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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.

Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) at the General Assembly of the 'Europäische Bewegung Schweiz' in Bern – Check against delivery

The head of the FDFA, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, received the French minister for Europe and foreign affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, in Geneva for an exchange of views on cross-border issues, G7 and the major challenges facing Europe. In a geopolitical context marked by the war in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East and shifts in transatlantic relations, Switzerland and France underscored their desire to work together for a more stable, secure and competitive Europe, and for effective multilateralism anchored in Geneva.

In April 2026 the consumer sentiment index stood at –40 points. This is 2 points higher than in April 2025. The following sub-indices are higher than in April 2025: economic outlook and past financial situation. The following sub-index is lower than a year ago: moment to make major purchases. The following sub-index has barely changed compared to April 2025: financial outlook.

In Switzerland, 55.2% of the population belongs to the middle income group, a share that has remained largely stable for 25 years. The life situations of people in this group can vary considerably. In the lower middle income group, around one in ten people face housing costs exceeding 40% of their disposable household income. One in four people in this group live in a household without the means to cover an unexpected expense of CHF 2500. In the upper middle income group the respective proportions are much lower, at 3.5% and 10.9%. These are some of the findings from the 2023 Household Budget Survey and the 2024 Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Passive cooling systems for nuclear power plants operate without pumps or electricity: They rely solely on physical effects such as density differences to dissipate heat. Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have now experimentally investigated such systems for small modular reactors, collecting high-resolution measurement data for the first time. This provides an important basis for developing future generations of reactors.

The Swiss OSCE Chairmanship today opened a high-level conference in Geneva on the theme “Anticipating technologies – for a safe and humane future”. The two-day event brings together around 200 participants from OSCE participating States, as well as representatives of international organisations, academia and the private sector.

State Secretary Alexandre Fasel and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau held political consultations in Washington, DC, on 6 May 2026. Discussions focused on the current geopolitical situation, economic cooperation, innovation and future-oriented issues. The open and constructive exchange underscored the close bilateral relations between Switzerland and the US.

On 7.05.2026 the Federal Department of Economic Affairs EAER has amended the formular “ Reporting services and software (art. 28e (9) Ukraine Ordinance) ”.