News

The 62nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council has concluded in Geneva. The Human Rights Council marked its 20th anniversary on 19 June 2026. Switzerland worked towards its foundation, thus helping to establish a body that furthers state-level accountability and helps drive the development of international human rights standards. The session that ended today focused on women's rights and gender equality. Switzerland advocated strongly for an end to forced marriage and violence against women and girls in various contexts.

Opening address by Federal Councillor Albert Rösti

The Swiss Confederation issued two bonds by auction on 08.07.2026: 2.25%, maturity 22.06.2031 (reopening) and 2.50%, maturity 08.03.2036 (reopening). The issuance volume (excluding own holdings) amounts to a total of 359.985 million francs.

A new final report (tram) is available on the website of the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board STSB.

The Federal Council nominated the presidium and members of the expert Commission for Historically Problematic Cultural Heritage at its meeting of 28 January 2026. The commission will advise the Federal Council and Federal Administration on matters related to historically problematic cultural heritage. It can be invoked in the event of disputes and issue non-binding recommendations on artworks from the Nazi period and cultural goods with a colonial background.

Under high pressure, a quantum material can become superconducting at a significantly higher temperature than without pressure. Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have now investigated this using muons. Their study provides new insights into the emergence of unconventional superconductivity. This could contribute to the search for superconductors that function at temperatures suitable for practical applications: an important prerequisite for the development of energy-efficient technologies.

armasuisse and Lockheed Martin are substantiating further projects for F-35A procurement with an addendum to the existing offset agreement. These projects are specifically strengthening security-relevant key technologies, industrial capabilities and Switzerland’s resilience. The specifications will be significantly exceeded if successfully implemented: Altogether, it is anticipated that offset business amounting to around 73% of the value of the contract will be achieved – instead of the required 60%. The regional target values will also be far exceeded: In French-speaking Switzerland, the expected share is around 40% above the specification; in Italian-speaking Switzerland, the target value is expected to be as much as around 140% overfulfilled.

The Swiss Confederation is offering two bonds on a public tender system on 08.07.2026: 2.25%, maturity 22.06.2031 (reopening) and 2.50%, maturity 08.03.2036 (reopening).

Patricia Danzi, head of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and Monika Schmutz Kirgöz, head of the Middle East and North Africa Division at the FDFA State Secretariat, held political talks in Lebanon from 3 to 5 July 2026 and assessed the humanitarian situation. A few days after the conclusion of a trilateral framework agreement between the US, Lebanon and Israel, they emphasised Switzerland’s willingness to provide its good offices at a crucial moment for the region. They also reviewed how the emergency aid for Lebanon, which the FDFA had pledged in March, is being implemented.

OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, presented Switzerland’s priorities and guiding principles for its Chairpersonship to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on the opening ceremony of its 33rd Annual Session in the The Hague, Netherlands.

Speech by Federal Councillor and OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ignazio Cassis, at the 33rd OSCE Parliamentary annual meeting. The speech was given in French – Check against delivery

In Venezuela the death toll from the two powerful earthquakes continues to rise. The destruction is extensive. Having worked since last Friday to free people trapped in the rubble, Swiss Rescue personnel have concluded their mission and are returning home. Switzerland is continuing to provide emergency aid and is sending specialists from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit to assist survivors.