The Today Radio news team brings you the latest headlines for Wednesday, 9 October.

Luxembourg

WEATHER WARNING – Meteolux has issued an orange weather warning for the whole country starting at 6am today until 6am on Thursday. Continuous rain is predicted and there is a chance of flooding across the country, particularly in areas identified on hazard maps. Residents in flood zones should secure their belongings where possible and close any windows on floors which are prone to flooding. Sandbags are advised where necessary.

STATE BUDGET – The draft budget for next year will be discussed in the Chamber of Deputies today. Minister of Finance Gilles Roth has already presented the state's financial status to the relevant parliamentary committee. He announced that alongside the 2025 state budget, the government will introduce additional measures to stimulate the sale of properties under construction or sold off-plan (VEFA). He noted that existing measures have led to an increase in sales of existing homes compared to 2023.

PRINCE GUILLAUME – Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume was officially sworn in as his father's Lieutenant-Representative yesterday, with the signing of a Grand Ducal decree and subsequent ceremony in the Chamber of Deputies. Prime Minister Luc Frieden described it as a "historic moment", as the Hereditary Grand Duke will now be able to assume responsibilities from his father, although Grand Duke Henri will remain the sole head of state in Luxembourg.

WAGE INDEXATION – Luxembourg is unlikely to see another wage indexation before year's end. The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (STATEC) confirmed earlier reports suggesting that a new wage indexation is increasingly improbable before the end of 2024. Instead, it is now expected to occur in the spring of 2025.

PHILHARMONIE EXTENSION – The Philharmonie is set to undergo a €15 million expansion starting next month, aimed at enhancing its facilities for both public and educational uses, with completion expected by 2027. The new building is expected to be used for school activities, for workshops as well as expanding the existing backstage area, an employees' cafeteria, and a restaurant.

World

HURRICANE MILTON – Florida residents have one final day to evacuate ahead of the Category 5 Hurricane Milton, potentially one of the most destructive ever to hit Florida. US President Joe Biden has begged residents to flee what he warned could be the worst natural disaster to hit the state in a century. More than 1 million people in coastal areas are under evacuation orders.

MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT – Israel's Prime Minister has urged the Lebanese people to throw out Hezbollah and avoid destruction and suffering like in Gaza. Benjamin Nethanyahu's appeal yesterday came as Israel sent thousands more troops into a new zone in south-west Lebanon. Meanwhile, at least 36 people were killed in Israeli air strikes in Lebanon yesterday. Hezbollah is said to have fired about 180 rockets at targets in the north of Israel. Most were intercepted. In Haifa, however, a woman was slightly injured.

ORBAN EU – Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban is speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg today to present the priorities of the EU presidency, which Hungary has until the end of the year.  The debate afterwards may be animated. Orban has been criticised for his anti-European and pro-Russian tendencies.

NOBEL PRIZE – The Nobel Prize in Chemistry will be announced today in Stockholm. Yesterday the Physics prize was awarded to the British scientist Geoffrey Hinton for his work on artificial intelligence (AI). He has warned that the technology he helped to create could pose an existential threat to humanity.

Sport

FOOTBALL – In the women's Champions League, Chelsea began their hunt for glory with a 3-2 win over Real Madrid, while eight-time winners Lyon eased to a comfortable victory against debutants Galatasaray with a 3-0 victory.
 
Argentina football legend Diego Maradona comes to life in an immersive exhibit underway in Barcelona, featuring a hologram of the late player and a reconstruction of his childhood home. The 'Diego Vive' ('Diego Lives') exhibition will run for the next two months in the Spanish city where Maradona spent two seasons in the early 1980s at FC Barcelona.

Former Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta, who won two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup with an all-conquering Spain team,has announced his retirement from football at the age of 40.

TENNIS – Second seed Alexander Zverev has scraped through to the last 16 of the Shanghai Masters, winning two tiebreaks against the Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor in an ill-tempered match that ended 7-6 (8/6), 2-6, 7-6 (7/5). Novak Djokovic meanwhile powered through the third round, steamrolling Italian Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 6-2 in just over an hour.

Weather

We are advised to be on high alert as heavy rain and strong winds are set to batter the whole country throughout the day today. Meteolux has issued an orange alert as ex-hurricane Kirk sweeps in, increasing flood risks. Drivers especially should pay attention and check their journeys ahead of travelling. The morning's temperatures start off at around 11–13°C, rising to 14–16°C in the afternoon.

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