Latest news for 12 June 2026

SWITZERLAND

Gonna cap a pop…

The Swiss will vote on Sunday in a referendum on whether to impose a world-first population cap (of 10 million). Supporters argue it’ll preserve a demographic balance, while critics argue it’ll trigger a labour shortage and damage EU ties. (AP)

Comment: The latest polls suggest it’ll be a close call. 🍿

SOUTH KOREA

Drone sentence.

A court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years for sending drones into North Korea in an attempt to provoke a Pyongyang reaction and aid his failed martial law bid (for which he’s already serving a life sentence). (Korea Times)

EUROPEAN UNION

Tear it all down.

France, Germany, and other EU members are discussing overhauling the bloc’s EEAS diplomatic service, citing cost and coordination concerns. The idea would be to redistribute EEAS duties to the European Commission and member states. (NVU)

Comment: One factor is that members are dissatisfied with top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas (too hawkish and independent, though predecessors faced the opposite accusations). Another factor — and we’ll absolutely get diplo-cancelled for saying this — is that the EEAS is widely seen as a parking spot for competent-but-not-exceptional diplomats missing out on top foreign service jobs back home. 🔥🔥

TAIWAN

Maritime troubles.

The Taiwanese coast guard has vowed to expel China-based vessels that recently “harassed” foreign merchant ships, while the military has conducted its first live-fire test of US-supplied HIMARS rockets along its China-facing shore. (TaiwanNews)

Comment: The week’s more intriguing development might be the head of Taiwan’s more Beijing-friendly opposition (KMT chair Cheng Li-wun) running a US charm offensive. She’s pushing the familiar line that Taiwan can (and should) engage both DC and Beijing, implicitly framing her party’s moves to block drone production bills or delay US arms packages as prudent steps to avoid provoking China…

UNITED KINGDOM

Defence minister walks.

Britain’s defence minister has suddenly resigned, accusing the government of being unwilling to commit enough resources “at this time of rising threats”. (Al Jazeera)

Comment: Healey was one of PM Starmer’s most senior and loyal cabinet ministers, so it’s hard to ignore the likelihood his sudden departure was really about abandoning a sinking Starmer ship as much as any actual spending row.

COLOMBIA

Pre-election shenanigans.

The pro-Petro head of a key congressional commission has tried and failed to suspend President Petro from his post until the 21 June runoff election. (UPI)

Comment: The strategy behind this unusual move? It might’ve been a clumsy attempt to a) shield Petro from further scrutiny in the sensitive final days, b) create a narrative of political persecution to rally his base, or c) allow him free rein to actively campaign in favour of his leftist successor, Iván Cepeda. Whatever the strategy, it seems to have backfired, with the right’s firebrand outsider ‘The Lion’ still firming up as the favourite.

AFGHANISTAN

Two killed in rare protests.

Taliban forces have killed two people, including a child, amid a rare women-led protest against the group’s continued crackdown on hijab rules. (Guardian)

Comment: When the Taliban returned to power, it repeatedly and publicly assured donors it’d respect women and girls. But you only need to look at the way it’s excluded them from work, school, and pretty much any facet of public life to know it lied.