EU ASYLUM - EU ministers are meeting in Luxembourg today to discuss reforming the European asylum system. Luxembourg’s Foreign minister Jean Asselborn and his counterparts have several options on the table, including a stricter handling of migrants who have no prospect of residence. In addition, solidarity with heavily burdened countries, especially at the EU’s external borders, will no longer be voluntary in the future, but a duty.
An agreement can only be reached if at least 15 of the 27 member states agree. The 15 must also make up at least 65% of the EU population. The position of France is therefore crucial and Germany, which is still undecided.
RESIDENCE CARDS - Residence cards for third-country nationals and family members of EU citizens must be renewed from the 3rd of August. The previous format of a card printed on secure paper with an affixed photo will no longer be valid. Those who still have a residence permit in paper format must exchange it for a biometric smart card by early August.
AI IN SCHOOLS - The Luxdidac Education fair is currently taking at the Forum Geesseknäppchen with the aim of tackling the role of AI in schools and the future of teaching. Minister of Education Claude Meisch urged caution in approaching revolutions such as artificial intelligence advocated for greater emphasis on developing children’s human skills to ensure their place in the digital world.
UKRAINE DAM - Ukraine’s President Zelensky says he is shocked by the lack of help from international aid agencies, such as the Red Cross and the UN, after the Kakhovka dam was destroyed. Earlier, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal accused Russia of leaving people to die and said the damage caused to farmland threatened global food security.
In addition, the destruction of the dam will have a catastrophic effect on locating landmines in the region. NATO has called an emergency meeting for today.
CANADA WILDFIRES - Millions of people in the US have been advised to wear high-grade masks outdoors due to air pollution, created by wildfires in Canada. The Canadian government says that nearly a hundred of million people in the US and Canada are currently experiencing very poor air quality. New York is in an apocalyptic smog and the city will distribute over a million masks today.
In Canada itself, the devastating wildfires have displaced more than 20,000 people and scorched about 3.8 million hectares of land. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this is the worst wildfire season ever in Canada.
PENCE NOMINATION - Former Vice President Mike Pence has announced his entry into the 2024 United States presidential election, as he goes up against his ex-boss Donald Trump for the Republican nomination. Pence stuck with Trump throughout a scandal-plagued four years in the White House but rejected demands that he overturn the 2020 election in his role as president of the Senate.
AI CONFERENCE - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a world-first summit on artificial intelligence. Sunak will discuss the event, when he meets President Biden at the White House today, for talks during which he will also voice unstinting support for Ukraine.
FOOTBALL - West Ham are celebrating their first trophy in more than 40 years, after winning the Europa Conference League last night. They beat the Italian side Fiorentina 2-1 in Prague, thanks to a goal in the final minute of the match.
and staying with football - Lionel Messi is moving to the US. The 7-time World Cup winner is leaving PSG and joining Inter Miami, where David Beckham is president. He confirmed this to Spanish sports newspapers yesterday evening.
TENNIS - There are two women’s semi final matches are taking place at the French Open today. In the afternoon, the Czech Karolina Muchova meets the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka and in the evening the current number 1 in the world, the Polish player Iga Swiatek, will face the Brazilian Beatriz Maia.
BASKETBALL - Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray dominated the Miami Heat, both making triple-doubles as the Denver Nuggets took a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals with a 109-94 win in game three on Wednesday. Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic scored 32 points with 21 rebounds and 10 assists, an unprecedented triple-double combination in an NBA Finals game. Murray scored 34 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and 10 assists -- completing his own triple-double with a rebound in the waning seconds.
The morning starts bright and beautiful and by 2pm a few clouds will begin rolling in, but by 7pm it’s back to clear skies.Temperatures start off at 13°C, rising to highs of 27°C in the afternoon.
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