Switzerland

• Amazon will shut down its "Prime" free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel in Germany and Austria on August 1, just 15 months after its launch. • Simultaneously, the company is expanding its Prime Video Channels service to include third-party add-on subscriptions in Denmark, Norway, and Switzerland. • This strategic shift allows customers in the new markets to access a broader portfolio of series and movies alongside Amazon's own Originals and Exclusives.

Roaming charges also scrapped and trading terms continue for medicines, cars, art, jewellery and other goodsBritish nationals can expect shorter passport queues at Swiss airports and border crossings after a £5.2bn trade deal was sealed by Keir Starmer, likely his last big international agreement as prime minister.As part of the deal they will be able to use e-gates from later this year, starting with exit checks at Zurich airport and with Basel and Geneva, a leading airport for business and winter sports travel, to follow next year. Continue reading...

• The World Cup 2026 quarter-finals commence this Thursday, featuring matchups between France vs Morocco, Spain vs Belgium, Norway vs England, and Argentina vs Switzerland. • France enters the knockout stage as the tournament favorite according to the Opta Supercomputer, following three group stage wins and a dominant 3-0 victory over Sweden in the round of 32. • Despite their strong start, France's momentum is under scrutiny after a less convincing round-of-16 win against Paraguay.

• Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2 after scoring three unanswered goals starting in the 79th minute to secure a comeback victory. • Lionel Messi extended his historic record by scoring in eight consecutive World Cup matches, a streak continuing from Argentina's 2022 championship run. • In other tournament action, Switzerland advanced past Colombia via penalty kicks, while Belgium eliminated the United States from the competition.

• A severe heatwave in June resulted in approximately 200 deaths across Switzerland, highlighting the country's vulnerability to rising temperatures. • SWISS airline has announced the introduction of a new fee specifically targeting passengers on long-haul flights. • City officials are currently investigating whether certain residential dwellings violate local regulations following a series of public complaints.

• Anti-immigrant slogans were discovered on trucks in Switzerland, raising concerns over rising xenophobia and social tension. • A new housing cooperative has introduced a special rent discount specifically for families to improve urban affordability. • The cooperative's management intends for this discounted rental model to serve as a blueprint for other housing developments across the country.

• Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Austria, and other Schengen allies are implementing a new EU digital Entry/Exit System (EES) for non-EU nationals. • The rollout of these biometric checks has triggered massive airport delays and travel chaos across Europe, prompting an urgent security overhaul of Schengen zones. • This disruption is particularly critical as it coincides with rising summer travel pressure, threatening widespread transit instability.

• Europe is experiencing a severe heatwave with temperatures soaring to 40°C in several regions, placing immense strain on healthcare systems and infrastructure. • France has reported nearly 1,000 excess deaths attributed to the relentless heat, highlighting the critical public health impact of the extreme weather. • Current forecasts indicate varying conditions across the continent, with scorching heat persisting in Italy and Spain, while the Netherlands remains pleasantly warm.

• Massive flight disruptions hit Europe today, resulting in 132 cancellations and 2,348 delays across multiple countries, including the UK, France, Italy, Austria, and Spain. • Major hubs such as London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Rome Fiumicino were heavily affected, disrupting airlines like ITA Airways, Air France, and Virgin Atlantic. • The widespread chaos left thousands of passengers stranded across key cities including London, Paris, Rome, Vienna, and Amsterdam.

• A deadly early summer heat wave has gripped Europe, resulting in dozens of fatalities and causing widespread disruptions to power supplies, schools, and cultural landmarks. • Britain and Switzerland have officially broken their temperature records for the month of June as extreme heat persists across the continent. • The crisis has triggered a surge in air conditioning demand in countries like France, Spain, and Italy, where such cooling systems were previously rare.