Archive
2026
No new financial crisis: which warning signs count for Switzerland
A falling euro or a strong dollar can move markets. Whether that turns into a financial crisis depends on resilience, liquidity and contagion effects – and there the picture for Switzerland is more nuanced than the alarmist question suggests.
Iraq sanctions: Why a list update still affects Swiss firms
The notice about the Iraq ordinance sounds like a new sanctions package. In fact, it concerns an update to a narrow UN regime. For banks and companies, it is still more than a formality.
Tigray and the Red Sea: Why the Risks Must Be Assessed Separately
New fighting in northern Ethiopia meets a fragile region. What is documented, what remains open, and why the situation is more than a distant crisis for Switzerland.
Trump demands new Ukrainian leadership – US license for Russian diesel
Donald Trump announces Russian diesel and demands new Ukrainian leadership. What matters is the distinction between the US license, the political demand and the fuel actually delivered.
Europe under Pressure: What Switzerland Can Learn
Security, the economy and crime are not developing in the same way across Europe. What has changed – and what lessons Switzerland can draw from it.
A Jewish Candidate on Ra'am's List: What It Really Shows
A Jewish politician on the list of an Arab-Islamic party breaks with an established boundary in Israeli politics. The move is a signal, but not proof of fundamental change.
Temporary nursing is expensive – but the bill only starts there
Agency nursing brings flexibility, but also placement costs and less continuity. National figures do not allow a simple calculation. For premium payers, what matters is how hospitals plan their staffing needs over the long term.
Drones in the Black Sea: Why Swiss firms must read the facts first
Civilian ships were damaged, a freighter sank. For Switzerland this is not only about grain: as a commodities trading hub and insurance centre, it is economically exposed to uncertainty at sea.
AI in everyday life: How human rights protect against algorithms
AI can speed up decisions – in applications, loans or services. The legal core is not an abstract ban on technology, but the question of whether people can effectively assert their rights against automated decisions.
Bait offers for Russia's army: what Amnesty shows and what's open
Amnesty warns of bait offers and possible exploitation in recruitment for Russia's war. What the investigation documents and why Switzerland should look closely.
When Housing Becomes a Social Question: What Switzerland Can Learn from Spain's Eviction Debate
Spain is extending protection for particularly vulnerable tenants. Switzerland has protection against termination and hardship rules, but no automatic right to replacement housing. That can be decisive, especially in old age.
PSA test is not a yes-no test: How Switzerland avoids overdiagnosis
Switzerland has no national PSA screening programme. That is not a retreat from prevention but the expression of a difficult trade-off: early detection can save lives, but it can also reveal tumours that would never have caused harm.
When Religion Justifies Politics: The Real Question Is Not Faith but Power
From Vladimir Putin to debates in Silicon Valley, religious rhetoric is being read politically. For Switzerland, the question is less whether faith appears in public than whether institutions remain pluralistic and open to all worldviews.
The franc is more than euro and dollar: Reading the SNB indices
The SNB has updated its exchange rate indices. Why the trade-weighted franc says more about Switzerland than a single euro rate – and where its explanatory power ends.
UBS job cuts: what is officially documented – and what remains open
UBS reports fewer internal and external employees than at the end of 2025. That does not automatically show how many people were dismissed or where jobs disappear. A look at the official figures separates established facts from speculation.
Labour market in September: a monthly fall is no all-clear yet
In September the number of registered unemployed fell by 1,064 people. At the same time, the number of jobseekers rose. The SECO figures therefore show not a simple easing, but a mixed picture.
Three years after October 7: Netanyahu's responsibility still open
The question of Netanyahu's role is being asked ever more sharply. The official record shows above all one thing: findings, political debates and ongoing reviews – no concluded independent decision on his individual responsibility.
SDDS Plus: Why an SNB dataset is more than statistics
The IMF's SDDS Plus standard makes Swiss economic and financial data more comparable. It is not a monetary policy signal, but it matters for public scrutiny.
Twelve Hours of Transparency: The OSCE Review and Its Limits
Switzerland has allowed an OSCE military review. What matters is not the assessment of individual operations but a principle gaining weight in Europe: states disclose, within limits, which forces they keep and how they are organised.
A1 at Luterbach: four nights show how the upgrade grips daily life
Four overnight ramp closures at the Luterbach junction look small. But they show how demanding it is to upgrade one of Switzerland's busiest motorway axes while traffic keeps running.
El Niño doesn't make travel riskier overall – preparation does
El Niño changes weather patterns around the world. For Swiss travellers this does not amount to a blanket health warning – but it does amount to a clear task: check weather, mosquito and hygiene risks for the specific place before every trip, and factor in your health after returning.
Two POWs, One Dispute: Why Seoul and Kyiv Must Repair Trust
The dispute between South Korea and Ukraine centres on two North Korean prisoners of war. What is documented about the arrangement, what remains open, and why Switzerland is watching.
AI, Drones and Cyber: Why Switzerland Must Rework Its Procurement
AI, drones and cyberattacks are changing the security situation. For Switzerland, however, the central challenge lies in procurement: systems must become available faster, connect technically and remain maintainable over the long term.
Alertswiss in Easy Language: the decisive test comes in an emergency
Alertswiss now offers messages in Easy Language. That is more than a translation: in a crisis, information must be fast, correct and enable people to act.