CONSTRUCTION IN CRISIS - Starting with national news, the government has officially declared the construction sector in a state of crisis. Minister of Labour Georges Mischo and Minister of the Economy Lex Delles confirmed this decision following the Government Council meeting yesterday. Companies within the sector will thus be eligible for a streamlined short-time working procedure. This means that until the end of July, the way will be cleared for partial unemployment for 20% of site workers.
MANSLAUGHTER VERDICT - The court in Luxembourg City has sentenced a man to 23 years in prison for manslaughter. The perpetrator fatally stabbed another man in his Dudelange flat in April 2023. During the trial, the defendant claimed the stabbing was accidental, emphasising no intention to harm the victim. The judgment remains subject to appeal.
FATAL ACCIDENTS - Two tragic accidents yesterday. There was a fatal traffic accident yesterday afternoon on the route between Remich and Bech-Kleinmacher. A 23-year old motorcyclist collided with a car, and did not survive. And in Dudelange yesterday afternoon a woman was found dead after smoke had been detected in the family house. No further information can be released at present as the investigation is ongoing.
UKRAINE WAR - Ukraine’s President Zelensky has called for an international investigation into the downing of a plane, which Russia says was carrying more than 60 Ukrainian prisoners of war. The aircraft crashed near the 2 countries’ border yesterday. Moscow says Ukraine shot it down.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR - A senior UN official said Israel was warned about the location of a United Nations facility, sheltering Palestinians in Gaza, before it was hit by shelling. At least 9 people were killed.
ALABAMA EXECUTION - An inmate in the United States has lost two last-minute appeals to stop his execution, using the untested method of nitrogen gas. Kenneth Smith, who is a convicted murderer is scheduled to be put to death from today in Alabama. Smith’s lawyers argue that the method of execution amounts to cruel and unusual punishments.
EURO INTEREST RATES - The Council of the European Central Bank is meeting again in Frankfurt today for its first meeting of the year. It is eagerly awaited how the interest rate policy in the euro area will continue. However, experts do not expect a drop in interest rates today, which is still at 4.5%. ECB chief Christine Lagarde will hold a news conference this afternoon.
FOOTBALL - Liverpool are through to the final of the League Cup, after a 1-1 draw with Fulham gave them a 3-2 win on aggregates. They will face Chelsea in Wembley next month.
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Morocco are the final teams to book their place in the last 16 in the Africa Cup of Nations. Morocco beat Zambia 1-0, while Congo’s goal-less draw with Tanzania was enough to see them through. The host Ivory Coast has also reached the knockout stage.
TENNIS - Two semi-final matches in the Australian Open are taking place today. At 9.30am our time, the American player Coco Gauff takes on Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus. After that, Qinwen Zheng will play against Dayana Yastremska.
Today will bring a mix of weather conditions across the day. It will be mostly cloudy, with light rain starting around midday. The afternoon will see occasional light showers, but towards the evening, conditions are expected to dry up. Morning temperatures of 4-7°C will rise slightly in the afternoon to 9°C.
---
Be sure to catch our full bulletin on the hour, every hour and headlines at half past the hour on Today Radio. You can also access the news via Alexa, and on RTL Play.
