Portugal has released 30,000 sterile male Asian tiger mosquitoes in Lisbon this September, aiming to reduce the spread of dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses. The sterile insects are irradiated so they can mate but produce no offspring. Health officials warn that travelers returning from tropical areas could introduce viruses that local mosquitoes might transmit. By the end of October, Italy recorded 76 locally acquired dengue cases and France reported eight, highlighting the regional threat.
Lisbon
3 stories since 31 October 2026, newest first
4 November 2026
3 November 2026
On 3 Nov, bomb threats against at least seven flights and a cruise ship led to diversions, searches and temporary airport closures across Europe. Police and bomb-disposal teams found no explosives on any aircraft or the ship. Affected services included LOT, SAS, Wizz Air and Ryanair flights linked to Warsaw, Sofia, Rome and Murcia, and Warsaw Chopin Airport closed briefly. Authorities said all aircraft landed safely and no one was injured.
31 October 2026
On the morning of 1 November, children across Portugal walk door‑to‑door carrying cloth bags to receive bread, cakes or dried fruit as part of the Pão por Deus tradition. The activity follows a night of costume‑clad children knocking on doors on 31 October. Local councils in some areas supply decorated bags for participants. The custom coincides with All Saints' Day, a public holiday, and is observed alongside Halloween decorations in shops and schools. The tradition's origins are debated, with theories linking it to the 15th century or the 1755 Lisbon earthquake.