Ocean Diplomacy: Portugal’s president António José Seguro has returned from Cape Verde as Patron of UNESCO’s “Decade of the Ocean,” focusing on maritime safety, sustainable fisheries, blue finance and ocean science. EU Funding Fight: Portugal’s government says it “cannot accept” EU cuts to cohesion and farming that would hit harder than the EU average in the next 2028–2034 budget. Wildlife & Farming: A suspected wolf attack in Miranda do Douro killed 46 sheep and injured 12, with ICNF expected to investigate and assess compensation. Energy Storage Push: Portugal unveiled a National Energy Storage Strategy aiming for ~3.9GW pumped storage by 2030 and 5GW+ by 2040, backed by auctions and permitting reforms. Atlantic Tech Infrastructure: Google (with others) has approached ANACOM about new submarine cable projects, with Nuvem set to connect Portugal to the US via Sines. Wildfire Readiness: Avincis has leased two Super Scoopers (CL-215T) to boost aerial firefighting capacity in Portugal during a demanding start to the season. Climate Stress: Scientists warn Europe’s drought is worsening as heatwaves and low rainfall compound impacts on soils, crops and hydropower. Local Mobility Rules: Albufeira has banned TVDE ride-hailing vehicles from busy streets, sparking industry backlash over congestion and emergency access. Sustainable Industry: Catalyxx selected Sines for a €120M commercial-scale bio-based chemicals plant, targeting low-carbon butanol/hexanol/octanol production.