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

Luxembourg 

FATAL ACCIDENT – A tragic accident occurred shortly before 7pm on the A6 motorway between the Steinfort exit and the Belgian border yesterday evening. According to initial reports, three women had exited their vehicle to inspect a mechanical issue. A 49-year-old woman and a 22-year-old woman, both from France, were fatally injured at the scene after being struck by a lorry. The third woman sustained injuries and was transported to hospital. Police are appealing for witnesses to help establish the exact circumstances of the incident.

GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATIONS – After two rounds of negotiations, talks between the government and social partners are set to resume in September. Although few details have been made public, RTL sources have revealed that retail opening hours foresee that shops will be permitted to open from 5am until 8pm on a regular basis on weekdays and from 5am to 7pm on weekends. Any additional opening hours will have to be negotiated under collective agreements.  On pensions, RTL sources have revealed that the period of contributions will be increased by eight months over five years, but only apply to employees taking early retirement at 60, not to people who have contributed for 40 years by the age of 57. The government is also proposing to increase contributions for employers, employees and the State by 0.5% each.

EUROPEAN SCHOOL – A new public European School will open in Schifflange in 2026 to address overwhelming demand for school places in southern Luxembourg. The school, the country's seventh of its kind, will initially operate in temporary buildings before moving into a permanent campus by 2030.

World

UK VOTING AGE – The UK government will lower the voting age to 16, a landmark change giving the UK one of the lowest voting ages worldwide. Labour says it's about modernising democracy while critics have called the ruling a power grab aimed at boosting youth support.   
RUSSIA SANCTIONS – Slovakia will stop blocking the approval of the 18th package of European Union sanctions against Russia today. Slovakia has blocked the EU sanctions multiple times to demand guarantees against damages it fears from a separate EU plan to end all gas imports from Russia from 2028.

TRUMP HEALTH – US President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with a chronic vein condition, according to the White House, following days of speculation showing bruising on the US president’s hand. After recently experiencing swelling in his legs, Trump underwent a “comprehensive examination” including vascular testing, which diagnosed the condition, which according to the White House medical unit is “benign and common”, especially in people over the age of 70.

TRAGIC LOSS – Felix Baumgartner, the Austrian skydiving legend who captivated the world with his supersonic jump from the edge of space, has died.  Baumgartner, who became the first person to break the sound barrier during the freefall jump in 2012, died in a paragliding crash in Italy. He was 56.

Sport

FOOTBALL – England has roared into the semi-finals of Women's Euro 2025 after coming back from two goals down and then beating Sweden 3-2 in a chaotic penalty shoot-out to continue their title defence. England will face Italy on Tuesday for a place in the final.

CYCLING – Tadej Pogacar has reclaimed the leader's yellow jersey at the Tour de France with an imperious stage 12 triumph on the Hautacam mountain in the Pyrenees. Pogacar skipped away on an 11km solo ascent of the fabled climb to finish 2min 10sec ahead of key rival Jonas Vingegaard while overnight leader Ben Healy wilted to a 13min deficit on the day. French president Emmanuel Macron was on hand at the mountaintop finish to congratulate the Slovenian Team UAE
rider.

GOLF – World number one Scottie Scheffler has made a fine start to the British Open to sit three under par at a rain-swept Royal Portrush as home favourite Rory McIlroy was roared on during a rollercoaster one-under-par round. Former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, China's Li Haotong, Dane Jacob Skov Olesen, South Africa's Christiaan Bezuidenhout and American Harris English hold the clubhouse lead at four under par.

Weather

The day should start off with clear skies and temperatures of between 14–15 °C. Cloud cover will increase over the course of the afternoon but the weather is due to remain dry. High temperatures are forecast to be between 22 and 24 °C.

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