HOUSING PROTEST – A coalition of 13 youth organisations are protesting outside Luxembourg’s parliament today against soaring housing costs. Rents have surged up to 11%, forcing vital workers out of the country. Demonstrators demand a national housing commission, rent caps, and a vacancy tax to tackle the crisis. Housing Minister Claude Meisch announced yesterday, that he wants to meet the representatives after the All Saints' holiday.
BETTEL STATEMENT – Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel makes his annual foreign policy statement in the Chamber of Deputies at 2pm. He's expected to set out the main geopolitical challenges, including Luxembourg's position on Israel, the war in Ukraine, the situation with Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, and the political climate in neighbouring countries are also likely to feature.
FUEL PRICES – It’s bad news on the forecourts, as overnight Diesel has gone up by 5.6 cents to €2.11 per litre. Heating fuel has also risen by 5.7 cents to €1.60 per litre and the price of 98-octane petrol has increased by 3.5 cents to €1.94 per litre.
SPACE CAMPUS – Work has begun on the new NEOS Space Campus at Kockelscheuer. Visiting the site, Prime Minister Luc Frieden said that satellites are now needed for climate protection, navigation, communications as well as security and defence. The campus is due to open at the end of 2027, at a cost of around 196 million euros.
BIRD OF THE YEAR – The goldcrest has been named Luxembourg's bird of the year for 2027, in the first public vote run by the nature organisation natur&ëmwelt. Known in Luxembourgish as the 'Dommendéck', the goldcrest is Europe's smallest bird and its high, clear song carries from the tops of the trees where it lives.
ISRAEL ELECTION – Israelis vote today in a parliamentary election, with 7.3 million people eligible to choose the 120 members of the Knesset. Deep divisions at home and growing international isolation mean the vote is seen as a crucial test for the country's future. It's also the first election since the Hamas attack of October 2023 and the Gaza war that followed. At the centre of it is whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can stay in power. His main rival is the former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, who is seen as far more moderate. Smaller parties are expected to decide the outcome, as both men will need them to form a coalition.
UKRAINE TRUCE – A truce has come into force in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky, to allow humanitarian aid in. Russia and Ukraine both say they are observing it from 3am local time. The ceasefire was announced last week by the US First Lady, Melania Trump, who said she brokered it. However, Kyiv continues to be a target for Russian strikes. The mayor of Kyiv says a Russian missile strike has damaged the Southern Bridge and its metro infrastructure.
BRAZIL ELECTION – Flavio Bolsonaro's party has recognised the result of Brazil's presidential election, which he lost to Lula da Silva. But Bolsonaro himself has not conceded. He is pointing to polling stations that stayed open longer nationwide, and has the backing of the US. President Trump described the vote yesterday as "manipulated".
FOOTBALL – Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas have won the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Bayern Munich's Kane is the first Englishman to win the men's award since Michael Owen in 2001. Putellas, who now plays for London City, collects her third women's prize. Paris Saint-Germain were named best men's team, while Barcelona's women and Spain's Lamine Yamal also picked up awards in London.
Re-elected Luxembourg Football Federation (FLF) President Paul Philipp says investing in youth development is crucial to raising the standard of the national championship, while maintaining that the national team is still heading in the right direction despite recent difficulties.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL – It has been announced who will headline the half-time show at the next Super Bowl. Jay-Z will perform at the game, which takes place on 14 February next year in Inglewood, California. The NFL final is usually watched by more than 100 million TV viewers worldwide.
Expect a foggy morning, giving way to overcast skies for most of the day. Rain showers could develop later in the evening, as well as overnight. Temperatures will start off at 11-13°C in the morning, with highs of up to 17°C in the afternoon.
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