Trump to meet Putin, Luxembourg launches Cardiac Arrest App, and dogs legally cargo

Luxembourg & Greater Region

UKRAINE VISIT – Ukraine's Defence Minister Denys Schmyhal visited Luxembourg yesterday thanking the nation for its solidarity while requesting further support for drone production – Ukraine aims to build 20 million annually. Luxembourg is contributing 15 million euros to NATO's Ukraine initiative.

FRANCE TRAIN STRIKE – French rail workers are striking today, causing delays for cross-border commuters. CFL is warning that trains between Luxembourg and France will be affected, particularly services to Thionville and Metz. However, TGV services to and from Luxembourg City will run normally. Passengers are advised to check journey details on the CFL website or app before travelling.

CARDIAC ARRESTS – Luxembourg's emergency services have launched "Staying Alive LU," a new app to help the 500 annual cardiac arrest cases in the country. The app alerts nearby volunteers when someone suffers a cardiac arrest, guiding them through resuscitation or directing them to call an ambulance. Users receive phone support from 112 operators, and no prior first aid training is required. After testing since June, the app is now available to the public.

COURT RULING –  Europe's top court, based in Luxembourg has ruled that dogs traveling in aircraft cargo holds are legally considered baggage, limiting airlines' compensation obligations if they go missing. The ruling follows a case where a passenger's dog, Mona, escaped at Buenos Aires airport in 2019 before an Iberia flight to Barcelona and was never found. The owner was seeking 5,000 euros in damages.

LIFTCLOSURE – The Saint-Esprit lift connecting the Grund and the judiciary district closes on Monday for three weeks of maintenance work. The motor, cables, and electrical system will be replaced. A replacement shuttle bus will run every 7.5 minutes from 6:15am until 1am—or 3am on weekends—between Grund Stadgronn Bréck and Plateau Saint-Esprit. The lift reopens November 8th.

World

TRUMP / PUTIN MEETING – President Trump has announced plans to meet Russian President Putin in Budapest following what he called a productive call. The timing is significant: Ukrainian President Zelensky is visiting the White House today to request US-made Tomahawk missiles. This would be Trump and Putin's second meeting since Trump's return to office, after their August summit in Alaska failed to end the conflict.

GAZA CEASEFIRE – Hamas has stressed its commitment to the ceasefire with Israel and says it wants to return all remaining hostage bodies from Gaza. However, the group warns the process will take time, as some bodies are buried in destroyed tunnels or trapped under rubble from Israeli bombing. Israel has threatened to resume fighting if Hamas fails to return the bodies. 

The World Health Organization is warning that infectious diseases are spiralling out of control in Gaza, with only 13 of 36 hospitals partially functioning. The UN health body says meningitis, diarrhoea and respiratory illnesses pose a mammoth challenge. While the ceasefire offers hope for aid delivery, the WHO's regional director describes the humanitarian challenges as unimaginable after two years of conflict.

JOHNSON & JOHNSON LAWSUIT – Three thousand UK families are suing Johnson & Johnson over claims its talcum powder caused fatal cancers. The billion-pound lawsuit alleges the company has known for 50 years that its Baby Powder contained asbestos but kept it on sale until 2023. Claimants say they or family members developed ovarian cancer or mesothelioma from using the product.

Sport

FOOTBALL – Luxembourg's national football team may soon lose the chance to face major opponents like Portugal, Germany, and France. UEFA is reviewing qualifying formats, potentially adopting a Champions League model with divisions based on team strength. The changes would not take effect until after 2028, meaning the qualifiers for the 2028 Euros could be the last chance for Luxembourg to face a major nation before the planned reform.

Staying with football and Cristiano Ronaldo has topped Forbes' highest-paid footballers list for the sixth time in a decade. The 40-year-old Al Nassr star will earn an estimated 280 million dollars this season, more than double rival Lionel Messi's 130 million. The announcement comes shortly after Ronaldo was named football's first billionaire.

RUGBY – Luxembourg’s national men’s XV take on Norway in Stavanger tomorrow in their opening Rugby Europe Conference Pool A fixture. Luxembourg Rugby has a new captain for their match against Norway. Hugo Bertani, 25, who plays in Barcelona, will lead the team from fullback. The match kicks off at 2pm and will be streamed on YouTube and the Rugby Europe website.

CRICKET – Women's Cricket World Cup has shattered viewing records, with 60 million fans watching the first 13 matches. According to the ICC, the India-Pakistan clash became the most-watched women's international cricket match ever with 28.4 million viewers. The tournament also features record prize money of nearly 14 million dollars, surpassing the previous men's World Cup.

Weather

It’s a cloudy start to the day but the sun could come out at times with Meteolux predicting a total of three hours of sunshine and no rain. We can expect temperatures of 8-9 degrees this morning, rising to a maximum of 14°C in the afternoon.

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