In this episode we discuss the latest developments in European support for the Portugal 2030 plan. We go to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show and finish with Syrians' attempts to revitalise the country's economy.
The latest in technology are in Las Vegas
Tuesday, 6 January 2026RSS
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Context & Explainers
The US announced it will suspend entry visas for citizens of 75 countries from 21 January indefinitely while the State Department reassesses visa processing; Brazil, Russia, Iran and Afghanistan are among those named. This pause is intended to tighten controls and will cause immediate delays or refusals for affected travellers — anyone planning travel or visa applications should check the US embassy or consulate website for updates and prepare for possible disruptions.
Minimum services (serviços mínimos) are the legally required basic services that must be maintained during a strike to protect public safety—in healthcare this typically covers emergency care, critical ambulance coverage and intensive care. They matter because the INEM workers' committee admitted that late or unclear communication about which teams would be available during the end-of-2024 strike may have reduced operational capacity and confused patients; as an expat, expect limited non-urgent care during strikes and check official updates or call 112 for true emergencies.
The Energy Services Regulatory Authority (Entidade Reguladora dos Serviços Energéticos or ERSE) is Portugal’s regulator for electricity, gas and fuel markets, responsible for licensing, tariffs and consumer protection. ERSE handles consumer complaints (it received about 80 complaints in the recent Galp case), can investigate billing disputes and impose sanctions, so it’s the authority to contact for unresolved energy issues.
A presidential decree signed on 7 January 2026 recognises Brazilian driving licences in Portugal, simplifying the process for holders to drive or to exchange their Brazilian licence under the new rules without repeating the full driving test. That change makes daily mobility and administrative transitions easier for Brazilian nationals, dual citizens and residents in Portugal.
Excess mortality is the number of deaths above what would be expected based on historical averages (commonly a multi‑year baseline), and it captures deaths directly and indirectly caused by events like epidemics, heatwaves or healthcare disruptions. Portugal’s public health institute INSA (Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge) monitors excess mortality to see the broader impact of seasonal illnesses and other stresses on the health system, so a drop in flu cases does not automatically mean overall mortality has returned to normal. Those following public‑health trends should note excess‑mortality figures because they show the pandemic and other factors’ continuing effect on population health.
