Federal changes to how the ISOS heritage inventory applies could ease an obstacle to new homes. Zürich estimates that plans for roughly 4,000 flats have been held up; about three-quarters of the city lies within the inventory's coverage.
City planners welcome the change, while property representatives want to see whether permits arrive faster. For residents, the test will be what gets built, where and when.
Source: SRF • report published 3 October
Nearly 160 million voters are eligible; a presidential run-off would follow on 25 October if needed.
Wearable sculpture in Wellington, women who shaped Renaissance art, and open studios in the Swartland.
Design tours this morning, Männedorf from 14:00 and improv at Theater Ida at 18:00.
3 October. One test is ASIG's Dreispitz scheme, with about 1,000 planned homes. The revised approach limits direct application of ISOS to projects affecting protected townscapes. Expectations vary between cities. This changes the approval process; it does not guarantee construction or lower rents. SRF.
4 October. Pierre Le Gall's first feature, a love story between two truckers, won the festival's leading fiction prize at Saturday's Opera House ceremony. Pete Muller's Bucks Harbor won for documentary. The awards arrive at the end of a festival that finishes today, giving you two titles to look for as wider screenings and distribution follow. The reporting also puts the winners in the context of their earlier Cannes and Berlin appearances. The Statesman.
Also read: SRF • awards update.
3 October. ETH climate scientist Reto Knutti and UZH communications researcher Silke Fürst discuss the changing public role of expertise. Knutti sees value in AI's handling of information but stresses quality and context; Fürst argues that research must remain findable, transparent and part of public discussion. For your capability work, the interesting distinction is between obtaining a plausible answer and knowing how to evaluate it. Today's German word: Einordnung—putting something in context. SRF.
3 October; overnight report. The government is dropping its wider plan for judge-only Crown Court trials after pressure led by Andy Burnham. Some proposed restrictions remain, including judge-only treatment for certain fraud and financial cases and limits on defendants choosing a Crown Court trial for less serious offences. The Criminal Bar Association questions whether moving more work into magistrates' courts will solve the backlog. This is a substantial retreat, rather than a complete abandonment of reform. The Independent.
Also read: BBC News.
3 October. At Wallierhof in Riedholz, Solothurn, the summer exposed how quickly heat can disrupt milk production and grass growth, forcing farms to use hay intended for winter. Director Jonas Zürcher describes teaching judgement and underlying principles alongside possible responses such as irrigation, different crops and breeding choices. Some changes take decades. It is a grounded example of capability development for conditions that cannot be reduced to one standard operating procedure. SRF.
2 October • weekend read. As Swiss glaciers retreat, archaeologists recover objects that have sometimes been preserved for millennia. SWI follows the work of documenting and stabilising finds before they deteriorate outside the ice, including discoveries around Alpine passes. The story shifts attention from the amount of ice lost to the traces of human movement it reveals. Lucerne's Glacier Garden exhibition offers a longer-term place to explore that history; it runs into August 2027. SWI / SRF.
3 October • vote today. Nearly 160 million people are eligible to vote as President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva faces a field including Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. If no presidential candidate wins more than half the valid votes, a run-off follows on 25 October. Voters also choose legislators and state leaders. NPR's backgrounder examines the institutional stakes, including future Supreme Court appointments and Flávio's proposed pardon for his father. Voting-day expectations are not results. Associated Press.
Also read: NPR • election background.
4 October • partial results. Partial results put Andris Kulbergs' United List on more than a third of the vote, ahead of its rivals. The figures point towards continued support for the EU and Ukraine, but coalition formation remains the next important test. Latvia's parliamentary election matters beyond its population because of its position on NATO's eastern flank. Treat the overnight figures as an early count, with final seat allocations and governing arrangements still to follow. Le Monde / AFP.
3 October. The Houthis say Saudi Arabia carried out 26 strikes on Sana'a; AFP correspondents heard explosions and saw aircraft. Separately, AFP witnessed a fire at an Aramco facility in Riyadh, whose cause was not established in the report. The escalation comes as the World Food Programme warns that roughly three-quarters of Yemen's population cannot meet basic food needs. Those humanitarian consequences deserve attention alongside the military claims and risks to Red Sea trade. The Straits Times / AFP.
Dawn reports overnight deadlock over security and access to Imran Khan; PTI says its Islamabad march will go ahead.
Only four state assemblies have approved the constitutional measure; passage requires twenty-four, Vanguard reports.
Reuters sets out how today’s elections could change the prospects for judicial and anti-corruption reforms.
The New York Times reports questions about potential conflicts as Kushner and Witkoff discuss a Lukoil asset sale.
The New York Times links the appointment to a board also involving defence executives; SpaceX remains a major military contractor.
Jean Tirole and Arancha González Laya argue for stronger European institutions, investment and shared capacity in a wide-ranging interview.
ABC follows 87-year-old Maricarmen’s case and the scarcity of social housing, putting a human story beside the policy dispute.
Students protesting staffing and conditions plan another action on 6 October.
Zelenskyy tells Reuters the response targets Russia’s energy capacity as attacks threaten Ukrainian cities ahead of winter.
Comando, a rescued chihuahua, is training with Mexico’s National Guard while winning admirers as its tiny mascot.
3 October. A proposed public-space protection order would target face concealment connected with intimidation, crime and antisocial behaviour, including problematic motorcycle use. It would not amount to a general ban on masks: legitimate health, faith, work and weather-related uses are among the exceptions described. The local-democracy report explores the case made by the council and police. For your Tynemouth connection, the key distinction is that this is a proposal, not a rule already in force. Chronicle Live / Local Democracy Reporting Service.
1 October • catch-up. The new VisitRichmond guide brings together riverside walks, parks and independent businesses, with Twickenham's cultural history woven through the suggestions. It also marks anniversaries including seventy years since the first gig at Eel Pie Island. This is a modest but useful catch-up for a place you know well: a prompt to revisit the area through a different theme, rather than another generic London itinerary. Twickenham Nub News.
4 October. A rare tornado in Ulladulla damaged roofs and trees, with two homes reported uninhabitable. The disruption sits within a wider spell of severe weather affecting New South Wales, including storm risks around greater Sydney. The local report follows the emergency response on the South Coast; Weatherzone explains the broader conditions. Ulladulla is well south of Sydney, so distinguish local damage from warnings covering a much larger area. The Canberra Times via inkl.
Also read: Weatherzone • regional weather analysis.
A new podcast explores Seated Sarong Figure and the Sculpting Life exhibition at Orleans House Gallery, open until 28 February.
Mariann Budde plans to leave on 3 June 2028, beginning the process of choosing a successor.
2 October. The Prado and Rijksmuseum are joining forces to study the influence of Habsburg women rulers, including Margaret of Austria, Mary of Hungary and Margaret of Parma. Their commissions were instruments of taste, authority and politics. The programme includes research fellowships and a planned 2029 Amsterdam exhibition. It invites a useful change of viewpoint: look at the person commissioning an image, as well as the artist making it, to understand what the picture was meant to do. The Art Newspaper.
1 October • weekend discovery. Colossal's gallery from New Zealand's World of WearableArt shows costumes engineered as performances: bodies become insects, architecture and elaborate moving shapes. Kayla Christensen's winning Sacred Nightfall uses the language of a ceremonial cloak and flowers. The photographs reward slow looking at how an object changes when a person moves inside it. For your interest in street art and visual surprise, this is an inviting detour into another public, theatrical form of image-making. Colossal.
30 September • weekend discovery. The Guadeloupe-born, Montréal-based artist combines ceramics, installation and the visual language of consumer brands to question colonial histories and systems of authority. Colossal's profile follows the tension between attractive surfaces and uncomfortable subjects, including works that resemble punching bags and branded busts. A forthcoming Toronto ceramics exhibition offers another setting for this practice. The appeal here is the way familiar objects become arguments without losing their visual playfulness. Colossal.
Piazza del Chafleo opens in Bene Vagienna on 11 October, inviting a town to give meaning to its shared public space.
The second Untitled Art edition brings 98 exhibitors; artists and dealers describe the city’s space and relatively affordable studios.
Conservators are preparing vulnerable ancient sites for El Niño rainfall; projected severity remains a forecast.
A new Alan Dunn book follows decades of architectural satire, including absurd ideas that later became real buildings.
Sunday 4 October. The Museum für Gestaltung has two tours at 11:00 today: Swiss Design Collection at Toni-Areal and Avantgarde at Ausstellungsstrasse. Choose the venue before setting out, since they are simultaneous. The collection tour is in German, included in admission, and recommends registration. It offers a manageable way to combine design curiosity with German practice, using real objects and their stories as the conversation's focus. Museum für Gestaltung.
Also read: Avantgarde • alternative 11:00 tour.
4 October • tonight. Tonight's Student Showcase and Joy and Fear Jam starts at 18:00, part of Ida's improv residency with Anděl Sudik and Rebecca MacMillan. Later in the week, the programme includes The Large Library of Forgotten Books on Friday and How Stories Are Made on Saturday. The organiser's listing brings the dates together. This evening is the immediate opportunity if you want your Sunday to finish with something live and unpredictable. Theater Ida • organiser listing.
8–13 October • advance. Natalie “Niniganni” Hinzmann's exhibition runs from 8 to 13 October, with a Thursday opening from 17:00 to 22:00. This is exactly the sort of short gallery window that is easy to miss between larger museum shows. Galerie 111's current Seelenland exhibition finishes today, giving you a final-day option before the changeover. The linked calendar below keeps both opportunities close at hand without confusing their separate runs. Galerie 111 • original listing.
Zürich first • 4–10 October, plus next Sunday • times local
The Natural History Museum’s “Wilde Wisente — wilde Schweiz?” tour is on Thursday at 18:00.
1 October; updated 2 October. Melvyn Minnaar looks ahead to Solo Studios X in Riebeek-Kasteel, where open studios, galleries, walks and workshops bring visitors into direct contact with artists. The tenth-anniversary event runs 23–25 October and includes the Garden of Edible Delights. His Winemag column is an opinionated invitation to experience the town at walking pace. It combines two of your interests particularly well: looking closely at how something is made, then talking about it over a glass. Winemag • South African column.
2 October. Vinetur examines bottles from Galicia, New Zealand, Portugal and Uruguay appearing on British supermarket shelves. The discussion draws on Miguel Crunia's July survey of seven chains, with many examples around £9–12. Shelf presence does not establish sales or market share, but it raises an interesting tasting question: how much of what you recognise as Albariño comes from the variety, and how much from place and production choices? Vinetur • Spanish.
1 October • advance event. The sixth Barolo en Primeur auction takes place at Grinzane Cavour on 23 October, linked with London and New York. WineNews reports that fourteen barrels from the Gustava vineyard's 2025 vintage will be offered, alongside donations from wineries. The first five editions raised more than €4.5 million for charitable projects. Comedian Federico Basso is among the participants—an unexpected meeting of your wine and comedy interests. WineNews • Italian.
The coming week • Zürich and an Andermatt detour
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7–11 Oct | Festa del vino Wed–Fri 17:00–23:00; weekend lunch and evening sittings. Individual ticket CHF 117 includes four courses, music and three wine glasses. | terrasse, Limmatquai 3, Zürich |
| Thu 8 Oct • 17:00–18:00 | Cos d’Estournel masterclass with Elio Gastaldello CHF 90; six wines, including three grand-vin vintages. | chez Smith, Ritomgasse 10, Andermatt |
La Vendemmia runs 5–11 October across boutiques, restaurants and hotels; individual events have their own access arrangements.
Vinetur reports US wine exports to Canada fell 78% in 2025, with suppliers struggling to replace a long-built market.
Regional participation will determine access to support for vineyard experiences, routes and visitor information in 2026/27.
Henry Harris offers vegetarian endive gratin with mushrooms and emmental, suggesting chilled Beaujolais alongside.
Amsterdam neighbours challenge Fabel Friet’s licence, arguing that TikTok-driven crowds have overwhelmed their street.
3 October. David Robinson says he has left OpenAI because its working culture is poorly suited to increasingly consequential safety decisions. In his Atlantic essay, he argues for stronger organisational safeguards, drawing on aviation and other high-risk industries. These are a departing employee's assessments, not independently established findings. OpenAI says it is strengthening safeguards and can pause training or releases. The workplace question is how staff can raise concerns and make caution operational. The Atlantic • first-person essay.
Also read: The Guardian • reporting and company response.
3 October. Reuters examines the US administration's agreement with six major AI companies, announced on 29 September. The approach relies on company commitments rather than explicit penalties, leaving questions about external scrutiny and enforcement. The administration presents it as a way to protect people without slowing innovation. For enterprise AI adoption, it is a reminder to examine the controls a supplier actually offers, rather than treating a public pledge as a substitute for your own evaluation. The Straits Times / Reuters.
2 October. EcoCarSolaire aims to convert Dakar's familiar diesel minibuses to electric power with solar-supported charging and battery swapping. SWI follows the Swiss project's ambition alongside the financing, approval and practical training obstacles. A prototype was tested in Switzerland in 2025; the proposed fleet conversion has not been delivered. For your interests in learning and implementation, this is a useful case of the distance between demonstrating a technology and organising a service that can sustain it. SWI.
The company says X-Design accelerated early discovery; these laboratory claims do not establish clinical benefit.
Steven Shisley proposes linking AI-supported assessment to explicit objectives, context and review.
Deadline today • continuing lead. The original brief lists today, 4 October, as the application deadline. The consultant, or pair, will produce a needs assessment, two Didask courses, a management toolkit, coaching guidance and a change plan. Your learning-design background is relevant; substantial humanitarian or INGO experience remains a key fit check. The submission includes a short proposal, an example of work and a CHF daily rate. Prepare against the employer's checklist and check that applications remain open. IMPACT • original advert.
Deadline today • continuing lead. MSF's employer listing on CAGI confirms today's deadline for Head of Learning & Development, with professional French and English required. The published annual salary is CHF 119,964–134,604 at 100%. The role combines strategy, team leadership and capability across operations. The original Workday portal did not expose its current application status in this morning's check; use that portal to confirm availability before submitting. The requested CV is at most two pages and the letter one. MSF • original application portal.
Also read: MSF’s full advert on CAGI.
Live 4 October • continuing lead. Zurich Insurance's Skills Strategy & AI Capability Lead remains listed at 80–100%, based at Quai Zurich Campus. The advert specifies no remote working. It connects skills frameworks, capability gaps and learning pathways with practical business outcomes, making it a close match to your enterprise-capability interests. A persuasive example would show how your work changed proficiency or performance. No salary or application deadline is published; assess the on-site requirement before investing in the application. Zurich Insurance • original advert.
3 October. Quins conceded eight tries at Kingsholm and trailed 24–0 at half-time, leaving them without a league point after two rounds. Jason Gilmore called the performance “totally unacceptable”. The BBC report describes a match in which Gloucester dominated possession and territory while Harlequins struggled to create pressure. George Furbank's debut offered little protection from the wider result. The scale of the defeat makes the team's response, rather than isolated individual moments, the story to follow next. BBC Sport via Yahoo.
Also read: TNT Sports • match coverage.
4 October • race morning. McLaren starts today's Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia from the third row after Isack Hadjar's grid penalty moves both drivers forward. Max Verstappen starts on pole beside Lewis Hamilton. McLaren's qualifying report describes a difficult surface and hopes tyre behaviour will create opportunities over the race distance; that remains the team's expectation. Lights out is 09:00 Zürich time. The official grid is the place to check any final changes. Formula 1 • starting grid.
Also read: McLaren • qualifying report · BBC Sport • why Red Bull is quick.
3 October. Kevin Sinfield reached Old Trafford on Saturday after seven ultramarathons in seven days, visiting all twelve Super League clubs on the route from Hull. It was the final annual challenge in a series that has raised more than £13 million since 2020, inspired by his friendship with Rob Burrow. That total covers the wider campaign, not this week alone. The arrival video is worth a few minutes: an endurance feat with a very human purpose. BBC News via Yahoo.
Also read: Sky Sports • finish-line video.
3 October. SWI explores subtitling as creative interpretation rather than a simple exchange of words. Swiss Film Archives director Vinzenz Hediger describes the cultural and practical decisions behind a line that a viewer has only seconds to read. The story connects cinema, translation and the pressure of automated tools. After the Zurich Film Festival, it is a good reason to notice a usually invisible craft—and to ask what gets preserved or lost when dialogue crosses languages. SWI • film craft.
29 September • weekend discovery. Busy Bodies turns a workplace into a small animated machine of improbable tasks. Renshaw Lewis uses drawing and print processes to give the film's creatures and objects a tactile, restless quality. Colossal's feature links the animation, so you can watch the chains of actions rather than simply read about them. For your comedy and visual-art interests, it is an enjoyable study in timing, repetition and the point where organised activity becomes ridiculous. Colossal • artist and film.
29 September • weekend discovery. The Berlin artist's Glashütte Trash Clock uses discarded materials to construct a working mechanical sculpture, complete with a bottle gong and deliberately eccentric details. It runs for about half an hour at a time. The pleasure is in seeing the mechanism openly assembled from things that would normally be thrown away. Colossal's photographs and video make this a small lesson in inventiveness: understand a principle, then discover how many unexpected materials can demonstrate it. Colossal • artist profile.
FM’s learning-analytics leader discusses business impact, technology and staying close to stakeholders in a practical interview.
Action & deadlines. 09:00: the F1 race starts. 11:00: choose one of the two design-museum tours. 14:00–17:00: Männedorf's Schwarz & Weiss finissage. 18:00: Theater Ida's showcase and jam. Before the application portals close: review the IMPACT and MSF requirements; both adverts list today as their deadline. Looking ahead, Festa del vino starts Wednesday and Galerie 111's WASTELANDS opens Thursday. All times here are Zürich local time.
Research idea • a small paired exercise. Choose a realistic work decision with incomplete information. Give one colleague the evidence and another the same evidence plus an AI summary. Ask both to identify the missing information, state their confidence and propose a next step. Compare what they notice—not just how quickly they answer. Repeat with roles reversed. This small design exercise can reveal whether a tool supports judgement or merely makes an uncertain decision feel easier.
Today’s original puzzle • spatial reasoning. A solid rectangular parcel measures 2 × 3 × 4 units. You paint its entire outside, then cut it into twenty-four identical unit cubes. Without drawing all the cubes, work out how many have exactly two painted faces, how many have exactly one, and how many have none. Then answer the trickier question: can you rearrange these cubes into the same-sized parcel with every painted face hidden inside? You may rotate every cube.
Exactly two painted faces: 12 cubes. Exactly one: 4 cubes. None: 0 cubes. The other 8 are corners with three painted faces. Edge-interior cubes number 4[(2−2)+(3−2)+(4−2)]=12; the two 3×4 faces each contribute two single-painted-face cubes. There is no fully internal cube because the parcel is only two units thick. Yes, you can hide all the paint: leave each cube in its original position and rotate it so its painted faces all face inward. Each corner cube has an opposite, entirely unpainted corner that can face outward; edge and face cubes can likewise be turned to expose only their unpainted faces.