The Today Radio news team brings you the latest headlines for Wednesday, 22 May.

Luxembourg 

DISTRACTED DRIVING – Nearly 300 fines were issued last week by Luxembourg police during the special operation 'Eyes on the Road.' The operation aimed to crack down on distracted driving, such as using mobile phones while driving which incurs €250 fine along with a penalty of 4 points. Additionally, 200 fines were issued following checks of vehicle documents.

FIRE LIEFRANGE – A fire broke out in Liefrange, in a Caritas-run home for young people last night. A fire broke out in a room and no one was injured. 27 people were evacuated and given shelter in the municipality’s town hall.

ISS MISSION – Luxembourg has its very own astronaut going to space. Raphaël Liégeois is a Belgian astronaut who also holds Luxembourgish nationality and will be the first Luxembourger to set foot on the International Space Station in 2026.

SMOKING STUDY – A new study by the Luxembourg Cancer Foundation has revealed that smoking remains prevalent in the Grand Duchy, with a notable increase among young people compared to last year. The study found that 27% of residents smoke, with two-thirds reporting daily use. Traditional cigarettes make up 23% of tobacco use, while shisha use has doubled in a year, reaching 22%. E-cigarettes account for 17%, with the highest concentration seen among 16–24-year-olds.

AIRPORT PROBLEMS – In a press statement, LuxAirport has confirmed that the "technical problem" that led to delays and cancelled flights on 10 May was in fact a metal detector that was inadvertently pulled out during nighttime cleaning.

 World

UK ELECTION – British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called a national election for July 4, saying Britons would be able to choose their future, in a vote his Conservatives are widely expected to lose to the opposition Labour Party after 14 years in power.

NEW CALEDONIA RIOTS – President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia, vowing to restore calm "as quickly as possible" after separatist unrest that has left six people dead and hundreds injured. French authorities have sent around 3,000 troops, police and other security reinforcements.  There have long been tensions between the Paris government and pro-independence voices among Indigenous Kanaks, who make up about 40 percent of the population.

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR – In a move that has infuriated Israel, Ireland, Norway, and Spain announced they will formally recognise the State of Palestine on May 28. Israel said it was recalling its envoys to Ireland and Norway for "urgent consultations" and was expected to do the same with its ambassador to Spain.

EU ELECTIONS – A debate of the lead candidates vying to head the next European Commission is taking place in Brussels today. The five candidates, including Luxembourgish politician Nicolas Schmit, the lead candidate of the European Socialist Party, will discuss the European labour market, climate and defence policy.

Sport

FOOTBALL – Bergamo Atalanta swept aside German champions Leverkusen 3-0 who were unbeaten in 51 games in all competitions before last night's Europa League final in Dublin. The Italians have won their first trophy in over six decades.

Bayern Munich are close to completing a shock move for Burnley boss Vincent Kompany to replace Thomas Tuchel as coach, according to German and English media. According to German tabloid Bild and TV network Sky, the Belgian coach has reached an agreement in principle with Bayern. The club  agreed to part ways with Tuchel in February after falling behind eventual champions Bayer Leverkusen in the title race.

TENNIS – Novak Djokovic has celebrated his 37th birthday with the 1,100th win of his career as he gears up for his French Open title defence, progressing to the Geneva quarter-finals. The world number one downed Germany's Yannick Hanfmann 6-3, 6-3 in the second round.

CYCLING – German rookie Georg Steinhauser has won the 17th stage of the Giro d'Italia as Tadej Pogacar strengthened his huge lead at the top of the overall standings. Steinhauser crossed one minute and 23 seconds ahead of Pogacar who made his own burst from the pink jersey group in the final two kilometres and extended his lead to 7 minutes and 42 seconds.

Weather

You know those days when you're not quite sure if you should be wearing sandals or hiding under your umbrella? It's one of those. After the early morning mist burns off, we can expect overcast skies, with the odd burst of sunshine and rain showers to keep us on our toes. Temperatures start off at around 9–11°C , rising to 17–19 °C in the afternoon.

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