Portuguese American Journal

Portuguese American Journal

Featured Stories
1976-2026 | Azores celebrate 50 Years of Constitutional Autonomy Book | Bag of Kisses | By Melanie Pereira April 25th |  “Dia da Liberdade” celebrated nationwide and across the diaspora Community | Justice Department moves to revoke citizenship for naturalized immigrants Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award
 

1976-2026 | Azores celebrate 50 Years of Constitutional Autonomy – Azores 

The Autonomous Region of the Azores is preparing for a historic year of celebrations in 2026 to mark the 50th anniversary of its Constitutional Autonomy. This milestone underscores five decades of self-governance, regional identity, and transatlantic connection.  The commemorations will culminate on September 8, 2026, marking the formal implementation of autonomy under the Constitution of […]

Book | Bag of Kisses | By Melanie Pereira – Editor’s Note

For a little girl whose daddy is a fisherman in the #1 fishing port in the world, goodbyes are never easy. But before he leaves for sea, her parents share a special secret―a magical bag of kisses that keeps their love close, no matter how far the waves carry him. As the days pass and […]

April 25th |  “Dia da Liberdade” celebrated nationwide and across the diaspora – Portugal

The Portuguese nation commemorates today the 52nd anniversary of the Carnation Revolution transition to democracy, with a nationwide program of official ceremonies, public demonstrations, and cultural events. The celebrations expanded abroad, connecting the country to its global diaspora, particularly in the United States. At the center of the national commemorations will be the traditional formal […]

Community | Justice Department moves to revoke citizenship for naturalized immigrants – Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Justice is moving to accelerate efforts to revoke the citizenship of certain naturalized Americans, targeting cases where individuals are suspected of having obtained citizenship through fraud or misrepresentation. Citizenship is considered one of the most secure legal statuses in the United States. Therefore, the overall impact of such measures is likely […]

Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award – New York, NY

Portuguese writer João Pedro Vala has been awarded a prestigious PEN/O. Henry Award for his short story “Inês,” a recognition widely regarded as one of the highest honors in English-language short fiction. The first Portuguese author to receive that distinction, his short story ‘Inês’ was selected for inclusion in the PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories anthology. […]

Azores | Police seized vessel with 6’5 tonnes of cocaine – Portugal 

26 March 2025

Portuguese police have seized nearly 6.5 tonnes of cocaine from a semi-submersible “narco-submarine” intercepted about 500 nautical miles south of the Azores, Portugal’s judicial police said on Tuesday. The vessel was intercepted “in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, around 500 nautical miles (more than 900 kilometers)” south of Portugal’s Azores archipelago, the judicial police […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Portugal, World

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