The Today Radio news team brings you the latest headlines for Friday, 3 May.

Luxembourg

UBER LAUNCH – Uber is coming to Luxembourg. The platform, which allows users to book taxi services, is currently available in 70 countries around the globe, and it will launch in the Grand Duchy in mid-June. The service will launch in partnership with Webtaxi, a Luxembourgish taxi service. Webtaxi will remain in place, but passengers will now be able to choose whether to book a driver via Uber or via Webtaxi. There is no indication yet, whether Uber will challenge other taxi services on price.

INTELSAT TAKEOVER – The independent trade union confederation is calling on Prime Minister Luc Frieden to stand up for the workers of SES and Intelsat. The announcement by satellite operator SES on Tuesday that it will take over US competitor Intelsat was welcomed by the Prime Minister as excellent news for the Luxembourgish economy. However, the 650 employees of SES and 60 employees of Intelsat should not be ignored, the union is warning. The OGBL union added that contrary to the law, neither the staff representatives at SES nor at Intelsat were consulted.

BARN FIRE – Recent assessments conducted in the vicinity of the barn engulfed in flames earlier this week offer a sense of relief: no signs of asbestos have been detected in the surrounding facilities. On Thursday evening, the Leudelange municipality disclosed that analyses for asbestos conducted at the an der Eech cultural and social centre yielded negative results.

FOOD INFLATION – Luxembourg's food inflation, while less severe compared to its European neighbours, remains a concern with prices increasing 19% from January 2022 to March 2024, according to the latest report by the STATEC. While prices for certain products have "begun to decrease", such as those for flour, milk, fresh vegetables, and honey, others, such as olive oil and chocolate, continue to rise.

World

US CAMPUS PROTESTS – President Biden has said protests at multiple US universities over the conflict in Gaza have not caused him to rethink US policy towards Israel. At least 200 people were arrested after police dismantled a pro-Palestinian camp at the University of California in LA. There have been clashes too in Dallas and New York City. Biden said the chaotic demonstrations did not amount to peaceful protests.

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR – Turkey says it has suspended all trade with Israel until more humanitarian aid is allowed into Gaza. Israel’s Foreign Minister accused President Erdogan of acting like a dictator. Negotiations on a cease-fire in the Gaza war have so far not led to a result. According to Israeli government sources, Israel assumes that Hamas will reject the latest offer.

SCAM BUST – Europol has announced that an international police operation involving officers from Germany, Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo and Lebanon raided 12 call centres and detained 21 people on April 18.  The complex investigation dubbed Operation Pandora "successfully uncovered what is probably the largest call centre fraud scheme in Europe,". The callers would pose as "close relatives, bank employees, customer service agents or police officers", according to Europol, and would use "a variety of manipulation tactics" to "shock and cheat their victims out of their savings".

APPLE REVENUE – Apple has reported its biggest sales fall in more than one year. Sales slumped 4% year-on-year in the first three months of 2024, weighed down by a sharp drop in demand for iPhones. Executives said sales would return to growth in the months ahead, noting upcoming product launches and investments in artificial intelligence.

Sport

FOOTBALL – Starting with national football news, the Luxembourg national football team will play a friendly match against France. Tickets for this game, taking place in Metz, go on sale today at 11am. Check the online ticket office of the French Football Federation for tickets.

At the same time tickets for the final of the Luxembourg Cup will go on sale at 2pm today. Check the FLF website for details on how to get your hands for the match, which will see Swift Hesperange taken on Progres Niederkorn.

Staying with football, last night the first semi-final matches in the Europa League took place. Leverkusen won 2-0 against AS Roma, giving the Bundesliga champions a great chance of reaching the final in Dublin later this month. Marseille and Atalanta Bergamo drew 1-1 in their first match.

In the Conference League, Piraeus Athens beat Aston Villa 4-2  and Florence won 3-2 against Bruges.

In the English Premier League, Chelsea won 2-0 against Tottenham last night. And in the German Bundesliga, tonight is the start of the 32nd matchday, with the game Hoffenheim against RB Leipzig.

TENNIS – Defending Madrid Open champion Aryna Sabalenka produced a brilliant comeback from a set and a break down to beat Elena Rybakina and reach the final on Thursday. The Belarusian second seed triumphed 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) and will face world number one Iga Swiatek on Saturday in a rematch of last year's final.

FORMULA 1 – With world champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull utterly dominating Formula One yet again, there is a distinct lack of tension ahead of Sunday's Miami Grand Prix. Hailed as proof that F1 has finally cracked the American market, the buzz around the race as a place to be seen hasn't dissipated, with tabloid newspaper reports suggesting that pop star Taylor Swift and her American footballer boyfriend Travis Kelce are planning to attend this year.

Weather

Temperatures will be cooler than in recent days, with very cloudy and rainy conditions across the morning and afternoon. However, the gentle warmth of the sun will make a delayed entrance, with drier conditions and what Meteolux calls "a few nice sunny spells", towards the beginning of the evening.

Morning temperatures kick off at 7–9ºC, rising to 11–14ºC in the afternoon.

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