Coalition signs government policy programme
Party representatives from the DP, LSAP and Déi Gréng have formally signed a coalition agreement to govern Luxembourg for the next five years. Under the watchful eye of formateur Xavier Bettel, the agreement was presented to the media late on Monday afternoon by Étienne Schneider, Corinne Cahen and Félix Braz. The agreement outlines a policy programme that includes a pledge to make changes to the constitution (which will be subject to a referendum), to create more affordable housing, to make public transport free of charge starting in 2020 and to set realistic mobility improvement targets for 2035, to change personal and corporate taxation (as explained by Delano last Friday) and to legalise the recreational use of cannabis.
Attenborough delivers stark warning
Sir David Attenborough has told the UN climate change summit that “the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon” if world leaders fail to act. The Guardian reports on his address to the summit on behalf of the world’s people. UN secretary general António Guterres also told the summit that for “many, people, regions and even countries this is already a matter of life or death.” Delano has also reported on a speech given by Grand Duke Henri on Monday.
Brexit: cabinet could be in contempt of parliament
The speaker of the House of Commons in the British parliament has said there is an “arguable case” that cabinet ministers have committed contempt. The BBC says senior MPs from six parties had called on John Bercow to launch contempt proceedings after the government failed to deliver the full text of its Attorney General Geoffrey Cox’s legal advice on the Brexit deal. Parliament will vote on the contempt issue today, with Cox or Cabinet Office minister David Lidington likely to be the fall guy if any sanctions are dished out, The Guardian says.
Bitcoin falls again
CNBC reports that crypto-currency Bitcoin fell 8% to a new low of $3,790.96 on Monday. That represents a drop of 73% since the beginning of January, following a surge in the price at the tail end of 2017. But CNBC cites some analysts as being optimistic. Mati Greenspan, senior market analyst for trading platform eToro, said, “the crypto industry is shining brightly at the moment.”
Stocks to watch if US-China trade thaws
CNBC has listed “20 stocks [that] could be the big winners from the China trade truce.” The list is based on a Goldman Sachs study of the US companies with the highest revenue exposure to China.
Sanders 2020?
The Guardian reports on the possibility of senator Bernie Sanders once again running for the Democratic nomination to be its presidential election candidate in 2020. The article offers a good analysis of his chances and a list of probable opponents.
The kid’s a YouTube star
Forbes has published its list of top ten YouTube earners for 2018, and 7-year old Ryan, from “Ryan’s ToysReview” tops the list after making $22 million in a year. The list is dominated by young males who spend their time gaming or perform goofy pranks.
Modric and Hegerberg win top football awards
Croatia and Real Madrid star Luka Modric was awarded the Ballon d’Or in Paris on Monday evening. Norway and Lyon player Ada Hegerberg won the inaugural women’s award, but, as The Guardian reports, her acceptance was marred when DJ Martin Solveig asked her to “twerk” in stage. France and PSG youngster Kylian Mbappé was awarded the Kopa award for best young player (he also placed 4th in the main award).
Frey wins bad sex prize
US author James Frey’s “fictional retelling” of a love affair in Paris has won the Literary Review’s bad sex award. “Frey prevailed against a strong all-male shortlist by virtue of the sheer number and length of dubious erotic passages in his book,” the judges were cited as saying in The Guardian. Fellow nominees included acclaimed writers such as Haruki Murakami and Gerard Woodward.
Today's breakfast briefing was written by Duncan Roberts