Luxembourg
SAMMY DIES – Sammy, the runaway wallaby has died. Sammy was on the loose for two weeks in Luxembourg before his eventual capture on 19 June. It is unclear what caused the wallaby’s death few days ago. Details on the cause and date of Sammy's death should be communicated by the veterinary inspection today.
MIGRANT SMUGGLER – A recent BBC report on a migrant smuggler prompted discussions at the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday. The report highlighted a migrant smuggler responsible for the death of a seven-year-old Iraqi girl whom BBC reporters had tracked down to Luxembourg. The Minister for Home Affairs Léon Gloden clarified that the current whereabouts of the individual in question are unknown. In response to the report, a warrant was issued for his arrest. However, upon arriving at the reception centre in Kirchberg with the warrant, authorities discovered that the man had already departed.
AUTISM DIAGNOSIS – Minister of Health Martine Deprez has disclosed that the waiting time for a first autism diagnosis appointment at the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL) currently ranges from six to eight months. For children under two years old, efforts are made to schedule appointments within a week. The demand for autism diagnoses has seen a significant surge, not only in Luxembourg but across Europe.
SCHOOL FINAL EXAMS – In the recently concluded secondary school final exams in Luxembourg, 74% of candidates have successfully passed, a similar percentage compared to last year. The Luxembourg Ministry of Education has confirmed that 2,788 students successfully passed their exams. The deferral rate remained unchanged at 15%, with 575 students scheduled to retake exams in September.
World
US BIDEN – President Biden has blamed exhaustion caused by a heavy travel schedule for his faltering performance in last week's televised debate with Donald Trump. There are growing calls among Democratic Party politicians for the President not to run in November’s election.
ISRAEL- HAMAS WAR – Israeli forces have bombarded several areas of the southern Gaza Strip and thousands of Palestinians have fled their homes in what could be part of a final push of Israel’s intensive military operations in nine months of war. Eight Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded, health officials said. Israeli military said that two soldiers had been killed in battle a day earlier.
UK ELECTION – Party leaders from across the political spectrum in the UK are to make one final push for votes ahead of tomorrow's general election. Labour will drive home its message that people who want change, have to vote for it. While the Conservatives are hoping a surprise speech by the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a rally in London last night, will boost their campaign. Meanwhile Scotland's First Minister John Swinney will use a speech this evening to urge voters to turn out for tomorrow's election.
HURRICANE BERYL – Hurricane Beryl is churning towards Jamaica, with forecasters warning of potentially deadly winds and storm surge, after the storm killed at least seven people and caused widespread destruction across the southeastern Caribbean. Beryl is the earliest storm since US National Hurricane Center records began to reach Category 5 in July.
EU INFLATION – Eurozone inflation cooled in June, according to official data, but experts say it will not be enough to convince the European Central Bank to accelerate its rate-cutting cycle despite sluggish economic growth. Consumer prices have remained stubbornly above the ECB's two-percent target. According to Eurostat, consumer price inflation in the single currency area came in at 2.5 percent in June, down from a 2.6-percent rate in May.
Sport
FOOTBALL –Turkey and the Netherlands are in the quarter-finals of the European Football Championship. Turkey won 2-1 against Austria last night. Earlier, the Netherlands beat Romania 3-0.
In other football news, it’s official since yesterday. Luxembourg national player Leandro Barreiro is moving from Mainz to Benfica Lisbon. He has signed a contract for five years.
And in the Copa America, Colombia came from behind to grab a 1-1 draw with Brazil, ensuring their qualification to the quarter-finals as group winners. The result means Colombia advance to the knockout rounds as winners of Group D, where they will face Group C runners-up Panama in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday.
CYCLING – Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar has won the fourth stage in the Tour de France. Today the race runs over 177 kilometres from St-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas.
TENNIS – Marketa Vondrousova has become the first defending women's Wimbledon champion to lose in the first round for 30 years as Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek cruised through. Off the court, two-time champion Andy Murray pulled out of the singles at his farewell All England Club appearance because he has not recovered sufficiently from recent back surgery.
Weather
Today, the sun will be playing hard to get (again), hiding behind morning fog and cloudy skies throughout the day. We can also expect some rain showers from mid-morning to late afternoon but but don't lose hope quite yet: blue skies could peek through as some clouds clear in the evening.
Starting at a refreshing 9–12°C in the morning, temperatures will reach highs of 14–16°C in the afternoon.