SCHENGEN AGREEMENT – 40 years after the signing of the Schengen agreement, the EU’s interior ministers are meeting in Kirchberg today. Ministers are expected to discuss border controls and the priorities for the Schengen area for the next twelve months. Last night the ministers sailed on the MS Marie Astrid from Grevenmacher to Schengen to mark the anniversary of the agreement, which allows free movement for more than 450 million Europeans.
MISSING PERSON – The police have issued a missing person alert. Ali Ahmad HOUMMAD ZAOUIA, aged 12, has been missing since Thursday afternoon. The boy is wearing an orange T-shirt and denim shorts. He was last seen in his village of Mullendorf. Anyone who may be able to locate him or provide information regarding his disappearance is asked to contact the Walferdange or Museldall police station.
BEGGING BAN – Luxembourg City’s controversial ban on begging will persist, with backing from the Minister for Home Affairs. The administrative court handled two different cases brought against the capital by two beggars last week, ruling that they were not sufficiently affected by the ban to take legal action. Despite the rulings, neither case has clarified whether the begging ban conforms with human rights or freedom of expression.
MONT BLANC CLIMB – Two young Luxembourgers are taking on the challenge to reach the summit of Mont Blanc. Keyvan Safavi and Ricardo Matache have one goal: to be the youngest Luxembourgers to reach the highest point of Mont Blanc. At just 21 and 23, without considerable experience, they have decided to take on this challenge. They set off on Monday.
ISRAEL IRAN – Israel has launched a major series of attacks across Iran. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the airstrikes targeted Iran’s nuclear programme, leading scientists and missile facilities. Iranian state media say residential areas and several cities have been hit and have confirmed that the head of the powerful Revolutionary Guards has been killed. Sirens have been sounding across Israel, where a state of emergency has been declared. Earlier this morning, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Israel will receive a hard punishment. The United States says it wasn’t involved in the Israeli attacks. Washington’s top diplomat Marco Rubio has warned Iran against targeting American interests in the Middle East.
INDIA PLANE CRASH – Family members have been gathering to give DNA samples to help identify the victims of Thursday’s Air India plane crash in the city of Ahmedabad. At least 265 people were killed on board and on the ground. There was only one survivor.
WEINSTEIN RETRIAL – The judge in the Harvey Weinstein sex crimes retrial has declared a mistrial on the outstanding rape charge against the movie producer, after the jury foreperson refused to return to deliberate the count. On Wednesday, the jury convicted Weinstein for sexual assault on Miriam Haley, and acquitted the fallen movie mogul for allegedly sexually assaulting Kaja Sokola.
CYCLING – British rider Jake Stewart won a sprint finish to triumph in the fifth stage of the Criterium du Dauphine on Thursday as Belgian Remco Evenepoel held onto the race lead. Today’s sixth stage is a hilly 126.7km run from Valserhone to Combloux near the border with Switzerland.
ATHLETICS – Karsten Warholm, Julien Alfred and Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis lit up Thursday’s star-studded Diamond League meet in Oslo where Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt was on hand to lend further glitter to a gripping evening of track and field. Bolt was on hand to present a bouquet of flowers to a delighted Alfred after she won the women’s 100m in 10.89 seconds. Duplantis notched up his 36th victory in 40 Diamond League outings, clearing 6.15 metres. The meet was rounded off in spectacular style when Warholm clocked 32.67sec to win the 300m hurdles.
FOOTBALL – FIFA president Gianni Infantino says the Club World Cup, which kicks off on Saturday, marks a historic “new era” for the game, comparing it to the first World Cup held in 1930. The 32-team competition, with clubs from all continents, gets under way with Inter Miami facing Egyptian club Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium.The competition runs until July 13.
It’s a real summer’s day with plenty of sun, a few friendly clouds and scorching temperatures.
Meteolux, Luxembourg’s national weather service, has issued a heat alert in effect nationwide from 12 until 9pm. Maximum temperatures are expected to range between 30°C and 32°C, reaching up to 33°C in urban areas and along the Moselle River. Residents are advised to take precautions against potential heat-related risks.
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