Four Israeli soldiers killed in booby-trapped building collapse in Gaza's Khan Yunis: The IDF has so farleased the names of 866 soldiers killed since October 7, 2023 (LINK) 6 June 2025

Donald Trump says Elon Musk has 'lost his mind' and dismisses peace offering: says he is 'not particularly' interested in reconciling with Musk, who reportedly wanted to speak to president (LINK) 6 June 2025

President Donald Trump has signed three executive orders dealing with drone regulations and encouraging the development of flying cars and supersonic flights. (LINK) 6 June 2025

Supreme Court hands DOGE big wins in access to Social Security, records cases (LINK) 6 June 2025

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, wrongly deported to El Salvador, is back in the U.S. to face smuggling charges (LINK) 6 June 2025

DC police lieutenant, now retired, sentenced to 18 + 6 months in prison for tipping off Proud Boys leader about arrest warrant + 3 false statements (LINK) 6 June 2025

Khaby Lame, world's biggest TikTok star, quits U.S. after ICE arrest (LINK) 6 June 2025

— Lame, who commands 162 million followers on TikTok, was stopped by U.S. immigration officials at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas after violating the terms of his visa, prompting his swift exit from the country under a voluntary departure order. The 25-year-old, who holds Italian citizenship and was born in Senegal, arrived in the United States on April 30 and hit the Met Gala on May 5.

Russia executes revenge strikes against Ukraine for blowing up its bombers (LINK) 6 June 2025

France to produce drones in Ukraine, minister says (LINK) 6 June 2025

Swiss central bank rejects US currency manipulation claims (LINK) 6 June 2025

Swiss property prices continue to rise: compared to May of the previous year, condominiums rose by 3.8%. For detached houses, asking prices even rose by 5.8%. Single-family homes in particular rose in price in the greater Zurich region by a whopping 3.9% compared to the previous month. The Lake Geneva region offers the greatest supply of homes, especially for condominiums (LINK) 6 June 2025

Zurich reports measles outbreak: 21 cases since the beginning of the year, twice as many as this time last year, but 97% of people have been vaccinated (LINK) 6 June 2025

Swiss Statistics Office to shed 40 staff and cut output (LINK) 7 June 2025

Scientists make breakthrough toward full cure for HIV (LINK) 6 June 2025

— As The Guardian reports, scientists at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne found a way to make the HIV virus visible, potentially laying the groundwork for ways to banish it from the body altogether. Author and Doherty Institute research fellow Paula Cevaal told the Guardian that it was "previously thought impossible" to deliver messenger RNA (mRNA) into HIV-containing white blood cells. But thanks to a new type of LNPs (bubbles of formulated fat called lipid nanoparticles), dubbed LNP X, the team found a way for these cells to accept the mRNA.

Ukraine destroys more Russian missiles, this time in Bryansk in the western Russian border region (LINK) 5 June 2025

Ukraine farmers devastated as 50% of crops are destroyed amid ongoing warfare: 'It is impossible to work in the fields' (LINK) 5 June 2025

Tesla stock price plunges as Trump suggests stripping Elon Musk's companies of federal contracts (LINK) 5 June 2025

Elon Musk becomes $27 billion poorer as Trump quarrel eats into net worth (LINK) 5 June 2025

Trade deficit fell by a record amount in April to $61.6 billion as demand dropped for imports (LINK) 5 June 2025

Procter & Gamble, Pampers producer, will cut 7,000 jobs, or about 6% of its workforce, over the next two years, as part of a restructuring that will include the Tide maker exiting some product categories in certain markets. (LINK) 5 June 2025

Despite U.S. health boss Robert Kennedy's claims, vaccines have been tested in placebo-controlled studies, nearly 260 of them (LINK) 5 June 2025

— "The only vaccine that has been tested in a full-blown placebo trial against an inert placebo was the Covid vaccine," Kennedy said May 14 in testimony before the US Senate's Health, Labor, Education and Pensions Committee. "The other 76 shots that children in this country received between birth and 18 years old, none of them have been safety tested in prelicensing studies against the placebo, which means we don't understand the risk profile for those products, and that's something I intend to remedy," he said.

World Liberty Finance ($WLFI) executes $4M USD1 airdrop, proving governance power: "Doubters about WLFI's governance model have reason to rethink now" (LINK) 5 June 2025

Switzerland faces growing drought risks: Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) report to 2060 (LINK) 5 June 2025

Donald Trump announces US travel ban on 12 countries, restrictions on seven (LINK) 4 June 2025

— The banned countries include Afghanistan, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. In addition, there will be heightened restrictions on people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. "I must act to protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people," Trump said in his order.

Trump administration, for 1st time, returns wrongly deported migrant to US: The Guatemalan man was brought back from Mexico on Wednesday, according to his lawyer (LINK) 4 June 2025

— Last month, U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy ordered the Trump administration to "take all immediate steps" to return O.C.G. after he was "placed on a bus and sent to Mexico", a country where he said he was previously held for ransom and raped, according to court filings.

US vetoes UN Security Council resolution calling for Gaza ceasefire (LINK) 4 June 2025

— 14 other members back motion demanding release of hostages and unhindered aid; US envoy says will "not support any measure that fails to condemn Hamas, call for it to disarm".

Trump tax bill will add $2.4 trillion to the deficit and leave 10.9 million more uninsured: nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (LINK) 4 June 2025

Trump orders probe of Biden mental state, executive actions in office (LINK) 4 June 2025

Trump's 50% tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum come into effect — (LINK) 4 June 2025

UK temporarily spared from Donald Trump's 50% steel tariffs: levy remains at 25% for the UK — 4 June 2025 (LINK) 4 June 2025

IDF says roads to Gaza aid centres are 'combat zones' as sites close for day: Aid distribution will be halted on Wednesday — (LINK) 4 June 2025

Trump warns Putin plans to retaliate 'very strongly' against Ukraine (LINK) 4 June 2025

Russian economy meltdown as crude exports plummet with 'production in turmoil' (LINK) 4 June 2025

— Russian exports of crude oil have plummeted to a two-year low. Fossil fuel commerce constitutes an overwhelming 30% of the Russian state revenue stream, bankrolling Putin's aggressive campaign in Ukraine. Amidst these developments, the OPEC+ conglomerate recently resolved to ramp up oil production once more. This escalation in oil production spells further woes for the Kremlin, potentially triggering a slide in crude prices. Defence spending has skyrocketed, accounting for 40% of the Russian government's expenditure in 2025. A British senior military officer has noted that, for the first time in post-Soviet history, defence spending now surpasses social spending.

Trump moves to block US entry for foreign students planning to study at Harvard University (LINK) 4 June 2025

SEC allegedly shares CLARITY Act crypto analysis only with Republicans, raising transparency concerns — (LINK) 4 June 2025

UN Ocean Conference: Tonga poised to be the first country to recognize rights of whales: "The time has come to recognize whales not merely as resources but as sentient beings with inherent rights" (LINK) 4 June 2025

— Tongan Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Tuku'ahos remarks were made during a speech she gave before the One Ocean Science Congress on 4 June, an event aimed at providing scientific insights about the ocean's health to global policymakers.

The WTO e-Learning Programme updated: offers free online training on WTO Agreements and international trade. It is primarily intended for government officials from developing and least-developed country Members and Observers of the WTO Courses are also available in self-study mode for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the multilateral trading system — (LINK) 4 June 2025

Bitget, leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, partners with University of Zurich Blockchain Center, providing opportunities and scholarships for students — (LINK) 4 June 2025

— The three-week program offers an immersive, interdisciplinary exploration of blockchain from academic, technological, legal, and economic perspectives.

Amazon to invest $10 billion in rural North Carolina data centers in AI push (LINK) 4 June 2025

— Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has called generative AI a "once-in-a-lifetime type of business opportunity." The investment in North Carolina will create roughly 500 jobs in the state, Amazon said.

Scientists have discovered a hidden pattern and 'universal rule' governing all life on Earth: seven key areas where "biodiversity organization is deeply tied to environmental gradients, particularly temperature, precipitation, and habitat continuity" (LINK) 4 June 2025

— "In every bioregion, there is always a core area where most species live," lead author Dr. Rubén Bernardo-Madrid of Umeå University explained in a release. "From that core, species expand into surrounding areas, but only a subset manages to persist. It seems these cores provide optimal conditions for species survival and diversification, acting as a source from which biodiversity radiates outward." Researchers analyzed the global distribution of amphibians, birds, mammals, reptiles, dragonflies, trees, and rays, drawing from extensive ecological databases and mapping more than 48,000 geographic grid cells. The scientists identified seven distinct types of areas — or "biogeographical sectors" — that recur across the globe. Biodiversity hotspots (core areas) tend to have stable, resource-rich conditions that support a wide variety of endemic species. In contrast, species found in transitional zones are typically generalists or migrants, able to survive in more variable or marginal conditions but less unique to any region.

"Life from oceans to savannas explained with one single rule" — (LINK)

Chinese nationals accused of smuggling into US 'biological pathogen' which damages a variety of crops and is toxic to humans and animals — (LINK) 3 June 2025

AP: Putin's demands emerge after the latest round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks: "it's a list of the Kremlin's longstanding, maximalist demands that Kyiv and its Western allies see as nonstarters" (LINK) 3 June 2025

Ukrainian forces using underwater explosives destroy the Kerch Bridge connecting Russia to Crimea (LINK) 3 June 2025

Five countries elected to serve on UN Security Council: Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia, and Liberia elected to two-year terms (LINK) 3 June 2025

Dutch far-right leader Wilders quits coalition, toppling government (LINK) — ground.news: 66 media reports (LINK) 3 June 2025

— Wilders withdrew due to coalition partners rejecting his 10-point plan demanding a strict crackdown on migration and asylum policies. The plan included closing asylum centres, using the army to guard borders, turning away asylum seekers, and deporting certain visa holders.

Key US consulting firm Boston Consulting Group withdraws from American- and Israeli-backed Gaza aid agency — (LINK) 3 June 2025

— The report came as GHF announced it would appoint US evangelical interfaith leader Rev. Johnnie Moore as its new executive chairman, following the departure of CEO Jack Wood last month. BCG had offered its services to the humanitarian effort on a pro bono basis and did not receive any compensation for its work, said the BCG spokesperson. However, another person familiar with the project disputed the spokesperson’s account and said BCG had submitted invoices for more than $1 million each month, according to the Post. According to the report, BCG had been responsible for setting the payment and procurement rates for a network of contractors tasked with constructing four GHF aid centers in southern Gaza, one of which is not yet active.

In addition, senior officials have resigned, and the UN and aid groups refuse to cooperate — (LINK)

Switzerland says Geneva branch of US-backed Gaza aid group GHF "inactive, noncompliant" (LINK) 3 June 2025

— Swiss Foreign Ministry has responded to key issues raised in an open letter signed by 55 former Swiss diplomats, reiterating its stance on the Gaza crisis and confirming that it is reviewing the legal status of the controversial Geneva branch of the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The GHF mechanism was opposed by the international community and the UN, which comes as an alternative attempt by Israel to bypass the aid distribution through UN channels.

Around 20,000 evacuated for several hours in Deutz district, across river from historic centre of west Germany's Cologne, after 3 unexploded WWII bombs found (LINK) 3 June 2025

Family of suspect in Colorado fire attack taken into custody of US immigration — (LINK) 3 June 2025

Trump's sons say not associated with new Trump-branded crypto venture to launch the "Official $TRUMP Wallet" — (LINK) 4 June 2025

— Donald Trump Jr. added that he "has zero involvement with this wallet product", and teased plans for a separate digital asset wallet under a different Trump-affiliated crypto firm, World Liberty Financial. Despite those disavowals, the $TRUMP Wallet that launched on 3 June claimed to be the "First and Only Crypto Wallet for True Trump Fans".

Switzerland is setting tough new capital rules for UBS to avoid future financial disruptions like the 2023 Credit Suisse collapse — (LINK) 3 June 2025

Nearly 40% of the world's glaciers are already doomed, scientists say (LINK) — ground.news: 72 media reports (LINK) 3 June 2025

— If current climate policies remain unchanged, global temperatures are expected to rise by 2.7 degrees Celsius by 2100, resulting in the loss of approximately 76 percent of today's glacier volume and causing sea levels to increase by a minimum of 113 millimetres.

'Half the tree of life': ecologists' horror as nature reserves are emptied of insects (LINK) 3 June 2025

Rare geomagnetic storm 1-3 June over U.S. after a coronal mass ejection — a large expulsion of plasma from the sun's surface — was observed: GPS and satellite systems possibly disrupted (LINK) — ground.news: 159 media reports (LINK) 3 June 2025

— Solar activity increases and decreases in a long cycle of about 11 years. In 2024, the sun entered the peak of that cycle, known as a solar maximum. But its active stage tends to last several years. Conditions of the solar storm can be strong enough to disrupt GPS and satellite systems, or electrical systems on the ground.

Switzerland to ban single-use e-cigarettes (vapes) (LINK) 4 June 2025

Rescuers say Israeli fire kills at least 27 near Gaza aid point, with the army reporting it had fired on "suspects who advanced toward the troops" (LINK) 2 June 2025

— The UN human rights chief condemned such attacks as a "breach of international law and a war crime", after a similar shooting in the same area of southern Gaza on Sunday killed and wounded scores of Palestinians seeking aid, according to the civil defence agency.

AP: Putin's demands emerge after the latest round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks: it's a list of the Kremlin's longstanding, maximalist demands that Kyiv and its Western allies see as nonstarters (LINK) 3 June 2025

Microsoft founder Bill Gates to give most of $200bn fortune to Africa: urges young innovators to use Artificial Intelligence to improve health services (LINK) 2 June 2025

— Gates, 69, announced last month that he would give away 99% of his vast fortune, which he expects to reach $200bn by 2045, when his foundation planned to end its operations.

ILO chief ready to face up to necessary reforms (LINK) 2 June 2025

— At the start of the 113th International Labour Conference, Gilbert Houngbo called for a "more efficient" organization. He added that "firmness" was needed to reduce expenditure and make the institution more robust, with human beings at its centre.

Nicaragua 101st WTO member to formally accept 2022 Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies: 10 more acceptances needed to enter into force (LINK) 2 June 2025

— Pact sets new, binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful fisheries subsidies. The Agreement prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, for fishing overfished stocks, and for fishing on the unregulated high seas. It also establishes a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity-building to help governments which have formally accepted the Agreement implement the new obligations. "WTO members also agreed at MC12 to continue negotiating on remaining fisheries subsidies issues."

Insurgents kill dozens in Mali base and attack Timbuktu (LINK) — ground.news: 38 media reports (LINK) 2 June 2025

Syrian Government and Kurdish-led force exchange prisoners in a step toward easing tensions (LINK) — ground.news: 15 media reports (LINK) 2 June 2025

Cambodia says it will take border dispute with Thailand to top UN court in hope of preventing new armed confrontation (LINK) — ground.news: 55 media reports (LINK) 2 June 2025

Swedish Commission recommends halting international adoptions after uncovering decades of fraud (LINK) — ground.news: 42 media reports (LINK) 2 June 2025

France brings charges against 25 in crypto kidnapping conspiracy (LINK) 2 June 2025

Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek resigns after public backlash over accepting and selling Bitcoin that was donated by convicted drug trafficker (LINK) 2 June 2025

Conservative historian wins Polish presidential vote (LINK) 2 June 2025

Trump Administration shuts down a $66 million food stamp fraud and bribery scheme involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), arrests USDA employee and 5 others (LINK) 2 June 2025

— USDA employee "betrayed the public trust by selling confidential government information to the very criminals she was supposed to catch." According to the indictment, the scheme started in 2019 with the formation of a network that distributed 160 unauthorized electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to stores throughout New York, illegally processing more than $30 million in EBT transactions.

All international travelers should get measles vaccinations, U.S. CDC says (LINK) 2 June 2025

PR: Microsoft deepens Switzerland's digital future with strategic $400 million investment in cloud and AI infrastructure, startups, skilling and innovation (LINK) 2 June 2025

Swiss assisted suicide campaigner died at 47 in Germany on 5 May: Florian Willet was co-president of the assisted suicide organisation The Last Resort (LINK) 2 June 2025

Willet committed suicide — (LINK in French)

Ukraine destroyed more than 40 military aircraft in a drone attack deep inside Russia, official says (LINK) — ground.news: 208 media reports (LINK) 1 June 2025

— The attack, personally supervised by Ukrainian President Zelensky, took more than one and a half years to plan amid the ongoing conflict since February 2022. The strike targeted strategic nuclear-capable Tu-95 and Tu-22 bombers stationed over 4,000 kilometers from Ukraine's front lines in Siberia.

— Ukrainian officials confirmed that a separate Russian missile strike killed at least 12 Ukrainian soldiers and wounded more than 60 during a training exercise, promising strict accountability if negligence caused casualties. — 1 June 2025 (LINK)

Russia and Ukraine may meet again for peace talks. But neither side gives reason for optimism — (LINK)

Red Cross says at least 21 killed and dozens shot in Gaza aid incident: the ICRC said the "Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah received a mass casualty influx of 179 cases, including women and children" early in the morning on Sunday. It said "the majority suffered gunshot or shrapnel wounds", and "twenty-one patients were declared dead upon arrival". (LINK) 1 June 2025

— The Hamas-run civil defence agency in Gaza had said at least 31 people were killed and many more wounded in the incident, which it blamed on "Israeli gunfire" targeting civilians. But the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said findings from an initial inquiry showed its forces had not fired at people while they were near or within the aid centre. The group that runs the aid distribution centre, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), also denied the claims of injuries and casualties at its site and said they had been spread by Hamas. It is unclear if the number of people killed reported by the ICRC is separate to the Hamas health ministry's reports.

Al Jazeera: Why Hamas is seeking to change the US-proposed Gaza ceasefire deal (LINK) 1 June 2025

— Hamas claims its response was positive, even though it offered "no guarantees to end the war". But it has added several key provisions: including full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the resumption of aid and assistance to the besieged area.

Two dead, 192 injured, and over 500 arrested in Paris clashes after PSG Champions League win (LINK) — ground.news: 104 media reports (LINK) 1 June 2025

— A 17-year-old was stabbed in Dax during a street party and a man in his 20s fatally hit by a car in Paris, where the driver was detained, amid about 200 injuries and widespread arrests.

Sudan's PM dissolves caretaker government, state news reports: Kamil Idris took oath on Saturday as the country's first PM since 2021 military-led coup. On Sunday Idris pledged to to prioritize stability (LINK) 1 June 2025

Loetschental, Valais: Blatten avalanche latest (LINK in French) — also — (LINK in French)