Friday, 31 July 2026

A major wildfire that ignited in Valpaços has spread to the municipality of Mirandela, damaging at least 21 houses and leaving five people injured. Over 800 emergency personnel are currently working to contain the blaze, which has forced the evacuation of residents in the village of Vale de Telhas. The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil or ANEPC) is coordinating the response as high-risk conditions persist across inland regions.

Update: Wildfires spread to Mirandela as evacuations continue

Firefighting efforts have intensified as the blaze reached the municipality of Mirandela, forcing the evacuation of residents from the villages of São Pedro Velho and Ervideira. Authorities report that the fire has now damaged 21 houses, including both permanent residences and secondary homes, while smoke and flames continue to complicate operations near the A24 motorway.

New data from the National Statistics Institute (Instituto Nacional de Estatística or INE) shows that Portugal had 46,131 doctors in active practice in 2024, a figure significantly lower than the 65,000 previously registered with the Medical Association (Ordem dos Médicos). Meanwhile, the government prepares to launch the new waiting list management system for consultations and surgeries, known as SINACC, starting tomorrow.

A major wildfire in Valpaços has forced authorities to activate the Municipal Emergency Plan (Plano Municipal de Emergência). The fire has spread to the municipalities of Vinhais and Mirandela, with nearly 1,000 personnel and 300 vehicles currently engaged in firefighting efforts alongside other active blazes in Chaves and Penafiel.

Update: Firefighting efforts continue as blaze spreads to new areas

The wildfire has now consumed approximately 16,000 hectares, with the majority of the damage concentrated in Valpaços. While the blaze in Lagoa has been brought under control, crews remain on high alert across the northern region as they battle active fronts and potential reactivations.

Pedro Frazão, a commentator for CNN Portugal, believes that the root of the problem in the controversy involving the Minister of Internal Administration is an 'ethical problem'.

Update: Parliamentary leaders to decide on Minister's hearing

Following a request from the Chega party, the President of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, has convened a conference of parliamentary leaders for Friday. The meeting will determine if Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves must appear before the Permanent Committee to address ongoing controversies regarding his past conduct as director of the Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ).

Minister of Education Fernando Alexandre confirmed that the start of the secondary school year is postponed by one week to September 21. The delay follows significant grading backlogs caused by technical failures in the digital exam correction process. The Ministry is currently evaluating whether a similar postponement is necessary for students in the 3rd cycle of basic education.

A study by the Association for Civic Participation (Associação para a Participação Cívica or SJC) suggests that proposed amendments to Portugal’s nationality law could reduce economic activity by up to 15.9 billion euros over the next decade. The association has requested a meeting with Minister of the Presidency António Leitão Amaro to discuss concerns that these legislative changes might reduce the country's attractiveness to foreign residents.

MetLife, Ageas, and MGEN were the most complained-about insurance companies in Portugal during 2025. While MGEN had a normal complaint level for health insurance, its French parent company recorded the highest number of complaints relative to its insured base under the Freedom to Provide Services regime, while Ageas Seguros saw the highest volume of complaints in the automotive sector.

UEFA and its 55 national associations, including the Portuguese Football Federation (Federação Portuguesa de Futebol or FPF), have unanimously rejected FIFA's proposal to privatize commercial rights for the World Cup. European football leaders warned they would boycott FIFA tournaments if the plan proceeds, arguing that the World Cup should not be treated as an investment product for private entities. The controversy centers on FIFA's intent to centralize commercial operations under a new entity open to private investors.

The state-owned bank Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) recorded a profit of 913 million euros in the first half of 2026, a 2.2% increase compared to the same period last year. CEO Paulo Macedo noted that the bank has provided 2.5 billion euros in loans to young people under the state guarantee scheme since January 2025. Additionally, home loan approvals saw a significant year-on-year increase of 42%.

The government has approved a 33% windfall tax on the excess profits of oil companies, becoming the first of five European nations to implement such a measure after contacting Brussels. The Temporary Solidarity Contribution on the Oil Sector (Contribuição de Solidariedade Temporária sobre o Setor Petrolífero or CSTSP) will be calculated based on the average results from 2024 and 2025. This move targets extraordinary profits linked to recent global energy price increases.

Portuguese companies have until December 31 to claim funds from the Labour Compensation Fund (Fundo de Compensação do Trabalho or FCT). As of June, 476.6 million euros remained unmobilized, representing 73% of the total funds available for training and severance support.