Archive
2026
451,000 Heat Deaths From El Niño? Behind the Forecast
A report puts possible heat-related deaths during the El Niño phase at 451,000. JournalPlus explains how the figure is built, where its limits lie and what follows from it.
Hurricane Polo: How a tropical storm became Category 5 in 24 hours
Hurricane Polo intensified in the eastern Pacific at exceptional speed. Which conditions made the jump possible and what can be drawn from it.
Three million for Ukraine's harvest: why storage space matters now
Switzerland is providing three million francs for Ukraine's grain harvest. The aid closes an often overlooked gap between field, storage and export – but it does not solve the transport problem.
VW steering recall: What owners in Switzerland need to know
Millions of VW and Audi vehicles are being checked for a possible weak point in the steering gear. The decisive factor is the vehicle identification number – not just the model and year of construction.
Parmelin touts free trade – where Switzerland stays open and where not
Guy Parmelin warns against new trade barriers at the UN. How consistently does Switzerland apply that standard in its own trade policy?
Cartel allegation against FINMA: who sets hospital add-on prices
A joint industry model is meant to make hospital bills easier to understand. The dispute turns on whether FINMA thereby only protects the insured or indirectly intervenes too heavily in private tariffs.
Health insurance premiums 2027: What is known before the announcement
The median premium has risen by just over 25 percent since 2022. What is already settled before the official 2027 premium round – and how insured people should compare afterwards.
Ed Sheeran: Two Gillette Concerts Cancelled Due to Severe Weather
Both Ed Sheeran shows at Gillette Stadium are off. What is known about the severe weather warning, the stage teardown, refunds and the tour crisis that came before.
For first time, US does not invite OSCE to midterms
For the first time since OSCE observation began, Washington has not invited observers for a US federal election. What the organisation checks – and what its absence actually means.
Windows emergency update: which faults are fixed – and which remain
After the September patch, Microsoft releases out-of-band updates for Windows 10 and 11. Who needs them depends on the version and the fault; one USB audio sub-problem remains open.
Voting day 2026: what the double No means
Neutrality and food: both popular initiatives fail with more than 70 percent No. What the clear verdict means politically – and what comes next.
Winter tyres in late September: no Swiss mandate, but clear risks
When winter tyres make sense, why the O-to-O rule is only a rule of thumb, and what legal and insurance consequences summer tyres can have.
Counting calories: why a 100 kcal gap rarely ruins progress
How accurate calorie counting needs to be, where hidden energy lurks, why restaurant food is hard to estimate and why the scale can stall despite a deficit.
Global Diesel Squeeze: Why Switzerland May Feel the Price Surge
International diesel prices have risen sharply. What role refineries, Rhine levels, mandatory stockpiles, the franc and levies play for Swiss prices.
Autumn fatigue: what light changes – and when vitamin D helps
Why many people find it harder to get out of bed in autumn, how morning light helps, and for whom vitamin D supplements in Switzerland are actually recommended.
What changes in Switzerland on 1 October 2026: five key updates
Five changes take effect in Switzerland on 1 October 2026. JournalPlus explains who is affected, which deadlines apply and when action is actually required.
Autumn holidays 2026: Six Swiss outings with a rain plan
Six concrete Swiss rain-day destinations for the 2026 autumn holidays – with checked opening hours, time needed, public transport tips and a new suggestion from French-speaking Switzerland.
Pumpkin, mushrooms and chestnuts: healthy – but for very different reasons
Pumpkin is light, chestnuts supply starch and mushrooms bring little energy – yet sweeping health promises are misleading. A sober comparison.
Household costs autumn 2026: what costs more, where relief comes
In autumn, some bills rise because of consumption, others because of tariffs. What electricity, heating, rents, fuel and premiums mean for Swiss households.
Voting Sunday: Two initiatives, two constitutional decisions
The neutrality initiative and the food initiative are on the same ballot, but they would reshape entirely different policy fields. The main consequences compared.
Bracket Creep 2027: What the Automatic Adjustment Does
The new circular sets out the inflation adjustment for direct federal tax in 2027. What matters is how income, deductions and personal circumstances interact.
US deportations: What 25,447 recorded third-country cases reveal
According to investigations, more than 25,000 people have been sent from the US to third countries. The figures, the costs and the legal dispute in a fact check.
Bilateral III: How much autonomy Switzerland really keeps
Bilateral III creates no automatism for all EU law. Yet in six internal market agreements, the political price of a Swiss no is shifting.
Vote on 27 September: Both initiatives trail in the latest SRG poll
The latest SRG trend poll puts both proposals clearly in the no camp. How robust the figures are – and why voting day still must not be pre-empted.