International, Portugal & Madeira News from Paul Abbiati:
Readers get training in the marvellous January weather for:
Madeira Island Ultra Trail 2012
3 routes, the main with an approximate distance of 105 km – maximum execution time of 26 hours, the middle race is about 55 km, a maximum of 16 hours and finally, for those who want to begin, with about a 25 km, a maximum time of 12 hours. For individual competitors.
For more information contact the organiser:
Clube de Montanha do Funchal
link to Diario Newspaper article: http://www.dnoticias.pt/actualidade/desporto/302113-madeira-island-ultra-trail-2012-realiza-se-em-junho-com-video
Motorcyclist Helder Rodrigues wins stage 13 of the Dakar Rally
From: Agi.it
“Portugal’s Helder Rodrigues on Yamaha won stage 13 of the Dakar Rally, from Nazca to Pisco. That’s his first stage victory in this edition. Frenchman Cyril Despres took second, lagging 47″ behind. Yet he gained 12’38” over Spain’s Marc Coma, who made a bad mistake. Despres now enjoys a comfortable 11’03” lead over the Spaniard with only one stage left 29km. Rodrigues, winner of today’s stage, is heading for third place overall, with a 29’45” lead over Spain’s Jordi Viladoms..”
http://www.agi.it/english-version/sport/elenco-notizie/201201141921-spr-ren1064-dakar_rally_rodrigues_wins_stage_despres_likely_winner
Portuguese business selling 1000 Pastéis de nata a day in Paris!
link to article: http://www.dnoticias.pt/actualidade/mundo/302114-pasteis-de-nata-em-paris
Gymnastics extravaganza Arco da Calheta Pavilhao 5pm Saturday
300 gymnasts presenting: Aeróbica Desportiva, Artística Masculina, Rítmica e Trampolins
Image above of Madeiran gymnast Jessica Jardim a member of the Portuguese national gymnastics team.
Madeira Architecture:Zona Desportiva Arco Calheta
All images unless otherwise stated from the Diario de Noticias Newspaper.
‘Mary Stuart’ performed in English at The Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias, Funchal, performances Saturday & Sunday?
from the .dnoticias.pt.. Eleven Portuguese aboard the Costa Concordia….
At least 11 Portuguese were aboard the Costa Concordia cruise ship that ran aground Friday at a small Italian island, Lusa said today the source of the travel company Costa Cruises.
“We have referred 11 Portuguese passengers on this trip,” said the same source without disclosing any more details.
According to a source from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among these a Portuguese couple suffered minor injuries in the accident.
The same source said that no information of any fatality Portuguese embassy in Portugal and in Rome has been following the situation since morning.
So far, three bodies have been recovered from the sea and 69 people remain missing after the cruise agree to have run aground near the small island of Giglio off the coast of Tuscany.
On board the Costa Concordia followed 4,231 people, including passengers and crew.
“At about 20:00 (19:00 in Lisbon), the Costa Concordia, with 290 meters in length, began to fall on the water and leaned about 20 degrees,” the coastguard.
Some of the passengers, cited by ANSA, reported “scenes worthy of the Titanic” on board after the evacuation order of the ship, which caused disputes among the people, crying and screaming, with some of the passengers who were trying to get into the lifeboats fall into the sea.
In a statement quoted by AFP, the owner of that ship had 3,200 passengers on board followed, among Italians, Germans and French, and the vessel sailed from Savona for a Mediterranean cruise with planned stops in Civitavecchia, Palermo, Cagliari, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona and Marseille.
At the Dutch news they say still 17 people are missing, 6 crew members and 11 passengers. Last night they spoke about 39 missing. They are still surching for the remaining people The dead people are 2 French and one from Peru.
from the .dnoticias.pt Madeira to pay pharmacies tomorrow..Check 4 million of the Regional Government processed on Monday….The Madeira Regional Government will pay, on Monday, the four million to the National Association of Pharmacies. This is the provision of which is in arrears in December and that led to suspension of the agreement into force in Madeira between pharmacies and the Regional Health Service
The DAILY has learned, the four million will be available tomorrow at IASaúde-Institute of Health Administration and Social Affairs, IP RAM, which in turn will process the payment arrears to the ANF.
The question is what are the consequences of this payment, after a week in which the Regional Government and pharmacies, represented by their national association, extreme positions, with direct consequences on thousands of users Madeira.
More details in the print edition of the diary, tomorrow.
For Info: French Naval Vessel in Funchal Harbour today:
http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/mistral/
MISTRAL
Big Boat and many big French sailors/commandos strolling around Funchal – Bonjoir.
Plus Canadian vessel also.
Love the new walkway/promenade (French) alongside harbour below St Catarina.
Is the Costa Concordia one that visits Funchal?
I don’t recall seeing her in Funchal but certainly her sister “Costa” ships……who have been seen routing very close in to the Airport on their departure…..
from the .dnoticias.pt ….Health centers now begin to make repayments
Government also promises to pay to pharmacies….. The repayment of the reimbursement of medicines in Madeira begins today being carried out in health centers in the archipelago, a day that will be paid four million euros to the National Association of Pharmacies. It is recalled that the news was advanced last night on the digital platform http://www.dnoticias.pt , however officially confirmed.
The Regional Secretariat for Social Affairs assured last week that it was “all ready” so that health centers play, without reinforcement of employees, this new function given last Tuesday by the Government of Madeira, after the association (ANF) having suspended 09 days in the dispensation of drugs because of credit debt of the regional executive.
According to the instructions of the insular executive disclosed in a statement to the effect of reimbursement “users should contact the health center in your area of residence, accompanied by the relevant technical prescription been filled, your ID card and your PIN Bank (NIB), if they have it. ”
The same document provides that “the refund will be made by bank transfer or through the respective health center” and adds that the measure remains in force “until the current situation is going,” what will happen today.
Source of the Regional Government on Sunday said the agency Lusa that the Alberto João Jardim would pay to pharmacies today four million euros to the month of December tranche of the payment plan agreed between the ANF and the region. It was the failure of this plan that led to the suspension of sale of drugs on credit. Due to the debt accumulated since 2009, 77 million to pharmacies, the regional government had pledged to make a minimum monthly payment of four million, which was not done last month.
The president of ANF, John Lamb said that if the wood now pay the debt, the suspension will be lifted “immediately.”
However, the regional secretary for Social Affairs, Francisco Jardim Ramos explained that the executive has the intention to reimburse health centers users who have previously bought drugs without reimbursement.
ANF had already threatened to stop selling the loans at end of 2011, when the situation outlined Regional Government has agreed to pay the amount of four million by the end of December, a commitment that could not fulfill due to lack of liquidity treasury.
According to Francisco Jardim Ramos, the amount of ANF released for payment came from “funds of revenue due to the region, for taxes,” and these funds were transferred within the time limits as provided in the Regional Finance Law.
from the .dnoticias.pt…..Pharmacies to dispense drugs returned for credit
Confirms John Lamb (ANF)…..The Madeira pharmacies are being notified today by the National Association of the sector to re-sell drugs on credit after the regional government has transferred the overdue debt of four million euros, said the source institution.
Speaking to AFP, the president of ANF, John Lamb, explained that the “regional secretary of Planning and Finance has confirmed today that it had already transferred to the Office of Management and Social Affairs of Madeira (IASAUDE) the amount of debt in December” by will be suspended ban on the sale of drugs on credit.
He added that “at this time the information is being sent to all pharmacies in Madeira and after lunch will resume on credit dispensing of drugs.”
The National Association of Pharmacies (ANF) has suspended a week ago, on January 9, the dispensing medications to credit institutions in the archipelago due to the failure of the Regional Government’s plan debt payments to pharmacies, worth 77 million euros that has accumulated since 2009.
ANF had already threatened with this measure at the end of 2011, a situation that was circumvented when the Regional Government has agreed to pay the amount of four million by the end of December, a commitment that could not fulfill due to lack of liquidity the treasury.
However, to avoid the situation the Regional Government had decided to pay the reimbursement of prescription drugs dispensed, as of today, the health centers in the region.
The regional secretary for Social Affairs, Francisco Jardim Ramos explained that the executive maintains that intent to reimburse clients who have previously bought drugs without reimbursement, and back to normal the sharing in dispensing medications for “new revenue”.
According to Francisco Jardim Ramos, the amount of ANF released for payment came from “funds of revenue due to the region, for taxes,” and these funds were transferred within the time limits as provided in the Regional Finance Law.
Hi all, the new walkway along by the port is great isnt it Jon, its called “Praça do Mar”
Yes the Concordia has been to Funchal before , i have seen photos on Facebook, but not recently. It will be interesting to see if they still cruise very close to the shore in the future, as they are the only cruise ship that seem to do this.
Awesome site you have here but I was wondering if you knew of any discussion boards that cover the same topics talked about in this article? I’d really like to be a part of group where I can get opinions from other experienced people that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Many thanks!