Luxtoday - News from Luxembourg

The Luxembourg police recorded two incidents involving bladed weapons over the past 24 hours. At Kautenbach station, a machete was seized from a sleeping, drunk man, whilst in the Grund district of the capital, two unidentified masked men on a single bicycle attempted to rob a passer-by, threatening him with a knife.

The drought in Luxembourg is causing rivers to run low, but drinking water supplies remain stable. Thanks to winter rainfall, the Esch-sur-Sûre reservoir holds 42 million cubic metres of water. Nevertheless, the return of residents from their holidays could increase consumption and exacerbate the situation.

A start-up called Roomie Radar is operating in Luxembourg, protecting young expats from fraudsters when looking for accommodation. Launched in 2024, the platform has already attracted over 1,500 users and manages 260 verified listings, tackling the pressing issue of inflated prices and bogus offers in the local rental market.

A new LU KS vehicle inspection centre has opened in Wiltz. This is the second branch in the network, intended to replace the closed station in Wilwerwiltz. The expansion of commercial operators is strengthening the liberalisation of vehicle inspection in Luxembourg, making services more accessible to drivers in the north of the country.

Due to the prolonged drought and abnormal heat, Luxembourg’s forests have begun to shed their leaves prematurely. In nature reserves, ponds and springs are drying up, and trees are losing their ability to produce oxygen effectively. The Nature and Forests Agency is warning of the long-term consequences of the climate crisis and is developing measures to help the ecosystem adapt.

The 200-gram ‘Filet américain’ sandwiches produced by Oberweis may contain glass fragments. The affected batch, with a best-before date of 12 August 2026, is to be recalled. Consumers are strongly advised not to consume this product.

The decision by the Luxembourg Association of Doctors and Dentists not to renew its agreement with the National Health Fund has caused a stir. Trade unions and the opposition are warning of the risk of a two-tier healthcare system emerging. The agreement, which has been in force since 1993, is due to expire definitively this October.

A series of thefts of bronze artefacts from cemeteries has been reported in Luxembourg: in Bettembourg alone, 67 graves have been targeted. According to antique experts, the metal is not being sold for scrap due to its low value, but is instead being smuggled to Eastern Europe to create counterfeit works of art, which fetch up to €150,000 on the black market.

Rémi Fabiani broke the national record in the 100-metre freestyle, clocking a time of 48.44 seconds. This result secured the 24-year-old a place in the semi-finals of the competition. Another Luxembourg swimmer, Ralf Daleiden, finished the race in 24th place with his best time of the season.

On 12 August, a partial solar eclipse will be visible in Luxembourg. Optometrists warn that ordinary sunglasses will not protect against retinal burns. To view the eclipse safely, you will need ISO-certified glasses with special filters or a homemade pinhole camera.

On Sunday afternoon, Luxembourg’s emergency services extinguished three fires in the south of the country. The largest fire was in Esch-sur-Alzette, where one hectare of dry grass was burnt. Crews from seven different units were quickly deployed to tackle the blaze. No casualties or injuries were reported as a result of the incidents.

In 2025, beer exports from European Union countries fell by 11 per cent to 2.2 billion litres. France remained the largest importer, whilst Belgium remained the largest exporter.

The authorities of the French department of Moselle have submitted an official application to build two new EPR2-generation nuclear reactors at the Cattenom nuclear power station. The project has the backing of the business community, but neighbouring Luxembourg has expressed concern over the current problems with the plant’s power units, three of which are currently shut down due to drought and maintenance.

Scouts in Luxembourg have successfully sold around 200 stone pillars from the historic Adolf Bridge at a price of 175 euros each. The proceeds will go towards educational programmes in Africa and South America. The balustrade elements, dating from the 1960s, were handed over to the charity following a major renovation of the flyover.

In July, annual inflation in Luxembourg stabilised at 2.2 per cent, prompting Statec to review the timing of the next pay rise. According to the baseline scenario, the next increase is not expected until the third quarter of 2027. The main factor was a fall in fuel prices against the backdrop of government support measures.

During the night of 3 to 4 August, more than 60 gravestones were damaged at the cemetery in Bettembourg. The local authorities have strongly condemned the incident, begun assessing the damage and lodged a formal complaint with the police. An investigation is underway to establish all the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Unusually high temperatures and a lack of rainfall have led to historically low water levels in key European rivers. Due to falling water levels in the Rhine, cargo ships at the Luxembourg port of Mertert are being loaded to just 25–30 per cent of their capacity. Logistics companies are urgently switching freight to rail and road transport to prevent supply chains from collapsing.

It accounts for 17.5 per cent of all paid sick days. The average duration of treatment is 28 days, and the sharpest rise in the number of such cases has been recorded in the construction sector.

The OGBL trade union and the National Health Laboratory have renewed their collective agreement, improving conditions for 415 staff members. The agreement provides for a one-off retroactive bonus covering the years 2023–2025, an increase in holiday pay and the value of meal vouchers. The negotiations were concluded in less than a year, establishing new standards for remuneration.

However, only two-thirds of the course is currently open. This is due to the risk of rockfalls. The authorities have secured only part of the site by erecting temporary fencing at a cost of 80,000 euros, which has enabled 12 of the 18 planned holes to be opened.