CLIMATE TARGETS - According to the Ministry for the Environment, the industrial sector in Luxembourg failed to meet its climate targets in 2021. The sector’s emissions exceeded the government’s target by 30.8%. Many companies are finding it difficult to reduce their emissions any further, according to the Federation of Luxembourg Industrialists (FEDIL). While the industry does not question the climate targets, it criticises the “lack of concrete plans on how to achieve them.”
GAS CONSUMPTION TARGETS - But Luxembourg has largely achieved its natural gas consumption reduction targets and its electricity consumption “continues to fall,” according to the Ministry of Energy. Luxembourg’s efforts to cut its natural gas consumption have even exceeded the EU’s target set after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. The total reduction in natural gas consumption is -26.3%, greatly exceeding the EU Member States’ target of a 15% reduction in natural gas demand.
ACCIDENT TRAFFIC - Traffic chaos this morning, on the A3 between France and Luxembourg City. An accident slowed down the A3 near the border this morning. According to our information, a truck and a car collided near Dudelange. One of the two traffic lanes is blocked in the direction of the Luxembourg capital. There are several kilometres of traffic jams on both sides of the border. For updates, visit here.
FIREBALL SPOTTED - Several listeners reported to RTL that they had seen some kind of “shooting star” in the sky above Kehlen on Monday morning. On Tuesday, the Astronomical observatory Gahbergconfirmed that it was indeed a fireball. A fireball is technically a larger shooting star. Depending on the size of the material that burns up in the atmosphere, the remains can sometimes reach the earth as a meteorite. You can see a video recorded from a dashcams on RTL Today.
TRUMP INDICTMENT - Donald Trump is insisting he is innocent of any criminal charges, after being indicted on 34 counts in a New York court. He is accused of falsifying records and paying hush money to hide damaging information during the 2016 election. But addressing supporters in his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump accused the Democrats of a witchhunt and said the case was “ an insult to our country”. Trump’s team will have until August to file any motions against the case. The next court hearing is set for December.
JERUSALEM CLASHES - Clashes have erupted inside the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem early this morning, as Israeli police entered to dislodge what they called “agitators”. The Palestinian worshippers had barricaded themselves inside with fireworks, sticks and stones. Palestinians say 14 people were hurt after the police used stun grenades and rubber bullets to clear out the group.
MACRON CHINA - French President Emmanuel Macron is due in Beijing today for a visit in which he hopes to dissuade China from supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while also forging closer ties with a crucial trade partner. Macron will look to stand firm on Ukraine during talks with his counterpart Xi Jinping and offer “another path” from the directly confrontational tone often heard from Washington, an official from his office told reporters before the three-day trip.
GOLF – The world’s greatest golfers face each other at the 87th Masters Tournament at Augusta National on Thursday for the first time since the bitter LIV Golf-PGA Tour split divided the sport. Top-ranked defending champion Scottie Scheffler will be joined by fifth-ranked Max Homa while world number two Rory McIlroy opens alongside Tom Kim and Sam Burns.
FOOTBALL - Chelsea wasted a host of chances to beat Liverpool as the troubled Blues were held to a 0-0 draw last night in their first Premier League match since Graham Potter’s sacking. And Bayern Munich have crashed out of the German Cup after Lucas Hoeler scored an injury-time penalty to earn Freiburg a 2-1 win and a place in the semi-finals.
Today is going to be filled with sunshine and there will be some light wind throughout the day. It starts off rather chilly at -4 to -1 °C, rising to highs of 7 to 9 °C in the afternoon.
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