far right

Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to redefine the country's long-standing neutrality, with final government results showing more than 70% voting against it and a majority opposing it in all 26 cantons. The plan was championed by a right-wing populist party, which had argued Switzerland's neutral status should be stricter. The clear outcome preserves the current, more flexible interpretation of Swiss neutrality.

Far-right protesters in several countries have targeted non-political community groups, including lifeboat volunteers, going beyond brief disruption of services. Analysts writing in The Conversation argue the harassment of humanitarian and civic organisations is deliberate, aimed at intimidating institutions and reshaping public debate rather than at any political grievance against the groups themselves.

The United States is facing severe storms on opposite coasts at the same time, a pattern being attributed to the strength of the current El Niño. The climate phenomenon, driven by unusually warm Pacific Ocean waters, is influencing weather systems nationwide, with heavy storms hitting both the East and West coasts simultaneously and drawing attention to El Niño's far-reaching impact.