The Today Radio news team brings you the latest headlines for Wednesday, 8 October.
Luxembourg
ILRES POLL – If elections were held this Sunday, the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) and its leader, Luc Frieden, would lose significant ground. The CSV-DP coalition would keep a narrow majority, while the opposition would regain strength.The CSV would lose 4 seats, dropping from 21 to 17, according to the latest Ilres poll for RTL and Luxemburger Wort. The DP holds steady at 14 seats, leaving the coalition with just 31. The LSAP and ADR would each gain 2 seats, the Greens add 1, Pirates lose 1, and The Left remains unchanged.
STATE BUDGET – The 2026 state budget will be tabled in the Chamber this morning at 9 am. Finance Minister Gilles Roth will present the draft for next year’s finances, with the CSV MP Maurice Bauer serving as budget rapporteur.
DOCTORS & DENTISTS DISPUTE – The AMMD, Luxembourg’s medical and dental association, is holding an extraordinary meeting tonight. Members are set to vote on whether to withdraw from the agreement with the national health insurance fund, the CNS, following failed talks on a new wage agreement with the State. The dispute will also be discussed in the Chamber’s health committee tomorrow.
MORTGAGE RATES – The Central Bank of Luxembourg has published the most recent average rates for newly signed home loans. Variable rates have dropped to 2.99% for the first time since December 2022.Fixed rates have moved in the opposite direction however, rising to 3.58%, an increase of 0.1 percentage point.
World
GAZA PEACE TALKS – Middle East peace talks continue today in Egypt, with senior officials from the US and Turkey as well as Qatar’s prime minister expected to join. The goal is to back indirect Hamas-Israel talks, with a US peace plan pushing for hostage releases and a ceasefire. Key disputes include Hamas disarmament and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
GOLD PRICES – A new record for gold prices: for the first time, an ounce is trading at over $4,000 dollars. The surge is driven by expectations for US interest rate cuts, geopolitical tensions and President Trump’s financial policies.
MADRID BUILDING COLLAPSE – A building under renovation has collapsed in central Madrid, killing two construction workers and leaving two others missing. The cause remains unclear.
EU STEEL – ArcelorMittal has welcomed the EU Commission’s move to protect Europe’s steel industry. New proposals include raising tariffs on steel imports from 25 to 50 % and cutting duty-free quotas by nearly half.
FRANCE POLITICS – The government crisis continues. Resigning Prime Minister Sebastian Lecornu has until tonight to resolve the deadlock. If he fails, President Macron must act, although he has ruled out resigning or calling new elections before 2027.
NOBEL PRIZE – The Nobel Prize in Chemistry will be announced in Stockholm today. The development of new compounds and novel ways of storing energy are seen as top contenders.
Sport
FOOTBALL – Lyon opened their Women’s Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win over Arsenal. Barcelona crushed Bayern Munich 7-1. Juventus edged Benfica 2-1, while Paris FC drew 2-2 with Leuven. The new group-stage format sees only the top four go straight to the quarter-finals.
TENNIS – Novak Djokovic battled past injury and exhaustion to reach the Shanghai Masters quarterfinals, beating Spain’s Jaume Munar in three sets. Meanwhile, World number two Iga Swiatek cruised into the third round of the Wuhan Open, beating Marie Bouzkova 6-1, 6-1. On a scorching day that saw both Emma Raducanu and Jelena Ostapenko retire, Swiatek urged organisers to better protect players from extreme heat.
UFC – Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor has been handed an 18-month suspension after missing three drug tests in a year. The former UFC champion has accepted the ban, which is backdated to September 2024, meaning he could return by March 2025—just in time for a major UFC event planned at the White House in June.
Weather
The autumnal morning fog will give way to cloudy skies today, but we will see no rain. You may even be able to spot the sun at some points throughout the day. In terms of temperatures: the morning starts off at around 9–11°C then rises to a maximum of 16°C.
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