LITERACY PROGRAMME – The Chamber has approved the ALPHA Project with a broad majority. From the 2026 school year, parents can choose whether their child learns to read in German or French. The scheme, trialled in four schools, will be rolled out nationwide for all Cycle 1.2 pupils across Luxembourg.
PICKPOCKETING INCREASE – Police are reporting a sharp rise in pickpocketing on trams since the Christmas markets opened. Extra officers will patrol during peak hours and the public is encouraged to approach them directly with any concerns. Criminals typically exploit crowded spaces and moments of distraction to steal valuables, with victims often unaware until long after the theft has occurred.
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS – The Chamber has discussed financing new projects costing between €15–€60 million, including station redevelopments, transport hubs, the Coque renovation, and school upgrades across Luxembourg.
SUNDAY HOURS – The Council of State has made no formal objections to the government’s proposed changes to Sunday working rules, clearing the way for a parliamentary vote on a reform that would allow small retailers to extend Sunday working hours and require larger companies to negotiate collective agreements.
GAZA ATTACKS – Hamas authorities are reporting five dead in an Israeli rocket attack in southern Gaza, near a hospital. 32 people were injured. According to the Israeli army, Hamas terrorists were targeted. Meanwhile, Hamas has returned another body to Israel, where it is being examined to determine if it was another hostage.
UKRAINE WAR – US envoy Steve Witkoff is meeting Ukraine’s security chief Rustem Umerov in Miami today, following talks in Moscow. The Kremlin says no compromise was reached on ending the war, with territory and security guarantees remaining major sticking points.
Meanwhile, Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel joins top diplomats at the OSCE annual meeting in Vienna today, discussing security and resilience in Europe amid the Ukraine war.
PUTIN – INDIA – Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting India today, meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deepen economic, defence and energy ties. The trip comes amid US pressure over India’s Russian oil purchases and new US tariffs as well as an EU deal to ban all imports of Russian gas before the end of 2027.
EUROVISION VOTE – Eurovision organizers are meeting in Geneva today to debate Israel’s participation. Several countries have threatened to boycott if Israel competes and Germany will pull out if Israel is excluded. The dispute follows protests over Gaza and accusations of vote manipulation after Israel’s second-place finish. The Luxembourg government has stated it will not support excluding Israel from the contest.
FOOTBALL – In the German Cup, Bayern Munich has beaten Union Berlin 3-2. Holstein Kiel knocked out Hamburg 4-2 on penalties. Stuttgart won 2-0 against Bochum, and Freiburg beat Darmstadt 2-0.
UEFA has announced Germany will host the 2029 Women’s European Championship, where England will defend their title. The record eight-time winners beat bids from Poland and Sweden-Denmark, hosting for the third time.
CHILDREN’S FITNESS – A major European study has found that the physical fitness of children and adolescents, particularly their endurance has not recovered to pre-Covid levels, despite restrictions ending. Whilst sprinting speed rebounded quickly, endurance remains persistently low, particularly among girls and teenagers aged 13 to 19.
It’s mostly overcast and gloomy with occasional drizzle. Any brief sunny spells won’t last long. Light rain is moving in from the southwest by the evening. Temperatures start off around 2-4°C, going up no more than 6°C in the afternoon with weak to moderate winds, gusting up to 20km/h.
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