News
US tariffs: Federal Council reaffirms commitment to Switzerland–US joint statement
On 14 November 2025, Switzerland and the United States signed a joint statement aimed at stabilising bilateral trade relations. The Federal Council is committed to honouring its commitments under that agreement. To this end, on 29 June it published a declaration setting out how it intends to implement certain further elements of the joint statement. In return, it expects the United States to fulfil its corresponding commitments. A comprehensive trade agreement remains the Federal Council's overarching aim.
Follow-up audit on the implementation of key recommendations: measures against road noise
In Switzerland, approximately 750,000 people are exposed to harmful or disruptive traffic noise – primarily road noise. Road noise generates annual external costs of around CHF 2 billion, resulting from adverse health effects and a decline in property values. To combat road noise, there is a legal obligation to rehabilitate roads. Road rehabilitation was supposed to have been completed by 2002 but was extended to 2015 (national roads) and 2018 (other roads). In 2021, the Federal Council extended financial support for the cantons indefinitely, thereby defining road rehabilitation as a permanent task. The Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO) examined whether the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) had implemented key recommendations from 2021 regarding the management, financing, and monitoring of noise abatement measures for roads.
Restitution to Nigeria: Swiss museums return 18 major artefacts
Eighteen artefacts from the Kingdom of Benin have been returned to Nigeria by three Swiss museums. The courtly and religious objects are among the famous ‘Benin Bronzes’, which were looted from the Kingdom of Benin – in modern-day Nigeria – at the end of the 19th century. Switzerland also returned to Nigeria five artefacts seized in this country. During the restitution ceremony, Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider and Nigeria’s minister of culture, Hannatu Musa Musawa, signed an agreement on the transfer of cultural property, with the aim of combating the illicit trade in cultural property and protecting cultural heritage.
Cooperation agreement on cultural property with Nigeria
Opening address of Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Federal Councillor, on the occasion of the signing of the bilateral cooperation agreement between Switzerland and Nigeria concerning the import, export and return of cultural property. Check against delivery.
State Secretary Martina Hirayama uses 2026 Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting to foster international dialogue on education, research and innovation
On the sidelines of the 75th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting on 28 and 29 June, Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, held talks with several of her counterparts, including Dorothee Bär, German Federal Minister for Research, Technology and Space.
Four in five graduates change jobs after completing professional education
Of those who obtained a professional qualification in 2020, 58% changed companies or started their own business and 20% changed roles within their company in the four years following their examination. These are the results of the second Survey on Professional Education by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
“Preserving Swiss neutrality” (de, fr)
Speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), on the occasion of the FDP Delegates’ Assembly – Check against delivery
First meeting of the international coalition for science, research and innovation in Ukraine
On 26 June, the first high-level meeting of the international coalition for science, research and innovation in Ukraine took place in Gdańsk on the fringes of the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC). A joint declaration is intended to send a message of international solidarity in support of the reconstruction of Ukraine’s research and innovation system.
FDFA state secretary in Beijing for political dialogue between Switzerland and China
On 26 June 2026, Alexandre Fasel, the state secretary of the FDFA, was in Beijing for the political dialogue between Switzerland and China. He held talks with Hua Chunying, vice minister of foreign affairs of the People's Republic of China. The discussions focused on bilateral relations, economic, scientific and financial cooperation, and a number of regional and international issues.
New STSB preliminary report (railways) available
A new preliminary report (railways) is available on the website of the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board STSB.
New insights into human vision
The retina of the human eye contains six to seven million cone cells. These cells contain light-sensitive proteins known as cone opsins. They enable us to perceive our surroundings in detail in daylight. In a new study, researchers led by Polina Isaikina from the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have now, for the first time, determined the three-dimensional molecular structure of human cone opsins in their dark state, that is, before they are activated by light.
One cessation and one new factual report (aviation) of the STSB available
One cessation and one new factual report (aviation) are available on the website of the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB):