Much needed assisted reproduction clinic opens in Faro
The Next Clinics Group, one of the largest European assisted reproduction and healthcare groups, has announced its entry into Portugal through the opening of the first Next Fertility clinic in Faro, providing fertility treatments and diagnostic exams.
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The new clinic is intended to serve patients from the entire Algarve and Baixo Alentejo region, "responding to a specific need of the population of these two regions, given the lack of comprehensive centers specializing in assisted reproduction", say Next Clinics in a statement.
"There are currently 28 centers (public and private) for carrying out PMA treatments, with the region south of the Tagus being disadvantaged, as at the moment there is only one public center in Almada, and our center in the Algarve" explains JoĂŁo Alves, clinical director of Next Fertility Faro.
"Next Fertility in Faro will put an end to trips to Lisbon for those interested in PMA treatments, as well as offering a portfolio of genetic treatments and services and a business approach centered on the patient experience", says the statement.
In 2023, the company opened 4 new centers in Spain, where it already has a total of 8 reproduction clinics and one of the largest gamete biobanks in Europe.
In Europe, Next Clinics employs around 1,000 people, spread across 8 countries, with 22 clinics and 7 diagnostic laboratories. The group surpasses the barrier of 12,000 assisted reproduction cycles per year, more than 30,000 genetic tests and more than 4.5 million diagnostic tests performed.
For Next Clinics, the assisted reproduction sector in Europe is one of the most competitive. "Advances in reproductive medicine, increasingly favorable legislation and the influx of private capital have led to constant growth over the last three decades", he highlights.
W:Â https://nextfertility.pt/
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New Monchique Air Means Center is one of three in the Algarve
The president of the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR) participated in the working visit to the works of the new Monchique Air Means Center this week, an eligible investment of 1.3 million of euros, under the INTERREG VA Spain – Portugal Cross-Border Cooperation Operational Program (POCTEP), under the responsibility of the Municipality of Monchique.
Within the scope of the Iberian Center for Research and Fight against forest fires (CILIFO) project, which includes the Junta de AndalucĂa, the Municipalities of LoulĂ©, Monchique, Tavira and the Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL), under the coordination of CCDR Algarve, the regional fire prevention structure will also have two more centers in LoulĂ© and Cachopo (Tavira).
According to a note from the CCDR, the CILIFO project, with a total budget of 24.6 million, of which 75% is financed by POCTEP, aims to reinforce cooperation between forest fire prevention and extinguishing devices in the Alentejo-Euroregion area.
Algarve-Andalusia (EURO AAA), promote the creation of sustainable employment in the territory, reduce the economic cost of fires through the creation of a rural economy linked to the landscape and improve the response capacity in preventing and combating fires, for which these three centers were considered strategic investments.
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The center is to open it doors mid 2024.
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Polar air brings cold, dry weather from next week
Alfredo Graça, meteorologist and coordinator of Meteored Portugal, forecasts that the second half of November will see a radical change in the weather, probably from Monday, November 20th.
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Forecasts indicate that a good part of the second half of November will be marked by the arrival of polar air, with colder weather and much less rain.
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After several weeks of rain and mild temperatures, the weather pattern has changed significantly in mainland Portugal in recent days, giving rise to the popularly known “Summer of São Martinho”, with much drier and milder weather thanks to the anticyclone and a mass of unusually warm subtropical air for the time of year.
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However, the days of mild weather won't last long, as polar air is expected to arrive soon.
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According to Alfredo Graça, sharp drops in temperatures will take place between November 20th and 27th, colder than usual in the Algarve, for this time of year, but the rest of November is expected to be at temperatures generally within the average.
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W:Â https://www.tempo.pt/
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Three young motorcyclists die in accidents within 12 hours
Three young motorcyclists lost their lives in the Algarve in three separate accidents last weekend, two of the motorcyclists lost control of their vehicles on the EN124-1, between Silves and Lagoa and the third on the IC2, in Salir, Loulé.
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The alert for the first accident was given early evening, at the roundabout on the EN124-1, between Silves and Lagoa, near the access to the A22. Rogério Marques, from Lagoa, aged 36, was assisted at the scene by emergency services, but died soon after at Portimão Hospital.
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Almost simultaneously, “about a kilometre away, another motorcyclist, Rafael Candeias, 28 years old, from Bensafrim, Lagos, who belonged to the same group of friends as the first victim, suffered a crash on the junction between the EN124-1 and the EN125. His death was pronounced at the scene.Â
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The last fatal incident occurred at 9:39am and took the life of 29 year old Miguel Bentes, this time at the IC2, in Salir, Loulé. Death was pronounced at the scene.
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The GNR Criminal Investigation Unit for Road Accidents is investigating the circumstances of the three fatal accidents.
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Our sincere condolences go to the family and friends of Rogério Marques, Rafael Candeias and Miguel Bentes.
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Algarve fraudster on the run is arrested in Brazil
Algarve fraudster LuĂs Estiveira, a 58 year old Portuguese businessman, who was on the run after being sentenced to seven years in prison for nine crimes of aggravated document forgery, has been arrested in Brazil.
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The suspect was in a restaurant in the city of João Pessoa, Brazil, when he was detained by the Federal Police after being on the run, wanted by Portuguese police and with an Interpol Red Diffusion alert.
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The Federal Police of Brazil reported that the arrest was carried out with the support of the Special Action Group Against Organized Crime (Gaeco/MPPB) and the Civil Police of ParaĂba.
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The businessman will be handed over to Brazilian authorities to be extradited to Portugal.
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The PortimĂŁo court had convicted the man for using false bank guarantees to purchase fuel from oil companies, through the consignment system. Previously, he had already been convicted of the same crimes in Faro. The scheme, which took place in 2010 and 2011, was dismantled by the Judiciary Police (PJ) in 2014.
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The forged bank guarantees, coming from a local bank, included the banking institution's seal and the signatures of two administrators, allegedly forged by the defendant. To provide greater credibility, the guarantees were authenticated by a notary. Through this scheme, which involved the participation of three defendants, the businessman managed to acquire, from Sopor (currently Petrogal) and CEPSA, approximately one million euros in fuel, the supply of which was never paid for, according to reports.
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At the time the trial was taking place, LuĂs Estiveira vehemently denied having falsified the bank guarantees, claiming to be the victim of a conspiracy on the part of the oil companies.
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3 dead and 5 seriously injured on Algarve roads last week
The GNR carried out a series of operations throughout the Algarve between 6 and 12 November, which aimed to prevent and combat violent crime and road inspection, among others, highlighting 3 deaths and 5 serious injuries on Algarve roads.
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During the week long operation, 78 people were detained, including 28 for driving under the influence of alcohol, 21 for driving without a legal license and 3 for drug trafficking. 134 kilos of avocado, 43 doses of hashish and three knives were also seized.
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With regard to road inspections, the GNR registered 528 infractions, including 110 for speeding, 52 related to anomalies in lighting and signaling systems, 37 for lack of valid IPO inspection, 18 for lack of civil liability insurance, 9 for improper use of a cell phone while driving and 8 for lack of or incorrect use of a seat belt and/or child restraint system.
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During the week there were 120 accidents, of which 3 deaths, 5 serious injuries and 16 minor injuries.
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