ISRAEL PALESTINE WAR - In an interview with RTL, Israel’s ambassador to Luxembourg Idit Rosenzweig-Abu said yesterday that what is currently happening in Israel can be compared to 9/11. While the ambassador did not reveal actions planned by the Israeli military, she did emphasise the intent to target and dismantle the entire leadership of Hamas. She also stated that the inhabitants of Gaza would be encouraged to leave the city centres to get to safety as quickly as possible, in the event of a ground offensive.
COALITION TALKS - On the first day of coalition negotiations, Luc Frieden, alongside delegation heads Claude Wiseler and Xavier Bettel, addressed the press, shedding light on the initial discussions. Frieden expressed his satisfaction with the progress, surpassing initial expectations. Regarding the timeline for these negotiations, Frieden refrained from specifying a completion date but emphasised the urgency of forming a functioning government in these challenging times.
A3 MOTORWAY UPDATE - The Minister for Mobility Francois Bausch has provided an update on the progress of the A3 motorway widening project, which was started in spring 2022. A year and a half after it was launched, the project, which has five main sections between Gasperich and the French border is not expected to be completed until the end of 2030. Local and cross border commuters will have to be patient for another 7 years.
IMAX OPENING - And Luxembourg is about to witness the opening of its very first IMAX cinema at Kinepolis Kirchberg from the 18 October. The Kinepolis group describe it as a “new experience delivering an unparalleled level of immersion.” The first film will be Martin Scorcese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon”.
ISRAEL PALESTINE WAR - The United Nations says Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza strip has left almost 340,000 people homeless. Israel is continuing carrying out airstrikes on the territory, in retaliation for the Hamas attacks on Israelis at the weekend where hundreds of people were killed. It’s also blocking supplies of food, medicine and fuel. The US is in talks with Israel, the UN and Egypt on allowing aid into Gaza and providing a safe way for some residents to get out. Israel is widely expected to launch a ground invasion of Gaza. Hundreds of troops are grouping near the border.
PUTIN KYRGYZSTAN - Vladimir Putin has arrived in Kyrgyzstan, visiting abroad for the first time since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him in March. President Putin is wanted by the court over the deportation of Ukrainian children. He is taking part in a summit with his Belarus ally Alexander Lukashenko and other regional leaders.
UKRAINE NATO - President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Ukraine’s allies to arm his country to survive the winter, on his first visit to the alliance’s headquarters since Russia’s all-out invasion. Zelensky made a plea for air defence, long-range missiles and ammunition in the face of fears that the Hamas attack on Israel could distract key backer the United States from the conflict in his country. Zelensky later announced he had received assurances from Washington that military aid to Ukraine would remain “constant and uninterrupted”.
RUGBY - Teams are gearing up for a big weekend as the quarter finals get underway in the World Cup. France’s captain Antoine Dupont is “100 percent” ready to face defending champions South Africa on Sunday. The scrum-half was given the green light to return to full contact training earlier this week after undergoing surgery on a fractured cheekbone. Ireland head coach Andy Farrell selected the same starting XV for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final with New Zealand that whipped Scotland 36-14 last weekend. Saturday’s matches see New Zealand play Ireland and Wales against Argentina. On Sunday, in addition to the France v South Africa match, England are playing Fiji.
TENNIS - Rafael Nadal will return to Grand Slam action at the Australian Open in January, for what will almost certainly be the Spaniard’s farewell to Melbourne. The 22-time major winner has not played since his second-round loss to American Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open in January this year because of a hip injury. The 37-year-old has twice undergone surgery during his long rehabilitation and said last month that he was still aiming to finish his career in 2024.
There is not much variety in today’s weather report: it’s clouds, clouds, clouds. And a slight chance of rain throughout the day. Morning temperatures start at around 13-14ºC, rising to a maximum of around 19ºC.
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