WEDNESDAY BRIEFING

Behind this week’s headlines

 ‘Europe Day’ unity

The speaker of the Portuguese parliament said yesterday - officially recognised as ‘Europe Day’ - that the European Union was the result of efforts by Europeans themselves to avoid a new war on the continent. The Portuguese president called for “an active, leading, more determined, more decisive than ever” European Union that knows how to unite for peace and solidarity “without illiberalism or nationalism.”  

Hottest April ever

Southern Portugal and Spain had their hottest April on record with temperatures at the end of the month above 30C and close to 40C in some areas. So far, May has been very hot and it’s still springtime, so summer is expected to be exceptionally hot.

Strikes by nurses

Nurses are planning to strike on Friday this week. They will hold a demonstration in front of the ministry of health in Lisbon. They are demanding better working conditions and the hiring of more professional staff. Operations and appointments were cancelled in the Santa Maria hospital in Lisbon two weeks ago when nurses went on strike demanding the employment of more nurses and complaining about such requirements as having to carry patients on stretchers in hospital corridors.

Measles outbreak

Measles cases among children are rising across Europe. The risk of catching this viral illness is increasing because it is highly contagious. It is most common among children aged between one and four, though anyone who has not been vaccinated can catch it.

Water efficiency

An internal study released yesterday claims that the growers of fresh fruits and nuts in Portugal are much more efficient in the use of water than their counterparts in the United States.  Here, farmers reportedly use 30% to 40% less water.

Drought worries

The agriculture and food minister declared on Monday that 40% of southern Portugal is already in a drought situation requiring aid for farmers from the EU. The irrigation situation for Algarve golf course is so serious that they want to be connected to waste water systems rather than depend on normal public fresh water sources.