Portuguese American Journal

Portuguese American Journal

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Social Media | Parliament proposes bill requiring parental consent for minors Update | Persistent severe downpouring forces evacuations Election’26 | Diaspora vote count shows strong support for André Ventura Book | An Azorean Family Election’26 | Socialist António José Seguro wins presidency
 

Social Media | Parliament proposes bill requiring parental consent for minors – Portugal

Portugal’s parliament has approved legislation that would restrict minors’ access to social media platforms by requiring parental authorization for users under the age of 16, making it one of Europe’s most concrete legislative steps toward regulating youth activity online. The proposal, introduced by the Social Democratic Party (PSD), mandates explicit, verified parental consent for minors […]

Update | Persistent severe downpouring forces evacuations – Portugal

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 […]

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

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 […]

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

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 […]

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

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. […]

Book: ‘Think Least of Death: Spinoza on How to Live and How to Die’- Editor’s Note

25 January 2021

From Pulitzer Prize-finalist Steven Nadler, an engaging guide to what Spinoza can teach us about life’s big questions. In 1656, after being excommunicated from Amsterdam’s Portuguese-Jewish community for “abominable heresies” and “monstrous deeds,” the young Baruch Spinoza abandoned his family’s import business to dedicate his life to philosophy. He quickly became notorious across Europe for […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Books, Featured, Heritage, People, Portugal, World

Elected: Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa President with 61% of votes – Portugal

24 January 2021

Social Democrat  (PSD), 72, was reelected, on Sunday, for a second five-year mandate with 61% of votes above his 52% win in 2016. He takes office officially on March 9, 2021. Center-left Ana Gomes (PS/13%) won a distant second place while populist André Ventura (Chega/12%) won a third place. Other contenders included, Marisa Matias (Bloco […]

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

Opinion | Portugal’s presidential election in the time of pandemic – by Len Port

22 January 2021

A surge in Covid-19 to record levels in Portugal has already affected Sunday’s presidential election. Because of the strict lockdown measures throughout the country, and because there are no postal or electronic methods of voting in place, special arrangements were made for elderly citizens in quarantine and in care homes to cast their ballots well […]

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

COVID’19: Health system in despair on the verge of collapsing – Portugal

21 January 2021

Portugal is registering the world’s highest COVID’19 infections and death rates due to the faster-spreading of a more contagious variant form of the virus first detected in Britain. The country has now the highest seven-day average rate in the world of new cases per 100,000 population and the second-highest rate of new deaths after the […]

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

Book: ‘The Complete Works of Alberto Caeiro’ by Fernando Pessoa – Editor’s Note

19 January 2021

A bilingual companion to The Book of Disquiet. Here, in Margaret Jull Costa and Patricio Ferrari’s splendid new translations, are the complete poems of Alberto Caeiro, the imaginary “heteronym” coterie created by Fernando Pessoa, the Portuguese modernist master. Pessoa conceived Caeiro around 1914 and may have named him loosely after his friend, the poet Mário […]

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Posted in Books, Featured, Heritage, People, Portugal, World

January 20: Tom Hanks hosting ‘Celebrating America’ inaugural event – Washington, DC

19 January 2021

Portuguese American actor Tom Hanks will host a 90-minute “Celebrating America” primetime television special on January 20, for the inauguration of Joe Biden as President and Kamala Harris as Vice-President of the United States. The ceremony will be held on the West Front of the US Capitol. Tom Hanks is just one of the few […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Awards, Community, Entertainment, Featured, Heritage, Music, Organizations, People, Politics, World