CAR ACCIDENT – The police have reported a fatal accident on the N7 between Friedhaff and Closdelt yesterday evening. According to the police, a motorist who was traveling north from Fridhaff lost control of her car and ran sideways into an oncoming car. The 28-year-old woman died of her injuries on the spot. The three passengers of the second car were injured and taken to hospital. The road is currently still closed.
INFLATION RATE – According to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (STATEC), the annual inflation rate in Luxembourg has increased from 2.4% to 2.6%. While this may seem like a modest increase, it masks significant disparities across various sectors. In May, STATEC forecast that the next wage indexation would be triggered in the last quarter of this year, with a second one expected in 2025.
MEAT CONSUMPTION – Luxembourg residents consume an average of 85.4 kilogrammes of meat per year, nearly ten kilos above the EU average. Pork remains the most popular choice, despite a slight decline in overall meat consumption over the past decade.Meat consumption in Luxembourg therefore remains high, matching France’s average, and is significantly higher than Germany’s 52 kilos per capita per year.
SWIMMING WATER – As the summer bathing season begins, the Representation of the European Commission has posted the rankings of bathing waters across Europe. High on the list are countries such as Cyprus, Austria, and Germany, closely followed by Luxembourg. With 88.2%, Luxembourg is placed 12th in Europe for quality bathing water..Luxembourg offers several excellent swimming lakes, including the Upper Sûre Lake and Weiswampach Lake, both known for their water quality. The lake in Echternach was awarded good water quality.
D-DAY ANNIVERSARY – Royalty and world leaders will gather with veterans in Normandy this morning to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting President Biden, King Charles and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, representing the Allied powers whose troops gave their lives in the landings on the Normandy beaches on June 6, 1944. Luxembourg is represented b Grand Duke Henri and Prime Minister Luc Frieden. And with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joining the Western leaders in Normandy, the ceremonies will provide a hugely symbolic backdrop to talks on how Ukraine can gain back ground after Russian advances.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR – Hamas health officials say 27 people have died in an Israeli airstrike on a UN school in Nuseirat in central Gaza. Israel says the building was being used as a compound by Hamas and has killed fighters involved in the attacks on 7 October.
EU ELECTIONS – Voters in the Netherlands will be the first to cast their ballots as elections to the European Parliament begin today. More than 370 million people are eligible to take part in 4 days of voting. Parties on the right and far-right are expected to make gains. Voting in Luxembourg takes place on Sunday, the 9 June.
EU INTEREST RATE – The European Central Bank is expected to start cutting interest rates from record highs today , its first reduction in nearly five years.After an unprecedented streak of eurozone rate hikes beginning in mid-2022 to tame runaway energy and food costs, inflation has been slowly coming down towards the ECB’s two-percent target.
TENNIS – Alexander Zverev is in the semi-finals at the French Open, after winning in three sets against Alex De Minaur yesterday, and will meet the Norwegian Casper Ruud tomorrow. The women’s semifinals are today: Iga Swiatek meets Cory Gauff. And Italy’s Jasmine Paolini plays against Mirra Andreeva, the youngest Grand Slam semi-finalist for 27 years. She is 17.
FOOTBALL – The Luxembourg national football team lost their friendly match to France yesterday 3-0. The next test match for the Red Lions is already on Saturday, when they play against Belgium, who will be looking to fine tune their squad in their final match ahead of EURO2024.
OLYMPICS – Three years after gymnastics superstar Simone Biles put the mental health of athletes centre stage at the Tokyo Olympics, this year’s Paris Games will demonstrate how greater awareness has translated into better care and support. For the first time ever at an Olympics, competitors in Paris will have access to a “mindfulness and relaxation area” above the main gym in the village, called the “365 Athlete365 Mind Zone”. Competitors will be offered virtual reality headsets for meditation, sleep pods, and even art activities, all in a low-lighting environment designed to be soothing and quiet.
After a misty start, the day should settle quickly with rare clouds, blue skies and no rain showers at all. We should even get some glimpses of the sun late morning and late afternoon.
The morning is a bit fresher at 12 to 14°C, yet in the afternoon temperatures can rise up to 19°C.
---
Be sure to catch our full bulletin on the hour, every hour and headlines at half past the hour on Today Radio. You can also access the news via Alexa, and on RTL Play.
