EUROPE WILDFIRES – Luxembourg is sending a firefighting plane and 15 firefighters to help tackle the wildfires in France's Gironde region, under the European civil protection mechanism. The aircraft, operated by Cargolux subsidiary Aquarius Aerial Firefighting, is expected to begin operations today. Prime Minister Luc Frieden said supporting neighbours in an emergency is essential. The plane has been leased for around €300,000.
New wildfires have broken out across southern Europe amid another heatwave and strong winds. In France, up to 700 people have been evacuated in the Var, while residents near Dijon are being told to stay indoors due to smoke. In Spain, 12 villages have been evacuated near a national park on the Portuguese border. The EU warns the wildfire threat is now shifting eastward, with Italy, Greece, and Central Europe facing increased risk.
WEATHER ALERT – Strong winds and possible thunderstorms are forecast for Thursday afternoon, adding to the weather risks as a yellow heat alert remains in effect until noon.
EARTH OVERSHOOT DAY – Today is Earth Overshoot Day, the point at which humanity is estimated to have used up the planet's renewable resources for the year. Luxembourg reached that milestone back on 17 February, second only to Qatar worldwide. To mark the day, activists from Votum Klima and Seniors for Climate rallied at Findel airport yesterday, opposing plans to expand it and calling instead for greater investment in high-speed rail.
SCHUEBERFOUER PREPARATIONS – Preparations are underway at Glacis for this year's Schueberfouer, with sections of the car park already closed and more access restrictions expected in the coming weeks. The fair's entrance sign is up, marking the 686th edition, opening Friday 21 August and running until 9 September.
CARPOOLING PLATFORM – A new carpooling platform, Luxcov, is helping cross-border commuters travel to Luxembourg for work. Launched by Martin Stoz, the free service focuses on daily commutes rather than occasional trips, and already counts around 100 users and 25 regular routes across Belgium, France, and Germany.
JAPAN EARTHQUAKE – Rescue teams in Japan are still searching for survivors at a collapsed shopping mall, with the earthquake death toll now at 28. Four bodies have been pulled from the wreckage of the Aeon mall, as Tuesday's magnitude 7.1 quake left tens of thousands without power or water, with temperatures set to hit 38 degrees this weekend.
UKRAINE WAR – Russian strikes have killed at least eight people and wounded more than a dozen across Ukraine, following a warning from President Zelensky of a major overnight attack. A ballistic missile hit a house near Kryvyi Rih, killing four adults and two young girls. Zelensky renewed his call for allies to supply the air defence missiles Ukraine lacks.
IRAN WAR – Overnight, the US carried out fresh strikes in Iran, targeting military infrastructure including missile and drone sites and command centres. It was described as a response to recent Iranian attacks on US bases in the Middle East.
GRAMMYS – Global K-pop sensation BTS have announced they won't submit their music for next year's Grammy Awards, saying they want their work judged, in their words, for what it is rather than by region or language. The South Korean band had been tipped for top honours for their comeback album ARIRANG, but it wouldn't have qualified for the Grammys' new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.
FOOTBALL – FIFA President Gianni Infantino has given member associations until 19 September to back plans for a commercial subsidiary covering competitions like the World Cup, offering up to 40 million dollars each in return. The proposal, which would let private investors buy stakes in the tournaments, has drawn sharp criticism from UEFA.
Luxembourg's European football campaign looks set to end in disappointment, with UNA Strassen and Atert Bissen both trailing after their first legs against Partizan Belgrade and ETO FC Győr. Strassen host Partizan this evening in what's likely to be the last game on the international stage this year for a Luxembourg team.
BOXING – And in boxing, Idi Amin's grandson, Aziz Abdul, has been disqualified from the Commonwealth Games boxing quarter-finals for headbutting England's Damar Thomas. The super-heavyweight was jeered out of the ring after several fouls. He later branded the referee's decision unfair.
FORMULA 1 – Formula One's season could end in Europe if planned races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are cancelled due to the Middle East war, CEO Stefano Domenicali said. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races were already scrapped and Bahrain rescheduled to Malaysia. A decision is expected by mid-September.
We still have the yellow alert for heat until noon at least. You can expect some sunny spells to start the day, but cloud will build quickly through the morning, bringing showers and isolated thunderstorms by midday. From 11am onwards, Meteolux is warning of strong winds with speeds of between 75 and 85km/h, locally even 90km/h. Ahead of the front, temperatures will climb to a hot 30 to 35°C, before dropping sharply to 22 to 26°C in the afternoon.
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