Chronicle.lu

A 56 year-old woman was killed yesterday when she was hit by a train at Heisdorf.

The accident happened at around midday. Police reports indicate that the woman was crossing the railway tracks at the rue la Forêt Verte, opposite the rue du Chemin de Fer, when the barrier was closed. It is unlikely that she heard the uncoming train as she was wearing headphones at the time of the accident; the train driver did sound the horn but the woman turned round too late to be able to avoid being hit.

The woman, described as an Indian national, was declared dead at the scene of the accident.

St George's International School in Luxembourg-Hamm held a Private View of the GCSE & AS/A2 Art Exhibition yesterday evening in the Barthel Hall at the school.

In the presence of of teachers and students, parents and a number of invited guests, the eneving included musical accompaniement on piano and violin by students, as well as refreshments.

The students had put together a comprehensive and colourful catalogue which provided plenty of information for the discerning art-lover. It explained that the GCSE Art and Design is a 2-year course for pupils in Year 10 and 11. Over the two years they complete a personal portfolio of work based on a theme or themes of their choice. In January of Year 11, students are given an exam paper in which they are given a specific theme to explore over approximately 8 weeks and they then sit a practical exam where they complete a final piece of work in response to the work they have developed over the 8 weeks. This year's exam theme was "FORCE".

AS Art and Design is the first year of a 2-year A-Level course and is completed in Year 12. Pupils are required to complete two units of work. The first unit comprises course work which the students can base on a theme of their choice. The second unit is an an exam unit, with the theme "COVERT AND OBSCURED".

A2 Art and Design is the second year of the A-level course completed in Year 13, with 2 units as above. this year's exam theme for A2 level was "INSIDE, OUTSIE, IN BETWEEN".

BTEC Art and Design is a 2-year course which is assessed continuously, with students focusing on 3 projects this year: still life where they explored multi-disciplinary artwork; a kaleidoscope-themed project focusing onm surface pattern; an illustration project exploring the combination of words and images.

Photos by Geoff THOMPSON (above, L-R): Elen Jones, Art teacher; Mark Fleet, Secondary Head; Caroline Thomas, Art teacher

Berlitz Language and Business Training will organise an outdoor photo exhibition on Place Guillaume II from mid July to mid August 2013 with portraits of multilingual teens living in Luxembourg. The Grand Duchy is probably one of the most multilingual countries in the world. Most of the children and teenagers use three to four languages on a daily basis. The exhibition aims at highlighting Luxembourg’s multilingualism and diversity to visitors.

For this project, Berlitz is looking for teens aged from 13 to 17 years old who live in Luxembourg and speak five or more languages at a very good level. Young adults who would like to participate should send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 16 June 2013. They should include their address, date of birth, hobbies, the languages they speak and the origin of their parents in the email. They should also complete the sentence “I think that Luxembourg’s multilingualism is great because …” The writer of the most creative sentence will win individual language lessons.

The exhibition is being organised in cooperation with three partners: the Office Luxembourgeois de l'Accueil et de l'Intégration (OLAI), the American Chamber of Commerce in Luxembourg and the City of Luxembourg.

For further information please contact Berlitz Language and Business Training, Tel. 2638-3248, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , URL: www.berlitz.lu.

ArcelorMittal chairman and CEO, Lakshmi N. Mittal, met the Romanian president and prime minister on a one-day visit to the country last week. Discussions centred on the Romanian steel industry and the challenges facing it – including high energy prices.

“ArcelorMittal Romania is very important to us as a group,” said Mr Mittal to president Traian Basescu, who greeted him at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace together with prime minister Victor Ponta.

However Mr Mittal, who was joined by business division east CEO Sanjay Samaddar and other members of ArcelorMittal Romania management, raised his concerns about the sustainability of ArcelorMittal’s business in the country. He said measures must be taken to address the high and increasing energy prices that are hurting the competitiveness of the steel industry in Romania – and in the European Union (EU) as a whole.

Earlier this year, ArcelorMittal Romania’s management spoke out against the incentives being offered to the renewable energy industry, and the related rise in energy bills for heavy-duty energy consumers such as steel companies: “We are extremely worried by the explosive increase of energy costs through the measures of awarding incentives for renewable energy and the liberalisation of the pricing of local content of gas market. For us, these evolutions require an urgent re-equilibration in order not to lose the sustainability of the industrial activities in Romania”.   Energy costs for ArcelorMittal Galati, which employs 7,000 people, have risen by €25m (US$7.4m) in the past four years.

Mr Mittal’s comments came on the same day that Robrecht Himpe, ArcelorMittal management committee member and CEO of Flat Carbon Europe segment, issued a statement at the EUROFER European Steel Day which took place in Brussels, Belgium: “EU industrial policy should reduce operational costs such as the high costs of energy. It is important that Europe focuses on promoting growth and infrastructure investment and not only on austerity measures” said Mr Himpe.

Luxembourg's Minister for Tourism, Françoise Hetto-Gaash, has awarded 14 establishments with the tourist label "bed + bike" on Wednesday.  

One of the key themes of promoting tourism is active tourism and particularly cycling tourism. Luxembourg is a nation of bicycles and an attractive tourist destination for cyclists. To provide an opportunity for the customer, who has very specific requirements, it was deemed necessary to easily identify accommodation establishments that conform to their expectations; as a result, the Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Lëtzebuerger Vëlos Initiative (LVI) created the quality label "bed + bike" in 2011.  

The label "bed + bike" was developed by the ADFC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad Club) whose quality criteria certify that labeled institutions provide a warm welcome for cyclists. The label has already been proven and with over 5,400 establishments certified in Germany and more than 250 institutions in Flanders; it enjoys a good reputation in Europe.  

A secure storage for bikes, a healthy breakfast, a dryer for wet clothes and tools for small repairs - often it is the little touches that distinguish accommodation establishments that can meet the specific needs of cyclists.   Following an inspection by the LVI, 14 new accommodation establishments across the Grand Duchy are now owners of the label "bed + bike." In all, 36 hotels, 27 campsites, 10 hostels and 7 houses now carry this label, which brings to 80 certified establishments since February 2011 in Luxembourg. This success highlights the potential of cycling tourism and the interest of cycling customers.  

The label holders benefit from a specific promotion through various means of communication of the Ministry of Tourism, National Tourism, Regional Tourism Offices and LVI and German partners ADFC. To allow cyclists to easily find "bed + bike" establishments in Luxembourg, the LVI has set up the www.bedandbike.lu website.  

Institutions that have received the label: Hostellerie Val Fleuri Mersch; The Seven Hotel, Esch-sur-Alzette; Park Inn, Luxembourg; Hotel Esplanade, Remich; Mill Asselborn Asselborn; Manoir Kasselslay, Roder; Bungalowpark Hondsbierg, Dillingen; Camping Officiel de Clervaux, Clervaux; Camping Reilerweier, Reuler; Camping Schützwiese, Wasserbillig; Camping Neumuhle, Ermsdorf; Camping Bissen Heiderscheidergrund; Café-Restaurant der Gaessen, Eschweiler; Café-Restaurant der Gaessen, Eschweiler; Hostel, Bourglinster.

Luxembourg has a new website devoted to science and aimed at a broad audience, published in French and German. Whether it be children, teenagers or adults of all ages, those interested will find the science.lu interactive website full of information and inspiring about science and research in Luxembourg.

Science.lu presents both research projects and scientific actors in Luxembourg as well as scientific subjects of a more general nature. In addition, the new website provides information about events and fun and interactive activities including describing experiments to reproduce at home and give the opportunity to publish their own projects.

In addition, scientific questions can be posed to Mr. Science. In addition, the site offers people to explore careers in science and technology and participate in visits to laboratories and companies.

The goal is to present research and science while ignoring the professional jargon, but ensuring content that remains interesting and is presented in a surprising way. This joint initiative, which includes a large number of players in the world of science and research in Luxembourg, wants to help bring activities, knowledge and scientific results to the attention of the Luxembourg public.

Therefore science.lu also caters to all mediators and specialists in science communication by giving them the opportunity to make available to the general public information about their research projects and dissemination of science.

The Administration des ponts et chaussées has announced that resurfacing of the A6 motorway will take place this week-end between Strasen and Mamer.

Between 20:00 on Friday 24 May until 06:00 on Monday 27 May 2013, one lane in each direction will be closed at a time. As a result, Exit 3 (Bridel) and Exit No 4 (Strassen) will be closed to traffic coming from Belgium.

Traffic will be diverted to access the motorway at Helfenterbruck and Mamer.

The Inspiring Wo-Men Business Club is celebrating its 5-year anniversary on 26 June 2013 at Mercure Kikuoka Golf Hotel in Canach, from 14:30 - 22:30.

The professional networking event will celebrate the activities of the 125 members since the organisation launched in 2009. Events organised include golf, segway, massages, a cocktail with tasting of fine wines and a barbecue, live music and a magician - ad a large birthday cake!

Parellel workshops: 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, with the cocktail, barbecue and live music from 18:30 - 22:30.

Workshops

Workshop 1: Better Relationships mean Increased Profitability - Rachel Treece, Managing director, fast, 2011 Inspiring Woman of the Year in Entrepreneurship, Former senior manager in Marketing and Human Resources in Financial Services sector, Lecturer at London University, member Inspiring Wo-Men & David James, senior lecturer, fast – EN – www.fast.lu - 10 places

Workshop 2: Boost your self esteem to a rock – solid level - Irina Cristina Tudor, Certified Professional Coach ICA – EN - www.lovecoach.cupidosmatch.com - 15 places

Workshop 3 : Pierres précieuses et pierres fines sous microscope / Gemstones under microscope, hidden marvels and true value  - Marine Blin de Grandpé, president, BusBy Jewelry – FR / EN - www.busbyjewelry.com - 10 places

Workshop 4: Sparx your Leadership! - Catharina Biver & Tamara Sanne – Sparx Factory – EN - www.sparxfactory.com - 12 places

Workshop 5: Marketing de soi - Nicolas Ries, Partner, AIMS, member Inspiring Wo-Men – FR – 15 places

Workshop 6: Etre administratrice en 2013 - Viviane Neiter, administrateur de sociétés, fondatrice de Neiter Consulting – FR – 12 places

Workshop 3:  Employee engagement- what you need to know now - Yvonne White, Deputy Chief of Mission, British Embassy, member Inspiring Wo-Men – EN – 15 places

Workshop 6: Kamichi bai game - atelier team building - Pascale Marchal Griveaud, fondatrice et managing director, Agir Anticiper Durablement – FR – 20 places

Registration online at:  http://www.weezevent.com/inspiring-wo-men-5-ans-plus-tard, with payment to Group Moraru sàrl, BGLLLULL IBAN LU42 0030 6491 2434 0000.

Cost: Members free; non-members €95; members may invite 2 people free

Luxembourg-based MoodMe has been showcasing its unique "Living Portraits" in both sides of the Altantic with a good record of feedback over the past months. Last week the compnay got particularly lucky to be recognised for their work and business proposal in two very special settings:

- On 14 May, following a presentation to a 200 investor's audience at the European Business Angels Network annual Congress in Vienna, the company was awarded the "Most Promising Deal" amongst 6 pitching companies from different European countries. Dusan Stojanovic, super-angel recently awarded Business Angels of the Year, delivered the award.

- Later in the week, the company was again distinguisehd with the "Best Presentation Award" at the SVCWireless Conference in Silicon Valley to a mixed audience of US and Chinese investors and mobile market players.

MoodMe was also given prime time on 13 May by showcasing a demo video at the prestigious Soulier d'Ebène, the African football player awards ceremony held in Brussels. Being sports one of their key target groups, this opportunity was therefore very much appreciated.

Over the coming weeks: On 31 May MoodMe will be at the "Moments d'Invention" Conference in Nancy, France, and at ICT Spring in Luxembourg later on 19-20 June where they will present MoodMe and host a stand.

MoodMe released its first App for Apple mobile devices consumers at Apps World North America in San Francisco in February, the outcome of 2 years of business development, market research and Research & Development in 3D and facial recognition; it revolutionises the way we share emotions online.

The mobile application creates Living Portraits™, 3D models of human faces which can express many emotions. MoodMe offers the best level of realism with over 100 facial features and amazing skin texture. A Living Portrait is generated in a few seconds on a smartphone connected to the Internet.

The Luxembourg Chronicle, in collaboration with Utopia S.A., is offering ten pairs of FREE tickets to the second editon of Ciné Kränzchen on Tuesday 11 June at 16:30 at Ciné Utopia in Limpertsberg.

Ciné Kränzchen takes place once a month, also at Ciné Utopia, and started in May with the screening of the acclaimed British comedy drama Quartet. The Ciné Kränzchen concept involves films being screened in two languages (e.g. original version and German version), in late afternoon, with coffee and cake offered before the screenings. Tickets cost €10.80 (reduced price €9.30 (incl +65 yrs)). See http://www.utopolis.lu/en/events/39 for further details.

To read the film review, click here.

To apply for your FREE tickets to the Ciné Kränzchen on Tuesday 11 June 2013, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with “Ciné Kränzchen 11 June” in the subject line. The draw will be made at noon on Friday 7 June. Winners will be contacted directly and can choose which screening to attend upon arrival. Winning tickets will be available at the venue on the day.