EU FOREIGN MINISTERS IN LUXEMBOURG – Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel has warned of a “second Gaza” occurring in Lebanon. Speaking after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg yesterday, Bettel signalled his willingness to back EU sanctions against Israel in response to actions in the region. Bettel underscored that it is not for Israel to decide what happens in Lebanon or to unilaterally establish a buffer zone. He pointed out the EU’s consistent opposition to Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory, arguing that it would be unacceptable to turn a blind eye to similar actions by Israel.
FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION – UNICEF Luxembourg has published a groundbreaking study, estimating, for the first time, the number of girls and women affected by or at risk of female genital mutilation in this country. According to the report, around 3,300 girls and women living in Luxembourg are affected by this issue. The report also brings attention to concrete ways for prevention, early identification, and support services. It also serves as an important resource for understanding how to respond and seek help if someone is told they must undergo this procedure.
ECONOMY – Household confidence in Luxembourg fell sharply in March, reaching its lowest level in a year, according to STATEC. Residents are increasingly worried about the economy and their finances, as inflation expectations have climbed to their highest since late 2022. With energy prices remaining under pressure and eurozone inflation rising to 2.6%, residents fear a fresh blow to their wallets. Car registrations also remain sluggish: Luxembourg has not exceeded 50,000 registrations per year since the pandemic. Despite weaker consumer sentiment and spending, cross-border employment continues to grow, driven mainly by workers from France.
IRAN WAR – US President Donald Trump has extended a ceasefire with Iran to allow more time for peace talks, while maintaining a blockade of Iranian ports and awaiting a response from Tehran. Trump indefinitely pushed back the end of the two week truce, crediting a request from mediator Pakistan and stressing the need to give Iran’s “fractured” leadership time to form a proposal. But he said the US blockade of Iran’s ports – a sticking point for Tehran – would continue. Trump insisted in the post that keeping a US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is vital for forging a deal with Iran.
BACK TO BASICS – In a U turn, Sweden is replacing screens with paper textbooks and handwriting in schools. Falling academic results have prompted the government to reverse its digital-first education policy, with physical textbooks now required for every subject. The state has already invested €70 million in textbooks and €46 million in reading books – a substantial effort for a country of nearly 11 million people.
DIPLOMATIC INCIDENT – Italy has summoned Russia’s ambassador after Russian TV host Vladimir Solovyov launched a string of insults against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, escalating already tense relations between Rome and Moscow. According to Italian media, Solovyov said in Italian on Russian television that Meloni was a “disgrace to the human race”, a “wild beast”, a “certified idiot”, and a “nasty little woman”. Even opposition parties in Italy condemned the comments from the Russian presenter.
FOOTBALL – Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior scored as Real Madrid beat Alaves 2-1 yesterday to cling on to their slim hopes of catching Barcelona in La Liga. Mbappe struck his league-leading 24th goal, but first since early February, with a deflected shot on the half hour at the Santiago Bernabeu. Vinicius lashed in a second from distance early in the second half, which proved crucial as Alaves pulled a goal back in stoppage time through Toni Martinez. The victory ended a two-match winless run in La Liga for Madrid and moved them back to within six points of leaders Barcelona, who host Celta Vigo on Wednesday.
RUGBY – Rugby Australia announced a record surplus on the back of the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour, saying it would enable a sustainable future for the sport after years of losses. RA chief executive Phil Waugh said the “record operating surplus” of Aus$70 million (US$50 million) had injected fresh confidence into the 15-man game ahead of hosting next year’s men’s Rugby World Cup. “We are delivering on our promise to reset the game’s finances, restore pride and set a new strategic course for Australian Rugby”, the former Wallaby said following RA’s annual general meeting today.
An inclusive rugby event aimed at encouraging more women and girls to get involved in the sport is returning to Luxembourg this month. The fourth annual Luxembourg Rugby Ladies’ Day takes place on Saturday 25 April at Stade Boy Konen, with organisers inviting participants of all ages and experience levels to come along and give rugby a try. Chris Gill from Rugby Club Luxembourg joined the Sam Steen Show on RTL Today Radio yesterday morning to talk about the event, which continues to grow year on year. “It gets bigger every year”, he said. “The idea is to introduce the game to women and girls who maybe have never thought about it or just want to give it a try.”
Today will be a pleasant spring day with a mix of cloud and sunny intervals across the country. Brighter spells may develop as the day goes on. There’s a slight chance of light showers, but for most areas it will stay largely dry. We’re starting off this morning with a chilly of 3°C with temperatures reaching highs of 18°C later.
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