Portugal has asked its European partners for coronavirus vaccines to help hasten its inoculation campaign, Health Minister Marta Temido said on Tuesday.
Lisbon "has made a huge effort" to receive more vaccines, Ms Temido said after a meeting of experts to review the health situation.
About 45 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated, with the government aiming for 70 per cent by the end of August.
Portugal hopes to receive nearly a million doses in the next three weeks, said Henrique Gouveia e Melo, the co-ordinator of the national vaccination programme.
The country has already received about 290,000 doses from Norway and is negotiating with Italy for another 300,000.
On Tuesday it received 200,000 AstraZeneca doses from Hungary, which are intended for Portuguese-speaking African countries and East Timor.
The assistance shows the "spirit of European co-operation", said Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva, alongside his Hungarian peer Peter Szijjarto.
The Portuguese government is waiting for approval from health authorities to push ahead with plans to vaccinate 12-17 year olds before the start of the school year.
"Vaccination of children is essential. Without it there will be a peak in new cases" in the autumn, epidemiologist Henrique de Barros said at the meeting.
Some of the scientific experts consulted on Tuesday said the country should be close to the peak of the latest wave.
They called for a change in restrictions depending on the vaccination rate.
About 6.5 million people in the country of 10 million have already received one vaccine dose and 4.5 million are fully vaccinated.
Portugal has been hit for several weeks by a surge in new infections because of the Delta variant, which now accounts for more than 98 per cent of cases.
To try to contain the epidemic, the government has extended the use of a "health pass" restricting access to hotels and restaurants for the unvaccinated, and instituted a night-time curfew in the most affected areas.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
England squad
Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Dominic Bess, James Bracey, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Ben Foakes, Lewis Gregory, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Amar Virdi, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Ovo's tips to find extra heat
- Open your curtains when it’s sunny
- Keep your oven open after cooking
- Have a cuddle with pets and loved ones to help stay cosy
- Eat ginger but avoid chilli as it makes you sweat
- Put on extra layers
- Do a few star jumps
- Avoid alcohol
