The Today Radio news team brings you the latest headlines for Tuesday, 8 July.

Luxembourg 

ACCESSION PROGRAMME – Luxembourg is preparing for a historic royal transition this October as Grand Duke Henri steps down and his son, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, ascends to the throne. Over three days, the country will mark the occasion with official ceremonies, nationwide celebrations, and a religious service, bringing together citizens from all corners of the Grand Duchy to witness the beginning of a new reign.

BUS COMPANIES INVESTIGATED – On the order of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, police searched several bus companies and the home of a former employee in connection with a suspected €23 million fraud. Authorities suspect that around €12 million was fraudulently drawn from the European Regional Development Fund during the 2022–2023 period with a further €11 million believed to have been improperly taken from the national budget in 2024.

HOUSING PRICES RISE – Housing prices in Luxembourg have more than doubled since 2010, Eurostat reports in a new survey published on Friday. The European Union's statistical agency (Eurostat) found that housing prices in Luxembourg rose by 102% over the past 15 years, placing the country within the same rank as Poland. The Grand Duchy now joins the group of EU nations where housing prices have doubled in that period.

World

UKRAINE – President Donald Trump has pledged to send more defensive weapons to Ukraine after Russia claimed new territorial gains and stepped up missile and drone attacks in its ongoing invasion. Trump's announcement followed Washington saying last week that it was halting some weapons shipments to Kyiv, leaving Ukrainian officials caught off guard and scrambling for clarity. "We're going to have to send more weapons – defensive weapons primarily", Trump told journalists at the White House.

IRAN – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an interview released on Monday that Israel, which last month fought a 12-day war with Iran, had attempted to assassinate him. The remarks came less than a month after Israel launched its unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran, killing top military commanders and nuclear scientists. "They did try, yes. They acted accordingly, but they failed", Pezeshkian told US media figure Tucker Carlson.

TEXAS FLOODS – The death toll from catastrophic flooding in Texas has climbed past 100, including dozens of children at a summer camp, as rescuers battle heavy rain and swollen rivers to find the missing amid mounting questions over warning systems. Among the dead were at least 27 girls and counsellors who were staying at a youth summer camp on a river when disaster struck over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Sport

FOOTBALL – Spain reached the quarter-finals of Women's Euro 2025 on Monday after the world champions hammered Belgium 6-2 while Italy were held to a 1-1 draw with Portugal at the death. A brace from Alexia Putellas and further goals from Irene Paredes, Esther Gonzalez, Mariona Caldentey, and Claudia Pina gave Group B leaders Spain a second thumping win.

RUGBY – New Zealand Rugby captain Scott Barrett was ruled out on Tuesday of the rest of the three-match series against France because of a calf tear suffered in the first Test. Barrett left the field in the 58th minute during Saturday's 31-27 win against France in Dunedin. It was initially feared to be an Achilles issue, but a scan confirmed a calf tear, which means Barrett will miss Saturday's second Test in Wellington and the final match in Hamilton a week later.

TENNIS – Defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz and women's number one Aryna Sabalenka headline the first day of quarter-finals at the All England Club on Tuesday. Alcaraz is aiming to join an elite group of men who have won the tournament in three straight years in the Open era – Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic.

Weather

Today we continue this wet and windy trend, with a few periods of rain to be expected as we move along a generally cloudy day. The temperature is starting around 7–9°C in the morning, and will go up to a more acceptable 17–19°C with further showers expected later in the day.

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