TWO INJURED IN OVERNIGHT ROAD ACCIDENTS – Luxembourgish emergency services report two car accidents last night and this morning, resulting in two injuries. On Friday night there was a two vehicle crash on the A4 highway between Pontpierre and Foetz, with one person injured, and early this morning another driver was injured after hitting a tree on the N10 near to Stolzembourg. Meanwhile firefighters were called out to a fire in a garage in Echternach, where they safely extinguished the blaze.
LUXAIR DUBAI FLIGHT CANCELLED – A Luxair flight scheduled to depart for Dubai this morning has been postponed by 24 hours due to security concerns linked to the current situation in the Middle East. Several major airlines, including Air France, Lufthansa and British Airways, have had to adjust their operations, with flights to destinations in Saudi Arabia and Israel also suspended, as tensions in the region have intensified with the United States’ pressure on Iran, with an American naval fleet on the way to the gulf region.
NO INCREASE IN MINIMUM WAGE POSSIBLE – Carlo Thelen, director general of the Chamber of Commerce, has said that an increase in minimum wage is not currently possible, in an interview covering the ongoing trade dispute between the EU and the US, wages, pensions and national productivity. He said that businesses cannot currently afford an increase to minimum wage, and that Luxembourg is currently in a good position when measured against the European minimum wage directive.
USA WINTER STORM – A potentially catastrophic winter storm started its march across the US last night, moving across heavily populated mid-Atlantic states towards the northeast. Local residents stripped supermarket shelves ahead of the storm, that threatens at least 160 million people with transportation chaos, blackouts and life-threatening cold, with more than 30cm of snow forecast to blanket the country from Colorado to Boston.
EUROPE AND INDIA SEEK CLOSER TRADE TIES – India and Europe hope to strike the “mother of all deals” when EU chiefs meet Indian Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi next week, as the two economic giants seek closer ties. India and the European Union have been negotiating a massive free trade pact - and talks, first started nearly two decades ago, are nearing the finishing line.
US TO PRIORITISE HOMELAND SECURITY – The US military will prioritise the homeland and deterring China while providing “more limited” support to allies in Europe and elsewhere, according to the Pentagon’s new National Defence Strategy. The document, published every four years, marks a significant departure from past Pentagon policy, both in its emphasis on allies taking on more responsibility for their own defence with less backing from Washington, and its softer tone on traditional foes China and Russia.
UKRAINE AND RUSSIA TO HOLD SECOND DAY OF TALKS – Negotiators from Russia, Ukraine and the United States will meet in Abu Dhabi today, for the second day of negotiations on a plan being pushed by President Trump to end the almost four-year-long war. Both sides say the fate of territory in the eastern Donbas region is the main outstanding issue in the search for a settlement to a war that has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and decimated parts of Ukraine.
TENNIS – Extreme heat triggered a suspension of play at the Australian Open today, with temperatures topping 40 degrees. A number of games on outdoor courts were halted, with defending Champion Jannik Sinner closing out a 4 set win after the pause.
TENNIS – Two-time champion Naomi Osaka pulled out of her third-round clash in Melbourne, where she was due to meet Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis on centre court. “I’ve had to make the difficult decision to withdraw to address something my body needs attention for after my last match,” said the 16th seed on Instagram.
BASKETBALL – The Indiana Pacers beat the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder 117-114 on Friday evening, withstanding a 47-point performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to win an NBA Finals rematch.
The day started misty and cloudy, but it should remain dry. Sunnier spells are possible later in the afternoon, if you cross your fingers. Temperatures of around 3 over lunchtime will rise to a maximum of 5 later in the day, with sunset at 17:17.
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