Here are five things you should know at the end of this week:
Real-life heroes – The annual award, based on public votes, honours individuals who have made a significant impact through courage, compassion, or service. From a shortlist of six men and six women, Semedo and Raus stood out for their decisive actions in life-or-death situations, each saving a life through calm, selfless intervention. Both recipients have downplayed their heroism, instead highlighting the role of teamwork, training, and community responsibility.
Preparation is key – Without hesitation, Semedo called emergency services when a teen at her youth centre collapsed. Guided by their instructions and her own first aid training, she began CPR. Her swift response kept the teen alive until help arrived.
The boy later underwent surgery in Brussels and made a full recovery. Semedo’s experience led her to advocate for mandatory first aid training, stressing that anyone might one day face a similar situation where knowing what to do can make the difference between life and death.
Personal risk ignored – Raus was the quickest to react when spotting a woman about to drown in freezing floodwaters, racing to the scene with his team and, with no time to lose, tying himself to a rope before diving into the freezing, murky water in full gear. He managed to push her to safety, though he struggled to return to shore himself and later suffered hypothermia and an infection from the polluted water.
Despite the personal risk and aftermath, Raus said what mattered most was saving a life – a belief that drives his daily work.
Altercation recorded – The incident took place on Avenue de la Liberté near Luxembourg’s central station on Saturday evening and was partly captured in mobile phone videos shared with RTL. The footage shows two boys fighting on tram tracks before police arrive and intervene. One teenager, D, is restrained by officers while the other, M, escapes the scene.
The beginning of the altercation was not recorded, making it difficult to determine who started the fight. Nonetheless, the focus on detaining only one participant has sparked criticism, especially since both boys are minors.
Disproportionate force? – Crisalida S, the mother of D, contacted RTL to express concern about the police’s handling of the situation. She claims her son, whom she describes as calm and of slim build, did not provoke the fight and did not resist arrest. She was particularly upset by the footage showing her son being pinned to the ground while the other boy fled.
Her son suffered minor injuries and required medical attention following the arrest. Crisalida argues that the officers used unnecessary force and failed to act equally toward both teens, which she believes warrants formal complaints.
Contextual concerns – In a response to RTL, police acknowledged being alerted to the fight and stated that their patrol arrived to separate the individuals involved. One teen was detained, while several bystanders were held back after attempting to interfere. Police confirmed a report was filed with child protection authorities and emphasised that their role in such situations is to restore calm and protect those involved, including themselves.
Regarding the mobile phone footage, they noted that while filming officers in public is generally legal, how the material is used can raise privacy or defamation concerns under GDPR rules. The role of the video in the investigation remains undetermined.
Extreme cold forecast – In response to forecasts predicting severe cold weather over the New Year, Luxembourg authorities have increased emergency shelter capacity at the Findel facility by 38 beds. This decision follows internal procedures triggered when extreme weather is expected, ensuring that those without housing are not left exposed to dangerous conditions. The measure aims to safeguard vulnerable individuals as temperatures in the Grand Duchy are set to fall as low as -6°C at night.
Vital services – Operating from 15 November to 15 April, the Wanteraktioun (WAK) programme provides essential support to homeless adults in Luxembourg during the harshest months of the year. Managed by the Dräieck nonprofit – a partnership between the Luxembourg Red Cross, Hëllef um Terrain, and Inter-Actions – and supported by the Ministry of Family Affairs and related government bodies, the initiative offers temporary accommodation, meals, sanitary facilities, and other vital services.
Emergency protocols – Authorities in Moselle, France, have already implemented level one of their extreme cold weather protocol in anticipation of a cold snap similar to that affecting Luxembourg. Prefect Pascal Bolot announced the activation of emergency measures starting Tuesday, 30 December at 8am, allowing for the rapid deployment of assistance to vulnerable populations, especially homeless individuals.
The move comes amid heightened concern following the discovery of a man’s body in north-west Paris, believed to have died from exposure despite the city’s own cold weather plan being in effect at the time.
Historic tragedy – A devastating fire broke out during New Year’s celebrations at Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, resulting in the deaths of approximately 40 people and injuries to more than 100 others, many of them serious. The blaze began around 1.30am and quickly engulfed the venue, turning what was meant to be a festive night into one of Switzerland’s worst peacetime tragedies.
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, though authorities have ruled out foul play or a deliberate attack, prompting a full investigation into how such a catastrophic event could have occurred in a popular, high-end tourist destination.
People still missing – Swiss police and investigators are racing to identify the victims, many of whom are foreign nationals – including at least one Luxembourger – given the international nature of the resort town. The process is complicated by the severity of the injuries and the chaos that followed the fire, with many people still missing and families desperately seeking information.
Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of panic, with patrons smashing windows to escape and severely burned individuals fleeing into the street. Some reports suggest that sparklers attached to champagne bottles may have ignited the fire, raising serious concerns about safety practices during celebratory shows performed by the bar’s staff.
National mourning – As local hospitals became overwhelmed, many of the injured were transported to facilities across Switzerland and neighbouring countries such as France and Italy, which are also assisting with medical care. French and Italian officials confirmed that several of their nationals are among the injured and missing, while the European Union has offered support to Swiss authorities.
Meanwhile, investigators are focusing on whether the bar complied with fire safety regulations, including the number of exits and use of pyrotechnics indoors. The Swiss president has declared a period of national mourning, calling the event a calamity of “unprecedented, terrifying proportions” that has left communities across Europe reeling.
Ample time – The heist took place at the Sparkasse bank branch in Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, where robbers used a large drill to access the underground vault from an adjacent parking garage. The operation, which occurred during the extended Christmas holiday break when businesses were closed, allowed the thieves ample time to break into over 95% of the 3,250 customer safe deposit boxes.
The total estimated value of the stolen contents was around €30 million, though some victims claimed their personal losses exceeded the insured value of their boxes.
Late discovery – The burglary was only discovered when a fire alarm was triggered in the early hours of Monday, prompting emergency services to uncover the hole drilled into the vault. Security footage showed a black Audi RS 6 with masked individuals leaving the scene, and investigators later found the car’s licence plates had been stolen in Hanover.
Witnesses also reported seeing men carrying large bags in the stairwell of the nearby garage between Saturday and Sunday, reinforcing suspicions that the perpetrators spent much of the weekend inside the bank executing the theft.
Hollywood heist – As of Tuesday, the robbers remain at large, and police have described the operation as highly professional, comparing it to a scene from the film Ocean’s Eleven. Hundreds of anxious customers showed up outside the bank demanding information, but the branch remained closed for security reasons after threats were made against employees.
A hotline has been established for affected customers, and the bank has promised to inform them in writing about next steps while working closely with insurers to assess and compensate the losses.
Your Weekly Recap is published every Friday at noon.
