Norwegian photographer Andrea Gjestvang has produced a new book called "Atlantic Cowboy" depicting the lives of unmarried men in the remote Faroe Islands archipelago.  The portraits shine a light on the lives of men working in physically demanding jobs such as fishing and hunting pilot whales. The Faroese economy traditionally revolves around these roles which have typically been male-dominated. The gender imbalance has led to 107 men for every 100 women in the self-governing nation, according to World Bank data. The nation's government has invested in gender equality and employment initiatives to attract women to the islands. In recent years, the economy has improved due to a growing tourism and service sector, with GDP per capita having tripled since 2000. Gjestvang writes, the lack of women was not evident in the Faroese capital, Tórshavn, although it became "quite visible" when travelling to smaller villages. Gjestvang believes most of the men she photographed were not lonely, thanks in part to the close-knit nature of Faroese families, and the men were content to live in their own homes. "One man I interviewed told me that the Faroe Islands is the perfect playground for men," Gjestvang said. Have a full-read here: edition.cnn.com/style/article/faroe-islands-andrea-gjestvang-atlantic-cowboys/index.html

Health is a marathon, You need to keep doing the right things every day. Junk-in, Junk-out is the right way to look at when it comes to health. Even if you do all things right, there are hereditary and extraneous factors that affect your health (so there is a bit of luck to your health lottery). Regardless, focusing on what's in your control, let's take a quick look at common health issues in Luxembourg: Heart issues: These are diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and hypertension. They are the leading cause of death in Luxembourg, accounting for 31% of all deaths in 2019. They are also a major risk factor for other diseases, such as diabetes and kidney disease. Some of the main causes of cardiovascular diseases are smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Cancer: This is a group of diseases that involve abnormal cell growth and can spread to other parts of the body. It is the second leading cause of death in Luxembourg, accounting for 26% of all deaths in 2019. The most common types of cancer in Luxembourg are colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer. Some of the main causes of cancer are smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, exposure to radiation and chemicals, and genetic factors. Mental health disorders: These are conditions that affect a person’s mood, thinking, behavior, and ability to cope with everyday life. They include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and substance abuse. They are a major cause of disability and reduced quality of life in Luxembourg. According to a 2017 survey by Eurostat, 8% of the population aged 15 and over reported having chronic depression. Some of the main causes of mental health disorders are stress, trauma, social isolation, genetic factors, and biological factors. Respiratory diseases: These are diseases that affect the lungs and airways, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, and tuberculosis. They are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Luxembourg. According to a 2019 report by the World Health Organization (WHO), Luxembourg had one of the highest rates of COPD deaths in Europe (38 per 100 000 population). Some of the main causes of respiratory diseases are smoking, air pollution, occupational exposure to dust and chemicals, and infections. Diabetes: This is a chronic condition that occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin or use it effectively to regulate blood sugar levels. It can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, eye damage, and amputation. It is a growing health problem in Luxembourg. According to a 2019 report by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), Luxembourg had an estimated prevalence of diabetes of 6.2% among adults aged 20-79 years. Some of the main causes of diabetes are obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet, genetic factors, and aging. Certainly there are other health issues in Luxembourg. The above list represents common health issues identified in Luxembourg. Credits to: Euro Health Observatory, MSAN Government Luxembourg, Bing AI

Resilience at its Finest: 𝗟𝘂𝘅𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗴 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 despite overlapping crises. The 2023 World Happiness Report proves that Luxembourg is a shining example of resilience and positivity in the face of adversity. https://worldhappiness.report/news/happiest-countries-prove-resilient-despite-overlapping-crises/ India-Luxembourg celebrates 75 years of Friendship. https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/india-luxembourg-launches-joint-commemorative-stamp20230315000358/ Post Luxembourg and India Post have jointly issued a special stamp to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Luxembourg and India this year. http://www.uniindia.com/~/release-of-stamp-marking-75-years-of-ties-an-important-milestone-luxembourg/India/news/2933869.html During the week of 6 to 12 March 2023, the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 increased to 1784 cases, compared to 1606 cases the previous week (+11.1%). https://covid19.public.lu/en/news-covid19/communiques/2023/03/15-review.html The European Union Member States are facing a shortage of workers, in particular in highly skilled fields like healthcare and IT, as well as in fields like agriculture and construction. https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/working-in-eu-recent-changes-you-must-be-aware-of-if-you-are-planning-to-get-a-job-in-any-of-the-member-states/ In the fourth quarter of 2022, the job vacancy rate was 3.1% in the euro area, stable from the previous quarter and up from 2.8% in the fourth quarter of 2021, according to figures published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. The job vacancy rate in the EU was 2.8% in the fourth quarter of 2022, down from 2.9% in the previous quarter and up from 2.6% in the fourth quarter of 2021. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-euro-indicators/w/3-20032023-BP Foreign workers make up 70% of Luxembourg’s 460,000-strong labour force, with 210,000 crossing the border daily for work. https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/luxembourg-needs-270000-extra-workers-by-2030/ What's next for 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐠❜𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=dc438784-8ff3-44e1-9069-c593f61d8c22 Luxembourg's Economy Defies External Challenges in 2022, But Uncertainty Looms Ahead due to Ukraine War Repercussions and Costly Fiscal Policies. https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2023/03/10/luxembourg-staff-concluding-statement-of-the-2023-article-iv-mission Sovereign cloud has been on Luxembourg’s digital agenda for many years and will fill an important gap in our strategy to become a trusted digital hub from which we serve the most demanding public and private clients. https://www.proximus.com/en/news/2023/20230315-disconnected-sovereign-cloud-platform.html Highest life expectancy at birth in 2021 was recorded in Spain (83.3 years), Sweden (83.1 years), Luxembourg and Italy (both 82.7 years), while the lowest was in Bulgaria (71.4 years), Romania (72.8 years) and Latvia (73.1 years). https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/health/16.03.2023-latvian-women-can-expect-to-live-a-decade-longer-than-men.a501092/ PhD Candidate in Machine Learning applied to Predictive Vehicle Maintenance https://ai-jobs.org/job/phd-candidate-in-machine-learning-applied-to-predictive-vehicle-maintenance/ 15 PhD STUDENT positions are available with up to 4 years fixed-term contracts, full-time. The earliest start date will be September 2023, after a comprehensive and competitive selection process starting in May 2023 Further positions can be filled over the next 24 months. https://agristok.net/2023/03/18/15-phd-student-positions-in-cancer-biology-focusing-on-the-tumor-ecosystem-at-the-university-of-luxembourg/ The government is under pressure again to bring down the current inner city speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour to 30 to match its neighbouring countries, after a fatal collision last week left three dead. https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/luxembourg-pressured-to-impose-30-km-h-inner-city-speed-limits/ According to the European Office for Statistic, tourism figures compared to 2021 levels, with a total of 472 million nights spent being recorded in the last three months of 2022. https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/eu-tourism-nights-reached-95-of-2019-levels-last-year/ Luxembourg is the world leader in cross-border fund distribution, the second largest investment fund centre in the world and the largest in Europe. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/03/13/2626056/0/en/Nextensa-The-new-office-building-WHITE-HOUSE-located-in-the-Cloche-d-Or-district-fully-let-to-an-international-company.html The application cycle for the DiscoverEU spring call starts today, March 15, at noon, and it will end two weeks from now, March 29. https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/eu-launches-discovereu-spring-call-for-35000-young-people-to-receive-free-rail-tickets/ Proximus and Google Cloud Team Up to Bring Sovereign Cloud Services to Belgium and Luxembourg. https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/PROXIMUS-SA-5983/news/Proximus-and-Google-Cloud-to-Deliver-Sovereign-Cloud-Services-in-Belgium-and-Luxembourg-43245971/ Stay up-to-date with the latest statistics and data analysis from the European Union with Eurostat! The age at which women in Luxembourg are having their first child is changing. According to recent data, the average age has increased to 32.5 years old, which is 1.5 years later than it was a decade ago. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/ddn-20210224-1 Luxembourg, the first country in the world to make public transport free, by train, tram, and bus. https://www.insider.com/luxembourg-train-bus-travel-free-what-its-like-photos-2023-3 Explore the exciting journey that Mikhaila Friel undertook for just $25: A picturesque train ride from Luxembourg to Brussels https://www.insider.com/scenic-train-luxembourg-to-brussels-belgium-for-25-dollars-photos-2023-3 The EES will apply to all non-EU nationals travelling to the EU/Schengen Area regardless of whether they fall under the visa-exempt programme. https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/france-wants-to-postpone-introduction-of-entry-exit-system-until-paris-olympics-is-over/ From Ruin to Romance: Couple Transforms 14th Century Italian Home into a Dreamy Getaway https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/couple-renovated-14th-century-italian-home/index.html Wishing a very 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆 to 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝘂𝘅𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗴. Get to know Her Royal Highness Princess Claire of Luxembourg, a beloved member of the Grand Ducal Family. https://monarchie.lu/lu/dgroussherzoglech-famill/de-prenz-felix-dprinzessin-claire/dprinzessin-claire Congratulations Christine Theodorovics on your appointment as CEO of Baloise in Luxembourg! We look forward to seeing the company's growth and success under your leadership https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/BALOISE-HOLDING-AG-9364972/news/Christine-Theodorovics-to-become-CEO-of-Baloise-in-Luxembourg-43257715/ The service departs Stockholm every day at 5.30pm and arrives into Hamburg at 6.30am. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64950747?fbclid=IwAR301CgM3HQY8v1SOp1rJx_GfXixgl6G-Mvr6QcqrXBo9_d2bEDPFZusNUY You’ve probably heard about “MeluXina” more than once. However, we’re not alluding to the famous myth of the mermaid Melusina, but to the MeluXina Supercomputer! This new machine is capable of processing large volumes of data and carrying out thousands of billions of operations per second.  But what is the supercomputer actually used for and in which fields https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/invest/innovation/meluxina-superordinateur-utilisation.html

Luxembourg reported the lowest over-qualification rates overall in 2021, regardless of the workers' citizenship, with 4.8% for over-qualified nationals, 5.5% for citizens of other EU countries and 8.2% for non-EU citizens https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20230309-3 Discovering the Demographics of Luxembourg: Exploring the Diversity and Vibrancy of its Population https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/population/demographics.html Monthly minimum wages vary widely across the Member States, from €399 in Bulgaria to €2,387 in Luxembourg. https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/how-much-do-foreign-workers-earn-in-each-eu-country/ The inauguration of the new Sports Department building will take place tomorrow. We are delighted to give you a glimpse of this modern infrastructure. The building offers stunning views of the Stade de Luxembourg and Gasperich’s iconic water castle. https://www.vdl.lu/en/news/inauguration-service-sports-administrative-building Emergence of New Wave Crypto Ransomware Targeting Luxembourg Sends Shockwaves Through Cybersecurity Community. https://itnation.lu/news/new-wave-crypto-ransomware-targeting-luxembourg/ The Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of Belgium said Luxembourg sent another batch of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, namely 14 armored ambulances produced by the British company “Venari”. https://euromaidanpress.com/2023/03/12/luxembourg-sends-14-armored-ambulances-to-ukraine/ In Europe, the Siklos is specifically indicated for the prevention of recurrent painful VOCs in adults, adolescents, and children ages 2 and older with SCD. In Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, the therapy is available as 100 mg, film-coated tablets, taken by mouth once daily, preferably in the morning before breakfast. https://sicklecellanemianews.com/news/addmedica-abacus-medicine-partner-market-siklos-3-countries/ Europe is introducing a new authorisation system for visa-exempt visitors to the European Union or the Schengen Area. www.luxembourgexpats.lu/stories/travel/1100000794 Footage from Strassen in the northwest of Luxembourg shows snow coating sidewalks and large flakes coming down. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/snow-slows-traffic-luxembourg-streets-153955349.html Discover the Mythical Tale of Melusina - A Fascinating Statue in Luxembourg City That Will Leave You Spellbound! www.atlasobscura.com/places/melusina-statue Severe Weather Alert: Adverse Weather Forecast Across Multiple European Countries - Stay Safe and Stay Prepared as Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Netherlands Brace for Unpredictable Conditions Until March 10. https://crisis24.garda.com/alerts/2023/03/europe-adverse-weather-forecast-across-belgium-northern-and-central-france-germany-luxembourg-and-netherlands-through-at-least-march-10 The Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), SIS will be part of the interoperability architecture of the basis of the most advanced border management system in the world, that is being built by the EU. www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/renewed-schengen-information-system-goes-live-in-all-eu-schengen-member-states-but-cyprus/ The grants are expected to support worker training programs for up to 1,415 trainees, including unemployed and underemployed people as well as current employees. The businesses receiving grants are involved in education, financial services, health care, information technology, manufacturing and production, and transportation. www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/kewaunee-county/2023/03/07/bank-of-luxemburg-receives-wisconsin-dwd-grant-for-worker-training/69981354007/ Luxembourg operates thirty speed cameras and one red light camera. Last year, the country spent 432,500 euros to repair the devices after they were burned or spraypainted by opponents of automated ticketing -- an annual bill of roughly 14,000 euros per camera. www.thenewspaper.com/news/71/7178.asp Ireland has emerged as the place to domicile ETFs in Europe due to its favourable tax treaty in the US. www.etfstream.com/articles/amundi-to-mirror-15bn-luxembourg-domiciled-etf-range-in-ireland FEDIL Shipping acts as the shipowners’ association in Luxembourg whilst the Brazilian Association of Cabotage Owners is ICS’s second member based in Latin America. www.hellenicshippingnews.com/the-international-chamber-of-shipping-continues-to-grow-with-luxembourg-and-brazil-joining-the-global-shipowners-association/

European Travel Information and Authorisation System is a planned electronic authorisation system of the European Union for visa-exempt visitors travelling to the European Union or the Schengen Area.. www.luxembourgexpats.lu/stories/travel/1100000794 The device, advertised as a way to let long-distance couples share “real” physical intimacy, is causing a buzz among Chinese social media users, who have reacted with both intrigue and shock. edition.cnn.com/2023/02/25/china/china-remote-kissing-device-intl-hnk/index.html? International Airlines Group (IAG), which ran up losses of almost €11bn through 2020 and 2021 as Covid crippled the aviation industry, said revenues almost tripled to €23bn last year as the lifting of restrictions fuelled a holiday and travel boom. theguardian.com/business/2023/feb/24/ba-owner-iag-profit-travel-covid The Indonesian-Dutch 22-year-old has shared many a global stage with Thunberg over the years since she founded Bye Bye Plastic Bags (BBPB) uk.news.yahoo.com/greta-thunberg-living-proof-kids-100146714.html OffWorld is the global pioneer in AI-powered industrial Swarm Robotic Mining systems on Earth and the company is now expanding inLuxembourg  to take on space.   businesswire.com/news/home/20230223005399/en/OffWorld-Europe-Makes-Its-Debut-in-Luxembourg-Developing-Space-Mining-Robots JohnMotson was the voice of a footballing generation - steering us through the twists and turns of FA Cup runs, the highs and lows of World Cups.. bbc.com/sport/football/64742833 The Fortune 2023 World’s Most Admired Companies list is determined by a survey of executives, directors and analysts rating 645 companies in 27 countries across 52 industry sectors on a series of criteria. 3blmedia.com/news/fortune-names-us-bank-one-2023-worlds-most-admired-companies Luxembourg announced its intention to withdraw from the ECT, joining the wave of countries signaling their intenion to pull out of the ECT for environmental concerns. globalcompliancenews.com/2023/02/10/https-insightplus-bakermckenzie-com-bm-energy-mining-infrastructure_1-luxembourg-announces-its-intention-to-withdraw-from-the-energy-charter-treaty-what-effects-will-such-intent-have-on-current-and The Government of India has recently announced that citizens of Luxembourg can now apply for an Indian visa online. This is a significant development for those wishing to travel to India, as it will make the process much simpler and more convenient. digitaljournal.com/pr/news/the-government-of-india-has-announced-that-citizens-of-luxembourg-can-now-apply-for-indian-visas-online? Foreign workers make up 70% of Luxembourg’s 460,000-strong labour force, with 210,000 crossing the border daily for work. Young and well-educated Luxembourgish people are very attracted to the public sector and its high starting salaries . euractiv.com/section/politics/news/luxembourg-needs-270000-extra-workers-by-2030 Are you new to Luxembourg? Join us today and meet new people with matching interests around Luxembourg! www.luxembourgexpats.lu/meet-people Luxembourg’s flag carrier Luxair has launched its inaugural flight connecting Luxembourg and Marrakech on Tuesdays and Saturdays on a weekly basis. Luxair Luxembourg Airlines moroccoworldnews.com/2023/02/354042/luxair-launches-inaugural-flight-connecting-between-marrakech-luxembourg Member States have decided to gradually remove random testing of travellers arriving from China by the middle of next month. www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/eu-countries-to-gradually-remove-covid-19-restrictions-on-travellers-from-china/ The Grand Ducal Family called the verbal altercation an “isolated incident” and said it was “regrettable.” royalcentral.co.uk/europe/luxembourg/new-details-reported-on-staff-mistreatment-in-luxembourgs-grand-ducal-family-186506/ Cosmetics overflowing with Toxins? Cosmetic products especially those containing forever chemicals have been linked to fatal health conditions like CANCER. That’s not all……. these products can also cause birth defects and serious reproductive issues. We know it sounds scary! luxembourgexpats.lu/stories/life-and-style/1100000798 Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Linkedin & also subscribe to our website LuxembourgExpats

Luxembourg based Iranian origin director's short film "The Red Suitcase" is nominated for an Oscar. Cyrus Neshvad is an Iranian film director based in Luxembourg. Cyrus was born in Tehran. His family fled the country when he was five years old. He completed his secondary school education at the Lycée Michel Rodange in Luxembourg and studied film in Montpellier and Paris." https://www.luxembourgexpats.lu/stories/entertainment-and-arts/1100000791 Bitstamp, the Luxembourg-based company obtained licenses in other European nations over the past several months. It registered as a virtual asset service provider (VASP) in Italy in July 2022 and was authorized by the Spanish regulators in November & now it has registered with the Financial Markets Authority in France. https://cryptopotato.com/bitstamp-secures-an-operational-license-in-france/ Students from humble backgrounds who have completed secondary school education have an opportunity to further their studies free of charge at a university in Luxembourg. The European Business University (EBU) of Luxembourg is offering scholarships to students in Asia, Latin America and Africa, primarily to Kenyan learners. https://www.tuko.co.ke/education/494208-little-university-europe-giving-kenyan-students-free-education/ If you live in the U.S., a Twitter account called World of Statistics reveals that it only requires Americans around 1.8 percent of their total annual salary to purchase an iPhone 14. These statistics also reveal that if you live in Luxembourg, you have to spend less than U.S. consumers to purchase an iPhone 14. https://wccftech.com/percentage-of-salary-to-buy-one-iphone-14-in-different-countries/ The 73rd Berlin International Film Festival will open on February 16, 2023 with the world premiere of the US production ‘She Came to Me’. Vicky Krieps, the acclaimed Luxembourg-born actor who made her breakthrough opposite Daniel Day-Lewis in 'Phantom Thread', will unveil her turn as renowned Austrian writer Ingeborg Bachmann in a biopic by veteran German director Margarethe von Trotta. https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/berlin-film-festival-promises-starriest-line-up-since-pandemic-561408 The ability to perform multiple searches with Google Lens has been made available worldwide. The company has officially announced the rollout of multi-search features to Google Lens. The function enables simultaneous text and image searches using Lens. The “Search Screen” is an additional feature that has been added to Lens. https://www.gadgetbridge.com/news/multi-search-features-to-google-lens-added-globally/ Globally, tourism is expected to continue on its strong-recovery path, both domestically and internationally. International travel is expected to surge by almost 40% in 2023, as compared to an 80% growth rate in 2022. However, a report by Euromonitor claims that the decline in growth pace doesn't necessarily signify a decline a trips but simply a difference in growth, owing to inflationary pressures. In this article, we shall take a look at the 25 Best Countries for Solo Female Travelers. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/25-best-countries-solo-female-001223084.html A small nation with deep historical roots, Luxembourg offers rich cultural stories, beautiful landscapes, fairytale architecture and depth of character. It now also counts around 500 startups and has gained a global reputation as a reliable data hub with impressive connectivity, cybersecurity and data processing capacities – as well as being regarded as a launchpad for reaching the whole EU market. https://www.eu-startups.com/2023/01/top-10-super-promising-startups-from-luxembourg-to-follow-in-2023/ The Luxembourg national statistical agency Statec published a report showing that in the summer of 2022, people made 916,000 leisure stays during the summer. The most popular vacation destinations for Luxembourgers were Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. https://www.themayor.eu/en/a/view/everyone-in-luxembourg-went-on-vacation-1-7-times-in-summer-2022-11529 Retirement in the future may not be what it was. Retirement length has started to flatline — or even dwindle in some countries — as the pace of life expectancy increases slow and the effective age of retirement gradually increases. https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2023-global-retirement-age/ If you’re struggling ideas, consider using tech to your advantage. From couple’s playlists to AI-generated Valentine’s Day messages, your fave apps and software can help embellish date night. https://www.standard.co.uk/tech/love-tech-five-geeky-ways-spice-your-valentines-day-b1059450.html As part of Samsung's partnership with Natural Cycles, the temperature sensor on the Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro will be used to track users' menstrual cycle. https://technave.com/gadget/The-Samsung-Galaxy-Watch5-series-can-also-track-menstrual-cycles-this-Q2-2023-33405.html According to the latest data from the European Statistical Institute, the Grand Duchy had an average of 9 students per teacher in 2019 , just behind Greece (8.7 students), therefore one of the best results on the Old Continent. In the Greater Region, the neighbors do much less well with an average of one teacher for 12.7 pupils in Belgium, 15.1 in Germany and even 18.7 for French primary schools . https://www.lesfrontaliers.lu/societe/16-enfants-maximum-par-classe-la-petition-sapproche-du-but/? Of a total of 10,499 people who acquired Luxembourgish nationality last year, 40 per cent of them have obtained nationality by recovery, meaning that they have national roots in Luxembourg, that date back to January 1, 1900. https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/40-of-new-luxembourgs-citizens-in-2022-have-ancestral-roots-in-the-country/ Three new images have been released by the Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg to mark the 42nd wedding anniversary of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. The photos were taken by court photographer, Sophie Margue. https://royalcentral.co.uk/europe/luxembourg/new-photos-released-to-mark-grand-duke-and-grand-duchess-of-luxembourgs-42nd-wedding-anniversary-186469/ WAIFC announces the launch of the Young Academic Award 2023. WAIFC invites young academics to submit papers or essays on the future of a sustainable and inclusive financial sector.Application deadline: 15 May 2023 https://waifc.finance/news/waifc-young-academic-award-2023/ A report published by the Idea Foundation on 9 February found that Luxembourg’s financial sector has indirectly generated 70,000 jobs. Added to the 64,600 jobs directly generated by the sector, the report found that the sector is linked to a total of 135,000 positions. https://delano.lu/article/financial-sector-indirectly-ge The business of Sports, "When Federer left Nike in the summer of 2018 after 24 years, moving to Japanese clothing retail chain Uniqlo on a 10-year, $300 million contract, that came as a shock to Nakajima." https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/14/tennis/roger-federer-nike-mike-nakajima-tennis-spt-intl/index.html 2023 is already setting out to be record year for women in leadership roles. For the first time since the Fortune 500 list began 68 years ago, more than 10% of CEOs leading Fortune 500 Companies were women. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/women-ceos-lead-more-10-164203847.html Artec 3D, a developer and manufacturer of 3D hardware and software technology including 3D scanning solutions, opened an optoelectronics production facility in Luxembourg. The facility includes a 300-sq-m clean zone with ISO 7 cleanliness classification and customized temperature, pressure, and humidity control. https://metrology.news/artec-3d-opens-cutting-edge-production-facility-in-luxembourg/ Nine in ten adults reported knowing at least one foreign language in Sweden (96.6 %), Latvia (95.7 %), Denmark (95.7 %), Lithuania (95.6 %), Luxembourg (94.5 %), Finland (92.1 %), Malta (91.8 %) and Estonia (91.2 %). https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=561870712647688&set=a.545825337585559 Sony's horde of valuable IP, thoughtful design, and new eye tracking tech make the PlayStation VR2 a tempting purchase. https://www.androidcentral.com/gaming/virtual-reality/sony-ps-vr2-review The delegation of the Egyptian artistic gymnastics team for men and women will participate in the Luxembourg Open Championship from 16 to 19 February. https://see.news/gymnastics?fbclid=IwAR0-GFi_zsx3Gm4rqb9BlvT31hps-vDgEf_uGkyjugaxYKZRNLMn_6gQ0ns Known for high-income levels and a low unemployment rate, Luxembourg is the richest country in the world. Ireland, on the rise thanks to favorable corporate tax policies, is projected to hit #1 by 2027. The resource-rich land with the world's biggest economy, the United States, ranks 9th on the list. https://www.worldatlas.com/gdp/the-richest-countries-in-the-world.html Quilling is an art form that has been around for centuries. Its the art of rolling narrow strips of paper into coils or scrolls, and arranging them to form elegant filigree. Who can learn this art form? Anyone who has the passion to learn any new art form and for kids -  6 years is the best age at which a child can quill. With an adult present to guidethem / a child at the age of 4+ can create all the basic Quilling shapes. It’s an extraordinary activity for kids because it intrigues their creativity and develops their perception of geometric shapes. https://www.luxembourgexpats.lu/stories/entertainment-and-arts/1100000793 Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Linkedin & also subscribe to our website LuxembourgExpats 

March 20th: March Equinox. There are two equinoxes every year, in March and September, when the Sun shines directly on the equator, and the length of night and day are nearly equal. May 9th: Europe Day is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. May 18th : Ascension Day is the 40th day of Easter. It occurs 39 days after Easter Sunday. It is a Christian holiday that commemorates Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven, according to Christian belief.Ascension Day is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. May 30th: Whit Monday is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. June21st: The June solstice is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. June23rd: National Day is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. August 15th: Assumption of Mary is a public holiday. The Christian feast day of the Assumption of Mary celebrates the belief that God assumed the Virgin Mary into Heaven following her death. Sep 22nd: September Equinox, Seasons are opposite on either side of the Equator, so the equinox in September is also known as the autumnal equinox  in the Northern Hemisphere, and is considered the first day of fall. Nov 1st: All Saints' Day is a public holiday. All Saints' Day is a celebration of all Christian saints, particularly those who have no special feast days of their own, in many Roman Catholic, Anglican and Protestant churches. In many western churches it is annually held November 1 and in many eastern churches it is celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost. It is also known as All Hallows Tide, All-Hallomas, or All Hallows' Day. December 26th: St Stephen's Day is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. officeholidays.com/countries/luxembourg

Luxembourg Parliament passed a the new budget law on 23 Luxembourg 2022, which is applcable from 1 Jan 2023.  Important key measures have been taken that affects both individuals and tax-transparent entities (partnerships), and more.  Individual key measures include up to 50% tax exemption on bonuses, impatriate regime threshold reduced from EUR 100k to EUR 75k, individual tax incentives and more. Real estate taxation depreciation for buildings is also updated. For businesses, VAT rate has been adjusted, and defacto tax filing dates, tax on transparent entites are also updated.  Dentons has a good summary of the Key Tax Measures 2023 dentons.com/en/insights/articles/2023/january/9/luxembourg-key-tax-measures-2023 

PwC Cybsersecurity pitching contest is scheduled to happen on October 12. Apply now and get in your startup to be pitched in front of potential customers and investors. pwc.lu/en/advisory/digital-tech-impact/cyber-security/cybersecurityday/pitching-contest-process.html The annual event aims to help CISOs, DPOs and CEOs ensure they protect their company’s security in this digital era.

March 20th: March Equinox. There are two equinoxes every year, in March and September, when the Sun shines directly on the equator, and the length of night and day are nearly equal. May 9th: Europe Day is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. May 26th : Ascension Day is the 40th day of Easter. It occurs 39 days after Easter Sunday. It is a Christian holiday that commemorates Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven, according to Christian belief.Ascension Day is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. June 6th: Whit Monday is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. June21st: The June solstice is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. June23rd: National Day is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. August 15th: Assumption of Mary is a public holiday. The Christian feast day of the Assumption of Mary celebrates the belief that God assumed the Virgin Mary into Heaven following her death. Sep 22nd: September Equinox, Seasons are opposite on either side of the Equator, so the equinox in September is also known as the autumnal equinox  in the Northern Hemisphere, and is considered the first day of fall. Nov 1st: All Saints' Day is a public holiday. All Saints' Day is a celebration of all Christian saints, particularly those who have no special feast days of their own, in many Roman Catholic, Anglican and Protestant churches. In many western churches it is annually held November 1 and in many eastern churches it is celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost. It is also known as All Hallows Tide, All-Hallomas, or All Hallows' Day. December 26th: St Stephen's Day is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. officeholidays.com/countries/luxembourg/2022 

Wishing you a very Happy New Year 2022 from the Luxembourg Expats team. In our Featured Story Series (FSS), we highlight the personal and professional lives of expats in Luxembourg. We have a particular fondness for entrepreneurs, and today we would like to introduce you to one, Davide Cavanna, a certified translator and interpreter. It's no secret that Luxembourg is a highly multilingual society. A typical Luxembourg resident speaks at least 3 languages including English. Given that many EU institutions are here, the Grand Duchy has a large number of translators working for the EU and other organisations, but there are also translators and interpreters like Davide who are freelancers based in the country. Let’s get to it and learn more about his journey. Hi Davide, welcome to FSS LuxExpats. You are our New Year’s first interview. Let’s get started. How would you introduce yourself? My name is Davide Cavanna, I hail from Italy. I am a self-employed freelance certified translator and interpreter not only in Luxembourg, but also over the border in Germany, France and Belgium. We love to learn about everyone’s Luxembourg story, what’s yours? What brought you to Luxembourg, and how has life in Luxembourg been? I came to Luxembourg in 2013 to work as an in-house translator for Amazon. Later I switched to a German fund management company, before going solo in 2016. I lived in various nooks of the capital city and then in 2021 I settled in Bonnevoie, the same area where I lived when I first arrived in the country. What's your entrepreneurial journey? How did you get started with your career as translator and interpreter? I started translating in 2008 and I never really stopped. First as an employee and since 2016 as a freelancer. What services do you offer? Who is your target? The main services I offer are conference and business interpreting, certified (sworn) translations, financial and legal translations as well as proofreading. I do one-off as well as retainer work. My clients are a complete hotchpotch with companies of all kinds, from financial and legal professionals to other sectors, as well as private individuals who need their papers or qualifications translated for the authorities. I have five working languages: my native Italian, French, German, English and Spanish. Currently I am working to improve my Portuguese and Catalan. Mastering languages is great fun! What does Luxembourg Expats Network mean to you? It's a great opportunity to get in touch with other expats, explore common interests and potentially develop business collaborations. What are your hobbies and interests? I have a weak spot for (beach) volley, the court in Cessange Park is a great place to practice in the warmer months. I enjoy reading in any of my working languages, some swimming and I'm a budding film buff, that's why I enjoy the Cinémathèque so much! What's your favourite spot in Luxembourg? I would say the lake of Esch-sur-Sure and its many beaches, a full immersion in nature. What's your favourite quote? One of my favourite quotes is from a Ray Bradbury book. It may sound pretentious, but I like its empowering idea: "Evil has only the power that we give it. I give nothing. I take back".  What do you think? LuxExpats: It's absolutely an amazing quote and it's true. If we do not give evil the power, it has no control over us. True in every situation. Anything else interesting we should've asked? At the moment I am studying law to improve the quality of my translation and proofreading. Keeping those 'little grey cells' busy is like the proverbial apple a day. As an example: some of my teachers at interpreting school are getting on a bit, which goes to show that when you love what you do and keep on learning, age is really but a number. Curiosity killed the cat, the saying goes, but I would argue that that very same curiosity keeps it alive and kicking. LuxExpats: life-long learning is indeed the only way to go about it. What would you say would be your recommendation to people who want to start their business today? At first it might seem a daunting enterprise not to be an employee on a regular income, but if you like what you do and keep on learning, you'll do great things for sure. Take on tiny projects when you have time, get a reputation and those projects may pay back manyfold with larger and much more profitables ones. LuxExpats: This has been an amazing talk with you, Davide, thank you for taking the time. I hope everyone enjoyed and some of you got even inspired to take the next entrepreneurial step in your life. If you like to reach Davide, here is where you can do just that: luxembourgexpats.lu/local-business/others/1100001064

A person working in Luxembourg typically earns around 4,150 EUR per month. Salaries range from 1,050 EUR (lowest average) to 18,500 EUR (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher). This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different careers. The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage. Generally, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines. Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience. For more info:  salaryexplorer.com/salary-survey.php?loc=1480&loctype=3

We at Partage.lu have recently started our annual Christmas campaign offering you the chance to make a difference. At Partage.lu we work with capacity building and helping the most vulnerable in Africa, South America and India. We all know that heroes need help sometimes, and this season we are one of them. With each donation given in your name or someone else, you will receive a giftcard which you can plant in a flowerpot or your garden. Come spring time and you will see flowers sprouting as a reminder of your help securing better conditions for the vulnerable during this holiday season. Your support can be contributed to one of the following initatives: 100€  To support the construction of wells and fountains in Kenya (Mention: Don wells Kenya) 50€ Contribution to the health campaign in Cameroon (Mention: Cameroon health campaign) 50€  To support the indigenous people of Brazil (Mention: Donation indigenous Brazil) 125€ Contribution to a 6 month lunch mealplan for the youth in Guatemala (Mention: Don Guatemala) 75€ Contribution to allocating seeds for the families in Congo (Mention: Donation Semences Congo) ...€  Contribute to either or all initiative with your own amount of donation The how to: Choose a solidarity gift  from the list above Transfer  the amount of the selected solidarity gift to the Fondation Partage Luxembourg account: CCPL IBAN LU74 1111 1261 0097 0000.  Do not forget to write which cause you wish to donate the solidarity gift gift to on the transfer. We will send you a “donation card” by mail. On this "donation card", you can insert the name of the person who will receive your solidarity gift and place it under the Christmas tree. The “donation card” is made up of seeded paper, that is, two thin layers of paper between which there are seeds. This "donation card" is made to be planted. If you make your transfer before December 17th, we guarantee that you will receive the "donation card" before Christmas. You will automatically receive a donation certificate (approximately 5 to 6 weeks after receipt of the donation). Your donation is tax deductible . For more information, feel free to browse our website and to reach out on socials. Quick access to website: bit.ly/3r91z2Y 

Luxembourg may be a small country on the map but its world is as vast as it could get. Over here, you are blessed with an environment culturally beautiful and distinct, a lifestyle utterly urbane, and bountiful of natural giveaways. Due to it being sandwiched between Belgium, France, and Germany, it has gleaned a lot from their cultures and has intermingled the takeaways with its own to offer a blend so exquisite in its own way. No wonder it is a postcard-perfect country for anyone who visits it. That being said, I wonder whether you knew that Luxembourg has an excellent Higher Education System. It is highly diverse and attracts students from all over the world. Most Luxembourgish universities are highly coveted in the region and have associations with the world’s best. So, if you want to experience something rich, beautiful, and intellectual, then Luxembourg makes up for a good choice. But, I cannot let you decide without giving you more inputs on what awaits you. Luxembourg may be a welcoming country but it has its own system you must take note of. I have noted down a few of those things you should know about studying in Luxembourg. 1.Highly subsidized education Exorbitant tuition fees are a common feature in European universities. However, Luxembourg offers huge relief to its students through a highly systematic subsidized higher education system. A typical tuition fee falls between €200 to €400 per semester. Moreover, there is a gradual reduction in the tuition fee with every semester. There is, however, discretion granted to universities to determine their respective fee structure for students coming from outside the European Union, but this is to be expected as those from European Union are extended concessionary treatment. 2. Top Universities in Luxembourg There are a number of universities you can consider attending. The country’s most prestigious universities are, however, the University of Luxembourg, Sacred Heart University, and Lunex University. Other universities of great repute include the BBI Luxembourg, Cass Institute, United Business Institute, and Luxembourg School of Business. All of these universities are internationally recognized and have been designated as world-class centers of education. This is evident from the fact that it is part of Bologna’s Process that is in itself a stamp of excellence on institutions. 3.The language will most likely not be a problem Another woe of international students is the language. Fortunately, you will not find many problems in Luxembourg. Over here, there are 3 official languages namely, German, French, and Luxembourgish. All of these languages are very commonly used in local life. However, lately, many universities have revised their coursework and begun administering it in English. This change has drawn significant attention from students across the globe and has contributed to the rise in the number of applications every year. 4.Scholarship opportunities No matter how much subsidized the tuition fees are, Luxembourg is not necessarily an inexpensive country. You may want to cut down on your expenses through several means, and scholarships are of course popularly opted for. While there are universities that offer their own scholarship schemes to applicants, there is a handful offered by the government. Of course, the coverage will vary from one scheme to another, so you will need to do research. A few scholarships offered are John Monash Scholarships, Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme, and Education Future International Scholarship. 5.The overall cost of living Keeping aside the tuition fee, there is quite a sum you will shell out every month on the necessities. Monthly rent for a single room apartment can cost you up to €1200. However, many universities provide for their respective accommodation facilities and rent them out to students. These accommodation facilities are less expensive and can cost up to €600. Public transport is free for everyone and is highly accessible so you can cross the transportation costs except when you are traveling first-class. Healthcare costs may add up but it is advised that you come along with health insurance to minimize the financial burden. Also, prefer eating indoors. Cook your meals and save tons of money because eating out is generally not inexpensive in the country.

The City is strengthening its support for the national campaign to protect against COVID-19 by adding more vaccination centres. From Monday, 25 October to Friday, 5 November 2021 from 14:00 to 20:00, the City's new "Impf-Bus", a municipal bus converted into a vaccination centre on wheels, will stop at various locations in the city to give residents an easy way to get vaccinated without needing to make an appointment. If you would like to get vaccinated, simply go to the location of your choice at any time. Make sure to bring your identity card and Luxembourg national health (CNS) card. The City of Luxembourg has implemented this initiative in order to support the Ministry of Health (Ministère de la Santé) in its efforts to raise awareness and offer city residents a convenient way to protect themselves and others against COVID-19. For more info: vdl.lu/en/news/citys-impf-bus-mobile-vaccination-centre 

Thanks to the interest rate effect, a monthly saving for the grandchildren can be a lot of money that gives the most important people in your life the start they need to get their own housing. With several 5-star ratings and over 30 years in the industry, GADD & Cie can live up to its motto that long-term savings are the safest way to build capital. Our fund GADD SMP is managed by a small family business with offices in Stockholm and Geneva, as well as headquarters in Luxembourg. This year we celebrate 32 years as a wealth manager.

Road resurfacing works will be carried out on Rue de Hamm from 5:30 on Saturday, 11 September to 5:00 on Monday, 13 September 2021. Rue de Hamm will be closed to all traffic on the section of this road between No. 174 and Rue Englebert Neveu for the duration of these works. The Service Circulation (Traffic Department) will ensure proper signage is provided to inform road users. Please also note the following changes to the municipal bus service during the works: On line 9, all buses bound for Hamm will end their route at the stop "Ierzkaulen" (on Rue Englebert Neveu), which will serve as a temporary terminus. The stops "Hamm-Colonie", "Hamm-Schoul", "Hamm-Kierch", "Rue Haute", "Käschtewee" and "Rue de Bitbourg" will not be served. In the opposite direction, service to Bonnevoie and the city centre will begin at "Ierzkaulen". On line 15, all buses bound for Hamm will end their route at the temporary terminus "Hamm, Kierch" (temporary stop on Rue des Peupliers). The stops "Hamm-Schoul", "Hamm-Colonie" and "Ierzkaulen" will not be served. In the opposite direction, service to Fetschenhof and Clausen will begin at "Hamm, Kierch" ((temporary stop on Rue des Peupliers). On the CN3, all buses coming from Bonnevoie will end their route at "Englebert Neveu" before changing direction and travelling back towards Bonnevoie and the city centre. No service will be provided to Pulvermühl and the upper area of Hamm. The following stops in particular will be closed: "Hamm-Colonie", "Hamm-Schoul", "Hamm-Kierch", "Peupliers", "Pulvermühl", "Hammer Dällchen" and "Général Patton" For more info: Road resurfacing on Rue de Hamm | Ville de Luxembourg (vdl.lu) 

The school year begins on Wednesday, 15 September 2021 and ends on Friday, 15 July 2022. Autumn break (Toussaint) : From Saturday, 30 October 2021 to Sunday, 7 November 2021 Saint Nicholas Day:  Monday, 6 December 2021 Christmas: From Saturday, 18 December 2021 to Sunday, 2 January 2022 Carnival: From Saturday, 12 February 2022 to Sunday, 20 February 2022 Easter: From Saturday, 2 April 2022 to Monday, 18 April 2022 Europe Day: Monday, 9 May 2022 Pentecost: From Saturday, 21 May 2022 to Sunday, 29 May 2022 Pentecost Monday: Monday, 6 June 2022 National Day: Thursday, 23 June 2022 Summer hoildays: From Saturday, 16 July 2022 to Wednesday, 14 September 2022 For more details: School holidays and breaks | Ville de Luxembourg (vdl.lu)

Press Release The international tech summit will take place next September 14-15, 2021 Next September 14th and 15th, more than 100 international experts will participate in a new edition of ICT Spring, the renowned tech summit. The event, organized since 2010, will take place at the European Convention Center Luxembourg, at the very heart of Europe: ICT Spring will therefore be the first largest in-person event of the year. Today, the organizers are announcing the various topics that will be discussed during the different summits, as well as the first experts who will share their knowledge and best practices, during what promises to be an exceptional edition. This year, ICT Spring will be organized in the frame of the “Digital ICT Week”, powered by the Chamber of Commerce Luxembourg, and is labelled as the main event of the week, as well as the first largest in-person event of the year to take place in Luxembourg. It will notably allow the audience to participate in matchmaking and targeted networking sessions, through the use of the Swapcard application. As usual, ICT Spring will consist in an exhibition area and startups’ village and insightful summits to tackle trendy topics. Conferences will be broadcasted live from Luxembourg, and will gather as many speakers as possible within the country, depending on health restrictions. Therefore, experts are welcomed to take part in ICT Spring both physically and digitally. Fintech Summit The combination of finance and technology has been discussed over the past decade, with Fintechs becoming key players and new trendsetters in the financial services industry. The first session, entitled “The Advent of a Cashless Society”, will focus on a myth that is about to become a reality: organizations are welcoming this new era and need to adapt their processes, by notably combining security, trust and transparency. Experts will then focus on “FundTech & Tokenization”: how will tokenization change the business and what are the latest technologies available for the funds industry to improve the customer experience? On the second day, they will explore the “Digital Banking over the World” topic. As banks struggle to improve customer experiences, the quest for personalized digital interactions continues. Finally, the summit will end with a session called “Fintech to favour Financial Inclusion”, as, nowadays, financial data-driven intelligence facilitates inclusive finance. Digital Summit More than ever, digital plays an important role in our daily lives, whether it is on the professional side with the use of innovative tools or on the personal one with new apps and services. The first session, focusing on how to “Reconcile Tech & Education”, will feature experts who will share their knowledge around the latest tech trends with a whiff of education and gender diversity. Then, experts will focus on “Digital Supply Chain”, in order to understand the biggest challenges of the supply chain and logistics sector. What are the impacts of digital and data management? How does it improve the value chain? How the e-commerce can enable a fast and easy access to goods? The day after, professionals will discuss “Digital Society” and how to shape the society of tomorrow through digital technology: building smarter cities, improving access to e-government, managing brands in a data-driven economy, etc. The session will end with a focus on “Digital Health”, with the use of new solutions to improve the healthcare industry and solutions linked to longevity. Space Forum Organized in parallel of ICT Spring since 2016, the Space Forum conference discusses the impact of space tech on Earth business such as mobility, IoT, connectivity, security, etc. The first morning session will be entitled “Powering Sustainable & Resilient Space Developments” and will focus on international cooperation and how science will contribute to build up a resilient ecosystem fueled with rapid technological developments. “Space Revival: Strengthening the Hi-Tech Ecosystem in Europe” will then be discussed: what are the new challenges that the space industry needs to take up? What is the position of Europe within the international framework: its assets and weaknesses? Can Europe be a key player? Finally, experts will share their “Views on the Most Promising Companies of the New Space” and will dive into the startups ecosystem of the Space industry while sharing the latest innovations of the market. European Security Forum A well-known side event of ICT Spring, European Security Forum will gather cybersecurity professionals to discuss the latest trends in a field that is evolving at a faster pace than ever, with the number of (sophisticated) cyberattacks constantly growing. The first session, “Data Security: everyone’s business” will focus on the crisis and how cybersecurity concerns have grown exponentially, with the creation of innovative tools. “AI threats and opportunities” will then be on the agenda as it has become essential to ensure the security of AI systems, and so will the “The era of Zero Trust”, with the recognition that “trust can be considered a vulnerability”. The topic "Post quantum cryptography" will end the European Security Forum. Mastermind Summit This new summit aims at giving participants a view on “Strategic Acceleration EU and International Programs”, as well as funding available for startups. The session will consist in speeches to provide assistance to startups and to help them develop their networks and businesses. Experts will relate success stories, define the art of pitching, etc. Moreover, panel discussions with VCs will be organized, with professionals presenting the biggest trends they are currently following in the fields of Fintech, Deeptech, New Space, and more. This second session will be entitled “Startups Verticals”. With theparticipation of Priscila Chaves (Tech Ethicist & Impact Entrepreneur) Sam Scimemi (Senior Assistant in the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, Former ISS Director, NASA), Jason Maude (Chief Technology Advocate, Starling Bank), Joakim Sjöblom (Co-founder and CEO, Minna Technologies), Tomas Martinkenas (Director of Privacy and Security, Vinted), Cheryl Miller Van Dÿck (Founding Director, Digital Leadership Institute), Morgan Wirtz (CEO & Co-founder, Upy) and Elia Montanari (Head of Management and Control, ESA). Local experts Marc Hansen (Luxembourg Minister Delegate for Digitalisation), Jean-Jacques Dordain (Advisor, spaceresources.lu), Avanti Sharma (Pre-Teen Technology Specialist, Workshop4Me) and Carl-Friedrich zu Knyphausen (Director Logistics Development, Zalando) have also confirmed their participation to this year’s edition of ICT Spring. About ICT Spring ICT Spring is a global tech conference hosting an array of international professionals. It offers the participants a unique opportunity to deepen their digital knowledge, capture the value of the fast-growing FinTech, drive innovation in the Supply Chain industry, pierce the secrets of IT Security and explore the impact of Space technologies on terrestrial businesses. All this through high-level conferences, exhibitions and demonstrations of the latest tech trends and Innovations. ICT Spring is hosted within the Digital ICT Week, organised by the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and Farvest in order to stimulate digital transformation, illustrate the latest tech trends and present growth opportunities for startups and SMEs. ICT Spring is also the perfect place to network with peers and future business partners. More information: ictspring.com About Farvest Farvest has become the one-stop-agency for companies and institutions aiming to promote Luxembourg as a gateway to Europe and a perfect place to establish a company. The Agency contributes to support these organizations thanks to its strong and wide network of experts, industry leaders, and proven skills to bring meaningful short and long-term projects into life. Farvest isrecognized as a B2B multi-specialist, enabling business and strategic partnerships. Farvest is composed of forward thinkers and passionate individuals who support the Agency’s clients in reaching their target whether it is for increasing their reach, reviewing their brand positioning, enhancing their communication strategy, designing outstanding communication supports, boosting a website performance, etc. Committing to highlighting Luxembourg as a creative nation, fostering innovation and awarding national best cross-sectors practices, are among Farvest top priorities. More information: www.farvest.com Contact Anne-Lorraine Reinbolt anne-lorraine.reinbolt@farvest.com +352 26 27 69-1

Facebook - the social network that started in early 2000 is the only platform that's available for us if you want to be on a social network. Over the years, Facebook has added two more apps that dominates our lives; WhatsApp and Instagram. Now after 20 years, its a good time to look back and take stock of the situation on where I came from, where I am now, and what I want. Facebook was not the first social network, its Friendster. But Facebook clearly ate or defeated all other apps along the way and become the dominant and only player in this space. When I started being on Facebook, I was among those who accepted all friend requests whether I know the person, I might have seen the person, or its a friend's friend or what not. Fast forward today, I don't do that anymore. In fact, I was unfriending loads whom I have no clue about and was trimming down my friends list. As I do that, "privacy" and "close-knit" are on top of my mind. As those words dominate, Facebook is going in the opposite direction. They are closely integrating Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram messages. Eventually, you can start communicating in one app and finish the conversation in the other app. Post in Facebook, automatically display in Instagram, and chat about it in WhatsApp. This worries me, as three apps that I used with different set of people, and different set of information is going to be united into one. Facebook already knows a lot about me than I do. Now with all three apps rolled-into-one, I am going to be literally having a copy of my life in Facebook's servers that I have no control over the use. This worries me, and this should be worrying us all. I did not move out of Facebook by choice, because the strongest case I made to myself was that I would lose my friends list I had built over the years from all continents. Finding them again, and connecting with them, and reminding them of a memory I shared with them seemed to be an impossible task. But Facebook did me a favor. One fine day, they blocked me. I did not really know why, but they said they are not cool with me any more and they need my passport, driving license or any ID. Well, my Facebook name is not exactly what my passport displays. 95% of Facebook names will not match their passport names. But now Facebook wants my passport. In face, Facebook already knows a whole lot about me, and the last piece to map was my passport copy perhaps. Wasn't comfortable at all. But, I still wanted my friends list back, so I shared anyway. They did not budge, and there was no explanation or appeal. Boom, more than a decade of friends list and I am blocked out of Facebook now. Naturally, I was sad, angry and frustrated. After a number of sunsetting days, I am happier than ever. Don't get me wrong. I want to be on a social network. I want to have good friends I truly want to be posting on what's going on in their lives. But, I don't want my social network to track my every move and tell me what I will need now and in the future. I want to be at peace. Look at friends' travel, see their family being happy and not pressured by someone else or give someone the power to kick-me-out anytime at their will. But, I look around for such a social network, I don't see any other choice now. Hope is there though. WhatsApp alternatives such as Signal has come-up. There should be, and there will be, a Facebook alternative that I can have only my closest, good and trusted friends and acquaintances. I can chat, share, and care about my life and be updated on their lives. That one app that gives me "privacy" and keep it "close-knit. I am confident that days will come in the next years. Until then, hoping to write more. /// Written By Kevin This is a personal opinion by the author.

Luxembourg Prime Minister Bettel leaves hospital after Covid-19 treatment edition.cnn.com/2021/07/08/europe/luxembourg-bettel-covid-scli-intl/index.html Luxembourg CelebratesLuxembourg  Pride week! facebook.com/LuxembourgLetsMakeItHappen Hot summer sale by House of Comfort luxembourgexpats.lu/offers/discounts/1100001501 Belgium and Luxembourg share aircraft as part of efficency drive. euronews.com/2021/06/17/belgium-and-luxembourg-share-aircraft-as-part-of-efficiency-drive? More than 365000 people received their first dose and more than 238000 people are fully vaccinated in Luxembourg facebook.com/sante.lu

NATO and Luxembourg boost Alliance Space Situational Awareness: nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_185365.htm EU warns Luxembourg with daily penality threat over AML rule : www.internationalinvestment.net/news/4032879/eu-warns-luxembourg-daily-penalty-threat-aml-rules The German Esports Federation (eSport-Bund Deutschland, ESBD), together with the German Games Industry Association, have announced the first esports tournaments and leagues : www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/germany-first-esports-tournaments-leagues-qualify-for-simpler-visa-application-process/ Does AstraZeneca vaccine have a future? www.ft.com/content/2bae4886-78e5-4586-aa6f-2d3154e6d936 kicking-off the Featured Story Series (FSS) in your Luxembourg Expats Network. luxembourgexpats.lu/stories/business/1100000708

Luxembourg inaugrating its first super computer hpcwire.com/off-the-wire/luxembourg-inaugurating-first-supercomputer-meluxina-on-june-7 France takes steps to rein in BigTech (and Luxembourg) politico.eu/article/france-ireland-luxembourg-big-tech-regulation-apple-amazon-facebook-google-digital-services-act-digital-markets Luxembourg: New Rule Disallowing Deduction On Payments To EU Non-cooperative Countries jdsupra.com/legalnews/luxembourg-new-rule-disallowing-8018905 Basketball: Landry going pro in Luxembourg princegeorgecitizen.com/local-sports/landry-going-pro-in-luxembourg-3841851 Luxembourg has made a voluntary contribution of €81,870 to promote human rights and equality for LGBTI persons coe.int/en/web/deputy-secretary-general/-/luxembourg-makes-a-voluntary-contribution-in-a-ceremony-with-deputy-secretary-general Why this crowd-free country can make a perfect holiday euronews.com/travel/2021/05/18/why-this-small-crowd-free-country-could-be-the-perfect-holiday-in-2021 Vaccination launched for homeless people msan.gouvernement.lu/en/actualites.gouvernement+en+actualites+toutes_actualites+communiques+2021+06-juin+03-vaccination-sansabri.html Proposal to include the right to disconnect from work jdsupra.com/legalnews/proposal-to-include-the-right-to-6864415 What changed while I was ignoring travel wbrc.com/2021/06/04/what-changed-while-i-was-ignoring-travel

WhatsApp updated privacy policy came into effect on 15 May 2021. This is an important development that deserves your attention. Some background: WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook were all founded as separate companies and have been operating separately. That is until Facebook acquired WhatsApp and Instagram. Even after the acquistion, these companies have operated to some extent as independent apps. Slowly Facebook decided that they want to integrate all three apps and allow users to make use of the three applications simultaneously. This makes good business sense and also perhaps more user friendly. Because you can move around the apps and perhaps (eventually) start a conversation in Faceook and continue it on Instagram or WhatsApp. Sounds nice, what's the problem? Privacy: It all boils down to whether you care about privacy. Facebook already has a lot of information on you. It definitely knows more about you than you do as data can gather a lot of intelligence than our forgetfulness. So, now this privacy policy updates Facebook with even more data; not only the information you share with FB on Faceook platform, but also on Instagram and WhatsApp. In WhatsApp, and FB, many of us are sharing so much personal information. Now FB can learn you even better and have an accurate picture. Governments' reaction? Governments across the globe are reacting. The German government has paused the implementationf or 3 months and the European Union is considering fighting back. The Indian government has rejected it and WhatsApp has found a loop hole to challenge the Indian government in courts. It appears WhatsApp and Facebook did not expect this reaction but somehow this has become an important issue. At the end of the day, there are limitations to what governments can do. But, luckily you have options that you can take control. Use alternatives. Alternative platforms: WhatsApp is clearly the market leader. But there is Telegram and Signal, which are more privacy friendly for your personal use. There is no reason you cannot use Telegram or Signal, except the fact the person whom you want to communicate with is also on Telegram or Signal.  But all, and more features, are available in Telegram than WhatsApp offers. So, you can take control and start using alternatives. luxexpats.lu - we cannot resist but mention what we are building with the LuxExpats web app (and soon to be coming mobile app). We started on Facebook in 2012 and we have developed a great (and large) community for more than 8 years. However, Facebook has been pretty difficult platform with privacy on top of our mind. We are building a privacy friendly social network marketplace. In the marketplace, we are connecting local businesses, find housing, discounts and help you share or sell your unused things. All environment and local friendly. In social network, we are working on enabling features that will enable you to share information, meet new people and maintain existing contacts. But, with more privacy friendly features. We are confident that with your support, we can truly build this be a platform of your choice. Sign Up Free. Relevant reads: Germany's Privacy Watchdog Prohibits Facebook From Collecting WhatsApp User Data For 3 Months: Bloomberg finance.yahoo.com/news/germanys-privacy-watchdog-prohibits-facebook-183436892.html Colombia orders WhatsApp to comply with data protection rules cio.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/government-policy/colombia-orders-whatsapp-to-comply-with-data-protection-rules/82994224 WhatsApp sues Indian government reuters.com/world/india/exclusive-whatsapp-sues-india-govt-says-new-media-rules-mean-end-privacy-sources-2021-05-26

Goodyear and Enovos to build Luxembourg's first solar carport The first power station will be a photovoltaic carport consisting of 1 500 solar panels, covering a parking lot of around 4 000 m2. With an annual production of 657.500 kWh, the carport will be the first in Luxembourg of this scale and will generate enough energy to supply a number of households. prnewswire.com/news-releases/goodyear-and-enovos-to-build-luxembourgs-first-large-solar-carport-301292347.html Energy efficient Luxembourg library follows cradle-to-cradle principle The building is clad in large-format red precast concrete panels and finished with a variety of surface treatments, including acid washing, water blasting and sand blasting. inhabitat.com/energy-efficient-luxembourg-library-follows-cradle-to-cradle-principles FIFA Women's World Cup: Luxembourg players are thinking about football day and night For Luxembourg, that start involves fixtures against England, Austria, Northern Ireland, Latvia and North Macedonia, which are the only team in this group beneath them in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking. fifa.com/womensworldcup/news/santos-my-luxembourg-players-think-about-football-night-and-day The human costs of Biden's India travel ban For the more than 2.7 million Indian immigrants who have put down roots in the US, President Joe Biden’s decision to ban most travel from their home country as its health system collapses under a surge of coronavirus cases has come at a price. vox.com/policy-and-politics/22429083/biden-india-travel-ban-covid-crisis Building a resilient and sustainable health system The COVID-19 pandemic has taught the world a lot about resilience, sustainability, and the ability to respond effectively during a crisis. During a plenary session on day 1 of the Virtual ISPOR 2021 meeting, panelists representing various global perspectives weighed in on what we have learned from the pandemic and how we can apply those learnings to create a more resilient health care system that can adjust to predictable and unpredictable changes. ajmc.com/view/building-a-more-resilient-and-sustainable-health-system More than 40% of expats in Hong Kong are thinking about leaving, survey finds More than 40% of expats surveyed by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong say they're considering moving away from the former British colony as China's influence grows and the city continues to enforce stringent quarantine rules. edition.cnn.com/2021/05/12/business/amcham-hong-kong-expats-intl-hnk/index.html 10 best countries for American expats - Portugal at the top The fashionable country due west of Spain is attracting young expats in recent years, particularly entrepreneurs, given its incredible value and welcoming business incentives that help stretch your hard-earned dollars. Take the second city of Porto, buzzing with modern and creative energy as a manufacturing and textile hub, with a slew of new designers who have made the city their home. travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/best-countries-for-american-expats

#startups  A Luxembourg Startup, ANote Music Sarl, investing in music royalties is expanding to Japan english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/05/ab00dc764650-luxembourg-firm-aims-to-spur-music-royalties-investment-in-japan.html #Worplace CSSF publishes regulations regarding teleworking mondaq.com/fund-management-reits/1068182/luxembourg-cssf-publication-of-guidance-on-teleworking #tax Amazon wins $300m court case against European Commission jurist.org/news/2021/05/amazon-wins-court-battle-against-european-commission-order-to-pay-300-m-to-luxembourg #travel Best places to travell during Covid forbes.com/sites/christopherelliott/2021/05/15/here-are-the-best-places-to-travel-after-covid-19/?sh=440abf5e737e #travel Denmark relaxes travel restrictions for EU tourists forbes.com/sites/davidnikel/2021/05/15/denmark-relaxes-travel-restrictions-opens-for-eu-tourists/?sh=476b53da2dd7 #conflict Israel's PM vows to fight as long as necessary theguardian.com/world/2021/may/16/israel-pm-netanyahu-vows-to-continue-gaza-attacks-for-as-long-as-necessary #cyberhack Ireland refuses to pay for attack on its National Health Service theverge.com/2021/5/14/22436164/ireland-refuse-pay-ransom-demand-attack-health-security #covid19 Indian PM says the country is on war-footing newsweek.com/indian-prime-minister-narendra-modi-sounds-alarm-covid-crisis-says-country-war-footing-1591727 #business Inflation angst turns TIPS into a $1.8 trillion market to watch bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-15/inflation-angst-turns-tips-into-must-watch-1-6-trillion-market

French police arrest Luxembourg's former top spy euobserver.com/democracy/151848 Amazon wins case against EU regulators choice.npr.org/index.html?origin=https://www.npr.org/2021/05/12/996118335/amazon-wins-case-against-eu-regulators-over-luxembourg-taxes New rule disallowing deduction of payments to EU non-cooperative countries jdsupra.com/legalnews/luxembourg-new-rule-disallowing-8018905 Prince Guillaume and Princess Stephanie releases home video of son purewow.com/news/prince-charles-birthday-luxembourg SOMO consortium to begin renovation of airport runaway airport-technology.com/news/somo-consortium-luxembourg-airport EU countries urged to avoid non-essential travel to India reuters.com/world/europe/eu-countries-urged-halt-non-essential-travel-india-2021-05-12

European Union seeks to open-up travel with vaccine pass voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/european-union-seeks-reopen-travel-vaccination-pass Luxembourg-Amazon tax set-up faces judgment day in EU court politico.eu/article/amazons-luxembourg-tax-set-up-faces-judgment-day-in-eu-court Greentube wins European tender to supply to Luxembourg lottery yogonet.com/international/noticias/2021/05/11/57577-greentube-wins-european-tender-to-supply-to-luxembourg-lottery Biden administration bans most travel from India natlawreview.com/article/biden-administration-bans-most-travel-india US government reverses healthcare ban on LGBT protections benefitspro.com/2021/05/11/white-house-reverses-trump-ban-on-lgbt-health-care-protections/?slreturn=20210412010740

NHS has an app in the UK that will show whether you have taken both jabs. Starting Monday, UK is opening up for travel and as the travelers need to show some proof of the jab, UK has implemented the app in a fast and easy way. In the future it can be expected that most countries have a proof of vaccination documents. UK is just the start, and one can expect Luxembourg follows suit.

Cake and cuddles for Prince Charles of Luxembourg royalcentral.co.uk/europe/luxembourg/cake-and-cuddles-for-prince-charles-of-luxembourg-on-his-first-birthday-159757 Tom Cruise returns Golde Globes Award in protest of HFPA edition.cnn.com/2021/05/10/entertainment/tom-cruise-scarlett-johansson-golden-globes/index.html Johnson and Johnson vaccine to be approved for all ages theguardian.com/world/2021/may/10/germany-to-approve-johnson-johnson-covid-vaccine-for-adults-of-all-ages British expats refused covid vaccine in Spain due to covid mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/british-expats-being-refused-covid-24076518 India's covid challenges will worsen global vaccine shortage edition.cnn.com/2021/05/10/business/india-covid-industries-intl-hnk/index.htm 20 tasty fruits and health benefits healthline.com/nutrition/healthy-fruit Luxembourg based OKO raises €1m - insurance for small holder farmers eu-startups.com/2021/04/luxembourg-based-oko-raises-around-e1-million-to-bring-innovative-insurance-to-smallholder-farmers-across-africa