News

On 10 August 2026 the Federal Department of Economic Affairs EAER has amended annex 2 of the ordinance imposing measures against the Republic of South Sudan. One entry concerning an individual has been modified. The measures come into force on 11 August 2026 at 11 p.m.

On 10 August 2026, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) has amended annex 2 of the ordinance on measures against Sudan. One individual has been removed from the annex. The measures come into force on 11 August 2026 at 11 p.m.

The Federal Tax Administration has updated the course listings and bonus shares 2024, 2025 and 2026.

National Armaments Director Urs Loher was on a business trip in Japan from 4 to 7 August 2026. The work-related discussions and meetings with authorities and industry focused on armament policy topics and potential future cooperations in the defence sector.

In July 2026 the consumer sentiment index stood at –35 points. This is 2 points lower than in July 2025. The following sub-indices are lower than in July 2025: past financial situation, financial outlook and moment to make major purchases. The following sub-index has barely changed compared to July 2025: economic outlook.

To produce and use green hydrogen more efficiently, better materials are needed – such as robust membranes made of special ceramics that can absorb and conduct protons. An international research team led by Empa aims to shed light on the fundamentals of proton transport in such materials using new methods. The project is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) as part of the External Lead Agency program.

The head of the FDFA was in Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan from 3 to 5 August 2026 for official talks with the foreign ministers of both countries. He also met with President Serdar Berdimuhamedow of Turkmenistan and visited the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. A second trip to the region is planned for October 2026, to Armenia and Georgia.

Type 2 diabetes generates high healthcare costs in Switzerland and causes significant suffering for those affected. A multidisciplinary Innosuisse Flagship project led by Empa aims to use artificial intelligence (AI), innovative digital sensors, and new business models to facilitate the prevention of this widespread disease.

The Armed Forces' global logistics concept (GK A Log) is the Swiss Armed Forces' strategic framework for transforming its logistics into a combat-ready, decentralised and resilient deployment logistics system. It regulates stockpiling, protection, medical services, infrastructure and collaboration civil partners, to ensure that the Armed Forces can maintain operations for a longer period in an emergency. The SFAO's main focus was on whether the global concept is sufficiently mature to allow concrete measures to be formulated across all logistics levels and trigger their implementation. It considers that, essentially, the developed concept is sufficiently mature to allow the measures derived from it to be integrated into the Defence Group's ordinary process and developed further in that setting. However, key questions are still pending.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell by 0.1% in July 2026 compared with the previous month to 101.1 points (December 2025 = 100). Inflation was +0.4% compared with the same month of the previous year. These are the results of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) at Swiss National Day in Avenches – Check against delivery.

Ansprache von Bundespräsident Guy Parmelin Vorsteher des Eidgenössischen Departements für Wirtschaft, Bildung und Forschung (WBF) anlässlich des Nationalfeiertags 2026 Rütliwiese, Samstag, 1. August 2026