FLIGHT ISSUE – A Luxair flight due to depart Findel Airport for Hamburg on Thursday morning was subjected to a two-hour delay after passengers were made to disembark and board a new plane. The delay was said to have been caused by a technical issue with the Havilland 400 aircraft. In a statement, Luxair said the problem had been identified while the plane was taxiing to the runway.
TRADE UNION DISCUSSIONS – Prime Minister Luc Frieden told MPs in the Chamber on Thursday that the government had succeeded in breaking the deadlock in labour relations discussions after long hours of negotiations, and now would focus on finding solutions for unresolved issues. “The government listened, talked and succeeded in building bridges between all the social partners in these intensive negotiations”, Frieden said. “Sometimes this worked better than others, but it was certainly our intent to succeed. And the fact that we spent 11 hours in these discussions to strike a deal is proof that we achieved our goals.”
HEALTHCARE – The Luxembourg Hospital Federation (FHL) and the trade unions OGBL and LCGB have signed an interim agreement as part of the renewal of the FHL collective agreement. Among other measures, it provides for one-off bonuses based on the income from 2023 and 2024. There will also be a linear increase of 1.5% in the points value.
TUNNEL CRASH – Ten people were injured – four seriously – in a serious accident near the Gotthard Tunnel in Switzerland on Wednesday afternoon involving a car with Luxembourgish licence plates. For reasons that are still unclear, the Luxembourg-registered car crashed after allegedly driving at high speed into another vehicle occupying the right lane. It is claimed the Luxembourgish vehicle then veered into the overtaking lane, where it was pushed into the path of a second car, and ultimately into a third.
RUSSIA | USA – As Russian strikes on Kyiv reached their deadliest levels in years, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held “frank” talks in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, with Washington criticising Moscow’s lack of flexibility and downplaying hopes of a breakthrough.
MIDDLE EAST – Kurdish PKK fighters are to begin laying down their weapons at a ceremony in Iraqi Kurdistan Friday, two months after the Kurdish rebels ended their decades-long armed struggle against the Turkish state. The disarmament ceremony marks a turning point in the transition of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) from armed insurgency to democratic politics.
SOUTH AMERICA – Hundreds of people protested in Caracas Thursday demanding the return of at least 30 children who remain in the United States after being separated from their Venezuelan parents during deportation. At the protest, a woman read out a letter – later handed over to the UN office in Caracas – asking for “urgent action in favor of the return” of children separated from their parents.
FOOTBALL – Wrexham’s exploits since being bought by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have helped lift “the bonnet” on lower-league English football and boosted its popularity in the United States, former West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand told AFP. “It has opened people’s eyes across the pond on such a great league” he added.
BASKETBALL – The NBA’s Phoenix Suns said Thursday they signed star guard Devin Booker to a multi-year contract extension, which ESPN reported was worth $145 million over two years. The reported figures – with an annual extension salary of $72.5 million – would make it the largest annual average salary extension in league history.
CRICKET – England will head into the second day of the third Test against India at Lord’s with fresh doubts over the fitness of inspirational captain Ben Stokes. The skipper pulled up with what appeared to be a groin issue late on Thursday’s opening day, with Stokes receiving on-field treatment before he batted on until the close. England were 251-4 at stumps, with Joe Root 99 not out and Stokes, who won the toss, unbeaten on 39.
Warm, not hot, a little cloud, and a respectable 26°C. The morning will be comfortable 14–16°C, with temperatures rising to 24–26°C by the afternoon – dipping to around 20°C in the evening. There is an extremely small chance of showers, but don’t worry about it too much!
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