Demonstrations have been held across France to protest at the government's pension reforms. As usual, estimates of the number of people taking part varied widely between unions and the authorities. 130,000 people marched in Marseille according to unions, but there were only 11,000 according to police. The government said this evening that 782,000 people had protested across the whole of France in total, but 2.3 million according to unions. In our region there were also demonstrations in several other towns and cities including Nice, Grasse, Antibes, Draguignan and Cannes. Red paint was thrown at a superyacht moored in the port of Nice. In Marseille, four people were arrested after briefly entering the Intercontinental hotel. Flights are disrupted at Nice airport today. No trams are running in Nice and no Lignes d'Azur bus services are running. There are no buses, Metro or tram services operating in Marseille today.
In Paris, a march set off from the Place de la Republique this afternoon. Tear gas was used by police. Earlier today the Administrative court in Paris rejected an appeal against the use of drones to monitor protestors. Monitoring of protestors by drones has been authorised since 19 April when a decree authorising such use was published.
Traffic on the A8 motorway was cut off on one carriageway in the early hours of this morning after a serious accident near junction 42, the Mougins turn off in the direction of Aix-en-Provence. Six people were injured, two of them seriously, in a collision involving three vehicles at about 3am. The motorway was fully reopened again at about 5.30am.
Due to the rain and stormy conditions, the May Day festival in Nice was cancelled today. It'll now take place next Sunday, May 7.
Authorities have broken up a so-called urban rodeo on public roads in La Garde over the weekend. The Var Prefecture said that more than 200 people were present. Three drivers were placed in custody and three vehicles were seized.
A luxury hotel in the Vaucluse department was evacuated in the early hours of this morning because of a fire. Firefighters said that the blaze had started in a laundry room at the hotel in the village of Gordes. Guests were able to return to their rooms later in the night.
The Olympic flame is set to arrive in France next Monday. The Mayor of Marseille Benoit Payan said that a large festival will be held in the city's port area to welcome the flame, it's first stop in France on its way to Paris for the Olympics, where it's expected to arrive on 14 July.
BUSINESS
It's been announced that US regulators have taken posession of the troubled First Republic Bank. In a statement issued this morning, regulators in California said that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has accepted a bid from JPMorgan Chase to assume all deposits and substantially all assets of First Republic Bank. First Republic is the third US bank to collapse in recent months. It's shares fell last week after it said that customers had withdrawn $100bn of deposits in March.
British microchip design company Arm has filed to sell its shares in the US. The Cambridge based firm is reportedly aiming to raise up to $10bn. In a blow to the UK, the company said in March that it did not plan to list its shares in London. Arm was bought in 2016 by Japanese conglomerate Softbank.
SPORT
Athletics...Ukrainian athletes will boycott this month's World Judo Championships in Qatar. The International Judo Federation decided to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete as neutrals. The Ukrainian Judo Federation said that a number of Russian paritipants are "active servicemen".
Football...In the Premier League this evening, Leicester take on Everton. It's an important match at the bottom of the table. A win for either team would take them out of the relegation zone and would be a big step towards safety.
Leeds United players have apologised for not acknowledging fans before their defeat by Bournemouth at the weekend. A video went viral of Leeds players appearing to ignore fans, including a child, as they left the team hotel. Leeds have taken just one point from their past five games and are one point above the relegation zone.
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