TOPIC

/ location

Portugal

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Portugal. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Lisbon

Head of State

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa

Head of Government

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro

Europe’s heatwaves and deepening drought are reshaping daily water use – and creating demand for Chinese-made water-saving products. Photo: EPA

China exports

From air conditioners to taps, Europe’s climate extremes boost China sales

Chinese makers of low-flow taps, garden gear and insulated drinkware are seeing European orders surge as heatwaves and drought reshape demand.

29 Aug 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

Hong Kong culture

Hong Kong arts figures, fans pay tribute to Yayoi Kusama after her death at 97

27 Aug 2026 - 9:49PMvideocam

Spain

Death toll from migrant rush into Spanish enclave of Ceuta reaches 72

3 Aug 2026 - 11:19AM

Spain

France, Italy tighten borders after 60,000 migrants enter Spain’s Ceuta

France is increasing its border police presence fivefold while Italy has suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain.

1 Aug 2026 - 11:54AM

Migrants wade through the water near the border with Morocco as they attempt to enter Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta on Friday. Photo: AFP

US-Cuba relations

Cuba says nearly three-quarters of hotels have shut as travel plunges

Havana details scale of industry collapse for the first time amid severe economic crisis and energy blockade.

30 Jul 2026 - 1:49PM

Extreme weather

France firestorm phenomenon: monster clouds that spawn lightning and new blazes

The inferno ravaging southwest France creates rare fire clouds, never before recorded in the country.

28 Jul 2026 - 1:27PM

Extreme weather

France and Spain race to curb wildfires before new heatwave arrives

Authorities have evacuated about 220,000 people, including tourists, in France, while in Spain around 100,000 have been told to seek shelter.

28 Jul 2026 - 5:42AM

A forest fire rages in Saint-Jean-d’Illac near Bordeaux, France as the country is battered by heatwaves sparking wildfires. Photo: AFP

Climate change

Raging wildfires in France and Spain force over 200,000 to flee

Spain has declared its first national emergency for wildfires, while France is mobilising its armed forces to help with the response.

25 Jul 2026 - 1:46PM

China exports

China did not qualify for the World Cup. It may have won in economic terms

While its men’s team has not competed since 2002, this year’s tournament has generated significant profit for many Chinese firms.

19 Jul 2026 - 4:03PM

Spain

11 dead, 19 missing as Spain wildfire roars through village

Authorities said many of the victims may be foreign tourists visiting Bedar, a small village in Los Gallardos district.

10 Jul 2026 - 7:08PMvideocam

Emergency personnel work during a wildfire in Almeria, Spain, in this screengrab taken from a handout video released on Friday. Photo: Handout via Reuters

Music

Bonnie Tyler, singer of epic ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ dies at 75

She died ‘unexpectedly’ in a hospital in Portugal where she was being treated for an illness.

9 Jul 2026 - 5:55PM

Bonnie Tyler performs the song “Believe in Me” during the final of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden. Photo: via Reuters

Belt and Road Initiative

Cabo Verde wows at World Cup – with an economic assist from China

From boots to building a stadium, China played a vital role in helping the West African nation qualify for football’s biggest tournament.

6 Jul 2026 - 9:00PM

Extreme weather

‘Help us’: wildfires ravage France, Spain, Portugal forests as mercury soars

The early fires have already devastated an area twice as big as Manhattan across the three nations. Blazes have also hit Greece.

5 Jul 2026 - 7:29PMvideocam

Trip Inspiration

Cabo Verde’s sun-soaked Sal sees a revival through a generation of returnees

Cabo Verde has won over many hearts with its brave showing at the Fifa World Cup, but there’s a lot more to this West African archipelago and former Portuguese colony.

5 Jul 2026 - 9:20AM

The historic salinas, or salt flats, of Pedra de Lume, Cabo Verde. Photo: Troy Nahumko

Natural disasters

‘Truly a miracle’: man rescued from Venezuela rubble 8 days after twin quakes

Multinational teams tunnel through collapsed building to extract security guard as the death toll continues to rise.

3 Jul 2026 - 4:15PMvideocam

Hernan Gil after his rescue from the rubble on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Extreme weather

Spain blames over 1,000 excess deaths on heatwave, in second-hottest June ever

At the heatwave’s peak, June 23, almost 75 per cent of the population were exposed to health risks due to heat. The hottest June was in 2025.

1 Jul 2026 - 6:41PMvideocam

Electric & new energy vehicles

Motorsport new arena for Chinese carmakers as Geely and BYD rev up global push

Geely sets sights on China hosting the Superbike World Championship after BYD reveals it is exploring options to enter Formula 1.

16 Jun 2026 - 6:37PM

United Nations

Portugal and Austria defeat Germany for seats on UN Security Council

Kyrgyzstan beat the Philippines by a vote of 143-49 to join the council for the first time.

4 Jun 2026 - 2:39PM

The Austrian delegation celebrate their result. Photo: dpa

International Property

Spain’s property market sees boost as Hongkongers, others, depart UK and Canada

As the cost of living rises, some Hongkongers living in the United Kingdom and Canada are set to move to Spain under the NLV scheme.

31 May 2026 - 9:30AM

New Openings

Hong Kong’s hottest new openings, from Manteigaria to Avalon

Discover Hong Kong’s latest dining gems: Vincenzo Capuano’s award-winning pizzas, Manteigaria’s authentic Portuguese egg tarts, Parkside@Nina CWB’s international fusion dishes and Avalon’s all-day comfort classics.

25 May 2026 - 8:00AM

France

Mother arrested in Portugal after young sons blindfolded and abandoned

Two French boys, aged 4 and 5, were left by a remote road with backpacks of food but no identity documents.

22 May 2026 - 9:19AM

Portuguese police have taken into custody the mother and stepfather of two young French children who were allegedly abandoned in central Portugal. Photo: Getty Images

China-EU relations

China’s firms in Europe chose to save on legal services. Will it cost them?

Chinese companies, often reluctant to pay for legal services, are encountering greater compliance issues as they expand into a stricter EU.

19 May 2026 - 9:02AMvideocam

Yuan

Editorial | Why China’s yuan is gaining appeal

More countries find yuan financing attractive. Even without full convertibility, the Chinese currency offers something invaluable.

19 May 2026 - 7:15AM

Singapore

Knives out: sea robbery fears stalk Southeast Asia’s busiest straits

Opportunistic nighttime raids in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore are testing security in a vital maritime chokepoint.

21 May 2026 - 12:16PMvideocam

Gun violence in the US

Brown University shooter targeted symbolic victims tied to grievances: FBI

Claudio Neves Valente appeared to target places and people he associated with personal failure, missed opportunity and perceived injustice.

30 Apr 2026 - 6:14AM

Images of the shooter at Brown University, identified by authorities as Claudio Neves Valente, are displayed during a press conference in Providence, Rhode Island, in December 2025. Photo: Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

China is poised to reap rewards as energy shock heats up the race for renewables

The US war on Iran may have inadvertently triggered a global transition that will favour Beijing’s green leadership, analysts predict.

26 Apr 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

Solar panels on a residential building in Matanzas, Cuba. Photo: AFP

China-EU relations

China’s CRRC drops bid for Lisbon metro deal as EU finds ‘billions’ in subsidies

Polish firm to replace state-backed Chinese giant as Brussels uses regulatory powers to curb what it says is market-distorting foreign aid.

21 Apr 2026 - 8:36PMvideocam

Global monetary policy

Editorial | Chinese yuan slowly but surely cutting into US dollar dominance

Kazakhstan’s issuance of yuan-denominated debt shows developing nations can use ‘panda bonds’ as stepping stones into global capital markets.

20 Apr 2026 - 7:15AM

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Portugal

From air conditioners to taps, Europe’s climate extremes boost China sales

Chinese makers of low-flow taps, garden gear and insulated drinkware are seeing European orders surge as heatwaves and drought reshape demand.

Hong Kong arts figures, fans pay tribute to Yayoi Kusama after her death at 97

Death toll from migrant rush into Spanish enclave of Ceuta reaches 72

France, Italy tighten borders after 60,000 migrants enter Spain’s Ceuta

France is increasing its border police presence fivefold while Italy has suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain.

Cuba says nearly three-quarters of hotels have shut as travel plunges

Havana details scale of industry collapse for the first time amid severe economic crisis and energy blockade.

France firestorm phenomenon: monster clouds that spawn lightning and new blazes

The inferno ravaging southwest France creates rare fire clouds, never before recorded in the country.

France and Spain race to curb wildfires before new heatwave arrives

Authorities have evacuated about 220,000 people, including tourists, in France, while in Spain around 100,000 have been told to seek shelter.

Raging wildfires in France and Spain force over 200,000 to flee

Spain has declared its first national emergency for wildfires, while France is mobilising its armed forces to help with the response.

China did not qualify for the World Cup. It may have won in economic terms

While its men’s team has not competed since 2002, this year’s tournament has generated significant profit for many Chinese firms.

11 dead, 19 missing as Spain wildfire roars through village

Authorities said many of the victims may be foreign tourists visiting Bedar, a small village in Los Gallardos district.

Bonnie Tyler, singer of epic ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ dies at 75

She died ‘unexpectedly’ in a hospital in Portugal where she was being treated for an illness.

Cabo Verde wows at World Cup – with an economic assist from China

From boots to building a stadium, China played a vital role in helping the West African nation qualify for football’s biggest tournament.

‘Help us’: wildfires ravage France, Spain, Portugal forests as mercury soars

The early fires have already devastated an area twice as big as Manhattan across the three nations. Blazes have also hit Greece.

Cabo Verde’s sun-soaked Sal sees a revival through a generation of returnees

Cabo Verde has won over many hearts with its brave showing at the Fifa World Cup, but there’s a lot more to this West African archipelago and former Portuguese colony.

‘Truly a miracle’: man rescued from Venezuela rubble 8 days after twin quakes

Multinational teams tunnel through collapsed building to extract security guard as the death toll continues to rise.

Spain blames over 1,000 excess deaths on heatwave, in second-hottest June ever

At the heatwave’s peak, June 23, almost 75 per cent of the population were exposed to health risks due to heat. The hottest June was in 2025.

Motorsport new arena for Chinese carmakers as Geely and BYD rev up global push

Geely sets sights on China hosting the Superbike World Championship after BYD reveals it is exploring options to enter Formula 1.

Portugal and Austria defeat Germany for seats on UN Security Council

Kyrgyzstan beat the Philippines by a vote of 143-49 to join the council for the first time.

Spain’s property market sees boost as Hongkongers, others, depart UK and Canada

As the cost of living rises, some Hongkongers living in the United Kingdom and Canada are set to move to Spain under the NLV scheme.

Hong Kong’s hottest new openings, from Manteigaria to Avalon

Discover Hong Kong’s latest dining gems: Vincenzo Capuano’s award-winning pizzas, Manteigaria’s authentic Portuguese egg tarts, Parkside@Nina CWB’s international fusion dishes and Avalon’s all-day comfort classics.

Mother arrested in Portugal after young sons blindfolded and abandoned

Two French boys, aged 4 and 5, were left by a remote road with backpacks of food but no identity documents.

China’s firms in Europe chose to save on legal services. Will it cost them?

Chinese companies, often reluctant to pay for legal services, are encountering greater compliance issues as they expand into a stricter EU.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | Why China’s yuan is gaining appeal

More countries find yuan financing attractive. Even without full convertibility, the Chinese currency offers something invaluable.

Knives out: sea robbery fears stalk Southeast Asia’s busiest straits

Opportunistic nighttime raids in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore are testing security in a vital maritime chokepoint.

Brown University shooter targeted symbolic victims tied to grievances: FBI

Claudio Neves Valente appeared to target places and people he associated with personal failure, missed opportunity and perceived injustice.

China is poised to reap rewards as energy shock heats up the race for renewables

The US war on Iran may have inadvertently triggered a global transition that will favour Beijing’s green leadership, analysts predict.

China’s CRRC drops bid for Lisbon metro deal as EU finds ‘billions’ in subsidies

Polish firm to replace state-backed Chinese giant as Brussels uses regulatory powers to curb what it says is market-distorting foreign aid.

Editorial | Chinese yuan slowly but surely cutting into US dollar dominance

Kazakhstan’s issuance of yuan-denominated debt shows developing nations can use ‘panda bonds’ as stepping stones into global capital markets.

Editorial | Why China’s yuan is gaining appeal