OPENING TIMES – The debate about shop opening times continues dividing government and unions. The Luxembourg government is proposing that businesses should be able to open from 5am to 10pm on weekdays, and from 5am to 7pm on weekends. Whether these new opening hours are exemptions or not will be discussed in a parliamentary committee today, in the presence of the Minister for Economy Lex Delles and Labour Minister Georges Mischo. Both the OGBL and LCBGB trade unions are planning to demonstrate outside parliament.
FLU OUTBREAK – Hospitals in Luxembourg are struggling to cope with a dramatic increase in flu cases among children, with experts warning of a particularly intense flu season and advising urgent action. Speaking to RTL Radio, Dr de la Fuente from the Children’s Clinic said twice as many children have been hospitalised compared to the same period last year. The clinic is nearing its capacity for both consultations and available beds.
PETROL PRICES – The Economy Ministry has confirmed an increase in the prices of SP95 and SP98 petrol, marking the first fuel price adjustment for February. The price of SP95 has increased by 3.3 cents to €1.56 per litre, while SP98 will rise by 3.5 cents to €1.65 per litre.
BRASSERIE BANKRUPTSY – The Check Inn brasserie, a long-standing fixture near Findel Airport, has filed for bankruptcy. Efforts are now underway to find a buyer for the iconic venue. The brasserie, which has undergone recent interior renovations, is listed for rent at approximately €11,000 per month.
US GAZA – President Trump has announced that the United States plans to take possession of Gaza, after describing it as a demolition site. Trump was speaking at a joint news conference with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the end of talks between the two leaders in Washington. He said he envisaged long term ownership of the territory. Trump had already put forward proposals to resettle the entire Palestinian population of Gaza to countries like Egypt and Jordan. The Palestinian ambassador to the UN said the wishes of the people of Gaza should be respected. Netanyahu said the proposals could change history.
SWEDEN SHOOTING – Police in Sweden are trying to establish the motive behind the deadliest mass shooting in the country’s history. At least 10 people were killed at an adult education college in the city of Orebro yesterday. Police believe the gunman was acting alone.
GLOBAL WARMING – The world’s top climate scientists have declared that the 2°C climate goal – the fallback target of the Paris climate accord – is now “dead”. Led by renowned climatologist James Hansen, the paper concludes that the Earth’s climate is more sensitive to rising greenhouse gas emissions than previously thought. Instead of keeping warming under 2°C by the year 2100, the rise in temperatures will be reached in 20 years.
ATHLETICS – Luxembourg’s Patrizia van der Weken’s wining streak continues. The women’s 60m sprint saw her win with 7.08 seconds – just one hundredth shy of the national record she set two weeks ago – at the Czech Indoor Gala in Ostrava. She beat Poland’s Ewa Swoboda, who came in second place with 7.09 seconds. Van der Weken is competing next in Karlsruhe this week and in Paris on Sunday.
SKIING – The Alpine Skiing World Championships are underway in the Austrian resort of Saalbach. The women’s super-G kicks off this late morning while the men’s event takes place tomorrow. Olympic champions Marco Odermatt, Clement Noel, Mikaela Shiffrin, Lindsey Vonn, and Sofia Goggia are among 250 women and 380 men from over 70 nations taking part.
We’ll kick off the day with thick fog and mist and there’s even a chance of freezing fog in the morning. But things will improve as the day goes on, with temperatures slowly rising, though it will still stay mostly cloudy. Temperature-wise, expect -3 to -1°C in the morning and 3 to 6°C during the day.
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