Merkel tells country’s leaders to step up covid curbs
German chancellor Angela Merkel in an interview on Sunday called on the leaders of the country’s Bundesländer to step up efforts to curb rising coronavirus infections. Merkel last week backtracked on a countrywide Easter lockdown but chided states choosing not to halt the reopening of the economy based on a tiered plan agreed with regional leaders in March. This included the Saarland, which is planning on lifting restrictions after Easter. Merkel said she was “not happy” with the initiative. Sources: FT, Reuters, DW, Bloomberg.
Hundreds protests for housing
Protesters gathered in Luxembourg City on Saturday afternoon demanding affordable housing in the country. The demonstration was organised as part of Housing Action Day, an EU-wide initiative for the right to housing. Organisers assembled a list of 23 demands, including better protection of tenants, higher taxes on empty properties and more social housing. Sources: Paperjam, RTL, Wort.
Google still interested in Bissen
Internet giant Google is still interested in building a data centre in Bissen, economy minister Franz Fayot told RTL radio on Saturday. The company has hired a renowned international agency to carry out an environmental impact assessment under criteria established by the environment ministry, Fayot said. The Bissen municipal council last year had given the green light for development to proceed. Source: RTL.
Gupta’s GFG Alliance working on new loans
GFG Alliance, which owns the Dudelange Liberty Steel plant, is working on plans to raise new loans against parts of the group outside the UK. The company is also looking to make cash from an expedited sale of goods. The move comes after the UK government refused a £170m emergency loan to prevent the group from collapsing. GFG Alliance’s main lender, Greensill Capital, filed for insolvency earlier this month. Sources: FT, Reuters, Bloomberg.
Suez ship partially dislodged
With the Ever Given blocking the Suez Canal since last week Tuesday, Egypt was putting into place plans to unload cargo when the bow of the boat was freed from the canal banks early on Monday. The Ever Given carries 18,300 containers and has caused hundreds of vessels to become stranded. The partial refloating has raised hopes the waterway can reopen for traffic. Source: The Guardian.
George Floyd trial opening statements begin
Opening statement begin on Monday in the trial against police officer Derek Chauvin who knelt on George Floyd’s throat until he died during an arrest in May 2020. Chauvin, who was fired from the Minneapolis police department in the wake of Floyd’s death, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges. Sources: CNN, The Guardian.
Children killed in Myanmar violence
Myanmar’s military junta killed at least 114 people on Saturday, including six children, in a further escalation of violence and the deadliest day of the conflict since the army seized power on 1 February. The UN special rapporteur for Myanmar said the army was carrying out “mass murder”. Troops fired at mourners on Sunday and more casualties were reported. Sources: CNN, The Guardian, BBC, AP.
Islamists attack Mozambique convoy
At least seven people were killed and as many as 60 people are unaccounted for after an attack against a convoy in northern Mozambique. Hundreds of foreign workers had sought refuge in hotels as terrorists attacked the northern city of Palma, near a gas project run by Total, last week Wednesday. The convoy was attempting to flee from the Amarula Hotel, but only seven of 17 vehicles made it to safety. Sources: CNN, The Guardian, France24, AP.
Slovakian PM resigns
Igor Matovic, Slovakia’s prime minister, has offered to resign and swap roles with finance minister Eduard Heger to end a government crisis. Matovic had secretly agreed a deal to buy Sputnik V vaccine doses from Russia without consulting his coalition partners. Six ministers have already resigned from Matovic’s cabinet. The coalition includes four parties. Heger is also from Matovic’s Ordinary People party. Sources: dpa, FT, DW, Bloomberg.
Young CSV slams party squabbling
The youth branch of Luxembourg’s CSV, the CSJ, over the weekend re-elected Alex Donnersbach as president. During an annual general meeting, the youth wing criticised its parent party over internal disputes. CSV president Frank Engel resigned earlier in the month after fellow party members reported him to the public prosecutor’s office over a work contract with a not-for-profit tied to the party. Sources: RTL, Wort.
Latest Luxembourg covid-19 update
The government on Sunday didn’t publish daily coronavirus statistics because of system maintenance works. It will publish the figures together with Monday’s update. On Saturday, the health ministry reported that 290 out of the 12,054 coronavirus tests carried out on Friday had come back positive (2.41%). The death toll remained at 738 while 124 people were being treated in hospital, including 21 in intensive care. Source: Health ministry.
Lux beat Ireland in World Cup qualifier
Luxembourg’s national football team on Saturday scored a winning goal against Ireland in its first World Cup 2022 qualifier. Gerson Rodrigues scored in the 85th minute at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Luxembourg on Tuesday will host Portugal at Josy Barthel stadium in their next qualifying match. Sources: Sky, France24, Irish Times, Wort.
Brexit museum begins fundraising
UK “Leave” campaigners have begun fundraising to open a Brexit museum. They are seeking £400,000 to acquire a suitable property, another £250,000 to set up the institution and a £350,000 strategic reserve. The Brexit supporters behind the project have committed to presenting the debate “fairly and in a balanced way”. Sources: The Guardian, The Telegraph, Express.
World’s largest painting sells for $62m
“The Journey of Humanity”, recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest painting, sold at auction in Dubai for $62m, making creator Sacha Jafri the fourth-most expensive living artist. The proceeds are set to go to charity. Jafri started the painting while on lockdown in a Dubai hotel last year. It took seven months to complete and measures a whopping 1,580 square metres. Sources: CNN, Artnet.
Today's breakfast briefing was written by Cordula Schnuer.