What are the latest news in Switzerland?

Neutrality Referendum Campaign Ahead of a national vote scheduled for September, intense political debate surrounds a popular initiative aiming to enforce strict military neutrality. The proposal seeks to constitutionally ban Switzerland from participating in economic sanctions or cooperating with defense alliances like NATO. -The Japan Times+ 1———Sanctions and Refugee Protection The Federal Council adopted additional measures aligned with the European Union’s latest sanctions package against Russia. Simultaneously, the federal government extended the special “Status S” protection for Ukrainian refugees until March 2028, while refining eligibility rules for certain new applicants. -www.admin.ch+ 1———New Federal Regulations and Fines A standardized nationwide anti-littering framework recently took effect, introducing fines up to 250 Swiss francs for disposing of waste or cigarette butts in public spaces. Additionally, the naturalization procedure has begun shifting toward an entirely digital filing system between cantons and federal migration offices. -Bluewin+ 1———Banking Sector Oversight In response to the lessons of the Credit Suisse collapse, the Federal Council opened public consultations on sweeping revisions to the Banking Act. The proposals aim to strengthen “too-big-to-fail” rules by granting the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) expanded supervisory powers and broadening access to emergency liquidity. -www.admin.ch+ 1———Climate and Weather Extremes Meteorological data confirmed that the period from April through July was the hottest and driest recorded in Switzerland since modern tracking began in 1901. Late-summer conditions also brought severe thunderstorms and intense localized hail across northern cantons and disruptions at major transit hubs like Zurich Airport. Swissinfo———