TRIPARTITE DEAL – A preliminary deal has been reached in the tripartite negotiations – sooner than expected. After three days of intensive talks, compromises have been found, with a breakthrough on the minimum wage. Prime Minister Luc Frieden announced the package yesterday evening, worth around €450 million over two years, which includes measures to boost purchasing power, protect jobs, and speed up the shift to renewable energy. The government will cap energy prices from 1 June and workers will receive a temporary tax credit equivalent to one wage indexation, with minimum wage earners getting an additional €200 net per month until mid-2027. Frieden says no new taxes will be needed to fund the measures.
AGRICULTURE TALKS – Luxembourg's third agricultural roundtable opens in Remich this morning, chaired by Minister Martine Hansen. Farming representatives will be preparing for the new EU agricultural policy, which runs from 2028 to 2034. The future of dairy cooperative EKABE, which plans to stop collecting milk from around 70 local farmers, is also expected to feature on the agenda.
SCHENGEN TALKS – Luxembourg's Home Affairs Minister Léon Gloden has called on EU partners to restore the Schengen Agreement to full force, as EU interior ministers meet in Luxembourg today. Gloden welcomed a European Commission finding that there was no proof that the German border checks with Luxembourg were proportional but expressed regret that no definitive end date had been set for those controls.
NIKE STORE – Nike has opened its first Luxembourg store at the Cloche d'Or shopping centre in the capital, a two-floor, 1,360-square-metre space where customers can also drop off old Nike items for recycling.
LEBANON ISRAEL CEASEFIRE – The Lebanon-Israel ceasefire has collapsed before it could take hold, with Hezbollah rejecting the truce brokered by the United States. Iran backs Hezbollah, and the situation reflects a broader power struggle between Washington and Tehran. The US has so far failed to secure Iranian agreement on core conditions for ending the conflict, including the status of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear and missile programmes.
CUBA SANCTIONS – Washington has imposed fresh economic sanctions on Cuba, targeting President Díaz-Canel, his family, and several government bodies. Donald Trump has described Cuba as a failed nation, saying the US intends to "take care of" the country, leaving the possibility of military action open. Cuba is currently in the grip of a severe economic crisis marked by chronic power cuts and widespread supply shortages.
UKRAINE WAR – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has written an open letter to Vladimir Putin calling for direct peace negotiations and proposing a full ceasefire for the duration of any talks, along with a prisoner exchange. The Kremlin's initial response was that Zelensky was welcome in Moscow at any time.
FORMULA 1 – Formula One returns to Europe this weekend with the Monaco Grand Prix. Mercedes will be in the spotlight as championship leader Kimi Antonelli faces the challenge of the tight street circuit and questions over whether tensions with teammate George Russell could boil over. Practice gets underway this afternoon at 1.30pm, qualifying is tomorrow at 4pm, and the race starts on 3pm on Sunday.
FOOTBALL – Luxembourg's women's national football team face Belgium tonight in the first of two women's world cup qualifiers. Belgium are the clear favourites. Kick-off in Leuven is at 8.15pm. The return fixture is next Tuesday.
In other football news, Liverpool have named Andoni Iraola as their new manager after sacking Arne Slot. Liverpool gave no indication as to the length of the 43-year-old Spaniard's contract but British media have reported that he has signed a two-year deal.
TENNIS – Poland's Maja Chwalinska has reached the French Open final after coming through qualifying, only the second woman to do so at a Grand Slam since Emma Raducanu's US Open title run in 2021. She faces Mirra Andreeva on Saturday. Meanwhile Germany's Alexander Zverev takes on Czech youngster Jakub Mensik in the semi-finals today, as the second seed chases a first Grand Slam title. The winner faces either Flavio Cobolli or Matteo Arnaldi in Sunday's final.
Following the yellow alert due to risk of thunderstorms that was in place for the whole country yesterday, things are looking much less dramatic on the weather front today. We can expect a cloudy day, most likely with some sunny intervals and potentially a few rain showers throughout. Temperatures are mild, at around 7–10°C in the morning, warming up to a maximum of 19°C in the afternoon.
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