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Switzerland to Enact Hamas Ban from May 15

FILED - 08 February 2025, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: Fighters of the Ezz al-Din Al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of Hamas form a corridor as Israeli hostages get delivered to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
FILED - 08 February 2025, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: Fighters of the Ezz al-Din Al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of Hamas form a corridor as Israeli hostages get delivered to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
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Switzerland to Enact Hamas Ban from May 15

FILED - 08 February 2025, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: Fighters of the Ezz al-Din Al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of Hamas form a corridor as Israeli hostages get delivered to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
FILED - 08 February 2025, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: Fighters of the Ezz al-Din Al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of Hamas form a corridor as Israeli hostages get delivered to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa

A new Swiss law banning Hamas and related organizations will come into force on May 15, the government said on Wednesday, aiming to prevent the Palestinian militant group from using Switzerland as a safe haven by making entry bans or expulsions easier to arrange.
The law, which was approved by parliament last December and came in the wake of Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, gives Swiss authorities "the necessary tools to take action against Hamas activities or support for the organization in Switzerland," the government said, according to Reuters.
The Gaza war started after Hamas' attack which killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's offensive on the enclave has killed more than 52,000, according to local Palestinian health officials.
The Swiss law enables preventive police measures such as entry bans or expulsions, and also makes it more difficult for Hamas to use Switzerland as a financial hub for its activities.

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World

Russia Says Forces Capture Ukrainian Settlement, Strike Energy and Drone Sites

An apartment building damaged during a Russian airstrike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine November 13, 2026. (Reuters)
An apartment building damaged during a Russian airstrike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine November 13, 2026. (Reuters)
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Russia Says Forces Capture Ukrainian Settlement, Strike Energy and Drone Sites

An apartment building damaged during a Russian airstrike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine November 13, 2026. (Reuters)
An apartment building damaged during a Russian airstrike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine November 13, 2026. (Reuters)

Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday that its forces had captured ‌the settlement ‌of Tersianka in ‌Ukraine’s ⁠southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, ⁠news agency Interfax reported.

The ministry also ⁠said Russian ‌forces ‌had struck ‌Ukrainian energy ‌and transport infrastructure used by the ‌military, ammunition depots, and drone ⁠production ⁠and storage sites.

Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield reports.

World

US Floated Idea of Ukraine Ceding Donbas for NATO Membership, Zelenskiy Says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a bilateral press conference with Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheal Martin at Government Buildings, in Dublin, Ireland, November 11, 2026. (Reuters)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a bilateral press conference with Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheal Martin at Government Buildings, in Dublin, Ireland, November 11, 2026. (Reuters)
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US Floated Idea of Ukraine Ceding Donbas for NATO Membership, Zelenskiy Says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a bilateral press conference with Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheal Martin at Government Buildings, in Dublin, Ireland, November 11, 2026. (Reuters)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a bilateral press conference with Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheal Martin at Government Buildings, in Dublin, Ireland, November 11, 2026. (Reuters)

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that US negotiators had floated a question about Ukraine's potential withdrawal from its eastern region of Donbas in exchange for joining NATO, following the latest round of peace talks with Russia ‌in Abu ‌Dhabi.

Zelenskiy reiterated his ‌position ⁠that Kyiv was ⁠not willing to retreat from its territory.

He said that if Ukraine received a comprehensive security package, that includes security guarantees, ⁠a strong and well-funded ‌Ukrainian ‌army and funds to rebuild, he ‌would put the question ‌to a referendum.

"The Americans raised a question: ‘What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw ‌from Donbas?’ This was the first time this had ⁠been ⁠raised," Zelenskiy told reporters in remarks released by his office on Saturday.

"That is why I believe NATO is back on the agenda. But you have also heard (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's signals, and this is an extremely difficult conversation."

World

New French Protests Focus on Children and Police

A protester waves a French flag amid tear gas smoke during a demonstration in Lyon, France. (Getty Images/AFP)
A protester waves a French flag amid tear gas smoke during a demonstration in Lyon, France. (Getty Images/AFP)
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New French Protests Focus on Children and Police

A protester waves a French flag amid tear gas smoke during a demonstration in Lyon, France. (Getty Images/AFP)
A protester waves a French flag amid tear gas smoke during a demonstration in Lyon, France. (Getty Images/AFP)

France faces more rallies on Saturday with demonstrators venting frustrations ranging from inflation to opposition to a new police bill at the latest protests.

The European Union's second largest economy has been gripped by high-school blockades and cost-of-living demonstrations for more than a month, ahead of presidential elections next year that the far right sees as its best chance of seizing power.

Some of the largely peaceful rallies have seen fringe violence, as well as accusations of police brutality.

People were to take to the streets for the fifth Saturday in a row, with a main rally in Paris from 1:00 pm (1200 GMT) and dozens of other gatherings across the country.

In the capital, the Yellow Vest movement would join high-school students, unions and other activists fighting for children's rights or opposed to a bill to give police more protection in their use of weapons.

"Society's in bad shape," said Claire Bourdille, from a collective battling violence against children and teenagers. "We can't focus on one cause more than another."

Activists have in recent months demanded better protection for children against sexual abuse.

Others will be protesting against a new bill in parliament to grant police who use their weapons a presumption of legitimate self-defense.

Backers, including the far-right National Rally party of presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen, say it is necessary to avoid police being automatically suspected of using disproportionate force.

- 'License to kill' -

Activists argue the bill, approved by the lower house and soon to go to the Senate, amounts to a "license to kill".

They say it would make holding security forces accountable even harder in a country where most cases of alleged police brutality rarely reach a criminal court.

Lawyers last week denounced alleged police violence at recent protests that led to "mutilations" including hand, foot and eye injuries.

Karl Ghazi, of the CGT union, said Saturday's protest in Paris might be different with "real activist fatigue" after a month and a half of protests.

"It'll essentially be child rights activists on one side and people against the 'license to kill' on the other," he said.

Around 146,000 people took part in demonstrations across France on Saturday last week, according to authorities, far lower numbers than on previous weekends.

The largest protests in recent weeks occurred during a union-led strike on Thursday last week, when more than half a million people took to the streets nationwide, according to official figures.

Unions have called for a new day of strikes on Tuesday, after rejecting a government promise to increase the minimum wage by 0.6 percent as "crumbs".