Friday, 24 July 2026

The United States has finalized new tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on more than 80 countries, including Portugal. These measures replace a temporary 10% global duty and follow a five-month investigation into supply chain labor practices after previous attempts were blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court.

A high-speed rail link will connect the future Lisbon airport to the city center in 20 minutes. The new airport project, estimated to cost between 7.9 and 8.9 billion euros, is expected to open in 2035 and will be supported by extensive new rail, road, and utility infrastructure.

The Council of Ministers has approved a proposal to distribute administrative lawsuits against the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo or AIMA) to courts nationwide. Currently, these cases are concentrated in Lisbon, but the government aims to decentralize the process to improve efficiency as part of a broader justice reform.

An 18-month-old girl died on Thursday after being left inside a nursery minibus in Almada. Emergency services, including the National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM), were called to the scene on Avenida do Cristo Rei, but the child was declared dead upon their arrival.

The Water and Waste Services Regulation Authority has advised the Municipalized Water and Sanitation Services of Almada (Serviços Municipalizados de Água e Saneamento de Almada or SMAS) to proactively compensate residents affected by recent water supply interruptions. The regulator argues that the utility should identify impacted households rather than waiting for formal complaints.

The Confederation of Portuguese Business (Confederação Empresarial de Portugal or CIP) has ruled out a 2027 minimum wage increase exceeding the 50 euros already agreed upon. The business group cites current productivity trends as the primary reason for resisting further raises despite calls from the government for higher wages.

Portugal has submitted a seventh request to the European Commission to reprogram its Recovery and Resilience Plan (Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência or PRR). The move follows a suggestion from Brussels to ensure the country meets its established milestones and avoids the potential return of funds.

The Liberal Initiative (Iniciativa Liberal or IL) has requested that the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, appear before the Assembly of the Republic's Standing Committee. The party seeks clarification regarding controversies involving contracts awarded to a construction firm during his previous tenure as head of the Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ).

The price of Brent crude has climbed above 100 dollars per barrel following Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. This two-month peak threatens to stall disinflation efforts and increase energy costs for consumers in Portugal.

The Institute for Higher Education has announced that the application deadline for the second phase of national university access has been moved forward by two days. Students now have until September 20th to submit their applications.

The Lisbon Court of Appeal has ruled that the administrative proceedings against EDP and Sonae, which resulted in a fine exceeding 34 million euros, have not expired. The case stems from a 2017 Competition Authority (Autoridade da Concorrência or AdC) investigation into non-compete agreements regarding energy marketing.

The Portuguese Medical Association has warned that the obstetrics emergency department at São Francisco Xavier Hospital in Lisbon will remain closed throughout August. The unit will only provide emergency responses when activated by the INEM.

The European Central Bank (ECB) is meeting in Frankfurt to decide on monetary policy, with investors anticipating a potential pause in interest rate hikes. Officials are closely monitoring the recent rise in oil prices, which remains a primary concern for inflation forecasts and future economic stability.

The Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) has disclosed details regarding 17 contracts awarded to a construction firm owned by an associate of the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves. Records show that only one of these contracts was awarded through a competitive public tender, raising questions about the procurement process used during the minister's tenure as head of the agency.