News

The UN sanctions committee has amended the list of sanctioned individuals, companies and organizations. The SESAM database has been updated accordingly. On 4 March 2016 the Federal Council has adopted the Ordinance on the automatic application of the UN Security Council’s sanctions lists. Hence, the amendments of the UN Security Council’s sanctions lists enter into force in Switzerland without delay.

Senior officials of G10 Members met on 27 March 2026 on the fringes of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organisation in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Upon invitation from Switzerland, the G10 Members discussed current developments in the WTO negotiations on agriculture. They emphasised their willingness to engage constructively in agricultural talks at MC14 and beyond, while ensuring compatibility with their respective agricultural policies and taking their interests as net food importing countries into account.

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

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has just completed visits to three economic heavyweights in Africa: Angola, Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire. In addition to trade and economic affairs, his political discussions also focused on security issues and cooperation in the field of science. The fourth country that Mr Cassis will visit tomorrow is Burkina Faso, where the focus will be on international cooperation: The head of the FDFA will visit a project supported by Switzerland that uses digital technology to give people better access to financial services and loans, thereby improving local economic prospects.

Some of the signs of ageing in human cells originate in the cell nucleus, because the packaged form of DNA changes with age. This has now been demonstrated by PSI researchers. It means that older cells can no longer react appropriately to external stimuli, and this can even lead to diseases. This insight could help scientists to curb such alterations and support better health in old age.

Flame-retardant materials are essential wherever large numbers of people gather. Empa develops such materials for a wide range of applications. Empa researcher and materials expert Sabyasachi Gaan explains the hurdles that need to be overcome in this field.

The Federal Chancellery is launching a tender procedure for the procurement of IT services in the field of data and artificial intelligence, worth CHF 57 million. The call for tenders has been published on the public procurement platform simap.ch.

Switzerland will participate in the 14th regular Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which will take place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from 26 to 29 March 2026. State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda, Director of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), will lead the Swiss delegation.

At its meeting on 13 March, the Federal Council took note of the report by the Board of Directors of RUAG International Holding AG (RUAG International) on the achievement of targets in the 2025 financial year. The strategic goals set by the Federal Council were partially achieved. The Federal Council was also informed about the findings of the advisory group on the strategic development of Beyond Gravity (formerly RUAG Space). RUAG International's Board of Directors is to be largely renewed.

Reducing emissions from road transport remains one of the major challenges on the path to climate neutrality. While electric mobility is increasing its market share, millions of vehicles with combustion engines that rely on gasoline will remain in use for many years to come. Empa researcher Alessia Cesarini is developing a climate‑friendly gasoline that could reduce emissions immediately – without replacing cars or refueling infrastructure. For her work, she has recently been awarded the Empa Entrepreneur Fellowship.

In early July 2026, Geneva will host three international conferences on artificial intelligence and the information society. The AI for Good Global Summit, which will be opened by Federal Councillor Albert Rösti, will take centre stage.

President Guy Parmelin, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, met with Chinese Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng in Bern on 23 March. Following the meeting, Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, chaired the sixth meeting of the Joint Working Group on Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training.