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: ‘The Tenth Island’ by Diana Marcum – Editor’s Note

04 August 2018

From a Pulitzer Prize–winning writer comes an exuberant memoir of personal loss and longing, and finding connection on the remote Azorean Islands of the Atlantic Ocean. Reporter Diana Marcum is in crisis. A long-buried personal sadness is enfolding her—and her career is stalled—when she stumbles upon an unusual group of immigrants living in rural California. […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Azores, Books, Community, Featured, Heritage, People, Travel

Weather Alert! Portugal bracing for four days of record breaking heatwave

30 July 2018

According to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), starting on Wednesday, Portugal mainland will be hit by a four day long heatwave, with temperatures reaching 113 Fahrenheit or higher across the country. The above average temperatures are expected to have an impact on public health and fire propagation. The IPMA declared “code […]

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Posted in Featured, Heritage, Organizations, People, Portugal

Community: Cecilia Fatima finalist at the SSEP Conference- Smithsonian Institution

20 July 2018

Portuguese American Cecilia Fatima Louro Perez, was recently honored to speak at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum as a Finalist of the Student Spaceflight Experiment Program (SSEP). The SSEP is an international program organized by the National Center for Earth and Space Science exploration (NCESSE) in which students submit experiment proposals to be […]

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Posted in Awards, Community, Featured, Organizations, People, Portugal, World

Got Plastic? Marine pollution and the perils of microplastic – By Len Port

20 July 2018

While there is no doubt about the vast scale of the plastic pollution problem, it is far from clear how places like the Algarve, mainland Portugal, are going to cope with the crisis. Marine plastic pollution, particularly microplastic material, is a serious but as yet not fully understood threat to nature and to human health. […]

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

Parliament: Portuguese lawmakers approve gender change bill – Portugal

14 July 2018

The Portuguese parliament has approved a law allowing gender change and name change from the age of 16 without a medical report stating “identity disruption” or considering transgender identity as “an abnormal pathology or mental situation.” A previous law (2011) required transgender citizens to have a medical diagnosis that established ‘gender dysphonia’ when biological sex […]

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

Sports: Red Bull Cliff Diving competition returns to São Miguel – Azores

13 July 2018

For the seventh consecutive year, 16 world class cliff divers from 17 countries gathered in São Miguel, Azores, to participate in the third stop of the 2018 International Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. The competition includes 28 athletes men and women from 17 countries. This stop of the extreme sports event is being held July […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Organizations, People, São Miguel, Sports, World