GERMANY BORDERS – Luxembourg has vowed to challenge Germany’s six-month extension of border controls, with Home Affairs Minister Léon Gloden declaring the government will file a complaint with the European Commission before the end of February. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has extended the border controls, as he tries to show his government is combating irregular migration, less than two weeks before an election.
FLU CASES – Luxembourg’s flu cases dropped significantly last week, alongside declines in RSV and Covid-19 infections, as the country appears to move past the peak of the flu season. In its latest report published, the National Health Directorate announced a 19% decrease compared to the previous week. Children and adolescents remain the most affected demographic.
MURDER TRIAL – A man accused of strangling his father on Christmas Day 2022 has maintained in court that he did not intend to kill him, claiming he only wanted to “calm him down” during an argument. The accused has yet to provide a clear explanation for the argument that led to the incident. He suggested it was related to his parents’ relationship and his father’s refusal to go on a family holiday.
MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE – The future of Ukraine will dominate the annual security conference in Munich today, after President Trump opened up a divide with his western allies by discussing a peace deal directly with Russia’s President Putin. European leaders have already criticised the US administration for suggesting Ukraine would have to give up territory and would not be allowed to join NATO.
MUNICH ATTACK – An Afghan asylum seeker has been arrested after a suspected car ramming attack injured at least 28 people in Munich yesterday. The incident comes on the eve of the high-profile international conference and amid an election campaign in which immigration and security have been key issues after a spate of similar attacks. According to the police, a passenger car drove into a street demonstration, striking workers from the Verdi trade union near the city centre. The driver was arrested at the scene.
TRUMP TARIFFS – President Trump has announced plans for sweeping tariffs to be imposed on any country that places similar import duties or restrictions on US goods. Speaking in the Oval office, he said America’s allies were often worse than its enemies on trade. Trump in particular singled out the European Union.
GAZA CEASEFIRE – Hamas is expected to name three hostages it will release this weekend as part of a planned exchange for Palestinian prisoners, after days of uncertainty in which Israel has threatened to scrap a nearly month-old Gaza ceasefire deal. Israel has warned that the Palestinian militants must release three living hostages this weekend or face a resumption of the war in Gaza.
PESTICIDE STUDY – Pesticides are significantly harming wildlife across the planet, stunting growth, damaging reproduction and even causing behavioural changes in animals not meant to be targeted, according to a new large-scale study. Scientists are warning that human activity is pushing the world into its sixth mass extinction event.
SKIING – Reigning world and Olympic champion Marco Odermatt will look to extend the Swiss men’s dominance at the World Ski Championships in the giant slalom in Saalbach today. Odermatt won the super-G in the Austrian resort last week.
Italy’s Federica Brignone won gold in the women’s giant slalom yesterday, as American Mikaela Shiffrin opted out of defending her title. Brignone clocked a winning aggregate time of 2min 22.71sec, finishing a massive 0.90sec ahead of Alice Robinson, who became the first New Zealander to win a world ski medal.
FOOTBALL – In football, with the start of the 22nd matchday in the German Bundesliga: Augsburg is playing RB Leipzig. In the English Premier League, Brighton is playing against Chelsea. And in France, Brest takes on Auxerre.
It was the first-leg of the Europa League playoffs last night, which saw Fenerbahce dominate Anderlecht 3-0, while Real Sociedad edged Midtjylland 2-1 away. A full recap of the crucial stage can be found here.
ATHLETICS – Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the reigning Olympic 5,000m champion, set a new indoor mile world record of 3min 45.14sec at a meet in northern France yesterday. Ingebrigtsen, who had never before raced the distance indoors said it felt amazing.
The day will be cloudy and dry for the most part, with a little bit of sun mid-morning but everything should start clearing up by early evening. The night sky should be rather clear, but due to low temperature there is a chance of waking up to that freezing fog we know so well. Speaking of temperatures, the morning starts at around -3 to -1 and only rising to around +1 degree by the afternoon.
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