Category: Uncategorized

 

 

Free Vaccination against Flu and Covid-19 extended to people aged 50-57 years

 

Free seasonal vaccination against flu and Covid-19 will be extended to the population aged between 50 and 59 from Tuesday, the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) announced today.

People between 50 and 59 years old “can schedule from December 17, 2024 [Tuesday] the vaccination against flu and against covid-19 in a health unit of the National Health Service or in participating community pharmacies”, said the DGS in a statement.

The extension to this age group “is taking place in light of the progress of the current vaccination campaign and the availability of vaccines”, said the DGS, highlighting that, to optimise individual and collective protection, scheduling should preferably be done before the Christmas and New Year festive period.

The vaccination of people aged 60 or over, people with comorbidities, health professionals and other risk groups remains a priority, the statement added.

With the approach of winter, the period of greatest circulation of respiratory viruses, the DGS appealed to eligible groups to get vaccinated, “especially with the approach of the Christmas festivities, moments of family gatherings and with friends”.

According to the latest data from the DGS, between September 20, when the current vaccination campaign began, and December 8, 1,467,039 people were vaccinated with the seasonal booster against covid-19 and 2,207,428 people against the flu.

The autumn-winter seasonal vaccination campaign is taking place at more than 3,500 vaccination points across the country, with the priority being to protect the most vulnerable people, preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death.

The on-line scheduling will be updated so to schedule a vaccination it is best at present to visit at a community Farmácia.

 

 

More than half a million traffic fines registered until July – most for speeding

 

There were more than 395 thousand speeding violations, of which only around 335 thousand were related to radars

More than half a million traffic violations were detected in the first seven months of the year, 6.2% more than in the same period in 2023, the majority of which were due to speeding, the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR) revealed this Friday.

According to the ANSR report on 24-hour accidents and road inspection, from January to July 2024, 141.9 million vehicles were inspected, either in person or through automatic inspection methods, an increase of 79.8% compared to the same period in 2023.

Of the 141.9 million vehicles inspected in that period, the authorities detected 545.1 thousand infractions, which represents an increase of 6.2% compared to the same period in the previous year.

Most of the fines were for speeding, namely drivers caught by radars managed by the National Road Safety Authority, which recorded, in this period, a 49.6% increase in the number of infractions, rising from 224,464 from January to July 2023 to 335,801 in the same period this year.

According to the report, of the 395,492 speeding violations recorded, 335,801 were recorded using ANSR radars.

The document highlights that the number of drivers checked by the radar system under the responsibility of ANSR, totaling 136,719,761, increased by 88% between January and July, compared to the same period in 2023.

“SINCRO managed by ANSR registered an increase of 88.1%, in contrast to the PSP and GNR which registered decreases of 22.4% and 14.7%, respectively”, the document states.

The ANSR reports that 72.6% of the total number of fines registered in the first seven months of 2024 corresponded to speeding and 5.9% of the infractions were due to the lack of mandatory periodic inspection, and it was also found that driving under the influence of alcohol reached a weight of 2.8% of the total, the lack of insurance represented 1.8%, the use of a cell phone 1.6% and the failure to use a seat belt 1.3%.

Compared to the previous year, with the exception of speeding, which saw an increase of 23.1%, ANSR highlights that there were generalized decreases in all other types of infraction, highlighting the absence of seat belts (-44.9%), child restraint systems (-33.2%), use of a mobile phone while driving (-32.3%), excess alcohol (-21.4%) and lack of insurance (-14.0%).

 

 

 

 

 

The history of the Portuguese Firefighters is one of the richest and oldest in our country, it is more than 600 years of history, filled with unparalleled achievements and, above all, a unique dedication to the public cause and the safety and protection of the citizens, our heritage and the territory.

This show is a tribute to all of these men and women who are on the front lines of supporting populations in a wide variety of emergency situations.

To commemorate their mission we launched three tags: Rural Firefighting, Urban Fire and Victim Relief.

The launching ceremony of this Collection will be presided over by the Secretary of State for Civil Protection, Paulo Simões Ribeiro, and will have the presence of representatives of partner entities.

Program:

 

 

High price of olive oil leads to increased fraud: ASAE warns of increasing criminal networks in Portugal

 

ASAE opened 54 criminal proceedings and 30 related administrative offences due to fraud in the olive oil sector until the end of October this year, which, according to ‘CNN Portugal’, is due to the price increase. “Most of them are related to fraud in the product itself”, indicated the inspector general Luís Lourenço. “If there is a greater possibility of economic gain, it is normal that there is a tendency for there to be more cases of fraud.”

There are an increasing number of criminal networks operating in Portugal, which has led the Food and Economic Safety Authority to make olive oil one of its top priorities for investigation this year, having even sent teams from other projects to investigate supply chains. “This year, we have seen this increase, we have already registered around ten more criminal proceedings compared to last year”, said the official – in the European Union, the number of cases has soared: in the first three months of the year, there were 50 infractions, three times the number recorded in the same period in 2018, when the price began to rise.

Counterfeiting networks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, the official pointed out. “It is not possible to commit this type of crime individually, because the product has to go through several stages. A large part of the chain has to be aware of it,” he said, arguing that frauds involve lower quality products. “The issue is the remaining product, which may not be of such high quality, and in this case, there has to be a network that makes this type of change.”

ASAE seized at least 350 thousand euros in operations related to olive oil fraud, which became widespread in the falsification of labels, which brought great economic advantages to criminal networks when the price of olive oil reached substantially high levels. “In previous years, there was no economic advantage in producing this type of label, so they did not appear on the market, which brings a new complexity in terms of investigation. We need to investigate the entire chain”, highlighted Luís Gonçalves. “We also found false mentions of organic production, misleading consumers into buying products that do not correspond to what is promised.”

Throughout the year, ASAE seized nearly 100,000 litres of counterfeit cooking oil and olive oil, and closed at least five establishments, having seized more than 350,000 euros related to fraudulent practices in the olive oil sector. “This increase in prices, combined with the lack of the product itself, smaller productions and the market itself working, led us to take greater action”, said the inspector general. “ASAE’s intervention was aimed at ensuring the quality of the national product, and maintaining this quality so that there is no distrust in the market.”

 

 

 

Human trafficking: number of victims increases by 25%, majority are women and girls

 

The conclusion is from a UN report, which states that the majority of women and girls identified among the victims continue to be trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation.

The global number of victims of human trafficking has increased again (25%), after falling during the Covid-19 pandemic, with women and girls remaining in the majority, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said on Wednesday.

The conclusions are from the ” Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2024 ” , released this Wednesday by UNODC, and which covers 156 countries from all regions and sub-regions of the world (95% of the world population), with data from the period 2020-2022 and other preliminary data from 2023 provided by only 72 States.

The report points to a 25% increase in the number of trafficking victims detected globally in 2022, compared to pre-pandemic figures from 2019. Between 2019 and 2022, the global number of victims of trafficking for forced labour increased by 47%.

In total, between 2020 and 2023, the number of trafficking victims reported by Member States amounted to 202,478.

“This trend can be attributed to the 31% increase in children detected compared to the period before the Covid-19 pandemic,” the report points out.

Victims are trafficked globally through an increasing number of international routes, with African victims to the largest number of destinations.

Most victims are women and girls, child victims are increasing

In 2022, the majority of human trafficking victims were women and girls (61%). Although the number of underage victims has increased since 2019, adults remain the most common age group, with adult women accounting for 39% of victims.

The majority of women and girls identified among the victims continue to be trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. However, female victims are also trafficked in large numbers for forced labour, particularly domestic work, and for other types of exploitation, including forced marriage and criminality.

While previous editions of this report have shown how child trafficking, especially in the context of forced labour, typically occurred in low-income countries, recent data show that while child trafficking is still detected in these areas, it has been increasing in high-income countries.

This occurs mainly in the case of girls trafficked for sexual exploitation (60%).

“Trafficking of girls for sexual exploitation is on an alarming rise in many regions of the world. The international community and national authorities must step up efforts to prevent this form of trafficking, to ensure victim-centred and trauma-informed investigations, as well as tailored protection and assistance programmes for girl victims.”

The growing number of children along migration routes may explain the rising number of trafficked boys. After the pandemic, more unaccompanied and separated children were registered at the borders of Europe and North America, regions where more boys are victims of trafficking.

“In 2022, children accounted for 38% of detected victims globally. Girls (22% of total victims) were most typically trafficked for sexual exploitation and, to a lesser extent, for forced labour and other forms of exploitation, such as forced marriage. Boys (16%) were primarily trafficked for forced labour and other forms of exploitation, typically forced criminality.”

Since 2019, there has been an increase of approximately 31% in child victims, 38% among girls.

Types of Human Trafficking: Forced Labor Sees One of the Biggest Increases

Already in the context of ongoing conflicts and climate-induced disasters, the risk of human trafficking is increasing as one of the direct consequences of global instability and climate change, resulting in forcibly displaced populations, the report concludes.

Looking more broadly at the types of human trafficking, since 2019 forced labor has seen greater increases (per 100,000 inhabitants) than trafficking for sexual exploitation and other purposes.

“Trafficking for forced labour has increased by 47% globally when compared to the period before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Although trafficking for forced labour is now more commonly detected than trafficking for sexual exploitation, far fewer traffickers are convicted of this crime.

In 2022, more than 70% of traffickers were convicted of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and only 17% were convicted of trafficking for forced labour, in contrast to 42% of victims detected in 2022.

According to UNODC, most human trafficking is perpetrated by organized crime groups.

In 2022, men accounted for around 70% of those investigated, prosecuted and convicted for human trafficking and the number of people convicted globally returned to slightly below 2019 levels, but with an increase of around 36% compared to 2020.

 

 

 

 

With over 70% of Europeans living in urban areas, cities are key to implementing the European Green Deal and fostering a sustainable, low-carbon society. Since 2010, the European Green Capital Award has recognised cities’ efforts to become greener and cleaner.

On 27 November 2024, the European Commission announced Guimarães, Portugal, as the European Green Capital of 2026 thanks to its commitment to continuously improving sustainable development and its results in seven environmental management areas. The city has made sustainability a central part of its culture, as exemplified in its motto, ‘One Planet City’.

The Commission announced the winners of the 2026 European Green Cities Awards on Wednesday (27 Nov), with Guimarães (Portugal) taking the European Green Capital prize and the European Green Leaf award for smaller cities going to Águeda (Portugal) and Vaasa (Finland).

This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, acquired on 17 November 2024, shows Guimarães from above.

 

 

Third fugitive from Vale de Judeus Prison recaptured in Italy

 

The Judicial Police (PJ) recaptured this Tuesday, in Italy, Shergili Farjiani, who had escaped from the Vale de Judeus Prison Establishment, in Alcoentre, at the beginning of September, this police force said.

The operation took place in the city of Padua, in northern Italy, and led to the arrest of Shergili Farjiani, one of the five escapees from Vale de Judeu and the third to be recaptured, a source from the PJ told Lusa. Fábio Loureiro and Fernando Ribeiro Ferreira) had already been found

In a statement, the PJ said that the capture of Shergili Farjiani, 40, was the result of “persistent, complex and uninterrupted investigation and information gathering work”.

“The police operation had the collaboration of the Italian authorities to recapture this Georgian citizen with an extensive criminal career, including crimes of violent theft and document forgery,” it reads.

 

 

Marcelo hopes to resume talks with firefighters in 2025 to review the statute

 

The President of the Republic stated today that he hopes to resume talks between the Government and representatives of professional firefighters in 2025 to review their status, which in his opinion is outdated.

“It’s been 22 years, it’s a long time. Therefore, I hope that there will be an opportunity, next year, to resume talks to modify a statute that is quite outdated”, declared Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in response to questions from journalists, in a hotel in Amsterdam, where he is on a state visit.

On this occasion, the Head of State once again separated “the content of the demonstrations” by firefighters, in relation to which he stressed that he had already expressed reservations, and “the justice of having gone 22 years without a review of the statute”.

According to the President of the Republic, this is the result of a “ping-pong that exists between the Government and the Assembly, between the Government and local authorities, between local authorities and the Government and the Assembly”, and the matter must be resolved.

 

 

Large amount of waste produced by tourists has a significant impact on the Algarve.

 

The production of waste by tourists during peak season has a significant impact on the management of municipal solid waste in the Algarve, with an urgent need to define sustainable solutions, according to a study presented in Vilamoura at the end of November.

The study “The implications of tourist activity in the Algarve region for urban waste management”, which brought together researchers from five universities in Portugal and the United States, reveals the “urgent need to define sustainable solutions to address the environmental and economic impact, caused by the high tourist seasonality” in this region.

According to researcher Eduardo Cardadeiro, coordinator of the study, a tourist in the Algarve produces, on average, twice as much waste per day as a resident of the region, and the fact that there is “strong seasonality” causes an increased difficulty in managing solid waste.

“Tourism is fundamental to the Algarve’s economy, but it is necessary to ensure that its growth does not compromise the region’s sustainable development,” added the professor from the Autonomous University. According to Eduardo Cardadeiro, the study will continue to be developed, having in this first phase, among other things, characterised the relationship between tourism and waste management and analyzed the production of municipal solid waste by tourism.

“If we can better understand the impact of tourism on waste production and better manage this process, we will perhaps be in a better position to achieve targets in the waste sector, to have more sustainable management, and to promote the Algarve as a destination that sustainably manages waste, promoting the circular economy,” he said.

The study concluded that in 2023 the Algarve recorded 29 million overnight stays, of which 82% occurred in the high season, which created significant pressure on the region’s waste management services.

During the month of August, tourism was responsible for 41% of waste production, equivalent to 3.6 kilos per night, that is, more than double the per capita production of local residents. Waste production in the high season also has an economic impact, since the total cost of waste management in 2023 was 81.3 million euros, with significantly higher average costs in the high season, reaching €436 per tonne for unsorted waste, compared to €147 per tonne in the low season.

The study also reveals that, currently, more than 80% of municipal waste in the Algarve is deposited in landfills, while recycling and reuse rates are below 15%, which is below the targets set by the European Union for 2035.

The document also identified the need to implement measures to meet the targets defined by the European Union, and promote a circular economy and sustainable practices for the Algarve region.

In a second phase of the study, in 2025, a pilot project will be implemented to optimize waste management, such as dedicated collection circuits, through the involvement of regional partner entities, such as Algar, responsible for the selective collection of waste at ecopoints, the Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL), tour operators, hotels and restaurants.

Environmental, social and sustainability performance indicators will also be developed, to monitor progress and adapt solutions to local needs.

Finally, in a third phase, the measures successfully tested in the pilot project will be extended to the entire Algarve region.

The study on the treatment of municipal solid waste in the Algarve was promoted by the Center for Research in Economic and Business Sciences (CICEE),in partnership with the University of Algarve and with the support of Algar.

 

 

 

Disturbances in several areas of greater Lisbon after death of man shot by PSP

 

The disturbances that have been going on since Monday following the death of a man shot by the PSP have spread last night to several areas of Lisbon, namely Carnaxide (Oeiras), Casal de Cambra (Sintra) and Damaia (Amadora), a police source told Lusa.

“There are pockets of disorder in several areas of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area”, said the same source.

In the Portela neighbourhood, Carnaxide, shots were fired, some of which were fired by the PSP, which used rubber bullets and has already managed to enter the neighbourhood.

At this location, a bus was set on fire, in addition to several rubbish bins and a light vehicle, said a source from the PSP.

At 11:45 pm, new fires were reported in this neighbourhood, according to television images from the scene.

ATTACKS ON POLICE

PSP rapid response teams were stoned when they tried to enter the Cova da Moura neighbourhood in Amadora, according to SIC Notícias. The PSP says that all officers from the seven police stations in Amadora were mobilized, including those from special units.

In the municipality of Sintra, an object was thrown at the PSP police station in Casal de Cambra, without causing any damage, the source added.

In Damaia there were disturbances in several streets, including the throwing of firecrackers and stones on the public highway, as well as the setting of fires in several rubbish bins.

Earlier, at the beginning of the evening, a bus had been set on fire in the Zambujal neighbourhood, where riots took place for the second night.

In addition to policing in the Zambujal neighbourhood, the PSP reinforced its resources in several locations, specifically in the so-called Sensitive Urban Zones (Zus).

Also tonight, the PSP indicated, in a statement, that a person was arrested for possession of combustible material in the Zambujal neighborhood.

Group tries to set fire to gas station – On the road connecting Alfragide to Damaia, a group used a mattress to try to set fire to a gas station, according to SIC Notícias. PSP officers were able to immediately fight the fire using a fire extinguisher.

Incidents were also reported in other parts of the municipality of Lisbon. In Carnide and Campo de Ourique, rubbish bins were set on fire. In Loures, a car was set on fire.

POLICE STATEMENT

In a statement, the National Directorate of the PSP indicates that, after the disturbances that occurred during the early hours of the morning, following the death of a resident shot by the PSP in Cova da Moura, at the end of the afternoon “situations of disorder occurred again inside the Zambujal neighbourhood”, namely “a serious episode of urban violence”, with the theft of a Carris bus that was set on fire.

“Despite several efforts, it has not yet been possible to detect and intercept the suspects of this violent crime, although an arrest has already been made for possession of combustible material, which indicated its use to start a fire”, adds the PSP.

The SOS Racismo association and the Vida Justa movement disputed the police version of events and demanded a “serious and impartial” investigation to determine “all responsibilities”, considering that there is a “culture of impunity” in the police force. According to reports gathered in the neighbourhood by Vida Justa, what happened were “two shots fired at an unarmed worker”.

On Monday, the Ministry of Internal Affairs ordered the General Inspectorate of Internal Affairs to open an urgent investigation and the PSP also announced the opening of an internal investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident. The officer who shot the man has since been named a defendant, a source from the Judicial Police indicated.

The Zambujal neighborhood is a social neighborhood that began to take shape in the 1970s. It is a multicultural neighborhood with around six thousand inhabitants.

About a third are of gypsy ethnicity. Another third are of African origin or ancestry. In recent years, South Americans and Asians have arrived.