CARGOLUX STRIKE - Cargolux is on strike. Since 6 o’clock this morning, work at the airline has been suspended. After the failure of negotiations on a new social collective agreement, unions and management have stuck to their their positions. Cargolux management says that the demands of the trade unions, calling for a 6% wage increase over 4 years are not reasonable. The LCGB and OGBL unions will do a joint press conference in front of the cargo centre this morning.
CNS DIRECT PAYMENTS - The long-anticipated new system enabling immediate direct payment of doctors’ fees through the National Health Fund, the CNS, is to become operational on September 20. Patients will only be required to cover their share of medical expenses and the direct payment system will eliminate the need for patients to manually submit reimbursement claims to the CNS, as the computer system will handle this process.
TRANSPORT PROJECT - The government has announced a monumental 3 billion euro public transport project, aimed at improving connectivity between the capital and the southern region of the country. Spanning a twelve-year timeline, this initiative seeks to transform the A4 into a versatile multimodal corridor featuring a high-speed tramline and an express bicycle lane, linking Luxembourg City with Esch-sur-Alzette.
NEW SCHOOL SECTIONS - Education minister Claude Meisch has unveiled plans for the introduction of four new academic sections in secondary schools, starting with the upcoming school year. Under the proposed changes, there will be two new sections in classical secondary education: “P,” focused on cognitive sciences and humanities, and “R,” centred on politics and sustainable development. Additionally, the general secondary education system will also introduce two new sections — one dedicated to technology, sports, and health, and the other to natural sciences, computer science, and mathematics.
KIM PUTIN - Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to visit North Korea, according to state media. The isolated Kim, who seldom leaves his country and has not travelled since before the pandemic, had a “historic meeting and talks” with Putin on Wednesday. Among the results of the leaders’ summit were Russian promises of help with North Korea’s space programme, while Putin told reporters he saw “possibilities” for military cooperation.
SARDINE DEATH - A woman has died from botulism after eating sardines at a Bordeaux restaurant and 12 other people are being treated for the rare illness. Five people are on respiratory support. They include American, Irish, German and Canadian nationals. Botulism is a serious neurological illness typically brought on by eating food that has been improperly preserved. https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/2113850.html
ECB INTEREST RATE - Eurozone interest rate setters face the toughest call of their long battle against red-hot inflation today, when they decide whether to raise borrowing costs again or finally pause the unprecedented hiking campaign.The European Central Bank is struggling to navigate competing data that could push them either way -- prices continue to rise fast, but the outlook in the single currency area is also deteriorating rapidly.The central bank for the 20 countries that use the euro has already lifted rates by 4.25 percentage points since July last year to combat runaway consumer prices.
FOOTBALL - Italian international Marco Verratti has signed for Qatari club Al Arabi, his new club and his former team, Paris Saint-Germain announced yesterday. French media reported that the transfer that should bring PSG close to 50 million euros.
RUGBY - At the Rugby World Cup, today is the 2nd group match day. After the opening victory against the All Blacks, the French will face Uruguay in Lille tonight. New Zealand are playing Namibia tomorrow.
CYCLING - Sepp Kuss emerged from mountain mists clinging to the Vuelta a Espana lead by eight seconds yesterday, as his teammate Primoz Roglic won the stage with another Jumbo rider Jonas Vingegaard finishing second. Tour de France champion Vingegaard remains second overall but has closed the gap on Kuss from 29 to eight seconds. Kuss is now in an unexpected position to win the Vuelta.
More of an autumnal start – it’s cooler in the morning but by the afternoon, we should see quite a bit of sunshine emerging from behind a few clouds.. There is no rain expected and temperatures will range from around 12 degrees this morning to highs of 20-21 degrees by the afternoon.
Be sure to catch our full bulletin on the hour, every hour and headlines at half past the hour on Today Radio. You can also access the news via Alexa, and on RTL Play.
