UNEMPLOYMENT / JOB FAIR – Luxembourg witnessed another surge in unemployment figures at the end of February, with the number of jobseekers reaching over 18,000, marking a notable 16.1% increase compared to the same period last year. Data from STATEC reveals that the spike in unemployment primarily affected highly qualified individuals and young people under 30. Luxembourg’s largest careers fair is taking place tomorrow at the LuxExpo in Kirchberg, with businesses from all sectors seeking new employees. According to the jobsite Moovijob.com, there are over 5,000 jobs available.
FOSSIL DISCOVERY – A remarkable palaeontological find has emerged from a local quarry in Consthum. Among a collection of fossils recently unearthed, one discovery stands out: the fossilised remains of a giant sea scorpion, previously unseen in the Grand Duchy. Dr Ben Thuy, a palaeontologist at the Natural History Museum leading the excavation, said it was a very rare find and unusually large. He estimates the creature’s original size to have been up to one and a half meters.
NUCLEAR SUMMIT – Heads of State and Government are meeting in Brussels today for the first-ever Nuclear Energy Summit. Co-chaired by the IAEA and Belgium, the summit spotlights the role of nuclear energy in tackling global challenges such as reducing reliance on fossil fuels, fortifying energy security and fostering economic progress. The EU Council meeting is also taking place in Brussels today – EU leaders will discuss continued support to Ukraine, security and defence, the Middle East and EU enlargement. Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden is attending.
VARADKAR RESIGNATION – Leo Varadkar has announced that he is stepping down as Ireland’s prime minister and leader of his party in the governing coalition, citing “personal and political” reasons. Pundits called the surprise move, just ten weeks before Ireland holds European Parliament and local elections, a “political earthquake”. A general election also has to be held within a year.
PORTUGAL ELECTIONS – Centre-right leader Luis Montenegro is the new Prime Minister of Portugal. He was appointed last night but will have to form a coalition government and grapple with a growing far right, after his party’s narrow victory in parliamentary elections.
FOOTBALL – Luxembourg’s men’s football team will face Georgia in the Nations League playoffs in Tbilisi today, battling for a place in the final. The winner will play either Greece or Kazakhstpan on 26 March, competing for a spot in the European Championships in Germany this summer. According to the national coach Luc Holtz, the players are very calm. He said the excitement is more with the public and journalists. Speaking during a press conference yesterday, he added that the Red Lions will be active from the start and look for possession. You can watch the match live on RTL Today at 6pm.
Hosts France have emerged as a top contender following a kind group draw for men’s football at the 2024 Olympic Games, as the hosts wait to see if Kylian Mbappe will be made available. Les Bleus are in Group A of the 16-team tournament with New Zealand, USA and the winners of the AFC-CAF play-off, as they seek to win a second Olympic gold after success in 1984.
In women’s football, Holders Barcelona battled past Norwegian side Brann 2-1 in the first leg of their Women Champions League quarter-final yesterday, while Paris Saint-Germain won away to Hacken by the same scoreline.
FORMULA 1 – The EU’s General Court has ruled to lift sanctions against Russian ex-Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin, whose career was brought to a halt by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Mazepin and his father were added to the EU’s asset freeze and visa ban blacklist in March 2022 for providing revenues for the Russian government.
Today will bring a mix of sun and clouds, with localized mist and light rain possible in the morning. Fortunately, those showers will tail off into the afternoon, giving way to clouds and perhaps the odd ray of sunshine doing its best to peek through.Temperatures start off between 7 and 9°C. The afternoon will be dry with mild temperatures of between 15 and 17°C.
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