Monday, 13 July 2026

The National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) has launched an internal investigation into why Guimarães firefighters were dispatched to a cardiac arrest in Taipas. The local fire brigade, which was fully operational and closer to the scene, was bypassed, leading to questions about the dispatch procedures following the man's death.

Update: Emergency technicians criticize INEM response model

The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (Associação Nacional dos Técnicos de Emergência Médica or ANTEM) stated that this incident highlights a fundamental failure in the current INEM dispatch model. The association described the event as a worrying sign for the national emergency service.

Teachers have been called at the last minute to grade national exams, with many receiving assignments just three days before the final deadline. The Missão Escola Pública movement reported that teachers were summoned via an electronic platform on Saturday, raising concerns about the feasibility of completing the process on time. The Minister of Education, Fernando Alexandre, is expected to address these grading issues during the upcoming State of the Nation debate.

A fire broke out Sunday evening at an industrial warehouse in the Bairro de São Francisco area of Camarate, in the Loures municipality. Nearly 60 firefighters and 17 vehicles responded to the blaze, which destroyed pallets and vehicles but resulted in no injuries. The fire was declared under control in less than two hours.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros or MNE) confirmed that 114 Portuguese citizens and people of Portuguese descent have died following the double earthquake in Venezuela on June 24. There are currently 54 people still reported as missing. The government continues to monitor the situation as recovery efforts proceed in the affected regions.

The political party Livre held its 17th congress in Sintra this weekend to elect a new spokesperson, with Jorge Pinto expected to succeed outgoing leader Rui Tavares. During the event, party members criticized the government's recent rental policies and debated the party's future strategy, including its stance on potential cooperation with the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS).

Update: Livre challenges PS to block constitutional revision

Livre spokesperson Isabel Mendes Lopes has challenged the PS to block a right-wing constitutional revision by threatening to vote against the next State Budget. During the congress, the party also emphasized its ambition to govern by 2029 and called for ecological reindustrialisation.

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (Conselho Internacional de Monumentos e Sítios or ICOMOS) has requested urgent clarifications from Porto City Council regarding construction projects in the city's historic centre. The organization is seeking details on whether the works in the UNESCO World Heritage site were properly approved and monitored.

The Azores Regional Government is launching an independent scientific investigation into long-term pollution linked to the Lajes Air Base on Terceira Island. Authorities plan to urgently test local cattle for heavy metal contamination and have commissioned a technical committee to assess health risks to the population.

The Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) recorded 732 inquiries related to sextortion in 2025, with approximately 900 investigations currently open. Authorities report an average of two new cases per day, highlighting the prevalence of online blackmail involving threats to share intimate content.