The Today Radio news team brings you the latest headlines for Friday, 5 September.

Luxembourg 

FOOTBALL BUS ACCIDENT – A bus carrying Luxembourg’s Under-21 national football team with 33 people on board overturned in Brittany yesterday evening, leaving eight injured. In a press release, the Luxembourgish Football Federation (FLF) confirmed that five players were taken to the hospital as a precaution, due to having suffered cuts and bruises.The accident reportedly occurred due to a sudden illness affecting the driver. The FLF has asked UEFA to postpone today’s match in Lorient against France, which was scheduled as part of the Euro 2027 qualifiers. UEFA will make its decision this morning.

PENSION REFORM – Prime Minister Luc Frieden has defended his government’s plans to reform pensions. Appearing on the Journal programme on RTL last night, he said the country needs to move forward, making it clear that the measures to gradually increase working life by 8 months over the next five years will be voted on by the end of this year. He said it was not the grand ambitious revolution in pensions that some might have wished for, but the government had listened to resistance to various proposals.

ASIAN HORNETS – The Asian hornet has become increasingly common in Luxembourg. While Asian hornets are not generally aggressive towards people unless threatened, they pose a serious risk to honeybee populations and native insects. The Luxembourg Beekeepers' Association, together with the Nature Services (ANF) and the National Museum of Natural History, has set up a platform to report sightings of the Asian hornets. It is advised not to approach the nest under any circumstances. In Luxembourg, the Nature and Forest Agency (ANF) coordinates nest removal.

World

LISBON ACCIDENT – The death toll from a funicular derailment in Portugal's capital Lisbon has risen to 16 and left 21 injured, five seriously. Investigators probing the fatal derailment confirmed that foreign visitors were among the 16 people killed. Five Portuguese, two Koreans and a Swiss national have been identified among the dead. A police spokesman said they had good reason to believe that two Canadians, a German, a Ukrainian and a US citizen were also among those killed.

UKRAINE TALKS – Russia has rejected the notion of Western security guarantees for Ukraine, after more than two dozen countries pledged to join a "reassurance" force to deploy in the war-torn country after any eventual peace deal with Moscow. The extent of any US involvement remains uncertain, even after European leaders spoke to President Donald Trump via video conference following the Paris summit at which the "coalition of the willing" pledged its force.

GEORGIO ARMANI RIP – Giorgio Armani, the Italian designer who redefined modern tailoring and created one of the world’s most recognisable fashion houses, has died. According to his company, he died at the age of 91,  "surrounded by his loved ones".

EUROPE SUPERCOMPUTER – Europe’s fastest supercomputer, Jupiter, will be inaugurated in Germany today, promising to boost the continent’s capabilities in fields from artificial intelligence to climate science. It is Europe's first "exascale" supercomputer, meaning it will be able to perform at least one quintillion (or one billion billion) calculations per second.

Sport

FOOTBALL – The Red Lions kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign last night, playing Northern Ireland at the Stade de Luxembourg. Luxembourg only scored one goal, losing 3-1. Meanwhile in the second match in Group A, there was a big surprise. Germany went down to a shock 2-0 to Slovakia . As a result, the Luxembourgers are currently in third place in the group, just ahead of the Germans, who occupy last place.

Lionel Messi scored twice for Argentina in emotional scenes in Buenos Aires on Thursday while Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay joined the reigning champions at next year's World Cup. In his last home qualifier for his country, Messi struck in the 39th and 80th minutes to bag a 3-0 win over Venezuela.

TENNIS – Aryna Sabalenka moved a step closer to retaining her US Open crown after recovering from a set down to defeat American fourth seed Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in an absorbing two-hour five-minute duel on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
BOXING – Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather have reached a deal on a potential exhibition fight in 2026. Tyson, 59, built a 50-7 record with 44 knockouts in a career in which he established himself as the most feared heavyweight of his generation. Former world champion Mayweather, 48, retired from boxing in 2017, unbeaten in 50 bouts as he won world titles in five weight classes.

Weather

Summer is coming back tomorrow with clear skies and sunshine expected over the weekend but today is still the usual mix we have seen in the last few days - mostly cloudy, a possibility of showers with some sunshine in the early afternoon and evening. 
Temperatures in the morning will be 12–14°C, climbing to 18–20°C by the afternoon.

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