IRAN STRIKES – In a press conference yesterday evening, Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel said although he welcomed a regime change in Iran, he has immense concerns over the application of international law, now and in the future. He urged de-escalation and expressed his concern over collateral damage and fatalities. As for the EU’s position, Bettel says discussions are still ongoing and hinted that Hungary are in disagreement with other countries on a statement. Meanwhile he urged Luxembourg residents abroad to follow the instructions of the local authorities and to register their stay on Guichet.lu to benefit from consulate assistance.
Luxair estimates around 500 passengers are currently stuck in the Middle East, of which around 200 Luxembourgers are believed to currently be in the UAE. Luxair CEO Gilles Feith said he would do everything in his power to ensure safe return for those stuck in the region. It is thought that currently it is impossible to extract tourists from the region due to airspace closures.
STEM CELL DONORS – A Luxembourg stem cell donor drive has broken its own registration record , with around 400 people signing up in just one morning at an event in the Victor Hugo Hall in support of Caroline, a young figure skater battling leukaemia. Organised by the association Plooschter Projet, the campaign drew hundreds of participants nationwide.
GRAND DUKE HENRI FITNESS – In a German podcast, Grand Duke Henri revealed he now keeps fit through swimming and weekly Pilates, after back problems forced him to give up kitesurfing and bad knees put an end to his tennis days, laughing it off as simply getting older.
IRAN STRIKES – Iran confirmed early on Sunday that its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint strikes by the United States and Israel on Tehran, triggering Iranian retaliation across Israel and the Gulf, widespread airspace closures and urgent international calls for restraint.
Israeli and US air strikes on Iranian positions have continued today, a so-called comprehensive wave of attacks is underway. The US is reporting having struck more than 1000 targets, mainly Iranian security and defence sites in the first 24 hours. Israel has also launched strikes on what it said were Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, after the militant group fired rockets at Israel.
BELGIUM TANKER – Belgian special forces, backed by French military helicopters, have seized a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the North Sea, part of efforts to enforce Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
FRANCE NUCLEAR– President Macron is delivering a keynote speech at France’s nuclear submarine base near Brest today, outlining plans for future nuclear deterrence, including a potential protective umbrella with the UK for EU allies.
EU SWITZERLAND – The EU and Switzerland are signing a new cooperation agreement in Brussels today, giving Swiss companies better access to the single market in energy, health and food, in exchange for Swiss support for less wealthy EU regions.
BASKETBALL – Luxembourg’s men’s basketball team face Ireland in Dublin tonight in their fourth Euro Championship pre-qualifier , having won the home leg by 12 points last November.
FOOTBALL – In Sunday’s national football results: F91 Dudelange beat Racing 2-1, Bissen beat Hesper 2-0, Käerjéng beat Rouspert 2-0, Niederkorn beat Pétange 4-1, and Hostert beat Strassen 1-0. In the Bundesliga: Leipzig beat Hamburg 2-1, Frankfurt beat Freiburg 2-0, Stuttgart beat Wolfsburg 4-0. In France, Marseille beat Lyon 3-2, while Metz lost 1-0 to Brest. Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 in England, and Roma and Juventus drew 3-3 in Italy.
Once again we’ll have a pretty cold morning, followed by a pleasantly mild afternoon. Meteolux promises us sunshine all day with a few clouds. We’re getting off to a cold start at 2–4°C in the morning, rising to highs of 14–16°C in the afternoon.
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