US ELECTIONS - Polls have now closed in all US states in a tight race for the Presidency between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Trump has won the swing states of North Carolina and Georgia, moving him one step closer to completing a political comeback. They are two of the 7 swing states which will decide the outcome of the Presidential election. Counting is taking place in the remaining in the five remaining swing states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Arizona.
Trump is also showing strength across broad swaths of the country. The latest results show he has won 246 Electoral college votes to Harris’ 182. A candidate needs a total of at least 270 votes in the state-by-state Electoral College to claim the presidency.
Ten US states have also held votes on abortion rights. In Florida a proposal to relax abortion laws in the state constitution is projected to be rejected. Pro-choice campaigners had better success in New York and Maryland.
The dollar has surged and bitcoin has hit a record high as early exit polls in the election appear to give an edge to Republican Donald Trump. Trump is seen as more actively supportive of cryptocurrencies than Harris.
Please check the RTL live ticker for real-time updates.
MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT - Thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets to protest against the dismissal of the defence minister Yoav Gallant. Police in Tel Aviv used water canons and horses to disperse demonstrators. The prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a breakdown in trust, essential for wartime unity, had led to the dismissal.
SPAIN FLOODS - Spain has announced an aid package worth 10.6 billion euros to rebuild regions devastated by the worst floods of the last generation that have killed 219 people.The storm that lashed eastern Spain a week ago triggered surging torrents of muddy water that have left a trail of destruction. Regional judicial authorities in Valencia have said they have listed 89 people as still missing.
PARIS TRAFFIC - Paris has introduced a ban on traffic going through the heart of the French capital. From now on, the 5.5 square kilometre area will be off-limits for drivers unless they live there or can prove valid reasons for using the roads. Critics say the ban will simply push vehicles into adjacent areas, making those streets busier and dirtier.
FRIEDEN EU - Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden has called for a stronger European Union presence on the global stage, advocating for a joint EU army and a permanent seat for the bloc on the United Nations Security Council. Addressing students and teachers at the College of Europe in Natolin, Poland, Frieden argued that recent global challenges demonstrate the need for greater EU self-reliance and coordination in defence, migration, competitiveness, and energy transition.
ENERGY PRICES - The Luxembourg Consumer Protection Association (ULC) has criticised the government over the additional financial burden that rising electricity and gas prices will impose on households in 2025. This increase is attributed not only to the reduction or elimination of state aid but also to a new electricity pricing structure.
MURDER TRIAL - The first day of trial for a woman accused of killing her husband with a hammer brought to light the couple’s strained relationship with police officers recounting the discovery of the victim’s body. The defendant is charged with murdering her husband in early 2022 and subsequently dragging his body into the cellar. The couple had been married for nine years and owned a home in the small village of Heispelt.
FOOTBALL - The start of the 4th matchday in the league phase of the Champions League held a few surprises. Real Madrid lost to AC Milan 1-3. Sporting Lisbon beat Manchester City at home 4-1. Liverpool clearly won 4-0 against Leverkusen. Dortmund beat Graz 1-0. And it was 1-1 draw between Lille and Juventus.
The other 9 matches are tonight, including Inter Milan and Arsenal, Bayern vs Benfica, PSG will meet Atletico and Stuttgart is playing against Bergamo.
TENNIS - Coco Gauff posted a rare victory over Iga Swiatek to punch her ticket to the semi-finals of the WTA Finals in Riyadh on Tuesday, ensuring Aryna Sabalenka will finish the year as the world number one. Swiatek, the defending champion, was in a direct battle with Sabalenka for the top spot this week but needed a win over Gauff to keep her chances alive of leapfrogging her Belarusian rival.
Expect another misty and foggy day across the country today. There is a slight chance of the fog clearing on higher ground but there is a warning for drivers due to poor visibility on the road.
Morning temperature start in the 5-7°C range and the maximum in the afternoon should be between 8-10°C.
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