Evening Update 29 Nov

Up to 7,000 homes were without power in Antibes for some hours today, after a transformer on Chemin St-Claude exploded at lunchtime today. A fire at the scene was extinguished and power has since been restored.

Prince Albert of Monaco is in Paris this afternoon for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. The two leaders are discussing negotiations between the Principality and the European Union in addition to environmental issues. Yesterday, the Prince announced that flags would fly at half mast in Monaco this Monday in tribute to the thirteen French soldiers who died in action this week in Mali.  The last time such a gesture was made, was after July 14th 2016.

A man is in the custody of police in Marseille after driving through a 70km/h speed zone doing 227km/h.  The man, driving an Audi, was trying to escape from the scene of a hit and run.

Environmental activists have blocked an Amazon warehouse near Paris in one of several anti-Black Friday protests today. Opposition to the sales bonanza is growing with a group of French lawmakers pushing to ban it altogether. Activists say Amazon produces as many greenhouse gases as a State.

BUSINESS

Barclays Monaco have announced that interim CEO
Jean-Christophe Gerard is to take an expanded role as Head of Private Bank Europe, Monaco and Switzerland in addition to acting as CEO of Barclays Monaco on a permanent basis. Barclays, which has been present in Monaco for nearly a century, is the longest-serving foreign wealth manager in the Principality.

Daimler, the German carmaker that owns Mercedes-Benz, has said it will shed at least 10,000 jobs worldwide as it seeks to fund the switch to electric cars. The move comes days after Audi said it would cut 9,500 of jobs Germany for similar reasons. Daimler say the car industry is going through the biggest transformation in its history.

SPORT

Formula 1 - Valtteri Bottas led Lewis Hamilton to a Mercedes one-two in second practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix today. Bottas was 0.310 seconds ahead of Hamilton, who was 0.076secs faster than Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. Mercedes ended the session emphasising their strength with some impressive pace on the race-simulation runs, with Hamilton comfortably quicker than Verstappen and Leclerc when running the soft tyre with a heavy fuel load.

Football - Unai Emery has been sacked as Arsenal manager after 18 months in charge. The Spaniard, who previously led Paris St-Germain to the French league title and won three Europa Leagues with Sevilla, was appointed Gunners boss in May 2018, succeeding Arsene Wenger. Arsenal said the decision had been "taken due to results and performances not being at the level required".

Liverpool midfielder Fabinho will be out until next year with an ankle injury he suffered against Napoli. The Brazilian went off after 19 minutes of Wednesday's Champions League game after he fell awkwardly making a challenge.

Rugby - Former Ireland international Conor O'Shea is to become the Rugby Football Union's director of performance, replacing Nigel Melville who is is leaving to pursue new opportunities. O'Shea who resigned as Italy coach this month O'Shea will take over next year.