The Today Radio news team brings you the latest headlines for Wednesday, 21 August.

Luxembourg 

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE – The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (STATEC) has reported a "slight" increase in Luxembourg's unemployment rate. However, the number of jobseekers has risen sharply over the past year, with close to 18,000 people currently looking for work. The sectors most affected include construction, maintenance, installation, logistics, and industry.

DOG DEATHS – Authorities have launched an investigation into an unlicensed dog kennel in the south of the country after five dogs died under suspicious circumstances, raising concerns about the enforcement of regulations on pet boarding establishments. The law stipulates criminal penalties for breaches of the legal requirements in force, with offences punishable by up to three years' imprisonment.

A3 ACCIDENT – Six people were injured in a significant accident on the A3 motorway near Thionville yesterday, late afternoon. The accident, which occurred shortly before 5pm near Croix de Bettembourg heading toward France, involved two cars. Emergency services confirmed the injuries and despatched two ambulances and two fire engines to the scene. Two lanes were blocked at the accident site, causing a major traffic jam.

SCHUEBERFOUER FILM ARCHIVE – Digging through the RTL archives, with the help of Luxembourg's National Audiovisual Center (CNA), we've unearthed treasures from the Schueberfouer's past. Take a look at these films, tracing the evolution of Luxembourg's largest funfair, from the 1930s to the present-day, voiced in English by our very own Stephen 'Steps' Lowe.

World 

US ELECTION – Former US President Barack Obama has said that no American wants to live in a bitter and divided country. He was addressing the crowd on Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where a ceremonial vote has taken place in favour of naming Kamala Harris as the party's candidate in November's Presidential election. Obama said the country is ready for a new chapter.

YACHT SINKING – The search operation for six people missing after a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily is entering a third day. Italian authorities have said divers are struggling to get into the wreck of the Bayesian, which went down in a storm on Monday, with 22 people onboard. Among the missing are British tech tycoon Mike Lynch.

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has appealed to Hamas urgently to accept a ceasefire plan to ease suffering in Gaza and said "time is of the essence", as he wrapped up a Middle East tour with an agreement between Israel and Hamas still elusive. The deal "needs to get done, and it needs to get done in the days ahead", Blinken told reporters in Doha before departing for Washington.

BENNIFER DIVORCE – Hollywood stars Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are getting divorced. US media are reporting that Lopez filed the papers in LA yesterday, after two years of marriage.

SWIFT TOUR – Taylor Swift's Eras tour wrapped up its European leg in front of a 90,000-strong crowd at London's Wembley Stadium last night, after the American megastar wowed hundreds of thousands of fans across a dozen countries. The last month of the Europe tour was marred by a foiled suicide attack plot, with Austrian authorities revealing that an Islamic State-sympathiser was planning a deadly attack at a Swift concert in Vienna.

Sport

CYCLING – In cycling, Primoz Roglic proved he has fully recovered from his Tour de France-ending crash with a stage four victory in the Vuelta a Espana yesterday. Roglic has taken over the race leader's red jersey. Today's stage is a 170km ride, tailormade for the sprinters, from Fuente del Maestre to Seville as the race heads into Andalusia.

TENNIS – Tennis world number one Jannik Sinner has avoided a doping ban after successfully arguing that two failed anti-doping tests in March had been a result of contamination through his physiotherapist. Following an independent tribunal last week, a panel ruled that Sinner bore "no fault or negligence" for twice testing positive for trace amounts of the banned substance clostebol, an anabolic steroid.

FOOTBALL – Manchester City forward Phil Foden has won the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award. Foden played a key role in City winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title last term. The 24-year-old scored 19 times and delivered eight assists for Pep Guardiola's team as they pipped Arsenal to the title on the last day of the season.

Weather 

Although temperatures are just a tad bit cooler, conditions are still looking good for sunny late summer vibes. The skies overhead will alternate between sunshine and harmless clouds. Morning temperatures kick off at 9– 12°C, rising to 18– 21°C in the afternoon.

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