SPORTS GALA 2025 – The Luxembourg Sports Press announced this year’s award winners yesterday evening. Track and field athlete Patrizia van der Weken claimed her third consecutive Sportswoman of the Year title, while fellow track athlete Ruben Querinjean was named Sportsman of the Year. The women’s national football team took Team of the Year honours after their Nations League promotion, and Arnaud Starck was again named Coach of the Year.
BOMMELEEËR TRIAL – The defence concluded its case in Luxembourg’s second Bommeleeër trial, with all six defendants’ lawyers requesting acquittal. Armand Schockweiler, the former head of the State Intelligence Services faces 25 counts of false statements, with prosecutors seeking three years imprisonment. The trial continues on Monday.
HIT-AND-RUN – Police are appealing for witnesses after a hit-and-run incident in Wincrange yesterday. A pedestrian was seriously injured after being struck by a car. The driver fled the scene before emergency services arrived. According to reports, the driver later turned themselves in on Thursday afternoon. An investigation has been launched into the incident to determine the exact circumstances.
CANNABIS LEGALISATION – Two years after Luxembourg legalised home cannabis cultivation, the results remain mixed. Since July 2023, adults in Luxembourg have been allowed to grow up to four cannabis plants for personal use only. This change was a major step in the government’s broader reform aimed at decriminalising cannabis consumption. However, police are warning that many misunderstand the rules. Steve Goedert from police prevention has stressed consumption must be limited to the plants that people have grown themselves. Transport, purchases, and sales remain illegal.
EUROVISION BOYCOTTS – Spain, Ireland, and the Netherlands have announced they are boycotting next year’s Eurovision Song Contest after organisers decided not to vote on Israel’s participation. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said there was clear support for allowing Israel to compete, despite mounting calls for exclusion over the Gaza war. Iceland is also considering withdrawing from the world’s largest live music competition. Luxembourg had already announced in advance that it would participate in Vienna.
UKRAINE WAR – Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding summit talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today, aiming to boost trade with the top buyer of Russia’s arms and oil. The trip comes as Putin has warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from Ukraine’s Donbas region or Russia will seize it.
HEGSETH UNDER FIRE – Pressure is mounting on US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, with fellow Republicans calling him a “real problem”. Among other issues, he is facing over Caribbean operations, allegedly ordering the illegal killing of suspected drug smugglers off Latin America’s coast. Meanwhile the New York Times is suing the Pentagon and naming Hegseth over new press restrictions. The lawsuit challenges a policy requiring journalists to surrender their press passes, which the Times claims violates constitutional press freedom.
GERMANY MILITARY – Germany’s Bundestag votes today on controversial new military service legislation. The voluntary scheme starts next year, requiring men born from 2008 onwards to register, with volunteers earning 2,600 euros monthly for a minimum six-month commitment.
FOOTBALL – The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup takes place in Washington today. The tournament will be the largest in history, expanding from 32 to 48 teams and spanning North America from 11 June to 19 July. Today’s ceremony will be attended by US President Trump, Canadian PM Mark Carney, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum as well as Argentina’s President Javier Milei.
FORMULA ONE – Formula 1’s world championship comes down to the wire in Abu Dhabi this weekend, with three drivers still in contention. Lando Norris leads Max Verstappen by just 12 points, with Oscar Piastri also in the hunt, the first three-way finale since 2010. You can follow today’s practice, tomorrow’s qualifications and Sunday’s race all live on RTL and RTL Play.
We’re starting off with the usual morning fog and cloudy sky, but it should clear up a bit in the afternoon. We might even be able to catch a few rays. On top of it all, we’re not expecting any rain!
The temperature is still on the lower side, though: a minimum of 2–4°C, only rising to a high of around 6°C.
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