French and Riviera News Thursday 22nd September 2022

News

French President reacts to threat from Russian leader - French President Emmanuel Macron has called for “maximum pressure to be put on Russian leader Vladimir Putin, to end a war which does not make sense”. Macron speaking from New York on Wednesday said that the Russian leader is “increasingly isolated and sinking into a war which only he wants”. Macron’s comments come following an address from Vladimir Putin in which he accused the West of wanting to destroy Russia and stressed that he would use “all available means to protect its territory”. In addition, Emmanuel Macron welcomed statements by China and India which "called for a ceasefire" in Ukraine.

France’s General Health Director says eighth wave of covid has arrived in France - France’s General Director of Health, Jérome Salomon, has said that the “eighth wave of covid has arrived in France”. During an interview with the magazine Complément d'Enquête, which will be broadcast this evening Thursday September 22nd, on France 2 Salomon declares that "yes, there is an increase in cases, especially among young people and that we must resume our barrier gestures”. His comments are in contrast to those of France’s health minister François Braun, who said on Monday on France Inter, that it "is too early to say that this is the start of the eighth wave".

Covid figures for the PACA region – Meanwhile, the Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur Regional Health Agency has issued its weekly summary of Covid-19 numbers. As at Tuesday 20th September, 508 people were hospitalized which is down 69 on the previous week but 42 people were in intensive care, which is up by 7. 23 people died from the virus during the week, which means that 13,123 people have died since the start of the epidemic.

Road accident - A 40-year-old woman has been seriously injured in a road accident in Saint Tropez. The woman was at the time on a moped when it collided with a light vehicle. The incident occurred shortly after 5.30pm on Wednesday afternoon. Three people were involved in the collision. An investigation is underway to determine the cause.

Missing hiker - A hiker has gone missing in the Mercantour National Park. His vehicle has been found in a car park. He was last heard from on Saturday after spending the night in a refuge 2,200 metres above sea level.

Morning after pill to become free along with screening for sexual transmitted infections - France’s Health Minister Francois Braun has announced that access to emergency contraception or the morning after pill will become free for all women regardless of the age, in pharmacies and without a prescription. Screening for sexually transmitted infections will also be free and without a prescription up to the age of 26. Both measures will be included in the 2023 social security financing bill, which will be presented to the Council of Ministers on September 26th.

Until now, the morning after pill was available free of charge and without a prescription only for minors, from pharmacies, school nurses or in screening or sexual health centres, and for adult students. The cost in pharmacies for adults varied between 3 and around twenty euros depending on the medication, with the possibility of partial coverage by social security on presentation of a prescription.

Candia recall - Food company Candia has issued a recall of certain bottles of baby milk. The product concerned is Candia Baby Junior 4 20 – 36 months in 250 ml bottles sold in packs of 24 since 22nd July this year. The Ministry of Agriculture said that there is a sealing defect or packaging anomalies and the products have been manufactured and/or stored under conditions that do not allow satisfactory health guarantees to be provided. The products are therefore likely to present a danger to the health of consumers. They should not be consumed and should be returned to the point of sale. More information can be found on the government's Rappel Conso website https://rappel.conso.gouv.fr/fiche-rappel/8202/Interne

France wins World Paella Day Cup 2022 - France has won the World Paella Day Cup 2022. Held in Valencia Spain it was French chef Eric Gil from the Bouches-du-Rhone who was the big winner with a duck confit and mushroom paella. Ten chefs from around the world competed for the final. Organizers accept different paella recipes. The Japanese candidate used green onions, Chinese crab and small crayfish while the Finnish candidate chose to incorporate reindeer, mushrooms or blueberries into his recipe. As the organizers of the competition explain, paella is “a dish that is much more than a recipe, it is a ritual, a way of sharing with family and f