The Today Radio news team brings you the latest headlines for Tuesday, 2 July
Luxembourg
CROSS-BORDER COMMUTERS - The rail connection between Trier and Luxembourg is being expanded to simplify (and speed up) commuting across the border - adding a line that had previously only been available for freight traffic. By the end of the year, passenger trains will run twice an hour between Wittlich and Luxembourg station, four times per hour between Trier and Luxembourg as well as between Schweich and Saarburg. This will significantly improve Trier's connectivity with Luxembourg.
CHILD ABUSE - The number of complaints related to child abuse has shown a steady increase over the past four years, according to recent statistics. In this period, the public prosecutor's office received 220 complaints specifically for child rape. Additionally, there have been approximately 400 complaints for offences such as sexual misconduct ('molestation') since 2019.
LOCAL POLICE - A pilot project for local police has been launched in Luxembourg City and Esch. Luxembourg City will receive 20 local police officers, and Esch will receive 4. According to the Minister for the Interior, Léon Gloden, these police officers will be closer and known to the community. Essentially, the police officers are “good neighbours,” patrolling in both cities from Monday to Saturday between 7am-9pm.
EUROVISON SONG CONTEST 2025 - After the great success of Luxembourg's comeback at the Eurovision Song Contest this year, it is now official that Luxembourg will again send a song to the international music competition next year. RTL are now looking for candidates who want to represent the Grand Duchy in Switzerland in 2025. Registrations are open until the 6 October and an international expert jury will select the best candidates to compete at the Luxembourg Song Contest, where the winning song will be chosen to represent Luxembourg.
World
US IMMUNITY RULING - President Biden has criticised the US Supreme Court for ruling that former Presidents have partial immunity from criminal prosecution, calling it a "dangerous precedent." Donald Trump is facing numerous charges related to alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. He has called the decision a big win. The judges have said the immunity applies to acts taken as President but not those in private. The lower court will have to decide how that applies to Trump.
FRANCE ELECTION - Parties in France are picking their candidates for Sunday’s run-off elections with opponents of the National Rally attempting to prevent the far-right group taking power in parliament. More than 150 centrists and left-wing candidates have pulled out, in an aim to avoid splitting the vote.
NETHERLANDS GOVERNMENT - Former spy chief Dick Schoof becomes the new Dutch prime minister today, leading a right-wing coalition cabinet on a mission to implement the "strictest-ever" immigration policy in the country. Two hundred and twenty-three days after far-right leader Geert Wilders swept to an election victory that stunned Europe and the world, Schoof takes over from Mark Rutte after 14 years in power.
Sport
FOOTBALL - Portugal needed penalties to beat Slovenia after a 0-0 draw to set up a Euro 2024 quarter-final with France, who edged out Belgium 1-0 on Monday. Diogo Costa was the Portuguese hero in Frankfurt as the Porto goalkeeper saved all three Slovenian spot-kicks in the shootout. Today’s matches are Romania -Netherlands and Austria plays against Turkey.
CYCLING - Eritrean Biniam Girmay has dedicated his stage three win at the Tour de France on Monday to "the continent of Africa" as Richard Carapaz from Ecuador took the overall race lead in Turin. Today’s stage is 140 kilometers from Pinerolo to Valloire in France.
TENNIS - Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and world number one Jannik Sinner have reached the Wimbledon second round while 37-year-old Andy Murray is keeping his fans guessing over his participation at the All England Club.
Two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Aryna Sabalenka, ranked third in the world, has withdrawn, after suffering a shoulder injury at the Berlin Open.
Weather
So we are back to cloudy and rainy days. There is no sunshine predicted at all and the rain is due to roll in mid-morning. Starting at a comfortable 11-13°C in the morning, the temperature will reach highs of 14-16°C.
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