The RTL Today Radio News team brings you the latest news headlines for Friday, March 24.

Luxembourg and the greater region

TRAIN DISRUPTION - There are no trains running between Luxembourg and Thionville this morning. Rail service is currently fully disrupted due to SNCF workers on strike blocking access to the signal box in Thionville. According to a statement issued by the Luxembourg National Railway Company (CFL), it is unknown how long the disruption will last. Commuters are asked to consult the CFL website and app for updates on when rail traffic will resume and what alternatives are available.

WORKFORCE STATISTICS - There will soon be just as many cross-border workers as active residents in Luxembourg. The latest figures from Statec concerning salaried employment in the Grand Duchy were published yesterday, showing that only one in four employees is of Luxembourg nationality. Statec figures also show that salaried employment increased by 0.8% in the fourth quarter of 2022 in Luxembourg, compared to the previous quarter.

FREE CONTRACEPTION - The government has confirmed it will cover costs for all types of contraceptives, without age limits from April 1. Among the eligible contraceptives are the pill, the coil, the implant and even vasectomies. The only exception to the new law will be condoms, which are available for free in many locations across the country, such as HIV counselling offices, family planning centres, or the CHL.

COVID RESTRICTIONS - And the Chamber of Deputies has unanimously voted in favour of scrapping all remaining Covid restrictions. Thursday's bill will see the remaining measures for mask obligation and isolation scrapped. Minister of Health Paulette Lenert said that although the virus is still circulating, the number of serious cases has vastly reduced and the health system is no longer under serious pressure.

VACCINE COMPENSATION - Three people have been compensated following issues related to the swine flu vaccines administered in 2009 and 2010. In accordance with a law dating back to the year 2000, the government is committed to taking responsibility in the event that a person dies or suffers permanent physical damage following a mandatory or state-recommended vaccination.The Ministry of Health confirmed that seven people have submitted requests for government compensation following the coronavirus vaccine, with their files currently under review.

World

FRANCE PROTESTS - The French Prime Minister has condemned the violence in the latest demonstrations against the rise of the state pension age to 64. Elisabeth Borne said that while people had the right to protest, some of last night’s scenes were unacceptable. Almost 150 police were injured and many were protesters arrested nationwide, as a day of protests descended into chaos in several cities including Paris, where protesters lit fires in the historic centre of the city.  In the south-western city of Bordeaux, the main door of the town hall was set on fire.

EU UKRAINE - EU leaders have endorsed a plan for sending Ukraine 1 million rounds of artillery ammunition within the next 12 months to help the country counter Russia's invasion forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the leaders during a video call. Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the summit, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said he would like to see the American and Chinese Presidents sit down at the same table and work out a plan for peace negotiations together. Bettel believes Russia is more likely to accept a proposal supported by China. He will present the proposal to UN Secretary General António Guterres, who is also attending the EU summit of heads of state and government.

US AIRSTRIKES - The US has launched airstrikes in Syria, targeting a base used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards. It's in response to a drone attack yesterday, which killed a US contractor and injured 5 American soldiers.

NORTH KOREA - North Korea claims it has tested an underwater nuclear attack drone able to unleash a "radioactive tsunami", as it blamed recent US-South Korea exercises for a deteriorating regional security situation. State media showed the smiling North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and what appeared to be an underwater explosion. Analysts have questioned North Korea's claims.

Sports

FOOTBALL EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS - The Luxembourg national football team played a 0-0 draw in Slovakia yesterday evening in the first match of the new European Championship qualification. In the other 2 matches of Group J, Portugal won 4-0 against Liechtenstein and Bosnia beat Iceland 3-0. On Sunday, the national team will face Portugal in the sold-out Stade de Luxembourg. In other qualifiers, England won 2-1 against Italy and Denmark beat Finland 3-1.

FOOTBALL BAYERN - Bayern Munich has fired their coach Julian Nagelsmann. There is no official confirmation from the club yet, but German media have been reporting it since last night. Former Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel is the favourite to replace Nagelsmann, according to the German daily Bild.

ATHLETICS TRANSGENDER - And World Athletics has banned transgender women from competing in elite competitions if they have gone through male puberty. The tighter rules will impact athletes such as two-time Olympic champion Caster Semenya, Christine Mboma and Francine Niyonsaba. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe told a news conference that the decision to exclude transgender women was based "on the overarching need to protect the female category."

Weather

More rain is in store for the whole day but with an added bonus of some sunshine in the afternoon! With a bit of luck the Grand Duchy will be covered in rainbows for most of the afternoon! Temperatures start off between 8-10°C, rising to highs of 13°C in the afternoon.

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