Evening Update Thursday 29 December 2022

New figures released today by French statistics body INSEE shows that our region is the only area of France where the population growth isn't slowing. Nationally, as of January 1, 2020, 67,162,000 people live in France excluding Mayotte, which is an average growth of 0.3% per year since 2014, compared to 0.5% per year on average between 2009 and 2014.

An organization representing French pharmacists has announced today that it will be holding weekly meetings with the government to discuss shortages of medication. Speaking to French media today the president of the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France said that meetings would be held with the National Medicines Safety Agency and the General Directorate of Health to discuss matters including the distribution of drugs between pharmacies in France.

Four people accused of a homophobic attack in Nice earlier this week have appeared in court today. The court decided to postpone their trial until next summer.

The Var Prefecture has said that 2,000 Ukrainian nationals fleeing the war were welcomed in the department this year. State services, communities, institutions and associations were involved in coordinating the operation.

A call has gone out for people to donate blood. Supplies in France are running dangerously low with 1,500 bags of blood per day needed to make up the shortfall. You can find information and collection locations on https://dondesang.efs.sante.fr/trouver-une-collecte

Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene have paid tribut