Here are five things you should know at the end of this week:
Luxembourg City’s annual fair kicked off on Wednesday, this year featuring 211 vendors and a variety of attractions, including new rides like Airwolf and Gladiator.
681st edition - Luxembourg City’s annual fair, the Schueberfouer, is back from 23 August to 11 September. In its 681st edition, the fair promises a wide range of attractions with 211 vendors from various countries. Notably, new rides like Airwolf and Gladiator will be introduced, along with specific rides for children.
Prices - Concerns about pricing have been addressed by the fair’s president, Charel Harry. He assures that the costs for rides and food will be comparable to the previous year. To make the event more affordable, two special discount days, 30 August and 11 September, have been announced.
Transportation and safety - Attendees are advised against driving to the fair, with emphasis on using park-and-ride facilities like Kirchberg’s car park and Bouillon P+R. Safety measures, including increased police presence and a system for lost children, are in place, ensuring a secure environment for all visitors.
Luxembourg is set to implement its third wage indexation of the year, leading to a 2.5% increase in salaries and pensions, with a cumulative growth of about +7.7% for the year.
Inflation is projected to be 3.9% in 2023 and 2.5% in 2024, with service prices increasing by 2.9% in both July 2022 and 2023.
Following a tripartite meeting, the government has started tax reductions which began in July and will extend into early 2024.
Overall increase - Luxembourg is gearing up for its third wage indexation this year, promising a 2.5% rise in salaries and pensions. With the inclusion of previous indexations, the overall increase is pegged at about +7.7% for the year, reflecting the government’s commitment to adjusting wages in tandem with living costs.
Controlled and balanced - The STATEC forecasts an inflation rate of 3.9% for 2023, tapering to 2.5% in 2024. Service prices have increased by 2.9% in both 2022 and 2023, a moderate rise partially attributed to the wage indexations, but still seen as controlled and balanced.
Tax reduction initiative - Following a recent tripartite meeting, Luxembourg introduced tax reductions beginning in July, further supported by a business tax credit. This initiative, spanning into early 2024, aims to complement wage hikes and promote sustainable economic growth.
The Nature and Forest Agency confirmed the presence of a wolf in eastern Luxembourg based on photographic and video evidence from Echternach and Beaufort.
RTL obtained exclusive footage of the wolf, marking the first time a video has been used for verification by the Nature Administration, with both local and French experts confirming its authenticity.
The video distinctly showcases the animal’s behavior and features typical of a wolf, distinguishing it from a dog, as stated by spokesperson Marianne Jacobs.
Wildlife dynamics - The Nature and Forest Agency has provided undeniable evidence of a wolf’s presence in eastern Luxembourg. With photo and video confirmations from Echternach and Beaufort, the country has seen the fourth such instance this year. This recurring phenomenon suggests notable shifts in Luxembourg’s wildlife dynamics.
Footage - RTL’s acquisition of exclusive wolf footage signals a new era in wildlife documentation. Using videos for such authentications might become more prevalent due to their dynamic nature and conclusive evidence they offer.
Distinct features - A spokesperson for the Nature Administration, Marianne Jacobs, emphasised the video’s clarity in distinguishing the wolf from a dog, noting specific wolf behaviours and physical features. This precise identification, backed by international experts, showcases the video’s significance in wildlife verification.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary group who recently challenged Russian military leadership, died in a plane crash alongside nine others.
Speculation has grown around a potential assassination, with Western leaders and even Kremlin insiders expressing doubts that the crash was accidental.
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered condolences and acknowledged the significant contributions of Wagner to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, though he previously called Prigozhin a “traitor.”
Plane crash - Yevgeny Prigozhin, notoriously recognized as the leader of the Wagner private mercenary group, has met a tragic end. Recently, he had boldly confronted the high command of the Russian military, setting a tense atmosphere around him. In an unforeseen twist of fate, Prigozhin, along with nine others, died in a plane crash, a catastrophe that instantly caught the attention of national and international observers.
Immediate suspicions - The circumstances of the plane crash are mired in mystery. With Prigozhin’s recent confrontations and his standing, it was not long before rumors and theories about a potential assassination started to circulate. Even some of the West’s most prominent leaders and insiders from the Kremlin have voiced their skepticism, indicating that there may be more to the story than a simple accident.
Putin’s condolences - In a move that surprised many, Russian President Vladimir Putin extended his condolences in the wake of Prigozhin’s death. Acknowledging the strategic and often covert contributions Wagner and Prigozhin made to Russia’s endeavors in Ukraine, Putin paid his respects. This show of mourning came as unexpected to many, especially since in the past, Putin had labeled Prigozhin a “traitor”, painting their relationship in complex shades and adding to the intrigue surrounding the entire situation.
India successfully landed its unmanned Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon’s south pole, marking a historic achievement for its space programme.
The mission, costing $74.6 million, showcases India’s frugal space engineering with ambitions to launch more significant missions, including crewed orbits and explorations to Mars and Venus.
This achievement comes after Russia’s probe crash in the same lunar region and India’s previous attempt at a lunar landing failed in 2019.
Historic achievement - The Chandrayaan-3 mission marks a significant milestone for India’s space ambitions. It positions India as a pioneering space-faring nation, especially with its successful landing near the Moon’s south pole—a region that has garnered substantial interest due to its relative mystery and potential for scientific discovery.
While superpowers like Russia, the U.S., and China have previously made controlled moon landings, India’s accomplishment stands out particularly because of the challenges it had to overcome, including the memory of a failed attempt just years prior.
Grand ambitions - India’s space programme, despite its comparatively lower budgets, is gaining significant momentum on the global stage. The Chandrayaan-3 mission’s price tag of $74.6 million is notably lower than similar missions by other nations, which speaks volumes about India’s ability to innovate and adapt in terms of space engineering.
India has consistently showcased its space ambitions in recent years, from orbiting Mars to planning future missions. Such endeavors not only solidify India’s position in the global space community, but also promise potential collaborations and innovations in the sector.
Past setbacks - This recent success gains additional weight considering the challenges India faced in its recent spacefaring past. The Russian probe’s crash in a similar lunar region magnifies the complexity and risks associated with these missions.
Moreover, India’s previous lunar attempt with Chandrayaan-2 in 2019 ended in a heart-wrenching last-moment failure. Against this backdrop, Chandrayaan-3’s accomplishment is not just a technical success but also a testament to the resilience, persistence, and determination of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and its team of scientists and engineers.
Business & Tech - BRICS leaders announced on Thursday the “historic” admission of six new countries from next year as the club of large and populous emerging economies seeks to reshape the global order.
Science & Environment - Seafood sellers in Beijing expressed consternation Thursday over Japan’s gradual release of wastewater from the disaster-hit Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean.https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/2066108.html
Entertainment - A UK court on Wednesday found a teenager responsible for a hacking campaign that included one of the biggest breaches in the history of the video game industry.
Mobility - Ministers François Bausch and Taina Bofferding have introduced a set of comprehensive guidelines aimed at implementing effective traffic calming measures across the country.
Tourism - Tourism in the Grand Duchy has bounced back this year, as Vianden Castle set a new personal record for visitor numbers, according to a ministerial report.https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/2066108.html
Police - The public prosecutor’s office confirmed that two out of the four officers arrested for alleged police violence might soon benefit from a provisional release.
Your Weekly Recap is published every Friday at noon. Read earlier versions.
