EUROPE HEATWAVE - A heatwave is sweeping across parts of southern Europe and north-west Africa, with potential record-breaking temperatures in the coming days. Temperatures are expected to surpass 40C in parts of Spain, France, Greece, Croatia and Italy. In Italy, temperatures could reach as high as 48.8C. A red alert warning has been issued in 10 cities, including Rome and Florence.
BIDEN NATO - US President Biden has accused Russian President Putin of having a “craven lust for land and power” at the end of a NATO summit on Wednesday, where Ukraine won new security assurances from the U.S. and its allies for its defence against Moscow for as long as it takes.
EU ENVIRONMENT - The European Parliament has voted to pass a fiercely contested law to restore degraded natural ecosystems. Many centre-right lawmakers and European government leaders have warned that Europe is pushing through too many environmental laws as part of its overall green agenda. The legislation will require countries to introduce measures restoring nature on a fifth of their land and sea by 2030.
BBC SCANDAL - One of Britain’s leading television news anchors, Huw Edwards, was identified by his wife yesterday as the BBC presenter facing allegations he paid a young person thousands of pounds for sexually explicit photos. Edwards announced the death of Queen Elizabeth to the nation in September and has led coverage of the biggest events in Britain since for over 20 years, including elections, royal weddings and the 2012 Olympics.
BILLION DOLLAR TOUR - Industry watchers are speculating over whether Taylor Swift or Beyonce could post the first billion-dollar tour, as 2023 witnesses an explosion of shows. They are among the dozens of stars who’ve hit the road and fueled a booming arena market, as demand for live entertainment soars after years of pandemic-induced cancellations and postponements. The 33-year-old Swift is now within striking distance of the billion-dollar mark, with 106 current dates on her “Eras” tour.Odds are also favoring Beyonce as she commences the North American leg of her “Renaissance” tour. If either cross the history-making line, they’d jump past Elton John.
DIESEL PRICE - Just five days after a 1.4 cents hike, the price of diesel has risen again. The Department of Energy has announced a 2.2 cents increase, bringing the total price to reach 1.462€ per litre.
BUILDING LAND - Luxembourg has enough building land reserves to accommodate around 370,000 people, according to a recent study conducted by the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research. Approximately 42% of the building land reserves are concentrated in Luxembourg City and its surrounding municipalities.
SCHOOL AGE - Parliament will today discuss a bill, aimed at raising the compulsory schooling age from 16-18. The measure was announced by Education Minister Claude Meisch as a result of the pandemic, which worsened education gaps and increased the risk of pupils dropping out of school without a qualification.
FOOTBALL - In the first match of the 1st round in the qualification for the Champions League, Swift Hesperange drew 1-1 with Slovan Bratislava last night. The return match will take place at the Stade de Luxembourg next Wednesday. In the qualification match for the Conference League, F91 Dudelange beat Irish team St Patricks Athletic 2-1.
CYCLING - Belgian Jasper Philipsen sprinted to his fourth stage win on this year’s Tour de France with a powerful last burst on stage 11 from Clermont-Ferrand to Moulins., Jonas Vingegaard remains the overall leader. Today, it is 169km from Roanne to Belleville-en-Beaujolais on a very hilly course.
TENNIS - All the semi-finals are set for the Wimbledon championship. In the men’s category, after yesterday’s matches, Carlos Alcaraz will face Danil Medvedev tomorrow. And the duel between Novak Djokovic and Italy’s Jannik Sinner is already set. The women’s semifinals are today. Starting with the match between Elina Svitolina and Marketa Vondrousova. Then Ons Jabbeur and Aryna Sabalenka meet each other. The finals will take place at the weekend.
You can expect a mix of clouds and sunshine throughout the day, with mild temperatures. Embrace the pleasant west wind, blowing at 30 to 40 km/h, and bask in temperatures ranging from a comfortable 15-18 degrees in the morning, rising to 20 to 24 degrees in the afternoon.
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