Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 6^th July 2022

Good morning – We start the day by focusing on behaviour of some passengers which have hit the headlines over the last two days!

Firstly an EasyJet flight was intercepted by a Spanish fighter plane after a bomb threat was allegedly made by a British teenager on board on Monday. Video footage taken by a passenger on the commercial flight appears to show an F18 fighter warplane flying closely beside the EasyJet flight from London Gatwick to Menorca on Sunday. Once the plane landed in Mahon, the island’s capital, the flight was taken to a separate area from the main terminal and was subject to bomb disposal experts and sniffer dogs. The Civil Guard have since concluded that the bomb threat was false. The 18-year-old has since been arrested. Why this person did this is beyond belief terrifying passengers and requiring a major emergency response.

The same day authorities at Lisbon airport a 41-year-old man was arrested suspected of being drunk on board a plane and having assaulted several passengers. “According to police, the man “exhaled a strong odour of alcohol, presuming that he had boarded that way at the origin”, having continued to drink alcoholic beverages during the flight.

On 2 July, Ryanair’s domestic flight FR9108 between Mahon, Menorca, and Malaga (Spain) didn’t go as expected. A 46-year-old Belgian passenger boarded the aircraft intoxicated. Angry with his delayed flight, he started to insult other passengers, hit the seats next to him and tried to force an emergency exit. He responded agitated and demanded in an aggressive way that the flight would depart for Malaga. After some passengers warned the crew about his behaviour, the police were called. And he was detained

There are enough problems facing the air travel industry at present and drunken and/or criminal behaviour that jeopardizes flight safety cabin is the last thing passengers want to experience.

Yesterday it was reported that more than 2,000 police officers were involved in the security of the United Nations Ocean Conference, which took place last week in Lisbon, an operation that the secretary-general of the internal security system considered today “unprecedented” and “very complicated”.

Certainly an event of this magnitude with senior government officials from all over the world attending a conference such as this is a major security and logistical challenge for any country and judging from the outcome, it was extremely well planned and implemented. Congratulations therefore to the security forces and other entities involved in ensuring the safety of over 7000 people who attended the event.

Yesterday we were contacted from a resident in Silves, Algarve who had the catalytic converter stolen from his vehicle. Unfortunately this type of theft is fairly common both in Portugal as well as overseas. The high price of platinum, palladium and rhodium explains the growth of this crime

The thefts are motivated by the attempt to remove the precious metals that are part of the catalytic converter, platinum, palladium and rhodium. All of them with high market values – for example, at the end of 2021, platinum was quoted at 27 euros a gram, palladium at 39 euros and rhodium has already reached 50 euros a gram, being considered the highest metal expensive of the platinum group and even higher than gold.

Take particular care where you park your vehicle, especially at night time. Places where there is lighting and close to buildings is preferable if possible. Thefts have also taken place however in broad daylight! Unfortunately the emergency of battery operated grinders/cutters have made it easier for criminals who can operate in areas where it is not possible to use a power cable.

However Portugal is a great place to live, with friendly people, good climate, good food, wine and superb countryside. It is also the 6th Most Peaceful Country in the World.

In deciding where to live and what type of property to purchase, we tend to take into account cost, whether to live in a town or in the countryside; whether to purchase a new property, live in a traditional Quinta or simply purchase land and build from scratch.

These are factors whether move here, or moving within Portugal, that estates agents can advise in selecting a property. Other factors, not so frequently considered, are those concerning safety and security – after all your investment is important as well as your well- being and quality of life. Portugal is one of the safest places to live in Europe, but it is important to take safety and security into account when choosing a home. As we get older this is more important.

Safe communities Portugal has undertaken research into this and has produced a Checklist – “Moving to Portugal – Deciding where to live”. Before any suggestions that this may put people off coming here, I suggest just the reverse – by following this it will help people decide what the best property is for them taking into account the factors identified. Please see our feature in the Algarve Resident tomorrow.

According to the IPMA air temperatures will increase on the mainland starting from today. The forecasts are for temperatures of 35C to 40C but could be more in some places inland. Coastal areas will be a little cooler. IPMA warn that coupled with this the relative humidity will be low. Indeed yesterday the lowest was below 10%. With these extremes fires if they start may burn with great intensity and spread quickly. Our message is as always take considerable care in the countryside both against the heat and avoid any action that could cause a fire.

With that please have a Safe Day and take care with the high temperatures.

News

Due to the Azores anticyclone, the climate in Portugal and Spain is the driest in 1200 years

New scientific study indicates that anticyclone has been occupying an increasing area over the last 200 years. Human activity is the only possible explanation.

The Azores anticyclone is a major centre of high atmospheric pressure that influences the climate of several regions of Western Europe, North Africa and the Americas. And it has, over the last 200 years, come to occupy an ever-increasing area. Because of this, Portugal and Spain are currently struggling with their driest climate in more than a millennium (1200 years precisely). This is indicated by a study published this Monday in the scientific journal Nature Geoscience.

Looking at the two countries of the Iberian Peninsula, researchers from the Oceanographic Institution of Woods Hole, in the United States, analysed meteorological data dating back to 1850. The authors of the report also studied some stalagmites in a Portuguese cave (the Buraca Gloriosa, in the district of Leiria), which retained information regarding much older precipitation levels. This information was used to make climate models from 850 to 2005.

Applying a methodology that involved carrying out several “numerical simulations”, the researchers further explored how, both in terms of size and intensity, the Azores anticyclone has changed over the last 1000 years. “We found that the industrial-age anticyclone behaves differently from that of the pre-industrial era”, can be read in the scientific article, in which the co-authors suggest that, due to human activity and the increasingly significant emissions of gases greenhouse effect (GHG), the anticyclone is experiencing considerable expansion.

The Iberian Peninsula has been hit by several heat waves and droughts over the last few years. In mid-June, the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) warned that 97% of the Portuguese territory was being affected by severe drought conditions, with all the implications that this entails, ranging from human consumption to the various economic sectors. . For the Spaniards, on the other hand, the last month of May was the hottest on record.

Government guarantees water for human consumption for the next two years

Terras de Bouro, Braga, Jul 05, 2022 (Lusa) – The Government assured today that, despite the drought, the country has water for human consumption in the next two years, but admitted rationing in certain areas of the country, regarding some uses, such as in the farming.

The guarantee was given by the Secretary of State for Nature Conservation, Forests and Territorial Planning, João Catarino, on the side-lines of a visit to the municipality of Terras de Bouro, district of Braga, where he went to highlight the improvement in conditions for visiting the Park – National Park of Peneda Gerês.

Asked about news to report today that there are “dams close to the death volume” (technical reserve that is below the collection pipes), or that the northeast of Trás-os-Montes is on alert and with the threat of water cuts during the night, the minister assumes concern about the effects of drought, but ensures that the country will not have a lack of water for human consumption in the next two years, even without rain.

“[Drought] is a situation that we all have to worry about. Obviously, the Government, as responsible, has to be concerned, but concerned in the dimension in which we know and guarantee that there will be no shortage of water for human consumption. This is the note we have to leave: Portugal is now able to guarantee that there will be no shortage of water for human consumption, even if the conditions remain, and which, apparently, will get worse”, João Catarino told journalists.

The Secretary of State warns that if there is less water, there must be a “more efficient” use in all its dimensions.

“At home, in watering public spaces, in agriculture. We have to be aware that if there is less water, we have to use much less. The Government is responsible for guaranteeing the human consumption of water and this is guaranteed for two years, for this year and for the [next] year, even if it did not rain this year and next, which we hope will not happen, in any way ”.

The Secretary of State for Nature Conservation, Forests and Territorial Planning admits, however, the rationing of water in certain areas of the country, for certain purposes.

“[Water rationing] yes, this may have to exist for some uses, obviously, but for human consumption, we will always be attentive. All alternative forms will be used if the ducts that are stabilized are not sufficient. But the Government is in a position to guarantee that there will be no shortage of water for human consumption during the summer, without a doubt”, stated João Catarino.

Monkeypox: Portugal has already received the first 2,700 doses of vaccines

Portugal has already received the first 2,700 doses of vaccines against the Monkeypox virus, acquired by the European Commission to be distributed among the Member States most affected by the outbreak, the European Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, revealed to Lusa yesterday.

“The first deliveries of vaccines against monkeypox arrived in Portugal to protect Portuguese citizens and respond to the Monkeypox outbreak,” said the commissioner, in a statement to Lusa.

Stella Kyriakides underlined that in the space of two weeks, the European Commission acquired around 110,000 doses of vaccines and started deliveries to the most affected countries, with Spain being the first Member State to receive a shipment of 5,300 doses, on 28 June. .

At the time, the European Commission, which negotiated the purchase of a total of 109,090 doses of the third-generation vaccine from the Bavarian Nordic pharmaceutical company, indicated that Portugal, Germany and Belgium would follow between July and August.

“This work will now continue and intensify as we head towards another period of autumn and winter, with the covid-19 pandemic close by”, the commissioner told Lusa.

“This is a European Health Union that delivers tangible results for people, with our Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) reacting quickly and sourcing vaccines for all member states that have expressed a need.” commented the European Commissioner for Health.

According to the most recent data from the Directorate-General for Health (DGS), released last Thursday, cases of Monkeypox in Portugal have exceeded 400, and cases have also been reported in Madeira.

According to the DGS, all confirmed infections are in men between the ages of 19 and 61, with the majority under 40 years of age, who remain in clinical follow-up and are stable

Portugal participates in Europol action against child trafficking – 130 arrests from various countries.

Portugal was involved in a Europol action against child trafficking that resulted in the arrest of more than 130 people and the opening of more than a hundred investigations, the European body announced today.

According to a press release, the operation took place between June 6th and 13th and was coordinated by the Frontex agency, with the participation of 22 countries alongside Interpol and more than 22,480 agents, with controls carried out at sea and land borders and airlines at European level.

There was also verification of around 13,500 locations, 193,020 vehicles, more than 101,000 documents (101,790) and almost a million people (970,440).

During the operation, 60 new suspects and more than 130 potential victims of human trafficking were identified, of which more than a dozen are minors.

The investigations carried out by Europol – which coordinated the operational activities, through a virtual command post – also made it possible to detect more than 220 falsified documents.

“Law enforcement authorities have also verified the identities of more than 11,130 minors, who remain the most vulnerable group within the people who are trafficked and exploited. Many are victims of sexual exploitation, forced begging or different types of forced crime, including petty crimes and drug trafficking. They also become victims of labour exploitation and domestic slavery.

In addition to Portugal, this operation also included efforts from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Holland, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.