CHINA FLIGHT - The first direct China Southern flight between Luxembourg and Zhengzhou is expected to leave Findel Airport at 3pm today. The first flight arrived from China yesterday, with approximately 300 passengers onboard.
STRIKE OVER - It’s taken nearly a month, but unions have come to an agreement with management at Ampacet, the US plastics factory in Dudelange, ending the historic 25-day strike at the factory. The old collective labour agreement has been reinstated, as well as a re-evaluation of wages and a one-time payment of €600.
PRAGUE SHOOTING - A 24-year-old Czech student shot dead his father, then killed 14 people and wounded 25 others at his Prague university yesterday, before authorities said the attacker was “eliminated”. It is the country’s worst-ever mass shooting. The government has declared a day of mourning on Saturday, to remember the victims. President Petr Pavel expressed his “great sadness” and “helpless anger at the totally unnecessary loss” of life.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR - The United States has said it’s ready to support the latest version of the UN Security Council resolution about the war in Gaza. But a vote has been postponed for a fourth time this week. The latest wording hasn’t been released but a recent draft urged both Israel and Hamas to let aid into Gaza by all available routes. The US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters it was still a strong resolution. Meanwhile bombings are continuing in the Gaza Strip, where almost a quarter of the population is suffering from famine.
FREE TRANSPORT - The French city of Montpellier has become the latest European city to allow all its residents to ride public transport for free. Luxembourg scrapped fares in 2020, after Estonia’s capital Tallinn introduced the policy in 2013. From today Montpellier residents are able to ride trams and buses free of charge in the southern city. Visitors and tourists will still have to pay €1.60 a trip.
HOLIDAY TRAVEL - It’s the start of the Christmas weekend and many people are heading towards the Alps. The French traffic information system has marked roads red for leaving Paris and Lyon this afternoon. Some nine million French people go to the French Alps each year to ski. Added to this are “nearly half a million Belgian skiers, more than half a million Dutch skiers and more than a million English skiers”, with less than 4% of them traveling by train. In other Christmas travel news for people heading to the UK, the Channel Tunnel was able to reopen yesterday evening after a surprise strike by Eurotunnel staff. Eurostar, high-speed trains linking London to Paris and Brussels, should also be able to run again on Friday.
FOOTBALL - UEFA and FIFA contravened EU law by stopping the formation of a Super League, the European Court of Justice said yesterday. Although breakaway organisers welcome the ruling, major leagues, clubs and fans have immediately moved to support the status quo.
In the English Premier league, Liverpool and Arsenal will battle for the Christmas number one spot when they meet on Saturday. If there is not a winner at Anfield, third-placed Aston Villa could be top at Christmas for the first time since 1999 should their phenomenal home form continue against bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United.
SKIING - Olympic champion Petra Vlhova has clinched her 30th World Cup win with a scorching second run to beat Mikaela Shiffrin in the slalom under the lights at Courchevel. Vlhova, winner of the season’s first slalom in Finland, emerged as the lone challenger to Shiffrin, with the rest of the field over a second off the pace after the opening run. Five-time champion Shiffrin remains top of the overall standings on 700 points.
Today will be predominantly overcast, with rain becoming more frequent, especially in the afternoon. The northern regions are set to experience strong winds with gusts ranging from 65-70 km/h. In certain areas, local gusts might peak at 75-80 km/h. Morning temperatures will start at 3-7°C in the morning, climbing to 6-10°C in the afternoon and remaining there into the evening.
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