The Today Radio news team brings you the latest headlines for 4 July.
Luxembourg
BETTEL US – In an interview with L’Essentiel published yesterday, Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel has hit back at comments by the new US ambassador to Luxembourg on its relationship with China. Stacey Feinberg, who accused Luxembourg of being “naïve” with regard to China made the controversial comments during an appearance at the US Senate in June. She claimed that China would infiltrate Luxembourg's education system, or steal intellectual property. She added that the Grand Duchy should better monitor and limit China's attempts to increase its influence in Europe using the financial centre. Bettel said that Luxembourg did not need ‘education’ from China or the US.
CUSTOMS SEIZURE – Luxembourg's customs authorities have announced that they made a major seizure in the passenger area of the airport earlier in July, discovering 607 cartons of untaxed cigarettes being carried by three passengers arriving from Athens, who together had six large suitcases.
TOURIST TRAIN CRASH – Four people were injured in a Luxembourg City tourist train crash. The train known as the Pétrusse Express was involved in a crash at 2.20pm in the Grund district. Four people were injured as a result and received treatment from the capital’s ambulance service.
DONALD DUCK IN LUXEMBOURG – Donald Duck and his nephews have been making repeated trips through German cities and regions for some time now. In the latest issue of the Mickey Mouse German-language magazine, the finale of the story takes place in Luxembourg. The issue is expected to sell out quickly, many people have already reserved an issue as it could become a collector’s item.
World
UKRAINE WAR – Russia has pummelled Kyiv with drones in an all-night attack, injuring at least 14 people, damaging railway infrastructure and setting buildings and cars on fire throughout the city. The attacks follow a meeting of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with European Union leaders in Denmark yesterday. Meanwhile, Russia has become the first country to officially recognise Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government. The Taliban called it a "brave decision".
CATTENOM POWER PLANT – France has agreed to extend its nuclear power plant operations for another ten years – including the four reactors at Cattenom.This green light comes at a time when the government has decided to relaunch the industry and debate is raging over France's energy strategy.
US TAX BILL – US President Donald Trump has announced that he will sign his tax-cut legislation – described by him as the “big beautiful bill" – during a ceremony set for 5pm today. The event will feature a military flyover to mark the occasion. In addition to the bill signing, Trump announced that his administration would soon begin sending letters to countries around the world, informing them of the specific tariffs they will face on goods imported into the United States. He suggested this approach would be simpler than negotiating numerous separate trade deals.
GREECE WILDFIRES – Officials on the southern Greek island of Crete evacuated thousands of people from wildfires, while two people died in neighbouring Turkey as fires took hold in the western province of Izmir on Thursday. About 30 kilometres east of Athens, another fire broke out near the port of Rafina on Thursday afternoon. Hot dry weather in Greece – not unusual for this time of year – has heightened the risk of a repeat of the summer wildfires that have hit the country in recent years.
Sport
FOOTBALL – Spain has underlined their status as Women’s Euro 2025 favourites with a commanding 5-0 win over Portugal. Italy got off to a winning start with a 1-0 success over Belgium.Today Denmark play Sweden and Germany is up against Poland.
The games were overshadowed by tributes to the late Portuguese men’s international Diogo Jota. The Liverpool forward died at the age of 28 following a fatal car accident in Spain on Wednesday night. The footballer and his 26-year-old brother were both killed in the crash. Jota, who was married less than two weeks ago, was widely regarded as one of Liverpool’s key attacking players.
TENNIS – Novak Djokovic has crushed British wildcard Dan Evans in the Wimbledon second round as he stepped up his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title, while world number one Jannik Sinner has cruised into round three. In the women, only one of the top five seeds in the women's draw – world number one Aryna Sabalenka – is still standing.
But defending champion Barbora Krejcikova and five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek avoided joining the big name casualties with hard-fought three-set wins yesterday.
CYCLING – The Tour de France kicks off in Lille on Saturday. Ahead of the race, defending champion Tadej Pogacar insisted he has every respect for his great Tour de France rival Jonas Vingegaard. The 26-year-old Slovenian won the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and world title in 2024 and is hot favourite again here.
Weather
After those more-than-welcome showers on Wednesday night, we are in for some much more pleasant summer days, comfortably hovering below the 30-degree line.
We're waking up to an occasional cloud, morning temperatures around 15–17°C, before thermometers climb back up to a summery 25–27°C in the afternoon.
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