The Today Radio news team brings you the latest headlines for Thursday, 18 July.

Luxembourg 

TAX RELIEF PACKAGE - On Wednesday, Finance Minister Gilles Roth unveiled the new tax relief package. It includes exemptions for low-income earners, attractive bonuses for expats, and reduced corporate taxes. In 2025, tax relief will be extended to beneficiaries of tax class 1A, which includes single-parent households, individuals over 64, and widows. Additionally, those earning the non-qualified minimum wage will be exempt from tax and bonuses paid to expats will become more attractive tax-wise.

PIRATE PARTY TENSIONS - Tensions are escalating within the Pirate Party, as confirmed by MP Marc Goergen in an interview with RTL.lu. He stated that, moving forward, he and fellow MP Sven Clement will only collaborate "when absolutely necessary" in the Chamber of Deputies. While the Pirate Party's political group in parliament will remain intact, a strict financial separation will be implemented "wherever possible." This measure primarily affects the salaries of employees paid by each respective MP. Goergen stressed that he does not want Clement to settle bills with his funds in the future. Although he did not allege any past misconduct, he described the move as a "precautionary measure."

CRASH INVESTIGATION - After a serious bus accident on Friday resulted in 14 injuries on the N15 in Pommerloch, the public prosecutor's office confirmed to our colleagues from RTL.lu that an investigation has been launched to ascertain the exact circumstances of the incident. While initial examinations have been conducted, ongoing analyses are being carried out, with an appointed expert overseeing the case. No individuals have been placed in custody at this time, as specified by the prosecutor's office.

SWIMMING BAN - In response to a dangerous outbreak of cyanobacteria commonly known as blue algae, the Water Management Authority has banned swimming at Rommwiss beach, Upper Sûre Lake, to protect public health. The authorities have announced a swimming ban 'with immediate effect' at Rommwiss beach in light of a 'significant proliferation' of cyanobacteria, otherwise known as blue algae, in the Upper Sûre Lake. Swimming is still permitted on the other beaches of the lake as well as in the ponds at Weiswampach, Echternach and Remerschen.

World

PARIS CRASH - A motorist ploughed a car into a cafe terrace in Olympic host city Paris on Wednesday evening, killing one person and seriously injuring several others in a suspected accident, officials told AFP. The incident struck less than 10 days before the opening of the Olympic Games in the French capital on July 26th. The public prosecutor's office said the driver of the vehicle had been arrested -- and a police source has said three of the injured people were in critical condition.

BIDEN COVID POSITIVE - US President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid with mild symptoms on Wednesday, shortly after conceding he would consider dropping his reelection bid if doctors diagnosed him with a serious medical condition. The 81-year-old Democrat has now cut short a trip to Las Vegas and flown to his beach home in Delaware to go into isolation, which will take him off the campaign trail for days. The infection comes at a critical moment for Biden's campaign, with the president seeking to show he is up to the job after a disastrous debate performance against rival Donald Trump sparked concerns about his health and calls from some Democrats for him to step aside.

EU PRESIDENT VOTE - EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will face a make-or-break vote on Thursday when the European Parliament will decide whether to hand her another term helming the bloc's executive arm. Only a day before the vote, a top EU court has ruled that she failed to be transparent enough about coronavirus vaccine contracts during the Covid pandemic. But her supporters believe she will comfortably clinch the vote by secret ballot after holding weeks of negotiations with lawmakers to push them to back her.

Sport

RUGBY - Two French international rugby players accused of raping a woman while on tour in Argentina were temporarily granted house arrest Wednesday after a week in detention, the prosecutor's office said. Hugo Auradou, 20, and Oscar Jegou, 21, were arrested in Buenos Aires two days after their team played Argentina in the city of Mendoza. They will be equipped with electronic monitoring bracelets, the public prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

FOOTBALL - FIFA said on Wednesday it was opening an investigation into racist chants by Argentina players after they won the Copa America. The chants, targeting French star Kylian Mbappe, were heard during a live video posted on social media by Chelsea and Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez from onboard the team bus in the wake of their Copa victory over Colombia in Miami on Sunday.

Weather

Don't worry about that overcast sky - today is set to be warm and dry throughout.

Some high-altitude clouds are to be expected as temperatures soar as high as 30°C in some areas today. Is summer finally here?! The morning starts off pleasantly cool at 14-16°C, rising to 28-30°C in the afternoon. As evening draws in, expect temperatures to drop only slightly to 25-27°C.

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