France Blue Drome Ardeche

News Summary:

National consultations on menopause are underway in France as of January 25, 2026, aiming to move beyond coping with symptoms to optimizing health and performance. This initiative responds to the finding that nearly 80% of women experience disruptive menopause symptoms, with 60% uncomfortable discussing them with employers, presenting a significant economic and societal challenge. Earlier, on January 22, a new ICI network consultation revealed that 72% of Occitanie residents rate their schools positively, even though half express pessimism about the future for young people in their communes, a paradox local officials are encouraged to address. On January 21, citizen consultations in France's Meurthe-et-Moselle region indicated 67% of residents believe their community offers good education, a figure that contrasts sharply with the 39% recorded in neighboring Vosges. Previously, on January 9, France reported a significant rise in sexually transmitted infection (STI) cases, with over 70% of new diagnoses affecting individuals under 25. Current awareness and testing programs, such as "Mon Test IST," are considered insufficient to stem this growing trend. This follows an earlier action on December 29, 2025, when the Hérault Prefecture banned the nationwide sale of oysters and mussels from the Thau Lagoon, effective since December 22, due to the presence of norovirus, as reported by ICI Hérault.