Portuguese American Journal

Portuguese American Journal

Featured Stories
1976-2026 | Azoreans mark 50 years of Autonomy with solemn ceremony Canada | Brampton to inaugurate replica of Portas da Cidade 100 years ago | Devastating earthquake shook Faial Island Sports | Fernando Pimenta world canoeing champion Community | 20th Anniversary of Portas da Cidade Celebration
 

1976-2026 | Azoreans mark 50 years of Autonomy with solemn ceremony – Horta, Faial

The Autonomous Region of the Azores marked a historic milestone with a Solemn Session on Friday, September 4, at the inaugural session of the Regional Assembly in Horta, Faial, honoring the 50th anniversary of the establishment of self-government. The Regional Assembly’s first solemn session took place exactly 50 years ago in Horta and was presided […]

Canada | Brampton to inaugurate replica of Portas da Cidade – Toronto, Ontario

One of the most recognizable symbols of the Azores, Portas da Cidade (City Gates) of Ponta Delgada, will soon have a new home in Brampton, in Canada’s Greater Toronto Area. The inauguration of a full-scale replica of the historic monument is scheduled for September 12, 2026, at Azores Park, 100 Malta Avenue.  The monument will […]

100 years ago | Devastating earthquake shook Faial Island – Azores

One hundred years ago today, on the morning of August 31, 1926, the island of Faial was violently shaken by one of the most destructive earthquakes in the modern history of the Azores.  A century later, the Museu da Horta is commemorating the disaster with historical photographs, educational activities and an earthquake-preparedness exercise involving about […]

Sports | Fernando Pimenta world canoeing champion – Poznan, Poland

Portuguese canoeing star Fernando Pimenta was crowned world champion in the K1 1000 meters, winning a dramatic final at the Canoe Sprint World Championships in Poznan, Poland, on August 29, 2026.  The achievement adds another historic chapter to the career of the athlete from Ponte de Lima, widely regarded as Portugal’s greatest canoeist. Pimenta currently […]

Community | 20th Anniversary of Portas da Cidade Celebration – Fall River, MA

Mayor Paul Coogan, in conjunction with the Portas da Cidade Advisory Committee and the Prince Henry Society, will host a special ceremony commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Portas da Cidade (City Gates), one of Fall River’s most recognizable symbols of its Azorean heritage.  The celebration will take place Monday, August 31, at 10:30 am […]

Update | Persistent severe downpouring forces evacuations – Portugal

12 February 2026

Heavy and persistent rainfall continues to affect mainland Portugal as successive Atlantic systems prolong saturated ground conditions and heighten flood risk across several regions, forcing evacuations. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro described the extreme weather episodes as a “devastating crisis” affecting communities across the country while emphasizing that emergency coordination and recovery efforts continue nationwide. Mário […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Madeira, Portugal

Election’26 | Diaspora vote count shows strong support for André Ventura – Portugal

10 February 2026

Portugal’s presidential runoff election provisional vote count indicates that Chega candidate André Ventura secured the largest share of votes cast by Portuguese citizens living abroad. As final counts are still being compiled from abroad, Ventura has received approximately 51.88% of the diaspora vote, compared with 48.12% for Seguro. These figures reflect global voting and remain […]

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Posted in Community, Featured, People, Politics, Portugal, World

Book | An Azorean Family’s History: Our Faria and Moitoso Roots | By Keith Tavares – Editor’s Note

10 February 2026

Genealogical research is a journey into the past, uncovering the stories and connections that define our heritage. For Keith Daniel Tavares, this journey explored his Faria and Moitoso ancestors, unearthing the rich history and legacy that has shaped his family. An Azorean Family’s History delves into the significant findings of Keith Tavares’ genealogical research, highlighting […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Azores, Books, Community, Featured, Genealogy, Heritage, São Miguel, World

Election’26 | Socialist António José Seguro wins presidency – Portugal

08 February 2026

Socialist António José Seguro was elected President of Portugal today, in a second-round runoff election, winning about 66–67% of the vote against far-right populist Chega candidate André Ventura with about 33–34% – according to near-final ballots counted. The national tally is not yet fully closed, as some precincts and consular votes remain to be counted. […]

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Posted in Featured, People, Politics, Portugal, World

Update | Extreme weather events continue battering the country nationwide – Portugal 

07 February 2026

Since late January, Portugal has confronted the cumulative impact of three successive Atlantic winter storms, which have caused fatalities, infrastructure destruction, flooding, and emergency response operations across the mainland, including Madeira and the Azores regions.  Over the weekend, a third storm front, named Marta, developed across the municipalities of Leiria, Coimbra, Santarém, and Lisbon districts, […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Madeira, Portugal, World

Community | Camões Institute promotes Portuguese language teaching – California

05 February 2026

On February 3, 2026, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Camões — Institute for Cooperation and Language, I.P. and the California Department of Education (CDE) during a ceremony held at the Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, located on the 5th floor of 1430 N Street in Sacramento, California. The Consul […]

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Posted in Community, Education, Featured, Heritage, People, Portugal, World