TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT – Finance Minister Gilles Roth has defended the tripartite deal, rejecting suggestions the government bought social peace at the public's expense. Speaking on RTL TV last night, he said the roughly €450 million being invested are well spent. He also said the minimum wage increase via tax credit was a deliberate choice to avoid placing additional strain on businesses.
HEALTH REFORM – Health Minister Martine Deprez has outlined plans for a new law to expand outpatient care in Luxembourg, allowing hospitals to hire infectious disease specialists and enabling doctors to open their own clinics. The proposed legislation would cover services including minor surgery, dialysis, and oncology. Medical imaging services would be excluded.
IRAN WAR – The United States has carried out further air strikes on Iran overnight, targeting air defence positions, communications systems and surveillance installations. Dozens of Tomahawk missiles were also deployed. The strikes are described as a response to continued aggression from Tehran, but President Trump has warned they could resume if no deal is reached by tomorrow. Iran meanwhile says it has again closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. Drone attacks were also reported this morning on US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
EUROPE INTEREST RATES – The European Central Bank is expected to raise interest rates later today for the first time since 2023. The decision is due shortly after 2pm Frankfurt time. Most analysts expect the key rate, currently at 2% , to go up in response to the energy crisis triggered by the war in Iran.
G7 SUMMIT – World leaders gather in Évian, France next week for the G7 summit, with the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine topping the agenda. President Macron has confirmed that Ukrainian President Zelensky will be among those invited to join the discussions. Macron says there needs to be renewed consensus on both supporting Ukraine and engaging with Moscow.
BELFAST PROTEST – A water cannon has been deployed in Northern Ireland after a second night of disorder following a knife attack in Belfast. Riot police came under sustained attack from crowds throwing bricks and bottles but last night's unrest was less severe than the night before.
REFUGEE NUMBERS – The global number of refugees has fallen for the first time in a decade, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR. Some 41.6 million people fled violence and conflict over the past year, 3% fewer than the year before. But the UN's High Commissioner has urged caution, saying several countries forced refugees to return home even where it was not safe to do so.
FOOTBALL WORLD CUP – Mexico open the 2026 FIFA World Cup against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City this evening, with kick-off at 9pm our time. An opening ceremony featuring Shakira will precede the match. As the tournament spans three host nations, further ceremonies take place tomorrow in Toronto and Los Angeles, with performances from Michael Bublé and Katy Perry among others. The expanded 48-team tournament runs until the 19th of July.
ATHLETICS – Luxembourg sprinter Patrizia van der Weken finished 6th in the 100m at the Diamond League meeting in Oslo last night. Victory went to St Lucia's Julien Alfred who clocked 10.76, some 34 hundredths ahead of van der Weken.
The sun pops in to say good morning but clouds will settle in as the day goes on. It will be slightly breezy, and we could get some rain in the evening.
Temperatures start around 6–8°C, going up to 19°C in the afternoon.
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