The Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa) coordinated the medical evacuation of a 76-year-old American woman from a cruise ship west of the Azores archipelago. The rescue operation, initiated on Friday, resulted in the patient being transported to a hospital in Ponta Delgada for treatment.

The National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) is under scrutiny after its emergency dispatch centre, the CODU, reportedly refused to authorize hospital transport for a 55-year-old blind man. Although the CODU initially dispatched an ambulance from the Arruda dos Vinhos fire department to the Marvila area in Lisbon, it later denied the patient admission to the hospital. Firefighters proceeded to transport the man to the Hospital de São José regardless of the instruction.

Livre spokesperson Rui Tavares has accused Chega leader André Ventura of invoking Nazi-era rhetoric during his speech at the 25th of April solemn session. Tavares claims that Ventura's repeated use of the phrase “stabbed in the back” mirrors a specific myth used by Adolf Hitler to undermine democratic institutions. The accusation has sparked further debate regarding the tone of political discourse in Portugal.

A 3.1 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale was recorded on Terceira Island this Saturday, April 25, at 14:23 local time. The Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Centre (Centro de Informação e Vigilância Sismovulcânica dos Açores or CIVISA) reported the epicentre was eight kilometres east of Cabo da Praia. Residents in several locations felt the tremor at a maximum intensity of IV on the Modified Mercalli scale.

Update: Second earthquake recorded on Terceira Island

CIVISA reported a second, smaller tremor occurred on Terceira Island later on Saturday, April 25. This second earthquake registered a magnitude of 2.6 on the Richter scale and was recorded at 18:39 local time.

The Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) arrested a 51-year-old man on São Miguel island for the alleged sexual abuse of his 17-year-old stepdaughter. The investigation began after the victim reported the abuse at school, leading to a referral from the Commission for the Protection of Children and Young People (Comissão de Proteção de Crianças e Jovens). Authorities stated there is strong evidence the suspect exploited his position of trust to commit the crimes.

A 35-year-old woman died and a 47-year-old man was seriously injured following a two-car collision on the A2 motorway near Almodôvar on Friday. Emergency services, including the National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM), responded to the scene, and traffic was partially restricted while operations were underway.

The Ministry of Internal Administration has expelled 20 members of the security forces since February, including 11 officers from the Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) and nine soldiers from the National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR). The minister stated that these measures are part of a firm stance against deviant behavior within the ranks.

A strike by public prosecution magistrates led to court closures across the country, with participation rates estimated between 75% and 80%. The protest, driven by demands for better working conditions and staffing, forced the postponement of the Operation Babel ruling until May 8th.

The National Civil Aviation Authority (Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil or ANAC) has reminded passengers of their rights to refunds or alternative transport following flight cancellations. This guidance comes as geopolitical tensions begin to impact air travel schedules.

The Parliamentary Committee on Transparency has approved the candidacy of three Chega deputies to the RTP Opinion Council. The committee concluded there are no legal incompatibilities for the appointments, with the decision passing despite opposition from the Livre party.

The Tax Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira or AT) will restore benefits to taxpayers whose disability ratings were reviewed to below 60% before the end of 2023. This decision follows recent court rulings that challenged the progressive loss of tax benefits for individuals with disabilities.

The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo or AIMA) has reversed multiple expulsion orders against foreign residents in the last month after media intervention. In one case, the agency ordered a resident to leave despite her daughter's residency permit being renewed, later citing an administrative error.

The Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) has issued over 10,500 speeding fines since the start of the year, averaging 95 infractions per day. Of these, 680 were classified as very serious offenses, while the majority were categorized as serious. The police continue to monitor traffic behavior across the country to improve road safety.

The government of Guinea-Bissau has criticized Portuguese authorities for the detention of Guinean students at Lisbon airport, alleging failures in the visa issuance process. Justice Minister Carlos Pinto Pereira stated that students holding valid visas should be permitted entry, while Portuguese officials maintain that the detentions are due to missing documentation. At least 18 students have been affected since the beginning of April, with many returning to Bissau.

The Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) and the Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda or BE) have introduced separate bills to ensure political party donors are publicly identified. This move follows a decision by the Entity for Political Accounts and Financing (Entidade das Contas e Financiamentos Políticos or ECFP) to restrict access to donor identities citing data protection laws. The proposed legislation seeks to classify this information as a matter of public interest.

The Portuguese government has confirmed the release of Héctor Ferreira Domingues, a Portuguese-Venezuelan citizen who had been detained in Venezuela since September 2022. Minister of Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel expressed solidarity with the family and stated that the government will continue to work for the release of other political prisoners still held in the country. Domingues was previously sentenced to 18 years in prison following a raid on a uniform factory he managed in Caracas.

Legal professionals are denouncing the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo or AIMA) for failing to pay for services rendered. Lawyers hired to analyze migration cases report thousands of euros in outstanding payments, noting the situation deteriorated following the conclusion of a specific task force. The president of AIMA stated that approximately 200,000 euros remain to be settled.

The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministério Público) has issued a warning regarding a phishing campaign targeting TAP Air Portugal customers. Fraudsters are sending emails claiming victims are entitled to flight delay compensation, directing them to a fake website to steal banking credentials. Authorities advise the public to remain vigilant against these social engineering tactics.

The Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) arrested 100 drivers over the weekend for exceeding the criminal blood alcohol limit. This enforcement follows recent directives from the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, to improve road safety. Additionally, the PSP arrested nine individuals in Lisbon's Cais do Sodré for targeting tourists with fake drug scams.

The Superior Council of Administrative and Tax Courts (Conselho Superior dos Tribunais Administrativos e Fiscais or CSTAF) has formally refuted claims made by former Prime Minister José Sócrates regarding the scheduling of his lawsuit against the State. The judicial body denied allegations that the court's timing was influenced by fear of the European Court of Human Rights. The case is set to proceed in May.

The Entity for Political Accounts and Financing (Entidade das Contas e Financiamentos Políticos or ECFP) has decided to restrict public access to the identities of party and campaign donors. This move, supported by an opinion from the Commission for Access to Administrative Documents (Comissão de Acesso aos Documentos Administrativos or CADA), has drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures like Alexandra Leitão, who argue that transparency must take precedence over data protection. Meanwhile, PSD parliamentary leader Hugo Soares has also faced backlash for suggesting that declarations of interest should no longer be public.

A new decree-law now reinforces the right to be forgotten for individuals who have overcome cancer or other serious illnesses. Under the updated rules, applicants are no longer required to disclose past serious health conditions when taking out insurance associated with housing or consumer credit. The measure aims to prevent discrimination in the financial sector for those in remission.

A Portuguese psychiatrist previously convicted in Sweden for child pornography continues to see patients in Portugal despite having his Swedish medical license revoked. Authorities discovered 39 devices containing illegal files during an investigation in Sweden, leading to a prison sentence. Although Swedish authorities notified the internal market information system, the doctor remains active in the Portuguese medical system.

Minister of the Presidency António Leitão Amaro stated that the government intends to support the media sector without compromising its independence. Proposed measures include increased funding for newspaper distribution, mandatory public entity advertising in regional media, and new tax incentives. The minister also noted that the Lusa news agency has potential to expand its coverage across more national geographies.

A statue honoring the writer and former MP Natália Correia, located in the Graça area of Lisbon, was vandalized with Nazi symbols. The São Vicente parish council condemned the attack as an assault on democratic values and heritage. Authorities have been notified, and immediate cleaning efforts were undertaken to restore the monument.

The Public Prosecutor's Office has opened an inquiry into alleged fraud involving Portuguese language courses for immigrants (Português Língua de Acolhimento or PLA). These courses are essential for immigrants seeking permanent residency or nationality, and the investigation follows reports of irregularities in the certification process. The courses are provided by public schools, the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (Instituto do Emprego e da Formação Profissional or IEFP), and private partners.

The government has submitted a legislative proposal to Parliament aimed at resolving issues with undivided inheritances (heranças indivisas). If approved, the law would allow a single heir, a spouse married under a community of property regime, or an executor to unlock the sale of inherited properties. The initiative is part of a broader effort to increase housing supply in the market.

The Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) arrested five people in an operation targeting a network that trafficked anabolic steroids and prescription drugs. Searches were conducted at the Armed Forces Hospital in Lisbon and the Carregueira prison in Sintra as part of the investigation into trafficking, money laundering, and embezzlement. Separately, a police officer was stabbed multiple times at a station in Leiria, though his injuries are not reported as life-threatening.

The Casa do Brasil de Lisboa has sent a letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ahead of his visit to Portugal on April 21. The association is urging the president to formally address concerns regarding racism, xenophobia, and anti-immigrant misinformation with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and President António José Seguro. During his current European tour, Lula has praised the Spanish government's migration policies for recognizing the contributions of Brazilian residents.

The PS, Livre, and the Left Bloc have announced plans to introduce legislation requiring the disclosure of political donors. This move follows a decision by the Entity for Accounts and Political Financing (Entidade das Contas e Financiamentos Políticos or ECFP) to block public access to donor lists, citing data protection concerns. The proposed bills aim to ensure that party and campaign financing remains subject to public and media scrutiny.

The new national director of the Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ), Carlos Cabreiro, stated that the agency does not yield to media pressure. His comments follow the high-profile case of an individual held in preventive detention for throwing a Molotov cocktail at a demonstration, who now faces terrorism-related charges. Additionally, the PJ is currently finalizing a multi-year recruitment process to add 150 new inspectors to its staff.

Parliament has elected five new members to the Council of State, including Leonor Beleza, André Ventura, Carlos Moedas, Pedro Duarte, and Carlos César. The session also saw the rejection of Tiago Antunes, the Socialist Party nominee for Ombudsman, who failed to secure the required two-thirds majority. Additionally, the election for the RTP Opinion Council was postponed due to legal uncertainties regarding the candidacies of Chega deputies.

A Jet2.com Boeing 737-800 carrying 141 passengers from the UK to Gran Canaria made an emergency landing at Gago Coutinho International Airport in Faro this Thursday. The pilot declared an emergency after smoke was reported in the cabin, prompting the activation of the airport's emergency intervention plan. All passengers disembarked safely, and the aircraft is undergoing a technical inspection.

The Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) has arrested Nelson Vassalo, a 39-year-old designer and member of the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS), for allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at a March for Life demonstration in Lisbon. The suspect, who reportedly returned to Portugal after living in the United States, is currently under investigation by the National Counter-Terrorism Unit (Unidade Nacional de Combate ao Terrorismo or UNCT) for potential terrorist offences. The PS has suspended the member and launched disciplinary proceedings, stating it does not condone violence.

The General Inspectorate for Health Activities (Inspeção-Geral das Atividades em Saúde or IGAS) has ordered dermatology teams at the Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon to return over 818,000 euros. The investigation concluded that these payments, made for additional surgeries between 2021 and 2025, were improper. The findings implicate several medical staff, including Miguel Alpalhão, and note that the authorizations were granted by board members serving during that period.

The National Secretariat ordered the preventive suspension of the suspect, who has been a member of the PS since 2024.

The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo or AIMA) has acknowledged a procedural error in the residency renewal application of a nine-year-old Brazilian child. The agency confirmed that the previously issued notice requiring the child to leave the country has been cancelled and the process is being corrected.

Update: AIMA faces further criticism over residency errors

Reports have emerged of additional administrative errors, including a case where a 41-year-old Brazilian woman was incorrectly registered as a minor, and her husband was denied residency renewal due to alleged failure to prove housing. These cases have intensified public scrutiny regarding the agency's efficiency in processing residency applications.

A court in Matosinhos has handed a three-year and six-month suspended prison sentence to a care home owner in Maia for the mistreatment of two elderly residents. The defendant is also required to pay 2,000 euros in compensation to each victim and is prohibited from working in the care sector.