ONGOING COMMITMENTS - The Democratic Party and the Christian Social People’s Party presented their official executive board statement on Monday, emphasising their commitment to ongoing projects - while placing a greater emphasis on climate and environmental protection. The Executive Board highlighted the importance of maintaining the city’s current “good” quality of life. With the DP and CSV expressing their priority for climate protection and energy transition as key strategies to achieve this goal.
POSTAL VOTES - As Luxembourg prepares for the upcoming legislative elections on the 8 October, citizens now have the opportunity to apply for postal voting. Beginning Monday the 17 July, residents of Luxembourg have until the 13 September to register for postal voting, while those residing abroad must submit their request by the 29 August, at the latest. The only prerequisite to vote by mail is that the voter must be registered on the electoral rolls. Applicants can request postal voting through various methods, including online via the myguichet platform, through postal mail, or by obtaining the required form from their local town hall.
DETAINED OFFICERS - One of the four police officers detained for battery, assault and obstruction of justice following a procedure in which an intoxicated person was placed in a sobering-up cell is a player on the national basketball team. The club will respect the presumption of innocence until a verdict is reached.
INTENSE HEAT - Temperatures reached new highs on Monday as heatwaves and wildfires scorched swathes of the Northern Hemisphere, forcing the evacuation of 1200 children close to a Greek seaside resort. Health authorities have sounded alarms from North America to Europe and Asia, urging people to stay hydrated and shelter from the burning sun, in a stark reminder of the effects of global warming. In Europe, Italians were warned to prepare for “the most intense heatwave of the summer and also one of the most intense of all time”, with a red alert issued for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence.
GRAIN DEAL COLLAPSE - Russia refused to extend a deal on Monday to allow Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea, sparking outrage from the United Nations, which has warned millions of the world’s poorest would “pay the price”. Moscow’s invasion last year saw Ukraine’s Black Sea ports blocked by warships until the agreement - brokered by the UN and Turkey and signed in July 2022 - allowed for the passage of critical grain shipments. The Kremlin announced it was exiting the deal, after months of complaining that elements allowing the export of Russian food and fertilisers had not been honoured.
TENSE RELATIONS - US President Joe Biden has agreed to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later this year in the United States but - amid months of tension - declined to specify if this would be at the White House. It will be the first such meeting since Netanyahu returned to office late last year, sparking Washington’s ire with controversial judicial reforms and aggressive settlement expansions in occupied Palestinian territory.
QUEEN OF POP - Billboard have announced that Taylor Swift now has more [US] number one albums than any other female artist in history following the recent release of “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)”. The record debuted at the top of the Billboard charts, becoming the pop queen’s 12th number one album and surpassing Barbra Streisand for the most among women
COMMONWEALTH SHOCK - In a shock announcement, the Australian state of Victoria has announced it is pulling out of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games - citing major cost blow-outs and leaving organisers fuming as they scramble to keep the multi-sport event afloat. State Premier Daniel Andrews said the initial budget estimate of $2 billion AU$ - needed to hold the Games - would more likely be around $7 billion, which he called “well and truly too much”. The Commonwealth Games Federation has described the move as “extremely disappointing”.
