Coalition talks continue, Israel rejects ceasefire calls and anti-semitic crimes up in France & Germany

Luxembourg

NATIONAL ALERT - To mark the first Monday of the month, the government will continue testing its GouvAlert system by sending a test text message alert to residents of selected municipalities in Luxembourg. The national warning sirens will be also be tested today.

COALITION TALKS -  In the coalition talks between the CSV and DP to form a new government, both parties are meeting again this week. Negotiations will continue at Senningen castle over the next three days. From today, it is a question of both parties reaching compromises, to reach a coherent government agreement. Luc Frieden is expected to hold a press conference in the afternoon, to inform on the current state of negotiations.

World

ANTI-SEMITIC CRIMES - Anti-Semitic crimes are increasing massively in some of our neighbouring countries. This has been confirmed by official figures from France and Germany. According to the French Interior Minister Minister Gerald Darmanin, in the last month alone, over 1000 anti-semitic acts have been registered in France. In Germany there were 540 for the last 3 months, a big increase compared to previous months.

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR - Israel has pounded Gaza with "significant" strikes earlier today, with soldiers battling Hamas forces in the besieged territory and ignoring ceasefire calls by UN aid agencies. Israeli troops and Hamas fighters are engaged in house-to-house combat in densely populated Gaza, where the war has sent 1.5 million people fleeing to other parts of the territory. The health ministry in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, says close to 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Israeli strikes.

Jordan's air force has air-dropped vital medical supplies to a field hospital in Gaza. And US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has been dashing around the Middle East to push for a pause in fighting. He was in Israel on Friday, Jordan on Saturday, The West Bank, Iraq and Turkey on Sunday.

Meanwhile in countries across the region – and in Europe and the US – pro Palestinian protesters have taken to the street. In Luxembourg,  a couple of hundred demonstrators marched from the Philharmonie in Kirchberg to the Place Clairefontaine on Saturday. Their demands were clear: an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and to grant free access to humanitarian help for civilians in Palestine.

TRUMP TRIAL - Former president Donald Trump is expected to testify in the New York civil case today, which threatens to upend his real estate empire and deal him a damaging financial blow as he seeks to retake the White House next year. Trump is due to take the stand at 10:00 am (1500 GMT).

ZELENSKY TALKS - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that he was "not ready" for talks with Russia unless its invading troops withdraw. The sprawling front line between the warring sides has remained mostly static for almost a year despite a much-touted Ukrainian counter-offensive, with Russian forces entrenched in southern and eastern Ukraine. Officials from the United States and Europe are reported to have suggested holding negotiations to end the conflict.

Sport

FORMULA 1 - Max Verstappen secured his 17th win in a record-breaking season on Sunday, resisting early pressure from Lando Norris to triumph in an accident and incident-hit Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Red Bull's three-time world champion came home 8.277 seconds ahead of McLaren's Norris.  Fernando Alonso snatched third for Aston Martin by just 0.053 seconds from Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull.

CYCLO-CROSS - The European Cyclo-cross Championships were held this weekend in Pontchâteau, France. And on Sunday morning, Luxembourg cyclist Marie Schreiber put in an excellent performance in the Under 23 women's race to take the silver medal. The Luxembourger was 34 seconds behind new European champion Zoe Backstedt after around 49 minutes of racing.

CRICKET - Sri Lanka's sports minister Roshan Ranasinghe has sacked the national cricket board, days after a humiliating defeat by India at the World Cup. The defeat prompted a public outcry and police have been deployed outside the board office in Colombo since angry protests on Saturday.

Weather

A new week brings us a slight reprieve from stormy conditions, but don't put your umbrellas away just yet. It will be generally cloudy and grey with frequent showers, especially in the early morning and afternoon. The skies could clear up a bit in the afternoon. The wind has slowed down, but be prepared to feel the occasional smack of gusts reaching up to 40/50 km/h. Minimum temperature will start around 7ºC, only reaching up to 10ºC in the afternoon.

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