The Today Radio news team brings you the latest headlines for Thursday, 22 August.
Luxembourg
BLUE TONGUE DISEASE – The Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration (ALVA) has reported that 339 animals, including cattle, sheep, and goats, across 180 farms in Luxembourg are currently infected with bluetongue disease. A vaccination campaign has been underway since 9 August. There is no risk to humans from this disease.
FUEL PRICES – Good news for drivers: diesel and petrol prices have fallen significantly. Petrol is now cheaper than it has been for two and a half years, and the price of diesel is at its lowest level since 370 days. Super95 now costs €1.51 per litre, Super98 €1.59, and Diesel €1.41.
WEATHER SERVICES – Green Party MPs Joëlle Welfring and Meris Šehović recently raised the question of whether Luxembourg's two state weather services should be merged to improve communication, particularly during crises. In her response, Minister for Mobility and Public Works Yuriko Backes expressed opposition to the proposal, confirming that the two services, AgriMeteo and Meteolux, will remain independent.
SCHUEBERFOUER PRICES – As the Schueberfouer prepares to open its gates, the familiar debate over rising prices resurfaces, with fairgoers wondering just how much more they might be paying for their beloved Gromperekichelcher amid significantly increased costs for stall owners. Exhibitors who spoke to RTL spoke ahead of the opening confirmed they try not to transfer the increase in wholesale prices and staff costs on to consumers. Some have not changed their prices at all, whereas others have only tweaked them for specific products or dishes.
World
US ELECTION – Kamala Harris' running mate Tim Walz has given a combative speech to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, saying the agenda of Donald Trump's Republicans was weird and wrong. He said accepting his party's nomination as vice president was the honour of his life. Earlier former President Bill Clinton used his speech to say that Trump was only out for himself. Clinton told the crowd that Kamala Harris was the only presidential candidate with sufficient vision to get something done.
MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT – The Israeli military has killed a senior Palestinian militant in Lebanon, leading to accusations that Israel is trying to ignite a regional war. The strike that killed Khalil Maqdah, described by Fatah as "one of the leaders" of its armed wing in Lebanon, came hours after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken ended a Middle East tour aimed at reaching a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
UKRAINE WAR – Ukrainian civilians are fleeing areas close to the front line as Russian troops have steadily seized more territory across the eastern Donetsk region. The Russian army has captured several towns and villages in recent days, even as Moscow scrambles to fight off a Ukrainian counterattack into its western Kursk region.
YACHT SINKING – The search will resume today for the one person who remains missing after a luxury yacht sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily on Monday. Five bodies were located yesterday, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch.
TAYLOR SWIFT – Taylor Swift has broken her silence about the cancellation of three concerts in Vienna over an alleged suicide attack plot. In a post on Instagram, the singer said cancelling the shows was devastating and the ordeal had filled her with fear and guilt.
MADEIRA FIRES – Portugal has appealed to EU partners for assistance in fighting a wildfire on the island of Madeira that has raged for a week and threatened a UNESCO-listed forest. The fire has burned at least 4,400ha of vegetation. The entire south coastline of Madeira – with around 250,000 residents and a popular tourist destination – has been on alert for high temperatures and risk of wildfires for days.
Sport
HORSE RIDING – Starting today and lasting until Sunday, the national show jumping championship is taking place in Roeser. The current champion is Charlotte Bettendorff.
HOCKEY – The men's national hockey team is playing in Dublin today at a European championship qualification tournament – only one of the eight teams will qualify for next year's competition in Portugal. This morning, Luxembourg is playing Wales. Should they win this match, they will take on Turkey or the Czech Republic.
ATHLETICS – A Diamond league meeting is taking place in Lausanne at the moment. Armand Duplantis picked up from where he left off at his world record-setting, gold medal-winning showing at the Paris Olympics by dominating the men's pole vault yesterday, with a best vault of 6.15m, 10cm short of his world record. Botswana's Letsile Tebogo is racing in the 200m this evening, the event he won in Paris when he outstripped a Covid-hit Noah Lyles. For Luxembourg, Patrizia Van der Weken is competing in the 100m sprint this morning.
FOOTBALL – Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, a 2014 World Cup winner, has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 38. Bayern Munich veteran Neuer played 124 matches for Germany, captaining his country 61 times. His final appearance came in the quarter-final loss to eventual champions Spain at Euro 2024.
Luxembourg businessman Gérard Lopez faces a deepening crisis as his majority-owned football club Boavista battles significant debt issues. According to French sports newspaper L’équipe, Boavista is unable to pay €7 million it owes to a construction firm for the expansion of its stadium. A court in Porto thus recently ruled that the money the club received for transfers must be paid to the building contractor until the debt is fully paid off.
Weather
It might not feel like the Mediterranean but today's weather promises to be perfectly pleasant: dry conditions, neither too hot nor too cold, and sunshine accompanied by cloudy skies. Morning temperatures start at 10–12°C, rising to highs of around 24°C in the afternoon.
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