REPATRIATION FLIGHT – A fifth repatriation flight has brought Luxembourg nationals home from the Middle East. On Sunday and Monday, two military aircraft evacuated 134 people from Dubai to Egypt, where they boarded a Belgian civilian flight to Brussels. An army bus then transferred the country’s nationals back to Luxembourg.
FUEL PRICE – The price of 98-unleaded petrol has increased by 5.2 cents to €1.70 per litre from midnight.
SOCIAL MEDIA BAN – The government is pushing to ban social media access for children to combat addiction and harmful content. While Education Minister Claude Meisch prefers a European Union-wide approach, he confirmed Luxembourg will implement its own ban within 12 months if no EU solution is reached.
METEORITE – The meteorite spotted over Luxembourg and Germany on Sunday night was no small rock. The European Space Agency estimates it measured over a metre across, possibly several metres in diameter. Dr Richard Moissl, Planetary Defence Officer at the ESA, said the long light trail, condensation trail, and audible effects all pointed to a significantly sized object.
MIDDLE EAST WAR – President Trump has claimed the war against Iran is nearly over, saying the country’s military has been, in his words, virtually completely destroyed. Speaking in a phone interview, Trump said the campaign was running well ahead of schedule. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have rejected that assessment, insisting Tehran alone will decide when hostilities end. Markets responded positively to the president’s remarks, with oil prices falling sharply and stocks rising.
Israel has carried out fresh airstrikes on targets inside Iran, with reports suggesting the Revolutionary Guards’ main drone headquarters has been destroyed. Iran has also struck Bahrain, where one woman was killed and eight people injured in a drone attack. NATO says it successfully intercepted an Iranian missile fired towards Turkey.
Donald Trump has spoken by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with both sides describing the call as constructive. The two leaders discussed the wars in both Iran and Ukraine. Russia has offered to act as a mediator in seeking a diplomatic resolution to the Iran conflict.
PRICE CAPS – Croatia and Hungary have become the first European Union member states to impose price caps on petrol and diesel in response to rising oil costs driven by the Iran conflict. G7 finance ministers, meanwhile, have agreed to hold off for now on releasing national strategic oil reserves.
NUCLEAR ENERGY SUMMIT – A second international nuclear energy summit opens today outside Paris, bringing together representatives from around 40 countries. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to present a European strategy centred on small modular reactors, as the bloc seeks to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and meet climate targets.
EU ASYLUM POLICY – European Union plans for asylum return centres in third countries have moved a step closer, after the relevant parliamentary committee voted in favour of the proposal. The centres would house rejected asylum seekers who cannot be returned to their countries of origin. Uganda has been suggested as a potential host. Critics have warned the scheme raises serious concerns about the fundamental rights of those detained.
FOOTBALL – In the Champions League this evening, Atalanta Bergamo host Bayern Munich. Also tonight: Galatasaray take on Liverpool, Newcastle face Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid meet Tottenham.
CYCLING – Paris-Nice reaches its third stage today with a team time trial of just over 23 kilometres. Yesterday’s stage was won by German rider Max Kanter. Luke Lamperti of the United States leads the general classification. Luxembourg’s Tom Kirsch and Kevin Kluckers are placed 141 and 127, respectively.
Some areas could see fog in the morning, with things clearing up as we head into the afternoon. But it looks as if the sunshine has taken a break and we are in for some grey skies again with showers until the evening. Temperatures start off at around 7°C, and only warming up to a 14°C in the afternoon.
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