Swiss Air Force escorts Dutch aircraft out of Swiss airspace
Two F/A-18 fighter jets escorted a Dutch plane to Italy without radio over Swiss airspace.
ran. On Sunday morning (September 25), the Swiss Air Force had to start a “hot mission”. She intervened when a Dutch PC-12 aircraft could not be reached by radio. This so-called “Quick Reaction Alert” (QRA) was successfully carried out, the Swiss army said in a communiqué on Sunday.
The army was informed by the French authorities at 10:41 am that an aircraft that had taken off from the Netherlands was over Colmar without radio contact. The plane crossed the Swiss border near Waldshut in Germany at 10:53 am. Eight minutes later, a QRA patrol with two F/A-18 fighter jets took off from Payerne, writes the Swiss army.
The jets made contact with the aircraft at 11:13 a.m. over Samedan. According to the message, the pilot was persuaded to reestablish radio contact. The fighter jets escorted the PC-12 to Italian airspace west of Lake Garda and finally returned before noon.
The Federal Council recommends switching from dual-fuel systems
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The Federal Department of Economics, Education and Research (EAER) and the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (UVEK) recommend switching from dual-fuel systems to heating oil operation from October 1, 2022. This is according to a statement by the Federal Council on Friday (September 23)
By implementing this recommendation, Switzerland could quickly save large amounts of gas, it said. This should make a significant contribution to achieving the voluntary gas savings target of 15 percent, which Switzerland is aiming for, like the EU, from October 2022 to March 2023.
In order to make the transition easier, the Federal Council issued temporary relief for dual-fuel systems on September 16th. This is because dual-fuel systems in heating oil operation cannot always comply with the limit values of the Clean Air Ordinance, especially for nitrogen oxides.
As the Federal Council also writes, the compulsory stocks for car petrol, diesel and heating oil as well as kerosene will be released in order to be able to ensure the supply of mineral oil products to Switzerland from October 2022. A corresponding regulation will come into force on October 3, 2022. According to the economic state supply WL, the compulsory stocks for car petrol, diesel oil and heating oil are sufficient for around 4.5 months, and the reserves for aviation kerosene are sufficient for around 3 months.
Federal Council condemns Russia’s sham referendums in the occupied territories
Federal President Ignazio Cassis signaled to Russia on Wednesday that Switzerland would not accept the staged referendums.
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Switzerland takes a clear stance against the sham referendums staged by Russia in Ukraine. “The so-called referendums in the areas of Ukraine partially occupied by Russia are taking place under non-compliant circumstances and are contrary to international law,” the Federal Council announced on Friday. The state government condemns this renewed violation of Ukrainian sovereignty by Russia and will not recognize the results of the so-called referendums. Federal President Ignazio Cassis clearly explained this position to the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov on Wednesday in New York. The FDFA also summoned the Russian ambassador on Thursday.
The territories occupied by Russia, like Crimea, belonged under international law to Ukraine. As an occupying power, Russia is obliged under international law to comply with international humanitarian law and human rights and to respect the existing Ukrainian legal system. An occupying power does not acquire sovereignty over an occupied territory.
The Federal Council calls on Russia to end the holding of the so-called referendums in Ukraine, not to comply with the expected applications for the areas to be included in the Russian Federation and to refrain from taking further steps towards occupation and annexation. The Federal Council is also observing the partial Russian mobilization with great concern and is calling on Russia to de-escalate and to withdraw completely from the Ukrainian territories.
14,000 tons of plastic end up in the environment every year
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Microplastics are everywhere: the harmful and persistent tiny plastic particles can be found in the oceans, arctic ice, mountains, rivers, lakes, soil and in the air. Like the Federal Council in one report published on Fridayaround 14,000 tonnes of macro and microplastics are released into the environment in Switzerland every year, be it in the production, use or disposal of plastics.
More than half of this plastic residue comes from the abrasion of car tires. Other important causes are littering, the careless throwing away or leaving waste (2700 tons) or plastics in green waste, which end up in the environment with compost and digestate (100 tons). At home, plastics also get into the water via the waste water as ingredients in cosmetics or when washing synthetic textiles.
In Switzerland, measures to reduce the environmental impact of plastics have been implemented for years: for example, with collection points for PET beverage bottles, separating waste for recycling or with awareness-raising campaigns and sanctions against littering. Nevertheless, according to the Federal Council’s report, there is potential for improvement. The focus should primarily be on avoiding waste and promoting recyclable materials and environmentally friendly alternatives. According to the report, a combination of awareness-raising measures, the development of new technologies, optimization of processes, and prohibitions and requirements is effective.
Mobile emergency power station in Birr can be built quickly
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In view of possible power shortages, the emergency power plant in Birr in Aargau can be built quickly. The Federal Council issued the relevant permits on Friday. This means that work on the construction of the temporary reserve power plant on the GE Gas Power company premises can begin immediately. It is planned that it will be ready for use in February 2023, as stated in the statement from the state government.
The emergency power plant can operate eight mobile turbines with a total output of around 250 megawatts. This corresponds to around two and a half times the capacity of the Rheinfelden hydroelectric power station. The turbines work with gas, oil or hydrogen. The reserve power plant should be available from February 2023 to spring 2026 as a backup in the event of an emergency.
During the construction work, the competent cantonal and federal authorities monitor compliance with the provisions of spatial planning, construction, environmental and energy law. The special provisions of the “Ordinance on the provision of a temporary reserve power plant in Birr” apply to the construction of the plant.
Operation requires adjustments to the noise protection and clean air ordinances as well as an ordinance for calling up the reserve. The Federal Council will decide on this in the next few weeks, he said.
Younger Swiss are the most skeptical about the EU
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Enthusiasm for the EU has fallen sharply among younger people. The 18-34 age group is now the most skeptical about the EU. In 2019, only 6.5 percent were in favor of joining the EU. In the 1990s, on the other hand, almost 60 percent of 18 to 34-year-olds wanted to join the EU, while around 32 percent rejected it. This emerges from the numbers of the Selects studies, which SRF has prepared in a comparative manner.
In 2019, over 20 percent of those over 65 were still in favor of joining the EU. But even among them, enthusiasm for the EU was far higher in 1995, at around 43 percent. The EU found the highest level of approval in 1999 with almost 60 percent in the 50 to 64 age group. Since the 2000s, enthusiasm for the EU has noticeably decreased in all age groups surveyed.
The political geographer Michael Hermann told SRF that the accession question was only seriously discussed as an option in the 1990s, after the EEA vote in 1992 it became a central political issue. The younger generation had been socialized politically when membership was off the table. Accordingly, there are only a few who see this as a heart issue. On the other hand, some of the older people maintained their position.