Section
Abroad
US approves possible sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine
Washington gives the green light for a large Patriot purchase. The missiles must first be produced. Kyiv is therefore pressing to bridge the time until delivery with materiel from partner stocks.
After Frankfurt riots: 54 arrests and a row over consequences
The new tally from Frankfurt turns attention to the damage, the suspects and the police strategy. The next conflict is already looming over the protest announced for 20 November.
Young Germans protest against austerity and conscription
On 31 October, young people took to the streets in German cities. Their demands meet a sharply growing defence budget – and a military service model with differing obligations.
Israel after the election: a new vote is a risk, not a decision
The election is over, the question of government is open. Why neither Netanyahu's lead nor the sum of his opponents on its own decides the next government.
Stubb and Støre call Putin – without a mandate for all of Europe
The call of 27 October is confirmed. What matters is its limited representational role and the steps towards negotiations that remain open.
US Midterms: How Court Rulings Are Changing the Rules
The US election is not decided at the ballot box alone. A look at the original rulings shows which rules apply – and why emergency orders are not final judgments on the merits.
Protest violence in Barcelona and Tirana: two different conflicts
The images look alike, the political contexts do not. What the authorities confirm about the protest weekend and what Swiss travellers can take from it.
Israel votes on 27 October: the majority is still undecided
Why in Israel's election the votes of small parties, the 3.25 percent threshold and possible alliances matter more than first place.
France's protests: when does a revolution begin?
When does protest turn into revolution? An assessment of the French crisis, the European differences and the question of what a majority actually supports.
Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi: three sides plan, Europe's role unclear
Kyiv and Moscow hold out the prospect of new talks with the US in Abu Dhabi. What is new compared with Oslo, and why format, European involvement and outcome must be assessed separately.
After the Paris shootings: what the terror inquiry means
After fatal shootings west of Paris, the anti-terror prosecutor's office has taken over the case. What its involvement changes, and which questions remain open.
Donbas: Evacuation of families with children expanded
The evacuation zone for families with children is being expanded. Why protection, transport and accommodation belong together – and why front-line reports must be checked separately.
France before protest Saturday: bans have legal limits
Paris is clearing movable objects from the streets and boosting its services. What the announced restrictions mean – and what travellers must check separately.
Montenegro's EU accession: 21 chapters are only a stage
21 of 33 chapters are provisionally closed. Which steps Montenegro still lacks and why a summit cannot replace the accession treaty.
Kyiv under fire: Why protecting supply now matters
The attacks of 21 and 22 October hit daily life in Kyiv. What authorities report and why backup power alone cannot secure supply for a major city.
Italy travel: Yellow warning in parts of Tuscany on 23 October
Parts of north-western Tuscany are under a yellow thunderstorm warning on Friday. How travellers read official bulletins and tell flood risk apart from confirmed damage.
Magnitude 7 earthquake in Tibet: authorities report deaths
After the quake in northern Tibet, assessments and relief efforts are under way. What is confirmed, why early damage models are not a death toll and what travellers should consider.
European diplomats attacked in the West Bank: what Israel must clarify
A visit by European diplomats to the occupied West Bank ended in an attack by Israeli rioters, according to Belgian accounts. What is confirmed – and what remains open.
Yemen: Report on new UAE-Saudi coordination stays unconfirmed
A media report about new UAE-Saudi coordination in Yemen suggested far-reaching consequences. Official bodies have so far not confirmed the central arrangement.
Italy protests: what escalated in Milan and Bologna – and what did not
Clashes in Milan and Bologna have pushed Italy's purchasing-power debate into focus. What is documented – and what a single day of protest cannot show.
France's protests: prices are the trigger, not a unified movement
France experienced a conflict-laden day of protest. Price statistics and confidence data explain part of the discontent, but not the whole political movement.
Thailand in relentless rain: the next warning is what counts
The toll from Thailand's floods is heavy. But what matters in the coming days is the next weather warning – and how quickly it is turned locally into protection and information.
Death in Siberia: What Is Established – and What Is Not
After a death in Irkutsk, rumours about plague and biological weapons are circulating. The current state of knowledge calls for facts, not alarmism.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the police: what a lawsuit could clarify
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was released under investigation in February. A reported lawsuit against the police changes neither the presumption of innocence nor the burden of proof.
Heavy rain in Catalonia: two dead, 2,469 call-outs, warning limits
Two people died in Catalonia's heavy rain, with 2,469 call-outs. Authorities warn of swollen rivers, underpasses and flooded roads.
Up to 500 school closures in France: When safety sidelines lessons
France expects up to 500 schools to be fully or partially closed. The security decision exposes a deeper conflict in the education system.
France's school protests: austerity meets exhausted classrooms
The clashes at French schools are more than a question of public order. They link education quality, social inequality and a young generation's distrust of politics.
Flydubai FZ1073: What is confirmed – and why the investigation matters
After the emergency landing of a Flydubai flight in Saudi Arabia, much remains open. What is established above all: the investigation must clarify the sequence of events – not social media.
US intelligence: Saudi Arabia has not ruled out nuclear weapons
A secret US assessment warns of a possible Saudi nuclear weapons option. What is actually known – and why enrichment and IAEA safeguards are now centre stage.
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.
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.
Birth in Brazil: why Russian families take the long route
Russian families travel to Brazil to give birth. Behind this lie citizenship law, mobility and future security – combined with medical and legal risks.
Turkey offers Saudi Arabia military aid – but backing stays technical
Turkey declares itself ready to provide defence assistance to Saudi Arabia. What is technically possible, what the new pact delivers and which commitments are still missing.
Meloni plans school burqa ban: what Italy already regulates
Giorgia Meloni promises a ban on burqas and niqabs in schools. What already applies, how decrees work and which fundamental-rights questions remain open.
Greenland deal: more US military presence, no annexation
The announced Greenland deal is meant to strengthen the US military presence. According to Denmark, sovereignty and self-determination remain explicitly untouched.
Iran signals return to the deal — under hard conditions
Iran has conveyed conditions for new talks to the United States via Qatar. The known points of dispute remain unresolved — above all the war, the frozen assets and the Strait of Hormuz.
CDU fails in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, AfD wins but may not govern
The CDU misses entry into a Landtag in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern for the first time. Why the AfD's win still does not guarantee it government, and why Berlin sends a different signal.
Iran's UN Trip: What Lies Behind the US Shopping Rules
Behind the US conditions for Iran's UN delegation stand host-state obligations and authorisations for certain purchases. What the original documents actually record.
Canada Moves Closer to EU, But Its Model Has Limited Fit for Switzerland
Canada deepens its partnership with the EU without being a candidate for accession. For Switzerland, this is politically interesting, but not a replacement for its bilateral agreements.
Iran Plans to Criminalize Foreign Media Contacts
Iran aims to restrict its population's external contacts. A new draft law in Parliament targets interviews and communication with foreign media or actors deemed hostile to the Islamic Republic. The bill is not yet passed, and its scope is unclear. This poses a risk for Iranian nationals in Switzerland, as a contact allowed abroad could be deemed illegal upon their return to Iran.
Israeli Settlements: Switzerland's Position on Trade Curbs
International pressure on Israel is growing due to settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. On September 8, 2026, twelve nations, including Canada, France, and the UK, announced plans for national trade restrictions on goods from Israeli settlements, or support for European measures. This raises a key question for Switzerland: Will Bern adapt its trade policy?
Record Gas Prices in US: Fueling Up Also Significantly More Expensive in Switzerland
US gasoline prices reach an all-time high on Labor Day. In Switzerland, prices have also risen sharply since the start of the year, but the causes are not solely attributable to the situation in America.
Czechia Rearms Against Russia – What Does This Mean for Switzerland?
Prague plans long-term for a significantly less secure security situation in Europe. Russia is considered the greatest threat, and an attack on a NATO or EU state without warning is described as possible. For neutral Switzerland, a fundamental question arises: How much self-defense capability does a state outside a military alliance need?
Putin Receives Trump Envoys; Switzerland's Role Unclear
The US launches new diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine war. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Vladimir Putin in Moscow. They are scheduled to travel to Kyjiw next. Switzerland's potential role in these efforts remains unknown.
Homelessness: UK's Approach and Lessons for Switzerland
The UK aims to get people off the streets. Switzerland lacks current national data, but local surveys indicate that homelessness remains a persistent issue. The country could benefit from clearer statistics and early intervention strategies.