GRAND DUKE SPEECH – Grand Duke Henri delivered his final National Day address on Monday – a deeply emotional moment for the head of state, his wife Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, and the audience alike. After 25 years as Head of State, the Grand Duke will step down in early October, with his eldest son, Prince Guillaume, set to assume the role.
FRIEDEN ADDRESS – Prime Minister Luc Frieden in his National Day address highlighted the need for dialogue, inclusion, and resilience in uncertain times. He said that National Day felt different this year – not only because of Grand Duke Henri’s 25th jubilee, but also due to a world in flux and fundamental changes underway.
MOTORWAY ACCIDENT – A multi-vehicle crash on the A7 motorway, near the Colmar-Berg exit, left one person injured and caused major traffic disruptions on Monday evening. According to initial reports, the collision occurred shortly before 7pm and involved three cars. One of the vehicles overturned and landed on its roof in the middle of the motorway.
CATTENOM RADIATION INCIDENT – French regulators have classified a recent radioactive contamination incident at the Cattenom nuclear plant as Level 2 on the international severity scale after a worker was found with a radioactive particle on their skin. According to the French Nuclear Safety Authority, the worker’s full-body radiation exposure remained within safety thresholds.
ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT – Iran has denied agreeing a ceasefire with Israel, contradicting a claim made hours earlier by Donald Trump. Its foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said there was no agreement on the cessation of military operations but that if Israel stops its attacks, Iran will also bring an end to its strikes. The confusion over a possible ceasefire followed an Iranian attack on a US base in Qatar and a missile strike in southern Israel, which killed three people.https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/2314092.html
NATO MEETING – NATO leaders are gathering in The Hague to present a united front and pledge higher defence spending in a bid to secure US President Donald Trump’s continued support for the alliance amid rising global tensions and fallout from his strike on Iran. NATO’s 32 countries have thrashed out a compromise deal to dedicate 3.5 percent to core military needs by 2035, and 1.5 percent to broader security-related areas like cybersecurity and infrastructure.
Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky, has been downgraded from the central role he played at recent NATO gatherings. This time he is set to attend the king’s dinner, meet EU leaders, and attend an industry forum – but he will not hold formal talks with the alliance’s leaders. Prime Minister Luc Frieden, Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel, and Defence Minister Yuriko Backes are representing Luxembourg.
PAINKILLER DISCOVERY – Scientists have found a way to use the bacteria E.Coli to convert plastic waste into a popular painkiller. Paracetamol has up until now been made from the derivatives of fossil fuels. The British team of researchers have used a molecule derived from PET plastic to spark a chemical reaction in a strain of E.coli, enabling them to transform their molecule into paracetamol.
BASKETBALL – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander believes Oklahoma City’s NBA Finals triumph could be the beginning of a golden era for him and his Thunder teammates. The Thunder have completed a 4-3 series victory over the Indiana Pacers, powering to a 103-91 win. For Gilgeous-Alexander, Sunday’s win completes a dazzling season, winning a NBA regular season and NBA Finals Most Valuable Player honors as well as the league’s scoring title.
FOOTBALL – Paris Saint-Germain has eased to a 2-0 win over Seattle Sounders to secure their place in the last 16 of the Club World Cup. Porto and Al Ahly have drawn 4-4 and Inter Miami have also reached the last 16 with a 2-2 draw with Palmereiras. Later today, Auckland City and Boca Junior are playing and Benfica take on Bayern at 9pm.
Summer is truly making its presence felt, with high temperatures and plenty of sunshine on the horizon. The day will start off mild, with morning temperatures between 12°C and 14°C and a few lingering clouds. By the afternoon, things will heat up, with highs reaching around 27°C.
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