Police arrest 16 year old suspected of stabbing young man in Faro
A 16 year old teenager has been arrested on suspicion of having killed the 19 year old man near the municipal swimming pools in Faro, on Wednesday evening.
The victim was attacked “using a sharp weapon”, which caused “serious chest trauma” which resulted in his death “at the scene of the attacks, next to the municipal swimming pools in Faro”, say the police, in a statement.
The Judicial Police have revealed in the statement that the attack occurred “following a previously scheduled confrontation between a group of young teenagers”.
“Aware that they were outnumbered, the group of four young people that included the victim fled, being pursued by more than a dozen other teenagers. When they separated, the victim ended up being ambushed and fatally attacked.”
Investigations carried out by the Southern Directorate of the PJ allowed them “to collect relevant evidence that led to the complete identification of those involved, including the suspect responsible for the crime”.
The detainee will be brought before the judicial authority for the purposes of initial questioning and application of coercive measures.
EX-PM Costa is now European Council president
Former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa has been formally appointed to take on the second highest job in the European Union, that of President of the European Council.
Ursula Von der Leyen has been reinstated for a second term as President of the European Commission.
The nominations were approved at a special summit on Thursday by the chancellor of Germany, the president of France and the prime ministers of Greece, Poland the Netherlands and Spain.
The outcome had been widely predicted, though Costa’s forced resignation as prime minister last December raised eyebrows.
A lesser-known politician, Estonia’s Kaja Kallas, is to lead the bloc’s foreign policy service. These three key officials are expected to serve for the next five years.
The main critic since the first hint of confirmation on Tuesday has been Hungary’s Viktor Orban, who believes the results have been hatched by the European People’s Party, with leftists and liberals. This runs counter to everything the EU was based on, says Orban. He insists that the top officials should represent every member state including his own, which is led by right-wing nationalists.
The main challenges facing the top three leaders and their advisers are expected to be political turmoil at home, and the prospect of a highly divisive President Donald Trump abroad.
Von der Leyen is a German conservative. Her second term in the number one position places her in charge of the bloc’s executive branch. Costa, until recently leader of Portugal’s Socialist Party, will now be at the helm of the authority which includes the heads of government of the EU’s 27 member states. The two top leaders are generally seen as an appropriate balance in terms of their political and geographical backgrounds.
A significant contribution to Costa’s success in his bid for the Brussels job was the unequivocal backing he received from Portugal’s Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, despite the fact that Montenegro heads the centre-right coalition that has long rivalled the centre-left Socialists in Portugal’s national elections.
Costa made many key allies when he attended an EU summit in Brussels in January. Yet just a month earlier he stepped down as Portugal’s leader when investigations got underway, into alleged irregularities in his government’s handling of several large investment projects. Costa denied any wrong-doing and was never charged. However, several of his close associates remain under investigation.
Costa, 62, is believed to have all the right credentials for Brussels, including that of a moderate profile combing socialist democratic values with an orthodox approach to the economy. It is also seen as a “pragmatic negotiator.” His career so far has included working as a lawyer, mayor of Lisbon, and prime minister from 2015 to 2023.
Written by Len Port
Faro: Young man stabbed to death
A young man was stabbed to death early yesterday evening, close to the municipal pools in Faro.
Police were called to the incident at 6:30 pm yesterday evening, after reports of an argument between two young people.
Arriving at the scene, officers found a male victim with injuries apparently caused by a sharp weapon, who was treated by emergency teams. Despite their efforts, he was declared dead at the scene.
Due to the nature of the case, it is being investigated by the Judiciary Police (PJ).
British troops help troubled Irish homeowner in the Algarve
An Irish woman with a home in the Algarve is still the victim of a nasty land dispute, but she is now getting help from British veteran paramilitary soldiers and the British Foreign Office to sort out an ongoing water supply problem.
The original land dispute was so aggressive that Irish born and bred Orla Dargan feared for her life, and went into hiding from the person allegedly trying to grab her land. See the article HERE.
Her many problems associated with the dispute are now focused on water, which she says the Faro municipal council ordered to be cut off by the local water company, Fagar, in September 2022.
“They even removed the water meter. I still have no water, and I am not sure why, despite the fact that in February this year I was officially permitted to finish the building project I had long started on my home, and had paid an extra €2,800 to extend the building licence.
“I had legal permission to finish my building, so I wrote to the municipality authority at the beginning of June asking them to reinstate the water. Nothing happened! When my architect called them, they said they were very busy! The elite British ex-soldiers now staying in my home are having to collect water from a public well in the town.”
Ms Dargan continued: “One of the soldiers, Capt G, contacted the British Embassy. He spoke to the local British Consul who then called the Fagan Water Company.
Had this not happened, I am not sure how long it would have taken. I have heard it can sometimes take two years. Most civilised countries would treat the supply of water as a matter of urgency. It's a basic human right in the UN Charter of Human Rights.
“In the meantime, I am not only very stressed, but all my beautiful plants have either died, or I have had to give them away.”
Ms Dargan bought her home in the foothills behind Faro after retiring as a city investment banker in London. Her father was the CEO and chairman of the Ireland-based Aer Lingus international airline. He also served as the chairman of the world’s biggest building material manufacturer and distributor.
“It really is quite bizarre that an Irish woman is being assisted by top British retired troops and the British Embassy.”
That said, she had to be security-cleared in the UK back in the days when she was doing audit work related to Challenger Tanks. She also sat for five years on the council of the British Board of Agreement, the body that organised construction materials in the UK. At that time she was the head of corporate development at Hepworth Plc., a major UK construction materials group.
Given her distinguished career, it is not surprising that Ms Dagan finds “the whole thing with my Algarve home very odd and, very sad. But I am not alone. Other foreign homeowners are having dreadful problems too.”
Written by Len Port
Portugal's biggest Euromillions jackpot ever was won yesterday
This Tuesday's draw saw one lucky winner in Portugal win 213.8 million Euros, the “largest euromillions” prize ever won by a bettor in Portugal.
Euromillions is one of the most popular “games of chance” among the Portuguese and winning it is virtually impossible, but not entirely. Including this win, there have now been 78 first prizes awarded in Portugal since the game's launch.
The lucky winner yesterday comes from the parish of Ramalde, in Porto, plus there was also a second prize of 141.1 thousand Euros, also won in Portugal.
This, the biggest EuroMillions jackpot to be won in Portugal, also brings good news for the Portuguese State, because for prizes above 5,000 Euros, stamp duty is applied at the legal rate of 20%, in accordance with current legislation. This means the Portuguese State will collect approximately 42.8 million euros in stamp duty on this 213.8 million jackpot!
So, how are the Euromillions prizes paid?
Euromillions organiser confirm that “Prizes corresponding to bets registered in Portugal are only paid in Portugal. The receipts of the bets, issued by the gaming terminal, are the only valid way to request payment of prizes.”
Prizes are paid under the following conditions:
Up to 150 euros: payment at mediators or at the Games Department (DJ) facilities.
From 150.01 euros to 1,999.99 euros: by bank transfer at mediators or at the DJ's facilities.
From 2,000.00 euros to 4,999.99 euros: by bank transfer after identification in person at the mediators or at the DJ's facilities.
5,000.00 euros or more: by bank transfer, after identification in person at the DJ's premises, 12 days after the draw.
For prizes exceeding one million Euros, the bettor is contacted by a representative of the high-level Prizes Unit, who ensures the confidentiality of the winners.
Winners must fill out a form in the 'Receive My Prizes' section of the Euromillions website, then present themselves at DJ with the winning receipt, a valid civil identification document, NIB and proof of ownership of a bank account in Portugal.
The organisers of the draw warn that the “personal identification data of the winners are collected to comply with Anti-Money Laundering legislation and are processed by Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, in compliance with legislation relating to the protection of personal data".
The right to claim prizes expires 90 days after the corresponding competitions are held.
Police arrest 71 year old murder suspect in Sagres
Yesterday, the Judiciary Police (PJ) announced the arrest of a 71 year old man, suspected of the murder of an 84 year old man, in Sagres.
The murder occurred on Friday in Sagres, when the suspect "for futile reasons" allegedly attacked the victim with punches and a blunt object in the face and skull area, said the police statement.
“The attacks, due to their nature and the body region affected, resulted in death”.
The investigation was conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department (DIC) of the PJ of Portimão. The detainee was interviewed in the first judicial interrogation, and will be held in pre-trial detention.
The crime is reported to have taken place in the Sagres home, where both elderly men lived.
Albufeira: Code of conduct created to regulate behaviour in nightlife areas
The mayor of Albufeira has announced that he will create a code of conduct for public spaces, in order to regulate behaviour and excesses, in nightlife establishments areas of Albufeira.
The decision was taken by the mayor after an emergency meeting with security forces and tourism sector associations, following “excessive behaviour by foreign tourists in broad daylight,” that occurred over the weekend on Rua da Oura, otherwise known as "The Strip".
“The invitation to these class structures was aimed at raising awareness among business people associated with these structures, so that they do not allow the behavioural excesses that have been occurring inside and in the space surrounding their establishments”, reads the statment released by the Mayor.
José Carlos Rolo, mentioned in the note that Albufeira's image “is damaged by incidents such as those that have occurred in the bar areas”, especially in Rua da Oura, when in the rest of the municipality “there is security and tranquility”.
To “limit excesses” and after listening to the authorities and economic and tourist agents, José Carlos Rolo “determined the creation of a code of conduct to be applied in the public space of the municipality, and a commission responsible for its preparation must be created” , says the statement.
According to the municipality, “the next steps” are the creation of the commission and a meeting with the Minister of Internal Administration, Margarida Blasco.
The mayor adds that he understands the need for social spaces and nightlife, but states that he is “determined to limit the attitudes and behaviours of some of its visitors, when the limits of a municipality with its own culture and identity are exceeded.”
