Alpine Region

The Swiss economy shows mixed signals: growth picked up early in the year, but job cuts at UBS and Skyguide signal restructuring pressures. Hong Kong overtook Switzerland as the top offshore wealth hub, and Iceland ousted it as the priciest nation, while wages are expected to rise unevenly.

• 5Hong Kong Overtakes Switzerland as Top Offshore Wealth Hub
• 4Switzerland joins 20th EU sanctions package against Russia
• 4Swiss air traffic controller Skyguide to cut up to 220 jobs
• 3New tax rules for flat-rate sole traders in Croatia
• 3Swiss wages expected to wages rise, but not evenly

Swiss politics is polarized by a population cap initiative, with polls showing the electorate evenly split. The Supreme Court faces pressure over a romantic affair, and the government joined an EU sanctions package against Russia while also repatriating Ukrainian children.

• 5Detained Gaza flotilla activists return home
• 3French authorities carry out surprise searches at Nestlé Waters sites
• 3Big money spent on Swiss immigration vote campaigns
• 3Bishop Grünwidl had very good talk with Pope
• 3Poll shows Swiss evenly split on proposal to cap population at 10 million

A terrorist stabbing at a Swiss train station in Winterthur injured three, declared terrorism, while an Austrian man was sentenced to 15 years for plotting a Taylor Swift concert attack. Austria expelled three Russian diplomats over spying, and four migrants died near the Croatia-Slovenia border.

• 21Three stabbed in attack at Swiss train station declared terrorism
• 10Austrian man who admitted plotting attack at Taylor Swift Vienna concert says he is sorry
• 6Austria expels three Russian diplomats over spying allegations
• 4Four migrants found dead near Croatia-Slovenia border: police - news.cgtn.com
• 2Video. Switzerland: Footage from the scene emerge after Winterthur station stabbing injures three

A dominant tension is the population cap initiative, worrying executives and sparking debate about Swiss Abroad returning home. Separately, Austrian protesters shut a vital motorway, and Switzerland recorded one of its three warmest springs.

• 5Spain, Ireland, Slovenia will not broadcast Eurovision over Israel's participation
• 2Croatia celebrates 36th Statehood Day, honouring its independence journey
• 2WHO chief visits Congo Ebola epicentre to urge community action
• 2Austrian protesters shut vital motorway connecting Germany to Italy
• 2Swiss spring one of three warmest on record