Five Guys Prepares to Open Its First Restaurant in Lisbon
The American burger chain is set to make its debut in Portugal in 2025. The location is still being studied, but the CEO guarantees that they are looking for an “emblematic” space in the capital. Note that the chain has chosen Portugal as part of its expansion strategy in Europe for next year, with plans to invest up to 1.5 million dollars (about 1.35 million euros) per store to open 50 new restaurants. “We will open in Portugal next year. We are considering Lisbon, as we always want to be in iconic locations. We are looking for the perfect location,” Eckhbert added.
The restaurant chain, which was founded in 1986 in the United States, has almost two thousand locations worldwide. In Europe alone, there 270 restaurants, with 170 in the United Kingdom. Known for its burgers, the generous amount of fries they serve in a paper bag, their milkshakes, and free peanuts, the brand has been gaining worldwide recognition, although their prices are higher than those of the competition. On the subject, Eckhbert argues that Five Guys’ products “offer good value” for the quantities sold. “We guarantee our customers value for their purchase. The product price may be higher than the competition, but overall, we believe we have a very appealing offering,” said the CEO.
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The Man Behind the Vale dos Judeus Prision Escape
Rodolfo “El Ruso” Lohrmann, the mastermind behind the September 7 escape of five prisoners from Vale de Judeus prison, wrote a letter in 2019 while imprisoned in Monsanto. In the letter, Lohrmann stated he had been offered “all kinds of deals, protection,” including “a sentence of less than half of what he would have received if he had testified.” He refused these offers, adding, “In due time, I will tell you how everything will unfold and how this story will end.” Lohrmann, sentenced in 2018 to 18 years for criminal association, theft, and money laundering, also described the involvement of “four or five people” in his crimes.
Authorities suspect Lohrmann and the other four fugitives have left the country. “They have a ‘capacity of mobility’ and support from criminal groups in nearby countries.” In the initial phase of the escape, “each one had a place to hide” before crossing the border. European and international arrest warrants were issued, and the Spanish police published alerts with photos of the fugitives.
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Government Declares Alert Status for Fire Risk and Takes Exceptional Measures
The Portuguese government declared an alert status for the entire mainland from Sunday afternoon until 11:59 PM on Tuesday due to the increased risk of rural fires. In response, the government introduced several exceptional measures to prevent fire outbreaks, including restrictions on access to forested areas and the use of machinery. The National Civil Protection Commander, André Fernandes, emphasized the increased operational response, with reinforcements to security forces, emergency medical teams, public health units, and social support teams. In total, 672 additional personnel were deployed, adding to the 14,000 already on the ground.
The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) has been alerting the public through SMS about the fire risk. By noon on Sunday, 52 fire incidents had been reported, following a day with 138 occurrences, particularly in the northern and central regions. Fire prevention is critical, as recent data showed a 63% incidence of daytime fires between September 9 and 15. The current measures aim to mitigate further risks and protect vulnerable areas during this period of heightened fire danger.
The exceptional measures are:
- Prohibition of access, circulation, and stay within forested areas previously defined in the Municipal Forest Defense Plans Against Fires, as well as forest paths, rural roads, and other routes that cross these areas;
- Prohibition of burning and suspension of any permits issued for such activities;
- Prohibition of work in forested areas using any type of machinery, except for rural fire combat operations;
- Prohibition of work in other rural areas involving motorized tools with blades, metal discs, brush cutters, mulchers, or machines with blades or front shovels;
- Prohibition of fireworks or other pyrotechnic devices, regardless of combustion method, and suspension of issued permits.
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The Gold of the Portuguese State
The value of the Portuguese gold reserve, 383 tons, increased by 25 million euros per day this year alone, and such a reserve is fully controlled by the Bank of Portugal. It can sell or buy gold without interference from the government or the Assembly. Proceeds from sales would not automatically go to the state but could be used by the Bank for its provisions, with public coffers benefiting only through dividend distribution.
The last gold sale occurred between 2002 and 2006 under Vítor Constâncio, when 225 tons were sold in several tranches. The Bank of Portugal justified the sale by saying gold has low financial returns and no longer serves a monetary function. However, it is important to consider that there are no public criteria for when the Bank of Portugal should sell or buy gold. In 2007, the Portuguese Communist Party proposed guidelines suggesting sales during high prices or crises, using the proceeds to pay public debt and repurchase gold later, but transparency did not prevail.
Note that Portugal’s gold bars are stored in two locations: the Bank of Portugal’s vault and the Bank of England. The Bank earns revenue by lending gold to investors, making 70 million euros last year and around 250 million over the past five years. In terms of gold reserves, despite being a small country, Portugal ranks 13th globally – has more gold than larger economies like Brazil and the United Kingdom. And when compared to similarly sized EU countries, Portugal consistently leads in gold reserves. It has three times more gold than Greece, Sweden, and Romania, four times more than Hungary, and nine times more than the Czech Republic.
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76 Portuguese Footwear Companies Showcasing in Milan
Nearly 80 Portuguese footwear companies are participating in the Micam, Mipel, Lineapelle, and Simac fairs in Milan, aiming for a recovery in consumer demand to reverse the decline in exports. After a challenging 2023, where Portugal exported 35 million pairs of shoes worth €818 million—showing a year-on-year drop of 1.8% in volume and 15.2% in value—the sector is now focused on 2025. The Portuguese delegation includes 40 companies in Micam and Mipel, a 21% increase from the previous edition, while 30 companies will be present at Lineapelle, and 6 at Simac, presenting the first results of the FAIST project, part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan.
Note that the Portuguese footwear sector, which exports over 90% of its production, remains heavily dependent on international markets. According to the Portuguese Industrialists Footwear, Components, Leather Goods and Their Substitutes Association (APICCAPS), 2023 was particularly difficult globally, with a decline in consumption and global imports dropping 8% due to the effects of war. This trend has continued into 2024, with imports from major economic blocs such as Germany, Belgium, France, Japan, and the UK all declining. However, the U.S. market stands out, showing a 1% recovery in imports after a significant loss in the previous year.
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Portuguese Judiciary Police Helped Arrest Two Jihadists from Cabo Delgado
The Portuguese Judicial Police’s National Counter-Terrorism Unit (UNCT) investigated two jihadists from Cabo Delgado who passed through Portugal. “The two suspects used bank accounts in Portuguese banks to launder money, which served to finance terrorist activities in northern Mozambique,” sources told Expresso. Their investigation was “fundamental” for Cabo Delgado authorities to capture the men, as it allowed them to follow the money trail between Portugal and Mozambique. The money was used for the “purchase and sale of military material” that was used to attack people and government buildings in Mozambique.
Cármen Massicame, spokesperson for Cabo Delgado’s prosecutor’s office, announced that the two men had been sentenced to 28 and 30 years in prison. “On September 4, 2024, both were convicted of terrorism financing crimes.” Several other Mozambicans and foreigners have been convicted for terrorism in Cabo Delgado, with 15 sentenced to up to 30 years. This case is notable because it is the first time Islamic State financiers have been imprisoned in Mozambique. Since 2017, Cabo Delgado has been affected by an armed insurgency with attacks claimed by Islamic State-linked groups. The latest attack occurred in May, with rebels fighting Mozambican and Rwandan troops and looting local shops, with some goods distributed to the population.
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The Lisbon Museum Has Reopened 11 Rooms
The Lisbon Museum, housed in Palácio Pimenta, has reopened 11 rooms, completing its renovation and embracing its role as “a museum in the city, about the city, and for the city.” This refreshed exhibition narrates Lisbon’s history from the 17th century to Expo 98, highlighting its urban and social evolution. The museum intentionally moves beyond telling only “the rosy history of Lisbon,” delving into critical themes such as “human rights during the Inquisition, slavery, and housing issues in the 20th century.”
A major change in the museum’s approach is the replacement of the concept of a “permanent exhibition” with a “long-term” one, reflecting that a city is “always under construction.” On the ground floor, a model of pre-earthquake Lisbon is displayed, while the first floor begins with a 1662 painting by Dirk Stoop. The exhibition explores the 1755 earthquake’s impact through six reconstruction plans of the city, as well as modern urban projects like Martim Moniz and Chelas. Lisbon’s identity as “multiethnic, multireligious, and multicultural” is central to the exhibition, particularly in sections that focus on the history of slavery and its lasting legacy on the city.
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Gulbenkian’s New Modern Art Center
The new Center for Modern Art (CAM) of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation will formally open on September 20, with a cost of 58 million euros, fully covered by the foundation’s own funds. António Feijó, president of the foundation, mentioned that despite an initial projection of 22.3 million euros, the cost increased due to factors such as “seismic reinforcements (7.5 million euros),” the war in Ukraine, and the pandemic. Feijó emphasized that the foundation is not financially weakened by this project.
Feijó recalled that when CAM opened in 1983, it faced controversy for “blocking the view of the Gulbenkian garden.” The new building, designed by Kengo Kuma, integrates better with the city, as Feijó noted, “opened CAM to the city.” He also stressed the importance of continuing the work: “This building has immense possibilities”, and CAM must now “be up to the extraordinary history it represents.” Vladimir Djurovic, the landscape designer, extended the original vision of the gardens, reflecting a “full campus, completely continuous with the city.”
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Two Anti-Immigration Protests (and Two Counter-Demonstrations) in Just Two Weeks
The political party Chega and the extreme Grupo 1143 are organizing two protests, one in Lisbon on September 21 and the other in Guimarães on October 5, both under the theme of “uncontrolled immigration.” André Ventura hopes that the Lisbon protest will be the largest his party has ever organized, but “it does not have a history of mass mobilization.” The route of the protest is not yet known.
In response, a group of “politicians, academics, and athletes” announced an anti-racist march titled “The Country of April 25th Doesn’t Leave the Streets to Racism,” which will go from Marquês de Pombal to Rossio. Supporters include Pilar del Río and footballer Francisco Geraldes. Ventura reacted on social media, stating, “The far-left is organizing a counter-protest on the same day as ours.”
On October 5, Grupo 1143 plans a protest in Guimarães with the slogan “Reconquer Portugal.” A counter-protest will be held by the Joint Action Group Against Racism and Xenophobia, consisting of “68 groups against racism, xenophobia, and fascism.” Expresso reports that there will be “adequate security measures” in Guimarães to prevent confrontations between the groups.
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The Nationalization Process for the Brazilian Twins in Portuguese Health Service Inquiry “Proceeded Normally”
Former consul-general Paulo Nascimento, now Portugal’s ambassador to China, clarified that the nationality process for two Luso-Brazilian twins treated with Zolgensma, a multi-million-euro drug, “proceeded normally.” He explained that the twins, being daughters of a Portuguese mother, were entitled to Portuguese nationality under the law. The parents submitted all necessary documentation in April 2019, and the process took about four months. Note that Ambassador Nascimento stated that he only became aware of the case in late 2023 through the media.
He further mentioned that he had no direct contact with the twins’ mother, Daniela Martins, or any requests regarding the case. Additionally, the Ambassador denied receiving emails or communications from the Civil House or the Portuguese government. His relationship with Nuno Rebelo de Sousa, the son of the Portuguese President of the Republic, was limited to a few institutional encounters when they both held roles in São Paulo, but did not involve discussions about the twins’ case.
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