News

Removing CO₂ directly from the atmosphere has so far been a complex, energy-intensive, and expensive process. Empa researchers are therefore pursuing a completely new approach: Instead of trapping the greenhouse gas in bulky filter materials over long periods of time, extremely thin coatings are designed to absorb and release CO₂ in a matter of seconds – thereby requiring significantly less energy and material.

Mr Cassis will be in Spain and Andorra from 22 to 23 October 2026. In Madrid he will meet his Spanish counterpart, José Manuel Albares Bueno. He will then visit the Principality of Andorra on 23 October for meetings with the prime minister, Xavier Espot Zamora, and the minister of foreign affairs, Imma Tor Faus, in the capital, Andorra la Vella. Discussions in both countries will focus on bilateral relations, European policy and geopolitical challenges.

On 21 and 22 October 2026, the research directors of the Defence Procurement Groups from Germany, Austria and Switzerland met in Graz, Austria. Switzerland was represented by Thomas Rothacher, Head of armasuisse Science and Technology (S+T) and a delegation. The talks focused on current developments in defence research as well as the potential for closer cooperation between the DACH countries in research and technology.

The Swiss Armed Forces’ Cyber Command hosted the Cyber Commanders Forum (CFF) 2026 in Thun from 19 to 21 October. The international meeting brought together representatives of military cyber organisations and provided an opportunity to discuss current challenges, share experiences and explore ways of working together to strengthen resilience in cyberspace.

The Federal Chancellery's Digital Transformation and ICT Steering Sector (FCh DTI) rolled out the Microsoft 365 (M365) digital work platform across the Federal Administration by the end of 2025. M365 is intended to enable a more efficient, cloud-based work environment, but it also presents challenges in terms of information security, data protection, governance and, not least, data sovereignty. The SFAO examined whether the FCh DTI is safeguarding data and information security during use, and whether the additional features can also be used effectively. The Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication (FOITT) has implemented the platform in accordance with good practice and established security controls appropriate to its currently restricted use. However, several key enhancements remain outstanding. M365 makes additional features available to Federal Administration employees.

The 19th round of the bilateral human rights dialogue between Switzerland and China took place on 19 and 20 October 2026 in Switzerland. The delegations held an open and critical discussion on the human rights situation in both countries and on current international challenges. Key areas of focus included the protection of minorities and the impact of artificial intelligence on human rights.

Switzerland and the United Nations are organising an international meeting in Geneva on 21 October 2026 focusing on peace efforts in Sudan. This sixth consultative meeting brings together states and international organisations working to find a solution to the conflict. As the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, the meeting aims to strengthen the coordination of diplomatic initiatives, promote de-escalation and support an inclusive political process.

On 19 October 2026, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) amended Annex 2 of the Ordinance on measures against the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Three individuals and one entity have been removed from Annex 2 as they are already listed in Annex 1. The measures come into force on 20 October 2026 at 11 p.m.

On 22 October 2026, Swissmint will launch the “125 years of the Aero Club of Switzerland” 20-franc silver coin. It is the second coin in the three-part “Swiss Aviation” series and commemorates the anniversary of the Aero Club of Switzerland (AeCS).

Swissmint is continuing its four-part “Four seasons” silver coin series with the “Four seasons – Winter” special coin. Following the launch of the “Summer” special coin in June 2026, the second silver coin in the series will be released on 22 October 2026, showcasing the cold season.

The Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication (FOITT) published the invitation to tender for the Swiss Government Cloud (SGC) on the SIMAP procurement platform on 20 October 2026. The Federal Administration's current cloud infrastructure is reaching its limits and can no longer meet the demands of digitalisation. The new cloud infrastructure is intended to form a basis for the digital transformation of the administration and combine innovative cloud services with high security standards.

In 2025, 13.9% of people in employment in Switzerland were self-employed in their main occupation (including employees who owned their own companies). Self-employed people were, on average, eight years older than employees. Their working conditions were characterised by longer weekly working hours and working hours that encroached more on weekends. These are some of the results from ‘Self-Employment in Switzerland, 2025’, a Federal Statistical Office (FSO) publication.