News

OFCOM has set out the procedure for awarding VHF (FM) radio licences for the broadcasting of radio programming from 2027 onwards. SRG SSR and private radio stations with a public service mandate may continue to use their existing frequencies upon application. The remaining frequencies will be reallocated. FM broadcasting remains voluntary. If several interested parties apply for the same frequencies, an auction will take place.

How does research turn into innovation? Empa provides the answers in its recently published 2025 Annual Report. In it, researchers demonstrate how their work leads to concrete solutions: For example, they are investigating whether nanoparticles can fight cancer and examining how concrete can contribute to climate protection. They are making batteries from fungi. And they are using AI to manage power grids more efficiently. The Empa Annual Report highlights these developments – this year, for the first time, entirely in digital form.

State Secretary Markus Mäder represents the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport at the Civil Defence Forum in Stockholm on 21 and 22 April. This conference is dedicated to comprehensive security and the resilience of society in the face of hybrid warfare.

In 2025, the Swiss nominal wage index recorded an average increase of 1.8% compared to the previous year, reaching 106.1 points (base 2020 = 100). With average annual inflation of +0.2%, real wages rose by 1.6%, reaching 99.2 points (base 2020 = 100), according to recent calculations by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) at an event organised by the Fédération des Entreprises Romandes (FER) in Geneva – Check against delivery

La Suisse et le Comité international de la Croix-Rouge (CICR) vont organiser, du 21 au 30 avril 2026, une réunion d’experts gouvernementaux sur le droit international humanitaire (DIH). Cette rencontre, la troisième du genre, permettra aux participants d’échanger des expériences sur la manière de mettre en œuvre concrètement le principe de précaution, élément fondamental de la protection de la population civile dans les conflits armés.

Hydrogen fuel cells are fundamentally suitable for supporting power grids in district energy systems during peak load periods and for integrating hydrogen into building services systems. This is shown by a research project carried out by Empa, the Hälg Group, the Osterwalder Group, and H2 Energy AG. The project also focused on reducing CO2 emissions through the use of environmentally friendly hydrogen.

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

On 17 April, Swiss president Guy Parmelin and Bahrain’s Minister of Finance and National Economy, Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, signed an investment protection agreement between Switzerland and Bahrain on the fringes of the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and IMF in Washington.

The second meeting on gender equality between the federal government and the cantons took place today in Bern at the invitation of Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider. It brought together the head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs and the cantonal councillors responsible for gender equality with the aim of strengthening their collaboration. Discussions focused on the implementation of the Gender Equality Strategy 2030 and on the key role played by the cantons.

From 1 May, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) will resume deciding on asylum applications from Syrian nationals.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the FDFA, will take part in the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum, to be held from 17 to 19 April 2026. This occasion will allow him to discuss the conflict in the Middle East with his counterparts in the region. He will also hold a series of talks in his capacity as Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).