CAR FLEET - According to the latest data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, Luxembourg has the “youngest” vehicle population, with an average age of 6.7 years. Although the country has free public transport, Luxemburgers love their cars. A study published by Eurostat showed that Luxembourg’s vehicle stock has the highest share of new cars, with 22% of vehicles being less than two years old. The average age of the car fleet in the European Union is 11.8 years
HEAT RECORDS - Luxembourg’s weather service Meteolux has announced that 2022 was the second hottest year on record with an average annual temperature of 11.2°C. The summer of 2022 was also the second hottest summer on record with an average seasonal temperature of 20.1°C. In terms of sunshine, this last summer also broke records with 956.2 hours of sunshine.
EU UKRAINE - A EU-Ukraine summit will take place in Kyiv on 3 February, following a telephone conversation between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President President Zelensky. For the EU, only von der Leyen and Charles Michel, President of the European Council, will participate. Discussions are expected to centre around financial and military support for Kyiv.
RUSSIA CASUALTIES - Moscow claims 63 of its servicemen have been killed after a Ukrainian missile attack on a Russian base in the Donetsk region. Ukraine had previously said that the death toll was much higher, claiming nearly 400 troops were killed. Ukraine’s president Volodymr Zelensky said in his nightly video address that Russia is planning to ‘exhaust’ Ukraine with a prolonged wave of drone attacks.
POPE VIGIL - Tens of thousands of people have been paying their respects to former pope Benedict XVI at his lying-in-state in the Vatican. He died on New Year’s Eve at the age of 95, almost a decade after he stood down because of ill health. Pope Francis will lead the funeral on Thursday in St Peter’s Square before Benedict’s remains are placed in the tombs beneath the basilica.
CESAR METOO - The Cesar Awards, France’s version of the Oscars has announced that anyone being investigated for allegations of sexual misconduct will be barred from its 2023 ceremony. There were fears of protests at the event next month, over the latest #MeToo controversy involving French actor Sofiane Bennacer, who is under investigations for allegations or rape, which he denies. Bennacer had been seen as an awards frontrunner for his part in “Les Amandiers” about a sexually promiscuous group of drama students in the 1980s.
NFL HAMLIN INJURY - American football star Damar Hamlin is in a critical condition after collapsing during a primetime US National Football League game. The Buffalo Bills player took a hard hit during a tackle, stood up and then collapsed to the floor during the first quarter of a match against the Cincinnati Bengals. He received medical attention for over 30 minutes before being taken to a local hospital. The NFL suspended the game for the night about an hour after the incident.
PELE FUNERAL - Football legend Pelé will be buried today. Thousands of fans have been paying their final respects by filing past his coffin, which is lying in the Santos stadium, Pele’s longtime club. Brazil’s president Lula is expected to attend the wake this morning, before a funeral procession and interment later in the day. Pele, a three-time World Cup winner widely considered the greatest footballer of all time, died Thursday at age 82 after a battle with cancer.
FOOTBALL MESSI - Meanwhile newly crowned world champion football star Lionel Messi is expected back in France this afternoon, after a holiday with his family in Argentina. PSG, who lead the French league, suffered their first defeat of the season on Sunday when they lost 3-1 at Lens in the 17th round of the Ligue 1.
The day starts off overcast and grey and will remain dry for the most part. But we can expect the odd ray of sunshine peeking through the clouds in the afternoon. It’s a little bit colder with morning temperatures starting off at 4-6°C, rising slightly to 7-9°C in the afternoon.
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