President Macron calls snap election, MEPs in Luxembourg have been elected and warning against ticket scams

Luxembourg

EU ELECTIONS - The CSV holds steady, while DP loses a seat. LSAP misses out on a second seat, ADR gains from the far-right trend in Europe, and Greens barely hold their ground. 78 candidates across 13 lists were running in the European elections this Sunday 9 June. A record in Luxembourg. The six MEPs are: Charel Goerens (DP), Christophe Hansen and Isabel Wiseler-Lima (CSV), Marc Angel (LSAP), Tilly Metz (The Greens), and for the first time the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) with Fernand Kartheiser.

TICKET SCAMS - Luxembourg's government has issued advice on protecting oneself against scammers offering fake tickets to this summer's major events, including the Paris Olympics and the Euros in Germany. The Minister of Consumer Protection, Martine Hansen, encourages people to only purchase tickets via official channels, in spite of temptation from unofficial sources. She warns of online scams offering fake or overpriced tickets, adding that in the event of cancellation, unofficial resellers may only offer the original ticket price, leaving customers to bear any additional costs.

TRADE MISSION - An official Luxembourg business mission is travelling in Japan today, with the Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume at the helm. Foreign minister Xavier Bettel, Economic minister Lex Delles and the Director of the Chamber of Commerce Carlo Thelen are also taking part in the programme, which includes talks with current and potential trade partners in Tokyo and Tsukuba.

World

FRENCH ELECTION - President Emmanuel Macron has called a snap election in France, after his alliance lost heavily to the far right in the EU elections. He said dissolving parliament was a heavy decision, but was also an act of trust in the French people. The populist National Rally party is projected to win a record 32% of the vote. Its leader Marine Le Pen welcomed the results.
 
EU ELECTIONS - Elsewhere in the elections, governing parties have seen mixed results. German Chancellor Scholz’s Social Democrats are set to finish third, behind the far-right AfD. It was also a good night for the right wing in Spain and in Italy. The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that overall the centre-right European People’s Party would hold on to its top position in parliament. She will remain as head of the European Commission in Brussels. 
 
BELGIAN ELECTION - There were also national parliamentary elections in Belgium. The right-wing New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) has emerged as the biggest winner, with the extreme-right pro-separatist Vlaams Belang in second place. The Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said he will resign today.
 
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR - The US Secretary of State is embarking on another tour of the Middle East, in an effort to boost support for a ceasefire in Gaza. Antony Blinken will go first to Egypt, before moving on to Israel later today. It comes a day after Benny Gantz, a former general who leads in polls to replace Netanyahu if new elections are called,  resigned from Israel’s war cabinet.
 
FLYING BLIND - An Austrian Airlines plane has suffered significant damage from hail, which took off part of the airplane’s nose on Sunday. Flight OS434 was flying from Palma de Mallorca to Vienna, when it encountered severe weather. The hail caused damage to the cockpit windows, the nose, and other forward-facing surfaces. Despite the turbulence, extensive damage and no sight, the plane managed to land safely at Vienna Airport with no passengers harmed.

Sport

ATHLETICS - In the European Championship in Rome. Patrizia Van der Weken narrowly missed out on a medal there last night. The Luxembourger came fourth in the 100 metre final. The new European champion is Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, followed by Poland's Ewa Swoboda.

FORMULA 1 - Max Verstappen has completed a hat-trick of victories at the Canadian Grand Prix to consolidate his early-season lead in the drivers' championship. After being beaten in two of the previous three races, the series leader and three-time champion bounced back to his competitive best, to win by 3.879 seconds ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris. Mercedes' George Russell, who started from pole position, finished third ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

TENNIS - Carlos Alcaraz has won the French Open, fighting back to defeat Alexander Zverev in five sets.  The 21-year-old battled cramps to recover from 2-1 down in sets and win a gripping contest after four hours and 19 minutes. Alcaraz adds the Roland Garros crown to the Wimbledon title he won against Novak Djokovic last year and the 2022 US Open.
 
CYCLING -  Slovenia's Primoz Roglic held off a late surge by American Matteo Jorgenson to win his second Criterium du Dauphine by just eight seconds on Sunday.  Roglic went into the last day of the pre-Tour de France race with a 1 minute 2 second lead on Jorgenson but the American put in a fine performance to come second in the eighth and final stage.

Weather

Yes, summer is here, although some parts of today and this week may have us doubting that. The low end of the temperature scale will point towards 10°C in the morning, but it'll get to a cool 16°C range in the afternoon with some showers expected.

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