BORDER CONTROLS – Luxembourg threatens to appeal against German border controlshttps://today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/2272605.html. In Germany, the CDU/CSU coalition is planning to make border controls permanent, if they win the upcoming election. According to the German news agency dpa, the Minister for Home Affairs Léon Gloden said at a meeting of interior ministers in Warsaw yesterday, that if Germany requested an extension of the current controls, Luxembourg would appeal to the EU Commission. According to Minister Gloden, 250,000 border workers come to work in Luxembourg every day, from Germany, France, and Belgium. He said that internal EU border controls would not be the right solution.
GARE SECURITY – The Gare neighbourhood in Luxembourg City became the focal point of a large-scale “crime control” operation yesterday afternoon. Law enforcement officers conducted identity checks both on the streets and inside local bars as part of the initiative. Approximately 40 police officers were deployed for the operation, supported by two drug-detecting dogs and their handlers.
ROAD SAFETY – At the unveiling of the National Road Safety Plan 2024-2028, Minister for Mobility Yuriko Backes announced stricter penalties for traffic violations, alongside enhanced enforcement and prevention measures. For example, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs will face harsher penalties under the new plan and speed enforcement will be intensified, with new SPECS cameras installed on identified road stretches and mobile speed cameras deployed.
GERMANY PROTESTS – Some 10,000 people took to the streets in Germany last night to protest against the conservative CDU/CSU parties, after the chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz worked with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to push an anti-immigration motion through the German Parliament, the Bundestag on Wednesday. Today, the Bundestag will debate and vote on a further CDU/CSU migration legislation bill, which would be legally binding.
US PLANE CRASH – Investigators in the US say they are looking at multiple factors in probing why a passenger plane and a military helicopter crashed in Washington DC, killing 67 people. Black boxes have been recovered from the scene. President Trump has been criticised for saying that diversity and inclusion policies may have been the cause of the fatal aircrash. The former transport secretary under President Biden, Pete Buttigieg called the comments “despicable”.
FIRE AID CONCERTS – Billie Eilish and Lady Gaga are among musicians taking part in a fundraising concert for people affected by the LA wildfires. The event is taking place in two indoor arenas in the city. Green Day and Alanis Morisette have finished their sets.
MARIANNE FAITHFUL – Members of the Rolling Stones have led tributes to singer Marianne Faithful who died yesterday, aged 78. Mick Jagger, who was in a relationship with her for several years said she was a wonderful friend.
FOOTBALL – Starting with football, In the Europa League, Frankfurt was beaten by Roma last night 2-0 but still advances to the last 16. Lazio also lost to Braga 1-0 while Bilbao, Manchester United, Tottenham, Lyon, Piraeus and Glasgow Rangers have all booked their places in the last 16.
RUGBY – The 2025 Men’s Six Nations gets underway in Paris today, when France take on Wales in the opening game. Scotland host Italy on Saturday and defending champions Ireland launch their bid for a third title in a row against England in Dublin. The championship will come to a conclusion with three back-to-back games on ‘Super Saturday’ on 15 March.
ICE SKATING – And figure skating’s tight-knit community is in mourning after a passenger jet crash in Washington killed two former world champion coaches and young stars from the next generation of top US talent. Former Russian world pairs champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov and as many as 14 young American skaters died in the crash. A moment of silence was observed on Thursday at the European Figure Skating Championships in Estonia.
It’s a typical Luxembourg January day – a cloudy day that will gradually clear up as the day advances. No rain on the horizon, either. That being said, temperatures are taking a bit of a fall, with lows in the region of -1 to 1°C, and a maximum staying close to the 4°C mark. It will get colder, too, with the following days expected to go into -5 territory.
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