ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR – A Luxembourg-Palestinian couple has achieved a breakthrough in their efforts evacuate part of their family from the Gaza Strip. This initial success, however, came at a steep cost of $20,000, underscoring the desperate circumstances faced by many seeking refuge from Gaza. Despite this achievement, the family’s future remains uncertain, with questions about their ability to reunite in Luxembourg. They are currently in Egypt, where they cannot stay. The couple has implored the Minister for Home Affairs to grant an exceptional humanitarian visa for their relatives but they have received no reply to date. The Refugee Council is urging the Luxembourg government to simplify the process of family reunification for residents during crisis situations.
TOBACCO TAX – Luxembourg is set to implement a new taxation system targeting e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, with a tax rate of €120 per litre on e-liquids for electronic cigarettes and a rate of €22 per kilo for nicotine pouches. Minister of Finance Gilles Roth first made this announcement during the presentation of the 2024 draft budget earlier this month. The taxation will come into effect on 1 October 2024.
PETROL PRICES – Unleaded and super unleaded petrol have both gone go up in price from midnight. Super unleaded (98) petrol has increased by 3.2 cents to €1.83/ litre, while unleaded petrol (95) has risen to €1.60/litre.
DRINK DRIVING – Drink driving is the main reason why Luxembourg drivers lose their licenses. According to Minister for Mobility Yuriko Backes and Minister of Justice Elisabeth Margue, nearly 1500 drivers had their licences revoked on the spot last year. Nearly 4,000 driving licences were revoked in 2023.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is to return to the Middle East in a new bid to secure a truce in the Israel-Hamas war. Following a failed attempt to secure a ceasefire in the war in the Gaza Strip by the start of Ramadan last week, a new round of negotiations hosted by key mediator Qatar has begun. On the ground, however, there is no sign of let up in the war that has devastated much of the Gaza Strip and forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to seek refuge in the south of the territory.
CHINA ACCIDENT – A passenger bus has crashed into a tunnel wall in north China’s Shanxi province, killing 14 people and injuring 37. According to local authorities the accident happened on the Hubei expressway and many people have been sent to hospital for treatment.
HEAT RECORD – Global temperatures “smashed” heat records last year, as heatwaves stalked oceans and glaciers suffered record ice loss, according to the latest report by the United Nations, which added that 2024 was likely to be even hotter. Reacting to the report, UN chief Antonio Guterres said it showed “a planet on the brink”.
HAPPINESS INDEX – Finland is the happiest country in the world. This is according to the latest Happiness Index, which was published today, on the International Day of Joy and Happiness. Luxembourg is in 8th place.
FOOTBALL – In the UEFA Women’s Champions League, today is the first leg of the quarter finals. Häcken Gothenburg meets Paris SG and Brann Bergen meets Barcelona.
Brazil’s justice system will decide today whether former Manchester City and Real Madrid striker Robinho will serve his nine-year rape sentence, handed down by an Italian court. Robson de Souza, popularly known as ‘Robinho’, remains free despite his conviction for being among a group of six men who gang raped a young Albanian woman out celebrating her 23rd birthday at a Milan nightclub in 2013.
And RTL Today has launched a competition to win tickets for Luxembourg’s potential European Championship game on March 26. The Red Lions are playing Georgia on Thursday in a bid to continue their qualification campaign for this summer’s European championships in Germany. Should Luxembourg beat Georgia, they will face either Greece or Kazakhstan at home on 26 March in the final qualifier at the Stade de Luxembourg... and you could be there! Check RTL Today, on how to enter.
Don’t let the misty morning fool you – the sun will be making a reappearance again today as temperatures soar! There might be some clouds at high altitude later in the day, but once that fog burns off, we’ll have sunshine once again. Temperatures will start off at 8–10°C, rising to a balmy 17°C in the afternoon.
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