Evening Update 06 August

Sixty jobs are to be lost at the Foreplast factory in Monaco. The news has come as a shock to employees, many of whom have worked at the company for over 25 years. The company owners Novares Group have not given a reason for shutting down the subsidiary which made a profit of €6.5 million last year.

The French Culture Minister has ignited a debate by telling his followers on Twitter to “say things in French”. He made the comments on the 25th anniversary of the Toubon Law which requires all foreign TV shows to be dubbed into French, as well French radio stations needing to play 40% French music. Critics have rounded on the Minister’s tweet, pointing out that President Macron regularly uses English expressions.

The Monaco Government has agreed to decriminalise abortion, however the procedure itself will still be against the law. Anyone wishing to avail of an abortion will be able to get advice from their doctor in Monaco but will have to have the procedure itself done outside the Principality. A government statement said the change preserves the ‘right to life’ of the unborn child and the principles of the State religion.

Tributes, led by President Macron, have been made to the Mayor of Signes who died yesterday after being run over by a van. The mayor died after trying to stop the van carrying out illegal activities. The driver is being held by police. France’s Interior Minister has vowed that the full truth behind the death will investigated.

The French music producer who formed the Village People has died at the age of 82. Henri Belolo was a highly successful producer in France before moving to the States in 1973, where he formed the Philadelphia disco outfit, The Richie Family, who had a 1976 global hit with "The Best Disco in Town". After the phenomenally successful Village People project, Belolo also helped popularise breakdancing and hip hop in Europe in the early 1980s.

BUSINESS

Stock markets are building a tentative recovery despite further escalation in the trade war between the US and China. Asian markets were turbulent overnight - China's main index lost 1.5% and Tokyo closed 0.65% down. Other countries that trade heavily with China also felt the pain, including Australia and New Zealand. Investors in Europe sought ‘buying opportunities’ with the French CAC and the German DAX both in positive territory this afternoon.

US luxury department store Barneys has filed for bankruptcy and put itself on sale. It will close stores in Chicago, Las Vegas and Seattle, along with five smaller concept stores. Barneys has faced a steep rise in rent at its Manhattan flagship store on Madison Avenue from $16m to $30m.

SPORT

Soccer - AS Monaco full back Djibril Sidibé has been loaned to Everton for €2.5 million, with a €14 million option to buy. The 27-year-old transferred to Monaco in 2016 after playing for Lille. 18 year-old mid-fielder Han-Noah Massengo is also moving, going to Bristol City for an estimated €8 million.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney will join UK Championship Club Derby County as a player-coach in January. The 33-year-old forward, who is Manchester United and England's all-time record goalscorer, will join the Rams on an initial 18-month contract.

Athletics - Australia's Olympic 2012 gold medallist and reigning world champion hurdler Sally Pearson has retired owing to persistent injuries. It means Pearson, who won the 100m hurdles Gold in London, will not defend her world title in Doha in October.