In nature’s catalogue of flowers, petals usually serve a simple role: attract pollinators. Most blooms flaunt a modest count — just enough petals to catch eyes and entice bees or butterflies. But every now and then, a flower mutates and transforms into a “double flower,” where the original structure shifts, and petals multiply. These extravagant blossoms don’t just stand out — they completely reshape what a normal flower looks like. Botanists explain this phenomenon through a genetic twist: the same ancestral blueprint that once produced petals, stamens, and other floral organs can be “rewired.” A mutation might reroute what should have become stamens or reproductive parts into petals instead — turning organs designed for reproduction into layers of petals. The result? A bloom packed almost entirely with petals, often sterile but striking beyond compare. Some familiar garden favourites illustrate this beautifully. For example, double-flowered versions of meadow buttercups — also known as “bachelor’s buttons” — or double buttercups, lesser celandines, and marsh marigolds (all commonly sold in garden centres) sometimes feature petal-counts vastly higher than their wild ancestors. These are not merely aesthetic tweaks — they’re dramatic shifts in form, where function is traded for flamboyance. That said, such lush floral displays remain rare among truly wild plants. Most species stick to modest petal counts, because their evolutionary strategy remains rooted in efficient pollination and reproduction. But among gardeners, horticulturalists, and flower-lovers, double-flower versions have become a beloved anomaly — a testament to how flexible and surprising floral genetics can be when nature takes a detour. Read More : Which flower has the most petals? - Discover Wildlife Join the community of your own - #1 home-grown LuxExpats app SignUp Free : luxembourgexpats.lu

Luxembourg’s latest national forest inventory paints a troubling picture: between 2010 and 2023, the country’s forests released more carbon dioxide than they absorbed, effectively turning them into a net source of emissions. The findings come from the third National Forest Inventory (NFI), carried out from early 2023 to mid-2024 across 1,845 sampling sites, following earlier editions in 2000 and 2010. According to Environment Minister Serge Wilmes, who presented the results alongside the Nature and Forestry Administration, the reversal in the forests’ carbon balance is closely tied to the accelerating impacts of climate change. Years of repeated drought have weakened many tree species, increasing mortality rates and creating ideal conditions for bark beetle outbreaks. The infestation forced the clearing of around 2,050 hectares of spruce—more than double the area recorded in the previous inventory. The report highlights additional areas of concern. The amount of standing timber is no longer rising at the pace seen in past decades, with total wood volume increasing by only 11% since 2000. Forest growth between 2010 and 2023 slowed by roughly a quarter compared to the previous period, a trend attributed to extreme weather events, disease, and widespread dieback. Yet the picture is not entirely bleak. Luxembourg’s forests—covering 35% of the country, or about 92,250 hectares—have also benefited from long-term adaptation efforts. Foresters’ push to improve resilience has boosted the proportion of hardwood species from 66% in 2010 to 75% in 2023, contributing to stronger ecological stability. Forest ecosystems have also become more diverse and structurally varied, with more mixed and multilayered stands. Another encouraging sign is the sharp rise in old, large-diameter trees, whose numbers have more than doubled to reach 135,000 in 2023. Dead wood, a vital resource for countless insects, birds and fungi, has expanded from an average of 6 to 27 cubic metres per hectare since 2000—an important gain for biodiversity even as climate pressures intensify. Read More : Presentation of the third National Forest Inventory: Luxembourg companies facing the climate challenge - News - Portal of Environment - emwelt.lu - Luxembourg Join the community of your own - #1 home-grown LuxExpats app SignUp Free : luxembourgexpats.lu

On 27 November 2025, deputies from the parliamentary committees responsible for budget execution and public works convened to assess the state’s largest ongoing and planned infrastructure undertakings. The meeting, bearing special oversight, focused on projects whose costs exceed €30 million and are managed by the public buildings administration or the national bridges & roads authority. Among the public-building projects under review: a vast renovation and upgrading plan for the national military centre at Herrenberg (budgeted at €192.1 million), expansion of the penitentiary facility at Uerschterhaff (€173.9 million), and conversion of the old national library into a modern facility (€56.7 million). The list also includes several major educational investments — such as new or upgraded high-schools (including a large-scale “Neie Bouneweger Lycée” at €312.9 million), international schools, and technical-vocational institutions across the country — along with social infrastructure like youth hostels, care homes and community facilities. On the transportation side, the meeting examined numerous road and mobility-infrastructure plans. These span from multimodal transit hubs and park-and-ride facilities, to large projects such as expanding highway A3 to three lanes (estimated cost: €501.5 million), building bypasses for towns like Hosingen, upgrading junctions on major highways, and roadworks on key national routes. Other plans include enhanced cycle-path links, renovation of the Adolphe bridge access, the establishment of a new traffic-control centre, and major hydropower and water-management works — reflecting a broad portfolio covering mobility, infrastructure modernisation, and environmental adaptation. Deputies also raised issues beyond financing: during the exchange, questions emerged about traffic-management, real-time communication to road users regarding congestion, and the introduction of carpool lanes. Some opposition members expressed concern over privacy protections around proposed use of technology to monitor vehicle occupancy. The session underscores Parliament’s tight oversight of public-works investment, as well as the scale and ambition of state-led infrastructure renewal across education, defense, transport and public services. As many of these projects run into hundreds of millions of euros in expenditure, their follow-up remains central to Luxembourg’s long-term mobility, urban planning and public-services strategy.   chd.lu Join the community of your own - #1 home-grown LuxExpats app SignUp Free : luxembourgexpats.lu

Luxembourg’s Ministry of Mobility and Public Works is set for one of the largest budget envelopes in 2026, with planned spending reaching €3.5 billion — equal to 11.5% of the entire state budget. The figures were reviewed by members of Parliament on Thursday during committee discussions on next year’s financial plan. According to Mobility Minister Yuriko Backes, the 8% rise in the ministry’s budget — an additional €290 million — is mainly driven by “major investment projects” scheduled for the coming year. Capital investment will surge by 31%, while operational costs are expected to total around €1.7 billion. A significant share will go toward running the country’s public transport networks, with €634 million dedicated to rail services and €600 million to road-based transport. Special funds will also play a key role. The Rail Fund will receive €742 million, including €119 million earmarked for upgrading the Luxembourg–Bettembourg railway line to a double-track configuration, a project due for completion in 2027. The Roads Fund will be allocated €382 million to advance major projects: the three-lane expansion of the A3, ongoing construction along the N7, and new bypasses for Hosingen, Dippach-Gare and other localities. Additional funding will support progress on the rapid tram linking Luxembourg City to the south, as well as extensions of the tram network within the capital. At Findel, €44 million has been set aside to build a hybrid air-traffic control tower. Beyond transport, the ministry will invest heavily in modernising public buildings. €336 million has been budgeted for 2026, with spending expected to rise to €622 million by 2029. The priority in the coming years will be improving the energy efficiency of state-owned infrastructure. Read More : 2026 Mobility Budget: Investments up 31% | Chamber of Deputies of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Image Credit: chd.lu Join the community of your own - #1 home-grown LuxExpats app SignUp Free : luxembourgexpats.lu

The small, shimmering Blue‑ringed octopus might look harmless — or even beautiful — but it ranks among the most venomous sea creatures on Earth. Belonging to the genus Hapalochlaena, this octopus packs a punch through its production of a deadly neurotoxin called Tetrodotoxin (TTX). TTX is terrifyingly potent. It’s estimated to be about 1,200 times more toxic than cyanide for humans, and the toxin is found throughout the octopus’s body thanks to symbiotic bacteria in its salivary glands.  When injected — usually through a bite — TTX attacks the nervous system by blocking sodium channels, halting nerve signals, paralyzing muscles and often leading to respiratory failure or death. What makes this danger all the more insidious is how subtle the octopus can be before striking. These creatures are tiny — often no bigger than a golf ball — and their bite can be almost painless. Many victims don’t even realise they’ve been envenomated until numbness sets in and breathing becomes impossible. And to make matters worse: there is no known antidote. Treatment relies entirely on supportive measures, like artificial ventilation, to buy time until the toxin leaves the body. Despite all that, the blue-ringed octopus isn’t aggressive by nature. It hunts small fish, shrimp and crabs — using its venom to paralyse prey — and hides in cracks or among coral. Its striking blue rings only appear when it feels threatened, serving as a warning to predators or unsuspecting humans who might pick it up. Encounters with humans are rare, but when they do happen, the stakes are high. Since there’s no antivenom, the window for effective medical intervention is small.  For these reasons, marine experts emphasise a simple rule: observe, don’t touch. Appreciating the beauty of marine life from a safe distance can save lives — yours and others. Read More : discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/marine-animals/blue-ringed-octopus?utm_source= Join the community of your own - #1 home-grown LuxExpats app SignUp Free : luxembourgexpats.lu

To highlight Orange Week, several municipalities across Luxembourg are opening their doors for free public screenings of Breathing Underwater, the acclaimed film by Éric Lamhène that recently took home the Best Film award at the Luxembourg Film Awards. The initiative aims to spark open conversations about domestic violence and strengthen community awareness. Organised with the support of the Ministry for Gender Equality and Diversity, the screenings will take place in Strassen, Hesperange, Leudelange, Sanem, Roeser, Mamer and Bertrange over the next two weeks. Each session will also include exchanges with people closely connected to the film and its message. Director Éric Lamhène and actress Esperanza Martin González-Quevedo — who portrays a character sharing her own name and is herself a survivor of domestic violence — will join the discussions. They’ll be accompanied by specialists from support centres and a representative of the association La Voix des Survivants et Survivantes. Where and when to watch All screenings begin at 7pm: 26 November – Centre Barblé, Strassen 27 November – Cultural Centre “Celo”, Hesperange 28 November – Leudelange Cultural Centre 1 December – Artikuss, Sanem 2 December – Salle des Fêtes, Roeser 3 December – Mamer Town Hall 10 December – Bertrange Beyond these community events, the 2024 film is also being shown in secondary schools, ensuring that awareness reaches younger audiences. uni.lu/en/news/orange-week-uni-lu-join-the-film-screening-breathing-underwater/?utm_source

Luxembourg’s Minister of Home Affairs, Léon Gloden, travelled to Singapore from 19 to 21 November 2025 to participate in the Singapore International Disaster & Emergency Management Expo (SIDEX 2025). The visit, undertaken at the invitation of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), aims to deepen cooperation in civil protection, crisis management and internal security. During conversations with Singaporean officials, Minister Gloden presented Luxembourg’s national resilience strategy and a new guide helping municipalities build local resilience plans. He emphasised that cultivating a resilience mindset is not optional, but an essential investment to safeguard communities from future crises. The Singaporean side expressed strong interest in Luxembourg’s public alert-system, LU‑Alert, which could help inform their own plans for a nationwide alert system. Discussions also covered internal security — from video surveillance and fraud prevention to the use of new technologies for defence against cyber threats. The trip also reinforced ties between the Luxembourg fire and rescue service Corps grand-ducal d'incendie et de secours (CGDIS) and SCDF: back in March 2025, the two organisations formalised a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding; SIDEX 2025 served to strengthen that bond through exchanges and joint training. By taking part in SIDEX — which brings together experts from more than 20 countries — Luxembourg reaffirmed its commitment to international collaboration on civil safety, emergency response, and building resilient communities. Read More : gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites/toutes_actualites/communiques/2025/11-novembre/21-gloden-sidex-singapour.html?utm_source Join the community of your own - #1 home-grown LuxExpats app SignUp Free : luxembourgexpats.lu

The Luxembourg government has unveiled a draft law to reform work rules in agriculture, viticulture and horticulture — making employment simpler and more flexible for seasonal and occasional workers. The new proposal, presented on 26 November 2025 by the ministers responsible for Labour and Agriculture, aims to ease some of the red tape that has long burdened farms and vineyards. Under the new plan, a legal definition of an “occasional contract” will be added to the labour code, with a tailored legal regime. For short-term jobs — those lasting no more than a month — employers will no longer be required to prepare a monthly wage statement. Instead, payment and salary documentation must be completed the day after the final workday, giving both employees and employers faster, simpler processing. The proposal also simplifies the hiring process: candidates for low-risk occasional jobs won’t need the usual medical exam if they already hold a valid health certificate issued in another EU country. This cuts down administrative burdens while still ensuring worker safety. New rules cover more than just employment terms. For example, when farms, vineyards or horticultural businesses host on-site tasting or sale areas (so-called “Wäistuff”), those parts can follow restaurant-sector working-time laws — potentially making operations more practical and flexible. On a broader note, some horticultural businesses will now be allowed more flexibility regarding Sunday work — a move aimed at accommodating the rhythms of seasonal production and harvest times. The government says the changes respond directly to feedback from stakeholders gathered at a July 2024 meeting that highlighted practical difficulties in the current system. Ministers emphasised that the aim is not to weaken worker protections, but to adapt regulations to the real needs of agriculture and viticulture — letting producers focus on farming rather than paperwork. If approved, the reforms could make seasonal employment smoother and more appealing, helping address labour shortages and preserving the viability of Luxembourg’s farming and wine industries. Read More : Government of Luxembourg Draft law amending the Labour Code on labour relations in the agriculture, viticulture and horticulture sectors - Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture - The Luxembourg Government

Faced with a growing shortage of skilled labour, the European Commission plans to retrain or reskill 600,000 people across the EU for defence-industry jobs by 2030, according to a new roadmap published this week. The push comes as demand for European-made defence equipment surges — driven by rising geopolitical tensions and a decision by EU member states to ramp up military procurement after years of underinvestment. Under the new plan, the Commission will launch a “Talent Platform” offering traineeships with small and medium-sized defence firms, start-ups and scale-ups. It will also roll out a Skills Guarantee pilot aimed at helping workers from shrinking industries — such as automotive or related supply chains — transition into defence jobs. Officials say the labour shortage is a “major bottleneck” threatening Europe’s ability to produce the volume and sophistication of military equipment it now requires. The skills gap spans traditional roles — like manufacturing, welding or metalwork — and high-tech profiles needed for emerging defence technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, and quantum systems. To address longer-term needs, the roadmap includes the creation of a dedicated EU Defence Industry Skills Academy, expected to launch after 2028. Meanwhile, existing EU-level training institutions — including space and digital skills academies — will be tasked with expanding defence-related courses in the short term. Support structures are also being strengthened: under recent agreements to reform the European Social Fund+ (ESF+), EU countries can now access additional funding to support training and skills development in strategic sectors — including defence. According to the Commission, the reskilling plan aims to upskill around 12 % of the existing defence and aerospace workforce each year — a rate seen as essential given the ambition to expand production significantly by the end of the decade. As the European defence sector races to meet increasing demands, this bold push for workforce training and reskilling marks a strategic pivot — from procurement-focused expansion to building home-grown technical capacity and sustainable talent pipelines. Read More on Euronews : EU aims to retrain 600,000 workers for defence sector to eliminate skills shortage | Euronews

The Luxembourg Red Cross has entered a new chapter, with Grand Duchess Stéphanie officially stepping into the role of president. She follows Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, who leaves the post after two decades of service that senior officials describe as transformative for the organisation. In a statement released Tuesday, Michel Wurth, vice-president of the Luxembourg Red Cross, expressed deep gratitude for Maria Teresa’s long-standing leadership. He highlighted the “immense” and lasting impact she has made over the past 20 years, noting that her dedication shaped the organisation’s direction both nationally and internationally. Maria Teresa offered her own farewell during a members’ assembly on Monday evening. Reflecting on her two decades at the helm, she said the Red Cross represents values that “remain very close to her heart,” adding that the years spent working alongside volunteers and teams in Luxembourg and abroad were filled with “moving and enriching moments.” She described the experience as a source of pride and joy. Grand Duchess Stéphanie now assumes the presidency with the support of the organisation and the symbolic weight of family continuity, succeeding her mother-in-law in a role deeply rooted in humanitarian commitment. Her appointment marks a smooth transition at the head of one of Luxembourg’s most respected charitable institutions, known for its work in social support, emergency response and international solidarity. Join the community of your own - #1 home-grown LuxExpats app SignUp Free : luxembourgexpats.lu