PASSPORT VALIDITY - Luxembourg is extending the validity of its passport from five years to ten. Starting in 2025, the new extended validity period of ten years will apply to all adult passport holders aged 18 and above.
ASSELBORN INDONESIA - Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn is on an official working visit to Indonesia from today until Friday. In addition to political interviews, Asselborn will also give a lecture at the University of Jakarta on the role of diplomacy in world politics.
CAPE VERDE STATE VISIT - Today is the second day of the official state visit of the President of Cape Verde here in Luxembourg. Belval is in focus this morning. President José Maria Neves and Grand Duke Henri will be welcomed at the university and at Luxinovation, before political talks during a lunch. In the afternoon, there will be meetings at the stock exchange and at the Chamber of Commerce, before a concert in the Cercle in the evening concludes the 2nd day.
CHILDHOOD OBESITY - More and more children and teenagers are overweight in Luxembourg. It is estimated that 6,000 pupils in Luxembourg are obese. This can lead to health problems such as diabetes as well as cardiac and circulatory troubles. According to the World Health Organisation, people are considered obese when their Body Mass Index (BMI) is over 30.
RESCUE DOGS - The rescue corps CGDIS has two new members starting this week. The dogs Alpha and Elmo both passed their exams and are ready for service. Alpha has successfully passed his debris rescue exam and Elmo passed his search and rescue exam. From now on, the pair of pooches will be able to work together for the rescue services.
UKRAINE LATEST - The European Commission has confirmed that a fourth payment of €1.5 billion was made under the Macro-Financial Assistance package for Ukraine. This brings the total value of the package for Ukraine to €18 billion. Through this, the EU aims to help Ukraine cover its immediate need for funding such paying wages and pensions and maintaining essential public services such as schools, hospitals and the relocation of displaced people.
Russia says it has deployed jets and artillery to destroy an armed group that penetrated its border from Ukraine. It also remains unclear who controls the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. Today, the Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will be received for talks in Beijing.China says it is a neutral mediator in the Ukraine war.
US ELECTIONS - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is to announce his bid for the 2024 presidential nomination in a livestreamed Twitter chat with Elon Musk later today. DeSantis is viewed as former president Donald Trump’s chief rival for the Republican Party’s nomination.
MODERN SLAVERY - North Korea, Eritrea and Mauritania have the highest prevalence of modern slavery in the world, according to the 2023 Global Slavery Index published today. The report said an estimated 50 million people were “living in situations of modern slavery” in 2021, an increase of 10 million over 2016, when the problem was last measured. According to the human rights charity Walk Free, the situation is worsening “against a backdrop of increasing and more complex armed conflicts, widespread environmental degradation” and impacts from the coronavirus pandemic.
NINA SIMONE HOME - A New York gala and art auction have raised nearly $6 million to restore the childhood home of the soul music legend and civil rights campaigner Nina Simone. The 3-room house in the state of North Carolina was in danger of being demolished, when a group of New York based artists bought it in 2017. They hope to open the house to the public next year.
FOOTBALL - Spanish police have arrested seven people over two incidents of racial abuse targeting Real Madrid’s Brazilian star Vinicius Junior, including one this weekend that sparked an international outcry. Spain’s football league, La Liga, has been engulfed in a racism scandal after the 22-year-old forward was subjected to racist taunts during Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Valencia and later sent off. Junior has since been freed from the suspension and the league has ordered the closure of part of Valencia’s stadium for five matches and imposed a fine of 45,000 euros on the club.
CYCLIST - British cyclist Geraint Thomas has taken back the leader’s jersey in the Giro d’Italia even though he lost out on Tuesday’s stage 16 win, crossing the line just after UAE Team Emirates’ Joao Almeida at the top of Monte Bondone. Today is the 17th stage, which is a flat race over 197 km with an arrival in Caorle, next to Venice.
BASKETBALL - LeBron James is reportedly considering retirement from basketball after the Los Angeles Lakers were swept out of the NBA playoffs by the Denver Nuggets on Monday. ESPN reported that the 38-year-old was thinking about “walking away” from the sport after the Lakers’ defeat brought the curtain down on his 20th season in the league.
The skies will be largely clear and sunny, with the odd cloud appearing as we head into the afternoon. Temperatures should climb to around 20 degrees Celsius, with a gentle breeze throughout. The morning will start off a bit cooler than usual at around 5-7°C, rising steadily to 18-20°C in the afternoon.
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