News

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will visit the Republic of Moldova from 13 to 15 May. As Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, he will hold a series of meetings in which he will address the organisation’s role in the settlement process of the Transdniestrian conflict. He will also attend the annual session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which is hosted this year by the Republic of Moldova.

Hiking, jogging, biking – when enjoying outdoor activities, it's easy to get caught off guard by unexpected weather. Modern performance clothing can be waterproof and stain-resistant, but it is often treated with chemicals containing PFAS. It's not easy to find alternatives to these harmful substances. Researchers at Empa are therefore working with textile manufacturers to develop a technology that can be used to find substitutes for PFAS and apply them more precisely – in line with the Safe and Sustainable by Design principle.

A year after completing their studies, 13% of people who obtain an Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education are self-employed. Agriculture and healthcare are among the most common fields of study for those who go on to be self-employed. Most of these professionals were already self-employed before obtaining their qualification and continue to work in the company or practice that they founded. These are the findings of the Survey on Professional Education conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Structural trends in Swiss agriculture persisted through 2025. In 2025, there were 46 270 farms in Switzerland, 1.7% fewer compared with the previous year. Although the area used for organic crops continued to grow, the number of organic farms fell for the first time since 2010. Trends in livestock numbers varied. The number of dairy cows and pigs fell, while poultry numbers grew. These results are taken from the Farm Structure Survey conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

The Producer and Import Price Index increased in April 2026 by 0.8% compared with the previous month, reaching 100.5 points (December 2025 = 100). In particular, petroleum products as well as petroleum and natural gas saw rising prices. Basic metals and semi-finished metal products also became more expensive. Compared with April 2025, the price level of the whole range of domestic and imported products fell by 2.0%. These are the results of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Wetland forests are particularly valuable for biodiversity and help to mitigate the effects of climate change. However, many of these forests in Switzerland have been drained during the last few centuries. In a newly published guide, researchers from Eawag, WSL and the ETH, together with experts from the field, set out the positive effects of wetland forests and the measures required to restore them.

A new preliminary report (aviation) is available on the website of the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board STSB.

The Swiss Confederation is offering two bonds on a public tender system on 13.05.2026: 1.25%, maturity 27.06.2037 (reopening) and 0.50%, maturity 24.05.2055 (reopening).

Address by Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), on Switzerland’s commitment to combating antisemitism. CICAD dinner conference, Intercontinental Hotel, Geneva. Check against delivery

The software platform AiiDAlab was originally developed to simplify computer simulations in materials research. A team of researchers, led by the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI and Empa, have now demonstrated its use in new areas: from atmospheric research and controlling experiments to teaching.

In 2025, the total number of adult convictions recorded in the register of criminal convictions stood at 111 148. A suspended monetary penalty remains the most frequently imposed sentence, while the number of convictions involving a short, unsuspended custodial sentence is at a historically low level. As at 31 January 2026, the number of detainees stood at 7 119, the highest number since the survey began. These are the findings of the Criminal Conviction Statistics and the Imprisonment Statistics published by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

The new FTA portal went live today. It combines numerous FTA online services in a single, centralised overview. Authorisations and services are now consolidated in one place and are easier to access.