ELECTIONS - Jean Asselborn and Taina Bofferding will lead the LSAP, Luxembourg’s Socialist party to the parliamentary elections in the south of the country. Asselborn, the current Foreign Minister will therefore face voters once again at the age of 74. The candidates were agreed on last night at the district congress with 90% of the votes.
And in Esch-sur-Alzette, a new coalition agreement has been signed by the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV), Democratic Party (DP), and the Green Party (‘déi Gréng’), following the municipal elections.
PROPERTY PRICES - Luxembourg’s property market is experiencing a downward trend in prices that is expected to continue in the coming months. According to data from the Housing Observatory, there is a decrease of 2.6% in the price of completed apartments in the last 3 months compared to the first quarter of this year and a good 6% for apartments under construction. Houses have lost over 4% in value.
SNIFFER DOG - The dog squad of Luxembourg’s police have completed an intensive four-month training programme for a 14-month-old Belgian shepherd called Arina. Arina is being deployed to Ukraine as a trained explosive detection dog and has now been introduced to her new handler from the Ukrainian military. The EU Mine Detection Dog Project is a joint initiative involving Luxembourg, Malta, Austria, Finland, and Belgium and they hope to train a total of 50 dogs who can identify and neutralise explosives and landmines by 2025.
UKRAINE ATTACK - At least 4 people have been killed by a Russian missile strike on a restaurant and shopping centre in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk. More than 40 others were wounded and it is feared that more people could be trapped under the rubble.
NATO’s Secretary-General has said the alliance is ready to defend itself against threats from both Moscow and Belarus. Jens Stoltenberg stressed it was too early to pass judgement on the consequences of the arrival in Belarus of the head of the Wagner military group along with probably some of its forces.
POLICE SHOOTING - Anger is growing in Nanterre near Paris following the death of a teenager who was shot dead after breaking road rules and failing to stop at a traffic check. A video shared on social media shows two police officers beside the car, with one shooting through the side window, as the driver pulled away. The policeman has been arrested for manslaughter.
AUCTION RECORD - The last portrait painted by Gustav Klimt was sold in London on Tuesday for £74 million (86 million euros), setting a new European art auction record. The celebrated Austrian symbolist’s “Dame mit Facher” (Lady with a Fan) went under the hammer at Sotheby’s. Described as a “beautiful, rich and alluring portrait of an unnamed woman”, the portrait was found on his easel in his studio when he died unexpectedly in February 1918 aged 55.
TENNIS - Wimbledon starts next week and Venus Williams is preparing to play for the 24th time at the age of 43. She has been champion five times, including 2008 when she beat sister Serena in the final. A former world number one, but now ranked at 554, Williams insists she has no plans yet to follow Serena into retirement.
There is also much interest as organisers of the event have changed tack and are allowing players from Russia and Belarus to participate. All Russian and Belarusian players taking part at Wimbledon this year have to sign a declaration of neutrality and demonstrate no links to state finance or sponsorship from companies under sanction.
FOOTBALL - Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea following the loss of captain Ilkay Gundogan. The treble winners said the 29-year-old had signed a four-year contract after the clubs reportedly agreed an initial fee of £25 million, with a potential £5 million in add-ons. Kovacic joins Pep Guardiola’s side after five years at Chelsea, where he won the Champions League and Europa League and made 221 appearances.
The slightly cooler weather continues, with a mix of cloud and sun. The morning will start off at a cool 11-14°C, rising to a peak of 24°C in the afternoon.
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