GREEN TECHNOLOGY - The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology has unveiled new facilities at its Greentech Innovation Centre - with funds earmarked for biorefinery, water treatment, and biogas production technologies. The new facilities include a unique platform of bioreactors and large-scale prototypes for bioenergy and water treatment technologies. More than 60 scientists and engineers will work closely with industry leaders to support the development of sustainable and safer processes, substances, ingredients, and products.
TRANSPARENCY - In an effort to strengthen administrative transparency and facilitate access to information, the Ministry of State announced on Tuesday its intention to draft a bill aimed at amending the current law on transparent and open administration. The proposed bill will include provisions to grant professional journalists the right of access to information. In a press release, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel emphasised his commitment to a robust and independent press, highlighting the positive response from the Press Council regarding these proposed measures.
TRAFFIC DISRUPTION - motorists are advised to plan ahead for the upcoming weekend as significant disruptions are expected due to construction work at Croix de Gasperich. The A1 motorway towards Trier will be closed to traffic between Croix de Gasperich and the Howald tunnel, along with closure of the A3 slip road from Luxembourg City to the A1. The construction work is scheduled to start around 10pm this Friday and is anticipated to last until approximately 5am on Monday (31 July).
TERRORIST TRIAL - A Brussels court on Tuesday convicted French citizen Salah Abdeslam and Belgian-Moroccan Mohamed Abrini for the 2016 jihadist bombings in the Belgian capital which killed 32 people. The high-profile pair -- already sentenced to life in jail by France for a 2015 massacre in Paris -- were among six accused found guilty of “murder linked to terrorism”. Responsibility for the 2016 suicide attacks - at Brussels’ main airport and on the metro system - was claimed by the Islamic State group.
DIGITAL ERASURE - China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang has been scrubbed from its foreign ministry website after a dramatic removal. Qin -- who has not been seen in public for over a month -- was removed from office by Beijing’s top lawmaking body on Tuesday after just 207 days in the job. That followed weeks of speculation that the former Chinese ambassador to the United States and one-time confidant of President Xi Jinping had suddenly fallen out of favour. State media gave no reason for his dismissal, but one expert said the “digital erasure” of Qin suggested he had fallen from grace. Qin has subsequently been replaced as foreign minister by top diplomat Wang Yi.
NORTH KOREA - North Korea rolled out the red carpet for the Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu, state media said on Wednesday, with delegations from Moscow and Beijing set to attend Korean War anniversary events - the country’s first known foreign visitors since its pandemic border closure. North Korea has been under a rigid self-imposed coronavirus blockade since early 2020 to protect itself from Covid-19, preventing even its own nationals from entering the country. The inclusion of foreign guests at this year’s celebrations is a post-pandemic first and hints at new flexibility towards enforcing border controls.
TEMPERATURE RECORD - Shallow waters off south Florida topped 37.8 Celsius for several hours on Monday, potentially setting a new world record. The readings were taken from a single buoy in Manatee Bay, about 60km southwest of Miami, at a depth of 1.5 meters. July 2023 is on track to be the hottest absolute month on record, as well as the hottest in potentially thousands of years, according to NASA climatologist Gavin Schmidt.
INSTANT IMPACT - Lionel Messi’s instant impact in the United States continued on Tuesday as he scored twice in Inter Miami’s 4-0 victory over Atlanta United, helping to fire his team into the knockout rounds of the Leagues Cup. In his first game against a Major League Soccer club, Messi was simply too much for Atlanta to cope with as he struck up a fruitful understanding with Finnish winger Robert Taylor, who helped himself to Miami’s two other goals.
WOMEN’S WORLD CUP - Today’s Women’s Word Cup fixtures commence with Japan versus Costa Rica, followed by Spain against Zambia, with Canada taking on the Republic of Ireland later in the day.
Today begins with broken cloud and temperatures of around 11 to 12 degrees Celsius. As the morning progresses expect things to become more overcast with a risk of localised showers. But this afternoon should see some sun breaking through, allowing temperatures to rise to around 19 to 20 degrees.
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