HOUSING / AHMEDOVA - Too many policies in the past have benefited investors rather than people in need of a home according to Semiray Ahmedova, MP for the Green Party and President of the Chamber’s Housing Committee. The MP criticised the sale of public housing and a free market that she says has evolved in the wrong direction, calling for investment in affordable housing, particularly rental housing.
DIESEL / HEATING OIL PRICES - Diesel and heating oil prices are rising again today, after the price of unleaded gasoline 98 increased on Wednesday. An increase of 2.3 cents will apply from Thursday to diesel, with the price at the pump rising to €1.620. The price of heating oil has increased by 2.1 cents.
MONDERCANGE / CRASSIER - The Mayor of Mondercange is pushing for progress in the sealing and transformation of an ArcelorMittal site that experiences two landslides in 2014 and 2018. The plan is to convert the two hills into a solar park. The plan requires 1.3 million cubic metres of soil, but only 200,000 have so far been delivered, and the Mayor, ahead of elections in 6 months time, is now putting pressure on the project to make more progress.
ITALY / US / CHINA / COVID - Italy and the US have become the latest countries to impose mandatory Covid tests on Chinese tourists, after China announced its borders would reopen next week. Japan and India are among many countries that have already increased measures in the last few days. In Italy, a flight from China saw 52% of passengers testing positive for Covid, sparking fears of new mutations.
POPE BENEDICT XVI / ILL HEALTH - Benedict XVI, who in 2013 became the first pontiff to resign in six centuries, is “very ill” and Pope Francis has urged people to pray for him. The head of the Catholic Church paid a visit to his 95-year-old predecessor at his home in a former convent inside the Vatican on Wednesday and asked Catholics around the world to ‘Remember him’. Benedict’s health began deteriorating “about three days ago” according to a source inside the Vatican.
KOSOVO TENSIONS - Kosovo closed its biggest border crossing with Serbia on Wednesday after Serbs set up more barricades on their side in one of the worst regional crises in years. Serbia’s troops had been placed on the ‘highest level’ of alert over the latest tensions earlier this week. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Belgrade has refused to recognise it, along with Slovakia, Spain, Romania, Cyprus and Greece, within the EU.
KYLIAN MBAPPE scored an injury-time penalty to seal a 2-1 win for Paris Saint-Germain over Strasbourg in Ligue 1 last night before admitting he will never get over France’s World Cup final defeat to Argentina.
ERLING HAALAND became the fastest player to reach 20 Premier League goals as Manchester City overcame a stubborn Leeds to reduce Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table to five points, with its 3 to 1 win.
Today offers both sun and rain. RTL Today’s Iris Dudek wants you to think about the possibility of seeing rainbows in the sky, and if you’re a Sondheim fan, look out for the giants too.
Morning temperatures starting off at 6°C , rising to a high of 12°C in the afternoon.
