The Today Radio news team brings you the latest headlines for Thursday, 8 August.

Luxembourg

CARITAS EMBEZZLEMENT – After news of the Caritas embezzlement scandal broke, investigations have been launched not only into the charity itself, but also into the banks that permitted the €60 million fraud to take place. Above all, it is questioned how new credit lines for the staggering amount were sent to foreign accounts in such a short period of time. Jerry Grbic, director of the ABBL banking association, said the client's profile played a role in the transfer limit. He added that "very professional thieves" must have handled this case and they would have had to know exactly what documents they needed to deliver.

WAGE INDEXATION – Luxembourg’s inflation rate is set to stabilise at 2.3% for 2024, in line with earlier predictions from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (STATEC). This figure indicates a slowdown in inflation, influenced by recent trends and adjustments in price measures. The next wage indexation in Luxembourg is expected for the last quarter of 2024.

RESCUE DOG – A Luxembourg rescue dog has successfully located a missing woman in Germany, marking the second such life-saving mission within a week for the Red Cross canine team. The Luxembourg rescue dog squadron of the Red Cross was called into action to help locate a missing person in Argenbühl, in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, on Tuesday. A 38-year-old woman had gone missing and was believed to be suicidal. Joker, the rescue dog alongside his caretaker Patrick Marcellino, found the missing woman unharmed in a field.

OLYMPICS HOFFMANN – Vera Hoffmann has not secured one of the last places in the 1,500m semi-final. After the Luxembourg runner ranked in 12th place during the first run-through, she was given a second chance in the repechage. At that stage, a top-three ranking would have been needed to receive a pass to the semi-finals.
Hoffman came in tenth with a time of 4:11.28.

WEISWAMPACH LAKE – Swimming enthusiasts can enjoy the Weiswampach lakes again, as the Water Management Authority has lifted its blue algae warning issued at the end of July. A warning, previously issued due to the presence of blue algae, was lifted after the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) confirmed a "significant decline" in the dangerous biomass.

World 

HOTEL COLLAPSE – Yesterday evening shortly before midnight came the confirmation – the last person trapped in the rubble of the hotel in Kröv, near Bernkastel-Kues, has been rescued. Several people trapped under the rubble were rescued in the course of the day. Two people did not survive, including the owner of the hotel on the Moselle. The reason why the building collapsed remains to be clarified. According to news outlet SWR, the building's gable roof collapsed on Tuesday night, causing two floors on one side of the hotel to be crushed together.

US ELECTION – President Biden has said he is not confident there will be a peaceful transfer of power if Donald Trump loses the US Presidential election in November. He made the comments in his first interview since stepping back from the race himself.

CONCERTS CANCELLED – Three Taylor Swift concerts in the Austrian capital Vienna have been cancelled because of a security threat. Two men have been detained on suspicion of planning an Islamist attack. The police said one was a 19-year-old Austrian citizen, who had recently sworn an oath of allegiance to the Islamic state group and chemical substances were found at his home. They believe both suspects were radicalised online. In a post on social media, the Austrian chancellor said that while he appreciated the disappointment of fans, the situation was very serious and a tragedy had been averted.

NORWAY ROYALS – The 27-year-old son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit was arrested at the weekend on suspicion of assaulting a woman. Mette-Marit's son Marius Borg Hoiby was born in 1997 from a relationship prior to her 2001 marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, the heir apparent to the Norwegian throne. Police said he was suspected of causing "bodily harm and damage". Crown Prince Haakon, currently in Paris for the Olympics, on Wednesday told Norwegian media in the French capital it was a "serious" matter.

HEAT RECORD – The EU’s climate monitor, Copernicus says it is "increasingly likely" 2024 will be the hottest year on record, despite July ending a 13-month streak of monthly temperature records. This is the first time in over a year that a month does not lead with a new record. The global average temperature in July was 16.91°C.

Sport

OLYMPICS 2024 – After 12 days of competition, the USA remains unstoppable at the Summer Olympics in Paris. The Americans have already collected 94 medals, including 27 gold medals. 80 nations have received at least one medal so far. 53 countries have won a gold medal.

For example, for Morocco, three-time world champion Sofiane El Bakkali won gold in the 3,000m steeplechase. Nina Kennedy the pole vault world champion took Australia to its 18th gold medal, clearing 4.90m.
Roje Stona won gold for Jamaica in the discus and threw and Olympic record of 70.00 meters.
In the 400m race, the American Quincy Hall secured the gold medal and become the fourth-fastest one-lap performer in history.

Among medal decisions made today will be the women's 10km free-water swimming, the canoe sprint, sailing, men's field hockey where Germany will face the Netherlands in the evening. In athletics – the long jump, the javelin throw, and the men's 200 meter sprint.

WRESTLING – India's heartbroken Vinesh Phogat has announced her retirement from wrestling, a day after being disqualified from the women's 50kg competition at the Paris Olympics for being overweight for the final. Phogat, who has won three Commonwealth Games gold medals, had been due to face Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States for the gold medal on Wednesday in Paris but was found to be 100 grams over the 50kg limit.

Weather 

It's World Cat Day, and there don't seem to be many rain clouds on the horizon. The day should be generally sunny throughout, with some cloud coverage to be expected. The morning will be slightly cooler than yesterday, hanging around the 12–14°C mark. Temperatures will then steadily rise to the familiar 25°C range in the afternoon.

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