Should we rename 2024: 20-20-furore?! Not unlike many other European countries, it seems, Portugal is experiencing a tension between the limitations of political ideology and the real lives of ordinary people. Election campaigning begins in earnest today with TV debates, the country's farmers have mobilised to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with domestic and EU treatment, and two of Portugal's three police forces have taken action with disturbing results for society. Tonight, we are taking a look at a few of the news articles relating to this growing unease and discuss solutions both personal and societal... If you have any questions or comments, pop them here for priority attention...

Olá, bom dia ALEGRIA, and happy Friday the 13th! If something unlucky happens today, do what the Portuguese do: knock on wood and say “Lagarto, lagarto, lagarto!”, lizard, three times. Don’t ask why. It just works! Today is the last Friday 13th of 2026, and this year there have been three. In Montalegre, up in Trás-os-Montes, they don’t hide from it: they throw a party. Since 2002, every Friday 13 has been the Noite das Bruxas, with witches in the streets, fire shows, and Padre Fontes brewing a flaming queimada that’s said to ward off all evil. Today’s sheet, Nº 26: Sexta-feira 13, is in the classroom, with four phrases for an unlucky day and six Portuguese superstitions. Did you know that in Portugal, putting your handbag on the floor means your money will walk away? Over to you: what superstitions did you grow up with? And which Portuguese ones have you picked up? Boa sorte! 🍀

Olá, bom dia ALEGRIA! Ever pushed a door marked PUXE and wondered why it wouldn’t open? Puxe means pull! It’s one of the false friends that catch out every Brit in Portugal. Tell your doctor you’re "constipado" and they’ll treat you for a cold. Today we celebrate the British in Portugal: 47,726 of us at the latest count, three times as many as a decade ago. And we’re joined on the show by one of them, as am I a Brit, @Mamabear McGowan. The friendship goes back a long way: the alliance treaty of 1373 is still in force, the oldest in the world. Catherine of Braganza took tea to England, and the Methuen Treaty sent port the other way. Fact sheet Nº 8: The UK is now in the classroom, with the history, the port houses, and a table of false friends. Over to you: Brits, what brought you to Portugal? And which Portuguese word has tripped you up the most? Cheers, e saúde! 🍷

Storm Charles is here, so we’ve built something useful, fast. Storm Watch is a live page that pulls together: ⚠️ Official IPMA weather warnings, district by district, with the colour levels explained in plain English 📰 The latest Portuguese news headlines on the storm, in English 🌧️ Live pictures: a rain map, a satellite cloud loop and the IPMA rain radar 🔄 It refreshes itself, so there’s no need to reload Find out what's going on here: 👉 portugaltalkradio.com/storm-watch Today the highest warning is red, so please: ✅ Check your district on the page, and follow IPMA and Proteção Civil instructions ✅ Stay home if you can. Schools and non-essential public services are closed tomorrow ✅ Charge your phones and power banks, and have a torch to hand I’m streaming live coverage with it on screen, and I’ll keep improving it as we go. 🙏 How you can help - Tell us how it works for you and what’s missing. - Share it with a neighbour or friend who’s new to Portugal and might not read the Portuguese news. - If you value things like this, you can support what we do by upgrading. For official information, always check ipma.pt and prociv.gov.pt

GMP!VIP heads-up. The Government has announced a package of road-safety changes. Here’s what’s confirmed and what isn’t. Announced: ✅ Police STOP operations will no longer be announced beforehand ✅ A new Highway Code bringing the scattered rules together ✅ Tougher penalties for repeat offenders, and for drink and drug driving ✅ Wider grounds for losing your licence ✅ Longer time limits before traffic fines lapse ✅ More speed cameras and the GNR Traffic Brigade returning Not yet: none of this is law. The new Code needs approval and publication, and the Government points to 2027. Current rules and fines still apply. What I’d do now: 🔹 Assume any road could have a check, and carry your licence, ID or residence card and vehicle papers. 🔹 Remember the limit is 0.5 g/l, and lower (0.2 g/l) for professional and new drivers. 🔹 Keep an eye out here. I’ll update you once the text is published. Sources: Público, TSF, Observador, DN. 💬 Have you noticed more police checks lately? See also: Driving licence changes with Tig James MBE (short/general conversation)