MEISCH ALLEGATIONS - The opposition party, déi Lénk said yesterday that Education Minister Claude Meisch should step down until allegations against him are resolved. Meisch has been accused of exhibiting aggressive behaviour towards a fellow ministry official in a Luxembourg City eatery by a young female member of the DP.
TRAIN STRIKES - Train strikes in France over the next few days will impact Luxembourg services from today until the 18 February. Issues will particularly affect TGV routes towards Paris Est. Services on the line connecting Luxembourg with Metz and Nancy are also likely to be disrupted. Further information on specific journeys and alternative bus routes can be found on the CFL website. https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/2169471.html
BUERGBRENNEN - Huge wooden structures are going up around the Grand Duchy for a Luxembourgish tradition taking place at the weekend – it’s Buergbrennen, to burn away the winter. Huge crosses and even whole castles made out of wooden palettes are currently dotting Luxembourg’s field, ready for the castle burning. Buergbrennen is celebrated on the first Sunday in Lent. If you want to find out where and when your local Buergbrennen celebration will take place this year, visit your municipality’s website for more information.
GARE ARREST - Last week police conducted a major operation in Luxembourg City’s Gare district. The focus was on drugs and weapons, but also documents and business permits. 85 people were checked in total, with six found to be in the country illegally.One of the individuals picked up by the police turned out to have a European warrant out for their arrest due to violating German drug laws.
SPACE WEAPON - The US believes Russia is building a space-based anti-satellite weapon. Moscow called the allegations a malicious fabrication to pressurize American politicians into sending more military aid to Ukraine. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed that the Russian weapon was “space-based” but would not comment whether it was nuclear-capable or nuclear powered.
GREECE SAME SEX MARRIAGE - The Greek Parliament has approved a bill to legalise same sex marriage. It makes Greece the first orthodox-majority country and the first in south-east Europe to enshrine marriage equality and to allow same-sex couples to adopt children. The Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the result was a milestone for human rights.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR - Israel says it has found dozens of Hamas gunmen inside a hospital it raided inside southern Gaza. Medical sources say the Israeli army fired into the hospital, killing a patient and injuring others.
ZELENSKY FRANCE - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris today, to sign a bilateral security agreement. This is about guarantees after the Russian war, which the G7 states had promised at a meeting in Kyiv last year. On Saturday, Zelensky will take part in a security conference in Munich and will also hold talks with the US Vice President Kamala Harris.
FOOTBALL - Bayern Munich could be as many as eight points behind league leaders Bayer Leverkusen when they travel to Bochum on Sunday after one of the club’s worst weeks in recent memory. Bayern were outclassed in Saturday’s 3-0 loss in Leverkusen, before losing 1-0 to Lazio on Wednesday -- their first defeat in an opening leg in the Champions League last 16 since 2012.
Jurgen Klinsmann is facing the sack as South Korea coach after just under a year in charge. He posted a message on social media earlier today, saying it had been “an incredible journey”, as the president of the Korea Football Association met senior executives to decide Klinsmann’s fate.The message suggests the 59-year-old Klinsmann’s time is up, paying the price for South Korea’s exit to Jordan in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup last week.
France captain Kylian Mbappe has told officials at Paris Saint-Germain that he intends to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season, according to a source close to the Ligue 1 champions. Mbappe has been widely tipped to move to Real Madrid and has allegedly entered negotiations with the Spanish giants.
SWIMMING - China’s Pan Zhanle has won the men’s 100 metres freestyle title at the world championships in Doha, establishing his status as one of the favourites for Olympic gold in five months’ time. The 19-year-old came home in 47.53sec.
It is Friday, but it will still be a cloudy day with a gentle breeze. Expect slight to moderate showers especially during the afternoon but in the evening the sky should clear for a while before the night brings on fog and some localised showers.As for the temperature: it going to be a fresh 6 to 8°C. It will steadily increase up to 13°C in the afternoon.
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