Portugal

WHO: Diane and John Charest, both 56, of Fitchburg; Pam Treet, 45, of Fryeburg, Maine; and Carmina Provost, 58, and Stan Cheika, 54, both of Chicopee. (The women are sisters.) WHERE: Portugal WHEN: One week in April WHY: "For years my sisters and I have wanted to visit Portugal, particularly the small town where our dad grew up," said Diane Charest. OPEN ARMS: Jose Valentine is from Caldas da Rainha, an hour north of Lisbon. At 16, he moved to Chicopee, where he still lives.

Portugal's Parliament has endorsed a four-year budget plan that places legal limits on state spending in an effort to restore the bailed-out country's fiscal health. Meager growth and excessive borrowing over the past decade pushed Portugal close to bankruptcy last year, compelling it to ask for (EURO)78 billion bailout and adding momentum to Europe's sovereign debt crisis. The Budget Strategy Document introduces legal caps on public spending, which will be linked to forecast income.

LISBON -- David Beckham sent his shot into the crowd and Portugal went on to beat England, 6-5, in sudden-death penalty kicks following a 2-2 tie last night, advancing the hosts to the semifinals of the European Championship. Beckham, who failed to convert a penalty kick in England's opening 2-1 loss to France, missed badly on the first penalty kick that followed 30 minutes of overtime. Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo stopped Darius Vassell's low shot on the seventh penalty kick, then converted the winner himself, beating England goalkeeper David James.

Foreign officials have begun regular checks of whether Portugal is complying with the terms of a (EURO)78 billion bailout that demanded steep spending cuts and economic reforms. The quarterly appraisal comes amid mounting pressure in Portugal and other eurozone countries for more measures to foster growth. Austerity measures including pay cuts and tax hikes are widely blamed for Portugal's third recession in four years and a record unemployment rate of 15.3 percent. Portugal has so far drawn praise for its diligent implementation of the bailout agreement it signed a year...

LISBON - As debt-plagued Greece struggles to meet Europe's strict terms for receiving its next round of bailout money, the lesson of Portugal might bear watching. Unlike Greece, Portugal is a debtor nation that has done everything that the European Union and the International Monetary Fund have asked it to, in exchange for the $103 billion bailout Lisbon received in May. And yet, by the broadest measure of a country's ability to repay its debts, Portugal is going deeper into the hole.

LISBON - Portugal's efforts to climb out of its economic crisis suffered a double setback yesterday as its credit rating was downgraded to junk status and a major strike gave voice to broad public outrage over austerity measures that have squeezed living standards. Portugal's deepening plight underlined Europe's difficulties in finding a way out of the continent's government debt crisis that has recently shown alarming signs of spreading to bigger nations, most notably Italy. Like others in the 17-country eurozone, Portugal embarked on an austerity program to make its...

Portugal reached the quarterfinals of the European Championships, ousting neighboring Spain with a 1-0 victory yesterday in Lisbon. Substitute Nuno Gomes scored in the 57th minute, with a low 18-yard shot past Iker Casillas, sparking jubilant celebrations at Jose Alvalade Stadium. "We have given Portugal a day of joy," said Portugal's Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. "We gave everything we had to give. " Portugal managed to survive a stunning opening game loss to Greece and finished first in its group with six points.

PATRAS, Greece -- In its first Olympic competition since its country was shattered by war, Iraq upset star-studded Portugal, 4-2, yesterday in a gritty, come-from-behind victory as about 200 chanting fans cheered and jumped wildly. "This victory will be received with happiness by my people, who have suffered through much," said Iraqi coach Adnan Hamad, whose countrymen were already taking to the streets back in Baghdad, lighting up the night sky with streaks of celebratory gunfire.

LISBON -- Portugal advanced to the final of a major soccer tournament for the first time, beating the Netherlands, 2-1, last night in the semifinals of the European Championship. Portugal, the host nation, will play Sunday against the winner of today's semifinal between Greece and the Czech Republic. Before 46,679 fans at Jose Alvalade Stadium, Cristiano Ronaldo headed in Deco's corner kick in the 26th minute and was given a yellow card by Swedish referee Anders Frisk for pulling off his shirt in the celebration.

The first week of July got off to a slower start than the last week of June, when stocks had their biggest gains in two years. Major indexes were mixed for much of yesterday, but fell after Moody’s downgraded Portugal’s debt to “junk,’’ citing concerns that Portugal will not be able to meet targets to reduce its deficit due to the challenge it faces in cutting spending.

Portugal's Parliament has approved a government proposal to scrap four annual public holidays from next year in an effort to improve the country's economic competitiveness. After a decade of scant growth, Portugal last year needed a (EURO)78 billion ($101 billion) bailout. It is in recession, and unemployment has climbed to a record 15.3 percent. The Portuguese are giving up their days off on Oct. 5, marking the day in 1910 Portugal became a republic, and Dec. 1, commemorating the restoration of independence in 1640 after 60 years of Spanish rule.

Strikes by Portuguese air traffic controllers are expected to disrupt international and domestic flights in coming days. Staff are walking off the job for two hours each shift on May 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25 to protest pay cuts at their state-owned company NAV Portugal. The cuts are part of a government austerity drive enacted in return for a (EURO)78 billion ($101 billion) bailout that debt-heavy Portugal received a year ago. Five unions representing air traffic controllers say the company is self-financing and should not be subject to financial restrictions.

Seventh-seeded Albert Montanes moved into the second round of the Estoril Open with a 6-2, 6-3 win Tuesday over Matthew Ebden of Australia. The 69th-ranked Spaniard won despite squandering eight break points. Eighth-seeded Flavio Cipolla of Italy ousted Argentine Diego Junqueira 6-1 6-4. Top-seeded Juan del Potro, defending his title on clay in Portugal, has a first-round bye. Second-seeded Maria Kirilenko advanced in the women's event, overcoming Elena Baltacha 7-6 (6)

LISBON - Portuguese police have not yet found any new evidence to merit reopening the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, a senior police official said Thursday. The comments from deputy national police chief Pedro do Carmo came a day after authorities in the United Kingdom urged Portugal to reopen the case of the missing British girl, who vanished during a family vacation in southern Portugal in May 2007 shortly before her fourth birthday. Do Carmo did not definitively rule out reopening the case.

Portugal managed to borrow almost (EURO)2 billion ($2.65 billion) at sharply lower prices in a short-term debt auction Wednesday, despite nagging concerns about its chances of beating a recession. The government debt agency said it sold 12-month Treasury bills at an interest rate of 3.6 percent, down from 4.9 percent last month, and 4-month bills for 2.16 percent, lower than the previous 3.8 percent. Demand for the shorter bills was almost seven times higher than the amount on offer and was 2.5 times higher for the 12-month bills, the agency said.

BERLIN - Spaniards, Portuguese, and others from countries hit hard by the debt crisis are flocking to learn German in hopes of getting jobs in Europe's biggest and strongest economy, according to data obtained by the Associated Press on Tuesday. Figures from Germany's culture and language promotion agency, the Goethe Institute, show that people in southern Europe - where unemployment is high, particularly among the young - are clamoring to learn German. Other official data show immigration to Germany from Spain, Greece, and Portugal is up sharply.

Foreign officials have begun regular checks of whether Portugal is complying with the terms of a (EURO)78 billion bailout that demanded steep spending cuts and economic reforms. The quarterly appraisal comes amid mounting pressure in Portugal and other eurozone countries for more measures to foster growth. Austerity measures including pay cuts and tax hikes are widely blamed for Portugal's third recession in four years and a record unemployment rate of 15.3 percent. Portugal has so far drawn praise for its diligent implementation of the bailout agreement it signed a year...

LISBON - Portugal will not extradite American fugitive George Wright to the United States for crimes he committed there four decades ago, a Portuguese court official said yesterday after the United States ran out of possibilities to appeal the decision to let him stay. Portuguese police captured the 68-year-old Wright near Lisbon in September, ending his more than 40 years on the lam after escaping from a New Jersey prison. In November, a Lisbon court refused a US request to send Wright back to serve the rest of his 15- to 30-year sentence for the 1962 killing of a gas station attendant...

The Portuguese government's attempt to make people work more by scrapping the traditional Carnival holiday has flopped as most companies and public services shut down despite an economic crisis. Portugal needed a euro78 billion ($103 billion) bailout last year to avoid bankruptcy. It is stuck in a steep recession and enduring record unemployment. Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho refused to decree the usual day off for Fat Tuesday celebrations, saying the "national emergency" required sacrifices.