Archive
2026
Shells as a building material: Bari's results and open questions
Researchers in Bari are developing new building material mixtures from seashells and harbour sediments. The prototypes are promising – they are not yet market-ready or generally approved.
Unemployment insurance 2025: the CHF 249m loss isn't the whole story
Switzerland's unemployment insurance closed 2025 with a loss of CHF 249 million. Decisive are not only more registered unemployed people but also federal payments that no longer apply.
Marriage Initiative: What Is Actually Decided on 29 November
The initiative against the «marriage penalty» is more than a question of a tax rate. What matters is what it would enshrine in the constitution – and what it would not.
Army strength 2030: Why 147,017 assigned is no all-clear
The Swiss Armed Forces counted 147,017 assigned personnel on 1 March 2026. Why that is no all-clear for 2030 – and what the forecast means for Switzerland.
Scholarships 2025: The canton remains a decisive factor
New FSO data show that access to cantonal scholarships depends not only on a family's financial situation. The canton also shapes how many people receive support and how large the awards are.
Kaliningrad and the nuclear rhetoric: What it means for Switzerland
Russian bodies have again linked Kaliningrad to nuclear rhetoric. For Switzerland this does not mean an immediate alarm level, but a mandate for resilience, diplomacy and sober classification.
OSCE roadmap against torture: implementation is what counts
The Swiss OSCE chairmanship presents 18 steps against torture. The roadmap creates no new law, but it exposes the gap between prohibition and enforcement.
Malware: The most dangerous gap often sits in front of the screen
An antivirus scanner alone does not provide complete protection, and Macs are not immune either. BACS shows which warning signs matter and what to do after a justified suspicion.
Thailand in relentless rain: the next warning is what counts
The toll from Thailand's floods is heavy. But what matters in the coming days is the next weather warning – and how quickly it is turned locally into protection and information.
Nobel Prize for optogenetics: How light sharpens brain research
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine honours optogenetics. What the method reveals about the brain, where its limits lie and what Swiss teams are working on.
OSCE in Warsaw: Why human rights are a security issue for Switzerland
In Warsaw, the OSCE is discussing human rights. For Switzerland, this is not a sideshow but part of its security policy.
13th AHV pension: What the planned VAT covers – and what remains open
The 13th AHV pension arrives in December 2026. The planned VAT increase covers only part of the extra costs – and still has to pass a vote.
US bombers leave Fairford: what is confirmed – and the Swiss stakes
All US bombers stationed at Fairford are back in the United States. What is officially established, what remains open and why Switzerland is following the situation.
PFAS in Switzerland: Why a measurement alone is not a health verdict
PFAS can be detected in water, food and blood. What measured values really say – and what Swiss households can take from them.
Flight prices at second glance: what must be in the final price
Flight prices often look confusing. But from Switzerland, unavoidable fees must be included in the final price – what may be shown separately.
Spain votes on 29 November: the ballot and Sánchez's framing
Spain elects a new parliament on 29 November. What is legally decided, how Sánchez reads the vote, and why Switzerland is watching.
Hormuz: pipelines cannot replace the strait – Switzerland's stakes
Pipelines can carry part of oil exports around the Hormuz bottleneck. For Switzerland, supply remains secure, but fragile.
Switzerland–India: What the TEPA free trade deal must now deliver
One year after the TEPA free trade agreement started, what counts is not the trip to New Delhi but the benefits for Switzerland.
Death in Siberia: What Is Established – and What Is Not
After a death in Irkutsk, rumours about plague and biological weapons are circulating. The current state of knowledge calls for facts, not alarmism.
Pillar 3a 2027: Higher deductions are more than a tax detail
In 2027 the 3a limits rise. For households, though, it is not only the deduction that counts, but the budget, the employment situation and long-term retirement provision.
Altman and AI regulation: who bears the risks when speed comes first
OpenAI chief Sam Altman argues for broad availability of AI and for accepting certain risks. That is no substitute for rules on harm and accountability.
Hōlei Sea Arch Collapse: What Hawaii's Shifting Coast Reveals
A well-known coastal formation on Hawaiʻi has collapsed. The case shows how dynamic volcanic coasts are – and why keeping a distance from cliffs still matters.
Fireworks initiative: What the No campaign launch does not decide
The fireworks initiative targets loud fireworks. The campaign launch reveals the lines of conflict, but not yet how the vote will go.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the police: what a lawsuit could clarify
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was released under investigation in February. A reported lawsuit against the police changes neither the presumption of innocence nor the burden of proof.