RTL Today – Morning Roundup: Bettel speaks on Gaza as Forei…

Luxembourg

BETTEL GAZA – In his new job as Foreign Minister, Xavier Bettel took part in a video conference of EU Foreign Ministers yesterday, to discuss the situation in the Middle East. Luxembourg is still clearly of the opinion that Israel has a right to defend itself. At the same time Bettel appealed for the release of the 240 Israeli hostages, who were taken by Hamas.

LIECHTENSTEIN ACCIDENT – According to Liechtenstein police, a Luxembourg resident sustained serious injuries following an accident prior to an international football match on Sunday evening. According to online reports the victim was hit by a passing car and dragged along on the hood of the vehicle for a distance of around 70 metres. Liechtenstein national police have issued an appeal for witnesses.

HEADMASTER ACCUSED – Suspended headmaster Jean Billa has denied drug trafficking allegations and will seek to defend himself during the ongoing investigations. In a press release, Billa’s lawyer also criticised coverage of the case in the press, calling for respect for the “secrecy of the investigation” and warning that further speculation could seriously harm his client’s reputation.

HIV INCREASE – There is a slight increase in HIV patients in Luxembourg, according to the Ministry of Health. In 2022, there was a total of 164 cases.  67 of these were newly-infected patients, while 97 were people who had already received HIV treatment abroad. According to the Ministry’s press release, more women were affected by the increase in Luxembourg, compared to men.

World

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR – The chief of Hamas has said that the Palestinian militant group is near a truce agreement with Israel, raising hopes that his militant group could soon release some of the 240 Israeli hostages. According to AFP sources, the tentative deal includes a five-day truce, comprised of a ceasefire on the ground and limits to Israeli air operations over southern Gaza. In return, between 50 and 100 people held by the Palestinian militant groups would be released.

UKRAINE AID – Ukraine continues to receive military aid from the United States, worth 100 million dollars. The package has already been approved by Congress in Washington. These include anti-aircraft missiles and artillery ammunition. The American defense minister Lloyd Austin was in Kyiv yesterday.

GLOBAL WARMING – Countries’ greenhouse gas-cutting pledges have put Earth on track for warming far beyond key limits, potentially up to a catastrophic 2.9 degrees Celsius this century, according to a report by the UN’s environmental programme. The report, which was released just ahead of crucial COP28 climate talks in Dubai says that the increase was largely driven by the burning of fossil fuels and industrial processes.

SHAKIRA TAX DEAL – Shakira has struck a deal with Spanish authorities to avoid the embarrassment of a tax fraud trial related to her years in Barcelona with Gerard Pique. Shakira admitted guilt and agreed to pay a fine of 7.3 million euros. Her legal woes are not over, however, with a second Spanish investigation into alleged tax evasion still hanging over her.

ALTMAN OPENAI – Hundreds of staff at OpenAI have threatened to quit the leading artificial intelligence company and join Microsoft, deepening a crisis triggered by the shock sacking of CEO Sam Altman. In a letter released to media, the vast majority of OpenAI’s 770-strong staff suggested they would follow Altman unless the board responsible for his departure resigned.

Sport

FOOTBALL – Italy was able to secure a qualification for Euro 2024, following a 0 -0 draw with Ukraine. Slovenia has also qualified, after a 2-1 victory against Kazakhstan. And the Czech Republic is also in after beating Moldova 3-0.

Next year’s 48th edition of the Copa America, featuring 10 South American nations and six North American teams, will start in Atlanta and end in Miami. The NFL stadiums, both of which have hosted the Super Bowl, will be among US venues for the special edition of the event, typically held in South America but to be hosted in 2024 by the United States.

A set of six jerseys that Lionel Messi wore during Argentina’s victorious 2022 World Cup run will be auctioned in December and their value is estimated at more than $10 million.The football star donned these shirts during the first halves of the group-stage rounds against Saudi Arabia and Mexico, as well as later games against Australia, the Netherlands and Croatia — and the final against France.

NFL KELCE – NFL star Travis Kelce said he is “learning every day” from Taylor Swift, as his new romance with the pop icon catapults him to heights of fame and scrutiny shared by few others on the planet. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the 34-year-old Kansas City Chiefs player said he was not a man of words but that he had never had to deal with the intense pressure of celebrity. Her appearance at two of Kelce’s games saw television ratings spike and sales of his jersey soar 400 percent.

Weather

It’s a cloudy day ahead with the odd bright spell possible in the southern part of the country in the morning and no rain expected. Temperatures will range between 6-8 degrees all day.

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