MPs vote against recognition of Palestine state, police crack VAT fraud ring, and International Bazar opens

Luxembourg

PALESTINE DEBATE - A motion to immediately recognize Palestine as a sovereign state was rejected in the Chamber of Deputies yesterday. After an animated debate, the majority of MPs were of the opinion that now is not the right time to recognize Palestine. Worldwide, 146 countries recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, including 12 of the 27 EU states.

MPs did pass a motion calling on the government to intervene with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to bring an end to the border controls that have been reintroduced by some European countries, including Germany and France.

AMAZON INVESTMENT - Amazon has disclosed it invested over €1 billion in Luxembourg last year, contributing more than €758 million to the country's GDP. Amazon's cumulative investment in Luxembourg now exceeds €9 billion and indirectly supports more than 6,000 jobs across the construction, logistics, and professional services sectors.

PIRATE PARTY - Pirate Party MP Sven Clement has confirmed to RTL that police searched his home, other party members’ homes, and the Pirates party headquarters in connection with the MALT translation app. Clement, who co-founded the Pirates, also confirmed he has no intention of leaving the Party.

A6 ROADWORKS - A new roadwork project, which starts today, is likely to complicate the lives of cross-border workers from Belgium travelling on the A6, as it will affect traffic in both directions and will not be completed until May 2026. The project involves repairing and widenening a motorway bridge between the Mamer/Capellen interchange and Aire de Cappellen.

BAZAR INTERNATIONAL - After the absence of the Israeli stand caused a stir last year, it has now been confirmed that it will be back at the 2024 edition of the International Bazar, which starts this weekend. Minister for Home Affairs Léon Gloden informed MPs in the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday that he had issued orders for an increased police presence at the venue.

World

TRUMP TEAM - Donald Trump’s choice for the Health Secretary of his new administration has raised opposition from political opponents and health officials. Robert F Kennedy Jr, who quit the presidential race himself to support Trump, is an opponent of vaccines and has promoted conspiracy theories.

MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT - Diplomacy aimed at securing a ceasefire in Lebanon showed tentative signs of progress yesterday as Israel pounded its neighbour with heavy airstrikes near Beirut. Meanwhile a special UN committee said that Israel’s warfare in Gaza is consistent with the characteristics of genocide, as a Human Rights Watch report said Israel's displacement of Gazans amounts to a "crime against humanity". The committee said Israel's siege, blocking of aid, and targeted attacks and killing of civilians, despite UN and International Court of Justice (ICJ) orders, was "intentionally causing death, starvation and serious injury".

BIDEN XI - US President Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will attend the first day of an Asia-Pacific leaders' summit today ahead of a face-to-face meeting under a cloud of diplomatic uncertainty cast by Donald Trump's election victory. Biden and Xi are due to hold talks Saturday, in what a US administration official said will probably be the last meeting between the sitting leaders of the world's largest economies before Trump is sworn in in January.

ITALY FRAUD - Investigators have dismantled a major cross-border VAT fraud operation, issuing 40 arrest warrants and seizing goods worth €520 million. The network, involved in laundering profits through IT equipment sales, is linked to organized crime groups in Italy. Police in several European countries, including Luxembourg are also carrying out raids and seizing goods in connection with the case.

Sport

BOXING - Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson slapped opponent Jake Paul as the two men faced off for the final time on Thursday ahead of their controversial Netflix-backed bout. A scrum of security swiftly intervened to separate the two fighters following the incident before Tyson was ushered away. Tyson, who weighed in at 228.4 pounds after stepping onto the scales wearing only a pair of Versace briefs, barely spoke before leaving the stage.Paul, the 27-year-old Youtuber-turned-boxer, insisted he had not been hurt by Tyson's open-handed slap, which drew gasps from the audience.

FOOTBALL - Italy has ensured qualification for the Nations League quarter-finals with a victory over Belgium yesterday that also guaranteed France a place in the last-eight despite a scoreless draw with Israel under tight security in Paris. In other games England beat Greece 3-0, Italy beat Belgium 1-0 and Ireland won against Finland 1-0.

Tonight’s matches include Northern Ireland taking on Belarus, Scotland v Croatia and Luxembourg is playing Bulgaria at the Stade de Luxembourg at 9pm.

Weather

The weather will remain very cloudy to overcast with the occasional clearings. There might be some light showers in the morning but the majority of the day will be dry. In terms of what the thermometer will be showing, the morning starts off with  4–6 °C rising to a solid  8–10°C in the afternoon. 

---

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