DEFENCE DISCUSSIONS – Defence discussions are intensifying in Luxembourg. Prime Minister Luc Frieden briefed MPs yesterday on last week’s EU summit. The key message Frieden presented to the Foreign Affairs Committee was that Europe has no intention of attacking anyone, but to safeguard freedom and peace, it must be capable of defending itself – above all, through deterrence. The summit saw 26 member states approve additional aid for Ukraine, while all 27 agreed on a €800 billion defence package.
BENELUX TALKS – Today, Prime Minister Luc Frieden is receiving his counterparts from the Netherlands and Belgium at Senningen Castle. According to a press release, the talks with Bart de Wever and Dick Schoof will focus on European and international news.
BOWEL CANCER AWARENESS – The Ministry of Health has launched its latest awareness campaign with the slogan to highlight the importance of early detection in the fight against bowel cancer. Bowel cancer accounts for 10% of all cancer cases and is the world’s third most common and second deadliest form of the disease, according to the World Health Organization. In Luxembourg, the Ministry of Health has sent out 300,000 invitations since 2021 encouraging people to participate in the national screening programme. However, response rates have been low.
UKRAINE TALKS – Ukraine plans to propose an aerial and naval ceasefire with Russia during talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia, aiming for a first step toward de-escalation while seeking renewed American military aid and intelligence support. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is meeting US diplomat Marco Rubio today, said Ukraine only wants peace, insisting Russia was the “only reason” the war was carrying on.
MILITARY MEETING – Meanwhile military chiefs from 30 European and NATO countries willing to contribute to security guarantees for Ukraine after any negotiated truce with Russia are to meet in Paris today. President Macron is to address the meeting, which he has said is being held in tight coordination with NATO military command.
DUTERTE ARREST - Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested in Manila by police acting on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant tied to his deadly war on drugs. The 79-year-old faces a charge of “the crime against humanity of murder”, according to the ICC, for a crackdown that rights groups estimate killed tens of thousands of mostly poor men, often without proof they were linked to drugs.
GREENLAND ELECTIONS - Greenland, the Danish self-governing territory is voting in legislative elections today. Greenland’s Prime Minister has said that US president Donald Trump, who wants to take over Greenland, is very erratic. Determining a timeline for Greenland’s independence from Denmark has dominated the territory’s election campaign.
NORTH SEA COLLISION - A tanker carrying jet fuel for the US military was hit by a container ship off northeast England yesterday, with the collision igniting a blaze on both vessels, causing multiple explosions and forcing both crews to abandon ship. Fires are still burning and one crew member is still unaccounted for.
COVID ANNIVERSARY – Five years ago today, the WHO officially characterized Covid-19 as a pandemic, a moment that shifted global perceptions and triggered urgent responses from governments worldwide. WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus continues to warn countries against repeating the cycle of neglect followed by panic that characterised the build-up to March 11, 2020.
FOOTBALL – The return matches in the round of 16 in the Champions League start today. Among others Liverpool is playing against Paris St Germain. You can watch this match live on RTL Today at 9pm tonight. Other matches include Barcelona vs Benfica, Inter are taking on Feyenoord and Leverkusen are playing Bayern.
CRICKET – In cricket, Australia will play England under lights at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Test cricket in 2027. The match, from March 11-15, will commemorate the first ever Test, played between the two arch-rivals in Melbourne in 1877.
TENNIS – Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has powered past Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6-2, 6-4 to continue his march towards winning three straight titles at the Indian Wells ATP Masters. While upsets have claimed men’s top seed Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud and Novak Djokovic, the top five women’s seeds are all safely into the fourth round after victories for world number one Aryna Sabalenka, third-ranked Coco Gauff and fifth-ranked Australian Open champion Madison Keys.
CYCLING - Belgian Tim Merlier burnished his reputation as the man to beat in sprint finishes as he shot to a second straight Paris-Nice stage win on Monday.The 32-year-old Merlier also extended his overall lead in the standings after two stages of the race conceived as a mini Tour de France.
A foggy start with clouds and light rain are expected today but we are due to have some clear spells in the afternoon. Morning low temperatures start at around 7 degrees, with a forecast afternoon high of 12 degrees.
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