POLITMONITOR SURVEY - According to the second Politmonitor survey conducted for RTL and Luxemburger Wort, housing affordability stands out as the most pressing problem in Luxembourg. Currently, a significant majority, three out of four people surveyed (73%), identify housing as their top concern. Beyond housing, Luxembourg residents express concerns about social inequality (56%), mobility (51%), and rising prices (50%). For details on the survey, take a look at RTL Today.
RODRIGUES SENTENCE - Following the national team’s match against Kazakhstan, Luxembourg footballer Gerson Rodrigues appeared before the Luxembourg City Court, where he was sentenced yesterday. The court handed down an 18-month suspended prison sentence and imposed a fine of €1,500. The charges against Rodrigues included three counts of assault and battery, one of which involved domestic violence against his former partner.
NATO EXPANSION - The NATO Support and Procurement Agency NSPA is to expand with the construction of two new, modern buildings. The NSPA plays a major role in the purchase of military equipment, rendering the agency an important partner for Luxembourg’s defence, but also for other NATO member states. According to Defence Minister Yuriko Backes, the agency employs over 1000 people.
STRAY CATS - The Luxembourg Ministry of Agriculture, along with the Animal Welfare League, has issued an appeal regarding the growing concern over the proliferation of stray cats in the Grand Duchy, urging cat owners to take proactive measures. One of the primary concerns highlighted by officials is the alarming rate of animal abandonment, resulting in dire consequences such as starvation and death.
EUROVISION TALI - The semi-finals for the Eurovision Song Contest will take place on 7 and 9 May. Last year, the jury vote was abolished for the first time, meaning that the final acts will all be chosen by the public. Luxembourg’s Tali will be performing last with her song “Fighter”, hoping to secure enough votes to take her through to the big final night on 11 May.
US BRIDGE COLLAPSE - Divers searching the Patapsco river in the US city of Baltimore have recovered 2 bodies which were trapped in a vehicle under water. They have been searching for 6 people after a container ship brought down the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland, called the situation an international crisis.
GERMANY ACCIDENT - Four people were killed and around 35 injured when a bus overturned on a German motorway near Leipzig yesterday. The Flixbus, en route from Berlin to Zurich with 52 passengers, veered off the A9 motorway. In a statement, Flixbus said the exact circumstances of the accident were not yet known.
ISRAEL-GAZA WAR - Israeli forces are pounding Gaza and fighting Hamas around several hospitals, despite a UN Security Council demand for a ceasefire. Talks in Qatar towards a truce and hostage release deal involving US and Egyptian mediators have brought no result so far, with Israel and the Palestinian militant group blaming each other. Tensions have risen between Israel and its top ally the United States over dire food shortages in Gaza and the soaring civilian death toll.
SCOTLAND ASSISTED DYING - Scotland could become the first UK nation to legalise assisted dying, if a bill being introduced later is approved. Two previous attempts to legalise the practice have been rejected.
CYCLING - The American Matteo Jorgensen won the Around Flanders one-day race yesterday. Belgian superstar cyclist Wout van Aert broke his collarbone and several ribs in a high-speed mass fall during the race. The 29-year-old star will now miss Sunday’s Tour of Flanders and next week’s Paris-Roubaix but could be back for the Giro d’Italia in May, where he will be hoping for several stage wins.
FOOTBALL - From football, there is the news that the national player Maxime Chanot is moving to the States to play for Los Angeles. According to l’Equipe his contract at Ajaccio has been terminated and he joins LAFC for 3 years.
Chelsea has reached the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League despite a 1-1 draw at home to Ajax, while Lyon also progressed after brushing aside Benfica in France. Chelsea prevailed 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win in the first leg in Amsterdam. Earlier, braces from Delphine Cascarino and Kadidiatou Diani gave eight-times titleholders Lyon a 4-1 victory at the Groupama Stadium to claim the tie 6-2 on aggregate.
TENNIS - World number three Jannik Sinner will face defending champion Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals of the Miami Open. Sinner moved into the last four in emphatic style on Wednesday, beating Czech Tomas Machac 6-4, 6-2 before Medvedev overcame a stern test against Chilean Nicolas Jarry before emerging with a 6-2, 7-6 (9/7) win.
In the women, Danielle Collins and Ekaterina Alexandrova will meet in the semi-finals of the Miami Open after victories in the last eight on Wednesday. Collins powered into the last four with an emphatic 6-3, 6-2 win over France’s Caroline Garcia before Alexandrova emerged triumphant from a near two-hour three set battle with American fifth seed Jessica Pegula. Today will see the opening semi-final with three-time Miami winner Victoria Azarenka up against fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina, the highest ranked player left in the tournament.
OLYMPICS - The Olympic flame is set to burn in the Tuileries Garden in front of the Louvre museum for the duration of the Paris Games in July and August. The lighting of the cauldron is a key moment during the Olympics opening ceremony, signalling the formal start of the global sports extravaganza.
Météolux has issued a yellow alert, cautioning of strong winds sweeping across the country today, coupled with scattered showers, particularly in the morning. Gusts of up to 75 kilometres per hour are forecast from 11am to 7pm. Temperatures are expected to range from 7 to 12 degrees Celsius.
---
Be sure to catch our full bulletin on the hour, every hour and headlines at half past the hour on Today Radio. You can also access the news via Alexa, and on RTL Play.
