SCHOOL INCIDENT – A large-scale police operation took place at Lycée Guillaume Kroll in Esch-sur-Alzette yesterday, after an air gun was fired during a dispute between two students. More details were given by the prosecutor’s office last night, who confirmed that the incident involved two students – a 12-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy who initiated an argument over a mobile phone. The boy then fired an air gun during the altercation. No one was injured and the police seized the weapon and have launched an investigation.
BUDGET SURPLUS – Luxembourg’s public finances ended 2024 on a high note, with Finance Minister Gilles Roth announcing a €317 million surplus during a presentation to parliamentary committees yesterday. Roth said this was a significant turnaround from the €500 million deficit recorded the year before.
LGBTQIA+ DEBATE – The Chamber of Deputies hosted a rare dual debate yesterday, discussing two petitions that presented opposing views on the same issue: whether LGBTQIA+ topics should be addressed in public schools. Minister of Education Claude Meisch dismissed the arguments against discussing sexual diversity in schools and emphasised that these issues cannot be left entirely to the discretion of families. The debate concluded with an agreement to involve parents’ associations more closely in reviewing school curricula.
GARE SECURITY – Prime Minister Luc Frieden has agreed to address long-standing concerns in Luxembourg City’s Gare district after pleas from residents and city officials. Following a meeting of the Luxembourg City municipal council on Monday, Mayor Lydie Polfer said that Prime Minister Frieden will put in place a task force to address safety in the area.
TRAIN DISRUPTIONS – Major train disruptions are set to impact Bettembourg and Dommeldange in the coming months as maintenance and renovations begin across multiple stretches of track. Train services at Bettembourg station will be suspended during the Easter and summer holidays. In addition, the barrier in Dommeldange will be removed and from June onwards, the road will be closed to traffic.
US FEDERAL AID – President Trump’s attempt to freeze hundreds of billions of dollars in federal aid has been temporarily blocked in court. Minutes before it was due to take effect at 5pm last night, a federal judge blocked Trump’s spending freeze that would have affected thousands of federal grant programmes.
FESTIVAL STAMPEDE – At least 15 people have been killed and many others injured in a stampede at the Kumbh Mela festival in India, where millions gathered for a sacred bathing ritual. The six-week festival is the single biggest milestone on the Hindu religious calendar, and millions of people have travelled there to take a dip in the confluence of holy rivers.
GERMANY MIGRATION – Migration and security policy dominate the German Bundestag today, a week after the deadly knife attack in Aschaffenburg. Chancellor Scholz will make a government statement on migration at 2pm today, followed by a two-hour debate. It is likely to be a heated debate, with the CDU party (Christian Democratic Union) presenting two motions for a stricter asylum and migration policy.
LA FIRES CLIMATE – Scientists have said that the fires that engulfed Los Angeles were made 35% more likely due to human-driven climate change. According to an analysis published yesterday, reduced rainfall, parched vegetation, the overlap between flammable drought conditions, and the powerful Santa Ana winds can be blamed for the fires, which killed at least 29 people and destroyed more than 10,000 homes.
FOOTBALL – The Champions League resumes tonight. Among the many games, Stuttgart is taking on Paris St Germain, Bayern are playing Slovan Bratislava, Liverpool is facing PSV, Arsenal play Girona, and Man City are playing Club Brugge.
Meanwhile, it has been announced that Luxembourg’s first opponent for the international friendlies in June will be Slovenia. The game will take place either on 6 or 7 June at the Stade de Luxembourg, depending on the dates of Nations League matches. Luxembourg last faced Slovenia in the Euro 2008 qualification rounds and lost 3-0. Ticket information for the match have not yet been released.
SKIING – Norwegian Alexander Steen Olsen has claimed the giant slalom in the men’s World Cup in Schladming, Austria, in a night race yesterday. Steen Olsen, 23, pipped compatriot Henrik Kristoffersen by 0.39 seconds and Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt at 0.60 seconds in the final giant slalom before the world championships in Saalbach, Austria held in February.
GOLF - Rory McIlroy is sharpening his focus for a “pivotal” 2025 campaign amid continuing uncertainty over “what the landscape of golf looks like going forward”. McIlroy, preparing to make his 2025 US PGA Tour debut at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am this week, said he expects to pare back his schedule by some five events, with the Open Championship in Portrush and the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York looming large as he considers the season.
The day begins with overcast skies and rain and we can expect that to last throughout the day, with heavier rainfall expected at times. Luckily, the sun might make an appearance once or twice throughout the day as well.
As for temperatures, the morning will start around 4–6°C, rising to a modest 5–7°C by the afternoon.
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