Portugal

35% of wildfires recorded this year were caused by arson, with 79.118 hectares of burnt area; the 28% caused by burnings (illegal during the summer months) account for 20.950 hectares, while 15% of the fires were accidental and 9% reignitions

Of the 38.554 traffic accidents with injuries registered between January 1 and August 31 this year, 22% (8.427) saw the flight of at least one of those responsible, according to the latest official figures released by PSP police

Korean Air has launched flights between Lisbon and Seoul Incheon, becoming the second direct connection from Eastern Asia to Portugal; first route, linking Hangzhou to Lisbon via Beijing, was opened in 2017

The estimated cost of compensation to settle the damage to the 200 vehicles affected by the fire at a long-term parking of Lisbon Airport in Prior Velho is more than €2.85 million, said the Portuguese Insurance Association

A new warehouse for highly radioactive waste storage at the Spanish Almaraz Nuclear Power Plant, 100 kilometres from the border with Portugal, is under public consultation from Portuguese Environment Agency

Tokio Gas will buy a 21,2% stake in the floating wind farm in Viana do Castelo; the project by Windfloat Atlantic currently belongs to the French-Spanish join venture Ocean Winds

Lisbon properties are registering a 25% increase more than in Madrid, thus becoming the most expensive city to buy a house in the Iberian Peninsula, Idealista source reports

A new collector €5 coin depicting Ulysses, designed by artist Gonçalo Viana, valid in Portugal only and paying tribute to Ulysses' links to Lisbon, was launched by the Bank of Portugal

Owners who transform their property into Local Accommodation during the six years following their acquisition will be paying a higher Municipal Tax on Onerous Property Transfers (IMT)

Former Prime Minister António Costa was elected as President of the European Council by the 27 EU member state leaders

The PS Madeira party has submitted a proposal to the regional parliament to open an international public tender for the concession of a maritime connection via ferry between the region and the continent

The University of Évora and chef Tanka Sapkota have announced the first discovery of the summer black truffle, reportedly been found in the outskirts of Lisbon

A foreigner with a tourist visa will no longer be allowed to apply for legalisation in Portugal: an employment contract or another solution previously dealt with by the Portuguese consular network will be now required