Here are five things you should know at the end of this week:
Delegation heads of the CSV and the DP are set to meet again on Friday to continue work on establishing the new government.
Establishing the next government - The delegation heads of the Christian Social Peopleâs Party (CSV) and Democratic Party (DP) are meeting on Friday at Senningen Castle to continue working towards the establishment of a new government. âWe want to have strong businesses, interesting jobs, and a well functioning public service,â explained CSV leader Luc Frieden while addressing the press on Monday. However, the question of leadership roles and ministerial positions remains wide open.
Conclusion before the end of the month? - The housing and construction crises are pivotal issues in negotiations, along with the countryâs economic standing. To identify the key priorities for the governmentâs first year, twelve task forces were established, covering areas such as finance, housing, healthcare, environmental issues, education, and the fight against poverty. The head of the CSV delegation set the tone last week, calling for âa resolution before the All-Saints holidays.â
New faces in the Chamber? - As the coalition partiesâ candidates are most likely to enter ministerial roles once negotiations conclude, it is highly likely that other candidates will be moved into the Chamber of Deputies to replace them as MPs. RTL speculates on the most likely candidates to join parliament over the next legislative period.
The Lunghi case trial, which began on Monday, revolves around whether an RTL televised report unfairly portrayed former MUDAM director Enrico Lunghi with the intent to harm his reputation.
Four people have appeared in court since Monday to respond to allegations of slander, defamation, and involuntary bodily injury in the form of âmental health problemsâ by Lunghi.
A surprising turn of events during the trialâs final day occurred when former RTL journalist Sophie Schram unexpectedly took the stand.
What is the case about? - In October 2016, RTL journalist Sophie Schram interviewed the then director of the MUDAM museum, Enrico Lunghi, for the programme Den Nol op de Kapp. Footage broadcast on TV showed the interview turning sour, with Lunghi grabbing Schram by the wrist. However, it was later revealed that the footage had been edited in a questionable manner and the original version showed Lunghi apologising for his behaviour.
The affair had significant fallout, leading to the resignation of Enrico Lunghi as MUDAM director and Alain Berwick as director general of RTL. Berwick as well as the then head-of-programming Steve Schmit, the creator of the original report, Marc Thoma, and Schram have been sued for slander, defamation, and involuntary bodily injury in the form of âmental health problemsâ by Lunghi.
Possibility of acquittal - On Day 3 of the trial, the prosecutor said Steve Schmit should be acquitted of all charges, after he told the court that Schmit had argued against airing the report in its current form, but had been overruled by director Alain Berwick. However, the prosecutor also believes Berwick should be acquitted, as he had given the report the go ahead despite only watching the raw footage, rather than the edited product.
Sophie Schramâs testimony - The journalist at the heart of the case told the court she had suffered physical and psychological damage as a result of the incident. Both Schramâs and Lunghiâs medical certificates were consequently called into question, while the remaining defendants presented their cases on Thursday. The verdict is expected to be delivered on 14 December.
As of 18 October 2023, 755,240 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine had been earmarked for destruction, or already destroyed, according to a parliamentary response by Paulette Lenert.
Lenert said the cost of the destroyed doses is estimated to be around 16 million euros, although Luxembourg had been contractually obligated to purchase a certain number of doses as part of an EU effort.
The news follows the National Health Directorateâs recommendation that vulnerable people should continue to get vaccinated this autumn.
16 millions eurosâ worth - Over 755,000 Covid vaccine doses purchased by Luxembourg have been destroyed to date, outgoing health minister Paulette Lenert wrote on Thursday.
Vaccination still recommended- The number of Covid-19 infections is once again on the rise, with approximately 360 new cases reported weekly. Vulnerable groups including people over 65, individuals with chronic health conditions (such as heart or lung disease), and pregnant women, should take protective measures such as vaccination, according to Dr Jean-Claude Schmit, Head of the National Health Directorate.
What if you test positive? - Should people go to work if they test positive for Covid now? Dr Schmit and the Chamber of Employees offer advice on how to handle coronavirus in the workplace now that the pandemic emergency has ended.
Brussels police on Tuesday shot and fatally wounded an attacker accused of gunning down two Swedish football fans just before a Belgium-Sweden football match.
Belgiumâs prime minister Alexander de Croo condemned the incident as an act of âterrorist madnessâ and said the suspect was of Tunisian origin and had been living in the country illegally. In a social media post after the killings, the gunman had boasted of being inspired by the Islamic State extremist group.
Police opened fire on the suspect after he was cornered following an overnight manhunt in north central Brussels. He later died of his wounds, prosecutors said.
Two dead, one injured - The attack took place in the city centreâs northern districts, just 5 kilometres away from the stadium where Belgium faced Sweden in the European qualifiers on Monday 16 October. Police had been alerted to the incident after 7.00 pm local time (1900 GMT). The gunman, who was said to be wearing a hi-visibility orange jacket, opened fire on passersby before fleeing on a scooter. âThe terrorist attack that happened yesterday was committed with total cowardice, the attacker chose as a target two Swedish football fans,â de Croo told a news conference on Wednesday, adding that a third person -- a taxi driver -- was seriously wounded.
Match abandoned - The Belgium-Sweden match was abandoned at half-time and fans were kept in the King Baudouin stadium for security reasons. Some 35,000 fans were later evacuated. âFollowing a suspected terrorist attack in Brussels this evening, it has been decided after consultation with the two teams and the local police authorities, that the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden is abandoned,â UEFA said on its website.
Officers provided extra protection for Swedish nationals at the game, escorting Swedenâs national players directly to the airport to leave safely. Two Luxembourgish students shared their experience at the match with RTL following the incident.
Threat levels - Belgium raised its threat risk to its highest level following the killings, before lowering it from four to three on Tuesday after assessing that the imminent threat had reduced following the death of the suspect. Luxembourgâs Xavier Bettel convened the Counter-Terrorism Coordination Group (GCT) to evaluate the threat level here in the Grand Duchy following the Brussels attack, with Luxembourg maintaining threat level two until further notice.
In a speech from the Oval Office on Thursday, President Joe Biden said that defeating Hamas and Russia was a vital US interest.
âAmerican leadership is what holds the world together,â Biden said in just the second Oval Office speech to the nation of his presidency from behind the historic Resolute Desk.
In Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Biden backed Israel as it gears up for a ground invasion of Gaza after the October 7 attacks by Hamas which killed more than 1,400 people.
New funding for Ukraine and Israel - Biden plans to make an âurgentâ request to Congress on Friday for funding to help Ukraine and Israel, arguing that this was an investment for the United Statesâ future on the world stage for decades to come. Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin ârepresent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy,â he said
Visit to Tel Aviv - Earlier this week, Biden cautioned Israelis not to be blinded by rage after suffering their deadliest ever attack, warning that the United States made mistakes after September 11. âI caution this while you feel that rage, donât be consumed by it. After 9/11, we were enraged in the United States. While we sought justice and got justice we also made mistakes,â Biden said on a visit to Tel Aviv.
On Wednesday, Biden told reporters he had seen âdataâ from the US Defense Department backing his assertion that Palestinian militants, not Israel, were to blame for a devastating strike on a Gaza hospital.
Aid to Gaza - Israel would let aid enter Gaza via Egypt in light of Bidenâs demand, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuâs office announced Wednesday, saying only âfood, water and medicineâ would be allowed into the blockaded Palestinian enclave. According to the United Nations, more than one million of Gazaâs 2.4 million people have been displaced and that the humanitarian situation is worsening by the day, with no green light yet to send in the trucks lined up at the border. However, the first aid delivery into the besieged Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt was due to take place âin the next day or soâ, the UN said Friday.
âWe are in deep and advanced negotiations with all relevant sides to ensure that an aid operation in Gaza starts as quickly as possible... a first delivery is due to start in the next day or so,â UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said, his spokesman told reporters in Geneva.
Business & Tech - A group of young Luxembourgish developers have just launched âLETZ AIâ, the Grand Duchyâs first artificial intelligence.
Science & Environment - UK police on Tuesday removed Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg from a protest outside the Energy Intelligence Forum.
Entertainment - Britney Spears says in her eagerly anticipated new memoir that she had an abortion during her relationship with Justin Timberlake over two decades ago.
Luxembourg policing- Why do police officers photograph cars during checks? The Grand Ducal police explains.
Jurassic Park star - Hollywood heavyweight Jeff Goldblum popped into Luxembourgâs Konrad Bar & Cafe before performing at the Philharmonie on Friday night.
Pitfalls of home ownership - Apartment owners in Luxembourg voice their frustrations over delayed repairs and maintenance, urging potential buyers to scrutinise the efficacy of property management companies before making a purchase.
Your Weekly Recap is published every Friday at noon. Read earlier versions.
