LUXEMBOURG TRIPARTITE - The tripartite agreement will be signed at 2.30pm this afternoon by the government, employers and unions. Then at 4pm this afternoon, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel will make a declaration in parliament, before MPs comment on the agreement. Among other things, the price of electricity will be frozen at the current level, the gas price will be limited to plus15%. Fuel oil is subsidised at 15 cents per litre, the minimum wage is going up and VAT on all rates reduced by one point. The cost of the measures are expected to suppress inflation and will cost the government one billion euros.
CLIMATE STEEL - Arcelor Mittal Luxembourg wants to become more climate neutral. This is why the steel producer is investing €100 million in a new electric furnace at Belval. After that, the site in Bissen should be modernised. The agreement between Arcelor Mittal and the Ministry of Economy was signed yesterday. The state will contribute, depending on the project, between 25 and 40%.
PIPELINE SABOTAGE - Western leaders have said that sabotage is the most likely cause of leaks on the Nord Stream pipelines, after seismologists reported explosions before the leaks emerged. EU chief Ursula Von der Leyen threatened the “strongest possible response” to any deliberate disruption of European energy infrastructure. Poland is talking about the next escalation in the Ukrainian war, and for Ukrainian President Zelensky it is clearly a Russian terrorist act. The pipelines are currently in service due to the Ukrainian war, but they are filled with gas.
UKRAINE REFERENDUMS - Russian-installed officials in four occupied regions of Ukraine have reported huge majorities of votes in favour of joining Russia. The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet in New York later to discuss a resolution that says the results will never be accepted and that the four regions remain part of Ukraine. However any proposed resolution is highly unlikely to be ratified as Russia, as a permanent member, has a veto.
HURRICANE IAN -Florida is bracing itself for Hurricane Ian, due to make landfall later today. Meter-high waves and floods are feared. Because of this, several coastal regions have been evacuated due to the passage of the storm, all of Cuba is completely without power and two people were reported dead.
FOOTBALL TIMINGS - From October 9, Sunday matches in the national football championship will be played one hour earlier. The Luxembourg Football federation, FLF, announced yesterday that that matches will be played at 3 in the afternoon instead of 4, without lights on, to save electricity.
FOOTBALL U19 - The U19 national football team is in the elite round of the European Championship qualification. After yesterday’s 1-0 win against Azerbaijan, Luxembourg finished second in the table. Equal points with Turkey.
CYCLING CROATIA - In cycling, the Italian rider Jonathan Milan has won the first stage of the Tour of Croatia. The only Luxembourger taking part, Tom Wirtgen, was 92nd in two minutes.
Another changeable autumn day lies ahead, with light rain showers through the morning, making way for clouds and rare bright spots with a dry afternoon. The morning’s temperatures will start off at 6-8°C, rising to between 10-12°C in the afternoon.
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