Your Weekly Recap for 24-28 July.
Here are five things you should know at the end of this week:
- Hundreds of jobs at risk as Cardoso bankruptcy looms
- MPs approve new road safety plan
- Findel ranked Europe's second least stressful airport
- Thousands evacuated from wildfires across Greece
- Hunter Biden pleads not guilty on tax charges as deal derails
1. Hundreds of jobs at risk as Cardoso bankruptcy looms
Several outlets have reported that bankruptcy is imminent at construction firm Cardoso, increasing concern as over 100 jobs are threatened.
- The construction company, which has existed for 42 years, has been grappling with an array of problems for months.
- With the prospect of a company-wide break just days away, unions have already convened to discuss possible avenues for Cardoso employees.
Bad timing - Cardoso has 120 employees who are now threatened by its bankruptcy. Even if other companies might be able to recruit a substantial number of the affected workers, the timing could not be worse as the collective leave period in the sector kicks off on Friday, lasting for three weeks.
"If the announcement is delayed, a lot of people will not be there for it," laments De Matteis form the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL).
Wider context - Cardoso is not the first Luxembourgish construction firm to face bankruptcy this year and the number of unfinished projects across the Grand Duchy is accordingly on the rise. Sectorial representatives have been sounding the alarm for months. Cenaro Group was the first company to fall victim to this trend as they were forced to declare bankruptcy at the beginning of 2023.
Recent months have now seen Manuel Cardoso grapple with an array of problems, including unfinished projects, delayed payments, and a sluggish market, leading to salary payment difficulties and the loss of several employees. From a workforce of 150 at the beginning of the year, the number has alreadu dwindled significantly.
Government to step in? - In a bid to address ongoing issues of dumping wages in the construction sector, the Left Party ('déi Lénk') has urged the state to take over the Manuel Cardoso company and transform it into the first publicly owned construction firm.
With approximately 100 employees and the necessary machinery and equipment already in place, the company could serve as a solid foundation for this proposed initiative, the opposition party argues.
2. MPs approve new road safety plan
In an effort to curb road accidents, Luxembourg's Ministry of Mobility is introducing new measures and penalties to crack down on smartphone usage behind the wheel.
Draft Bill No 7985, which is part of the plan, also covers the use of drugs among drivers.
MPs in the Chamber of Deputies passed the resolution last week.
Smartphone use - The prevalence of making phone calls, texting, and internet surfing among drivers is a growing concern. Currently, approximately 10% of lost points on driving licences in Luxembourg are attributed to mobile phone use while driving.
To address this issue, the Ministry is implementing stricter penalties for mobile phone usage. Fines will be raised from €145 to €250, and the penalty points will increase from two to four in the future. One significant change is that the ban on mobile phone use now extends to situations when the car is stationary on the roadway.
The new regulations also apply to motorbike riders.
Intoxicated driving - The new bill envisages changes to drugs screening after the Grand Ducal police requested amendments to streamline this process. Officers are now permitted to immediately order a urine or blood test in the four following cases: if the driver is about to consume drugs, admits to having consumed drugs, is in possession of drugs, or poses a visible road safety risk.
The new tests will also deliver more precise results.
Another new addition to the law will be the option to immediately withdraw a driver's licence for the consumption of drugs or toxic substances. Previously, this was only permitted in cases of speeding or drink driving.
More revisions to follow - The new law will also envisage changes to licence plates and vehicle documents, but the government has yet to unveil the details of the planned revisions.
3. Findel ranked Europe's second least stressful airport
© AFP
According to a recent study, Findel Airport in Luxembourg City is an excellent choice for those looking for a bit of serenity to kick off their holidays.
The study, which was conducted by the Schengen area information portal using data collected by StressFreeCarRental, ranked European airports based on a series of criteria.
The top ten was headed by Billund Airport in Copenhagen and rounded off by Cagliari Elmas Airport on the Italian island of Sardinia.
Post-pandemic travel surge - Travelling with peace of mind and avoiding stress at airports can be a priority for many tourists, especially as passenger numbers continue to surge in Europe following the pandemic.
4. Thousands evacuated from wildfires in Greece
© AFP
Greek fire crews on Thursday scrambled to douse the deadly wildfires raging for two weeks around the country before strong winds forecast for the day rekindled blazes.
Hundreds of firefighters backed by European Union reinforcements were struggling to contain the flames on the islands of Rhodes, Corfu and Evia, in addition to a new front that erupted Wednesday in central Greece.
Tens of thousands of people had to be evacuated over the course of the week, including around 80 tourists from the Grand Duchy.
Another dramatic week - Greece continued battling wildfires across its territory over the course of the week, receiving support from all over Europe to get the flames under control. In a dramatic turn of events, two pilots died when their water-bombing plane crashed while battling a blaze on the Greek island of Evia on Tuesday, as wildfires flared across the Mediterranean.
Luxembourgers evacuated - After evacuating 80 of its clients from the wildfires on the Greek island of Rhodes, Luxair has set up a crisis task force to offer free cancellations and alternative bookings to people affected by the disaster. Two of the evacuated Luxembourgish holidaymakers shared their experience with RTL after returning to the Grand Duchy.
Satellite monitoring - Satellite images have proven invaluable in capturing the extent of the fires' impact. Images taken by the European Space Agency (ESA) as part of the 'Copernicus Sentinel 2' mission clearly show the movement of flames towards the coast, alongside developing plumes of smoke.
5. Hunter Biden pleads not guilty on tax charges as deal derails
© AFP
US President Joe Biden's son Hunter pleaded not guilty to minor tax offenses Wednesday as a deal with federal prosecutors crumbled in a Delaware court.
The surprise move came after Judge Maryellen Noreika raised questions over the original deal - under which Hunter Biden had agreed to enter a guilty plea and admit to illegal gun possession - and effectively placed it on hold.
Biden, 53, whose legal troubles have cast a shadow over his father's reelection campaign, had reached an agreement with prosecutors that he would be sentenced to probation on two tax avoidance counts.
'Sweetheart deal' - The deal fell apart after Noreika queried why the gun charge was included in a tax case, and whether the plea agreement protected Biden from charges that might arise from a wider ongoing investigation of his business dealings, according to US media.
When prosecutors were unable to resolve her questions, Noreika said she could not accept the deal, and Biden then entered a not guilty plea to close the session. Both sides now have 30 days to report back on where they stand.
The unexpected collapse of the arrangement came after Republicans accused the prosecution of giving Biden a "sweetheart deal" with the plea agreement announced on June 20.
Tax avoidance and illegal gun possession - According to the charges, Hunter, a Yale-trained lawyer and lobbyist, failed to file his tax returns on time on earnings of more than $1.5 million for 2017 and 2018.
He was facing up to twelve months in prison for each tax charge and a possible maximum of ten years on a charge that, as a known drug user, he had illegally possessed a handgun in 2018.
The best of... 📚
- Business & Tech - Elon Musk killed off the Twitter logo on Monday, replacing the world-recognized blue bird with a white X as the tycoon accelerates his efforts to transform the floundering social media giant.
- Science & Environment - American authorities are covering up evidence of UAPs and their non-human operators, a former US intelligence officer told a congressional committee on Wednesday.
- Entertainment - A jury in the UK on Wednesday found Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey not guilty of nine sex offences against four men alleged to have occurred between 2001 and 2013.
- Sport - International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Wednesday formally invited 203 countries, but not Russia and Belarus, to participate in the Paris Olympics which begin in a year's time.
And in case you missed it... ⚠️
- Travel - Luxair is set to introduce a range of new flight destinations starting from this winter, including Milan, Cape Verde, the Canaries, and Slovenia.
- In hot water - Luxembourg's national competition authority has levied fines exceeding €3 million in response to price-fixing in the coffee distribution sector.
- Parking in the City - The first phase of preparations for the annual Schueberfour will launch at 10pm on Saturday 29 July with the partial closure of the Glacis car park.
- Research in the Grand Duchy - The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) has unveiled new facilities at its Greentech Innovation Centre, with funds earmarked for biorefinery, water treatment, and biogas production technologies.
Your Weekly Recap is published every Friday at noon. Read earlier versions.
