TRIER KILLING – The parents of Marius Dick, the 22-year-old killed in Wednesday's knife attack in Trier, are calling on Germany's government to do more to protect citizens, saying something has to change. The accused, who is a man of the same age, of Afghan origin, has confessed and is being held in a psychiatric facility.
STRAY CATS – The Luxembourg Animal Welfare League is urging cat owners to get their pets chipped, neutered, and registered, as uncontrolled breeding drives up the stray population. The Gasperich shelter says only around 17 % of found cats get reunited with owners, since many are not microchipped or registered. The shelter estimates over 10,000 stray cats in Luxembourg, with numbers still rising.
LUXEMBOURG VELOSUMMER – Tourism Minister Eric Thill has officially launched the 7th Vëlosummer, at a ceremony in Goebelsmuehle. The cycling event runs until August 16th, offering around 500 kilometres of routes across the country, as part of the "Lëtzebuerg, dat ass Vakanz" campaign. Last year's edition drew some 43,000 participants.
UK PRIME MINISTER – Andy Burnham becomes Britain's 7th prime minister in a decade today, taking over from Keir Starmer just two years after Labour's landslide win. The former Greater Manchester mayor inherits a full in-tray of challenges that have proved too much for his predecessors. He will make his first speech outside Downing Street at around 12.40 am.
IRAN WAR – New violence shook the Middle East early this morning as the United States announced another wave of attacks on Iran. Kuwait said it was intercepting drones and Tehran's Revolutionary Guards claimed to have hit an "enemy command centre" in Syria.
GERMANY POLITICS – The head of Germany’s CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Jens Spahn, has resigned, after facing criticism for becoming a parent via a US surrogate, despite once opposing legalising surrogacy in Germany. Party leaders meet today to discuss a successor. Chancellor Merz wants it resolved quickly, with Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt the frontrunner.
EU FAST FASHION – New EU rules have come into force banning the destruction of unsold clothes and shoes. Large companies can no longer throw away or incinerate unsold stock. Instead companies must now either give the goods away or sell them at lower prices. The move targets fast fashion, with the EU estimating up to 9 % of unsold goods currently end up in landfills or incinerators.
FOOTBALL – Spain have won the World Cup, beating Argentina 1-0 in extra time in front of more than 80,000 fans in New Jersey. Substitute Ferran Torres struck in the 106th minute, with Argentina down to ten men after Enzo Fernandez was sent off. Off the pitch, the show stole plenty of headlines too, with Madonna, Shakira and Justin Bieber among the half-time performers.
Kylian Mbappe has become the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice after Lionel Messi failed to add to his tally in Sunday's final. The France captain scored 10 goals to top the charts ahead of Argentina great Messi, who finished with eight. England midfielder Jude Bellingham and Norway striker Erling Haaland each scored seven times.
The head of the Spanish game and captain of "La Roja", Rodri, is the best player of the tournament, receiving the Golden Ball award.
FORMULA 1 – Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli extended his lead in the Formula One drivers' championship with a victory for Mercedes in the Belgian Grand Prix. The 19-year-old Mercedes driver came home 1.952 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc with four-time champion Max Verstappen finishing third for Red Bull.
CYCLING – Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel beat race leader Tadej Pogacar in a sprint finish to win Sunday's 15th stage of the Tour de France, as former winner Jonas Vingegaard crashed out.
GOLF – New Zealand's Ryan Fox won the 154th British Open with a birdie at the last to claim his first major at 10 under par. The world number 56 produced a two-under par 68 on the final day to pip American Cameron Young to the Claret Jug by one shot.
Relief from the high temperatures continues today, though the sun will be shining brightly this morning, and we should see some cloud cover in the afternoon. It might feel a little chilly this morning, with temperatures ranging from 12-13°C, but the mercury will rise to a comfortable 23°C this afternoon.
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