1. New Portuguese Store That Wants to Improve the Lives of Dogs
OhMyDog&Co is a Portuguese initiative created by João Vinagre to elevate the role of dogs in society while fostering an informed, conscious community of pet owners. After moving from London to New York in 2014 and adopting a schnauzer named Brooklyn, João had difficulty finding sustainable, aesthetically pleasing, and high-quality dog products. This led to the creation of the store, designed to offer practical solutions that improve the quality of life for dogs and strengthen the bond between them and their human companions.
Initially launched online with a focus on luxury, OhMyDog&Co’s product selection is driven by sustainability, social responsibility, and exclusivity. Brands like Cloud7 from Germany, which offers leather collars, leashes, and beds, as well as handmade accessories from Austria’s Molly & Stitch, are featured. The goal is to provide durable, high-end products that are also accessible, with prices ranging from €5 to €360. Although currently focusing on northern and central Europe, João plans to introduce local Portuguese brands and create his own line.
João’s vision extends beyond an online store. He wants to interact directly with dog owners, allowing them to see, touch, and try products in person. To make this vision a reality, the first physical location was opened at 8 Marvila in Poço do Bispo, providing a space for customers to explore the brand’s offerings. The plan is to expand to other cities like Cascais and Porto while continuing to foster a community based on interaction, trust, and a shared passion for improving the lives of dogs.
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2. The Avenidas Anniversary – There’s Theater, Legos, and Music, and It’s All Free
The Avenidas project – A Theater in Every Neighborhood – turns two and will celebrate over three days. This Saturday, December 14, there was a Lego printmaking workshop at 10:00 AM the Santos ao Rego Market. It was designed for the whole family and led by João Tito Basto from the Periférico Center, which focuses on artistic experimentation. At 11:00 AM, the Ser Atelier invited participants to paint a new map of the neighborhood, which would later be exhibited at the Avenidas space. On December 16, between 3:30 PM and 6:00 PM, the documentary Readings in Motion II will be screened, a result of an interdisciplinary activity at the Marquesa de Alorna Primary School, based on the short story The Treasure by Eça de Queiroz.
On December 17, 2022, the Avenidas opened in the Rego neighborhood as the first space of the A Theater in Every Neighborhood network, aiming to offer the community a diverse cultural program, including concerts, art exhibitions, debates, workshops, and classes.On the anniversary day, there will be a cake-cutting at 7:00 PM, followed by a DJ set at 7:30 PM with DJ Mauro G to close the celebrations. But before that, there’s still a lot happening. At 2:30 PM, the exhibition Postcards from My Life will open, featuring postcards telling the stories and memories of elderly members of the ANADIC and ADAS associations. At 6:00 PM, Faces of Avenidas will showcase portraits of people who have passed through the space over the past two years. The photographs are by second-year students from the Photography course at the Professional School of Digital Technology. At 4:00 PM, the play Tell Me a Story… Rego will premiere, celebrating the traditions and experiences of older generations.
Where? Rua Alberto de Sousa 10A (Bairro do Rego).
How much? Free.
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3. Music in Neighborhoods: From Ukraine to Gambia, from Marvila to Mercês, This Festival Decentralizes Everything
From January 12 to April 30, the Música em Bairros festival will present 15 free concerts designed to bring contemporary Portuguese culture beyond Lisbon’s city center. With performances at venues like Casa da Juventude da Tapada das Mercês and Quinta Alegre, the festival highlights cultural diversity through artists from Ukraine to Gambia, all residing in Portugal. This initiative aims to decentralize cultural offerings and engage communities in areas often underserved by traditional cultural venues, creating opportunities for artistic exchange and connection.
The festival’s goal is to create a regular presence of cultural events outside the usual spots, offering a platform for migrant artists to share their music with wider audiences. The Casa da Juventude in Algueirão-Mem Martins serves as a crucial cultural space in the Linha de Sintra, where access to traditional cultural centers is limited. With a focus on inclusivity, Música em Bairros is designed to overcome barriers such as the cost of entry and the exclusion felt by certain communities in Lisbon, as explained by Maria Kopke from Soma Cultura, the festival’s organizer.
Featuring artists like Mbye Ebrima, whose Mandingka-Kaabunké kora music transcends language barriers, and the Litá Folk Band, representing Ukrainian polyphonic folk traditions, the festival fosters cultural exchange and understanding. By presenting a diverse lineup that includes Afghan Sounds, Música em Bairros brings both music and community together, offering concerts that are free and accessible to all. The festival’s success hinges on making cultural events available where people live, creating spaces for connection, learning, and shared experiences.
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4. Portugal Is Among the Ten European Countries That Had Employment Growth
Portugal is one of the ten EU member states that saw job growth in the third quarter of 2024. The EU employment rate for individuals aged 20 to 64 reached 75.9%, a 0.1 percentage point increase from the previous quarter. Among the countries showing employment growth, Malta had the highest increase, followed by Romania, Ireland, Italy, and Cyprus, each with a 0.5 percentage point rise. Portugal saw a notable improvement of 0.6 percentage points, placing it in the group of countries with rising employment.
Despite challenges, the European labor market shows resilience, with employment rising in several member states between July and September. However, in countries like Latvia and the Netherlands, the employment rate remained unchanged, while 15 nations saw a decrease. Luxembourg experienced the largest drop, with a 1 percentage point decline. Overall, 10 EU countries saw an improvement, with Portugal being among them.
In terms of unemployment, 3.1 million individuals in the EU found new job opportunities during this period, representing 23.4% of the unemployed population. Conversely, 1.3% of employed individuals transitioned into unemployment. A total of 199.3 million people remained employed, while 6.7 million continued to be unemployed. Additionally, 3.4 million unemployed individuals and 5 million employed people exited the labor force.
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5. In Portugal, Women, Young People, and Those Working in the Tourist Industry Earn the Lowest Salaries
Over a fifth of workers in Portugal earn the minimum wage, with the highest incidence among women, young people, and people working in the tourist industry. A study by CoLabor highlights that, while the minimum wage has helped reduce inequalities, it has also exacerbated wage compression. The minimum wage coverage, which was below 10% until 2006, now includes 22.4% of private sector employees, with women at 26.5% and young workers (under 25) at 35.1%. The tourism sector, including accommodation and catering, shows the highest incidence of minimum wage earners at 38.3%.
Despite nominal increases, the real value of the minimum wage has not changed significantly over time. The 2024 minimum wage is 820 euros, a nominal increase of 335 euros since 2014, but adjusted for inflation, the real rise is 32.5%. In 2023, 287,000 workers benefited from a higher minimum wage through collective bargaining, but there is a decline in sector-wide agreements, with company-level agreements now comprising the majority.
The Portuguese labor market also suffers from high precariousness, with around 1 million private sector workers in temporary contracts. The tourism and agricultural sectors are particularly affected by seasonal work. Collective bargaining covers fewer people, with sector agreements decreasing from 60% in 2005 to 37% in 2023. Additionally, foreign workers have nearly doubled since 2018, and many workers, especially women and in tourism, hold qualifications above the level required for their jobs.
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6. New Attorney General of the Republic Says Operation Influencer Isn’t Over Yet
Amadeu Guerra, the new Attorney General of the Republic (Procurador Geral da República – PGR), took office with the goal of improving the credibility of the Ministry of Public Prosecutions (MP). In his first interview since his appointment, Guerra acknowledged that the MP is currently in a phase of discredit and emphasized the need for more communication. He intends to personally oversee key cases like the ongoing Operação Influencer (because of which former Prime Minister António Costa, who is now President of the European Council, resigned) to ensure its progress. Guerra expressed concern about the investigation’s impact but assured that it is far from over. He plans to meet with the prosecutors leading the case to discuss it face-to-face.
In the interview, Guerra also distanced himself from his predecessor, Lucília Gago, and acknowledged the difficulties that the MP has faced. He revealed that he is committed to ensuring justice is served, even if it means dropping cases without sufficient evidence, citing his stance on previous high-profile cases like the submarines’ scandal. Guerra wants to rebuild trust in the system and ensure that prosecutors are supported and motivated, fostering internal cohesion within the MP.
Regarding Gago’s tenure, Guerra reflected that she “had bad luck” with certain decisions, including how the Operação Influencer case was handled. He emphasized that if there were insufficient grounds for prosecution in any case, the MP should refrain from pressing charges, despite external pressures. Guerra’s approach will focus on reinforcing the MP’s integrity and improving its public perception.
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7. Cascais Finances Replacement of Windows, Solar Panels, or Appliances, Up to 100%
Câmara Municipal de Cascais has launched a “Fundo Verde Famílias Cascais,” supporting residents with up to 100% funding for energy-efficient home improvements. The fund offers a ceiling of 10,000 euros per household, aiming to help families enhance energy efficiency through measures like installing solar panels, replacing windows, or upgrading to efficient appliances. Nuno Lopes, the municipality’s vice president, emphasized that the fund is designed to reach the most vulnerable families, particularly those who find national and European programs complex.
The initiative’s funding will be allocated based on IRS income brackets, with the first two allowing 100% coverage, and higher brackets contributing between 50% and 80%. Residents can access the funds by contacting participating IPSS institutions, which will guide them through the process without any direct financial transaction. Nuno Lopes highlighted the municipality’s commitment to ensuring no family is excluded, promising additional funds if demand exceeds expectations. The program’s goal is a significant reduction in energy costs, estimating up to 50%.
To avoid overlapping with national environmental programs, Cascais has coordinated with ADENE and FCT for cross-checking. With an initial budget of three million euros, the city aims to assess demand and possibly increase funding. This unprecedented initiative focuses on local solutions to complement national support, bringing immediate benefits to the population.
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8. Lisbon City Council Awards 173 Affordable Rental Homes
The Câmara de Lisboa has announced the allocation of 173 more affordable rental homes, with monthly rents starting at 150 euros, adding to the 913 homes already distributed since the beginning of Carlos Moedas’ term. The initiative, part of a broader effort to address housing issues in the city, aims to provide 173 families the opportunity to live in dignified, affordable housing. The new homes are mainly located at Lote 7 on Rua Sanches Coelho in Entrecampos, with construction starting in 2023.
Carlos Moedas emphasized that housing is a top priority for the municipality, with a focus on providing concrete, diversified solutions to Lisbon’s housing problems. The efforts include building new homes, rehabilitating existing ones, and opening previously closed municipal properties. The available homes, ranging from T0 to T4, are scattered across various Lisbon neighborhoods, including Santa Maria Maior, Alvalade, Estrela, and others.
The municipality has opened applications for this housing program, which will close on January 14, 2025. Moedas highlighted the ongoing commitment to tackling Lisbon’s housing crisis through both new construction and rental support programs, ensuring that the most vulnerable residents benefit from affordable living options.
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9. Lufthansa Announces Aircraft Parts Repair Factory in Santa Maria da Feira That Will Create “More Than 700 Jobs”
Lufthansa Technik announced the construction of a 54,000-square-meter factory in Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal, which will focus on repairing airplane engine parts and components. The factory, set to be completed by 2027, will create over 700 jobs in the region. This marks the first time Lufthansa Technik has built its own facilities in Portugal. Located at Lusopark Industrial Park, the factory will feature cutting-edge technologies in the MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) sector.
In addition to the factory, Lufthansa Technik will build a training center in Santa Maria da Feira in 2025 to prepare future employees. The company is also recruiting for positions such as mechanics, electronics technicians, engineers, and HR managers, with job listings available on their website.
The Minister of Economy, Pedro Reis, praised the project, highlighting its significance in Portugal’s re-industrialization and its potential to attract foreign investment. The Agency for Investment and External Trade (AICEP) also welcomed the decision, noting that this investment will enhance Portugal’s competitiveness in the aerospace industry, as more high-caliber companies establish themselves in the country.
The mayor of Santa Maria da Feira, Amadeu Albergaria, emphasized that this investment will bring specialized jobs, economic growth, and community development to the region. Lufthansa Technik, a global leader in the aerospace sector, maintains contracts for around 4,000 aircraft and generated 6.5 billion euros in revenue in 2023.
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10. TAP Named Best Airline in Europe Once Again
For the 14th consecutive year, TAP was named the best airline in Europe in the GT Tested Reader Survey, conducted by Global Traveler magazine. This recognition follows the airline’s January accolade as one of the safest airlines globally. The awards ceremony took place at the L’Ermitage Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, where TAP was honored alongside various other travel-related categories. This recognition continues to highlight the airline’s service and growth, particularly in the U.S.
The Global Traveler survey, lasting five months, collected feedback from more than 500,000 readers, excluding travel industry professionals. TAP’s consistent success in these surveys is a testament to the satisfaction of frequent travelers, who are typically high-net-worth individuals and regular international flyers. Readers of the magazine have an average net worth of $2.8 million, with many flying in first and business class, and seeking luxury hotels.
Fernanda Ottavio, TAP’s Sales and Marketing Director for North America, expressed excitement over the continued positive feedback from readers. This year’s survey results show the airline’s growing presence and customer satisfaction as it continues to expand its services in the U.S. Global Traveler readers take an average of 18 domestic flights annually, while a significant majority travels abroad, reinforcing TAP’s reputation as a preferred European airline.
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