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EU home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson (centre) speaking with refugees at a camp on the Greek island of Samos during her visit on 29 March. Johansson pledged €250m in funding for five camps on Lesbos, Samos, Chios, Kos and Leros. Photo: European Commission 

EU pledges €250m for Greece refugee camps

European home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson during a visit to Lesbos and Samos on Monday said the EU would provide €250m for five new refugee camps on the two Greek islands as well as Chios, Kos and Leros. Around 300 local residents protested against the construction of new camps, urging EU countries to take responsibility for a fair distribution of migrants arriving on Europe’s shores. Sources: The Guardian, DW, France24, Politico.

€300m investment for European Year of Rail

Luxembourg is investing €300m in rail infrastructure in 2021, transport minister François Bausch said during an event hosted in the framework of the European Year of Rail. The number of rail passengers rose by 85% between 2003 and 2019, although it dropped significantly in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The money will go towards upgrading the Luxembourg City and other train stations, and lines towards Bettembourg, Belgium and France, among other investments. Sources: Transport ministry, Paperjam, Wort.

US threatens tariffs over UK digital services tax

A UK tax on technology companies' revenue could see the US retaliate with sanctions worth $325m on goods ranging from ceramics to make-up and furniture. The tariffs are subject to consultation in the US, with the amount equal to how much the UK can expect to raise from the tax. The UK tariffs were initiated under president Donald Trump but the new administration is pushing ahead with the action. Sources: BBC, The Guardian.

Maxwell charged with sex trafficking

Federal prosecutors on Monday added sex trafficking charges against Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, introducing a fourth alleged victim to the case and accusing Maxwell of paying the 14-year-old to have sex with Epstein on multiple occasions between 2001 and 2004. Maxwell previously pleaded not guilty to helping Epstein groom three teenage girls for sex between 1994 and 1997. Sources: New York Times, CNN, Reuters, BBC.

Banks warn of losses in Archegos unwinding

Major global banks including Nomura and Credit Suisse said on Monday their earnings could take a significant hit after US investment firm Archegos Capital was forced to liquidate positions last week. The warning triggered a worldwide sell-off in banking stocks. Lending to Archegos for equity derivatives trades could result in losses of $2bn for Nomura and up to $4bn at Credit Suisse. Sources: Reuters, CNN, Bloomberg, FT, CNBC.

French pharma firm found guilty over cover-up

A French court fined one of the country’s largest pharmaceutical companies, Servier, €2.7m for covering up the potentially fatal side-effects of diet drug Mediator. The pill was supposed to be used in diabetes treatment but was widely prescribed as an appetite suppressant. Studies have linked up to 2,000 deaths to the drug by causing heart damage. Sources: The Guardian, DW, RFI, Reuters.

WHO to release coronavirus report

The World Health Organization on Tuesday is set to release a long-awaited report into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic following a fact-finding mission to China. Researchers identified the wildlife trade as the most likely pathway through which Sars-CoV-2 was able to spread from animals to humans when they first wrapped up their investigation in Wuhan in February. Sources: New York Times, CNN, Reuters, FT.

Latest Luxembourg covid-19 update

Out of 488 coronavirus tests carried out on Sunday, 26 came back positive (5.34%), the latest government statistics on Monday show. 107 people were being treated in hospital for complications caused by the coronavirus, with another 22 patients in intensive care. Three more people died after testing positive for Sars-CoV-2, bringing the pandemic death toll to 741. The number of active infections rose to 3,468 with the reproductive number at 1.12. Source: Health ministry.

Dräi Eechelen park to close at night

The park around the Mudam and Dräi Eechelen museums will be closed to the public at night after police responded to several illegal parties and get-togethers. Around 500kg of waste are collected at the site daily, the government said in a statement, with littering in the park despite more bins being set up. The park will be closed between 6pm and 6am. Sources: Public works ministry, RTL.

Air travel test rules extended until 15 May

Passengers travelling to Luxembourg’s airport in Findel will continue needing to provide a negative coronavirus test no older than 72 hours when boarding their flight until 15 May. This applies to any traveller aged 6 or over. A rule requiring non-EU arrivals to undergo an additional rapid test at the airport is being waved starting 1 April, however. Source: L’essentiel.

Czech billionaire dies in helicopter crash

The Czech Republic’s richest man, billionaire Petr Kellner, died in a helicopter crash in Alaska over the weekend, his company has confirmed. Kellner was one of five victims in the crash on a skiing trip north-east of Anchorage. One survivor was taken to hospital. Forbes estimated Kellner’s wealth at $17.5bn, with his group, PPF, active in finance, telecommunications, manufacturing, media and biotech. Sources: The Guardian, New York Times, CNN.

Obama family matriarch dies in Kenya

Sarah Obama, former US president Barack Obama’s step-grandmother, has died in Kenya at the age of 99. “We will miss her dearly,” Barack Obama said in a message. Called Mama Sarah, she was known for her social activism on children and family issues in Kenya, spending decades as the head of a foundation to educate girls and orphans. Sources: The Guardian, CNN.

Nike sues over Satan shoes

Brooklyn art collective MSCHF is being sued by Nike over a pair of “Satan" shoes that contain a drop of human blood in the soles. The $1,018 trainers were released in collaboration with rapper Lil Nas X and sold out within minutes. Nike claims trademark infringement, saying it did not authorise the shoes and now faces calls for boycott over the controversial footwear. Sources: BBC, NBC, New York Times.

Today's breakfast briefing was written by Cordula Schnuer