News from the Azores

Kitty Bale

2010-10-21 16:11:17

21 Oct 10 - Business: EU approves promotional fares below 100 euros between the Azores and mainland Portugal (updated)

Cheaper travel between the archipelago and mainland Portugal have been approved by the European Council and are expected to come into force within 60 days.

From December onwards, it should be possible to fly with SATA or TAP euros booking a discounted fare costing up to 140 euros.

Prices will go from 86 euros upwards and be available from 5 Azorean airports (Ponta Delgada, Terceira, Horta, Pico and Santa Maria) Lisbon, Porto and Funchal, both ways.

In addition, promotional fares will no longer be limited to only 10% of all seats on each flight.

These new fares are in line with what Carlos César had promised and anticipated last April, the promotional fares represent a 50% saving or more on prices currently available from SATA and TAP.

(article updated at 15:36 - KB)

por : Kitty Bale
Tags : Business

link deste artigo | comentar/ver comentários(2)

2010-10-21 15:34:19

21 Oct 10 - Society: Azorean Governmment to sign agreement with New Bedford Whaling Museum

Regional Secretary to the Presidency André Bradford will be in New Bedford, MA, on Oct 22 to sign a cooperation agreement between the Regional Government of the Azores and New Bedford Whaling Museum.

André Bradford is travelling to New Bedford for the inauguration of the museum's new wing, which is entirely dedicated to Azorean whaling and was part sponsored by the Regional Government of the Azores.

Throughout the 19th and 20th century, whaling helped create close financial, business and cultural links between the Azores and the US.

On Oct 23, Mr Bradford will attend the 14th annual gala of the Luso-American Council where the International Leadership Award will be presented to Carlos César, president of the Regional Government of the Azores.
_{photo credits: New Bedford Whaling Museum}

por : Kitty Bale
Tags : Society

link deste artigo | comentar/ver comentários(0)

2010-10-20 15:52:07

20 Oct 10 - Health: Single dose medicines not available in the Azores until June 2011

Medicines in single doses will not be available in the Azores for another 8 months.

This is the deadline the Regional Government has set after announcing last week that the quantity of medicines sold would be tailored to each treatment in a bid to reduce waste and cut costs.

Regional Parliament still has to vote on the proposed legislative decree, but if everything goes to plan, single doses will be available from next June onwards, Regional Secretary for Health Miguel Correia told Antena 1 Açores radio.

Single doses will be initially available from hospital pharmacies, starting with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Other pharmacies will then be able to sell drugs in single doses, as the Decree will apply to all pharmacies in the region.

"This is a way of rationalizing resources and reducing waste, everybody wins", said Miguel Correia.

"Reducing the quantity of medicines also cuts costs to patients", he added.

por : Kitty Bale
Tags : Health

link deste artigo | comentar/ver comentários(0)

2010-10-19 20:22:24

19 Oct 10 - Society: Azorean press looks to digital future

The future of regional press was the topic of discussion this morning during a conference held at the University of the Azores in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel.

The conference was part of the 175th anniversary celebrations of regional newspaper Açoriano Oriental, which is the oldest in Portugal and the second oldest in the world after UK newspaper The Times.

In the archipelago, there are 17 newspapers employing about 50 professional journalists.

Depending on the island, some newspapers are daily, others weekly and their circulation varies from a few hundred copies to thousands.

Nowadays, printed press is under a lot of pressure owing to competition from the internet and lack of advertising, explained Açoriano Oriental editor Paulo Simões.

"We live in a changing reality, and we need to thoroughly analyse the transition from print to digital, as newspapers and radio stations that rely solely on publicity are going through hard times", Paulo Simões said.

"Getting the balance right between print and digital is the great challenge", he added, "and the future of the media is being shaped as we speak".

Although times are hard, Paulo Simões said that "everything is being taken into account and defeat is not an option".

_{photo: the Açoriano Oriental has already developed an iPhone-specific application - credits: Açoriano Oriental}

por : Kitty Bale
Tags : Society

link deste artigo | comentar/ver comentários(0)

2010-10-18 18:38:58

18 Oct 10 - Health: Transplant pioneer Alexandre Linhares Furtado receives thanks from President of the Republic

Azorean surgeon Prof. Alexandre Linhares Furtado was among the medical experts invited to Belém to receive thanks for their work from the President of the Republic.

Prof. Linhares Furtado carried out the first organ transplant in Portugal on July 20, 1969.

The organ transplanted was a kidney from a living donor and the procedure took place at the University of Coimbra hospital.

Born in Fajã de Baixo on the island of São Miguel, Prof. Linhares Furtado said that receiving thanks from the President of the Republic was an honour.

The surgeon, who yet has to receive any honour from his native Azores, has already been awarded the highest honours available for doctors and surgeons at national level, namely the Ordem do Infante and the Grã Cruz da Ordem de Cristo.

Of the Azores, he says that he is "always made to feel welcome and that's good".

The 77-year-old surgeon is still involved in various projects and told Antena 1 Açores radio that he is planning to share his medical knowledge by writing books.
_{photo: Azores-born surgeon Prof. Alexandre Linhares Furtado}

por : Kitty Bale
Tags : Health

link deste artigo | comentar/ver comentários(0)

EN
Kitty Bale is European with Belgian and Polish roots, a British heart and a French passport. Born in France, Bale left the hexagon at 17 and moved to the UK where she graduated in German. Her passion for journalism dates back to her first ever job at the BBC. She instantly fell in love with Portuguese and the Azores in October 2007 and then spent a year splitting her time between the UK and São Miguel. In December 2008, she finally settled down in Ponta Delgada. Currently, Bale works as a freelance journalist within the RTP Azores multimedia team adapting regional news into English. Besides appearing on the portal in Portuguese and in English, her pieces will also be published in English on this blog, News From The Azores.
Welcome to the blog, please feel free to leave us a comment!

PT
Kitty Bale é europeia com raizes belgas e polacas, um coração britânico e um passaporte francês. Nasceu em França e viveu lá até aos 17 anos quando foi estudar no Reino Unido, onde se licenciou em Alemão. Trabalhou na BBC e apaixonou-se pelo jornalismo. E depois enamorou-se pela lingua portuguesa e pelos Açores, onde escolheu radicar-se. Viajou pelo arquipélago desde Outubro de 2007, fixou-se em Ponta Delgada desde Dezembro de 2008. Actualmente é colaboradora do Multimédia da RTP Açores no âmbito de um projecto que visa traduzir para inglês a actualidade da região, publicando-a na Internet, em texto e em vídeo. Os seus artigos surgirão no portal, em português e em inglês, e serão agregados, em inglês, neste blogue, News From The Azores.
Seja bem-vindo ao blogue, agradecemos os seus comentários em breve!