Terrorism trial begins in Luxembourg, police to wear bodycams from July, and Brian Wilson dies

Luxembourg 

TERRORISM TRIAL – Four men, accused of supporting ISIS operations in Syria and Iraq will be prosecuted in Luxembourg today. The case involves three Luxembourg nationals as well as Steve Duarte, a Portuguese national raised in Luxembourg, who faces additional charges including incitement to terrorism, recruitment for a terrorist organisation, and murder. Foreign intelligence services previously identified Duarte as appearing in an ISIS execution video – an allegation he denied during a 2019 RTL interview while detained in Kurdish-controlled Syria. The whereabouts of all four defendants are unknown, meaning the trial will be held in absentia.

MARCH TO GAZA – Five Luxembourgers have set off to join the global civilian initiative known as the March to Gaza. They left Findel airport yesterday and are hoping to join delegations from around 50 countries in Cairo, before setting off on a two-day, 50-kilometre march across the Sinai desert to camp near the Egyptian border to Gaza. According to one of the five volunteers, Georgette Hein, it is a peaceful initiative calling for humanitarian access to the besieged territory.

FATAL ACCIDENT – A motorcyclist died in a traffic accident yesterday afternoon on the N13 near Dippach. A delivery lorry and a motorbike collided head-on, resulting in the death of the motorcyclist, a 49-year-old man from Reckange-sur-Mess, who died at the scene.

POLICE BODYCAMS – From 1 July, every police officer in Luxembourg will wear a body camera as part of a nationwide rollout aimed at boosting accountability and protecting both officers and the public. Home Affairs Minister Léon Gloden claimed the measure is about protecting the safety of both officers and the public. If the camera footage is not used by the authorities, it is retained for 28 days before being automatically and permanently deleted.

PENSION REFORM – The European Commission has backed Luxembourg's coalition government by recommending reforms to ensure the long-term sustainability of the pension system, highlighting low employment rates among older workers and criticizing generous early retirement options. This new input could significantly influence the ongoing debate over pension reform.

HEAT WARNING – Meteolux, Luxembourg's national weather service, has issued a heat alert in effect nationwide from Friday 12pm until 9pm. Maximum temperatures are expected to range between 30°C and 32°C, reaching up to 33°C in urban areas and along the Moselle River. Residents are advised to take precautions against potential heat-related risks.

World

US PROTESTS – Protests over hardline immigration tactics have ignited across the United States after days of demonstrations in Los Angeles. Over 1,000 people massed in America's second biggest city for a sixth day of protests, with the crowd peaceful as they marched through the streets. A second night of curfew is in place as city leaders try to get a handle on the after-dark vandalism and looting. Governor Gavin Newsom has charged that Trump is seeking to escalate the confrontation for political gain.

FRANCE SOCIAL MEDIA – French authorities have announced plans to ban social media for under-15s and the sale of knives to minors after the murder of a teaching assistant by a 14-year-old boy plunged the country into shock. A secondary school pupil was arrested on Tuesday after killing a school assistant with a knife during a bag search in Nogent in eastern France.

SUN SOUTH POLE – The European Space Agency has released the first ever video of the sun’s south pole. The footage was captured by an orbiting spacecraft. It shows a shimmering, bright atmosphere interspersed with darker clouds of gas.

BRIAN WILSON DIES – Tributes have been paid to Brian Wilson, the front man and co-creator of the Beach Boys. He died at the age of 82. Bob Dylan said he was a genius.

Sport

BASKETBALL – Starting with basketball and the Indiana Pacers, fueled by a near triple-double from Tyrese Haliburton, have out-dueled the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 to take a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals. h

FORMULA 1 – Ferrari's Formula One fortunes may be flagging but the Italian constructor start this weekend's Le Mans 24 Hour Race as favourites targeting a third consecutive triumph in motorsport's endurance classic. The 21 elite Hypercars will battle it out over 300 laps (4,000 kilometres plus) in front of a sell-out crowd for 24 hours.

Meanwhile Max Verstappen will be seeking a record fourth consecutive Canadian Grand Prix triumph this weekend and a trouble-free race that helps him banish the threat of a suspension following his "rash" moment in Spain. The four-time world champion goes into Sunday's race knowing that, if he collects one more penalty point on his racing license, he will automatically miss the Austrian Grand Prix later this month.

FOOTBALL – Manchester City has announced the signing of Tijjani Reijnders (Tijani Riinders) from AC Milan for £46.3 million ($62.4 million), in time for the midfielder to play in the Club World Cup. The Dutch international, who has signed a five-year contract, is City's fourth signing of the week as they step up a radical rebuild following a poor season. The club have also announced deals for Lyon midfielder Rayan Cherki, Chelsea goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli and Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri over the past few days.

Weather

A beautiful sunny day is in store, with climbing temperatures, clear blue skies, and the sun shining full force. The day starts off with 15–16°C, before climbing to a sizzling 28–30°C by afternoon.

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