LUXEMBOURG CITIZENSHIP - Close to 12,000 people gained Luxembourgish nationality last year. Comprising almost 37 percent, the majority of last year’s ‘new Luxembourgers’ are from Brazil, while Portugal takes the second spot. Third place goes to France. Individuals from Luxembourg’s other neighbouring countries Germany and Belgium also sought Luxembourgish citizenship as well as 936 Americans.
UNEMPLOYMENT UP - According to Luxembourg’s employment agency ADEM, the number of people looking for jobs has increased by 15.5% from the previous year. In total, the number of jobseekers registered with ADEM reached over 18,000 people by the end of last year. The most qualified job seekers and young people under 30 are being hit the hardest.
TOP EMPLOYERS - Four businesses in Luxembourg have been awarded the “Top Employers” certification: HSBC, Lidl, BNP Paribas Group and the country’s second-largest employer, Amazon.
YEMEN ATTACKS - The UK and the US have carried out joint attacks on Houthi military targets in Yemen. The second round of joint military action against the Iran-backed rebels was in response to continued attacks on Red Sea shipping. The Pentagon said Monday’s strikes hit 8 targets, including an underground storage site and Houthi missile and surveillance capability.
EU AGRICULTURE - EU Agriculture ministers are meeting today while rising farmer frustration in Europe has triggered protests over fuel costs, environmental rules, and Ukrainian imports. Farmers’ fury has led to road blockages and tractor parades in the past few weeks, with farmers taking their protests to the street in France, Germany, Poland and Romania, after the Netherlands earlier.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR - Israel has given Hamas a proposal through Qatari and Egyptian mediators that includes up to two months of a pause in fighting, as part of a deal that would include the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza. Meanwhile combat is raging in Khan Younis in the south of the Gaza Strip, where dozens of people are reported to have been killed in intense Israeli strikes.
UK MIGRANTS - Britain’s upper house of parliament, the House of Lords has inflicted a blow to the government’s controversial plan to send migrants to Rwanda, by voting to delay ratification of the treaty with Kigali. A majority of representatives have asked the government to first demonstrate that Rwanda is a safe host country for the migrants who will be expelled there.
US ELECTIONS - Voters in New Hampshire will head to the polls today, as Donald Trump faces his last remaining Republican opponent, Nikki Haley, in a primary election. Former US President Trump is optimistic that he will become the Republican presidential candidate. For the Democrats, it is practically certain that the current President Biden will once again enter the race for the White House.
OSCAR NOMINATIONS - Nominations for the 2024 Oscars will be announced later today. The films Barbie and Oppenheimer are set to dominate the awards. Poor Things, The Holdovers and Killers of the Flower Moon are also expected to feature heavily when the nominations are announced this afternoon. Jimmy Kimmel will host this year’s ceremony from Los Angeles on 10 March.
RUGBY - England fly-half Owen Farrell will join the French team Racing 92 on a two-year deal from next season. Farrell will miss the upcoming Six Nations as he takes a mental health break from international rugby having captained his country at the World Cup. The decision is likely to make Farrell unavailable for England as coach Steve Borthwick is unable to select players based abroad.
Meanwhile, Jamie George says he is prepared to take over as England captain despite seeing the strain the position placed on close friend Owen Farrell. George said that leading England in the Six Nations, starting with their opener against Italy in Rome on February 3, will be the greatest achievement of his life.
TENNIS - Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka are taking the next step in their campaigns to retain their Australian Open titles today with tricky quarter-finals to negotiate in Melbourne.Serbian top seed Djokovic faces American 12th seed Taylor Fritz, while the Belarusian world number two tackles the ever-consistent Czech star Barbora Krejcikova.
Overcast skies, rain showers and howling winds - today is a far cry from last week’s frozen winter landscapes. Winds are set to reach up to 40/50 km/h this morning but should taper off as we head into the afternoon. Expect rain showers from around midday until nightfall. Morning temperatures will start off at about 3-5°C, rising slightly to 5-7°C in the afternoon.
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