Portuguese American Journal

Portuguese American Journal

Featured Stories
Update | Portuguese activists detained by Israel safely returned Book | The Cartographer of Absences: A Novel | By Mia Couto Pico | CORDAS World Music Festival Community | The FABRIC Arts Festival returns to New England Gaza | Portuguese activists Mariana Mortágua and Sofia Aparício detained by Israeli authorities
 

Update | Portuguese activists detained by Israel safely returned – Portugal

The four Portuguese citizens detained by Israeli authorities during the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza — Mariana Mortágua, Sofia Aparício, Miguel Duarte, and Diogo Chaves — have safely returned to Portugal. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel,  confirmed their arrival at Lisbon Airport at 10:40 p.m. on Sunday, following diplomatic coordination […]

Book | The Cartographer of Absences: A Novel | By Mia Couto – Editor’s Note

Diogo Santiago is a celebrated Mozambican poet and intellectual, a well-known professor at the university in his country’s capital. In 2019, on the eve of a cyclone that will devastate the East African coast, he returns to his hometown of Beira to receive a tribute from his fellow citizens. As he travels across Mozambique, his […]

Pico | CORDAS World Music Festival – Azores

On its 10th edition, Madalena do Pico, Azores, once again presents the CORDAS World Music Festival, from October 1–11 across multiple venues. The festival reaffirms Pico’s growing reputation as a creative hub in the Atlantic, drawing artists from Europe, the Americas, and beyond. Organized by MiratecArts, CORDAS continues its mission of uniting artists and audiences […]

Community | The FABRIC Arts Festival returns to New England – Fall River, MA

By Carolina Matos, Editor The FABRIC Arts Festival returns to New England, October 9–12, transforming Fall River (MA) and Providence (RI) into vibrant stages for art, performances, gastronomy, and cultural events.  In its sixth edition, the festival is organized by Casa dos Acores da Nova Inglaterra (CANY), directed by Francisco J. Viveiros, with Michael Benevides […]

Gaza | Portuguese activists Mariana Mortágua and Sofia Aparício detained by Israeli authorities – Portugal

The Portuguese government has confirmed that Mariana Mortágua, a Member of Parliament and coordinator of the Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda), and Sofia Aparício, a well-known Portuguese model and actress, were detained today by Israeli forces during the interception of the humanitarian flotilla was bound for Gaza. Swedish activist, Greta Thunberg, was also. detained. Other […]

In Memoriam | The Portuguese nation mourns Pope Francis (1936-2025) – Portugal

23 April 2025

The Portuguese government declared a national day of mourning in honor of Pope Francis, following his death on April 21, expressing the nation’s respect and recognition of his contributions to global peace and social justice. The Portuguese government also declared three days of national mourning from April 24 to 26. During this period, flags across […]

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

Community | Rhode Island College to suspend Portuguese language courses – Providence,RI

22 April 2025

Rhode Island College (RIC) has announced it will suspend several academic programs, including the Portuguese concentration within the Modern Languages BA, beginning in Fall 2025, prompting community outcry.  Community advocates are calling on RIC leadership to reverse course and engage meaningfully with students, faculty, and stakeholders. The decision, outlined in RIC’s recently released Productivity and […]

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Posted in Azores, Community, Education, Featured, Heritage, Madeira, Organizations, People, Portugal

Book | Sorrowful Mysteries: The Shepherd Children of Fatima and the Fate of the Twentieth Century | By Stephen Harrigan – Editor’s Note

18 April 2025

In 1917, in Fatima, Portugal, three shepherd children claimed that the Virgin Mary appeared before them and spoke the words, “Do not be afraid.” Stephen Harrigan first heard the story of Our Lady of Fatima when he was a young boy attending a Catholic school in Texas in the 1950s, struggling to come to grips […]

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

Azores | Potential closure of US Consulate in Ponta Delgada raises concerns – Portugal

18 April 2025

As of April 18, 2025, the U.S. Consulate in Ponta Delgada, Azores, is among 17 consulates slated for potential closure under a cost-cutting initiative by the Trump administration.  However, the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that it has received no formal notification from US authorities regarding the closure.  “There is no indication to […]

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Posted in Azores, Community, Featured, Portugal, Travel

Trade & Tariffs | The US has stopped orders for Portuguese wines – Portugal

14 April 2025

The president of the National Association of Wine and Spirits Traders and Exporters (ANCEVE), Paulo Amorim, said today that “the US has stopped orders for Portuguese wines and wines from Europe” in the context of the tariffs announced by the President of the United States. Amorim fears that, if the tariffs are implemented, “the majority […]

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

Diplomacy | Higher education institutions and companies asked to comply with U.S. DEI policies – Portugal

13 April 2025

In recent developments, the US government has intensified scrutiny of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, affecting both domestic and international institutions. This includes both Portuguese higher education institutions (HEIs) and Portuguese companies with contracts with the US government.​ It has been reported that the US administration has issued directives requiring such organizations to certify […]

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