Killer confesses to shooting Black actor dead // Portugal opens door to British tourists
Portuguese news in English on Sunday, May 16, 2021.
By the numbers
Case numbers have stopped falling, remaining pretty much completely flat since Thursday. Daily deaths have ticked up ever so slightly, mostly because seven COVID-19 patients died yesterday, the most lethal day since the middle of April. Hospitalisations and the number of COVID-19 patients in ICU have also slightly increased in the past couple of days but are in roughly the same position as a week ago. The North has recorded roughly a third more cases than Lisbon and the Tejo Valley since the start of the month.
Killer confesses to shooting Black actor dead
The man who killed Black actor Bruno Candé in broad daylight has admitted shooting his victim but denied official accusations of racism, Público reports. The 39-year-old was shot dead in a busy Lisbon suburb in the middle of the day on July 25 last year, provoking outrage and anti-racism protests. On the first day of his murder trial, on Thursday, Evaristo Marinho recounted his actions in a cold and detached matter, speaking about how a “premonition” led him to load his gun and take it outside and that he “lost his head”. The court heard the white man had argued with the actor over his dog in the days leading up to the shooting and been heard hurling an array of racist insults at Mr Candé, including “go back to your country” and “your whole family is in a slave house and you should be there too”. Prosecutors argued the shooting was motivated by racial hatred, which would result in a longer prison term if proven. The 77-year-old claimed Mr Candé had called him a “son of a bitch” and other insults during an argument. Speaking to the Judiciary police, Marinho had denied being racist but admitted saying “your bitch of a mother should be in a slave house”. At the trial, he denied any accusation of racism, describing the accusations as a “complete hoax”, despite having confirmed them point-by-point in front of a magistrate.
Portugal opens door to British tourists
The English are coming. Portugal has reopened its borders to tourists from the United Kingdom just days before entering the British “green list” allowing quarantine-free holidays, Diário de Notícias reports. It’s a coup for the country’s ailing tourism industry at a time when trips from the UK to major competitors Spain, Greece and Italy, along with most of the rest of Europe, are still not recommended and spark a 10-day quarantine period. Tourism industry figures said it was important to make the most of the advantage, make a good impression on visitors and keep the pandemic under control here, which would keep the country in the good books for travel. Ryanair said bookings from the UK surged 850%, almost 60% for May and June. British travellers arriving in Portugal will still need to present a negative covid-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure. Non-essential travel from most countries outside the EU is still off-limits for anyone that isn’t an EU citizen or resident.
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Covid concerns after thousands celebrate os Campeões, Sporting
In a bit of history that I really was not expecting to see this year, Sporting Clube de Portugal are league champions for the first time in almost three decades! The third of the “big three” Portuguese clubs (and the team I support) sealed the deal with two games to spare thanks to a 1-0 victory over Boavista. There’s a good chance Lisbon residents heard the celebrations echoing throughout the night, particularly those near the stadium in Alvalade or the celebration zone at Marquês de Pombal. Of course, there’s a pandemic on, so tens of thousands of fans gathering in one spot, some without masks and many singing loudly, wasn’t ideal. Experts criticised a lack of planning and while some say the fact everything took place outside could lower the risk of transmission, others expect cases could rise following the celebrations, Público reports. Instead of some form of pre-organised celebration, they described “chaos”, with insufficient barricades and, Público reports, several injured as police fired rubber bullets and used their batons to try to control crowds. The Directorate-General of Health asked anyone who took part in the celebrations to get tested on the fifth and 10th day afterwards, reduce their contacts and monitor for symptoms.
The latest on reopening
There are no national changes from Monday but a few local changes. Of the two Odemira freguesias (parishes) that were behind a sanitary cordon, Longueira-Almograve has rejoined the rest of the country but São Teotónio remains locked down, Diário de Notícias reports. The councils of Arganil and Lamego go back to measures in place from April 19 and Resende remains at April 5 measures. Carregal do Sal, Cabeceiras de Basto and Paredes have rejoined the rest of the country on the current measures. The government is still weighing the expert-designed plans to manage the pandemic as we get to the point where everyone above 60 has been vaccinated, Público reports. Among major changes, which I stress have not yet been approved, one possibility is that vaccinated people may not need to wear a mask. The state of calamity continues until the end of the month and working from home remains mandatory for those who can.
In brief
Bathing season starts today. There are fines of €50-€100 for breaking covid-19 rules, which should be broadly the same as last year but are yet to be publicised. The exact reopening dates vary from council to council, with most opening in June.
Prosecutors to appeal sentences of SEF inspectors who beat Ukrainian citizen to death. They argue the sentences of seven and nine years are too light. Ihor Homeniuk’s family’s lawyers say the facts accepted in court are enough to prove aggravated murder.
Dramatic fall in driver licences granted last year. The Transport and Mobility Institute (IMT) granted about 87,200 licences, 27.7% fewer than last year.
'Portugal could be the mediator to reach a truce between Israel and Palestine'. Palestinian Ambassador in Portugal highlights country’s position with Presidency of the Council of the European Union and former PM António Guterres as UN Secretary-General.
On a lighter note
I have a new and very specific obsession: light shows projected onto the walls of amazing old buildings and set to a soundtrack. You would think this would be a difficult obsession to indulge, but not in Lisbon. First came the Monet and Klimpt exhibition at the Mãe D'Água das Amoreiras Reservoir near the Rato metro station (which I really enjoyed). And now you can go see Lisbon Legends at the Ruínas do Carmo, an “audiovisual show that will transform the Carmo Ruins into a ‘box of memories’ and take the audience on a journey through the legends and mysteries of Lisbon's seven hills”. It’s apparently narrated in English and Portuguese (not sure exactly how that works) and, according to Público, features such prominent figures as Fernando Pessoa, Martim Moniz and Luís de Camões.
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