PRICE FIXING - Luxembourg’s national competition authority has levied fines exceeding €3 million in response to price-fixing in the coffee distribution sector. The authority’s investigation revealed that a coffee importer from northern Luxembourg had been colluding with various coffee distributors over a five-year period, from 2015 to 2020. This collusion led to fixed prices, a practice that undermines fair competition and can lead to higher costs for consumers. As of now, the decision is not final, and an appeal against the fine is still possible.
SECURITY COOPERATION - One month after the death of Nahel Merzouk, the Luxembourg police has assessed how the violent protests in France might affect the Grand Duchy. In answer to a parliamentary question from Pirate MP Marc Goergen on Friday, Minister for Security Henri Kox explained there was ‘no need’ to mobilise the police to protect infrastructures near the French border, as no risk of the violence spreading to Luxembourg had been identified. In spite of the tranquillity on this side of the border, the minister asserts that ‘the police are keeping a very close eye on the situation in France and remain in contact with their French counterparts’.
ALGERIAN FIRES - Wildfires raging across Algeria during a blistering heatwave have killed more than 30 people and forced mass evacuations, the government said on Monday. As temperatures hit 48 degrees Celsius in parts of the North African country, the interior ministry recorded 97 blazes across 16 provinces, fanned by strong winds. The fires killed at least 34 people, including 10 soldiers, as they raged through residential areas. The interior ministry said that 7,500 firefighters and 350 firetrucks were mobilised with aerial support in an attempt to fight the flames.
GREECE EVACUATIONS - Authorities evacuated nearly 2,500 people from the Greek island of Corfu on Monday as the prime minister warned that the heat-battered nation was “at war” with several wildfires and spoke of three difficult days ahead. Tens of thousands of people have already fled blazes on the island of Rhodes, with many frightened tourists scrambling to get home on evacuation flights.
UNDERSEA MINING - A vast area at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean - earmarked for controversial deep sea mineral mining - is home to thousands of species unknown to science and more complex than previously understood, according to several new studies. Miners are eyeing an abyssal plain stretching between Hawaii and Mexico, known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone for it’s rock-like “nodules” which contain minerals used in clean energy technologies such as electric car batteries. Campaigners say the biodiversity present there is the true treasure of the deep sea and warn that mining would pose a major threat by churning up huge plumes of previously-undisturbed sediment.
PYONGYANG CELEBRATIONS - North Korea is planning a “grand” Korean War armistice anniversary celebration this week that will be attended by Chinese diplomats, the first known foreign visitors since Pyongyang’s 2020 pandemic border closure. State media said that Pyongyang will mark 70 years since the signing of the armistice, known as Victory Day in the North, in a “grand manner that will go down in history.”. North Korea has been under a rigid self-imposed coronavirus blockade since early 2020 which has prevented even its own nationals from entering the country.
RIP - Tributes have come in from across the world of football after former England forward, 2 times European Cup winner, and Britain’s first million pound footballer, Trevor Francis passed away at the age of 69. Birmingham City, where Francis spent 15 years as both a player and manager, described him as, “A true legend who will never be forgotten.”. The English Football Association said it was deeply saddened and plans to commemorate his career at the next England fixture.
WWC - in today’s Women’s World Cup, New Zealand take on The Philippines, and Switzerland face off against Norway. In today’s early game, gifted teenager Linda Caicedo scored as Colombia beat a disappointing South Korea 2-0 in their opening game. The 18-year-old Real Madrid striker, who overcame cancer three years ago, and is described as one of the best young attackers in women’s football, had previously scored at the Under-17 World Cup and the Under-20 World Cup before scoring a goal at this year’s main tournament.
This morning starts with heavy downpours and temperatures of around 15 degrees Celsius. The rain will remain heavy until late afternoon when skies are expected to eventually clear, leading to a more pleasant evening and a peak temperature of around 17 degrees.
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