Thursday, 17 September 2026

United States President Donald Trump has threatened to impose heavy tariffs on the European Union if it admits Canada as an associate member. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed the associate status to deepen ties beyond trade, but the plan has faced resistance from European leaders and sharp criticism from Washington. Trump labeled the potential integration as 'ridiculous' and warned of economic consequences for the bloc.

The Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) has decided to support a parliamentary inquiry into the digital grading process for national exams, originally proposed by the Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda or BE). The decision follows concerns over unclear responsibilities and technical failures during the recent exam period. With additional support from the Chega party, the inquiry is now expected to proceed in the Assembly of the Republic.

The General Union of Workers (União Geral de Trabalhadores or UGT) is calling for a minimum wage of 1,000 euros by 2027, while the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses or CGTP) demands a significant 'wage shock'. Employers remain opposed to reopening the existing tripartite agreement, which currently sets the 2027 target at 970 euros. The Minister of Labour stated that while the government is open to dialogue, no immediate changes to the agreement are planned.

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) has issued a warning for a gradual rise in temperatures starting this Saturday. A warm, dry air mass is expected to push maximum temperatures to 38°C in the Alentejo and Tagus Valley regions. The institute suggests that this weather pattern could lead to another heatwave across the country.

Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves announced that future editions of the Annual Internal Security Report (Relatório Anual de Segurança Interna or RASI) may include data on the nationality of crime perpetrators. During a parliamentary hearing, the minister argued that tracking this information is necessary for a clearer understanding of crime trends in Portugal. The move has sparked significant political debate regarding the transparency and intent of such statistics.

Chega leader André Ventura has requested a meeting with the President of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, following the rejection of his party's proposal for a parliamentary commission of inquiry into the mandates of Luís Neves. Ventura accused the parliamentary speaker of protecting political interests, while Aguiar-Branco maintained that the request did not meet the necessary criteria. The Juntos pelo Povo party is also seeking support from other parliamentary groups to initiate a separate inquiry into contracts awarded during Neves' time as director of the Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ).

Data from the Ministry of Education shows that 75.2% of requests for re-evaluation of second-phase national exams resulted in higher grades for students. The process saw 2,563 requests, with 1,928 students receiving score increases. This follows a summer marked by technical difficulties during the transition to a digital grading process for national examinations.

A collision between a passenger train and a heavy goods vehicle at a private level crossing in Alcáçovas, Viana do Alentejo, resulted in three injuries on Wednesday. The truck driver was seriously injured and airlifted by the National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) to Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon. Two other individuals, who were on the train, sustained minor injuries and were transported to the Espírito Santo Hospital in Évora.

Minister of Economy Manuel Castro Almeida has acknowledged that inflation is rising rather than falling, causing significant difficulties for Portuguese households. The government plans to implement targeted support measures for specific sectors, such as professional transporters and agriculture, rather than providing generalized relief. These measures aim to address the impact of increasing fuel prices on the national economy.

Three men have turned themselves in to the Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) following an investigation into a shooting incident on Rua Augusta last August. The event, which left a Swedish tourist injured by a stray bullet, occurred during a dispute between groups involved in the illicit sale of substances. Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas has expressed alarm over the city's safety, calling for support from moderate political forces to address rising security concerns.

Approximately 295 students in Sintra who were previously without school placements have now been assigned to local institutions. While the Ministry of Education maintains that the distribution is complete, some individual cases remain, and officials have suggested that class sizes may increase or temporary facilities may be used to accommodate the growing student population in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area.

President of the Republic António José Seguro has reiterated his call for a national health pact, emphasizing that improving the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS) is a collective duty. During a ceremony at the Champalimaud Foundation, he and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro highlighted the importance of ensuring healthcare access as a fundamental right for all citizens.

More than 1,200 personnel are currently mobilized to combat four major wildfires across the country, with the most significant efforts concentrated in Alvito da Beira, Portel, and Mirandela. Authorities from the Civil Protection (Proteção Civil) are managing the response to these active fires, which have required substantial resource allocation throughout the week.