WEATHER ALERT - After several weather warnings, the flood warning has been extended to 10am this morning. According to Meteolux, “light snowfall” occurred in some locations during the night, meaning the flood forecasting service has initiated a hydrological watch for the Sûre, the Alzette, the Syre, and the Chiers. Some flooding is expected on the Moselle and maritime traffic on the river might be temporarily disrupted in the foreseeable future.
BUILDING COSTS - The cost of building houses in Luxembourg has risen by 16% in one year, according to Statec, Luxembourg’s national institute for statistics. The figure marks the highest annual increase in close to 50 years. The reasons for the elevated costs are high energy prices and high prices for building materials, which have led to a marked increase in construction site costs. In addition processes such as earth filling and the transportation of goods are becoming more expensive, as are the installation of garage doors, windows and doors.
LONG TERM UNEMPLOYMENT - A new study has looked into the risk factors for long-term unemployment, which affects close to half of job seekers in Luxembourg. About 35% of the long-term unemployed either have reduced work capacities or a type of disability. An additional risk factor is the duration of the previous employment. People who worked at the same location for an extended period of time are at greater risk of facing long-term unemployment.
CHINA POPULATION - China’s population in 2022 has shrunk for the first time in over 60 years, as the world’s most populous nation sees an ageing society and falling birth rate. The country’s population stood at around 1.4 billion – a decline of 850,000. China ended its strict one-child policy -- imposed in the 1980s owing to fears of overpopulation -- in 2016 and began allowing couples to have three children in 2021.
UKRAINE ATTACK - Two days after the rocket attack on an apartment building in Dnipro in Ukraine, the number of dead has risen to 40. More than 20 people are still missing. In his evening address, Ukrainian President Zelensky blamed Russia for the attack and demanded further arms deliveries from the west. The UK has confirmed it will send tanks to Ukraine. Arms deliveries to Ukraine will also be a topic at the World Economic Forum in Davos today. Polish President Duda wants to discuss the deliveries of German Leopard tanks.
MUSK TRIAL - A trial against Elon Musk begins in San Francisco today. He is accused of deliberately manipulating the stock market with a tweet about Tesla in 2018. A number of investors have sued for allegedly losing billions of dollars over a Twitter post, where Musk said he had sufficient funding to take Tesla private. The jury will be appointed today.
LIGHTNING GUIDE - Scientists have used a laser beam to guide lightning for the first time, hoping the technique will help protect against deadly bolts -- and one day maybe even trigger them. Lightning strikes between 40-120 times a second worldwide, killing more than 4,000 people and causing billions of dollars worth of damage every year. Now, in a study published in the journal Nature Photonics, they describe using a laser beam -- shot from the top of a Swiss mountain -- to guide a lightning bolt for more than 50 metres.
TENNIS - Novak Djokovic returns to the Australian Open tonight, where he will take on Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena. Djokovic had received a three-year ban from Australia about his covid vaccination status, but that was waived in November to enable his return for the 2023 edition, where he will attempt to equal Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 Grand Slam tournament wins.
Play is set to resume on outside courts at the Australian Open following a three-hour delay after matches were halted due to extreme heat. With players sweltering in temperatures of 36 degrees, the tournament’s five-part heat stress scale hit five.
HANDBALL WC - In the handball world championship in Poland, the first groups in the preliminary round are finished. Among other teams, Cap Verde is one round further. With Elledy Semedo from the Red Boys and Gilson Mendes Correia from Diekirch, there are also two players in the squad who play in Luxembourg.
The cold snap in Luxembourg continues this Tuesday with a few snowflakes on the way. The yellow alert for potential danger remains in place due to the risk of icy roads. Otherwise, it’s a rather inoffensive day, with light snow potentially falling in the morning and evening, and clouds present throughout the day.
Morning temperatures of -2 to 0°C will rise slightly to a high of 3°C in the afternoon, falling back around zero in the evening.
Be sure to catch our full bulletin on the hour, every hour and headlines at half past the hour on RTL Today Radio. You can also access the news via Alexa, and on RTL Play.
