Portugal

Portugal mourns the death of Jorge Sampaio, who showed teeth in Portuguese presidential powers

Former Portuguese president Jorge Sampaio, who made national history in 2005 with an extraordinary use of his powers to dissolve parliament and oust an unstable majority government, died on Friday…

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Portugal second-quarter figures show employed at all-time high

Portugal’s unemployment rate fell in the second quarter and the employed population reached an all-time high, as companies hired staff following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. The National Statistics Institute…

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Europe’s biggest tech conference to be held in-person in November

Europe’s biggest tech conference - the Web Summit - will return as an in-person event in Lisbon this November, organisers confirmed to Reuters this week, after the event was held…

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Photo Story: Pilgrimage of the Emigrants in Fatima

Pilgrims carry the figure of Our Lady of Fatima during the August anniversary pilgrimage in Fatima, Portugal, 13 August 2021. Known as the 'Pilgrimage of the Emigrants,' it is presided…

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Portuguese economy grows 4.9% as COVID-19 rules ease

Portugal's economy expanded 4.9% in the second quarter from the preceding three months, driven by domestic demand as restrictions to control a surge in coronavirus infections were gradually eased and…

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Portugal lifts COVID-19 rules with three-stage plan

Portugal announced a three-stage plan to lift COVID-19 restrictions, including scrapping a night-time curfew, as the country’s vaccination rollout speeds up, helping to bring a recent surge in infections under…

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Plea to pilgrims to help clear Spain’s Camino de Santiago of litter

In ancient times, pilgrims walked the Camino de Santiago to purify their souls, the long and winding road ending where the remains of the apostle St James are said to be…

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Ai Weiwei unveils giant iron tree in Porto to warn people what they risk losing

Chinese artist and dissident Ai Weiwei unveiled a 32-meter-tall (105 ft) tropical tree made of iron in the Portuguese city of Porto, an artwork he hopes will raise awareness of…

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Photo Story – Demonstration ‘Wake up Portugal’

People participate in a demonstration 'Wake up Portugal' to defend freedom, and contest the covid-19 digital certificate measure, among others restrictions imposed by the Government, in a march between Terreiro…

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Two hundred flights cancelled at Lisbon airport at start of strike

LISBON, July 17 (Reuters) - Two hundred flights were cancelled at Lisbon airport on Saturday at the start of a two-day strike by Groundforce handling company workers, with more cancellations…

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Portugal extends COVID-19 curbs to more areas as cases surge

Portugal extended to a wider area of the country measures aimed at stemming a surge in coronavirus infections, with authorities scrambling to salvage the summer holiday season. “We continue in…

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Portugal posts more than 4,000 new COVID cases as hopes for robust recovery fade

Portugal reported more than 4,000 daily coronavirus cases on Wednesday for the first time since February, official data showed, as hopes of a robust, tourism-driven economic recovery fade amid a…

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Delta variant behind all COVID-19 cases in Portugal’s Lisbon, Algarve

LISBON (Reuters) - All COVID-19 cases in the Lisbon area and the popular southern Algarve region are of the more contagious Delta variant, data showed on Tuesday, as Portuguese authorities…

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Portugal orders COVID test, vaccination proof at hotel check-in

Scrambling to bring under control a worrying COVID-19 surge, tourism-dependent Portugal imposed stricter rules, requiring holidaymakers to show a negative test, a vaccination certificate or proof of recovery to stay…

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Portuguese told to stay alert as Delta variant surges

Prime Minister Antonio Costa urged the Portuguese to keep up their guard up against a fourth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic, with the more infectious Delta variant causing nearly 90%…

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Portugal’s Madeira to allow visitors with COVID shots not approved by EU

The popular Portuguese islands of Madeira will allow entry to visitors with any of the COVID-19 jabs being administered worldwide and not only with those approved by Europe's drug regulator,…

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Night-time curfew in Portugal to curb COVID-19 spike

A night-time curfew will be imposed in several Portuguese municipalities, including the capital Lisbon and the city of Porto, as authorities scramble to bring under control a surge in COVID-19…

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Portugal sees biggest daily jump in infections since mid-February

LISBON, June 30 (Reuters) - Coronavirus cases in Portugal jumped by 2,362 in the past 24 hours, the biggest increase since mid-February, official data showed on Wednesday, as authorities scrambled…

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Tourism-dependent Portugal to quarantine unvaccinated Britons

Passengers arriving in Portugal from Britain must quarantine for 14 days from Monday if they are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the Portuguese government said. The new rule will remain…

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Delta variant ‘spreading rapidly’ from Lisbon to rest of Portugal

Over 70% of coronavirus cases in the Lisbon area are from the more contagious Delta variant, which is quickly spreading to other parts of the country, a report said late…

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UPDATE – Portugal imposes stricter rules as COVID surge threatens summer tourism

Stricter COVID-19 rules will be imposed across the Lisbon region and Algarve tourism magnet Albufeira as Portuguese authorities try to control a rise in infections that threatens the country's summer…

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Portugal speeds up vaccination as COVID-19 infections rise

Just over 25% of the population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in Portugal, a country of 10 million that faced its toughest battle against the virus in January. Most…

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Delta variant behind COVID-19 resurge in Lisbon area

Over half the new COVID-19 cases being reported in the Lisbon region are of the more infectious Delta coronavirus variant, preliminary data showed on Sunday as Portuguese authorities scramble to…

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Travel in and out of Lisbon banned after Portugal cases surge

Residents of the Lisbon region will not be allowed to leave the area at weekends as authorities scramble to control a spike in COVID-19 infections, the government said. People living…

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EU Commision approves Portugal’s recovery plan, first grants seen in July

Portugal on Wednesday became the first EU country to have its recovery plan rubber-stamped by the European Commission, whose president Ursula von der Leyen said an initial disbursement from the…

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Portugal sees biggest daily jump in COVID-19 cases since late February

Coronavirus cases in Portugal jumped by 1,350 in the past 24 hours, the biggest increase since late February, data from the national health authority DGS showed on Wednesday. The new…

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Portugal halts easing of COVID-19 rules in Lisbon as cases rise

Most of Portugal will move to the next stage of lockdown easing next Monday but stricter rules will remain in place in the capital Lisbon due to a worrying rise…

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Portugal to welcome vaccinated U.S. tourists, hopes to salvage summer

Portugal will allow vaccinated U.S. tourists into the country, which is trying to salvage its summer holiday season that has been badly affected by the pandemic. Portugal's tourism sector -…

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Portuguese PM urges UK to adhere to EU digital certificate

Portugal's prime minister criticised Britain on Sunday for removing his nation from a COVID-19 quarantine-free travel list, and urged London to adhere to a European digital certificate scheme to ease…

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British father dies while trying to save daughters swimming off Portugal beach

A British man has died while trying to save his two daughters after they were dragged to sea off a beach in Portugal. The 45-year-old was already suffering from cardiac…

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No logic behind Britain’s decision to remove Portugal from green list, says Portuguese govt

Portugal's foreign ministry said on Thursday it does not understand the "logic" behind Britain's decision to remove the country from its "green list" of countries that do not require quarantine…

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Portugal removed from UK safe travel list

Britain is set to remove Portugal from its quarantine-free travel list and no new countries will be added, the BBC reported, essentially shutting down the UK's leisure travel market once…

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Pandemic-hit Portuguese airline TAP posts quarterly loss

Portugal's ailing airline TAP posted on Monday a first quarter loss of 365.1 million euros ($445.1 million) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global travel and the…

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Portugal warns Ryanair will face consequences for opposing TAP aid

Ryanair’s relations with Portugal will suffer because of the Irish airline’s campaign to try to block state aid for struggling Portuguese rival TAP, Portugal’s infrastructure ministry warned. “Due to systematic…

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Portugal to launch VAT discount scheme for tourism sector

Portugal’s finance ministry is testing out a new way to boost revenue for the country’s struggling tourism sector - letting local customers use the VAT included in their bills as…

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Portugal to allow EU and UK tourists with a negative coronavirus test

Portugal will allow tourist flights from European Union countries with low infection rates and from the UK, but passengers must show a negative coronavirus test on arrival, the Interior Ministry…

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Photo Story – May International Anniversary Pilgrimage in Fatima

The statue of Our Lady of Fatima is carried in a procession during the May International Anniversary 'Apparition of Our Lady' at the Fatima Sanctuary in Ourem, Portugal, 13 May…

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Portugal to welcome UK tourists from May 17, tourism board says

Portugal will allow tourists from Britain to enter from May 17, following Britain's go-ahead last week for its holidaymakers to travel to Portugal from that date, the national tourism board said on Friday.…

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UPDATED: Portugal leaves UK tourists on tenterhooks over travel

Update: Portugal will allow tourists from Britain to enter from May 17, following Britain’s go-ahead last week for its holidaymakers to travel to Portugal from that date, the national tourism board said on…

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Thousands pray at Portugal’s Fatima shrine for world without COVID-19

Suffering from an autoimmune disease, 71-year-old Maria Emilia travels - often by foot - to one of Catholicism's most famous sanctuaries in Portugal every year. But the coronavirus pandemic made…

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Photo Story – Sporting fans cheer at First League Football match in Portugal

Sporting fans cheer as their team arrives at Alvalade Stadium prior the the First League Football match of Sporting against Boavista in Lisbon, Portugal, 11 May 2021. If Sporting wins…

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Portugal – only major European ‘sun and sand’ destination sees bookings soar

English tourists simply love their Mediterranean sun and sea Summer destinations, and there was little doubt that hundreds of thousands of travellers around the country were highly expecting the Government…

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Portugal extends COVID-19 air travel curbs until mid-May

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal said on Saturday it was extending until May 16 flight restrictions that stop non-essential travel from countries with high coronavirus incidence rates, including Brazil and India…

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Portugal, Spain to fully reopen land border on May 1 after COVID restrictions

LISBON, April 29 (Reuters) - The land border between Portugal and Spain will reopen for all travel on Saturday after more than three months of restrictions and border checks to…

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Portugal to guarantee restructuring of loans to tourism, retail companies

Portugal will give state guarantees for part of the corporate loans that banks may need to restructure in the sectors most hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as tourism and…

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UPDATE: EU regulators approve 462 million euros loan for Portugal’s TAP airline

BRUSSELS, April 23 (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Friday it had authorised a loan of 462 million euros ($556.9 million) from the Portuguese government to airline Transportes Aereos…

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European Commission head Von der Leyen welcomes Portugal’s economic recovery plan

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday welcomed the first official submission of an economic recovery and resilience plan by Portugal. "Economic recovery must go hand in hand…

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Hope and caution as Portugal further eases COVID-19 lockdown

Three months after Joao Correia was forced to shut his cafe in one of Lisbon's shopping malls, he welcomed customers back on Monday, feeling both cautious and hopeful about the…

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Portugal abolishes scandal-ridden border service

Portugal’s border service, steeped in scandal after a Ukrainian man was beaten to death while in its custody at Lisbon airport, will be abolished on Thursday, the government said. Ihor…

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Portugal seeks to avoid summer visitor quarantines “at all costs”

Portugal will do its best to avoid visitors having to quarantine on arrival this summer, its secretary of state for tourism said, as Europe moves towards adopting a COVID-19 passport…

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Portugal ex-PM Socrates to face trial for alleged money laundering

More than six years after his arrest in a major corruption investigation, Portugal’s former Prime Minister Jose Socrates will stand trial, but only on lesser charges of money laundering and…

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Portugal extends restrictions on Spanish border until April 15

Portugal on Sunday extended restrictions on travel via land and sea to Spain that had been due to end this weekend until April 15 as it works to contain the…

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Portugal to quarantine travellers from South Africa via other countries

Portugal said that passengers arriving from South Africa via a stopover in another country must also quarantine for 14 days and present a negative COVID-19 test taken 72 hours before…

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Portugal will welcome British holidaymakers from mid-May

Portugal will welcome British tourists from May 17 if they have a vaccination certificate or evidence of a recent negative COVID-19 test, said the country's tourism minister, adding to hopes…

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Portuguese island in middle of Atlantic close to COVID-19 herd immunity

The small, lush green Portuguese island of Corvo, home to around 400 people, has vaccinated most of its population against COVID-19 and will soon reach herd immunity, according to its…

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Portugal to gradually lift lockdown rules

Nearly two months into a lockdown imposed in mid-January to tackle what was then the world’s worst coronavirus surge, Portugal’s government announced it would start to gradually ease its strict…

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Portuguese hotels lost 73% of revenue in 2020, see long recovery ahead

Portuguese hotels lost 73% of total revenues last year compared to 2019, the Portuguese Hotel Association (AHP) said othis week, as the COVID-19 pandemic drastically curbed travel from abroad, weighing…

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