Bitesize News
The news stories here are written for radio and designed to be read in under a minute.
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Geneva communes angry at canton's cash call
After it’s record-breaking tax haul, Geneva has to pay the most into the national inter-cantonal equalization fund – more even than Zug and Zurich.
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SNB cuts rates to zero
As expected, the Swiss National Bank has lowered interest rates to zero.
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Swiss temperatures are higher
Switzerland is warming fast, and humans are to blame.
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Airport opens early for summer
Geneva airport is preparing for a busy summer – and will be opening security earlier.
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Fêtes de la Musique this weekend
It’s the Fete de la Musique this weekend – and Geneva has one of the biggest programmes it's ever had.
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Geneva to take more control of roadworks
In Geneva, the canton has decided it needs to take a far more hands-on approach to roadworks.
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Switzerland richest country in the world
Switzerland is the richest country in the world, according to a new study by UBS.
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Initiative for rent control
The tenants’ association, ASLOCA, is collecting signatures to change the law and bring in far stricter rent control.
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Zurich and Geneva - best cities in the world
Geneva is the fifth best city to live in – in the world.
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Boat passengers leap to safety
Two people on a small boat on Lake Thun had to jump into the water when it caught fire.
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No cats allowed in new Zurich building
A new housing estate in Zurich is causing controversy as the owners have banned cats from the start.
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Swiss embassy staff stay in Tehran due to US commitments
Five diplomats, and their families, working at the Swiss Embassy in Tehran have left the country.
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Doctor accused of several rapes near Geneva
France is being rocked by another sexual abuse scandal, this time not far from the Geneva border in Bonneville.
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Indian restaurants raided on trafficking allegations
Geneva police have arrested 6 people on suspicion of human trafficking after raiding several Indian restaurants.
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UNHCR sacks thousands
The Geneva based United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is to sack 3,500 worldwide – including nearly half based in Geneva.
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Minimum wage laws under threat from Bern
The Geneva minimum wage could be ended by Bern.
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Valais still clearing up snow damage
The sudden and heavy snowfalls in Valais in April will cost the canton millions of francs and work is still underway clearing the damage.
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SVP calls for end to Ukrainian permit
The right-wing Swiss People’s Party is calling for an end to the protected status of Ukrainians who fled the war and are living in Switzerland.
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Growth rate downgraded by ministry
Economic growth in Switzerland will likely be lower for the rest of this year than previously forecast.
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Brienz evacuated again
The village of Brienz in Graubünden has been sealed off to its residents once again.
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Geneva municpal police want more safety
Geneva municipal police officers have launched a petition to give them more powers, the right to carry a sidearm, and use blue lights on their vehicles.
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SNCF warns of scam
The French rail company, the SNCF, is warning of a scam – which is affecting its Swiss customers as well as the French.
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Geneva aims to keep people cool
This weekend is expected to be particularly hot again, with temperatures above 30 degrees.
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Storms rip through central areas
A major storm yesterday afternoon around Biel in canton Bern seriously injured one person, caused thousands of francs of damage, felled trees, and led to the cancellation of an outdoor music festival.
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Train to London 'non-starter', say experts
Only a few days after the train operator Eurostar announced it had plans to run a service from London to Geneva, a group of experts are already pouring cold water on the idea.
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Major feminist march in Geneva
Thousands marched in Geneva on Saturday afternoon as part of the Feminist Strike.
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Demands for school locker rooms redesign
School locker rooms need a design overhaul to take into account new fears of surreptitious photography, heightened self-awareness, gender diversity, as well as physical differences and disabilities.
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Tenants should have EV charging available
Parliament is discussing how to get more car charging points in apartment building car parks.
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Sahara dust mixed with Canadian smoke
Dust from the Sahara Desert is now mixing with the smoke particles from the Canadian wildfires to create an orange haze in the sky over Switzerland.
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Tourist Office in Lötschental pleads for visitors
The tourist office for the Lötschental Valley in canton Valais is emphasising that it is safe for visitors and it’s open for business.
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Parliament releases CHF 5m for Blatten
Both houses of parliament have unanimously passed an emergency bill, giving CHF 5m to the destroyed village of Blatten.
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Previously laid water pipes need reinforcing
As Genevans suffer from all the roadworks currently underway, many will be frustrated at the news that a recently completed section will have to be re-opened.
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Escalade runners will be limited this year
Do you want to take part in the Escalade races this year?
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Geneva tops heat chart
Temperatures across the country are hitting highs in the thirties - with Geneva being one of the hottest areas.
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Step towards looser arms re-export rules
The Upper House of Parliament, the Council of States, has taken the first step of loosening the laws restricting the re-sale of Swiss-made arms and munitions.
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Geneva prepares heatwave plan
The City of Geneva is preparing its heatwave plan.
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Train protestors face criminal charges
Protestors who invaded the train tracks at Geneva and Lausanne stations on Monday could face a lengthy jail term.
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Man accused of abusing step-daughter acquitted
A man accused of sexually abusing his step-daughter has been acquitted by a Geneva court.
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Trump acolytes move to Bern
One of Donald Trump’s closest confidants will soon be in Bern.
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Swiss man breaks 'nude in snow' record
A Swiss man has broken the world record for the longest time being buried naked in the snow.
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Canadian haze over Switzerland
Temperatures are set to soar over the next few days - but don’t expect blue skies.
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Eurostar could run trains to Geneva from London
The train company that runs services through the channel tunnel says it wants to develop a route from London to Geneva.
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Airport head leaves after 8 months
Executive head hunters are back at work to find a new head of Geneva Airport after only eight months.
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Strike will hit Gex-Geneva bus
Strike action will hit the cross-border buses running from Gex to Geneva, through Ferney Voltaire from today.
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Roofing scam resurfaces
The roofing scam seems to be back in Geneva after a 96-year-old woman was fooled.
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We want to protect cash - but not use it
Even though we want to make sure cash will not go away – we’re not using it.
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Pro-Palestinian protests block Geneva trains
Pro-Palestinian protestors invaded the train tracks at Geneva and Lausanne stations yesterday evening.
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Police intervene at Ferney International School
French police were called to the Lycée International in Ferney-Voltaire when an end of year party descended into chaos last Friday.
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Geneva ships in crisis
The boats running on Lake Geneva are in crisis.
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Cyclist found injured on Geneva street
Geneva police are calling for witnesses after a cyclist was found semi-conscious and bleeding on a street near the Plainpalais in the early hours of Sunday morning.
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New plan for cross-border transport
The cross-border authority, Grand Genève is asking the Confederation for more than half a billion francs to boost public transport for frontalier workers.
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Plans for Starlink ground station in Valais
Protestors are gearing to fight the installation of a ground station for Starlink, Elon Musk’s direct to satellite home internet system.
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Cassis statement under fire
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis is under fire from several parliamentarians for comments equating violations of international law by both Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
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Zurich reports measles outbreak
Zurich is reporting a measles outbreak.
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Elderly woman trampled to death by cows
An elderly woman has been trampled to death by cattle in canton Graubunden.
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Homeopathy could be removed from health insurance
The medical treatment of homeopathy could be excluded from basic health insurance.
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Automatic anti-jam system starts on A1
An automated system designed to cut traffic jams on the autoroutes is being rolled out on the A1 between Geneva and Lausanne.
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E.coli prevents swimming in some areas of the lake
Swimming in Lake Geneva has been banned in Vengeron and Pregny-Chambésy after a sewerage pipe burst.
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Taxi drivers protest Uber - again
More than 150 Geneva taxi drivers protested yesterday in the middle of the city, claiming that Uber is operating illegally and should be banned.
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TPG very slow in Geneva
Geneva public transport is very slow compared to the rest of the country, but the operator, the TPG, says it runs a dense network with plenty of stops which makes the service extremely useful.
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Geneva councillors back pay rise for themselves
Members of the City of Geneva Council have voted themselves a pay increase of 25%.
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Thousands caught speeding in Vaud alone over weekend
Police in canton Vaud say more than 7,000 motorists were caught speeding in the canton over the Ascension holiday.
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Blatten needs cash, not clothes
Please stop sending clothes, but give us money.
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Climate change could be blamed for disaster
Researchers at the federal polytechnic ETH Zurich, say climate change is almost certain to have played a part in the Blatten disaster.
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Air traffic back to normal
Aircraft traffic is back to normal at Geneva airport after the air traffic control company, SkyGuide, says it has fixed a problem with the radar screens.
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UNIGE cuts ties with Israeli universities
The University of Geneva says it’s ending its research partnership with two Israeli universities - the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University.
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Getting easier to breathe in Geneva
The air quality in Geneva is getting better.
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Music and food - summer is here
The summer music season kicks off today with the opening of the Caribana Festival.
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Blatten cleanup operation waiting for go ahead
Emergency teams around Blatten are itching to start the clean-up operation after last week’s devastating rockfall – but authorities say it’s still too dangerous to get too close as rocks continue to tumble off the mountain.
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Microsoft invests milions in Switzerland
The US software company Microsoft is to invest USD 400m in expanding its cloud and AI services in Switzerland.
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Parliament split on US trade talks
Switzerland has until July 9 to avoid new US customs duties.
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Police seek witnesses following crash
Geneva police are appealing for witnesses after a traffic accident at 11:30 p.m. on Friday.
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German exclave may become invisible
The town of Büsingen is a small German town completely surrounded by Switzerland – a German exclave.
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Blatten residents get high level visit
The village of Blatten is gone and the locals are in shock as their lives – and livelihoods – have been destroyed.
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Disaster worse than expected - one still missing
Now it’s been a few days since the Blatten disaster – geologists have had time to examine the site, and the conclusion is that the result is actually worse than the predicted worst-case scenario.
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Vernier election result was tampered with
It’s been confirmed that there were problems with the recent local elections in the commune of Vernier in Geneva – and the new elected authority will not yet take its position.
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Canton allows contaminated meat to be sold, Bern annoyed
Federal health authorities are angry with canton Sankt Gallen as it's allowing meat that’s been contaminated with PFAS chemicals to be sold across the country.
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Basel FC cancels Swiss Cup celebrations
Basel is cancelling any large-scale celebrations after it won the Swiss Cup yesterday.
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Cybertruck spotted in Basel
A mysterious Tesla cybertruck has been filmed on the streets of Basel.
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WRS risks closure unless new ownership is found
After nearly 30 years on air, World Radio Switzerland (WRS) - Switzerland’s only 24/7 English-language radio station - will close at the end of 2025 unless new ownership is secured.
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CERN to raise money with hamster toys
**** APRIL FOOL**** Many thanks for all your comments!
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Rockfall alert could last for weeks
Residents in the threatened village of Brienz in Graubünden were allowed to visit their homes briefly yesterday.
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Win a weekend away in Interlaken
Courtesy of the Interlaken tourist office, you can win 2 nights for two people at the Hotel Metropole in Interlaken with fantastic views of the Jungfrau.
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Merry Christmas - we're taking a break
WRS normal programming back in January