Archive
October 2026
High diesel prices: why a fuel rebate won't fix the supply problem
In September, diesel cost clearly more in the Basel border zone than at the start of the year. A fuel rebate could bring short-term relief, but it would solve neither strained transport routes nor the question of targeted social policy.
Medicine rebates: what the SFAO proves, and what stays open
Clear transparency and pass-through obligations apply to medicines. The SFAO shows why the supervisory authority still struggles to demonstrate that they are observed.
Robot Surgery Booms: Device Count Is Not the Decisive Question
Around a quarter more robot-assisted operations within a year: the technology is becoming more visible in Swiss hospital routine. But growth alone does not prove better treatment outcomes.
Consumer prices in autumn 2026: what drives the LIK
The national consumer price index measures inflation in Switzerland month by month. How strongly rents, electricity tariffs and imported goods move the basket can be checked only against the original publications of BFS, BFE and SECO.
Guy Parmelin to resign at end of 2026: what his exit means
Guy Parmelin will step down on 31 December 2026. His decision ends eleven years on the Federal Council and opens the search for a successor.
Lung cancer therapy: why first-line treatment keeps getting more precise
Before first-line therapy, tumour type, stage and relevant biomarkers are assessed together. Targeted drugs only work when the matching molecular feature is present. A broad range of tests helps little if tissue, time or access to specialised centres are lacking.
Respiratory viruses 2025/26: why no single pattern fits
The 2025/26 season began with an early influenza wave. Covid-19 and RSV followed different trajectories — a sign of why surveillance remains necessary throughout the season.
RIVASUR on the Specialities List: What the Listing Means for Patients
Rivasur was added to the Specialities List on 1 August 2026. The patch releases rivastigmine and is changed twice a week. Basic insurance pays for it only within the defined limitation and on medical prescription.
EFTA-Kosovo Agreement: Market access is no trade boom
The EFTA-Kosovo agreement is now fully in force. Its biggest short-term effect is a more reliable legal framework – not automatically growing trade.
Viva Bärn: What the model premiums say about your own bill
Viva Bärn is meant to bundle integrated care from 2027. The published model premiums help with orientation – but they are no substitute for a personal premium comparison.
Winter Games 2038: National Council clears the way — but not the award
The National Council backs a federal framework of at most 200 million Swiss francs for possible 2038 Winter Games. But the project remains open on several points.
SNB interest rates and exchange rates: What the monthly data say
The SNB policy rate, SARON, Confederation bonds and exchange rates respond to different markets. The monthly data of 1 October 2026 put them in context, without pointing to a direction for prices.
BLT bodycams: why the legal route must settle more than safety
BLT's complaint against the bodycam ruling raises a fundamental question: how far do security interests reach on public transport – and where does data protection begin?
Micasa closes four stores and changes owners
Micasa is getting new owners and closing four shops. A look at the plans of 2025 shows how far the course has shifted – and what remains unresolved today.
Sunday poll is not a forecast: What the Deutschlandtrend can measure
The September 2026 edition of the ARD-Deutschlandtrend could not be verified: field period, sample size and party figures are missing. What remains explainable is what a Sunday poll measures – and what it does not predict.
SNB profit distribution: predictability without a payout promise
The FDF and the SNB have renewed the rules for distributions from 2026 to 2030. The framework creates clarity for the Confederation and the cantons – but it does not guarantee a payment.
Iceland plans fee for nature sites – what travellers really pay
Iceland is debating a nature and infrastructure fee for Geysir, Gullfoss and Þingvellir. The planned annual pass would not hit all tourists in the same way.
Manchester City found guilty: what ruling leaves open
Manchester City has been found guilty in the financial case. But the guilty verdict does not settle the question of consequences.
13 Million for Human Rights: What Volker Türk's Visit Means for Switzerland
Switzerland pledges 13 million dollars to the UN human rights office for 2026 and 2027. Behind the sum lie Geneva as a hub, migration and the question of effective UN reform.
SNB and new forms of money: why infrastructure comes first
Digital forms of central bank money are not just about apps. For the SNB, the focus is on payment infrastructure, stability and the role of banks.
War Materiel Act: the decisive proposal is not yet a referendum
The central proposal on the War Materiel Act is a parliamentary business, not a referendum that has already been scheduled.
SNB raises growth outlook, yet industry stays under pressure
The SNB expects growth of 1.5 to 2 percent in 2026. The new confidence does not change the fact that industry and the labour market are sending different signals.
SNB regional contacts: why the Swiss economy shows no single picture
The SNB's latest talks with companies show a Switzerland in which sectors and regions react differently to prices, demand and the exchange rate.
USZ and whistleblower: Why review does not end with a claim
According to reports, a whistleblower is demanding payment from the USZ. The dispute shows why individual claims and a hospital's independent review are two separate questions.