Portuguese American Journal

Portuguese American Journal

Featured Stories
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. […]

Storm Kristin | Pope Leo XIV sends message of solidarity to Portuguese victims – Vatican 

30 January 2026

Pope Leo XIV has expressed his “deep sorrow” and spiritual closeness to the people of Portugal following the devastation caused by Storm Kristin, which struck several regions of the country in recent days, causing widespread destruction, especially in the Central regions, including Leiria and Coimbra.  In a telegram addressed to D. José Ornelas, President of […]

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Posted in Featured, People, Portugal, World

Community | Competition ‘I Love Azores’ open to young Azorean descendants – Azores

30 January 2026

The Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, through the Regional Directorate for Communities, and SATA/Azores Airlines are launching, in partnership, the “I Love Azores” competition—an initiative designed to strengthen cultural and emotional ties between young Azorean descendants living in North America and the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The competition is part of the […]

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Posted in Azores, Community, Featured, Heritage, Organizations, Travel, World

Storm Kristin | Central country region devastated by widespread damage – Portugal

29 January 2026

One of the most powerful winter storms to hit Portugal in recent years, storm Kristin, caused severe destruction across central regions of the country, resulting in multiple fatalities, widespread power outages, and extensive damage to infrastructure.  Thousands of emergency incidents were reported nationwide. According to official sources, the storm caused at least five to six […]

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Posted in Featured, Portugal, Uncategorized, World

In Memoriam | Filmmaker João Canijo, 68, leaves a remarkable legacy – Portugal 

29 January 2026

Portuguese cinema is mourning the death of filmmaker João Canijo (1957-2026),  one of the most influential and uncompromising voices in contemporary Portuguese film. Throughout his career, he collaborated closely with actors and writers to develop a unique narrative universe centered on family dynamics, social tensions, and the complexities of power and identity. Renowned for his […]

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

UPDATE | Presidential election heads to runoff as diaspora voters decry voting barriers – Portugal

19 January 2026

Portugal’s presidential election, held on January 18, concluded without a decisive winner, sending the country to a runoff election on February 8, 2026, following one of the most polarized presidential contests since the return of democracy.  According to the official provisional results, the socialist left-center candidate, António José Seguro, led the first round with 31.1% […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Madeira, Organizations, People, Politics, Portugal, Uncategorized, World

Elections’26 | One of the most presidential contests in decades – Portugal

16 January 2026

Portugal will hold its next presidential election on  Sunday, January 18, 2026, with a possible runoff scheduled for February 8, 2026, if no candidate secures a majority. In what analysts describe as one of the most unpredictable presidential contests in decades, the presidential election is expected to be closely watched both domestically and internationally as […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Madeira, Politics, Portugal, World