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The Consulate General of Portugal in Macao and Hong Kong has asked Portuguese students in Hong Kong to send their personal data for support at a time of violent clashes in universities of the territory. Details can be found here.

The diplomatic representation “requests all Portuguese-speaking students in Hong Kong to send us via email to macau@mne.pt the following information: name; Citizen’s card or passport; telephone contact; email; university where they are studying”, reads a statement issued on Facebook by the Portuguese consulate.

“This information is essential for the consulate to be able to provide any support if the need arises,” he said.

In an emergency, the Consulate added, students can “seek support by calling +853 28356632 or macau@mne.pt or the Consular Emergency Office (24-hour call) at +351 217929714 / +351 961706472 or from the address gec@mne.pt“.

Hong Kong’s universities have since Monday, 11 November, become the scene of violent clashes for the first time.

At least 11 higher education institutions have announced that classes are suspended, according to broadcaster RTHK.

More than 80 mainland Chinese students from CUHK have been pulled off campus due to clashes. These Chinese students were transported to the neighbouring city of Shenzhen, the SCMP reported. Several hundred rioters still remain on the CUHK campus.

At a press conference, Hong Kong police accused CUHK of becoming a “weapons factory”. The forces said 400 Molotov cocktail bombs were dropped against authorities on Tuesday, 12 November, and “several hundred” were dropped on the university’s campus. On the police side, 1,567 shots of tear gas were fired on Tuesday and 1,312 rubber bullets.

The protests, now in their sixth month, have led to the arrest of 4,491 people, the youngest aged 11. Masked radicals have besieged roads, set fires on streets, vandalised MTR stations, businesses and banks, and occupied universities. Mobs have attacked police officers at the front line, hurling petrol bombs and bricks, and shooting at them with bows and arrows.

Police have responded by firing more than 10,000 rounds of tear gas and 18 live rounds. About 1,700 people have been injured, including 450 officers.

Lisbon, 18 Nov 2019 (Lusa) – Until September four municipalities concentrated one third of the quarries in critical situation, with need for signs in the surrounding area, according to the Intervention Plan presented today by the Government, which involved the placement of more than 1,200 traffic signs.

The Critical Quarry Intervention Plan is the result of a survey by the Mining Development Company following the accident of November 19, 2018, when a section of road between Borba and Vila Viçosa collapsed, causing five fatalities.

Between March and April, the authorities visited the 150 quarries identified as being in critical condition and needing traffic signs in the surrounding area.

Signage plans were then sent to the managing bodies of the roads and, between May and September, the signs were placed on these roads.

According to information distributed today at the presentation of the implementation of the Intervention Plan in Lisbon, the placement of road signs was completed on 25 September.

A total of 1,253 signs were installed, of which 151 are directional (44 specific to persons, seven for heavy vehicles and 72 are general) and 1,102 unspecified signs, in an investment of around 196 million euros.

The municipality of Vila Viçosa (Évora district) had the largest number of quarries in need of signage in the surrounding area (19), followed by the municipalities of Alcobaça (Leiria district), Borba (Évora) and Ponte de Lima ( Viana do Castelo), with 13 quarries each.

Mondim de Basto and Penafiel appeared next, with eight quarries each.

As a precautionary measure, the plan stated that quarries had to signal the danger of sloping fronts or steep slopes, including the creation of safety zones, and to signal danger in quarry access.

It was also identified the need to signal the danger of lagoons, where drowning accidents or exposure to other depth factors may occur, and to signal the danger of collapsing or downgrading of roads, including conditioning and interdictions of traffic and installation. of protection systems.

Of these 150 quarries identified, 36 are dedicated to marble exploration, 34 to granite, 19 to sands and clays and many to ornamental granite. Ten quarries are dedicated to the exploitation of ornamental limestone and six to shales and slates, while another 26 quarries refer to the exploration of other unspecified ores.

Regarding the particularities of the signage plans, 78 isolated quarries were identified – which corresponded to 78 plans – and 72 sets of quarries located in contiguous exploration areas (quarry core), corresponding to 20 plans.

The Intervention Plan made it possible to identify 191 quarries in critical situation (including the 150 requiring signage).

Regarding the geographical location of the 191 quarries, 77 are in the northern region (where there are 460 class 1 and 2 quarries), 32 in the Centro region (where there are 321), 24 in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley regions (with 297 quarries), 55 in the Alentejo (with 308) and three in the Algarve (with 40).

According to statistics from the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology, in 2018 the amount produced in the quarries was around 48 million tonnes, with a production value of approximately 350 million euros, in an activity that employs 5,389 workers.

 

The Jersey Evening Post have reported that on 15^th November a Madeiran emigrant Laurentina Da Conceicao Baptista Martins Gouveia (64) had appeared in the Royal Court after pleading guilty to knowingly furnishing false information or withholding information to obtain an award and obtaining an award knowing that it was not payable.

Requesting a two-year jail sentence, Crown Advocate Chris Baglin, prosecuting, told the court that on 3 April 2008 Mrs Gouveia had submitted an application form for income support as she had stopped work because of a medical condition, but failed to declare that she was living with her husband or that she owned property in Madeira.

It was only in March 2018, after being sent a change-in-circumstances form, that she admitted she had been living with her partner for three years. However, when asked if she owned a property overseas, she ticked the ‘no’ box.

She also revealed that her husband had a savings account at HSBC which she had not previously declared.

Besides the income support payments, Gouveia also claimed £1,520.05 in ‘special payments’ from the government for carpets, a fridge and cooker, glasses and dental work.

In total she claimed £70,128.61. She has since begun making repayments but £66,499.29 remains outstanding.

Sir William, in sentencing, said that Jurats Charles Blampied and David Hughes had been split about sending the defendant to jail.

‘The amount of time that the court spent outside shows that we have considered this very carefully,’ he said.

‘I have sided with the Jurat who thought a prison sentence is appropriate but I also take very much of the fact that the defendant has pleaded guilty and had good character, which is to her credit. I have also taken account of her age.’

The Police Division of the Chamber of Wolves of the Regional Command of the Public Security Police of Madeira arrested a person caught in the act of the crime of mistreatment of pet animals.

The arrested person killed a small cat and abandoned the body on a public road. After the autopsy of the cat, it turned out that he had died of a head injury.

The detainee was constituted defendant and presented to the Judicial Court of the District of Ponta do Sol for 1st Judicial Interrogation. A measure of coercion of Term of Identity and Residence was applied.

 

Lisbon, 14 Nov 2019 (Lusa) – The Minister of Internal Affairs (MAI) said today “available to talk” and to “solve a set of issues” related to the PSP and the GNR, and does not invalidate the joint demonstration planned for 21 November.

Eduardo Cabrita had a first meeting in this legislature today, where he was reappointed as Minister of Internal Affairs, with the Association of Police Professionals (ASPP / PSP), Independent Union of Police Officers (SIAP), Union of Police Professionals (SPP), the Unified Public Security Police Union (SUP) and the National Union of Police Officers (SNOP), those who “have bargaining power” since the PSP Trade Union Law came into force.

Following the first meeting at MAI in Lisbon, which lasted about an hour and a half, Paulo Rodrigues, president of ASPP / PSP, told reporters that the minister said he was “available to talk and settle a range of issues” and that, including, “made some schedules to discuss some matters” which for unions “are very important.”

“He is ready to schedule in a short time to debate proposals for its resolution, namely those that are the basis of the joint demonstration of PSP and GNR scheduled for November 21”, including the remuneration table, said Paulo Rodrigues.

The union leader said that among the pressing issues were the law that monitors the working conditions, health, hygiene and safety at work of the police, which is a project that comes from the previous legislature and should be implemented as soon as possible.

“With regard to updating supplements or remuneration updating it is also available to do so (…) and there is another solution that has to do with the payment of vacation time supplements that have been withdrawn since 2011,” he said, adding that in 2018 the Supreme Administrative Court considered this cut illegal.

According to Paulo Rodrigues, Eduardo Cabrita said he is available to return these values ​​to the police, in a phased manner, and willing to present a proposal to that effect.

However, the trade union leader considered that these proposals of intention are not yet sufficient to make clear the manifestation of agents of the authority in Lisbon, reiterating that this prime minister and MAI himself during the four years of the legislature had time to analysze and study problems and that now is the time to act as soon as possible.

“We are available to talk and find solutions, but it has to be as soon as possible,” he said.

As for the demonstration on the 21st, focusing on the Marquês do Pombal, in Lisbon, and parade to São Bento, convened by ASPP / PSP and the Guard Association of GNR (APG / GNR), but which already has support From other trade union and associative structures, such as the so-called Zero Movement and whose composition is unknown, Paulo Rodrigues expressed the desire and the conviction that “it will be peaceful” and “very participated”, as there is much dissatisfaction within the Security Forces.

“We want the strength of this demonstration to be due to the quantity of PSP and GNR elements present and not for something already mentioned that there may be changes in public order. What we want is for the manifestation to run with all possible reason. We entered it rightly, with reasons to do it, and we want it to be completed for the same reason that led us to do it, ”he said.

The Judicial Police (PJ) have detained three members of an international criminal organization responsible for the illegal introduction of immigrants into Portugal and Europe, which recruited women for convenience marriages, it was announced on Saturday 9^th November.

“Relevant evidence, mainly of a documentary nature, was seized and three persons suspected of being linked to this international criminal structure, specialized in recruiting women for marriages of convenience , were arrested” according to the PJ”.

According to the police, detainees are between 28 and 30 years old and it was the National Counterterrorism Unit (UNCT) that carried out search and arrest warrants and arrest warrants

Lisbon’s PSP seized several weapons this week, from shotguns, sabres, slashes and daggers, in three Lisbon neighbourhoods, where some people live in “scenarios of extreme violence,” the Metropolitan Command said on 10^th November.

Last Thursday 7^th November, PSP carried out a special crime prevention operation in the Lisbon parishes of Beato, Marvila and Penha de França.

The operation was based on “a series of firearms disorders and aggressions in the vicinity of specific neighbourhoods of these Lisbon parishes, focusing on the detection of firearms, ammunition, their components and other prohibited material under the Arms Law”, announced PSP press office today.

Police carried out more than 20 home and non-home searches that resulted in the seizure of a wide-barrelled shotgun, a carbine and two air-rifle guns for sport shooting.

Four sabres, one rattle and eight daggers were seized, as well as more than half a hundred rounds of ammunition and about two thousand air pellets.

PSP also found 38 doses of hashish and a mill with cocaine residues, according to the statement sent to newsrooms.

Under this operation, the police detained two people, and under a “pending warrant of arrest and conducting the prison for serving a two-year prison sentence” for drug trafficking.

Three other people were constituted as defendants and were subject to identity and residence for possession of firearms, ammunition and components.

PSP believes that “in addition to the objective results already listed, it will have been able to reinforce the security levels of the population living in these residential areas”.

Ponta Delgada, Portugal, Nov. 8, 2019 (Lusa) – As of Friday, the government of the Azores has decided to put an end to the energy crisis concerning diesel fuel on the islands of Flores and Corvo following the recent passage of hurricane Lorenzo through the archipelago.

In a press release, the regional government pointed out that order 1593/2019 of 3 October, amended by order 1757/2019 of 31 October, which declared the situation of energy crisis in the islands of Flores and Corvo, will be updated and republished shortly in the state journal

“The amendment, which takes effect from today [Friday], determines the end of the energy crisis on Flores and Corvo, concerning road diesel and coloured and marked diesel used in agriculture and fisheries,” it said.

The decision is because it is now possible to supply Flores with 363,000 litres of diesel, leaving the island with a current stock of 600,000 litres.

This supply, which began on Monday afternoon and ended on Wednesday afternoon, was only possible due to the intervention of the tugboat “Pêro de Teive”, owned by the public company Portos dos Açores, which helped the ship “São Jorge”, carrying out the transfer of fuel to the island, in an exceptional operation.

The energy crisis continues only for petrol.

During the passage of “Lorenzo” through the Azores in early October, 255 occurrences were recorded, and 53 people had to be relocated.

The passage destroyed the port of Lajes das Flores, which put the supply to the Western group at risk.

In total, the bad weather caused damage of about €330 million, according to the Azores regional government.

On 14 October, the region’s president, Vasco Cordeiro, requested financial assistance from the state and the activation of the European Union Solidarity Fund.

A week later, the Portuguese government said that it would cover 85% of the damage and speed up procedures to restore the destroyed infrastructure.

The announcement was made by Vasco Cordeiro, in Lisbon, after a meeting with the prime minister, António Costa, and with the ministers of economy and planning, Pedro Siza Vieira and Nelson de Souza, respectively.

According to Vasco Cordeiro, at the meeting, the government assumed without reservation the duty of solidarity with the Azores, as had been requested by the regional government.

On Friday, the governor has scheduled a hearing in Lisbon with the prime minister.

 

A Tera Treme – National Seismic Risk Awareness Exercise November 15 at 11:15 pm

The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) will hold the 7th edition of the national seismic risk awareness exercise, called A TERRA TREME (www.aterratreme.pt) on 15th November at 11:15 am ).

The exercise TERRA TREME is promoted annually by ANEPC, in partnership with the Directorate General of Education (DGE) and the Directorate General of School Establishments (DGEsTE), and aims to empower the population to know how to act before, during and after earthquake, namely that it knows preventive measures and self-protection behaviours to be adopted to protect itself.

The exercise itself comprises the practice of 3 simple gestures that can make a difference to those who practice them in the event of an earthquake. The action takes place during 1 minute, in which participants, individually or collectively (families, schools, companies, public, private or associative institutions), perform the 3 self-protection gestures: Download – Protect – Wait.

In addition to the school age population, whose adherence to the initiative has been significant, ANEPC has the goal of successively widening, year after year, the reflection and debate on the theme of seismic risk and the participation in this initiative to other sectors of civil society. To this end, we consider it strategic to involve organizations – public, private and associative – in this collective purpose, seeking to this end to join efforts and extract synergies from the whole of society, so that individual and collective degrees of resilience are achieved.

Although the exercise has national expression, ANEPC will hold, in coordination with DGE and DGEstE, a main event at Sebastião e Silva Secondary School, in Oeiras, located at Rua do Liceu 61.

Throughout the country, District Relief Operations Commands (CDOS) will, in partnership with local communities, fire associations, municipal civil protection services, other civil protection agents and schools, promote awareness raising on seismic risk and self-protection measures to cope with it, as well as streamline the implementation of the A TERRA TREME Exercise, at a date and time agreed for that purpose.

In the context of the TERRA TREME Exercise, ANEPC created:

Digital The digital website www.aterratreme.pt, where information about the Exercise and dissemination resources can be obtained;

 The hashtag #aterratreme designed to identify personal / institutional publications related to the initiative on social networks.

ANEPC proposes to all citizens, in addition to participating in the exercise itself, the following actions:

Individual Individual and / or Institution registration on the digital website (www.aterratreme.pt/subscribe);

 Response to a survey aimed at assessing the degree of perception of seismic risk (www.aterratreme.pt/inquiry);

 Conduct an evacuation exercise based on an earthquake scenario on 15-11-2019, preferably at 11:15 am, the date and time chosen for the exercise TERRA TREME;

 Holding an awareness session on preventive measures and self-protection behaviours to be adopted in the event of an earthquake;

 Disclosure on the website and other digital media of the respective institution, the initiative (in the form of banners, email signatures, etc.);

 Dissemination of the allusive exercise video spot (available on the digital site).

ANEPC, DGE and DGEsTE invite citizens and entities to register at www.aterratreme.pt as a demonstration of their personal / institutional commitment to the cause of safety and security, and as a means of public support and expression.

On 5^th November 2019, the World Tsunami Awareness Day is promoting the “Sendai Seven Campaign” which focuses on reducing disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services.

Tsunamis are rare events, but can be extremely deadly.  In the past 100 years, 58 of them have claimed more than 260,000 lives, or an average of 4,600 per disaster, surpassing any other natural hazard. The highest number of deaths in that period was in the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004. It caused an estimated 227,000 fatalities in 14 countries, with Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand hardest-hit.

Over 700 million people live in low-lying coastal areas and Small Island Developing States exposed to extreme sea-level events including tsunamis (IPCC).

Tsunami is a series of giant waves. In Japanese, tsunami means ‘Harbour Wave’. A wave is created when energy passes through water. Moving air or wind provides energy to water, forming regular waves.

While on the ocean floor, when a tectonic plate suddenly slides beneath the other, the resulting earthquake releases tremendous amount of energy. This energy spreads outward from the point of earthquake, triggering waves that can form tsunami. Initially, these waves are small in size but they travel at great speeds. However, when the waves approach the shore, the rising seabed obstructs the energy of waves. This slows down the speed of waves. But the energy flux must remain constant leading to an increase in height of the waves, thus resulting in tsunami.