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Both repatriation flights from Middle East land in Luxembourg

Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel confirmed the repatriation efforts had begun to reporters shortly before departing for a visit to Madrid on Thursday morning, amid news that two flights had left the Middle East for Luxembourg. One of the flights is operated by Luxair, while the other has been chartered by the government and is operated by an Egyptian airline.

The first flight, carrying 104 passengers, departed from Oman at around 6.30pm on Wednesday and made a stopover in Egypt. Passengers were accommodated in hotels overnight before continuing their journey to Luxembourg Airport (Findel), eventually landing shortly after 6.30pm. A second flight, which was chartered with 97 passengers on board departed directly from Oman, landing in Luxembourg at around 1.30pm on Thursday afternoon.

Authorities are also holding discussions, notably with Belgium, about organising further repatriation flights. A plane from the MRTT fleet is currently stationed in Hurghada and is expected to fly to Muscat, while Luxair has another special flight in Hurghada that will also travel to Oman during the day. Officials said plans for further evacuations depend largely on the evolving security situation in the region.

Also today

• MPs this morning unanimously voted in favour of financing the expansion of the capital’s main rail station, to the tune of around €138 million by 203.
• Physics professor Ludger Wirtz has stepped down from the University of Luxembourg’s Board of Governors after sending an email to the Luxemburger Wort criticising coverage of events at the university.
• Dudelange Police are seeking information on a missing 12-year-old girl, Sophia Vakova, who was last seen in Dudelange at 6.30pm yesterday.
• Authorities have confirmed that a wolf was responsible for attacking five sheep in a meadow near Wincrange at the end of February.
• Oil prices have pushed higher while stocks dropped today as investors tracked developments on the sixth day of the Middle East war.
• Nepal has today voted for a new parliament in a high-stakes showdown between an entrenched old guard and a powerful youth movement, six months after deadly anti-corruption protests toppled the government.
• Thousands of German teenagers skipped school today to join protests against a stepped-up military recruitment drive that many fear may in future involve a form of conscription.
• With plenty of barks, treats and tail-wagging, the world’s biggest and most famous dog show got underway today in Britain, with a record number of overseas entries among those bidding for Crufts glory.

On air

No Tom today, who is off for the next couple of days, and we have Ethan Carey driving the hot seat!

Figure of the day

Government considers possibility of new housing measures as €480 million fund nears limit

• Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Housing Minister Claude Meisch visited Mertert on Wednesday to assess the impact of the government’s housing policy, with Minister Meisch indicating that possible new measures may be needed to further support the housing sector.
• According to the government, much of the allocated funding has already been used as the state has purchased several projects in recent months. However, authorities say the situation highlights two ongoing challenges: the continued demand for affordable housing and the need to support the construction and crafts sectors.

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