BARI CASE - On the third day of trial in the so-called Bari case, which revolves around a major drug-trafficking ring, all eyes were on the evidence that an undercover police officer gathered over the course of an investigation lasting several months. The police officer infiltrated his targets’ world , learning how the money laundering was carried out in early 2020. This afternoon, police investigators will explain more about drug deals and the steps leading up to the intervention carried out in November 2020. 20 people will have to answer for their actions before the courts in the coming weeks.
PUBLIC FINANCES - Minister of Finance Yuriko Backes has delivered an update on Luxembourg’s public finances during the first quarter of 2023. Luxembourg’s spending increased by over 18% year-over-year to 6.3 billion euros in the first three months of the year. This is due to a combination of factors, including financial aids for households and businesses, wage indexations, and the hiring of additional staff. Public investments also increased.
SUDAN CEASEFIRE - A 3-day ceasefire has come into effect in Sudan. It was announced by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said Sudan’s armed forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces had agreed to pause fighting from midnight local time. There is hope that more and more countries can move out their nationals as well as millions of people, trapped in the violence could use the opportunity to increase their food supplies and to try to move away from conflict zones. So far, more than 400 people have lost their lives in the conflict. Almost 4000 have been injured. The UN Security Council is meeting this evening to discuss the current situation in Sudan.
BIDEN ANNOUNCEMENT - US President Joe Biden is expected to announce he is running for a second term today, plunging at the record age of 80 into a ferocious new White House campaign -- and potential rematch against Donald Trump. The Democrat is expected to release a video message, just as he did exactly four years ago when he announced his ultimately successful bid to defeat Trump in 2020.
TRUMP TRIAL - A trial against former US President Trump begins today in New York. This time he is accused of rape in a civil trial. The victim is the American writer Jean Carroll. Trump is said to have raped her in a shopping center in the mid-90s.But he says he is innocent. Jury selection is due to begin today.
MOON SHOT - A Japanese space start-up will attempt to become the first private company to put a lander on the Moon today. If all goes to plan, ispace’s Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander will start its descent towards the lunar surface at around 1540 GMT. It will slow its orbit some 100 kilometres above the Moon, then adjust its speed and altitude to make a “soft landing” around an hour later.
SHEERAN PLAGIARISM - A trial has started into whether Ed Sheeran plagiarized American music legend Marvin Gaye‘s “Let’s Get It On” in his 2014 hit “Thinking Out Loud.” The plaintiffs allege that there are “striking similarities and overt common elements” between the two songs. It’s not the first time Sheeran has been taken to court, as copyright lawsuits in the music industry flourish.
CYCLING - The Tour de Romandie starts today. It goes through French-speaking Switzerland over 6 days. Today it is the prologue of almost 7 kilometers in Port-Valais. With Bob Jungels, Arthur Kluckers and Luc Wirtgen, there are also 3 Luxembourgers taking part.
FOOTBALL BARCELONA - Barcelona have secured 1.45 billion euros in funding for a redevelopment plan and will start the renovation of the Camp Nou stadium on June 1. The club said they expected the work on the Camp Nou to be completed by 2026. The men’s first team will play at the Olympic stadium on Montjuic before returning in the 2024-25 season to a Camp Nou not yet at full capacity. Barcelona are emulating their main Spanish rivals Real Madrid who began the latest renovation of their Bernabeu Stadium in 2019.
Today should bring us six hours of total sunshine. The morning will remain dry, followed by some lights showers in the afternoon and again dry weather in the later hours.Morning temperatures will start off at 4-6°C, rising no higher than 9°C in the afternoon.
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