The Today Radio news team brings you the latest headlines for Wednesday, 16 July.

Luxembourg 

POLICE – An investigation has been launched following the discovery a body in Niederanven yesterday afternoon. Police officers located the dead person in a shed in Hostert, a village within the Niederanven municipality. The Forensic Police Unit was deployed to conduct a thorough examination of the site.

ALLEGED FRAUD – The Luxembourg public prosecutor's office has launched a criminal investigation into a potentially fraudulent property transaction involving a local municipality – Differdane, according to RTL sources. Authorities became aware in late December 2024 of a land sale from an unnamed municipality to a private real estate company. The prosecutor's office alleges the deal left the municipality "significantly disadvantaged" while highlighting personal connections between the mayor and the purchasing company's director.

TRAVEL – Luxair has officially announced the launch of a new direct flight route connecting Luxembourg to Edinburgh, set to begin on 3 July 2026. Luxair will operate a twice-weekly service between Luxembourg Airport (LUX) and Edinburgh Airport (EDI) on Mondays and Fridays. In addition to the Scottish capital, the Luxembourgish airline has announced eight more destinations to be added to its route map.

DIPLOMACY – Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel convened the country's 160 honorary consuls for the first time on 11 July, highlighting their vital role in representing the Grand Duchy abroad and providing support during crises. The event, hosted at Berg Castle and also attended by Prime Minister Luc Frieden, Economy Minister Lex Delles, and Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, saw around 120 consuls participate in person and take part in various workshops.

World

FRANCE – France's Prime Minister Francois Bayrou has proposed scrapping two public holidays, including Easter Monday and 8 May, as part of a sweeping austerity plan. The proposal aims to curb soaring national debt and rein in the country's budget deficit. Presenting 2026 budget proposals, Bayrou said two out of France's 11 national holidays could go. Such a measure would bring France into line with Germany's nine national holidays.

EUROPE – The European Commission will kickstart two years of tense negotiations when it unveils its proposal Wednesday for the EU's long-term budget, including funding reforms that risk renewed confrontation with farmers. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has to balance a growing list of priorities including bolstering the bloc's security, ramping up Europe's competitiveness to keep up with US and Chinese companies, countering climate change and paying debts due from 2028. And all of this against a backdrop of soaring trade tensions with the European Union's biggest commercial partner, the United States.

US – President Donald Trump said the US Justice Department should release all "credible" information from its probe into notorious sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein. Trump is facing the most serious split of his political career from his famously loyal right-wing base over suspicions that his administration is covering up lurid details of Epstein's crimes to protect rich and powerful figures they say are implicated.

ENTERTAINMENT – Dark, sci-fi office drama Severance on Tuesday led the contenders for the Emmy Awards, television's version of the Oscars, with a whopping 27 nominations. The Penguin, HBO Max's Batman villain spinoff series, came in second with 24. Two satires – HBO Max' skewering of the rich, The White Lotus, and Apple's new Hollywood cringe fest, The Studio – tied for third with 23 nominations each. The 77th Emmy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on 14 September.

Sport

RUGBY – South Africa No 8 Jasper Wiese has been banned for four matches after head-butting Italy prop Danilo Fischetti in last weekend's Test victory in Gqeberha, World Rugby announced on Tuesday. The 29-year-old back-rower will miss a one-off Test against Georgia in Mbombela this Saturday and three Rugby Championship matches – two at home to Australia and one against New Zealand in Auckland. Wiese will be available for selection when the Springboks face the All Blacks in Wellington on 13 September, seven days after the first meeting between the sides.

GOLF – A raucous reception will greet Rory McIlroy as the British Open returns to Royal Portrush and Northern Ireland on Thursday for the first time since Shane Lowry's 2019 triumph. McIlroy will be heralded by an expected crowd of 200,000 across the four days after ending his 11-year wait to complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April. But a long list of contenders, including world number one Scottie Scheffler and reigning champion Xander Schauffele, stand bet een the hometown hero and a second Claret Jug.

BASEBALL – Kyle Schwarber smashed three home runs on three swings in a tie-breaker swing-off to lift the National League over the American League 4-3 in Monday's 95th Major League Baseball All-Star Game. The first such decider used at the All-Star Game was baseball's version of a football penalty shootout, coming after the teams were deadlocked 6-6 through nine innings in Atlanta. Three alternating batters for each team would take three swings each with the most homers deciding a winner.

FOOTBALL – Ada Hegerberg is back at the heart of the Norwegian national team as she prepares to face Italy in the quarter-finals of Women's Euro 2025. Coming into the tournament off the back of a poor club season with Lyon, Hegerberg is leading Norway's bid for a first major honour since gold at the Olympics 25 year ago. The 30-year-old has shown renewed desire as Norway collected a perfect nine points from three Group A matches to set up a clash with the Italians.

Weather

We can expect a bit of everything today – sun, clouds and some rain. This morning starts off around 12–14°C with temperatures rising to a maximum of 22°C this afternoon before dropping to around 17–19°C in the evening.

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