News

Scientists at the X-ray free-electron laser SwissFEL have realised a long-pursued experimental goal in physics: to show how electrons dance together. The technique, known as X-ray four-wave mixing, opens a new way to see how energy and information flow within atoms and molecules. In the future, it could illuminate how quantum information is stored and lost, eventually aiding the design of more error-tolerant quantum devices. The findings are reported in Nature.

Yesterday evening, Swissmedic and its social partners on the employee committee and the transfair, VPOD and PVB trade unions reached mutual agreement on a redundancy scheme. This became necessary after Swissmedic was forced to announce in November 2025 that it would be cutting around 45 full-time equivalents over the next two years in addition to reducing material costs by 6 million Swiss francs. These measures are needed to stabilise the Agency’s financial situation.

You could be interested by new pages which have been published on the OFCOM website between 01.01.2026 and 14.01.2026.

Opening speech by Federal Councillor and chairman-in-office, Ignazio Cassis, at the OSCE Permanent Council. The event was held in Vienna. The speech was given in English – Check against delivery

The Secretariat of the Swiss Competition Commission is investigating Microsoft’s licensing fees in Switzerland. The recent fee increases may constitute indications of an unlawful restriction of competition.

Address by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER)

The Federal Council is committed to ensuring that the victims of the fire in Crans-Montana and their families receive adequate support. To this end, it will request funding from Parliament if necessary. It took this policy decision at its meeting on 14 January. The Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) will examine by the end of February whether there are gaps in the existing provision of support services and how the federal government can provide assistance. The federal government’s contributions would be of a supplementary nature to complement the support provided by the insurance companies and the Valais authorities.

At its meeting on 14 January, the Federal Council decided that Mirjam Staub-Bisang will become Chair of the Board of Directors of the Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets on 1 June of this year. She succeeds Jörg Frieden, who is stepping down at the end of May.

Croatian nationals coming to work in Switzerland will no longer be subject to quotas. At its meeting on 14 January, the Federal Council was informed that the number of L and B permits issued to Croatians in 2025 remained below the thresholds which would have permitted an activation of the unilateral safeguard clause. Croatia now benefits from full free movement of persons.

The Swiss Confederation issued two bonds by auction on 14.01.2026: 2.25%, maturity 22.06.2031 (reopening) and 4.00%, maturity 06.01.2049 (reopening). The issuance volume (excluding own holdings) amounts to a total of 252.960 million francs

Swiss mobile network operators must better protect their networks against power failures. Mobile service failures can cause significant economic damage and endanger people's safety. The Federal Council consequently adopted an ordinance revision at its meeting on 14 January 2026.

On 12 January 2026, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER amended annex 1 of the ordinance on measures against Venezuela. The entries concerning four individuals were modified. These measures will come into force on 13 January 2026 at 11 p.m.