BLUE ORIGIN – The US aerospace company Blue Origin is establishing its first European office in Luxembourg, signalling a major expansion of its operations across the continent. The new office will serve as the central hub for managing Blue Origin’s European supply chain and will contribute to advancing commercial space services, including lunar transport and in-space mobility, as part of Luxembourg’s space resources initiative.
LUXEMBOURG WEALTH – Luxembourg has topped the EU in both household consumption and economic output per person, according to newly released Eurostat data. The Grand Duchy’s AIC per capita – an indicator reflecting the material welfare of households – was 41% above the EU average, making it the highest in the bloc. In a key measure of overall economic output, GDP per capita, Luxembourg led the EU at 242% of the EU average.
ANTI-VAX DOCTOR – A controversial doctor, who became known for his anti-vaccination stance during the Covid pandemic, is permitted to continue practicing. Dr. Benoît Ochs had been sentenced to six months’ probation by Luxembourg’s Medical Chamber for violating the code of ethics but he has now returned to work.
LEON KRIER DIES – The Luxembourgish architect and urban planner Léon Krier has died. He was known nationally and internationally for his neoclassical style, as seen in the Cité judiciaire, which was completed in 2008 on Plateau St Esprit. He also designed the town of Poundbury in England, commissioned by King Charles.
VAPIANO MURDER VERDICT - The two Senegalese men accused of the murder of a 46-year-old woman in a botched robbery at the Vapiano restaurant in Kirchberg, in 2022, have been sentenced to 30 years in prison. A third defendant and former co-worker of the victim, who unlocked the door for the pair, was acquitted, after the court found he had no knowledge of the plan.
ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT – European foreign ministers are meeting their Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Geneva today in the hope of easing tensions between Iran and Israel. It follows President Trump’s announcement that he would put off any decision on any US military intervention in Iran for two weeks. With airspaces closed in Iran and Israel, most foreigners are getting out by road to neighbouring states. The UN Security Council is also due to meet later today for a second session on the conflict.
VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN – The UN has denounced the unprecedented scale of violence against children in 2024. In its annual report, the UN said that violence against children in armed conflict saw a staggering 25% increase in grave violations from the previous year. The Palestinian territories occupy first place in this sad ranking, with 1259 children killed in Gaza according to figures confirmed by the UN, which says it is verifying reports of an additional 4,470 children killed in 2024.
BASKETBALL – The Indiana Pacers, rallying around injured star Tyrese Haliburton, crushed the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 to force a decisive game seven in the NBA Finals. The series heads back to Oklahoma City for game seven on Sunday – the first game seven in the championship series since 2016.
FOOTBALL – Paris Saint-Germain has suffered a shock 1-0 Club World Cup defeat against Brazilian side Botafogo in a hard fought battle between the reigning champions of Europe and South America. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid bounced back from their opening defeat to Paris Saint-Germain with a 3-1 win over the Seattle Sounders. In today’s other matches, Benfica are playing Auckland City and Flamengo take on Chelsea.
It’s another beautiful, sunny day, ahead of a hot, holiday weekend. The sun is out, with temperatures around 16-21 degrees in the morning and reaching highs of 27-28 degrees in the afternoon.
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