A major power failure in the Channel Tunnel on December 30, 2025 forced Eurostar to suspend all its high-speed train services linking the UK with continental Europe, disrupting travel between London, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Engineers are working to fix the overhead power supply problem that left lines dead and hundreds of passengers stranded at stations like London’s St Pancras amid the peak holiday rush. Travel chaos spread across the Channel Tunnel after the technical fault also affected LeShuttle vehicle trains, prompting the operator to advise customers to postpone travel or seek alternative routes such as ferry services from Dover. Service has gradually resumed on limited sections, but severe delays and last-minute cancellations continue, with Eurostar warning travellers to check schedules before heading to stations.  Stranded passengers faced long waits, confusion, and in some cases harsh winter conditions while officials worked to bring lines back into full service. Despite ongoing recovery efforts, transport planners say this disruption highlights the fragility of critical cross-border rail infrastructure during high-demand periods. 👉 Read more: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/30/eurostar-suspends-all-europe-trains-due-to-power-issue-amid-holiday-period Join Luxembourg Expats, the #1 homegrown community for expats in Luxembourg. Connect with people and businesses locally - discover expats focused local services, buy and sell items, find housing and apartment rentals and buys, events, discounts and meet people to make friends - all in one expats companion app in Luxembourg. Sign up free at www.luxembourgexpats.lu and become part of Luxembourg’s trusted expats network.  

On January 1, 2026, Bulgaria officially adopted the euro, becoming the 21st member of the eurozone and marking a major step in its European economic integration. The change means the euro replaces the Bulgarian lev as legal tender, and Bulgaria now has a seat on the governing council of the European Central Bank.  The transition follows years of effort to meet the EU’s economic convergence criteria, including inflation controls and fiscal reforms, and was backed by EU institutions and the Eurogroup earlier in 2025. While business leaders and many officials praised the move as a boost for trade, investment, and economic stability, critics and segments of the public remain skeptical. Some fear price increases and loss of national monetary control, and protests have occurred amid political upheaval in the country.  During a transitional period, both lev and euro may still be used for payments, but only euros will be given as change—a step that will gradually phase out the old currency.  Economists say eurozone membership could bring long-term advantages, especially in trade and financial stability, though political debates over identity and economic impact continue. 👉 Read more: dw.com/en/bulgaria-joins-eurozone-despite-opposition/a-75359463 Join Luxembourg Expats, the #1 homegrown community for expats in Luxembourg. Connect with people and businesses locally - discover expats focused local services, buy and sell items, find housing and apartment rentals and buys, events, discounts and meet people to make friends - all in one expats companion app in Luxembourg. Sign up free at luxembourgexpats.lu and become part of Luxembourg’s trusted expats network. 

As 2026 begins, the Luxembourg government has rolled out a series of legal and regulatory changes that will affect citizens directly. One major reform, effective January 1, 2026, is a 1.5% increase in pensions to help adjust retirement income with living costs. Beyond pensions, authorities are implementing wider pension system reforms to ensure long-term sustainability, including higher contributions, extended working-year recognition, and more flexibility for workers nearing retirement. Additional changes set to unfold through 2026 include updates to housing assistance programs, adjustments in tax and social security law, and preparations for extended education reforms slated for later in the year.  These updates are part of Luxembourg’s effort to adapt its social system for future demographic and economic trends. 👉 Read more: gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites/agenda.gouvernement2024+fr+actualites+toutes_actualites+articles+2025+12-decembre+nouveautes-2026.html Join Luxembourg Expats, the #1 homegrown community for expats in Luxembourg. Connect with people and businesses locally - discover expats focused local services, buy and sell items, find housing and apartment rentals and buys, events, discounts and meet people to make friends - all in one expats companion app in Luxembourg. Sign up free at luxembourgexpats.lu and become part of Luxembourg’s trusted expats network. 

Europe ushered in the New Year 2026 with vibrant and diverse celebrations, ranging from fireworks displays to traditional cultural festivities across major cities. In London, tens of thousands gathered along the Thames for a spectacular fireworks show and music performance to mark midnight.  Across the UK, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay street party drew crowds despite cold weather, continuing a long-standing Scots festival tradition that blends ancient customs with modern music and cheer. Elsewhere on the continent, cities like Paris and Athens balanced festive fireworks and light shows with quieter or more sustainable celebrations, while other regions highlighted local customs and cultural gatherings to ring in the year. From traditional countdowns to quieter, family-friendly pyrotechnics, European New Year’s events reflected a blend of joy, resilience, and community spirit as countries welcomed 2026. 👉 Read more: https://insideeurolife.com/new-year-2026-in-europe/ Join Luxembourg Expats, the #1 homegrown community for expats in Luxembourg. Connect with people and businesses locally - discover expats focused local services, buy and sell items, find housing and apartment rentals and buys, events, discounts and meet people to make friends - all in one expats companion app in Luxembourg. Sign up free at www.luxembourgexpats.lu and become part of Luxembourg’s trusted expats network.  

Countries across the world are updating minimum salary and wage rules as part of broader efforts to protect workers from rising living costs. Several governments have announced increases that will take effect in 2026, reflecting inflation trends and labour market pressures. In Luxembourg, the minimum social wage has been adjusted in line with its indexation system, keeping it among the highest minimum wages globally. The country continues to link salary levels to cost-of-living changes, ensuring that workers’ purchasing power is protected as prices rise. Other nations are also making notable changes. Several U.S. states are increasing minimum wages from January 1, while countries in Europe and the Middle East have announced higher salary thresholds for both local and foreign workers. These updates affect employment contracts, visa eligibility, and payroll compliance. Globally, governments are focusing on balancing business sustainability with fair income standards. The changes signal a continued shift toward stronger wage protections, particularly in high-cost economies. Read more: fragomen.com/insights/minimum-salary-changes-announced.html Join Luxembourg Expats, the #1 homegrown community for expats in Luxembourg. Connect with people and businesses locally - discover expats focused local services, buy and sell items, find housing and apartment rentals and buys, events, discounts and meet people to make friends - all in one expats companion app in Luxembourg. Sign up free at luxembourgexpats.lu and become part of Luxembourg’s trusted expats network. 

When measuring prosperity by GDP per capita, smaller and highly specialised countries dominate the wealth rankings, pushing larger economies like the United States lower on the list. At the top is Luxembourg, a tiny financial powerhouse with per capita GDP far exceeding that of many larger nations.  Ireland also ranks high due to major technology companies and favourable corporate policies that attract global business. Singapore, with its strategic location and thriving trade and finance sectors, continues to post exceptionally high per capita economic figures.  Other countries in the ranking include Qatar and the UAE, which benefit from vast energy resources and investment in diversified economies, and Switzerland with its strong banking and high-value industries. Together, these nations show that economic output relative to population size can create surprising leaders in global wealth charts.  In contrast, the U.S. — though the largest economy in absolute terms — ranks lower in per-person wealth due to its large population. This highlights how small population size combined with strong economic performance can produce impressive per capita results.  Read more: travelbinger.com/the-6-wealthiest-countries-per-capita-hint-its-not-the-u-s Join Luxembourg Expats, the #1 homegrown community for expats in Luxembourg. Connect with people and businesses locally - discover expats focused local services, buy and sell items, find housing and apartment rentals and buys, events, discounts and meet people to make friends - all in one expats companion app in Luxembourg. Sign up free at luxembourgexpats.lu and become part of Luxembourg’s trusted expats network. 

Denmark has officially delivered its last traditional letter as its national postal service, PostNord, ends more than four centuries of letter delivery in the country. The decision, driven by a sharp fall in physical mail usage, marks Denmark as the first nation to completely stop public letter delivery as digital communication becomes dominant. Since 2000, the volume of letters has dropped by over 90%, making the service financially unsustainable for the state-run operator.  The historic service, which traced its roots back to the early 1600s, will now focus solely on parcel deliveries as e-commerce continues to grow. Around 1,500 traditional red mailboxes have been removed from Danish streets, and about 1,500 postal jobs are expected to be cut as part of the shift.  For Danes who still wish to send letters, private company Dao is expanding its operations. From January 2026, Dao will handle most letter deliveries, though customers must drop off mail at Dao locations or use its app to buy postage.  The move reflects broader global trends as more countries grapple with the decline of paper mail, but Denmark’s full exit from public letter delivery is unprecedented.  Read more: edition.cnn.com/2025/12/30/europe/denmark-postal-service-letters-intl-scli Join Luxembourg Expats, the #1 homegrown community for expats in Luxembourg. Connect with people and businesses locally - discover expats focused local services, buy and sell items, find housing and apartment rentals and buys, events, discounts and meet people to make friends - all in one expats companion app in Luxembourg. Sign up free at luxembourgexpats.lu and become part of Luxembourg’s trusted expats network. 

Croatia and several other European countries are leading the way in rolling out modern digital travel systems designed to make border crossings faster and more secure.  Starting in late 2025, the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will replace manual passport stamping with biometric scans — requiring travellers to register fingerprints and facial images at entry points across participating nations.  Alongside EES, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is also being introduced to pre-authorize visa-exempt travellers before arrival. These new tools aim to streamline travel throughout the Schengen Area while improving border security. Read More - travelandtourworld.com/news/article/croatia-joins-france-germany-malta-norway-luxembourg-denmark-belgium-switzerland-poland-hungary-latvia-and-more-in-ushering-a-new-era-of-secure-efficient-european-travel-with-the-introduct  Join Luxembourg Expats, the #1 homegrown community for expats in Luxembourg. Connect with people and businesses locally - discover expats focused local services, buy and sell items, find housing and apartment rentals and buys, events, discounts and meet people to make friends - all in one expats companion app in Luxembourg. Sign up free at luxembourgexpats.lu and become part of Luxembourg’s trusted expats network. 

Luxembourg-based business aviation operator Luxaviation has resumed operations with Gulfstream business jets, bringing one of the most popular long-range aircraft back into its charter and service offering. The move marks a return to Gulfstream flying after a pause and supports the company’s broad network of private jet services across Europe and beyond.  Luxaviation — known for its fleet diversity and global reach — continues to adapt to changing demand in the business aviation market.  Read More - ch-aviation.com/news/162201-luxembourgs-luxaviation-resumes-gulfstream-operations  Join Luxembourg Expats, the #1 homegrown community for expats in Luxembourg. Connect with people and businesses locally - discover expats focused local services, buy and sell items, find housing and apartment rentals and buys, events, discounts and meet people to make friends - all in one expats companion app in Luxembourg. Sign up free at luxembourgexpats.lu and become part of Luxembourg’s trusted expats network. 

Belgium, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Luxembourg have officially been approved to join the European Union’s Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST) Partnership, strengthening Europe’s ability to track satellites and space debris. With the European Commission’s decision in December 2025, these four countries become the newest members of the EU initiative that supports space situational awareness and helps protect critical space assets from collisions and other risks. The expanded partnership reflects growing cooperation in space security and surveillance across the block. Read More - spacewatch.global/2025/12/belgium-bulgaria-lithuania-and-luxembourg-are-set-to-join-eu-sst-partnership Join Luxembourg Expats, the #1 homegrown community for expats in Luxembourg. Connect with people and businesses locally - discover expats focused local services, buy and sell items, find housing and apartment rentals and buys, events, discounts and meet people to make friends - all in one expats companion app in Luxembourg. Sign up free at luxembourgexpats.lu and become part of Luxembourg’s trusted expats network.