COURTROOM DRAMA – Drama in the courtroom of the Luxembourg District Court yesterday: a defendant attempted to take his own life after the public prosecutor demanded a life sentence against the 72-year-old man. He allegedly murdered his son with a knife in Pétange in November 2022. When called to the bench, the man stabbed himself in the neck with a sharp object. Police officers quickly subdued him and he was taken to hospital.
TRIER-LUXEMBOURG TRAIN – Travel between Luxembourg and Germany is set to become more convenient with the introduction of additional train stops in the Trier region. Set to take effect on Monday, 3 March, five new stops in Trier are being added to the network including the stop Trier Pallien, which is expected to benefit students going to the University of Trier.
QUALITY OF WORK – The Chamber of Employees (CSL) has unveiled the latest edition of the Quality of Work Index, which reveals a concerning decline in working conditions and employee well-being in Luxembourg’s private sector. The survey has highlighted several alarming trends. More than half of all employees report experiencing psychological distress at work, with younger workers being disproportionately affected. Employees engaged in atypical work hours expressed particularly low levels of satisfaction with their working conditions. The survey also points to deteriorating workplace dynamics, with cooperation among colleagues, autonomy on the job, and access to training opportunities showing a marked downward trend.
GAZA CEASEFIRE – Hamas has handed over the coffins of four hostages, followed soon after by the return of hundreds of freed Palestinian prisoners to the West Bank and Gaza. Hamas has said that Israel now has no choice but to start negotiations on a second phase of the ceasefire.
UK TRUMP – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is meeting Donald Trump today to plead for a US backstop to any Ukraine ceasefire, insisting it would be the only way to stop Russia from invading again. London and Paris are spearheading proposals to send a European peacekeeping force to Ukraine if Trump’s shock decision to pursue talks with Russia’s president brings a deal to end the war.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President Volodymr Zelensky is due at the White House tomorrow to sign a deal giving Washington access to Ukraine’s rare minerals, which Trump has demanded as payback for US military aid. The Ukrainian president is hoping the deal will provide a guarantee of future US support.
GERMANY STRIKES – Major disruptions are expected at Munich and Hamburg airport today, as a 48-hour strike is expected to cause flight cancellations, delays and disruptions. The trade union Verdi is demanding better pay and conditions for airport workers, including an 8% wage increase, three additional days off and higher bonuses for stressful roles.
MICHELLE TRACHTENBERG DIES – Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl are in shock following the death of actress Michelle Trachtenberg at the age of 39. Best known for her role as Dawn Summers, Buffy’s younger sister, Trachtenberg also portrayed the recurring character Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl. According to US media she was found dead in her New York apartment by her mother. The actress had recently undergone a liver transplant.
GERMANY CARNIVAL – Police are on high alert ahead of Germany’s traditional carnival celebrations starting today, after social media connected to the Islamic State militant group called for attacks targeting revellers in Cologne and Nuremberg. The week-long celebrations, kicking off in cities such as Cologne and Düsseldorf, peak on Rose Monday next week, with tens of thousands attending street parades featuring comical or satirical floats.
FOOTBALL – Paris Saint-Germain have cruised into the French Cup semi-finals after thrashing fourth-tier Stade Briochin 7-0, while second-tier Dunkerque came from two goals down to beat Brest 3-2.
And in the Premier League, Liverpool won 2-0 against Newcastle. Manchester United beat Ipswich 3-2. Brentford and Everton drew 1-1. Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge suffered another damaging blow after they were shut out by Nottingham Forest in a 0-0 stalemate. And Manchester City have moved to fourth place in the League by beating Tottenham 1-0.
Jess Park fired England to a 1-0 win against Spain in a Women’s Nations League clash that provided a measure of revenge for their World Cup final defeat. Park netted in the 33rd minute at Wembley to ensure England saw off the side ranked second in the world. After a 1-1 draw with Portugal in their tournament opener on Friday, Sarina Wiegman’s side delivered a statement of intent ahead of their European Championship title defence in Switzerland this summer.
CRICKET – Afghanistan has sent England crashing out of the Champions Trophy. Ibrahim Zadran’s blistering 146-ball knock, which featured 12 boundaries and six sixes, helped Afghanistan to 325-7 before they clinched a nail-biting eight-run win, keeping them in contention for a semi-final place.
BOXING – The International Olympic Committee has provisionally recognised World Boxing as the body to oversee the sport at future Games. The IOC has severed links with the International Boxing Association (IBA), the long-standing ruling body of amateur boxing, over financial, governance and ethical concerns and stepped in to organise the sport at last year’s Paris Olympics.
Today, we will experience changing cloud cover that brings unpredictable conditions that include rain, snow, gusts of wind up to 50km, and perhaps also thunder and lightening. Intermittent showers can be expected throughout the entire day. The morning starts off chilly around 2–4°C, climbing up to 5–7°C.
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