The most worst passports in the world

These are the most useless passports in the world

It is no secret that the UK passport is amongst one of the strongest in the world, allowing access to 175 countries without a visa.**

That's according to the Visa Restrictions Index, which compiled data from 218 countries and produced a list with 104 places (multiple countries tied in a position).

This year’s Index, along with the unique cumulative data from the last 11 years, gives an unprecedented into the development of visa policies over this time.

Here are the passports you will have an incredibly hard time travelling on, with the brackets () indicating the number of countries that can be travelled to without a visa:

1. Afghanistan, rank 104, (25)

2. Pakistan, rank 103, (29)

3. Iraq, rank 102 (31)

4. Somalia, rank 101 (31)

5. Syria, rank 100 (32)

6. Libya, rank 99 (36)

7. Eritrea, rank 98 (37)

=. Ethiopia, rank 98 (37)

=. Iran, rank 98 (37)

=. Nepal, rank 98 (37)

=. Palestinian Territories, rank 98 (37)

=. Sudan rank, 98 (37)

European Commission proposes visa-free travel for Ukrainians

EC proposes visa-free travel for Ukrainians

The European Commission has proposed to the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament to lift visa requirements for the citizens of Ukraine by transferring Ukraine to the list of countries whose citizens can travel without a visa to the Schengen area.

This proposal comes after the Commission gave a positive assessment last December, confirming that Ukraine successfully met all benchmarks under the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP).

Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos said: that the EC had followed up on their commitment to propose short-stay visa-free travel to the EU for Ukrainian citizens with biometric passports – facilitating people-to-people contacts and strengthening business, social and cultural ties between the EU and Ukraine. 

“This is the result of the success of the Ukrainian government in achieving far-reaching and difficult reforms in the Justice and Home Affairs area and beyond, impacting on areas such as the rule of law and justice reform. I am very satisfied with the progress achieved, it is an important achievement for the citizens of Ukraine, and I hope that the European Parliament and the Council will adopt our proposal very soon”, the Commissioner said.

Once the proposal is adopted by the European Parliament and the Council, Ukrainian citizens with biometric passports will no longer require visas when travelling for short stays of up to 90 days to the Schengen area. 

The visa-free travel will apply to all EU Member States, except for Ireland and the UK, as well as the four Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). 

The exemption concerns only short-stay visas valid for up to 90 days of travel in any 180-day period for business, tourist or family purposes. The visa exemption does not provide for the right to work in the EU.

Other entry conditions for accessing the Schengen area will continue to apply, including the need to be able to prove sufficient financial means and the purpose of travel.

Portuguese refugee cash to be cleared “in coming weeks, will receive up to 6,000 Euros per person

Portuguese refugee cash to be cleared “in coming weeks”

The Portuguese Home Affairs Ministry has said this week that it will be paying the institutions which house refugees “in the coming weeks”, arguing that the delay is due to the fact that EU funds to assist in the refugee relocation programme were only received earlier this month.

The Ministry disclosed this information after the Portuguese Council for Refugees (CPR) went public with the fact that it had only received cash from the state for four of the 47 refugees it has been housing since late last year.

The CPR added that the money for the four refugees, who arrived in December, had only been paid in half, with the other 50 percent still outstanding.

The Ministry however said that all mechanisms were now in place to pay the outstanding amounts to the CPR that would cover the expenses incurred so far by the 47 refugees.

EU rules state that countries who receive refugees from Greece and Italy will receive a total of 6,000 euros per adult and 4,000 euros per child over a period of 18 months.

Government officials have also revealed that 195 refugees have arrived in Portugal under the European relocation programme since December.

The Austrian parliament has passed new asylum law

What is happening?

The Austrian parliament has passed controversial legislation paving the way for tougher measures on asylum.

It includes, for example, an accelerated process for assessing potential asylum claims under which migrants could be turned away at the border.

Asylum will only be granted to people who are likely to be persecuted if they are sent back to their country of origin.

Refugees who already have close family living in Austria would also be allowed to remain.

Parliament would have to confirm that public order and security are under threat for the measures to be implemented.

What is happening at the Brenner Pass?

Media reports suggest Austria is planning to build a fence at the border with Italy.

What is happening?

The Austrian parliament has passed controversial legislation paving the way for tougher measures on asylum.

It includes, for example, an accelerated process for assessing potential asylum claims under which migrants could be turned away at the border.

Asylum will only be granted to people who are likely to be persecuted if they are sent back to their country of origin.

Refugees who already have close family living in Austria would also be allowed to remain.

Parliament would have to confirm that public order and security are under threat for the measures to be implemented.

What is happening at the Brenner Pass?

Media reports suggest Austria is planning to build a fence at the border with Italy.

Work on the barrier will form part of Vienna’s preparations for controls to be introduced 

ustrian officials say they expect a wave of migrants to head north soon.

Is Italy happy about this?

No.

Rome says border restrictions at the Brenner Pass north-south transport link are not justified, given the small number of migrants arriving there.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi says the plans are “shamelessly against European rules, as well as being against history, against logic and against the future.”

Additionally, the Brenner Pass is the busiest route through the Alps.

It is Italy’s main transport link to Germany, its top trading partner. Controls will slow down traffic and could impact on trade.

What are the reported plans?

• A 400 metre-long fence at the border
• Three checkpoints on the motorway

(Sources: Tiroler Tageszeitung, APA)

Why has Austria suddenly toughened its stance against migrants?

Opinion is divided.

Some say it is in response to a predicted surge of migrants arriving from Italy via the central Mediterranean route.

Others think there is a political aspect to the vote.

The Austrian parliament passed the new legislation just days after a far-right party came top in the first round of the country’s presidential election.

The Portuguese party for animals and nature, known as PAN calls for television ban on bullfights

PAN calls for television ban on bullfights

The Portuguese party for animals and nature, known as PAN, has tabled a law in parliament which seeks to ban televised bullfights on state broadcaster RTP.

PAN argued in a statement that vast majority of Portuguese no longer approve of violent and indiscriminate acts against animals, as is the case with bullfighting.

The party led by André Silva has also tabled another project in which it calls for all children under the age of 18 to be prohibited from performing in bullfights, both professionally and on an amateur level.

Suspected Paris attacker Salah Abdeslam has been placed under formal investigation on charges of belonging to a terrorist organisation

Suspected Paris attacker Salah Abdeslam has been placed under formal investigation on charges of belonging to a terrorist organisation, murder, kidnapping and holding weapons and explosives.

His lawyer Frank Berton made the following statement: “I think it’s important for everybody to know that he wants to explain himself. So now, we are at the very beginning of the investigation and legal proceedings. This is his first appearance. He was notified of the charges against him. He is in detention. A copy of the file has been handed to me and we’ll get to work and then we will be heard by the judges. “

He is currently being held in solitary confinement
in Fleury-Mérogis, a prison outside the capital, as the case against him is compiled.

Portuguese Ministry of Home Affairs hires psychiatrists for GNR

Portugal’s Ministry of Home Affairs is to hire two psychiatrists to work with the country’s GNR police force.

The mental health professionals are due to start work in May. Minister for Home Affairs Constança Urbano de Sousa said Tuesday that the GNR force currently has 15 psychologists at its disposal while the PSP force has 24.

Suicides among the forces are one of the main areas the Ministry is looking into, and a study into the issue is being carried out.

Last year eight PSP officers and five GNR officers took their own lives.

Taxpayers begin to receive IRS refunds this week

To date they have been submitted statements 2,580,880 less 806,058 over the period
homologue of the previous year



Taxpayers who gave the statements of IRS from the first day of April shall receive the respective repayments during this week, said Tuesday Lusa the Ministry of Finance.

The first set of IRS refunds has been committed at the end of last week, "said the same source, adding that" the targeted taxpayers will receive refunds due this week. "

According to the data available on the Portal of Finance until the day were submitted statements 2,580,880 less 806,058 over the same period last year.

During the April result the delivery of tax returns in categories A (dependent work) and H (pensions), and throughout the month of May will take place the delivery of the statements relating to other income.

Portugal has been listed for a record 98 nominations in the World Travel Awards

Portugal nominated for a record 98 nominations in 'travel Oscars'

Portugal has been listed for a record 98 nominations in the World Travel Awards. Known as the Oscars of the travel industry, Portugal is represented in almost all of the 99 categories.

Lisbon and Porto are among the best European destination nominees, while the Algarve is listed as one of the seven best beach destinations.

Madeira and the Azores, not surprisingly, are included as nominees for the best island destinations, whereas national airline TAP will be looking to continue collecting awards at the event as it has in recent years.

225,000 number of road fines prescribed in 2015 portuguese national authority

In 2015, the number of road fines that eventually prescribe the National Security Authority (MOR) increased by 13% compared to the offenses that expired last year, according to the data in the latest Annual Report of Homeland Security. In absolute terms, prescribed 225,000 fines last year, 26 thousand more than in 2014, which had a total of 199,000 fines were no longer charged by the legal deadline has been exceeded. This authority handles on average more than one million offenses a year.

What explains this? Report on Internal Security Annual 2015, that national authority admits "difficulties, particularly with regard to the contracting of services." The expense of Mors in 2015 fell 24.5%, which "turned out to also have direct implications both in the number of decided case" or "prescribing", which increased compared to the year 2014 ". PUBLIC tried unsuccessfully to get further clarification mor on this topic. However, a source linked to the sector said that many cases of this kind ever arrive - after long delays - the next mor prescribing after they passed the PSP and the GNR.

Anyway, in 2013, the Homeland Security Annual Report this year explained that "the offenses Management Unit" had "13 makers lawyers, ie 8 more than in 2012 when there were only counted five jurists makers. " The table that unit provided then 27 lawyers senior technicians, number "which actually never been achieved in its fullness."


At that time, the national authority highlighted the "dematerialization of proceedings for offenses" that "contributed to reducing the average time between the commission of the offense and the enforcement of the sanction." Thus, the MOR stressed the strengthening of "disciplining effect of supervision and, above all, deterring bad driving practices that largely form the basis of road accidents."

Australia has chosen France to build a new fleet of submarines, turning down Japanese and German bids.

Australia has chosen France to build a new fleet of submarines, turning down Japanese and German bids.

The lucrative contract to build 12 submarines has gone to the state-ownedDCNS Group

It is being described as one of the world’s most lucrative defence contracts, worth the equivalent of 34 billion euros.

The Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, told reporters: “These submarines will be the most sophisticated naval vessels being built in the world and they will be built here, in Australia, with Australian jobs, Australian steel, Australian expertise and this will secure our future security.”

The awarding of the contract to France is a blow to Germany and Japan, which has been attempting to boost itsmilitary exports.

The Japanese bid had earlier been seen as a frontrunner, but there appeared to be initial reluctance to build the submarines in Australia.

The French have offered a diesel-electric version of their Barracuda nuclear-powered submarine.

Tax leaks trails starts in Luxembourg

The trial has begun of a French journalist and two former staff of accountancy firm Price Water house Coopers who are accused of leaking details of corporate tax deals that have fuelled global protests for reform.

The lawyer for the former PwC employees argues the pair are whistle blowers in need of protection.

The case, dubbed LuxLeaks, has sparked claims that Luxembourg conspired with multinational firms to deprive other EU states of tax revenue.

Civil rights groups are also up in arms over what they see as one rule for the rich and another for the poor.

Some analysts say Luxembourg authorities face a dilemma between defending confidentiality within financial institutions on whose customers the tiny state’s economy depends and avoiding damage to its public image that could discourage business.

A Portuguese student in Poland claims to have been the victim of a racist attack.

Portuguese student in Poland denounces ‘racist attack’

A Portuguese student in Poland claims to have been the victim of a racist attack.

According to a report in newspaper Público one of 15 Portuguese students in the city of Rzeszow on an Erasmus education exchange programme was assaulted by a man on the street.

The group has been moved from the hostel in which they were staying and put up in a house with private security on the outskirts of the city.

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Faro Airport have been arrested UK couple with cocaine in shampoo bottle

A couple who arrived from the United Kingdom at Faro Airport have been arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle cocaine into the country.

In a statement issued last night by Portuguese Immigration Office SEF, it revealed that the cocaine was found in shampoo containers in the couple’s luggage.

SEF explained that a woman, aged 29 and a man who is 32, were arrested on Sunday evening and placed in the custody of PJ Police in Faro.

The British pair is expected to be heard at Faro Court later Tuesday as it was shut due to the Monday bank holiday.

Officials have as yet not released their names or their nationalities.

GNR police officers have detected over 3,000 speeding drivers

GNR police officers have over the past week detected over 3,000 speeding drivers.

The offending drivers were picked up during a week-long operation that ended Sunday, and which aimed to clamp down on speeding throughout the country.

Around 190,000 drivers were monitored during the seven-day operation, of which 3,286 were pulled over for driving too fast. 

Portugal celebrated 42 anniversary of the Revolution Day

Portugal is today celebrating the 42 anniversary of the Revolution that saw the country move from dictatorship to democracy.

Known as the Carnation Revolution, on 25 April 1974 the Portuguese military and citizens rose up to overthrow the fascist government. 

The revolution started as a military coup organized by the Armed Forces Movement, but the movement was soon coupled with an unexpected popular campaign of civil resistance.

Most services and amenities will be closed today, as it is a national holiday.

30,000 protesters have taken to the streets of Hannover in northern Germany ahead of a visit by US president Barack Obama.

More than 30,000 protesters have taken to the streets of Hannover in northern Germany ahead of a visit by US president Barack Obama.

The demonstrators are concerned about the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the US and EU.

The trade negotiations have been carried out mostly in secret but would open up Europe’s public services such as health, education and water to US companies.

Critics fear that EU standards on food safety and the environment would be lowered to be closer to those in the US and that there would be less protection for employees.

One demonstrator said: “The agreements unilaterally benefit big companies and lobby groups, and normal people and their livelihood provisions are pushed into the background and become a tool for furthering the interests of big companies”.

“I have generally always been actively opposed to agreements that in essence are a dispossession of our democracy, and we have to continue to try and fight this,” said another.

Obama argues the agreement would mean “new growth and jobs on both sides of the Atlantic”.

His visit to Germany comes at the end of a six day trip, three days of which were spent in the UK urging voters to remain in the EU.

Syrian refugee’s dream of carrying the Olympic torch to come true 2016 Rio games.

On Tuesday (April 26), Syrian refugee Ibrahim Al-Hussein will carry the Olympic flame in Athens as part of the torch relay ahead of the 2016 Rio games.

A swimmer, his friends and coaches say he has shown more strength and perseverance than most. Four years ago, Ibrahim lost part of his right leg in a bombing back in Syria.

“After 20 years, I’ve managed to make my dream come true. I always dreamed about this and I dreamed of competing in the Olympic Games. And today I am here and I reached higher than that. I have the honour of carrying the Olympic flame. It is the symbol of this competition and the honour of this competition,” he said.

Ibrahim crossed the Aegean Sea in a dinghy in 2014. Initially landing on the island of Samos, he later moved to Athens, where he now has a job and an intense sports schedule.

He says he is carrying the flame “for myself, but also for Syrians, for refugees everywhere, for Greece, for sports, for my swimming and basketball teams.

“My goal is to never give up. But to go on, to always go forward. And that I can achieve through sports.”

Over $1 million paid by FBI to unlock iphone

The FBI is estimated to have paid more than $1.3 million to get into the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino killers

The figure, the largest ever publicised fee for a hackingjob, is based on the salary of Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey.

Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum in London, Comey was asked by a moderator how much the FBI paid for the software that eventually broke into the iPhone.

“A lot. More than I will make in the remainder of this job, which is seven years and four months for sure,” Comey said.

“But it was, in my view, worth it.”

According to figures from the FBI and the US Office of Management and Budget, Comey’s annual salary as of January 2015 was $183,300. Without a raise or bonus, Comey will make $1.34 million over the remainder of his job.

As Earth Day 175 countries signed the historic Paris accord to slow global warming.

As Earth Day was being observed around the planet on Friday, a record number of 175 countries signed the historic Paris accord to slow global warming.

Both China and the United States, the world’s top producers of greenhouse gas emissions, pledged to formally adopt the deal by the end of the year, raising the prospect of it being enforced much faster than anticipated.

US Secretary of State John Kerry brought his young granddaughter along to the signing ceremony at UN headquarters in New York, sitting her on his knee as he put pen to paper, in a symbolic gesture to stress the pact’s importance for future generations.