Your Weekly Recap for 4–8 August 2025.
Here are five things you should know at the end of this week:
- Gerson Rodrigues suspended from national football team
- Tango outage stirs concern weeks after Post disruption; cyberattack ruled out
- Spuerkeess denies link between regulatory sanctions and Caritas scandal
- Israel security cabinet approves total occupation plan for Gaza
- European NATO members commit $1B to US arms in Ukraine support scheme
1. Gerson Rodrigues suspended from national football team
© RTL Archive
The Luxembourg Football Federation (FLF) has suspended Gerson Rodrigues from the national squad for an indefinite period, citing the player's lack of remorse following his conviction for domestic violence.
- Rodrigues had sparked widespread criticism and several protest actions in June after being called up for international friendlies just weeks after receiving an 18-month suspended sentence.
- The FLF's decision aims to restore public trust, its reputation, and stabilise the team ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Backlash over June call-up – Despite being found guilty on appeal for domestic violence and bodily harm, Rodrigues was selected to play in June's matches against Slovenia and Ireland.
The decision triggered strong public protest, both online and at the Stade de Luxembourg, against the player, coach Luc Holtz, and FLF president Paul Philipp.
The incident adds to a string of recent controversies within the national squad, including tensions involving other key players and coach Holtz. The FLF has since announced the creation of an independent ethics commission.
Failed reconciliation – FLF president Paul Philipp later revealed that the federation had prepared a public apology for Rodrigues to sign during the June matches.
Rodrigues reportedly declined to sign the letter, a move Philipp described as "really disappointing", ultimately solidifying the board's decision to suspend him.
Looking ahead without Rodrigues – Rodrigues, 30, holds a record 23 goals in 72 appearances for Luxembourg since 2017. His most recent appearance was in June's draw against Ireland. He recently signed with Thai Kanchanaburi Power FC.
Meanwhile, Luxembourg will begin their World Cup qualifying campaign in September. The matches also mark the final chapter of coach Luc Holtz's 15-year tenure, with his contract ending in December.
2. Tango outage stirs concern weeks after Post disruption; cyberattack ruled out
© RTL Archive
Telecom provider Tango experienced a major service disruption Tuesday morning, just weeks after a cyberattack struck rival operator POST Luxembourg.
The disruption, which lasted from 5.20am to 9.30am, left nearly half of Tango customers without full mobile service, impacting voice calls, data, and even access to emergency numbers.
- Though initial concerns pointed to a broader cyber threat, Tango confirmed the outage was due to a hardware failure in its core network, not malicious activity.
Emergency access briefly compromised – During the outage, customers reported difficulties reaching emergency lines (112 and 113), prompting Luxembourg police to deploy officers to all stations as a precaution.
The High Commissioner's Office for National Protection also activated its crisis unit, underscoring the heightened sensitivity following POST's cyberattack less than two weeks prior.
Tango stressed that despite the incident, emergency numbers remained technically reachable at all times, and reiterated that customers could switch to another provider’s network to contact 112 in case of issues.
Cyberattack ruled out, but questions persist – Proximus, Tango's parent company, released a statement confirming that no signs of cyber intrusion were found, and that the outage was caused by a hardware malfunction.
The prior attack on POST, labelled a "very sophisticated and targeted" cyberattack, had triggered a national response and raised concerns about emergency preparedness. No data theft occurred in that incident, but the disruption affected mobile, internet, and landline services.
Calls for better preparedness – Gilles Mulheims, Tango's CTO, used the occasion to caution against over-reliance on single SIM cards or providers.
He recommended households and institutions diversify their telecom access and emphasised that having multiple networks available is the most reliable way to maintain emergency connectivity during service failures.
3. Spuerkeess denies link between regulatory sanctions and Caritas scandal
© RTL Archive
Spuerkeess CEO Françoise Thoma has rejected calls for accountability after the state-owned bank was hit with its third regulatory sanction in four years.
The most recent fine, issued by Luxembourg’s financial regulator (CSSF), has reignited scrutiny over internal controls and their potential connection to the ongoing Caritas fraud scandal.
Thoma defended her leadership and stressed that despite acknowledged compliance gaps, no direct causal link has been established between the fines and the Caritas case.
Three fines in four years – Spuerkeess has now accrued over €10 million in penalties since 2022, including prior sanctions from the European Central Bank for capital requirement miscalculations.
The CSSF's latest fine cited deficiencies in the bank's internal controls, particularly in detecting suspicious transactions and ensuring alignment with customer profiles.
While acknowledging these shortcomings, Thoma argued they were not sufficient grounds for her resignation: "We're constantly working on improvements. You can't do everything at once."
Avoiding disclosure – Opposition MPs slammed the bank for not informing the Caritas special commission of the recent fine while the appeal process was still open, citing procedural justifications. Thoma expressed regret for any resulting "misunderstandings", but maintained that it was "not the intention" to withhold key information.
Senior board member Romain Wehles added that while internal procedures were followed during client interactions, they now clearly require strengthening.
No clear link – While critics have drawn parallels between the sanctioned regulatory failures and the fraud involving Caritas, Thoma pushed back, saying that you can't claim a clear causal link. The CSSF also clarified that it was not its role to assess Spuerkeess's legal liability in the Caritas case.
Still, Thoma admitted that judicial proceedings could yet assign responsibility: "Whether that may be clarified in other proceedings remains to be seen".
The bank is currently in private negotiations with Caritas over a potential settlement. Thoma emphasised that such talks "do not represent an admission of responsibility" but are part of the bank’s duty to seek resolution with affected clients.
4. Israel security cabinet approves total occupation plan for Gaza City
© AFP
- The Israeli security cabinet approved the next phase of military operations, a total occupation, on Thursday, including expanded ground incursions into Gaza City and surrounding refugee camps.
- The government frames the escalation as a rescue operation to find the 49 remaining hostages, believed to be held in those targeted areas.
While Netanyahu claims Israel does not intend to govern Gaza long-term, the move has triggered fierce debate at home, fears of catastrophe in Gaza, and warnings from global observers about the humanitarian fallout.
'We want control, not governance' –In a Fox News interview, Netanyahu confirmed that Israel intends to "take control of all of Gaza", but added that the government plans to eventually transfer authority to Arab forces. He stressed the goal was to establish a "security perimeter" to prevent future Hamas-led attacks, not to remain an occupying power.
His comments come as Israeli media reported that top military leaders, including IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, raised concerns about the feasibility and risk of a full occupation. Zamir reportedly warned that such a strategy could become a strategic trap.
Gazans fear 'never-ending destruction' – Inside Gaza, the reaction has been one of dread. With more than 22 months of displacement, starvation, and bombardment, civilians say the announcement signals further disaster.
"There is no safe place anywhere", said Ahmad Salem, a resident of a makeshift camp near Gaza City. Displaced civilians fear new ground operations will bring renewed waves of death and homelessness.
UN agencies have echoed these concerns, warning that Gaza is on the brink of full-scale famine. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation said 98.5% of Gaza’s farmland is now unusable, and access to food remains critically limited. Aid deliveries, although slightly increased in July, still fall far short of the 600 trucks per day needed.
Hostage families protest – While the Israeli government frames the expansion as a step toward rescuing the 49 remaining hostages (27 of whom are believed to be dead), families of the captives are pleading for negotiation over escalation. Hundreds protested outside Netanyahu’s office, while others set sail from Ashkelon, hoping to draw attention to their cause.
Internationally, criticism has intensified. Senior UN officials warned that further escalation could endanger hostages and exacerbate famine. South Africa, meanwhile, reiterated its call for countries to recognise Palestinian statehood, framing Israel’s actions as “genocidal” and urging broader diplomatic pressure.
Despite the mounting alarm, Netanyahu has given no indication of backing down, even as Israel’s offensive (already responsible for more than 61,000 deaths in Gaza) enters its 23rd month.
5. European NATO members commit $1B to US arms in Ukraine support scheme
© AFP
The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark have pledged a combined $1 billion to purchase American weapons for Ukraine.
The mechanism, known as the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), was launched last month by US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and aims to rapidly arm Kyiv from US stockpiles.
The move comes amid escalating Russian assaults and renewed warnings that Ukraine's capacity to hold its defensive lines is stretched to the limit.
Dutch lead, Scandinavians follow – The Netherlands will provide €500 million ($577 million) to fund weapons drawn from US reserves, while the Scandinavian trio of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark will jointly contribute $500 million.
Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans framed the effort as a deterrent to Russian escalation: "By supporting Ukraine with determination, we are increasing the pressure on Russia to negotiate". He described near-daily Russian air strikes as "pure terror".
Sweden's Defence Minister Pal Jonson added that Ukraine was not just defending itself, but the broader security of Europe.
Weapons from US stockpiles – Under the PURL scheme, participating countries pay the US directly to unlock military hardware from American warehouses, enabling faster delivery compared to traditional aid mechanisms.
The Dutch package includes critical Patriot missile components and systems tailored to front-line defense. Sweden's contribution will fund air defense systems, including Patriot munitions, as well as anti-tank weapons and spare parts. Washington is expected to release equipment in $500 million increments as more countries join the scheme.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the initiative as a "strong step" that builds the foundation for lasting European security. "Russia will never turn Europe into a continent of war", he wrote on X.
Strategic timing –The announcement comes days before a self-imposed deadline set by President Trump for Russia to take steps toward de-escalation. Zelensky spoke with Trump earlier this week to discuss sanctions and bilateral defense coordination, though details remain undisclosed.
NATO Secretary General Rutte praised both the Dutch and Scandinavian efforts, calling them "swift and decisive". He emphasised that the success of the initiative relies on collective resolve among NATO members.
This $1 billion commitment signals growing alignment among European allies on the need to accelerate military aid, especially as Ukraine braces for continued Russian offensives and prepares for a prolonged war of attrition.
The best of... 📚
- Business & Tech – Google DeepMind has unveiled Genie3, a groundbreaking AI model capable of generating richly detailed, interactive virtual environments from a single text prompt.
- Science & Environment – A US judge has paused construction of the controversial "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center in Florida's Everglades, citing environmental concerns raised by conservation groups over potential damage to protected wetlands.
- Entertainment – Darth Vader's legendary lightsaber is set to be auctioned next month, but fans will need deep pockets to snag this piece of galactic memorabilia.
- Sport –Luxembourg’s ladies’ golf team made history, clinching their first-ever gold at the European Team-Shield Championship in Bulgaria.
And in case you missed it... ⚠️
- Strike turbulence– A historic strike by Ryanair ground staff threatens major disruption across nearly all Spanish airports until December 2025, with walkouts scheduled multiple days each week starting mid-August.
- France's worst fire in decades –A massive wildfire in the Aude region has burned more than 17,000 hectares, an area larger than Paris, leaving one woman dead, 13 injured, and 2,000 residents displaced.
- Fossil funds –Greenpeace has criticised Luxembourg's €30B Compensation Fund, revealing ongoing fossil fuel investments totalling €1.3 billion, and urging immediate divestment from coal and oil companies.
- AI milestone – OpenAI launched ChatGPT-5 on Thursday amid an accelerating AI race, promising expert-level performance across disciplines from coding to healthcare for 700 million users.
Your Weekly Recap is published every Friday at noon. Read earlier versions.
