BETTEL MIDDLE EAST - Foreign minister Xavier Bettel expressed his deep concern over the evolving situation in the Gaza Strip yesterday. He underscored the urgent need for Israel to reopen the Rafah crossing for aid access and facilitate humanitarian aid distribution within Gaza. Speaking to the press, he added that Luxembourg, for the moment, does not want to recognise Palestine as an independent state, as Spain, Norway and Ireland did last week. Bettel is travelling to the Middle East today, visiting Ramallah and Jerusalem, to speak to Israeli government officials.
UBS/CREDIT SUISSE JOBS - Up to 75 jobs could be lost in Luxembourg, following the merger of the Swiss banks UBS and Crédit Suisse. Negotiations with the trade union should begin next week. According to information from the union, further redundancies in a second phase next year are also not ruled out. Crédit Suisse employs 400 workers in Luxembourg, while UBS employs approximately 550.
POISON BAIT - The municipality of Kehlen is warning of possible poison bait, found near the Olm forest cemetery. Food remains, specifically meat have been laid out numerous times in the last few days. Contacted by RTL, a spokeswoman of the municipality said that while it cannot confirm it is indeed poison bait, it would rather give a preventive warning. It urges dog owners to keep their pets on the leash, and for anyone to report any suspicious observations to the police or municipality.
EU UKRAINE - EU defence ministers are meeting again in Brussels today to discuss further support for Ukraine. Yuriko Backes and her counterparts will also meet NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and the Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov will join the meeting virtually. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also visiting Brussels. He is meeting Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, and will see how Ukrainian pilots are currently being trained on F16 fighter jets at Melsbroek military airport.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR - The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting later today to discuss an Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in Rafah, which killed at least 45 Palestinians. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called what happened “a tragic mishap” but insisted he did not intend to end its war with Hamas before achieving its goals.
TRUMP TRIAL - Closing arguments are scheduled to begin today in Donald Trump’s trial. Prosecutors have charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records during his 2016 election campaign to cover up two affairs. After the presentations by the prosecution and defence , the jury will withdraw to deliberate the verdict. Trump has pleaded not guilty. It is the first time that a former US President has been charged in a criminal trial.
KAUFHOF/KARSTADT JOBS - The future of the department stores of Galeria Kaufhof/Karstadt will be decided today. The group is on the brink of bankruptcy and creditors are meeting in Essen, in Germany this afternoon to agree on a plan. If approved, a consortium of several investment companies can take over. At least 16 of the current 92 stores in Germany are to close, including one in Trier. 1400 jobs are at stake.
EU SPEED - Starting in a few weeks, all new cars sold within the European Union will be required to be equipped with an automatic speed limiter. From July onwards, vehicles will come equipped with a mandatory “co-driver” of sorts: the “Intelligent Speed Assistance” (ISA) system. This system will continuously monitor the driver’s speed in relation to posted speed limits, utilising a combination of GPS technology and cameras capable of recognising road signs. Upon exceeding the speed limit, the driver will receive an audible beep or warning light, alerting them to their infraction.
BETTY NASH - The world’s longest serving flight attendant Betty Nash has died, aged 88, after almost 70 years in the job. In a tribute on social media, her employer American Airlines said she had inspired generations of flight attendants. In 2022, she was honored with the Guinness World Record title for longest-serving flight attendant.
TENNIS - Rafael Nadal’s illustrious French Open career has come to a likely end with his first ever defeat in the opening round by Alexander Zverev. This year’s event was expected to be the 14-time champion’s farewell to Roland Garros, but he had since insisted he could not confirm “100 percent” it would be his last appearance.Meanwhile Iga Swiatek made a winning start in her bid for a fourth title. She will next face fellow four-time major champion Naomi Osaka on Wednesday.
FOOTBALL - Bochum will play first-division football again next season after coming from three goals down and beating second-division Fortuna Duesseldorf via a penalty shoot-out in last night’s relegation play-off second leg. Bochum won 6-5 in the penalty shoot out.
BASKETBALL - The Boston Celtics have clinched the Eastern Conference championship with a 105-102 win over the Indiana Pacers, sweeping the series 4-0 and booking a spot in the NBA Finals. In the final, it’s either against the Dallas Mavericks, or the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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