COALITION TALKS - On Sunday, it will be two weeks since Luxembourg’s elections. Coalition negotiations between CSV and DP are underway, in a dozen thematic working groups. CSV leader Luc Frieden had an audience at the palace yesterday afternoon, to brief the Grand Duke on the state of negotiations. Today, delegations from both parties will meet at Senningen castle again and a press conference is expected in the afternoon.
BRIDGE REOPENS - Renovation works on the bridge in Wormeldange will finally conclude this morning, allowing traffic to cross in both directions from 10am. The bridge connecting Luxembourg and Germany in Wormeldange has been partially closed for most of 2023 due to extensive renovations. The remainder of the work on the bridge over the Moselle river will be carried out at a later date.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR - President Biden has said he will ask Congress for billions of more dollars in military support for Israel and Ukraine, saying both countries are fighting enemies of democracy. In a televised address from the Oval Office, he said both countries’ success was vital for security and global leadership. Biden also stressed the urgency of getting relief to Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
As the Israeli bombardment of Gaza continues, international efforts to get aid are becoming increasingly urgent. The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza strip is supposed to open today.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles Michel are in Washington today for a US-EU summit at the White House. Together with Joe Biden, the Middle East and Ukraine war is expected to dominate the talks.
The European Parliament, with a very large majority officially condemned the attacks by Hamas on Israel yesterday. MEPs called for a “humanitarian pause” to provide food, water and medical aid to Palestinians in Gaza. In a resolution, EU lawmakers also called for the unconditional release of the hostages taken to Gaza, who the Israeli army believes number over 200.
AMSTERDAM SEX WORKERS - Amsterdam’s sex workers protested yesterday against the transfer of their famed red light district to an out-of-town “erotic centre”. Many wearing masks to shield their identity, dozens of sex workers marched through the streets towards City Hall. Mayor Femke Halsema seeks to uproot the red light district and move it out of town, aiming to rid Amsterdam’s image as “sin city” while reducing the number of tourists and petty crime in the area.
TENNIS - At the Ladies Tennis Masters in Coque, Luxembourg’s Mandy Minella and Andrea Petkovic are in the semi-finals. Yesterday evening, Minella beat Belgium’s Kim Klijsters in 2 sets. Tonight, from 6 o’clock, Annett Kontaveir from Estonia and Puerto Rican Monica Puig will face each other. Followed by another quarter-final game between the Czech player Lucie Safarova and Pauline Parmentier from France.
RUGBY - Tonight is the first semi-final of the Rugby World Cup. At 9pm New Zealand and Argentina face each other at the Stade de Paris. Tomorrow South Africa plays England.
FOOTBALL - It’s the start of the 8th matchday in the German Bundesliga tonight and Dortmund is playing Werder Bremen. In France, Le Havre plays against Lens. And in Belgium, Union St Gilloise and Anthony Moris meet in Eupen.
TENNIS - Boris Becker has confirmed he has become the coach of Denmark’s Holger Rune, returning to the game after a seven-year absence that included a prison term. Speaking with Eurosport, the 55-year-old three-time Wimbledon champion described the 20-year-old Dane as “a rough diamond that needs polishing.”
It’s gearing up to be a rainy Friday. The clouds are still with us, bringing showers until the early evening. An isolated storm also can’t be ruled out, particularly in the afternoon.The temperatures are consistent throughout the day, with a minimum of 12-13°C in the morning, and a slight increase up to 15°C in the afternoon.
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