BEGGING BAN - The police regulation enforcing a begging ban in Luxembourg City is set to take effect on Friday as the Minister for Home Affairs, Léon Gloden, overturns the decision made by his predecessor Taina Bofferding. From today, people are not allowed to beg in the city centre, at the train station, public spaces, or in parks.
HOUSING CRISIS - Housing Minister Claude Meisch has emphasised the collective responsibility of the entire government and Luxembourg society in addressing housing issues during an interview with RTL Radio. The minister stressed the urgency of increasing housing construction both in quantity and speed while ensuring affordability. He also suggested reviving private investment and demand, particularly in light of rising interest rates.CO2 TAX - Minister of Finance Gilles Roth has spoken about the upcoming rise in Luxembourg’s CO2 tax, explaining that this adjustment translates to an additional 1-2 cents per litre of petrol or diesel. The legislative proposal has received approval in the Chamber of Deputies and will start in January 2024.DEEPFAKES - Deepfakes of Luxembourg politicians have surfaced on YouTube. Earlier this week, deceptive ads showcased fake endorsements by Luxembourg’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister for odd investment projects. An RTL user sent our colleagues a screenshot of an ad featuring Luc Frieden and a video featuring Xavier Bettel, seemingly speaking in German. RTL has been informed by the Ministry of State that preliminary actions have been taken.
EUROVISION PODCAST - Discover the captivating world of Eurovision through “Luxembourg’s Green Room - The Eurovision Podcast,” hosted by the dynamic Chrissi Welter. Whether you’re a seasoned Eurovision enthusiast or a newcomer, “Luxembourg’s Green Room” offers a breezy yet informative exploration of Luxembourg’s rich history in the iconic song contest. The show includes exclusive interviews with guests, offering unique insights into Luxembourg’s role in Eurovision. Notably, among the guests will be Luxembourg’s eight finalists!
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR - The United States has told Israel to scale down its war on Hamas in the “near future,” with President Joe Biden urging it to take more care to save civilian lives in Gaza. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan made the push during talks in Tel Aviv with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Sullivan is heading to the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Ramallah for talks with Palestinian Authority leaders today.
TEENAGER FOUND - A 17-year-old boy from Oldham in England, who disappeared in Spain in 2017, has been located in France. The teenager, identified as Alex Batty, was discovered in a town near Toulouse, early on Wednesday morning. Alex had been missing for six years following a holiday to Marbella with his mother and grandfather, who remain wanted over his disappearance. Alex is now under the care of social services, awaiting to return to the UK with police and consular officials.
FOOTBALL - Yesterday was the end of the group stage in the Europa League - and Leverkusen succeeded perfectly, with a 5:1 against Molde. The Glasgow Rangers are also in the round of 16, after a 3:2 defeat against Betis Sevilla.
In the English Premier League, Manchester United travel to the home of rivals Liverpool this weekend desperate to avoid another humiliation but with all the signs pointing to a tough afternoon at Anfield. Tottenham kick off the action at struggling Nottingham Forest today, while Aston Villa, fresh from impressive wins against Manchester City and Arsenal, travel to Brentford.https://today.rtl.lu/sport/international/a/2148779.htmlLionel Messi and Aitana Bonmati have been named as finalists for the FIFA best players of the year awards by world football’s governing body. Messi was awarded an eighth Ballon d’Or crown in October, while Bonmati took the women’s prize after starring for Spain in their Women’s World Cup triumph. The awards ceremony will take place in London on January 15.
SKIING - Due to the bad weather conditions, the first four descents of the men’s season had to be postponed in Alpine skiing. American skier Bryce Bennett was the surprise winner of the first men’s World Cup downhill of the season at Val Gardena in Italy yesterday. Bennett edged favourite Aleksander Kilde by just 0.03 seconds to claim his second World Cup win.
Today starts off cloudy with some lingering fog, especially in the north. The chance of light drizzle will persist throughout the morning but we should have some clear spells in the afternoon. Low temperatures will be between 2 and 4°C, with an expected high of 8°C in the afternoon.
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