Here are five things you should know at the end of this week:
Prime Minister Luc Frieden’s popularity has dropped sharply in the latest Politmonitor survey, while Xavier Bettel remains the most trusted and popular political figure in Luxembourg.
CSV slips – The June 2025 Politmonitor survey highlights a significant decline in public perception of Luc Frieden, who fell from fourth to eighth place in the rankings, losing 10 points in sympathy and perceived competence. This decline reflects a broader weakening of the standing of the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV), with many of its top members seeing notable drops.
In contrast, Democratic Party (DP) politician Xavier Bettel, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, remains the top-rated political figure, gaining two points and reaching 79% approval. Bettel’s sustained popularity stands in stark contrast to the broader dissatisfaction facing the current coalition.
Pension and employment – The survey shows that 40% of respondents now rate the government’s work poorly, with only 49% giving it a positive rating – a sharp drop from 61% in November 2024. A major source of discontent is the proposed pension reform, which would increase the number of contribution years; 60% of respondents oppose the measure, with strong resistance from voters of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP), the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR), and The Greens.
Furthermore, the majority of Luxembourgers side with trade unions in their growing tensions with the government, as 60% approve of the unions’ call for a national protest, and 55% feel the government does not adequately respect union positions.
Housing and defence – The Politmonitor confirms that housing is still the most pressing issue, especially among young people, while geopolitical tensions and the future of the pension system are also rising in importance. Despite growing political dissatisfaction, the monarchy continues to enjoy broad support, with 69% of respondents in favour of Luxembourg’s current parliamentary system.
However, nearly half of those surveyed believe the public should eventually vote on the monarchy’s future. Meanwhile, 61% support increasing defence spending to meet NATO targets, but only 47% agree it should align specifically with NATO commitments, and 59% oppose the introduction of mandatory military or civil service – particularly younger and Green voters.
Cargolux has denied claims that its planes flew through Iranian airspace, attributing the false reports to errors in public flight-tracking data.
The airline reaffirmed its use of accurate tracking systems and its commitment to safety amid ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.
Cargolux also confirmed that one of its subsidiary’s firefighting planes was involved in a water-refuelling accident in Turkey, with the crew safely rescued and taken for medical checks.
Accusations denied – Cargolux issued a firm rebuttal to allegations that its aircraft had recently flown through Iranian airspace, calling the claims “completely unfounded”. The accusations emerged on social media and appeared to be based on information from a public flight-tracking application.
According to Cargolux, this data was inaccurate and may have misrepresented flight paths not only for their own aircraft but potentially for other airlines as well. The company clarified that its operations strictly avoid Iranian airspace and confirmed that all flight routes remain within authorised corridors.
Precision tracking – In its statement, Cargolux underlined that it employs state-of-the-art tracking technology to monitor its aircraft in real time, ensuring precision and adherence to approved routes. This comes as tensions escalate between Iran and Israel, with both countries engaged in cross-border strikes resulting in casualties and damage.
Refuelling accident – In a separate development, Cargolux acknowledged that an Air Tractor AT-802F Fire Boss operated by its aerial firefighting subsidiary, Aquarius Aerial Firefighting, was involved in an accident while refuelling with water in Turkey. Although specific details about the incident were not provided, the company confirmed that the crew members were rescued by a police boat and transported to hospital for precautionary medical evaluations.
Cargolux launched its firefighting operations in May 2024 and currently operates a small but growing fleet of specialised aircraft, with plans to triple the number by 2026.
Blue Origin will open its first European headquarters in Luxembourg to manage its regional supply chain and support space sector growth.
The move strengthens Luxembourg’s role in commercial space exploration through its SpaceResources.lu initiative.
The agreement follows talks with government officials and includes plans for deeper cooperation in space technology and innovation.
European base – American aerospace company Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, is expanding its international presence by establishing a European base in Luxembourg. This office will act as a central hub for overseeing Blue Origin’s supply chain operations across Europe, a key component in scaling its commercial space activities.
Space exploration – Luxembourg continues to position itself as a leader in the global space economy, and the arrival of Blue Origin reinforces this ambition. The new office will support projects aligned with the SpaceResources.lu initiative, which promotes sustainable and peaceful space exploration, including missions related to lunar transport and in-space resource utilisation.
Shared vision – The announcement is the result of high-level meetings between Minister Lex Delles and Blue Origin’s CEO David Limp, demonstrating strong political and strategic support for the collaboration. A declaration of intent was signed to formalise future cooperation in areas such as advanced space technologies and exploration.
Both parties emphasised their shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and expanding Europe’s role in the new space economy.
Israel and Iran have entered a seventh day of intense direct conflict, with deadly airstrikes exchanged, nuclear sites hit, and fears growing of a wider Middle East war.
US President Donald Trump has demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender”, but continues to delay a decision on direct military intervention, saying diplomacy is still possible.
International powers are urging de-escalation, while Iran warns it will retaliate if the US crosses a “red line”, and internal unrest in both fighting countries grows amid arrests, evacuations, and rising civilian casualties.
Escalation – What began with Israel’s surprise aerial assault on Iranian military and nuclear sites has escalated into the most intense direct military confrontation between the two rivals in decades. Iran has responded with waves of missile and drone attacks, including hypersonic weapons, causing destruction in major Israeli cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa.
Israeli strikes have hit deep into Iranian territory, including Tehran and Mashhad, damaging nuclear infrastructure and killing high-ranking military officials. Civilian areas in both countries have been struck, and the death toll continues to rise, raising alarm over a potential regional spillover involving proxy groups and neighbouring countries.
US involvement – President Trump has adopted a confrontational yet ambiguous stance, publicly backing Israel’s campaign while repeatedly asserting that the United States is not involved militarily. Despite authorising deployments to the region and ordering the USS Nimitz closer to the conflict zone, Trump has not committed to joining the strikes.
Instead, he has issued dramatic warnings – including an evacuation alert for Tehran – and stated that Iran is seeking negotiations with Washington, though Tehran denies this. Trump has said a decision could come in the next two weeks, but his demands and unpredictable signals have left the region and international allies on edge.
Calls for restraint – Diplomatic pressure is intensifying, with the G7, the UN, and European leaders calling for restraint and a ceasefire. Countries like France, Germany, and the UK are urging Iran to resume nuclear talks, while China and Russia back Iran’s call for a Security Council session.
Meanwhile, Iran has accused the US of complicity in Israel’s actions and warned it will retaliate if the US crosses certain undefined thresholds. Inside both countries, fear and chaos are mounting – Tehran has seen mass evacuations, food and fuel shortages, and an internet blackout, while Israel has faced missile strikes on hospitals and city centres.
Arrests of alleged spies and collaborators have surged in both nations, compounding public anxiety.
Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed or injured in recent days near aid distribution sites in Gaza, with Gaza’s civil defence accusing Israeli forces of firing on crowds seeking food amid widespread famine.
The US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), operating since late May, has faced mounting criticism, including from the UN, for being linked to Israeli military aims and failing to safely deliver aid.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is deepening, with UN agencies warning of famine, collapsing medical services, and critically low fuel supplies amid continued Israeli military operations and limited aid access.
Chaotic scenes – In recent days, Gaza’s civil defence agency has reported that dozens of Palestinians, including women and children, were killed and hundreds more injured by Israeli fire while attempting to access humanitarian aid. These fatal incidents occurred near food distribution points in cities like Rafah and Khan Yunis, where large crowds had gathered amid severe shortages of basic necessities.
Witnesses and health workers described chaotic scenes, with bodies torn apart by shelling and gunfire, while the Israeli military said it was reviewing the reports or claimed it had identified potential threats. The attacks underscore the perilous conditions faced by civilians trying to survive under blockade and bombardment in what the UN has described as “the hungriest place on Earth”.
Trust eroded – The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), launched in late May with US and Israeli backing, has become the focus of growing criticism for its controversial role in food distribution. The UN and several major humanitarian organisations have refused to work with GHF, citing fears it serves Israeli military interests and fails to meet basic humanitarian principles.
UN inquiry head Navi Pillay labelled the foundation’s operation “outrageous”, particularly because people seeking food from its sites have repeatedly been killed. Despite claims from GHF that it has distributed tens of millions of meals, its operations have often been marked by chaos, violence, and a lack of transparency, further eroding trust in its ability to provide safe and neutral aid.
Overwhelmed and undersupplied – With over 55,000 Palestinians reported killed since the war began in October 2023, and more than five thousand deaths since Israel resumed major strikes in March 2025, Gaza faces an escalating humanitarian catastrophe. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned of catastrophic levels of food insecurity and the imminent collapse of vital services due to fuel shortages.
Hospitals, including the few still functioning in northern Gaza, are overwhelmed and undersupplied, often unable to treat even basic wounds. Meanwhile, the destruction of telecommunication infrastructure has further isolated the population, complicating relief efforts.
Business & Tech – President Donald Trump announced Thursday he had given social media platform TikTok another 90 days to find a non-Chinese buyer or be banned in the United States.
Science & Environment – A SpaceX Starship rocket exploded during a routine ground test in Texas late Wednesday, the company said, in the latest setback to billionaire Elon Musk’s dream of sending humans to Mars.
Entertainment – US actor and film producer Tom Cruise will receive an honorary Oscar ahead of the 2026 Academy Awards, the organisers said Tuesday, marking a career first for the Hollywood veteran.
Environment – A plant species believed to have vanished from Luxembourg City nearly a century ago has been rediscovered during the National Museum of Natural History’s annual Biodiversity Weekend.
Healthcare – Luxembourg’s National Health Laboratory (LNS) is looking to recruit 300 children and one parent each for a European study measuring chemical exposure, aiming to assess health risks and inform future protection policies.
Life in the City – Luxembourg City has climbed six places to 11th in the 2025 Global Liveability Index, just missing the top 10.
Your Weekly Recap is published every Friday at noon. Read earlier versions.
