COVID SUB-VARIANT - The WHO has designated the Covid Omicron subvariant EG.5 as a “variant of interest” following a steady rise in its prevalence. Dr Jean-Claude Schmit, director of Luxembourg’s health directorate says that that there is currently no cause for concern.
He said that symptoms are generally mild, with patients reporting stuffy noses, sore throats, headaches and maybe a mild fever. He added it was normal for the virus to continue mutating in this manner, calling it “unsurprising”.
ROADS BLOCKED - Several roads are blocked following heavy rain and strong winds yesterday evening. The emergency services have been made aware of fallen trees on the - N10 Stadtbredimus – Remich, on the CR134 Manternach – Mertert and on the CR119 Stafelter – Eisenborn. The three listed above have been closed to traffic while work commences on clearing the blockages.
DRIVING TEST FAILS - Just half of all candidates succeed in passing their driving test on the first try in Luxembourg, so 50% of first-time test takers fail in Luxembourg on average. In neighbouring countries such as Germany France and Belgium, the average failure rates for first-time candidates is much lower – around 40% . Experts say this high failure rate is due to a different approach by young candidates with regard to their driving licence, and mobility in general.
MIGRANT BOAT CAPSIZES - More than 60 people are feared dead after a boat carrying migrants from Senegal was found off the Cape Verde islands. Sixty-three people are thought to have died, while the 38 survivors included four children aged 12 to 16. The long wooden fishing vessel was spotted on Monday in the Atlantic Ocean about 277 kilometres from the Cape Verdean island of Sal. The authorities have not, for the moment, said what happened to the boat once it set off.
CANADA EVACUATION - One of the largest cities in Canada’s far north is being evacuated amid warnings that raging wildfires could reach it by the weekend. The 20,000 residents of Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories have been given until noon Friday to leave. The wildfire as of late Wednesday was within 17 kilometers (11 miles) of Yellowknife.
TENERIFE WILDFIRE - A major wildfire on the Spanish island of Tenerife has also led to the evacuation of five villages. The fire has spread some 8 sq km since it started in a nature reserve on the north-east coast of the island late on Tuesday evening. Helicopters spraying water have been seen flying over the area.
OETZI FINDINGS - Oetzi, the “iceman” mummy of the Alps, had darker skin than previously thought and was likely bald or almost bald when he died according to a study by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. He also likely stemmed from a relatively isolated group with little contact with other Europeans, and had ancestors who arrived directly from Anatolia. Mummified in ice, Oetzi was discovered by two German hikers in the South Tyrol, more than 5,000 years after his death.
BANK GLITCH - The Bank of Ireland has apologised after fixing a technical issue that allowed customers to withdraw or transfer more money than was in their accounts. The glitch saw large queues form at some cash machines on Tuesday and into the night, as word spread on social media, prompting police to be called in.
FOOTBALL - In the 3rd round of the qualification for the Football Conference League, Swift Hesperange is playing against the North Macedonia team FC Struga at the Stade de Luxembourg tonight. Kick off is at 8 o’clock
Staying with football, Manchester City has won the UEFA Super Cup. After 90 minutes it was a 1-1 tie with Sevilla but the English team won a penalty shoot out 5-4. It’s the first Super-Cup title for City.
and England are seeing an “incredible opportunity” to do something an English side has not managed since 1966 -- win a World Cup. The Lionesses have powered into Sunday’s final in Sydney against Spain after a ruthless 3-1 dismantling. It set up England’s biggest game since Bobby Moore lifted the men’s trophy at Wembley 57 years ago.
Once again the day will get off to a misty start, followed by sunny intervals and warm temperatures. However, over the course of the afternoon, thunderstorms are set to swirl across the country once more. Morning temperatures will start off at 17-19°C, rising to highs of 25-27°C in the afternoon.
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