FRIEDEN IRELAND - Prime Minister Luc Frieden is on a working visit to Ireland today. In Dublin, he will meet his Irish counterpart Simon Harris, and Foreign Minister Michael Martin. Luxembourg has had an official embassy in Dublin for 2 years now.
VENICE FILM FESTIVAL - Luxembourg’s film industry is making waves at the 81st Venice Film Festival, with six co-productions, including a high-profile documentary and a series of innovative virtual reality films, capturing international attention. This year, one Luxembourgish production is in competition, a documentary called Youth (Homecoming) by Chinese director Wang Bing, co-produced with the Luxembourg-based company Les Films Fauves.
WHO SEX REPORT - A WHO study has highlighted early sexual activity among Luxembourg’s youth and a worrying decline in protective measures, raising alarms over rising STD rates and unintended pregnancies. The report revealed that one-quarter of boys and 22% of girls in Luxembourg are sexually active by the age of 15 but that over one-third of girls and one-quarter of boys in Luxembourg did not use a condom during their last sexual encounter.
CITY BRADERIE - More than 200 shops will showcase their products on the streets from 9am today for the 95th edition of the Luxembourg City street market, known as the “Stater Braderie”. In addition to shopping, visitors can try their luck at the Wheel of Fortune on Place d’Armes and entertainment will be provided from 10am on Place de Paris. Throughout the day, both the Ville Haute and Gare will also host musical performances.
GERMANY ELECTIONS - Germany’s far-right party, AfD has won a landmark regional vote in the German state of Thuringia, in a blow to Chancellor Olaf Scholz ahead of national elections next year. According to exit polls, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has taken almost a third of the vote in Thuringia and has come a close second behind the conservatives in Saxony. The AfD is unlikely to come to power in either state because other parties have ruled out working with them to form a government. But the result is still a political earthquake as it would represent the first time in Germany’s post-World War II history that a far-right party has won a state election.
ISRAEL PROTESTS - Israel’s main union has ordered a nationwide general strike today after soldiers recovered the bodies of six killed hostages from the Gaza Strip where the military is battling Palestinian militants. Last night, tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and other cities, demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu do more to bring home the remaining 101 hostages. Israeli television footage showed police directing water canons at demonstrators who had blocked roads. Local media reported 29 arrests.
FRANCE GOVERNMENT - In France, the search for a new government, and therefore a new prime minister, continues at full speed. Over the weekend, more and more rumours surfaced that former interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve should take over. This morning he is meeting President Macron. The President will also meet former presidents François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy. For the last month and a half, France has not had a functioning government, following Macron’s decision to call snap elections.
PARALYMPICS 2024 – After the 4th day of competition at the Paralympics in Paris, China continues to lead the medal table, with an average of 33 gold medals, 27 silver and 11 bronze. Great Britain is in 2nd place, well ahead of the USA and Brazil. 42 nations have taken gold at least once so far. Luxembourg’s two competing para-athletes are also in action in Paris this week. On Wednesday, Kathrin Kohl will compete in the 100m wheelchair sprint and on Saturday, Tom Habscheid is taking part in the shotput competition.
FORMULA 1 - Charles Leclerc has won the Italian Grand Prix thrilling Ferrari fans as Lando Norris again chipped away at struggling champion Max Verstappen’s lead in the Formula One drivers’ standings. Leclerc claimed victory at Monza for the second time after winning in 2019.
FOOTBALL - Some results from yesterday’s matches: in the German Bundesliga, Heidenheim won 4-0 against Augsburg, and is the table leader after 2 game days, tied on points with Bayern, who won 2-0 against Freiburg last night.
In England, Liverpool beat Manchester United 3-0.
And in France, Paris St Germain won 3-1 against Lille.
CYCLING - Spain’s Pablo Castrillo has won stage 15 of the Vuelta a Espana, as Primoz Roglic took more time out of Ben O’Connor’s overall lead. The 23-year Castrillo had already won Thursday’s 12th stage but this was the biggest victory of his young career.
It looks like a warm and humid air mass persists over the Grand Duchy, though decreasing air pressure will start to destabilise it. This means that from late morning onwards, the risk of isolated thunderstorms will gradually increase, along with the potential for heavy rainfall.
Morning temperatures will be mild, ranging from 17 to 20°C. By the afternoon, temperatures will rise to 25–27°C before dropping to 15–18°C overnight.
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