In Luxembourg, the Fédération Hospitalière du Luxembourg (FHL) and the major trade-union associations OGBL-LCGB have jointly issued a strong defence of the nation’s public healthcare model, rejecting changes that risk creating a system of “medicine for a select few”. Their declaration on 17 November 2025 comes amid proposed reforms including private medical companies and the decision by doctors to pull out of the convention with the Caisse Nationale de Santé (CNS). The FHL and unions argue these shifts threaten equal access to treatment. They emphasise that mandatory physician convention-tariffs ensure all patients receive care under the same conditions, and that any move away from this principle risks privileging those who can pay more. They oppose what they view as the commercialisation of healthcare and call for the convention system to remain intact. While the public ownership structure is not their key concern, the biggest danger facing the system today is the shortage of staff. The organisations stress that attracting and retaining skilled personnel must be a priority. They argue for improved working conditions, expanded training programmes and recognition of foreign diplomas to ensure the system remains sustainable. The statement also supports developing decentralised outpatient centres to improve regional access — provided these remain integrated with the state system and hospital network, preserving a unified service structure. Furthermore, the FHL and unions insist that the collective agreement for hospital workers must apply to all healthcare staff, whether at central hospitals or in new regional facilities, to prevent inequality in employment terms. Their message is clear: healthcare in Luxembourg should be a common good — not a luxury. They reaffirm the country does not need care meant only for the wealthy, but rather a strengthened universal system that has proven effective and sustainable so far. Sign up to Join the Community: luxembourgexpats.lu 

Women across the European Union earn on average just €0.88 for every euro a man makes, according to a recent analysis from the European Commission. This figure reflects a gender pay gap of 12%, meaning that by 17 November, women in effect begin working without pay for the remainder of the year — a date which Brussels designates as this year’s “Equal Pay Day”. While the gap has narrowed by around 4 percentage points over the past decade, progress has been uneven and slower than many hoped. The Commission highlights that roughly 24% of the gap can be attributed to the fact that women are over-represented in lower-paid sectors such as healthcare, education and social services. In addition, women spend more time each week on unpaid labour — such as caregiving and household tasks — which can limit their opportunities for advancement and smaller wage growth over time. Less than one in ten company CEOs across the bloc are women, pointing to structural barriers at higher levels of the workforce. In response, the Commission is pushing forward a set of reforms, notably the Pay Transparency Directive, which will require companies to provide more detailed salary data and act if gender pay gaps exceed 5%. The directive is slated to come into force by June 2026 at the latest. Brussels is also preparing its upcoming Gender Equality Strategy for the post-2025 period, seeking deeper progress across employment, pay and care services. Despite improvements, the pay gap remains meaningful. For women in the EU this year, the implication is stark: the discrepancy in pay means that a portion of their work effectively goes unpaid — a reminder of the work ahead to achieve full gender income equality. Read More: euronews.com/my-europe/2025/11/17/pay-inequality-means-women-work-for-free-until-years-end-european-commission-says

Luxembourg’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.9% as of 31 October 2025, according to data released by Agence pour le développement de l’emploi (ADEM) and the statistics office. The number of resident jobseekers registered with ADEM stood at 18,720, up slightly (+2.3%) compared to the same time last year, driven largely by increases among highly qualified candidates (+9.4%), those aged 45 and over (+4.1%), and long-term jobseekers (+5.0%). The number of young jobseekers fell slightly by 0.7% to 3,697. In October, employers notified ADEM of 3,141 job vacancies, while the stock of available positions climbed 7.8% year-on-year to reach 7,218. Meanwhile, the number of recipients of full unemployment benefits dropped by 575 individuals (−5.5% year-on-year) to 9,800. The figures suggest a labour market that is cooling slowly in terms of unemployment, while showing signs of growth in job opportunities. Read More : statistiques.public.lu/en/actualites/2025/adem-10-25.html?utm_source ADEM : adem.public.lu/en/actualites/adem/2025/11/cp-cc-2025-10.html?utm_source Sign up here to Join the community : luxembourgexpats.lu

It’s no coincidence that in families around the world, the women so often seem to be the ones still going strong at 80, 90, or beyond. Across history and cultures, women consistently outlive men and show stronger resistance to infections — from everyday viruses to more serious diseases. They also tend to respond better to vaccinations. For decades, we saw these patterns without fully understanding the science behind them. Today, advances in genetics, virology and immunology are finally revealing why women have an immune edge — and what that means for the future of medicine. The Power of Two X Chromosomes The biggest biological advantage begins at birth. Women have two X chromosomes, while men have one X and one Y. The X chromosome carries many genes crucial for the immune response. When women have two copies, they essentially benefit from a backup system, leading to: Faster detection of pathogens Stronger immune defense Better immune memory after recovery This double-X advantage helps maintain immune performance well into later life. Hormones that Boost Protection Estrogen — a key female hormone — isn’t just important for reproduction. It also activates immune cells, helping the body eliminate infections more efficiently. Meanwhile, testosterone in men can have a suppressive effect on the immune system, making it slower to respond. This hormonal influence becomes especially clear after puberty, when differences in immune performance widen between men and women. Better Response to Vaccines Women’s immune systems not only react quickly when sick — they also remember threats longer. That’s why many vaccines: Work more effectively in women Produce longer-lasting protection This has become especially relevant in the era of global epidemics, where immune resilience truly matters. But Strength Has a Flip Side A powerful immune system is a double-edged sword. Women are far more likely to develop autoimmune diseases, where the immune system becomes overactive and mistakenly attacks the body. This highlights that “stronger” doesn’t always mean “simpler.” A New Era of Personalized Medicine As researchers continue to explore these biological differences, one thing becomes clear: Healthcare is not one-size-fits-all. Recognizing sex differences in the immune system could lead to: Tailored vaccine dosages More effective treatments for infections Better targeted cancer therapies Improved strategies for managing autoimmune diseases. This knowledge doesn’t just help women — it helps everyone. When we understand diverse immune responses, we can build stronger, smarter and fairer medical care. Read More : newscientist.com/article/2501447-women-have-supercharged-immune-systems-and-we-now-know-why Sign Up here to join community : luxembourgexpats.lu

Luxembourg’s Chamber of Commerce hosted the second day of Internet Days 2025 on 19 November, bringing together digital leaders, policymakers and technology experts to discuss the country’s evolving digital sovereignty and resilience. The day opened with Media65 CEO Peter Poehle and a keynote from Claude Demuth, Chairman of LU-CIX. Demuth highlighted this year’s core themes—security, sovereignty and resilience—not as technical buzzwords but as essential principles shaping Europe’s future. He stressed the need for a strong European Union and greater technological independence, noting that “there is no real freedom without sovereignty, and no sovereignty without technological sovereignty.” Manuel Picco, Head of Information Security at the Government IT Centre (CTIE), addressed the growing complexity of cyberthreats and the crucial role of national infrastructure. He explained how CTIE works with trusted local partners to protect critical services, emphasising that skilled people are just as vital as advanced systems. According to Picco, human agility, judgment and strategic foresight remain central to maintaining digital resilience. Amandine Le Pape, Co-founder and Acting Managing Director of the Matrix.org Foundation, discussed the advantages of open-source technology in strengthening Europe’s digital autonomy. She noted that open-source standards ensure transparency and reduce reliance on foreign tech platforms—key elements in Europe’s push for digital sovereignty. She highlighted the growing collaboration between Matrix.org, European public institutions and the European Commission. Gilles Massenceo from Fondation Restena followed with insights on the critical role of a robust DNS infrastructure. He underlined how secure and resilient domain name systems support national integrity during crises and encouraged organisations to consider the long-term sovereignty impact of their digital choices. Luxembourg’s Minister for Digitalisation, Stéphanie Obertin, closed the session with remarks on the country’s state-operated cloud infrastructure. Fully run by the government since 2016, it provides public administrations with high-level data protection and reliable IT services. She also noted that Luxembourg increasingly relies on open-source solutions aligned with European interoperability standards, reflecting a national strategy based on transparency, openness and collaboration. The conference concluded with expert panels on supply chain security, operational digital resilience across the EU and the implications of Europe’s AI Act, followed by a networking reception. Read more : luxembourg-internet-days.com Chamber of Commerce : cc.lu/en/agenda/detail/luxembourg-internet-days-2

Luxembourg may be small in size, but when it comes to showing gratitude, the country’s generosity stands tall. A new study from delivery platform Wolt shows that Luxembourgers tip more per order than customers in several other wealthy European nations. According to Wolt’s data, only 17% of customers in Luxembourg leave a tip — but when they do, they make it count. The average tip comes in at €1.97, placing the Grand Duchy at the top of the five countries included in the study. Germany, by contrast, has more frequent tippers (25%), yet their average tip is slightly lower at €1.85. Meanwhile, Norway — rich in oil but somewhat modest in tipping habits — shows only 11% of customers tipping, with an average of €1.96. Within Luxembourg, generosity varies by region. Mersch emerges as the most giving town, with 23% of users tipping and an impressive €2.15 average. Luxembourg City follows at €1.97, while Wiltz tips average €1.91. “All tips go directly to the courier,” says Tomás Etcheverry, General Manager for Wolt Luxembourg. He emphasises that tipping isn’t mandatory: “But it’s a kind gesture when you’re pleased with the service — and let’s be honest, there’s real joy in having your sushi or burger show up on time and with a smile.” For couriers navigating rainstorms, traffic, and late-night deliveries, even small tips and friendly notes make a meaningful difference. They already earn a fair income, but tips add a personal touch of appreciation. Etcheverry sums it up simply: “If your order arrives hot, fast, and with care, a little extra thank-you goes a long way — for the courier, and for your karma.” Read More: press.wolt.com/en-LU/257986-big-hearts-small-country-luxembourg-tips-more-than-other-rich-countries

Social media trends have reached the Grand Ducal family, and Luxembourg’s new Grand Duke, Guillaume, has stepped right in. Recently, he appeared in a series of Instagram videos supporting the Bam Challenge, a nationwide initiative encouraging people to plant a tree and nominate others to do the same. A video shared by the Grand Ducal Court on 18 November shows Guillaume participating enthusiastically. Wearing boots and carrying a shovel, he headed into the Fischbach forest, where he planted a young oak tree—one that will grow for decades in the peaceful woodland of the Grand Duchy. The Grand Duke was nominated by Luxembourg’s two scout federations and the municipality of Colmar-Berg. As the head of the Luxembourg scouts, he gladly accepted the challenge, highlighting the shared motivation behind it: working together “for a greener, more sustainable and more united world.” Read More: pointdevue.fr/amp/royal/luxembourg/guillaume-de-luxembourg-releve-un-defi-lance-sur-les-reseaux-sociaux Sign up to Join Our Community : luxembourgexpats.lu

When a major Cloudflare outage rippled across the internet and took down some of the world’s biggest platforms, most of the web went dark for hours. But one company managed to bounce back astonishingly fast — and it did so with the help of artificial intelligence. During the outage, countless services including X (formerly Twitter), ChatGPT, Spotify, Discord, and Canva experienced disruptions as Cloudflare, one of the world’s largest internet infrastructure providers, struggled with a critical internal failure. The crash was traced back to a dormant software issue — a “latent bug” — buried deep inside a massively scaled threat-management system. A routine configuration update caused the system to collapse, dragging a huge portion of the internet down with it. While leading global platforms waited for Cloudflare engineers to bring systems back online, an education-technology company — Coursera — managed to restore its services ahead of many global giants. And the secret behind its rapid recovery was a powerful, AI-driven response system. According to company co-founder Andrew Ng, Coursera’s engineering team used advanced machine learning tools to detect the failure patterns instantly. These tools ran automated diagnostics across their entire infrastructure, identifying weak points, predicting bottlenecks, and recommending real-time rerouting strategies. Essentially, the system acted like a high-speed crisis manager: advising engineers on how to redirect web traffic away from the failing Cloudflare routes and spin up alternate pathways within minutes. Instead of waiting helplessly for the internet to come back, the team used AI to create a temporary failover system — a lightweight clone of the essential traffic-handling mechanisms they depended on. It wasn’t meant to replace Cloudflare, but it was strong enough to keep Coursera online while much larger companies remained offline. What makes this story global and important is not just one company’s quick rebound — it’s the broader message: AI is no longer just a tool for innovation or automation. It is becoming a key player in digital emergency response. As infrastructure grows more complex and outages become more disruptive, AI can spot patterns and execute contingency plans faster than any human team alone. This incident highlights a future where resilience, not just performance, becomes a defining measure of strong digital systems. AI-driven defence, monitoring, and recovery could soon become the standard for organisations wanting to stay online even when the internet’s backbone trembles. In a world that relies on constant connectivity, this outage proved one thing clearly: when the web goes down, AI is ready to step up. Read More : timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/cloudflare-outage-how-ai-helped-this-edtech-company-to-get-back-online-before-some-of-the-biggest-websites/articleshow/125439594.cms

Winter in may be magical for humans, but for pets it can be a season full of hidden hazards. From icy pavements dusted with road salt to dark, early evenings and tempting indoor heaters, the colder months call for a little extra care to keep four-legged companions safe and comfortable. One of the biggest winter troublemakers is road salt. It keeps sidewalks walkable, but it can sting sensitive paws, cause cracking and lead to irritation if pets lick the residue after a walk. Giving paws a quick rinse with warm water, using protective balms or even slipping on pet booties can make a world of difference. Snow and ice chunks can also lodge between toes, so a quick check after each walk is essential. Cold weather affects pets more than many owners expect. Short-haired dogs, small breeds, senior animals and outdoor cats are especially vulnerable to winter chill. A warm jacket, shorter walks on icy mornings and a dry, draft-free resting spot at home help keep them cosy. Indoors, heaters and fireplaces bring their own risks: pets can get too close, risking burns or dehydration from overly dry air. A safe distance—and a bowl of fresh water nearby—keeps them protected. Luxembourg’s long winter nights also make visibility a real concern. With most morning and evening walks happening in low light, reflective gear becomes essential. LED collars, reflective harnesses and high-visibility leashes ensure pets are clearly seen by drivers, cyclists and joggers, especially in busy neighbourhoods or near parks. Another winter risk is antifreeze. Popular car products used during the season often contain substances that smell sweet to animals but are highly toxic. Keeping containers tightly sealed and wiping up spills immediately can prevent severe poisoning. And since chilly weather often means shorter outdoor adventures, pets may need extra mental and physical stimulation at home. Puzzle toys, indoor play and interactive games help keep spirits high while they wait for spring to return. With a few simple precautions, Luxembourg’s winter can be just as enjoyable for pets as it is for their humans—keeping them warm, safe and ready for snowy fun. Read More : Join the community of your own - #1 home-grown LuxExpats app SignUp Free : luxembourgexpats.lu

The Chamber of Civil Servants and Public Employees (CHFEP) has once again voiced strong concerns over the government’s proposed pension reform. The organisation argues that the planned changes are “poorly designed,” risk creating divisions in society, and undermine the very basis of the current pension model. Under the reform, early retirement will become more difficult: starting 1 July 2026, those wishing to retire before 65 will need to work an additional month. The proposal also foresees higher pension contributions, raising the rate from the current 8% to three times 8.5%, shared between employees, employers and the State. The CHFEP warns that the reform relies on “purely theoretical” long-term financial projections and could threaten the sustainability of the first-pillar system, which currently forms the foundation of Luxembourg’s pension model. Read More : Join the community of your own - #1 home-grown LuxExpats app SignUp Free : luxembourgexpats.lu