CNS PAYMENTS - A growing number of patients are using the social direct settlement, meaning CNS pays medical bills directly. The government has announced this system will be introduced universally by late 2023. Last year, CNS settled the medical bills of just over 6000 patients. In the future, the process will be digitalised and therefore accelerated, according to Minister of Social Security Claude Haagen. Once the new system is in effect, patients will only have to pay for expenses that are not covered by the CNS.
LUXEMBOURG WINE - The Association of Private Winegrowers has not only one, but two new presidents. Guy Krier and Jeff Konsbruck will succeed Erny Schumacher, who was at the helm for 28 years. Konsbruck believes winemakers must focus more on exports and think about how to reach out to the international communities in Luxembourg. He says that while Luxembourgish customers know, buy, and drink wine from the Moselle, many expats still need to be convinced.
GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT - The US President landed in Northern Ireland last night to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Joe Biden was welcomed by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Belfast airport for the president’s four-day visit to Ireland. The peace deal largely ended 30 years of bloodshed between republicans and loyalists. Biden is due to meet Sunak and Northern Ireland’s feuding political leaders in Belfast today, before delivering a speech at a newly opened city-centre campus of Ulster University, where his remarks will commemorate the Good Friday Agreement.
ITALY MIGRANTS - The Italian government has declared a state of emergency, due to the extremely high number of refugees who are currently arriving in Italy via the Mediterranean Sea. Over the Easter weekend alone, over 40 boats with around 2000 migrants arrived on the island of Lampedusa, including many children. The state of emergency is now in effect for 6 months and as a result 5 million euros can be unblocked, which will benefit the affected regions in the south of Italy. With this money, new reception structures for refugees should be set up.
HUNGARY GAS - Hungary continues to rely on Russian gas and even wants to increase imports. Budapest has concluded new contracts with Moscow for additional supplies. This was announced by a spokesperson for Hungarian Prime Minister Orban and at the same time he warned the EU not to ban this agreement. Hungary currently receives around 85 percent of its gas from Russia, while the rest of the EU is trying to become independent from Moscow.
GRINER BOOK - Brittney Griner, the US basketball star who was detained in Russia last year, is writing a book about the 10-month ordeal which ended in a high-profile prisoner swap. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was arrested at an airport outside Moscow in February 2022 over small traces of cannabis oil found in her luggage. She was sentenced to nine years in prison on charges of drug smuggling. Her publisher Alfred A. Knopf said the memoir, which does not yet have a title, will be released in the first half of 2024.
FOOTBALL - Manchester City and InterMilan have closed in on the Champions League semi-finals. Both teams won the first legs of their quarter-finals last night, giving them an edge ahead of the return matches next week. ManCity beat Bayern 3-0 while InterMilan won 2-0 against Benfica. Tonight Real Madrid will play Chelsea and Milan plays Naples at 9pm our time.
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL – Australia has ended England women’s 30-match unbeaten streak in a 2-0 friendly at Brentford last night. For European champions England, who beat Brazil on penalties to win the inaugural women’s Finalissima last week, it was the last warm-up game before the World Cup in New Zealand and Australia. The Lionesses begin their campaign against Haiti in Brisbane on July 22.
JORDAN SNEAKERS - A pair of sneakers worn by NBA superstar Michael Jordan have sold for $2.2 million, setting a record price at auction for game-worn sports footwear. The basketball great wore the “Bred” Air Jordan 13s during Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals on the way to his sixth and last NBA championship title.The online sale cements Jordan’s position as the most valuable athlete at auctions for sportswear memorabilia.
Rain and wind set the tone for today, as the morning’s showers turn to storms in the afternoon and early evening. Wind gusts of up to 70 km/h are expected, while we may even see the odd hail shower. Morning temperatures of 7-9°C will rise to highs of 12°C in the afternoon.
--
Be sure to catch our full bulletin on the hour, every hour and headlines at half past the hour on RTL Today Radio. You can also access the news via Alexa, and on RTL Play.
