Your daily briefToday's most important news in one place

Luxembourg ranks in world’s top three most powerful passports

The Luxembourgish passport ranks joint third globally, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 187 destinations worldwide. Luxembourg shares this position with Denmark, Spain, Switzerland, and Sweden, underlining its strong standing in global mobility.

Singapore tops the 2025 ranking, with its passport granting access to 192 destinations without a prior visa. Japan and South Korea follow closely in second place, each with access to 188 destinations. Neighbouring France, Belgium, and Germany occupy fourth position, just one place behind Luxembourg.

At the lower end of the index, Afghanistan remains the weakest passport worldwide, allowing access to just 24 destinations. Syria and Iraq follow with 26 and 29 destinations respectively.

Also today

• A man is currently on trial at the Luxembourg City District Court for the murder of his wife, with three hearings scheduled before the 13th Criminal Chamber.
• Gulf allies have convinced Donald Trump to “give Iran a chance”, a Saudi official said on Thursday, after the US leader repeatedly threatened strikes on the Islamic republic over a crackdown on protests that activists say has left thousands dead.
• Applications have now opened for the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship four-week summer programme for high school students interested in international affairs.
• The UK’s Conservative Party is wobbling after allegations another senior Tory was planning to join Nigel Farage’s far-right Reform UK party.
• A Luxair Boeing aircraft was forced to return to Findel Airport on Wednesday afternoon following a technical incident during the flight.
• EU member states have finally reached an agreement on a common European Pact for Migration and Asylum, aimed at improving efficiency, making procedures faster and more humane.
• A 77-year-old woman was fatally injured in a crash on the N15 on Thursday afternoon.

On air

Restaurant chat. What are your ‘hidden gems’ that keep you coming back time and again?

Figure of the day

The Luxembourg government has officially launched the new defence bond today, confirming the interest rate will be fixed at 2.25%.

• The three-year bond is designed to help fund national defence and security initiatives, with the interest earned being tax-exempt for residents. Minimum investment is €1,000, up to a maximum of €150,000, in tranches of a thousand euros at a time. Every 12 months, investors will receive a coupon for the interest earned. After three years, the investment will be paid back in full.
• People interested in investing in national defence and security projects can apply for the defence bonds at five Luxembourg banks: Spuerkeess, BGL BNP Paribas, BIL, Banque de Luxembourg and Raiffeisen. There are no subscription fees.

Stay connected: tune in to RTL Today Radio, now on DAB+, and follow the latest news as it unfolds on our website.