In Wülflingen, a renovation programme spanning eight years is replacing kitchens, bathrooms and building systems without emptying the neighbourhood. During the work, some residents use kitchens and showers in containers. SRF’s report this morning follows the disruption behind an apparently simple alternative to terminating tenancies.
Staying is not cost-free. One tenant describes an expected CHF400 monthly increase on a CHF1,400 rent. That is an individual example, not a standard increase across the estate. The bigger question reaches well beyond Winterthur: how do cities improve older housing while keeping its residents in place?
Source: SRF · 20 September
Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania go to the polls. Voting closes at 18:00 CEST.
A photographer finds strange, weathered characters in South Tyrol’s wartime fortifications.
Meet a Veneto family’s Manzoni Bianco; consider South Africa’s wine shakeout and Spain’s white-wine shift.
20 September. SRF visits Winterthur-Wülflingen, where occupied flats are being renewed in stages. Temporary facilities keep people on site, but noise, dust and sharing a kitchen make everyday life difficult. The tenants’ association supports avoiding mass terminations while stressing the practical burden. This is a concrete local housing experiment, with a trade-off between continuity, comfort and future rent. SRF.
20 September · seasonal deadline. Zürich’s official season calendar lists today as the closing date for Allenmoos, Heuried, both Letten baths, Enge and several other summer facilities. Mythenquai, Tiefenbrunnen, Letzigraben and Auhof continue until 27 September; Seebach and Utoquai until 25 October. A useful distinction for an autumn swim: the end of supervised bathing and access to a site as a winter park are different things. City of Zürich · official dates.
19 September. On 19 September 1946, Churchill used a speech at the University of Zürich to call for European unity. SWI revisits that moment on its eightieth anniversary, asking why neutral Switzerland provided the setting for such an ambitious proposal. It is a timely piece of local history with an international echo: a familiar city becomes the stage for an argument still shaping Europe. SWI.
19 September. Thousands marched on Saturday calling for emissions cuts and adaptation to a hotter climate. Police estimated 12,000 participants in Lausanne and 3,000 in Geneva; Geneva’s organisers gave a higher estimate of 7,000. A coalition of around 100 organisations backed the demonstrations. The turnout is the news here, alongside pressure for government action; the marches do not themselves represent a new climate policy. SRF.
18 September · investigation. SRF’s investigation traces at least CHF1.7 million in contracts to an IT supplier linked personally to a hospital manager. The hospital rejects allegations of favouritism and points to its procurement controls. It has commissioned an external procurement review, which it says is unrelated to this case. For anyone working with regulated organisations, the report raises a practical governance question: how are potential conflicts identified and documented? SRF Investigativ.
19 September. The British Museum’s chair, George Osborne, has discussed giving Peter Thiel a private viewing of the Bayeux tapestry before its public opening. The Guardian reports Osborne saying he had expected the visit to remain private, and that no donation had been offered. The episode brings museum access, wealthy patrons and public accountability into the same frame. It is not evidence that a donation bought the viewing. The Guardian.
The BBC examines synthetic drugs and service pressures ahead of Wednesday’s release; the annual total is not yet known.
19–20 September. Yemen’s Houthis claimed drone and missile attacks on Saudi energy targets around Riyadh and Yanbu. Saudi authorities confirmed an intercepted ballistic missile; the full extent of the claimed strikes remains unclear. The BBC reports smoke near Riyadh airport and temporary flight disruption. Further escalation could affect travel and energy markets, but a particular change in your fuel bill or investments cannot be inferred from this report. BBC News.
20 September. Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania vote today, with roughly 2.5 million and 1.3 million eligible voters respectively. The Guardian frames the contests as another test of Chancellor Friedrich Merz amid pressure from the far right. Polling stations close at 18:00 CEST. Any claims about the eventual winners, coalitions or consequences for the chancellor must wait for the results. The Guardian.
19 September · update. There is a concrete development since yesterday’s announcement: CNN, Politico and MS NOW say journalists were denied access or had credentials deactivated or confiscated on Saturday. The BBC also reports an MS NOW producer gaining entry, suggesting uneven implementation. This moves the story from a presidential declaration to practical restrictions on reporting access, while the legal and institutional response continues to develop. BBC News.
The former Chilean president has ended her candidacy after weak straw-poll results and the loss of her government’s support.
A plan for 11 specialist cadres and more open senior recruitment would change how officials are hired and promoted; implementation is still ahead.
Taiwanese reporting follows a congressional appeal to resist Chinese objections before the planned Trump–Xi meeting.
The government revised access to its relief scheme; more than 1.75 million registrations had been recorded by Saturday afternoon.
El País examines financial-bubble risk, shifting attention from spectacular technical promises to spending, demand and returns. Analysis.
Macron and Carney are due to meet in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon today, putting a less familiar place into the Trump-era territorial debate.
El País reports a child-protection crisis in which political conflict and blocked access to accommodation leave young migrants in limbo.
A Rs1.73-per-unit fuel adjustment has been requested; the regulator’s hearing is on 29 September and approval is not assured.
Russian officials report two deaths overnight near Moscow; Ukrainian officials report seven killed in Saturday’s attacks on Kyiv and Sumy.
An 81–57 victory over Italy in Ottawa delivers the men’s wheelchair-basketball team’s first world title since 2014.
18 September · runs through 21 September. Twickenham Nub News reports renewed concern about river quality as Richmond Park MP Sarah Olney joins the nationwide WaterBlitz. The sampling weekend runs from 18 to 21 September. For your Richmond and Twickenham connection, this is a useful local route into the wider water-quality debate: organised citizen sampling can add evidence, while a single sample is not a complete picture of a river’s health. Twickenham Nub News.
21–26 September · coming up. Tynemouth Priory Theatre’s new production runs from Monday 21 to Saturday 26 September, with performances at 19:30. Philip Goulding’s adaptation follows islanders trying to rescue a shipwrecked cargo of whisky before the Home Guard intervenes. It combines two of your interests, comedy and a place with family connections, without assuming you are travelling north this week. The theatre’s own page carries each performance’s booking link. Tynemouth Priory Theatre.
16 September · exhibition now open. Ab-Anbar’s A Present Tense brings together nearly 200 works by around 100 artists based in Iran, according to The Art Newspaper. The joint initiative runs from 19 to 26 September, offering an unusually concentrated encounter with work whose international circulation faces practical barriers. This is a short exhibition to catch if London is on your horizon, and a useful visual discovery through the reporting if it is not. The Art Newspaper.
ABC compares visitor taxes, pledges and time limits: useful context for choosing how to visit popular places.
17 September · catch-up. The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza’s proposed new space will bring together more than 360 works associated with TBA21, through a mixture of gifts and loans. The Art Newspaper describes plans for the Palacio del Hielo y del Automóvil, with opening projected for 2031 after refurbishment. This is a substantial institutional development, and a glimpse of how a collection changes a city’s cultural map; it is not a venue you can visit yet. The Art Newspaper.
17 September · discovery. Vincenzo Pagliuca photographs Alpine fortifications as isolated, weathered presences in the landscape. His book Bunker turns utilitarian concrete into a study of shape, history and vegetation reclaiming hard surfaces. Colossal’s selection makes a rewarding detour from murals and editions: here, the artist’s intervention is the viewpoint itself. Look for the way an opening, a stain or a curve can make a defensive structure seem almost animate. Colossal.
19 September. Two cases seek the return of works connected to Nazi persecution, including Cranach paintings held by the Norton Simon Museum and portraits by Dina Babbitt in Poland. The Guardian reports the heirs’ claims and the institutions’ positions. These are contested demands, not completed restitutions. They show why an artwork’s ownership history can matter as much as what hangs on the wall. The Guardian.
Australian-designed brackets aim to reduce damage when pictures are moved; museums are assessing the system.
A newly accessible archaeological site reveals a monumental floor and a remarkable painted cityscape.
Pablo Luna Studio’s Indonesian pavilions pair sweeping roofs with open, climate-responsive spaces.
Yasmin van Dorp’s short film The Spectacle finds comedy and unease in our urge to document every view.
22 September · 19:30. Stranger Games returns to Mama Shelter Zürich on 22 September. Arrive by 19:30 for curated tables hosted by game masters, with play in English and CHF5 entry. The lobby and library setting near Oerlikon makes this an easy local experiment in a less familiar hobby: you can try unusual games without studying the rulebook beforehand. The venue page links to reservations. Mama Shelter · original listing.
23 September · 20:00. Jackpot Comedy mixes fresh material with tested routines in an English-language open mic hosted by Jack Roberts. The 23 September show runs 20:00–22:00, with doors at 19:00. Free reservations and optional paid support are listed. It is the sort of small, close-to-the-stage evening that gives you more of the process of comedy, including the experiments that do not quite land. Eventfrog · organiser listing.
26 September. The Nerdy Comedy Show comes to ROBIN’s Coffee on 26 September, combining stand-up with audience questions and hot takes submitted on cards. Pop culture, games and fandom are the raw material; you do not have to be an expert in all of them. The listing advertises a CHF10 standard ticket and lower-cost options. Check the booking page’s timing before setting out: its header and show description currently differ. Eventfrog · organiser listing.
Today through 27 September · short exhibitions and one-off encounters. Times are local.
The English-language open mic returns on 24 September; follow the organiser’s ticket link for the venue and time.
The Hosoe design talk in Zürich and Barbara Diethelm’s Zumikon artist talk run at the same time; both are in the calendar below.
18 September. WineNews profiles Tenuta San Giorgio’s Insula 2022, made from Manzoni Bianco in the Piave area. The Tombacco family’s estate dates to 1971 and is now in its fourth generation; the review puts the grape and its river landscape ahead of the familiar international varieties. Read the Italian tasting note for the critic’s impression of the wine. It is a discovery lead, not a claim that this vintage is currently on a Zürich shelf. WineNews · Italian.
16 September · opinion / catch-up. Writing in Winemag, Michael Fridjhon argues that making good wine is only part of surviving a contracting market. Cash, adaptability and the route to customers matter too, while economic pressure can threaten old vineyards. This is an opinion column from inside a major producing country, useful both as a wine read and as a business argument. Its forecasts should not be mistaken for inevitable outcomes for individual estates. Winemag · South Africa.
17 September · catch-up. Vinetur’s account of the latest AgroBank sector report puts white wine at 57% of Spanish production, against 43% for red and rosé combined. It also describes pressure on consumption and exports as the country approaches another harvest with less vineyard area. The useful surprise is the production mix: a country often approached through Rioja and Ribera del Duero has a much broader story in its white grapes. Vinetur · Spanish.
Zürich tastings and a film-festival aperitivo · dates, places and direct listings.
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 24 Sep · 14:00–19:00 | Italian & Spanish wine tasting Free; includes Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Sierra de Gredos. | Boucherville, Kinkelstrasse 40, Zürich |
| 24–26 Sep | Vespa Vino Bar: Tuscan aperitivo at ZFF Thu–Fri 16–18; Sat 14–18. Free entry; drinks extra. Fair weather only. | Ristorante Vallocaia, Niederdorfstrasse 15, Zürich |
| Fri 25 Sep · 17:00–19:00 | Afterwork wine tasting Free. | Mövenpick Wein Zürich-Enge |
| Sun 27 Sep · 15:00 | Tavolata e Cinema Meal and wines CHF105; with Wild Horse Nine premiere CHF120. Film 16+; booking required. | Ristorante Vallocaia, Niederdorfstrasse 15, Zürich |
The festival’s final day is today; WineNews considers how hospitality connects producers with drinkers.
The Ban des Vendanges programme includes a 17:30 procession to the Tour du Roy; the original listing gives the public timetable.
Vinetur reports IWSR’s 2028 forecast: channel growth need not imply that people drink more overall.
19 September. The US president has announced an AI initiative and a coordinating role, framing the technology as a strategic competition with China. The BBC reports no firm implementation timetable or detailed operating plan. For enterprise AI, the announcement is a policy signal to watch, not a programme on which to base a delivery schedule or buying decision. The next useful evidence will be responsibilities, funding and concrete actions. BBC News.
19 September. Zesar, the Tavannes school-furniture maker, is celebrating 100 years. SRF’s factory visit follows the shift from rigid classroom arrangements towards adjustable furniture and more flexible learning spaces. For your capability-building work, it offers a tangible question: does the room support the activity you want people to practise? The manufacturer’s perspective is interesting design evidence; it does not prove that new furniture alone improves learning. SRF.
18 September. Bristol Myers Squibb has terminated its agreement for Orum’s degrader-antibody conjugate ORM-6151, also known as BMS-986497, after reviewing phase-one data, Fierce Biotech reports. The programme had been acquired for $100 million upfront in 2023. This is a concrete development for the drug-development sector: an early clinical asset has lost its partner. It is not evidence that the entire therapeutic approach has failed. Fierce Biotech.
The BBC interviews insiders sceptical of apocalyptic claims; their disagreement does not settle more immediate safety questions.
SWI examines dependence on US and Chinese technology: a useful strategic lens for local organisations.
Rechecked 20 September. Zürich. The live employer advert combines organisational change, learning and capability building, digital adoption and AI-enabled transformation. That makes it a close match to your work. English is required; German or French is highly desirable. Senior Manager applicants need substantial programme leadership and business-development experience. The page currently displays 12 September and an active application route. Retained from the shortlist because of fit; no closing date is stated. EY · original job advert.
19 September · match 18 September. Friday’s final pre-season outing ended with a 33–19 Quins win over Edinburgh, The Offside Line reports. Both sides fielded plenty of international experience, and Harlequins’ changes helped turn the second half their way. Ed Sigauke marked his debut with a try. A pleasing warm-up result to carry into the season, while remembering that a friendly is preparation rather than a reliable league forecast. The Offside Line.
19 September. NSW beat Queensland 47–19 in Roma, with centre Otto Serfontein prominent in the attack. Rugby Australia’s report has the Waratahs moving closer to a Super Rugby AUS final after a commanding start. The qualification picture still depends on other results, so this morning’s safe conclusion is a big win and a stronger position, not a secured title or a guaranteed home final. Rugby.com.au.
19 September. Canada held England to 26–26 at Sandy Park, ending a sequence of 39 consecutive wins. Each side scored four tries in a contest that showed how closely Canada can challenge the Red Roses. England are now unbeaten in 40: a small wording distinction that matters to the record, and a better account of a draw than describing it as a defeat. RugbyPass / PA.
Coach Dave Butcher points to improved contact work, but ten conceded tries underline the gap before next Saturday’s Australia match.
Andrea Stella’s comments focus on adapting to the car without consciously managing every change; a driver-development read.
20 September. The BBC interviews Sharon Horgan about Youth, her new series built around a woman navigating divorce, work, a teenager and ageing parents. For your comedy interests, the attraction is the writing process: how close personal experience can sit to an invented character without becoming a simple transcription of the writer’s life. Read it as a creator profile; streaming availability varies by country. BBC News.
19 September. Noah Hess, a 22-year-old tiler from Schwyz, is preparing for WorldSkills in Shanghai on 22–27 September. SRF follows the technical practice and the deliberate disruptions his coach introduces, including missing materials. It is an unusually concrete account of expertise: careful execution matters, but so does recovering when the planned job changes. For a learning professional, the training design may be as interesting as the competition. SRF.
20 September. ABC profiles April Laguros, one of 15 Filipino workers recruited to a small NSW town’s aged-care service. The council needed staff to keep Allawah Lodge operating, while the workers faced separation from family and the challenges of a new community. The story connects migration policy with specific people and a specific place, showing both the benefit to the town and the costs borne by those who move. ABC Australia.
20–27 September. Today, 15:00: choose the Hosoe talk in Zürich or Diethelm’s artist talk in Zumikon. Monday: Tynemouth’s Whisky Galore opens; WaterBlitz ends. Tuesday: Stranger Games in Oerlikon. Wednesday: Jackpot Comedy; design-business workshop. Thursday: Boucherville tasting and the first Vespa Vino Bar. Friday–Sunday: WILD HeART at the WOW Museum. Next Sunday: Vallocaia’s Tavolata e Cinema. Direct listings are in the desks above.
An original idea for your work. Borrow a question from Noah Hess’s preparation: what happens when the expected material is missing? In your next practice exercise, remove one ordinary resource halfway through — a slide, a prepared dataset or a familiar tool. Ask the learner to explain the revised plan before acting. Compare the quality of that explanation with performance on the uninterrupted task. The design question is whether you are teaching a routine or the ability to adapt.
Original word ladder · 3 minutes. Change COLD into WARM in the fewest steps. Change exactly one letter at each step, keeping the other letters in their positions. Every step must be an ordinary four-letter English word; no proper names or abbreviations. Can you do it in four changes, and explain why fewer cannot work?
A little German: “Der Vortrag beginnt um drei Uhr.” — “The talk starts at three o’clock.”
One shortest solution: COLD → CORD → CARD → WARD → WARM. Each step changes exactly one letter and every entry is an English word. Four changes are the minimum: all four positions differ between COLD and WARM, so each must change at least once.