Portuguese American Journal

Portuguese American Journal

Featured Stories
National icon | Francisco Pinto Balsemão dies at age 88 Community | International Colloquium on Portuguese Migration and Mill Work in New England Politics | Controversial bill banning face covering in public approved PDL26 | Ponta Delgada Portuguese Capital of Culture 2026 Community | Carminho returns for a Fado concert touring
 

National icon | Francisco Pinto Balsemão dies at age 88 – Portugal

Portugal and the international community are mourning the passing of Francisco Pinto Balsemão, former Prime Minister of Portugal and founder of the Expresso newspaper and Impresa media group, who died on October 21, 2025, at the age of 88. His death marks the end of a remarkable career that bridged politics, journalism, and business, leaving […]

Community | International Colloquium on Portuguese Migration and Mill Work in New England – UMassD

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth will host an international colloquium titled “Portuguese Migration and Mill Work in New England: Past, Present, and Future of Portuguese American Studies” on Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25 in the Claire T. Carney Library Grand Reading Room.  This two-day event will assess the contributions of the recently published volume Migration […]

Politics | Controversial bill banning face covering in public approved – Portugal

Portugal’s Parliament has approved a controversial bill that would ban face coverings in most public spaces, marking a heated moment in the country’s political and social discourse. The measure awaits President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s decision, who may sign it into law, veto it, or refer it to the Constitutional Court for review. The President […]

PDL26 | Ponta Delgada Portuguese Capital of Culture 2026 – Azores

The city of Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Azores, is preparing to take center stage in 2026 as ‘Portuguese Capital of Culture,’ a milestone that celebrates the archipelago’s creativity, resilience, and Atlantic identity — while continuing its greater goal towards becoming the European Capital of Culture 2027. For now, during a signing ceremony held at the […]

Community | Carminho returns for a Fado concert touring – United States 

Grammy-nominated Portuguese fado singer Carminho is currently touring the U.S. in support of her latest recording, “Eu Vou Morrer de Amor ou Resistir” (I will die from love or I’ll resist). Carminho’s new album is already recognized as a landmark contribution to fado music. Like the best of this music, it is at once revolutionary […]

Update: Kate and Gerry McCann suffer legal setback – Portugal

23 January 2015

By Len Port, Contributor(*) Kate and Gerry McCann seemed to suffer a setback this week in suing former detective Gonçalo Amaral over his controversial book about the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine. In Lisbon’s Palace of Justice, Judge Maria Emília Melo e Castro handed lawyers in the civil action a written statement evaluating as proven […]

Read the full story

Posted in Featured, Life Style, Organizations, People, Portugal

Award: Vilamoura Marina named best in the world – London, UK

18 January 2015

Vilamoura Marina, located in Algarve, southern Portugal, was named ‘Best International Marina’ for 2015 in an awards ceremony held in London. The award was voted by international owners of visiting vessels throughout 2014. Marinas are sorted and ranked depending on the quality and versatility of the services they provide. The classification is made of 1 […]

Read the full story

Posted in Community, Featured, Food & Wine, Life Style, Portugal, Travel, World

Community: Visiting Professor in Portuguese Studies Program announced – UMass, Lowell

16 January 2015

The Saab-Pedroso Center for Portuguese Culture and Research at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, in partnership with the Luso-American Foundation of Lisbon (Portugal) and the American Foundation/UMass Lowell College of Fine Arts, Humanities, announced the creation of the ‘Social Sciences Visiting Professor in Portuguese Studies Program,’ underwritten in part by community based philanthropists Elisia Saab […]

Read the full story

Posted in Community, Education, Heritage, Organizations, People, Portugal, World

Book: ‘European Slave Trading in the Indian
Ocean, 1500–1850′ – Editor’s Note

15 January 2015

Between 1500 and 1850, European traders shipped hundreds of thousands of African, Indian, Malagasy, and Southeast Asian slaves to ports throughout the Indian Ocean world. The activities of the British, Dutch, French, and Portuguese traders who operated in the Indian Ocean demonstrate that European slave trading was not confined largely to the Atlantic but must […]

Read the full story

Posted in Arts&Culture, Books, Featured, Genealogy, Heritage, Life Style, Politics, Travel, World

CR7: Cristiano Ronaldo awarded ‘Best Portuguese Player’ of the century – Portugal

14 January 2015

Cristiano Ronaldo was awarded today ‘Best Portuguese Player’ of the century at the ‘Gala Quinas de Ouro’ event celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). At the event, FPF honored the most outstanding personalities of the Portuguese football history including Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was named as the ‘Portuguese Coach’ of the century […]

Read the full story

Posted in Awards, Featured, Madeira, Organizations, People, Portugal, Sports, World

Book: ‘The Virginia Giant – The True Story of Peter Francisco’ – Review

14 January 2015

By George Monteiro, Contributor (*) Expressed succinctly, the following template fits to a T the story of the young Peter Francisco, the so-called “Virginia Giant,” as it has come down to us [1]. A child of obscure origins, of unknown birth, is found deserted, speaking an unknown tongue. He grows up to become a hero […]

Read the full story

Posted in Arts&Culture, Azores, Books, Community, Genealogy, Heritage, Organizations, People, Portugal, World