MASSIVE COCAINE SEIZURE

The Irish Sunday World newspaper is reporting that two Danes and an Irishman were arrested by Portuguese police and military personnel after intercepting off the Azores a yacht with 1.5 tonns of cocaine on board.

This quantity of class A drugs had a potential street value of 119 million euros. The three men have been remanded in custody in Ponta Delgado in the Azores Archapeligo following their first court appearance on Saturday.

A taser gun and 63,000 euros in cash were seized from the 11-metre yacht  

The operation midway across the Atlantic Ocean between the United States and mainland Portugal was codenamed “Operation Vikings.”

PEACE AND WAR

Portugal has again been declared one of the most peaceful countries in the world, yet it is unavoidably helping the United States to prepare for a possible escalation in the war in the Middle East.

The latest annual Global Peace Index released on Wednesday, ranks Portugal 7th. In Europe it is ranked 5th after Iceland, Ireland, Austria and Switzerland.

The Peace Index is measured in three ways, namely a nation’s degree of militarisation, its level of social security and safety, and its involvement in on-going domestic and international conflict.

Within Europe Portugal ranks second in military expenditure, and is recognised for its high level of social security and safety for its citizens. It is also lauded for its large-scale opposition to domestic and international conflict.

In no way denigrating the above, it has been revealed that the United Sates has deployed at least 12 refuelling aircraft to its military base in Lajes Field in the Portuguese Azores archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean roughly halfway between North America and the Portuguese mainland. Why these large specialised aircraft have been deployed has not been revealed, but it is thought likely that is to do with United States concerns that it may need to intervene in the war between Israel and Iran.

President Trump declared a two-week delay in deciding whether or not to enter the conflict, but US bombers have now "completely and totally obliterated" Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities.  In an address to the American nation, Trump said that any retaliation from Iran would be met "with force far greater  than what was witnessed tonight.!

GOVERNMENT FRAGILITY CONTINUES

Portugal’s minority government, the centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA), led by Luís Montenegro, is able to proceed with its new administration programme after a no-confidence motion by the Communist Party was completely rejected this week.

In its programme, the AD government has pledged to continue cutting taxes for the middle class and companies, while maintaining budget surpluses, and maintaining a permanent dialogue with the two main opposition parties on major issues such as immigration.

The Communists this week accused the government of not helping “the interests of the workers.” They also opposed the government’s plan to raise defence spending to 2% of GDP.

For now, Prime Minister Montenegro’s fragile government has the backing of both the centre-leftSocialists and the far-right Chega party.

The Democratic Alliance won more seats in last month’s snap election than in the previous election last year, but it fell short again of a working majority, mainly because of the increasing popularity of the far right. 

The AD is in power for the time being. No new election can be called before the middle of next year. Critically, perhaps, Chega’s leader, André Ventura, has said that “it is not time to obstruct” the government, even though he does not think it is a good one.

Despite Chega’s anti-establishment and anti-immigration attitudes, Prime Minister Montenegro said this week that his government is in for the full four-year term.

PORTUGAL DAY WELL-WISHERS

Despite the past harsh criticisms of European Union countries and NATO by President Trump and Vice-President Vance, the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, had very positive words to say about Portugal on Tuesday of this week.

Rubio took the opportunity of

Portugal’s National Day to express the following:

“On behalf of the United States of America, I extend congratulations to the Portuguese people as you celebrate the Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese communities.

“As a committed NATO ally, Portugal has an important role in advancing transatlantic security. We count on Portugal and all NATO allies to increase their defence spending commitment to 5 percent of GDP. This commitment is an essential cornerstone of our shared deterrence. Burden-sharing strengthens the Alliance, reinforces peace through strength, and ensures we are prepared to meet today’s threats together.

“We will continue our joint work to expand our economic and defence cooperation, increase trade and investment, and combat both illegal immigration and organised crime. These efforts advance our shared security and prosperity, which help protect the sovereignty and safety of our citizens.

“With more than 1.3 million Portuguese Americans contributing to every sector of American life, this is a partnership grounded not only in strategic alignment, but in human connection. Together, we will keep building a secure and prosperous future for our nations’ future generations.”

Portugal also received an encouraging message from the British King, Charles III. He wrote the following to Portugal’s President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, emphasising hope for strong collaboration on two of His Majesty’s major personal interests: climate change and the environment.

The King wrote: “Dear Mr President, My wife and I are delighted to send Your Excellency and the people of Portugal our warmest congratulations on the auspicious occasion of your National Day.

“I am so pleased that our countries share such strong ties, and I look forward to strengthening further our friendship.

“It is my hope and strong ambition that our nations can collaborate to make a positive impact on climate change and environmental issues, which affect us all globally.

“My wife and I have great pleasure in conveying our best wishes to you and to all Portuguese in the years ahead.”

This was Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s last Portugal Day in office as President of the Republic. He said on Tuesday that he intends to “step down quietly” from his office. When he leaves, he says he will cease political involvement, but will attend all official ceremonies as a former head of state.

Exclusive: INSIDE THE LATEST SEARCH FOR MADDIE

Misinformation has been added in recent days to the inconsistencies, lack of transparency, cover-ups and lies that have overshadowed the Madeleine McCann case from the very beginning in May 2007.

The latest search by German and Portuguese police was called off after three days, apparently because they found nothing of significance in the scrubland and abandoned buildings over a wide area on a hill not far from where Maddie went missing.

Journalists covering the search thought it was mainly aimed at linking Maddie’s disappearance with the German paedophile Christian B.

The searchers were indeed hoping to recover remains of Madeleine’s body, but in fact had evidence that Christian B was not living in that area in 2007. He had been there in 2006, a year before the disappearance.

The search focused  mainly a mile away from the cottage he rented back then, on the top plateau between the village of Praia da Luz and the neighbouring town of Lagos. This was a hangout area for hippies partying and using drugs back in those days.

The most relevant people to visit the hill area in 2007 and later years were Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann. Jogging up there was mentioned by Kate in her diary and book, and also by Gerry in his blog.

Reliable sources believe that the Portuguese police are convinced Madeleine was not abducted as claimed  by the British Metropolitan Police’s Operation Grange unit, as well as supporters of Madeleine’s parents. 

It is now clear that Christian B, who is serving a jail sentence in Germany for rape, has been used as a scapegoat in the erroneous claim that Madeleine was abducted. To this day, there is zero evidence that abduction took place. Christian B was still living in the Algarve in 2007, but nowhere near Praia da Luz or Lagos.

Bernt Stellander, a foreign detective living in the Algarve since 2016, spent seven years privately investigating the case before writing his book The Sudden Impulse. After eight months of investigation, Stellander was able to show Portuguese police results of his efforts, including the trail of camcorders he had set up to observe visitors to the place he had discovered what he called “subtle symbols” on the hill east of Praia da Luz where Madeleine may have been buried.

This, as well as profiling the parents, led him to look for a grave, based on what is called Kate's "turning point dream", that Maddie was hidden on a hillside overlooking a beach in Praia da Luz. But the analysis of the timeline became his main focus. He claims to have made a very good argument in his book that Madeleine's tragic and accidental death occurred in the apartment the night before her alleged abduction.

Stellander's has been in contact with both the German prosecutor in the case and Christian B's lawyer After.Stellander's first appearance on a James English podcast, another investigator, who had interviewed Ocean Club workers on May 25th 2007, contacted him to say that Gerry had been seen carrying a very heavy back sack from the McCann’s holiday apartment at 2 00 am the night before. This coincided perfectly with Stellander's theory about the real timeline. This information - not merely local gossip - has been officially delivered to the Portuguese Policia Judiciaria.

AR YOU FEELING TOO HOT YET?

For a few moments, let’s forget about the horrendous wars dominating the news headlines and focus on climate change, which poses one of the most catastrophic dangers to human existence.

Unprecedented heat has been experienced this May in Portugal and elsewhere around the world. The Algarve, for example, has recorded highs of over 35 degrees Celsius—temperatures previously confined to July and August.

Temperatures this summer are predicted to break all records, further increasing the already extreme risks of wildfires, environmental devastation and community destruction.

The World Meteorological Organisation warned this week that global temperatures are expected to continue reaching record levels by the end of this decade, with a 70% chance that average global warming between this year and 2029 will exceed the critical 1.5 degrees set in the Paris Agreement. The hope then, as now, is to keep post-industrial temperatures below the full emergency threshold of 2.0 degrees.

This all depends on close international cooperation and radically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is not happening. There is talk, but still nowhere near enough action.

What is especially alarming is how little is being done by the world’s most powerful leaders. President Donald Trump—who this week described President Vladimir Putin as “crazy”—remains in denial about global warming. The United States, Russia and China are the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases.

Sky News broadcast an important report this week presenting global warming in a particularly troubling light. Russia is taking advantage of the melting North Polar ice sheet to expand its naval operations and further threaten the Western world.

When not focused on brutal wars, many other political leaders remain preoccupied with domestic issues, such as immigration, the rising cost of living, medical inadequacies and housing shortages.

But let’s not forget climate change.

Written by Len Port,

Edited by Catriona Anderson.

VULNERABILITY OF THE FORESTS

The Government Environment Fund has just announced it will invest another €21.9 million in protecting Portugal’s forests, which are so vulnerable to wildfires. This is just part of the €6.4 billion it has vowed to invest by 2050.

 

The largest amount from the new fund - more than €15 million .- will be spent on supporting fire ighting teams. This comes at a time when landowners by law must clear all low-lying vegetation that could be a fire hazard. This must be done by the last day of May. It has been extended in some areas from the last day of April.

 

It applies to land within 50 metres of homes and within 100 metres of villages. Those unable to clear their land can apply for help at their own cost from  their local council . They need to be quick, because those who do not go by the rules could receive fines of up to. €10,000 for individuals and €120,000 for businesses.

 

Other than farmed, particularly in the Algarve, has been totally covered with beautiful flowers and other plants as a result of the plentiful rains during winter and spring, but sadly, for country dwellers, butterflies and bees, much now has been wiped out because of the land clearance obligation.

 

Proportionally, Portugal has a larger area of woodland than any other country in the European Union. It occupies 35% of the country. By implementing its 2050 plan, the government, although still in a fragile mode, seeks to not only prevent future wildfire destruction, but also recover burnt land. Greater incentives to manage forests and increase the productivity of the forestry sector are envisaged.

 

The Navigator Company in Portugal, which concentrates on pulp and paper production, has forestry holdings in which it focuses on mitigating risks of wildfires and supporting fire fighter.

“Defending our woodlands against fire is one of the company’s main priorities. This is clearly demonstrated in a range of projects, which already represent investment in access of three million euros a year.

 

An unprecedentedly hot summer is forecast due to climate change. High spring temperatures are already clearly indicating the likelihood of summer extremes that will enforce the danger of wildfires.

 

The Copernicus Climate Service expects this to be one of the three hottest summers on record globally. This is despite the presence of a La Nina event that typically has a cooling effect.

 

Just a last word, especially for visitors You must be extremely careful with cigarette butts, and never have any barbecues or other reasons for lighting a fire in other than the safest places.

 

Written by Len Port

Edited by Catriona Anderson