Priorities for the seat on the UN Security Council

Four priorities for the non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council

dho. On June 9, 2022, Switzerland is a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the years 2023 and 2024.

On Wednesday (25 May), the Federal Council discussed Switzerland’s priorities for its seat and proposed four thematic priorities to the Foreign Policy Commissions (APK) for the intended two-year membership, according to a statement.

Switzerland’s proposed priorities for the UN Security Council are relevant in view of the current global political situation, also against the background of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, writes the Federal Council in its statement.

The final approval of the priorities will take place in the autumn, once the APK consultation has ended.

Data from the meinevaccinations.ch platform should be deleted

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The Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (EDÖB) recommends deleting the data from meinevaccinations.ch. This was announced by Edöb on Tuesday (May 24). In its final report in August 2021, Edöb found the vaccination data on the platform to be of insufficient integrity. According to Edöb, these deficiencies have not yet been remedied. In the long time since the report was published, those responsible for processing have not found a way to make the data available to authorized users in a way that is acceptable under data protection law, writes the Edöb.

In consultation with the data protection officer of the canton of Bern, the Edöb has now instructed the Bern-Mittelland bankruptcy office to refrain from selling the vaccination data to a third party as part of the bankruptcy proceedings and to destroy the data instead. Bankruptcy was opened in November 2021 via the foundation that operated the platform.

The decision also means that users of the platform will probably not get their vaccination data back. The Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) wrote in a statement that even after the foundation had been liquidated, they still campaigned for the return of the data. “Following the Edöb’s most recent recommendations for the definitive destruction of the remaining vaccination data, which the debt enforcement and bankruptcy office agreed to, the BAG regrets that users will not be able to recover their data,” said the BAG. Almost 300,000 users are affected.

Novel plant disease: 6000 tomato plants confiscated

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A shipment of 6,000 tomato plants had to be confiscated and destroyed at Zurich Airport. The young plants were infected with the Jordan virus. The Agroscope research institute reported the case on Tuesday (May 24). The Jordan virus affects tomatoes and hot peppers. It is highly contagious and survives for a long time on plant debris, in the soil and in greenhouses. Harmless to humans, the virus can lead to total crop failure in crops.

In Switzerland, the Jordan virus was first detected in Thurgau in summer 2021. The Confederation and cantons are now pursuing a containment strategy: a newly created Agroscope research group is using a PCR test to diagnose plant samples in a quarantine laboratory. In the current year, the group has examined three shipments of imports, two of which have been positive, according to Tuesday’s statement. Agroscope and the cantonal plant protection services want to prevent infected young plants from being planted in vegetable production companies or home gardens. In addition, up to 1000 spot checks in vegetable farms, nurseries or garden centers are planned. According to the announcement, the drainage water from greenhouses is also examined for the Jordan virus. “We are trying to protect agriculture from the virus,” says Denise Altenbach, head of the responsible research group at Agroscope.

Valais takes in 60 orphans from Ukraine

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They come from the war – and should get some security and peace in the Swiss mountains.

By the end of August, Valais wants to take in 60 orphans from the Ukraine and their companions. The canton announced this on Monday (May 23). The children first fled to Poland and are now staying in a former school in the parish of Saint-Gingolph. The Ukrainian authorities had requested admission. It was organized with the participation of private individuals and the federal government.

In Valais, the young Ukrainians should receive instruction and medical support according to their needs. However, the responsibility for them should continue to be borne by the carers who accompany them to Switzerland.