Portuguese American Journal

Portuguese American Journal

Featured Stories
Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award Space | Portugal launches satellites honoring national literary figures Community | 2026 International Portuguese Music Awards (IPMA)  Community | Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho remains on paid leave FLAD | Carlos Costa Neves appointed director of the Luso-American Development Foundation
 

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. […]

Space | Portugal launches satellites honoring national literary figures – Santa Barbara, CA

Portugal successfully launched six satellites aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, US. The mission reinforces Portugal’s growing role in the global space economy, while also strengthening strategic, scientific, and economic links across the Atlantic. Among the satellites are four named after some of the nation’s most celebrated literary figures […]

Community | 2026 International Portuguese Music Awards (IPMA)  – Providence, RI

The International Portuguese Music Awards (IPMA) will return on Saturday, April 25, 2026, for its 14th annual edition at the Providence Performing Arts Center, bringing together leading artists from across the global Portuguese-speaking world.  The event, scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and hosted by Daniella Ruah and Ricardo Farias, will be broadcast internationally, continuing its mission […]

Community | Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho remains on paid leave – Los Angeles, CA

Alberto M. Carvalho, the Portuguese-American superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), remains on paid administrative leave following a federal investigation involving the nation’s second-largest school system.  The move comes after agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed search warrants at Carvalho’s residence and district offices in late February 2026, in […]

FLAD | Carlos Costa Neves appointed director of the Luso-American Development Foundation – Portugal

The Board of Trustees of Lisbon based, Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD) appointed Dr. Carlos Henrique da Costa Neves, 72, to the Executive Board, chaired since January 15, 2026, by José Manuel Durão Barroso. Born in Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Azores,  Costa Neves holds a degree in Law from the University of Lisbon. He has held […]

Film: Director Ana Rocha de Sousa nominated for 2021 Oscars – Los Angeles, CA

08 December 2020

The film Listen, directed by Ana Rocha de Sousa, will be the Portuguese candidate for Best Foreign Film at the 2021 Oscars, the Portuguese Academy of Cinema (APC) announced. The film was the most voted production among the members of the Portuguese Academy of Cinema (APC) to represent Portugal at the 93rd American Film Academy […]

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Posted in Awards, Featured, Film, Heritage, Organizations, People, Portugal, World

Book: Salazar: ‘The Dictator Who Refused to Die’, by Tom Gallagher – Editor’s Note

06 December 2020

Fifty years after his death, Portugal’s Salazar remains a controversial and enigmatic figure, whose conservative and authoritarian legacy still divides opinion. Some see him as a reactionary and oppressive figure who kept Portugal backward, while others praise his honesty, patriotism and dedication to duty. Contemporary radicals are wary of his unabashed elitism and skepticism about […]

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

Elections: José Bolieiro sworn President of the Regional Government – Azores

23 November 2020

President-elect José Manuel Bolieiro takes office as the new President of the Government of the Azores, replacing outgoing President Vasco Cordeiro, following the Azores’ regional elections held on 25 October 2020. The new Regional Government of the Azores will be inaugurated on Tuesday, November 24th. According to the Azorean parliament announcement, “The formal session of […]

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

Book: ‘Freedom Sun in the Tropics’ by Ana Maria Machado – Editor’s Note

14 November 2020

Based on the author’s own experiences of life, exile, and return under the dictatorship that gripped Brazil in the 1960s and 1970s, Freedom Sun in the Tropics follows Lena, a journalist, as she resists violence and political repression, and decides to flee to Paris. Upon her eventual return, Lena soon discovers that the dictatorship’s prison walls have […]

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

Opinion: Democracy ranks high for rights and liberties – Portugal

12 November 2020

By Len Port Amid declining democratic freedoms across the world, international studies have placed Portugal very highly for its level of political rights and civil liberties. The Freedom House research institute based in Washington D.C. ranks Portugal 10th globally – higher than such countries as the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States. In its […]

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

US Elections: Lisbon welcomes leadership change in Washington – Portugal

07 November 2020

Portugal’s prime minister, António Costa, was among the first world leaders to congratulate president-elect Joe Biden. He tweeted on Saturday: “We look forward to working with the new USA Administration to reinforce transatlantic relations and cooperate on global issues, such as climate change, defense of democracy and international security.” Costa was joined by other European […]

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