Switzerland

Federal government, cantons, popular votes.

Switzerland

US: First successful medical transport test by eVTOL, FAA calls it a 'major milestone'

The FAA, the US aviation regulator, called Tuesday, July 15, 2026 a 'major milestone' a first test of organ transport by eVTOL — devices nicknamed 'flying taxis'. An animal organ was transported aboard the ALIA aircraft from BETA Technologies between four airports in Virginia and Maryland. The test aimed to evaluate the feasibility of emergency transport of human organs for transplants. No eVTOL has yet been certified by the FAA.

15 July 2026 at 06:03

Switzerland

Crans-Montana Fire: Lombardy Seeks Entry into Swiss Criminal Investigation

The Italian region of Lombardy is attempting to join the criminal investigation into the fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana on January 1st. Represented by Ticino-based lawyer Paolo Bernasconi, Lombardy argues it has standing due to victims from the region and eleven patients treated at Milan's Niguardia hospital. The Republic of Italy filed a similar request with the Valais Public Prosecutor's Office in late April, which remains unresolved as of July 15, 2026. Several legal experts, however, believe Swiss law makes Lombardy's admission highly unlikely.

15 July 2026 at 05:27

Switzerland

Russian attacks on civilian ships: three killed in Black Sea and Odessa port

On the evening of July 14, 2026, Russian attacks killed at least three people on civilian and commercial ships, according to Le Temps. Two deaths were recorded on a ship struck by a drone in Odessa port, where a fire broke out on board. In the Black Sea, a commercial ship's captain was killed and three sailors wounded among eleven evacuated. These strikes came on the same day as a UN report revealing that June 2026 was the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since the war began.

15 July 2026 at 04:17

Switzerland

July 14, 2026: Nice Honors 86 Victims as Gibraltar Enters Schengen

On July 14, 2026, Nice marks the tenth anniversary of the July 14, 2016 attack, which claimed 86 lives on the Promenade des Anglais during Bastille Day fireworks. Victims and the Nice community say they have been overlooked by France, their tragedy overshadowed by the November 13, 2015 Paris attacks (130 dead). In Paris, 6,500 soldiers parade on the Champs-Élysées—Zelensky and 500 Coalition of Volunteers troops march for the first time. This is Emmanuel Macron's tenth and final Bastille Day as president. Gibraltar simultaneously joins the Schengen area, removing border fences with Spain. Brussels also hosts four EU accession conferences at once, a first in over two decades.

14 July 2026 at 10:49

Switzerland

Switzerland: New storms expected Tuesday afternoon, Level 3 alert for Wednesday

New thunderstorm cells are expected across large regions of Switzerland from Tuesday afternoon, July 14, 2026, ending several days of dry summer weather, according to Blick.ch. The storms are concentrated in Central Switzerland and the Zurich region, with the first cells forming around 2:30 p.m. in the Pre-Alps before moving eastward. Meteo Schweiz has issued a Level 3 alert—considerable danger—for much of Switzerland starting Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at noon. The Grisons region experienced severe weather the previous day on Monday, July 13.

14 July 2026 at 10:04

Switzerland

U.S. strikes Iran for third night as Trump ends truce, announces blockade

The United States struck Iranian targets for a third consecutive night on July 13-14, 2026, escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf. The strikes followed Iran's attack on two UAE-aligned tankers in the Strait of Hormuz with cruise missiles, killing one Indian sailor and injuring eight others. President Trump declared the truce terminated, announced a naval blockade against Tehran, and proposed a 20% tax on cargo transiting the strait. According to the New York Times, the tax could cost around $30 million per large tanker passage. The proposal sparked international criticism, with Brazilian President Lula da Silva calling it "piracy."

14 July 2026 at 09:56

Switzerland

Kevin Spadanuda (29) joins FC Zürich from FC Luzern

Kevin Spadanuda, a 29-year-old striker trained at FC Aarau, signed a two-year contract with FC Zürich on 14 July 2026. He leaves FC Luzern, the club where he played for the past three seasons. Before Luzern, he spent a season in France with Ajaccio. The transfer fee has not been disclosed.

14 July 2026 at 09:24

Switzerland

Mikaël Magliocco, Valais winemaker from Saint-Pierre-de-Clages, crowned Swiss organic winery of the year 2026

Mikaël Magliocco, a Valais winemaker heading the family estate in Saint-Pierre-de-Clages, was crowned Swiss organic winery of the year 2026 in mid-June 2026, according to Le Temps. This annual distinction recognizes Switzerland's finest organic wine producer. He runs the family domain passed down from his father, a winemaker-and-producer—a producer managing the entire value chain from vineyard cultivation to bottling. His calling to winemaking began in childhood: he started working the vines alongside his father at age seven.

14 July 2026 at 05:19

Switzerland

Max Eiselin, Swiss Alpine Pioneer, Dies at 94

Max Eiselin, a pioneering Swiss mountaineer from Lucerne, died on July 9, 2026, at the age of 94, according to an obituary published in the Luzerner Zeitung. As expedition leader of the successful first ascent of Dhaulagiri — the world's seventh-highest peak at 8,167 metres in Nepal — in May 1960, Eiselin orchestrated this historic achievement without supplementary oxygen and using only rudimentary equipment. A plane malfunction prevented him from reaching the summit himself. Earlier, in the 1950s, he had opened Switzerland's first specialised mountain sports retail store.

14 July 2026 at 05:16

Switzerland

Venezuela: Death Toll Revised to Over 4,500 as Oil Production Reported Intact

The death toll from Venezuela's double earthquake on June 24, 2026 was revised upward to over 4,500 as of July 14, 2026, according to official figures. Interim President Delcy Rodriguez declared on the same day that petroleum production remained unaffected at 1,203,000 barrels per day. The country's two main extraction basins—Lake Maracaibo and the Orinoco Belt—were not impacted by the earthquakes. The number of missing persons remains uncertain: the UN estimated up to 50,000 people missing two days after the earthquake on June 26, 2026.

14 July 2026 at 04:30

Switzerland

Peter Nygard convicted in Montreal of sexual assault: second conviction in Canada

A Montreal court found Peter Nygard guilty of sexual assault and confinement of an 18-year-old woman on July 13, 2026, for acts committed between 1997 and 1998. Nygard, 84, a Finnish-Canadian founder of Nygard International—a women's ready-to-wear company—chose not to present a defense, resulting in a de facto guilty verdict without a full trial. He is already serving an 11-year sentence in Toronto for sexual assaults against four other women. The Montreal sentence has not yet been set.

14 July 2026 at 02:10

Switzerland

Iran–US conflict: Third consecutive night of airstrikes, UAE tankers hit, blockade announced

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on July 13, 2026 at 4:45 p.m. ET (10:45 p.m. Central European Time) a third consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran. Two UAE-flagged oil tankers were hit by Iranian cruise missiles in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one Indian sailor and injuring eight crew members. President Trump announced restoration of a US blockade targeting Iranian ports near the Strait, effective July 14 at 8 p.m. GMT, plus a 20% tax on cargo transiting the waterway. Trump stated an agreement with Tehran remained "possible." WTI crude oil surged 4.1% to $74.33 per barrel on the evening of July 12 following the fourth wave of strikes in one week.

14 July 2026 at 02:02

Switzerland

Swiss Media Applauds Those Who Change Their Minds: Le Temps Editorial on Policy Reversals

On July 13, 2026, Catherine Frammery publishes an editorial in Le Temps titled "In Praise of Those Who Change Their Minds." This piece, part of the weekly series "Forming and Unforming Opinions," defends reversing political positions. Frammery cites historical examples: Switzerland's 1971 vote granting women voting rights (rejecting it around 1959), the SNB abandoning its EUR/CHF floor rate one month after confirming it, de Gaulle's shift on Algeria, French socialists' reversal on austerity, and Angela Merkel's 2015 "Wir schaffen das!" statement. The editorial also addresses social media algorithms creating "filter bubbles" that limit exposure to differing views.

13 July 2026 at 20:21

Switzerland

Winterthur: major police deployment in Seen district, cause unknown

The Winterthur city police (Stadtpolizei Winterthur) — the municipal police force of the city, distinct from the Zurich cantonal police — has been conducting a major police operation (Grosseinsatz) since the evening of Monday, July 13, 2026 in the Seen residential district, located in the south-western part of Winterthur. Heavily armed officers, an ambulance, and a drone have been deployed to the area. The neighbourhood has been cordoned off, though sources differ on whether the closure is partial or complete. The police have provided no official information about the nature or cause of the operation.

13 July 2026 at 20:05

Switzerland

Bardella positions himself as future Prime Minister under a Le Pen presidency

Jordan Bardella, president of France's far-right National Rally (RN), has publicly declared that Marine Le Pen 'aspires to preside over France' and that he himself wishes 'to govern it'. The statement, made during an interview with Richard Werly, an editorialist at Swiss media outlet Blick and broadcast on France24, positions him as a future Prime Minister. An Elabe poll—a research firm founded by Bernard Sananès—places Marine Le Pen ahead in voting intentions for France's 2027 presidential election. As of July 13, 2026, Raphaël Glucksmann had not yet officially confirmed his participation in the Socialist primary.

13 July 2026 at 02:54

Switzerland

China's Electric Tuk-tuks Replace 1950s American Cars in Havana

China's electric tuk-tuks have largely replaced the iconic 1950s American automobiles on Havana's streets following a severe fuel crisis. Since January 2026, when U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on nations selling oil to Cuba, petroleum imports have plummeted—only one tanker arrived since late March 2026, compared to eight monthly before. Cuba produces just 40% of its fuel needs. These three-wheeled electric vehicles from Chinese manufacturers now transport people, goods, and even garbage in some neighborhoods. While affordable to many Cubans, costing CHF 1,300–3,200, some owners installed solar panels to overcome frequent power cuts.

12 July 2026 at 18:21

Switzerland

Tribune de Genève offers catch-up reading selection for summer vacations

Tribune de Genève (TDG), a Swiss newspaper, published on July 11, 2026, a curated selection of novels recommended for summer reading. Rather than featuring new releases, this list focuses on previously published titles that readers may have missed—positioning it as a 'catch-up' selection for those looking to use their vacation time to revisit overlooked works. The article presents these recommendations as an opportunity to tackle accumulated reading backlogs over the summer months.

11 July 2026 at 16:23

Switzerland

Swiss Army: Shooting Simulators Considered to Reduce Training Exercise Noise

According to Tribune de Genève, the Swiss Army is considering testing shooting simulators — nicknamed "shooting galleries" — to reduce noise pollution from military training exercises. These devices would be modeled after shooting facilities used by hunters. The initiative responds to mounting complaints from residents about noise from military training drills. These reports stem from a single source and await further confirmation.

11 July 2026 at 16:23

Switzerland

Swiss Army: Shooting Simulators Under Study to Reduce Training Noise

According to 24heures.ch, the Swiss Army is considering testing shooting simulators—known as 'firing ranges' or 'shooting cinemas'—to reduce noise from military training exercises. This initiative stems from growing public complaints about the noise generated by these military drills. The proposed simulators would be modeled after shooting ranges used by hunters. No timeline for deployment, budget, or pilot site has been disclosed.

11 July 2026 at 15:23

Switzerland

24heures.ch unveils a 'catch-up' selection of novels to read during vacation

On July 11, 2026, 24heures.ch published a selection of novels for summer reading. Presented as a 'catch-up' list, it brings together titles that are not necessarily recent releases. The editorial team itself describes this as a 'small' selection. The initiative targets readers who want to revisit older or overlooked novels during their vacation period, offering a curated but limited collection rather than a comprehensive summer reading guide.

11 July 2026 at 15:23

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