Azores Situation Report Wednesday 28th February 2024
Portuguese courses for foreigners with open applications
The Regional Directorate for Communities has the application period for the organization of Portuguese Courses for Speakers of Other Languages running until March 31st, the Government of the Azores announced recently.
The courses are an initiative promoted by the Azorean executive through the regional directorates of Communities and Education, which aim to contribute to the full integration of foreign citizens residing in the archipelago, through their personal and professional development.
Public educational establishments and entities of a public, private or cooperative nature are eligible to be training entities, namely local authorities, companies or business associations, unions and associations at a local, regional or national level.
Passenger arrested on Terceira with drugs in his system.
A passenger on a transatlantic flight was admitted to Hospital da Terceira due to alleged intoxication and later detained by the Judiciary Police (PJ), after drugs were detected inside his body.
In a statement, the PJ explained that the 36-year-old man was traveling on Wednesday on a flight from Europe to the Caribbean when the plane was forced to land at Lajes airport, on the island of Terceira, “due to disturbances caused by the suspect.”
“After it landed, the man developed symptoms of acute intoxication, which led to his admission to the Hospital de Santo Espírito on the island of Terceira, where it was discovered that the symptoms resulted from the existence of drug packaging inside his body. , namely resin and cannabis leaves”, indicated the PJ.
After being discharged from hospital, the man was detained and will undergo the first judicial interrogation to apply coercive measures, according to the PJ.
Camellias from the Azores return to beautify the Furnas valley this weekend.
Hundreds of camellias produced in the Furnas valley, in the Azores, including a unique species in the world, will be on display over the weekend, in an exhibition that marks two decades this year.
The camellia exhibition, which will take place at the Pavilhão Multiusos das Furnas, organized by the Povoação Municipal Council, in collaboration with the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel and the Furnas Parish Council, has as one of the main promoters Fernando Costa, head of the Botanical Park Terra Nostra, and its team.
Fernando Costa said that there are currently around 800 varieties of camellias in the Terra Nostra Botanical Park, some of which multiply through cuttings, while others are grafted.
Terra Nostra Park contains one of the largest collections of camellias in the world, having been distinguished in 2014 with the “Camellia Garden of Excellence” award by the International Camellia Society.
The camellia collection was introduced by Fernando Costa in 1994, bringing together more than 45 species of 800 different varieties and cultivars.
According to Fernando Costa, “there is a camellia in the park that is unique in the world”, which he named Patrícia Bensaúde, after “having been recognized by the competent international bodies”.
The 20th edition of the camellia exhibition features more than two hundred varieties that “will be on display in this space, which is larger and has greater capacity to accommodate more artisans and local producers, with the best that is made in the municipality of Povoação for tasting and sale”.
According to the Povoação Municipal Council, the Furnas camellia exhibition is “an unavoidable icon of the tourist offers on the island of São Miguel in the low season and, with each passing edition, a winning bet is consolidated, fulfilling the function of its creation.”
In addition to gardens and parks, camellias are also cultivated by individuals in their gardens, existing in various colours, not only in the Azores, but also in the north of the country.