Latest news with #FranceBleu
Local France
6 days ago
- Health
- Local France
French pharmacies to close on Saturday in dispute over pricing
French pharmacists' unions have called for nationwide mobilisation on Saturday, in response to a government decree limiting how much pharmacists can discount generic medications. As a result, thousands of pharmacies across France could be closed on Saturday. In some areas, up to 90 percent of pharmacies could be closed, namely in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, as well as the Côte-d'Or, Saône-et-Loire and Gers départements, according to a prediction from the head of the USPO pharmacist union, Pierre-Olivier Variot. Variot told local news outlet France Bleu , "We are not on strike. We will be closed to consider what to do next, and whether there will be closures and redundancies." Advertisement Instead, the pharmacies will be having 'an exceptional closure', according to the USPO flyer . Meanwhile many pharmacies will be closed or operating with reduced hours on Friday, due to the Assumption bank holiday, you can check online to find your nearest 'Pharmacie de garde'. READ MORE: What's open and what's closed in France on August 15th What is the government decree related to discounts? The decree, which was published on August 4th, stands to decrease the size of the discount that drug manufacturers allow pharmacists to apply to generic drugs. Historically, these legally regulated discounts were created to promote the wider distribution of generic drugs. Currently, manufacturers can allow pharmacists to mark down generic drugs by up to 40 percent. However, this will drop down to 30 percent starting September 1st. In 2027, it will decrease again to 20 percent. For pharmacists, the decrease in discount would affect their profit margins, as the system allowed them to take home a portion of the drug price, thanks to Social Security reimbursing the drug at its full price. Pharmacists fear that the change could force one in three pharmacies (or 6,000 in total) to close, particularly smaller, rural locations. Why is the government changing the discount rules? The change is part of the government's plan to cut healthcare spending by €1.7 billion in 2025. As part of that, the government hoped to cut at least €500 million in spending on medications via negotiated price reductions with manufacturers, BFMTV reported. Will there be more mobilisation? Unions had been anticipating the government's announcement. In July, two other unions, the FSPF and the UNPF, which also represent pharmacists, along with the USPO, called for an 'indefinite strike by on-call ( garde ) staff starting on September 1st. Unions have also called for another day of pharmacy closures on September 18th, and then continuous closures every Saturday beginning on September 27th, Ouest France reported.
Local France
12-08-2025
- Climate
- Local France
Wildfire burns over 200 hectares in Charente
Fire hit the south-western French département of Charente on Monday afternoon, just days after firefighters managed to rein in the wildfire that burned several thousand hectares in the Aude département. The fire in Charente burned more than 200 hectares of vegetation on Monday night, but by Tuesday at 6am, it had been declared 'under control' ( fixé et maitrisé ). Over 270 firefighters were deployed to contain the fire throughout the night, Franceinfo reported. Advertisement The préfecture of Charente also told France Bleu they were supported by three 'bomber' planes, four Canadairs and a helicopter to drop water and retardant. Several homes were evacuated in the towns of Brossac and Saint-Vallier, and power cuts affected around 700 people in nearby villages. So far, there have not been any homes damaged by the fire, and no injuries have been reported. As of Tuesday morning, 84 vehicles and 328 personnel were still mobilised, and local authorities warned that people should exercise caution and listen to instructions from law enforcement, as the risk of forest fires remained high. READ MORE: MAP: How to get the latest wildfire information and alerts in France The fire also caused travel disruption for trains along the high-speed Paris-Bordeaux line, with trains diverted to the regional line. As of Tuesday morning, Charente was listed on the 'orange' alert for heatwaves. READ MORE: Latest: Much of France on heatwave alert as sweltering temperatures continue 🔥 Ce lundi soir, un gros incendie mobilise de nombreux pompiers entre Saint-Vallier et Brossac dans le département de la Charente, après un après-midi sous 41°C ! (© ) — Météo Express (@MeteoExpress) August 11, 2025
Ya Biladi
30-07-2025
- Ya Biladi
French-Moroccan restaurateur faces racist attack in La Roche-Posay
Hasna, a mother of three and a French-Moroccan restaurateur who recently moved to La Roche-Posay (Vienne), was attacked on Saturday, July 19, in front of her restaurant, Le Casablanca. She recounts being subjected to racist insults, physical assault, and sexual aggression. «I am completely shattered. Why so much hatred? I just feel like I'm not welcome here», she told France Bleu, still in shock. On that day, two men appeared at her door. One had already confronted her a few days earlier after she refused to serve intoxicated customers. She stepped outside alone to meet them, asking her husband to stay inside the restaurant. One of the attackers immediately «groped her buttock». «I felt his hand squeezing my buttock», she recounts. Another, younger man, struck her. She fell to the ground. «I took several blows, to my buttocks, knees, face, and chest». The insults were vicious. Despite the pain, Hasna repeats them: «They called me a filthy Arab, said I have no place in La Roche-Posay (...)». Words that cut as deeply as the physical blows, if not more. When the police arrived, Hasna hoped for protection. Yet, the attackers were not detained. «What traumatized me even more was watching them walk away, smiling. (...) I didn't understand. [The police] told me they were sorry, but I am sorrier for myself having been attacked.» The medical report lists pain in the coccyx, shoulder, ribs, knee, and describes a «great psychological distress». Since the attack, Hasna has been living in seclusion, relying on anti-anxiety medication and sleeping pills. «I have nightmares where they rape me, beat me, beat my children, burn me in my home», she confides. She filed a complaint on July 20. The Poitiers prosecutor's office has not commented on the case. Meanwhile, the mayor of La Roche-Posay, Pascale Moreau, expressed being «shocked» by the events. «I do not accept and denounce any form of aggression and violence», she added.
Local France
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Local France
'Im famous thanks to c**ks': Meet the Tour de France penis eraser
His job is that of " effaceur de zizis " - the eraser of penises. For any male readers crossing their legs nervously - we should clarify that we mean drawings of penises. At each stage of the Tour, before the arrival of the peloton and the world's TV cameras that accompany it, Patrick's job is to scour the roads and pavements for obscene drawings or graffiti. Because yes, fans of the Tour de France are immature too and the "cock and balls" drawing is a graffiti classic. But here's where the skilful part of Patrick's job comes in - because there usually isn't time to scrub off the offending drawings before the cyclists arrive, he instead uses a quick-drying white paint to transform the schlongs into something else - for example an owl, a butterfly or a rabbit. Advertisement The retired undertaker from north-eastern France has been doing the job for 15 years. He told France Bleu : "I erase anything that's sexual. "Because during the race, especially in the mountains as the riders go slower, we see big willies." His work has made him a household name of the Tour, and he's often interviewed by foreign press: "I've become a bit famous - thanks to cocks" he said. So if you're watching the Tour and see an unusual drawing in the road - take a close look and see if you can spot the lurking dong within the design. VIDEO - "Merci au zizi, enfin, façon de parler" : Patrick Dancoisne est devenu populaire en nettoyant la route du Tour de France 🖌🛣🚴♂️ ➡️ — ici Picardie (@icipicardie) July 4, 2025
Sinar Daily
03-07-2025
- Climate
- Sinar Daily
Teacher fries egg in pan on hot French school playground floor
The teacher placed a pan on the ground, waited half an hour, and then cracked an egg into it, which was cooked in no time. 03 Jul 2025 03:03pm Photo for illustration purposes only. PARIS - A teacher in southern France fried an egg on the scorching hot school playground floor, German Press Agency (dpa) reported. Local radio station France Bleu reported on Wednesday that the teacher placed a pan on the ground, waited half an hour, and then cracked an egg into it, which was cooked in no time. A video shows the man measuring the temperature on the handle of the pan at the end of his experiment and stating that it is a good 80 degrees Celsius. The teacher wanted to draw attention to how poorly equipped his secondary school in Quissac is for the heat. According to his calculations, there is only 60 to 80 square centimetres of shade per pupil in the playground. "We have three concrete table tennis tables," he told France Bleu. "Sometimes the pupils take refuge under them to find some shade." There were no classes at the school on Tuesday when the teacher conducted his experiment, due to the extremely hot weather. However, the children whose parents were unable to look after them were still on the premises, he said. Some 2,200 schools across France were closed on Tuesday due to the extreme heat. In some places, temperatures exceeded 41 degrees Celsius. Around 100 schools across the country remained closed on Wednesday. Many school buildings in France are not designed for high temperatures. This is partly because more than half of them were built before 1979, according to the broadcaster Public Sénat. The government plans to renovate 40,000 schools and make them more energy-efficient by 2034. - BERNAMA
