A majority of nearly 55 percent of Swiss voters rejected a proposal to cap the country's population at ten million in a referendum held on Sunday. Launched by the right-wing populist Swiss People's Party (SVP), the 'No to a Switzerland of 10 Million' initiative proposed restricting the number of refugees admitted to the country once a certain population threshold is reached and, under certain circumstances, also ending the freedom of movement agreed with the EU.
According to several sources, the US and Iran have agreed on a framework deal to end the war. The announcement was first made by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country is mediating in the conflict. The official signing ceremony is due to take place on Friday. The details of the agreement remain unclear, as does the question of whether renewed Israeli attacks in Lebanon will jeopardise the deal.
British forces have intercepted an oil tanker in the English Channel that appears to belong to Russia's shadow fleet. Russia uses the vessels to evade Western sanctions and generate revenues from oil shipments which are then used to fund the war against Ukraine. The British media praise the move, not only for its impact on Russia.
Romania needs a new prime minister after Ilie Bolojan of the National Liberal Party (PNL) was ousted by a vote of no confidence. Bolojan had announced his intention of naming his successor. However, President Nicușor Dan appointed a second candidate at the weekend, Adrian Veștea, without consulting the parties, after it became clear that the first candidate would be unlikely to secure a majority. Romania's media call for an end to the president's unilateral moves.
With a valuation of around 1.8 trillion US dollars, the space technology company SpaceX is going public today, June 12. Founder and majority shareholder Elon Musk – already the richest person in the world by far – is expected to become the first ever trillionaire. The staggering figures provoke some admiration and a lot of consternation in Europe's press.
After ten years of negotiations and preparations, the Common European Asylum System comes into force today. The system is meant to centralise data collection, distribute the burden more fairly among EU member states and limit immigration overall – for example by setting up centres for fast-track asylum procedures at the EU's external borders. Media reactions are for the most part sceptical.
The rape and murder of 11-year-old Lyhanna has sparked a wave of outrage in France. Despite the fact that her alleged killer had been reported to the police on several occasions in the past, the judicial authorities failed to take action. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin is now rushing to have 70,000 cases of sexual violence against minors reviewed.
The Estonian Parliament has passed a law that fundamentally changes its Penal Code on sexual offences after total of 69 members of parliament voted in favour with only 8 against. The basic principle of the 'yes model' is that sexual contact without clear consent is considered rape. This brings Estonian law into line with the Istanbul Convention on preventing violence against women.
The Fifa Men's World Cup has kicked off, the first matches have been played. A record 48 teams will compete in more than 100 games held across the three host nations, Mexico, Canada and the US, until the final on July 19. But many of the organisers' decisions seem at odds with the values the sport is supposed to embody, note commentators.
Last Sunday marked the 100th day of the US and Israel's war against Iran. Despite the agreed ceasefire, military clashes between Washington and Tehran continue to occur. In addition, Lebanon remains a flashpoint where Israel and Hezbollah are engaged in fierce fighting. Commentators paint a grim picture of the situation in the Middle East.
A second night of rioting has rocked Northern Ireland after a video of a knife attack which left a man seriously injured on Monday was circulated online. The incident has triggered mass anti-immigration protests, with vehicles and buildings being set on fire. According to the police, the suspected perpetrator is a 30-year-old man from Sudan.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree giving a Ukrainian army unit the honorary title "Heroes of the UPA". However, in Poland the nationalist Ukrainska Povstanska Armiia (UPA) or Ukrainian Insurgent Army is notorious for the mass murder of civilians during WW II. Polish President Karol Nawrocki and his predecessor Lech Wałęsa are now calling for Zelensky to be stripped of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest state honour, which he was awarded in 2023. Can the rift be bridged?