LUXEMBOURG PARLIAMENT - In parliament this week: The Polish Parliament President Elzbieta Witek is on an official visit to the Chamber this afternoon. Elisabeth Margue, a new CSV MP will be sworn in tomorrow, replacing Viviane Reding. Then Prime Minister Bettel will deliver his State of the Nation address. On Wednesday, Finance Minister Yuriko Backes will submit the budget project for 2023. Both the Prime Minister’s speech on the state of the nation and the budget are this time particularly focused on the energy crisis, and the relief for companies and towns.
OUNI BANKRUPTSY - OUNI, a packaging-free store, has closed both of its locations in Luxembourg City and Dudelange. The cooperative was declared bankrupt. Plagued by large debts, the OUNI cooperative went bankrupt six years after opening its first store in Luxembourg City. The second store had opened in 2020, but due to the pandemic crisis the sales of the 100% bulk brand decreased. OUNI announced the bad news on Facebook and their website.
TEXT SCAMS - And according to reader reports gathered by our colleagues at RTL 5minutes, phishing attempts have been on the rise in recent days. The Grand Ducal Police have already issued a warning for fraudulent text messages that invite recipients to visit Guichet.lu. Similar messages pretending to be sent by Luxembourgish banks, authorities, and delivery services are equally dangerous and should be ignored.
EXPLOSIONS IN KYIV - A series of loud explosions rocked Ukraine’s capital Kyiv early Monday morning. Videos posted on social media showed black smoke rising above several areas in the city. The explosions came a day after Moscow blamed Ukraine for the explosion on a bridge linking Crimea to Russia, leaving three people dead (see story below).
CRIMEA BRIDGE - Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of attacking the bridge to Russian-annexed Crimea, saying that it was an “act of terrorism”. Putin said Ukraine’s intelligence forces had aimed to destroy a critically important piece of Russia’s civil infrastructure. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the explosion.
UN ANNEXATION - The UN General Assembly will hold an emergency meeting on the Russian annexations in Ukraine later today. The decision to bring the matter before the General Assembly, where the 193 UN members have one vote each -- and no one wields veto power -- was taken after Russia used its veto in a Security Council meeting on September 30 to block a similar proposal.
WEINSTEIN TRIAL - Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein goes on trial in Los Angeles today, where he faces charges, including sexual battery and rape of women between 2004-2013 in the city whose main industry he dominated for decades. The 70-year-old producer is already serving 23 years in jail in New York after being convicted there of a series of sex crimes. If convicted, Weinstein -- who has pleaded not guilty to all counts -- could be sentenced to 140 additional years behind bars.
AIR FRANCE, AIRBUS TRIAL - And another trial starts today. After thirteen years, Airbus and Air France go on trial for manslaughter in the 2009 plane crash in the Atlantic, which killed 228 people. The trial, which has high stakes for the European aircraft manufacturer, for the families of the victims and also for air transport worldwide, is due to last until 8 December in the Paris court.
EURO 2024 DRAW - The UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying draw has been announced. Luxembourg’s s group includes the tournament’s 2016 winners, Portugal. Also in Group J are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Slovakia and Liechtenstein.
Reigning champions Italy were drawn on Sunday to face England, the team they beat in the final last year. Euro 2024, hosted by Germany, will be Italy’s chance to regain some pride after they failed to qualify for the World Cup finals which kick off in Qatar in six weeks’s time.
FOOTBALL RESULTS - In the Bundesliga: Union Berlin remains table leader, after yesterday’s 1-0 victory in Stuttgart. Freiburg played 2-2 at Hertha, but is still 2nd. And Mönchengladbach won the derby against Cologne with a score of 5-2. In England, Arsenal remains table leader, after yesterday’s 3-2 victory against Liverpool.
A foggy morning awaits us, especially in low-lying areas of the country. Later on, the sky should clear somewhat and be replaced by high clouds. Afternoon through to evening, low clouds are set to return, threatening rain, as a cold front lingers in the region. The morning’s temperatures start off at a chilly 4-7°C, rising to 14-17°C in the afternoon.
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