ESCH FIRE - Emergency services are reporting that a house is on fire on Rue Victor Hugo in Esch-sur-Alzette this morning. Police recommend avoiding the area, as the street is completely sealed off. Emergency services and the mayor Christian Weis have reported one critical injury, with the person admitted to hospital. In addition to the first responder, firefighters from Esch, Kehlen, Petange and Differdange are currently at the scene. The fire is said to be under control.
BUDGET CRITICISM - Luxembourg’s Court of Auditors has criticised the 2025 state budget, highlighting a “lack of strategy” and questioning the government’s reliance on trickle-down economics. In its assessment, the institution expressed several concerns, particularly in relation to Luxembourg’s public debt, the plan to re-balance state finances as well as the government’s so-called “relief measures,” which include tax breaks for businesses.
BEST SAVERS - Luxembourg residents continue to rank among the most provident savers in the EU. According to a recent Statec report, Luxembourgers saved 18% of their income in 2023. While data for this year is yet to be published, Luxembourg consistently remains among the top countries in Europe for saving.
POST COSTS - POST Luxembourg has announced that new rates will take effect starting 1 February 2025. While some services will become more expensive, others will see price reductions. Six geographical zones will be introduced, each with its own rates. Zone 1 will include Luxembourg’s neighbouring countries, as well as the Netherlands and Portugal and it will be much cheaper to send parcels to these countries. Sending parcels within Luxembourg will become more expensive. The price of sending a letter will also rise.
LEBANON CEASEFIRE - A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has come into effect. Under the plan, Israel will withdraw from southern Lebanon over the next 60 days while Lebanese forces take over the area previously controlled by Hezbollah. Shortly before the deadline, Israel carried out further airstrikes on the Lebanese capital Beirut. Earlier President Biden said that it was a reminder that peace was possible and that the United States would lead a fresh effort to secure a truce between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. France’s President Macron also said the Lebanon ceasefire should “open the path” for an ending to the war in Gaza.
NEW EU COMMISSION - The European Parliament is set today to give the final greenlight for EU chief Ursula von der Leyen’s new executive to start work. The new team formally starts its mandate on Sunday. The team includes Estonia’s ex-premier Kaja Kallas as the 27-nation bloc’s top diplomat, Lithuania’s Andrius Kubilius for Defence and Space while Luxembourg’s Christophe Hansen will be in charge of Agriculture and Nutrition.
FRANCE RAPE TRIAL - French prosecutors have demanded sentences of up to 15 years for the remaining co-defendants in the trial of a man charged with enlisting dozens of strangers to rape his wife while she was drugged and unconscious. On Monday, prosecutors requested a maximum 20-year jail term for Dominique Pelicot, 71, who has been on trial in the southern city of Avignon since September with 49 other men for organising the repeated rape and sexual abuse of Gisele Pelicot, now his former wife.
MERKEL MEMOIR - In her memoir Freedom, published in 30 languages yesterday, Germany’s former chancellor Angela Merkel defends her leadership, addressing key controversies and offering insights into decisions that continue to shape Europe’s challenges today.
FOOTBALL - In last night’s Champions League games, Bayern won 1-0 against Paris St Germain. Barcelona beat Brest 3-0. Manchester City and Rotterdam draw 3-3. Inter beat Leipzig 1-0. And Leverkusen clearly won against Salzburg 5-0. Among games tonight, the highlight game is Real Madrid vs Liverpool.
Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski passed a century of Champions League goals yesterday. The 36-year-old forward rolled home an early penalty in the 3-0 win over Brest to reach the milestone. Former Bayern Munich forward Lewandowski is only the third player to reach over 100 goals in the competition, behind all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Six men linked to France midfielder Paul Pogba, including one of his brothers, have gone on trial in Paris, accused of blackmail, attempted extortion of millions of euros and holding the player at gunpoint.The case at the Paris criminal court has shocked the French football world -- all the more so because the alleged perpetrators include three childhood friends and Pogba’s own brother Mathias.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL - NFL co-leaders Kansas City and Detroit will be tested on a short week of rest for the US Thanksgiving holiday, but both clubs can clinch a playoff berth by winning. The US Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday features Detroit’s annual home contest, the Lions (10-1) facing Chicago (4-7), while two-time defending champion Kansas City (10-1) will entertain Las Vegas (2-9) on Friday. Other Thursday games find Green Bay (8-3) entertaining Miami (5-6) and the New York Giants (2-9) at Dallas (4-7).
We start off with some morning fog, followed by a cloudy day with a good chance of rain showers throughout the day.
The temperature is not too different from yesterday: starting around 6 degrees, going up to 8–10°C as the day advances.
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