Wednesday, 29 July 2026

Firefighters are struggling to contain multiple active wildfires, with the most critical situation in the Guarda district forcing the closure of the A25 motorway. Another significant blaze in Valpaços is currently being fought by over 150 personnel and aerial support. Authorities report that conditions remain hazardous as crews work to prevent further spread in these regions.

Update: Wildfires contained in Guarda as high-risk alerts persist

The fire in the Guarda district is now under control, though dozens of municipalities across eight districts remain at maximum risk of fire. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as high temperatures persist across mainland Portugal.

The office of André Ventura, leader of the Chega party, was vandalized and burglarized at the Assembly of the Republic in Lisbon on Tuesday. While the Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) are investigating the incident, Ventura claims that documents related to a parliamentary inquiry into the mandates of Luís Neves were stolen. Security officials have described the breach as unprecedented.

Update: Ventura claims stolen documents linked to Luís Neves inquiry

Political commentators have described the ongoing controversy surrounding the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, and the security breach at the office of André Ventura as a symptom of broader institutional instability. The investigation into the burglary remains ongoing.

The postal company CTT - Correios de Portugal reported a 41.6% decline in profits for the first half of 2026, totaling 12.9 million euros. The drop is attributed to restructuring costs and financial challenges related to international operations, including the Spanish firm Cacesa.

The Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) successfully recovered and returned approximately 500,000 euros to a victim of a cyber fraud scheme. The breach occurred after the victim clicked a malicious link on social media, allowing attackers to access cryptocurrency wallets.

The government and unions have reached an agreement to increase the remuneration of senior diagnostic and therapeutic technicians. The pay rise will be implemented in two phases throughout 2026 and 2027, following a performance evaluation process.

Six months after Storm Kristin caused widespread destruction, the Mission Structure for the Recovery of the Central Region reports that over 200,000 homes were affected. Officials admit that full reconstruction will not be finished by the 2027 deadline, as many residents remain trapped in insurance disputes and infrastructure repairs lag behind.

Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion Manuel Castro Almeida has guaranteed that Portugal will fully invest all funds from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) by the August 31 deadline. Despite some pending milestones, the government is implementing an overbooking strategy to ensure no money is returned to Brussels.

National exam results for the ninth grade show a decline in performance compared to last year, with a majority of students failing the mathematics exam. Data from the National Examination Jury (Júri Nacional de Exames or JNE) indicates that the national average for mathematics dropped to 49 points out of 100.

Mainland Portugal continues to face maximum or very high wildfire danger, with the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) warning that conditions will remain hazardous throughout the week. While a fire in Vila Verde has been resolved, active blazes continue in the Guarda district, where five emergency workers were injured. Authorities are also monitoring a fire threatening rural tourism near the Alqueva dam in Mourão.

Data from the National Statistics Institute (Instituto Nacional de Estatística or INE) shows that in 2024, only six municipalities in Portugal saw median net income per taxpayer exceed 1,000 euros per month. While the national median rose by 7.6 percent, significant economic disparities persist, with the highest incomes concentrated in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area.

Patients suffering from severe heart disease are facing wait times exceeding one year for percutaneous valve replacement, commonly known as TAVI. Many individuals who do not qualify for traditional surgery are left without alternative treatment options, as delays in diagnostic examinations prevent them from even reaching the official waiting lists.