The Today Radio news team brings you the latest headlines for Wednesday, 15 May.
Luxembourg
ENERGY PRICES - The price cap for gas and electricity is set to conclude at the end of the year, meaning price hikes for households in Luxembourg. The price cap was introduced in autumn 2022 in response to soaring energy prices, in part fuelled by the war in Ukraine and consequences of economic recovery following the pandemic. If the price cap is scrapped entirely by the end of this year, Statec predicts that average electricity costs will jump up by a whopping 60%, while gas will go up by around 17%.
NICOTINE POUCHES - Luxembourg is lagging behind in the regulation of nicotine sachets. The Minister of Health, Martine Deprez has presented stricter rules this week. In future the government want the sachets to be treated like cigarettes, so the product may no longer be sold to minors and have a higher tax rate of 22 euros per kilo. No advertisting and restrictions on where the products can be consumed. Details should be clarified in the next meeting in the Chamber.
ROAD CLOSURES - The A3 motorway will be closed in both directions between the Gluck roundabout and the Hesperange interchange due to planned works this weekend. The designated road will be shut from 11pm tonight, reopening again in the early hours of Monday morning. Elsewhere, there will be closures on the A13 between the Croix de Bettembourg and the Schifflange junction from Friday night until Monday morning. Further details are available here.
NAZI FLAG - Various people reported seeing Nazi symbols and an old army vehicle on the Echternach market square on Thursday, not knowing it was a film set. A production is currently telling the story of two Luxembourgish resistance fighters who fled under the Nazi regime. Whilst production is nearly complete, an important scene that took place in Echternach was filmed on Thursday.
World
MALLORCA BUILDING COLLAPSE - Four people have died and 21 others are injured after a 2-storey building collapsed on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Several people are believed to be trapped at the Medusa Beach Club in Palma. At a press conference last night, the mayor of Palma said the victims are most likely English tourists and an employee from the beach club. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said his government was ready to help with any means.
UKRAINE WAR - Russian strikes on Ukraine's second-largest city Kharkiv have killed at least seven people with dozens more wounded, according to authorities. The northeast border region surrounding Kharkiv has become the latest flashpoint of the war after Russian forces launched a surprise ground offensive this month, forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents.
UN SREBRENICA - The UN General Assembly has voted to establish an annual day of remembrance for the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, despite furious opposition from Bosnian Serbs and Serbia. Bosnian Serb forces captured Srebrenica on July 11, 1995. In the following days, the same forces killed around 8,000 Muslim men and teenagers. The incident is considered the worst single atrocity in Europe since World War II.
LIVE NATION LAWSUIT - The US Department of Justice has filed a major antitrust lawsuit, seeking to break up an alleged monopoly in the live music industry between concert promoter Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary, bookings website Ticketmaster. The lawsuit claims that Live Nation has abused its dominant market position to raise ticket fees, squeeze out competitors and limit choices for fans, venues and artists.
Sport
FORMULA 1 - The legendary Monte Carlo Grand Prix is taking place this weekend. In the run up, Max Verstappen said he is braced for a difficult weekend, aware that his rivals are beginning to mount a sustained challenge to his bid for a fourth consecutive drivers’ world title.
RUGBY - European club rugby's two most successful teams will meet in the Champions Cup final for the first time when Toulouse take on Leinster in London on Saturday. Toulouse have lifted the Champions Cup trophy five times, while Leinster have been kings of Europe on four occasions.
And Luxembourg's rugby team host their biggest game in recent history, taking on Moldova in a play-off final to see who reaches the Rugby trophy—a high-level competition that includes teams such as Poland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Croatia, and Lithuania. The game is on Saturday at 6pm at Josy Barthel stadium.
CYCLING - Tim Merlier won the 18th stage of the Giro d'Italia yesterday in a messy bunch sprint as Tadej Pogacar held his massive lead on a quiet day for the champion-in-waiting. Pogacar is seven minutes and 42 seconds ahead of Daniel Martinez with three stages left as he closes in on overall victory.
FOOTBALL - In the women’s Champions League - record eight-time winners Lyon face holders Barcelona in a tantalising Champions League final on Saturday in Bilbao, pitting the established elite against the new women's football powerhouse.
Bayer Leverkusen face second-division Kaiserslautern in Saturday's German Cup final, licking their wounds after a first loss in almost a year. Xabi Alonso's side were beaten 3-0 to Atalanta in the Europa League final earlier this week, their first defeat in any competition since May 2023 -- a run of 51 games.
Weather
It’s a another cloudy day with showers and local thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening. Temperatures start off at around 9-11°C , rising to 16-18 °C in the afternoon.
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