Jornal de Notícias reports that at least 108 people were intentionally murdered in 2025, marking the highest number of homicides since 2018. Separately, the President of the Republic returned three decree-laws to the Government that sought to implement reforms in the health sector, a move with legal and political implications for emergency services, public safety and ongoing healthcare policy changes. These developments highlight rising concerns about violent crime alongside contested attempts to reshape healthcare governance.

An IPMA yellow warning is in force this Friday for eight districts — Guarda, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Leiria, Lisbon, Setúbal, Beja and Faro — calling for increased public caution due to adverse conditions that could affect travel, outdoor activities and local services. At the same time eight presidential candidates will convene in Lisbon for a radio debate, an event whose logistics and audience turnout may be influenced by the weather alert; organisers and the public are advised to monitor forecasts and prioritise safety while ensuring the debate proceeds with contingency plans for any disruptions. The overlap of a national weather warning and a key campaign event underscores the practical intersection of public safety and electoral logistics.

This analytical piece urges readers to adopt an optimistic stance for the new year and to move past complaints about the recent increase in the retirement age. It explains that demographic shifts and the strain on social security systems underpin the policy change, outlines labour and legal implications for workers — including expatriates — and argues that better communication, phased implementation, retraining and age-friendly workplace measures would protect wellbeing while ensuring fiscal sustainability.

Forty years after accession, Henrique Burnay assesses whether the original expectations of political stability, economic convergence and stronger international standing have been realised. He argues that while membership delivered important structural gains — market access, institutional stability and funding — unfulfilled promises remain in terms of full economic convergence, social cohesion and consistent EU foreign and defence policy. The conversation lays out short- and long-term scenarios, highlighting the need for renewed domestic reform, clearer European-level strategic choices and pragmatic adaptations if the Union is to meet citizens’ expectations in the coming decades.

José Pedro Aguiar‑Branco criticises presidential candidates for fostering 'unrealistic expectations among citizens' and creating a 'permanent distrust' of politicians. He warns that exaggerated promises and campaign rhetoric could erode public confidence, complicate policy-making and harm long-term political stability in Portugal.

China has condemned the European Union’s new import-control mechanism targeting polluting products as discriminatory and unfair, and has pledged to take “necessary measures” in response. The move highlights a growing regulatory clash between trade and sustainability goals: while the EU says it seeks to curb pollution embedded in imports, affected exporters view the rules as protectionist. The dispute could prompt diplomatic friction, potential retaliatory actions or legal challenges and create uncertainty for supply chains and companies navigating diverging environmental standards.

A new IPPS/ISCTE opinion poll finds that almost half of Portuguese expect 2026 to bring continuity at the national level, with a majority forecasting political stability next year. Respondents were asked about expectations for their families, the nation and the international situation: while domestic outlooks skew towards stability and steady consumption confidence, many express concern about a possible deterioration in international affairs. The results highlight a cautious public mood—optimistic about internal political continuity but wary of external risks.

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro uses his customary 1 January Jornal de Notícias article to renew a call for labour reform, urging a ‘winning mentality’ and changes to employment law and regulation. Framed as necessary for competitiveness and job creation, the piece signals his policy priorities and aims to steer public and political debate toward deregulation and legal adjustments. It functions both as a policy pitch and as political positioning ahead of upcoming labour‑market discussions.

The government will introduce compulsory Physical Education for 1st‑cycle pupils in public schools from the next school year, affecting around 330,000 children. The Budget Law commits to hiring the teachers needed to deliver the measure but does not specify how much will be invested or the number of weekly hours to be allocated. The lack of detail raises implementation questions — recruitment timelines, teacher training, regional distribution, and fiscal impact — and creates uncertainty about curriculum time and equity of provision across schools.