ICE SCULPTURE TRIAL – A Luxembourg court has heard emotional testimony from the parents of a young boy killed by a falling ice sculpture at a Christmas market in 2019. Alisa Hamza told the court the family had been enjoying a festive evening in the city centre when the sculpture collapsed, fatally striking her son Emran. Prosecutors are seeking suspended prison sentences for two sculptors and an events programmer, arguing that a poorly installed, 2.5 metre high ice structure on broken pallets posed an unacceptable public risk. The trial continues on Monday.
FUEL PRICES – Finally some good news on the forecourts as all fuel types have become cheaper: 95-octane petrol has decreased by 5.7 cents per litre, 98-octane petrol is down 5 cents, diesel is down 9.7 cents, and heating fuel is down 10.3 cents per litre.
BANKING SECTOR – According to ABBL, 2025 was a year that saw good results in the banking sector, and international stakeholders were still being attracted to Luxembourg. The balance sheets saw a 2.29% increase, stabilising the bank's results at a high level.
FUNNEL CLOUD – A funnel cloud spotted near Niederpallen yesterday evening turned out to be no cause for alarm. The swirling formation was visible for around ten minutes before dissolving, and weather expert Jörg Kachelmann has ruled out a tornado, confirming it never touched the ground. Funnel clouds are generally harmless atmospheric phenomena, most common in spring and autumn.
VIRUS OUTBREAK – A cruise ship linked to a hantavirus outbreak is heading for the Canary Islands, where it is expected to dock this weekend. The World Health Organisation has confirmed five cases aboard the MV Hondius, and warns more could emerge – the virus has an incubation period of up to six weeks. Three people have died, either on board or after travelling on the vessel. The WHO has sought to reassure the public, saying the outbreak is not the start of a new Covid-style pandemic.
IRAN WAR – US President Donald Trump says the Iran conflict could be over quickly, as Iran confirms an American proposal is still under consideration. Reports suggest Washington has drawn up a framework covering limits on uranium enrichment, sanctions relief, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have dismissed it as a wish list.
UKRAINE WAR – Russia says it shot down nearly 350 Ukrainian drones across 20 regions overnight, in one of the largest attacks of the war and ahead of Russia’s two day unilateral ceasefire. The strike comes as Moscow has warned foreign embassies to evacuate staff from Kyiv, amid fears of a major Russian retaliation ahead of its Victory Day commemorations, for which Russia has declared a two-day unilateral ceasefire.
FOOTBALL – Freiburg and Aston Villa are through to the Europa League final in Istanbul on the 20th of May. Freiburg beat Braga 3–1. Aston Villa thrashed Nottingham Forest 4–0.
In the Conference League, it will be Crystal Palace against Rayo Vallecano in the final. Palace beat Shakhtar Donetsk 2–1, while Rayo Vallecano knocked out Strasbourg, winning 1–0 in France.
BASKETBALL – The pinnacle of Luxembourg's season is here: Etzella Ettelbruck and Sparta Bartreng meet in the best-of-five championship final on Sunday. Both sides boast American stars alongside homegrown talent, and it's the first to three points with everything to play for in the opening game. Meanwhile, the sport is set for a significant change from next season. Clubs will be limited to just two foreign players on court at any one time. The measure passed with just over half the vote at the Basketball Federation's general assembly. Federation president Samy Picard has announced he will step down after the summer, with no successor yet in sight.
OLYMPICS – The IOC has lifted its restrictions on Belarusian athletes competing in the Olympics, although restrictions on Russian athletes remain in place.
After a week of cloud and rain, there's some brightness on the way. Today starts cloudy, but sunny spells will break through in places, with the sun becoming more persistent into the late afternoon and evening. Temperatures begin at 6°C this morning, rising to a high of 18°C this afternoon.
Stay connected: Tune in to RTL Today Radio, now on 93.3 FM and DAB+, and be sure to catch our full bulletin on the hour, every hour, and headlines at half past the hour.
