Yellow jackets to hit Kirchberg
Gilets jaunes protestors are set to meet for a “walk” in Kirchberg on Monday, according to a report from Luxemburger Wort. Police have confirmed that they are preparing to send officers to Kirchberg after a call by the French protest group to demonstrate against tax evasion and optimisation. The report says that the man behind Monday’s protest told police it will only be a “walk” along the financial district and participants have been urged to respect Luxembourg law.
May seeks further clarification
British prime minister Theresa May has ramped up her efforts to get parliament to vote in favour of the Brexit deal she struck with the EU in November. On Sunday May told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that she would still seek clarification from the EU on the Irish backstop issue and that she plans to give parliament a greater say in the UK’s future relationship with the EU. The Guardian lists the hurdles she still faces. Bloomberg says there’s still no clarity on what will happen on 29 March. You will however, search in vain for any mention of Brexit on the BBC website headlines early on Monday morning.
Asian markets boosted
CNBC and Bloomberg both report that stock markets in Asia were showing signs of optimism ahead of fresh trade talks between China and the United States. Deputy U.S. trade representative Jeffrey Gerrish will lead a team in China for what reports are saying will be “positive and constructive discussions”.
Golden Globes winners
The Guardian has been doing a live report from the Golden Globes. The big winner on the night was “Bohemian Rhapsody”, which won best picture and best actor for Rami Malek, ahead of Bradley Cooper. There was more disappointment for “A Star IS Born” when Glenn Close won best actress in a drama for “The Wife”, with many hoping the award would go to Lady Gaga. Controversial film “Green Book” won best comedy or musical. Olivia Colman won best actress for her performance in “The Favourite”. And Alfonso Cuaron won best director for “Roma”, which also won the best foreign language picture award.
Trump ramps up wall rhetoric
Claiming he has “tremendous support within the Republican party” US president Donald Trump said on Sunday that he “may decide a national emergency” to get funding to build his long-promised wall on the southern border. The Guardian reports that Trump also claimed that many federal staff affected by the current government shutdown “agree 100% with what I’m doing”. CNBC says Trump’s strategy of tweeting to rally support for his stance on the wall seems to be working.
Fears for Saudi woman
The Guardian and the BBC are reporting on the case of 18-year old Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, a Saudi national who has been held at Bangkok airport after fleeing from her family. She was trying to get to friends in Australia after renouncing Islam, but now faces deportation to Kuwait where most of her family live.
NFL wild cards decided
The Eagles and Chargers both won their games on Sunday to progress in the NFL play-offs. Philadelphia, who now face New Orleans Saints, had to rely on a last-minute field goal miss from Chicago’s Cody Parkey, whose kick hit the left upright and then the crossbar. The Chargers held off Baltimore to progress to meet the New England Patriots. On Saturday, Dallas Cowboys beat the Seahawks and the Colts beat the Texans. The Cowboys now face the LA Rams and the Colts face the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs.
Today's breakfast briefing was written by Duncan Roberts