SUSPECT ARRESTED - The public prosecutor’s office has launched a murder investigation following the discovery of a woman’s body in Bonnevoie over the weekend. A 34-year-old man has been identified as the potential perpetrator in the murder of the 63 year old woman.
RED CROSS APPEAL - The Red Cross has published an urgent appeal for blood donations, noting that current stocks cover less than a week’s worth of needs in Luxembourg’s hospitals. Those who can donate are urged to do so in the coming days at the Blood Transfusion Centre (42, Boulevard Joseph II in Luxembourg City). No appointment is necessary.
BIRD FLU - Three new cases of avian flu have been detected in Remerschen. The virus was found in a common tern and in two black-headed gulls. The last bird flu cases in Luxembourg were reported in Wincrange in February.
CoE MEETING - Heads of State and Government from 46 member states as well as EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are taking part in the Council of Europe summit today and tomorrow in Reykjavik in Iceland. The main subjects are human rights and the war in Ukraine. Luxembourg is represented by Prime Minister Xavier Bettel. Russia is no longer a member due to the invasion of Ukraine. It is only the fourth summit to be held in the Council of Europe’s seven-decade history. There is no official word as to whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will take part in the summit.
UKRAINE ATTACKS - The Ukrainian capital Kyiv has come under heavy fire, with officials calling it “exceptional” in its density. They said the vast majority of missiles were shot down by air defence systems.
NZ FIRE - Authorities in New Zealand are investigating the cause of a fire in a hostel in the capital Wellington, which has killed at least six people. The building was being used for accommodation for shift workers. The country’s Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has been visiting the scene and described the fire as “an absolute tragedy.”
AMNESTY EXECUTIONS - Some 883 people were executed last year, the highest number of known executions in five years, according to Amnesty International, which has also raised concerns about the use of the death penalty for drug offences. The number of executions, which does not include the thousands thought to have been carried out in China, increased by more than 50 percent compared with 2021, Amnesty said in its annual report on the use of the death penalty, published today.
CANNES FILM FESTIVAL - The 76th international film festival begins today in Cannes. 21 films are competing for the top prize, the Palme d’Or, including a record seven women directors. The opening film is already making waves as Johnny Depp returns to the big screen in the period drama “Jeanne du Barry.” Several big-name premieres are also showing, including “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”, Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro and the new Pixar film “Elemental. Four Luxembourg co-productions have been selected for the festival and the Luxembourg Film Fund is represented with a pavilion.
FOOTBALL - The return matches of the semi-finals in the Champions League kick off today. Inter Milan has a 2-0 advantage in the city duel against AC Milan tonight. Manchester City takes on Real Madrid tomorrow.
CYCLING - After yesterday’s day of rest, the 10th stage of the Giro d’Italia continues today. Today’s stage is 196km long from Scandiano to Viareggio. The organisers of the race said they were tightening Covid protocols after positive tests claimed a series of big-name riders including leader Remco Evenepoel. Geraint Thomas, who took over the race lead, said on Monday that “it’s not the best way of taking it”.
PELE TOMB - Six months after the death of the man widely considered the greatest footballer of all time, Brazil has opened Pele’s gilded, football-turfed tomb to the public. Pele, who died at the on December 29 at age 82 after a battle with cancer, was laid to rest at the Ecumenical Memorial Cemetery in Santos, Brazil. It is a high-rise, 14-story mausoleum that holds the Guinness world record for the tallest cemetery on Earth. Fans are greeted by two life-size golden statues of the player, whose remains rest inside a large golden vault displayed in the middle of a 200-square-meter room carpeted in artificial turf.
Weather
Today starts off with scattered rain showers, but the clouds will disperse somewhat, giving way to bright spots of sunshine. The wind will pick up after midday as well, with gusts of up to 50km/h predicted.The morning will start off at 7-9°C, before climbing to highs of 12-14°C in the afternoon.
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