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The Macau Police Judiciary (PJ) has announced the arrest of 37 people for allegedly introducing automatic payment terminals at the Union Pay financial institution in Macao, which would allow them to illegally raise money using cards from mainland China

According to the portal Macau News, PJ spokesman Leng Kam Lon said on Wednesday that about 1.2 billion yuan (153 million euros) was illegally raised through this scheme.

According to PJ, the financial institution will have lost almost 2.4 million yuan (about 305 thousand euros) with this criminal practice.

The modifications to the automatic payment terminals of the Union Pay financial institution would aim to raise large sums of money to be played in the territory’s casinos and thus pay less fees during the transaction.

According to Leng, 21 people were arrested in Macau on Monday, while another 16 were detained in several mainland cities on the same day.

During the search, several automatic payment terminals and about five million Hong Kong dollars (555,000 euros) in cash were seized.

Macau News portal also reported that the PJ froze about 25 million Hong Kong dollars (2.8 million euros) in VIP gaming rooms in one of the territory’s casinos.

 

 

 

The Judiciary Police have detained three men with links to an international criminal organization in Lisbon on Thursday when they tried to obtain 150,000 euros that resulted from computer frauds and were being laundered by Portuguese banks.

According to the director of the National Unit for Combating Cybercrime and Technological Crime (UNC3T), Carlos Cabreiro, this is an organized criminal group originating in Latvia that carries out computer frauds (violating user name and access code), removing money from bank accounts and making it pass through accounts in various countries, to disguise its origin.

The men – aged 22-39 – were arrested on Thursday caught in the act as they tried to obtain 150,000 euros from bank branches in Lisbon.

“We were aware of the possibility of these individuals moving to bank branches where they had opened accounts and this allowed their interception followed by detention,” said Carlos Cabreiro in a statement to reporters at the PJ’s Lisbon headquarters.

In the scope of this operation were also domiciliary searches undertaken in which falsified foreign identification documents and bank documentation were seized related to the illegal activities they undertook.

The Judiciary Police is pursuing investigations to ascertain the extent of criminal activity.

Men will be present today in court for interrogation and enforcement.

A woman in her early thirties from the Estreito de Câmara de Lobos tried to end her life yesterday 8^th January 2019.

However the timely intervention of the PSP and the firefighters prevented the tragic outcome. The woman was transported to Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital, where she was delivered to medical care.

The Metropolitan Command of Lisbon of the Public Security Police – Lisbon Transit Division, follows an effective and preventive road safety policy, which aims at reducing infractions and, consequently, reducing the number of road accidents, reports:

Until next Sunday 13^th January the Division will focus its road inspection actions on detection of speeding drivers throughout the metropolitan area of ​​Lisbon.

Excess speed is provided for in article 27 of the Road Code, with a fine up to € 2,500, an accessory penalty up to two years, and a maximum of four points deducted from the driving license of the offender.

It should be noted that this incidence of surveillance only implies special attention to this type of infraction, however this police will not fail to enforce any other types of driving offences detected.

The Minister of Home Affairs said on Friday 4^th January that crime had a “very significant drop” in 2018, with a fall of about nine percent in the number of violent and serious crimes.

“Portugal has been recognised as one of the safest countries in the world and 2018 has reinforced this trend with a very significant downward drop, close to nine percent, of the latest figures available for violent and serious crime,” said Eduardo Cabrita.

The Minister of Home Affairs said on Friday that crime had a “very significant drop” in 2018, with a fall of about nine percent in the number of violent and serious crimes.

“Portugal has been recognized as one of the safest countries in the world and 2018 has reinforced this trend with a very significant downward drop, close to nine percent, of the last remaining non-final figures available for violent and serious crime,” said Eduardo Cabrita.

Temperatures reached 25 degrees Celsius in December.

The first two weeks of December recorded maximum spring level temperatures throughout the country, well in the vicinity of 19º C, nearly 5 degrees above usual. Precipitation was far below normal. More than half of the country is in “slight drought”.

Although, the last few days have been cold, the drop in thermometers has been felt more because last month was abnormally hot and dry. This is what the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) shows in its December climatic summary, highlighting the return of the drought – although weak – in more than half of the country and average temperatures, which made December third hottest since 1931. In Aljezur, in the Algarve, the thermometers even reached almost summer levels on day 10: 25º C.

The first two weeks of last month (between December 1st and 12th) registered maximum spring temperatures throughout the country, well near 19º C, almost 5 degrees above normal. And it was not only the average value of the maximum temperature that was higher than usual (plus 1.33 degrees throughout the month), the average temperatures, at 10.5º, were also slightly above normal.

On the other hand, precipitation values ​​have been well under half (37%) than usual since 1931, but have nevertheless become normal this decade: in the last eight years, the value of monthly precipitation in December was always lower than normal.

This very hot and dry month has resulted in the return very close to the end of the year of the drought, which had already been left behind in November. Taking into account the low rainfall levels recorded in December, there was a weak meteorological drought south of the Tagus, which is equivalent to more than half of the territory, at the end of the month: 53.3% of the country is in the dry drought class, 13.7% in the normal class and 33% in the weak rain class.

Chaves recorded the lowest low of December (-2.8º C on the last day of the year) and Fóia, in Serra de Monchique, recorded the strongest gust of wind, 105.5 km / h.

The beginning of the year has been marked by a drop in temperatures, more pronounced in the minimum.

For this Sunday 6^th January., the IPMA predicts below-zero minimums in Bragança (-2º) and Braga (-1º). Lisbon will register 4th of the minimum and 14th of maximum, while the Port will oscillate between the 4th and 16th. But on Monday, the minimum values ​​will fall even more in most of the country, with the transmontanos being especially punished by the cold, with Bragança reaching -5º and Vila Real -1º. Braga and Leiria (with -2) will also be below zero

The Bill published by the Ministry of Internal Administration establishes places of prohibition, fixes limitation of timetables and amounts of fines to be applied

The details are contained in a bill approved Thursday 3rd January 2019 by the Council of Ministers that regulates the use of drones and establishes the rules of use in the national airspace.

According to the proposal, the flight of unmanned aircraft at a distance of less than 100 meters and overflight of educational centres, diplomatic premises and places of temporary restricted access is also prohibited.

The Government further defined that the flight will be prohibited at a distance of less than 2,000 meters and the overflight of warships or ships in the service of the State.

The bill, by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, also foresees that the security forces make use of the resources that will be able to stop the operation of drones, “when the aircraft are outside the regulatory conditions and it is not possible to locate the operator “.

In the proposal are provided for misconduct in case of disobedience to the defined operating rules, namely from 300 to 600 euros for minor administrative disputes and from 2,000 to 3,500 euros for very serious misconduct when practiced by natural persons.

Among the rules of operation, the Government establishes the minimum age of 16 to operate drones, with only day flights permitted, unless authorized by the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC).

There is also a system for monitoring alcohol influence of operators similar to that provided for drivers in the Road Code.

The bill also establishes that the operation of the drones in public space depends on the authorization of the ANAC and, in private places, of the owner, maintaining the obligation of requesting authorization for capturing aerial images to the National Aeronautical Authority.

The proposal provides for the creation of a single authorization mechanism processed through an electronic platform managed by ANAC, as well as the obligation of a certificate or license for operators, which depend on own training to be defined by ANAC.

The bill approved by the Council of Ministers establishes rules for the use of unmanned civil aircraft systems by delimiting the places where their use is free, the definition of places where their use is prohibited and places where the use depends on authorization .

According to the Government, the regulations aim to minimize the risks and give more safety in their use.

“As the entire authorization system, as with the registration of equipment, will be on an electronic platform, it will be possible to ensure greater control and better enforcement by the security forces in case of misuse of drones, since they will be able to consult the systems and the authorizations that will be accessible in the electronic platform “, considers the Executive.

 

Manufacturers develop solutions that block calls, messages and other notifications. In case of emergency, there are ways to circumvent the constraints imposed by the tools.

How many times did you answer calls or respond to messages while driving? Besides the possibility of being fined, the practice puts your safety at risk, but there are solutions. In order to minimize driving distractions, smartphone manufacturers are beginning to come up with tools – a sort of “car mode” – to manage the amount of times the phone rings while driving.

According to the Spanish newspaper ABC , many smartphone manufacturers are incorporating a system into the latest gadgets, which silences and manages notifications and incoming calls. However, these systems are still not easy to activate.

On Android devices (Samsung and LG), you need to download an application – the Car Mode – which is available on the Galaxy App and not on Google Play. From there, explains ABC, you will need to create a user account and, to activate the app, configure the voice and authorize the connection via Bluetooth with the car. With this tool, all applications are blocked, except for music or navigation apps.

A similar system is available on Apple’s iOS 11. To enable this mode, go to “Do not disturb” in “Settings” and select “Do not disturb while driving”. Afterwards, you must choose between “Manually”, “Automatically” (based on vehicle movement) or “If connected to the Bluetooth of the car”.

To set up, touch “Auto Answer To” and choose who receives a reply: No, Recent, Favourite, or All Contacts. Then select “Reply” to customize the message that will be sent: “I’m driving, so I have no way to bother while driving active. I’ll read your message when I get to my destination,” is Apple’s suggestion. If someone needs to get in touch with you, you can work around the “Do not disturb” mode by sending a message with the word “urgent”. In that case, you can either stop the car to read the message or ask Siri to do so.

When in this mode, iPhone displays some notifications, such as emergency alerts, timers, and alarms . And you can configure the options: only be alerted if the person calls twice in a row, for example.

The Metropolitan Command of Lisbon of the Public Security Police informs that due to the celebration of the end of year celebrations in the Commerce Square, during the festivities on December 31st, it will be considered an improvised enclosure, reason why perimeters will be created with nine managed access points.

Bottles and glass cups, as well as umbrellas with long stems, among other objects listed in the Annex, shall not be allowed in

the area.

If you want to carry some belongings in a backpack / bag, it should not be larger than the size of an A3 sheet.

The venue will open to the public at 7:00 p.m. so it is advised that anyone who wants to go to the Commerce Square should do so as far in advance as possible.

On December 29th, 30th and 31st, due to the need to ensure the safety of people and goods and facilitate the intervention, in case of need of protection and rescue, the downtown area will be subject to several conditions of Traffic.

 

December 29, 2018:

– Total traffic cut in the Commerce Square between 20:30 and 00:30

– Main sections:

Duque de Terceira Square / Cais do Sodré (traffic diverted to Rua do Alecrim or reverses)

Av. Infante D. Henrique with Rua Cais de Santarém and Estação Sul e Sueste

Rua da Alfândega c / Praça do Comércio

Rua da Prata (conditioned);

Rua do Ouro (conditioned);

Restauradores Sul, whose passage to the Rossio is only allowed to Public Transport.

 

December 30, 2018:

– Total traffic cut in the Commerce Square between 8.30 and 00.30 (with the same cuts and conditionings as on December 29)

December 31, 2018/01 January 2019

– Total traffic cut in the Praça do Comércio from 5:00 p.m.

– Main sections:

Av. 24 de Julho c / Av. D. Carlos I;

Largo Vitorino Damásio and Calçada Marquês de Abrantes;

Duque de Terceira Square / Cais do Sodré (traffic is diverted to Rua do Alecrim or reverses);

Arsenal Street;

Av. Infante D. Henrique (Viaduct of Av. Mouzinho de Albuquerque – TOTAL court, except Public Transport);

Av. Infante D. Henrique c / Estação Sul and Sueste;

Av. Infante D. Henrique with Santa Apolónia (except Public Transport);

Rua da Alfândega w / Praça do Comércio;

Rua Vitor Cordom w / Calçada do Ferregial;

Restorers South;

Rua do Ouro (closed);

Praça da Figueira – Closed access to Rua dos Fanqueiros and Rua dos Douradores

The changes in traffic and their traffic diversions are duly coordinated on the spot by the Police, and access to emergency vehicles is guaranteed.

All are requested to comply with the indications transmitted by the agents of authority.

 

The PSP advises:

Advised to use public transport;

If you drive, do not drink.

Do not drink alcohol in excess – During the period in question, and especially in the early morning of 01JAN2019, PSP plans to carry out several Road Traffic Inspection Operations, in order precisely to dissuade the risk behavior associated with the consumption of alcoholic beverages versus driving;

If you park on the public road, check if your vehicle allows the movement of emergency vehicles;

Make sure the vehicle is locked and do not leave valuables in view;

Be cooperative with agents of authority and a facilitating body of police action, do not compromise your safety and that of other citizens and do not take risky behaviour;

Do not carry personal property of value, especially mobile phone, wallet and watch;

 

On December 31st

Do not transport baby carriages or chairs to the interior of the perimeter to provide reduced mobility, as their use, among thousands of people, will condition their use and may endanger people in the Square as well as their users. If it is imperative to take, due to the age of the babies and / or mobility of the user, the PSP advises to avoid the concentration in the zone closest to the Wharf of the Columns.

If you consider it necessary to intervene by the police, do not hesitate to ask for our assistance, call 112, in case of an emergency and memorize on your mobile the following telephone number of the PSP Metropolitan Command: 21 765 42 42, or enter in your phone.

At 02.30 hrs on Friday, December 28, Câmara de Lobos Volunteer Firefighters were called to assist a 47-year-old male, apparently a victim of aggression, who was on the Santa Clara Road in Câmara de Lobos of Wolves.

At the arrival of the firefighters, the victim was conscious and had bruises on his face and was referred to Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital.