LATEST FROM PORTUGAL'S LUSA AGENCY

 

Portugal's national statistics institute (INE) confirmed on Friday that the country's economy grew 2.3% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025 and recorded zero growth compared to the final quarter of that year.

 Portuguese Competition Authority (AdC) has given the green light to the purchase of aviation catering group, Catering Por, by the Swiss group Gate Gourmet.

The Portuguese government is set to launch an auction for 750 megavolt-amperes (MVA) of battery capacity and draw up contracts for difference (CfDs) to stabilise energy prices and boost investment in the sector, the minister for the environment and energy announced on Friday.

The Portuguese govern ment will put the National Energy Storage Strategy out for public consultation on 29 June, as part of its policy to strengthen the energy transition, the environment and energy minister announced on Friday.

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) will re-elect Luis Montenegro as party president on Saturday as he stands as the sole candidate for a new two-year mandate, facing no upcoming elections but navigating international uncertainty and the domestic "shadow" of former PM, Pedro Passos Coelho.

Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro has called for cooperation from the public in preventing rural fires, advocating a joint effort between the state, local authorities, landowners and citizens to reduce risks.

GOODBYE BELOVED SALLY G!

 

A remarkably big crowd turned out on Thursday to pay tribute to Sally Goodchild who died recently of cancer.

 

The gathering on the beachside by Club Nau in Ferragudo was organised by Sally’s husband Sean, and attended among many, many others by Sean’s elderly mother Colleen, Sally; s brother and sister Peter and Julie, and her daughters Emily and Sarah.

 

Warm speeches focused on praising Sally’s deep commitment to caring and helping in so many ways.  She was a truly wonderful person who will be very sadly missed.

 

Dearest Sally, rest in peace.   

FRENCH ABANDONED CHILDREN

The mother

The father of the two French children recently abandoned in Portugal by their 41-year-old mother and her 55-year-old partner has broken his silence and revealed that he is awaiting official authorisation to be reunited with the young boys..

Euro News is reporting that the father, who lives in France, has thought about his two boys "every second" since learning of their disappearance.

A court in Setubal has ruled that the mother and her partner will remain in custody after allegedly abandoning her boys aged four and five on a roadside in the south of Portugal.

The boys were found in the evening crying beside a road near Alcacer do Sal, about 100km (60 miles) south of Lisbon. The woman and her partner, identified by authorities as Marine R and Marc B, were later arrested in Fatima.

As they were led into court the man shouted "I love you" in French and the boys' mother sang.

A judge ordered they be placed in pre-trial detention, French and Portuguese media report. They are both accused of child endangerment and abandonment, while the man faces an additional charge of aggravated assault.

Meanwhile, Euronews has reported that he children, have been with a French foster family in Lisbon before returning   to France.

Authorities told the Setubal courthouse that the two boys had been living with their 41-year-old mother in the eastern French city of Colmar, while their father had limited and supervised visitation rights, local media report.

SALLY GOODCHILD’s PASSING

The life of the greatly loved Sally Goodchild will be celebrated next Thursday (28^th May) in a gathering of family and friends at the Club Nau next to the beach at Praia Grande, Ferragudo.

It is being organised by her husband, Sean, who closely cared for Sally until she finally passed away a few days ago having just reached the age of 64. 

Sally’s daughters Emily and Sarah, her brother Peter and sister Julie, attended a cremation service.

Thursday’s gathering will start at 3 pm and continue into the evening. Everyone who knew Sally will be welcome at Club Nau.

Words of admiration will be spoken publicly at 5 pm by some of those who knew Sally best.

Sally’s favourite colour was blue and so those attending on Thursday are invited to wear something blue or clothing of other bright colours.

Any photos of Sally - or just a single flower, - would be appreciated.

Len  Port

LATEST TOP NEWS

 
The Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, said today that, after repairing the damage caused by the bad weather, the Government will focus on making the territory more resilient to inclement weather.
The PSD president and candidate for re-election stated today that he will maintain his commitment to "not having a government solution with either Chega or the PS." He considers it absurd to talk about "sanitary cordons" in Parliament.
 
The leader of Chega, André Ventura, assured today that he "will never sign" a labour reform that makes life more difficult for workers and asked the Government to make an effort to reach an agreement.
The Portuguese Foreign Minister, Paulo Rangel, is not expected to be questioned by parliament this week about the Lajes base, as no meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee is scheduled, a parliamentary source told Lusa.
 
The Railway Union of Itinerant Commercial Reviewers (SFRCI), which represents workers with commercial functions (itinerant and fixed) at CP (Portuguese Railways), announced today that it will join the general strike on June 3rd against the labour reform.
 
The government today refused to suspend the application of the new European border control system at airports during the summer, although it admitted that the collection of biometric data could be interrupted for limited periods.
 
 
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The Prime Minister today invited young people to stay in the country to take advantage of their potential instead of squandering it "elsewhere," highlighting Monção as an example of technological connectivity, competitiveness, and quality of life.
 
The Public Prosecutor's Office today requested the conviction for homicide of the PSP officer who killed Odair Moniz in the Cova da Moura neighorhood, Amadora, in October 2024, arguing that the officer did not act in self-defence.
 
 
Construction work on the Pisão dam in Crato, Portalegre district, has been suspended again, following a decision by the Central Administrative Court of the South (TCAS), after a legal appeal filed by four environmental associations, it was revealed today.

top stories TODAY

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 Drug trafficking and cybercrime are the most frequent crimes in the Azores, according to the Portuguese Judicial police (PJ) who have significantly increased the number of their officers on the autonomous islands.

 

The government is to approve a proposal to revise labour legislation on Thursday.

 

The president of the Portuguese National Authority of Medicines and Health Products, assured today that all decisions made by the authorities regarding vaccination during the pandemic were based on real-world evidence and that safety steps were never skipped.

Teachers believe that the government's proposals devalue the teaching profession. 

 
 
 
 
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MADELEINE: BREAKING NEWS

A new documentary is in the making about the disappearance in May 2002 about Madeleine McCann who disappeared while on holiday with her  parents and two younger siblings in the Algarve coastal village of Praia da Luz in May 2002.

Described as a "mini" documentary, it is being compiled by Brent Stellender, a Norwegian private detective, Bernt Stellander, who spent seven years investigating in the area next to Praia do Luz. It resulted  in a comprehensive study comprising 850 pages entitled The Sudden Impulse.

Mr Stellander has told us that "many surprises are coming and new evidence against the McCanns.".

Portugal Newswatch  will continue to report  on this story as it develops.