BILATERAL AGREEMENT – Luxembourg and Ukraine signed a ten-year bilateral security agreement in Washington D.C. on Wednesday. As part of the agreement, Luxembourg has pledged €80 million in military aid to Ukraine for 2024. Cooperation in satellite technology and IT sectors was also discussed, consistent with previous years. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden convened in the US capital on Wednesday morning local time to formalise the agreement.
RENT REFORM – The Chamber of Deputies voted on Wednesday to approve the reform of the 2006 rent and lease bill. This will impact security deposits and agency costs, with the reform approved by both majority and opposition parties, except for The Left , which abstained. Under the reform, the costs of agencies will now be shared between tenants and landlords, a departure from previous policy where tenants bore those costs alone.
CNS REIMBURSEMENTS – During a government Q&A in the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday, concerns were raised regarding delays in the reimbursement of medical bills by the National Health Fund (CNS). Minister of Health and Social Security Martine Deprez acknowledged the issue, but spoke of significant “improvements”. Responding to MP Marc Baum from The Left, Deprez noted that delays have decreased with 259 doctors now utilising the new Immediate Direct Payment system. However, she highlighted that 15% of invoices still face delays ranging from seven to 12 weeks.
FUEL PRICE DROP – Consumers can expect a slight decrease in the price of SP98 petrol starting on Thursday. Following a reduction of 1.7 cents, the new price of SP98 will be €1.699 per litre. Meanwhile, prices for SP95 petrol, diesel, and heating oil will remain unchanged.
CROSSBOW KILLINGS – A 26-year-old man has been detained in connection with the deaths of the wife and two daughters of BBC and Sky Sports racing commentator John Hunt, who were killed in a suspected crossbow attack in their home on Tuesday night. Kyle Clifford from Enfield in north London was wanted in connection with the deaths of the three women in the town of Bushey, also north of London. In a statement on Wednesday, police said Clifford, who was found by officers in Enfield, “was known to the victims” and no additional suspects were being sought.
NATO SUPPORT – NATO allies on Wednesday announced they had started transferring F-16 jets to Ukraine while stepping up promises to Kyiv on eventual membership in the alliance, at a 75th anniversary summit clouded by political uncertainties in the United States. With the pomp of the three-day gathering in the US capital, President Joe Biden is aiming to rally the West and also reassure voters amid pre-election scrutiny of whether at 81 – six years older than NATO itself – he remains fit for the job.
FRENCH ELECTIONS – President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday put responsibility on parliament to negotiate a broad coalition reflecting France’s “republican institutions” to break the stalemate following an inconclusive snap election. French leftists believe that as the largest bloc in the new National Assembly – with some 190 seats – they are entitled to propose a new prime minister.
FOOTBALL – After defeating the Netherlands 2-1 in last night’s Euro 2024 semi-final, England will face Spain in the final on Sunday in Berlin, and Colombia will face Argentina in this weekend’s Copa America Final after defeating Uruguay 1-0.
TENNIS – Elena Rybakina defeated Elina Svitolina 6-3 and 6-2 to book her place in the Wimbledon women’s semifinals, and Novac Djokovic progressed automatically to the men’s semi-finals after his opponent Alex de Minaur was forced to withdraw because of a hip injury.
The skies might be a little cloudy in the morning, but sunshine will be continuously popping through. While I don’t want to rain on your parade, there may be scattered rain in parts of Luxembourg in the afternoon.
In the morning, temperatures will be between 15–18°C and will steadily grow to a comfy 21–24°C. By evening, temperatures will be around 18–20°C.
Get out there and enjoy those rays, responsibly with sunscreen if needed, and get ready to just dodge any potential rain that comes our way.
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