EMERGENCY SERVICES - The Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS) engaged in three separate interventions on Sunday evening. Fire fighters in Mersch and Nommern were called out to extinguish the beginnings of a fire in a Moesdorf field at around 7.30pm. Just before 10.00pm, a number of teams attended an incident in Rumelange after a fire broke out in a kitchen. Esch-sur-Alzette and Rumelange fire fighters were accompanied by an ambulance, although no injuries were reported. The fire was quickly brought under control. Finally, the Niederanven-Schuttrange fire brigade received reports of a camp fire in the woods which had the potential to spread, at around 11.00pm.
AGRESSIVE ALTERCATIONS - Two men were picked up by Ettelbruck Police on Saturday due to aggressive behaviour, while a fight broke out in the capital, leaving one person hospitalised. The incidents in Ettelbruck first saw an intoxicated individual threaten employees at a local business, and another saw an individual attack four people later in the day. Both were taken into custody. Whilst in Luxembourg City, a fight took place on Rue de la Boucherie, injuring one person. The victim was hospitalised as a result. A suspect was arrested following the incident.
BREAK-INS ANNOUNCED - Police have reported several burglary incidents which took place across the weekend. Burglars entered a house on Rue de Kirchberg at around 4.00pm on Saturday afternoon. Whilst another break-in was reported shortly afterwards in Kayl. In Schifflange, one or several perpetrators gained access to an underground car park on Rue de Drusenheim shortly before 11.00pm. Two cars had their windows smashed in by the individuals.
TIME IS TICKING - The clock is ticking down on the deal that allows Ukraine to export its grain via the Black Sea, with the current agreement set to expire later today. Currently there is no word from talks in Istanbul, where Turkish and UN officials are trying to persuade Russia to agree to another extension of the deal first signed there in July 2022. Over the course of the last year, the ‘Black Sea Grain Initiative’ has enabled the export of more than 32 million tonnes of grain from the Ukrainian.
CLIMATE DIPLOMACY - US climate envoy John Kerry is in Beijing today to revive stalled talks and pressure China to step up its efforts to reduce planet-warming emissions. Bilateral climate talks stalled last year after Nancy Pelosi - then speaker of the US House of Representatives - enraged Beijing by visiting self-ruled Taiwan, which China considers to be part of its territory. Washington has identified climate as an area for potential co-operation with Beijing, despite tensions elsewhere.
CLIMATE CRISIS - South Korea’s president vowed on Monday to “completely overhaul” the country’s approach to extreme weather from climate change, after at least 39 people were killed by recent flooding and landslides during monsoon rains. South Korea is at the peak of its summer monsoon season and days of torrential rain have caused widespread flooding and landslides, with rivers bursting their banks and reservoirs and dams overflowing. More rain is forecast for this week.
RIP - Yesterday it was announced that iconic singer and actress Jane Birkin had died at the age of 76. An icon in her adopted France, Birken starred in over 60 films directed by many of France’s leading film directors and was also known for her turbulent relationship with legendary singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2001 for her services to acting and British-French cultural relations.
