LIGHTNING STRIKES – Last night's thunderstorms and lightning strikes kept firefighters busy across the north and northwest of the country. Rescue services were called to three major fires: a barn ablaze in Troine, hundreds of straw bales alight in Landscheid, creating a blaze stretching over 250 metres, and a roof fire at a residence in Pommerloch.
More than 150 firefighters from emergency centres across almost the entire north were deployed. One was slightly injured tackling the blazes. The CGDIS also activated its operations coordination centre to manage the response. Around the same time, just before 9.30pm, a vegetation fire broke out in Heffingen.
CSL CYBERATTACK – The Chamber of Employees (CSL) has confirmed a cyberattack, after unauthorised external access to its servers on 26 July. A complaint has been filed. Deputy director Martine Mirkes says the breach came from outside, no perpetrator has been identified. Contact and financial data may have been copied. The CSL is urging vigilance over any request for a password or payment.
ENERGY SUBSIDIES – Government subsidies on electricity, gas, and heating fuel took effect on Saturday, as part of the resilience package agreed by the tripartite in June. Electricity support rises to 11.3 cents per kilowatt hour, saving an average household around 180 euros over five months. All aid ends on 31 December.
FUEL PRICE – Fuel prices are on the move again. From today, 95-octane petrol drops by 5.3 cents a litre, bringing the price to 1.70 euros. It follows sharp rises last Friday. Diesel and heating fuel prices stay unchanged for now.
EU BORDERS – EU interior ministers are holding emergency talks this morning on the situation in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, and on protecting the bloc's external borders. In a joint letter, 22 of the EU's 27 member states are calling for stronger border protection, and for Spain to be temporarily excluded from Schengen. Luxembourg has not signed the letter, nor have France and Portugal.
EUROPE WILDFIRES – A large forest fire has been burning in a nature reserve near Oostrum, in the east of the Netherlands, since yesterday. A campsite has been evacuated as a precaution, and the army has now joined around a hundred firefighters, deploying three helicopters.
In Greece, 23 water bombing aircraft and 11 helicopters, along with several hundred firefighters on the ground, continue to battle a huge blaze west of Athens, which remains out of control. Winds have picked up again since the weekend, sparking further fires. More than 80 square kilometres have now burned.
EUROPE HEATWAVE – An intense heatwave sweeping western Europe is now pushing east, bringing temperatures close to 40 degrees to central and southern regions. Hungary is worst affected – the country's only nuclear plant has been forced to shut down for the first time in its 44 year history, after Danube water levels hit record lows. The Rhine has also dropped to record low levels at multiple points in Germany and the Netherlands, as the heatwave continues.
MIDDLE EAST PEACE TALKS – Representatives from Israel and Lebanon meet again today in Rome, to discuss further implementation of their security agreement, with Hezbollah's tunnel network central to the talks. Over the weekend, the Israeli military launched one of its biggest waves of destruction since June's ceasefire, with major explosions at several locations. No Hezbollah representatives are taking part in today's talks.
VENEZUELA EARTHQUAKE – The confirmed death toll from Venezuela's two severe earthquakes last month has now risen above 6,000. Around 350,000 tonnes of rubble have been searched and cleared so far, just a sixth of the total destroyed by the quakes.
FOOTBALL – Tonight sees the close of matchday one in the new national football championship season. Champions Bissen face F91 Dudelange, while Strassen take on Rosport. Kick-off both times is 8pm.
The English Football Association is set to withdraw its support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino, following his scrapped plan to sell stakes in Fifa competitions to private investors. UEFA is threatening legal action, while Wales has already pulled its backing. Infantino faces re-election next March for a fourth term.
Chelsea have announced the signing of veteran England midfielder Jordan Henderson from Premier League rivals Brentford. The former Liverpool captain, who was part of England's World Cup squad at the recent tournament in North America, has signed a two-year deal at Stamford Bridge.
CYCLING – At the Tour de France Femmes, there was an impressive win yesterday on stage three, finishing in Poligny, for Norway's Sigrid Haugset, who broke away solo and is now the new yellow jersey holder. Today, stage four is a 21km individual time trial finishing in Dijon.
In men's cycling, meanwhile, confirmation came yesterday that Tadej Pogačar will also ride the Vuelta this year. It starts on 22 August in Monaco. The world champion has never yet won the Tour of Spain.
While the morning might be more settled, with scattered clouds, we could see rain showers and thunderstorms as we head into the afternoon. Winds could reach up to 55 km/h.
It will still be hot, however, starting at 19-21°C in the morning, with highs of 31-33°C in the afternoon, staying warm well into the evening.
Stay connected: Tune in to RTL Today Radio, now on 93.3 FM and DAB+, and be sure to catch our full bulletin on the hour, every hour, and headlines at half past the hour.
