Portuguese American Journal

Portuguese American Journal

Featured Stories
1976-2026 | Azores celebrate 50 Years of Constitutional Autonomy Book | Bag of Kisses | By Melanie Pereira April 25th |  “Dia da Liberdade” celebrated nationwide and across the diaspora Community | Justice Department moves to revoke citizenship for naturalized immigrants Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award
 

1976-2026 | Azores celebrate 50 Years of Constitutional Autonomy – Azores 

The Autonomous Region of the Azores is preparing for a historic year of celebrations in 2026 to mark the 50th anniversary of its Constitutional Autonomy. This milestone underscores five decades of self-governance, regional identity, and transatlantic connection.  The commemorations will culminate on September 8, 2026, marking the formal implementation of autonomy under the Constitution of […]

Book | Bag of Kisses | By Melanie Pereira – Editor’s Note

For a little girl whose daddy is a fisherman in the #1 fishing port in the world, goodbyes are never easy. But before he leaves for sea, her parents share a special secret―a magical bag of kisses that keeps their love close, no matter how far the waves carry him. As the days pass and […]

April 25th |  “Dia da Liberdade” celebrated nationwide and across the diaspora – Portugal

The Portuguese nation commemorates today the 52nd anniversary of the Carnation Revolution transition to democracy, with a nationwide program of official ceremonies, public demonstrations, and cultural events. The celebrations expanded abroad, connecting the country to its global diaspora, particularly in the United States. At the center of the national commemorations will be the traditional formal […]

Community | Justice Department moves to revoke citizenship for naturalized immigrants – Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Justice is moving to accelerate efforts to revoke the citizenship of certain naturalized Americans, targeting cases where individuals are suspected of having obtained citizenship through fraud or misrepresentation. Citizenship is considered one of the most secure legal statuses in the United States. Therefore, the overall impact of such measures is likely […]

Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award – New York, NY

Portuguese writer João Pedro Vala has been awarded a prestigious PEN/O. Henry Award for his short story “Inês,” a recognition widely regarded as one of the highest honors in English-language short fiction. The first Portuguese author to receive that distinction, his short story ‘Inês’ was selected for inclusion in the PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories anthology. […]

Book: ‘Feeling & Knowing: Making Minds Conscious’ by António Damásio – Editor’s Note

10 November 2021

From one of the world’s leading neuroscientists: a succinct, illuminating, wholly engaging investigation of how biology, neuroscience, psychology, and artificial intelligence have given us the tools to unlock the mysteries of human consciousness. In recent decades, many philosophers and cognitive scientists have declared the problem of consciousness unsolvable, but Antonio Damasio is convinced that recent […]

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Posted in Books, Featured, People, Portugal, World

Opinion: What to expect of the snap election after voters have their say – By Len Port

10 November 2021

Portugal’s early general election could push the country in one of two very different directions. It could create greater national stability, or it could cause long-term political chaos. The minority center-left Socialist Party (PS) has been able to govern remarkably well since 2015, but the surprisingly durable alliance with the far-left has been finally shattered. […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Madeira, People, Politics, Portugal, World

Portugal: Portuguese troops suspect of illicit trafficking – United Nations

10 November 2021

Portuguese peacekeepers, deployed to the Central African Republic (CAR) on United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions, allegedly used military cargo planes to smuggle gold, diamonds and drugs, into Europe. Ten suspects have been arrested, after more than 300 officers raided nearly 100 homes across the country to collect evidence in Lisbon, Bragança, Porto de Mós, Entroncamento, […]

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Posted in Featured, Organizations, People, Portugal, World

Euthanasia: Parliament to legalize medical assisted suicide – Portugal

05 November 2021

Portuguese lawmakers voted today in favor of a revised bill to legalize euthanasia and medical assisted suicide, through lethal drugs, to the terminally ill and seriously injured patients. The bill, approved in a 138-84 vote with five abstentions, was sponsored by the ruling Socialist Party with the support of the left-leaning smaller liberal, political factions. […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Madeira, Organizations, Portugal, World

Crisis: President dissolves Parliament and calls for general elections – Portugal

04 November 2021

The President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, announced today that he has dissolved Parliament and called for general elections to be held on January 30, after a lawmaker’s majority rejected the government’s 2022 budget bill last week. The rejection of the bill takes place after six years of a Socialist administration by Prime Minister […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Madeira, People, Politics, Portugal, World

COP26: How Portugal leads the way to avert a climate catastrophe – Glasgow, UK

01 November 2021

By Len Port The success or failure of the COP26 climate summit may depend largely on reaching agreement on the transition from fossil fuels to renewables, a process Portugal is making considerable progress on while major polluting countries are lagging far behind. The broadcaster France 24 has produced a series of special reports to coincide […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Heritage, Madeira, Organizations, People, Portugal, World