FAYOT EXPENSES - The Minister of the Economy Franz Fayot has addressed the allegations surrounding his alleged excessive expenses during overseas trips as reported by the online news website Reporter.lu. According to the article, the ministry paid for meals and bottles of wine, occasionally reaching several hundred euros, during these trips. Fayot explained in an interview on RTL last night that the reimbursement of costs and drinks was all according to the rules while working abroad or for working meals with employees.
BEGGING BAN - The ongoing saga surrounding Luxembourg City’s begging ban appears to be far from over. Following the veto imposed by the Minister for Home Affairs, Taina Bofferding on Tuesday, the city’s mayor Lydie Polfer said the city council will hire a lawyer and appeal against the decision. The mayor expressed the belief that the decision made by Bofferding appears to be politically motivated, seeing as it coincides with the start of the municipal election campaign. The ban on begging in Luxembourg’s capital has become a controversial issue, with begging banned in several parts of Luxembourg city between 7am and 10pm.
INTEREST RATES - Interest rates on property loans in Luxembourg continue to rise. On average, households that took out a mortgage in March obtained a variable rate of 3.61% and fixed rate loans experienced a similar trend, averaging at 3.93% in March this year.
MYANMAR CYCLONE - At least 81 people have died after a powerful cyclone hit Myanmar on Sunday. It is feared that there will be hundreds more deaths as many people are still reported missing. The cyclone had a strength of up to 200 kilometers per hour, collapsing houses and compromising electricity supplies in many parts of the coutry, which is home to hundreds of thousands of displaced people.
SARKOZY VERDICT - A French court will give its verdict today in one of several corruption and illegal campaign financing cases involving ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy. The 68-year-old, who served one term from 2007 to 2012, was sentenced to prison in 2021 for corruption and influence peddling through a secret telephone line that was discovered through wiretapping.
ITALY RAINS - Torrential rain has lashed northern Italy over the last 24 hours, causing extensive flooding and killing at least two people. Hundreds of people have been evacuated due to floods and mudslides. Rivers swollen by days of downpours flooded several towns in the Emilia-Romagna region, while in Venice authorities are planning to activiate the mobile barrier in the lagoon, hoping to spare the city from a rare May high-tide warning.
FOOTBALL - Inter Milan has reached their first Champions League final for 13 years as Lautaro Martinez’s sole goal of the match gave them a 3-0 aggregate win against AC Milan. The second finalist will be decided tonight. Between Manchester City and Real Madrid.The final is on the 10th of June in Istanbul.
CYCLING - Today is the start of the 72nd Flèche du Sud, here in Luxembourg. It starts today in Esch, and there are 4 stages on the programme until Sunday. With arrivals in Rumelange, Bourscheid, Sanem and Esch. Among the 124 riders are also 17 Luxembourgers.
In the Giro d’Italia, Danish cyclist Magnus Court-Nielsen has won the 10th stage. Geraint Thomas from the UK remains the general leader and the best Luxembourger is Bob Jungels in 45th place.
The weather will remain dry. There will be a few lingering clouds to start off with, but as the day progresses, expect several hours of sunshine with only a few scattered clouds.The morning will start off at 4-5°C, before climbing to highs of 15-18°C in the afternoon.
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