Monaco is preparing to announce that masks will become mandatory in all public places in the principality. Prince Albert met with his government this afternoon to discuss the possibility after a recent spike in new cases of Covid-19. Neighbouring areas such as Nice and Menton have already put in place mandates requiring masks in public areas.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Education has published health protocols for the start of the school year in September to fight against the coronavirus. Students over 11 years-old must wear a protective mask in enclosed and outdoor spaces, when the distance of one meter cannot be guaranteed. In kindergarten, wearing a mask will no longer compulsory for teachers during lessons.
A violent house fire near Grasse last night has claimed a victim. The house, which was completely engulfed with flames when fire services arrived, was thought to have been unoccupied. However this morning as the flames died down, the body of an 85 year-old man, thought to the owner, was discovered.
Two brothers have been arrested in northern France after they attacked a fellow customer in a laundrette who asked them to wear a mask. A third man, an uncle of the two, was charged with not helping a person in danger.
Pierre Viot, who had been the president of the Cannes Film Festival for more than 15 years, has died at the age of 95. Viot was elected in 1985 to the Presidency of the Cannes Film Festival.
BUSINESS
Mark Zuckerberg has seen his personal wealth rise to $100bn after the launch of a new video feature to rival TikTok. On Wednesday, Facebook announced the US rollout of Instagram Reels and shares shares rose by more than 6%. Zuckerberg joins Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Microsoft’s Bill Gates in the exclusive so-called Centi-Billionaire Club.
In a related story, TikTok is threatening legal action against the United States after Donald Trump ordered firms to stop doing business with the Chinese app within 45 days. TikTok said it was shocked by the order saying it sets a dangerous precident as there has been no due process or adherence to the law from the Trump administration.
British digital bank Starling says it expects to break even by end of the year thanks to a rebound in activity due to the coronavirus. The bank has taken part in the U.K. government’s emergency coronavirus financing schemes, and by the end of July, the bank had £1 billion of lending on its balance sheet. The vast majority of that was government-backed lending.
SPORT
Formula 1 - Valtteri Bottas was fastest, as he and Lewis Hamilton led Mercedes to a ‘one-two’ in first practice at the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix. Bottas was 0.138 seconds quicker than Hamilton, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen third, 0.727secs off the pace.
Football - Arsenal are closing in on a deal for Chelsea midfielder Willian. The Brazilian will be out of contract once Chelsea's Champions League campaign is over. Although there is no agreement yet, it looks likely Willian will follow fellow Brazilian David Luiz in moving from Stamford Bridge to Arsenal.
Tennis - Andy Murray has been awarded a wildcard into the main draw of the US Open. Due to health troubles the player is ranked 129th in the world, meaning he was too low for direct entry. The former world number one, who won the title in 2012.
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The French government has announced a prohibition on mobile phone use in six prisons
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