BETTEL MIDDLE EAST - Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister is visiting Israel and Palestine tomorrow for the fourth time this year. Speaking on the plane, Bettel said that peace in Palestine would also bring peace to Israel. He stressed that without a ceasefire in Gaza, peace and a future two-state solution would be very complicated. Today, Bettel arrives in Cyprus, as part of its celebrations of 20 years of EU membership. The Foreign Minister is giving a speech at the university, where the situation of the ‘divided island’ will also be a topic.
ELECTRICITY PRICES - Starting 1 January, electricity prices in Luxembourg will see a substantial increase of approximately 30%. This was confirmed by Claude Seywert, CEO of Encevo, the country’s largest energy provider in an interview with RTL. Seywert highlighted that, thanks to a state-imposed energy cap, Luxembourg has been shielded from more drastic price hikes seen worldwide. The projected increase translates to an additional €250-300 annually for a typical four-person household.
POPULATION FIGURES - The national statistics office, Statec, has announced the population in the country has increased by 1.7 percent over the past year. That means Luxembourg’s population reached 672,050 as of the 1 January 2024. Other interesting facts include life expectancy, which now stands at 81 for men and 85 for women.
SCHOOL PHONE BAN - The Luxembourgish government’s plans to introduce a national smartphone ban in schools are in full swing. On Friday, Prime Minister Luc Frieden’s government adopted an amendment that bans smartphones on school premises in all primary schools starting Easter 2025. In secondary schools, teenagers will have to switch off their smartphones and leave them in a safe place during lessons.
UNWRA BANNED - The United Nations Secretary General has said that a new Israeli law banning the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNWRA) from operating in Israel will have devastating consequences. Antonio Guterres said there is no alternative to the organisation which provides aid in Gaza. The ban has sparked international outcry.
US ELECTIONS - Donald Trump has told supporters he is “not a Nazi,” using a rally in the final week of a bitter White House race to refute accusations of authoritarianism. As he and rival Kamala Harris, the current vice president, enter the final stretch of one of the closest US elections in modern times, each candidate and their teams have ramped up the political rhetoric, inflaming an already tense campaign. Harris is delivering the campaign’s “closing argument” today on the National Mall, where Trump spoke before the January 6th assault on the Capitol. Some 20,000 people are expected to attend.
UKRAINE WAR - NATO chief Mark Rutte has condemned North Korean troop deployment to Russia, calling it a dangerous escalation in the Ukraine conflict. North Korea has sent some 10,000 troops to train in Russia, the Pentagon said on Monday, raising Washington’s previous estimate of 3,000 from last week.
AUSTRIA SHOOTING - The suspected perpetrator of killing a mayor in Austria, as well as a second victim is still on the run and considered very dangerous.The police have put out a press release identifying the shooter as 56-year-old Roland Drexler who is believed to be driving a silver VW Caddy with the license plate RO-231EL.
HEDGEHOG DECLINE - The Western European hedgehog is in decline, mowed down by cars as its shrinking habitat forces it to move ever closer to humans. An updated Red List of Threatened Species published at the UN’s COP16 biodiversity summit in Colombia, downgraded the hedgehog’s status from “least concern” to “near threatened.”
FOOTBALL - Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati has won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the second year running, after leading her club to a historic continental quadruple of titles and claiming the Nations League with her country.
Manchester City’s Rodri has won the Ballon d’Or award for the best male footballer. Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony because they perceived the win as a snub to Vinicius Junior, who was widely seen as the favourite.
Following a dreadful start to the season, Erik ten Haag has been sacked by Manchester United. United currently sit 14th in the Premier League, only winning three of their nine opening matches. Former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will take caretaker charge in the meantime. Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim is in discussions to take over as Manchester United’s manager.
We have the same weather as yesterday across Luxembourg - misty morning, cloudy afternoon and a pleasant evening. In terms of temperature it should be around 7–9°C in the morning, rising to a strong 14–16°C in the afternoon
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