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 […]

Report | Portuguese people less happy in 2025 – Portugal

20 March 2025

According to the 2025 World Happiness Report, Portugal has dropped five positions in the global ranking after steadily improving its standing in recent years. In 2025, Portugal is ranked 60th with 6.013 points, among over 140 countries, against 6.030 points in the previous year. Meanwhile, Finland remains the happiest country in the world for the […]

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

Community | New partnership signed with UC Berkeley – Portugal

18 March 2025

The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD) and the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) signed new cooperation agreements under the Portugal-Berkeley Program in January. Created in 2025, through a memorandum of understanding between the three institutions, the Portugal-Berkeley Program has as its main objective to promote academic exchange and scientific collaboration […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Community, Education, Featured, Organizations, Portugal, World

Book | Facilitating an Empire: The Jesuits in Portuguese Territories and Beyond (1540-1975) |  By Maria de Deus Beites Manso – Editor’s Note

15 March 2025

This book explores the Jesuit order of its origins, historical evolution, missionary endeavors, and global dynamics, with a specific focus on Portugal and the challenges arising from changes in the former Portuguese Empire. The narrative unfolds in three parts, with the initial section exploring the foundation of the Jesuit order in 1540, approved by Pope […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Books, Featured, Heritage, Politics, Portugal, Religion, World

Crisis – Portugal to hold snap legislative elections following government collapse – Update

15 March 2025

Portugal is scheduled to hold a snap legislative election on May 18, 2025, following the collapse of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s center-right Democratic Alliance (AD) minority government.  The government fell on March 11, 2025, after losing a parliamentary confidence vote amid allegations of conflicts of interest related to Montenegro’s family business, Spinumviva. Montenegro has said […]

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Posted in Featured, Politics, Portugal, World

Community | Portuguese Heritage celebrated at Whaling Museum – New Bedford, MA

12 March 2025

The New Bedford Whaling Museum will present two immersive cultural programs this spring as part of the Portuguese & Lusophone-World Lecture Series, celebrating the rich traditions of Portuguese-American communities. On March 20th, the Museum will host a special screening of Malassada Day, a heartwarming documentary that explores the cultural significance of the beloved Portuguese treat. […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Azores, Books, Community, Featured, Film, Heritage, Organizations, People, World

Crisis | Portuguese government collapses amid ethics scandal – Portugal

11 March 2025

Portugal’s minority center-right government, led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, collapsed today after losing a confidence vote in parliament. This crisis is the latest after a series of political scandals.  The minority Democratic Alliance (AD), fell only 11 months after being inaugurated, bringing the country to a third general election in three years. The snap […]

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Posted in Featured, People, Politics, Portugal