MISSING PERSON - Police say that 15-year-old José Rafael Teixeira de Azevedo, who has been missing since Wednesday, is in need of medical assistance. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, shorts, and black trainers. He is described as standing between 1.50 and 1.60 metres tall with short black hair. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of José, you are asked to contact the Ettelbruck police station, either by calling (+352) 244 84 1000 or by writing an e-mail to Police.ETTELBRUCK@police.etat.lu.
ECB RATE HIKE - After the European Central Bank on Thursday decided to increase key interest rates by 0.25%, putting the main interest rate at 4.25%, the Luxembourg Bankers’ Association expects there to be a noticeable ripple effect in the Grand Duchy. ABBL spokesperson Jerry Gurbic explains that this decision “of course” directly impacts interest rates in Luxembourg. Banks are expected to adjust their interest rates in the coming months, affecting both lending and deposit rate.
FUEL PRICES - Luxembourg is set to witness another surge in fuel prices as of Friday, with both 95 and 98 petrol facing an uptick of up to 4.3 cents per litre. In addition, diesel will also see a rise of 3.8 cents per litre. This latest price hike comes merely three days after a general increase. As of Friday, the price of SP 95 petrol will rise by 4.3 cents to €1.644 a litre. Meanwhile, SP 98 petrol will cost €1.854 per litre after rising by 2.5 cents. Motorists relying on diesel will also feel the pinch as it surges by 3.8 cents to reach €1.537 per litre.
UNPRECEDENTED - UN and EU monitors have issued a warning as they project July 2023 to become the hottest month in recorded history, as UN chief Antonio Guterres warned Earth has moved into an “era of global boiling”. Searing heat intensified by global warming has affected tens of millions of people in parts of Europe, Asia and North America this month, combining with fierce wildfires that have scorched across Canada and parts of southern Europe. “Climate change is here. It is terrifying. And it is just the beginning”, said Guterres, urging immediate and bold action to cut planet-heating emissions.
NIGER COUP - Coup leaders in Niger said Thursday they had won broad army support and called for calm in the troubled country, but former colonial power France said it did not consider the apparent coup d’état to be “final”. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said there were “ways out” for coup plotters who chose to heed global condemnation of those seeking to remove President Mohamed Bazoum from his position. Bazoum entered office two years ago in Niger’s first peaceful transition of power since independence from France in 1960.
NUCLEAR TENSION - Japan said Friday that North Korea posed a more serious threat to its national security than “ever before”, as nuclear-armed Pyongyang rattles its neighbours with repeated missile tests and belligerent rhetoric. Pyongyang’s most recent weapons tests - the latest of which occurred on Monday - come as Tokyo, Seoul and Washington increase military cooperation to counter the North’s growing nuclear threats and China’s influence in the region.
TRUMP ALLEGATIONS - Former US president Donald Trump faces fresh charges alleging that he attempted to obstruct the investigation into the mishandling of top-secret documents by conspiring to delete surveillance footage at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida. Federal prosecutors unsealed the new indictment targeting the front-runner in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, who is set to go on trial as the election heats up in May of next year.
FAMILY SCARE - NBA superstar LeBron James said on Thursday his family was “together, safe and healthy” as his eldest son was released from hospital just days after suffering cardiac arrest. James’s comments marked the first statement from the family since Tuesday, when they confirmed that his eldest son had been treated by medical staff on scene, hospitalized and moved from the Intensive Care Unit in a “stable” condition.
DISQUALIFIED - Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan, who was controversially disqualified from the world championships for not shaking hands with a Russian opponent, defiantly insisted on Thursday: “We will never shake hands with them.”. Kharlan, 32, claimed she had been given the green light to snub Russian rival Anna Smirnova by the head of the sport’s federation - despite the gesture being a key feature of post-bout rituals. “My message today is that we Ukrainian athletes are ready to face Russians on the sports field but we will never shake hands with them,” the four-time world champion told journalists.
WWC - In the Women’s World Cup, this morning’s first game saw Argentina come back from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw against South Africa. Today’s other games see England taking on Denmark, and China facing off against Haiti.
Today sees another damp start with more drizzle and temperatures of around 15°C. Temperatures will rise slightly throughout the morning but, despite occasional glimpses of sunshine, the rain will continue throughout the course of the morning. And as temperatures in the afternoon peak at around 18°C to 19°C, thundery storms are likely to develop and continue into the evening.
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