BETTEL BENELUX - Prime Minister Xavier Bettel will meet his counterparts Mark Rutte from the Netherlands and Alexander De Croo from Belgium in Bourglinster castle today. Luxembourg currently holds the presidency of the Benelux Union. The main topics in the discussions will be lessons from the pandemic, environmental protection and an even closer cooperation in the Greater Region.
LUXEMBOURG SOUTH KOREA- 34 Luxembourg businesses have gone on a business mission to South Korea with Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume. Well-known Luxembourg companies such as Arcelor-Mittal and Rotarex are already represented on the South Korean market. The businesses are hoping to learn from South Korea, such as in the area digitalisation of mobility and space, as well as sign a number of agreements.
CHINA PROTESTS - Protests against China’s strict Covid restrictions have spread, with some demonstrators openly calling for President Xi Jinping to stand down. People gathered in the streets of many cities, including Shanghai, Beijing and Wuhan. The unrest began after 10 people died in a fire in Xianjiang last week with some people blaming Covid restrictions for delaying the rescue efforts. China has posted record high Covid-19 infections today, following the extraordinary weekend of protests.
ISCHIA LANDSLIDE - Italy’s government has declared a state of emergency, after a landslide on the southern island of Ischia killed at least 7 people and left 5 people still missing. A wave of mud and debris hit the small town of Casamicciola Terme early on Saturday morning, engulfing at least one house and sweeping cars down to the sea. More than 200 rescuers are still searching for a dozen missing people, while hundreds of volunteers, and others, up to their knees in mud, are busy cleaning the streets of the town.
BELGIUM RAIL STRIKES - Belgian rail workers are striking this week, meaning train availability will be limited from late today until Thursday. Rail workers are demanding greater government investment in the network. One train in four on average will run on Tuesday and services in some regions will be completely halted. A 48-hour strike by train drivers on Wednesday and Thursday will further disrupt services.BRUSSELS RIOTS - Police used water cannons to disperse crowds in Brussels after the mood turned sour during the country’s shock defeat to Morocco at the World Cup on Sunday. Rioters smashed shop windows, threw fireworks, and torched vehicles. Videos posted on social media showed people smashing the windows of a red car before flipping it and setting it alight.FOOTBALL WORLD CUP - Germany and Spain drew 1:1 last night. Earlier in the day, Croatia eliminated Canada from the tournament after a 4-1 win. Canada is the second country after Qatar to leave.These matches will be played today: Portugal vs Uruguay / Brazil vs Switzerland / South Korea vs Ghana and Cameroon vs Serbia.
US IRAN - Twenty-four years after their first World Cup meeting billed as the “Mother of all football matches”, Iran and the United States face off in a politically-charged showdown on Tuesday with a place in the knockout rounds up for grabs.In the context of the tournament, the stakes are simple -- a win for either team secures a place in the last 16 while defeat will guarantee elimination. But the wider significance of the Group B contest is less clear-cut. The United States and Iran have been bitter ideological enemies for more than four decades, severing diplomatic relations after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
It’s a blanket of clouds today. The sky will get more cloudy as the day progresses, with drizzle making an appearance from afternoon ‘til the evening. Morning temperatures will start off at 6-8°C, staying at 6-8°C in the afternoon.
A cold snap is expected later in the week, in Luxembourg as well as in other parts of Europe. Météolux has announced temperatures around zero degrees as of Thursday.
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