RTL Today - Your Weekly Recap: Medicine Master's degree announced, Strassen neo-Nazi sentenced, and Hong Kong ravaged by deadly fire

Your Weekly Recap for 24–28 November 2025.

Here are five things you should know at the end of this week:

Luxembourg to launch first medicine Master's degree by 2029
Parliament debates land consolidation bill aimed at unblocking development
Strassen neo-Nazi sentenced to eight years in prison over terror plots
Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades claims 94 lives
Kyiv rejects Putin's ultimatum as Russia claims new territorial gains

1. Luxembourg to launch first medicine Master's degree by 2029

Luxembourg will introduce its first full Master's programme in medicine by 2029 or 2030, Higher Education Minister Stéphanie Obertin announced this week.
The programme follows a positive external evaluation of the current medical bachelor's degree and aims to reduce reliance on foreign training.

Hospitals in Luxembourg are expected to play a key role in clinical training, with legislative work set to begin in 2027.

Major step forward – In an interview with RTL Radio, Minister Obertin confirmed the government's commitment to expanding medical education in Luxembourg, announcing plans to launch a full Master's programme in medicine by the academic year 2029/2030. This marks a major step forward for the University of Luxembourg, which has so far only offered a bachelor's degree in the field. The initiative reflects a strategic effort to strengthen the country's healthcare education infrastructure and respond to growing demands for locally trained medical professionals.

Expanding existing offer – A key condition for the development of a Master's in medicine was the external assessment of the existing bachelor programme, which Obertin confirmed had yielded positive results and would be presented to parliament shortly. The minister stressed that Luxembourg can no longer depend on neighbouring countries to educate its doctors, particularly in light of post-Covid mobility concerns and restrictive new policies abroad, such as the Sorbonne's decision to limit foreign admissions.

Legislation underway – Since clinical experience forms a crucial component of medical education, Obertin emphasised that partnerships with hospitals will be essential to the programme's success. She reported that Luxembourg's hospitals are ready to take on this responsibility and that a working group has already been established to coordinate planning. The legislative process to formalise the programme is scheduled to start in 2027, and its successful rollout will depend on continued collaboration between the university, government, and healthcare institutions.

2. Parliament debates land consolidation bill aimed at unblocking development

MPs this week discussed a proposed land consolidation law that would allow the Home Affairs Ministry to impose land swaps to unblock stalled construction projects.
Lawmakers raised concerns about landowner rights, dispute resolution, and practical challenges, with officials insisting expropriation would remain a last resort.
Questions remain around infrastructure financing, especially how to fairly manage costs for landowners who join projects at a later stage.

Public interest – The Luxembourg government is pushing forward a proposed law that would grant the Home Affairs Minsitry the authority to enforce land swaps, aiming to resolve situations where a single landowner blocks a major construction project. This "ministerial land consolidation" tool is meant to facilitate essential developments – such as housing or infrastructure – by bypassing deadlocks in negotiations. By mandating land exchanges rather than relying solely on voluntary agreements, the law seeks to ensure that one dissenting party cannot indefinitely delay projects deemed important for the public good.

Questions and concerns – During a parliamentary committee debate, several MPs expressed concerns about the practical implications of the law, particularly in cases where landowners might later object to a forced swap. Democratic Party MP and Luxembourg City Mayor Lydie Polfer questioned what legal options would be available in such scenarios.

Officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that a formal complaints mechanism would be built into the process and emphasised that extensive dialogue with landowners would still be necessary. They also stressed that expropriation would be used only as a last resort under constitutional rules, insisting that the proposed law would focus on "forced exchanges", not confiscation. The government is also weighing a policy of purchasing land directly in advance to smooth future consolidations.

Technical details – A key issue still under debate is how to fairly allocate infrastructure costs associated with new development projects. CSV MP and Hesperange Mayor Marc Lies pointed out the difficulty in managing contributions from landowners who only build at a later stage, after initial infrastructure investments are made. Mayor Polfer offered an example from Luxembourg City, where the municipality sometimes prefinances infrastructure for non-participating landowners, later recovering those costs – adjusted for inflation – when the land is eventually developed.

This approach requires clear legal agreements and reflects the broader challenge of ensuring fairness while promoting development. The Chamber of Deputies and the Council of State still need to work out these and other technical details before the law can be finalised.

3. Strassen neo-Nazi sentenced to eight years in prison over terror plots

A young neo-Nazi from Strassen was sentenced to eight years in prison, six of them suspended, for weapons offences, terrorist planning, and membership in extremist groups.
In early 2020, police had found explosives, a homemade chemistry lab, and evidence of a planned chlorine gas attack at Eurovision 2020, as well as a nail-filled package bomb and a darknet weapons order.
The court also linked him to the neo-Nazi group 'The Base' and an eco-fascist arson attack on a mink farm, while he now claims to be deradicalised and may appeal.

Defendant sentenced – The court handed the man an eight-year prison sentence, with six years suspended, alongside a five-year suspended probation that requires him to take part in a deradicalisation programme run by respect.lu and submit proof of participation every six months. Prosecutors had pushed for a much harsher 12-year sentence, citing multiple offences including breaches of weapons laws, terrorist planning, recruitment, training, and membership in a terrorist organisation. The case stems from an investigation that began when the defendant was just 18 years old.

Extensive planning – During a police raid of his home in Strassen in early 2020, officers discovered a fully equipped chemistry lab in the basement, containing substances such as nitroglycerin, TATP, and chlorine tablets, enough to potentially produce up to 1kg of explosives. Investigators also found a package bomb packed with nails, intended for a Swedish production company linked to controversial SAS promotional films. In addition, he had ordered a storm rifle on the Darknet and, with an online accomplice, planned a chlorine gas attack at the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam to cause mass panic.

Possible appeal – The man was identified as a member of the neo-Nazi terrorist organisation 'The Base', described in court as a leaderless resistance group aimed at destabilising Western society and triggering a race war to establish a white ethnostate. He was also part of the 'Green Brigade', an eco-fascist group that blends far-right ideology with animal rights activism. In 2019, he took part in the arson attack on an abandoned mink farm, for which he received a suspended prison sentence in 2021, and although he now studies chemistry in Sweden and claims to have renounced radical views, he may still appeal the verdict.

4. Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades claims 128 lives

A massive fire at Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court estate killed at least 128 people and burned for over 36 hours, making it the city's deadliest blaze in decades.
Authorities are investigating potential causes, including unsafe renovation materials, and have arrested three men and launched a corruption probe.
The disaster has triggered widespread community support, government aid, and a citywide inspection of housing estates under renovation.

Search and rescue operations – A devastating fire broke out at the Wang Fuk Court residential estate in Hong Kong's Tai Po district on Wednesday afternoon, rapidly engulfing multiple apartment blocks and burning for over 36 hours. The blaze, which became the deadliest in the city since 1948, has claimed at least 128 lives, including a firefighter and two Indonesian domestic workers, while dozens remain missing and over 50 are still hospitalised. Families have been searching hospitals and morgues in anguish, with emergency teams continuing search and rescue operations amid the charred remains of the estate's nearly 2,000 units.

Three arrests made – Authorities have launched a full investigation into the causes of the fire, focusing on the use of bamboo scaffolding and flammable plastic mesh that surrounded the buildings due to ongoing renovation work. Residents reported that fire alarms failed to go off, and some had to alert their neighbours manually as flames spread rapidly between blocks.

In response, Hong Kong's anti-corruption body initiated a probe into the renovation project, and police arrested three men suspected of negligence, including allegedly leaving foam packaging at the site, which may have contributed to the fire's intensity.

Spontaneous solidarity – The disaster has prompted a large-scale relief effort and renewed focus on fire safety standards in Hong Kong. The government has pledged HK$300 million (around $38.5 million) to support victims and has opened nine emergency shelters, suspended legislative election activities, and begun inspecting all housing estates currently under renovation. Meanwhile, spontaneous community action has seen volunteers set up aid stations distributing food, clothing, and medical care, with donations pouring in and many praising the solidarity and compassion shown by Hongkongers in the face of tragedy.

5. Kyiv rejects Putin's ultimatum as Russia claims new territorial gains

Vladimir Putin said Russia would halt its offensive if Ukraine withdraws from occupied regions, otherwise it will seize them by force.
The US has proposed a revised peace plan, which Putin called a possible negotiation basis, though Ukraine firmly rejects any territorial concessions.
Russia continues to advance in eastern Ukraine, with Putin claiming military gains and questioning Zelensky's legitimacy, while Kyiv denies key encirclements.

New ultimatum – Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Moscow will only stop its military campaign in Ukraine if Kyiv withdraws its forces from territories currently held by Russia or claimed by it. Speaking during a visit to Kyrgyzstan, Putin made it clear that if Ukraine refuses to cede these areas voluntarily, Russia will pursue them through continued military aggression.

The ultimatum comes as Russian forces maintain pressure in eastern Ukraine, where they have been making incremental but steady territorial gains in brutal battles. Kyiv has consistently maintained that it will not give up any land, making Putin's demand a direct challenge to Ukrainian sovereignty and a significant obstacle to peace talks.

Back and forth – The United States has presented a new draft plan aimed at ending the nearly four-year war, initially proposing that Ukraine withdraw from eastern regions such as Donetsk, with implicit recognition of Russian control over Donetsk, Crimea, and Lugansk. This original proposal, developed without consulting key European allies, drew backlash from Kyiv and European governments, prompting Washington to revise it over the weekend.

While Putin said the latest version – thought to be around 20 points long – could serve as a basis for negotiation, Ukraine flatly rejects any plan that involves giving up territory. Zelensky's top aide Andriy Yermak reiterated that Ukraine would not sign away land under any circumstances, underscoring the vast gulf between Moscow's expectations and Kyiv's red lines.

Russian momentum – On the battlefield, Russia is reportedly making gains in Ukraine's Donetsk region, with Putin claiming that cities like Pokrovsk and Myrnograd are fully surrounded – an assertion Ukraine strongly denies. Moscow is also advancing in other areas including Vovchansk and Siversk, aiming for control of key logistical routes such as Guliaipole.

Putin described the Ukrainian army's ability to resist as weakening and suggested little could be done to halt Russia's momentum. In a further complication to potential negotiations, Putin questioned the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, claiming it would be nearly impossible to legally sign agreements with him – remarks dismissed by Kyiv as politically motivated and destabilising.

The best of... 📚

Business & Tech – After three years of explosive growth and soaring valuations, the AI industry is heading into 2026 under mounting scrutiny over whether its boom is sustainable, its impact on jobs, and the risks of unchecked innovation.
Science & Environment – The toll from days of flooding in Southeast Asia rose on Friday, with at least 90 dead in Indonesia, and a hospital in southern Thailand announcing its morgue was full.
Entertainment – The Winter Egg, one of Faberge's most dazzling creations, is due to be auctioned in London next week and set another sales price record for the legendary jeweller of Imperial Russia.
Sport – Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo can play in the opening matches of the 2026 World Cup after global football governing body FIFA gave him a partially "suspended" ban on Tuesday following a red card.

And in case you missed it... ⚠️

Sports – Luxembourg City has unveiled long-awaited plans for a €140 million sports complex in Hamm, featuring two new athletics stadiums set to be ready for the Games of the Small States of Europe in 2028.
Police brutality – The final verdict has been delivered in a police brutality case, with the main officer sentenced to prison, fined €10,000, and banned from duty for 10 years. The four other officers implicated in the case have all received suspended prison sentences and fines.
Travel woes – Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden missed the EU-Africa summit in Angola after a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt was cancelled due to a technical issue, the Ministry of State has confirmed.
Military – The judicial administration confirmed Wednesday that former Defence Minister François Bausch and former Army Chief Alain Duschène will not face criminal prosecution for the fatal 2019 Waldhof shell explosion.

Your Weekly Recap is published every Friday at noon. Read earlier versions.