COALITION TALKS - It’s the 4th day of coalition negotiations, here in Luxembourg today. Luc Frieden, who is in charge of forming the next government and delegations from both the CSV and DP will meet trade unions, as well as employers’ representatives. Climate policy will also be on the agenda with representatives of the climate movement and the council for Sustainable Development.
EU FINANCE MINISTERS - Today and tomorrow, the Eurogroup and EU finance ministers are meeting in Luxembourg. Topics include, among other things, the financing of climate protection, the digital euro and the economic perspectives between the EU and the USA. Because of this, the American Finance Minister Janet Yellen is also in Luxembourg. In addition to the appointments at EU level, bilateral talks between Janet Yellen and Luxembourg’s Finance Minister Yuriko Backes are also planned.
RADAR ESCH - A new radar has been installed on the Micheville link in Esch-Belval and will start issuing fines from today. The radar is active in the direction of France, in addition to the one already operational in the direction of Luxembourg. As a result, cross-border drivers must be vigilant about their speed in both directions, which is set at 70 km an hour.
SPEED RECORD - A Luxembourgish student has helped create the world record of fastest speed for electric vehicles in a single-seater open-cockpit car. Yann Bernard, a Luxembourgish mechanical engineering student from the university ETH Zurich, was one of 20 people, who built a powerful and aerodynamcic car with almost 330 horsepower that only weighed 140 kilos without a driver. The car has beaten the existing record with an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in under a second – 0.956 seconds.
ISRAEL HAMAS WAR - The head of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres has said the conflict between Israel and Hamas is placing the Middle East on the verge of the abyss. Guterres urged Hamas to release all the hostages it has and called on Israel to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians in the Gaza strip.
President Joe Biden said he agrees Hamas should be eliminated but that it would be a big mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza. Speaking to CBS news, Biden said there needs to be a path to a Palestinian state.
Diplomatic activity to ease the crisis has stepped up with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expected back in Israel today, as part of his regional tour. He has indicated that Egypt will open its border crossing with Gaza to allow aid in and foreigners to leave.
More than one million people have fled their homes while the Israeli army is preparing a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.
POLAND ELECTIONS - Poland’s coalition opposition, led by the former EU Council President Donald Tusk has claimed victory in the country’s general election. The exit polls suggest that the governing Law and Justice party has the most seats, with close to 40% of the vote but won’t have enough to govern.
TEACHER STABBING - Schools across France will hold a minute of silence for the teacher stabbed to death in what President Emmanuel Macron called an act of “Islamist terror”. The nationwide tribute will come a day after thousands gathered in Arras, northeastern France to pay their respects to 57-year-old Dominique Bernard. His killing on Friday has sent shockwaves through the country and led to calls for tighter security at schools.
RUGBY - South Africa has beaten the hosts France in their quarter final in the Rugby World Cup. This means South Africa will go on to meet England in the semi-finals, while Argentina will face New Zealand.
FOOTBALL - Luxembourg is playing Slovakia today in the qualification match for the European Championships. Kick off is at 20.45 at the Stade de Luxembourg.
A very chilly start to the day with temperatures around 1-2 degrees. It should be a lovely sunny day though, with slightly warmer temperatures of around 12ºC by mid-afternoon.
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