Pollsters predict any of the four of Ventura's potential rivals would trounce him in a second-round vote. Polling stations open at 8:00 am (0800 GMT) on Sunday and exit polls will be announced at 8:00 pm. The president of Portugal has no executive powers but can, in times of crisis, dissolve parliament, call elections or dismiss a prime minister. - Popularity test -Ventura sees Sunday's vote mainly as a test of his popularity, according to experts, who believe that he has his sights set on eventually running the country as prime minister. Portugal, a country of nearly 11 million inhabitants, is a member of the European Union and the eurozone.

COPENHAGEN, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on European nations that do not let him acquire Greenland "come as a surprise", Denmark's foreign minister said Saturday in a statement sent to AFP. "The purpose of the increased military presence in Greenland, to which the president refers, is precisely to enhance security in the Arctic," said Lars Lokke Rasmussen. "We are in close contact with the European Commission and our other partners on the matter," he added, speaking just days after attending talks in the White House with US and Greenlandic officials on the Greenland question.

PARIS, France, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iranian schools are set to reopen Sunday, media reported, following a one-week closure as the country was gripped by protests. "Schools in Tehran and other cities which were announced closed since January 10 will be resumed from tomorrow (Sunday)," the ISNA news agency said, adding that university exams that had been postponed would be held on January 24.

PARIS, France, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday denounced US President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on European countries opposing his efforts to acquire the Danish territory of Greenland. "Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context," Macron posted on X, in French and English. "Europeans will respond in a united and coordinated manner should they be confirmed," he added. "It is in this spirit that I will engage with our European partners," said Macron. Trump said that from February, several European nations would be subject to 10-percent tariffs, with the number set to rise to 25 percent on June 1, until he can complete his acquisition of Greenland.

Who has been invited to be on Trump's Gaza boards? WASHINGTON, United States, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump is starting to flesh out his so-called "Board of Peace" and related entities for postwar Gaza, with multiple world leaders saying Saturday they have been asked to join. The White House said that under Trump's plan, there would be a main board, chaired by Trump himself, a Palestinian committee of technocrats meant to govern the war-wracked territory, and a second "executive board" that appears designed to have a more advisory role. An initial list of appointees was issued by the White House, which said more names would be added. Here is the list of people involved so far in the various entities:- Confirmed by the White House -BOARD OF PEACE - The White House says the Board of Peace will take on issues such as "governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding and capital mobilization."

LONDON, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday condemned US President Donald Trump's threat to impose swingeing tariffs on European allies opposing his efforts to acquire Greenland as "completely wrong". "Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is completely wrong. We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration," Starmer said in a statement. "We have also made clear that Arctic Security matters for the whole of Nato and allies should all do more together to address the threat from Russia across different parts of the Arctic," he added.

PARIS, France, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iranian authorities on Saturday said they had arrested members of the Bahai minority they accused of having been active in what they call "riots", the Tasnim news agency reported, after the wave of protests that gripped the country. The Bahais, Iran's biggest non-Muslim religious minority, regularly experience persecution and the Islamic republic has accused its members of being spies linked to Israel. It said the network was active across Iran, including in the capital Tehran, adding that "their main hideout was located in Mashhad" in the east. Iran was rocked by weeks of demonstrations sparked by anger over economic hardship that exploded into the biggest protests against the Islamic republic in more than three years. It is unclear how many members of the minority remain in Iran, but their supporters believe there could still be several hundred thousand.

LONDON, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Florian Wirtz said Liverpool's 1-1 draw with lowly Burnley on Saturday "feels like a defeat" after the Premier League champions dropped points for the fourth straight game. Liverpool had a total of 32 shots, including 11 on target, but could not make their dominance count. Wirtz, who has hit form after a slow start to his Anfield career, said the result was frustrating. Liverpool boss Slot bemoaned his side's bluntness in attack and tendency to concede goals despite giving away few chances. The draw leaves Liverpool fourth in the Premier League table, seven points behind third-placed Aston Villa and one ahead of Manchester United, in fifth spot.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, United States, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - NASA on Saturday rolled out its towering SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft as it began preparations for its first crewed mission to the Moon in more than 50 years. The immense orange and white Space Launch System rocket and the Orion vessel were slowly wheeled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and painstakingly moved four miles (6.5 kilometers) to Launch Pad 39B. "We're making history," Artemis 2 mission management team chair John Honeycutt told a press conference on Friday. The uncrewed Artemis 1 mission took place in November 2022 after multiple postponements and two failed launch attempts. NASA hopes to put humans back on the Moon as China forges ahead with a rival effort that is targeting 2030 at the latest for its first crewed mission.

NOTTINGHAM, United Kingdom, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Arsenal opened up a seven-point Premier League lead despite failing to break down a resilient Nottingham Forest in a 0-0 draw at the City Ground on Saturday. Arsenal were made to pay for a lacklustre first half performance as Forest held out to boost their own chances of survival. City have failed to apply any pressure to Arsenal during a four-game winless Premier League run since the turn of the year. But back-to-back goalless draws against Liverpool and Forest has prevented Arsenal from building a big lead. Merino should have scored but could not turn Rice's inviting free-kick delivery on target.

LENS, France, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Lens returned to the top of Ligue 1 with a battling 1-0 win over lowly Auxerre on Saturday. Entering a match not at the summit of the standings for the first time since the beginning of December, Lens started in cagey fashion. Lens coach Sage later regretted his surprise league leaders' recent tendency to start matches in a sluggish manner. Whatever Sage said to his charges at half-time worked as Lens came out more forceful in the second period and only heroic last-ditch defending kept Said and Matthieu Udol at bay. But ultimately Lens were not made to pay for their wastefulness as they kept Auxerre at arm's length to ensure a 14th victory of the campaign.

Lampard admitted it was a much-needed result after a run of just two victories in their previous eight games. Jack Taylor notched the second goal for Kieran McKenna's side eight minutes later and former Blackburn striker Sam Szmodics completed the victory in the 88th minute. "I think it was a good performance, a good result and a good step for us," McKenna said. "At this stage of the season, winning is obviously the most important thing, but how you win does matter," Neil said. "We talk a lot about doing the hard yards and sometimes at this level you can beat teams through persistence and put the effort in that maybe other teams won't."

LEIPZIG, Germany, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Harry Kane scored his 21st goal of the Bundesliga season as Bayern Munich came from behind to win 5-1 at RB Leipzig on Saturday. Leipzig took a first-half lead through Romulo, but Bayern kicked into gear after the break, Serge Gnabry, Kane, Jonathan Tah, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Michael Olise all scoring. Leipzig goalscorer Romulo said "we played 75 minutes really on top, then I don't know what happened, we turned off our minds. Bayern took the lead after 67 minutes, once again thanks to a Leipzig mistake. Elsewhere, Hoffenheim's Wouter Burger scored the only goal in a 1-0 home win over flailing Bayer Leverkusen to climb past Leipzig into third in the table.

LONDON, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Michael Carrick made a flying start to life as Manchester United boss against Manchester City on Saturday but Premier League leaders Arsenal missed a chance to pull nine points clear. Guardiola admitted that his team -- winless in four league games this year -- were outplayed by Carrick's inspired United. "The better team won," said the City boss. Arsenal are seven points clear at the top despite being held to a 0-0 draw for the second league game in a row at Nottingham Forest. Sunderland beat Crystal Palace 2-1 while Leeds scored late on to beat Fulham 1-0, remaining eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Martinez expertly poked home the winner in the 20th minute in Udine to continue Inter's nine-match unbeaten run in Italy's top flight ahead of Tuesday's key Champions League clash with Arsenal. Inter were the better team from start to finish, putting pressure on Udinese high up the pitch as Cristian Chivu wants his team to do. Napoli stayed six points behind Inter in third after Stanislav Lobotka's first club goal in over three years snapped a run of three straight draws. - Napoli battle on -The champions are level on 43 points with second-placed Milan, who host Lecce on Sunday. They trail their local rivals Inter even though the seven-time European champions have not lost since the opening day of the season.