ELECTION POLL – According to the new Sunday poll (Sonndesfro) carried out for RTL and Luxemburger Wort, if elections were held this Sunday, the LSAP (the Socialist Workers’ Party) would gain several seats in parliament, the CSV (the Christian Social People’s Party) would remain the most important party and the Pirates would more than double in size. Xavier Bettel would remain the voters’ favourite prime minister. This new poll really shakes up the elections one month before Luxembourg voters head to the stations. As a result, several possible coalitions could form. After ten years of the DP-LSAP-the Greens coalition, only 8% of voters questioned would like to see this three -party coalition continue.
BETTEL ROMANIA - Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Defence Minister François Bausch are today on an official working visit to Romania. They will be accompanied by Chief of Staff Steve Thull. Since mid-March, 27 Luxembourg soldiers have been stationed in Romania as part of a NATO mission. The Prime Minister will also meet Romanian President Klaus Iohannis for talks.
SCHUEBERFOUER BABY - A woman gave birth to a baby at the Schueberfouer on Saturday evening. Emergency services were informed about a woman going into labour at 9.30pm but when the team arrived on site, the baby had already been born. The mother and child were taken to hospital, accompanied by first responders. Both are said to be doing well.
NORTH KOREA RUSSIA - The North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is expected to make a rare visit overseas to visit President Putin in Russia. US officials believe that Moscow is hoping to buy shells and missiles for its troops in Ukraine. Washington says any such deal would breach UN security council resolutions.
News of the likely meeting between Kim and Putin came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had visited his war-torn country’s frontline eastern Donetsk region, posting a video of himself meeting soldiers.
SPAIN FLOODS - At least three people have died and another three are missing after heavy rains lashed Spain, triggering flash floods that forced the closure of Madrid metro lines and high-speed rail links. The weekend storm affected almost the whole country, with the heaviest rains recorded on Sunday in the coastal provinces of Cadiz, Tarragona and Castello.
HARWELL DIES - Steve Harwell, a founding member and former leader of the US rock band Smash Mouth, known for its hit songs “All Star” and “Walkin’ on the Sun,” has died at the age of 56. Harwell died at his home in Boise, Idaho “surrounded by family and friends,” according to Smash Mouth’s manager Robert Hayes. He said the cause of death was liver failure.
TENNIS - At the US Open in tennis, Daniil Medvedev will play Russian compatriot and close friend Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals after defeating Australian 13th seed Alex de Minaur in four sets. Aryna Sabalenka celebrated her ascent to the pinnacle of women’s tennis by powering into the quarter-finals with a straight sets win over Daria Kasatkina. Sabalenka, who is guaranteed of becoming the new world number one next week following Iga Swiatek’s fourth round exit on Sunday, cruised into the last eight with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over the 13th seed.
Tonight is the first quarter final match between Jelena Ostapenko and Cory Gauff.
FOOTBALL - Brazil have dropped Manchester United winger Antony from their squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying games, following allegations of assault made against him by an ex-girlfriend. Antony has denied physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend, saying he was the “victim of false accusations.” Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus will replace Antony in the squad for the games against Bolivia on September 8 and Peru on September 12.
Weather
It is shaping up to be a beautiful day with plenty of sunshine from dawn till dusk. A gentle to moderate breeze from the southeast will be felt, with occasional gusts reaching 20 to 25 km/h. The morning will be sunny and noticeably warmer, with temperatures around 13-16°C. Although a bit more overcast, the afternoon will see pure summer bonanza temperatures of 26-30ºC.
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