TUNNEL MAINTENANCE – Every year, tunnels on motorways across the country are cleaned, once in spring and once in the autumn. The first cleaning campaign of 2025 starts today. All the safety equipment, such as ventilation, fire detectors, extinguishers, lighting, and emergency call points are also checked, as well as signalling, video surveillance, and electricity. Most of the work will be carried out at night for minimum disturbance.
CAR PARK REOPENS – The Place des Martyrs car park reopened yesterday after closing in 2019 due to a fire. Every visitor can benefit from parking for free for the first two hours of their stay from now until the end of the year.
SYPHILIS RISE – Health Minister Martine Deprez has confirmed that Luxembourg is experiencing a significant increase in syphilis infections. In 2023 alone, 606 cases of syphilis were reported – nearly 30% more than the previous year. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Luxembourg now has the highest syphilis rate among the 30 countries surveyed. The Ministry of Health is launching a prevention campaign to raise awareness about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
VIRGINITY CERTIFICATES – Luxembourg has officially banned virginity certificates and hymen reconstruction surgeries, a move welcomed by the country’s gynaecologists as a step toward protecting women’s rights and medical ethics. Speaking to RTL, Pit Duschinger, president of the Association of Luxembourgish Gynecologists, announced that they are relieved to hear that hymen reconstruction surgeries will no longer be allowed.
GAZA WAR – Gaza’s civil defence agency says that over 300 Palestinians, including children, have been killed by Israeli airstrikes this morning. The Israeli military says it was attacking what it called Hamas terror targets and accused Hamas of refusing to extend the first phase of the ceasefire. Hamas wanted instead to move directly to the agreed second phase of the truce.
TRUMP PUTIN – Donald Trump claims many elements of a peace deal have been agreed with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin ahead of a planned phone call between the pair later. France and the UK have urged Putin to prove he wants a peace agreement.
GERMANY DEFENCE – German lawmakers are voting on a massive spending boost for defence and infrastructure today, proposed by chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz. Berlin is scrambling to bolster security amid growing doubts over the United States’ commitment to Europe’s security.
EU SYRIA – The EU is leading the way as donors have pledged €5.8 billion in aid for Syria at a conference in Brussels. Western and regional powers are desperate to steer Syria onto the road to stability after 14 years of civil war that have sent millions of refugees over its borders.
STRANDED ASTRONAUTS – Two American astronauts who have been stranded on the International Space Station for nine months have begun their journey back to earth. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams boarded a Space X capsule with two other astronauts earlier this morning.
BASKETBALL – Luxembourgish national basketball player Ehis Etute, who plays for the University of Oregon in the US, will participate in the March Madness Tournament with her team the Oregon Ducks. March Madness is the biggest US college tournament during which only the strongest teams compete. The Oregon Ducks’ first adversary is Vanderbilt on Friday.
FOOTBALL – Liverpool are just weeks away from Premier League glory barring a meltdown but there is a palpable sense of anti-climax and uncertainty over the future after a chastening week for Arne Slot’s men. On Sunday the Reds lost the League Cup final to a hungry Newcastle team, just five days after Paris Saint-Germain ended their Champions League campaign.
Manchester United has announced plans to raise season ticket prices by five percent for the 2025/26 season, defying calls from supporters groups for the cost to be frozen. There will be no rise in the cost of tickets for under-16s, but the club are introducing a new game categorisation for non season-ticket holders, to allow for different pricing structures for higher-profile fixtures.
GOLF – Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy cruised to a St Patrick’s Day victory at the Players Championship today, defeating JJ Spaun in a playoff at TPC Sawgrass. The four-time major champion completed the three-hole shoot-out in one over par, while Spaun’s challenge wilted after a disastrous triple-bogey on the second playoff hole.
Jackets are still very much required today. We are still waking up to sub-zero temperatures but this should be the last cold start of the week. From tomorrow onwards, we’re expected to get steadily rising temperature all the way to the weekend. All-in all it should be a sunny day with some low cloud coverage. Temperature-wise, we start off at -2 to 0°C, rising between 7 and 9°C in the afternoon.
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