SUSPECT ARRESTED - After a man was killed on Tuesday night, a 31-year-old man has now been taken into custody, according to the newspaper Wort. The man allegedly had an argument with the victim in a parking lot in Hollerich, whereupon the victim fell 5 meters into the concrete foundations of the Petrusse. The suspect has now been charged with murder, respectively with grievous bodily harm without intent. For murder, the penalty is life in prison, for bodily harm causing death a prison sentence could be 20 to 30 years.
CLIMATE ACT - With 54 votes in favour, four against and two abstentions, the Chamber of Deputies approved amendments to the climate act yesterday, including more ambitious CO2 targets. CO2 emissions certificates will be applied to transport and buildings, in addition to an equalisation mechanism which will be introduced at EU borders. The climate act will also seek to improve sustainability for air travel, increasing emphasis on synthetic fuel in order to reduce carbon emissions.
TALI FILIMING - The Pont Adolphe was closed for filming for a night for a very special shoot, organised by for the European Broadcasting Union. Tali, Luxembourg’s entry for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, received special permission to play her piano on the bridge from 2 to 4am, recording an acoustic version of her song ‘Fighter’.
RUSSIA ELECTION - Voters in the eastern-most part of Russia are casting their ballots in the Presidential election. The vote is taking place over 11 time zones and over 3 days, from today til Sunday. President Vladimir Putin is expected to extend his term in office by another 6 years. Putin’s major rivals are dead,in prison or in exile.
UKRAINE WAR - German Chancellor Scholz will receive French President Macron in Berlin today after tensions between the leaders blew out into the open over differences on how to support Ukraine. After a clear-the-air meeting in the chancellery, the pair will be joined by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk for urgent consultations on further European military backing for Kyiv. A massive US aid package of $60 billion remains blocked in Congress by right-wing Republicans, and President Joe Biden has acknowledged that $300 million of stopgap support announced earlier this week was “not nearly enough”.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR - Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said early this morning that Israeli fire killed 20 people and wounded 155 waiting to receive desperately needed aid in the besieged territory. The health ministry that citizens had gathered at a roundabout in Gaza City in the north when they were fired upon by Israeli forces. An AFP journalist on the scene saw several bodies and people who had been shot. The Israeli military denied it had opened fire on the crowd of Gazans waiting for aid.
BELGIUM PRISON - Belgium is in shock this week after reports of an inmate tortured for three days at Antwerp Prison without guards noticing. Three men were charged with attempted murder, rape and aggravating circumstances of torture and degrading treatment. The ACOD trade union have underlined that the fact that the torture continued for so long was a direct consequence of overcrowding and understaffing.
FOOTBALL - Today at noon the draw for the Champions League quarter finals is taking place in Switzerland. With Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico, 3 Spanish clubs are represented. Two English clubs – Manchester City and Arsenal, two German clubs - Bayern and Borussia Dortmund and one French club – Paris St Germain. The games will all be played on the 9th and 10th of April.
The draw for the quarter finals in the Europa League takes place this afternoon. Yesterday, Liverpool, Leverkusen, Marseille, AC Milan, West Ham, AS Rome, Benfica and Bergamo qualified.
In the German Bundesliga, Köln will meet and Leipzig tonight and in France, Toulouse meets Lyon.
ICE HOCKEY - The ice hockey world championship of the third division is underway in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. In group A, Luxembourg has won 3 matches so far, yesterday 4-2 against South Africa, and before that against Mexico and Turkmenistan. On Sunday, the last group match against the hitherto unbeaten Thailand is taking place.
RUGBY - England head to an equally resurgent France on Saturday holding an outside chance of pipping Ireland to a Six Nations title not many would have predicted at the start of the campaign. Steve Borthwick’s side need a bonus point victory in Lyon and must hope Ireland lose to Scotland by more than seven points earlier in the day in the final round of the competition.
Overcast skies bring light showers in the morning, which will continue into the afternoon. While the sun may pop out for an hour or two after lunch, rain will likely continue for most of the time. Come evening, however, rainfall and gusts will intensify. Winds will reach speeds of up to 55 km/h, and thunderstorms may appear, boosting gusts to 65 km/h in some places. Mild temperatures remain: 9-11°C in the morning and 12-14°C in the afternoon.
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