Portuguese American Journal

Portuguese American Journal

Featured Stories
Community | Diaspora mobilizes to join storm relief effort Teolinda Gersão | Narrative talent transcending literary boundaries 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
 

Community | Diaspora mobilizes to join storm relief effort – Portugal

The Portuguese American communities across the United States are mobilizing in solidarity with families and municipalities in Portugal, affected by a succession of severe rainstorms that have caused fatalities, widespread flooding, infrastructure damage, and displacement across several regions.  Relief authorities in Portugal report significant impacts on housing, local businesses, agriculture, and public infrastructure, underscoring the […]

Teolinda Gersão | Narrative talent transcending literary boundaries – Interview

By Maria Duran On the 29th of October, 2025, Portuguese writer Teolinda Gersão became a second-time winner of the APE-DGLAB Romance and Novel Grand Prize. Autobiografia não escrita de Martha Freud (2024), [The Unwritten Autobiography of Martha Freud], published by Porto Editora, earned her the 43rd edition of the award, organized by the Portuguese Writers […]

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: ‘Being Portuguese in Spanish’ by Jonathan Wade – Editor’s Note

15 April 2020

Among the many consequences of Spain’s annexation of Portugal from 1580 to 1640 was an increase in the number of Portuguese authors writing in Spanish. One can trace this practice as far back as the medieval period, although it was through Gil Vicente, Jorge de Montemayor, and others that Spanish-language texts entered the mainstream of […]

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

Pandemic: No end in sight forces more restrictive measures – Update

11 April 2020

This Saturday, Portugal has confirmed 470 deaths associated with the COVID19 pandemic, with 15,987 infected, according to official sources. The state of emergency was extended by another 15 days, to end April 17, as more measures to restrict movements were implemented, including during the Easter holiday weekend. Except for health reasons or imperative urgency, people […]

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

COVID’19 – Faith, facts and fears – Commentary  

11 April 2020

By Len Port During Easter, people of faith will be among those supporting the COVID-19 emergency measures imposed by politicians on the advice of scientists. All places of worship in Portugal will remain closed at least until April 17 – and longer should the present state of emergency be extended.  Catholics, by far the largest […]

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

Travel: Portuguese passport makes top 10 – Henley&Partners

10 April 2020

After the outbreak of the COVID19 pandemic, the Portuguese passport moved up one place in the list of the most powerful in the world, to occupy the sixth position, which means that it is issued without a visa in 186 countries. Currently, entry restrictions in several countries and the end of some air routes have […]

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Posted in Community, Featured, Organizations, People, Portugal, Travel

Pandemic: Is the coronavirus tide turning in Portugal? – Update

05 April 2020

By Len Port “This month is decisive for us to be able to control the pandemic,” said Portugal’s Prime Minister António Costa as the state of emergency regulations aimed at limiting the spread of the virus was extended for 15 days to April 17. During Easter – Thursday 9 to Monday 13 – it is […]

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Posted in Featured, Heritage, People, Portugal, World

Pandemic: All direct flights between Portugal and USA suspended – Update

31 March 2020

Beginning April 1, until further notice, there will be no more direct flights between the United States and Portugal, as part of the effort to fight the spread of the COVID19 pandemic. US citizens who are considering returning to the United States, and those in the United States who wish to return to Portugal, are […]

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