GAZA STATEMENT – 25 countries, including Luxembourg and the EU Commissioner for Equality, have called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza, where they say the suffering of civilians has “reached new depths”. The joint statement condemns the devastating impact on civilians, including the deaths over 800 Palestinian aid-seekers, and demands that Israel lift restrictions on humanitarian assistance. The joint appeal comes amid growing international and domestic pressure for stronger, more decisive action to end the bloodshed. Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel has repeatedly criticised Israel’s actions as no longer defensible under international law, warning that peace in Palestine is a prerequisite for Israel’s own security.
CARITAS SCANDAL – One year after the financial scandal surrounding Caritas Luxembourg came to light, the public prosecutor’s office has taken stock of a case it calls complex and wide-ranging. At the centre: over €61 million embezzled from the foundation between February and July 2024, allegedly by the former financial director. The former director now stands accused of forgery, fraud, breach of trust, money laundering, and computer-related crimes. So far, the investigation has led to 40 international requests for legal assistance in 13 countries, 27 search and seizure warrants, 54 court orders to freeze assets.
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE – Figures from the Employment Development Agency (ADEM) show that Luxembourg’s unemployment rate dipped slightly in June to 5.9%, following a recent peak of 6% in May. However, these figures remain higher than they were last year.
PUBLIC FINANCES – Luxembourg’s public finances are under pressure, with slower revenue growth and rising expenditures widening the deficit – though the Minister of Finance Gilles Roth remains confident it will stay below the €1.29 billion target set in the 2025 budget.
UKRAINE WAR – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Russia and Ukraine will hold new peace talks in Istanbul tomorrow. A senior Ukrainian official has told AFP that the talks will probably focus on further prisoner exchanges and a possible meeting between Zelensky and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
BANGLADESH PLANE CRASH – It is a national day of mourning in Bangladesh after a military jet crashed into a school campus in the northwestern part of its capital Dhaka. 27 people, most of them young students have died and more than 150 were injured.https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/2322435.html
IRAN NUCLEAR TALKS – As Tehran prepares for fresh talks with European powers in Istanbul, it has sharply criticised Britain, France, and Germany for failing to uphold their end of the 2015 nuclear agreement. The country’s foreign minister also said Iran has no plans to abandon its nuclear programme including uranium enrichment despite the “severe” damage caused by US strikes to its facilities.
RIP MALCOLM-JAMAL WARNER – US actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played the son in the smash-hit sitcom The Cosby Show, has drowned in Costa Rica. Warner, who was nominated for an Emmy for his work on The Cosby Show, also appeared in sitcoms Malcolm & Eddie and Reed Between the Lines. He was 54.
CYCLING – The Tour de France resumes today with Stage 16: a 171.5-kilometre climb from Montpellier to the iconic Mont Ventoux. You can watch this live on RTL Today and RTL Play from 2pm.
FOOTBALL – The semi finals of the Women’s Euros are taking place this week. England will face Italy today at 9pm while Germany is playing Spain on Wednesday at the same time. As a reminder, you can watch both matches live and free of charge on the big screen at the Glacis car park.
SWIMMING – French swimmer Leon Marchand is skipping two of the four events which brought him gold medal success at the Paris Olympics last year in the upcoming world championships in Singapore in order to challenge the 200m medley world record. Marchand will begin his world championships on 30 July with the heats of the 200m medley, with the final the next day.
The summer mood remains grey and heavy, with strong clouds overhead and just enough rain to keep you guessing. The morning starts on the rainy and cool side at 12–14°C, climbing to a pleasant 21–23°C by afternoon. But keep an eye on those winds – gusts could reach 40–50km/h.
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