The Today Radio news team brings you the latest headlines for Tuesday, 15 April.

Luxembourg 

BETTEL ON PALESTINE, UKRAINE– The European Union has unveiled a €1.6 billion aid package for Palestinians, pledging support to help stabilise the West Bank and Gaza. This financial support will be destined for essential infrastructure and humanitarian aid. Speaking to RTL, Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel said that Luxembourg will continue to commit to peace in the Middle East, but he warned that recognition of Palestine as a state would be useless without the necessary economic and political consequences of such a recognition.

Another talking point was the war in Ukraine as Bettel questioned Russia's commitment to peace. When asked whether the Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday, which caused over 30 casualties, is considered a war crime, Luxembourg's Foreign Ministers stated that the entire war is unjustified.

MSF GAZA – The director general of Doctors Without Borders Luxembourg, Thomas Kauffmann, has said that in 50 years of experience in the field, the current situation in Gaza is one that they have never experienced before, and the situation even continues to worsen. Kauffmann told RTL the medical needs in Gaza are enormous. Last week, two people with medical problems were evacuated from the Gaza Strip to Luxembourg. MSF is more than welcoming the initiative, but Hoffmann said that they estimate that around 10,000 people need such an evacuation.

DRUG SEIZURES – Government data provided in response to a parliamentary question has revealed that drug seizures in Luxembourg have remained relatively stable over the past five years, with no indication of a growing trafficking trend despite this year's record cocaine bust.

World

US TARIFFS – The US has opened the door to tariffs targeting high-end technology and pharmaceuticals, feeding the uncertainty gripping the global economy in a trade war. The US commerce secretary formally announced "national security" investigations into pharmaceutical imports, and another into semiconductors and chip-making equipment. The US began collecting tariffs on imports on 5 April, but pharmaceuticals and semiconductors are exempt from those duties, as Trump has said they will face separate tariffs.

UK SUDAN CONFERENCE – A conference on Sudan's civil was is taking place in London today to mobilise the international community and put an end to the conflict. Sudan's conflict has displaced 13 million people as it enters a third year. The UN has warned of a deepening humanitarian catastrophe amid deadly new fighting in Darfur and famine gripping vast parts of the country.

WEINSTEIN RETRIAL – Harvey Weinstein returns to a New York courtroom today for a retrial on rape and sexual assault charges, forcing survivors to relive testimony after his 2020 conviction was overturned. The 73-year-old film producer is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence, after being convicted in California in 2023 of rape and assault.

HARVARD FUNDING – Elite US university Harvard has been hit with a $2.2 billion freeze in federal funding after rejecting a list of demands that the White House said was intended to crack down on campus anti-Semitism. The call for changes to its governance, hiring practices, and admissions procedures expands on a list, which ordered officials to shut diversity offices and cooperate with immigration authorities for screenings of international students.

Sport

FOOTBALL – Aston Villa is seeking to overturn a 3-1 deficit in tonight's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain, while Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said he expects his side's "best performance possible" in the match against Dortmund despite a 4-0 first-leg lead. Both matches are taking place at 9pm.
Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric has joined Swansea as an investor and co-owner. Swansea failed to disclose how much Modric had invested, but he expressed excitement at the chance to use his knowledge to help the Welsh club, who play in the second tier of the English league.

RUGBY – All Blacks wing Mark Tele'a says he will play in Japan next year, depriving New Zealand of a key player ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Media reports have suggested that the 28-year-old will join Toyota Verblitz, led by former All Blacks head coaches Steve Hansen and Ian Foster.

Weather

The day will be cloudy with just some light showers. A small thunderstorm may be possible around noon and early afternoon.Temperatures will remain similar to yesterday, but a little colder. In the morning, temperatures will as cold as it'll get during today at around 8–11°C. By the afternoon, it'll get warmer at 15–18ºC.

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