FIRE DEATH - After fire services reported no injuries in a large fire in Leudelange yesterday afternoon, one person was found dead during the extinguishing work. Around 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, a fire was reported on a farm and firefighters found that the entire roof of the barn was in flames. Due to the large rescue operation, the area around the the fire had to be closed. As a result, the cyclists of the Elsy Jacobs festival were rerouted on their course at short notice.
BETTEL INTERVIEW - On Saturday afternoon, Luxembourg’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Xavier Bettel sat down for an interview with our colleagues from RTL Radio, discussing a variety of both domestic and international issues. In the course of the interview, Bettel reaffirmed his commitment to Luxembourg while refraining from definitively ruling out future EU positions. In the coming weeks, Bettel’s agenda includes travel to the Middle East, encompassing visits to Israel and the Palestinian territories. Ireland, Malta, and Spain are arguing that the EU countries should recognise Palestine as a state. Luxembourg is currently against such a recognition.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR - A Hamas delegation is due to arrive in Egypt today, where it will respond to Israel’s latest proposal for a long-sought hostage-release deal and truce in the Gaza Strip after almost seven months of war. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is among the high-ranking global officials due in Riyadh. He will also visit Israel and Jordan. Despite intense pressure to reach a ceasefire, secure the release of hostages held in Gaza and allow more humanitarian aid into the war-battered territory, a deal has remained elusive.
UKRAINE WAR - Ukraine’s army leader has admitted that Kyiv’s position on the battlefield has worsened after Russian forces captured another village in the east, pressing their advantage in manpower and ammunition. Russia’s troops are advancing in the eastern Donetsk region as Kyiv awaits the arrival of much-needed US weapons that it hopes will stabilise the fragile front lines.
FRANCE NUCLEAR - French President Emmanuel Macron is ready to “open the debate” about the role of nuclear weapons in a common European defence, he said in an interview at the weekend. He said France will “maintain its specificity but is ready to contribute more to the defence of Europe”. Following Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union, France is the only member of the bloc to possess its own nuclear weapons.
SPAIN PREMIER - Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is expected to announce today, whether he will resign over corruption allegations against his wife. The 52-year-old Socialist leader, who has been in office since 2018, stunned Spain on Wednesday when he put his resignation on the line after a Madrid court opened a preliminary investigation into suspected influence peddling and corruption against his spouse Begona Gomez.
FOOTBALL - Paris Saint-Germain were confirmed as Ligue 1 champions on Sunday without playing after closest challengers Monaco lost 3-2 away to Lyon. Monaco’s defeat gave PSG an unassailable 12-point lead at the top of the table with three games remaining and means they are champions for a French record-extending 12th time.
The English Premier League is down to a two-horse race between Manchester City and Arsenal after Liverpool’s slim title chances took a further hit. City have the destiny of the crown in their own hands after a 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest while the Gunners are still in the lead after their 3-2 victory at Tottenham, albeit having played a game more.
And in Italy, Inter Milan’s official Serie A title party was in full swing on Sunday as the newly-crowned champions were acclaimed by thousands throughout their city after a straightforward 2-0 win over 10-man Torino. The team cruised on an open-top bus tour of Milan towards the packed Piazza del Duomo where fans lit flares and set off fireworks in honour of their heroes who had claimed a 20th league championship with five matches to spare.
CYCLING - Carlos Rodriguez won the Tour de Romandie on Sunday as Dorian Godon took the sprint in the fifth and final stage in Vernier, near Geneva. Rodriguez took the overall lead when he finished third in Saturday’s mountainous ‘queen’ stage and had little difficulty in maintaining it in the straightforward 150.8km final stage.
BASKETBALL - Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks will miss Friday’s playoff game at Indiana due to a nagging left calf strain.The 29-year-old Greek forward has has not played since suffering the injury in a victory earlier this month over NBA wins leader Boston.
Starting off with a misty morning, the day will be dominated by clouds but the sun might just briefly pop out in the afternoon. Temperatures will be a little warmer than last week, with it being around 8-10ºC in the morning and reaching a whopping 18ºC in some parts of the country.
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