 pandemic, is being heard, police source told Lusa.

The same source from the Public Security Police said only that there are several detainees, without specifying the exact number, since the demonstration of support for the judge has not yet ended.

The Metropolitan Command of Lisbon of the PSP sent more information to a statement that will be released at the end of the demonstration.

Judge Rui Fonseca e Castro, who is preventively suspended for publicly encouraging non-compliance with the rules adopted to control the evolution of the covid-19 pandemic, is being heard this afternoon by the instructor of his disciplinary process at the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSM ).

The Habeas Corpus association, of which the magistrate is the only visible face, called for a demonstration of support to the judge at the door of the CSM.

The judge began to be heard at the CSM at 3 pm and the demonstration had been announced at 2 pm, according to a source linked to the CSM.

The denialist judge is still being heard inside the CSM.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 19, 2021, 10:12:52 AM
2021 Census: The filling opened today and lasts until May 3 but the site crashed, in some areas, during the first hours due to the heavy traffic.


Quote
As of this Monday, you can respond to the 2021 Census

Quote
This Monday begins the deadline to answer, electronically, the questions of the 2021 Census.

The statistical operation that will make it possible to get to know the Portuguese population better and their current living conditions began with the delivery of an access code to the Census portal in all homes. In possession of the password, families must now answer the questions.

"Census with electronic responses were already INE's strategic option. In this moment of public health as exceptional as the one we are experiencing, this response option is even more important", said Francisco Lima, responsible for the Institute's Board of Directors National Statistics Office (INE).
(...)

The INE informed that the site also crashed, in a few areas of the country, in the early hours, (https://www.jm-madeira.pt/regiao/ver/125719/Censos_2021_Grande_afluxo_desta_manha_deixou_site_inoperacional_mas_situacao_ja_foi_solucionada) because of high traffic, but it was rapidly fixed and the Institute said that by the end of today's morning, it was receiving around 130 responses per minute.  (https://observador.pt/2021/04/19/mais-de-100-respostas-por-minuto-a-censos-2021-na-manha-do-dia-censitario/)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 20, 2021, 05:14:00 AM
2021 Census update:

On the first day of the Census, and until 8am today, the INE received 525,514 responses, totalizing 1,296,438 people.  (https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/pais/1735642/ja-se-registaram-mais-de-meio-milhao-de-respostas-aos-censos-2021)

The INE 2021 Census website (https://censos2021.ine.pt/) has a real time tracker of people who already responded to the Census.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 21, 2021, 09:15:48 AM
Judge sentence: Father and Stepmother of little girl abused and killed by them, condemned to 25 and  and 18 years in jail, respectively.


Quote
Valentina Case: Father sentenced to 25 years in prison and stepmother to 18 years.

Quote
Sandro and Márcia Bernardo were sentenced this Wednesday for the death of Valentina, the nine-year-old girl who died in 2020, in Peniche. The Leiria Court found that the girl's father and stepmother were equally responsible for the crime of qualified homicide.

Sandro Bernardo was sentenced to a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, with 22 years for the crime of qualified homicide of authorship, 18 months for the crime of desecrating a corpse, nine months for the simulation of homicide and three years for domestic violence. Márcia Bernardo was sentenced to 18 years and nine months, for the crime of homicide qualified by omission and also for desecration of a corpse.

The reading of the judgment followed the line of the prosecutor's accusations and proved all the charges of qualified homicide and desecration of a corpse, in co-authorship, domestic violence and simulation of danger signs.

The ruling was read this Wednesday at the Batalha auditorium, in the district of Leiria. According to the Correio da Manhã, all the details of the public prosecution were proven, namely the various assaults, some of which were of a sexual nature, both on the day of Valentina's death and on the days before the murder, of the father against the child.

Valentina died on May 6, 2020. The child was first reported missing in Peniche, until the father informed the authorities about the location of his daughter's body, in the middle of the forest in the Serra d'El Rei, in Peniche, afterwards three days of searches.
(...)
According to the judge, the attacks were "barbaric" and he was perplexed by the excessive violence and brutality of the homicide. According to the prosecution, Sandro and Márcia Bernardo left Valentina "in agony, in the presence of the other minors, indifferent to her intense suffering".
(...)
The court also proved the thesis that Sandro and Márcia agreed what they were going to say to the Judiciary Police, lying about the girl had run away from home while sleepwalking.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Tender Branson on April 21, 2021, 10:50:20 AM
Did you return it already ?


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 21, 2021, 11:19:21 AM

Not yet, I will do it on the weekend. My parents want me to do theirs also, so I will send everything during the weekend.

But, so far, almost 1,2 million households have responded to the Census, totalizing 2,918,560 residents.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 23, 2021, 05:27:13 AM
2021 Census update:

As of this Friday morning, 1,633,842 households have responded to the Census totalizing 4,040,360 residents, almost 40% of the estimated population in Portugal.

The deadline to submit the online Census questionnaire is May 3rd.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 23, 2021, 09:40:33 AM
Anglo-American Start Campus company invests 3,5 billion euros in a big data center in Sines, Alentejo:


Quote
Sines to receive global data mega-center in investment of 3.5 billion euros

Quote
Sines was the city chosen for the installation and development of a Hyperscaler Data Center campus, a data mega-center with a capacity of up to 450 MW. The Sines 4.0 project is owned by the start campus, a company owned by the American Davidson Kempner Capital Management and the British Pioneer Point Partners, and has a final investment volume of up to 3.5 billion euros.

It is said that the project will create up to 1,200 highly qualified direct work points, and can generate up to 8,000 indirect jobs by 2025. Sines is now hosting one of the largest data center campuses in Europe, responding to the growing demand for large international companies providing streaming services, social media, eCommerce, gaming, online education, videoconferencing, cloud computing, as well as other data processing and storage and business apps.

The project combines the needs of the new era of the digital transition, highlighting the privileged position of Portugal and Sines, “contributing significantly to an energy transition in Portugal. We also highlight the objective of the campus to represent a zero net carbon footprint, ensuring globally competitive energy prices, security, stability and, of course, data security compliance.
(...)
With construction scheduled to begin in 2022, involving 900 people in the first phase and up to 2,700 in total, Sines 4.0 should open, at the end of 2023, the first of the five projected buildings.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 24, 2021, 12:07:10 PM
2021 Census update:

It's done. Already returned my Census questionnaire. :)

So far, 1,983,424 usual households have responded to the Census, totalizing 4,894,206 residents. (around 47% of the total estimated population)

Also, in 2011, there were a total 3,991,112* usual residences, which means that, using the 2011 data, 49.7% of households have responded to the Census, so far.

* In 2021, it's expected to be more usual residences.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 25, 2021, 05:10:41 PM
2021 Census update:

As of this evening, 25 April, almost 6 million people, 5,841,682 residents, have taken part in the Census and have return their questionnaires from a total of 2,353,010 households.

However, there are a few controversies surrounding the Census questions:


Quote
Social issues: Sex, religion, housing: criticisms of “rushed” Census do not stop

Quote
Criticism of the criteria for identifying homeless people. Criticism of the absence of questions about gender identity and sexual orientation. Alerts about the list of religions and, also, about possible difficulties of the immigrant community in completing the survey. (...)

I actually think the most ludicrous thing from this Census, is the exclusion of the question about race. The Government approved the question in the Census, but the INE didn't put it because it's too complex and doesn't feel right. So, they will do a "survey" which will cost more money to see the race composition of Portuguese society. Ridiculous.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Boobs on April 25, 2021, 05:23:12 PM
Non sequitur, but is the era of the geringonça over? Has the increased Socialista plurality had a significant change in policy or attitudes in the government?


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 25, 2021, 05:29:08 PM
Non sequitur, but is the era of the geringonça over? Has the increased Socialista plurality had a significant change in policy or attitudes in the government?

No problem. :) The "geringonça", in its original form, is basically dead. BE is refusing to talk with the PS and even voted against the government budget for this year. PCP is the only one that is helping the PS, but they are polling badly in the polls and this fall local elections will be a crucial test for the Communists as a weak result for them could create a political crisis. Of course, a possible crisis is also dependent on how the PSD performs in the elections.

You can see more info, polls and analysis in the Portugal election thread: https://talkelections.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=352630.1200


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 27, 2021, 09:05:44 AM
Violence in football: TV reporter attacked by a FCPorto member after a Porto-Moreirense match.


Quote
TVI image reporter attacked outside the stadium after the match by FC Porto element.

Quote
After the confusion generated on the pitch at the end of the match between FC Porto and Moreirense, with the blue and white officials protesting, and much, with the performance of referee Hugo Miguel, the spirits continued to be exalted also outside the Parque Desportivo Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas, with even an attack by the agent Pedro Pinho to a TVI image reporter, Francisco Ferreira, which was recorded by the cameras that were close to the Porto coach and when Pinto da Costa was nearby.

After the departure of Pinto da Costa, president of FC Porto, it is visible that another element linked to the dragons, which does not appear in the images, attacks the image reporter, who then drops the camera, causing material damage to the Queluz de Baixo TV network. This element will be the businessman Pedro Pinho, who is not part of the structure of the blues and whites has links to the club, having intermediated several businesses in recent years with the dragons' SAD. The aggressor was immediately identified by the GNR, which was present in that area, leaving after the location already inside his vehicle.

According to Victor Pinto, a journalist at TVI, the perpetrator of the aggression, after the episode, was “sorry”, “I would like to apologize” and even “reimburse TVI due to the losses”. He also pointed out that, according to Vítor Baía, Pinto de Costa's approach to journalists was "in a tone of provocation", almost "joke", than an "attitude of intimidation". It should be added that, in the images that were seen of the area where the leaders of the dragons were at Commander Joaquim de Almeida Freitas, Pedro Pinho did not see the meeting in the same place as the leaders, with administrators Vítor Baía, Adelino Caldeira and Fernando Gomes close to Pinto da Costa and Vítor Magalhães, presidents of FC Porto and Moreirense, who were in the front row.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 27, 2021, 09:27:48 AM
Duarte Lima, former PSD caucus leader in the 90's, will face trial in Portugal for the murder of Rosalina Ribeiro, the widow of one of Portugal's richest businessmen:


Quote
Darter Lima will be tried in Portugal for the murder of Rosalina Ribeiro

Quote
Duarte Lima is going to be tried in Portugal for the murder of Rosalina Ribeiro, which occurred in Brazil in 2009. The former deputy intended to be tried in Brazil. The decision was made by Judge Pedro Lucas. The judge refused Duarte Lima's defense request and decided that the case of the death of millionaire Tomé Feteira's ex-partner will be tried in the Sintra Court.

Contacted by RTP, the lawyer of the former PSD caucus leader confirms that the criminal proceedings will continue in Portugal and says that any reaction will be carried out in the process.

Duarte Lima's lawyer understood that the request made by Brazil - and accepted by the Portuguese Minister of Justice - was not allowed for the case to be judged in Portugal, alleging “the issue of good administration of justice”.

On Friday, a prior hearing had been held for the judges to assess whether or not Duarte Lima should be tried in Portugal on the Rosalina Ribeiro murder charge. A suspicion that was investigated in Brazil.

The lawyer recalled that the facts occurred in Brazil, that most of the witnesses are resident in that country, that there is a need to travel to the crime scene (Maricá) and that the Brazilian investigation model is different from the Portuguese one, since the direction of the investigation does not belong to the Public Ministry (MP).

The MP disagreed and countered that the trial should take place in Portugal because the accused was not extradited to Brazil and is serving a prison sentence in national territory.

"Otherwise [Duarte Lima] would not be tried in Brazil because he is in Portugal and would not be tried in Portugal because the process was investigated in Brazil and that would be total impunity," said the prosecutor.

Duarte Lima was accused in Brazil of the murder of Rosalina Ribeiro, secretary and companion of Portuguese millionaire Tomé Feteira.

The facts date back to 2009, when Rosalina Ribeiro, who had Duarte Lima as a lawyer in the inheritance process of Portuguese millionaire Tomé Feteira, was shot dead, her body found on the side of a road in Maricá, on the outskirts of the city of Rio de Janeiro.

This story is really WTF. He's accused of murdering Ms Rosalina Ribeiro and of making up a story that she was in a meeting with a women that has no identity or trace. The most funny thing is that the sketch photo of the alleged woman (https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-W6cIzv7ZqJw%2FTn2eXxHzLOI%2FAAAAAAAABaM%2FQrL3vwrlyUM%2Fw1200-h630-p-k-no-nu%2Fduarte-lima_sol1_cej.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcrimeejustica.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F09%2Fhomicidio-de-rosalina-ribeiro-duarte_24.html&tbnid=0Yv9G8AZk3B--M&vet=12ahUKEwjmqOjw0Z7wAhUKEhoKHWYLCSYQMygkegUIARD9AQ..i&docid=taNbwBdvCQfxCM&w=435&h=261&q=duarte%20lima%20rosalina%20ribeiro&client=firefox-b-d&ved=2ahUKEwjmqOjw0Z7wAhUKEhoKHWYLCSYQMygkegUIARD9AQ) is very similar to him.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 27, 2021, 05:09:42 PM
Another controversy surrounding the Census:

The Statistic Institute has suspended the contract with the company that ran the security of the Census website:


Quote
The National Institute of Statistics has chosen to suspend the contract with the North American technology company Cloudflare for "performance and security" services on the Census website

Quote
The National Statistics Institute (INE) decided to suspend the contract with the North American technology company Cloudflare after doubts about the company had been raised, the INE's Board of Directors informed this Tuesday.

At issue is a publication on social networks that accused Cloudflare, which provided "performance and security" services to the INE website dedicated to the collection of the 2021 Census. In that publication, the company was accused of misappropriating personal data and was referred to who had a "long history" of similar cases.
(...)
In the statement, INE reiterates that "its approach respects security requirements and constitutes the best option for the success of the operation in a timely manner, service performance and in face of the expected global threats". "The 2021 Census collection platform is safe, as well as the other technological options of the same scope in all INE activity", he stresses.

However, the National Data Protection Commission (CNPD) contacted INE on Monday, April 26, and "raised doubts regarding the legal framework for the subscription of performance and security services in the scope of the census operation with the company Cloudflare ". Following this contact, reveals the institute, "INE decided to suspend subscription entirely of these services so that there are no doubts regarding information security ".

INE ensures that the security of the Census 2021 website will not be affected, "the total protection of personal data will continue to be ensured".

Also "the form of response by the population will not be equally affected, but there may be a decrease in the quick access to the Census collection site ".

"INE reaffirms that this collection option - that is, the answer via the internet - is the most appropriate, particularly in view of the moment that we are living in public health ", they conclude.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 28, 2021, 05:22:45 AM
Biggest suspension pedestrian bridge in the world to open next week in Arouca, Aveiro district:


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Aveiro: Arouca opens the “biggest suspension bridge in the world” to everyone on Monday

Quote
The 516 Arouca Bridge, pointed out by its builders as the largest in the world among suspended pedestrians, opens this Thursday to residents of the municipality and Monday to the general public, always with prior purchase of the ticket on the internet.

Connecting the margin of Canelas to that of Alvarenga through 516 meters of span, the new tourist equipment in the Aveiro district is connected to the Passadiços do Paiva and is located 175 meters above the river, providing unobstructed views in all directions of the landscape through the metallic railing that makes up the floor of the bridge and its side guards.

Visitors with proof of address in Arouca can take advantage of the experience free of charge, if they already have the resident card that for 5 euros guarantees them free pass for three years on the bridge and on the Passadiços do Paiva, but users from other territories will have you have to pay 10 to 12 euros for the access ticket, depending on your age.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 28, 2021, 09:37:03 AM
Census update:

As of this afternoon, 2,805,495 households have returned their Census, totalizing almost 7 million people, 6,954,575.

However, it's still unclear if the recent report that INE ended the contract with the security company of the website, is hurting the return of Census questionnaires.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Battista Minola 1616 on April 28, 2021, 11:08:35 AM
1. When will the full results of this 2021 Portuguese Census be released to the public?

2. That new pedestrian bridge in Arouca looks amazing and gorgeous. However it's a shame that there is a ticket to pay to use it.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 28, 2021, 11:39:21 AM
1. When will the full results of this 2021 Portuguese Census be released to the public?

2. That new pedestrian bridge in Arouca looks amazing and gorgeous. However it's a shame that there is a ticket to pay to use it.

1. The first preliminary results will be presented, according to INE, during July/August 2021. It will be mainly the number of residents in the country, number of houses and population by district, regions, municipalities and parishes. Religion data may also be released, not sure about that. After that, the full results will be published during 2022, with the provisional data in March 2022 and the final in October 2022.

2. Arouca City hall needs funding. ;)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 28, 2021, 05:24:11 PM
The INE could be screwed because of this whole "Census debacle":

INE could be punished with a fine up to 20 million euros:


Quote
Statistics Portugal can be punished with a fine of up to € 20 million if the Data Protection Commission opens a case

Quote
Sensitive data from six million Portuguese people were under the momentary and exclusive control of the North American company Cloudflare in the connections established with INE, claims the National Data Protection Commission (CNPD). Law provides for exemption from fines for public entities but in this case there is a nuance that makes all the difference. (...)

The Data Protection commission could open a case about this at any moment, but the damage seems to be already done. The security company in question, Cloudflare, says they never sent the Census data to the USA and say they are ready to challenge the Data Protection Commission in Court.

However, some data specialists are saying the Data Protection decision is ridiculous and could open a serious precedent (https://www.jn.pt/economia/dinheiro-vivo/dados-do-censos-2021-estao-em-causa-entao-o-site-das-financas-tambem-estaria-13623627.html) as other government websites, like the Finances and Election results ones, use similar protections. At the meantime, the INE Census website is without protection and very vulnerable to attacks.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 29, 2021, 09:15:16 AM
Lithium exploration project set to be abandoned in Montalegre, Vila Real district:



Quote
MONTALEGRE, Portugal — Lisbon is set to cancel a contentious lithium mining project in the northern Montalegre region, Portugal's environment minister told POLITICO.

"At this moment I see the possibility of having a lithium mine in Montalegre as very unlikely," João Pedro Matos Fernandes said Tuesday.

The EU is trying to set up an independent stream of crucial raw materials to ensure it's not dependent on third countries. It imports almost all of its lithium — a key ingredient in the batteries used to power electric vehicles. The European Commission estimates that demand for lithium will grow 18 times by 2030 and 60 times by 2050. That's set off a race to open mines in Europe, with projects being eyed in Finland, Spain, Serbia, the Czech Republic and Austria, as well as Portugal.

The Montalegre project's concession license will be "rejected due to a lack of professionalism" on the part of LusoRecursos, the company awarded a government exploration contract in 2019, Matos Fernandes said. He said the company submitted a "clearly insufficient" environmental impact study, and added that it won't be long before "that license is completely canceled."

Informed about the scheme's impending cancellation, an incredulous LusoRecursos CEO Ricardo Pinheiro said his company would bring a "nice lawsuit in the courts."

The minister's comments signal the end of one of Lisbon's signature raw material schemes, just one week before the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU hosts a conference on green mining.

A bit expected this outcome as judicial authorities are also investigating this exploration deal by LusoRecursos as this company is chaired by a PS parish president in Montalegre and the headquarters is, or was, in the same parish building controlled by the PS.  (https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/investigacao-cm--revelados-novos-dados-sobre-a-polemica-do-litio-em-montalegre-que-envolve-joao-galamba-veja-agora-na-cmtv)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 29, 2021, 04:49:33 PM
Census update:

As of this evening, 3,026,001 households have returned their Census questionnaires, totalizing 7,509,633 residents.

The deadline to submit questionnaires is in 4 days, May 3rd.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 30, 2021, 05:50:56 AM
1st quarter GDP: Economy falls -3.3% compared with the 4th quarter of 2020, and -5.4% compared with the 1st quarter of 2020.


Quote
GDP falls 3.3% at the start of 2021 at the expense of the new lockdown.

Quote
The second lockdown had a lesser impact than the first, but it still affected the Portuguese economy. According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE) quick estimate released this Friday, GDP contracted 3.3% in the first quarter in a chain (compared to the fourth quarter of 2020). In year-on-year terms, compared to the first quarter of 2020 (which has already been affected by the pandemic), the fall was 5.4%.

In the fourth quarter of 2020, GDP had grown 0.2% in chain, completing a second half of the economic recovery, and fell 6.1% year on year. In the year as a whole, the Portuguese economy fell 7.6%, the biggest drop in the history of Portuguese democracy. The Government's expectation is that GDP will recover 4% in 2021, benefiting from a strong recovery from the second quarter onwards.

“The Gross Domestic Product (GDP), in real terms, registered a year-on-year change of -5.4% in the first quarter of 2021 (-6.1% in the previous quarter), reflecting the effects of the general confinement enacted at the beginning of this year due to the worsening of the Covid-19 pandemic ”, reveals the statistics office, noting that“ the evolution in year-on-year terms is influenced by a base effect, since, for the first time, the comparison focuses on a quarter already affected by the pandemic in the last month (March 2020) ”.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Tender Branson on April 30, 2021, 07:35:14 AM
More Portuguese have now responded on their own to the Census than Americans last year.

Even more than MN, which was the best-responding state.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on April 30, 2021, 09:13:38 AM
More Portuguese have now responded on their own to the Census than Americans last year.

Even more than MN, which was the best-responding state.

The INE sent around 4,500,000 letters with codes, and of those 69% have returned their Census, so far, However, some codes may be from 2nd or 3rd houses that people own and will not be counted, as no one lives permanently in them. They expect to have around 85-90% by Monday evening.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 01, 2021, 10:00:32 AM
Census update:

As of this Saturday afternoon, 3,270,409 households have returned their Census questionnaires, totalizing 8,134,954 residents.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 02, 2021, 05:17:33 PM
Census update:

With about 24 hours before the deadline to submit the Census questionnaires, 3,483,938 households have returned their Census questionnaires, totalizing 8,689,741 residents.

Of the 4,5 million letters with codes sent by INE, the return rate is currently at 77.42%. In terms of population, 84.33% of the estimated population is already counted.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 03, 2021, 08:48:33 AM
Police investigating suspicions of human trafficking and slavery in Odemira, Beja, which could be linked with the current Covid outbreak in the region:


Quote
PJ is investigating allegations of illegal immigration, trafficking and slavery in Odemira.

Quote
The Judiciary Police is collecting evidence to investigate allegations of crimes of illegal immigration, human trafficking and slavery in Odemira, where two parishes are in a cordon sanitaire because of the high incidence of cases of infection by the coronavirus.

According to Público, who released this news on Sunday, the crimes are being committed by "small networks". Odemira is an intensive farming municipality, famous for the raspberry harvest, where immigrants who live in precarious conditions work.

Alberto Matos, leader of Solim, an association for the defense of immigrants' rights, told Público that the institution has already complained of situations in which the contractor retains the worker's documents and prevents him from accessing the Foreigners and Borders Service to ask for authorization residence, for example.

José Alberto Guerreiro, Mayor of Odemira, had already told SIC TV that he himself had already reported crimes of this nature two years ago and that he had already been heard by the PJ. But the authorities told Público that the ongoing investigation has nothing to do with the mayor's complaints.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 03, 2021, 06:09:46 PM
Census update:

The deadline to return questionnaires ended at midnight. As of that time, 3,728,929 households responded to the Census, totalizing 9,326,458 inhabitants. This number will probably increase in the next few hours as another update is expected.

Until the end of the month, INE will contact people who didn't return their questionnaires during the last two weeks. People will still be able to respond via internet or phone, or receive a personal visit from a Census volunteer. In terms of return rates, Madeira is the region with highest return rates, 90%+, while Lisbon metro area has the lowest, 70%.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 04, 2021, 01:29:10 PM
This number will probably increase in the next few hours as another update is expected.

After the May 3rd deadline, the INE continues to update the data returned. The number has risen to 3,785,349 households who responded, totalizing 9,472,599 inhabitants.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Tender Branson on May 04, 2021, 01:42:53 PM
Interesting that Portugal and the UK have 90-95% self-response in ca. 1 or 2 weeks, while the US managed only 67% self-response in 7 months ...



Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 04, 2021, 01:52:04 PM
Interesting that Portugal and the UK have 90-95% self-response in ca. 1 or 2 weeks, while the US managed only 67% self-response in 7 months ...



Maybe it's a cultural thing and the relation between society and government institutions in the different countries. Also, don't know how it was in the US, but here in Portugal the INE developed a massive info campaign about the Census, on TV, radio, social media, and it seems to have worked, even though there was the whole "possible leaked data" controversy.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 05, 2021, 02:40:04 PM
Census update:

In the last 24 hours, an additional 42,000 households, totalizing more than 100,000 inhabitants, have returned their Census questionnaires. The totals are now 3,827,153 households with 9,576,872 inhabitants.

If this trend continues, the 10 million mark could be surpassed by Monday.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 08, 2021, 11:09:06 AM
More reports on the controversial immigrant situation in Odemira, Alentejo:

Border services are overwhelmed with legalization requests:


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Immigrants. Six times as many requests for legalization come in today than in 2016

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In the middle of a pandemic, more than 300 immigrants register daily on the SEF portal. The numbers, which Sexta às 9 had access to, are evidence of an exponential increase that occurred after Parliament passed two amendments to the law on foreigners, which made registration automatic and did not require the submission of an employment contract.

In 2016, SEF received 6 times fewer requests for legalization of immigrants per day.

More info: System of residence authorization is crashing since 2017.  (https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/imigrantes-sistema-de-autorizacao-de-residencia-entrou-em-colapso-desde-2017_v1318416)

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Throughout this week, the country has seen images of inhumanity of immigrants living in Portugal. Reports of how human trafficking mafias approach Portuguese businessmen to whom they propose fortunes to collaborate in this criminal scheme.
Except that this portrait was known for many years and was denounced several times even here at Sexta às 9.

At the base of this humanitarian drama is an amendment to the immigration law made in 2017 that transformed Portugal into a factory for legalizing immigrants in Europe.

A law negotiated between PS, Left Bloc and PCP that deserved immediate criticism from the SEF and even led to the resignation of the then national director of the service that the government now wants to extinguish.

Luisa Maia Gonçalves resigned after having verified that shortly after the approval of the law, the residence permit system collapsed with a volume of processes impossible to inspect.

The result is in sight. In 2016, SEF received 52 requests for legalization of immigrants per day. Today, in the middle of a pandemic, it records 313 every day, that is, 13 per hour.

In 2017, SEF awarded 14 residence permits daily. In 2020, it granted an average of 110. Entrepreneurs, mayors and inspectors, everyone admits that the Portuguese market does not support these daily immigrant inflows.

Odemira is just the tip of an iceberg that is all over the country, in several houses and companies, fictional addresses for thousands of immigrants who use Portugal as the gateway to Europe.



Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 10, 2021, 01:44:44 PM
Death of Ukrainian immigrant Ihor Homeniuk: Border control agents convicted to 7 to 9 years in jail.


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Ihor Homeniuk's death. SEF inspectors sentenced to prison terms between 7 and 9 years

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Former SEF inspectors accused of the death of Ihor Homeniuk, at Lisbon airport, were sentenced this Monday to effective prison terms between 7 and 9 years old, for offending the physical integrity aggravated by the result (death).

Defendants Duarte Laja and Luís Silva were sentenced to 9 years in prison, while Bruno Sousa was sentenced to 7 years in prison. The three former inspectors will remain under house arrest.

The president of the collective decided that the SEF inspectors "committed a serious offense against qualified physical integrity", aggravated by the result (death).

Upon reading the judgment, the court proved that the aggressions caused the death of Ihor Homeniuk, but not that the SEF inspectors wanted to kill him. In other words, the charge of qualified homicide was not proved.

The court also dropped the accusation of possession of an illegal weapon (extendable baton), which hung over Duarte Laja and Luís Silva.

The court also decided to extract a certificate to investigate SEF guards and other inspectors, involved in the situation and with coordination functions.

"Justice has been served," said the lawyer at the exit from the Campus of Justice in Lisbon, also stating that the convictions serve as an example for all authorities in the exercise of their function, "who cannot abuse the power they have, to harm any citizen".

The lawyer also said that he wants the coercive measure - house arrest - to be revised to a more serious one: preventive detention.

The lawyers for the three SEF inspectors announced their intention to appeal the court's decision.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Tender Branson on May 10, 2021, 01:48:04 PM
96% of Portugal residents have now self-responded to the 2021 Census.

97% of UKers in theirs.

In 3 weeks.

67% of Americans did last year, in 8 months.

Shows you how social cohesion is lacking in the US ...


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 10, 2021, 01:58:57 PM
96% of Portugal residents have now self-responded to the 2021 Census.

97% of UKers in theirs.

In 3 weeks.

67% of Americans did last year, in 8 months.

Shows you how social cohesion is lacking in the US ...

Yes, as of today, 3,942,391 households have returned their Census questionnaires, totalizing 9,861,522 inhabitants. (95.70% of the estimated population)

I was hoping the 10 million mark would be hit today, but in the last few days, the number of returns from households drooped to around 15,000-20,000 per day. But, during this week, the 10 million mark will most likely be surpassed. Residents have until 31 May to voluntarily return their Census questionnaires.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 10, 2021, 06:10:29 PM
Controversial Parliamentary hearing of Benfica President, Luís Filipe Vieira, because of his debts to Novo Banco where he basically said that Mário Centeno should be hanged:


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Luís Filipe Vieira says that whoever signed the Novo Banco sale contract "should be hanged"

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The President of Promovalor, Luís Filipe Vieira, said this Monday that whoever signed the Novo Banco sale contract, which provides for capital calls to the Resolution Fund, "should be hanged".

"Whoever signed this contract must be hung up. I don't know who did it, hang it up," said the president of Benfica this Monday at his almost five-hour hearing at the Eventual Parliamentary Inquiry Commission to the losses recorded by Novo Banco and imputed to the Resolution Fund, where he was heard as a large debtor.

MP Filipa Roseta (PSD), who questioned Luís Filipe Vieira, referred to Mário Centeno, saying that "he is now at Bank of Portugal" as governor, having been Minister of Finance when the sale contract was signed.

"This is worth saying, a person who did such a thing should be hanged. Signing a contract of this nature cannot be done," continued the head of Promovalor, a company that owes Novo Banco.

Luís Filipe Vieira and Filipa Roseta were discussing devaluations of properties and land whose losses are attributed to the Resolution Fund, an entity in the public sphere that has resorted to Treasury loans to finance itself.

"Believe me: these impairments, these devaluations, do not exist. They exist in the accounts," said the president of Benfica, arguing that if the projects are developed, they will recover their value.

Previously, Luís Filipe Vieira had already discarded responsibility for the losses attributed to taxpayers, saying that "it is comfortable" to create this image.

In 2017, upon the sale of 75% of the bank to Lone Star, a contingent capitalization mechanism was created, whereby the Resolution Fund undertook, until 2026, to cover losses with 'toxic' assets with which Novo Banco remained. BES, up to 3,890 million euros.

Novo Banco has already consumed 2,976 million euros of public money and, under the contract, it can collect another 914 million euros.

Novo Banco had losses of 1,329.3 million euros in 2020, an increase compared to 1,058.8 million recorded in 2019. As for the amount to be asked from the Resolution Fund, Novo Banco indicated that it will be 598.3 million euros .

The Novo Banco Parliamentary hearings have a complete trainwreck with big debtors not remembering how they what deals they made that created massive debts to the former BES, now Novo Banco.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 12, 2021, 05:21:58 AM
Night of violence in Lisbon city as police used force to disperse Sporting CP fans who where celebrating the League win:  (https://www.publico.pt/2021/05/12/desporto/noticia/desacatos-policia-adeptos-sporting-mancham-festejos-marques-zona-tensa-1962171)





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Video. How the "green" party was tainted by violence

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The night was mostly party, but the fans' discontent with the restrictions imposed by the authorities - which culminated in confrontations - ended up tarnishing the atmosphere of euphoria and joy. Despite the delay in the procession of the Sporting team, there were no major incidents during the displacement of the “green and white” bus.

Also on Tuesday, during the meeting between Sporting and Boavista, which dictated the winning of the title, an intervention by the Public Security Police (PSP) in the fanzone created by the cheerleader Youth Leonina, near the Alvalade Stadium, caused the first injuries of the day. The agents fired rubber bullets in the direction of the “Leonine” supporters, one of whom would hit in the leg, but without gravity, a TVI 24 reporter at the scene, the PÚBLICO learned from the station's official source.
(...)
“We had several supporters who started throwing stones and bottles at the Public Security Police (PSP). Currently, there are no detainees, but there are several wounded to register: citizens who were in a party mood and were hit by some bottles and stones thrown by supporters who were at the top ”, explained the commissioner.

At Saint Mary Hospital, in Lisbon, about “a dozen emergency episodes related to the festivities” were recorded, including “minor injuries and abrasions in people who were involved in small brawls and caused by rubber bullets”, but not very serious, as he explained to the PUBLIC the hospital's source.  (...)
Marquis zone marked by clashes

From Alvalade, the tension passed to the Marquis of Pombal, the high point of the procession of the festivities scheduled for dawn. The police installed protective barriers on the perimeter of the roundabout, which were manifestly insufficient to contain supporters of the “lions”. The wait became painful - the bus with the players only left Alvalade at 2 am - and the patience of the supporters was wearing thin.

Several times, in a provocative way, the barriers were broken down. In response, staff from the Intervention Corps moved to the risk area, sometimes using rods and rubber bullets. Even here, several fans were injured. Police officers were also injured.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 13, 2021, 05:15:32 PM
Census update:

The 10 million mark has been surpassed!

As of this evening, 4,002,329 households have returned their Census questionnaires, totalizing 10,009,968 inhabitants.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 14, 2021, 09:59:54 AM
Politics editor of Lusa news agency resigns after a racist reference towards a MP was published by the news agency:


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Lusa's politics editor resigns after racist reference published in essay

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The publication of a Lusa piece with a racist reference against PS MP Romualda Fernandes has already led to the resignation of the agency's Policy editor and the opening of a lawsuit against the journalist who wrote the article, advances Público.

The use of the expression "black" in front of the name of Romualda Fernandes had immediate repercussions within the structure in the policy writing of Lusa. José Pedro Santos, editor of Politics, resigned and Hugo Godinho, the journalist in question, was the target of a "process of investigations".

The Socialist Party says that "racist behavior cannot go unpunished" and demanded an apology to the MP in question, both by Lusa and by the media that published the take - among them was Observador and Expresso newspapers.

During the last few hours, a shower of criticism flooded social networks that did not forgive the 'mistake' on the part of the news agency.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 16, 2021, 05:19:49 PM
Census update:

As of this evening, 4,039,037 households have returned their Census questionnaires, totalizing 10,101,264 inhabitants.

The Census deadline is in 14 days, 31 May.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 17, 2021, 05:16:49 AM
"Wave" of British tourists expected on the first day of open borders between Portugal and UK:


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Sixteen flights with British tourists arrive in the Algarve today.

Quote
As of this Monday, citizens of the various EU Member States, countries associated with the Schengen area and the United Kingdom, are allowed to enter Portugal. The Algarve alone expects 16 flights to bring 5,500 Britons to the national territory.

These passengers only have to present a negative PCR test performed within 72 hours prior to departure.

The exceptions are countries with an incidence rate of 500 cases or more per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days. Which means that tourists from five European countries cannot enter Portugal: Cyprus, Croatia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Sweden.

That date coincides with the entry into force, this Monday, of the new rules in the United Kingdom for international travel, which are no longer prohibited, with Portugal being one of the 12 countries and territories included in a list that exempts travelers from quarantine in the return.

The lifting of restrictions has been widely anticipated by the tourism sector and the Portuguese authorities due to the weight of the British market, which represents about 20% of the number of visitors to the country.

The Secretary of State for Tourism admits that the European Union will announce on Wednesday the authorization of non-essential travel to and from the United Kingdom. Speaking to the BBC, Rita Marques said that Portugal anticipated the European decision.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 17, 2021, 05:30:02 PM
Census update:

Today the number of returns increased considerably compared with the last few days, with an additional 14,000 households returning their Census data, totalizing around 35,000 inhabitants. And if this trend continues, by next weekend, the total population could reach the estimated population of 10,3 million. We'll see.

Anyway, as of this evening, May 17th, 4,053,104 households have returned their Census questionnaires, totalizing 10,135,735 inhabitants.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 18, 2021, 05:05:42 PM
70 children rushed to hospital in Beja city because of food poisoning in school cafeterias:


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70 children transported to hospital due to food poisoning in Beja

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About 70 children, aged between eight and 12 years old, were transported to the hospital in Beja during the afternoon of this Tuesday due to food poisoning.

CM knows that the children started to feel bad after lunch with symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting and some with fever.

According to what Correio da Manhã was able to ascertain, the intoxicated children come from several schools in the municipality, among them the school of Santiago Maior and Mário Beirão. Students at a school in a locality near Beja were also allegedly intoxicated through the consumption of eggs that would not be in conditions suitable for consumption.

The cafeterias of the different educational establishments are served with food from an association.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 19, 2021, 10:17:41 AM
EU Court cancels the 1.2 billion euros aid from the Government to TAP airlines but suspends the decision as it can be appealed:


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EU court cancels 1.2 billion state aid to TAP

Quote
The Court of Justice of the European Union annulled the decision of the European Commission approving the State aid of 1200 million euros to the airline TAP, as it considers it "insufficiently reasoned", not yet requiring the return.

"The Commission's decision declaring Portugal's aid to the airline TAP compatible with the internal market is annulled because it is not sufficiently substantiated," the General Court (first instance) said in a press release on Wednesday.

Even so, the structure explains that "the effects of the annulment - including the recovery of the aid - are suspended pending a new decision".

At issue is the appeal brought in that body in July 2020 by the low-cost air carrier Ryanair against the state aid to the Portuguese flag carrier TAP, with the argument that this Portuguese support violates the European treaty and the competition rules.

The objective of the Irish company 'low cost' was that, with this action, the decision of 10 June 2020, when the community executive gave 'green light' to a Portuguese emergency aid to TAP, was annulled.
(...)
As the decision of the General Court is still a first instance, the parties can still appeal to the EU Court of Justice, with a period of two months to do so.

For the General Court, there are "gaps in the reasoning of the contested decision" by Ryanair and taken by the European Commission, since the institution "did not find or specify whether the beneficiary [TAP] was part of a group" and also "did not substantiate its claims. according to which, on the one hand, the beneficiary's difficulties were specific to him and were not the result of an arbitrary allocation of costs to the benefit of his shareholders or other subsidiaries and, on the other hand, that the said difficulties were too serious to be resolved by his managers or other shareholders ".
(...)

Just another episode in the TAP soap opera.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 22, 2021, 06:30:28 PM
Controversial ruling: Judge acquits man who dragged his wife on the street justifying that the aggression didn't have enough "cruelty".


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Domestic violence. Judge acquits man who dragged woman by the neck

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It was not the first episode to involve police. This time, the 37-year-old man grabbed his partner by the neck and forced her into a car. The episode occurred last October, in Paredes, and a passing GNR patrol watched it all: the woman being grabbed, being lifted off the ground and then being dragged by the neck into a vehicle.

Although the facts were proved by the Paredes court, Judge Isabel Pereira Neto considered that there was not enough cruelty for the act to be considered domestic violence. The battered did not testify or press charges, and the man was acquitted. The news is advanced by Jornal de Notícias (content for subscribers).

According to that newspaper, in November 2019 the GNR was called, at night, to the victim's home. The woman was near the room, under heavy rain, and needed the protection of the GNR to be able to enter the house and remove some objects from her and her children, since she would seek shelter in the family home. However, the couple would eventually resume the relationship.
(...)
In the sentence, which the Jornal de Notícias had access to, Judge Isabel Pereira Neto says that “it was proved” that the woman “was grabbed by the neck, by the accused, his partner, who resorted to violence and tried to introduce her into the vehicle ”. Despite this, the judge considers that it was “just an act, which does not have the inherent gravity” to the crime of domestic violence. “We understand that the defendant's conduct does not integrate the concept of ill-treatment, provided for in article 152 of the Penal Code“, based on the thesis that the act did not have enough “cruelty, insensitivity and contempt” to be considered crime of domestic violence.

Isabel Pereira Neto argues that the aggression fulfills the requirements of the crime of offense to physical integrity, but, as it is a semi-public crime, it depends on a formal complaint by the victim - which never happened. Regarding the threats made to the GNR military, the judge considered that it was “an outburst”. Although when the man was arrested and sent to the Guard post, he said that he wanted the name of the GNR to go and look out for them, the magistrate understood that he never wanted to “kill them or even beat them”. 


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Tender Branson on May 22, 2021, 11:57:54 PM
It seems they removed the daily response updates now.

But it stopped at 10.2 million entries, which is ca. 99% of the estimated Portugal population.

Very good.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 23, 2021, 06:54:45 AM
It seems they removed the daily response updates now.

But it stopped at 10.2 million entries, which is ca. 99% of the estimated Portugal population.

Very good.

Yes, they removed the daily update from the website. I don't know why, maybe it's to create some suspense, maybe, I don't know. There may be some kind of update after the May 31 deadline, with INE publishing the responses until that date. During June, they will collect the data of people who didn't responded during the April-May months, plus, but I'm not 100% sure about this, they may also collect the data from nursing homes across the country, which could also add a pretty big chunk of people to the final population numbers. Then in late July/early August, they will publish the preliminary data by district, region and municipalities.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 23, 2021, 06:10:12 PM
Police arrests 26 activists that closed the road entrance of Lisbon airport. Activists prostested against the new Lisbon airport, more planes and demanded more investment in railways:


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25 activists detained after protest at Lisbon airport roundabout against "more planes".

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An action of disobedience promoted by environmental activists stopped the traffic at the main roundabout of the airport Humberto Delgado, in Lisbon, and resulted in the detention of 26 people (one of whom is a minor, informed the PSP). The demonstration called by Climáximo, an environmental collective, had the main objective of alerting to the climate crisis and the impact of aviation on the environment.

At 4:30 pm, scheduled for the start of the protest, about 60 people were gathered in front of the airport. Upon arriving at the Relógio roundabout, the demonstrators ran to try to surprise the police and sat on the road, connected with tubes by their arms.

On some roads around the roundabout, the protesters were unable to sit down and ended up fleeing through the bush along the highway, worrying the authorities and the organization.

At around 5:30 pm, and after some megaphone warnings, the police dragged protesters off the street onto a police bus. About 20 minutes later, another group was removed from another route and, less than 10 minutes later, the last group left on their feet, shouting "victory!" by blocking for about an hour.
(...)

Quote
The organization's spokeswoman, Beatriz Rodrigues, repeated several times one of Climáximo's main keywords. “Our house is on fire”, a slogan on flags, stickers and even tattoos.

Beatriz Rodrigues adds: “Our house is on fire and the Government is turning on the stove”.

The protest focused on the airport because, for the spokesperson for Climáximo, one of the main demands is to put a brake on the airline industry. And the Montijo airport project is an obvious focus of contention.

"We don't want a new airport, neither in Montijo or anywhere," she said.

The activist criticized the deadline for compliance with the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), which foresees an investment of 1.3 billion euros in the Portuguese railway line and in more public transport, as it is "too late".

“We want the electrification of the railway networks by 2024,” said the spokeswoman for Climáximo, who also said she was “in complete solidarity” with workers who were left without work with the closure of the Matosinhos refinery.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 24, 2021, 06:05:54 PM
CNN to launch a channel in Portugal with the partnership of TVI/Media Capital:


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Media Capital announces partnership to create CNN Portugal channel

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In a statement sent to the Market Commission (CMVM), Media Capital said that, "on the present date, the subsidiary TVI" and CNN (Turner Broadcasting System Europe) "have entered into a memorandum of understanding for a settlement agreement licensing that provides for the creation of CNN Portugal ".

According to the note, "the channel will be programmed and operated by Media Capital under license from CNN, which will also provide training, consultancy and access to content throughout CNN's portfolio".

Without revealing more details, Media Capital says it will provide more information "after the discussion phase with the regulatory authorities and the completion of the implementation process for this new project, complying with the legal and regulatory procedures".

The news, also broadcast on TVI24 news, should mean a restructuring of this channel until the end of the year, as communicated by the same.

The group also considers that the conclusion of the agreement represents "a new chapter in the history of television in Portugal, since it is a partnership with one of the most innovative, influential and prestigious television channels in the world".

Media Capital - which owns the TVI channels, as well as the Comercial and M80 radio stations, among others - closed the year 2020 with losses of 11.1 million euros, a reduction compared to the year 2019, in which the losses were 54.7 million euros.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 25, 2021, 05:22:32 PM
2021 Census: Census worker assaulted by a woman who refused to answer the questionnaire:


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Censer of the Census 2021 insulted and assaulted in Matosinhos.

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A censor of the Census 2021 was attacked, on Monday, in Matosinhos, by a person of a house that did not respond to the inquiry, the president of the Union of Parishes of Matosinhos revealed to the Lusa agency.

The 53-year-old censor knocked on the door of the house, in Matosinhos, in the district of Porto, and was "soon insulted" by a person in her 30s, explained Pedro Sousa, who is also coordinator of the 2021 Census process.

"She knocked on the door and a young woman of about 30 came and started to shout and insult the censor, saying that she did not have to answer, that the census had no logic and to stop bothering," revealed Pedro Sousa, adding: " the enumerator tried to calm the young woman, but she pulled her arm and leaned her against the wall ".

Pedro Sousa also said that the censor did not file a complaint with the authorities for fear of reprisals.

"People have the right not to want to open the door, now they don't have the right to insult and attack," he stressed.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 26, 2021, 09:04:11 AM
Boy, 13, run over by a car in Seixal, Lisbon suburbs, as he was fleeing from a group of girls who were bullying him:


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Child hit by car in Seixal while fleeing aggression from colleagues

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A 13-year-old boy was run over last Thursday when he was trying to cross a national road, in Seixal, to escape from fellow girls who harassed him, in a context that is being reported on social networks as bullying.

The boy suffered injuries, was taken to the hospital and is recovering well. PSP source confirms that the participants were "all identified and the case referred to the Public Prosecutor's Office".

In a video with little more than a minute, published on social media on the internet, you can see a girl (from a group of several) attacking the young man and he is shrinking and trying to escape them.

The aggressor is encouraged by others - "go there, go there" - and chases the victim along the side of the Estrada Nacional 10-2, also known as Metalúrgicos Avenue. The boy runs across the road once, with the aggressor behind him, and when he tries to do it a second time he is run over.

The participants will all be students at the Dr António Augusto Louro school, in Arrentela.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 28, 2021, 05:32:39 PM
Manchester City and Chelsea fans clash in Porto city and police forced to use force:  (https://www.jn.pt/desporto/videos/adeptos-ingleses-envolvem-se-em-violentos-confrontos-no-porto-13777978.html)




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The PSP was forced to use force next to São Bento Station, this Thursday night, after disagreements provoked by a group of British supporters who threw bottles and chairs. The riots resulted in a slight wound that was transported to Santo António Hospital with a head injury caused by a thrown object.

The other source of tension was in Ribeira Square, where since the beginning of the afternoon hundreds of British supporters had gathered to socialize. The police device mounted on the site prevented the spread of clashes in that area.

The Champions League final will be discussed on Saturday between Manchester City and Chelsea at Dragão Stadium.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 29, 2021, 08:22:12 PM
Truck found under water near Setúbal city. Police believes it's involved in drug trafficking:  (https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/pj-investiga-camiao-abandonado-dentro-de-agua-em-setubal-com-matricula-espanhola_v1323970)


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Portugal - Traffickers truck abandoned in Setúbal.

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A truck that was used to transport a fast speedboat for collecting drugs on the high seas was abandoned at dawn this Saturday, on the ramp of whales, on the river Sado, in Setúbal.

The heavy vehicle, with galley and Spanish license plate tractor, would have been stuck after the traffickers were surprised by the rising tide.

As the CM reported on several occasions, powerful speedboats, with three outboard engines, are transported from Spain or warehouses in Portugal within the truck crowd.

They are dropped into the water at night, with tons of fuel, and will collect the drug from 'mother ships' on the high seas. The drug, which may be cocaine or hashish, is then transported to another location on land and the speedboats collected.

In October last year, another truck was found in the same location under the same circumstances. In March, the Maritime Police seized a speedboat in Alverca, in the Tagus, and detained five people involved in the operation.

They had thousands of euros and satellite phones.

What?? This is so weird.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on May 31, 2021, 05:24:24 PM
2021 Census update:

Today, 31 May, is the last day to return Census questionnaires. According to INE, the Statistic Institute of Portugal (https://eco.sapo.pt/2021/05/31/876-dos-portugueses-responderam-aos-censos-2021-pela-internet/), 87.6% of the population responded to the Census by the internet. Just 0.4% filed paper Census questionnaires, and 0.3% by phone. 11.7% used other ways like local parish supports, for example.

During June, INE will contact people who have not yet responded to the Census, although that number is very, very small. By August, it's expected a very early release of data from the Census.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on June 03, 2021, 07:38:46 PM
Census 2021 update:

The media and some mayors are revealing some early data from the Census:

- Mafra city mayor, Lisbon district, says the municipality saw a 13% rise in population compared with 2011 (https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/pais/1766709/mafra-estima-crescimento-populacional-de-13-nos-censos-deste-ano), and has, in 2021, around 86,500 inhabitants;

- Gaia city mayor, Porto district, also said the early Census data showed that the population in Gaia municipality (https://www.publico.pt/2021/05/31/local/noticia/autocarro-anfibio-circular-crestuma-cais-gaia-arranca-ate-final-junho-1964800) grew around 5,000 people to 305,000 inhabitants in 2021;

- On the contrary, the Madeira islands are set to have a drop in population. In an interview to RTP Madeira, the INE representative said the population dropped around 16,000 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH-ezIqD17s) from 2011 to 2021, which means the region has around 252,000 inhabitants now;


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on June 05, 2021, 02:22:24 PM
Faro airport is "fludded" with desperate British tourists trying to leave the Algarve as Portugal leaves the UK's green list Tuesday morning:


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Society - Hundreds of Britons invade Faro airport to return to the UK and avoid quarantine

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Hundreds of British invaded this Saturday Faro Airport to return to the UK.

The 'invasion' is due to the fact that the United Kingdom has removed Portugal from the travel green list after the increase in cases in recent days and, as a consequence, those who do not return to the country before 4:00 am on Tuesday will be forced to do so. quarantine.

To avoid quarantine, hundreds are now fleeing our country back home. This caused a high turnout to the airport with long waiting lines.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on June 07, 2021, 01:02:22 PM
Ajuda Palace is finally completed 226 years later. The west wing of the palace was inaugurated today and the Royal Museum will open in November:


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New wing of Palácio da Ajuda: Costa praises "taxes and little taxes" in Lisbon

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The President of the Republic and the prime minister today inaugurated the new wing of the Ajuda Palace, with António Costa stressing that "the bulk of the investment" came from the "taxes and little taxes" of tourism in Lisbon.

The 31 million investment needed to complete the west wing that will house the future Royal Treasury Museum - which will open to the public in November - are the result of an agreement between the State, Lisbon Tourism and the capital city council, which 'entered' with 17 million from the tourism development fund.
(...)
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, on the other hand, preferred to point out that, 226 years after the laying of the foundation stone for the Ajuda National Palace, the completion of the new wing represents "if not a historic moment, a moment in which history is made".

"For some, this fact will invite patriotic meditations, more or less masochistic, about our delays, inefficiencies or budgetary insufficiencies. For others, and the President of the Republic is among them, this ceremony recalls the historical continuity of Portugal and the appeased relationship , without ceasing to be critical, that we can or should have with history," he highlighted.

The President of the Republic defended that the crown jewels will be in the museum "not as icons of the monarchy, but as legacies and symbols not only of political power, but of the continuity of sovereignty".
(...)

The original project of the palace, from the early 19th century, would have made it as one of the biggest palaces in Europe, but like almost all projects in Portugal, events, lack of money and bad management only made it possible to built around 1/3 of the original plan.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on June 07, 2021, 07:12:53 PM
Fuel prices at the highest level in 8 years:


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Gasoline price reaches its highest price in the last 8 years.

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Experts warn that fuel prices will continue to rise.

Those who need to refuel will have already noticed that fuels are more expensive. The week starts with a new rise in prices, similar to what has happened in recent months.

Diesel rose a cent and a half and gasoline rose a cent per liter. Experts warn that the trend is for prices to continue to rise.

With each climb, consumers look for the cheapest sites. Prices are different on a motorway or a national road. They vary by brand and of course also fluctuate when there are promotions or discount coupons.

The average is 1,65 euros per liter for gasoline and 1,46 euros for diesel.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on June 09, 2021, 05:14:56 AM
2021 Census update:

- São João da Madeira (Aveiro district) mayor has announced that the early data from this municipality shows that the population grew by around 2% compared with 2011 (https://labor.pt/home/2021/06/09/populacao-aumentou-em-s-joao-da-madeira/). The mayor says that the data shows the São João da Madeira now has 22,251 inhabitants, 562 more than in 2011.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on June 14, 2021, 05:34:54 AM
INE: Population grows in 2020 to 10,298,252 inhabitants.


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Portugal's population grows in 2020 despite Covid-19.

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The resident population in Portugal increased by 2,343 people last year, compared to the previous year, reaching 10,298,252 people. The positive migration balance in 2020 offset the deaths, which were aggravated by Covid-19, according to an estimate by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

Due to the positive migration balance, the resident population in the country increased by 41,274 people (compared to 44,506 people in 2019). This growth “offset the negative natural balance”, which worsened in 2020 to a reduction of 38,931 people, a drop greater than the 25,214 people registered in the previous year.

2020 was even the fourth consecutive year of positive migration balance. INE points out that international migratory movements “recorded some dynamics” despite the pandemic, “a total of 67,160 permanent immigrants are estimated (against 72,725 in 2019) and 25,886 permanent emigrants (28,219 in 2019)”.
(...)

This is only an estimation, not related with the Census which the early data is expected by August.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on June 14, 2021, 12:36:13 PM
Trial of disgraced banker Ricardo Salgado once again postponed:


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Ricardo Salgado's trial again postponed

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The trial of former banker Ricardo Salgado has been postponed to July 6th, reports RTP this Monday, June 14th.

This is the second time that the start of the trial in the scope of the Marquês Operation process of the leader of the former Banco Espírito Santo (BES) has been postponed.

The first time, the trial was adjourned at the defense's request for not having yet delivered to the court the challenge to the facts for which the accused is accused.

This time, the Public Ministry asked for the postponement as it needed more time to precisely analyze the defense delivered by the former banker's defense.

"The defense of Ricardo Salgado had already warned about the extension of the documents and the Public Prosecutor's Office will have to exercise the contradictory", said Adriano Squilacce, one of those responsible for the banker's defense when leaving the court at the Lisbon Campus of Justice heard by RTP .

Former banker Ricardo Salgado, 76, will be tried for three crimes of breach of trust, due to the transfer of more than 10 million euros.

Ricardo Salgado was charged by the Public Ministry of 21 crimes, including active corruption, money laundering, document falsification and qualified tax fraud.

However, investigating judge Ivo Rosa ruled Ricardo Salgado solely for three crimes of breach of trust, a related and separate proceeding from Operation Marquês, according to Lusa news agency.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on June 14, 2021, 05:35:21 PM
Covid-19: Computer bug compromised the data from positive tests in pilot-events:  (https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/problema-informatico-com-os-dados-de-eventos-piloto-nao-permite-saber-se-houve-casos-positivos)


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Shows: "Computer problem" does not let us know if there were positive cases in the pilot-events

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The shows sector associations have had regular meetings with the DGS and the Government, the last one last Friday, and they say they still await more information.
(...)
More than a month later, the conclusions of these pilot events have not yet been released.

According to Álvaro Covões, from the direction of the Association of Promoters of Shows, Festivals and Events (APEFE), the DGS informed the associations on Friday that it had "a computer problem" with the data of spectators who participated in the pilot events.

In statements to the Public, the promoter clarified what had happened. According to him, “the Red Cross had the data” and “they weren't able to process them by computer.” Now, the organizing associations will have to send “the user number” of each spectator to “try to complement” the information. "We have no doubts that there are no positive cases. All the people who participated in the four events tested negative", he assures.

APEFE now wants further clarification from the Directorate-General for Health on the obligation to carry out tests for covid-19 at cultural events, and regrets the lack of information.
(...)

This is ridiculous.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on June 17, 2021, 06:19:27 AM
Massive search to find a missing little boy in Idanha-a-Nova, Castelo Branco:


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GNR and PJ look for missing two-year-old child in Proença-a-Velha

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Searches for Noah continue, but with no clues as to the two-year-old boy's possible whereabouts. The child was reported missing on Wednesday morning, in the area of Proença-a-Velha, in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova, by the mother, who woke up to find her son missing. So far, only one item of clothing has been found, the family dog, who authorities believe to have accompanied the minor, and the footprints of a child.

At the moment, 72 GNR soldiers, air resources and cynotechnic elements are in place. The device "was readjusted" and efforts are now focused on the area where, overnight, a child's footprints were found, said Jorge Massano, communication and public relations officer of the Territorial Command of the GNR in Castelo Branco, during a briefing held during the morning of this Thursday.

As he explained to journalists present at the site, after questions posed by SIC, it is a sector very close to the place where the garment and the dog that accompanied Noah were found, two or three kilometers from the family's house. There are several wells in the area, some of which are sealed but others are not, which led the authorities to ask for the collaboration of the GNR divers teams.
(...)
Parents of the child heard by the PJ. They have the habit of leaving the house door unlocked

According to Correio da Manhã, Noah's parents were meanwhile heard by the PJ. They described the child as agile and able to put on wellies. He once followed his father to the agricultural field where he usually works, which is why his mother searched close to home before alerting the authorities. According to the same newspaper, parents have the habit of leaving the door unlocked.

Noah's older sister was also heard by agents. Her testimony coincided with that of her parents, reported the Correio da Manhã.

PJ leans to thesis of "accidental disappearance"

The PJ is inclined to the thesis of an “accidental disappearance”, Expresso reports. According to the newspaper, although it is still too early to draw definitive conclusions, the inspectors believe there is no evidence that the child has been a victim of criminal action. A source heard by Expresso recalled that it would not be the first time that Noah would leave the house behind his father, who usually leaves home early.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on June 17, 2021, 05:36:41 PM
Massive search to find a missing little boy in Idanha-a-Nova, Castelo Branco:

Update in this story:

The little boy missing was found alive around 4 kms from his parents house, but the police says he may have walked around 10 kms:


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Noah was walking naked when he was found by people.

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Thirty-six hours later, Noah, the baby missing in Proença-a-Velha, was found alive in the searched area, the firefighters of Idanha-a-Nova confirmed to JN. The boy "is undergoing a medical evaluation."

Noah was found by people and is, at the moment, being "subject to a medical evaluation", confirmed captain Jorge Massana, of the Castelo Branco GNR, stressing only that "he will be stable".

The child was found, naked, about four kilometers from the house, but it may have wandered "about ten", which is why he is now being observed.

Noah was walking on a path when he was spotted by some people. He's dehydrated and only suffered minor injuries, namely scratches on his legs, JN knows.

An operation that ends "successfully", added the captain, who did not advanced if the baby was already with the parents, who actively participated in the searches.

The child was taken to the hospital in Castelo Branco as prevention. "We can confirm that the child was admitted and is currently [22:30] under observation, so, for now, it is not possible to say anything more about his clinical condition", said Eugénia André.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on June 20, 2021, 02:15:14 PM
Bus driver of Coimbra's municipal bus company suspended after harassing a young woman:


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Portugal - Driver suspended, filmed harassing a young woman on a bus in Coimbra.

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A bus driver from SMTUC - Coimbra Urban Transport, was suspended preventively this Sunday after a video released on social media showed the man harassing a young woman inside the vehicle. The case may have taken place during Saturday morning.

The images published on Instagram show the driver pressing the young woman - the only passenger on the bus -, who repeatedly asks the man to stop.

While filming what happened, the young woman repeated to the man that she had to work, although he questioned several times if she had the day off. At a certain point, you can hear the driver say that "he wanted something else".

"The Municipality of Coimbra and the Board of Directors of SMTUC vehemently repudiate the behavior of the employee which was made public through a video posted on social media", can be read in the statement published on SMTUC's Facebook. "It is informed the opening of disciplinary proceedings, the immediate suspension and removal of the worker in question from the duty, in a preventive manner, was determined, and that the process was subsequently carried out under the legislation in force", it reads.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on June 22, 2021, 09:30:30 AM
Economy: Portugal's GDP per capita drops to 77% of the EU average.


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Portugal with a GDP of 77% of the EU average and consumption of 85% in purchasing power parity

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According to the European statistical office, Luxembourg, Ireland and Denmark are the countries with the highest levels of GDP expressed in purchasing power parity.

Portugal recorded in 2020 a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 77% of the EU average and a real individual consumption expressed in 85% of the European Union (EU) average, expressed in purchasing power parity (PPP), according to Eurostat .

According to the European Statistical Office, Luxembourg (266%), Ireland (211%) and Denmark (136%) are the countries with the highest levels of GDP expressed in PPP, and Bulgaria (55%), Greece and Croatia (64% each) the smallest.

The highest indices of real individual consumption expressed in PPP were observed in Luxembourg (131% of the EU average), followed by Germany (123%) and Denmark (121%), with Bulgaria (61%) and Croatia (67 %) and Hungary (69%) at the other end of the table.

The Eurozone registered a GDP and consumption of 105% in PPP.

Also, the number of millionaires in Portugal in 2020, reached a record high, 136,430 millionaires. People bellow the poverty line also grew in 2020, widening the gap between rich and poor.


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Portugal with more 19,430 millionaires in a year of pandemic

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Even despite the pandemic, and its effects on the national economy and on household income, Portugal won millionaires over the past year. According to the most recent The Global Wealth Report, referring to 2020 — a year mostly marked by Covid-19 — Portugal has 136,430 millionaires, 19,430 more than in the 2019 report.

In fact, the number of millionaires — people with fortunes valued above one million dollars (about 840 thousand euros) — in Portugal has been rising, in the bank's accounts, since 2015, the year in which 51,000 people were counted with wealth over a million dollars. That year, there was a drop compared to 2014 (76,000), possibly due to the effects of the financial crisis. In the report released in October 2019, with data until the middle of that year, Credit Suisse identified 117 thousand millionaires in the country, a number that rose to 136,430 in 2020. The bank has only started to publish data for Portugal on the number of millionaires to from 2014.

In disaggregated terms, the Credit Suisse data show that Portugal had, in 2020, 128,772 people with a wealth valued between one million and five million dollars, 5,505 between five and ten million, 2,056 with wealth between 10 and 50 million. In the richest group, there are 72 with between 50 and 100 million and 24 between 100 and 500 million. A person has a fortune above 500 million dollars.

(...)

The data contrasts sharply with those on poverty, which has grown in Portugal in the last year. A study released this Tuesday by the Catholic University reveals that over 400,000 people have fallen below the poverty line due to the pandemic crisis, which has aggravated the gap between the rich and poor in Portugal.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on June 26, 2021, 10:54:44 AM
Azores main hospital hit by a cyberattack:


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Main hospital in the Azores targeted by cyberattack

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A computer attack blocked the entire system of the Divine Holy Spirit Hospital, in Ponta Delgada, Azores.

Consultations are being canceled, there are delays and cancellations of tests and the results of the Covid tests are being entered manually, by the users waiting for the result, for almost 72 hours.

The case is already in the hands of the Judiciary Police, who are trying to recover the system and investigate the origin of the attack.

The regional government has already expressed concern because of the attack:

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The President of the Regional Government of the Azores was concerned, but guarantees that, so far, the cyberattack has not extended to any of the executive's health services.

Also, in the Azores, two women died after being hit by a storm that dragged their car:


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Women die after car is washed away by heavy rains in São Miguel.

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The heavy rains that were felt this Friday morning in the Azores caused the death of two occupants of a car, which was dragged by a torrent of water in the municipality of Povoação, in São Miguel.

The two victims disappeared this morning, whose alert was given at 11:20 am (12:20 am in Lisbon), confirmed a source of Civil Protection to Lusa news agency. The car was found near Lomba do Botón, indicated the same source.

According to a source in the family of one of the victims, the two women were in a vehicle from Santa Casa da Misericórdia, at a time when they were doing home support work for the elderly, when they were taken away by the water.

So far, "22 occurrences" have been registered throughout the island of São Miguel, since the rains that intensified early in the morning, indicated the Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service of the Azores (SRPCBA).
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on June 29, 2021, 06:51:34 AM
Joe Berardo, businessman and banking investor, arrested for suspicion of fraud to Caixa Geral de Depósitos, the largest public bank in Portugal:  (https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/joe-berardo-detido-em-operacao-da-pj-por-burlas-em-financiamentos-concedidos-pela-caixa-geral-de-depositos?ref=HP_PrimeirosDestaques)


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Joe Berardo and a lawyer trusted by the businessman were arrested on suspicion of fraud to Caixa Geral de Depósitos - RTP Notícias

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Joe Berardo and a lawyer trusted by the businessman were arrested on suspicion of fraud to Caixa Geral de Depósitos. The operation was conducted by the Judiciary Police, through the National Unit for Combating Corruption.

The searches carried out by the Judiciary cover Lisbon, Sesimbra and Funchal.

Judge Carlos Alexandre is following the proceedings.

More info:
Quote
(...)
The mega operation took place in Lisbon, Funchal and Sesimbra. Correio da Manhã knows that Judge Carlos Alexandre is one of those involved in the operation that led to these arrests and that Armando Vara is under suspicion of offering credits.

The investigation has been ongoing since 2016 due to suspicions of the practice of harmful administration crimes, qualified fraud, tax fraud and money laundering. According to a statement sent by the PJ, the investigation identified internal procedures in processes for granting, restructuring, monitoring and recovering credit, contrary to good banking practices and which may constitute the practice of crime.

"The PJ's operation focused mainly on an economic group, which between 2006 and 2009, contracted 4 financing operations with CGD, in the amount of approximately 439 million Euros. This economic group has failed to comply with the contracts and resorted to renegotiation mechanisms and debt restructuring so as not to amortize it.", reads the statement.

Currently, this economic group has caused losses of almost one billion Euros to CGD, NB and BCP, having identified acts that could lead to criminal liability and the dissipation of assets.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on July 07, 2021, 10:00:00 AM
President of Benfica, Luís Filipe Vieira, arrested by the police due to corruption:


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Luís Filipe Vieira detained

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Luís Filipe Vieira was arrested this Wednesday following a case that investigates suspicions of fraud, abuse of confidence and money laundering. Millionaire José António dos Santos, known as the "king of chickens" was also arrested following the same process.

The president of Benfica is at the Public Security Police (PSP) in Moscavide, and will be present to judge Carlos Alexandre this Thursday, thus spending this night in prison.

Within the scope of the same process, searches were also made to Nuno Gaioso Ribeiro, responsible for restructuring the debt of the company Publicidadelor, owned by Luís Filipe Vieira, and former vice president and administrator of the SAD of the incarnated club.

The alleged scheme would be for the benefit of both and to the detriment of Benfica: in the purchase of shares of SAD incarnate, by the club, which would give a capital gain of 11 million euros to the businessman and friend of Vieira, the largest private shareholder, with 16 .33 percent of the capital.

Last year, the deal ended up being stopped by the CMVM, upon concluding that the club's takeover bid for SAD was going to be made with funds from SAD itself, in an operation worth 32 million euros.

Before that, José António dos Santos, 79, had repurchased the debt of Imosteps, from Vieira, to Novo Banco for eight million euros, thus saving the president of Benfica from insolvency, at a time when he was re-applying to the leadership of the club and SAD - and needed, for that purpose, to have its integrity safe.

The Public Ministry believes that, on the other hand, Vieira found a way to, using his position as president of the club, get his friend to benefit from the sale of shares to Benfica itself, which had 67% of the club's SAD, wanting to reach the 95%.

The “king of chickens” would make a gain of 11 million euros, given the investment he had made, but the stock exchange regulator stopped the operation as it considered it irregular.

In question, suspicions of qualified fraud against the Bank Resolution Fund and also crimes of qualified tax fraud and money laundering.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on July 17, 2021, 07:42:14 AM
3 people injured after being run over by a car from a group of people who refused to show a Covid Digital Certificate in order to get in a bar in Reguengos de Monsaraz (Évora):




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At least three people suffered minor injuries after being run over as a result of a scuffle on the terrace of a cafe on Friday night, in Reguengos de Monsaraz (Évora), said Saturday sources from the GNR and firefighters.

The source of the GNR told the Lusa news agency that one of the people involved in the contempt ran away in a car, having run over the man.

One of the wounded, 23 years old, resident in Reguengos de Monsaraz, was transported to the hospital in Évora, said a source with local firefighters.

According to the GNR, the vehicle involved in the running over, driven by a man, was later found, without a driver, and this vehicle and another one, belonging to people allegedly involved in the occurrence, were apprehended by the Guard.

There are no detainees, nor identified, following the contempt, which occurred around 22:30, according to the National Republican Guard (GNR).

The Judiciary Police were called to the scene and will investigate the case, according to the GNR.

According to a source of firefighters, during the incident, tables and chairs were broken on the café terrace, which was "practically destroyed".

A source from the Évora District Command for Relief Operations (CDOS) told Lusa that the alert for a pedestrian being run over on Rua São João de Deus, in Reguengos de Monsaraz, was given at 23:11 on Friday.

Firefighters from the Reguengos de Monsaraz corporation, in addition to the GNR, were mobilized to the site.

A video is circulating on social media that shows the scuffle.

Observador newspaper says the reason behind this incident was the refusal of a group of people of showing their Digital Certificate:  (https://observador.pt/2021/07/17/tres-feridos-na-sequencia-de-desacatos-e-atropelamento-em-reguengos-de-monsaraz-rio-pede-justificacoes-a-cabrita/)

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Disagreements began after the group was prevented from entering a drinking establishment for not having a Covid digital certificate. GNR was called to the scene, but did not act "given the number of people".


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on July 17, 2021, 11:16:00 AM
Massive wildfire active in the Monchique mountains in the Algarve:


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Fire in Monchique has forced evacuation of localities

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A fire that broke out at lunchtime near Marmelete, in the municipality of Monchique, is being fought by more than 250 firefighters, 77 vehicles and nine air vehicles.

The progression of the flames has already forced the evacuation of some towns and houses, including a nursing home with 12 residents, according to SIC Notícias.

The heat, low humidity and intense wind that are felt in the place are making it difficult to fight the fire, which is progressing to the south, having already entered the municipality of Portimão.

View of the smoke clouds in a beach in Portimão city:

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Sad scenario, the skies of Portimão, #Algarve, laden with smoke and ashes are falling from the #IRMonchique...


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census: 19 April)
Post by: Mike88 on July 17, 2021, 12:38:10 PM
Chaos in airports, mainly Lisbon, due to ground workers strike. Almost 300 flights have already been canceled:


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274 flights canceled in the country due to Groundforce strike

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The Groundforce strike caused the cancellation of 274 flights at Portuguese airports so far, of which 242 in Lisbon, according to ANA -Airports of Portugal.

According to the airport manager's latest update, nine arrivals and nine departures at Porto Airport, three arrivals and three departures at Faro Airport, two arrivals and two departures at Madeira Airport and also two arrivals and two departures at the Airport were also canceled of Porto Santo.

Today is the first day of the strike called by the Union of Airport Handling Technicians (STHA), as a protest for the "unsustainable instability, regarding the timely payment of wages and other pecuniary components" that Groundforce workers have been facing since February of 2021.

The stoppage will last for the 18th and 31st of July, the 1st and 2nd of August, which led ANA to warn of constraints at national airports, cancellations and delays on flights assisted by Groundforce, at the airports of Lisbon, Porto, Faro , Funchal and Porto Santo.

In addition to this strike, since July 15th, Groundforce workers are also carrying out an overtime strike, which lasts until midnight on October 31st, 2021.

Groundforce is 50.1% owned by Pasogal and 49.9% by the TAP group, which, in 2020, became 72.5% owned by the Portuguese State.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census first results: 28 July)
Post by: Mike88 on July 22, 2021, 12:25:49 PM
Census 2021: First data to be released next week, 28 July.


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INE reveals preliminary Census data on Wednesday. 99% of citizens responded via digital

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INE will release the first results of the 2021 Census on July 28, the national statistics agency announced. The overwhelming majority of families responded to the general census through digital means, especially the internet portal.

“On July 28th, INE will release the first results of the XVI General Population Census and VI General Housing Census – 2021 Census, an operation that had 99.3% of the population's responses through digital channels” , announced the INE in a statement.

The institute highlights that, among the total of 99.3% of digital responses, “the most used means was the direct access of families to the website (87.5%), followed by responses using the enumerator's mobile application (7.7%), and, finally, filling out the questionnaires at the 'ebalcões' located at the Parish Councils (4.1%)”.

This massive adhesion to the internet “contributed decisively” to the “quality” of the operation, advances INE, including to the “required tranquility and security” in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The response collection phase took place between April 5th and May 31st and “had the committed participation of the population”.

Thanks to digital channels, it was possible to complete “most of the work just six weeks after the date of the census moment”, on April 19th. The 2021 Census operation involved around 15 thousand people.

According to INE, the results that will be presented next Wednesday, July 28, “are still preliminary, as they are based on counts resulting from the collection process and released before the end of the entire treatment process. and validation of the information collected”. A second release of provisional data is also planned, in February 2022, but the final data will only arrive in the fourth quarter of that year. “We counted everyone. We count on everyone”, concludes the institute.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census first results: 28 July)
Post by: Mike88 on July 24, 2021, 05:26:39 PM
Young people on holiday vandalize streets, cars and beaches in the small tourist village of Vila Nova de Milfontes, Beja district:


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Young people vandalize the streets and beaches of Vila Nova de Milfontes

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In Vila Nova de Milfontes, in the municipality of Odemira, hundreds of young people organize beach parties that last into the night and, at the end, roam the streets of the village to vandalize doors, cars, windows and paint graffiti on the facades of houses and walkways.

Malhão beach has been the garbage can for the many bottles of alcohol that these young people, underage, consume.

The local GNR explains that the young people are between 12 and 16 years old and are almost all from the Cascais, Oeiras and Lisbon.

For residents, this is a worrying situation that repeats itself every year.

"They don't know how to behave, they don't respect people and they don't even respect the authorities", complains a resident of Vila Nova de Milfontes, who says that many cars are seriously damaged and there is no one who can be held responsible.

Another Milfontes resident refers to "beaches completely full of rubbish, destroyed urban furniture, including attacks on residents".

"This is recurrent, it happens every year at this time and on New Year's Eve", he says, therefore, "it has to be foreseen that at this time the guards we have don't arrive."

"This has been happening for several years, but this year it crossed all limits", complains another resident, regretting that this year, as there was in other years, there was no reinforcement of the security forces.

The GNR has already guaranteed that on the night of Thursday to Friday there was already a reinforcement of policing.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census first results: 28 July)
Post by: Mike88 on July 28, 2021, 05:15:51 AM
First results of the 2021 Census:  (https://ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_destaques&DESTAQUESdest_boui=473161655&DESTAQUESmodo=2)

Total Population: 10,347,892 (-214,286 compared with 2011)

By region:

North: 3,588,701 (-100,981)
Center: 2,227,912 (-99,843)
Lisbon: 2,871,133 (+49,257)
Alentejo: 704,934 (-52,368)
Algarve: 467,495 (+16,489)
Azores: 236,657 (-10,115)
Madeira, 251,060 (-16,725)

By gender:

Female: 5,430,098 (52.48%)
Male: 4,917,794 (47.52%)

Number of families: 4,156,017 (+107,458)

Number of buildings: 3,587,669 (+43,280)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census first results: 28 July)
Post by: Mike88 on July 28, 2021, 06:05:20 AM
10 most populated municipalities: (compared with 2011)

Lisbon: 544,851 (-7,849)
Sintra: 385,954 (+8,119)
Vila Nova de Gaia: 304,149 (+1,851)
Porto: 231,962 (-5,629)
Cascais: 214,134 (+7,655)
Loures: 201,646 (+2,152)
Braga: 193,333 (+11,839)
Almada: 177,400 (+3,370)
Matosinhos: 172,669 (-2,870)
Oeiras: 171,802 (-318)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census first results: 28 July)
Post by: Mike88 on July 28, 2021, 08:58:58 AM
My hometown, Póvoa de Varzim, was one of the few municipalities, just 51 out of 308, that grew in population compared with 2011: 64,320 in 2021 vs 63,408 in 2011.

In the urban parish, the population grew by more than 3%: 35,476 in 2021 vs 34,266 in 2011.

Interactive site with the full results for the 308 municipalities and 3,092 parishes: https://www.ine.pt/scripts/db_censos_2021.html


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census first results: 28 July)
Post by: CumbrianLefty on July 28, 2021, 12:42:32 PM
Was the overall decline in population expected? What would you say are the main reasons??


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census first results: 28 July)
Post by: Mike88 on July 28, 2021, 01:01:50 PM
Was the overall decline in population expected? What would you say are the main reasons??

Yes, it was expected. Since 2011, the population has been decreasing, however it has stagnated since 2018 and is now going up bit by bit.

The main reasons for this population decrease are the economic situation as many families cannot afford having more kids, thus creating a demographic winter and many young people during the 2011-2014 economic crisis left Portugal to persue better lives and career opportunities in other countries like UK, Germany, Sweden, others. In the last few years, however, Portugal is seeing an influx of immigrants, mainly from Brazil, who are also helping to stop the decrease of population.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census first results: 28 July)
Post by: Mike88 on July 29, 2021, 08:55:18 AM
Map with changes 2011 vs 2021 by municipality:



Blue - Decrease population
Red - Increase population


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census first results: 28 July)
Post by: Mike88 on July 30, 2021, 03:03:52 PM
Fun fact: The parish of Covide, yep there's one with that name in Portugal, has a population of 273 inhabitants. Compared with 2011, this is a drop of 20.4% when the population was at 343.

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covide


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census first results: 28 July)
Post by: Mike88 on July 31, 2021, 11:04:00 AM
Record drop in new births in the first half of 2021: Just 37,675 births.


Quote
4,500 fewer babies were born in the first six months of the year

Quote
Fewer 4,472 babies were submitted to the newborn screening in the first six months of the year, data from the National Institute of Health Doctor Ricardo Jorge (INSA) that allow monitoring of birth rates in Portugal reveals. Between January and June 2021, 37,675 babies were born in Portugal, a substantial difference from the 42,149 babies registered in the same period last year.

The number of babies undergoing newborn screening in the first six months of the year is lower than that registered between January and June 2014, when the economic crisis shrank the birth rate to the lowest values ​​of the previous 50 years: 38,808 births in the first semester of that year. Portugal risks reaching December 31 with fewer babies than in 2014, the year in which there were 75,350 births.

Speaking to Público, demographer Maria João Valente Rosa blames the Covid-19 pandemic for the decrease in birth rates in the first six months of 2021: “We are facing the direct reflection of what happened in 2020, in which the health crisis, which resulted in less access to health care, and the consequent fear of what could come to be the monitoring of the pregnancy process, was added the fear of falling into economic and financial insecurity”.

The impact of the pandemic on migration also justifies this phenomenon, continues the researcher. In 2020, more than 13% of births were from mothers with foreign nationality, so immigration is “a good birth cushion”. But migrations slowed down during the Covid-19 pandemic, so their contribution to the birth rate also declined.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census first results: 28 July)
Post by: Mike88 on August 03, 2021, 07:46:59 PM
Works in the Ajuda Palace front street leave houses with doors more than one meter from the sidewalk. It's already becoming a joke:


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Works leave houses with a door one meter high from the sidewalk. GNR soldiers must enter from the back

Quote
(...)
Calçada of Ajuda was closed for a year and a half for works. These are not yet finished, but there was an urgent need to open that street. "It was very important that we were able to open it because closing it caused disturbances in the circulation of cars and people, access to the upper part of the parish was very strangled. As the houses are not for daily use, those responsible for the work decided that it was not a priority to move forward with that part", explains the president of Ajuda parish, Jorge Marques, to JN.

But there were more reasons to rush the venture. About two months ago, the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Lisbon visited the new wing of the Ajuda National Palace, completed after being unfinished for more than two centuries. At the time, the Calçada of Ajuda was still being repaired, but on the opening day, "the street was composed".

"As the opening was attended by several important individuals, they were ashamed to leave it badly finished and decided to paint the baseboards, but the work was not and is not finished. If they left it with the appearance of a work or an unpainted wall, the whole we realized that it was still an ongoing project", explains Jorge Marques.

The five houses are part of the State Security and Honors Unit and are used by GNR military personnel. Two are in use at the moment, but the GNR ensures that the congestion is not having an impact as they manage to enter homes from the back.
(...)
Also according to the DGPC "the temporary closure of Calçada of Ajuda was causing great constraints in this area of the city" and its reopening "was essential to restore pedestrian and road circulation (including tram) through this essential street of the parish and city, being eagerly awaited by a large part of the local population".

The refurbishment of Calçada of Ajuda cost more than 30 million euros.

This is so hilarious and at the same so ridiculous and sad. ::) ::)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census first results: 28 July)
Post by: Mike88 on August 08, 2021, 02:18:31 PM
Monument of the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos) vandalized with graffiti with a message in English:


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Padrão dos Descobrimentos vandalized with message in English

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This Sunday, the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, in Lisbon, was vandalized with graffiti on one of the sides of the monument, with an extension of about 20 meters and written in English.

The message, confirmed by the PSP to Lusa, reads, in English, "Blindly sailing for monney [sic], humanity is drowning in a scarllet [sic] sea lia [sic]", which, in a free translation, can be read in Portuguese as "Sailing blindly for money, humanity sinks into a scarlet sea."

The occurrence was registered by the PSP during the morning, around 11.30 am, and the fact was communicated to the Lisbon City Council, which oversees the monument, PSP service official, commissioner Rodrigues, told Lusa.

There are no identified suspects, said the duty officer.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census first results: 28 July)
Post by: Mike88 on August 23, 2021, 12:17:59 PM
Soaring house prices are forcing Portuguese people to leave Portuguese border towns and settle in the Spanish side:


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The rise in housing prices is leading the Portuguese to look for housing across the border, since in Spain house values are half of those practiced in Portugal.

Quote
According to Expresso, those who work on the border line choose to live in Spain and work in Portugal due to the difference in housing prices between the two countries.

As an example, the big difference in the south is mentioned: in the Algarve a house can be rented for €600 a month, while crossing the border this value drops to half, so that "coming and going" becomes more routine. In a more extreme case, living in a condominium with a swimming pool, gardens and a playground is possible for around €450 in Spain, which on this side would never be less than €650.

But what causes this phenomenon? In Ayamonte, Andalusia, many of the buildings that were planned for tourism and were abandoned due to the crisis "are now starting to be recovered and finished", says the newspaper, so they are placed on the market at attractive prices - to which are added the already known prices of some products, such as fuel and even cars.
(...)
Also with regard to buying a house, the values are quite different. Further north, in Orense, near Chaves, a house can cost around 44 thousand euros — compared to 120 thousand on the Portuguese side. The same happens in the Vigo region, where 170 m2 apartments cost around €39,500.

Like the article says, if it was only housing costs... Fuel and gas canister prices are higher in Portugal than in Spain, even though the Spanish earn 50% more than what the Portuguese earn.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census first results: 28 July)
Post by: Mike88 on September 02, 2021, 06:10:31 AM
Police arrests two alleged ISIS members in the Lisbon metro area:


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BREAKING NEWS | Lisbon. Two people arrested on suspicion of connection to Daesh

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The National Counterterrorism Unit (UNCT) of the Judiciary Police (PJ) detained two foreign nationals for alleged involvement with the self-proclaimed Islamic State. The arrests took place in the Lisbon area.

In a statement sent to the newsrooms, the Judiciary Police informs that the two foreign citizens are indicted "for the commission of crimes of joining and supporting the international terrorist organization, international terrorism, and against humanity."
(...)
The arrests and searches took place in the Lisbon region in an operation carried out "with the participation of the magistrate of the prosecutor responsible for the investigation and various staff from the criminal investigation and experts from the Information Technology Expertise Unit (UPTI) of the Judiciary Police".

According to the PJ, the evidence collected "indicates that these two individuals have taken different positions in the structure of ISIS / Da’esh, and they are also the object of investigation by the competent Iraqi Judicial Authorities".

The Portuguese authorities also inform that "no evidence was identified that they had committed any crimes of this nature in national territory".
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census first results: 28 July)
Post by: Mike88 on September 08, 2021, 10:57:55 AM
Police to file complaint against denial and anti-vaxx judge Rui Fonseca e Castro after he insulted police officers in Lisbon:


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Justice: PSP to file a complaint against judge who tried to "provoke" the police

Quote
Judge Rui Fonseca e Castro “provoked” elements of the PSP who were yesterday in the Superior Council of Magistracy, by shouting at them that they should put themselves in their place and that he was the judicial authority, being “above” them.
(...)

This happened yesterday when Judge Fonseca e Castro was being heard by the Superior Council of Magistracy because of his possible expulsion from the judgeship. His anti-vaxx remarks and that Covid doesn't exist have infuriated the Council of Magistracy. During the hearing, Judge Fonseca e Castro also insulted other judges (https://www.jn.pt/justica/juiz-negacionista-insulta-conselho-superior-da-magistratura-durante-audicao-14098635.html) by saying they were corrupt and that they "are at same level of the President of the Supreme Court of Equatorial Guinea or Morocco."


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census first results: 28 July)
Post by: Mike88 on September 19, 2021, 10:40:49 AM
Portugal's biggest solar power plant, and one of the biggest non-subsidised power plants in Europe, is already working:


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Solara4. Largest solar power plant in the country has already entered into operation

Quote
The Solara4 photovoltaic plant, in the Algarve municipality of Alcoutim, has already received an operating license from the General Directorate of Energy and Geology (DGEG). According to a statement released this Sunday by the organisation, this "is now the largest photovoltaic plant in the country and the largest unsubsidized plant in Europe."

Licensed last September 15 by the energy authorities, the park has more than 660,000 panels installed with a unit power of between 330 watts and 340 watts, for a total of 219 megawatts (MW) installed and an injection power into the grid limited to 200 megavolt-amperes (MVA) thus began to operate.

“Its exploitation will annually avoid the emission of 177 thousand tons of CO2 (carbon dioxide) and will make it possible to supply electricity equivalent to the consumption of 200 thousand homes”, explains the DGEG.

This plant, located in Martim Longo, municipality of Alcoutim, also has 40 transformer stations and 125 inverters with an available power of 1,600 killovolt-ampere (KVA) and is connected to the public utility grid through the Tavira substation, through a private 400-kV (KV) service line that connects the plant to the substation, the note reads.

The Directorate-General for Energy also emphasizes that "this type of infrastructure", which occupies a discontinuous area of ​​320 hectares, was the subject of a favorable Environmental Impact Assessment and "it is essential for Portugal to achieve the goal of promoting the decarbonization of the energy sector" .


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census first results: 28 July)
Post by: Mike88 on October 14, 2021, 10:00:47 AM
Police worried about rising violence during the night in Lisbon and Porto. Mayors demand more policing and surveillance:


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Lisbon: Police concerned about violence in Porto and Lisbon nights

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Streets full of fun-seekers. Frustration and impatience of those who cannot get into bars and clubs. This is the cocktail of the nights of Porto and Lisbon, ready to explode to disagreements like the one on Sunday, in Porto, which caused the death of a 23-year-old young man. Mayors, sector associations and establishments are calling for increased policing at night and video surveillance.

The police authorities are attentive and concerned about the episodes of violence that have been registered at night in Porto and Lisbon, one of which resulted in the death of a 23-year-old boy a few days ago. There are those who speak of a post-pandemic euphoria, to which is added a decrease in the offer of clubs and bars, which generates a greater concentration of young people in certain areas. The new rules, which require the presentation of a vaccination certificate or a negative test for the new coronavirus, do not help. They create lines and these are often reasons for disagreement. Perhaps this is why aggressions for futile reasons are increasingly common. And police resources remain scarce.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census first results: 28 July)
Post by: Mike88 on October 14, 2021, 10:24:46 AM
Fuel prices reach 2 euros per liter in gas stations across the country for the first time:


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Petrol surpassed two euros for the first time

Quote
For the first time, in Portugal, a fuel exceeded the barrier of two euros per liter. A price recorded in some parts of the country and at stations located in service areas on highways.

This is the special 98 gasoline which, at various Repsol and BP stations, reached 2,004 and 2,009 euros per liter, respectively, after the increases on Monday.

Although Repsol's figures reflect the price charged in service areas on the country's main motorways, BP's were charged at some service stations in Lisbon and Alentejo.

The historical value has already been reversed in some stations that lowered the price to 1.999 euros, but it reflects an escalation never seen before in our country, where fuels have already increased 35 times this year.

P.S.: The gasoline 98 is rarely used, but normal gasoline, gasoline 95, the most used, is at 1,83 euros and rising.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: February 2022)
Post by: Mike88 on October 17, 2021, 02:08:09 PM
Chaotic scenes in a football match in Setúbal where the police fired shots to the air:


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PSP shoots into the air in the Setúbal district game


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The game between Olímpico do Montijo and Vitória de Setúbal's B team ended this Sunday afternoon with clashes between fans and players. The PSP had to shoot into the air to try to stop the attacks.

The visiting team, Vitória de Setúbal, left the stadium with a police escort, according to JN.

Among the clashes, there were no serious injuries. Until around 8 pm, no arrests were known.

The attacks took place right after the final whistle of the match, which ended in a zero draw, counting for the 1st district division.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: February 2022)
Post by: Mike88 on October 23, 2021, 11:40:09 AM
Upper Minho mayors, celebrities and population protest against Lithium exploration in the area:


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Quim Barreiros, Canário and over a thousand people protest against lithium in Serra d’Arga

Quote
More than a thousand people, including the mayors of five municipalities, are taking part today in Viana do Castelo in a protest against prospecting for lithium in Serra d’Arga, according to figures from the organization.

The concentration for the protest began at 10:00 am, at the Youth Hostel of Viana do Castelo, with four mayors of the PS (Viana do Castelo, Caminha, Vila Nova de Cerveira and Paredes de Coura) and one from the CDS-PP ( Ponte de Lima) to join the demonstration against the prospecting and research projects for lithium planned for Serra d'Arga.

All “united” to tell the Government “that mines are not worth” compromising “a unique heritage”.

“The value we have in Serra d’Arga is much higher than what could come from mining. Environmental preservation is an incalculable value in the future. Anyone with a landscape, balance and biodiversity has an inestimable heritage that will be worth much more than many mines”, said the president of the Paredes de Coura Chamber, Vítor Paulo Pereira.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: February 2022)
Post by: NewYorkExpress on November 11, 2021, 01:50:02 AM
So, the Portuguese Parliament passed a law that bans employers from contacting their employees after work hours.  (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2021/11/10/portugal-law-bans-boss-contact-employees-after-work-hours/6367092001/)

Quote
A law passed by the Portuguese parliament makes it illegal for employers to contact employees after work hours, a step the country has made to promote healthier work-life balance amid a surge of home workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

In legislation approved Friday, employers could face financial penalties for contacting employees outside of work hours, including increased gas and electricity bills, according to Portugal's Socialist Party government.

The law is part of an effort to appeal to remote workers coming to Portugal.

....


Additional rules are also set to be implemented to bolster workers from home, according to the Associated Press. Those include one to offset loneliness, with a mandatory face-to-face meeting with a boss every few months, and another to assist parents of young children, giving them the right to work from home with kids up to 8 years old without having to arrange in advance with employers

Not all the proposals were passed through parliament. A "right to disconnect" law giving workers the ability to switch off work devices was not approved.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: February 2022)
Post by: Mike88 on November 11, 2021, 07:26:38 AM
So, the Portuguese Parliament passed a law that bans employers from contacting their employees after work hours.  (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2021/11/10/portugal-law-bans-boss-contact-employees-after-work-hours/6367092001/)

Quote
A law passed by the Portuguese parliament makes it illegal for employers to contact employees after work hours, a step the country has made to promote healthier work-life balance amid a surge of home workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

In legislation approved Friday, employers could face financial penalties for contacting employees outside of work hours, including increased gas and electricity bills, according to Portugal's Socialist Party government.

The law is part of an effort to appeal to remote workers coming to Portugal.

....


Additional rules are also set to be implemented to bolster workers from home, according to the Associated Press. Those include one to offset loneliness, with a mandatory face-to-face meeting with a boss every few months, and another to assist parents of young children, giving them the right to work from home with kids up to 8 years old without having to arrange in advance with employers

Not all the proposals were passed through parliament. A "right to disconnect" law giving workers the ability to switch off work devices was not approved.

This has been discussed for a while now, and the pandemic, plus working from home, increased the discussion. However, it's not a final bill yet. Parliament approved that the draft can go to a Parliamentary Committee and then the final bill text has to be, again, submitted to Parliament for approval, which will probably only happen after the 2022 elections.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: February 2022)
Post by: CumbrianLefty on November 11, 2021, 09:39:13 AM
Generally speaking, a very good idea.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: February 2022)
Post by: Mike88 on November 11, 2021, 10:03:31 AM
Scandal in the Portuguese Armed Forces as it is revealed that Army officials have been trafficking drugs, diamonds and gold during UN missions in Africa:


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TVI News: Army elite smuggles diamonds, gold and drugs on UN missions

Quote
The Judiciary Police carried out, this Monday morning, the biggest operation of the year, with about 320 inspectors, in 100 searches, from North to South, in what is a new scandal for the Armed Forces after the Tancos case. The PJ has arrest warrants for commands and former commands, the elite of the Army, under suspicion of having set up a criminal association around the Portuguese missions, under the UN, in the Central African Republic (RCA). At issue, TVI knows, trafficking in diamonds, gold and drugs, which they transport from that country at war to Europe aboard military aircraft whose cargo is not inspected.

Then there is an elaborate money laundering scheme, including through the purchase of bitcoins, a virtual currency traded on the Internet without the control of the financial authorities.
(...)
The business is mainly based on profit from so-called blood diamonds - extracted from a country in constant armed and bloody conflict, with thousands of dead already recorded, where control of mines is also disputed. In the last decade, Portugal has integrated dozens of United Nations contingents for peacekeeping operations in that country. And it was in this context that the military saw the opportunity to engage themselves in the trafficking of precious stones, whose extraction is often carried out using the forced labor of children.

Commands take advantage of the non-supervision of military aircraft when returning from missions. And, given this logistical advantage, they took advantage of a kind of diplomatic immunity to extend the military transport of diamonds to that of drugs and gold from that African country. From Portugal, as far as rough diamonds are concerned, they are then transported by land to Antwerp and Brussels, Belgium, where they are sold at multi-million prices.

This is followed by an elaborate scheme to hide these illicit proceeds - money laundering -, using figureheads when opening bank accounts, and acquiring, for example, bitcoins.
(...)

So, far, 2 of the 11 army commands presented to a judge will be sent to jail and await trial there. The other 9 will remain in freedom but will be forced to periodic presentations to authorities.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: February 2022)
Post by: Mike88 on November 11, 2021, 11:15:25 AM
Portuguese Catholic Church to open investigation on sexual abuse in the Church:


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Society - Portuguese commission created to stop sexual abuse in the Catholic Church

Quote
The Portuguese Catholic Church will proceed with a historical investigation into the issue of sexual abuse. This investigation will be carried out by an Independent Commission made up of lay people.

The Assembly decided to create a "national commission to strengthen and expand the handling of cases and the respective follow-up at the civil and canonical level and to carry out the study in order to clarify the history of this serious issue. In this sense, a permanent point of listening is created at the level national", says the Plenary Assembly of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference in a statement. The commission is made up of lay people from various fields such as Law, Psychiatry and Psychology.

The Church "reflects on the protection of vulnerable children and adults in ecclesial spheres and in society as a whole. The Church continues to face this issue seriously, both in terms of support and care for victims, and in terms of prevention and training."

The Assembly also expressed a vote of confidence to the Portuguese clergy in general who, with all their availability and dedication, continue to serve the Church in its pastoral ministry.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: February 2022)
Post by: Mike88 on November 18, 2021, 07:08:54 AM
Meanwhile in rural Portugal...

Cow rescued from a rooftop in Barcelos, Braga district:  (https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/bombeiros-resgatam-vaca-de-telhado-em-barcelos)


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Videos - Firefighters rescue cow from the roof in Barcelos

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Two rescue teams from the firefighters of Viatodos and Famalicenses have been engaged since 2:30 pm in the rescue of a cow that fell on the roof of a house, in Carreira, Barcelos. The peacekeepers are trying, using a crane, to remove the animal from the roof of the house.

The alert was given at 2:30 pm, for Rua de Santo António, in that parish of the municipality of Barcelos. Apparently, the animal may have fallen from a higher ground onto the roof of the house. The first team of firefighters to leave for the scene with an extrication car, ended up having to ask for help, and Famalicenses firefighters were mobilized to the scene with a crane.

;D ;D 8) 8)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: February 2022)
Post by: Mike88 on November 20, 2021, 06:44:59 PM
Last coal power plant in Portugal ceases production:


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The production of electricity from coal in Portugal has ended

Quote
It is a historic moment in the Portuguese electricity system: the Pego coal plant, in Abrantes, produced electricity for the last time on Friday morning, and, with no more coal to burn, closes a chapter in the country's energy history

Tejo Energia's thermoelectric power plant, in Pego, no longer has coal to burn. It stopped producing on Friday morning, in what is a milestone in the history of the national electricity system, which has abandoned coal as a way of generating electricity.

According to data from REN - Redes Energéticas Nacionais, the Pego coal-fired power station was still operating at dawn on Friday, but already at low load, with a power of 151 megawatts (MW) at 6:15 am. In REN's balance sheet, at 7:15 am on Friday, the Pego plant was already at zero.

The plant, which has a capacity of 628 MW, distributed over two generator groups, has registered two unavailability notices, dated 18 November, and relating to these two generator groups, which extend until 30 November, the last day of the plant contract.
(...)
The national electricity system is thus only dependent, for the purposes of security of supply and in response to the variability of production from renewable sources, on combined cycle power stations powered by natural gas (which emit about half of carbon dioxide for each megawatt hour of electricity compared to emissions from coal-fired power stations).

One of these combined cycle gas power stations is also located in Pego.

The closure of the Pego coal plant leaves a hundred and a half workers with an uncertain future.

The Government has already launched a tender for the conversion of this thermoelectric plant, making the energy injection capacity that currently belongs to Tejo Energia available to new producers, with a requirement that the future exploitation of this connection to the electricity grid be made using renewable sources.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: February 2022)
Post by: Mike88 on November 24, 2021, 10:31:29 AM
7 Borussia Dortmund supporters arrested after clashes with the police in Lisbon last night:


Quote
Seven Dortmund supporters arrested after contempt in Bairro Alto in Lisbon.

Quote
Seven Borussia Dortmund supporters were arrested in Lisbon on Tuesday night following contempt in Bairro Alto, with two police officers suffering minor injuries, informed a source from the Lisbon Metropolitan Command (Cometlis).
"The contempt began at 23:40 at Rua da Atalaia, in Bairro Alto. Fifty supporters of the German club Borussia Dortmund started throwing various objects, among chairs and tables," reported the source.
(...)
"Thirty people were involved in clashes after the game. Six supporters were injured, of which five were assisted on the spot and one was taken to hospital," he said.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: February 2022)
Post by: Biden his time on November 25, 2021, 02:24:07 PM
Damn "Mike88", I don't think I've seen you before but you're doing a great job keeping this forum updated on Portugal. Props to you man.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: February 2022)
Post by: Mike88 on November 25, 2021, 05:44:55 PM
Damn "Mike88", I don't think I've seen you before but you're doing a great job keeping this forum updated on Portugal. Props to you man.

Thanks for the feedback. :) :D I post more on the Portugal thread in the International forum than in this one, but I try to keep both updated at the same time. :)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: February 2022)
Post by: CumbrianLefty on November 25, 2021, 05:54:32 PM
Damn "Mike88", I don't think I've seen you before but you're doing a great job keeping this forum updated on Portugal. Props to you man.

Thanks for the feedback. :) :D I post more on the Portugal thread in the International forum than in this one, but I try to keep both updated at the same time. :)

Both these threads are excellent work from you.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: February 2022)
Post by: Mike88 on November 26, 2021, 08:50:44 PM
Interesting study on young people in Portugal: Low wages, lack of opportunities and more than a quarter want to leave the country.


Quote
The raw portrait of a disillusioned generation: three out of four young people earn less than €950 and a third want to leave Portugal

Quote
The overwhelming majority of young people think that there are fewer and fewer opportunities to find a job in Portugal and a third intend to emigrate. Lack of money is the main reason given by those who dropped out of college. Most live with their parents, and half of those who work have an unstable contract. Almost one in four has been medicated with anxiolytics or antidepressants. And only half vote every time there are elections. These are some of the main conclusions of one of the largest studies ever carried out on Portuguese youth.

Who are they, how do they live, what do young Portuguese people think and feel? Answering these questions was the objective of the study “Young people in Portugal, today”, organized by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation based on a survey carried out in June last year with 4,904 people between 15 and 34 years old, representing the 2.2 million young people who make up this population in the country. Coordinated by Laura Sagnier and Alex Morell, the work will be presented this weekend at a conference in Lisbon. Here is the picture of a generation.
(...)

Main data:

1. Wages:

74% Bellow 950 euros per month
26% Above 950 euros per month

2. Achievement at work:

48% A lot
29% Little
23% None

3. Would you consider emigrating to another country?

70% No
30% Yes

4. Education:

46% Has a high-school degree
35% A college degree
19% Bellow high-school

32% of young people who didn't go to college, didn't go because of lack of money.

5. Mental Health:

77% Never took antidepressives
23% Took antidepressives at some point

23% have considered at some taking their own lives;
42% say they have suffered some kind of harassment, bullying or violence, 53% women, 32% men;

6. Politics and values

53% Always vote
33% Sometimes vote
14% Never voted

Ideology:

Men: 35% Rightwing, 26% Leftwing
Women: 33% Leftwing, 26% Rightwing

7. Sexuality and family:

57% Lives with parents
19% Lives with a friend/companion
  9% Shares a house
  5% Lives alone

Sexuality:

85% Heterosexual
  8% Bissexual
  6% Homosexual
  1% Asexual

8. Habits:

72% of young men practice sport, while just 59% of young women do;
76% don't smoke but drink alcoholic beverages, 35% very frequently;
50% spent more than 2 hours per day in social media;
21% play on online betting;


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: February 2022)
Post by: Mike88 on November 29, 2021, 06:34:28 AM
Turkish Airlines considering a proposal to buy TAP Airlines:


Quote
Turkish Airlines studying proposal to buy TAP

Quote
TAP is in the sights of Turkish Airlines, headlines the "Jornal de Negócios" on Monday, with a proposal that, to be made, should be around 1.9 billion euros. However, the offer under study will only be made if it is possible for the Turkish airline to obtain a majority stake in the capital of the Portuguese carrier, currently undergoing a restructuring process that involves difficult negotiations between the Portuguese State and the European Commission.

The démarches of Turkish Airlines, 49% owned by the Turkish State, by the recently rescued TAP are being carried out through diplomatic channels, the newspaper clarifies, despite the Government not being informed of the purchase intention. Only after the elections will the Turkish negotiate with the Executive that will come out, as the current one led by António Costa prefers to keep the majority of the capital in the hands of the State.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: February 2022)
Post by: Mike88 on December 04, 2021, 09:20:29 AM
Mortality on the rise in Portugal, almost reaching 2020 levels:


Quote
Mortality in the country almost at the 2020 level

Quote
In the last seven days, 295 more people died in the country than would be expected given the reality of recent years, and there is once again a higher-than-expected period of mortality, even with fewer deaths associated with covid-19 than in 2020. The balance appears on the Ministry of Health's National Mortality Surveillance Platform (EVM), which shows a new period of excess mortality, smaller than last year but above what can be considered to be expected in light of the records of the last five years . According to data published on the Ministry of Health's EVM platform, excess mortality is occurring in the population aged 75 and over in the Algarve region. Although for a year there have been more than 70 deaths associated with covid-19 per day, this year being five times less, there was even a day at the end of November when the number of global deaths in the country, which includes all causes of illnesses, covid-19 and others, but also victims of accidents, suicide and aggression, surpassed the 2020 record.

With the data available on the EVM platform, where mortality in the country is monitored daily from the death certificates, it is possible to conclude that in the last ten days of November 3718 people died in Portugal, whereas last year there were 3859 deaths, with days when the number of deaths was identical to that of 2020 and one day when it was higher, 28 November.
(...)

Jornal de Notícias also reports that the main reasons for the increase of mortality (https://www.jn.pt/nacional/portugal-volta-a-registar-excesso-de-mortalidade-14378909.html) is the cold weather and other illnesses.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: February 2022)
Post by: Mike88 on December 11, 2021, 11:42:29 AM
Fugitive banker João Rendeiro, arrested in South Africa:  (https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2021-12-11-fugitive-portuguese-banker-hiding-out-in-sa-arrested-in-durban/)



Quote
A fugitive banker wanted in Portugal on fraud charges involving €41m (about R740m) was arrested in Durban early on Saturday.

The website jn.pt said João Rendeiro was arrested in a raid involving officers from the Judicial Police in Portugal.

SA Police Service spokesperson Brig Vish Naidoo said the arrest took place in Umhlanga Rocks, and a TimesLIVE source said Rendeiro had been living in Sandton.

(...)

Rendeiro — founder and former president of Banco Privado Português (BPP), which collapsed in 2010 — was the subject of two international arrest warrants.

The former banker announced in a blog post on September 28 that he had left Portugal and that he did not intend to return to face trial. He had already been given a five-year prison term after an earlier conviction.

He said he felt wronged and claimed he had become a “scapegoat of a desire to punish those who, after all, were not punished”.

Rendeiro said he would return to Portugal only if he received a presidential pardon, but at a news conference in Lisbon on Saturday Neves said the Judicial Police had been tracking him since he left the UK on September 14 and arrived in SA on September 18.

(...)

Neves said Rendeiro obtained a SA residence permit on November 10. “He walked without disguises, but with great care. He didn't circulate freely,” he said.

Rendeiro's wife, Maria, 63, is under house arrest at the couple's mansion and Neves said when she was arrested for alleged money laundering on November 4 she told investigators her husband was in SA.

However, “we were already following him. She didn't give any clues. We had to safeguard the secret and I'm glad we managed to guard the information.”

Neves highlighted the importance of co-operation with the police and judicial authorities of SA and Angola.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: 16 Dec 2021)
Post by: Mike88 on December 16, 2021, 07:11:45 AM
2021 Census: INE publishes provisional results 3 months early, as they were only expected by February 2022.  (https://ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_destaques&DESTAQUESdest_boui=526271534&DESTAQUESmodo=2)

The National Statistics Institute has published the provisional results of the 2021 Census. Compared with the first results in July, the INE has updated down the population estimate, -3,090:

Portugal's population: 10,344,802 (-217,376 compared with 2011)

Interactive site: https://www.ine.pt/scripts/db_censos_2021.html

% of population by age: (compared with 2011)

53.2% Between 25-64 years (-2.0)
23.4% Above 65 years (+4.4)
23.4% Between 0-24 years (-2.4)

Alentejo and the Center regions have the highest % of elderly population, 27%. Azores islands have the lowest, 16.5%, and also has the highest % of young population, 26.5%.

Marital status %. (compared with 2011)

43.4% Single (+0.4)
41.1% Married (-2.1)
  8.0% Divorced (+2.0)
  7.5% Widowed (-0.3)

Women have the highest rate of widows, 11.7%, men only have 3%. The share of single men is higher than women, 46.8% vs 40.2%.

Nationality of the population: (compared with 2011)

9,789,503 Portuguese 94.6% (-1.7)
   555,299 Foreign 5.4% (+1.7)

81.4% of foreign population is from countries outside the EU. The Algarve has the highest % of foreign population, 14.7%, and Azores the lowest, just 1.5%.

% Population by education. (compared with 2011)

26.2% Basic School (-3.5)
21.4% Primary School (-4.1)
21.3% High School (+7.1)
17.4% College (+5.6)
13.7% None (-5.2)

Women has the highest % of population with a college degree, 60%, while men have the highest share in basic education, 54%.

Size of families %:

33.3% 2 people
24.8% Just one person
21.6% 3 people
14.7% 4 people
  5.6% 5 or more people

Azores has the highest share of big families, 5 or more people, with 9.6%. Lisbon has the highest share of families with just one person, 28%.

Building by occupation %: (compared with 2011)

70.0% Owners (-3.2)
22.3% Rented (+2.4)
  7.7% Other situation (+0.9)

The Center region has the highest share of property ownership, 77.3%, while Lisbon has the lowest 63.7%. In Lisbon, 29% of the households are rented.

Value of monthly rent euros %:

40.4% Between 650 and 999,9 euros
21.0% Above 1,000 euros
14.1% Between 400 and 649,9 euros
  6.9% Between 200 and 399,9 euros
17.6% Bellow 200 euros

61.4% of all rented houses have rents above 650 euros, which is basically the value of the minimum wage. Average salaries in Portugal are around 1,000 euros per month.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: 16 Dec 2021)
Post by: (no subject) on December 17, 2021, 10:47:34 AM
I wish Portugal had shown a stiffer spine over Timor in 1974-5. And, that FRETILIN hadn’t staged a Marxist coup on the Indons doorstep. And that both Gough Whitlam and Suharto had slipped on banana peels and been incapacitated in the most crucial months.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: 16 Dec 2021)
Post by: CumbrianLefty on December 17, 2021, 11:16:23 AM
I doubt if the Aussie right would have handled that any better tbh.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: 16 Dec 2021)
Post by: Mike88 on December 17, 2021, 11:28:12 AM
I wish Portugal had shown a stiffer spine over Timor in 1974-5. And, that FRETILIN hadn’t staged a Marxist coup on the Indons doorstep. And that both Gough Whitlam and Suharto had slipped on banana peels and been incapacitated in the most crucial months.

That would be impossible at that time. Between 1974 and 1976, Portugal was complete chaos, as the country was living the post revolutionary years. Terrorist attacks, violent protests, forced nationalizations, deep divisions in society, almost creating the fear of a possible civil war. The then governments, all of them provisional, had no power at all or even time to think about Timor. Even the decolonization process was quite chaotic with the rapid recognition of the African colonies as independent nations, but this led to a massive influx of more than 500,000 Portuguese residents in Africa, in just one year, that fled to Portugal, which was badly managed, and of course the complete meltdown in Angola and Mozambique that entered in a bloody civil war.

Portugal, however, tried to make amends in the 90's by becoming the leading nation in the world to arise awareness to Timor's situation. Both PSD and PS governments in the 90's were deeply committed in helping Timor and in the late 90's, the efforts of President Jorge Sampaio, helped solve the Timor issue. There was also a massive nationwide movement in order to help Timor.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: 16 Dec 2021)
Post by: Mike88 on December 18, 2021, 07:55:14 AM
Scandal in the police forces: GNR officers filmed torturing migrants in Odemira, Beja district.


Quote
Migrants assaulted and humiliated by uniformed agents in Odemira who filmed their own acts of violence. Seven GNR soldiers are accused of a total of 33 crimes. Follow it on CNN Portugal and see all the details in Jornal das 8 on TVI.

Quote
When the Judiciary Police seized the mobile phones of five soldiers at the GNR post in Vila Nova de Milfontes in 2019, Odemira, suspected of alleged mistreatment of immigrants, was far from imagining the reality they would stumble upon. The apparatus of a 25-year-old guard, subject to the PJ's forensics, revealed brutal images – until now hidden by the Justice, but to which CNN Portugal and TVI had access. It consists of seven videos - with images filmed for fun by the military himself - of kidnapping, torture, humiliation, violence and racist insults to various agricultural workers in that region. So it appears in the judicial process.

The victims, from South Asia, the majority from Bangladesh, Nepal or Pakistan, are picked up in the street, at random and free of charge, for the enjoyment of seven uniformed soldiers, serving the State, who appear in the images. They set up ambushes under the pretext of false stop operations, traffic inspection, and take immigrants to the post – where they attack and humiliate them, being subjected to various violent practices. In one of the false stop operations, GNR elements caught an immigrant who, taken to a field at night, was tortured with pepper spray, which the military forced to inhale through the mouth and nose through the tube of the alcohol meter , known as the “balloon test”.

Meanwhile, with the victim in pain and asking for water in English, which they refuse to give, they appear in this GNR military video, laughing and uttering the following sentence: "It's pepper spray, oh animal. Son of a great b***h! Animal !".
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: 16 Dec 2021)
Post by: Mike88 on December 18, 2021, 07:00:12 PM
2021 Census: INE publishes provisional results 3 months early, as they were only expected by February 2022.  (https://ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_destaques&DESTAQUESdest_boui=526271534&DESTAQUESmodo=2)

% of population by age: (compared with 2011)

53.2% Between 25-64 years (-2.0)
23.4% Above 65 years (+4.4)
23.4% Between 0-24 years (-2.4)

Alentejo and the Center regions have the highest % of elderly population, 27%. Azores islands have the lowest, 16.5%, and also has the highest % of young population, 26.5%.

Interesting, and a bit worrying, data: With the Census 2021 results, Portugal is now the 3rd country in the world with the highest share of population above 65 years old, just below Italy (23.5%), and Japan (28.4%).


Quote
2021 Census. Portugal is aging faster and faster, without immigrants the country enters into “demographic suicide”

Quote
It was already known that Portugal is an aging country, but the Census data released this week revealed an even darker scenario than expected. Almost a quarter of the population (23.4%) is over 65, the third highest percentage in the world, only behind Japan (28.4%) and practically on a par with Italy (23.5%). For every hundred young people, there are now 182 elderly people, a figure that has surpassed all predictions and shows an ever-accelerating rate of aging.

The value of the aging index surprised even researchers, as estimates for 2020 pointed to 167 elderly people for every 100 young people and the leap was not expected to be so great. “It shows that the trend is even stronger and faster than previously thought”, says Maria João Valente Rosa.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: 16 Dec 2021)
Post by: Mike88 on December 23, 2021, 08:54:38 PM
2021 Census: Parish map with changes 2021 vs 2011.

()
https://www.ine.pt/scripts/db_censos_2021.html

Portugal 2021: 10,344,802 (-217,376 compared with 2011)

There were big population increases in the Lisbon metro area and in the Algarve, plus the south part of the Alentejo coastal shore, where a lot of immigrants from across the world work in agriculture plantations, many of them in very inhuman conditions.

In Porto metro area, there was stagnation with some increases in parishes, like my own, around Porto city. Across the country, urban and "suburban" parishes had some increases, but rural parishes had a massive drop in population, as the dark blue across the country shows.

Orange for increase, Blue for Decrease.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: 16 Dec 2021)
Post by: Mike88 on December 31, 2021, 11:20:49 AM
Floods in the island of São Miguel, Azores, leaves 15 people homeless and a lot of damages:


Quote
The last day of the year brought a very significant storm in #Azores, with a lot of material damage and homeless.

Quote
The Civil Protection of the Azores registered during this Friday morning 11 new occurrences related to bad weather, totaling 87 identified since midnight in the entire archipelago.

In a statement, the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA) clarifies that, from 8:00 am to around 12:00 pm, it recorded 11 situations "related to falling trees, flooding of roads, obstructions of roads, landslides and element falls".

On the island of São Miguel, 10 incidents were registered during the morning and on the island of Terceira, a new incident.

"There is no record of personal injury", observes the Civil Protection.

The bad weather that was felt during the night led to the registration of a total of 87 occurrences: 76 in São Miguel, nine in Terceira island, one in Santa Maria and another in Pico.

The transshipment of a stream in Feteiras, Ponta Delgada municipality, forced 15 people to be relocated and caused the dragging of 15 vehicles.
(...)

The President of Azores Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, went to see the damages and promissed help and homes for those homeless:  (https://jornaleconomico.sapo.pt/noticias/governo-dos-acores-garante-apoio-as-familias-afetadas-pelo-mau-tempo-826092?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1640965216)

Quote
(...)
According to Bolieiro, who was speaking at the place, the families who spent the night at the home of relatives "are all relocated, with the social services of the municipality and the government to deal with the matter".

“Everything is underway”, he stressed.

Asked about the recovery of goods damaged by the flood, the president of the Regional Government indicated that "the populations can count on maximum solidarity and support to return to normality after this situation."

Alerting to the “real impact of climate change” on the archipelago, a “difficult territory” and vulnerable to them, Bolieiro said he wanted to “implement as soon as possible” the Flood Risk Management Plan prepared by the executive.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: 16 Dec 2021)
Post by: Mike88 on January 01, 2022, 06:26:00 PM
4.4 magnitude Earthquake felt this evening in the Algarve region:  (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2022-01-01-Sismo-de-magnitude-de-44-registado-ao-largo-do-Algarve-da388d87)



Quote
The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) warned of the occurrence of an earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale, with an epicenter 82 kilometers from Olhão. The concussion happened at 9:03 pm on this Saturday night, at a depth of 12 kilometers.

On IPMA's Twitter account, some users of the social network residing in the Algarve (Loulé, Faro and Olhão) guarantee that they felt the impact of the earthquake.

Despite the scare caused by the incident, "this earthquake, according to the information available so far, did not cause personal or material damage and was felt with maximum intensity III/IV (modified Mercalli scale) in the Faro region", reacted the IPMA.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: 16 Dec 2021)
Post by: Mike88 on January 14, 2022, 06:50:31 AM
Sexual abuse investigations: In just the first day open for reports, the commission of sexual abuse in the Church received 50 testimonies.


Quote
Collected 50 testimonies of sexual abuse in the church on the first day open to complaints 

Quote
The coordinator of the Independent Commission for the Study of Sexual Abuse in the Portuguese Catholic Church, child psychiatrist Pedro Strecht, said, in a written response sent to Lusa, that "the telephone line was almost always filled" on the first day open to the collection of complaints and testimonies through the various channels opened for this purpose.

"By online survey or completed in a phone call, around 50 testimonies have already been validated", said Pedro Strecht, stressing, in a statement around 18:30, that the telephone line only closes at 20:00, suggesting that the number can be higher.

"The commission is pleased that its initial message was well received by people who were victims of this type of abuse", said Pedro Strecht.

The commission that will investigate sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in Portugal began today to receive complaints from victims, from cases that have occurred since 1950, which can be sent to the authorities and investigated if the crimes have not yet expired.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: 16 Dec 2021)
Post by: Mike88 on January 19, 2022, 03:42:06 PM
Portuguese Justice is investigating Roman Abramovich's grant of Portuguese nationality:


Quote
PGR investigates Abramovich's Portuguese nationality

Quote
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, 55, has been a Portuguese citizen since April, when his Sephardic ancestry was certified.

The Attorney General's Office opened an inquiry into the attribution of Portuguese nationality to Roman Abramovich, an official PGR source confirmed to CNN Portugal. The investigation runs under the terms of the Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DIAP) in Lisbon.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, 55, has been a Portuguese citizen since April.

To obtain nationality through naturalization, the businessman saw Sephardic ancestry being proven by the Sephardic Certification Commission of the Portuguese Jewish community, of which he has been a partner in recent years.

The Jewish Community of Porto clarified on December 18 that Abramovich obtained Portuguese nationality following a process of certification of Sephardicism through "the highest international Jewish institutions, in respect of legal criteria". Thousands of Jews of Sephardic descent (Jews of Iberian origin) have thus acquired Portuguese nationality in recent years.

Born in Saratov, in the former Soviet Union, the millionaire now has four nationalities: Russian, Israeli, Lithuanian and Portuguese.

This in indeed a weird story...


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: 16 Dec 2021)
Post by: Mike88 on January 19, 2022, 06:09:13 PM
Lowest number of newborns in Portuguese history reached in 2021: less the 80,000.


Quote
Less than 80 thousand babies in 2021 for the first time in Portugal

Quote
The "foot test", which covers almost all births in Portugal, tracked less than 80,000 babies in 2021, for the first time in the country, reveal data from the Ricardo Jorge National Institute of Health (INSA).

Last year, 79,217 newborns were studied under the National Neonatal Screening Program (PNRN), 6,239 fewer than in 2020 (85,456).

According to data released by the Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), the highest number of babies screened was observed in the district of Lisbon (23,494), followed by Porto (14,736), Setúbal (5,919) and Braga ( 5,833).

Bragança, with 513 babies screened, Portalegre, with 584, and Guarda, with 645, were the districts that carried out the fewest tests in 2021.
(...)

On the other hand, deaths reached the highest figure since 1942: 125,032 deaths.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: 16 Dec 2021)
Post by: Mike88 on February 03, 2022, 10:17:38 AM
Severe drought in Portugal. Government limits hydroelectric power in at least 5 dams:



Quote
Portugal is restricting the use of some reservoirs for hydroelectric power and irrigation amid an unusual winter drought.

On Tuesday, authorities temporarily limited water use at some hydropower dams to prioritise human consumption.

The Portuguese Institute of Meteorology (IPMA) said that the whole country was enduring some degree of drought because of relatively low rainfall since November.

The IPMA added the situation had now worsened, with at least 45% of the country in “severe” or “extreme” drought.

Five hydroelectric dams in central Portugal will be almost totally shut down and another in the southern Algarve region will halt irrigation, the environment ministry announced on Tuesday.
(...)
With February forecast to produce little rain, the restrictions will remain in place until March 1 when they will be reassessed.

Portuguese farmers have already voiced concerns, saying the drought could "severely" affect their crops and cattle.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on February 05, 2022, 06:59:03 PM
Government approves lithium mines, but local governments are against the mines:



Quote
The race for lithium in Portugal has reached its pinnacle.

While residents have continuously rallied against the rare metal's mining — citing huge environmental ramifications — the country's environment ministry has given the green light to the extraction of the "white gold" in six different parts of the country.

However, the municipality of Pinhel is preparing to file an injunction to stop exploration.

Residents in Fundão say plans for a mine will interfere with the area's central irrigation system, posing a threat to one of the region's leading industries, the agri-food sector.

"It will never be possible, I would say, for the municipalities, but also for the administration and even for the government, that mining will take place in what is one of the main assets of agricultural production where there is such large investment," says Mayor of Fundão Paulo Fernades.

"Besides, there are urban centres within this same area," Fernandes points out.

According to a London based mining company Savannah Resources, Portugal has 60,000 tons of known lithium reserves.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on February 06, 2022, 07:08:30 AM
Severe drought in Portugal. Government limits hydroelectric power in at least 5 dams:

Images of the big drought Portugal is going through:


Quote
The drought in Portugal. From MC Somsen
Foz de Alge, Figueiró dos Vinhos, Leiria district.
April 2021.
January 2022.
It hasn't rained this year yet.
[photos by Carlos Silva]


According to this tweet, only by late March/early April will rain start pouring into the country:

Quote
Next few days with some #rain in mountainous areas of #Morocco, some light rain in the archipelagos, in the east of #Spain but #mainland Portugal remains immersed in a drought situation that only towards the end of the month and in March / April could change a little .


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on February 08, 2022, 10:15:40 AM
Vodafone Portugal services suffered a hacking attack:



Quote
LISBON, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Vodafone's (VOD.L) Portuguese unit said on Tuesday a hacker attack overnight had disrupted its services but assured its customers that their personal data had not been compromised as a result of the incident, which is under investigation.

Vodafone Portugal said in a statement its system faced technical problems on Monday evening, with thousands of customers reporting they were unable to make calls or access the internet on their phones or computers.

It later discovered the technical issues were caused by what it described as a "deliberate and malicious" cyber attack.

"There is no evidence customer data has been accessed or compromised," it said. "An in-depth investigation of the criminal act...will continue for an indefinite period, with the involvement of the competent authorities."
(...)

This is the 4th major hacking attack in Portugal in the last few weeks. Earlier in January, Expresso and SIC TV websites were hacked, deleting all of their archives, and Portugal's leading newspaper, Correio da Manhã, was also hacked as well the Parliament website on election day, last 30 January.

Several emergency communications, from hospitals to firefighters, were down for several hours, and emergency services had to use other companies to be "online".


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on February 10, 2022, 02:19:12 PM
Portuguese police, tipped by the FBI, prevents a terrorist attack for tomorrow in a Lisbon University:


Quote
Exclusive: PJ stops at last minute a terrorist attack at the University of Lisbon

Quote
The Judiciary Police stopped at the limit a terrorist attack in Lisbon that would allegedly be committed this Friday at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon. The suspect is a young engineering student who planned to kill several colleagues, CNN Portugal knows.

The attack on indiscriminate people was planned in detail by the young Portuguese, in writing, and aimed at committing as many murders as possible on fellow university students. When the National Counterterrorism Unit entered the student's home this morning, they found weapons - bladed - with which the suspect had planned, and announced, to commit the crimes - namely large knives.

The alert reached the PJ last week, CNN Portugal knows, through the FBI. The US authorities, in their monitoring of the Internet in general, social networks and the dark web to prevent the phenomenon of terrorism, detected conversations in chats in which the young Portuguese man intervened – where he announced his intention to commit an attack in Portugal.

The PJ quickly proceeded to monitor the life of this student and, in conjunction with the Public Ministry, decided to proceed with house searches this Thursday morning. They found the detailed plan of the armed attack that the suspect would carry out tomorrow and the weapons he kept at home for that purpose.

The 18-year-old suspect will be present this Friday for the first judicial interrogation of the accused detained for subjection to the coercive measure considered appropriate.

The Faculty of Sciences was currently on break for exams. During this Thursday and Friday exams are held in the area of ​​Mathematics, which bring together hundreds of students.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on February 13, 2022, 08:06:20 PM
Hooded invade and destroy bar in Vilamoura, Algarve:  (https://postal.pt/sociedade/encapuzados-incendeiam-bar-em-vilamoura-clientes-sairam-ilesos-do-estabelecimento-com-video/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=postaldoalgarve)


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Hooded people set fire to a bar in Vilamoura. Customers left the establishment unharmed [with video]: Authors of the attack are on the run. Establishment located in the Olympus hotel building was set on fire late this afternoon.

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A group of five hooded men attacked, on Sunday afternoon, a bar in Vilamoura, in the municipality of Loulé. Before dousing it with combustible liquid, setting it on fire, the men allegedly asked customers to leave the establishment. According to a source from the GNR, there are no injuries to report.
(...)
“It was two hooded men who came in and attacked the bar, doused it with gasoline and set it on fire. The 'staff' and customers were all able to leave without injury," said the Guard officer, although Expresso knows that the group was larger.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on February 23, 2022, 07:14:47 AM
Emergency team at Famalicão hospital, Braga, violently beaten up by the family of a patient:  (https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/grupo-invade-urgencias-do-hospital-de-famalicao-e-provoca-tres-feridos-14612815.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter)


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Group invades Famalicão Hospital emergency room and causes three injured

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A group of about 10 people "burst" in the early hours of Tuesday at the Famalicão Hospital Emergency Room and attacked a security officer and health professionals, causing three injuries, hospital and police sources said.

In a statement, the Centro Hospitalar do Médio Ave (CHMA) states that the episode was recorded at 03:30, when the group "aggressively" entered the Emergency Department, accompanying a woman.

"When asked to calm down by the security element, they violently attacked him, forced him to enter the service and, when they were again asked to calm down, attacked the health professionals who approached him, causing serious injuries to two of professionals", he adds.

Also in a statement, the PSP states that it received a call via 112, reporting that there was a disorder with aggression, involving a group of 15 to 20 citizens, in the emergency department of the hospital in Vila Nova de Famalicão.

He adds that it was not possible to identify or detain the alleged aggressors, "because they fled the scene".
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on February 28, 2022, 03:11:02 PM
2021 GDP numbers: INE confirms 4.9% growth in 2021.


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Economy grew 4.9 percent in 2021.

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The Portuguese economy grew by close to 5% last year. The Statistics Institute confirmed the country's fastest growth in more than 30 years. The increase in consumption and investment helped the economy's accounts.
The advance now registered comes after the Portuguese economy sank in 2020 because of the crisis caused by the Pandemic.

Overall 2021 numbers:

GDP: 211,5 billion euros
GDP per capita: 20,441 euros
Unemployment: 6.6%
Debt: 269,6 billion euros
Debt %: 127.5%
Deficit: -4.2%*

*Estimation based on the December 2021 data. Numbers still to be confirmed.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on March 01, 2022, 11:41:22 AM
Massive cargo ship with 4,000 luxury cars sinks off the Azores islands:


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Shipwreck: Ship with thousands of luxury cars sinks off the Azores

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The Felicity Ace ship, which was carrying about 4000 luxury Volkswagen group cars on board, sank this Tuesday about 46 kilometers off the coast.

During the towing operation, which began on February 24, “water entered” the ship, which “lost stability and sank,” Faial port captain João Mendes Cabeças told Reuters.

The boat sank “about 25 nautical miles, the equivalent of 46 kilometers, outside the limit of the Economic and Exclusive Zone of Portugal, in an area whose depth is around 3,000 meters”, details the Portuguese Navy in a statement.

At the site there are “some wreckage and a small patch of oily waste, which is being dispersed by the water jets of the tugboats and which is being monitored by the Directorate for Combating Pollution of the National Maritime Authority and the European Maritime Safety Agency” .

(...)

Volkswagen, Porsche and Bentley cars on board

The Felicity Ace, which was sailing 90 nautical miles (about 170 kilometers) southwest of the island of Faial, suffered a fire on board on the 16th of February. The 22 crew members were rescued and transported safely to Horta airport.

According to the Associated Press (AP) reported in February, the Felicity Ace, which departed Emden, Germany, headed for the port of Davisville, in the US state of Rhode Island, was transporting Volkswagen group cars.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on March 02, 2022, 07:17:52 AM
Sines Harbour CEO says that the Harbour is ready for expansion in order to stock pile gas for Europe:


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Sines may have a new terminal to deliver gas to Europe

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The president of the Administration of the Ports of Sines and Algarve (APS) assures that “there is capacity to build a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal” in Portugal, in order to “increase storage capacity” for Europe, reports the Jornal de Negócios (paid access) this Wednesday.

These statements come after commentator Luís Marques Mendes stated in SIC that Brussels is preparing to “encourage interconnections between the Iberian Peninsula and France to take gas to Central Europe”, looking for an alternative to buying gas from Russia.

But Sines will only be able to move forward when the technical constraints in the interconnections between Spain and France are overcome. Furthermore, even if it goes ahead, this investment may take about two years and it will still be necessary to define who pays for the construction. Speaking to Negócios, the president of the Port and Logistics Community of Sines also added that a ship arrives every five days at the Alentejo port and is stored at REN's LNG terminal.

Currently, there's a big project to expand the harbour and it's being disputed by China and the US (https://www.sabado.pt/dinheiro/detalhe/porto-de-sines-disputado-por-chineses-e-americanos). China was poised to win the project, but then Covid appeared and China failed to propose a project. Now, the US is interested in picking up the project and this proposed new gas terminal could appeal even more to the Americans.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on March 11, 2022, 06:38:52 AM
Supermarkets are already rationing some products in the shelves:


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Supermarkets are already limiting the sale of sunflower oil, a product imported from Ukraine

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Continente and Mercadona began rationing the sale of bottles of cooking oil per customer. The measure comes after António Costa said that "there will be no shortage" of essential goods.

Sunflower oil, which Portugal imports from Ukraine, is starting to be rationed in some commercial areas. This is the case with Continente and Mercadona which, according to Jornal de Notícias, have already started to limit the number of products that each customer can purchase. But it's not just (pure) sunflower oils – even blended oils are being rationed.

In an image that the Observer had access to, the following message can be read: “Due to the sharp increase in demand for cooking oil, we inform you that the sale of the product is limited to the sale of three units per customer. Buy only what you need.”
(...)

Also on the Continente Online website, several products are being rationed, even when they are not pure sunflower oil. “In view of the high demand, the sale of this product is limited to 2 units per customer”, can be read in a note on the website.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on March 11, 2022, 02:42:02 PM
Porto's Jewish community Rabbi arrested by the police due to an investigation surrounding Roman Abramovich's Portuguese nationality issue:


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Rabbi who validated Abramovich's naturalization was arrested

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Rabbi Daniel Litvak, responsible for the Sephardic Certification Commission of the Israeli Community of Porto (CIP), was arrested this Friday by the Judiciary Police.

In question are the alleged irregularities committed in processes to grant Portuguese nationality to descendants of Sephardic Jews, which are under investigation. One of the cases is that of Russian millionaire Roman Abramovich, owner of Chelsea, who became, since April 30, 2021, a Portuguese citizen under the Nationality Law for Sephardic Jews.

Daniel Litvak is suspected of the crimes of criminal association, active corruption, money laundering, tax fraud and influence peddling in the Abramovich case, but also of other processes of naturalization of descendants of Sephardic Jews.

In a statement, the Judiciary Police said that its National Anti-Corruption Unit (UNCC) carried out several home and non-domicile searches, including a lawyer's office, as part of an investigation conducted by the DCIAP.

(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on March 12, 2022, 11:25:32 AM
Porto's Jewish community Rabbi arrested by the police due to an investigation surrounding Roman Abramovich's Portuguese nationality issue:

Update: The police has removed the passports of Rabbi Daniel Litvak and he was released during the early hours of this Saturday (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2022-03-12-PJ-quer-saber-como-e-que-o-dono-da-Altice-se-naturalizou-portugues-em-2016-9dd1d6ad), and has to present himself 3 times a week in a police station. A Porto city lawyer is also suspect of helping Rabbi Litvak in the schemes. Litvak is suspected of diverting part of donations worth 35 million euros and of facilitating the grant of Portuguese nationality to sereval high profile people. Another suspect of this scheme is the owner of Altice group, Patrick Drahi, a French multinational telecommunications company, which got his Portuguese nationality in 2016 under the umbrella of the descendants of Sephardi Jews law.

The Porto Israeli Community is rejecting the police accusations (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2022-03-12-Caso-Abramovich-comunidade-israelita-confirma-dois-arguidos--e-defende-que-ambos-estao-inocentes--db3ed93a) and say that all accusationw will be countered "point by point", adding also that the Rabbi is innocent.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on March 12, 2022, 05:55:39 PM
CNN Portugal is also reporting that the investigation on Abramovich Portuguese nationality is much broader (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/geral/associacao-criminosa-pj-acredita-que-esquema-de-naturalizacoes-tambem-passe-pelo-irn/20220312/622c87690cf2c7ea0f1ecaa1), and that the police suspects that 80,000 Portuguese nationalization certificates are suspicious. According to CNN, this means that the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN) is involved in the investigation as the police believes that government employees from the IRN could have accepted bribes. The police suspects that there could be a "big web" to give Portuguese nationality in exchange of bribes.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on March 16, 2022, 10:16:37 AM
Big gas explosion destroys buildings and cars in the suburbs of Lisbon, 15 injured so far:  (https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/pais/2022/03/16/forte-explosao-na-amadora-faz-15-feridos/276563/?utm_source=megahits)



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The explosion at Casal de S. Brás, Amadora, injured 15 people, six firefighters and nine civilians. Apparently, the deflagration was caused by a gas leak on the 6th floor.

According to the latest report, there are two seriously injured, one of whom is a firefighter.

"It was an explosion of some size, with material damage and also injuries," the commander of the Civil Protection of Amadora, Luís Carvalho, told Lusa, specifying that the incident took place at José Maria Pereira Street, number 7.

According to the commander, who was speaking at around 11:30 am, the wounded are being "counted".

"People were also removed from the building and adjacent buildings," added the official.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on March 19, 2022, 09:23:03 AM
4 police officers injured after clashes in a nightclub in Lisbon. One of the officers is in a coma.  (https://observador.pt/2022/03/19/quatro-policias-violentamente-agredidos-a-porta-de-discoteca-lisboeta-um-deles-esta-em-coma/)


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Four policemen violently attacked outside a Lisbon nightclub. One of them is in a coma

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Four police officers were violently assaulted in the early hours of Saturday outside a nightclub in Lisbon, having been transported to the hospital, where one of them is “in critical condition”, informed the PSP Lisbon Metropolitan Command.

A PSP union source told the Lusa agency that the policeman who is in a critical condition is in a coma, at Saint Joseph Hospital, in Lisbon.

In the statement issued, the Metropolitan Command of Lisbon says that the incident took place at dawn, at 6:30 am, “outside a nightlife establishment, on 24 July Avenue”, having started with mutual aggressions between several citizens.

According to the PSP, there were “four police officers, off duty, who immediately intervened, as was their legal obligation” and ended up being “violently” attacked by one of the groups, made up of about ten people.

(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on March 20, 2022, 11:17:45 AM
Controversy as a judge allows accused neonazi Mario Machado to go fight in Ukraine against Russia:  (https://observador.pt/2022/03/18/mario-machado-isentado-de-apresentacoes-quinzenais-na-esquadra-para-combater-na-ucrania/)


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Mário Machado exempted from fortnightly presentations at the police station to fight in Ukraine

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The Criminal Investigation Court authorized that Mário Machado, accused in a case of incitement to racial hatred and violence on social networks, does not have to go fortnightly to the police station because he will fight in Ukraine.

The news is advanced by Expresso newspaper, which had access to the court's decision and also confirmed it with Machado's lawyer. The judge of the Lisbon Criminal Investigation Court justified this authorization with “the humanitarian situation experienced in Ukraine and the purposes invoked by the accused for his claim”. “The defendant may fail to comply with the aforementioned coercive measure while he is absent abroad”, quotes the newspaper.

The court's decision comes in response to a request by his lawyer, José Manuel Castro, filed in early March. Machado, who is also indicted for the crime of possession of a prohibited weapon, leads a group of eight nationalists who will leave for Ukraine on the 20th to fight with a militia of the Ukrainian extreme right that is in Lviv, but which, according to Expresso , is not the Azov Battalion.

Mário Machado has a long list of convictions: he has been imprisoned for crimes of racial hatred, offense to physical integrity, possession of an illegal weapon, kidnapping, robbery, coercion, and also for involvement in the death of the Portuguese citizen born in Cape Verde, Alcino Monteiro.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on March 21, 2022, 06:43:59 AM
Seismic crisis in the Azores:  700 earthquakes registered in the island of São Jorge in the last 24 hours.  (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2022-03-20-Cerca-de-700-sismos-registados-na-ilha-de-Sao-Jorge-em-24-horas-mas-so-48-sentidos-8d1f8a669700)



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About 700 earthquakes were recorded in the last 24 hours on the island of São Jorge, in the Azores, all of low magnitude, but only 48 were felt, revealed this Sunday a source from the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center (CIVISA).

“We have already recorded, in the last 24 hours, about seven hundred earthquakes, all of low magnitude, following a seismic crisis that originated on Saturday in the Manadas volcanic fissure system, on the island of São Jorge, but only 48 of them were felt by the population”, explained to Lusa the president of CIVISA, Rui Marques.

According to the same source, this fissure system, which coincides with the main volcanic cones of the island, is still active and now registers a release of energy that was not common in recent years.

“All the earthquakes felt in São Jorge since 5:11 pm on Saturday [6:11 pm in Lisbon] are of tectonic origin”, assured Rui Marques, adding that the largest earthquake, 3.2 on the Richter scale, was recorded at 2:43 am this Sunday and reached grade IV/V on the modified Mercalli scale, having been felt by the populations of São Jorge and also the island of Pico.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on March 21, 2022, 10:16:12 AM
4 police officers injured after clashes in a nightclub in Lisbon. One of the officers is in a coma.  (https://observador.pt/2022/03/19/quatro-policias-violentamente-agredidos-a-porta-de-discoteca-lisboeta-um-deles-esta-em-coma/)

Update in this case: The police officer in a coma, Fábio Guerra, died this morning. (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/fabio-guerra/morreu-o-agente-da-psp-que-estava-em-coma-desde-sabado-no-hospital-de-sao-jose-em-lisboa/20220321/623866f60cf21a10a4266d52) The police, so far, has identified two suspects involved in the beating of the 4 police officers. Both are navy marines that are now currently locked up in a Portuguese Navy facility in the suburbs of Lisbon.

President Marcelo and the Government have already reacted to the news (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2022-03-21-O-agente-Fabio-Guerra-sera-recordado-pela-sua-abnegacao-coragem-e-dedicacao-Marcelo-reage-a-morte-do-agente-agredido-em-Lisboa-256c9cb2) and paid tribute to officer Fábio Guerra.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on March 21, 2022, 05:27:18 PM
Seismic crisis in the Azores:  700 earthquakes registered in the island of São Jorge in the last 24 hours.  (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2022-03-20-Cerca-de-700-sismos-registados-na-ilha-de-Sao-Jorge-em-24-horas-mas-so-48-sentidos-8d1f8a669700)

Update: The number of earthquakes has surpassed 1,000.



There are fears that this could lead to a volcano eruption along the island's volcanic fissure of Manadas. The last time it erupted was in 1808.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on March 22, 2022, 02:40:42 PM
Update on the Azores seismic crisis: Regional Government is preparing preventive measures for a possible major earthquake or volcanic eruption.  (https://observador.pt/2022/03/22/protecao-civil-dos-acores-prepara-medidas-preventivas-para-crise-sismo-vulcanica-em-sao-jorge/)

The President of Azores, José Manuel Boliero, has cancelled a trip to Brazil to follow the seismic crisis and has advised the population of São Jorge island to be "vigilant" and to be calm. The regional government also announced they are preparing plans to evacuate the island's population, if necessary, and are collaborating with the two mayors of the island.

São Jorge island has a population of 8,373 according to the 2021 Census.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on March 23, 2022, 06:29:37 PM
Azores seismic crisis update: Regional Government says that there's a real possibility of a volcano eruption. Alert level raised. (https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/governo-dos-acores-admite-possibilidade-real-de-erupcao-na-ilha-de-sao-jorge-plano-de-emergencia-acionado-14708864.html)

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The Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center (CIVISA) today raised the volcanic alert level on the island of São Jorge to V4 (out of a total of five), which means "real possibility of eruption", said the Regional Government.

"Today, at 15:30 [16:30 in Lisbon], the rise to level V4 of volcanic alert was reported, which means a real possibility of eruption", said the regional secretary for Health of the Azores, Clélio Meneses, who oversees Civil Protection, at a press conference in Angra do Heroísmo, on Terceira island.

In view of this scenario, the Azorean executive recommended that the population with greater vulnerabilities in the main affected area on the island of São Jorge should leave their homes.

(...)

Patients from the local hospital have also been transferred to the other side of the island. Things are getting complicated in the Azores. :(

Let's hope nothing bad really happens.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, others)
Post by: Mike88 on March 24, 2022, 06:57:19 PM
Update on the Azores crisis: Evacuations are taking place in São Jorge, with residents leaving to the eastern part of the island or to near by islands.


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Seismic activity in the Azores. Population of São Jorge leaves the island as a precaution

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This evening, the last reinforcement boat leaves the port of S. Jorge for the population to leave the island as a precaution. Tickets are practically all sold out.

During the weekend, a storm is forecast to hit the island which, in the advent of a serious volcanic event, would complicate any help or evacuations. Therefore, the Azores government decided to hasten the evacuation of the island's residents (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/acores-habitantes-das-fajas-de-sao-jorge-vao-ser-retirados/) and made available ships and airplanes for people to leave the island as fast as possible.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 29, 2022, 09:28:15 AM
Spanish experts say that the magma intrusion in São Jorge island is of the same size that led to the La Palma's eruption last September:  (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2022-03-29-Vulcanologistas-espanhois-calculam-um-volume-de-magma-em-Sao-Jorge-comparavel-ao-de-La-Palma-antes-da-erupcao-04f1257a)

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Through the analysis of data obtained by satellite, experts from the Instituto Vulcanológico das Canárias (INVOLCAN) consider that the deformation in the soil observed on the Azorean island is caused by an intrusion of magma with a volume of 20 million cubic meters. And do not rule out a similar eruption in São Jorge in the coming weeks

Based on the analysis of images collected by the European Space Agency's satellite, the Canary Islands Volcanological Institute (Involcan) concludes that the deformation in the soil observed in São Jorge has "volcanic origin" and is caused by an intrusion of magma along a fracture subvertical, with a volume of 20 million cubic meters, similar to that recorded in La Palma, before the eruption of Cumbre Vieja.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on April 01, 2022, 02:26:08 PM
Update on the Azores: Earthquakes have changed location and their epicenters are closer to the surface:


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Seismic crisis in São Jorge: “new situation” with changes in the location of earthquakes

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The president of the Azorean Civil Protection said this Thursday that the outbreaks of earthquakes recorded in the new zone of the São Jorge seismovolcanic crisis, in Rosais, were recorded closer to the surface, between five and seven kilometers deep.

Speaking to the Lusa agency, Brigadier General Eduardo Faria said that the record of earthquakes in the Rosais area, in the westernmost part of the island, is a “new situation”.

Since the beginning of the seismic crisis in São Jorge, on the 19th, earthquakes have been occurring in the central part of the island, in an area that goes from the center of Velas to Fajã do Ouvidor.

Already in the daily briefing on the situation, the president of the Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service of the Azores had revealed the existence of “a change in relation to the location of the epicenters” of the earthquakes. “These things cannot be predicted where it will be, but one would be more expecting it to continue along the same lines as it had in recent days.”

According to him, the earthquakes in the Rosais area have occurred closer to the surface, since the hypocenter has been recorded between “five to seven kilometers deep”.

The events that took place in the central area of ​​the island continue with a depth of “7.5 to 12 kilometers”.
(...)

During this week, the biggest earthquakes so far were recorded: 3.8 in the Richter scale on Tuesday, 29 March, evening, and 3.6 on Wednesday, 30 March.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on April 15, 2022, 10:24:57 AM
Updates:

- Azores seismic crisis: Earthquakes continue to be felt by the population, a total of 28,251 have been registered but only 250 have been felt by the population (https://visao.sapo.pt/atualidade/sociedade/2022-04-12-acores-sismos-registado-ligeiro-incremento-no-numero-de-eventos-em-sao-jorge/). The situation continues stable and earthquakes continue to be registered, but with a lower tendency. Plus, the regional government announced financial aid to the island's economy. Some residents are also returning to their homes in the island;

- Sexual harassment and racism accusations are hitting Portuguese universities: Professors at the Lisbon Law School are being investigated for sexually harassing female students in exchange for better grades (https://www.publico.pt/2022/04/04/sociedade/noticia/cinquenta-queixas-assedio-moral-sexual-faculdade-direito-universidade-lisboa-2001269). One of the accused is a former PS government member during Costa's first term as PM (https://www.jn.pt/nacional/guilherme-w-doliveira-martins-alvo-de-denuncias-de-alunas-da-faculdade-de-direito-de-lisboa-14747013.html), Guilherme W. d'Oliveira Martins; In Porto's Economy Faculty, a teacher was thrown out of the Faculty because of racist and sexual attacks mainly towards Brazilian students during classes. (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/reitor/machistas/professor-da-universidade-do-porto-demitido-por-comentarios-sexistas-racistas-e-xenofobos/20220413/625711c00cf2f9a86e9e4d38) A group of 129 students filled a complaint against this teacher last year and he's now forbidden to teach in Porto University and cannot appeal. Other complaint, from last October, also accused several teachers and students of racist attacks towards foreign students, mainly from Brazil;

- Sexual Abuses in the Portuguese Catholic Church: The committee investigating the cases gave a first update on the work done so far. Until now, 290 cases of sexual abuse have been validated (https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/igreja-encobriu-casos-de-abuso-sexual_v1398126), but only 16 were sent to the authorities as the majority of the crimes have already prescribed. However, the committee says that there are still cover ups in the Church and that some Bishops are still reluctant in helping the committee;

- FBI arrested a Portuguese man accused of leading one of the world's major hacking forums: The FBI, with the help also of the Portuguese Police, arrested a young Portuguese man, aged 21, accused of leading one of the world's major hacking platforms (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/ciberataque/raidforum/espioes-infiltrados-e-deus-a-incrivel-historia-do-hacker-portugues-apanhado-pelo-fbi-que-montou-um-dos-maiores-imperios-do-cibercrime/20220413/625611100cf2ea4f0a446af9), trafficking around 10 billion individual data stolen. He was arrested in the UK. The Portuguese Police was also involved in an investigation that found a server, used to manipulate US election results, was housed in Portugal;

- On a funny side, a Boar attacked 3 police officers in the Algarve: A boar, of average size, created some tense moments in Olhão city (https://www.jn.pt/local/noticias/faro/olhao/javali-ataca-policias-no-mercado-municipal-de-olhao-14774113.html), Algarve, after entering the local market and wandering around a restaurant area. The police was forced to shot down the animal as he was running towards them to attack;


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on April 18, 2022, 10:50:35 AM
Earthquake hits the largest island in the Azores, São Miguel:



Quote
An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale and with an epicentre about 35 kilometres southeast (SE) of Água Retorta, in São Miguel, in the Azores, was felt this morning in several parishes of the largest Azorean island.

The Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center (CIVISA) indicates that the earthquake was felt at 05:57 local time (06:57 in Lisbon), according to a statement from the Civil Protection of the Azores.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on April 28, 2022, 07:22:22 PM
Porto university opens investigation to a teacher accused of abusing and impregnating a student:

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Professor at the School of Letters at UP accused of abusing student. Young woman got pregnant by the teacher and lost the baby

A foreign student at the School of Letters at Porto University is accusing a teacher of abusing her and making her pregnant. The student filled a police complaint last 21 April, and the student has already cancelled her inscription in the school and is ready to leave Portugal. The abuse seems to have started last September when she asked a professor for some help in an essay, but he started harassing her and he ended up forcing to have sexual relations. The student said that the professor threatened her if she spoke, and she ultimately got pregnant and, when she informed the professor, he was furious and pushed her. A few weeks later, she suffered a spontaneous abortion.

Porto university has now opened an investigation surrounding the matter, however, the professor's lawyer says that the accusations are complete lies and there was no sexual abuse.

Stories about sexual abuse in Portuguese universities by professors have been making headlines in the last few weeks, with investigations showing wide spread abuse and also attempts of cover ups.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on April 29, 2022, 07:36:07 PM
Economy: Inflation surges to 7.2% in April, even though GDP also surges 11.9% compared with Q1 2021.


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Inflation in Portugal soars to 7.2% in April, the highest value in the last 29 years

Quote
The inflation rate in Portugal accelerated to 7.2% in April, the highest value since March 1993 and an increase of 1.9 percentage points compared to March, according to a quick estimate by the National Statistics Institute (INE). This increase is influenced by unprocessed energy and food products.

Data indicate that the core inflation indicator (excluding unprocessed food and energy) continued to accelerate in April, from a year-on-year change of 3.8% in March to 5% in April, the highest level since September 1995.
(...)

At the same time, GDP growth surprised economists by growing 11.9% compared with Q1 2021 and 2.6% compared with Q4 2021:

Quote
After a growth of 4.9% in 2021 and despite the impact of the war from the end of February, the Portuguese economy grew 2.6% chain-on-quarter (compared to the fourth quarter) in the first three months of this year, according to the quick estimate. released this Friday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). In year-on-year terms, GDP advanced 11.9% as it had contracted in the first quarter of 2021, as well as in the first quarter of 2020.
(...)
It was private consumption that gave this unexpected boost to GDP during the first quarter of 2022. “Compared with the 4th quarter of 2021, GDP increased by 2.6% in volume (chain growth of 1.7% in the previous quarter ), with a more positive contribution of domestic demand to the change in GDP, in part motivated by the acceleration of private consumption, while the contribution of net external demand remained slightly positive”, explains INE. This could be explained by the gradual lifting of restrictions from the pandemic.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on May 08, 2022, 07:02:25 AM
One death and one injured during FCPorto championship celebrations in Porto city. Police has already identified the suspects:


Quote
Crime: FC Porto champion: man stabbed to death during festivities in Antas

Quote
A 26-year-old man died this morning after being stabbed during the celebrations for the title of national champion of FC Porto next to Dragão Stadium, in Porto, said a police source.

According to a source from the Metropolitan Command of the PSP in Porto, during the dawn there was an aggression against a man who was celebrating the national title at Antas Avenue, in Porto, having been stabbed, and the “woman who accompanied him when separating the fight ended up stabbed. also".

Both were transported to a hospital, and the man ended up not being able to resist the injuries, according to the same source, who does not know the severity of the woman's injuries.

(...)

In the meantime, the Porto PSP has identified the suspects in the attacks. In a statement released today, the Porto Metropolitan Command said that the police officers who were part of the policing device who were next to Dragão Stadium were informed that there had been a disorder in Antas Avenue, at 2:40 am, so they immediately moved to the zone.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on May 12, 2022, 09:35:42 AM
Police kills a kidnapper, possibly German, who took hostage tourists in a hostel in the suburbs of Lisbon (https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/portuguese-police-shoot-dead-knife-wielding-kidnapper-possibly-german-2022-05-12/):

Quote
Portuguese police have shot and killed a man, described as a German citizen by some local media, who had taken another person hostage at knifepoint in an apartment on the outskirts of Lisbon on Thursday.

In a statement, police only confirmed that the hostage-taker had died of his wounds, but provided no details on him or his hostage, and declined to elaborate when contacted by Reuters.

The assailant was "of great physical stature and armed with two-edged weapons", with which he had seriously wounded the hostage, the statement said.

Attempts to free the victim had resulted in an officer being stabbed, so police opened fire, it said.

Correio da Manha newspaper cited a police source as saying the man was a German tourist, who was apparently drunk and deranged when he attacked other foreigners in the apartment in Alges, a neighbourhood by the river Tagus that is popular with tourists.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events, 2021 Census provisional results: February 2022)
Post by: Mike88 on May 13, 2022, 05:51:35 AM
Fugitive banker João Rendeiro, arrested in South Africa:  (https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2021-12-11-fugitive-portuguese-banker-hiding-out-in-sa-arrested-in-durban/)

João Rendeiro found dead in his prison cell in South Africa. Suicide is the most likely cause:


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João Rendeiro found dead in jail

Quote
Former BPP president João Rendeiro was found hanged in the jail where he was being held, in South Africa, the lawyer of the former Portuguese banker told Lusa.

June Marks further added that authorities are investigating the circumstances of what happened.

João Rendeiro was being held in a prison in Durban, South Africa, where he was awaiting a decision on the extradition process to Portugal.

The former banker had been convicted in three separate cases related to the collapse of Banco Privado Português (BPP), and the court found that he withdrew 13.61 million euros from the bank. Of the three convictions, only one had already become final.

In September last year, Rendeiro had been sentenced to three years and six months in prison, in a case of qualified fraud, and was on the run from justice until he was caught in December in South Africa.
(...)
The collapse of BPP, in 2010, injured thousands of customers and caused losses of hundreds of millions of euros to the State.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on May 21, 2022, 07:20:45 AM
Tragic bus accident in the main motorway of the country. 28 injured, 3 death so far:  (https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/pesado-de-passageiros-despistou-se-na-zona-da-mealhada-14876748.html)


Quote
Three people died, four were seriously injured and 26 with minor injuries in the accident with a bus that crashed this morning on the A1, in the Mealhada area, on the way to Fátima.

Quote
A heavy passenger vehicle crashed this Saturday morning in the Mealhada area, on the A1. According to the latest official information, three are confirmed dead, and 28 injured.

The first balance had indicated two dead, but the Civil Protection had in the meantime indicated another fatal victim.

Speaking to journalists near the scene of the accident, Civil Protection officer Carlos Tavares said that there was one dead person already removed from the bus and two people incarcerated "with no vital signs".

There are still several people incarcerated.
(...)
The accident was the result of a tire burst. The Civil Protection official said that the bus "may have left the carriageway and crashed into an electricity pole".
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 02, 2022, 12:27:54 PM
Royal treasure finally inaugurated and open to the public in Ajuda Royal Palace:  (https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/cultura/2008187/museu-do-tesouro-real-e-inaugurado-hoje-no-palacio-da-ajuda)


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The Royal Treasure Museum has already opened. Come and discover one of the most important collections of jewels and jewellery of the monarchy, exhibited for the 1st time permanently in the west wing of the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda.

Quote
The original plan for this museum is 226 years old, during which time the finishing work on the west wing of the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda remained unfinished, and the project that has now been completed began work six years ago.

Today, at 6:00 pm, the official inauguration will take place and, as of June 2, the Royal Treasury Museum opens to the public, with the Crown jewels and jewellery on permanent display for the first time.
(...)
The collection of the Royal Treasury Museum is housed in one of the largest safes in the world - 40 meters long, 10 meters wide and 10 meters high -, with three floors, equipped with sophisticated security and video surveillance equipment, five tons, windows with temperature and humidity control and bulletproof glass.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 05, 2022, 10:18:22 AM
Waste production in Portugal increases as, per day, every Portuguese produces 1.4 kilos of garbage:


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The portrait of the environment in Portugal. Garbage production in Portugal is far above the EU average

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Portugal is one of the European Union countries where the production of waste has increased the most and there is still a lot to be done with regard to recycling.

The quality of the water, both for consumption and for Portuguese beaches, is considered excellent.

These are some of the conclusions of the data revealed by Pordata on World Environment Day.

Pordata hopes that the data revealed can serve as a warning to the Portuguese and to those who decide.

Some data:

- Total waste produced: 5.3 million tons in 2020, as increase of 50% compared with the mid 90's.

- Recycling: Portugal 13% (EU 30%)

- Landfills: Portugal 54% (EU 23%)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 06, 2022, 10:46:09 AM
Soaring fuel prices: Gasoline reaches the highest price ever, around 2,26 euros per liter.


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Gasoline has already gone up 18 times this year while diesel has already gone up 15 times.

Quote
Fuels are more expensive this Monday. Since midnight, the liter of gasoline has risen by 14 cents and that of diesel has increased by 12 cents. In the case of gasoline, it is the highest price ever.

At a gas station visited by SIC this Monday, diesel costs more than €2 per liter and gasoline costs €2.26/liter.

This is also the price of fuel already updated at another pump, where the average increase of 14 cents for gasoline and 12 cents for diesel is confirmed.

The reduction of taxes on petroleum products that the government maintains this month does not appease the discontent of drivers who are asking for an urgent halt to this escalation in prices.
(...)

In some gas stations, gasoline has run out after a massive over-demand during the weekend: (https://sicnoticias.pt/economia/bombas-sem-combustivel-apos-excesso-de-procura-no-domingo/)

Quote
After the rush to gas stations over the weekend there were pumps where the fuel ran out. This is the case of one in Alfragide that had to open an hour later than expected.

Drivers who passed by a gas station in Alfragide throughout the morning to try to fill up their car were surprised by the warning that the gas station was closed.

The high demand during the weekend caused the fuel to run out for a few hours.
(...)

The difference in prices between Portugal and Spain is growing, with gasoline around 44 cents cheaper in Spain, and diesel around 30 cents cheaper.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 08, 2022, 05:22:08 PM
Painter Paula Rego dies at the age of 87. The Government declares National Mourning:  (https://expresso.pt/cultura/2022-06-08-Pintora-Paula-Rego-morreu-aos-87-anos-d11659bb)



Quote
Painter Paula Rego, one of the most acclaimed and awarded Portuguese artists internationally, died this morning in London, aged 87, a source close to the family told Lusa.
(...)
Born on January 26, 1935, in Lisbon, she was awarded, among others, the Turner Prize in 1989, and the Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso Grand Prix in 2013, in addition to having been distinguished with the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Sant'Iago da Espada in 2004. In 2010, he received from Queen Isabel II the Order of the British Empire with the degree of Officer, for his contribution to the arts.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 10, 2022, 09:31:44 AM
Scandal in Caldas da Rainha hospital, Leiria, as a baby died because of lack of obstetricians:


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Closed emergency. Pregnant woman loses baby in Caldas da Rainha hospital

Quote
A woman lost her baby due to an alleged lack of doctors at the Caldas da Rainha hospital. The emergency department was closed when the pregnant woman was admitted to that emergency department.

The news is being advanced by RTP3, which cites a statement from the West Hospital Center (CHO), confirming constraints in the emergency obstetrics in Caldas and announcing the opening of an investigation into the death of the baby, on Wednesday night.
(...)
According to RTP, the woman was taken for an emergency cesarean section. The baby died.
(...)

Also, according to RTP, this is not the first case in this hospital with at least two other pregnant women losing their babies because of the lack of doctors.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 11, 2022, 06:27:01 AM
More chaos in the NHS: Several hospitals across the country are closing obstetrics services during the weekend because of lack of doctors:


Quote
From Braga to Setúbal, there are more obstetrics services that are unable to receive pregnant women. This Saturday, the hospitals in Setúbal, Barreiro and Almada will not receive pregnant women during, at least, the night period and on Monday, the 13th, the list extends to Hospital Amadora-Sintra and Hospital São Francisco Xavier, both in Lisbon

Quote
(...)
Tomorrow, Braga Hospital will not open doors during the day, with not enough doctors to ensure the scales: instead of five obstetricians, only two will be available to fulfill a 24-hour scale.

From today until Monday, there will still be constraints at the Western Lisbon Hospital Center, at the Beatriz Ângelo Hospital, in Loures, and at the Setúbal Hospital Center, which already has constraints this Saturday.

The complaint is from the Independent Union of Physicians (SIM), which says that “the Ministry of Health insists that there is no problem here”. The union accuses the tutelage of forcing doctors to make scales below the minimum and of not doing anything to hire obstetricians.

According to SIM, during these days, the guidelines of the patient orientation center are to only refer pregnant women to the Alfredo da Costa Maternity Hospital or to the Santa Maria Hospital, both in Lisbon, because there is less and less investment and consequently less obstetricians.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 13, 2022, 08:47:29 AM
Controversy spars as an Évora Court rules that caressing students under clothes isn't sexual abuse:


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Court rules that fondling students under their clothes is not sexual abuse

Quote
The Court of Appeal of Évora has just reduced and suspended the effective prison sentence applied by the Court of Setúbal to an English teacher, as it understands that the caresses he made to seven-year-old girl students, under their clothes, have "a sexual nature", but do not constitute a crime of sexual abuse.
(...)

Seriously, Portuguese Courts have been having rulings that are just an embarrassment...


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 23, 2022, 07:17:16 AM
Outrage as little girl, just 3 years old, is murdered by her nanny because of a 400 euros debt:


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Death of girl in Setúbal is due to debt of 400 euros

Quote
Jessica's mother, the three-year-old girl who died in Setúbal as a victim of murder, owed 400 euros to the suspects. It was to force the woman to pay this debt that the three detainees - the woman who lent her the money, her daughter and her son-in-law - kidnapped the child and beat her, leaving her dying.

The girl ended up not resisting the injuries and died at home in Setúbal, on Monday, where she was taken by her mother after six days in captivity at the suspects' house.

The debts of Inês, the child's mother, to the suspects had already caused her problems before. A few months ago, her partner, Paulo Amâncio, as he told JN, had already paid off another debt. He even warned Inês that he would not allow her to reconnect with this family and ask them for money, threatening to leave her if she did.

But Inês again contracted a new debt and said nothing to her companion. She wanted to pay off the loan herself and, on Tuesday of last week, the 14th, she handed over the girl to her family. According to João Bugia, coordinator of the Judiciary Police (PJ) in Setúbal, she was taken to hand it over. "The woman now detained convinced the mother to take the child to her home on the pretext that the girl could play with her granddaughter, of the same age", he explained to Lusa. But she could no longer take her home. She was given until July 7th to arrange the money, and only then would Jessica be returned.
(...)
This Wednesday, the PJ detained the loan shark, 52, her partner, 58, and her daughter, 27. They are indicted for aggravated murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping and extortion. The mother was questioned, as was her partner, but no defendants were ever made.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 28, 2022, 12:17:30 PM
Erotic statue in São Pedro do Sul, Viseu district, is creating some controversy:  (https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/pais/2023933/a-fda-dos-nus-estatua-erotica-quebra-tabus-em-sao-pedro-do-sul)


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Giant erotic statue in São Pedro do Sul to "break prejudice" about sex

Quote
It's called 'The Naked F**k' and it's being talked about in Santa Cruz da Trapa, São Pedro do Sul. It is an erotic sculpture, by the artist Custódio Almeida, 9 meters high and weighing about 60 tons, which alludes to the sexual act between a man and a woman.

Created to break down prejudices, the work, which took two years to complete, is located in the Espaço Arte Dança Nua and dominates the conversation topics in the region.

To TVI, the author explained: "The involvement, two bodies, the freedom of sex. That's how I developed this work".

The intention was "to break [taboos], so that people can free themselves from this prejudice that still exists at a national and global level", added Custódio Almeida.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 29, 2022, 11:19:04 AM
The "New Lisbon airport soap opera" continues: Government now decides to construct a complementary airport in Montijo and then a fully new airport in Alcochete.


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Government wants complementary airport in Montijo and Alcochete to replace Portela

Quote
The Government has already taken decisions on the new Lisbon airport. The Strategic Environmental Assessment (AAE) won by a consortium that has a company owned by the Spanish State will be put down and will launch a new one with a new 'agenda': To proceed with the immediate construction of the complementary airport of Montijo, with a runway only, and for the start of work on a new airport in Alcochete that will replace Humberto Delgado within 10 to 15 years.
(...)
Officially, the Ministry of Infrastructure refuses to make any comments and sends news for later, but, in this context, the Government will launch a new tender to carry out in-depth environmental impact studies of the two possibilities, but the preliminary studies anticipate that Montijo's solution with only one runway will be viable and this will allow the diversion of 'low cost' flights from Humberto Delgado Airport, releasing the growth of more flights/hour of 'flagship' companies and medium and long-haul flights. And it will have to negotiate with ANA — the airport concessionaire — the work for the development of the new Alcochete airport, which will eventually replace the current infrastructure at Portela, in the center of Lisbon.

The prime minister has shown signs that he wants a political agreement with the new leader of the PSD - who will be formally elected this weekend in congress, after winning the direct -, but he should be left to 'talk to himself'. Luís Montenegro has already indicated that the decision is up to the Government, which has been in office for almost seven years.

The Montijo option has been rejected by air traffic regulators, environment associations and Courts, but now it's back on the table. Whatever. ::)

Expresso newspaper also reports that the government wants to begin constructing the Montijo airport by the beginning of 2023. (https://expresso.pt/economia/2022-06-29-Aeroporto-Governo-quer-que-a-ANA-avance-ja-com-o-Montijo-para-mais-tarde-avancar-com-Alcochete-9cc34af0) Seriously...


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 04, 2022, 05:16:37 PM
Aveiro university teacher that admitted he was homophobic and called for an "inquisition" and "a clean up of human filth", was suspended after protests:


Quote
The University of Aveiro (UA) temporarily suspended a professor at that institution this morning, accused of having made homophobic comments on its Facebook page.

Quote
The University of Aveiro (UA) temporarily suspended a professor at that institution this morning, accused of having made homophobic comments on his Facebook page.

Speaking to Lusa, the Dean of UA, Paulo Jorge Ferreira, clarified that the temporary suspension was determined this morning, following a disciplinary process initiated on Friday against the physics professor Paulo Lopes.

“All the relevant elements for the case were gathered and the case was initiated last Friday. The teacher was also suspended, already within the scope of this process, so that the necessary steps can now be carried out with the indispensable tranquility”, said the rector.
(...)
At issue is a publication that Professor Paulo Lopes made on his Facebook page, in which he openly criticizes the LGBTQ+ community, regarding an advertising campaign that makes known several terms related to this community, such as “gay”, “gay”, “ lesbian”, “queer” or “non-binary”.

"I think we urgently need an 'inquisition' to clean up all this human garbage (?) all!", wrote the teacher, considering that this publicity act "is an aggression and deserved a brave stone in the windows just to learn".
(...)
In an email sent to Lusa, Professor Paulo Lopes said that this controversy “is artificial”, stating that it comes from a “violent reaction” by the target group.

“The so-called 'students' reacted as citizens and not students, as my actions did not take place in my workplace, which should be kept on the sidelines and not even within the scope of my work”, said the teacher, considering that the rectory “does not have to express itself about anything”.

Paulo Lopes also insisted that the publication he made was in a personal capacity and reflects his personal opinion, which “is sovereign in a state that is considered free and enshrined in the Constitution”.

“Of course, there will be those who don't like my position, but that's part of life. I also don't like many positions and I don't make a fuss or chase anyone, I just comment, as I did in my publication, ”he concluded.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 09, 2022, 11:10:39 AM
As the country faces a big heat wave, some trains have brokedown because of the heat, so the Trains of Portugal company (CP) is advising passengers to avoid using trains during the hottest parts of the day:


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After breakdowns, CP appeals: in the hottest hours, avoid traveling by train

Quote
Two long-distance trains - an Alfa Pendular and an Intercidades - broke down this Friday due to high temperatures. CP (Comboios de Portugal), in a statement, appealed to passengers to avoid traveling during the hottest hours.

At Entroncamento, it was just before 5 pm when the Alfa Pendular 135 train, coming from the Lisbon-Santa Apolónia station, broke down. According to ECO, the air conditioning stopped working and the passengers got out of the carriages, where they then had to wait about an hour and a half for two regional trains to Braga.

At around the same time, about 200 meters from the Pombal train station, the Intercidades 523, which was heading towards Porto-Campanhã, also suffered a breakdown. To reach the station platform, the train had to be pushed by a Takargo diesel locomotive.

"We inform you that, due to the heat wave forecast for the next few days, the comfort conditions on board some trains may not be the most suitable, especially at times with higher temperatures.", CP reported on the website.

The company recommends that passengers, "whenever possible", use trains "in the early morning or late in the day". In case of exchange of travel, CP refunds the total value of the ticket purchased.

This is ridiculous... >:(  ::)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Azores seismic crisis, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 10, 2022, 06:13:59 PM
Wildfires: Government decrees a period of contingency until Friday as the combination of the ongoing drought and a massive heat wave could create catastrophic wildfires:


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Portuguese authorities seek to prevent fires from resulting in tragedies like in the past

Quote
In Portugal, fires again worry firefighters and populations. More than two thousand operatives were fighting, this morning, the 32 forest fires that were active. By early afternoon, few were still to be controlled. Being that of Pombal, which moved to Ansião, the one that needed more attention. Extremely high temperatures, strong winds and severe drought favor this type of fire.

The situation appears to be far from over. The "weather forecasts that indicate a very serious worsening of the risk of rural fire in the coming days", led the Prime Minister, António Costa, to cancel the visit to Mozambique, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

The Government even declared a "contingency situation" between this Monday and Friday, as a way of allowing Civil Protection to mobilize "all the means available to the country" to fight the fires. An information provided by the Minister of Internal Administration. Yesterday, José Luís Carneiro recalled that "means are always finite in light of the scale of variables".
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Heatwave, wildfires, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 12, 2022, 05:12:32 PM
Today was the worst day, so far unfortunately, in terms of wildfires. The most serious fires are in Leiria and Santarém districts, in the Center of the country. During the afternoon, this was the scene around Leiria city:




The main highway of the country, A1, was closed as the wildfire reached the road (https://www.publico.pt/2022/07/12/fotogaleria/bombeiros-populacoes-unem-se-combate-chamas-distrito-leiria-408432), and several houses have been destroyed by the fire, with several villages forced to evacuate. Around 1,000 firefighters are on the ground, accompanied with 239 vehicles and 7 airplanes.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Heatwave, wildfires, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 13, 2022, 11:01:11 AM
The wildfires continue today, this time in the Algarve and Lisbon suburbs. The Leiria fires continue to create worry with  fears of restarts.

In Palmela, a Lisbon suburb, the wildfire is now surrounding the city and several houses and social services had to be evacuated:



In the Algarve, the luxurious resorts of Quinta do Lago, near Quateira and Vilamoura have golf courses burning as a big wildfire is surrounding the resort. Several houses have also been evacuated.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Heatwave, wildfires, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 13, 2022, 06:56:55 PM
Update: The Algarve wildfires are now somewhat controlled after a very complicated day. In Palmela, the fire is still active and is entering in Arrábida Natural Park.

Another big wildfire is now active in Aveiro district, around 70 kms (44 miles) from Porto city which forced the closure of 3 highways, A1, A25 and A29, and at least two factories are being hit by the fire. Reporters from TSF radio were caught in the middle of the wildfire as they were driving in highway nº1:


Quote
A TSF reporter was traveling on the A1 moments before it was cut by fire. The images show flames on the side of the road and it is possible to hear, among the reports, the crackling of the flames. See the video.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Heatwave, wildfires, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 14, 2022, 06:51:33 AM
Update: The Palmela fire is now controlled, as is the Oliveira de Azeméis fire, Aveiro district. In Pombal, Leiria district, firefighters are still trying to control a wildfire that is active for days now. A new wildfire also broke in Baião, Porto district.

Overall, authorities say that 160 people were injured in the wildfires since 7 July, with 4 being in serious condition.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Heatwave, wildfires, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 15, 2022, 05:17:35 PM
In the same day wildfires continue to surge all across the country, forest rangers went on strike.  (https://www.publico.pt/2022/07/15/sociedade/noticia/guardasflorestais-gnr-greve-2013773) They demand higher wages and better working conditions.

Also, the day was marked by the crash of a plane which was fighting a wildfire in Bragança district (https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/aeronave-de-combate-aos-incendios-cai-junto-a-castelo-melhor-na-guarda-apos-explosao?ref=HP_PrimeirosDestaques). The pilot died in the crash and President Marcelo was said he intends in going to the funeral of the pilot. PM Costa and LO Montenegro also express their condolences to the pilot's family.

Since last week, around 26,000 acres have burned across the country.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, wildfires, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 26, 2022, 06:25:13 PM
Some updates:

- Lisbon and Porto city mayors demand more police in streets after a rise in violent crimes during nightouts (https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/violencia-na-noite-lisboa-e-porto-exigem-mais-policiamento-15046722.html). Last week, a man was murdered in a Lisbon bar after a brawl:

Quote
After another murder in Lisbon's night, the mayor asks for a reinforcement of the police. "People are not seeing police on the street," says Moedas. Porto had a police station closed over the weekend and union asks for a reflection on what happened.
(...)
In statements at the end of a meeting of the Municipal Security Council, the mayor explained that on Sunday he sent an "urgent request" to the government for Lisbon to have more police. "People are not seeing police on the street and I offer the government the ability to do that", he said, adding: "We can even establish a partnership between the municipal police and the PSP, but we need mobile posts in this city". An idea that, in the opinion of Hugo Costeira, director of the Internal Security Observatory (OSI), "is unrealistic. If there are not enough troops, it is not possible to make a fair distribution. It makes no sense to talk about mobile police stations."

In the second largest city in the country, the demands are identical, after a weekend in which the ninth police station of the PSP, the largest in Porto, was closed for the day. Something that the Minister of Internal Administration, however, devalued, explaining that "it was a choice between having police on the street or in the police stations". For Jorge Bacelar Gouveia, director of the Observatory for Security, Organized Crime and Terrorism (OSCOT), "the concerns are fair, it is fair to ask for more human resources, because they are needed."

- Government surplus reaches a record 1.1 billion in the first half of the year. (https://expresso.pt/economia/2022-07-26-Orcamento-Estado-regista-excedente-de-1.113-milhoes-no-primeiro-semestre-de-2022-receita-fiscal-sobe-mais-de-28-6ec0af4f) Tax revenues are up more than 28%, due to inflation. Public spending drops 1.7%:

Quote
The State recorded a surplus of 1,113 million euros in the first half, in public accounting, which translates to an improvement of 8,429 million euros compared to the first six months of 2021, the Ministry of Finance announced this Tuesday.
(...)
Expenditure, on the other hand, decreased by 1.7% compared to the same period last year, with the Ministry of Finance stressing that it reflects the lower impact of measures associated with covid-19 (-28%), interest expense and other charges (-15.3 %) and capital transfers to Novo Banco.

- A shooting occurred near a Shopping mall in Vila Real city, North region, with a pregnant woman and three other people being injured. (https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/pelo-menos-quatro-feridos-em-tiroteio-a-porta-de-centro-comercial-em-vila-real?ref=HP_PrimeirosDestaques) The reason behind the shootings is the kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl who was betrothed to a boy via an arranged marriage. The suspects ran away and the police is still searching for the suspects.

- Water rationing is already underway on the Algarve region, with the government imposing restrictions to hotels and golf courses (https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/governo-anuncia-racionamento-de-agua-em-hoteis-do-algarve-15041145.html):

Quote
The reduction of water consumption is aimed at enterprises that have a "big expenditure" in spaces such as golf courses and green spaces, with no limits on human consumption.

"A meeting was held between the Portuguese Environment Agency and a number of tourist resorts in the Algarve, where it was decided to manage the limits of water consumption to be adopted", the minister advanced, at the end of a meeting of the Permanent Commission on Prevention, Monitoring and Follow-up of the Effects of Drought (CPPMAES).

With the country experiencing a situation of "hydrological drought that is perhaps the most serious of this century", in the words of the Minister of the Environment, the measures follow 78 others already taken in the meetings that have been held since February 1 of the Permanent Commission of Prevention, Monitoring and Follow-up of the Effects of Drought (CPPMAES).
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, wildfires, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 27, 2022, 04:54:06 PM
Controversy as the current Lisbon Patriarch concealed a sexual abuse case that happened in the 90's:


Quote
Patriarch of Lisbon received a report of abuse and met with the victim. But he kept the priest in office and did not report the case to the police.

Quote
D. Manuel Clemente became aware of a complaint of sexual abuse of minors concerning a priest of the Patriarchate. He met with the victim, but chose not to say anything to the police.

The current cardinal-patriarch of Lisbon, D. Manuel Clemente, became aware of a complaint of sexual abuse of minors concerning a priest of the Patriarchate and even met the victim personally, but chose not to report the case to the civilian authorities and for keeping the priest active with chaplaincy functions. In addition, the priest continued to manage a private association where he welcomes families, young people and children, with the knowledge of D. Manuel Clemente. All because, justifies the Patriarchate to the Observador, the victim, who claims to have suffered the abuses in the 1990s, did not want his case to be public and just wanted the abuses not to be repeated.

The action of the Patriarch of Lisbon contradicts both the current internal rules of the Catholic Church for this type of situation, which determine the communication to the civil authorities of all cases, as well as the repeated appeals made either by the independent commission led by the psychiatrist Pedro Strecht or by the Police. Judiciary so that all cases, even those that are already prescribed at the judicial level, are communicated to the authorities, since the probability of repetition of this type of crimes over time is considerably high.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, wildfires, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 29, 2022, 04:50:03 AM
Economic numbers: Inflation reaches 9.1%, while GDP contracts -0.2% in the 2nd quarter.


Quote
Portuguese economy contracts 0.2% in the second quarter

Quote
The Portuguese economy contracted 0.2% in the second quarter of the year, after the surprising growth of 2.6% in the first three months of the year, reveals the quick estimate released this Friday by the National Statistics Institute (INE), which revised down by 0.1 percentage point the performance of the first quarter. In year-on-year terms, GDP increased by 6.9%, since in the second quarter of 2021 it had grown by 11.8%.

“Gross Domestic Product (GDP), in real terms, registered a year-on-year change of 6.9% in the second quarter of 2022 (11.8% in the previous quarter). It should be noted that the year-on-year evolution partly reflects a base effect, given that in the first quarter of 2021 several measures were in force to combat the pandemic that conditioned economic activity.
(...)

Inflation rose to 9.1%, the highest rate since November 1992:  (https://eco.sapo.pt/2022/07/29/taxa-de-inflacao-acelera-para-91-em-julho/)

Quote
The inflation rate accelerated again in July, settling at 9.1% compared to the same month of 2021. This is the biggest year-on-year change in prices since November 1992, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE).

However, the change in chain prices was practically zero (-0.04%), that is, there was barely any change in prices from June to July 2022.

Energy products contributed the biggest rise to the July inflation rate: the price change index in this category shot up 31.19% compared to the same month of 2021. However, this increase slowed down compared to June 2022 (31,66%, the highest percentage since 1984). In this set of products, the chain price variation increased by 1.02% – which compares with the chain increase of 1.11%.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, wildfires, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 05, 2022, 05:39:03 AM
Controversy as the current Lisbon Patriarch concealed a sexual abuse case that happened in the 90's:

More cases emerge, with a priest accusing 12 other priests of abuse, half of them are still active in the Church:


Quote
Expresso investigation: priest denounces 12 priests for suspected pedophilia. It is the latest case in the Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandal. Six of the priests implicated are still on active duty.

Quote
The story of a priest who denounced 12 other priests on suspicion of pedophilia is revealed in this week's Expresso. The investigation, carried out by journalists Hugo Franco and Rui Gustavo, reveals that half of these priests are still active.

It is also revealed that the Patriarch of Lisbon, D. Manuel Clemente, was not the only one not to follow up on complaints: there are two more bishops, whose identity Expresso reveals, who also concealed sexual abuse complaints from the Judiciary Police and the Public Ministry against minors.

Over the years, the whistleblower has been collecting various data, filling dossiers, two of which have strong suspicions of pedophilia crimes that began in the 1990s, one in the meantime removed from the Church and others still in office. The priest, whose identity is not revealed, gathered several testimonies from victims who say they were harassed or abused in parish houses, in cars and even in a house in the Algarve.

One of the young people, aged 15 at the time, would commit suicide after revealing to his parents the crimes of which he was a victim. The family filed a complaint to the Patriarchate of Lisbon, which ended up transferring the priest to a parish in the capital where, later, he was reported by other minors. The Church ended up placing him in another parish, in a European country. In 2013, the Patriarchate and the Public Ministry opened an investigation, but the case was eventually shelved.
(...)

Also during this week, other two cases emerged:

- One priest was removed from the Church after a woman accused him of raping her during last June (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/videos/quis-sexo-a-bruta-queria-que-eu-fosse-escrava-sexual-dele-bateu-me-o-relato-da-mulher-que-acusa-padre-de-cascais-de-violacao/62e83c4a0cf2ea367d480306). The woman also accuses the Lisbon Patriarchate of trying to "cover up" the case as the Lisbon Patriarch, D. Manuel Clemente, asked the woman to not publicly revealed this case.

- In Vila Real district, a priest was also removed from the Church after he was accused of abusing children in the 90's, when he was working for the Lisbon Patriarchate (https://sicnoticias.pt/especiais/abusos-na-igreja-catolica/2022-08-04-Padre-suspeito-de-pedofilia-afastado-pela-Diocese-de-Vila-Real-271c1af1).


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 06, 2022, 10:17:47 AM
Media reports that D. Manuel Clemente, Lisbon Patriarch, tender his resignation to Pope Francis but the Pope refused. The Patriarchy is refusing to clarify the situation:  (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2022-08-06-Patriarcado-nao-esclarece-possivel-renuncia-do-cardeal-D.-Manuel-Clemente-5862b240)

After a tragic week for the Portuguese Catholic Church, D. Manuel Clemente, Lisbon Patriarch, had a secret and last minute meeting with Pope Francis, yesterday, regarding the big surge of cases of sexual abuse in the Portuguese Church. According to some newspapers, D. Clemente actually tender his resignation to the Pope, but the Pope decided to secure the Lisbon Patriarch asking him to remain in office until the 2023 Lisbon World Youth Day* celebrations. However, the Patriarchy is refusing to confirm or not these reports.

* The 2023 Lisbon World Youth Day celebrations are also in the middle of a controversy as the Lisbon mayor and the Government were at odds on who will pay the bill of the celebrations. Lisbon city refused to pay the whole bill and demanded that the Government pay part of it. A last minute deal was reached in the last few days, with the Government accepting to pay some of the costs. (https://www.publico.pt/2022/08/03/politica/noticia/governo-camara-lisboa-entraram-acordo-jornada-mundial-juventude-2016066) But, with construction already underway, no one is saying how much it will cost.  (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/jornadas-mundiais-da-juventude/jmjlisboa2023/jornada-mundial-da-juventude-governo-nao-revela-valor-do-investimento-mas-autarcas-falam-em-dezenas-de-milhoes/20220804/62ebfe3a0cf26256cd30242c)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 07, 2022, 05:46:43 AM
11 people injured, 4 in critical condition, as a lightning hits a house in the Azores island of Terceira:


Quote
Azores: Bad weather in the Azores. Lightning leaves 11 injured, four critically

Quote
Bad weather in the Azores caused 11 injuries, four of them in a serious condition, reported this Sunday the Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service of the Azores (SRPCBA), after, according to RTP, lightning struck a house in the parish of Vila Nova, on Terceira Island.

Five of the injured were taken to the Santo Espírito Hospital on Terceira Island, the most affected, and six to the Praia da Vitória Health Center, according to the same note from the SRPCBA.

The Azorean civil protection also warned the issuing an an orange warning for the possibility of rain “sometimes heavy, which may be accompanied by thunderstorms”.
(...)

The island of Terceira is being hit by a big storm that has also created floods across the island in the last few days.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 09, 2022, 06:01:38 AM
Big wildfire is destroying UNESCO protected areas in Serra da Estrela Natural Park:


Quote
Fire is causing "irreparable damage" in Serra da Estrela

Quote
The fire that started Saturday in Serra da Estrela between Covilhã and Manteigas and threatened the village of Verdelhos. It is being fought by around 600 operatives, supported by 195 vehicles and six air assets.

The mayor of Covilhã warns that the recovery of the forest in that region will take several years.
The fire has two active fronts, one advancing towards the municipality of Manteigas and the other towards the villages of Carvalho and Teixoso, as indicated by RTP journalist Jorge Esteves.
(...)
The mayor speaks of an "irreparable damage" at the environmental level in Serra da Estrela and indicated that it will take several years for the forest to recover.

In a protected area, a UNESCO heritage, the area burned since the weekend should reach 4,000 hectares, estimates the mayor.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: CumbrianLefty on August 09, 2022, 07:57:43 AM
There is no climate change, though.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 09, 2022, 09:00:50 AM

Portugal is being hit very hard by climate change. The wildfires are a clear evidence, however, there are a lot of cases of arson and this Serra da Estrela wildfire is a clear case of arson as the fire started, according to firefighters, at around 3am in the morning last Saturday. A lot of people have been arrested for igniting fires, some of them even firefighters. However, no water in the soil, drought and chaotic forests are a time bomb...

But, yeah, the massive drought the country is facing, with villages across the country with basically no water and dams at record low levels are creating big problems. IMO, the country lacks a strategy to deal with climate change and its consequences. There's always a lot of talk but few actions on the ground unfortunately. Portugal was pioneer in closing all of its coal energy plants and focus on renewable energies, but this kind of transition requires time and the drought is forcing dams to stop energy production, windmills are basically on halt as there's no wind and solar production is still very limited. Portugal is producing a lot of energy using gas and with the current Ukraine-Russia war, gas prices are over the roof, which creates an additional problem and a "perfect storm" is evident.

But, of course, people don't have a lot of alternatives: houses are poorly isolated in Portugal, so a big % of the population has to use electricity to warm their house otherwise they would frieze to death; Public transportation is a mess, always breaking down or on strike and with little coverage, so there are few alternatives other than driving a car.

And there is the huge problem regarding forest organization, with the Government having no idea who owns 80% of forest lands in the country (https://jornaleconomico.pt/noticias/mais-de-80-dos-terrenos-rurais-nao-tem-registo-228534) and this creates a big problem in terms of managing forests. Plus, after wildfires, there's always the discussion of reforestation and there is a consensus to not plant trees like eucalyptus, which is the most common tree in the country, but, a few years later, we see that the once burned forest is now covered with highly flammable trees like eucalyptus.

So, a lot of problems and challenges, but no real plans or solutions. :(


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 09, 2022, 07:19:32 PM
Croatian Hajduk Split supporters create chaos in the historic center of Guimarães city:  (https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/pais/2022/08/10/adeptos-do-hajduk-split-lancam-confusao-no-centro-historico-de-guimaraes/295358/)


Quote
A hundred Hajduk Split fans provoked riots in the historic center of Guimarães.

Quote
Hajduk Split supporters cause terror in Guimarães and even families with children flee...

Quote
Several Hajduk Split supporters created a ruckus in the historic center of Guimarães tonight.

In the images captured in a video posted on social media, it is possible to see a large group of Croatian fans kicking chairs and running with torches, which forced several people to take refuge inside restaurants.

There are currently no indications of injuries as a result of these incidents.
(...)

According to some media outlets, there were also Portuguese supporters vandalizing the historic center with the Hajduk Split supporters. (https://portocanal.sapo.pt/noticia/306992)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 10, 2022, 05:59:58 AM
Catholic Church abuse scandal: Priest accused of abuse blackmailed by a family of one of his victims, was forced to pay more the 10,000 euros for the silence of the victim.  (https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/pais/2051143/padre-suspeito-de-abuso-sexual-tera-sido-chantageado-por-familia-de-menor)


Quote
It is one of the cases that reached the independent commission that investigates allegations of sexual abuse by priests against minors. The priest suspected of abuse ended up paying more than 10 thousand euros to the family of the alleged victim for his silence

Quote
(...)
According to the newspaper Expresso - which has been advancing new details of these crimes that have shaken the Diocese - it is a priest of the Diocese of Lisbon suspected of sexual abuse of a minor who was blackmailed by the victim's family.

The case dates back to 2002, when the victim denounced the abuse of the parish priest who attended with her parents. The family did not file a complaint with either the Church or the Public Ministry.

Instead, the whistleblower pointed out to the weekly, the family extorted the priest more than once. The first amount asked was 10,000 euros, but the blackmail continued in order to “push the priest against the wall and keep the money.” In order to obtain the silence of the victim's family, the suspect of sexual abuse gave in to the blackmail.

It was the priest who confessed what happened to 'Father Cardoso', but the case cannot be investigated by the Public Ministry, since the alleged suspect died two years ago of natural causes.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: CumbrianLefty on August 10, 2022, 06:03:03 AM
Croatian football "fans" behaving badly? Not having that :D


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 11, 2022, 05:30:22 AM
Wildfires: The environment disaster in Serra da Estrela Natural Park continues as the massive wildfire already destroyed more than 10,000 hectares of the park.  (https://www.tsf.pt/portugal/sociedade/mais-de-dez-mil-hectares-ja-arderam-na-serra-da-estrela-15085067.html)


Green - Serra da Estrela Natural Park
Red - Burned area

Quote
More than ten thousand hectares burned until this Thursday in Serra da Estrela, where the fire that started in Covilhã has been raging since Saturday, according to the European surveillance system Copernicus.
(...)
According to provisional data from the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF), until this Thursday, 10,540 hectares burned due to this fire.
(...)


Aerial view of the wildfire.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 12, 2022, 10:19:44 AM
Wildfires: The environment disaster in Serra da Estrela Natural Park continues as the massive wildfire already destroyed more than 10,000 hectares of the park.  (https://www.tsf.pt/portugal/sociedade/mais-de-dez-mil-hectares-ja-arderam-na-serra-da-estrela-15085067.html)

Update: Since yesterday, the number is now up to more than 16,000 hectares destroyed.  (https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/mais-de-16-mil-hectares-de-area-ardida-na-serra-da-estrela) (Others point to almost 18,000 hectares destroyed)



There are already a lot of criticisms towards government officials because of the lack of efforts to fight the wildfire. Local officials from the affected areas, accuse Civil Protection officials of "incoordination" (https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/pais/2022/08/12/ja-vi-descoordenacao-autarca-da-guarda-critica-estrategia-da-protecao-civil-no-combate-as-chamas/295617/) and that there are few means to fight the fire.

The police is already investigating the origins of the wildfire and they point that it was clearly arson. (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2022-08-11-PJ-suspeita-de-fogo-posto-no-incendio-da-Serra-da-Estrela-bcc94412)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 14, 2022, 05:04:18 PM
4.5 magnitude earthquake felt this evening in the Algarve region:  (https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/sismo-de-magnitude-4-5-sentido-no-algarve)



Quote
According to the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and the Atmosphere, the earthquake — with a magnitude of 4.5 on the Richter scale — occurred 121 kilometers southwest of Faro and at a depth of 28 kilometers.

According to the information available so far, the earthquake "did not cause personal or material damage and was felt with maximum intensity III/IV [modified Mercalli scale] in the municipalities of Faro and Lagoa [Faro]", adds the IPMA.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 16, 2022, 08:57:57 AM
The wildfire in the Serra da Estrela Natural Park enters in its 10th day, with a new big front of fire. In the last 12 hours, almost 10,000 hectares have been burned. Several villages were evacuated:


Quote
6-16 AUG22 08:00 Preliminary area of interest (last 12 hours; new fire phase +9800 ha approx)

The smoke of the Serra da Estrela wildfire is already creating fog in the Madrid area:


Quote
The smoke from the fire in the "Serra da Estrela" natural park, in #Portugal, is channeled up the Tagus, following the flow of prevailing winds at this time, reaching our Community. Image via NASA.

The police, and local officials, say the new fronts of fire started almost at the same time (https://www.publico.pt/2022/08/16/sociedade/noticia/incendio-situacao-complexa-serra-estrela-meteorologia-desfavoravel-2017326), fueling even more the view that the Serra da Estrela wildfire is totally arson.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 19, 2022, 09:05:10 AM
Update on the massive Serra da Estrela wildfire:

Firefighters were able to control a new fire that broke yesterday in the park near Gouveia, Guarda district. The fires in the Natural Park are worrying firefighters since August 6th, and since then, everytime authorities say the fire is under control, a new fire breaks out and brings everything back to square one. For that reason, authorities continue to be vigilant for new fires across the whole Natural Park.



However, the environment disaster is overwhelming, with 25,000 hectares (62,000 acres) completely burned, around 30% of the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, and with several parts of the park needing years or decades to recover. The first estimate is that the fire provoked 300 million euros in damages to the local economy. (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2022-08-19-Fogo-na-Serra-da-Estrela-causou-danos-de-300-milhoes-de-euros-23708145)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 22, 2022, 09:52:14 AM
Government to decree Situation of Calamity for the Serra da Estrela region:


Quote
Government will decree a calamity situation in Serra da Estrela. The meeting between the Government and mayors of the affected municipalities also came out with the definition of a calendar

Quote
At the end of the meeting in Manteigas to assess the needs and integrated responses for these municipalities after the fire in Serra da Estrela, the Minister of the Presidency and the Mayor of Manteigas, representing the mayors of Covilhã, Guarda, Celorico da Beira, Gouveia and Seia, spoke to journalists.

“The government and the municipalities are articulated. [This meeting was the] first of many, many hours of work ahead of us. (…) [The calamity situation] will be decreed by the Council of Ministers. [As for] calendars and territories, we need to make this diagnosis, but it will provide conditions for everyone - State and local authorities - to respond to the needs of this territory. This is the main guarantee that we brought here, several areas of the Government, to show that the intervention here has to be integrated”, said Mariana Vieira da Silva.
(...)
On the ground, she said, some measures are already in place, such as "support for animal feed, recovery and removal of burned wood, as well as social support". But, revealed Mariana Vieira da Silva, "in the next 15 days, a survey of all damages and losses will be carried out".
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 22, 2022, 10:40:51 AM
Controversy as Pakistani immigrants were thrown out of a public swimming pool for not wearing bathing suits:


Quote
Immigrants expelled from Santarém swimming pools accuse employees of discrimination

Quote
A group of Muslim immigrants accuses the administration of Santarém Swimming Pools of discrimination. The incident happened on Wednesday during an organized visit to the aquatic complex. The police were called to the scene by an employee, because the immigrants were dressed in the water and the swimming pool regulations do not allow it.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 31, 2022, 05:29:06 AM
Updated Economic data: GDP stagnates in the 2nd trimester as inflation drops, slightly, to 9% in August.


Quote
INE reviews growth on the rise. After all, GDP did not fall in the second quarter

Quote
After all, the Portuguese economy did not contract in the second quarter of the year, as initially pointed out by the National Statistics Institute (INE), which has just revised Portugal's economic growth upwards between the months of April and June.

After initially proceeding with a 0.2% contraction on a year-on-year basis, the INE now indicates that GDP recorded a zero change in the second quarter compared to the previous quarter.

Year-on-year growth was also revised upwards: it went from 6.9% initially calculated to 7.1%, with the rate of change also improving by 0.2 percentage points compared to the first figures released by INE.
(...)

Inflation drops to 9% in August, compared with the 9.1% in July:  (https://eco.sapo.pt/2022/08/31/inflacao-em-portugal-recua-para-9-em-agosto/)

Quote
The inflation rate in Portugal decelerated very slightly in August, falling by 0.1 percentage points to 9%, in annual terms, but remains at levels never recorded in the last three decades. It was the first deceleration in almost a year and was mainly due to the moderation in the rise in energy prices in recent weeks, according to a quick estimate by the National Statistics Institute (INE).
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 31, 2022, 04:58:41 PM
Maternal mortality rate in Portugal reaches the worst level in 40 years, and it's the worst in Europe:


Quote
The Maternal Mortality Rate is the number of women killed per 100,000 births. It is a reference indicator to assess the development of countries and the quality of health systems. Portugal has been lagging behind the rest of Europe

Maternal mortality rate in Portugal: (per 100,000 births)

1960: 115,0
1975: 73,0
1980: 19,0
1990: 10,0
2000: 2,5
2010: 7,9
2016: 6,9
2017: 12,8
2018: 17,2
2019: 10,4
2020: 20,8

The average of the EU, in 2017, was 6,0 deaths per 100,000 births. The only developed country worse than Portugal is the USA, with 23,8 deaths by 100,000 inhabitants in 2020.

Health authorities have expressed worry about the rising number, and an investigation was conducted but a report about the reasons for this rise has yet to be published.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on September 09, 2022, 01:38:02 PM
Cyber attack against the Portuguese Defense led to NATO documents to be put "on sale" on the dark web:


Quote
Portuguese NATO documents caught for sale on the dark web

Quote
The General Staff of the Armed Forces (EMGFA), commanded by the Chief of Staff, Admiral Silva Ribeiro, was the target of a "prolonged and unprecedented cyberattack" that resulted in the exfiltration of classified NATO documents.

The Portuguese government only found out because it was informed by the US Information Services, through the embassy in Lisbon, with a communication that was made directly to Prime Minister António Costa, last August.

According to sources who are following the case, which is considered to be of “extreme gravity”, it was US intelligence cyberspies that detected “hundreds of documents sent by NATO to Portugal, classified as Secret and Confidential, for sale on the darkweb”.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on September 13, 2022, 05:43:13 AM
Tropical storm Danielle makes downfall in Portugal: Floods registered in the Center regions and around Lisbon.

Floods in Manteigas, Guarda district:

Quote
After the #IRCovilhã #PNSE, the rains caused this scenario in the parish of Sameiro, municipality of #Manteigas

In Lisbon and its suburbs, several roads and areas are flodded:

Quote
The rains that fell during the morning of this Tuesday caused several occurrences in certain parts of the national territory. Videos that reached TVI/CNN Portugal show access to the IC19 in Massamá, in the municipality of Sintra, underwater


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on September 17, 2022, 10:37:24 AM
Controversy ignited due to the Government's decision to decree 3 days of national mourning for the death of Queen Elizabeth II:


Quote
Three days of mourning for the death of Elizabeth II: between the "just homage" and the "silly decision", the controversy is installed

The Queen of England will be entitled to a tribute from the Portuguese Government that is equivalent to that of heads of state such as Mário Soares or Jorge Sampaio. And there are already parties that are against

The government's decision to declare 3 days of national mourning for the death of Queen Elizabeth II is creating a lot of debate and criticisms. Many accuse the government of a "silly" decision and of betraying republican values for giving more days of national mourning in homage to foreign head of state, and head of a monarchy, rather than those given to other high profile Portuguese personalities. Parties like BE, PCP and Livre also trash the decision labeling it as "ridiculous" and "unjustified". Others, however, point that the Queen was someone that had enormous respect in Portugal and that she was a incomparable worldwide figure, adding also Portugal's historical links with England.

This controversy is because of the "Portuguese State Protocol Precedence Law" that defines how and when national mornings should be declared for Presidents, Prime Ministers and others, plus for other personalities, or events, of "exceptional relevance". In the past, several deaths of foreign head of states were honored with days of national mourning in Portugal:

- Nelson Mandela, 3 days
- Pope John Paul II, 3 days
- Emperor Hirohito of Japan, 3 days
- Anwar Al Sadat, 3 days
- Samora Machel, 3 days

The most controversial declaration of national mourning for a foreign leader in Portugal, was the 3 days of national mourning for the death of Adolf Hitler in 1945, which created a diplomatic embarrassment (https://zap.aeiou.pt/luto-nacional-isabel-ii-498074) and was even received with shock and outrage within the Salazar regime.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on September 20, 2022, 06:59:08 AM
Women stabbed to death in the middle of a street in Odivelas, a Lisbon suburb, by her partner. Passers by saw the scene and did nothing to stop it:


Quote
Odivelas. Woman murdered by her partner in the middle of the street

Quote
A woman was killed by her partner in the middle of the street in Odivelas. Dozens of people watched and filmed the murder, but did nothing.
The number of deaths from domestic violence has increased this year in Portugal.

This is just another incident of several violent incidents in the last few weeks in Portugal:

- Last 10 September, a little girl was injured after a shooting broke out in a shooping mall in Almada, another Lisbon suburb (https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/tiroteio-na-area-de-restauracao-obriga-a-evacuar-o-almada-forum-15154829.html). The main reason behind the shooting was wars between gangs;

- In Lisbon's night out areas, mainly Caís do Sodré, violent clashes are becoming a norm. Yesterday, a man died after a day light brawl started in the same Cais do Sodré area (https://magg.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/violencia-cresce-em-lisboa-jovens-comecam-a-luta-em-plena-luz-do-dia-no-cais-do-sodre-e-um-morreu-ha-imagens). The police has also been doing several raids in this Lisbon area, and has found/confiscated a lot of illegal fire arms in bars and in people circulating in the streets;

- Adding to this, there's the ongoing controversy of children being harassed and insulted in football matches: a boy in a Famalicão vs Benfica match, 2 weeks ago, was forced to remove his Benfica t-shirt after being insulted by Famalicão supporters (https://www.dn.pt/desporto/benfica-lamenta-que-crianca-tenha-sido-obrigada-a-tirar-a-camisola-durante-o-jogo-com-o-famalicao-15155634.html). And last weekend, another child, accompanied by his father, was insulted by Estoril supporters for wearing a Porto shirt (https://www.jn.pt/desporto/adeptos-do-estoril-insultam-adepto-do-f-c-porto-com-crianca-ao-colo-15174510.html) and both had to leave their seats in order to stop being harassed;


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on September 22, 2022, 11:25:53 AM
Homeless man set on fire while he was sleeping in Porto city:


Quote
Group of unknown people set fire to homeless person in Porto

Quote
A group of unknown people set fire to a homeless man this Thursday at dawn, on Rua Barros Lima, near the intersection with Rua Fernão de Magalhães, in the city of Porto. The individual was hospitalized on Thursday morning.

After being the target of the attack, the individual was immobilized at the scene until he was collected by a group of drug addicts who are undergoing methadone treatment at Hospital Joaquim Urbano, according to JN. It was at that time that INEM and the Police were called to carry out the respective investigations.

The homeless man was then taken to the hospital, and it has not been possible to ascertain, so far, the victim's state of health.
(...)

Weird things are happening here: a German man, that lives in the Azores island of Pico, confessed to murdering two men, who were seeing lands next to his, because... he didn't want neighbors. (https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/pais/2078084/alemao-confessa-ter-matado-dois-homens-no-pico-e-ter-incendiado-os-corpos) And, a horrible story from a nursing home in the Algarve where an elderly woman died after it was revealed she was in a bed full of ants and with open wounds also covered with ants. (https://www.jn.pt/justica/negligencia-grave-idosa-coberta-de-formigas-e-com-ferida-aberta-em-lar-de-loule-15185812.html) The police is already investigating this case.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on September 22, 2022, 11:37:00 AM
Housing prices rose a record 13.2% in the second quarter of 2022:


Quote
House prices rise by another 13.2%. A new all-time high

Quote
The price of housing in Portugal once again recorded a historic increase. In the second quarter of this year, it showed a year-on-year rise of 13.2% and an increase of 0.3 percentage points (pp) compared to the first three months of 2022.
(...)
In the second quarter of this year, 43,607 homes were sold, representing a year-on-year growth of 4.5%. The volume of transactions reached 8.3 billion euros, up 19.5%.

The vast majority of homes sold (38,181 or 87.6% of the total) were purchased by families, who spent a total of 7.2 billion euros (86.7% of the total).

Foreign buyers were responsible for 6.4% of the total number of transactions (2,783), which corresponds to 11.9% of the total amount transacted.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, Catholic Church abuse scandal, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on September 23, 2022, 08:39:15 AM
Hacking to TAP airlines exposes personal data of President Marcelo, PM Costa and several highprofile figures across the darkweb:


Quote
António Costa's personal data, elements of the Government and security exposed on the "dark web"

Quote
The personal data of the Prime Minister and the Director of the Security Information Service were exposed on the dark web by the group that attacked TAP's servers.

In this list there are deputies, members of the Government and those responsible for the security forces.

This week, the executive director of the national air carrier apologized to the airline's passengers for this lack of security, and admitted that it was not possible to protect the data of all customers.

According to Público newspaper, President Marcelo's personal data has also been exposed and the President had to change his personal digital address (https://expresso.pt/politica/2022-09-23-Dados-do-Presidente-tambem-foram-expostos-pelo-ataque-a-TAP-Marcelo-ja-mudou-endereco-digital-a15c0d6c).


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on September 23, 2022, 09:21:20 AM
More than 30 inmates try to escape from Ponta Delgada (Azores) prison, but were caught by people in neighbour houses:


Quote
The 19th century jail has dozens of houses around the prison. More than 30 inmates tried to escape from Ponta Delgada jail

Quote
The neighbors listen to the inmates inside the prison in the largest city in the Azores and became aware of the escape attempt earlier in the week.

From an annex, through one of the wards, 33 inmates tried to escape from the prison, there were still 20 cm from the street.

In Ponta Delgada prison, more than 90% of the guards are on strike during the diligences.

Overcrowding and lack of conditions have dragged on for years.

The Minister of Justice announced that the building will have refurbishments worth 100 thousand euros. Even so, the construction of a new prison on the island of São Miguel is still awaiting authorization.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 01, 2022, 06:20:54 AM
Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal: Bishop of Fátima under investigation because of cover ups (https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/bispo-jose-ornelas-investigado-por-encobrimento-de-casos-de-abuso-sexual_v1436832), as it also revealed that the Portuguese Church covered up the abuses of Nobel Prize winner Bishop Ximenes Belo from East Timor.


Quote
Investigation: Bishop José Ornelas investigated by the DA after alleging a cover-up of sexual abuse

Quote
Bishop José Ornelas is being investigated for covering up cases of sexual abuse. The complaint was sent to the President of the Republic who forwarded the document to the Attorney General's Office.

At stake are complaints of sexual abuse of children in an orphanage in Mozambique. The case is over 10 years old.

To Público, the Bishop of Leiria-Fátima and also President of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference denies having covered up complaints.

There is also a controversy as the Portuguese Catholic Church is said to be covering up the abuses made by the Bishop of Dili and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ximenes Belo (https://www.jn.pt/mundo/igreja-portuguesa-sabia-das-acusacoes-de-abuso-sexual-a-ximenes-belo-15208474.html):

Quote
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ximenes Belo, former bishop of Dili, was accused of sexually abusing minors in the 1980s and 1990s in East Timor. The cases would have been known to several entities, including the Portuguese Church, for more than a decade.
(...)
According to the online newspaper "Observador", the suspicions were known to the Church in Portugal at least since 2010, shortly before the visit of Pope Benedict XVI. The case is with the competent bodies of the Holy See, said the Vatican representative in East Timor, without confirming whether the prelate was ever investigated.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 04, 2022, 06:12:31 AM
Bishop of Fátima acknowledges that the Church has been covering up several cases of sexual abuse, as Church attendance hits new low:


Quote
Dom José Ornelas assumes that cases of sexual abuse were hushed up in the church

Quote
(...)
Asked, in an interview on CNN Portugal, if it was assumed that "for years there were muffled cases" of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, the bishop of the diocese of Leira-Fátima was emphatic in his response.

"They were [muffled]. And that's not good", replied Dom José Ornelas.

The issue was related to the suspicions that recently involved the Timorese bishop, Dom Ximenes Belo, of which Ornelas guaranteed to have been aware only "in these days" and "with great sadness".

"I thought I knew him. It's a great sadness. I think about him, his victims and I think about what these victims mean, which is precisely the opposite of what we [the Catholic Church] should be", he commented.

In the same interview with cable news channel, Dom José Ornelas, also asked for forgiveness to children who were victims of sexual abuse by priests of the Catholic Church and guaranteed that those targeted will be excluded from the church if they are convicted.
(...)

As the cases continue to grow in the Church in Portugal, Church attendance has a hit a new low, with priests and faithfuls recognizing that Churches are more and more empty (https://www.cmjornal.pt/sociedade/detalhe/pedofilia-esta-a-afastar-os-fieis-das-cerimonias), which was firstly justified by Covid, but now the wave of scandals in the Church may also be alienating people.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 10, 2022, 07:50:44 PM
Flash floods in Lisbon's downtown:



To be fair, it doesn't take that much rain for Lisbon to become Venice for a few hours.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 14, 2022, 08:53:51 AM
Church abuse scandal: Another Bishop under fire for allegedly covering up and ignoring a case of abuse.


Quote
Bishop of Porto accused of not giving credit to sexual abuse 18 years ago

Quote
A woman says she got involved with a priest when she was 12 years old and, because she felt bad, approached the then professor Manuel Linda. "He said it was my fault."

Ana (not her real name), a former student of the current bishop of Porto, Manuel Linda, accuses him of not paying attention to her when, about 18 years ago, in Vila Real, he heard her confess to him a relationship with Father Heitor Antunes, then parish priest of Nogueira, and of whom he allegedly suffered sexual abuse at the age of 12.

Manuel Linda was a professor of Moral and Religious Education at the Camilo Castelo Branco Secondary School, in Vila Real. Ana can't tell, she says that she was 13 or 14 years old when she approached the teacher, leaving a class, and followed him a few hundred meters to the door of the Seminary. "There, I told him that, even though I was a minor, I was involved with Father Heitor. He said it was my fault. That I was the one who was after him."
(...)
Manuel Linda, who said he did not remember this case (see reaction below), was heavily criticized after, earlier this month, saying that sexual abuse of minors "is not a public crime" and therefore "does not reporting is mandatory. The claim was even denied by other figures in the Church.

Bishop Linda is also being criticized for his statements that "attachment to animals is typical of decaying societies". (https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/pais/2092439/apego-a-animais-e-tipico-de-sociedades-decadentes)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 17, 2022, 04:53:01 PM
Nigeria warns Portugal that gas supplies will suffer a substantial drop:


Quote
Galp’s largest natural gas supplier warns of “substantial reduction”. Notice was received by Galp Energia, which has already sent a statement to the CMVM.

Quote
Galp Energia said it had received a “force majeure notice” from its main natural gas supplier – Nigeria LNG, warning of a “substantial reduction” in the production and supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

At stake are the floods that are affecting Nigeria and, consequently, causing a reduction in the production and export of liquefied natural gas.

Nigeria is Portugal's largest natural gas supplier, but, in a statement to the Securities Market Commission (CMVM), Galp says there is still no information to assess “the potential impacts of this event”.

Galp admits, however, that they may “result in additional supply disruptions for Galp”.
(...)

Nigeria supplies more than 50% of all gas in Portugal (https://www.dinheirovivo.pt/economia/importacoes-nacionais-de-gas-dos-eua-dispararam-quase-50-ate-maio-15011085.html): (data from the 1st half of 2022)

52.05% Nigeria
34.42% USA
  7.34% Russia
  4.00% Trinidad and Tobago
  2.18% Spain


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 18, 2022, 09:41:54 AM
Poverty in Portugal grows and hits the worst levels since the Troika years:


Quote
Portuguese are poorer. 4.4 million people have incomes below the poverty line. Only with social support do these Portuguese people cross the threshold, but even so, there are about two million who are below that line with financial aid.

Some stats of the picture of poverty in Portugal, as of 2021:

- 4,4 million people (43% of the population) live with wages bellow 554 euros per month;
- With social supports, the number above drops to 1,9 million living under the poverty line (18.4%);
- 55% of families earn less that 1,000 euros per month;
- 16.4% of the population cannot warm their houses properly (the 5th worst in the EU);
- 25.2% of the population live in houses in bad conditions (the 2nd worst in the EU, only behind Cyprus);
- 1,6 million pensioners live with pensions bellow 665 euros per month;

However, there are some not so bad numbers: just 6% of poor people in Portugal cannot arrange a decent meal of meat, fish and vegetables every two days.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 20, 2022, 05:13:12 AM
Lack of paper in Courts across the country is delaying trials:


Quote
Ministry of Justice admits difficulties in managing paper stocks

Quote
The Ministry of Justice admits difficulties in managing paper stocks in the courts, points out the shortage of raw material, but says that no indication was ever given to the districts to stop printing procedural documents.

In a note sent to newsrooms after it was reported that the lack of paper delayed 20 civil cases in the Braga Court, the Ministry of Justice recalls that price fluctuation has "potentiated the difficulty in determining the base price of the procedures to be launched". and it is also resulting in the conclusion of short-term contracts (no more than two months), as "competitors are not interested in longer-lasting contracts, which would bind them to unit prices that would quickly become unadjusted".
(...)
"Since the beginning of the year, there has been a disruption of the paper market due to the scarcity of raw material, a situation with a strong direct impact on the quantity and price of the product. was 2.38 euros, in 2022 the average is already 4.85 euros", he explains.

The note adds that, at the beginning of the year, the Purchasing Unit of the Ministry of Justice launched two procedures that, due to price increases, were left empty.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 21, 2022, 05:42:19 AM
Inflation crisis: Shoplifting soars and several supermarkets are already putting alarms in basic products. (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2022-10-20-Roubo-de-alimentos-essenciais-aumenta-nos-super-e-hipermercados-294c139f)


Quote
Supermarkets are putting alarms on basic food items like cans of tuna or bottles of olive oil. Thefts are on the rise “since the beginning of September” by “people who can no longer survive on their salary and pension alone”. Almost 2 million Portuguese live on less than €554

Quote
(...)
Frozen octopus or tuna cans are now, in some supermarkets, protected by alarms. The measure was taken due to the increase in food theft – a practice that was more common in items with a high value.

The Expresso report reveals that these robberies occur, in particular, in the urban centers of Lisbon and Porto and are perpetuated mainly by elderly people or parents who want to take food to their children.

For the Portuguese Association of Distribution Companies, the situation is explained by the increase in the cost of living.

Foodstuffs suffered the most from the rise in prices due to the war in Ukraine. In the last month, the inflation rate of these products reached 16.9%, the highest value since July 1990.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 22, 2022, 07:39:59 AM
Portugal with the largest budget surplus in the EU until June 2022:


Quote
Portugal is the country in Europe with the largest budget surplus

Quote
Portugal is one of the few “good students” in the European Union. According to data released this Friday by Eurostat, Portugal closed its accounts for the second quarter of the year with a budget surplus equivalent to 3% of GDP. On the other hand, European Union countries showed an average deficit of 1.8% of GDP.

The budget surplus recorded in the second quarter by Portugal compares with a deficit of 4.5% recorded at the end of the second quarter of 2021 and with a deficit of 9.8% in the second quarter of 2020.

The result presented today by Portugal has been built by the government since the second quarter of 2020, when public accounts sank to a historic budget deficit of 9.8% of GDP. Since then, the budget balance deficit has been decreasing in size, reaching a positive balance of 1% of GDP in the first quarter and now 3% of GDP.

In the space of two years, Portugal went from being the eighth country in the euro area with the largest budget deficit to becoming the country in the single currency area with the largest budget surplus.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 28, 2022, 08:31:16 AM
Some updates:

- Inflation has reached a new record in October (https://www.tsf.pt/portugal/economia/valor-mais-elevado-desde-1992-inflacao-em-portugal-atinge-102-em-outubro-15296558.html), 10.2%, an increase of 0.9% compared with September.  Energy prices rose more than 5%, to a 27.6% rate.

- The transfer of 125 euros, to fight the rising cost of living, for millions of people is turning into a PR embarrassment with several delays and issues, like the fact the foreign millionaires living in Portugal are also receiving this support:


Quote
Void in the law allows millionaires, foreign or national, to benefit from the support created by the Government

Quote
There are holders of golden visas receiving the extraordinary support of €125, created by the Government to mitigate the effects of inflation on those who live in greater difficulties. They are foreigners with high capital income but little or no income from declared work, to whom the Social Security (SS) started paying support through checks this week. Tax experts heard by Expresso admit a gap in the design of the measure, which does not take into account capital income in the assessment of eligibility for support. A gap that gives scope for millionaires, foreign or national, to be covered by the measure.

There are at least more than two dozen cases detected, however it was impossible to know the total number of undue support. Expresso had access to a set of checks (in the amount of €125) related to anti-inflation support, issued by the SS last Monday, to foreign citizens covered by the Residence Permit for Investment Activity (ARI) regime, known as a golden visa.
(...)

Also, several people are complaining that their bank account number "disappeared" from the Finance ministry website (https://sicnoticias.pt/economia/2022-10-26-Apoio-de-125-euros-contribuintes-queixam-se-de-falhas-de-seguranca-no-Portal-das-Financas-044b6a79), and, so far, 320,000 transfers failed because the account numbers were wrong or other reason.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 30, 2022, 11:17:25 AM
Intercampus poll for CMTV/CM newspaper on the sexual abuse scandal in the Portuguese Catholic Church:  (https://www.cmjornal.pt/sociedade/detalhe/portugueses-querem-renuncia-de-bispos?ref=Pesquisa_Destaques)

Q1: Should the Cardinal of Lisbon, D. Manuel Clemente, resign from his post?

67.2% Yes
15.2% No
17.6% Undecided

Q2: Should the Bishop of Porto, D. Manuel Linda, also resign from his post?

84.3% Yes
   7.4% No
  8.2% Undecided

Q3: The number of cases reported, so far, are lower of higher than what was expected?

46.6% Higher
41.7% Lower
11.7% Undecided

Q4: In your opinion, are there more cases than the ones that were reported?

92.8% Yes
   2.5% No
  4.8% Undecided

Poll conducted between 17 and 22 October 2022. Polled 607 voters. MoE of 4.00%.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 31, 2022, 06:55:40 AM
In the 3rd quarter, GDP grew 0.4% compared with the 2nd quarter of 2022:


Quote
Economy - GDP grows 0.4% in the 3rd quarter

Quote
Gross Domestic Product slowed growth to 4.9% in the third quarter compared to the same period last year and increased by 0.4% on a year-to-date basis, according to the rapid estimate released this Monday by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

"Gross Domestic Product (GDP), in real terms, registered a year-on-year change of 4.9% in the third quarter of 2022 (7.4% in the previous quarter)", says the INE.

According to the statistical institute, "the contribution of domestic demand to the year-on-year change in GDP decreased in the third quarter, with a deceleration of private consumption and investment".


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 31, 2022, 09:33:10 PM
Bus in Lisbon hit by gunshots leaves 2 passengers injured:


Quote
Two people were injured and were transported to hospital.

Quote
Two people were injured on Monday night after a Carris bus was shot at, next to the Ajuda Volunteer Firefighters, in Lisbon.

The two passengers were hit by shards of glass and taken to S. Francisco Xavier Hospital. There were also ten people who were assisted on the spot, having received psychological support.

Help firefighters, the PSP and three ambulances were at the scene. The authorities are investigating the case, and expertise on the bus is planned.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 03, 2022, 12:16:57 PM
Homeless population grows 25% in Lisbon and Porto cities:


Quote
Number of homeless people increases by about 25% in Lisbon and Porto

Quote
The homeless population has increased by around 25 percent in recent months in Lisbon and Porto. The latest data now point to nine thousand homeless people.

There are almost 800 more people in these conditions, compared to the year 2020, and the trend is to continue to increase.

In the capital, the Arroios Neighbors Association is following with concern this growth and the conditions in which dozens of people who sleep on the street in this area in the center of the city.

Fears of eviction also increase, especially among the elderly. It is an alert to the competent authorities so that new answers can be found to face the problem.

Related to this is also the surge of East Timor immigrants who are coming to Portugal, in big numbers, searching for better job opportunities, but are cheated by mafias who ask money from them and promiss jobs and housing, but, in the end, these immigrants are left abandoned and there is no job, house, anything. In the last 3 months, almost 3,000 people came from Timor to Portugal and many are now wandering around Lisbon (https://sicnoticias.pt/programas/reportagemespecial/2022-10-23-Reportagem-Especial-Jovens-timorenses-em-Portugal-1ec8e7d4) and sleeping on the streets. A man was already arrested for leading one of these "mafias" who abandon immigrants in Portugal.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 03, 2022, 07:56:18 PM
It seems that I'm no longer a Portuguese Citizen...  I'm a Listenbourgean. ;)



This has become viral here in Portugal.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 05, 2022, 02:08:13 PM
Families across the country face eviction notices as landlords refuse to renew housing contracts due to the government's freeze on rents:


Quote
Limit on the rise in rent prices may generate more cases of eviction.

Quote
The 2% limit imposed by the Government on the rise in rent prices is generating an increase in evictions.

Expresso newspaper reports this Friday that there are many landlords who are preferring not to renew their contracts, in order to be able to demand an increase above that limit. This is because the Government measure only covers contracts signed until 2021.

Contracts made in 2022 are not covered and, therefore, rents increased by 10% in new contracts between July and September alone.

The Rés do Chão Association says that, in Lisbon, there will be 800 families at risk of eviction by the end of the year, as they are unable to pay the higher rents imposed with the renewal of contracts.

At the national level there will be thousands of families that could be hit.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 07, 2022, 12:18:26 PM
Lack of medicines in pharmacies in Portugal creates a race to Spanish pharmacies in the border:


Quote
Portuguese cross the border in search of drugs in rupture

Quote
Sales soar in pharmacies in the border. Purchase only with traditional paper recipes.

Rosa Cruz and Fernando Almeida, from Gaia, went for a walk to Tui, in Spain, and took an electronic prescription guide to ask a Spanish pharmacy if they could buy Inderal. The medicine for the heart (arrhythmias), hypertension and angina pectoris, which is on rupture Portugal (although the generic with Spanish label is already reaching Portuguese counters), can be purchased in Spanish pharmacies, but only upon presentation of paper recipe. Electronic revenue is not recognized (by the system) in Spain.

The couple returned to Gaia empty-handed, as did many Portuguese who are crossing the border in the hope of acquiring the drug. Even so, Spanish pharmacies sell the generic Propranolol Accord as never before and have even been forced to reinforce stocks because of strong Portuguese demand. Ozempic, a prescription diabetes drug that has become a fad for being effective in weight loss, is also in high demand, but is at risk of rupture.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 08, 2022, 12:48:41 PM
Tornadoes, heavy rain and flash floods hit, once again, Lisbon city this morning:



Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 09, 2022, 02:05:10 PM
Weird story from Faro Hospital: The hospital's morgue exchanged two corpses and cremated one by mistake.


Quote
Frenchman mistakenly cremated after exchanging bodies at Faro Hospital

Quote
An exchange in the identification of two bodies in the morgue at Hospital de Faro led to a French citizen being cremated against the family's wishes. The other deceased was of British nationality. The Board of Directors of the Algarve University Hospital Center (CHUA) assumed that there had been "a serious failure" and tender their resignation.
(...)

And it's not the first time: Expresso newspaper reports that in just the last 5 years, there are 4 reported cases of bodies wrongly returned to families. (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2022-11-09-Em-2017-a-familia-fez-o-funeral-a-Maria-mas-enterrou-o-corpo-errado-por-falhas-num-hospital-do-Algarve.-Tal-como-em-2009-2019-2020-e-2022-594c522f)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Zinneke on November 09, 2022, 02:19:15 PM
Hi Mike, just popping in to say thanks for the updates.

I saw people from Braga call people from Guimeraes "Spaniards" - is there a political-sociological story behind that or is it just banter between rival cities?

 Obrigado.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 09, 2022, 02:49:32 PM
Hi Mike, just popping in to say thanks for the updates.

I saw people from Braga call people from Guimeraes "Spaniards" - is there a political-sociological story behind that or is it just banter between rival cities?

 Obrigado.

Thanks for the feedback! ;D

Yeah, Braga and Guimarães have a long history of hating each other. Currently, it's mostly about football: SCBraga and Vitória Guimarães are fierce rivals and their matches have almost the same intensity and tension of a Benfica-FCPorto match. Some matches even end in violence with the police being forced to intervene. But, the name calling is something well before football was invented and it has to do with the formation of Portugal in the XII century: When the father of Afonso Henriques, D. Henrique, was given the administration of the County of Portugal, he settled in Guimarães and started giving benefits, like lands, more control, etc, to the people of Guimarães which infuriated the powerful Archbishop of Braga. The Archbishop even complained to the Pope about Guimarães benefits and the Vatican actually sent a Concordat trashing the people of Guimarães. The people of Guimarães were so furious that they burned and destroyed agricultural plantations in Braga, and because of this, they were excommunicated.

The actual name calling of "Spaniards" to Guimarães and "Moroccans" to Braga seems to be related to this, however, others say it's basically related to football and to a particular match in the 1970's in which Guimarães was so furious about losing that they burned down the referee's car and put up signs saying "To be treated like this, we'd better go play to Spain". Braga fans then mocked Guimarães fans and started calling them "Spaniards", and in retaliation, Guimarães fans started calling them "Moroccans", maybe because of the XII century story, who knows.

I was unaware about the name calling, the rivalry, of course, it's a fact of life ;). Had to look it up, but it's quite interesting. More in here: The rivalry between Vitória and Braga: it's D. Henrique's fault (https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/1a-liga/noticias/a-rivalidade-entre-vitoria-e-braga-a-culpa-e-de-d-henrique-10086052.html)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Zinneke on November 10, 2022, 04:18:52 AM
Fascinating thanks. On the subject of cities like Braga and Guimarães, and urban development in Portugal, do you think (with respect to these places) the future is bright for these second tier cities as people get priced out of Porto and Lisbon or do you think the country will trend more towards the centralization around Porto and Lisbon?


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 10, 2022, 07:07:06 AM
Fascinating thanks. On the subject of cities like Braga and Guimarães, and urban development in Portugal, do you think (with respect to these places) the future is bright for these second tier cities as people get priced out of Porto and Lisbon or do you think the country will trend more towards the centralization around Porto and Lisbon?

Well, Braga and Guimarães are heading in different paths in terms of population. If Guimarães city, according to the 2021 census, seems to have stagnated or increased very slightly, Braga, on the other hand, is seeing a big increase in population, mainly from Brazilian immigrants. Housing prices in places like Braga and Guimarães are lower than in Porto and Lisbon, even though housing prices here in Portugal are just through the roof and looking at the data, people seem to be moving more and more away from the near suburbs of Porto and Lisbon and going to the outer suburbs. Good highways benefit this move, plus lower housing prices, and places near Lisbon, like Mafra and Benavente, and in Porto, like Póvoa de Varzim (my hometown), Vila do Conde and Esposende, are seeing a big surge in population. Braga is near Porto enough, even though it's not in Porto's area of influence. So, I would say that Portugal's population is still very concentrated around Porto and Lisbon, but that the outer suburbs, some 30-40 kms from Porto and Lisbon, are gaining population and more inner suburbs are stagnating, especially in Porto.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 10, 2022, 09:59:06 AM
Movement "End the Fossil: Occupy!" blocks a high school in Lisbon to demand the end of fossil fuels. The director of the school calls the occupation as an act of " terrorism":


Quote
Students are occupying six teaching establishments in Lisbon since Monday. They demand an end to fossil fuels and the resignation of the Minister of the Sea and Economy

Quote
On the fourth day of protests by the "End the Fossil: Occupy!" movement, a group of about 50 students is barricaded inside the António Arroio School, in Lisbon. The school has been closed since early in the morning and so far there are no classes. At the same time, outside the school, a significant group of students protests against fuel and demands climate justice.
(...)
Since Monday, students from six educational establishments in Lisbon have been in protest, occupying the António Arroio and Camões secondary schools, the faculties of Arts and Sciences of the University of Lisbon, the Instituto Superior Técnico and the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at the New University of Lisbon. Young people have two demands: "End fossil fuels by 2030 and end fossil fuels in government, namely from the former oil baron, António Costa e Silva".
(...)

The director of this school is trashing the occupation saying it goes beyond "civil disobedience" (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2022-11-10-Ocupas-da-Antonio-Arroio-bloqueiam-escola-pelo-Fim-ao-Fossil-diretor-fala-em-ato-de-terrorismo-5236a836) and calls it an act of terrorism. He adds that student will not have justified absences.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 12, 2022, 07:41:51 AM
In another protest, Police was called to remove, by force, climate activists that were barricaded in the Faculty of Letters in Lisbon. Four protesters were arrested.


Quote
Students were barricaded and glued to the ground at the Faculty premises.

Quote
Four students were arrested this Friday after they refused to leave the premises of the Faculty of Letters of the University of Lisbon, where they had been barricaded in protest for the climate since Monday.

Three of the four detainees were forcibly taken away by the authorities, despite warnings that they would rally outside the police station in the event of arrests.

This Friday, about 20 activist students remained glued to the ground, even after the college administration gave an eviction order. However, throughout the day, several were demobilized, leaving only the four detained tonight.

The Faculty of Letters is one of five educational institutions where students have been barricaded since the beginning of the week.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: President Punxsutawney Phil on November 13, 2022, 03:54:41 AM
Thanks for these updates. Obrigado!


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 13, 2022, 11:46:10 AM

Thanks for the feedback. ;)

Weird story from Faro Hospital: The hospital's morgue exchanged two corpses and cremated one by mistake.

And there are more weird stories from Faro Hospital: One man was found dead in the bathroom of the emergency room (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/videos/homem-encontrado-morto-na-casa-de-banho-do-hospital-de-faro-apos-dar-entrada-nas-urgencias/636ff6fc0cf27230dc170c62) and another man died in an ambulance after being released from the hospital. (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/videos/homem-de-36-anos-morre-na-ambulancia-apos-ter-tido-alta-do-hospital-de-faro/636ff6ab0cf255d6e13a198d)

Quote
In the same week that he cremated a wrong body, the Faro hospital was the scene of another suspicious death:

A 63-year-old man died in the bathroom of the hospital itself after being missing for more than 20 minutes and after having waited for about 4 hours, wearing a yellow wristband, for the first tests to be carried out.

Family members accuse the hospital of negligence.

Quote
A 36-year-old man died two hours after being released from Faro hospital.

Halfway there, still in the ambulance, the hospital sent the patient back. The man died shortly after arriving at the hospital of a heart attack.

Faro Hospital is becoming a national embarrassment...


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 15, 2022, 10:12:19 AM
This is just... whatever. ::)

Modernization of the Beira-Alta railroad line will take longer than its actual construction back in the 19th century:


Quote
Modernization of the Beira Alta Line takes longer than its construction in the 19th century.

Quote
Two months ago, IP kept January 2023 for the reopening of the Beira Alta Line, but in six weeks the company stopped committing to any date.

Beira Alta line was closed in April.

It was by force of shovel and pick, and a lot of dynamite, that between October 1878 and August 1882 the 252 kilometers of the Beira Alta Line were built. In the 21st century, the modernization of 201 kilometers of this line (the initial section between Figueira da Foz and Pampilhosa was closed) began in 2019 and should only be completed in 2024.
(...)

The difference between political speeches and reality regarding public transportation in Portugal is just ridiculous.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: CumbrianLefty on November 15, 2022, 10:34:30 AM
This is just... whatever. ::)

Modernization of the Beira-Alta railroad line will take longer than its actual construction back in the 19th century

Ah, quite a lot of your stuff does sound familiar to us ;)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 15, 2022, 01:33:17 PM
This is just... whatever. ::)

Modernization of the Beira-Alta railroad line will take longer than its actual construction back in the 19th century

Ah, quite a lot of your stuff does sound familiar to us ;)

The UK also has railway upgrade projects that are lasting ages? Here, the government has a railway upgrade plan called "Ferrovia 2020", launched in 2016, in which everything was expected to be completed by 2021. As of now, just 15% is completed. ;D (https://eco.sapo.pt/2022/11/07/ferrovia-2020-apenas-tem-15-das-obras-concluidas/)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Drought, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 17, 2022, 07:03:23 AM
Almost 600 police officers accused of racial hate crimes on social media. The government is already investigating these claims:


Quote
Almost 600 GNR and PSP operatives commit hate crimes on social media. 591 representatives of the security forces who are part of a database to which the Consortium of Portuguese Investigative Journalists, of which SIC is a member

A report, aired on SIC TV, showed that several police officers, almost 600, are committing hate crimes on social media and making threats to several personalities:

Quote
(...)
They are active and act online, most assume their own name. They ask for "selective cleaning". They say there are "so many people to slaughter". They insult the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and several party leaders. They offer shots, promise to mutilate people, describe in sordid detail the rape of a journalist. They call Gypsies an "undesirable race". They assume they are racist.
(...)

The interior minister has already announced that an investigation regarding this matter (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2022-11-17-Quatro-policias-suspensos-e-dois-expulsos-por-racismo-ou-odio-racial.-Ha-repreensoes-multas-e-ainda-18-processos-pendentes-c8711cd6) has already started, adding that, at least since 2018, 4 police officers were suspended and 2 others expelled from the police. A few others are sill being investigated.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 18, 2022, 03:47:02 PM
According to the National Statistics Institute (INE) website, the definitive/final results of the 2021 Census will be published next week, on 23 November.

I assume that these final results will have religion data and more detailed population numbers. Also, we'll see if there are changes in the population estimates as some local officials across the country complained to INE that some population numbers didn't add up (https://www.publico.pt/2021/08/03/local/noticia/celorico-basto-contesta-dados-ine-apurados-censos-sede-concelho-1972966) with their local data.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 21, 2022, 07:19:13 AM
Social Security attacked by hackers. Police is already investigating but there's no info, yet, if millions of people's data has been affected:


Quote
Social Security was the target of a cyberattack

Quote
Social Security was the target of a cyberattack, reports TVI/CNN Portugal this Monday. The information is contained in an email sent by the Institute of Informatics to Social Security officials, in which it is mentioned that, so far, no facts have been found that allow concluding that "there has been undue access to data of citizens or companies."

In the email to which the news channel had access, the date on which the cyberattack took place is not mentioned, but TVI / CNN Portugal indicates that it is recent. Yes, the email confirms an "intentional and malicious intrusion into your computer network",

Social Security officials are asked to "understand" and "comply with all protective actions that are requested".
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 23, 2022, 06:43:06 AM
According to the National Statistics Institute (INE) website, the definitive/final results of the 2021 Census will be published next week, on 23 November.

Final and definitive 2021 Census results:  (https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_destaques&DESTAQUESdest_boui=541064323&DESTAQUESmodo=2)

Population: 10,343,066 inhabitants (-219,112 compared with 2011)

5,422,846 Women (52.43%)
4,920,220 Men (47.57%)

Foreign population in Portugal: 542,314 inhabitants (5.24%)

Main countries of origin:

199,810 Brazil (36.84%)
  31,556 Angola (5.82%)
  27,144 Cape Verde (5.01%)
  24,609 UK (4.54%)
  21,199 Ukraine (3.91%)
  19,064 France (3.52%)
  16,631 China (3.07%)
  15,928 Guinea-Bissau (2.94%)
186,373 Other countries (34.35%)

Population by age:

53.2% 25-64 years old
23.4% 55+
12.9% 0-14
10.5% 15-24

Number of families: 4,154,571 (+2.6% compared with 2011)

Size of families: (%)

33.29% 2 Persons
24.74% 1 Person
21.53% 3 Persons
14.73% 4 Persons
  5.58% 5 Persons or more

Number of buildings: 3,573,416 (of these, 35.78% in need of repairs)

Year of Construction of buildings:

66.49% Prior to 1990
30.40% Between 1991 and 2010
  3.11% After 2011

Population by literacy:

96.9% Can read and/or write
  3.1% Can't read and/or write

No reports of the religion data yet. Hope they will also post it in the INE website.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 23, 2022, 12:51:14 PM
No reports of the religion data yet. Hope they will also post it in the INE website.

Found it. Some news outlets are publishing the data:  (https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/censos-2021-catolicos-diminuem-mas-ainda-sao-mais-de-80-dos-portugueses_n1449073)

2021 Census, Religion: (compared with 2011)

80.2% Roman Catholic (-0.8%)
  2.1% Protestant/Evangelical (+1.3%)
  0.7% Jehovah Witness (new)
  0.7% Orthodox Church (+0.1%)
  1.0% Other Christian
  0.4% Islam (+0.2%)
  0.2% Hinduism (new)
  0.2% Budism (new)
  0.0% Judaism (-0.0%)
  0.3% Other religions (-0.0%)
14.1% No religion (+7.3%)

I'm surprised by the stable numbers of the Catholics. Recent studies pointed to a significant drop of Catholics, but the Census results are debunking those studies.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 24, 2022, 07:51:05 AM
More 2021 Census data:

Use of personal car increases in the last decade, and less people use public transportation (https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/detalhe/dois-tercos-vao-de-carro-para-o-trabalho-so-1-de-bicicleta-em-media-sao-199-minutos):

Quote
The Portuguese population that commutes on a daily basis for work or study prefers to take a light car to get around, either as a driver or as a passenger. The conclusion results from the 2021 Census, whose definitive results were released this Wednesday by INE and which reveal that 47.9% of residents traveled in a light car as a driver and 18.1% in a light car as a passenger. These are values above those verified in 2011 (of 43.7% and 17.9%, respectively).

Bicycles "represent just over 1% of the use of transport in these commuting movements", said the chairman of the INE's Board of Directors, Francisco Lima, at the press conference to present the results.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 24, 2022, 07:33:08 PM
35 arrested in Alentejo for heading a human traffic network that forced immigrants to work as slaves in plantations across Alentejo:  (https://eco.sapo.pt/2022/11/23/pj-detem-35-pessoas-em-megaoperacao-por-suspeitas-de-trafico-humano-no-alentejo/)


Quote
It's a TVI/CNN Portugal exclusive: 35 people were arrested this morning, in a mega-operation by the Judiciary Police to dismantle a human trafficking network in the Alentejo.
The detainees are suspected of soliciting people in Eastern Europe,

Quote
The Judiciary Police (PJ) carried out a mega-operation that involved more than 400 elements and 65 searches in the Alentejo and aimed at an immigrant trafficking network in Beja, advances CNN Portugal. 35 people were arrested as part of this operation.

In a statement, released later this morning, the PJ confirms that an operation was carried out "in several cities and parishes in the Baixo Alentejo region" and that 35 people were arrested. “Suspects aged between 22 and 58 years old, of foreign and Portuguese nationality, are strongly indicted for the commission of crimes of criminal association, human trafficking, money laundering, forgery of documents, between others".
(...)
According to the network, which reported the news, the network was organized in the district of Beja and the victims were from Eastern Europe, such as Ukraine or Romania, as well as from India, Pakistan or Timor. Citizens were enticed to come to Portugal, where they were promised a salary, good working conditions and accommodation.

However, according to CNN, employers kept victims' wages and workers were subjected to heavy work with little rest and threatened with physical violence. Families in the country of origin were also threatened.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 25, 2022, 12:30:29 PM
1 dead and 7 injured after a wave hits army cadets in the early hours of the morning in Póvoa de Varzim:  (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/povoa-de-varzim/praia-da-lagoa/tres-jovens-resgatados-e-um-desaparecido-na-praia-da-lagoa-na-povoa-de-varzim/20221125/638075300cf2254fb2849140)


Quote
Videos - Drone footage shows where young soldiers were dragged into the sea in Póvoa de Varzim

Quote
The body of the young soldier who disappeared early this Friday at Lagoa Beach in Póvoa de Varzim was removed from the sea by the Portuguese Air Force helicopter, around 4:00 pm.

The body was located in the water about half an hour before the rescue, which was carried out by a diver who got out of the helicopter.

Seven other young people, all soldiers in training at the Portuguese Army Services School, in Póvoa de Varzim, had also been swept away by the waves, but ended up leaving unharmed.

“Eight young people were on the beach and got caught in the waves. Seven managed to get out on their own feet and were transported to Póvoa Hospital and a girl aged around 20 is missing”, said this morning the captain of Porto and local Commander of the Maritime Police of Póvoa de Varzim and Vila do Conde.
(...)
According to the Army, the eight soldiers “left a nightlife establishment, where they went to socialize, and decided to go to the waterline of Lagoa beach in Póvoa de Varzim”, having been dragged by a wave.
(...)



Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 26, 2022, 08:06:08 AM
More 2021 Census results: Population by district and regions, compared with 2011. (https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_indicadores&contecto=pi&indOcorrCod=0011628&selTab=tab0)

2021 Census, Population by district:

     236,413 Azores (-10,359)
     700,787 Aveiro (-13,413)
     144,401 Beja (-8,357)
     846,293 Braga (-1,892)
     122,804 Braganza (-13,448)
     177,962 Castelo Branco (-18,302)
     408,551 Coimbra (-21,553)
     152,444 Évora (-14,282)
     467,343 Faro (+16,337)
     142,974 Guarda (-17,965)
     458,605 Leiria (-12,325)
  2,275,385 Lisbon (+24,852)
     250,744 Madeira (-17,041)
     104,923 Portalegre (-13,583)
  1,785,405 Porto (-31,767)
     424,973 Santarém (-28,665)
     874,806 Setúbal (+23,548)
     231,266 Viana do Castelo (-13,570)
     185,695 Vila Real (-20,966)
     351,292 Viseu (-26,361)

10,343,066 Total Portugal (-219,112)

2021 Census, Population by region:

     236,413 Azores (-10,359)
     704,533 Alentejo (-52,769)
     467,343 Algarve (+16,337)
  2,227,239 Centro (-100,516)
  2,870,208 Lisbon (+48,332)
     250,744 Madeira (-17,041)
  3,586,586 Norte (-103,096)

10,343,066 Total Portugal (-219,112)

Of the 20 districts in the country, just 3, Lisbon, Faro and Setúbal, had population growth. The rest had a big decline in population. The only expection, in this group, is Braga district which just lost almost 1,900 inhabitants, as the massive population growth of Braga city was able to offset the big population declines in more rural villages in the district.

Of the 7 regions, just 2 grew and they match the few districts that saw their population grow.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: President Punxsutawney Phil on November 26, 2022, 08:19:06 AM
More 2021 Census results: Population by district and regions, compared with 2011. (https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_indicadores&contecto=pi&indOcorrCod=0011628&selTab=tab0)

2021 Census, Population by district:

     236,413 Azores (-10,359)
     700,787 Aveiro (-13,413)
     144,401 Beja (-8,357)
     846,293 Braga (-1,892)
     122,804 Braganza (-13,448)
     177,962 Castelo Branco (-18,302)
     408,551 Coimbra (-21,553)
     152,444 Évora (-14,282)
     467,343 Faro (+16,337)
     142,974 Guarda (-17,965)
     458,605 Leiria (-12,325)
  2,275,385 Lisbon (+24,852)
     250,744 Madeira (-17,041)
     104,923 Portalegre (-13,583)
  1,785,405 Porto (-31,767)
     424,973 Santarém (-28,665)
     874,806 Setúbal (+23,548)
     231,266 Viana do Castelo (-13,570)
     185,695 Vila Real (-20,966)
     351,292 Viseu (-26,361)

10,343,066 Total Portugal (-219,112)

2021 Census, Population by region:

     236,413 Azores (-10,359)
     704,533 Alentejo (-52,769)
     467,343 Algarve (+16,337)
  2,227,239 Centro (-100,516)
  2,870,208 Lisbon (+48,332)
     250,744 Madeira (-17,041)
  3,586,586 Norte (-103,096)

10,343,066 Total Portugal (-219,112)

Of the 20 districts in the country, just 3, Lisbon, Faro and Setúbal, had population growth. The rest had a big decline in population. The only expection, in this group, is Braga district which just lost almost 1,900 inhabitants, as the massive population growth of Braga city was able to offset the big population declines in more rural villages in the district.

Of the 7 regions, just 2 grew and they match the few districts that saw their population grow.
The declines in Vila Real, Portalegre, Garda, and Evora are utterly brutal. Ouch.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 26, 2022, 08:32:52 AM
The declines in Vila Real, Portalegre, Garda, and Evora are utterly brutal. Ouch.
2021 Census: Parish map with changes 2021 vs 2011.

()
https://www.ine.pt/scripts/db_censos_2021.html
Orange for increase, Blue for Decrease.
Image link (https://talkelections.org/FORUM/GALLERY/14362_23_12_21_9_13_44.png)

This map shows the clear emptying of rural Portugal. In the more rural districts, only the main cities have increases, and even those are very modest and, in some cases, they basically stagnate or even have small decreases.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: President Punxsutawney Phil on November 26, 2022, 08:39:25 AM
The declines in Vila Real, Portalegre, Garda, and Evora are utterly brutal. Ouch.
2021 Census: Parish map with changes 2021 vs 2011.

()
https://www.ine.pt/scripts/db_censos_2021.html
Orange for increase, Blue for Decrease.
Image link (https://talkelections.org/FORUM/GALLERY/14362_23_12_21_9_13_44.png)

This map shows the clear emptying of rural Portugal. In the more rural districts, only the main cities have increases, and even those are very modest and, in some cases, they basically stagnate or even have small decreases.
Obrigado for the interesting map.
It looks likely that the district magnitudes of some rural Portuguese constituencies in the parliament will shrink as the decade goes on.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 26, 2022, 10:23:13 AM
Obrigado for the interesting map.
It looks likely that the district magnitudes of some rural Portuguese constituencies in the parliament will shrink as the decade goes on.

That's an interesting point and a curious one, because voters rolls don't add up with the population in some districts, mainly rural ones. Take Vila Real district for example, according to the Interior ministry, the district has around 210,000 registered voters, but the Census says it has less than 186,000 inhabitants. Why does this happens? Because, many residents left the country but didn't changed their address and they continue registered in their home parishes. And because, Parliamentary and local seats are distributed by the number of registered voters and not by population, rural districts are still benefited a bit. Otherwise, if seats were allocated by population, districts like Vila Real, Braganza, Viseu, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Évora and Beja would lose seats to the big districts of Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Setúbal and Faro.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: President Punxsutawney Phil on November 26, 2022, 10:29:20 AM
Obrigado for the interesting map.
It looks likely that the district magnitudes of some rural Portuguese constituencies in the parliament will shrink as the decade goes on.

That's an interesting point and a curious one, because voters rolls don't add up with the population in some districts, mainly rural ones. Take Vila Real district for example, according to the Interior ministry, the district has around 210,000 registered voters, but the Census says it has less than 186,000 inhabitants. Why does this happens? Because, many residents left the country but didn't changed their address and they continue registered in their home parishes. And because, Parliamentary and local seats are distributed by the number of registered voters and not by population, rural districts are still benefited a bit. Otherwise, if seats were allocated by population, districts like Vila Real, Braganza, Viseu, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Évora and Beja would lose seats to the big districts of Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Setúbal and Faro.
I was thinking that rural Portugal's woes are from older people dying off. I was not aware that people often forgot to change their registration, but that might be a by-product of the fact that local-based representation does not seem to matter in Portugal. I would guess that there's little incentive for people to change registration as a result of that. In which case, my thesis looks correct but for slightly different reasons than I imagined.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 26, 2022, 10:42:58 AM
Obrigado for the interesting map.
It looks likely that the district magnitudes of some rural Portuguese constituencies in the parliament will shrink as the decade goes on.

That's an interesting point and a curious one, because voters rolls don't add up with the population in some districts, mainly rural ones. Take Vila Real district for example, according to the Interior ministry, the district has around 210,000 registered voters, but the Census says it has less than 186,000 inhabitants. Why does this happens? Because, many residents left the country but didn't changed their address and they continue registered in their home parishes. And because, Parliamentary and local seats are distributed by the number of registered voters and not by population, rural districts are still benefited a bit. Otherwise, if seats were allocated by population, districts like Vila Real, Braganza, Viseu, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Évora and Beja would lose seats to the big districts of Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Setúbal and Faro.
I was thinking that rural Portugal's woes are from older people dying off. I was not aware that people often forgot to change their registration, but that might be a by-product of the fact that local-based representation does not seem to matter in Portugal. I would guess that there's little incentive for people to change registration as a result of that. In which case, my thesis looks correct but for slightly different reasons than I imagined.

Yes, rural areas have a very elderly population, some parishes even have zero children and are just inhabited by elderly people with ages around 80-90 years old. But, the people who leave these districts are more younger and they tend to immigrate in order to have more opportunities and a better quality of life. For legal reasons and also deep emotional attachment to their native parish, many people living abroad decide to not change their address.

This has implications in elections of course. But, here there's also an interesting trend: In general elections, turnout is quite low in rural districts, 40-50%, as the national government is seen as a distant entity, while local elections have much higher turnouts, 60-70%, as many people living abroad return to Portugal to cast a ballot and because local government, in rural areas, is seen as much more important than the national government.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 26, 2022, 12:39:33 PM
Lisbon city implements Tsunami sirens in the river side:  (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/lisboa/tsunami/lisboa-ja-tem-um-sistema-de-alerta-de-tsunami-com-duas-sirenes-na-zona-ribeirinha/20221126/638248840cf2254fb284d1c3)


Quote
Do you know what sound this is?
Tsunami warning and warning exercise.

Quote
The Lisbon City Hall presented this Saturday the Tsunami Warning and Alert System in the Tagus Estuary, with the installation of sirens in Empire Square and Ribeira das Naus and the definition of evacuation routes.

"The phenomenon of climate change imposes an increased urgency on us today to prepare Lisbon for major occurrences or catastrophes, such as tsunamis", said the Civil Protection councilor, Ângelo Pereira (PSD), in the presentation of the project, which took place at the Museum of Arte Popular, where an evacuation exercise was carried out, with the activation of a sound signal.

The project includes the installation of a population warning system, with two sirens and two digital information panels in Praça do Império and Ribeira das Naus, and vertical signs for emergency evacuation (evacuation routes and meeting points), which are combined with actions to raise awareness and inform the public about the risk of a tsunami in the city.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 27, 2022, 06:12:26 PM
The 2022 drought could be ending as NASA pictures show a "greener" Portugal after weeks of heavy rain and floods:  (https://portocanal.sapo.pt/noticia/315774?dd)


Quote
Water is life!
Green is back!
This is how you see our country from space!
September 22, 2022 VS November 25, 2022

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In the image it is possible to see that between the 22nd of September and the 25th of November a large part of the Portuguese territory, especially in the interior and south, gained a greener color due to the growth of vegetation.

The origin is in the rain that has been felt over the last few months.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 29, 2022, 05:58:50 PM
Chaos in Hospitals: Emergency teams in 2 major hospitals in the Lisbon metro area resign due to lack of working conditions.


Quote
ER. Two hospitals in Lisbon without managers

Quote
First, it was the team leaders and deputy heads of the Emergency Department at Garcia de Orta Hospital who announced their resignation. It was Monday night, and even the meeting held with the administration on Tuesday morning did not change this decision. This Tuesday, it was the team leaders and assistant leaders of the teams of the Emergency Medical Service of the Fernando Fonseca Hospital (Amadora-Sintra) who followed the example.

The reasons are the same: scales with a minimum number of professionals, which "jeopardizes the quality of care and the safety of users", as stated by the Amadora-Sintra doctors in a letter sent to the Independent Doctors Union (SIM), and disclosed by this. In 24 hours, two of the large units in the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon lost their leadership of the Emergency Services.
(...)
It should be recalled that the new team from the Ministry of Health presented last week a Winter Response Contingency Plan, with 176 health centers already having extended hours to stop unjustified trips to hospital emergency rooms, but in these two units, it still doesn't seem to be having any effect.

In the case of professionals at Garcia de Orta, the doctors who signed the letter addressed to the clinical director, the president of the board of directors and the director of the Emergency Service, explained that, in the planned scale, there are several days with a number of elements below of the minimum to guarantee the proper functioning of the service.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 30, 2022, 07:50:37 PM
Inflation drops 0.2% compared with October to 9.9%:  (https://econews.pt/2022/11/30/inflation-drops-to-9-9-in-november/)



Quote
The country’s inflation decreased to 9.9% in November, putting an end to the trend seen in recent months and retreating from double-digit figures, according to a flash estimate from Statistics Portugal (INE) released Wednesday.

“Based on the information available until the date of the present press release, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) annual rate is estimated to have decreased to 9.9% in November (10.1% in October),” INE revealed.
(...)
However, the estimated rate for unprocessed food declined to 18.4% (18.9%, October), while the processed food rate is expected to have risen to 16.8% (14.1%, October).

As for the Portuguese Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) annual rate of change, it is estimated to have decreased to 10.3% (10.6%, October).

This is a flash estimate from INE, with final CPI data for November 2022 to be published on December 14.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 05, 2022, 11:05:41 AM
Algarve region hit by big floods during the weekend that left a lot of damage: (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/mau-tempo/algarve/caves-e-garagens-inundadas-e-abatimento-de-estradas-chuva-forte-ja-provocou-estragos-no-algarve/20221204/638d14120cf2aea785806441)

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Bad weather hit the Algarve hard and in Quarteira there are already reports of flooded stores, cellars and garages, as well as completely flooded streets. On Vasco da Gama Street, one of the most affected, the force of the rain even destroyed part of the road.

Civil Protection and firefighters managed to ease the situation, but even so, the most critical period should coincide with the peak of high tide: around 00:30 on Monday.

To CNN Portugal, some residents told that they had difficulties in contacting the means of assistance because the calls "were always going down".

During the afternoon of this Sunday, the Civil Protection had already issued a warning to the population, valid until Monday, warning of the risk of flooding in urban areas, floods and landslides.
(...)








Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 07, 2022, 12:00:14 PM
Évora city chosen to be European Capital of Culture in 2027, alongside Liepaja in Latvia:


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Évora will be European Capital of Culture in 2027

Quote
Évora will be the European Capital of Culture in 2027, along with Liepaja, in Latvia, it was announced this Wednesday, at a press conference in Lisbon, at the Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB), in Lisbon.

Among the other four district capitals in competition - Aveiro, Braga and Ponta Delgada - Évora was chosen to receive the title of European Capital of Culture. The announcement was made by the president of the international jury, Beatriz Garcia.

After Lisbon, in 1994, Porto, in 2001 and Guimarães, in 2012, this will be the fourth time that a Portuguese city is selected for this European project.

The city of Évora will have a financial allocation of 29 million euros from national and European funds, as revealed in October by the Minister of Culture, Pedro Adão e Silva.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 07, 2022, 07:39:58 PM
Massive floods this evening in the Lisbon area. Authorities say that, so far, one person has died.

Tunnels, Subway stations, Businesses and several streets across the city are flooded. Shopping Malls were also evacuated. The airport has also been hit and has suffered damages (https://www.cmjornal.pt/sociedade/clima/detalhe/caos-em-lisboa-aeroporto-inundado-tetos-desabam-e-pessoas-refugiam-se-em-cima-de-carros).



*In the last clip of the video, a group of people are naked and singing in the middle of the water. ::)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: VPH on December 07, 2022, 07:58:30 PM
Évora city chosen to be European Capital of Culture in 2027, alongside Liepaja in Latvia:


Quote
Évora will be European Capital of Culture in 2027

Quote
Évora will be the European Capital of Culture in 2027, along with Liepaja, in Latvia, it was announced this Wednesday, at a press conference in Lisbon, at the Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB), in Lisbon.

Among the other four district capitals in competition - Aveiro, Braga and Ponta Delgada - Évora was chosen to receive the title of European Capital of Culture. The announcement was made by the president of the international jury, Beatriz Garcia.

After Lisbon, in 1994, Porto, in 2001 and Guimarães, in 2012, this will be the fourth time that a Portuguese city is selected for this European project.

The city of Évora will have a financial allocation of 29 million euros from national and European funds, as revealed in October by the Minister of Culture, Pedro Adão e Silva.
(...)

Évora is lovely. Took a road trip down there this summer and then over into Badajoz.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 10, 2022, 02:24:23 PM
Évora is lovely. Took a road trip down there this summer and then over into Badajoz.

A very well preserved city and very pleasent to visit. :)

Alongside floods, which could also repeat this evening as heavy rain is forecast, a cow on the loose created panic in a the north of Lisbon city:



The animal was then shot down by the police:  (https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/vaca-a-solta-complica-transito-na-segunda-circular-em-lisboa-15462746.html)

Quote
A cow that was on the loose near the Second Circular, in Lisbon, was shot down this Saturday by the Public Security Police (PSP) for "representing a danger to vehicles and people".

According to information provided by the PSP to DN, the animal was located around 6:00 pm between the Militar School and the Colombo Shooping Mall and was shot down at 6:10 pm.

According to publications on social media, the cow caused traffic disruptions on the Second Ring Road. The moment was captured in videos published on the social network Twitter.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 12, 2022, 12:15:48 PM
More 2021 Census data: More than 10% of the population has some form of incapacity. (https://www.jn.pt/nacional/mais-de-10-da-populacao-portuguesa-tem-algum-tipo-de-incapacidade-15470786.html)

- 1,085,472 people (10.9% of the population) have some kind of incapacity;

The majority are:

- Women, with a ratio of 164 women with incapacity for every 100 men;
- 65.1% are pensioners and 29.1% widows;
- The average age is 70-74 years old;
- 21.5% have no educational background, while 64.7% have Basic Education;

- 6.1% can't walk and/or climb steps/a flight of stairs;
- 3.5% have an incapacity to view;
- 3.4% have memory problems;
- 3.0% can't bath and dress without help;
- 2.8% have hearing problems;

- 68.1% live in housing, with family members, with no conditions for wealchairs and need aid;
- 20.0% live alone;
- 8.0% live in social care;


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 13, 2022, 07:52:22 AM
More floods in Lisbon city and in the metro area: (https://www.publico.pt/2022/12/13/local/noticia/fique-casa-evite-deslocacoes-nao-lisboa-avisa-camara-lisboa-2031196?ref=hp&cx=manchete_2_destaques_0)

Important highways to enter the city were completely flooded, several people lost their houses and schools across the city and the metro area are closing down.





Public transportation is also heavily affected by the floods. Hospitals are also affected with a few having floods in the emergency rooms. (https://www.publico.pt/2022/12/13/sociedade/noticia/amadorasintra-pede-encaminhamento-doentes-urgentes-hospitais-2031226) Many roads are closed and the mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, is advising people to avoid coming to Lisbon and also advising people to not leave their homes.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 13, 2022, 09:59:45 AM
In Campo Maior, Portalegre district, and near the Spanish border, floods are creating havoc in several parishes:


Quote
[Bad weather] In Campo Maior, in the district of Portalegre, the lower part of the village was flooded this Tuesday and several houses were flooded, some with water up to the ceiling, according to the City Council, which plans to trigger the Municipal Emergency Plan of Civil Protection.

In other areas, people have also lost their homes (https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/pais/2022/12/13/cheias-e-uma-situacao-dantesca-em-campo-maior-o-ponto-de-situacao-fora-de-lisboa/311686/?utm_medium=rss): In Pombal, Leiria district, 4 people lost their house because of flash floods, the same number in Évora district.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 15, 2022, 07:06:13 AM
Portugal's purchasing power drops to 75.1% of the EU average in 2021, and it stands at 16th place out of 19 countries of the Euro Zone:  (https://eco.sapo.pt/2022/12/15/pib-per-capita-portugues-afastou-se-da-media-europeia-em-2021-e-o-16-o-entre-os-paises-do-euro/)


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Portuguese GDP per capita moved away from the European average in 2021. It is the 16th among the euro countries

Quote
The Gross Domestic Product per capita (GDPpc) of Portugal, expressed in Purchasing Power Parities (PPC), retreated from the European average in 2021, revealed the National Institute of Statistics (INE) this Thursday. It was 75.1% of the European Union (EU) average, which represents a drop compared to 2020, when it had reached 76.2%.

Taking into account the figures calculated, “Portugal thus occupied the 16th position among the 19 countries of the Euro Zone and the 20th of the EU” last year, notes the statistics office.

The impact of the pandemic on tourism was one of the factors affecting Portugal’s performance, with “with the exception of Croatia, the countries whose tourism-related activities had a more significant weight in 2019 were among those that showed the lowest GDPpc recovery, measured in PPC, in 2021 compared to 2019 (year before the pandemic)”. Portugal was the second most penalized country.
(...)
INE also made available data on Individual Consumption Expenditure per capita, which “constitutes a more appropriate indicator to reflect the well-being of families”, and which stood at 83.6% of the EU average, also lower than the previous year. (83.9%). In this indicator, the country ranks 14th in the Euro Zone and 19th in the EU.

Comparing with other European countries, there is a “high dispersion of the GDPpc volume indicator measured in PPP in the 27 EU Member States”. Luxembourg (268.5) has the highest index, corresponding to more than two and a half times the EU27 average, and is also almost five times higher than Bulgaria (57.5), the EU country with the lowest value.
(...)

Portugal's purchasing power compared with the EU average since 2000: From here: Pordata (https://www.pordata.pt/europa/pib+per+capita+(ue27+100)-3523)
()
Image link (https://talkelections.org/FORUM/GALLERY/14362_15_12_22_7_22_50.png)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 16, 2022, 02:33:57 PM
Secret report, now unveiled, shows that airplane accidents have been avoided almost by "miracle" as air controllers forge presences and watch TV rather than paying attention to airplanes:


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Secret report reveals serious flaws in air control in Portugal

Quote
A report by the Office for the Prevention and Investigation of Accidents with Aircraft and Railway Accidents (GPIAAF), whose content was revealed this Friday by Expresso, revealed two serious failures in air control in Portugal, which almost resulted in accidents, in space of just over a year.

On the night of April 27 last year, a Boeing 737 cargo was 300 meters horizontally and 150 meters vertically from the Follow Me airport vehicle when taking off from Porto towards Belgium.

A little over a year later, on the morning of May 13, Ponta Delgada airport experienced a similar episode, when a TAP Airbus 321 was authorized to land when a Follow Me was on the right line of the runway - plane and vehicle were separated for 280 meters.

In both incidents there was only one controller in the tower, when four more elements should have been at work in Porto and two more in Ponta Delgada. And they were not by decision of both operators, also supervisors, who signed fictitious presences in the workplace, which were remunerated.
(...)

From TSF radio (https://www.tsf.pt/portugal/economia/materia-de-seguranca-e-sagrada-ministro-valoriza-relatorio-sobre-controlo-em-aeroportos-portugueses-15499591.html):
Quote
(...)
A report by the Office for the Prevention and Investigation of Accidents with Aircraft and Railway Accidents points to serious flaws in air traffic control at Portuguese airports. The secret document, to which Expresso had access, mentions failures such as manipulated attendance and punctuality records or controllers who have a television to pass the time. The report even considers that there were "accidents that were avoided by exceptional circumstances".
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 19, 2022, 10:21:41 AM
Portuguese police, tipped by the FBI, prevents a terrorist attack for tomorrow in a Lisbon University:

Young man accused of plotting an attack at a Lisbon University acquitted of the crime of terrorism and sentenced to a 2 years and 9 months in a psychiatric prison: (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2022-12-19-Jovem-que-planeou-ataque-na-Faculdade-de-Ciencias-condenado-a-pena-de-2-anos-e-9-meses-por-arma-proibida---mas-foi-absolvido-de-terrorismo-201b7389)


Quote
João Carreira was acquitted of the terrorism crimes he had been accused of. He will serve his sentence in an establishment intended for the unaccountable

Quote
João Carreira, 19 years old, accused by the Public Ministry of planning a terrorist attack in February this year on the Faculty of Sciences, in Lisbon, met his sentence this Monday at the Campus da Justiça. The student from that college was arrested at that time by the Judiciary Police after an FBI alert.

Judge Nuno Costa sentenced him to 2 years and 9 months in prison for the crime of using a prohibited weapon, highlighting the “large” number of weapons that the Judiciary Police found in his apartment, in Olivais, on the day of his arrest. João Carreira will serve his sentence in an “establishment destined for non-imputable people”, not specifying whether he will remain hospitalized in the Hospital-Prison of Caxias.

And he considered that “the community is not prepared to receive Mr. João, nor is Mr. João ready to return to a life outside because of the danger he revealed in this case”.
(...)
In addition, the magistrate claimed that João Carreira did not belong to a terrorist network such as the Islamic State. And he gave the example of lone wolves who act alone but inspired by these extremist groups. “And none of that happened here.”

The judge also recalled that it made no sense to charge him with an attempted crime of terrorism or training for terrorism since João Carreira was not preparing any trip to the bosom of a terrorist organization.
(...)

During the trial, João Carreira confessed he wanted to kill and stab people (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2022-10-18-Ataque-na-Faculdade-de-Ciencias-Queria-matar-e-esfaquear-pessoas-mas-fui-adiando.-Porque--Acho-que-nao-tinha-coragem-diz-Joao-Real-31569492) but was postponing it because he felt he didn't had the courage to do it:

Quote
João Real confessed in the courtroom that he already had interests from behind in mass murders, namely school shootings. “It started in 2018 after I saw videos about a mass murder, and I kept seeing more videos like that. I was fascinated by these murder videos. I wanted to know more about these people. The interest was increasing and I contacted people through social networks.”
(...)
And why did João Real not go ahead with the plan on one of those days? “Because I didn't want to. I guess I didn't really want to do that.” This indecision was due to the fact that he did not think he had “the courage to kill a person”. One of the contradictions that became evident in his testimony. He later said in court that he bought the material just to "show it to some people" in these virtual communities. “Everyone will have their 15 minutes of fame, as Andy Wahrol says.”
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 19, 2022, 02:37:27 PM
A High-School in the suburbs of Lisbon was vandalized during the weekend (https://observador.pt/2022/12/19/pura-destruicao-escola-secundaria-vandalizada-em-carnaxide-prejuizos-serao-na-ordem-dos-150-mil-euros/). Nothing was stolen and the school board says that damages are worth 150,000 euros:


Quote
“Pure destruction.” High-school vandalized in Carnaxide — damages will be in the order of 150 thousand euros

Quote
The Camilo Castelo Branco High-School, in Carnaxide, in the municipality of Oeiras, was the target of “acts of vandalism” over the weekend, the Public Security Police (PSP) informed Lusa this Monday.

According to an official PSP source, a school door was broken into, with broken glass, several vandalized spaces, including bathrooms, and several damaged objects, namely technological equipment.

The same source stressed that there is no record of any theft, with the police taking steps to find out what happened.

"There are no suspects identified so far", said the PSP, mentioning that testimonies collected by the police show that the acts took place over the weekend.

According to SIC, which reported the incident on the spot, the school management admits losses of around 150,000 euros. The director of the group, António Seixas, told the same station that he thinks that this act of vandalism was carried out by people who knew the school establishment. “Pure destruction.”

“Whoever came here was already prepared to destroy because, according to the police, they were wearing gloves, so there are no fingerprints”, said António Seixas, detailing that the authors of the act “used the fire extinguishers to destroy the crockery and glass” — and deactivated the alarm.

The Ministry of Education has already been informed, and a regional delegate was at the school during the morning, informs SIC.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 23, 2022, 07:00:05 AM
A High-School in the suburbs of Lisbon was vandalized during the weekend (https://observador.pt/2022/12/19/pura-destruicao-escola-secundaria-vandalizada-em-carnaxide-prejuizos-serao-na-ordem-dos-150-mil-euros/). Nothing was stolen and the school board says that damages are worth 150,000 euros:

Two students, aged 14 and 15, surrendered to the police this morning and assumed responsibility for the vandalism in the school (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2022-12-23-Alunos-sao-os-autores-dos-atos-de-vandalismo-em-escola-de-Carnaxide-38d7a1df). A third student is also involved and is being hunted by the police. All of the students, involved in this situation, attended the vandalized high-school. The school board and the Education ministry is discussing the penalty these students will face.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 23, 2022, 03:59:10 PM
Workers strike cancels more than 75% of the trains expected for this Friday. Another day of strike is expected for Monday, 26 December.


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Strike at CP and IP suppresses 728 trains until 6 pm

Quote
The strike called by workers from CP – Trains of Portugal and Infrastructures of Portugal (IP) suppressed 728 trains between 00:00 and 18:00 this Friday, with 241 trains circulating, according to an official source from the operator.

Thus, revealed CP, until 6 pm this Friday, the minimum services were fulfilled, with 241 trains circulating, with “the total scheduled until 6 pm was 969”, that is, “728 did not take place”.

A platform of several unions representing workers from CP - Trains of Portugal and Infrastructures of Portugal (IP) called a strike for the 23rd and 26th of December, demanding a financial reward, among other demands.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 25, 2022, 07:38:51 PM
The declines in Vila Real, Portalegre, Garda, and Evora are utterly brutal. Ouch.

A late follow up for this comment: The "aging of Portugal" since 2001:



Yellow - Municipalities with more younger people than older.
Blue - Municipalities with more older people than younger.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: President Punxsutawney Phil on December 25, 2022, 07:45:53 PM
The declines in Vila Real, Portalegre, Garda, and Evora are utterly brutal. Ouch.

A late follow up for this comment: The "aging of Portugal" since 2001:


Yellow - Municipalities with more younger people than older.
Blue - Municipalities with more older people than younger.
Thanks for the reply. It's a sea of blue so big Vasco da Gama could sail across it without much trouble.
It seems that the islands areas are demographically healthier than the mainland? The blue spots in Madeira caught my eyes, though.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 25, 2022, 07:56:52 PM
Thanks for the reply. It's a sea of blue so big Vasco da Gama could sail across it without much trouble.
It seems that the islands areas are demographically healthier than the mainland? The blue spots in Madeira caught my eyes, though.

One of the comments to this tweet is literally "Floods in Portugal". ;)

Well, Madeira and Azores have the lowest life expectancy rate in the country: 78,5 years for Madeira and 78,0 years for Azores. The national average is 81,1 years. The blue spots in Madeira are the most underdeveloped areas in the island. The majority of the population in Madeira is concentrated in the South part of the island: Ribeira Brava, Funchal, Santa Cruz and Machico. In these 4 municipalities, the airport, hospitals, industries and the Madeira "Exclusion Zone" are located.

Although both regions have also lost population in the last 2 decades, the "generation renovation" is higher than in the rest of the country, mainly, probably, because of the low life expectency.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: President Punxsutawney Phil on December 25, 2022, 08:00:40 PM
Thanks for the reply. It's a sea of blue so big Vasco da Gama could sail across it without much trouble.
It seems that the islands areas are demographically healthier than the mainland? The blue spots in Madeira caught my eyes, though.

One of the comments to this tweet is literally "Floods in Portugal". ;)

Well, Madeira and Azores have the lowest life expectancy rate in the country: 78,5 years for Madeira and 78,0 years for Azores. The national average is 81,1 years. The blue spots in Madeira are the most underdeveloped areas in the island. The majority of the population in Madeira is concentrated in the South part of the island: Ribeira Brava, Funchal, Santa Cruz and Machico. In these 4 municipalities, the airport, hospitals, industries and the Madeira "Exclusion Zone" are located.

Although both regions have also lost population in the last 2 decades, the "generation renovation" is higher than in the rest of the country, mainly, probably, because of the low life expectency.

Ah. Interesting. Obrigado for the info!
What makes the islands of yellow in mainland Portugal unique? (particularly rural Portugal)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 25, 2022, 08:12:07 PM
Thanks for the reply. It's a sea of blue so big Vasco da Gama could sail across it without much trouble.
It seems that the islands areas are demographically healthier than the mainland? The blue spots in Madeira caught my eyes, though.

One of the comments to this tweet is literally "Floods in Portugal". ;)

Well, Madeira and Azores have the lowest life expectancy rate in the country: 78,5 years for Madeira and 78,0 years for Azores. The national average is 81,1 years. The blue spots in Madeira are the most underdeveloped areas in the island. The majority of the population in Madeira is concentrated in the South part of the island: Ribeira Brava, Funchal, Santa Cruz and Machico. In these 4 municipalities, the airport, hospitals, industries and the Madeira "Exclusion Zone" are located.

Although both regions have also lost population in the last 2 decades, the "generation renovation" is higher than in the rest of the country, mainly, probably, because of the low life expectency.

Ah. Interesting. Obrigado for the info!
What makes the islands of yellow in mainland Portugal unique? (particularly rural Portugal)

I assume this is because 50 years ago, Madeira and Azores were the most neglected areas of the country. Poverty and harsh living conditions were widespread across the islands. In Azores, there was even the stories of mothers literally "selling" their newborns (https://www.dn.pt/lusa/adocoes-de-criancas-acorianas-por-norte-americanos-ainda-sao-tabu-na-ilha-terceira-8769995.html) to US Military families in the Lajes air base just to have money and/or food for the rest of their children. Even though both archipelagos made a long road for recovery, especially Madeira, they still have the scars of their recent past: the highest poverty rates in the country, low life expectancy.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 26, 2022, 10:35:08 AM
2021 Census, Religion: (compared with 2011)

80.2% Roman Catholic (-0.8%)
  2.1% Protestant/Evangelical (+1.3%)
  0.7% Jehovah Witness (new)
  0.7% Orthodox Church (+0.1%)
  1.0% Other Christian
  0.4% Islam (+0.2%)
  0.2% Hinduism (new)
  0.2% Buddhism (new)
  0.0% Judaism (-0.0%)
  0.3% Other religions (-0.0%)
14.1% No religion (+7.3%)

2021 Census, Religion by region: Data from here. (https://tabulador.ine.pt/indicador/?id=0011644&lang=EN)

Religion by region:

North: (3,080,860 inhabitants with and above 15 years old)

88.08% Roman Catholic
  1.19% Protestant/Evangelical
  0.58% Jehovah Witness
  0.21% Orthodox Church
  0.84% Other Christian
  0.11% Islam
  0.11% Buddhism
  0.04% Hinduism
  0.02% Judaism
  0.17% Other religions
  8.65% No religion

Center: (1,913,725 inhabitants with and above 15 years old)

85.14% Roman Catholic
  1.69% Protestant/Evangelical
  0.68% Jehovah Witness
  0.61% Orthodox Church
  0.78% Other Christian
  0.15% Islam
  0.13% Buddhism
  0.11% Hinduism
  0.02% Judaism
  0.20% Other religions
10.48% No religion

Lisbon: (2,390,959 inhabitants with and above 15 years old)

67.54% Roman Catholic
  3.54% Protestant/Evangelical
  1.00% Orthodox Church
  0.96% Jehovah Witness
  1.52% Other Christian
  1.06% Islam
  0.46% Hinduism
  0.32% Buddhism
  0.06% Judaism
  0.44% Other religions
23.09% No religion

Alentejo: (595,238 inhabitants with and above 15 years old)

76.15% Roman Catholic
  2.00% Protestant/Evangelical
  0.87% Orthodox Church
  0.68% Jehovah Witness
  0.77% Other Christian
  0.50% Hinduism
  0.34% Islam
  0.28% Buddhism
  0.02% Judaism
  0.36% Other religions
18.04% No religion

Algarve: (390,103 inhabitants with and above 15 years old)

65.89% Roman Catholic
  4.47% Protestant/Evangelical
  3.17% Orthodox Church
  0.90% Jehovah Witness
  1.80% Other Christian
  0.67% Islam
  0.45% Hinduism
  0.32% Buddhism
  0.06% Judaism
  0.54% Other religions
21.73% No religion

Azores: (195,788 inhabitants with and above 15 years old)

91.63% Roman Catholic
  0.88% Protestant/Evangelical
  0.50% Jehovah Witness
  0.09% Orthodox Church
  0.46% Other Christian
  0.09% Buddhism
  0.04% Islam
  0.02% Hinduism
  0.02% Judaism
  0.11% Other religions
  6.17% No religion

Madeira: (215,227 inhabitants with and above 15 years old)

90.86% Roman Catholic
  0.91% Protestant/Evangelical
  0.63% Jehovah Witness
  0.29% Orthodox Church
  0.65% Other Christian
  0.13% Buddhism
  0.08% Islam
  0.04% Hinduism
  0.01% Judaism
  0.13% Other religions
  6.26% No religion

Catholicism is stronger in rural areas in the North and Center: Braganza, Vila Real and Guarda districts have all municipalities with Catholicism above 90%. Azores and Madeira have the highest share of Catholics in the country. The Lisbon metro area has a strong share of other religions, especially Islam and the highest share of non-religion people. Algarve has the lowest share of Catholics and the highest share of Protestants, probably because of high UK population in that region.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 30, 2022, 07:35:17 AM
Inflation drops, slightly, to 9.6% in December 2022. Overall, in 2022, inflation is estimated at 7.8%.


Quote
Inflation in December drops to 9.6%

Quote
The year-on-year rate of change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell to 9.6% in December, compared to 9.9% in November, according to the flash estimate advanced this Friday by the National Institute of Statistics (INE ).

According to INE, "based on the information already collected, the year-on-year rate of change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) will have decreased to 9.6% in December, a rate lower by 0.3 percentage points than that observed in the last month".
(...)
In December compared to the previous month, the CPI variation will have been -0.3% (0.3% in November and zero in December 2021).

In view of these data, INE estimates that, in 2022, the average change rate was 7.8% (7.3% in the 12 months prior to November).

The difference between Portugal and its neighbor Spain in terms of inflation is now quite big: 9.6% for Portugal to Spain's 5.8%.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 01, 2023, 07:32:42 AM
5 people injured, 3 in critical condition, after a stabbing incident in Lisbon downtown during the New Year's celebrations:  (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2023-01-01-Tres-pessoas-permanecem-internadas-apos-desacatos-em-Lisboa-com-arma-branca-c65fe856)


Quote
Lisbon: Five injured, three seriously, in stabbing in central Lisbon

Quote
Three people are still hospitalized in the hospitals of Saint Mary and Saint Joseph, in Lisbon, after the riots at dawn today with a bladed weapon, but hospital sources guarantee that all patients are stable.

According to a source from the Lisbon Metropolitan Command of the PSP (Cometlis), at least five people were injured today, three of them seriously, in an incident with a bladed weapon, in Figueira Square, in central Lisbon.

Two seriously injured were taken to Saint Joseph Hospital and the third to Saint Mary Hospital, added the head of the police.

The incident, whose motives are still unknown, occurred around 1:20 am and caused two minor injuries, also taken to Saint Mary.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 01, 2023, 12:11:49 PM
Bad weather: Part of the wall of the ancient Valença Fortress collapses because of heavy rain:


Quote
Part of the wall of the Fortress of Valença colapses

Quote
Part of the wall of the Fortress of Valença collapsed this Sunday, with the municipal coordinator of Civil Protection and the mayor of the municipality being in place, revealed a source from the national command of the National Civil Protection Authority (ANPC).

"At 13.59 we received information that part of the wall of Fortaleza de Valença had collapsed, and the municipal civil protection coordinator, as well as the mayor, were on the spot monitoring the situation", the ANPC spokesman told Lusa.

The Fortress of Valença, in the district of Viana do Castelo, has been classified as a National Monument since 1928 and bad weather must be the reason why part of the wall gave way, said the official.

Already in a balance made to Lusa, around 15:00, by the head of the local Civil Protection, Eduardo Afonso, it was mentioned that "other parts of the wall are at risk".
(...)
"This fortress is our ex-libris. It is Valença's calling card. In fact, a candidacy for World Heritage is being prepared", recalled the mayor.

José Manuel Carpinteira took the opportunity to appeal to the population not to go to the fortress and comply with the Civil Protection safety advice.

A lot of roads and villages suffered floods in Viana do Castelo district, where Valença is part of.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 01, 2023, 07:50:26 PM
Bad weather: Part of the wall of the ancient Valença Fortress collapses because of heavy rain:
(...)

Another part of the Fortress wall has also collapsed: (https://www.dn.pt/local/muralha-da-fortaleza-de-valenca-sofreu-nova-derrocada-15584496.html)

Quote
The wall of the Fortress of Valença suffered another collapse this afternoon and the site will be visited on Monday by the Minister of Cohesion and by technicians from the General Directorate of Culture of the north, said the mayor.

"There was another collapse in the continuity of the [part] that had already fallen [during today's morning]", reported the mayor of Valença, José Manuel Carpinteira, in statements to Lusa, stressing that the section of the road was "quite large". wall affected.

The possibility of a new collapse had already been anticipated by the authorities when, in a statement made to Lusa at around 3 pm, the head of the local Civil Protection, Eduardo Afonso, said that there was "another front at risk".
(...)

Aerial view of the damage in the Fortress:



Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 02, 2023, 08:35:44 PM
Bad weather: Part of the wall of the ancient Valença Fortress collapses because of heavy rain:
(...)

Another part of the Fortress wall has also collapsed: (https://www.dn.pt/local/muralha-da-fortaleza-de-valenca-sofreu-nova-derrocada-15584496.html)
(...)

Ri...di...cu...lous:


In summary, the minister of Territorial Cohesion, Ana Abrunhosa, went to the scene of the damage walls of the fortress and was caught by TV cameras saying that monuments are now a local government responsibility. The local mayor asked for national help adding that the municipality doesn't have enough money, and then the minister said that the government can only help Valença City Hall deal with the Regional Culture department, but that the money has to come from local government.

::) >:(


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 07, 2023, 10:24:49 AM
After Lisbon last month, Porto city, and some of its suburbs, were hit with flash floods after heavy rain:





Subway stations and a lot of roads were flooded. Adding to this, a lot of mud and rocks from a few Porto Subway expansion construction sites, aggravated the situation by creating damages in shops and in pavements. In fact, some locals blame the Porto Subway expansion works for the floods as it may have blocked the water drainage system.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 12, 2023, 11:46:28 AM
A controversial proposal: Portuguese singer proposes changes in the National Anthem to make it less warlike (https://magg.sapo.pt/atualidade/atualidade-nacional/artigos/dino-dsantiago-quer-mudar-hino-nacional-nao-gritemos-mais-as-armas-as-armas):


Quote
Dino d'Santiago wants to change the national anthem. "Let's not cry to arms anymore, to arms"

Quote
The singer Dino d'Santiago liked to change the national anthem. It was after a performance this Friday, January 6th, within the scope of the conference "Leave the World Better", which took place at the Champalimaud Foundation, in Lisbon, organized by the newspaper "Expresso", that the Portuguese artist spoke about the weight bellicose of "A Portuguesa".

"It's about time we had a less bellicose anthem, one that encourages wars less, let's not shout to arms anymore, to arms, let's not fight against cannons anymore, let's not march against cannons anymore", said Dino d'Santiago.

The singer also added that the change must happen with the new generations in mind. "Our children no longer need that and the new emancipation can no longer be territorial, it must be mental, spiritual and with love. It is a challenge that I launch."

"A Portuguesa", the Portuguese national anthem, was composed by Alfredo Keil, with lyrics by Henrique Lopes de Mendonça, in 1890. The theme became the anthem of Portugal in 1911.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 13, 2023, 01:43:17 PM
Amadora-Sintra hospital, Lisbon suburbs, in being investigated due to accusations of deaths and mutilations in post-surgery patients:


Quote
The Medical Bar Association and the IGAS are analyzing 22 cases of alleged malpractice by the hospital's surgical team.

Quote
Two surgeons at the Fernando Fonseca hospital, better known as Amadora-Sintra, denounce cases of “deaths and mutilations” in the hospital, allegedly due to bad practices by the surgical team. The process is being investigated by independent experts appointed by the Doctors Bar, Expresso reports.

The complaint was admitted to the hospital in October 2022, as confirmed to the weekly newspaper by the administration of Amadora-Sintra. Initially, 17 patients were referred, but the number rose to 22 at the end of November.

According to the letter sent to the Doctors Bar, to which Expresso had access, one of the complainants claims that the issue is not related to “a particular doctor”, but it is “a systemic situation”. He also writes that it is his “ethical, professional, personal, citizenship duty to warn those who have serious life and quality of life impairment situations, with mortality and unnecessary, avoidable mutilations, which result from providing care to the surgical patient that does not coincide with the legis artis”.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 14, 2023, 05:48:38 PM
President Marcelo to honor police guard that had his nose bitten off by a man he was trying to handcuff:  (https://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/homem-arranca-nariz-de-militar-da-gnr-a-dentada-em-beja?ref=DET_RelacionadasInText)


Quote
Portugal - President of the Republic surprised by the cold blood of the GNR soldier mutilated on duty

Quote
The President of the Republic spoke this Saturday with the GNR woman who was bitten on the nose to express her solidarity. The Head of State stated that he will receive the man in Belém.
(...)

Quote
A 33-year-old man was arrested by the Beja GNR, early this Friday, after biting off the nose of a military man.

The aggressor, with an extensive police record, accused the crime of alcohol in a road inspection carried out by the GNR, around 3:30 am this Friday.

Taken to the post for normal detention procedures, he entered a veritable spiral of violence.

He started by biting a guard's nose, practically tearing the soldier's nose off.

Later, when the victim's colleagues rushed to help, they were also attacked.

Only with great difficulty was it possible to restrain the 33-year-old man, who is present in court this Friday morning.

The most seriously injured soldier was transported to the St. Joseph Hospital, in Lisbon, where he is being operated on.

The two injured colleagues received assistance at Beja Hospital.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 20, 2023, 11:25:03 AM
Poverty rates drop in 2021, but there are fears for the effects of inflation and the rising cost of living in 2022 and 2023:


Quote
Poverty resumed downward path and decreased to 16.4% in 2021

Quote
After the worsening seen in the first year of the pandemic, poverty fell again in 2021. But INE data still does not reflect the impact of inflation and rising interest rates

After the increase seen in the first year of the pandemic, poverty fell again in Portugal to 16.4% in 2021. This is two percentage points less than the 18.4% reached in 2020 (the year in which the downward trend of the phenomenon was reversed) but, even so, the statistics released this Friday by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) set at more than two million Portuguese people threatened with poverty or social exclusion.
(...)

Risk of poverty by region: (2021)

25.9% Madeira
25.1% Azores
22.1% Algarve
20.0% North
15.6% Center
14.9% Alentejo
10.4% Lisbon


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 21, 2023, 06:57:43 AM
Talks between TAP airlines and Unions fail and a 6-day strike will go ahead starting next week, canceling thousands of flights:



Quote
Portugal's TAP will cancel 1,316 flights due to a strike planned for the end of January, affecting nearly 160,000 passengers, the state-owned airline said on Thursday.

TAP, currently under an EU-approved 3.2-billion-euro bailout plan, said it expected the walkout to cost the company about 48 million euros ($52 million) in revenue.

A further loss of 20 million euros was also expected due to the potential impact on sales, TAP said.

Demanding higher wages and better working conditions, cabin crew union SNPVAC announced earlier this month it would walk out from Jan. 25-31. It follows a shorter strike on Dec. 8-9, which led to the cancellation of 360 flights.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 21, 2023, 01:08:23 PM
Protest in Lisbon city against the possible, and controversial, illegalization of the law against mistreatment of companion animals:


Quote
Thousands in Lisbon against the unconstitutionality of a law protecting animals

During the last few weeks, a controversial decision by the Constitutional Court is creating a big debate. The Court declared that the current law that criminalized the mistreatment of companion animals violates the Constitution and, because of this, the DA office is asking for the definitive declaration of unconstitutionality of the law. The issue is complex and falls into a "legal limbo" as the current law, in the Civil Code, colides with the Constitution (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/maus-tratos/animais/os-magistrados-querem-acabar-com-os-direitos-dos-animais-uma-explicacao-sobre-o-que-esta-realmente-em-causa/20230121/63cbf47d0cf2c84d7fc43e6e), and even though, the law was ruled as invalid by the Court, is still in practice and is creating a legal imbroglio. The Court will now rule on the definitive fate of the law.

In a recent ruling, a man was convicted for throwing into the garbage puppies still alive, but after an appeal he was acquitted because of the High Court's ruling that the law was invalid. Other similar cases of mistreatment of animals, reported by the media, ended all in the acquittal of the accused.

Legal experts say that the solution has to be a change in the Constitution, followed by a change in the Civil and Penal Codes. A long legal and legislative road ahead.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (Final 2021 Census results: 23 November, general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 23, 2023, 12:01:10 PM
Talks between TAP airlines and Unions fail and a 6-day strike will go ahead starting next week, canceling thousands of flights:

TAP airlines strike canceled after last minute talks between Unions and the airline's management:  (https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/greve-de-tripulantes-da-tap-desconvocada-15708618.html)

After the failed talks last week, a last minute proposal from TAP airlines management was accepted by unions and the 6-day strike, schedule to start next Wednesday, was canceled. The airline seems to have caved in to the last demands of the unions and the unions voted 67-31% in favour of canceling the strike.

The strike would cancel thousands of flights and create losses of almost 50 million euros in the 100% State owned airline. The process of the partial or total privatization of TAP is expected to start during 2023.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 23, 2023, 12:15:38 PM
Another chapter in the WTF Court rulings in Portugal: Judge rules domestic violence aggressor to take his abused wife out to dinner and theater.


Quote
Domestic violence. Amadora judge orders aggressor to take victim out to dinner

Quote
A judge from the Court of Amadora responsible for judging a case of domestic violence in which the crime of offense to physical integrity was considered proven decided to suspend the process and follow the recommendation of a prosecutor of the Public Ministry (MP): to force the aggressor to take the victim on "playful walks".

The case was revealed this Friday by Correio da Manhã, which had access to the process, whose "provisional suspension" was dictated by the magistrate for five months. During this period, the person responsible for the offenses to the woman's physical integrity is obliged to "perform, with the victim's agreement, dinner and recreational walk with the victim, among others, concerts, shows, magazine, theater".

The case dates back to last year, when the victim was allegedly attacked by her partner upon arriving home, in the early hours of February 26, with "slaps and kicks". The victim ended up going to a police station to file a complaint and evidence of the bruises that resulted from that aggression, adding that the companion squeezed her neck until she ran out of air.
(...)

No comments...


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 25, 2023, 07:32:39 AM
The controversy surrounding the 4 million euros stage for the Catholic World Youth Days:


Quote
Lisbon City Hall explains investments with Youth Day. “It is very important that all taxpayers are informed”

The announcement, by Lisbon city hall, that the stage of the Catholic World Youth Days in August, which will host Pope Francis and other 2,000 bishops and priests and with an estimated crowd of 1,5 million people, will cost more than 4 million euros and could even rise to 6 million, is creating a lot of controversy because of the huge amount spent is a single stage. Lisbon city hall says that stage will be used for future events and that they already have feedback from entertainment companies about future events. The city hall says that the stage has specific details asked by the Catholic Church and that they cost a lot of money. Nonetheless, the City is saying that cost is worth it as it will renovate a part of the city, creating a new big green park, and infrastructures for future events.

This event has been a trainwreck since the beginning, from Marcelo's "cringe" video announcing Portugal's pick, to the disorganization and lack of planning for this event, as the timetables and plans were only approved during the summer of 2022 for an event schedule for August 2023.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 25, 2023, 07:10:04 PM
The controversy surrounding the 4 million euros stage for the Catholic World Youth Days:

This slowmotion trainwreck continued during the day:

- According to RTP, the Vatican rejected the first stage project, costing around 2 million euros, and forced changes like more space and a big starcase (https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/jmj2023-projeto-de-altar-foi-chumbado-pelo-vaticano-e-sofreu-alteracoes_v1462652). These changes would increase the cost to 4 million, adding to this the foundations of the stage, a further 2 million;

- Adding to this, transparency in this event is close to... well, zero. Lisbon city has announced that will spend 36,5 million euros, Loures city hall 10 million and the Government 35 million euros. But the Portuguese Catholic Church is refusing to disclose their spending as is Oeiras city hall. The known spending is around 80 million euros, but it could be much more;

- Plus, because everything is being made in "botched" way, organizations (https://sicnoticias.pt/especiais/jornadas-mundiais-da-juventude/2023-01-25-Jornadas-da-Juventude-autarquias-gastam-centenas-de-milhares-de-euros-em-ajustes-diretos-c6b83d64), local government that is, are recurring to direct contracts to have things done, from actual construction to simple t-shirts;

Further more, this is just my opinion, if the organization expects more than 1,5 million people in Lisbon during a single week in August, how will the "bursting" Lisbon airport handle all of this people? We'll see.

Of course, the jokes regarding all of "this" are spreading on social media:

Quote
I saw the project now and 4.2 million doesn't seem like that much anymore
;) 8)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 26, 2023, 03:50:15 PM
The "trainwreck" continues:

- The Patriarchate of Lisbon says that President Marcelo was fully aware of the costs of everything (https://sicnoticias.pt/especiais/jornadas-mundiais-da-juventude/2023-01-26-Patriarcado-garante-que-Presidente-Marcelo-sabia-dos-custos-do-palco-das-Jornadas-Mundiais-8237eeea). Almost immediately, President Marcelo denied the Patriarchate announcement;

- And, at the end of the day, Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon, Américo Aguiar, said, in a press conference, that he was "deeply hurt" by the cost of the stage and will "try" to lower the costs (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/americo-aguiar/altar-palco/jmj-americo-aguiar-confessa-que-ficou-magoado-com-o-valor-do-altar-palco/20230126/63d2d5370cf2665294d2ba6b);

- Plus, we are now aware that there is no communication between different organizations: Lisbon city hall isn't, or apparently isn't, informing the government's taskforce leader for this event, José Sá Fernandes, and the Church is also not being transparent and truthful in the costs of everything;

Like one commentator said on TV, Madrid did the event in an airport, Rio de Janeiro on a beach, Panamá City in an avenue, Portugal and Lisbon, because we're a "super rich country", will spend millions requalifying a part of the city just for this event. ::)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 27, 2023, 06:46:22 PM
The "joke" continues: The controversy surrounding the costs of the Catholic Youth Days continues with everyone running away from responsibilities, from the Vatican to the Portuguese Church, and from Lisbon City Hall to the President and the Government. And now, it was also revealed that a 2nd stage, to be built in Edward VII Park in Central Lisbon, had a project, proposed by the Church, that was rejected by Lisbon City Hall:


Quote
A source from the Lisbon City Hall told SIC that the proposal was rejected not only because of the large size of the stage-altar, but also because of the price.

This proposal was just ridiculous. My God.  >:(  >:(

The final project for the Edward VII stage has yet to be decided.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: MaxQue on January 27, 2023, 07:06:05 PM
Why there is a park named for an UK King in Lisbon?


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 27, 2023, 07:25:10 PM
Why there is a park named for an UK King in Lisbon?

Edward VII visited Lisbon in 1903 and, shortly after, the park was named in his honor and to reaffirm the alliance between Portugal and the UK. Until 1903, the park was called "Liberty Park".


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 30, 2023, 09:48:24 AM
Fury in Monção as faithful defend priest removed from the Church after an accusation of "sexual abuse":


Quote
Parishes defend priest removed for "sexual abuse of a minor"

Masses in the Monção region, Viana do Castelo district, have been tense and complicated in the last few days. Last week, a 41 year old priest was removed from the Church after it was discovered he was having a relationship with a 17 year old young man. The relationship was consensual and the young man in question denied any accusation of abuse. Nonetheless, the Church denounced the priest for sexual abuse of a minor and sent the case to the authorities. But, according to Jornal de Notícias newspaper, the Church's reaction is infuriating the faithful in this region. In masses, people are criticizing the Church for their position with many arguing that "homosexuality is not pedophilia", and that the Church should apologize and clean the image of the removed priest. Some masses are so tense that, in some cases, people literally leave the Church according to the newspaper.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 31, 2023, 06:16:01 AM
Economic data: GDP slows down in the end of 2022 but still grows 6.7% (https://eco.sapo.pt/2023/01/31/economia-cresceu-67-em-2022-abaixo-do-previsto-pelo-governo/) in the year as a whole, and inflation drops to the lowest value since May 2022 (https://eco.sapo.pt/2023/01/31/inflacao-homologa-abranda-para-83-em-janeiro/).




Quote
The Portuguese economy grew by 6.7% in 2022, the best year since 1987, accelerating after the 5.5% growth recorded in 2021, and this despite the unfavorable context of the war in Ukraine and the global slowdown due to inflation pressures and of the rise in interest rates. Even so, this performance was slightly below the 6.8% predicted by the Government, which had revised upwards GDP forecasts at the end of last year, following the new projections by the Bank of Portugal.

The numbers appear in the quick estimate of the National Institute of Statistics (INE) released this Tuesday. “In 2022 as a whole, GDP grew by 6.7% in volume, the highest since 1987, after the 5.5% increase in 2021 that followed the historic decrease of 8.3% in 2020, following the adverse effects of the pandemic on economic activity ”, points out the statistics office.
(...)

Quote
The year-on-year inflation rate in Portugal slowed down to 8.3% in January, according to provisional data released this Tuesday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). This is a decrease of 1.3 percentage points compared to December 2022 and the third consecutive month of relief.

The index relating to energy products was the main driver of the slowdown in the consumer price index (CPI), with the year-on-year rate of change "also decreasing for the third consecutive time, to 6.8% (20.8% in the previous month ), highlighting the decrease in electricity prices”, emphasizes the statistics office. In turn, the index for unprocessed food products accelerated to 18.5% (against 17.6% in December).
(...)



Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 31, 2023, 01:05:56 PM
Government Environment Agency approves the construction of a mega solar plant in the Alentejo region to hold more than 2 million solar panels:


Quote
Iberdrola receives "green light" to install Europe's largest solar park in Alentejo

Quote
Iberdrola and Prosolia Energy obtained the environmental license from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) to build the largest photovoltaic project in Europe, and the fifth largest in the world, in Portugal. An official source from Prosalia confirms to ECO/Capital Verde that the value of the investment is around 800 million euros.

Located in the municipality of Santiago de Cacém, near Sines, the infrastructure will have an installed capacity of 1,200 megawatts (MW) and should become operational in 2025, allowing the creation of 2,500 jobs, “mostly performed by local workers.”
(...)
The plant will occupy an area of 1,262 hectares and, of the total installed capacity, a battery park with 257.5 MW of energy storage capacity is also included. In all, 2,164,736 photovoltaic modules will be installed to take advantage of solar energy, indicates the Environmental Impact Declaration of the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA).

Iberdrola's Fernando Pessoa solar park is part of the €3 billion investment in wind and solar energy expected to be implemented in Portugal over the next few years.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: jojoju1998 on January 31, 2023, 01:35:07 PM
The controversy surrounding the 4 million euros stage for the Catholic World Youth Days:

This slowmotion trainwreck continued during the day:

- According to RTP, the Vatican rejected the first stage project, costing around 2 million euros, and forced changes like more space and a big starcase (https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/jmj2023-projeto-de-altar-foi-chumbado-pelo-vaticano-e-sofreu-alteracoes_v1462652). These changes would increase the cost to 4 million, adding to this the foundations of the stage, a further 2 million;

- Adding to this, transparency in this event is close to... well, zero. Lisbon city has announced that will spend 36,5 million euros, Loures city hall 10 million and the Government 35 million euros. But the Portuguese Catholic Church is refusing to disclose their spending as is Oeiras city hall. The known spending is around 80 million euros, but it could be much more;

- Plus, because everything is being made in "botched" way, organizations (https://sicnoticias.pt/especiais/jornadas-mundiais-da-juventude/2023-01-25-Jornadas-da-Juventude-autarquias-gastam-centenas-de-milhares-de-euros-em-ajustes-diretos-c6b83d64), local government that is, are recurring to direct contracts to have things done, from actual construction to simple t-shirts;

Further more, this is just my opinion, if the organization expects more than 1,5 million people in Lisbon during a single week in August, how will the "bursting" Lisbon airport handle all of this people? We'll see.

Of course, the jokes regarding all of "this" are spreading on social media:

Quote
I saw the project now and 4.2 million doesn't seem like that much anymore
;) 8)

Can't the world youth day organizers try to get some Private funding in to defray the costs ?


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 31, 2023, 02:05:44 PM
Can't the world youth day organizers try to get some Private funding in to defray the costs ?

That's one question that the media and many are asking, why isn't private organizations financing the event? There are some reasons: organizations in Portugal, from businesses to other profit base companies, don't want to invest in an event in which they could lose money and have few control in its organization. Plus, because there was the initial decision to upgrade a whole part of Lisbon city just to hold this event, private and public funding would mix, and in Portugal, when that happens, there's always trouble. Civil society would also be a solution, but it's not strong enough or wealthy enough to pay for the cost of this event. And then you have the Church, and here's the complicated part. The government could actually say "well, it's a religious event, the Church should pay it", but the relationship between the State and Church is close and there's also the "mystery" about the real wealth of the Catholic Church in Portugal. For example, Fátima Sanctuary hasn't published their accounts in more than 10 years and the Church itself isn't detailing precisely how much they will spend in this event.

So, when you have private business unwilling to spend money in an event they don't know if it will profit them, a civil society too poor to contribute and a Church who isn't transparent in its accounts, what's left? The State.

The main criticism of this event is that there is no organization and/or planning what so ever. Adding to this, there are the political rivalries, aka blame game, between the PSD controlled Lisbon city hall and the PS national government. If things were planned with time, some private funding probably would be raised and the cost of the stage itself could have been highly reduced, but, like everything here in Portugal, it goes horribly wrong but all ends well.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: jojoju1998 on January 31, 2023, 05:33:57 PM
Can't the world youth day organizers try to get some Private funding in to defray the costs ?

That's one question that the media and many are asking, why isn't private organizations financing the event? There are some reasons: organizations in Portugal, from businesses to other profit base companies, don't want to invest in an event in which they could lose money and have few control in its organization. Plus, because there was the initial decision to upgrade a whole part of Lisbon city just to hold this event, private and public funding would mix, and in Portugal, when that happens, there's always trouble. Civil society would also be a solution, but it's not strong enough or wealthy enough to pay for the cost of this event. And then you have the Church, and here's the complicated part. The government could actually say "well, it's a religious event, the Church should pay it", but the relationship between the State and Church is close and there's also the "mystery" about the real wealth of the Catholic Church in Portugal. For example, Fátima Sanctuary hasn't published their accounts in more than 10 years and the Church itself isn't detailing precisely how much they will spend in this event.

So, when you have private business unwilling to spend money in an event they don't know if it will profit them, a civil society too poor to contribute and a Church who isn't transparent in its accounts, what's left? The State.

The main criticism of this event is that there is no organization and/or planning what so ever. Adding to this, there are the political rivalries, aka blame game, between the PSD controlled Lisbon city hall and the PS national government. If things were planned with time, some private funding probably would be raised and the cost of the stage itself could have been highly reduced, but, like everything here in Portugal, it goes horribly wrong but all ends well.

When Philly hosted the World Meeting of Families in 2015, there was a bunch of private Funding. Basically Corporate America fundraised 30 million dollars for the event. https://www.ncronline.org/news/parish/funds-raised-world-meeting-families-stand-30-million-so-far

Even Blue Shield, a major private health insurance company in the US got involved because of the media exposure.

And, the crowds in return brought alot of revenue for the City.


American style Capitalism baby.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 31, 2023, 05:46:50 PM
Can't the world youth day organizers try to get some Private funding in to defray the costs ?

That's one question that the media and many are asking, why isn't private organizations financing the event? There are some reasons: organizations in Portugal, from businesses to other profit base companies, don't want to invest in an event in which they could lose money and have few control in its organization. Plus, because there was the initial decision to upgrade a whole part of Lisbon city just to hold this event, private and public funding would mix, and in Portugal, when that happens, there's always trouble. Civil society would also be a solution, but it's not strong enough or wealthy enough to pay for the cost of this event. And then you have the Church, and here's the complicated part. The government could actually say "well, it's a religious event, the Church should pay it", but the relationship between the State and Church is close and there's also the "mystery" about the real wealth of the Catholic Church in Portugal. For example, Fátima Sanctuary hasn't published their accounts in more than 10 years and the Church itself isn't detailing precisely how much they will spend in this event.

So, when you have private business unwilling to spend money in an event they don't know if it will profit them, a civil society too poor to contribute and a Church who isn't transparent in its accounts, what's left? The State.

The main criticism of this event is that there is no organization and/or planning what so ever. Adding to this, there are the political rivalries, aka blame game, between the PSD controlled Lisbon city hall and the PS national government. If things were planned with time, some private funding probably would be raised and the cost of the stage itself could have been highly reduced, but, like everything here in Portugal, it goes horribly wrong but all ends well.

When Philly hosted the World Meeting of Families in 2015, there was a bunch of private Funding. Basically Corporate America fundraised 30 million dollars for the event. https://www.ncronline.org/news/parish/funds-raised-world-meeting-families-stand-30-million-so-far

Even Blue Shield, a major private health insurance company in the US got involved because of the media exposure.

And, the crowds in return brought alot of revenue for the City.


American style Capitalism baby.

I would say that's normal Capitalism and a sane way to finance these events, but that's a lot for tiny and very incompetent Portugal. I mean, Madrid did exactly what you said: taxpayers paid zero and it was all paid by volunteers and donations/fundraising from companies and civil society. Here, they only started planning this last summer and only in the end of last year, the projects were approved. There was no time to collect funds or even think about planning that, as everything is being done at the last minute.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 02, 2023, 12:20:19 PM
World's longest living dog registered in Leiria, Portugal:



Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 04, 2023, 10:50:58 AM
Immigrants in Olhão city, Algarve, are being violently attacked by groups of young people:


Quote
A video began to circulate on social networks showing a group of young people attacking a Nepalese immigrant. It is now known that the episode of violence was not unique. There are at least eight situations of aggression against immigrants carried out by the same group.

Quote
In Olhão, a group of young people is causing social alarm after several attacks against Asian immigrants. The video of the aggression against a Nepalese immigrant circulated on social networks is shocking the community. The authorities have not yet formally identified the aggressors, but the mayor of Olhão says that in the city it is already known who they are, so he warns of movements that are appealing to popular justice. We alert for the extreme violence of some images.

After being attacked with sticks and kicks all over his body, Nirmal only returned to Vasco da Gama Street a week after the attack. One of the attackers even tried to set fire to the Nepalese's hair. He left, for the first time, on Thursday afternoon when the video went viral and friends picked him up to file a complaint with the PSP. The group that surrounded him on January 25, filmed and posted the video on social networks.

The police has not formally identified the aggressors, but admits to taking steps. In Olhão, there are video surveillance images on the streets and it is already known that the attackers are local young people between 16 and 19 years old.

The aggression against Nirma was made public, but in the last month, the group was responsible for more attacks, 8 in total. In another video, recorded near the finance department in Olhão, the same group of young people threw stones at 5 immigrants, who managed to ask friends for help and make the group of attackers disperse. The next day, they returned to pursue one of the victims.

Attacks have occurred around 11 pm, when victims leave work. Nirmal was given the last 350 euros he had brought from Nepal. The denunciation of the case led several citizens to seek him for help with some money.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 05, 2023, 08:14:14 AM
Fire in Lisbon kills two people and injures 14 other. All of the victims were immigrants (https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/incendio-na-mouraria-vitimas-sao-todas-estrangeiras):


Quote
Fire in a building in Lisbon leaves two dead and 14 injured. The fire on the ground floor of a building next to Martim Moniz left at least 20 people homeless

Quote
The fire that broke out on Saturday night in a building in Lisbon caused at least 20 people to be displaced, according to the first information from the municipal civil protection. According to data from Lisbon's Municipal Civil Protection Service (SMPC), the 20 displaced are 11 people who are hospitalized and nine who are on site.

Margarida Castro, director of the Municipal Civil Protection Service of Lisbon, told Lusa that the preliminary information available indicates that in addition to the two dead, also foreigners, of the 14 victims of the fire transported to hospitals, two are of Argentine nationality and 11 from the Peninsula. of Hindustan, an Asian region comprising countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.

A Portuguese man was also injured, but he is a “collateral victim” because he was not in the building when the fire broke out.

Margarida Castro said that the building, although the fire was only on the ground floor, is uninhabitable and that an inspection would be carried out on Monday.
(...)
The fire destroyed the ground floor of the building, at Terreirinho Street, Mouraria and caused two deaths and 14 injuries, four of which are children.

The fire alert was given at 20:37 on Saturday and the fire was extinguished at 21:15, a source from the Firefighters Regiment told Lusa.
(...)

The media is also raising awareness of the bad conditions immigrants live in this part of Lisbon city (https://www.publico.pt/2023/02/05/local/reportagem/fogo-mouraria-hade-acontecer-vezes-sao-50-viverem-casa-2037691):

Quote
Fire in Mouraria: “It will happen more often. There are 50 living in a house”

The fire on Saturday night, in Mouraria, in Lisbon, which resulted in two deaths and 14 injured, left makeshift rooms with mattresses and bunk beds, where space was scarce, visible.

“Everyone knows that this is so, and now they are amazed”. Manuela Silva, 56 years old, was on her way to the supermarket, at the beginning of the cold morning of this Sunday, but she couldn't resist giving her opinion, when she saw the apparatus of journalists in front of the building with the numbers 53 to 59 of Terreirinho Street, in the Lisbon neighborhood of Mouraria. Last night's fire, which left two dead and 14 injured, left a charred ground floor full of mattresses and bunk beds next to the windows. It was where 22 people lived, all Asian immigrants.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 08, 2023, 11:16:20 AM
Residents in a neighborhood in Porto city hire private security guards to protect their neighborhood, as police fails to control rising criminality in the area:


Quote
More than 60 residents of the Condominhas area say they are satisfied with the results, but regret that it had to get to this point.

Quote
The crime increase in the Pasteleira area of Porto is affecting the surrounding areas, and more and more residents are coming together to hire night guards.

More than 60 residents of the Condominhas area, in the city of Porto, got tired of waiting and decided to proceed with their own wallets. They hired two night guards, who for 20 euros a month from each resident, watch over everyone's safety.

So far they are satisfied with the results, but regret that it has had to get to this point.

Residents of that area report that before this solution, robberies and nocturnal disturbances were “almost daily”.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 10, 2023, 09:31:19 AM
The controversy surrounding the 4 million euros stage for the Catholic World Youth Days:

The "joke" continues: The controversy surrounding the costs of the Catholic Youth Days continues with everyone running away from responsibilities, from the Vatican to the Portuguese Church, and from Lisbon City Hall to the President and the Government. And now, it was also revealed that a 2nd stage, to be built in Edward VII Park in Central Lisbon, had a project, proposed by the Church, that was rejected by Lisbon City Hall:

After several days of negotiations between Lisbon city hall and the Catholic Church, a deal was reached to cut down the costs of the event:


Quote
Cost of the stage-altar drops to 2.9 million euros

Quote
The cost of the altar stage for the World Youth Day in Lisbon was reduced from 4.2 million to 2.9 million euros, the municipality announced today, stressing that "up to 25 million" of city investments in the event "will remain in the city" .

In a press conference at the Town Hall, the president of the executive, the social democrat Carlos Moedas, indicated that, after reviewing the terms of reference for the altar-stage that will be installed in the Tejo-Trancão Park (and that will remain after the event ), the infrastructure will decrease from five thousand square meters to 3250, while its capacity was changed from two thousand to 1240 people and the height was reduced from nine to four meters.

In addition to reducing the cost of this stage, the main one for World Youth Day (WYD), Carlos Moedas announced that the Catholic Church will finance the stage that will be installed in Edward VII Park, a "very light structure" whose cost "could reach 450 thousand euros".

WYD costs have been in the spotlight after it became known that the construction of the stage-altar in the Parque Tejo space was awarded to Mota-Engil for 4.24 million euros (plus VAT), adding to that value 1,06 million euros for indirect roof foundations.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 12, 2023, 08:02:38 AM
Man fires from a shotgun and injures 7 people after being expelled from a Bowling club in Fafe city, Braga district:


Quote
Customer expelled from "bowling" in Fafe returns with shotgun and injures seven people

Quote
A man aged around 40 injured seven people this Saturday inside a bowling and nightlife establishment in Fafe. The customer had been expelled after having created disturbances inside, but he went to the house to get a shotgun that ended up shooting against a glass.

As Porto Canal found out after forcing him to re-enter the space, the man ended up shooting into the establishment. The shards of glass caused minor injuries to seven people.

Four victims, two male and two female, required hospital support and were transported to the Hospital da Senhora da Oliveira, in Guimarães. One of them was the space porter.

After the crime, the man fled, but was eventually identified through video surveillance footage.

The GNR was on site, but at Porto Canal, the District Command of Braga guarantees that the case has already passed to the jurisdiction of the Judiciary Police.

Fafe Firefighters and INEM were also on site.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 12, 2023, 06:50:46 PM
(...)
- Sexual Abuses in the Portuguese Catholic Church: The committee investigating the cases gave a first update on the work done so far. Until now, 290 cases of sexual abuse have been validated (https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/igreja-encobriu-casos-de-abuso-sexual_v1398126), but only 16 were sent to the authorities as the majority of the crimes have already prescribed. However, the committee says that there are still cover ups in the Church and that some Bishops are still reluctant in helping the committee;
(...)

Final report on the sexual abuses in the Catholic Church in Portugal to be presented tomorrow morning (https://sicnoticias.pt/especiais/abusos-na-igreja-catolica/2023-02-12-Abusos-sexuais-na-Igreja-conclusoes-do-relatorio-apresentadas-na-segunda-feira-8989e6a7):

Quote
The report on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church was delivered this Sunday to the Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP). The results of the investigation will be released on Monday.

"The delivery took place this afternoon at the premises of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference and was attended by the entire work team of the independent commission", confirmed in a statement the CEP, a structure that brings together all the bishops of the dioceses of Portugal.
(...)
A little over a year ago, the Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church began a work that is now coming to an end.

The team was led by child psychiatrist Pedro Strecht. The Episcopal Conference promised access to the archives of the Portuguese Catholic Church.

Complaints could be made by email, phone call, letter or on the Commission's website.

After ten months of work, the Commission had more than 400 valid complaints.

The Commission that studied sexual abuse in the Church believes that the final number of victims and abusers since 1950 will be much higher than the number reached by the investigation.



Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 13, 2023, 07:10:12 AM
The report on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church was delivered this Sunday to the Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP). The results of the investigation will be released on Monday.

Commission estimates that at least 4,815 children were sexually abused in the Catholic Church in Portugal since the 1950's:


Quote
Sexual Abuse in the Church: Independent Commission Findings. At least 4,815 abused children in Portugal.

Quote
The Independent Commission for the Study of Sexual Abuse of Children in the Catholic Church released this morning, at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, in Lisbon, the conclusions of the work carried out throughout 2022 and which resulted in the collection of hundreds of testimonies from victims. The document was delivered this Sunday to the Portuguese Episcopal Conference.

In the first report of its kind released in Portugal (here in full), it is admitted that there were “at least” 4,815 victims of sexual abuse in the Church.

The presentation of the document began with Pedro Strecht, who chairs the independent commission. The child psychiatrist began by paying tribute and sincere homage to the victims of abuse" which "are much more than numbers or statistics" and added that 512 validated testimonies were received, of which 25 cases were sent to the Public Ministry.

With these complaints it was possible to identify "a minimum number" of 4,815 victims, explained Pedro Strech, stressing that it is not possible to define the number of crimes "because most children were abused more than once".

The independent commission received more than 600 complaints and 96% of abusers are male. Complaints come mainly from the national territory, in particular from five districts: Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Santarém and Leiria.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 13, 2023, 12:32:28 PM
Portuguese Catholic Church apologizes to the victims of abuse and says they do not tolerate abuse nor abusers:


Quote
"It's an open wound that hurts and shames us." Catholic Church asks “forgiveness to victims” and says it does not tolerate “abuse or abusers”

Quote
The president of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, D. José Ornelas, made a statement on behalf of the Portuguese Catholic Church, apologizing to the victims and their families. Underlining that the institution will have to impose "zero tolerance" for abuses and their concealment, the bishop nevertheless admitted that "some things" were not communicated to him as due.
(...)
"It is an open wound that hurts and shames us. We ask forgiveness from all the victims. Those who courageously gave their testimony, silent for so many years, and those who still live with the pain in the depths of their hearts without sharing it with anyone" , admitted the president of CEP.

"Zero tolerance for abuse needs to be a reality across the Church, and that's why we will not tolerate abuse or abusers," he said. After analyzing the commission's final report, the CEP will seek "the most effective and appropriate mechanisms to encourage greater prevention and to resolve possible cases with speed and respect for the truth."
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 14, 2023, 10:32:23 AM
The shockwaves of the Catholic Church sexual abuse report continue:

- Parties, left to right, support the idea to extend the statute of limitations for abuse crimes from the current 23 years to 30 years, like the report proposes. So far, party leaders from PSD, CHEGA, IL and BE support the idea;

- The abuse report points that more than 100 priests that committed sexual abuses are still active in the Church and the community (https://sicnoticias.pt/especiais/abusos-na-igreja-catolica/2023-02-14-Mais-de-100-padres-suspeitos-de-abusos-sexuais-estao-no-ativo-3013c24b). A list was compiled and it will be sent to the DA office;

- The controversial statement from President Marcelo and other Bishops, last year, that seemed to downplay the number of abuses (https://www.jn.pt/nacional/declaracoes-revoltantes-sobre-numero-de-queixas-levaram-vitimas-a-testemunhar-15838045.html) in Portugal, infuriated, according to the report, victims and led more to come out and tell their story to the committee. In the report, abuse victims say that Marcelo's and other Bishops remarks were "insulting", "revolting" and "inadmissible";

- The report also says that parts of the Church continue to be non cooperative in denouncing abuses (https://www.jn.pt/nacional/dioceses-de-setubal-e-beja-nao-responderam-a-comissao-independente--15837537.html). The report writes that the dioceses of Setúbal and Beja did not respond to the committee nor collaborated in denouncing abuses;


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 15, 2023, 07:08:15 AM
Strike in the cereal unloading and storage company, Silopor, is threatening supply of essential goods (https://portocanal.sapo.pt/noticia/321106):


Quote
Cereal supply to Portugal will get worse next week: some products may be missing from the supermarket and prices should rise

Quote
Professionals in the food sector warn of the possibility of disruption of essential goods due to the strike by the bulk food unloading and storage company, Silopor.

The alerts come from trade organizations and the food industry.

According to Jornal de Notícias, the secretary general of the Portuguese Association of Compound Food Industry for Animals (IACA), asks the Government to reach a consensus with the company's workers, so that the strike does not go on for much longer. He also warns that there are "ships that should be unloaded in three or four days, but they are taking longer".

The Ministry of Agriculture guarantees that there are no problems or failures in the supply of products, something that is confirmed by the head of the IACA. However, Jaime Piçarra says that this is a possible scenario if the strike continues.

The secretary general of the National Association of Stockists, Traders and Importers of Cereals and Oilseeds, José Miguel Ascensão, also admitted to JN that "millions of damages caused by ships that are waiting" are at stake and that, therefore, it is better for the Government to respond to the demands of Silopor workers, such as salary updates.

The associations recall that at stake may be "a new price increase and the occasional disruption of supply", if the strike continues.

The stoppage of these workers began in early February.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 15, 2023, 10:00:35 AM
Strike in the cereal unloading and storage company, Silopor, is threatening supply of essential goods (https://portocanal.sapo.pt/noticia/321106):

Just hours after this warning, the government caved in and decided to negotiate with unions (https://eco.sapo.pt/2023/02/15/suspensa-greve-na-silopor-que-ameacava-abastecimento-de-cereais-em-portugal/) and the strike was suspended. Unions will now wait for the company's proposal on wage increases.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: jojoju1998 on February 15, 2023, 10:25:38 AM
The shockwaves of the Catholic Church sexual abuse report continue:

- Parties, left to right, support the idea to extend the statute of limitations for abuse crimes from the current 23 years to 30 years, like the report proposes. So far, party leaders from PSD, CHEGA, IL and BE support the idea;

- The abuse report points that more than 100 priests that committed sexual abuses are still active in the Church and the community (https://sicnoticias.pt/especiais/abusos-na-igreja-catolica/2023-02-14-Mais-de-100-padres-suspeitos-de-abusos-sexuais-estao-no-ativo-3013c24b). A list was compiled and it will be sent to the DA office;

- The controversial statement from President Marcelo and other Bishops, last year, that seemed to downplay the number of abuses (https://www.jn.pt/nacional/declaracoes-revoltantes-sobre-numero-de-queixas-levaram-vitimas-a-testemunhar-15838045.html) in Portugal, infuriated, according to the report, victims and led more to come out and tell their story to the committee. In the report, abuse victims say that Marcelo's and other Bishops remarks were "insulting", "revolting" and "inadmissible";

- The report also says that parts of the Church continue to be non cooperative in denouncing abuses (https://www.jn.pt/nacional/dioceses-de-setubal-e-beja-nao-responderam-a-comissao-independente--15837537.html). The report writes that the dioceses of Setúbal and Beja did not respond to the committee nor collaborated in denouncing abuses;

Does the Portugese Catholic church have something similar to the Dallas Charter accords that the US Catholic Church developed in 2002 ?


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 15, 2023, 12:47:55 PM
The shockwaves of the Catholic Church sexual abuse report continue:

- Parties, left to right, support the idea to extend the statute of limitations for abuse crimes from the current 23 years to 30 years, like the report proposes. So far, party leaders from PSD, CHEGA, IL and BE support the idea;

- The abuse report points that more than 100 priests that committed sexual abuses are still active in the Church and the community (https://sicnoticias.pt/especiais/abusos-na-igreja-catolica/2023-02-14-Mais-de-100-padres-suspeitos-de-abusos-sexuais-estao-no-ativo-3013c24b). A list was compiled and it will be sent to the DA office;

- The controversial statement from President Marcelo and other Bishops, last year, that seemed to downplay the number of abuses (https://www.jn.pt/nacional/declaracoes-revoltantes-sobre-numero-de-queixas-levaram-vitimas-a-testemunhar-15838045.html) in Portugal, infuriated, according to the report, victims and led more to come out and tell their story to the committee. In the report, abuse victims say that Marcelo's and other Bishops remarks were "insulting", "revolting" and "inadmissible";

- The report also says that parts of the Church continue to be non cooperative in denouncing abuses (https://www.jn.pt/nacional/dioceses-de-setubal-e-beja-nao-responderam-a-comissao-independente--15837537.html). The report writes that the dioceses of Setúbal and Beja did not respond to the committee nor collaborated in denouncing abuses;

Does the Portugese Catholic church have something similar to the Dallas Charter accords that the US Catholic Church developed in 2002 ?

They have now guidelines of what to do when they receive an accusation of sexual abuse, but not an overall Charter on how to deal with it. The Church top bosses, in Portugal, will meet in March to analyse the report and discussing possible action to take.

In my opinion, the Church's response is a bit awkward. There is still strong resistance in some parts of the Church in order to disclose or talk about abuses, like the Setúbal and Beja examples, not to mention the low numbers of accusations from rural Portugal. (https://www.jn.pt/nacional/maior-invisibilidade-do-interior-explica-que-litoral-domine-denuncias-a-comissao-15840209.html?target=conteudo_fechado) Not sure what they really want to do, to be honest.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 17, 2023, 09:22:36 AM
Abuses in the Church: Madeira priest, with an international warrant against him, tried to turn himself to authorities, but no one receives him.


Quote
Priest accused of abuse wants to turn himself in and no one receives him

Quote
Anastácio Alves, a former priest from Funchal, accused of four crimes of sexual abuse of children and sexual acts with teenagers, reportedly tried to turn himself in at the Attorney General's Office, where they refused to receive him. There was an international arrest warrant in the name of a parish priest, whose whereabouts were unknown.

The attempted surrender, reported by Observador and SIC, took place this Thursday and Anastácio Alves intended, according to the same sources, to be made an accused and assume "responsibilities". JN questioned the PGR about the reasons that motivated the refusal to receive the priest, but so far it has not received an answer.

“It is difficult to collaborate with the justice, even more so in a week when a report on abuses in the Church is published. things, it seems that no one knows what they are doing. This is sad. It is not a problem of justice, it is a problem of the country. It reflects what the country is in terms of bureaucracy, we are a country of 'alpaca mangoes' ", says lawyer Miguel Santos Pereira, in statements to Lusa.
(...)

This country... ::) ::)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 23, 2023, 07:57:17 PM
Portuguese Parliament light up with colours of the Ukrainian flag to mark 1 year of the war:


Quote
Tonight, the façade of the São Bento Palace is illuminated with the colors of the Ukrainian flag, signaling the solidarity of the Assembly of the Republic to that country, when it completes one year since the start of the invasion of Russia.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 24, 2023, 07:21:18 AM
3.3 magnitude earthquake felt this morning in the Algarve region (https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/pais/2023/02/24/sismo-de-33-na-escala-de-richter-sentido-no-algarve/321386/):



Quote
An earthquake of magnitude 3.3 was felt, this Friday, in the Faro region, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA). About half an hour earlier, another earthquake was recorded 25 kilometers from Cabo de São Vicente.

The stations of the Mainland Seismic Network recorded, at 9.15 am, an earthquake of magnitude 3.3 on the Richter scale about 45 kilometers south-southwest of Faro.

"This earthquake, according to the information available so far, did not cause personal or material damage and was felt with maximum intensity II/III (modified Mercalli scale) in the Faro region", reads the IPMA statement.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 24, 2023, 09:40:00 AM
Priest found dead at Gerês National Park was accused of harassment hours before his dead:


Quote
Évora priest found dead in Gerês had been reported hours earlier for harassment

Quote
The priest found dead on Tuesday night in the Gerês area had been the subject of a complaint of harassment by a vulnerable adult on social networks, Observador found out from a source in the archdiocese of Évora. This was the first formal complaint against this priest with the Church, and there is no record in the diocese's archives or in the testimonies given to the Independent Commission that studied abuses in the Church in recent decades of any similar complaint.

José António Gonçalves, 57 years old, was a parish priest of Santiago de Rio de Moinhos (Borba municipality) and was found dead in Terras de Bouro early Tuesday night. The priest was from that area and would be spending a few days there. As Observador found out from a source in the diocese of Évora, hours before the GNR found him, the Archbishop of Évora, D. Francisco Senra Coelho, had received a family that had denounced the priest for suspicions of “digital harassment”, via chat on social media.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 24, 2023, 11:37:12 AM
Former PM José Sócrates complains to the DA office because Caixa Geral de Depósitos alerted authorities for suspicious movements in Sócrates accounts in that bank:


Quote
Sócrates accuses CGD of slanderous denunciation for having alerted thousands that it received

SIC TV revealed, last night, that former PM José Sócrates is being investigated, yes another one, because of suspicious transfers of money to his account after 2020. According to SIC, Sócrates received around 12,500 euros per month for a being a consultant in a company of a businessman, Adélio Machado, that has several bankrupt companies in France and in Spain. Because Sócrates, which has several corrupt accusations and is currently on trial, is a "PEP", politically exposed person, banks are mandated by law to communicate to the authorities suspicious movement in accounts of PEP persons. Nonetheless, Mr Sócrates is furious and accuses Caixa Geral de Depósitos of "slanderous denunciation" and wrote to the DA office to complaint about this.

Seriously, this guy thinks he's a victim now... ::) For God sake!


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 28, 2023, 06:49:52 AM
2022 Economy numbers: INE confirms 6.7% GDP growth in 2022.


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INE confirms GDP growth of 6.7% in 2022, the highest since 1987

Quote
Lisbon, Feb 28, 2023 (Lusa) – The Portuguese economy grew 6.7% in 2022, the highest rate since 1987, and 3.2% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of last year, the National Institute of Statistics reported today ( INE).

Overall 2022 numbers:

GDP growth: 6.7%
GDP: 239,5 billion euros
GDP per capita: 23,134 euros
Unemployment: 6.0%
Debt: 273,8 billion euros
Debt %: 114.3%
Deficit: -1.5%*
Inflation: 7.8%

*Estimation based on the December 2022 data. Numbers still to be confirmed.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 01, 2023, 10:02:39 AM
Inflation surge: Record cut on food spending by consumers.


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Portuguese made the biggest cut in food expenses on record

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Portuguese families made the biggest cut on record in food purchases last year.

According to today's Diário de Notícias, with data from INE, the Portuguese spent 573 million euros less on food compared to 2021. A reduction in spending that is even greater than in troika times.

At stake is the increase in interest rates and inflation. Despite the slowdown in inflation over the past four months, food is increasingly expensive.

In products such as meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, inflation already exceeds 20%.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 01, 2023, 05:37:12 PM
Overcrowded train in the suburbs of Lisbon forced to stop midway:


Quote
SIC received reports of people forcing the doors and jumping onto the line.

A train in the Sintra railway line, that serves several populated Lisbon suburbs, was forced to stop midway as several passengers felt ill due to carriage overcrowding. Several people had to be treated by emergency services and the line was closed for a few hours until the situation was resolved.

The reason for this incident is the ongoing CP trains strike that has been lasting for several days and has cancelled hundreds of trains everyday, making passengers to overcrowd the few remaining trains circulating due to minimum services.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 02, 2023, 09:33:38 AM
Overcrowded train in the suburbs of Lisbon forced to stop midway:

CP has opened an inquiry to understand what happened and has apologized to passengers for the incident. (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/cp/comboios/cp-abre-avaliacao-interna-sobre-comboio-lotado-que-parou-na-linha-e-pede-desculpa-aos-passageiros/20230302/640045a60cf2dce741ad9f7f) Yesterday, more than 75% of the almost 1,000 trains schedule were canceled because of the strike that will end today, 2 March. But, a new strike will start next week, from 10 to 17 March.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 02, 2023, 06:14:28 PM
One dead and several injured in an explosion in a military base in the center of Portugal: (https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/explosao-na-base-militar-de-santa-margarida-provoca-um-morto-e-cinco-feridos_n1470615)


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One dead and several injured in explosion at Santa Margarida base

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An explosion registered this Thursday during an exercise at the military base of Santa Margarida, in Constância, caused one death and five injuries. After the accident, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa decided to postpone the meeting of the Superior Council of National Defense that was scheduled for Friday in the early afternoon. "This is a moment of regret for the Portuguese Armed Forces", he stressed in statements to RTP.

In a statement, the Army confirms a "serious incident" at the Santa Margarida military camp this Thursday at 4:40 pm.

The accident occurred during an "explosive ordnance deactivation" operation. The 1st Engineering Regiment's ordnance disposal team had been deployed for the "on-site destruction of ammunition and explosives and rockets".
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Battista Minola 1616 on March 03, 2023, 04:49:03 AM
Overcrowded train in the suburbs of Lisbon forced to stop midway:

Wow... I was actually on a train of the same line (going back from Sintra to Lisbon) just one or two hours before that one, I can confirm we were packed up like sardines to an extent I had never seen before. And of course the train was half an hour late to begin with.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 03, 2023, 06:29:11 AM
Overcrowded train in the suburbs of Lisbon forced to stop midway:

Wow... I was actually on a train of the same line (going back from Sintra to Lisbon) just one or two hours before that one, I can confirm we were packed up like sardines to an extent I had never seen before. And of course the train was half an hour late to begin with.

You were lucky Battista. The chaos due to the train strikes started in early February and still continues, and, adding to the strikes, the train services in Portugal are anything but punctual or usefull. But these strikes are becoming a problem and like I wrote above, another one will start next week. CP workers want higher wages due to inflation but the government is just with its arms crossed and doing nothing. Just absolutely nothing. The media, and social media also, are full of videos of angry passengers lashing out against strikers and of people just being "squeezed" on the trains.





Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 03, 2023, 03:56:07 PM
They have now guidelines of what to do when they receive an accusation of sexual abuse, but not an overall Charter on how to deal with it. The Church top bosses, in Portugal, will meet in March to analyse the report and discussing possible action to take.

Church top bosses decide to not remove suspected priests, for now, asks victims to come out publicly, announces a new committee to hear abuse accusations and will do a memorial for the victims: (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/religiao/igreja-catolica/padres-suspeitos-de-abusos-sexuaus-nao-vao-ser-afastados-e-preciso-averiguar-a-verdade-dos-factos-dizem-os-bispos/20230303/64023de00cf2665294d84dca)


Quote
Church wants victims of sexual abuse to show their face and will not remove suspected priests who are active.

"To do justice it is necessary to know if there is an abuser, who, when, under what circumstances. And therefore, if this is not discovered and has no plausibility, if there is not an accuser, a deponent, who has a name, can contact... It's not enough to say 'this happened' - you have to know who says 'this happened', where, when, under what circumstances... The list of names [of suspected priests] that we have... . with only the names it is very difficult. Without knowing who denounced, how, why... ", stated José Ornelas.

Quote
The Portuguese Catholic Church will investigate the names of active priests who were identified by the Independent Commission for the Investigation of Sexual Abuses but will not, for now, suspend any of the priests and does not believe that there is a "criminal cause" on this list. The Church also wants to know who the victims are.
(...)
The list with the names of about one hundred priests who were accused of abuse and who are still active was distributed by the dioceses, which will now be responsible for investigating "possible cases". "We follow the canonical and civil norms in force", said José Ornelas. "The dioceses are the entities responsible for investigating possible cases. It will be very difficult to investigate because the list we have only has names, without any other data. To determine the validity of a process and a possible criminal case, other elements are needed. "

José Ornelas guarantees that the dioceses will evaluate the data they have. "Each name has to be considered in each diocese to decide what appropriate measures to take and, if there is plausibility of endangering other people and the persistence of abuses", will act. Only at that moment can one of the priests be removed, never before, he said.
(...)
"It is with pain that, once again, we ask for forgiveness from all victims of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church in Portugal", say the bishops in the statement. After analyzing in detail the report delivered on February 13th by the Commission, the CEP decided to carry out "a public gesture of apology" to victims of sexual abuse in the Church next April, in Fátima, and also to hold a memorial at the during the World Youth Day, which will be perpetuated, later, in an external space of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference.
(...)
Thus, the Church undertakes to continue listening to the victims, through a specific group, which will be articulated with the National Coordination Team of the Diocesan Commissions for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults. The composition and functioning of this commission are not yet defined, but José Ornelas believes that the model of the previous commission can be used, which proved to be independent and effective, only this time it will respond directly to the national coordination.

Finally, the Church guarantees that it will provide, to all victims who so wish, "the proper spiritual, psychological and psychiatric follow-up", through partnerships with competent institutions in this area. "The wounds inflicted on the victims are irreparable", say the bishops. "We will never reject our responsibilities and we are also committed to making contact with the institutions that are already on the ground to be part of the resolution of this problem that is transversal to the whole of society."
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 04, 2023, 07:01:48 AM
They have now guidelines of what to do when they receive an accusation of sexual abuse, but not an overall Charter on how to deal with it. The Church top bosses, in Portugal, will meet in March to analyse the report and discussing possible action to take.

Church top bosses decide to not remove suspected priests, for now, asks victims to come out publicly, announces a new committee to hear abuse accusations and will do a memorial for the victims: (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/religiao/igreja-catolica/padres-suspeitos-de-abusos-sexuaus-nao-vao-ser-afastados-e-preciso-averiguar-a-verdade-dos-factos-dizem-os-bispos/20230303/64023de00cf2665294d84dca)

Shock and disappointment: Reactions to yesterday's Church hierarchy meeting are negative. (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/abusos-sexuais/igreja-catolica/nao-bastam-medidas-simbolicas-as-reacoes-desiludidas-ao-discurso-ambiguo-da-igreja-portuguesa-face-aos-abusos-sexuais/20230303/64026e550cf2cf9224fbc3ca)

Several associations and commentators are surprised and disappointed with the results of yesteday's Church hierarchy meeting in Fátima, Santarém district. Associations are accusing the Church of being "non caring", adding that the Church is using "legalisms" to protect themselves, thus creating an ambiguous, and contradictory, speech. Others accuse the Church of just proposing symbolic measures while other accuse the Church of not being able to face the reality of sexual abuses. The fact that no money compensations are even on the table are also a point of criticism.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 04, 2023, 10:30:06 AM
Portugal is the 2nd most affected country by fraud involving community funds in the EU (https://sicnoticias.pt/economia/2023-03-04-Portugal-e-o-2-pais-mais-lesado-por-burlas-com-subsidios-europeus-aa74ed5b). Worse only Italy.


Quote
Portugal on the blacklist for EU funds and VAT fraud

Quote
Portugal is the second country most affected by scams involving European subsidies. Just last year alone, damages of almost three billion euros were caused.

The most recent report from the European Public Prosecutor's Office states that last year 23 investigations were opened for the illegal use of European subsidies and VAT fraud by companies headquartered or operating in Portugal.

In total, the crimes caused a damage of 2.9 billion euros. Only Italy is worse than Portugal, whose investigations point to 3.2 billion euros.

VAT fraud accounts for close to a third of national damages and the cases still pending have harmed the Portuguese State by more than 800 million euros.

The Operation Admiral alone, considered the largest European tax evasion investigation, involving former model Ana Lúcia Matos, led to the seizure of more than two million euros in banknotes on Portuguese soil.

According to the report by the European Public Prosecutor's Office, the seizure of assets in Portugal reached 65.3 million euros, which led the country to enter a podium once again: in this case, it is the third only behind Germany and Italy


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 08, 2023, 07:17:44 AM
They have now guidelines of what to do when they receive an accusation of sexual abuse, but not an overall Charter on how to deal with it. The Church top bosses, in Portugal, will meet in March to analyse the report and discussing possible action to take.

Church top bosses decide to not remove suspected priests, for now, asks victims to come out publicly, announces a new committee to hear abuse accusations and will do a memorial for the victims: (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/religiao/igreja-catolica/padres-suspeitos-de-abusos-sexuaus-nao-vao-ser-afastados-e-preciso-averiguar-a-verdade-dos-factos-dizem-os-bispos/20230303/64023de00cf2665294d84dca)

Shock and disappointment: Reactions to yesterday's Church hierarchy meeting are negative. (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/abusos-sexuais/igreja-catolica/nao-bastam-medidas-simbolicas-as-reacoes-desiludidas-ao-discurso-ambiguo-da-igreja-portuguesa-face-aos-abusos-sexuais/20230303/64026e550cf2cf9224fbc3ca)

The Portuguese Catholic Church continues with its "collective suicide":

- Bishop of Beja: D. João Marcos suggest that priests suspected of abuse could be forgiven (https://sicnoticias.pt/especiais/abusos-na-igreja-catolica/2023-03-07-Todos-somos-pecadores-bispo-de-Beja-sugere-que-padres-suspeitos-possam-ser-perdoados-f4a7b4e2).
Quote
We are all sinners, we are all limited, we are all flawed. This approach is not very Catholic. In the Catholic Church there is forgiveness. Forgiveness is a new birth. If people are really sorry for what they did and did penance and repaired the evil they did. If there is this new birth, that forgiveness offers us, that is important, we cannot devalue it.

- Patriarch of Lisbon: D. Manuel Clemente says that money reparations would be insulting to victims (https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/pais/2023/03/05/abusos-falar-em-indemnizacoes-e-insultuoso-para-as-vitimas-diz-d-manuel-clemente/322665/):
Quote
I even find it a little, pardon the expression, insulting to the victims. It's because most of the victims… none of them mentioned compensation.

At the same time, members of the committee that investigated the abuses in the Church are accusing the Bishops of "delaying the problem" (https://www.tsf.pt/portugal/sociedade/bispos-estao-a-atrasar-problema-daniel-sampaio-diz-que-lista-enviada-a-igreja-nao-tem-so-nomes-15953471.html) and the list of priests suspected of abuse still active in the community are not just names, like the Church is saying, and that it has details and that dioceses know exactly who they are.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 09, 2023, 11:28:33 AM
They have now guidelines of what to do when they receive an accusation of sexual abuse, but not an overall Charter on how to deal with it. The Church top bosses, in Portugal, will meet in March to analyse the report and discussing possible action to take.

Church top bosses decide to not remove suspected priests, for now, asks victims to come out publicly, announces a new committee to hear abuse accusations and will do a memorial for the victims: (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/religiao/igreja-catolica/padres-suspeitos-de-abusos-sexuaus-nao-vao-ser-afastados-e-preciso-averiguar-a-verdade-dos-factos-dizem-os-bispos/20230303/64023de00cf2665294d84dca)

Shock and disappointment: Reactions to yesterday's Church hierarchy meeting are negative. (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/abusos-sexuais/igreja-catolica/nao-bastam-medidas-simbolicas-as-reacoes-desiludidas-ao-discurso-ambiguo-da-igreja-portuguesa-face-aos-abusos-sexuais/20230303/64026e550cf2cf9224fbc3ca)

The Portuguese Catholic Church continues with its "collective suicide":

- Bishop of Beja: D. João Marcos suggest that priests suspected of abuse could be forgiven (https://sicnoticias.pt/especiais/abusos-na-igreja-catolica/2023-03-07-Todos-somos-pecadores-bispo-de-Beja-sugere-que-padres-suspeitos-possam-ser-perdoados-f4a7b4e2).
Quote
We are all sinners, we are all limited, we are all flawed. This approach is not very Catholic. In the Catholic Church there is forgiveness. Forgiveness is a new birth. If people are really sorry for what they did and did penance and repaired the evil they did. If there is this new birth, that forgiveness offers us, that is important, we cannot devalue it.

- Patriarch of Lisbon: D. Manuel Clemente says that money reparations would be insulting to victims (https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/pais/2023/03/05/abusos-falar-em-indemnizacoes-e-insultuoso-para-as-vitimas-diz-d-manuel-clemente/322665/):
Quote
I even find it a little, pardon the expression, insulting to the victims. It's because most of the victims… none of them mentioned compensation.

At the same time, members of the committee that investigated the abuses in the Church are accusing the Bishops of "delaying the problem" (https://www.tsf.pt/portugal/sociedade/bispos-estao-a-atrasar-problema-daniel-sampaio-diz-que-lista-enviada-a-igreja-nao-tem-so-nomes-15953471.html) and the list of priests suspected of abuse still active in the community are not just names, like the Church is saying, and that it has details and that dioceses know exactly who they are.

Complete chaos as some Bishops are ignoring the country's Church hierarchy and are removing priests suspected of abuse: (https://www.jn.pt/nacional/evora-afasta-padre-que-esta-na-lista-da-comissao-independente-15966286.html)


Quote
Two bishops made the decision that the Church hierarchy has not yet taken.

In Évora and Angra do Heroísmo, they removed the priests from the respective dioceses who are on the list of sexual abuse complaints and say they are complying with the Pope's recommendations.

Quote
The Archdiocese of Évora and the Diocese of Angra do Heroísmo removed three priests who are on the list of alleged abusers that was compiled by the Independent Commission for the Study of Sexual Abuses against Children in the Portuguese Catholic Church. The removal is preventive until the investigation into the allegations concerning these priests is completed.

The information was revealed in two press realeases issued by the Archdiocese of Évora and the Diocese of Angra do Heroísmo, in the Azores, this Wednesday. At stake are three priests, two from the Azores and one from Évora. "While the investigations are taking place, the prelate from Évora decided to remove the priest from the priest's office and from all pastoral activities that include contact with minors, without prejudice to his presumption of innocence", informed the Archdiocese of Évora.
(...)

At the same time, Lisbon's deputy Bishop is doing "damage control" because of the words of the Patriarch of Lisbon (https://www.jn.pt/nacional/cardeal-patriarca-de-lisboa-queria-dizer-que-nao-tinha-autoridade-para-suspender-padres-15972912.html) about possible reparations to victims and that he had no power to remove suspected priests. D. Américo Aguiar is suggesting that the Patriarch was only using a "formal terminology".

Adding to this, the head Episcopal Conference, D. José Ornelas, which led last week's trainwreck press conference, is acknowledging that the press conference was a mistake and that his words were "unhappy" ones (https://sicnoticias.pt/especiais/abusos-na-igreja-catolica/2023-03-09-D.-Jose-Ornelas-admite-que-declaracoes-nao-foram-faceis-nem-adequadas-35e7921e), adding he was unable to communicate what he really wanted.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 14, 2023, 01:36:33 PM
13 Portuguese servicemen refused to board a navy ship, to track a Russian ship, because the ship has several safety issues:


Quote
Navy fails Russian ship tracking mission after 13 servicemen refuse to board

Quote
The NRP Mondego did not carry out a mission to accompany a Russian ship north of the island of Porto Santo, in Madeira, after 13 soldiers refused, on Saturday night, to embark for security reasons.

This information was transmitted to the Lusa agency by a Navy source.

This action led the Navy to consider that the 13 operatives "did not fulfill their military duties, usurping functions, competences and responsibilities not inherent to the respective posts and positions".
(...)
According to these 13 soldiers, the commander of the NRP Mondego himself "assumed, before the garrison, that he did not feel comfortable leaving with the technical limitations" of the ship.

Among the various technical limitations invoked by the military was the fact that an engine and an electric power generator were inoperative.

Added also, according to the 13 military personnel, that the ship "does not have an adequate sewage system to store oily residues on board, which accumulate in the holds, significantly increasing the risk of fire".


In the note sent to the Lusa agency, the Navy confirms that the NRP Mondego had "a malfunction in one of the engines", but mentions that the mission it was going to carry out was "of short duration and close to the coast, with good meteo-oceanographic conditions".
(...)

Because of this refusal, the 13 servicemen are being investigated for disobedience, but the servicemen are saying they are being threatened with prison for their actions (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2023-03-14-Militares-dizem-estar-a-ser-ameacados-com-prisao-depois-de-recusarem-navegar-b9ca7587). Commentators argue that this situation isn't new and it's a result of years and years of budget cuts in military spending.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 16, 2023, 10:29:15 AM
This is just speechless:

Transtejo, Lisbon's public ferry company, bought ships with no batteries and was "humiliated" by the Court of Auditors. The company's administration has resigned because of this:


Quote
Transtejo bought nine electric ships without batteries, TC considers the deal "irrational": "It's like buying a car without an engine"

Quote
Transtejo bought ten electric passenger transport ships for 52.4 million euros, but nine of the catamarans were purchased without their batteries and were, therefore, inoperable. "It's like buying a car without an engine, a motorcycle without wheels or a bicycle without pedals", consider the judges of the Court of Auditors (TC), which rejected the acquisition, separately and by direct adjustment, of the batteries for the value of 15,5 million euros.

“One cannot even speak of ships without batteries, just as one cannot speak, for example, of ships without an engine or rudder. This is because they are an integral part of these ships”, refers to the judgment of the TC released this Wednesday.

In addition to having blocked the purchase of batteries for nine of the ten vessels, the Court of Auditors considers the whole business so harmful to the public interest that it referred the case to the Public Prosecutor's Office, so that possible financial or even criminal responsibilities could be investigated.
(...)

As a result, the company's administration has already announced its resignation. (https://www.publico.pt/2023/03/16/sociedade/noticia/conselho-administracao-transtejo-demitese-2042677)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 17, 2023, 07:19:35 AM
3.7 magnitude earthquake felt this morning in the Algarve. This is the second earthquake in just one month: (https://www.tsf.pt/portugal/sociedade/sismo-de-magnitude-37-sentido-no-algarve-16019229.html)



Quote
An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.7 on the Richter scale was recorded at 3:35 am this Friday at stations on the continent's seismic network.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located four kilometers northeast of Albufeira, in the Algarve, and did not cause damage.

According to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere, the shock was mainly felt in Albufeira and Loulé and with less intensity in the municipalities of Faro, Lagoa, Portimão and Silves.

On Twitter, several people said they felt the earthquake all over the Algarve.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 23, 2023, 09:50:52 AM
More statue fiascos in Portugal:


Quote
Why on earth did they make a statue of George Conway in Vizela?

Population of Vizela labels the new statue of former PM and incumbent UN Secretary General António Guterres as "weird" and "ridiculous" (https://www.publico.pt/2023/03/22/local/noticia/estranho-ridiculo-estatua-antonio-guterres-gera-contestacao-local-vizela-2043370):

Quote
The statue, worth 89,980 euros, was awarded by direct contract. The population, despite praising the role of Guterres in the elevation to a municipality, considers ridiculous the amount spent in times of crisis.

The inauguration of a statue of António Guterres, in Vizela, worth 89,980 euros, is generating criticism among the local population, who, although praising the role of the former prime minister in the dawn of the city, consider the amount spent “strange” and “ ridiculous” in times of crisis. The sculpture, unveiled last Sunday, the 19th, in connection with the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the elevation of Vizela to the status of municipality, was awarded, through a direct award, to the company Artecanter — Indústria Criativa, Lda.
(...)

The statue doesn't resemble Guterres at all. It seems a remake of the Cristiano Ronaldo bust in Madeira. ;)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 23, 2023, 12:10:47 PM
Lack of food for patients in Lisbon's major hospital? Report shows that food is not reaching several patients in Lisbon's biggest hospital. Health minister blames people for overcrowding emergency rooms (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2023-03-22-Falta-de-comida-no-Santa-Maria-ministro-da-Saude-justifica-problema-a13bd564):


Quote
“There was nothing for the sick to eat, they only served lunch at 5 pm”: reports of lack of food in Santa Maria

Quote
According to some reports, in recent days, several patients temporarily hospitalized in the emergency room at Hospital Santa Maria only ate lunch at 5:00 pm. Others have gone two days without dinner.

According to news published by TVI, in recent days, several patients temporarily hospitalized in the emergency room at Hospital Santa Maria only ate lunch at 17:00.

There are also reports of people who went two days without dinner, and some of these patients have oncological diseases and suffer from diabetes.
(...)

The Health minister, Manuel Pizarro, is blaming people for overcrowding and staying too much time in emergency rooms (https://www.tsf.pt/portugal/sociedade/falhas-em-refeicoes-do-santa-maria-doentes-permanecem-demasiado-tempo-na-urgencia-16050835.html):

Quote
"There is an inconvenience, which I regret, that people have been fed outside the normal meal time. This results from a basic problem. We have too many patients too long in the emergency", defends Pizarro, in statements to journalists.

The government official considers that, "in an emergency service, it is difficult to ask professionals to treat the issue of food as a priority issue for the patients who are there".

"If the patients are at risk of death, it is clear that this is the priority of the professionals. This explains why, in one case or another, feeding may have been undesirably postponed beyond the normal period. What we have to do is solve the problem of patients do not stay that long in the emergency room. The problem of food in the emergency room only arises because patients stay too long in the emergency room and we are taking measures to, upstream, intervene to reduce the time people stay in the emergency room", he underlines .
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 24, 2023, 06:53:27 AM
2022 deficit stood at only -0.4%, the third best number in democracy and way lower than the 1.9% forecast by the government:


Quote
The Public Administration deficit, in national accounting, fell to 0.4% of the Gross Domestic Product in 2022, below the official Government target, after standing at 2.9% in 2021, INE announced today.

Quote
The budget deficit fell to 0.4 percent of Gross Domestic Product last year, the National Institute of Statistics reported this Friday. A ratio that is below the forecast of the Government of António Costa.

"According to the provisional results obtained in this financial year, in 2022 the balance of Public Administrations (PA) reached -944.4 million euros, which corresponded to -0.4% of GDP (-2.9% in 2021) ", says the National Institute of Statistics.

The Government estimated, in the proposed State Budget for 2023 (OE2023), a deficit of 1.9 percent of GDP, but the Prime Minister, António Costa, and the Minister of Finance, Fernando Medina, had already signaled who believed it would be less than 1.5 percent.

The report by the National Institute of Statistics also highlighted that there was growth in revenue in the public accounts of 10.2 percent, surpassing expenditure by 4.4 percent.

Also according to INE, revenue growth is due to the "positive evolution of tax and contributory revenue", which showed a recovery in the country's economic and labor activity in 2022.
(...)

The final, and overall, 2022 economy numbers from Portugal:

GDP growth: 6.7%
GDP: 239,5 billion euros
GDP per capita: 23,134 euros
Unemployment: 6.0%
Debt: 272,6 billion euros
Debt %: 113.9%
Deficit: -0.4%
Inflation: 7.8%

The numbers were a total surprise to the government with Costa even saying (https://sicnoticias.pt/economia/2023-03-24-Governo-apresenta-pacote-de-medidas-de-apoio-as-familias-e-empresas-c8ac318b) that "accounting has reasons that reason often ignores". ::)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 28, 2023, 06:06:58 AM
Man mortally stabs two people in the Lisbon's Ismaili Center. Suspect was shot by the police (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/mortos/ataque/dois-mortos-em-ataque-a-centro-ismaelita-em-lisboa/20230328/6422c6850cf2c84d7fceb3ba):



Quote
Two people died this Tuesday after an Afghan man attacked them with a large knife at the Ismaili Center in Lisbon, CNN Portugal has learned.

Called to the scene, a police agent ended up shooting the suspect in the leg.

The man ended up being tied up and detained, having been transported to St. Joseph Hospital.

However, the PSP reinforced policing at the hospital unit.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 28, 2023, 06:30:13 AM
Man mortally stabs two people in the Lisbon's Ismaili Center. Suspect was shot by the police (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/mortos/ataque/dois-mortos-em-ataque-a-centro-ismaelita-em-lisboa/20230328/6422c6850cf2c84d7fceb3ba):

The media is also reporting that besides the two victims, there may be several people injured on the site, but the info is very vague so far. A heavy police presence is at the Center and in the Hospital where the attacker was sent.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 28, 2023, 08:36:11 AM
Man mortally stabs two people in the Lisbon's Ismaili Center. Suspect was shot by the police (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/mortos/ataque/dois-mortos-em-ataque-a-centro-ismaelita-em-lisboa/20230328/6422c6850cf2c84d7fceb3ba):

The media is also reporting that besides the two victims, there may be several people injured on the site, but the info is very vague so far. A heavy police presence is at the Center and in the Hospital where the attacker was sent.

Some new info:

Adding the two victims, two Portuguese women aged 40 and 20, there are 5 injured, according to RTP. The media is saying that the Afghan man who attacked the Muslim Ismaili Center is a 40 29 year old refugee (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2023-03-28-40-anos-e-pai-de-tres-filhos-o-refugiado-viu-muita-coisa-ma-e-tera-disturbios-emocionais-quem-e-o-homem-que-atacou-o-Centro-Ismaelita-f3817789) that came to Portugal, from Greece, in 2021 under the EU's relocation agreement. He had been suffering with psychological issues and it seem to had contacted the Ismaili Center to help him learn Portuguese language and to care for his children.

The attacker, also according to the media, is currently being operated at a Lisbon hospital.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 29, 2023, 05:13:34 AM
The police has announced that there are no evidences of terrorism in their investigation surrounding the attack on the Ismaili Center in Lisbon (https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/praticamente-afastado-o-crime-de-terrorismo-um-momento-de-surto-psicotico-diz-a-pj). The director of the Judiciary Police (PJ) says that the police believes the attacker had a "moment of psychotic break" that led him to stab to dead two women in the religious center.

However, the police is still investigating the content of the mysterious phone call (https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/policia-investiga-telefonema-que-tera-desencadeado-ataques-mortais) that the attacker, Abdul Bashir, received just before the attack that made him very nervous.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 30, 2023, 11:13:23 AM
Other stories:

- Remember this?
13 Portuguese servicemen refused to board a navy ship, to track a Russian ship, because the ship has several safety issues:

This episode is creating a very bad mood in the navy, specially after Admiral Gouveia e Melo, a possible candidate for the 2026 Presidential election, gave a very public reprimand to the servicemen which led to a big discussion of what is Gouveia e Melo doing. (https://www.tsf.pt/portugal/politica/inaceitavel-lamentavel-e-um-mau-servico-consenso-nas-criticas-a-reprimenda-de-gouveia-e-melo-16036718.html) But, this week, the ship, once again broke, down in high seas and to be towed to a Madeira island harbour:


Quote
The NRP Mondego suffered a new breakdown in the last few hours, when heading to the Selvagens Islands with the aim of making the surrender of the vigilante team in that territory. The ship was eventually towed back to Madeira.

Quote
The NRP Mondego is now berthed in the Port of Caniçal.

This would be the first mission since the episode that involved 13 soldiers who refused to board, precisely claiming that the ship was not in conditions to operate.

For now, there are no official explanations for the latest malfunction, but intense smoke was seen coming out of the ship's chimneys. On Monday, the Mondego had not been able to leave on a mission due to what the Navy described as a “setback”.

In a statement, the Navy indicates that the Mondego returned to the port of Caniçal "for technical reasons".

"The ship will still be subject to a technical inspection by experts from the Ship Management who will travel to Madeira Island for the purpose", he adds.
(...)

According a Portuguese Defense Observatory, the Armed Forces and the Navy need 3,8 billion euros (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/defesa/helena-carreiras/defesa-portuguesa-precisa-de-injecao-rapida-de-3-8-mil-milhoes-so-para-colocar-a-funcionar-o-que-existe/20230330/641dc8f5d34ef47b87533289) just to maintain current staff and maintain equipment and ships ready for use.

- Adding to the problems in the navy and the army, and on the day a month-long rail workers strike began, SIC TV broadcast a report about the "ridiculous" situation of the main railway line of the country that connects the two main cities of the country, Lisbon and Porto:


Quote
The country's main railroad has been under repairs since the 1990s. “Linha do Tempo“ is the Special Report to see in full.

Quote
With the railway workers on strike again, the problems of the Northern Line are even more visible.

The country's main railroad has been under repair since the 90s, but the journey from Lisbon to Porto continues to take three hours, as it did 40 years ago.

On an axis saturated with hundreds of trains, the only solution seems to be the much-promised high-speed line.

In the Special Report “Linha do Tempo” we will travel through the problems of the Linha do Norte.

In summary, the modernization of the Northern Line was approved in 1988, under PM Cavaco Silva, and was expected to be completed by the year 2000. But, the repair works are still under way with no date for conclusion. High speed trains cannot travel at high speeds in some parts of the line because of the conditions of the line, and other repairs are still to be done, plus a few are not expected to even begin.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on April 01, 2023, 05:47:47 AM
Population estimates: Portugal's population grows by the end of 2021, early 2022.


Quote
10 421 117. Portugal gains population again

After the publication of the 2021 Census, the INE, the National Statistics Institute, published, and updated. the year by year population estimates since 2011. According to INE, by the end of 2021/early 2022, Portugal had 10,421,117 inhabitants, 26,820 more than at the same time in late 2020/early 2021:

Quote
According to the 2021 Demographic Statistics, the population growth rate was 0.26%, resulting from the combination of a negative natural balance of -45,220 (difference between births and deaths) and a migratory balance of 72,060 people (migratory growth rate of 0.69%).

According to INE, demographic aging continues to be registered with a decrease in the number of young people up to 14 years old and an increase in the elderly population. In 2021, the percentage of young people was 13%, continuing to decline: between 2011 and 2020 it went from 15% to 13.2%, respectively.

The elderly population, aged 65 years and over, increased from 19.2% in 2011 to 23.2% in 2020. In 2021, 23.6% of the population was in the age group of over 65 years.

There were 79,582 births in Portugal, a decrease of 4,948 compared with the previous year, 2020; There were 124,802 deaths, a 1.1% yearly increase; 72,080 people immigrated to Portugal in the same year; 29,057 marriages were held in 2021, in which 549 were same-sex marriages (1.9% of the total);

The 2022 population estimates are expected to be published in June.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on April 10, 2023, 11:41:54 AM
The discussion of the location of the new Lisbon airport is more than 50 years old and, till this day, no final solution has been reached. But, the government appointed committee that is studying locations for the new airport has created a website in which anybody, I mean anybody, can submit and propose a location for the new airport:


Quote
There are useless things in life (built-in drawers, the Chermiti, etc.), but 50 years later we now have a website where every Portuguese person can propose a new location for Lisbon airport by clicking on a map.

Now it is!

Only in this country. ::) ::)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on April 12, 2023, 06:17:32 AM
A few stories that have been making headlines:

- Accusations of moral and sexual harassment in Coimbra University are being investigated. Sociologist Boaventura Sousa Santos is one of the accused:


Quote
Sociologist Boaventura Sousa Santos is being implicated in an article on suspicions of sexual and moral harassment at the University of Coimbra. The alleged cases are reported in a publication by three former researchers at the Center for Social Studies:

Quote
Three researchers - one Belgian, one Portuguese and one North American - are the authors of an article that is shaking the academic world. Despite not revealing names, the 'web' reported by Lieselotte Viaene, Catarina Laranjeiro and Miye Nadya Tom, which had “Professor Estrela” as its central figure, began to be associated with Boaventura Sousa Santos, former director of the Center for Social Studies (CES) of the University of Coimbra.

In the article “The walls spoke when no one else would”, which is part of the book “Sexual Misconduct in Academia”, the three researchers point out three central figures: the “Professor Estrela”, the “Apprentice” and a “Watcher”.

It can be seen from the researchers’ curriculum (all three passed through CES), that Boaventura Sousa Santos, a renowned sociologist and university professor, will be called “Professor Estrela” and the professor and co-coordinator of a doctoral program, Bruno Sena Martins, the “Apprentice”. Contacted by Diário de Notícias, Boaventura Sousa Santos recognized himself in the description of the former students, but denied all the accusations. The same said Bruno Sena Martins to the magazine Saturday.
(...)According to reports, the “Apprentice” even invited students to informal dinners at his home where he carried out allegedly uncomfortable conversations. One of the researchers even reported on social media that she was being persecuted by the teacher, but ended up deleting the post when Bruno Sena Martins formally accused her of defamation.

Boaventura Sousa Santos, referred to as “Professor Estrela”, is also accused by the researchers of not acknowledging the authorship of certain works, of “poorly paying” assistants and even of undue dismissals.
(...)

- Faro Hospital once again under suspicion, as doctor denounces to the police 11 cases of error/negligence in the hospital, 3 of them ended in death. The doctor that denounced the situation was suspended by the hospital's board:


Quote
"Loss of trust" removes doctor who reported negligence at Faro Hospital

Quote
Diana de Carvalho Pereira, the intern doctor who filed a complaint with the Judiciary Police about 11 cases of "error/negligence" in the surgery service at the hospital in Faro between January and March, is away from duty, after being rejected by her advisor and all the heads of the service. The clinic asked for the internship to be suspended.

In a letter sent to the clinical director of the Hospital de Faro, the director of the surgery service, Martins dos Santos, argues that there has been a general loss of confidence in the doctor Diana Pereira, which consequently causes her inability to carry out her work.
(...)
Following a complaint made to the Judiciary Police by internal physician Diana Pereira, reported on Twitter, about "11 cases that occurred between January and March" at the Faro hospital of "error/negligence" in the surgery service, the Public Prosecutor's Office launched an inquiry .
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on April 12, 2023, 04:46:26 PM
A few stories that have been making headlines:

- Accusations of moral and sexual harassment in Coimbra University are being investigated. Sociologist Boaventura Sousa Santos is one of the accused:

Boaventura Sousa Santos denies the accusations and is going to file a defamation lawsuit against the women who denounced him (https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/boaventura-sousa-santos-avanca-com-queixa-crime-e-fala-em-difamacao-vergonhosa-e-vil-16165010.html):

Sociologist Boaventura Sousa Santos has reacted to the accusations of moral and sexual harassment made against him by former Coimbra University students, saying that the accusation is "anonymous, shameful and vile". He adds that the accusation is "slanderous" and is only based on rumours and on facts that have no evidences. He concluded by saying he will file a defamation lawsuit against the women who accuse him of harassment.

After Boaventura Sousa Santos published his statement, Público newspaper reported a new complaint against Sousa Santos from a Brazilian researcher (https://www.publico.pt/2023/04/12/sociedade/noticia/brilhante-infelizmente-novas-denuncias-boaventura-sousa-santos-2045876).


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on April 15, 2023, 05:11:26 PM
The Dalai Lama ignored several reports of abuses to children in a Buddhist temple in the Algarve:


Quote
Portuguese reported cases of abuse to the Dalai Lama, but nothing was done

Quote
It was in September 2018 that a group of victims of alleged physical and sexual abuse reported to the Dalai Lama some episodes they had suffered. One of the elements is Ricardo Mendes, the Portuguese who managed to bring together dozens of victims who lived in seclusion in the various temples of the Buddhist congregation Ogyen Kunzang Choling, known as OKC. The group handed the Dalai Lama a book with 12 cases of alleged victims of abuse in Buddhist retreats around the world.

At the same time, the Dalai Lama assured that he was already aware of abuses since the 90s and, at a meeting with children, also in Rotterdam, he even encouraged other victims to speak out.

Ricardo Mendes, in an interview with SIC, said that it was in the so-called Humkara Dzong temple, in the Algarve, that some of these abuses took place. He himself was a victim and he does not forget the torture he experienced for falling asleep in the temple or responding to the educator, Robert Spatz, the alleged abuser.

The Buddhist teacher of Belgian origin was tried in his country of origin for crimes of physical abuse, kidnapping of minors and sexual abuse. More than twenty men and women reported the cases, some already prescribed. Ten of these victims are Portuguese. Robert Spatz was sentenced to five years in prison with a suspended sentence.

SIC contacted the Portuguese Buddhist Union which assured that it is not aware of any physical and sexual abuse in the Buddhist community in Portugal. Regarding the OKC association, in Portugal, it was excluded from the Portuguese Busdista Union in 2015.

This week, a video that went viral showed the Tibetan spiritual leader giving a kiss to a boy he asked to "suck his tongue". The case is causing outrage. The alleged victims of abuse condemn the behavior and say that the Buddhist monk cannot be excused on the grounds of cultural differences.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on April 20, 2023, 10:55:21 AM
Police on alert due to "plans" of massacres in schools, in the Lisbon area, reported on social media. The Police calls the plans a "bad taste joke" and have identified those who were spreading the threats:


Quote
Crime: Threats of attacks on schools were “a joke in bad taste”, says PSP director

Quote
Reinforced policing after threats of attacks on schools in the Lisbon region. Audio messages and photos shared by parents in groups.

The Judiciary Police identified "several authors" of threats of attacks made on social networks against schools. It all started with photographs posted on Instagram of weapons and promises of terrorist attacks on schools in Odivelas. Shortly afterwards, already on WhatsApp, voice messages in groups of parents mentioned a supposed “list” where attacks were scheduled. The national director of the PSP says that it was all a “bad joke” with no real risk.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on April 30, 2023, 06:33:14 AM
Shooting in Setúbal city kills 4 people. Disagreements about Pigeons seem to be the reason behind the shooting:


Quote
Four people died in a shooting in Setúbal. The author of the shots made three victims and committed suicide when the police arrived. The PJ is investigating the crime.

The alert was given at 8:00 am this Saturday, in the Belo Horizonte neighborhood.

When the PJ arrived at the scene, after being alerted by the PSP, the four people were already dead, and the presumed "author committed suicide before" the arrival of the Judiciary.

Resources were mobilized to the site to determine the context and circumstances of this case.

RTP found out that the three homicides are related to issues of a personal nature between those involved, all known pigeon fanciers.

Questions related to this practice were at the origin of the crime.

The author of the shots seems to be about 45 years old and then committed suicide.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on May 07, 2023, 11:55:30 AM
Man throws car into Cascais Hospital Emergency Room because he accuses the Hospital of discriminating against him:


Quote
Man barricades himself inside a car at the Cascais Hospital emergency room

Quote
In the early afternoon, a driver drove his car into the Cascais Hospital emergency room, where he barricaded himself. Authorities were called to the scene and the citizen was arrested.

On the car's glass, according to photographs that SIC Notícias had access to, he pasted two A4 sheets. In one of them he described his situation and in the other he said he was "systematically discriminated against in this hospital".

“I would like to know why I am being systematically discriminated against in this hospital. I have been asking for help for two and a half years ”, he wrote, adding that he only got out of the car in the presence of the GNR.

Authorities were called to the scene and the vehicle was removed from the emergency room. SIC Notícias knows that the driver was arrested.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on May 10, 2023, 11:14:16 AM
New tobacco laws: It will be forbidden to smoke in coffee terraces and near schools and it will be more difficult to buy tobacco.


Quote
It will be more difficult to buy tobacco and smoking will be banned on covered terraces

Quote
Proposed law equals heated cigarettes to traditional ones. Establishments that have adapted to the law can only maintain smoking zones until 2030.

Traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and heated cigarettes (better known as iQOS) will be subject to the same rules, which will be increasingly tighter. The Government wants to prohibit the sale of tobacco, directly or through machines, in most establishments, including gas stations. Smoking on terraces with some type of cover, outside restaurants or cafes, will also no longer be allowed. Establishments that have adapted to the rules, in force since January, to have smoking areas, will have to close them in 2030.
(...)
Most of the measures should come into force in October because the amendment to the Tobacco Law - the fourth since 2007 - stems from the obligation to transpose into national legislation, by October 23, 2023, a European directive that equates heated tobacco to traditional cigarettes and electronics. But the Government wants to go further, making access more difficult and further restricting smoking areas. "The main focus is to protect young people from starting to smoke" in the European plan to have a "tobacco-free generation by 2040", explained, to JN, the Secretary of State for Health Promotion.
(...)

Gas stations are already furious with the government accusing them of ruining their business (https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/empresas/energia/detalhe/gasolineiras-inflamadas-com-proibicao-de-venda-de-tabaco) and benefiting others. Smoking habits have been decreasing in Portugal but very, very slowly, 20.9% in 2005, 20% in 2014 and 19% in 2019.

There are also accusations that the Government is going too far with these new laws (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2023-05-12-Nova-lei-do-tabaco-um-ataque-a-liberdade-dos-fumadores--a3235df0) and could be violating basic freedoms of people. The Government denies this but accusations that these laws are "fascist" and totally impracticable are surging in the media.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on May 11, 2023, 04:36:21 PM
Lottery numbers: Weird combination of numbers is surprising everyone, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7.


Quote
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7. The quasi-sequential key came out in Totoloto, but “it is not at all improbable”

Quote
The draw for this Wednesday, May 10th, has the numbers practically in a row from 1 to 7. In the draw, only 5 was missed. Four people got the set of numbers right and will each receive more than three million euros (€3,087,482.97).

The draw dictated that the key was made up of the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and having 7 as the lucky number. Thus, only the number 5 was missing for the result to be completely sequential. There are four winners, with more than three million euros, according to the Jogos Santa Casa website, and 12 people winning the second prize, for having correctly guessed the five numbers – they will receive almost two million euros.
(...)

This resembles that time when a zero ball appeared in a lottery draw and created a funny and awkward moment.;)



Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on May 12, 2023, 06:35:29 PM
Portugal is the country that most wine consumes per capita in the world:


Quote
Portugal is the country in the world that consumes the most wine "per capita"

Quote
Portugal is the country in the world that consumes the most wine 'per capita' and consumption has been increasing, revealed today the Deputy Director General of the Intervention Service for Addictive Behaviors and Dependencies (SICAD).

"The elderly consume more wine", teenagers and young adults drink beer and the youngest drink spirits ('shots'), said the public health doctor in the parliamentary subcommittee on Global Health, where he was heard together with the director general of the SICAD, Joao Goulao.

He noted, however, that in Portugal, contrary to the rest of Europe, spirits are "very little consumed", representing about 10%, while wine totals 60% and the rest is beer consumption.
(...)
"Portugal is one of the countries with the highest 'per capita' consumption of alcohol in world terms", he clarified, adding that the average consumption of liters of pure alcohol per inhabitant had fallen slightly, having reached 11.9 in 2015, value that rose to 12.1 in 2019.

"It seems a small amount, but we have entered into a counter cycle with the rest of Europe and, therefore, it is an added concern", stressed the official.

The specialist expressed concern about "the suffering that can be added to these consumptions", both for himself and for third parties.

Manuel Cardoso revealed that, according to the general population survey, in 2012, 60% of the Portuguese had consumed alcohol, a figure that increased to 61.5% in 2022.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: President Punxsutawney Phil on May 12, 2023, 07:13:31 PM
Portugal is the country that most wine consumes per capita in the world:


Quote
Portugal is the country in the world that consumes the most wine "per capita"

Quote
Portugal is the country in the world that consumes the most wine 'per capita' and consumption has been increasing, revealed today the Deputy Director General of the Intervention Service for Addictive Behaviors and Dependencies (SICAD).

"The elderly consume more wine", teenagers and young adults drink beer and the youngest drink spirits ('shots'), said the public health doctor in the parliamentary subcommittee on Global Health, where he was heard together with the director general of the SICAD, Joao Goulao.

He noted, however, that in Portugal, contrary to the rest of Europe, spirits are "very little consumed", representing about 10%, while wine totals 60% and the rest is beer consumption.
(...)
"Portugal is one of the countries with the highest 'per capita' consumption of alcohol in world terms", he clarified, adding that the average consumption of liters of pure alcohol per inhabitant had fallen slightly, having reached 11.9 in 2015, value that rose to 12.1 in 2019.

"It seems a small amount, but we have entered into a counter cycle with the rest of Europe and, therefore, it is an added concern", stressed the official.

The specialist expressed concern about "the suffering that can be added to these consumptions", both for himself and for third parties.

Manuel Cardoso revealed that, according to the general population survey, in 2012, 60% of the Portuguese had consumed alcohol, a figure that increased to 61.5% in 2022.
(...)
For Americans reading this: 12.1 liters is the equivalent of 3.196 liquid galloons.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on May 18, 2023, 06:46:24 AM
Patients without a NHS family doctor reach almost 1.7 million, a 29% increase in just one year (https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/utentes-sem-medico-de-familia-aumentam-29-num-ano--16375028.html):


Quote
Users without a family doctor increase by 29% in one year

Quote
The number of users without a family doctor increased by 29% in one year, now reaching almost 1.7 million, due to retirements and the lack of capacity of the National Health Service (SNS) to attract specialists.

According to the SNS transparency portal, in April 2022 a total of 1,299,016 million users did not have a family doctor assigned, a number that increased to 1,678,226 a year later.

In view of this, the number of users monitored by these general and family medicine specialists dropped from around 9.1 million to just over 8.8 million in the same period, official data indicate.

For Saturday, marches are scheduled in Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra against the "degradation of the SNS", called by several unions and with the participation of user movements, an initiative to claim a "serious investment" in this public service.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on May 18, 2023, 05:25:04 PM
Stabbings at Lisbon Subway: One police officer and another person stabbed in two different stabbing incidents.


Quote
Man stabs police and is shot on Lisbon subway

Quote
A man stabbed a PSP agent at Bela Vista station, in Lisbon, and was shot in the legs after trying to escape through the railway line. The suspect, known to be troublesome, and the officer are not in danger.

Stabs police and is shot in the legs in the Metro in Lisbon

A man stabbed a PSP agent at Bela Vista station, in Lisbon, and was shot in the legs after trying to escape through the railway line. The suspect, known to be troublesome, and the officer are not in danger.

According to a note from the PSP in Lisbon, the agents were called at 6.07 pm this Thursday to Vergílio Ferreira Avenue, in Marvila, "because there was news of an individual with aggressive behavior there". Arriving at the scene, inside a building on that artery, the police officers "came across the suspect who was wielding a large bladed weapon, a serrated knife".

The 54-year-old man fled towards the Bela Vista subway station "wielding the knife and threatening" everyone he passed. Already on the platform, the suspect tried to throw himself onto the railway line, but was stopped by one of the policemen. It was at this moment that the suspect struck one of the police officers with a serrated knife, cutting the uniform in the abdominal area.
(...)

In the early afternoon, another man was also stabbed by a group of 6 people in the subway station of Alameda, north of Lisbon city (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/esfaqueamento/psp/homem-esfaqueado-na-estacao-de-metro-da-alameda-em-lisboa/20230518/64662d73d34ea91b0aaca417):

Quote
A group suspected of involvement in the crime turned itself in late this Thursday afternoon at Serafina police station. The victim's life is not in danger

A man was stabbed this Thursday on the platform of the Alameda Metro station in Lisbon. PSP source confirmed the aggression to CNN Portugal, without adding details. The victim, who was transported to St. Joseph Hospital in serious condition, is not at risk of life.

The stabbing took place in front of a barbershop, in the commercial area of the station and, hours later, six people suspected of involvement in the crime surrendered to the authorities.

According to witnesses at the scene, the victim was followed by the group and was assaulted in an attempted robbery.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on May 22, 2023, 05:08:55 PM
Portuguese and German police forces join forces in another search for missing girl Madeleine McCann in an Algarve dam lake, 16 years after her disappearance:


Quote
On Tuesday, the PJ starts searching the Arade dam, in the Algarve, 50 km from Praia da Luz. The area used to be frequented by Christian Brueckner - the main suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Quote
The Judiciary Police will begin searches on Tuesday at the Arade dam, in the Algarve, 50 kilometers from Praia da Luz, at the request of the German authorities. The area used to be frequented by Christian Brueckner - the main suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

The dam area is being delimited and will start to be the target of diligences from Tuesday.

Searches are expected to last two to three days.

This operation stems from a European Investigation Decision (the old rogatory letters) addressed by the German authorities to Portugal and focuses on the Arade dam, located about 50 kilometers from Praia da Luz, where the child disappeared in May. 2007, when he was on vacation with his parents.

The place used to be frequented by Christian Brueckner, suspected of the disappearance of the girl known as Maddie, then 3 years old.

Christian Brueckner, 45, is serving time in Kiel (Germany) for another crime. He was also accused in October last year by the German court of three crimes of rape and two of sexual abuse of children in Portuguese territory, allegedly committed between 2000 and 2017.

The Brunswick prosecutor's office said that the charges then brought against Christian Brueckner were not related to the case of the disappearance of the British child in a tourist village in Praia da Luz, Lagos, Algarve.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on May 29, 2023, 07:45:02 PM
People with 2 or more jobs reaches the highest rate of the last 12 years:


Quote
There are 255,000 people with a second job in Portugal, the highest figure since 2011

Quote
In the first quarter of this year, 255 thousand people had at least two jobs, which represents an increase of 4.5% compared to the end of 2022, according to the most recent data from the employment survey of the National Institute of Statistics ( INE). It is the highest figure since 2011, writes Jornal de Negócios (paid access).

Of the 255,000 people who held at least two jobs in the first quarter, almost 230,000 were in the services sector, that is, 90% of the total. And, of these, 210,000 had this sector as their main activity, while 8,000 had the industry sector as their main activity and just over 7,000 had their first job in agriculture.

After all, these 255 thousand people, who in the INE survey responded to have more than one professional activity, represent 5.2% of the employed population in the country. It should be noted that the services sector, with a high weight in catering and accommodation, was one of the most penalized by the pandemic, following the lockdowns. In addition, they tend to be more precarious jobs and therefore more exposed to sudden changes in activity.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on May 31, 2023, 11:48:05 AM
GDP grows 2.5% in the first quarter of 2023 (https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/economia/ine-confirma-crescimento-homologo-do-pib-de-25-no-primeiro-trimestre_n1490192) and Inflation drops to 4% during May (https://expresso.pt/economia/2023-05-31-Inflacao-volta-a-abrandar-e-fixa-se-em-4-em-maio-ba631279):


Quote
The Portuguese economy grew by 2.5% in the first three months of the year. The National Institute of Statistics confirms the estimate.

Quote
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 2.5% in the first quarter compared to the same period last year and by 1.6% compared to the previous quarter, confirmed today the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

In the "Quarterly National Accounts" released today, the statistical institute thus maintained the values advanced in the quick estimate of April 28th.

INE explains that "domestic demand made a null contribution" to the year-on-year change in GDP in the first quarter, after a contribution of 2.3 percentage points in the previous quarter.

"Private consumption decelerated and investment decreased, mainly reflecting the negative contribution of the variation in stocks, largely associated with the dynamics of international trade flows", it adds.

Quote
The National Statistics Institute (INE) estimates that the May inflation rate will have stood at 4%, which represents the seventh consecutive slowdown, according to data released this Wednesday.

In April, the consumer price index, an indicator that measures inflation, had registered a year-on-year change of 5.7%. That is, from April to May there was a slowdown of 1.7 percentage points.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on May 31, 2023, 01:41:32 PM
Flash floods hit  Northern Portugal, mainly the Trás-os-Montes area (https://www.jn.pt/local/noticias/vila-real/murca/mau-tempo-derruba-ponte-e-afeta-vinha-no-concelho-de-murca-16447340.html). Several agriculture plantations are destroyed and road and bridges were severely damaged:





Quote
The intense hailstorm caused, this Tuesday, "immense damage" in the vineyards in the Porrais area and the rising waters of a stream collapsed a road bridge in Ribeirinha, municipality of Murça, said the mayor.
(...)

After the flood on Sunday afternoon, the river valley, between Valongo de Milhais and the Tinhela river, was once again flooded by yet another large waterspout. A small road bridge collapsed in Ribeirinha and the vineyards in the Sobreira, Candedo and Porrais areas were badly damaged due to hail.

Manuel Veloso, a farmer from Noura, told JN that "on Monday people went around composing the plants of agricultural crops one by one", but after Tuesday's flood "there are no longer any plants to save". "The water washed away as far as the Ribeirinha bridge. Everything broke!"

"It's a disgrace", lamented, for his part, Jorge Trigo, a farmer from Sobreira, also in Murça. "Where hail fell most heavily, the vines were almost without grapes. Many farmers are already applying calcium to at least try to save the plants".

This area was very affected by the great fire that affected the municipality of Murça in July 2022.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 02, 2023, 12:40:54 PM
Huawei banned from 5G communications in Portugal. Operators now have up to 5 years to remove traces of the company in Portugal:


Quote
Chinese and “high risk” technology must be expelled from the “core” of 5G in three years and from the periphery of networks in five. Sector surprised with a tougher position than the EU and questions: who will pay?

Quote
The recent decision that allows the Chinese technology company Huawei to be expelled from 5G in Portugal surprised those responsible for the telecommunications sector, who did not expect such comprehensive restrictions. Publicly, there are more doubts than certainties, but even for some of the players there are questions to clarify — for example, knowing who pays the bill. Operators will have up to five years to ban the "high risk" technology from their networks.

Four years ago, the Prime Minister, António Costa, rejected the introduction of “protectionism mechanisms” on the “pretext of security”. But it went further. Citing the example of “demanding countries” such as the United Kingdom and Germany, he declared that there is “no reason to exclude Huawei from access to the market” of fifth-generation mobile devices.

However, today, the position of these countries is different from what they had then. And that of the Portuguese Government has just turned 180 degrees, by now admitting the expulsion of equipment and services from brands such as Huawei and ZTE, not only from the most critical parts of 5G, the so-called core, but also from the peripheral part networks, including antennas.
(...)

United States aplaudes the Portuguese decision (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/eua/huawei/eua-elogiam-portugal-por-decisao-de-banir-empresas-chinesas-do-5g/20230602/6479996cd34ef47b87548344), while China ponders "retaliation" against Portugal (https://eco.sapo.pt/2023/06/01/china-admite-retaliar-chumbo-da-huawei-na-rede-5g-em-portugal/):

Quote
The US was satisfied with the decision of the Security Assessment Commission that prevents the use of equipment from Chinese manufacturers, such as Huawei, in 5G networks and requires the removal of existing equipment within a period of five years. The decision meets a long-standing claim by Washington.

The US position was shared by the ambassador to Portugal, Randi Charno Levine, in a speech given at a dinner by AmCham: American Chamber of Commerce in Portugal, which took place on Thursday last week, May 25th. The same day that the decision of the Security Assessment Commission was published on the website of the National Security Office. The document is dated May 23.
(...)

Quote
The removal of the Chinese company Huawei from 5G could have political and economic consequences for Portugal, with the Beijing authorities admitting to retaliate if the removal of the technology company originating in that country is confirmed.

According to Jornal de Negócios (paid access), the Chinese authorities were perplexed and surprised by the decision adopted at the end of last week by the Superior Council for Cyberspace Security to remove companies from outside the EU, the USA and the OECD .

Considering that China has been, for several years, the fourth largest investor in the country, having invested close to 11.22 billion euros in Portugal in 2022, the newspaper maintains that it is admissible that Beijing will use some of its many investments in national territory to confront the Government with what they consider to be the injustice of this decision.



Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 05, 2023, 08:37:25 AM
Flash floods continue in rural Northern Portugal, with several parishes with a lot of damages:



Red alert also in Madeira islands as Storm "Oscar" is set to make downfall this Tuesday. A weather condition totally unusual for this time of the year:


Quote
#BorrascaOscar #StormOscar will hit #Madeira with up to 200 l/m² of rain


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 12, 2023, 11:45:22 AM
Dolphins return to Lisbon city:


Quote
It is not the first time, nor will it be the last, that dozens of dolphins appear in the Tagus River, between the south bank and the city of Lisbon. Some say it's a good sign.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 14, 2023, 01:36:07 PM
Human traffic scandal hits the Portuguese Football League: Dozens of young foreign players were found withheld in an academy. The main suspected is the chairman of the Portuguese League assembly who also owns the academy in question:


Quote
Dozens of foreign minors who were allegedly held in a Football Academy, in Riba D'Ave, in the municipality of Famalicão, are now safe.

Quote
Dozens of foreign minors who were allegedly held in a Football Academy, in Riba D'Ave, in the municipality of Famalicão, are now safe.
They spent the night in reception centers in the north of the country and over the next few days they will be delivered to families in countries in Latin America, Africa and even Asia.

In total, 114 young people and minors were rescued from the Academy by SEF elements.

RTP knows that the President of the General Assembly of the Liga de Clubes is suspected of trafficking in minors and has been accused. Mário Costa is the president of BSports Portugal.

Liga de Clubes is already aware of the investigation by RTP and does not make any comment for the time being.

The head of the academy, Mário Costa, has announced his resignation from the leadership of the Portuguese Football League assembly (https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/trafico-humano-mario-costa-demite-se-do-cargo-de-presidente-da-assembleia-geral-da-liga_n1493202).

Details of the case (https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/amp/explicador-renascenca/2023/06/14/trafico-de-menores-no-futebol-o-que-aconteceu-em-riba-de-ave/335206/):

Quote
(...)
In total, 114 young people were rescued, who are now in reception centers to later be delivered to their families in Latin America, Africa and Asia.
Were young people arrested or prevented from leaving?

Literally no. However, it can be said that they were very limited.

These footballers from abroad would be paying 500 euros per month as a guarantee of permanence in Portugal. Some will have signed contracts with small clubs in the North region and ended up not receiving any money, being banned from leaving the country for not having a passport.

How is Liga Portugal involved in this case?

The most recent news reports the alleged involvement of the President of the Board of the General Assembly of the League in this case. This Monday, the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) carried out searches at Mário Costa's residence, in an investigation motivated by suspicions of human trafficking.

According to the investigation, the leader of Liga Portugal was trying to "sell" this "business model" to "investors".

Is the chairman of the Board of the General Meeting the only one involved in this case?

No. In addition to the home of the leader of the League, a football academy in Riba de Ave, in the municipality of Famalicão, district of Braga, was also searched.

In a first reaction, Mário Costa claimed to be innocent and says he will wait calmly for the investigation to unfold. The same reaction had the Bsports academy.
Is it unique in Portugal?

Will not be. Several organizations denounce illegal situations with young footballers from abroad.

Just last weekend, CNASTI (National Confederation of Action on Child Labor) told Renascença that illegality around young players is precisely one of the main problems in this field in Portugal.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 15, 2023, 05:41:34 AM
Portugal's population grows again at the end of 2022/beginning of 2023 to 10,467,366 inhabitants:


Quote
Portugal with the most population for the fourth consecutive year. Immigration justifies increase

Quote
On the last day of 2022, Portugal had a resident population of 10,467,366 people. Average number of children per woman of childbearing age increased to 1.43 children.

It is the fourth consecutive year that the resident population in Portugal has increased, says the National Institute of Statistics (INE) in the Bulletin Estimates of the Resident Population in Portugal 2022, released this Thursday. This result is due to immigration, which made it possible to offset the negative natural balance of the country. The aging index has also grown: for every 100 young people there are now 185.6 elderly people in the country.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 16, 2023, 11:22:32 AM
Kangaroo seen lost on the streets of Vizela town, Braga district:


Quote
This Friday morning was, to say the least, unusual for many residents of Vizela who, in the middle of their routine, ended up crossing paths with a kangaroo jumping in the center of the city.

A kangaroo on the street of a Portuguese town just 40 kms away from where I live? Well, I've seen everything. ;)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 17, 2023, 06:21:50 AM
6 years after the tragic and deadly Pedrogão Grande wildfires, the memorial honoring the victims opens but no one shows up for the inauguration. People of the area affected feel abandoned:


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Pedrógão Grande. Memorial honoring fire victims opens without ceremony

Quote
At the end of the morning of this Thursday, the Association of Victims of the Fire of Pedrógão Grande (AVIPG) received a call from Infraestrutures of Portugal (IP) informing that from that moment on "the monument was open to the public". Dina Duarte, the president, confirmed this contact to DN, which after all denounced what she already suspected: this year there is no official ceremony marking the 17th of June.

"This is the respect that the dead of 2017 deserve from the authorities of this country. I think it is revealing", says the president. For the first time in these six years, AVIPG has not sent invitations to anyone. The headquarters will be open, for the families of the victims and for the associates. In addition, the association will participate in a mass, scheduled for the Church of Vila Facaia, in the early afternoon. The day will also be marked by the (already usual) memory ride, an initiative that brings together cyclists from the region and travels 66 kilometres, one for each person who died in the fire.
(...)
When the current direction of the Association took office, it developed contacts with IP to request a meeting. "We made a series of requests, but none of them were considered: the plane tree that had resisted the fire and we considered that it could stay there as an example of resilience, was one of the first things to be cut. We also asked the fountain to stay, because it was it was also a landmark, it didn't stay. The only thing they agreed to was the placement, in the place, of a time capsule", she underlines.

When the fire claimed lives and decimated the entire region of Pinhal Interior, those in charge of power came out to the public to guarantee that, more than making it rise from the ashes, the interior of the country would never be forgotten. In the first years the visit of the President of the Republic (mainly) and of some members of the Government was repeated. But six years seems like a long time. It is the first time that the day will not be remembered with any official visit.

"This is a way for those who are entitled not to be confronted with promises that were not kept", considers Dina Duarte. "We even came to the conclusion that Portugal is just Lisbon and we are landscape. Portugal is TAP and it's a whole set of circumstances that the rest of the country is not. It's not just here. We also question what is being done in Serra da Estrela, for example, and in other places. It's interesting to see if something is being done. Because here, six years later, very little has been done". "Those who feel like friends of the territory and who don't want it to be forgotten will come to us", says Dina Duarte, when asked about Saturday.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 20, 2023, 05:24:49 PM
Prosecutor investigating "wave" of racist comments against a Police tweet of a black police officer:


Quote
Racist comments to PSP tweet are on their way to the Public Ministry

Quote
The announcement of the 40th Training Course for Police Officers, made by the Public Security Police (PSP) on the social network Twitter is causing a stir, but for the worst reasons: “It seems to me that someone changed the photo of the policeman and of the thief” or “What is a black man doing in the Portuguese police?” were some of the comments made to the post.

In the publication, which dates back to June 16, the PSP announced the opening of applications for training Police Officers, held at the Higher Institute of Police Sciences and Internal Security, and illustrated with a photograph of an officer. It turns out that in this post “several racist comments” were published.
(...)
“As soon as the PSP became aware of the aforementioned comments, it immediately took steps to assess the existence of illegality and the identification of its authors” and this Monday it prepared “a news report, already sent to the Public Ministry, with reference to the facts investigated so far and the information that is considered to be of criminal relevance”.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: gerritcole on June 20, 2023, 06:14:53 PM
what do u mike think are the biggest issues that portugal faces currently


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 21, 2023, 06:02:41 AM
what do u mike think are the biggest issues that portugal faces currently

Like every country around the world, the issues facing Portugal are very similar: The economy, the environment, social services, and so on. But, there are a few issues that are worse in Portugal, in my view, than in other countries, and I would point the economy and the demographic winter, which is then like a domino effect that leads to complicated issues on the environment, the NHS, education, housing, transport, etc.

Portugal is very low wage economy, more than 50% of workers earn less that 1,000 euros per month and the economy is currently being support by just tourism, which is about 20% of GDP. Although tourism creats a lot of jobs, it pays badly and it's basically a low value added product. This is a major issue for Portugal as it needs a more diverse and stronger economy capable of paying better salaries. And, of course, when you add high taxation over already low wages, this creates a big burden over families who are finding hard to make ends meet at the end of the day and the government's supports are normally very bureaucratic and slow.

And then you have the demographic winter. Although immigration is booming in Portugal, which is making the population grow, Portugal is still one of the fastest aging countries in the world, side by side with Japan and Italy, and this puts a lot of preassure on Social Security. Pensions in Portugal are also quite low, 67% earn pensions bellow 443 euros per month, and when you add a low wage and low productive economy, the pressure increases over Social Security and pensioners, more than 2 million, are faced with big problems in managing their pensions, especially in a time of rising cost of living.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Red Velvet on June 21, 2023, 06:13:41 AM
From an outsider perspective, I would say:

- Portugal getting older faster, like European countries are
- Young Portuguese migrating to Northern European countries for increased opportunities
- Creation of an even bigger need to attract new people in order to make the economy function, so immigration is stimulated to higher levels
- An increasing share of population being hostile to immigrants with the perception the “culture” is changing too fast, with the rise of racist/xenophobic attacks and immigration driving them to more populist right-wing options (slow rise of Chega mirrors the one from Spanish Vox).

Other problems seem in line with other Euro countries imo, but this one specifically seems much harsher to Portugal because it’s already a smaller population and the residing youth seems to leave the country in a much more intensive way. I hear that Cost of Leaving - more specifically increased Housing Prices - in the bigger cities is a main issue.

That small population + bigger influxes with young people leaving leads to immigration “changes” be perceived much more intensely by the population. But a huge share of people that have moved to Portugal are Brazilians with Portuguese ancestry to generalize so they’re also somewhat lucky that the culture doesn’t change thaaaaat much. But even then, it’s common to hear reports of xenophobic attacks against Brazilians.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 21, 2023, 06:27:27 AM
From an outsider perspective, I would say:

- Portugal getting older faster, like European countries are
- Young Portuguese migrating to Northern European countries for increased opportunities
- Creation of an even bigger need to attract new people in order to make the economy function, so immigration is stimulated to higher levels
- An increasing share of population being hostile to immigrants with the perception the “culture” is changing too fast, with the rise of racist/xenophobic attacks and immigration driving them to more populist right-wing options (slow rise of Chega mirrors the one from Spanish Vox).

Pretty much, although on the last point, the reasons for the far-right rise are also related with corruption scandals, a sense of "abandonment" by several parts of the population and that "nothing works" in the country. The immigration issue has an impact, of course, but it still has a lower impact than one may expect from the outside.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 21, 2023, 09:23:34 AM
Informal economy may have reached 35% of GDP in 2022, a new record:


Quote
Informal economy reaches maximum value of 35% of Portuguese GDP

Quote
The informal economy reached a maximum value of 34.6% of Portuguese GDP in 2022, according to the conclusions of a study by the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto (FEP).

According to the research, which covers the period from 1996 to 2022, the unregistered economy (UNR) corresponds to more than 82 billion euros.

Speaking to Renascença, Óscar Afonso, director of FEP and one of the authors of the study, points out that the weight of the informal economy has increased, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The value corresponds to six times what is budgeted for Health and eight times what is budgeted for Education. It is about 30% of the Portuguese public debt", he reinforces.
For the professor, the research findings reveal that the official economy "is not competitive compared to the unregistered economy", mainly due to the "high tax burden, which is crushing all economic agents" - and has pushed them into the informal economy.

In 2022, Portugal reached a historical maximum of tax burden, set at 36.4%. Value that, according to the statement from the FEP, translates into the 5th largest fiscal effort in the European Union, 17% above average, according to updated data.
(...)
On the other hand, the investigation also points to the reduction of taxation on income entering the official economy, strengthening the supervision of financial support, conditioning access to training of beneficiaries - "avoiding 'subsidy dependence' and accommodation - and also the implementation of the crime of illicit enrichment, both in the public and private sectors.

After all, betting on a reduction of the tax burden, "the unregistered economy would also decrease, being able to reap the same taxes, because it would have more official economy".

"With that, support could even increase, and this support would be felt, above all, in the most vulnerable classes and in agents operating in the parallel economy. It would be a way for them to enter the official economy."


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 21, 2023, 11:10:45 AM
243 illegal immigrants rescued by the Police in a raid into a shellfish warehouse in the suburbs of Lisbon. Four people also arrested:


Quote
The Central Criminal Investigation Unit of the Maritime Police led this Wednesday an operation to combat the "illegal capture" of shellfish and "human labor exploitation" in Montijo and Alcochete

Quote
The Central Criminal Investigation Unit of the Maritime Police led this Wednesday an operation to combat the "illegal capture" of shellfish and "human labor exploitation" in Montijo and Alcochete. Four suspects were arrested and more than 240 immigrants were identified. The Foreigners and Borders Service, the PSP and the Tax Authority were part of this nationwide investigation.
The operation "at the national level", confirmed in a statement by the National Maritime Authority, is aimed at presumed "criminal networks associated with the illicit capture, trade and international trafficking of shellfish".

Four people were arrested and 243 immigrants were identified. "Nine foreign citizens" were notified "to appear at the SEF, in order to clarify their situation in the national territory".
(...)
Everything indicates that these are people from Southeast Asia who were victims of the alleged network of exploitation.

The migrants already identified were meanwhile withdrawn by the authorities.

According to a lawyer for the owner of the warehouses in question, the immigrants lived there and had lease agreements.

Illegal clam picking has grown in recent years, capitalizing on the proximity to the Tagus River. It is not the first time that operations have been carried out in this area of the Setúbal district.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: gerritcole on June 21, 2023, 01:47:58 PM
what do u mike think are the biggest issues that portugal faces currently
And then you have the demographic winter. Although immigration is booming in Portugal, which is making the population grow, Portugal is still one of the fastest aging countries in the world, side by side with Japan and Italy, and this puts a lot of preassure on Social Security. Pensions in Portugal are also quite low, 67% earn pension bellow 443 euros per month, and when you add a low wage and low productive economy, the pressure increases over Social Security and pensioners, more than 2 million, are faced with big problems in managing their pensions, especially in a time of rising cost of living.

is most of the immigration from within the eu or rather brazil or from elsewhere? are Brazilian immigrants more easily accepted due to the language and cultural links or is their mixed heritage obvious and an issue


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Red Velvet on June 21, 2023, 03:21:15 PM
what do u mike think are the biggest issues that portugal faces currently
And then you have the demographic winter. Although immigration is booming in Portugal, which is making the population grow, Portugal is still one of the fastest aging countries in the world, side by side with Japan and Italy, and this puts a lot of preassure on Social Security. Pensions in Portugal are also quite low, 67% earn pension bellow 443 euros per month, and when you add a low wage and low productive economy, the pressure increases over Social Security and pensioners, more than 2 million, are faced with big problems in managing their pensions, especially in a time of rising cost of living.

is most of the immigration from within the eu or rather brazil or from elsewhere? are Brazilian immigrants more easily accepted due to the language and cultural links or is their mixed heritage obvious and an issue

Depends on what you’re comparing with tbh.

Brazilians in general are mostly welcomed in Portugal and I would say are better received in comparison with other non-European migrants.

That’s true for all of Europe in some degree, where I feel the stronger xenophobia is mostly concentrated towards Muslim immigrants. Cultural similarities makes adaptation in Europe be one of the easiest if you compare with what people in Middle East; Africa and to lesser degree Asia can go through.

And for Brazilians specifically, it’s even easier because of the language + a lot of Brazilian culture already being part somewhat of Portugal. A good number of the Brazilians who go live there also already have prior Double Citizenship because of their ancestry for example.

Like, I never lived in Portugal but I’m technically (in terms of paper stuff, not at heart) Portuguese as well because I have a Portugal ID and passport. Both of my grandmother parents were Portuguese immigrants who came to Brazil during WWI looking for better opportunities while Europe was under war.

I only visited Portugal briefly while I was living in Spain because I was homesick and in some ways it helped me feel like I was back at home somewhat. I remember feeling similarities were much stronger than differences. It felt to me like I was in a poshy European version of Brazil, with people speaking in a funny old-style formal way that kinda turned me on - whenever they were speaking Portuguese instead of English (the excess of the latter being honestly my single and main bad impression from there).

But in general the Portuguese I met in there were all sweethearts, necessarily nicer to me because I was Brazilian. That’s my personal experience though, as a Luso-Brazilian. Can’t necessarily say if it’s the sane for every Brazilian - and living there is something very different from visiting. Can’t say if people more dark skinned have this same impression or not.

That all being said, discrimination naturally exists because of what you said and since there are many many Brazilians living in there and shaping the culture in their own way, you usually hear news from a xenophobic or racist attack happening against a Brazilian there. Especially in universities tbh, where in some situations Brazilians start to become a majority over Portuguese because many in the Portuguese Youth go study abroad elsewhere in Europe.

Even from people who don’t have direct prejudice at all, you can sometimes feel some level of resentment regarding Brazilians being literally everywhere there. Jokes about changing the way they speak for us (as if Brazilian Portuguese was a “cheaper” version of the language); notions of Portuguese culture being mixed or confused with Brazilian; more negative stereotypes; etc. That’s sillier stuff you can find everywhere though, with Brazilians also having their own negative stereotypes of the Portuguese.

Still, Brazilian is probably the best non-European immigrant group to be while in Portugal (in the sense of how easier things are) and not just because of language at all, neither the large number of people. Portugal naturally consumes a level of Brazilian culture in a higher level in comparison with other countries, which makes Brazilians feel like they’re just in an “European version” of their own home.

So like, it’s not exactly as “close” as the American-British relationship when visiting the other country but at same time there’s also more cultural direct proximity than say, Spain and all multiple others Hispanic countries in America that are each different in their own individual way.

And is miles easier than being a non-western immigrant in Portugal or Europe as well. It generally is for Latin Americans in Western Europe in some level, but especially Spain and Portugal I’d say.

If I had to move and pick a new place to live it would necessarily be either some other place in South America or the Iberian Peninsula. Every other place feels kinda alien and too different for me tbh.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 21, 2023, 06:17:20 PM
what do u mike think are the biggest issues that portugal faces currently
And then you have the demographic winter. Although immigration is booming in Portugal, which is making the population grow, Portugal is still one of the fastest aging countries in the world, side by side with Japan and Italy, and this puts a lot of preassure on Social Security. Pensions in Portugal are also quite low, 67% earn pension bellow 443 euros per month, and when you add a low wage and low productive economy, the pressure increases over Social Security and pensioners, more than 2 million, are faced with big problems in managing their pensions, especially in a time of rising cost of living.

is most of the immigration from within the eu or rather brazil or from elsewhere? are Brazilian immigrants more easily accepted due to the language and cultural links or is their mixed heritage obvious and an issue

It's mostly from Brazil, somewhere between 200,000-400,000 immigrants live in Portugal (2-4% of the population). Of course, the language and the similar heritage helps with the integration in society. Portugal also has a strong community of Ukranians, that during the early 2000's came in big numbers to Portugal. There are other big immigration communities from former colonies like Cape Verde and/or Angola. There is also big British and French communities, mainly pensioners who live in Portugal due to the tax benefits for foreign retirees.

On the negative side, Portugal has a growing illegal immigration population, mainly from Nepal, India and Bangladesh, victims of human traffic mafias, with the more critical situations in the Alentejo region and Lisbon city. Several police raids and media investigations have uncovered several cases of almost slavery, and today was one of those days, unfortunately. This documentary explains it well:



Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Red Velvet on June 21, 2023, 07:45:10 PM
Immigrants in Portugal:



This video still underestimates the number of Brazilians a lot though, since many are not counted as immigrants because of the dual citizenship, but counted as regular Portuguese.

Total Brazilians living in Portugal are accounted at 309k (March 2023 data), way more than what the video shows because of this factor.

I remember only learning that Portugal historically has a significant Venezuelan community (and like, way before the crisis) when noticing that my hotel allowed calls only to Brazil and Venezuela from the Latin American region. It’s the largest Latin American group there, not counting Brazil.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 23, 2023, 10:37:43 AM
Meanwhile in rural Portugal...

Ponte da Barca, Viana do Castelo district, City Hall "under fire" for mistakenly buying public lamps with the royal coat of arms of Spanish King Ferdinand VII:


Quote
Mistake places lamps with the crown of the Spanish monarchy in Ponte da Barca

Quote
The mayor of Ponte da Barca admitted this Friday that there had been a "mistake" of city services in the purchase of three lamps with symbols of the Spanish monarchy that, recently, began to illuminate the Garden of Poets.

Contacted by the Lusa agency, regarding a press realease from the Ponte da Barca PS branch about an "inadmissible Castilian invasion" of that space in the town, Augusto Marinho regretted the incident, but has not yet decided what he will do with the Castilian 'farolas'.

"I certainly regret the situation. There has never been, nor will there be, any attempt to pay homage to the Spanish crown", stressed the social-democratic mayor, who classified as "deeply ridiculous" the controversy generated around that urban furniture used in some cities from Spain.

At stake are three lamps whose base is inscribed with the coat of arms of King Fernando VII of Spain.

In the inscription you can see two "F", the indication VII, which is joined by the Spanish crown shield.

Underneath the coat of arms is the date 1832, in honor of the year of birth of Infanta Luísa Fernanda, daughter of the Spanish monarch.
(...)

The "inadmissible Castilian invasion" with lamps made my day. 8) ;)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 26, 2023, 05:43:02 AM
Violent collections spread in social neighborhoods around Lisbon:


Quote
Crisis leads the poorest to turn to moneylenders. When they don't pay, they are thrown out of their houses or see their children kidnapped.

Quote
In social housing neighborhoods spread across Greater Lisbon there are small mafias of moneylenders who, riding on the back of the economic crisis, are profiting more and more from the business of illegal loans, with interest rates that sometimes rise to 50% per month. The victims are usually families with economic problems, who survive on the Social Insertion Income (RSI), or with precarious jobs, especially in the so-called informal economy. The phenomenon is far from being recent; what is new is the degree of physical and psychological violence used by debt collectors when someone fails to pay their installments. “After the pandemic and with this rise in the standard of living, people who in desperation resort to these organized groups that dominate the neighborhoods have increased. They do it even knowing that they run the risk of having to pay a bill that is too high later on”, says a source with knowledge of the process.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 27, 2023, 09:11:30 AM
Smoke clouds from Canadian wildfires reaches Portugal (https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/ambiente/detalhe/nuvem-de-fumo-dos-incendios-do-canada-ja-chegou-a-portugal-continental).

In Lisbon city:

In Porto city:


Quote
The cloud of smoke particles from the fires in Canada arrived this Monday afternoon in mainland Portugal. According to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), this cloud consists of very small particles and gases from the fires that have affected Canada.

"This cloud should not affect populations below 1,100 m altitude. However, it should cause a reduction in visibility and a reduction in the brightness of the sun, as well as the blue tone of the sky", says the IPMA.

The particles arrived in the Azores this Sunday and today reached the continent in the North and Center regions.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Red Velvet on June 28, 2023, 08:53:15 PM
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa defended the signaling of the EU-Mercosur deal still in this year, referencing it as something strategic for beyond economic reasons:

Quote
“It is essential that an agreement is concluded between the European Union and Mercosur, and that it is concluded as soon as possible. If feasible, during the Spanish presidency of the European Union until the end of the year.”

The statement was made during the closing ceremony of the 11th Lisbon Legal Forum, in the Portuguese capital. The ceremony was attended by the Vice President of Brazil and Minister of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, Geraldo Alckmin.

According to the Portuguese president, the European Union will lose the opportunity to play a “global role in the dialogue between the great powers of the world”, if it maintains the tendency to restrict its partnerships.

“If the European Union loses the opportunity, due to the blindness of a country or for reasons of conjuncture, it will lose the opportunity to have a global role in the dialogue between the great powers of the world”, said Marcelo Rebelo.

According to him, this loss of political space by the European bloc will become even more evident if it does not also establish a partnership with the African continent. If so, he added, “only the United States of America and China will remain. This is bad for us: for Brazil, for Portugal, for the world that Brazil leads and for the European Union that Portugal is part of”.

https://noticias.uol.com.br/ultimas-noticias/agencia-brasil/2023/06/28/presidente-de-portugal-quer-acordo-entre-ue-e-mercosul-ainda-neste-ano.htm


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 29, 2023, 05:54:54 AM
Overcrowded train in Sintra's line, Lisbon suburb, breaks down and creates panic in passengers (https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/comboio-lotado-avaria-na-linha-de-sintra-passageiros-assistidos-devido-ao-calor-16609961.html). Two passengers were sent to hospital:


Quote
Off the field - Crowded train stops on the Sintra Line and creates panic among passengers

Quote
A breakdown forced a crowded train to stop, this Thursday, between Damaia and Benfica stations, on the Sintra Line. Due to the heat, three people were assisted, two of whom were sent to Hospital de Santa Maria, a source from the Lisbon Metropolitan Command of the PSP told DN.

"Due to the heat, people started to feel bad, the train was also full. Meanwhile the train manages to reach Benfica station, and assistance was called to the place", said the same source, referring to two INEM vehicles and an ambulance.
(...)
CP confirmed to the Observador newspaper that due to a "technical failure" the circulation of trains on the Sintra Line was interrupted, and there is, for now, no forecast of when it will resume.

According to Correio da Manhã, the situation created panic among the passengers, who were trapped in the crowded train for 40 minutes.
(...)

Last March a similar situation occurred, with an overcrowed train being stopped by passengers and then people had to walk on foot to the nearest station. Like then and today, CP - Trains of Portugal workers are on strike.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 30, 2023, 09:57:41 AM
The universe works in mysterious ways:

In 2016, a viral moment was caugh on camera with Cristiano Ronaldo throwing a CMTV microfone to a lake after becoming annoyed with a reporter from the same channel. Ronaldo and CMTV, a TV channel, owned by Correio da Manhã newspaper, that is known for its sensational news and that has a viewing share of 5-6%, had always a bad relationship due to the stories CMTV reported regarding Ronaldo and his family.

The 2016 viral moment:



But now, Cofina, the company that owns Correio da Manhã and CMTV, is going to be bought by new shareholders and one of them is... Cristiano Ronaldo (https://eco.sapo.pt/2023/06/30/mbo-avanca-na-cofina-ronaldo-sera-acionista-de-referencia/), who is expected to own 30% of the company. 8)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on June 30, 2023, 02:22:12 PM
Serious accident avoided in Porto International Airport as the control tower allowed an airplane to land when there was already one on the runway:


Quote
“Something is not right in the Porto airport tower”. Second incident in two years is “very serious”, warns former TAP commander

Quote
A plane was preparing to take off, with authorization from the tower, another was about to land, also authorized. All of this on one runway. The incident that took place this Monday at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, in Porto, was “serious, dangerous and potentially tragic”, warns former TAP captain José Guedes. Being the second episode of its kind aggravates the situation.
(...)
The first case occurred on April 27, 2021: a plane was preparing to take off at the same time as a maintenance vehicle occupied the runway that was going to be used. It was investigated and NAV Portugal, responsible for security at airports, guaranteed that it had adopted “a set of internal measures” to “mitigate as much as possible the risk of repeating the errors that caused” this incident in Porto and another that took place in Ponta Delgada , at the same time.

But this Monday, two years later, it happened again: the control tower at Porto airport authorized the landing of a Ryanair Boeing 737 when, at the same time, a SATA Airbus was on the runway ready to take off. And it was the pilot of the plane that was preparing to land that alerted the tower, being forced to reverse gear and climb again. This type of maneuver scares passengers and is "very expensive" for the airline, but for pilots "it is a routine maneuver", explains the former TAP commander. José Guedes guarantees that there is no room for fear or anxiety, as they train at least twice a year.

The incidents “are not exactly the same”, but they are “similar”, explains José Guedes. The commander believes that the situation “is worrying and raises concerns about structural or work organization problems” at the Francisco Sá Carneiro tower.

The former TAP pilot, who believes "that something is not right in the tower" at that airport, also points out the "risk of collision" that these incidents entail. “The planes in the air are controllable, but on the ground they are difficult to control”, he justifies. If it happened, a collision would be "really tragic".
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 03, 2023, 08:43:17 AM
After 6 years in planning, slavery memorial in Lisbon city continues surrounded in controversy:


Quote
The association that took the idea to the participatory budget says that the change of location is a way for the municipality to prevent construction.

Quote
The creation of a memorial in Lisbon in honor of the victims of slavery is generating controversy. The Association of Afro-descendants (DJASS) which took the initiative for the project accuses the municipality led by Carlos Moedas of boycotting the work.

The Lisbon City Hall wants the work of the Angolan artist Kiluanji Kia Henda to be on the riverside. It is already the third location indicated for the installation to honor the victims of slavery.

The association that took the idea to the participatory budget says that the change of location is a way for the municipality to prevent construction.

In 2017, the proposal to create a Memorial in Homage to Enslaved People was one of the winners of the participatory budget. Five and a half years later, the proposal still hasn't gone ahead.

However, Lisbon City Hall claims that there are negative opinions from the Directorate-General for Heritage and EMEL that led to yet another change.

The mayor, Carlos Moedas, indicates that he is open to dialogue and says that the DJASS Association does not respond to the municipality. However, the version of this Association is different.

The riverside strip is a symbolic historic area, as it was here that slaves were brought from Africa to work on plantations in Brazil.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: President Punxsutawney Phil on July 03, 2023, 09:55:38 AM
The universe works in mysterious ways:

In 2016, a viral moment was caugh on camera with Cristiano Ronaldo throwing a CMTV microfone to a lake after becoming annoyed with a reporter from the same channel. Ronaldo and CMTV, a TV channel, owned by Correio da Manhã newspaper, that is known for its sensational news and that has a viewing share of 5-6%, had always a bad relationship due to the stories CMTV reported regarding Ronaldo and his family.

The 2016 viral moment:



But now, Cofina, the company the owns Correio da Manhã and CMTV, is going to be bought by new shareholders and one of them is... Cristiano Ronaldo (https://eco.sapo.pt/2023/06/30/mbo-avanca-na-cofina-ronaldo-sera-acionista-de-referencia/), who is expected to own 30% of the company. 8)
Ronaldo: "I'm something of an investor myself".


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 03, 2023, 05:25:30 PM

It's not his first adventure into the bussiness sector. He owns a museum about himself in Funchal city, has 2 hotels, one in Funchal and another one in Lisbon, and seems to have a his own mineral water brand.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: President Punxsutawney Phil on July 03, 2023, 05:35:43 PM

It's not his first adventure into the bussiness sector. He owns a museum about himself in Funchal city, has 2 hotels, one in Funchal and another one in Lisbon, and seems to have a his own mineral water brand.
Ronaldo owning a museum about himself along with his own mineral water brand is really quite something. Now all he needs is to own a book publishing company and make it publish an autobiography of himself. :P


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 03, 2023, 05:43:33 PM

It's not his first adventure into the bussiness sector. He owns a museum about himself in Funchal city, has 2 hotels, one in Funchal and another one in Lisbon, and seems to have a his own mineral water brand.
Ronaldo owning a museum about himself along with his own mineral water brand is really quite something. Now all he needs is to own a book publishing company and make it publish an autobiography of himself. :P

He already has one: "Moments: The autobiography of Cristiano Ronaldo". (https://www.amazon.com/Momentos-Cristiano-Ronaldo/dp/8448067622)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: President Punxsutawney Phil on July 03, 2023, 05:47:34 PM

It's not his first adventure into the bussiness sector. He owns a museum about himself in Funchal city, has 2 hotels, one in Funchal and another one in Lisbon, and seems to have a his own mineral water brand.
Ronaldo owning a museum about himself along with his own mineral water brand is really quite something. Now all he needs is to own a book publishing company and make it publish an autobiography of himself. :P

He already has one: Moments: The autobiography of Cristiano Ronaldo (https://www.amazon.com/Momentos-Cristiano-Ronaldo/dp/8448067622)
Ronaldo is wealthy enough to become the Tio Patinhas of Portugal. :P


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 09, 2023, 10:10:48 AM
Meanwhile in Gondomar: Court demands demolition of cemetery and is forcing City Hall to remove more than a 1,000 graves. The mayor is furious and vows to do everything in his power to stop the Court order. (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2023-07-09-Tribunal-manda-desocupar-cemiterio-em-Gondomar-autarquia-tem-um-mes-para-remover-mil-sepulturas-f96d5d1e)



Quote
The case dragged on in court and now has one more development, with Justice determining that the council has to return part of the land, without a cemetery.

In Gondomar, the population is outraged by a decision that obliges the City Council to vacate a cemetery and remove more than a thousand graves.

The municipality, which only has one month to comply with the order, guarantees that it will not proceed with the eviction.

The council will immediately appeal to the Porto Court of Appeal. If necessary, to the Constitutional and admits even appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

The reason for the legal dispute and controversy: (https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/gondomar-obrigado-a-desenterrar-mortos-autarca-chocado)

Quote
(...)
According to today's edition of Jornal de Notícias (JN), part of Rio Tinto's cemetery nº2 had five owners and was sold to the municipality by a real estate company as “being free of charges or encumbrances”.

However, says JN, the court proved that the plot referring to part of the cemetery, of 1,757 square meters, was not free of charge and could not be sold to the council, because it did not belong to the person who made the initial sale.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 17, 2023, 06:27:20 PM
Police dismantles illegal immigration network between Portugal and other EU countries that affected around 6,000 immigrants (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/imigracao-ilegal/operacao-da-policia-judiciaria/seis-detidos-em-operacao-da-pj-que-desmantelou-organizacao-de-imigracao-ilegal/20230717/64b57e0bd34e72171a0b4362). 6 people arrested:


Quote
This operation involved the participation of around 110 inspectors from the Judiciary Police, with the support of SEF and ASAE.

Quote
This Monday, the Judiciary Police arrested six people in the Lisbon region as part of an operation that dismantled a criminal organization of illegal immigration that operated in several European countries, reports Agência Lusa.

In a statement, the PJ indicates that the National Counter Terrorism Unit of that police carried out this Monday a police operation aimed at the dismantling of an organization with criminal activity that operated in Portugal, France, Spain and Germany suspected of crimes of criminal association, trafficking of people, assistance with illegal immigration and forgery of documents.

According to the PJ, the now dismantled network provided immigrants in an irregular situation throughout Europe with the possibility of traveling to Portugal in order to regularize their situation with the Foreigners and Borders Service with a view to obtaining residence permits, in their the vast majority resorting to forged documents.
(...)
The investigation began in Portugal in February 2022 and resulted from close cooperation with the European judicial authorities, with EUROJUST assuming, through a JIT, the coordination of the different investigations, with the support of Europol.

The investigation, whose inquiry is conducted by the DIAP of Lisbon, identified 337 transports between Lisbon / Paris / Lisbon, in a total of more than 6000 illegal immigrants.
(...)
A police source told Lusa that at stake is the electronic platform, the Automatic Pre-Scheduling System (SAPA) of the Foreigners and Borders Service, which allows immigrants to request an expression of interest from the SEF to obtain a residence permit and thus circulate in the European Union on the basis of alleged employment contracts.

The changes made to the foreigners law in 2017 allows the entry into Portugal of immigrants who have requested, through SAPA, an expression of interest to work in the country, waiting for a contact from the SEF to start the process of obtaining authorization to residence, which often does not materialize.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 18, 2023, 09:36:57 AM
A police raid at Altice Portugal, former Portugal Telecom, found out that the company's co-founder, Armando Pereira, and his business partner, Hernâni Vaz Antunes, both owned a Bugatti Centodieci, worth 8 million euros, in which just 10 models were made worldwide. With this discovery, it's now clear that 3 of those 10 highly exclusive (https://tvi.iol.pt/noticias/videos/caso-altice-afinal-foram-apreendidos-dois-dos-carros-mais-exclusivos-e-caros-do-mundo-agora-e-o-de-hernani-vaz-antunes-total-dos-dois-veiculos-16-milhoes-de-euros/64b684110cf2ecf7a5593f32) cars, Cristiano Ronaldo also has one, are owned by Portuguese citizens. 8)

Also, both Armando Pereira and Hernâni Vaz Antunes were arrested (https://www.publico.pt/2023/07/15/economia/noticia/armando-pereira-ouvido-suspeitas-fraude-fiscal-corrupcao-privada-2056954) by the police for tax fraud and private corruption.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 22, 2023, 06:34:18 AM
The weird sect that is dominating headlines: The Kingdom of Peinal and the death of a baby, already being investigated by the police (https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/pais/2365562/quem-e-akbal-pinheiro-ex-chefe-de-cozinha-e-o-lider-do-reino-do-pineal).


Quote
The Public Prosecutor received a complaint about the death of a baby in the Pineal Kingdom sect, near Coimbra.
Akbal Pinheiro, the child's father and also leader of the Pineal Kingdom sect, guarantees that he did everything to save the child, who was 14 months old. He reiterates that the community lives by its own rules. “We have a right to our self-determination, our spiritual practices and beliefs.”

Quote
Martin Junior Kenny was 36 years old when he decided to become Água Akbal Pinheiro. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, he emigrated to the UK in his 20s. There he studied and worked as a chef.

At the age of 25, while in England, he met Gabriela, with whom he had two children, Sebastian and Quintin, both boys.

He was living a normal life in Southampton when "he had a profound spiritual experience which he called his 'Pineal Spiritual Awakening'", reads the Pineal Kingdom website.

As to what this "awakening" consists of, the sect explains nothing, but asserts that Martin "changed his lifestyle by dedicating himself to the investigation of occult and esoteric knowledge, as well as to the adoption of various other spiritual practices".

"Água Akbal Pinheiro is a spiritual philosopher, esoteric researcher and social influencer", it can also be read.

Adept of conspiracy theories - as can be seen from the countless videos on Youtube - the man is the leader of the mysterious Kingdom of Pineal.

It was precisely on the internet that he spread his theories and gained followers until, in 2019, he left the UK, with his family, and immigrated to Portugal "with the aim of establishing an eco-community with a school of spiritual mysteries".

Also according to the website, he and his family acquired some land and began to lay the foundations for the community 'The Pineal Foundation'. On the other hand, in contradictory information, we know that the land where the sect is maintained belongs to Pione Sisto, a Danish international who plays for Midtjylland.

Gabriela Luna Pinheiro is the wife of Água Akbal Pinheiro and the mother of Samsara, the child who was born and died in this community.
(...)
Suspicions surrounding the Pineal Kingdom were first raised by the magazine Visão, which wrote about "The mysterious sect that has settled in the Interior and wants to form a sovereign State within Portugal".

In this report, the magazine reported that the sect - of which between 40 and 100 members now form part - is led by a former foreign 'chef' who intends to form there, as the title itself indicates, a sovereign kingdom.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 22, 2023, 01:50:13 PM
Monkeypox outbreak detected in the Lisbon metro area (https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/detetado-novo-surto-de-monkeypox-em-portugal_v1501783):


Quote
Since 19 June, 37 cases have been diagnosed, all in the region of Lisbon and the Tagus valley.

Quote
Since 19 June, 37 cases have been diagnosed, all in the region of Lisbon and the Tagus valley. According to the Directorate-General for Health, these are mostly men aged between 20 and 40 years.
The health authority recommends compliance with the guidelines already defined to interrupt transmission chains.

The most common symptoms of the infection are fever, severe headache, muscle pain and enlarged lymph nodes, with the progressive appearance of rashes that affect the skin and mucous membranes.

Since May last year, when the presence of the virus was detected in Portugal, close to a thousand cases have been registered.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 24, 2023, 06:04:20 AM
Reposition of border controls due the Pope's visit to the World Youth Days, has barred the entry of 65 people since Saturday (https://www.jn.pt/1536084521/recusada-a-entrada-a-65-pessoas-desde-a-reposicao-do-controlo-de-fronteiras/):


Quote
65 people refused entry since border control reset

Quote
Documentary control at air, sea and land borders within the scope of WYD came into force on Saturday and is being carried out in a selective and targeted manner based on information and risk analysis.

According to the operational balance made this Monday, in a statement, by the Internal Security System, in the first two days, 13,461 people were controlled at land borders and 149,838 passengers at air borders.

As part of the operation, entry was refused to 65 people, of which 52 were trying to reach Portugal by land and 13 by air.

At air borders, the Foreigners and Borders Service controlled 885 flights, the overwhelming majority originating outside the Schengen Area, made two arrests for document fraud, and applied precautionary measures in 41 cases.

With 27 inspection actions throughout the day, involving a staff of 289 agents, the National Guard of the Republic (GNR) identified 25 offenses in land border control, two crimes, made three seizures and detained one person.
(...)
The reposition of documentary controls at the borders will remain active until 00:00 hours on 7 August and takes place "on an exceptional basis in order to safeguard against any threats to public order and internal security", according to a Government resolution.

Border control within the scope of WYD, an event that will take place in Lisbon between 1 and 6 August and will be attended by Pope Francis, is in charge of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), with the assistance of the Public Security Police (PSP) and GNR, in addition to the possible collaboration of authorities from other countries.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 25, 2023, 10:52:13 AM
Strikes, strikes, strikes: Wave of strikes "haunts" the World Youth Days in Lisbon. (https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/pais/2023/07/24/jmj-greves-e-protestos-continuam-a-ameacar-maior-evento-religioso/339676/)

Several strikes are expected to haunt the Pope's visit during the World Youth Days in Lisbon. This last week of July is being dominated by a 3-day doctors strike in hospitals across the country. Several Health Centers are closed and several surgeries are being postponed due to the 3-day strike (https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/medicos-iniciam-greve-nacional-de-tres-dias_n1502279). But other strikes will happen while the event is happening:

- Following the strike during this last week of July, Doctors are expected to go on strike again in the first two days of August;

- Nurses in the Lisbon metro area will strike between 1 and 4 August, after talks with the Government fell apart;

- Schools staffs are also on strike against the proposal for them to work extra-time to help handle the big number of young people that will stay in several schools across Lisbon city for the event;

- Trains are expected also to go on strike, again, especially ticket workers, with the strike lasting until 6 August;

- The handling workers in the country's airports will also go on strike during the last weekend of July, 30-31, and the first of August, 5-6. Here, the Government has decreed minimum services;

- Police forces will not go on strike, but are expeceted to protest in front of places where the Pope is visiting, against the Government's policies towards police forces;

The only strike cancelled was the Lisbon's urban waste workers strike (https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/pais/2023/07/17/jmj-2023-motoristas-e-cantoneiros-da-camara-de-lisboa-desconvocam-greve/339440/), after they were able to reach an agreement with Mayor Carlos Moedas. This strike was expected to last between 1 and 6 August and would have a major impact in the city's image.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 26, 2023, 06:14:34 AM
Wildfire in the suburbs of Lisbon leaves 13 injured and two villages had to be evacuated (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2023-07-26-Fogo-em-Cascais-dado-como-dominado-retomada-circulacao-na-A5-73bfd053):




Quote
The fire that broke out this Tuesday in Alcabideche, in the municipality of Cascais, was brought under control during the early hours of the morning. Two of those injured in the fire were discharged and six remain in hospital units, announced the Civil Protection, adding that the animals removed from kennels have already "returned to their places of origin".

Speaking to the media at the command post, at 11:00 am, the regional commander of Emergency and Civil Protection for Lisbon and the Tagus Valley, Elísio Oliveira, explained that five injured people are at the Cascais Hospital "under follow-up" and one is at Hospital de Santa Maria, in Lisbon, due to an eye injury.

There are still some people displaced from home "under evaluation" by the National Institute of Medical Emergency, due to age.

Circulation was reopened on the A5, between the Alvide and Cascais interchanges, but this morning there were still roads cut off. Civil Protection asks motorists not to circulate in areas where the fire raged.

According to the Cascais City Hall, in the district of Lisbon, around 800 animals were removed from the municipal kennel and the Associação São Francisco de Assis and transferred to another municipal pavilion.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 27, 2023, 05:13:57 PM
Artist unrolls a "carpet" depicting 500 euros notes in main stage of the Youth World Days in protest against the high cost of the event (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/jornada-mundial-da-juventude/jmj/habemus-pasta-bordalo-ii-coloca-passadeira-da-vergonha-no-palco-que-vai-ser-pisado-pelo-papa-nas-jmj/20230727/64c2e25fd34e72171a0b9cb5):


Quote
“Habemus Pasta”. Bordalo II invades the stage altar of the World Youth Day and unrolls a carpet with 500 euro notes

Quote
Artist recalled the difficulties that are affecting several Portuguese, leaving a criticism of the money spent on the event

Lisbon is preparing to host one of the biggest events in its history, with hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world traveling to the Portuguese capital to receive Pope Francis at World Youth Day (WYD).

An event that has long generated controversy, namely due to the high costs involved, from the multi-million stage that has already been installed near Parque das Nações to the various details that will flank the ceremonies.

Without forgetting the cost of the entire operation, and remembering the difficult times for Portuguese families, the urban artist Bordalo II made an installation precisely in the place that will be trampled by the Pope and the pilgrims.

Through his official Instagram page, the artist shared the installation of a rug with several 500 euro notes, mocking a “Habemus Pasta”, making a pun between Pope and one of the terms used for money.

“In a secular state, at a time when many people are struggling to keep their homes, their work and their dignity, millions of public funds have been invested to sponsor the tour of the Italian multinational”, can be read in the publication, where the message was also shared in English.

It is what Bordalo II calls the “Walk of Shame” or, in Portuguese, “Passeio da Vergonha”.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 28, 2023, 12:04:47 PM
Artist unrolls a "carpet" depicting 500 euros notes in main stage of the Youth World Days in protest against the high cost of the event (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/jornada-mundial-da-juventude/jmj/habemus-pasta-bordalo-ii-coloca-passadeira-da-vergonha-no-palco-que-vai-ser-pisado-pelo-papa-nas-jmj/20230727/64c2e25fd34e72171a0b9cb5):

This "incident" is creating a bit of controversy because of the lack of security the stage has. In theory, no one, other than workers of the company that is building the stage, has access to the area, but the artist who unrolled the 500 euros notes carpet, Bordalo II, said he was quite surprised by the lack of security (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/bordalo-ii/jornada-mundial-da-juventude/instalacao-de-bordalo-ii-no-altar-palco-da-jmj-motiva-comunicado-das-secretas/20230728/64c3e9d8d34e72171a0ba311) in the area and only wore a yellow vest and passed like an ordinary worker, along with his crew which wasn't that small. The Secret Services blames the company that is constructing the stage for the lack of security and adds that they will only take control of the stage when it's completed, which should have happened several days ago. Oh well. 8)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on July 31, 2023, 06:25:48 AM
2nd quarter economic numbers: GDP has "put the breaks" with a null growth compared with the 1st quarter (https://eco.sapo.pt/2023/07/31/economia-estagna-no-segundo-trimestre-mas-cresce-23-face-ao-ano-passado/).


Quote
Economy stagnated in the second quarter with negative contribution from exports. In year-on-year terms, GDP in the second quarter registered a variation of 2.3%.

Quote
A more negative evolution of exports of goods and services dictated, in the second quarter, the stagnation of the economy, indicates this Monday the National Institute of Statistics (INE), in a first quick estimate of the evolution of the national accounts in the months of April to June.

According to INE, in the second quarter, national GDP registered zero variation, in real terms, with the year-on-year variation standing at 2.3%.

The stagnation vis-à-vis the economy's results at the beginning of the year occurs after a chain growth of 1.6% in the first quarter (2.5% year-on-year), and is due to a greater penalty in sales of goods and services abroad, despite the fact that INE points out improvements in the evolution of internal demand.
(...)
INE points out that "the positive contribution of domestic demand to the year-on-year change in GDP increased, compared to that observed in the previous quarter, with a less pronounced reduction in investment, with private consumption registering a slight slowdown".

This month, and after better-than-expected results at the start of the year on the back of services exports, the Government reinforced expectations for annual growth, anticipating 2.7% expansion. The forecast is in line with that of the Bank of Portugal.

Among international institutions, the International Monetary Fund expects a 2.6% increase in GDP, the OECD expects 2.5% and the European Commission 2.4%.

Inflation fell 0.3% to 3.1% in July (https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/conjuntura/detalhe/inflacao-abranda-para-31-em-julho-a-boleia-dos-alimentos-e-bebidas-nao-alcoolicas), while unemployment stood at 6.4%, the same as May 2023 (https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/emprego/mercado-de-trabalho/detalhe/taxa-de-desemprego-estagnou-nos-64-em-junho) but higher compared with June 2022.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 01, 2023, 06:47:06 AM
Outrage as little girl, just 3 years old, is murdered by her nanny because of a 400 euros 200 euros debt:

In a case that shocked the country, Court sentences the nanny and the little girl's mother to 25 years in jail:


Quote
The Setúbal Court sentenced, this Tuesday, four of the five defendants in the case of Jessica, the 3-year-old girl killed in June 2022, to 25 years in prison.

Quote
The four main defendants in the case of the murder of a 3-year-old girl in June 2022, in Setúbal, were sentenced this Tuesday to 25 years in prison by the Court of Setúbal.

In the final allegations of this trial, on July 13, the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) requested 25 years for Jessica's mother, Inês Sanches, and for the girl's supposed nanny, Ana Pinto, her husband, Justo Montes, and their daughter , Emerald Montes.

As for the son of the alleged nanny, Eduardo Montes, also accused in this case, the Public Prosecutor's Office dropped all the crimes contained in the indictment.

Child died from abuse

The case dates back to June 2022, when Jessica, aged 3, died due to the mistreatment inflicted on her during the several days she was in the care of an alleged nanny, Ana Pinto.

The Public Prosecution's order of indictment states that, during the five days that she stayed at Ana Pinto's house as a guarantee of payment of a debt owed by her mother, of 200 euros, for alleged practices of witchcraft, the girl was subject to several episodes of violent mistreatment and used as a drug courier.

Jessica was only returned to her mother around 10:00 on June 20, 2022, at a time when she was no longer reacting to any stimulus.

The obvious signs of her suffering were ignored for several hours by the mother herself, a fact that the investigation considered could also have contributed to the child's death, which occurred a few hours later at the São Bernardo Hospital, in Setúbal.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 01, 2023, 07:13:42 PM
The Catholic World Youth Days started this afternoon in Lisbon city. Around 200,000 people attended the opening mass at Edward VII Park in Lisbon:


Quote
World Youth Day has officially begun.
Around 200,000 people from all over the world attended the opening mass at the event that marked the official start.

Pope Francis is expected to arrive this Wednesday morning at Lisbon airport. The event ends on Sunday, 6 August.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 03, 2023, 08:24:02 PM
The Pope's visit due to the World Youth Days is dominating completely the headlines, but a few situations, related with the WYDs, are also making news:

- Around 200 people gave donations to put up 3 big billboards in Lisbon, Oeiras and Loures cities remembering the sexual abuse scandals (https://www.publico.pt/2023/08/02/p3/noticia/200-pessoas-contribuiram-cartazes-lembram-abusos-sexuais-igreja-2058932) in the Portuguese Church. The billboards were put up on the day the Pope arrived, but in Oeiras city, the mayor ordered the billboard to be removed (https://www.tsf.pt/portugal/sociedade/explicacao-e-insuficiente-cartaz-sobre-abusos-sexuais-na-igreja-retirado-em-oeiras-16796980.html). The City Hall explained that the billboard was "illegal publicity" and violated rules, but a controversy started with accusations of censorship against Oeiras city hall. The City Hall has, however, retracted its initial position and will now put the billboard back up. Pope Francis was able to meet with 13 victims of sexual abuse in the Portuguese Church;

- Police was called to intervene in a church in Lisbon city when a group of ultra-conservatives invaded a mass organized by LGBT Catholic groups. (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2023-08-03-Grupo-de-jovens-conservadores-invade-missa-organizada-por-comunidade-LGBT-em-Lisboa-bab1ff0b) And earlier in the celebrations in Edward VII Park, in downtown Lisbon, a pilgrim who was holding a trans flag was confronted and criticized by other pilgrims (https://sicnoticias.pt/especiais/jmj/2023-08-02-Ergue-bandeira-trans-e-e-confrontado-por-peregrinos-no-Parque-Eduardo-VII-46d183ba9) who asked him to bring down the flag;


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 04, 2023, 06:31:19 AM
In other news, someone raised the Russian flag and stole a Portuguese flag in Elvas city (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/guerra/ucrania/bandeira-de-portugal-trocada-por-bandeira-da-russia-durante-a-madrugada-em-rotunda-de-elvas/20230804/64ccd0d2d34e3ae5b8c45d6f):


Quote
Elvas: Flag of Russia hoisted at the roundabout of the Amoreira Aqueduct

Quote
The situation was resolved in the early hours of the day and the symbol of the Portuguese Republic was hoisted again

During the early hours of this Friday, the national flag that was hoisted at the roundabout of the Amoreira Aqueduct, in Elvas, was stolen and exchanged for a Russian flag.

The complaint reached the editorial office of CNN Portugal through a reader and confirmed by Jornal Linhas de Elvas, which reports that it is not yet known what the motivation was or who the perpetrators of the crime are.

Another flag of the Portuguese Republic was hoisted again shortly after 8:15 am by workers from the municipality

In addition to the crime of theft, those responsible may also have to answer for the crime of "outrage against national and regional symbols", in accordance with Article 332 of the Penal Code: “Whoever publicly, by words, gestures or written or by any other means of communication with the public, outrages the Republic, the national flag or anthem, the weapons or emblems of Portuguese sovereignty, or lacks the respect due to them, is punished with imprisonment for up to 2 years or with fine of up to 240 days”.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 06, 2023, 06:45:45 AM
World Youth Days ends with the final vigil and mass in the north bank of the Tagus river, in Lisbon city. 1,5 million people attended the two events that had the presence of Pope Francis:




The next edition of the World Youth Days in 2027 will be in South Korea.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 08, 2023, 06:55:22 AM
After a weekend of rising temperatures, wildfires have spread across the country with the most complicated in Odemira, near the Algarve border, and Leiria in the center of the country:


Quote
We can see the smoke from the fires in southern Portugal, and the gravity waves above the low clouds of the Atlantic.
The low-level vortex is also seen in southwestern Portugal



In Odemira, the fire that started on Sunday is still to be controlled and more than 1,400 people have been evacuated and there are 40 injured. In Leiria, the fire is now controlled but it passed near several villages and forced the closure of the main highway of the country for several hours (https://www.jn.pt/6920459249/fogo-no-arrabal-obriga-ao-corte-da-a1-entre-fatima-e-leiria/). During the weekend, wildfires in the Castelo Branco region also created problems to authorities:


Quote
#Portugal has been affected by several fires

At the end of Sunday afternoon (6 August), the fire in Castelo Branco #IRCasteloBranco entered the resolution phase

Yesterday, the #Copernicus #Sentinel2 satellite captured this image of the “scar” from the fire

Unlike the rest of Europe and some parts of the World, the summer in Portugal had been quite mild with temperatures even a bit bellow average for the season. (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2023-07-19-Portugal-a-salvo-da-atual-onda-de-calor-que-atinge-o-sul-da-Europa-mas-a-temperatura-no-verao-devera-subir-ate-3-graus-33b98655) But, since the first days of August, temperatures have been surging culminating in the first heat wave in the country this summer. More than half of the land burned in the whole year was in the first days of August, 14,387 hectares out of 24,932. (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/incendios/2023-08-08-Incendios-mais-de-1000-bombeiros-combatem-fogos-em-Odemira-Leiria-e-Cinfaes-temperaturas-em-Portugal-Continental-podem-chegar-aos-41C-8de3275d) However, the numbers, so far, are miles away from the 110,000 hecters of 2022 and other years.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 10, 2023, 08:59:25 AM
Jobs report: Precarious jobs amount to almost 80% of the new jobs created in the last year (https://sicnoticias.pt/economia/2023-08-10-Contratos-de-trabalho-precarios-com-subida-recorde-em-Portugal-45e91835).


Quote
Of the 110,000 jobs created in a year, fixed-term contracts and unstable labor relations accounted for almost 80%. Find out which sectors are most affected.

Quote
Precarious employment contracts registered a record rise in Portugal. Restoration, accommodation and civil construction are the most affected sectors.

Data revealed by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) for the second quarter of 2023 shows that almost 18% of employees in Portugal had a precarious contract. A year ago it was 16%.

Of the 110,000 jobs created in a year, fixed-term contracts and unstable labor relations accounted for almost 80%. This happens, above all, in the sectors of catering, accommodation, industry and civil construction, numbers that help to increase the employed population.

Of the approximately five million workers in the country, one million and 600 thousand have a higher education.

But if there is an increase in employment at all levels of education, this does not happen in graduates. Portugal lost 128,000 workers with higher education in just one year. Those who study longer are, according to INE data, leaving the labor market in Portugal.

If a year ago they represented 36% of the employed population, now they are less than 33%.

A loss of skilled workers being compensated by unskilled workers, an increase of over 53,000 in one year.

There are also more people with part-time jobs or more than one job.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 14, 2023, 05:26:43 AM
5 small earthquakes in the last 24 hours felt in several areas across the country (https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/sismo-de-30-na-escala-de-richter-registado-perto-de-peniche-16855881.html):


Quote
Earthquakes in Peniche and Portimão, after two in Montemor-o-Novo

Quote
Three low-intensity earthquakes were recorded in mainland Portugal in the early hours of Monday in Peniche, Melgaço and Portimão, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA).

At 00.44 hours, an earthquake measuring 2.9 on the Richter scale was recorded near Peniche, in the district of Leiria, which again recorded new events at 00.56 and 2.20 hours, with an intensity of 0.9 and 1.4.

At 3.38 am it was the turn of Melgaço, in the district of Viana do Castelo, to register a shock of 1.1 on the Richter scale, while at 5.30 am another was recorded in Portimão with a magnitude of 2.2.
(...)
Hours earlier, the IPMA announced that two tremors, the first with a magnitude of 2.4 on the Richter scale and a second with a magnitude of 2.9, were recorded at 10:16 pm and 10:24 pm, respectively, on Sunday, near Montemor- o-Novo, district of Évora.

The earthquakes did not cause personal or material damage and were felt with maximum intensity IV (modified Mercalli scale) in the Montemor-o-Novo region, said the institute.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 14, 2023, 08:46:03 AM
Lisbon is now the most expensive city in Europe to rent a house (https://expresso.pt/economia/economia_imobiliario/2023-08-14-Lisboa-e-a-cidade-mais-cara-da-Europa-para-arrendar-casa-f6b78373):


Quote
Housing: Lisbon beats Amsterdam's values and is already the most expensive city in Europe to rent a house. Price for a T1 can cost an average of 2,500 euros per month.

Quote
Lisbon is the most expensive European city to rent an apartment. The price for a T1, for example, can cost an average of 2,500 euros per month.

If in the last quarter prices were fixed at 2,158 euros, as of June, an apartment type 1 cost an average of 2,500 euros per month, 200 euros more than Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, which until now was the most expensive city.

The data are from the international index Housing Anywhere, which analyzed 64,000 properties in 23 European cities.

The price of rooms continues the trend with an increase of close to 30%, going from 425 euros to an average of 525 euros per month.

Lisbon is also the European city with the highest annual rise in the value of studios, which are now around 70 percent more expensive.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 21, 2023, 01:49:46 PM
Economy "crashed" during the World Youth Days (https://www.dinheirovivo.pt/economia/economia-foi-se-abaixo-com-a-jornada-do-papa-em-portugal-16883165.html):


Quote
Economy went down with the Pope's Days in Portugal
Less overnight stays in hotels, less consumption in restaurants, less purchases in stores (such as clothing and footwear). Entrepreneurs complain. An indicator from the Bank of Portugal shows that there was a soft landing until August 5, the penultimate day of the Pope in the country.

Quote
The World Youth Days (WYD) and the visit of Pope Francis to Portugal pushed for some public and private investment, but, in general, the evolution of economic activity suffered, having entered into negative territory between mid-July and the end of the first week of August, show data from the Bank of Portugal (BdP).

According to several business and official sources, there have been good things (some investment is made and can be profitable, some senior officials hope, such as the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Lisbon), but there are signs that show that there has been a retraction in usual tourism, to make way for the huge flow of "young pilgrims" who came to the Catholic event. Less overnight stays in hotels, less consumption in restaurants, less purchases in stores (such as clothing and footwear).
(...)
But the economy went down

The consumption of young pilgrims did not involve meals in good or more expensive restaurants, TVDE trips, going out at night, or alcohol. There also seems to have been no shopping spree for clothes, shoes, bottles of branded wine.

An employee at the HM on Rua do Ouro confirmed that yes: the store "was empty compared to what it usually is".

In contrast, many of the other so-called "normal" tourists, those who normally spend more in the capital, staying overnight in hotels and local accommodation, seem to have avoided coming on the eve of and during the week of WYD.

As mentioned, the daily indicator of the Bank of Portugal shows this smooth landing of the economy driven by tourism. From the 11th of July, economic activity (the evolution) entered clearly in negative territory, maintaining the trend during the week of the Pope, until the 5th of August. The Supreme Pontiff would leave for Rome the next day. From here, the BdP indicator revived. Not much, but it stopped being clearly negative.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 29, 2023, 08:07:14 PM
Meanwhile, wind doesn't like music in Lisbon city (all happened on the same day)


Quote
A giant screen fell, on Monday, during the performance of a tuna at the opening ceremony of the European University Rugby Championship 7s, at Lisbon University Stadium. According to the organization, the accident was caused by a "very strong gust of wind". Nobody suffered serious injuries.


Quote
A scenic panel on the main stage of the MEO Kalorama festival in Lisbon fell with the wind, found JN next to the festival's fountain. No one was hurt.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Electric Circus on August 30, 2023, 09:50:02 AM
Quote
A giant screen fell, on Monday, during the performance of a tuna at the opening ceremony of the European University Rugby Championship 7s, at Lisbon University Stadium.

Learned something new today, but I'm also a little disappointed that this wasn't what I thought it was.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on August 31, 2023, 09:55:33 AM
Some other stories that are making headlines:

- A serial rapist was detained in Guimarães city, Braga district. (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/guimaraes/violacoes/de-cara-destapada-com-recurso-a-arma-branca-como-agia-o-violador-em-serie-de-guimaraes-e-como-a-pj-o-apanhou/20230830/64ef2d94d34e371fc0b71db4) A 33 year old man was arrested by the police for raping at least two women in Guimarães city and of attacking 8 other women, this just in the last few months. These attacks, according to the media, created social alarm in the city and the man will now wait trial in jail;

- The police is on the hunt for a man who was filmed kicking his wife's head on a street in Grândola (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2023-08-30-Homem-filmado-a-agredir-companheira-na-rua-em-Grandola-87c578e5), Setúbal district. The violent video shows the man kicking and slapping his wife's face in public on the street. The woman in question was sent to hospital and released shortly after. People in the village say that violence between this couple is frequent;

- A pregnant woman died in Guimarães city after being released from hospital the previous night. (https://www.jn.pt/4114453113/gravida-de-35-semanas-e-bebe-morrem-a-caminho-do-hospital-em-guimaraes/) The women went to Guimarães hospital emergency room last Sunday complaining of difficulty in breathing but after some tests were made, nothing was found and she was released. The next day, the woman had a heart attack in her house and died. The Public Prosecutor is already investigating and the Health authorities are also investigating the hospital. In another case a week ago, a 93 year old man died in the emergency room of Loures hospital, Lisbon metro area (https://observador.pt/2023/08/22/idoso-morre-a-espera-de-transferencia-do-hospital-beatriz-angelo-para-o-hospital-de-santa-maria/), after waiting 6 hours without care;

- House rents are expected to increase almost 7% in 2024. (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/arrendamento/rendas/paga-uma-renda-de-500-prepare-se-para-gastar-mais-416-em-2024-se-nao-houver-travao-o-governo-nao-diz-se-vai-haver-os-proprietarios-temem-armadilha-os-inquilinos-receiam-o-absurdo/20230831/64f07ba9d34e371fc0b724a5) The National Statisitcs Institute (INE) released their prediction for rent increases in 2024 and they forecast a 6.9% increase in 2024. The number was expected but it's unclear if the Government will limit rent increases like it did during 2023. House owners are against the idea of rent cost limits and warn that more houses could leave the market, while tenants are very worried about the situation. Portugal is currently facing a deep housing crisis;


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on September 01, 2023, 04:36:49 PM
Portugal's largest car factory, Autoeuropa, to stop production because of floods in a supply factory in Slovenia (https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/economia/trabalhadores-em-lay-off-autoeuropa-vai-parar-durante-dois-meses_v1511222):


Quote
Workers on lay-off. Autoeuropa will stop for two months

Quote
Autoeuropa's two-month production stoppage will lead to a lay-off. With the prospect of pay cuts, many workers are hoping for common sense at a time of inflation and high interest rates.
The company announced the lay-off from September 11 to November 12, which implies a one-third cut in salary.

At issue is the lack of essential parts for building engines due to the floods in Slovenia. The factory supplying the Volkswagen group was submerged, which is affecting the group's production in several countries.

There is still fear about the future of the company's precarious workers.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on September 02, 2023, 10:22:03 AM
Portugal's highest mountains painted white after a massive hailstorm in the middle of summer (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/serra-da-estrela/tempestade/e-assim-que-se-encontra-o-ponto-mais-alto-de-portugal-continental-tempestade-de-granito-pinta-serra-da-estrela-de-branco/20230902/64f34e12d34e371fc0b734aa):



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A hailstorm left Serra da Estrela painted white this Saturday. According to the website Meteoestar - Serra da Estrela, the storm started at around 2:00 pm and was felt in Covilhã and also in Valpaços.

The district of Castelo Branco is one of those under yellow warning due to the forecast of heavy showers and thunderstorms.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on September 05, 2023, 09:14:04 AM
3.9 and 3.7 magnitude earthquakes felt this morning in the Algarve: (https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/sismo-de-magnitude-39-na-escala-de-richter-registado-no-algarve--16970158.html)



Quote
An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.7 on the Richter scale was recorded this morning in the Algarve, hours after another earthquake occurred in the region, during the early hours of the morning, reported the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).

The earthquake, recorded at 11:17 at the Continente Seismic Network stations, had its epicenter around 50 kilometers south of Olhão, in the district of Faro, the IPMA said in a statement.

"This earthquake, according to the information available to date, did not cause any personal or material damage and was felt with maximum intensity III/IV (modified Mercalli scale) in the municipalities of Faro, Loulé and Olhão", reads the note .

During the early hours of the morning, at 01:49, another earthquake occurred in the same area of the Algarve, with a magnitude of 3.9 on the Richter scale and an epicenter located 98 kilometers south-southwest of Faro.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on September 07, 2023, 06:45:53 AM
Portuguese Environment Agency gives final approval to new lithium mine in Northern Portugal:


Quote
According to Lusorecursos, construction work on the Romano mining project will begin in 2025 (and will last two years, with entry into operation scheduled for 2027.

Quote
The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) has just given the "green light" to the reformulated lithium mine project that the company Lusorecursos wants to explore in Montalegre, which in addition to extracting this mineral also includes a refinery in the same location. Confirmation of this APA approval was given to Negócios by a source from Lusorecursos, and the company was notified of the decision this morning.

"APA made the exploration of lithium in the Romano Mine, in the municipality of Montalegre, environmentally viable, with the issuance of a favorable Environmental Impact Statement conditional on compliance with a broad set of conditions" APA confirmed in a statement, adding that "similarly From what has already been seen for similar projects, the assessment developed took into account the strategic interest of lithium".
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on September 10, 2023, 07:43:13 PM
In Anadia, Aveiro district...

Accident in a distillery floods the streets of a parish in Anadia with more than 2,2 million litres (581,000 gallons) of red wine (https://www.jn.pt/4056951067/inundacao-de-vinho-tinto-nas-ruas-de-anadia/):



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Two million litres of red wine flood streets of Portuguese village

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The bursting of two wine tanks at Levira Distillery, in the town of the same name, in Anadia, led to a flood of wine. The company has already taken responsibility for any damage it may have caused to residents, while the City Council claims to have prevented, above all, the wine from reaching the river and causing an environmental disaster.

The situation happened this Sunday morning, with the Volunteer Firefighters of Anadia being alerted to a spill of many liters of wine. Upon reaching the site, they were able to dredge the liquid and take it to a wastewater treatment plant. So far, the causes for the bursting of deposits have not yet been determined.

“Our biggest concern was that the wine did not end up in the Cértima river and cause an environmental disaster. According to our Civil Protection coordinator, this monitoring is being carried out and the environmental problem is being avoided”, explains to JN the vice-president of the Municipality of Anadia, Jorge Sampaio. A meeting is scheduled for Monday with those responsible for the Levira Distillery. “We are also concerned about the economic loss of the company, and we are going to see the damage they had with this situation”, he completes.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on September 11, 2023, 11:37:49 AM
Football Leaks hacker Rui Pinto gets a suspended sentence of 4 years and is receives an amnesty for 79 crimes because of the Pope's visit last August: (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/rui-pinto/hackers/football-leaks-tribunal-diz-que-rui-pinto-quis-mesmo-extorquir-a-doyen/20230911/64ff1b5ad34e371fc0b78334)


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Rui Pinto escaped an effective prison sentence: he was sentenced this Monday to four years in prison on a suspended sentence. Know more:

Quote
Rui Pinto was sentenced to four years of suspended sentence for the crimes of attempted extortion, five for illegitimate access, three crimes of aggravated correspondence violation, within the scope of the Football Leaks process. Aníbal Pinto, accused by the Public Prosecutor's Office of serving as an intermediary in the extortion of Doyen, was convicted of the only crime he was accused of: attempted extortion, which earned him a two-year suspended prison sentence.

Judge Margarida Alves sentenced the hacker to pay three thousand euros to Doyen and 15 thousand euros to lawyer João Medeiros. Defendant Aníbal Pinto will have to pay 2,500 euros to Doyen.

The court says that it is "clear and crystal clear" that Aníbal Pinto was aware of Rui Pinto's plan to extort Doyen - the defendant wanted €500,000 to stop the publications.

The Portuguese hacker was acquitted of one crime of illegitimate access and one of computer sabotage due to lack of evidence and pardoned of 68 crimes of improper access and 11 crimes of violation of correspondence under the amnesty law.
(...)
The creator of Football Leaks has been free since August 7, 2020, “due to his collaboration” with the Judiciary Police (PJ) and his “critical sense”, but is, for security reasons, included in the witness protection in an undisclosed location and under police protection.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on September 15, 2023, 04:49:27 PM
Porto mayor, Rui Moreira, retracts decision to remove a statue of a famous writer hugging a naked woman after big public backlash: (https://www.jn.pt/2616060710/moreira-recua-e-afinal-estatua-de-camilo-fica-onde-esta/)


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Moreira retreats and after all Camilo's statue remains where it is

Quote
For sharing the opinion of 37 “illustrious citizens” who asked for the removal of the statue of Camilo Castelo Branco, in Amor de Perdição Square, in Porto, citing the “bad taste” of the work and, believing the Mayor in the lack of a council deliberation to install the sculpture in that location, Rui Moreira gave the order to remove it. But this Friday, he backtracked. After all, the donation of Francisco Simões' work, approved by the Executive in 2012, “also provided for the placement of the structure in Amor da Perdição Square”.

Moreira backs down after thousands of citizens rebelled against the request to remove the work. In light of the initial petition sent to the mayor of Porto, a new online petition was created (For the non-removal of the statue of Camilo, in Porto), which in around 24 hours gathered almost eight thousand signatures. However, this Friday morning, on a visit to Mercado do Bolhão in connection with the equipment's anniversary, the mayor himself reinforced his position: “I valued that because, in the people who wrote that letter, we have the two greatest art critics from the city of Porto, clearly: Bernardo Pinto de Almeida and Miguel von Hafe Pérez. They certainly understand much more than you or I do about this matter.” Furthermore, he continued, “illustrious citizens” such as Mário Cláudio are also part of this group.
(...)
Despite guaranteeing that nothing would be done as a result of his opinion, upon realizing that this position is “supported by people who, in fact, have these parchments”, Moreira said it seemed “reasonable for the statue to leave there”. At the insistence of journalists in the face of a possible retreat by the mayor regarding the high number of people who are against the withdrawal, Moreira ended by saying: “It's good that we have a city where everything is discussed”.

What is certain is that, a few hours later, in the middle of this Friday afternoon, Porto City Council sent a new statement to the newsrooms stating precisely the opposite.

Since the “donation [of the sculpture by Francisco Simões] also provided for the placement of the structure in Amor da Perdição Square, a donation that had been approved by the Municipal Executive in 2012”, the mayor “cannot agree, without further ado, to what was requested by the petition.”
(...)
Upon learning of the controversy surrounding his sculpture, Francisco Simões appeared “perplexed”. He said, in statements to JN, that the work “was accepted by everyone without any fuss”. Furthermore, and given the interpretation made by the signatories of the letter sent to Moreira, the sculptor assured that the figure of the naked woman portrayed in the sculpture “is not of Ana Plácido”, with whom Camilo lived and was imprisoned in jail, but of the women which appear in the work “Amor de Perdição”.

Ilda Figueiredo, CDU councilor and one of the signatories of the initial petition, said she had always interpreted the female figure in the sculpture installed in Largo Amor de Perdição as being Ana Plácido. However, given Francisco Simões' explanations, she told JN that the controversy "no longer makes sense".


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on September 23, 2023, 10:02:28 AM
Government cuts by 34% public funding for railways during 2023 (https://expresso.pt/economia/2023-09-22-Governo-reporta-a-AR-corte-de-34-nos-grandes-investimentos-em-transportes-7ce89d26):


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The Government recently submitted to the Assembly of the Republic (AR) a document that cuts the public investment initially proposed for works on the railway and subways in 2023 by 34%.

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There are €461 million less investment in railways and meters between the initial OE2023 proposal and the latest quarterly report to deputies

Counting down to the presentation of the State Budget (OE) for 2024, the Government recently submitted to the Assembly of the Republic (AR) a document that cuts by 34% the public investment initially proposed for works on the railway and meters in 2023.

In October 2022, the Government proposed in the OE for 2023 structural investments of €1,344 million in the country's different railway corridors and in the Porto, Lisbon and Mondego metro lines. The Government's latest report to deputies reduces this set of public works to €883 million.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on September 27, 2023, 05:27:51 PM
Meanwhile in Northern Portugal, Barcelos to be precise, a beer procession:




8) 8) 8)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on September 28, 2023, 11:02:37 AM
After the attack against the Environment minister, Duarte Cordeiro, 2 days ago by climate activists, yesterday, the Lisbon International Fair was also "attacked" as activists pained the main entrance facade with red paint against a conference of aviation that was being held at the site:


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A group of climate activists from Climáximo threw red paint at the door of the Lisbon International Fair (FIL), where the World Aviation Festival is taking place, an event dedicated to the aviation sector.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 03, 2023, 05:12:34 AM
And another protest: In the 3rd event in less than a week, climate activists blocked one of Lisbon's main highways:


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A group of activists from the Climáximo group blocked traffic on the Second Circular, in Lisbon, this Tuesday. Activists sat on the road and held a sign calling for an end to fossil fuels: https://bit.ly/46cs8Wp

The young people then occupied the side of the road and the pedestrian bridge that crosses the Second Circular, next to the Lisbon Towers. Two activists hung from ropes on the pedestrian bridge.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 12, 2023, 04:30:04 PM
Madeira island hit by several wildfires. Police has strong suspicions of arson (https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/madeira-incendio-com-novas-frentes-continua-descontrolado_v1520840):





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It's being difficult to control the fire that started on Wednesday in the parish of Prazeres, in Madeira, leading to a hotel being evacuated. There are currently new fires, with the flames rising from Prazeres to Fonte do Bispo.

"The very strong wind makes any type of combat difficult. The fire that broke out near the villages started moving towards the forest area," the president of the Forestry Institute, Manuel Filipe, explained to RTP.

"We are trying to control it, with the means we have", but "projections are being the main problem", he added.

The person in charge also said that near Prazeres, during the morning, there were "complex situations" near the houses, with no information yet on whether any of them burned down.

All fire departments are on the ground. There are 92 firefighters with 26 vehicles fighting the flames in the municipality of Calheta.

This morning a school and the health center in Fajã da Ovelha were closed, as well as access to the parish.

The Madeira archipelago has been under an orange meteorological warning since last week due to the persistence of high maximum temperature values, which exceed 30 degrees daily, a situation that will continue until 6pm on Saturday.

Madeira has also asked additional help from the Lisbon central government. (https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/pais/2023/10/12/madeira-pede-ajuda-a-lisboa-por-causa-dos-incendios/350589/)

Update: The Police has arrested a man, 45 years old, suspect of igniting the wildfire in Madeira. (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2023-10-13-PJ-detem-suspeito-de-atear-incendio-na-Calheta-27dad819) The man was caught in flagrant as he was starting another fire.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 13, 2023, 05:59:03 AM
A Hamas leader was invited to give a class at an University in Lisbon a few years ago: (https://observador.pt/2023/10/13/dirigente-do-braco-politico-do-hamas-foi-convidado-para-dar-aula-aberta-em-lisboa/)


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Leader of the political arm of the terrorist group participated in an open class at a Portuguese university

This story is being reported by Expresso newspaper and has a lot of secrecy:

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A leader from the political arm of Hamas was invited to give an open class on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at a university in Lisbon a few years ago, according to the weekly Expresso.

The newspaper does not specify which university held the open class, but states that there was some controversy among some of the students who attended the colloquium.

During the class, passages from a manual were read, which praised Hamas. In addition to showing a propaganda video, at the end a DVD praising the movement was also distributed to participants.

One of the students who participated in the debate told the newspaper that “it was a very controversial class”, requesting anonymity. The two professors who organized the debate guarantee that they do not remember classes with a Hamas representative.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 19, 2023, 06:10:19 AM
Flash floods in Northern Portugal as Aline storm hits the country:

Braga city:


Vila do Conde city:


Several schools have not opened because of floods (https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/diretores-podem-fechar-escolas-se-tempo-nao-permitir-condicoes-minimas_a1522714) or are opening with big delays as students and teachers are having difficulty in traveling on roads. Several Monuments and Museums in the Lisbon area are also closed (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2023-10-19-Monumentos-da-serra-de-Sintra-encerrados-devido-as-condicoes-atmosfericas-c4846a4f) because of the bad weather. So far, at least 5 people had to be relocated.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 21, 2023, 06:39:10 AM
Lisbon's 2023 Web Summit is being boycotted as company after company cancels their presence after Paddy Cosgrave's criticism of the West support for Israel (https://eco.sapo.pt/2023/10/21/amazon-junta-se-a-google-e-meta-e-tambem-cancela-participacao-na-web-summit/):


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Amazon joins Google and Meta and also cancels participation in the Web Summit

Quote
The Web Summit lost another technology giant. Amazon Web Services confirmed to Bloomberg that it will not participate in the event that takes place from November 13th to 16th, in Lisbon.

The software services division of the technology company led by Jeff Bezos was one of the Web Summit partners and its vice president, Vishal Sharma, was one of the speakers.

Amazon joins Meta, owner of Instragram, and Alphabet, owner of Google, who also canceled their participation in reaction to statements by Web Summit CEO Paddy Cosgrave about the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Siemens and Intel had already announced the same decision on Thursday, following in the footsteps of several venture capital funds.

After classifying Israel's reaction to the Hamas attack on social media as “war crimes”, Cosgrave has faced a storm with participating companies and investment funds, which not even the apology, issued by the founder of Web Summit last Tuesday, is able to contain.

For now, neither the Government nor the Lisbon Chamber have a defined position on the multiplication of company boycotts of the summit. “The Ministry of Economy and the Sea has no comment to make”, reacted an official source when contacted by ECO. The same says the Lisbon City Hall.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 23, 2023, 05:18:47 AM
World's longest living dog registered in Leiria, Portugal:



World's oldest dog died this Sunday at the age of 31 in Leiria district (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2023-10-23-Morreu-o-portugues-Bobi-o-cao-mais-velho-do-mundo-62b25051). RIP Buddy. :(


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: CumbrianLefty on October 23, 2023, 09:23:54 AM
Still, about twice as long as most mutts live - let's celebrate that rather than be sad ;)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 26, 2023, 06:47:48 PM
The universe works in mysterious ways:

In 2016, a viral moment was caugh on camera with Cristiano Ronaldo throwing a CMTV microfone to a lake after becoming annoyed with a reporter from the same channel. Ronaldo and CMTV, a TV channel, owned by Correio da Manhã newspaper, that is known for its sensational news and that has a viewing share of 5-6%, had always a bad relationship due to the stories CMTV reported regarding Ronaldo and his family.

The 2016 viral moment:



But now, Cofina, the company that owns Correio da Manhã and CMTV, is going to be bought by new shareholders and one of them is... Cristiano Ronaldo (https://eco.sapo.pt/2023/06/30/mbo-avanca-na-cofina-ronaldo-sera-acionista-de-referencia/), who is expected to own 30% of the company. 8)

And now it's official: Cristiano Ronaldo now owns 30% of Cofina Media company. (https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/pais/2023/10/26/cofina-acionistas-aprovam-venda-a-quadros-da-empresa-e-cristiano-ronaldo/352539/)

The shareholders of Cofina have approved the sale of the company to a consortium of Cofina staff and Cristiano Ronaldo. 99.64% of those present voted in favour and 0.36% abstained. No votes against.

CMTV, Cofina's flagship TV channel, was also involved in a hilarious fiasco, fail, whatever, that went viral, during last week's coverage of the floods in Northern Portugal, and even involved my hometown. I mean, just watch:




;) 8) :D


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 28, 2023, 06:49:03 AM
Immigrant population reaches a record high: More than 1 million people until last week. (https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/mais-de-um-milhao-com-autorizacao-de-residencia-17236389.html)


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Immigrants, More than one million with residence permits

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It is a historic record: for the first time the number of immigrants with residence permits exceeded the threshold of one million.

According to official data released this Thursday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 306,000 new residence visas were granted this year which, added to the 781,915 registered in 2022, results in 1,087,995 - more than one million.

This number is, however, even higher if we add the 154 thousand CPLP residence permits and the approximately 60 thousand temporary protection visas for Ukrainian citizens, that is, close to 1.3 million foreign citizens already live legally in Portugal. This significant increase in new authorizations - more than double those granted last year - also changed the "top 10" of most representative nationalities.

Thus, Brazil continues to lead, alone, with 400,759; followed by Ukraine (77,680); from the United Kingdom (56,983); from Angola (55,983); from Cape Verde (54,335); from India (47,558); from Italy (30,914); from Guinea Bissau (36,036); from France (30,656); and Nepal (30,366).
(...)

There are around 300,000 pending residence permits still to be issued according to the Interior Affairs Ministry, but these permits could suffer strong delays as the current border control agency, SEF, is set to close this weekend and be substituted by a new one, AIMA. This change has been quite chaotic and confusing.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on October 31, 2023, 06:55:42 AM
Economic numbers: GDP shrinks -0.2% in the 3rd quarter, while inflation drops to a 2-year low, 2.1%. (https://eco.sapo.pt/2023/10/31/economia-contraiu-02-no-terceiro-trimestre-devido-a-reducao-expressiva-das-exportacoes/?doing_wp_cron=1698752979.0344049930572509765625)


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Economy contracted 0.2% in the third quarter due to the “significant reduction” in exports.

Quote
The economy suffered a contraction of 0.2% in the third quarter, due to the “significant reduction” in exports of goods, reveals the National Statistics Institute this Tuesday. In year-on-year terms, GDP grew 1.9%, a slowdown compared to the year-on-year growth of 2.6%, a value revised upwards.

“Compared to the second quarter of 2023, GDP registered a decrease of 0.2%, after a chain growth of 0.1% in the previous quarter“, says INE, which revised upwards the values for the second quarter, in which was registering a chain of stagnation, given the new information incorporated.

“The contribution of net external demand to the chain rate of change in GDP became negative, after having been positive in the second quarter, reflecting the reduction in exports of both goods and services, including tourism”, explains the estimate quickly. The economists interviewed by ECO all anticipated a drop in exports, which in the case of goods would have been aggravated by the shutdown of Autoeuropa, and in services by a slowdown in tourism.

The contribution of domestic demand “went from negative to positive in the third quarter, with increases in private consumption and investment”, adds the same note. Santander's chief economist, who anticipated a 0.2% quarter-on-quarter contraction, explained precisely that “the main drivers of growth” continued to be “domestic demand, with private consumption making a very positive contribution” , Rui Constantino said that the investment “will have continued on a path of weak growth in the context of higher financing costs”.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 17, 2023, 05:49:15 PM
Three Credit Agencies now have Portugal with an A rating: (https://eco.sapo.pt/2023/11/17/moodys-sobe-rating-de-portugal-apesar-da-crise-politica/)


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Moody's raises Portugal's rating despite the political crisis

Quote
In the midst of the political crisis, the North American agency Moody's decided to raise Portugal's rating by two levels, from 'Baa2' to 'A3'. It is the third agency to review the Portuguese debt rating upwards this year, after Fitch and DBRS. “This is the best record since 2011”, notes the Ministry of Finance, in a statement to newsrooms.

Moody’s, which tends to be the most cautious of the rating agencies, points out, however, that there are “political risks” – after António Costa resigned due to “corruption investigations” – that cast a shadow on the economic and budgetary trend in the country. And these risks can “slow down progress in investment and reforms linked to the Recovery and Resilience Plan [PRR]”. Still, the agency believes that Portuguese institutions resolve the political issue “in an effective and transparent way”.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: President Punxsutawney Phil on November 18, 2023, 10:46:39 AM
Good news for the Socialists, presumably?


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 18, 2023, 11:31:28 AM

Yes and no. Yes, because this could be used, not sure it will though, as the markets have more confidence in a future PS win and government. No, because this can also mean that the markets believe that neither side, PS or PSD, leftwing or rightwing, will change much of the current fiscal and economic policies and/or strategies.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: GP270watch on November 18, 2023, 04:55:31 PM
Portugal just ran on 100% renewables for six days in a row (https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy/portugal-just-ran-on-100-renewables-for-six-days-in-a-row)

Portugal produced more than enough renewable power to serve all its customers for six straight days, from October 31 to November 6.

“The gas plants were there, waiting to dispatch energy, should it be needed. It was not, because the wind was blowing; it was raining a lot,” said Hugo Costa, who oversees Portugal for EDP Renewables, the renewables arm of the state utility, which was privatized in 2012. ​“And we were producing with a positive impact to the consumers because the prices have dropped dramatically, almost to zero.”


 AWESOME!


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 18, 2023, 08:23:54 PM
We had like 3 or 4 big storms in just one month. The amount of rain and wind was just through the roof. However, if the North and Center are soaking yet, the South is still with high levels of drought.

% of water in the soil: https://www.ipma.pt/pt/agrometeorologia/smi/


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 21, 2023, 07:06:56 AM
Another big police raid in the Alentejo region against slavery and human trafficking. 28 people arrested: (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/alentejo/pj/trafico-de-seres-humanos-dezenas-de-detidos-em-operacao-da-pj-no-alentejo/20231121/655c7ea3d34e371fc0ba14c8)


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The Judicial Police is carrying out a major operation to combat human trafficking in Alentejo this Tuesday, resulting in almost three dozen arrests.

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Suspects withhold victims' salaries and make fortunes, displaying various outward signs of wealth

The National Counterterrorism Unit of the Judiciary Police launched another major operation to combat human trafficking this Tuesday morning, with dozens of searches and at least 28 arrests in the areas of Évora and the town of Cuba, according to the CNN Portugal. There are hundreds of inspectors involved.

The suspects, in addition to trafficking in human beings, must also be held accountable for criminal association, forgery of documents and money laundering, for the way in which they exploit, in sub-human conditions and semi-slavery, for profit, hundreds of foreign workers in agricultural fields, especially from upper Alentejo.

They withhold the victims' salaries and make a fortune, displaying various outward signs of wealth. The scheme, taken with carbon paper from others already dismantled by the PJ, begins with the recruitment of labor in the victims' countries of origin, attracted to a better life in Portugal - with accommodation, decent wages and working conditions, which turns out to be a deception.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on November 22, 2023, 07:01:39 AM
Police arrests 20 people suspect of forging water analysis for human consumption in several municipalities: (https://www.jn.pt/2363082335/vinte-detidos-por-falsificacao-de-analises-de-agua-para-consumo-humano/)


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PJ arrests 20 suspects for falsifying water analysis for human consumption

Quote
Operation "Water Drop" focused on the fraudulent activity of a laboratory responsible for collecting and analyzing water intended for human consumption, waste water, bathing water, swimming pools, streams, boreholes and wells, among others.

According to the PJ, the targeted laboratory, "which is duly accredited, falsified all sampling and analysis procedures relating to the control of water for human consumption contracted by the managing entities (City Halls, Intermunicipal Entities or other entities to which it was granted concession that public service), in collusion with some of the employees, directors and local elected representatives of these entities".

The laboratory's fraudulent activity, adds this criminal police body, was also evident at the level of wastewater control, in the analyzes carried out to assess compliance with discharge licenses from the Wastewater Treatment Stations of several municipalities.

According to the PJ, the falsification aimed to reduce laboratory costs, putting into question the trust and reliability of the analysis results and, consequently, the quality of the water ingested daily by the communities.

The 20 detainees, aged between 25 and 61, are employees and directors of the laboratory, employees, directors and local elected representatives of Management Entities and/or companies (municipal councils and concession companies) and will be presented for judicial interrogation to apply coercive measures. considered appropriate.
(...)

The police raids are focused in 4 City Halls (https://executivedigest.sapo.pt/noticias/pj-realiza-grande-operacao-em-quatro-camaras-do-norte-do-pais-em-causa-estao-crimes-de-corrupcao-e-trafico-de-influencias/?utm_source=SAPO_HP&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=destaques): Vila Real (PS), Vila Pouca de Aguiar (PSD), Vila Flor (PSD) and Alfândega da Fé (PS).


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 02, 2023, 09:17:24 AM
Yikes!! National Anthem fail in the December 1st Independence Restoration celebrations:




I believe she's singing a part of the Anthem that is not usually sang or used, but, still, akward.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 03, 2023, 10:44:13 AM
NHS crisis: Closed pediatric emergency at Santa Maria da Feira Hospital forces mother to call 112 (Portuguese 911) just in front of the hospital's door. (https://www.jn.pt/4102740110/inem-chamado-a-socorrer-crianca-junto-a-urgencia-pediatrica-encerrada-na-feira/)


Quote
INEM was called to help a child outside the Santa Maria da Feira Hospital. The child's mother decided to call the Medical Emergency Institute because the Pediatric Emergency Department was closed.

Quote
The child, who reportedly had convulsions at home due to a high fever, was transported by his mother to Hospital S. Sebastião, in Feira.

When she arrived there, the mother found the pediatric emergency department closed, a closure dictated by the doctors' refusal to exceed the overtime hours established by law and which had already been announced, but which was not known to the woman and other parents who went to that service.

With the child prostrate due to his fever and without any assistance, the woman was advised to call Linha Saúde24. This service ended up triggering the INEM team, which is located on the Hospital premises, approximately 30 meters from the emergency room.

The child would end up being assisted by this team, next to his mother's car, right in front of the emergency room, until he was stabilized.

She was then transported by Feira firefighters to Gaia Hospital, where she was assisted by a medical team.

The event generated outrage among some people who were there and witnessed what happened.

JN learned from a hospital source that the child did not present with seizures at that time and that, if he did, he would have been treated in the general emergency department (adults).

Several emergency services have been affected by doctors' refusal to work overtime beyond the 150 hours per year provided for by law. The Executive Board of the SNS, I. P. (DE-SNS) published this weekend the deliberation regarding the operation of the emergency services network in the week of December 3rd to 9th.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 03, 2023, 05:24:20 PM
Police arrests 20 people suspect of forging water analysis for human consumption in several municipalities: (https://www.jn.pt/2363082335/vinte-detidos-por-falsificacao-de-analises-de-agua-para-consumo-humano/)

The wiretaps from this investigation are worthy of being hung on the wall: (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/videos/eles-que-fervam-a-agua-se-ha-escutas-vamos-para-a-cadeia-as-escutas-da-operacao-gota-d-agua/656c8caf0cf23250d7131ef8)

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- Let them boil the f*****g water. (...) Look, if we have the phone tapped, we're both going to jail.

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- Oh, oh, if I go to jail because of this, half of the country was in prison.

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- If you go, I'll go with you, we won't have anyone bringing us cigarettes.

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- Also, d**n it, with so much corruption in the country, who doesn't go there... By altering a s****y microbiology, we're going to end up there, but I don't know... if it's a crime.

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- Look, we're going to have a serious problem, we lacked a sample in Mós [parish].

- Oh, make one up, f**k it, I don't care.

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- They're pseudomonas [bacteria], doctor.

- Oh, it doesn't matter (...) Oh man, let everyone die... Oh, but does anyone die? Nobody dies, Ms Teresa.

Exquisite.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 05, 2023, 02:50:47 PM
New Lisbon airport: Independent Committee reveals their results and proposes Alcochete as the site for the new airport. (https://expresso.pt/economia/2023-12-05-Novo-aeroporto-77dba128)


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Commission indicates that Alcochete is the best option for a new airport

One of the longest "soap operas" in the world, alongside Coronation Street 8), with a lot of "drama, deceit and revenge", had a new chapter today. The Independent Committee, tasked to give data for the best site to built a new airport, presented, this afternoon, their findings and they concluded that Alcochete, around 40 km (25 miles) from Lisbon city and in the south bank of the Tagus river, is the best site for the new airport. The Committee also proposes a "dual solution" in the short term with the new airport in Alcochete being complementary to the current Portela/Humberto Delgado airport. The final decision will be made during 2024, by the new government to be elected in the March 2024 snap elections.

(I will only believe in the new airport when I see it)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 10, 2023, 10:42:22 AM
Private healthcare: Number of private health insurance continues to break records.


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More than 3.5 million Portuguese people have health insurance

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During the pandemic the number of subscribers grew and has been increasing. The increase in demand has not left the private health sector indifferent, which, in response, has taken advantage of the situation to expand the business.

According to the accounts of the Portuguese Association of Insurers, published by Jornal de Notícias, in 2019 there were 2.8 million health insurance subscribers, in 2022 this figure stood at 3.4 million and in the 1st half of this year there were already 3,6 million.

This is an attractive and voluntary alternative, but only for those who have a budget that can support this monthly expense, since the cost of health insurance is, at this time, around 360 euros per year.
(...)

Data since 2005: (https://www.marktest.com/wap/a/n/id~2993.aspx) (% share of population above 16 years old with private healthcare insurance)

2005: 19.6%
2010: 19.7%
2015: 24.0%
2020: 32.9%
2022: 35.0%
2023: ~39% (1st semester data with current population numbers)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 22, 2023, 06:39:18 AM
Lisbon City Hall vandalized by Climate and Palestinian activists: (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/camara-municipal-de-lisboa/ativistas-hasteiam-bandeira-da-palestina-e-pintam-fachada-da-camara-municipal-de-lisboa/20231222/6585494ad34e65afa2f8f047)


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Activists raise the Palestinian flag on the balcony of Lisbon City Hall and paint the facade

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Activists in solidarity with the Palestine Liberation Collective, Climáximo and the Lisbon Student Climate Strike raised a Palestinian flag on the balcony of the Lisbon City Council (CML) and painted the facade of the building in red, including the word "genocidal", during the early hours of this Friday.

In a post on Instagram, the Palestine Liberation Collective writes that the protest served to denounce "Carlos Moedas' unconditional support for a colonial project that, for more than 75 years, has been based on the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people."

"The positions and actions of the president of the CML make him and the municipality complicit in the genocide that, for more than two months, the Israeli regime has been carrying out in Palestine. Since last October 7th alone, more than 20 thousand Palestinian people have been killed by the Zionist army, almost 2 million were displaced, in a clear continuation of the Nakba (catastrophe, in Arabic). We cannot consent to institutions that celebrate an apartheid regime, supporting this genocide. Not even the minimum is guaranteed — the diplomatic and of all economic and political relations between the CML and the Zionist regime — today we have made it impossible to ignore the role of this institution in legitimizing apartheid and continued war crimes. We fight for the end of the occupation of Palestine and the self-determination of its people. We will not witness parades to genocide.”
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 27, 2023, 08:47:45 PM
Influenza A virus puts hospitals in alert as wanting periods reach up to 18 hours for patients in emergency rooms: (https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/media-de-espera-para-doentes-urgentes-pode-chegar-as-18-horas-nos-hospitais-de-lisboa-17566067.html)


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Influenza A is worrying hospitals. The emergency room at Hospital de São João had a peak in attendance. By 6pm, 700 users had been admitted, most with symptoms of respiratory infection.

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The average waiting times for urgent patients in hospitals in the Lisbon region varied at 08:30 this Wednesday between almost 18 hours, in Fernando Fonseca (Amadora-Sintra), and 01:06, in Garcia de Orta, in Almada.

According to data from the National Health Service Portal, consulted by Lusa, 60 patients with a yellow bracelet (urgent) were at 8:30 am today in the general emergency department of the Fernando Fonseca hospital (Amadora-Sintra), with an average waiting time of 17 hours and 56 minutes, when the recommended time is 60 minutes.

At Hospital Santa Maria, the average waiting time was 7 hours and 53 minutes, with 23 people wearing a yellow bracelet at the central emergency service at that time, while at the general emergency service at Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, in Loures, 45 people were waiting with yellow bracelet, with a waiting time of 13 hours and 47 minutes.
(...)

Quote
Cases of Influenza A put even more pressure on emergency services (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2023-12-27-Casos-de-Gripe-A-pressionam-ainda-mais-servicos-de-urgencia-a3adf096)

Cases of Influenza A are increasing and putting even more pressure on emergencies. At Santa Maria Hospital, in Lisbon, patients wait up to eight hours in the general emergency room. A manager at the country's largest hospital warns that the situation is difficult and that resources are limited.

The green bracelet was placed on Paula Gonçalves and her daughter shortly after midnight. At 10:00am they had still not been treated. On Wednesday morning, the average waiting time in the general emergency department exceeded eight hours.

This Tuesday, the general emergency room at the Santa Maria hospital received 450 people, which represents a higher than normal influx caused, above all, by respiratory viruses. Demand for emergency services at Santa Maria Hospital has increased in recent weeks, but for now, the response is guaranteed.

Doctors ask people to protect themselves from viruses because the worst phase may not have arrived yet. This increase in attendance occurs at a time when there are 38 emergency services with constraints – many in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region, which have Santa Maria Hospital as an alternative.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 29, 2023, 07:10:12 AM
Inflation drops to 1.4% in December (https://www.jn.pt/8556956174/taxa-de-inflacao-recua-para-14-em-dezembro/) but prices are set to strongly increase in January 2024, especially food prices with a 10% increase:


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Inflation rate drops to 1.4% in December

Quote
In a statement, the National Statistics Institute (INE) states that "the main contribution” to the slowdown in the Consumer Price Index (IPC) recorded in December “comes from the behavior of food prices, which will have decreased by 0.6% compared to the previous month”.

The underlying inflation indicator (total index excluding unprocessed food and energy products) recorded a variation of 2.6% in December (compared to 2.9% in the previous month).

The variation in the index for energy products stood at -10.5% (-12.4% in the previous month), while the index for unprocessed food products decelerated to 2.0% (3.5% in November).

Compared to the previous month, the IPC variation was -0.5% (-0.3% in November and December 2022).

In the last 12 months, INE estimates an average variation of 4.3% (5.0% in the previous month), which compares to the average variation of 7.8% in 2022.
(...)

Quote
Prices of essential products will rise by more than 10% at the beginning of 2024 (https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2023-12-28-Precos-dos-produtos-essenciais-vao-subir-mais-de-10-no-inicio-de-2024-f881a915)

In a week's time, when you go to the supermarket, you will notice that the bill will be substantially more expensive. From the 5th, VAT will be reset on 46 essential products, which will translate into a direct increase of 6%. That alone would be enough for the price of the basic food basket to jump to the highest value ever. But the return of the tax will also be accompanied by a generalized update in the price of several products. All things considered, the same shopping list, monitored by Deco Proteste, will cost around €250, €20 more than this week.

“In most products, increases could be around 5%, which, added to the 6% VAT replacement, will translate into an increase of more than 10%. But there are products that will increase more. Olive oil, for example, could rise by more than 15%”, says the general director of the Portuguese Association of Distribution Companies (APED), which represents the main supermarket and hypermarket chains. Gonçalo Lobo Xavier explains that these stores have already received the new food industry price lists, “which reflect the rise in all production costs, inevitably imposing an increase in final prices”
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 29, 2023, 08:30:52 PM
Shooting at a Lisbon suburb causes two dead and 5 injured: (https://observador.pt/2023/12/30/duas-pessoas-mortas-a-tiro-e-cinco-feridos-em-desacatos-no-monte-da-caparica/)


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Shooting at Monte da Caparica in Almada. Several people shot

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Two people died and five were injured, one of them seriously, following clashes between groups in Monte da Caparica, in Almada, Observador confirmed with a source in the GNR general command.

The news of the contempt was reported by Correio da Manhã and confirmed by Observador. According to a source from the GNR general command, there are two deaths reported “as a result of gunshot wounds” and five injured, one of them in critical condition and the rest in stable condition.

The injured were taken to Garcia de Orta Hospital, in Almada. The same source was unable to specify whether there was an exchange of gunfire between those involved, but said that the origins were “disagreements between groups of individuals”, without specifying the reasons.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: CumbrianLefty on December 30, 2023, 06:20:47 AM
"Clashes between groups" is rather vague isn't it.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 30, 2023, 07:31:01 AM
"Clashes between groups" is rather vague isn't it.

The number of injured rose to 7, according to the police. The two deadly victims are a couple, man and woman, seem to not be involved in the "clashes between groups" (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2023-12-30-Tiroteio-no-Monte-da-Caparica-causa-varias-vitimas-d054d0f8) and were victims of stray bullets. The police is now investigating the case.

Earlier this week, there was another shooting in the same place, in which two young men were injured. This part of the Monte the Caparica area, in the south bank of the Tagus River, Almada city, is a very complicated one, with lot of drugs problems and poverty.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: CumbrianLefty on December 30, 2023, 08:36:04 AM
So it is likely to be drugs related?


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on December 30, 2023, 09:05:34 AM

It may be the case, yes. Residents of the area, interviewed by the media, say that shootings are a regular thing in the neighborhood, as there are a lot of "clashes" between rival gangs.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Red Velvet on January 02, 2024, 01:44:48 PM
So, checked in Portuguese twitter to see how the right-wing nationalist youth was doing…



This twink reminds me so much of Nikolas Ferreira here. It also seems he purposely talks with a weird voice to get attention. We truly are brothers from different continents when even our trash is so similar.

The boy apparently leads a movement called “Reconquista” which describes itself as nationalist and traditionalist. Its biggest agenda by their website seems to be Anti-Immigration, as they associate it to the absurd housing prices in Portugal nowadays preventing the youth to start their lives.

They especially target Brazilian immigrants using racist tropes like “Violence” based on crime numbers that aren’t even from Portugal, but general domestic numbers from Brazil??? Lmao

I find it interesting to notice how these groups appropriate left-wing narratives though (“Housing Prices are too high!”) as a cheap scapegoat for their agenda though. Another interesting thing is that the group describes itself as “Identitary”, which is the first time I see racists actually being not just honest, but proud about their politics being Identity Politics too.

It’s funny because in USA, the right-wingers associate Identity Politics to wokeism instead and don’t even realize they’re acting identitary in their agenda.

Portugal is a small country and nearly 10% of it is composed of immigrants so I’m not really surprised that a far-right backlash would come sooner or later. And since Brazilians are the largest immigrant group, it’s a no-brainer they would become main scapegoat, even though these kids have no problem with their (and mine too) ancestors coming in droves to live here even after Brazilian independence.

However, this “nationalist” movement is bound to self-hate cultural erasure if they discriminate people who were born into a Luso background in the name of the protection of an “European and Western Tradition” that’s waaaaaaay more internationalist and globalist in how Portugal is forced to abdicate much of its national identity and sovereignty in exchange of a larger Western identity where kids start speaking more English than actual Portuguese lol.

We need to start differentiating “real nationalists” from “white nationalists”.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 03, 2024, 11:03:39 AM
Identity Politics are one of those things that, for now, has zero impact in Portugal. In fact, if you ask an ordinary person on the street about Identity Politics, the response would certainly be "My Identity what?".

Also, never heard of that movement or that twitter account in particular, as the "twitterverse" in Portugal is a complete bubble and with no conection with the real world. The argument that the housing crisis is to blame on foreigners, the far-right seems to blame "immigrants" while the left-wing blames "foreign investors", is just a lame excuse and made by people who just don't know what they are talking about. The roots of the housing crisis are much deeper and are a consequence of a century of bad government planning and strategy.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 05, 2024, 02:07:38 PM
Government in a frantic operation to reduce debt by % of GDP below 100% for 2023: (https://eco.sapo.pt/2024/01/05/medina-monta-operacao-especial-para-deixar-divida-publica-abaixo-de-100-do-pib-antes-das-eleicoes/)


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Fernando Medina carries out a special operation to reduce debt below 100%

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At the end of 2023, the Minister of Finance, Fernando Medina, set up a special operation, which included the purchase of public debt securities from private companies, insurance companies and banks, as well as the advance payment of debt from public companies, with a view to closing the year with public debt below 100% of GDP, says Expresso (paid access).

According to the weekly newspaper, only with regard to the repurchase of private debt, which was due to mature later, the operation may have reached 3 billion euros. Added to this are the usual injections to pay NHS suppliers and the payment of debt from public companies, with a value yet to be determined, but “not negligible”.

In the area of health, the Executive authorized, through two orders signed by the Ministries of Health and Finance, the extraordinary injection of 1,200 million euros for NHS entities to pay debts. In a first order, 650 million euros were made available to pay debts to suppliers who had used factoring. And last Friday, a new order for 550 million euros was signed for NHS public business entities (EPE) to pay debts to external suppliers.

In October, the Executive had estimated that public debt would reach 103% of GDP in 2023, but with this special operation Medina's objective could even be exceeded, leaving the final value below 100% of GDP. The final data will be confirmed by the Bank of Portugal in February, that is, in the middle of the electoral campaign for the legislative elections. In November, public debt reached the lowest level in three years, standing at 267.9 billion euros.

GDP is expected to be around somewhere between 266-267 billion in 2023. If the debt falls to 265 billion, then debt in % of GDP could stand at around 99.5%. We'll see.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 08, 2024, 10:03:42 AM
The crumbling Portuguese railway system: Less trains circulating and more and more delays: (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2024-01-08-Ha-cada-vez-menos-comboios-e-os-que-existem-chegam-mais-atrasados-196b0303)


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There are fewer and fewer trains and those that do exist arrive later

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There are fewer and fewer trains and those that do exist arrive increasingly late. These are the main conclusions of the Mobility and Transport Authority, which says that the service has worsened, especially in the last four years.

A strike by workers at Infraestruturas de Portugal is scheduled for Wednesday, after a two-day partial strike last week. In two weeks, there will be disruptions to train traffic for a third time.

This data is not included in the report that the Mobility and Transport Authority presented at the end of 2023. But they support the conclusions that Jornal de Notícias featured on the front page this Monday.

Since 2019, the service has been getting worse. There are more connections being removed and users are increasingly complaining about the reduction in train supply and punctuality.

In 2022, companies operating in the country - CP and Fertagus - removed around 12,200 trains.

In 2023, in the first half of the year, says Jornal de Notícias, this number had already exceeded 22 thousand suppression.
(...)

This report comes one day after another one showed that the Portuguese consumed more than 5,000 tons of fossil fuels in 2023 (https://sicnoticias.pt/economia/2024-01-07-No-meu-caso-nao-ha-outra-hipotese-portugueses-consumiram-mais-de-5-mil-toneladas-de-combustiveis-em-2023-bab5772c), the highest number in 13 years.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 10, 2024, 07:45:41 AM
Major police protests: Excuses from service and "breakdowns" in police patrol cars. (https://www.jn.pt/5562911831/protesto-dos-policias-esta-a-aumentar-e-nao-tem-data-para-terminar/)


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The dissatisfaction of the security forces, fueled by what they say is the lack of responses from the Government regarding improved salary conditions, is leading to the emergence of radicalization threats.

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This inorganic movement that emerged within the PSP against the additional mission supplement assigned by the Government only to the Judiciary Police brought together more elements this Tuesday night, both from the PSP, the GNR and the prison guard, compared to Monday night , the unions pointed out.

Present at the protest in front of the Assembly of the Republic, in Lisbon, the president of the National Police Union, Armando Ferreira, highlighted to Lusa that there were "many more people" today and that they "continued to arrive".
(...)
Since late Monday afternoon, several PSP patrol cars, mainly in the Lisbon Metropolitan Command (Cometlis), have been stopped, with the police claiming that they are inoperable and have several faults.

The director of the PSP indicated today that an assessment is being made of the PSP cars that are inoperative and that the Lisbon command could be reinforced with vehicles from other locations.

The protest by PSP elements, together with the GNR military, began after the Government approved on November 29th the payment of a mission supplement for PJ careers, which, in some cases, could represent an increase of almost 700 euros per month.

Members of the PSP and GNR consider this to be "unequal and discriminatory treatment".

These protests arose spontaneously and were not organized by any union, despite the existence of a platform, made up of seven Public Security Police unions and four associations of the National Republican Guard, created to demand a review of salary supplements in the security forces.

On Friday, this platform decided to completely cut relations with the Ministry of Internal Affairs due to the lack of interest, apathy and resistance to the consecration of the rights of PSP and GNR professionals.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 10, 2024, 06:26:49 PM
One of Portugal's biggest media conglomerates, Global Media, faces deep problems: Unpaid wages, threats and massive firings: (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2024-01-10-Jornalistas-da-Global-Media-acusam-a-administracao-de-querer-esvaziar-as-redacoes-00728620)


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The crisis in the Global Media group motivated a protest in defense of democracy in Lisbon and Porto. "The biggest scam in the history of journalism" or "investment fund = unpaid wages" are some of the phrases that can be read on the posters.

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Journalists from the Global Media group accuse the administration of wanting to empty the newsrooms and in some cases interfering in editorial decisions.

The strike affects TSF radio and various publications, such as JN, DN, Jogo and Dinheiro Vivo. The 24-hour strike takes place on the day the deadline for adhering to the terminations proposed by the group, which wants to cut between 150 and 200 workers, ends.

Despite the management of Global Media announcing serious financial difficulties, Correio da Manhã says that the group spent more than two million euros on new hires, mainly on consultants and advisors.
(...)

The fund that owns the media conglomerate is rated as "dubious" by several European authorities: (https://expresso.pt/revista-de-imprensa/2024-01-10-Global-Media-entidades-europeias-lancaram-alertas-sobre-gestora-do-fundo-que-controla-o-grupo-4a2971f2)

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The Global Media group, owner of the newspapers “Diário de Notícias”, “Jornal de Notícias” and radio station TSF, came under the control in September of the World Opportunity Fund, registered in a tax haven and owned by the Swiss fund manager Union Capital Group ( UCAP). And, as “Público” writes this Wednesday, UCAP triggered alerts from several European entities.

In January 2018, the Financial Sector Surveillance Commission (CSSF in its original acronym) launched an international public alert about “the activities of an entity called United Capital Group”. The CSSF is a public institution that supervises professionals and products in the Luxembourg financial sector.

For this institution, UCAP was “unknown” and had not been “regulated” by it, and was not yet “authorized to provide financial services in Luxembourg”.

Also in Spain, says “Público”, the National Securities Market Commission (CNVM) targeted the same entity because it was not registered nor authorized to “provide investment services” in the country.

In Spain, United Capital Group is thus prevented from “guarding and managing, on behalf of clients, financial instruments”, “granting credit or loans to investors”, “investment consultancy” and “transactions in foreign currency”. foreign”.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 12, 2024, 07:00:12 AM
Youth population decline: One third of Portugal's youth population already lives abroad and the trend continues to grow. (https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/fuga-de-jovens-portugueses-quase-um-em-cada-tres-vive-fora-de-portugal?utm_source=SAPO_HP&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=destaques)


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Flee of young Portuguese people. Almost one in three lives outside Portugal

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The data is from the Emigration Observatory: almost 850 thousand Portuguese people between the ages of 15 and 39 have already left the country. The impact of this escape is “brutal”.

The numbers are included in the “Atlas of Portuguese Emigration” to be launched next week and are revealed in the weekly Expresso: close to 30% of citizens born in Portugal aged between 15 and 39 have already left the country in recent decades.

The number, which appears to be close to 850 thousand, confirms Portugal as one of the countries with the highest emigration rates in the world. On average, 75 thousand people have left the country annually since 2001 — the peak was in 2013, with 120 thousand Portuguese leaving the territory.

The experts interviewed by Expresso warn of the impacts of this flee of young people. According to Rui Pena Pires, scientific coordinator of the Emigration Observatory, this value has "a very complicated effect on fertility” as it means that almost a third of women of childbearing age left for emigration. In fact, Pena Pires states that the children of Portuguese mothers abroad “already account for around 20% of total births in Portugal”.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 12, 2024, 07:24:33 PM
Major police protests: Excuses from service and "breakdowns" in police patrol cars. (https://www.jn.pt/5562911831/protesto-dos-policias-esta-a-aumentar-e-nao-tem-data-para-terminar/)

The police protests against the government's discrimination between security forces regarding wage supports, continues to make headlines and a lot of protests continue in several cities and in front of Parliament. This Friday night, 500 police officers started singing the national anthem in protest during a football match for the Portuguese League:


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More than 500 members of the Public Security Police (PSP) demonstrated today at the Portimão Municipal Stadium, singing the national anthem in the 25th minute of the Portimonense - Farense game, in the Portuguese First Football League.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 14, 2024, 08:19:58 AM
4.5 magnitude earthquake felt in the Azores this morning. (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2024-01-14-Acores-sismo-de-magnitude-45-nas-ilhas-Terceira-e-Sao-Jorge-3b81e0dc) Road was closed after a landslide blocked circulation:



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An earthquake with magnitude 4.5 was felt on the islands of Terceira and São Jorge, early this Sunday morning, reported the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center (CIVISA).

According to the CIVISA website, the earthquake occurred at 07:19 local time (08:19 in mainland Portugal) and had its epicenter approximately one kilometer north-northwest (NNW) of Serreta, Terceira island.

This event "is part of the ongoing seismovolcanic crisis on the island of Terceira since June 2022", the statement also reads.

The Regional Service of Civil Protection and Firefighters of the Azores told the Lusa agency that "shortly after the shock, a landslide was recorded on a regional road in the parish of Raminho, which blocked the road", with the regional directorate of public works on the ground to resolve the situation.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 14, 2024, 12:51:19 PM
Drought in the Algarve region: Restrictions on water consumption are expected to begin next month. (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2024-01-14-Seca-historica-no-Algarve-o-retrato-de-um-cenario-dramatico-a6b2e0e4)


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Algarve is experiencing "the worst drought ever"

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It is the worst drought on record and has been getting worse over time. The rains did little more than mask with green the marks of scarcity that took place at the Bravura Dam, in Lagos.

It is the main victim in the Algarve of a decade of below-average rainfall. It is at 8% of capacity and another year is approaching, the third in a row, unable to supply water to farmers.

In Silves, it is clear that the closing of taps is much more recent. It's three months old, but no hope falls from the sky that such a harvest could be repeated.

The Arade dam is at 15%. Two million cubic meters is all the water that 1,800 farmers currently have for a campaign that would require 12.
(...)

Lower water pressure in taps and fines for excessive consumption of water: (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2024-01-12-Algarve-pressao-nas-torneiras-vai-diminuir-e-quem-gastar-agua-a-mais-vai-ser-multado-3e80b361)

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Algarve municipalities have decided to reduce network pressure to try to make water reserves last until the end of the year, but they are also preparing to raise tariffs and impose fines for those who spend more.

The new intermunicipal regulation, to be submitted to the regulatory entity by the end of the month, puts an end to second meters, intended for domestic irrigation and swimming pools. It also increases rates and even provides for fines for the biggest spenders, whether domestic or hotels.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 17, 2024, 07:09:44 PM
Alongside the general elections, there is another big electoral contest to happen in Portugal.

André Villas-Boas announces candidacy for the Presidency of FCPorto, challenging the 42 year-old rule of Pinto da Costa: (https://tribuna.expresso.pt/porto/2024-01-17-Andre-Villas-Boas-e-candidato-a-presidencia-do-FC-Porto-O-clube-vive-agarrado-por-gratidao-a-uma-gestao-sem-nexo-e1c41b6a)


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André Villas-Boas is officially a candidate for the presidency of FC Porto: "The club lives clinging, out of gratitude, to a management without direction or nexus"

Quote
It was in a sold-out Archive Room in the Porto Alfândega, with 700 people watching, that André Villas-Boas finally presented a long-announced candidacy. Under the motto “A Porto for all/There is only one Porto”, the club's former coach drew the current portrait of the emblem, spoke of gratitude to Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa that cannot mean being held hostage, referred to the dragons' financial problems and spoke, in general terms, of some of the measures of his program, which will be detailed in the coming weeks.
(...)
Villas-Boas promised FC Porto's entry into both senior women's football and futsal and on a financial level he says there will be a cut in half in administration salaries, as well as financial caps on annual bonuses. He also announced that he will create the FC Porto Foundation and assured that, with him at the helm of the club's destiny, the association will be maintained and that the club is not for sale.

Pinto da Costa, 86 years old and FCPorto president since 1982, is expected to also announce his candidacy. At the same time, Villas-Boas Instagram page was taken down after several "complaints" (https://www.jn.pt/5438803884/instagram-da-candidatura-de-villas-boas-foi-abaixo-apos-denuncias/). In recent times, Villas-Boas house has also been vandalized, with some people even injured. (https://www.publico.pt/2023/11/22/desporto/noticia/casa-andre-villasboas-novamente-vandalizada-zelador-agredido-carro-roubado-2071084)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Farmlands on January 20, 2024, 12:18:00 PM
 Portugal has registered nearly 3 thousand deaths above average in a month because of Influenza A. (https://oglobo.globo.com/mundo/noticia/2024/01/19/portugal-registra-quase-3-mil-mortes-acima-do-normal-em-um-mes-medicos-apontam-coquetel-de-virus.ghtml)

We've also had by far the highest death count per capita in the EU over it, more than twice as high as 2nd place Denmark. Parents are going to a friend's funeral soon due to this, which happened after the peak period. A smoker, but otherwise healthy person in their 60s. Covid is endemic now, but the flu still can be fatal.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 20, 2024, 02:28:47 PM
Portugal has registered nearly 3 thousand deaths above average in a month because of Influenza A. (https://oglobo.globo.com/mundo/noticia/2024/01/19/portugal-registra-quase-3-mil-mortes-acima-do-normal-em-um-mes-medicos-apontam-coquetel-de-virus.ghtml)

We've also had by far the highest death count per capita in the EU over it, more than twice as high as 2nd place Denmark. Parents are going to a friend's funeral soon due to this, which happened after the peak period. A smoker, but otherwise healthy person in their 60s. Covid is endemic now, but the flu still can be fatal.

So sorry to hear about that. My condolences to your parents.

Yeah, the flu season this year has been quite bad and to top all of that the chaos in emergency rooms didn't help at all. It was worse in the Lisbon area than in the rest of the country. Many say that the switch to pharmacies in giving flu shots is the main reason for the low rate of vaccination, but I think that's BS. From my experience, pharmacies are much better and faster in giving shots compared with health centers. My opinion is that many people actually have "shot fatigue".


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Portugal reached the highest excess mortality levels in Europe (https://sicnoticias.pt/saude-e-bem-estar/2024-01-19-Morreram-mais-2-mil-e-800-pessoas-do-que-o-normal-em-Portugal-em-apenas-quatro-semanas-91848133)

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In the space of a month, 2,800 more people died in Portugal than would have been expected, caused by the flu virus and overcrowding in hospital emergency rooms.

According to data from the Ricardo Jorge Institute, published this Thursday by the newspaper Expresso, between December 18 and January 14, an excess mortality rate of 28% was recorded.

According to the European mortality monitoring website (EuroMomo), both in the last week of December and the first two weeks of January, Portugal was the country in the European Union that recorded the highest levels of mortality.

The National Association of Public Health Doctors (ANSMP) considers that overcrowding in emergency rooms may have compromised effective care for people and contributed to high levels of mortality.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 26, 2024, 06:50:07 AM
Aximage poll for DN/JN newspapers and TSF radio on the Israeli-Hamas war: (https://www.dn.pt/2535771285/maioria-dos-portugueses-79-quer-um-cessar-fogo-em-gaza/)

Q1: Right now, Israel should...?

79% Stop and accept a cease-fire
10% Continue the war
11% Undecided

Q2: Which side of the conflict do you have more sympathy towards?

23% Israel
21% Palestine
24% Both
32% Undecided

Q3: Two-state solution?

74% Agree
12% Disagree
14% Undecided

Q4: One-state solution?

51% Disagree
30% Agree
19% Undecided

Poll conducted between 16 and 20 January 2024. Polled 801 voters. MoE of 3.50%.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 26, 2024, 07:48:23 PM
11-year-old student sodomized by 8 collegues, one of them his own brother. A school assistant was present and did nothing: (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2024-01-26-Crianca-sodomizada-por-oito-colegas-em-escola-de-Braganca-8b4d2f90)


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CNN ALERT 11-year-old student sodomized by eight classmates at school in Bragança

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An 11-year-old student was sodomized by eight classmates, aged between 13 and 16, inside a Vimioso school, Bragança district. The facts have already been communicated to the Judiciary Police and the Public Prosecutor.

The Vimioso Parish Council, chaired by José Manuel Alves Ventura, denounces "a climate of terror and concealment" that allegedly exists in the Vimioso School Group, reporting several cases of violence between students, between students and staff, and realizing that, on Friday, January 19, the "heinous episode of sodomization" occurred.

Several sources heard by Lusa confirm that the sodomization episode occurred at around 12:30 pm inside the educational establishment, "using a broom" and in the presence of at least one employee, who "did nothing" to stop the alleged attackers, information that also appears in the Vimioso Parish Council's presentation, which was also sent to the Regional Directorate of Education of the North (DREN).

According to these police and local sources, two of the attackers are 16 years old - already facing criminal charges - and the rest are between 13 and 15 years old, adding that, a week later, both the alleged attackers and the victim continue to frequent the same educational establishment.
(...)

What the hell?!?


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on January 30, 2024, 06:28:14 AM
2023 GDP numbers: The economy “surges” in the last quarter of 2023, with a quarterly growth of 0.8% and 2.3% for the full year. (https://eco.sapo.pt/2024/01/30/economia-portuguesa-cresceu-23-em-2023-evitou-recessao-no-4-o-trimestre/)


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Economy grows 2.3% in 2023 and escapes recession in the fourth quarter.

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The Portuguese economy grew 2.3% in 2023, according to the quick estimate released by the National Statistics Institute (INE) this Tuesday. This value is above estimates from the Ministry of Finance and institutions such as Banco de Portugal. In the fourth quarter of 2023, it avoided a recession by growing 0.8% quarter-on-quarter.

The outgoing Government predicted an economic growth of 2.2% in 2023, according to the projections included in the State Budget for 2024, while the Bank of Portugal pointed to 2.1%. The final result, according to still provisional data, was slightly higher — but continues to represent a slowdown compared to the 6.8% achieved in 2022.
(...)
In quarterly terms, after a contraction in the third quarter, the Portuguese economy grew 2.2% year-on-year and 0.8% quarter-on-quarter, having thus escaped a technical recession (defined by two consecutive quarters of contraction).
(...)

The numbers also show the Portuguese economy having the biggest growth in the EU at the end of 2023: (https://eco.sapo.pt/2024/01/30/portugal-tem-maior-subida-do-pib-na-ue-no-quarto-trimestre/)

Quote
(...)
“Among the Member States for which data is available for the fourth quarter of 2023, Portugal (+0.8%) recorded the largest increase compared to the previous quarter, followed by Spain (+0.6%), Belgium and Latvia (both +0.4%)”, indicates the EU statistics office. Ireland, Germany and Lithuania saw economic contractions in the last quarter of 2023.

Portugal also has the best performance (among the available countries) in year-on-year terms: it grew 2.2% compared to the same period in 2022. Spain's GDP grew 2% and Belgium's 1.6%. In this metric, growth rates were positive for six countries and negative for five.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 01, 2024, 06:21:01 AM
Government in a frantic operation to reduce debt by % of GDP below 100% for 2023: (https://eco.sapo.pt/2024/01/05/medina-monta-operacao-especial-para-deixar-divida-publica-abaixo-de-100-do-pib-antes-das-eleicoes/)

National Debt in GDP % falls to bellow 100% in 2023, 98.7%: (https://eco.sapo.pt/2024/02/01/divida-publica-abaixo-dos-100-do-pib-um-ano-antes-do-previsto-ficou-em-987-em-2023/)


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Public debt below 100% of GDP one year ahead of schedule. It stood at 98.7% in 2023

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As expected, after Fernando Medina's “special operation” at the end of last year, public debt fell below 100% of GDP in 2023, something that had not happened since 2009. The public debt ratio was fixed at 98.7% last year, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Portugal (BdP) released this Thursday.

It was a goal reached a year earlier than predicted by the resigning Government in the State Budget for 2024, and the value of the debt was even below the projection for 2024, which was 98.9% of GDP.

“The weight of public debt in GDP reduced from 112.4% in 2022 to 98.7% in 2023“, indicates the Bank of Portugal, taking into account the estimate of the gross domestic product (GDP) for 2023 — these are values preliminaries that will later be confirmed when the GDP deflator is known. GDP will have grown 2.3% in 2023, according to the quick estimate from the National Statistics Institute (INE) published this week, above what was projected by the Government (2.2%).
(...)
The BdP also indicates monthly data, which reveal that in the month of December 2023, public debt from a Maastricht perspective decreased by 4.8 billion euros compared to the previous month, to 263.0 billion euros. “This decrease reflected a reduction in debt securities (-3.3 billion euros), especially long-term, deposit liabilities (-1.0 billion euros) and loans (-0.6 billion of euros)”, he notes.

This reduction in securities was part of the “special operation” carried out by the Minister of Finance at the end of last year, so that public debt would now fall below 100%. Part of this operation involved paying hospitals' debts to suppliers. Another part involved the repurchase of public debt from banks and insurance companies by the Portuguese Treasury, in what was understood as a “national purpose” by the bankers, who acceded to the Government's request and sold part of their securities portfolio in December.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 03, 2024, 06:03:12 PM
Police protests: Portuguese league match cancelled due to lack of police agents to ensure security (https://sicnoticias.pt/desporto/2024-02-03-Jogo-Famalicao-Sporting-cancelado-por-falta-de-policias-d8b13df0). Clashes around the stadium injured 6 people.



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The game between Famalicão and Sporting, scheduled for this Saturday, was canceled after its start was postponed by an hour, to 7:00 pm, due to a lack of police.

The mandatory number of PSP agents for the game to start was not gathered. From what SIC found, 15 agents are needed inside the stadium. Of these, 13 were medically discharged.

There is still no new date for the match and Sporting will return to Lisbon.

In a statement, the League explained that there were no safe conditions for the match to take place.
(...)
Around 6:00 p.m., emotions in the vicinity of the stadium flared up with the throwing of various objects, including glass bottles and chairs. A witness interviewed by SIC says that it was a group of 'casuals' from Sporting who started the clashes.
(...)
Quickly, a van from the PSP special unit stopped the clashes.

Six people were injured, including a Famalicão employee, a supporter liaison officer, after being kicked in the head.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 05, 2024, 06:47:10 PM
Alongside the general elections, there is another big electoral contest to happen in Portugal.

André Villas-Boas announces candidacy for the Presidency of FCPorto, challenging the 42 year-old rule of Pinto da Costa: (https://tribuna.expresso.pt/porto/2024-01-17-Andre-Villas-Boas-e-candidato-a-presidencia-do-FC-Porto-O-clube-vive-agarrado-por-gratidao-a-uma-gestao-sem-nexo-e1c41b6a)

Pinto da Costa announces candidacy for a 16th term as FCPorto president (https://tribuna.expresso.pt/porto/2024-02-04-Pinto-da-Costa-e-candidato-a-um-certamente-ultimo-mandato-na-presidencia-do-FC-Porto-que-anunciou-com-recados-e-bicadas-a-Villas-Boas-4f3378aa), as many Porto supporters' group members were arrested for suspect of threatening and harassing other Porto fans.


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After discovering the suspicions contained in Operation Praetorian, Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa appeared, at the Porto Coliseum, this Sunday, to confirm that he will be a candidate, once again, for the presidency of Futebol Clube do Porto.

Quote
After discovering the suspicions contained in Operation Praetorian, Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa appeared at the Porto Coliseum, this Sunday, to confirm what he had predicted just over a week ago. He will be a candidate, for the 16th time, for president of the club, and he announced it with criticism of André Villas-Boas, memories of the 2568 titles he won and praise, in particular, for a supporter in the room: Manuel Pizarro, Minister of Health (and Sérgio Conceição was also there). He also guaranteed that the club will reveal “a positive balance of a few tens of millions of euros” in its accounts
(...)

Last week, several high profile members of Porto's main supporters' group, Super Dragões, were arrested for alleged threats and harassment to other Porto fans. (https://sicnoticias.pt/desporto/2024-02-05-Operacao-Pretoriano-interrogatorio-a-Fernando-Madureira-durou-quatro-horas-e-meia-ad8353ff)

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(...)On Wednesday, the PSP detained 12 people, including two employees of the 'dragons' and the leader of the Super Dragões, Fernando Madureira, as part of Operation Praetorian, which investigates the incidents that occurred at an extraordinary General Assembly (GA) of the club.

According to court documents, to which the Lusa agency had access, the Public Ministry maintains that the Super Dragões fans intended to "create a climate of intimidation and fear" at the FC Porto AG, on November 13, 2023, in which there were incidents , so that the statutory review could be approved, "in the interests of the current" 'blue and white' leadership.

The District Attorney General's Office of Porto announced that "crimes of harm to physical integrity in the context of a sporting spectacle or event related to the sporting phenomenon, coercion and aggravated threat, public instigation of a crime, throwing of objects or liquid products and also an attack on freedom of information".


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 17, 2024, 06:50:48 AM
Shooting in Amora, Lisbon metro area, ends with one dead and 3 injured:  (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2024-02-17-Tiroteio-na-Amora-faz-um-morto-e-tres-feridos-um-em-estado-grave-4a88d6b4)


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Shooting in Amora leaves one dead and three injured, one in serious condition

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One man died and three others were injured, one of them seriously, following gunshots in contempt, in the early hours of today, in Amora, in the municipality of Seixal (Setúbal), said a PSP source.

The police source told Lusa agency that the contempt, next to a bar, occurred at around 4:00 am.

Three men were "transported by their own means" to Garcia de Orta Hospital, in Almada, with the death of one of them, aged 40, being declared dead in that hospital unit, said the same source.

One of the other two, aged 22, was considered seriously injured, and the other, aged 21, was injured slightly, according to police.

Another man, who was shot and considered slightly injured, was taken to Barreiro Hospital, they added.

The PSP went to the scene of the incident, but did not identify any suspects.

The Setúbal Judicial Police were called to the scene and are investigating the case, according to the Public Security Police (PSP) source.

The PSP reinforced policing at the Garcia de Orta and Barreiro hospitals, to try to identify any witnesses to the disorder.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Estrella on February 17, 2024, 09:46:57 AM
Kind of off topic, but were there ever any plans to merge PSP, GNR and PJ? It seems kind of pointless to have three different police agencies under different management doing things that could be done by just one (or multiple ones divided by, say, districts rather than cities and countryside), especially when Portugal is not a federal country and the whole militarized rural gendarmerie thing doesn't really have a reason to exist in the 21st century.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 17, 2024, 11:02:30 AM
Kind of off topic, but were there ever any plans to merge PSP, GNR and PJ? It seems kind of pointless to have three different police agencies under different management doing things that could be done by just one (or multiple ones divided by, say, districts rather than cities and countryside), especially when Portugal is not a federal country and the whole militarized rural gendarmerie thing doesn't really have a reason to exist in the 21st century.

Not off topic at all, as the current police protests show. A merge of PSP, the security police, and GNR, the national guards, is discussed and proposed from time to time, but it always "crashes" on the mess that is the Portuguese State organization. Police and Guards unions are open to a merge, but the main parties run away from the idea. And in fact, if you look how the extinction of SEF, the former border control agency, and the creation of a new one, was managed, one may think that it's better to maintain things how they are.

Plus, there's another reason why a merge could be complicated: There are deep rivalries between PSP/GNR and PJ, with both sides being very defensive regarding their respective causes. The recent police protests erupted because of the "double standards" of the Government, by benefiting PJ and forgetting GNR/PSP.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 18, 2024, 10:42:05 AM
Shooting at a Lisbon suburb neighborhood leaves two injured, one of them a child in critical state:  (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2024-02-18-Crianca-baleada-em-Setubal-esta-em-estado-critico-9239ed75)


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Child shot in Setúbal hospitalized in critical condition

Quote
A 7-year-old child was shot in the head this Sunday in the Bela Vista neighborhood, in Setúbal. The minor was initially transported to São Bernardo Hospital in critical condition and later transferred to Santa Maria Hospital, in Lisbon.

The PSP intervention team is in Bela Vista this afternoon and for the second time this Sunday, to guarantee the safety of the area.

The child's grandmother, aged between 40 and 50, was also hit and suffered minor injuries.

It all happened around 12:30, when a man driving in a vehicle fired a shotgun and hit a woman and a boy.

The investigation into the circumstances under which this incident occurred is underway. The situation near Bela Vista Police Station is calm, as is the neighborhood.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 19, 2024, 07:02:54 AM
Pro-Palestinian activists vandalize the Foreign Affairs ministry government building:  (https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/ativistas-pro-palestina-partem-vidros-e-pintam-frase-no-edificio-dos-negocios-estrangeiros-em-lisboa?utm_source=SAPO_HP&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=destaques)


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The phrase "Israel kills, Portugal supports" was painted on the gate of the government building. Pro-Palestinian activists accuse the Government of supporting a "colonial project based on the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people".

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Activists in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance broke several windows at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Lisbon, this morning and painted the phrase “Israel kills, Portugal supports” on the building's gate, confirmed the PSP.

In a note sent to Lusa, a group of activists in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance and with the Collective for the Liberation of Palestine, Climáximo and the Lisbon Student Climate Strike denounced what they consider to be the “support of the Portuguese government and, particularly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to a colonial project that, for more than 75 years, has been based on the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people”.

“In the last four months, this support has become even clearer”, considers the group, remembering that, since October 7, 2023 – the time of the surprise attack by the Islamist movement Hamas against southern Israel -, minister João Cravinho “was quick to show their solidarity with the Zionist regime.”

“On several occasions, he defended Israel’s right to ‘defend itself’, [Portugal’s] duty of solidarity with Israel’ and highlighted ‘the friendship between Portugal and Israel’”, he highlights.

In the note, members of this group report the phrase painted on the gate of the MNE building, as well as having broken glass windows, information confirmed by the PSP and the GNR, which guards the building.

Speaking to Lusa, a GNR source confirmed that at 03:00 the officers who were inside the building realized that glass had been broken and a phrase painted on the gate, recalling that no one was detained.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 22, 2024, 06:03:37 PM
World's longest living dog registered in Leiria, Portugal:
World's oldest dog died this Sunday at the age of 31 in Leiria district (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2023-10-23-Morreu-o-portugues-Bobi-o-cao-mais-velho-do-mundo-62b25051). RIP Buddy. :(

Guinness World Records removes the titile of "world's oldest dog" to Portuguese dog who did last year:  (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2024-02-22-Guinness-retira-titulo-de-cao-mais-velho-do-mundo-ao-Bobi-be20a709)


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Guinness withdraws title of oldest dog in the world from Bobi

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This Thursday, the Portuguese Bobi lost the title of oldest dog in the world, after Guinness World Records reported that there is no evidence to confirm the age of the Alentejo mutt, who died in October 2023.

Bobi received the title when he was 30 years and 268 days old. However, doubts arose as to whether he was actually the oldest dog in the world or not.

Although his birth, on May 11, 1992, was apparently confirmed by the Portuguese Government's pet database and the National Veterinary Union, the international veterinary community raised some doubts about the animal's longevity, which prompted Guinness World Records to investigate Bobi's past.

Now, Mark McKinley, director of Guinness World Records, says there is “no conclusive proof of Bobi’s date of birth.”
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 23, 2024, 09:42:11 AM
When you call a ridesharing company and they do this:  (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2024-02-23-TVDE-desce-pelas-Escadinhas-da-Liberdade-em-Lisboa-e51624c7)


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TVDE always has a shortcut up its sleeve

Quote
A TVDE vehicle descended the Escadinhas de Liberdade, next to the Águas Livres aqueduct, in Lisbon. The accident happened this Thursday and no injuries were reported, but the car was damaged.

According to residents of the area, the driver was traveling along the street perpendicular to the stairs, when, without explanation, he turned towards the steps.

The vehicle went down several flights of stairs, ending up getting stuck between the steps and the facade of a building.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 29, 2024, 06:50:30 AM
Final economic numbers from 2023:  (https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/economia/2511590/oficial-economia-cresce-2-3-em-2023-e-evita-a-recessao-no-4-trimestre)


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INE confirms that the economy grew 2.3% in 2023 and avoided recession in the 4th quarter

Quote
(...)
"Domestic demand made a positive contribution to the annual variation in GDP, although lower than that observed in the previous year, with a slowdown in private consumption and investment. The contribution of net external demand was also positive in 2023, but less intense than in the previous year, with exports and imports of goods and services in volume slowing down significantly", can be read in the INE report.

In nominal terms, reveals INE, GDP increased by 9.7% in 2023, reaching around 266 billion euros.
(...)

Overall 2023 numbers:

GDP growth: 2.3%
GDP: 265,7 billion euros
GDP per capita: 25,388 euros
Unemployment: 6.5%
Debt: 263,0 billion euros
Debt %: 99.0%
Deficit/Surplus: +1.7%*
Inflation: 4.3%

*Provisional data.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: CumbrianLefty on February 29, 2024, 09:50:04 AM
Final economic numbers from 2023:  (https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/economia/2511590/oficial-economia-cresce-2-3-em-2023-e-evita-a-recessao-no-4-trimestre)

Could this help the PS a little in the election?


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on February 29, 2024, 10:02:07 AM
Final economic numbers from 2023:  (https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/economia/2511590/oficial-economia-cresce-2-3-em-2023-e-evita-a-recessao-no-4-trimestre)

Could this help the PS a little in the election?

I don't think it will be a factor. The PS would like it to be, but to quote Luís Montenegro's controversial statement from 2014, when the country was exiting the troika bailout: (https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/economia/177801/vida-das-pessoas-nao-esta-melhor-mas-a-do-pais-esta-muito-melhor) "People's lives are not better, but the country's is much better."


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 01, 2024, 06:14:27 PM
The main 4 credit agencies now have Portugal with an "A level", the first time in 13 years:  (https://eco.sapo.pt/2024/03/01/sp-sobe-rating-de-portugal-avaliacao-da-divida-soberana-volta-ao-patamar-a-nas-quatro-principais-agencias/)


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S&P raises Portugal's rating. Sovereign debt rating returns to level A in the four main agencies

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Standard & Poor’s (S&P) decided to raise, this Friday, the Portuguese debt rating from BBB+ to A-, with a positive outlook. Portugal is once again, after 13 years, at level A in all rating agencies.

The agency had already signaled this decision last September when it improved the outlook for sovereign debt from stable to positive – an outlook that maintains the new assessment, which opens the door to a further increase in the rating. Almost a week before early elections, S&P believes that the “next Government” will continue on the path of “financial discipline” and “concentrate on the execution of the funds” of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), it indicates, in a note , the press.

The “rapid” reduction in the public debt ratio and the “strong budgetary performance” are highlighted by the agency to justify raising one level on the rating scale. “We expect this trend to continue, albeit more slowly”, anticipates S&P, before adding that it foresees “moderate growth”, supported by “a strong performance in tourism, an increase in public investment and a recovery in private consumption”.

GDP should slow down from 2.3% in 2023 to 1.4% this year, estimates the agency, which also points to unemployment growing “slightly” to 6.7% this year. In macro numbers, S&P estimates an increase in public investment to 3.3% GDP in 2024 (compared to 2.8% last year).
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: President Punxsutawney Phil on March 01, 2024, 06:15:07 PM
The main 4 credit agencies now have Portugal with an "A level", the first time in 13 years:  (https://eco.sapo.pt/2024/03/01/sp-sobe-rating-de-portugal-avaliacao-da-divida-soberana-volta-ao-patamar-a-nas-quatro-principais-agencias/)


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S&P raises Portugal's rating. Sovereign debt rating returns to level A in the four main agencies

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Standard & Poor’s (S&P) decided to raise, this Friday, the Portuguese debt rating from BBB+ to A-, with a positive outlook. Portugal is once again, after 13 years, at level A in all rating agencies.

The agency had already signaled this decision last September when it improved the outlook for sovereign debt from stable to positive – an outlook that maintains the new assessment, which opens the door to a further increase in the rating. Almost a week before early elections, S&P believes that the “next Government” will continue on the path of “financial discipline” and “concentrate on the execution of the funds” of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), it indicates, in a note , the press.

The “rapid” reduction in the public debt ratio and the “strong budgetary performance” are highlighted by the agency to justify raising one level on the rating scale. “We expect this trend to continue, albeit more slowly”, anticipates S&P, before adding that it foresees “moderate growth”, supported by “a strong performance in tourism, an increase in public investment and a recovery in private consumption”.

GDP should slow down from 2.3% in 2023 to 1.4% this year, estimates the agency, which also points to unemployment growing “slightly” to 6.7% this year. In macro numbers, S&P estimates an increase in public investment to 3.3% GDP in 2024 (compared to 2.8% last year).
(...)
Does this help PS?


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 01, 2024, 06:25:01 PM

I don't think it will be a factor. The PS would like it to be, but to quote Luís Montenegro's controversial statement from 2014, when the country was exiting the troika bailout: (https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/economia/177801/vida-das-pessoas-nao-esta-melhor-mas-a-do-pais-esta-muito-melhor) "People's lives are not better, but the country's is much better."

P.S.: If the Socialists are successful in winning the election, is much more because of the trainwreck AD campaign than any other external factors.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 14, 2024, 06:54:07 AM
First journalists general strike in 40 years. Several media outlets are closed today:  (https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/pais/2024/03/14/jornalistas-em-greve-mais-de-duas-dezenas-de-orgaos-de-comunicacao-social-estao-parados/370753/)


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General strike by journalists with impact on several media outlets

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More than two dozen media outlets are closed, on a day of a general strike by journalists.

The report is made by the Journalists' Union, which called for a strike against “precariousness, low wages, work overload, ethical conflicts, the degradation of the quality of work and the difficulty of reconciling professional and family life”.

“At midnight this Thursday, there was no news on Antena 1 or TSF”, indicates the union, noting that at that time “the starting shot was fired for the first general strike of journalists in more than 40 years” .

“There are already more than two dozen media outlets whose journalists have joined the strike and are on standstill on March 14th,” reads the union’s website.

There has been no news on the Lusa Agency line since midnight and several media outlets are reporting strong disturbances.

According to the union, the impact of the general strike began even earlier in the newsrooms, pointing out that “many managers, concerned about membership, brought forward newspaper closing days, made advance invitations to programs, swapped shifts to take care of 'probable' absences. strikers, or reinforced them to mitigate the impact of the strike”.

The union warns that “strikes in the media are not covered by the need for minimum services” and warns that “any measures or actions that aim to frustrate the exercise of the right to strike or its effects are illegal. They are unconstitutional.”
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 17, 2024, 10:59:28 AM
Landslide cuts one of the main roads between Porto and Lisbon. (https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2024-03-14-Cratera-aberta-no-IC2-obriga-a-desvios-no-transito-e-preocupa-autarquia-cc56c3b6) Its reopening is now a big doubt:


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“That is an incredible and unimaginable thing, with an incredible dimension.” IC2 cut in Águeda due to landslide

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The crater that opened on Tuesday night is interrupting the three lanes of the IC2, in Serém, Águeda. This is forcing traffic detours, even short ones, on municipal roads.

In the early hours, on one of the alternative municipal roads, a heavy load of goods knocked down the wall of a house while maneuvering.

The municipality of Águeda is concerned about the safety of vehicles and that of residents of the towns that are crossed by the diversions. However, the place where the road collapsed leaves no room for safer routes.

The IC2, formerly EN1, remains interrupted in a section between Águeda and Albergaria-a-Velha.

In the coming days, more technical geological study work should advance in the place where the tar fell.

But the forecast suggests that works to restore the road could take several months, so there is no forecast for reopening.


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 24, 2024, 10:38:30 AM
Government Environment Agency approves the construction of a mega solar plant in the Alentejo region to hold more than 2 million solar panels:

Public Prosecutor "blocks" construction of the mega solar plant near Sines harbour, saying that many steps in the project were overstepped:  (https://eco.sapo.pt/2024/03/24/maior-central-solar-da-europa-travada-pela-justica/)


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Largest solar plant in Europe blocked by Justice

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The Public Prosecutor challenged the license granted by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) for the construction of the largest solar plant in Europe, in the municipality of Santiago do Cacém, in Alentejo, considering that it “overstepped” a wide range of territorial management instruments and legal regimes for the protection of natural resources”. Iberdrola guarantees that it “rigorously followed all processes” in the investment of around 800 million euros.

With an area of around 1,000 hectares, Iberdrola's solar plant, in partnership with Prosolia, will involve the felling of around 1.5 million trees, mainly eucalyptus, having obtained the APA license at the end of January 2023. But for the Central Department of State Litigation and Collective and Diffuse Interests of the MP, in the action it launched at the end of January at the Administrative and Fiscal Court of Beja, not all procedures were complied with, reports Público (content in Portuguese, conditional access).

The project — worth around 800 million euros in investment — had already been challenged by a residents' association, ProtegeAlentejo claiming that the environmental impact statement was approved despite negative opinions from several entities, such as the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests, the National Energy and Geology Laboratory and even the director of the agency's environmental impact assessment department, says the diary.

According to the association, the energy that will be produced will also be used to supply Start Campus, a data center at the center of “Operation Influencer” that led to the dismissal of Prime Minister António Costa, but Iberdrola denies this, guaranteeing that it “strictly followed all defined processes for project development”.

Located in the municipality of Santiago de Cacém, near Sines, the infrastructure will have an installed capacity of 1,200 megawatts (MW) and should become operational in 2025, creating 2,500 jobs, “the majority performed by local workers”, according to information shared in January by promoting companies.

Regarding the protection of biodiversity, Iberdrola explained that the land could be used by local pastoralists as “pasture for raising sheep and beehives will be introduced, which will contribute to improving the stability of ecosystems and increasing crop yields in the surrounding agricultural land.” Furthermore, he also said, plantations will be made around the infrastructure to replace the approximately 1.5 million eucalyptus trees that will be felled with native trees.

Iberdrola's Fernando Pessoa solar park — the largest in Europe and the fifth largest in the world — is part of the 3,000 million euros in investments in wind and solar energy planned to be implemented in Portugal in the coming years.

Here we go again... ::)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 24, 2024, 06:20:12 PM
Police raids houses and businesses of suspects of fraud involving EU funds worth 40 million euros:  (https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/buscas-da-pj-por-suspeitas-de-fraude-com-fundos-europeus_a1558439)



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Almost 80 search warrants were executed in the operation known as Maestro.

The Judiciary Police launched this operation in the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto and in the regions of Aveiro and Guarda.

At issue may be, among others, crimes of tax fraud, money laundering and abuse of power. Crimes that will have harmed the European Union and the Portuguese State by around 40 million euros.

In a note sent to newsrooms, the Judiciary Police did not identify the suspects, but several media outlets named businessman Manuel Serrão and journalist Júlio Magalhães among the people targeted.

The investigation is being carried out by the National Unit for Combating Corruption in the Judiciary.

Regarding this case: Businessman Manuel Serrão suspect of living for 8 years in a Porto city luxury hotel at the expense of EU funds.  (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/fundos-europeus/manuel-serrao/manuel-serrao-tera-vivido-durante-oito-anos-no-sheraton-no-porto-a-custa-de-fundos-europeus/20240320/65fa9ad2d34e87e0c08aee15)

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Businessman Manuel Serrão is suspected of having lived for eight years in the Sheraton hotel, in Porto, using European funds obtained illegally.

According to Operation Maestro files, to which CNN Portugal had access, Manuel Serrão made the hotel his permanent residence, with this stay costing a total of 372 thousand euros between 2015 and 2023.

According to the investigation, the businessman presented these expenses as being part of a project eligible for European support, amounts that were approved by Compete 2020.

In addition to Manuel Serrão, journalist Júlio Magalhães, former leader of Compete 2020 Nuno Mangas and a member of this entity, fashion designer Katty Xiomara is also suspected of involvement in the scheme set up to divert European funds.

Xiomara is suspected of presenting fictitious expenses later used by Associação Seletiva Moda, led by Manuel Serrão, to obtain European funds.
(...)


Title: Re: Portugal's general discussion (general events)
Post by: Mike88 on March 25, 2024, 10:53:39 AM
2023 budget surplus reaches 1.2% of GDP, 3,2 billion euros, the best result in democracy and since 1973:  (https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/excedente-orcamental/pib/confirmado-e-o-maior-excedente-orcamental-em-democracia/20240325/66014dccd34e8d13c9b933af)


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Portugal with historic budget surplus of 1.2% in 2023

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The National Statistics Institute (INE) released this Monday the largest budget surplus recorded in democratic Portugal: 3,193.5 million euros in 2023, which corresponded to 1.2% of GDP (-0.3% in 2022) .

"In accordance with European Union Regulations, INE sends to Eurostat, by the end of the current month, the first notification of 2024 regarding the Excessive Deficit Procedure (PDE). According to the provisional results obtained in this exercise, Public Administrations (AP) had a positive balance of 3,193.5 million euros in 2023, which corresponded to 1.2% of GDP (-0.3% in 2022). The AP's gross debt will have decreased to 99.1% of GDP in 2023 (112.4% in the previous year)”.

The 2023 surplus exceeds that of 2019 (0.1%), the year in which former Finance Minister Mário Centeno entered the country's economic history as the first ruler in Terreiro do Paço to achieve a positive budget balance since 1974.

In a statement, the Bank of Portugal confirms that "in 2023 the general government balance stood at 1.2% of GDP and public debt at 99.1% of GDP".
(...)

Final 2023 numbers:

GDP growth: 2.3%
GDP: 265,5 billion euros
GDP per capita: 25,366 euros
Unemployment: 6.5%
Debt: 263,1 billion euros
Debt %: 99.1%
Budget Surplus: +1.2%
Inflation: 4.3%