Finance Meeting, Luxembourg Football cup and Nobel Prize for Medicine

Luxembourg and the greater region

EU FINANCE MEETING - Europe’s finance ministers are meeting in Luxembourg today. Topics include the repercussions of high energy prices triggered by the Ukraine conflict and global inflation. Yuriko Backes will attend the meeting for the Grand Duchy.

CANCER PETITION - Politicians will debate a petition in the chamber this morning, demanding better cancer treatments for children in the country’s hospitals. The petitioner argues that 20 to 30 children are diagnosed with cancer every year in Luxembourg,  but have to go abroad for decent treatment.

HOUSING PRICE - Real estate prices in Luxembourg continue rising despite a significant decrease in demand. According to the latest statistics published by the Housing Observatory, the average square-metre price for new real estate increased by over 8% over the course of one year. But it is a mixed picture as sellers are increasingly struggling to find buyers. This downward trend first started at the beginning of 2020.

World news

GERMANY & FRANCE - Today, on the day of German reunification, Chancellor Scholz is meeting French President Macron. In addition to the Ukraine war and EU issues, subjects will include bilateral cooperation in the fields of defence, energy and industry.

UKRAINE - The Ukrainian military have recaptured Lyman. A strategically important city in the Donetsk region that has been annexed by Russia. Meanwhile, the Russian Constitutional Court has validated the annexation of the Ukrainian territories and today, the parliament in Moscow is to pass a corresponding law. The Russian annexation of the 4 Ukrainian regions has been condemned internationally and not recognized.  On Friday, Ukraine made an official request to join NATO. Now 9 European NATO countries have already given their agreement.

BRAZIL ELECTION - Jair Bolsanaro has defied opinión polls by forcing a run off vote in Brazil’s presidential election. The former leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won 48% of first time votes, compared to 43% for Bolsanaro. The far-right president described the election polls as a lie. In a low-key address Lula said he remained confident of victory.

NOBEL MEDICINE - Nobel Prize announcements begin this week. The awards kick off today with the prize for medicine – possible winners are seen as breast cancer discoveries and mRNA vaccines. The Peace Prize, the most highly anticipated of the awards, will be announced on Friday.

Sport 

FOOTBALL LUXEMBOURG  - there were no big surprises in Luxembourg’s national cup yesterday – Dudelange beat Munsbach 5-1. Hesper beat Urspelt 9-0 and Differdange beat Troisvierges 12-0. Echternach won 3-2 against Bissen and is the only team from the 2nd division that is still in the cup...

INDONESIA TRAGEDY - Chilean football coach Javier Roca said on Sunday "fans died in the arms of players" and claimed tear gas-firing police fatally "over-stepped" the mark in the Indonesian football tragedy which has claimed at least 125 lives. The disaster happened when fans of Arema FC stormed the pitch after their team lost 3-2 to rivals, Persebaya Surabaya.Police said 323 people were also injured in what is one of the world's deadliest sporting stadium disasters.

FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE - Sergio Perez won the Singapore Grand Prix for Red Bull yesterday. Max Verstappen was only 7th, but still 104 points ahead of Leclerc in the overall championships. The next race is next weekend - in Suzuka, Japan.

Weather

WEATHER - There will be a bit of local mist during the morning, followed by a dry and cloudy day. Morning temperatures  start off at 9-11°C, rising to between 13-16°C in the afternoon.

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