Bitesize News

Canton Geneva says the elderly will no longer be prioritized for the vaccine. From next week, anyone over the age of 16 can get the jab.

The Swiss mountaineer who died while descending Everest has been named. 41-year-old Abdul Waraich.

An apartment fire in Meyrin in Geneva spread frighteningly quickly yesterday as all the sun blinds were open.

The body of a 73-year-old man was found yesterday in Lake Geneva. Passers-by called the police after they spotted the man in the habour at Rolle in canton Vaud.

The digital currency launched by Facebook is leaving Switzerland to set up base in the United States.

Life will start to return to normal at the end of the month.

The health minister, Alain Berset, says Switzerland will donate 3 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine it has ordered to the international Covax programme designed to help poorer countries.

In another sign of life beginning to return to normal – Germany has loosened rules on entering the country.

Parents of seriously ill children will now be compensated for loss of earnings if they have to take time off work to look after their child.

The federal government has issued a report on how effective the law which restricts second home ownership has been and is it hitting the economy?

It will be busy on the roads from tomorrow as many take advantage of the upcoming holiday.

Left wing political parties and unions in Geneva are to launch a referendum against plans by the canton to allows shops to open longer on Saturday and for three Sundays a year.

An initiative to run an experiment to see if the idea of a universal basic income would work has collected enough signatures in Zurich to go to a vote.

An elderly woman could be fined a million euros for trying to smuggle out a kilo of gold from Switzerland into Germany.

A village is struggling to find a teacher despite the generous offer of a free apartment and a car.

The Geneva commune of Meyrin is considering going back to basics after the public transport company the TPG ditched the self-driving shuttle that ran from Meyrin Village to the local train station.

It looks likely the government will move to ease coronavirus restrictions significantly by the end of the month.

Geneva now has a 10th vaccination centre after a new premise opened in Cologny yesterday.

Following reports incoming airline passengers were only being sporadically checked if they had a negative test the police were out in force at Zurich airport over the weekend to check all incoming passengers.

A driver is going to jail after he deliberately rammed a speed camera which had flashed him at nearly 100 kph in a 40 zone.

A significant chunk of prime real-estate has been handed back to the people of Geneva, but it will be a few years before it fully realises its potential.

‘The Night is Beautiful’. And so we can all experience it, there will be a general switch off of public lighting on the night of the 21st May.

It’s being reported the Federal Council is considering ending all quarantine requirements for those who have been fully vaccinated.

Police in Winterthur opened fire on a 21-year-old man who was armed with an assault rifle.

A further three border guards have been convicted after a Syrian asylum seeker suffered a miscarriage while being transferred back to Italy in 2014.

Four people have been arrested in neighbouring France after police discovered a privately held stash of weapons.

Thousands took to the beaches, the lakes and the parks over the weekend to enjoy temperatures in the high 20s – and also in the knowledge the warm snap will be brief.

The cold snap looks set to cost wine growers and fruit farmers heavily. The agricultural insurance company, Schweizer Hagel, says around 350 farms are claiming for losses. The cost could be as high as CHF 5m.

The government is planning ahead. It’s placed an order for a further seven million doses of the Moderna vaccine for delivery early next year.

A French politician from the bordering department of Doubs is calling on Paris to end the requirement that travellers into France have to show a negative covid test.

Professional tattoo artists are warning of a worrying rise in people tattooing themselves – normally while having a few drinks.

The main Post Office sorting centre at the train station in Geneva is going to stay for the time being anyway.

The cautious first stage reopening of the economy has had no negative effects on infections. That’s the view of Patrick Mathys from the Federal Health Office.

Cantons are calling for tests to see if it will be soon safe to open nightclubs.

As more and more adults get the vaccine – when should children start being vaccinated?

A number of security guards at federal detention centres for asylum seekers have been suspended after a judge was asked to investigate claims of violence.

Despite having the right to vote in Geneva – many foreigners don’t use the opportunity, according to a study by the University of Geneva.

The first wheelchair using Swiss soldier has graduated after completing his basic training.

Airlines say the current testing requirements are unfair to their industry and frustrating for passengers.

Iranian police say they’re investigating the death of a senior worker at the Swiss Embassy in Tehran.

Switzerland has been frozen out of a pan-European plan to improve rail connections throughout the continent.

Four Swiss army soldiers are said to be out of danger after being found passed out in an armoured vehicle on the Simplon Pass.

We should be in for a hot summer!

Despite the successful vaccine roll out and the hope of reduced restrictions in the new few weeks – the situation will not be safe enough to hold the traditional firework display over Lake Geneva this summer.

A new Swiss designed test for antibodies is being hailed as a game changer.

A major accident caused delays yesterday morning in canton Fribourg.

Police have confirmed a young woman died in the bath after her mobile phone fell into the water while being charged.

A woman had to be rescued after falling into a deep crevasse while on a ski tour in the Jungfraujoch.

Students at the University of Geneva have been flocking to the canteens to take advantage of meals being offered for only 3 francs.

Geneva is one of the best performing cantons when it comes down to the vaccination rate. So far 13% of the population are now fully vaccinated – compared to a 10% for the country.

The mass vaccination centre at the Palexo is closed today and tomorrow for first doses.

The Zurich police bomb squad disarmed a device last week they described as viable.

A French commuter train hit a car that had been abandoned on the lines at Pougny, near the Geneva border on Saturday afternoon.

The hotel industry is calling on the federal government to extend hardship payments until the end of the year at least and allow some reopening.

After getting off to a strong start – the vaccination centre at the Palexpo will have to close for first doses for two days next week.

You may be excited about getting your vaccination – but do not post pictures of your vaccination card on social media.

Questions are being asked if it will be possible to take your children on vacation this year.

A woman who lives in Geneva was killed on the A1 autoroute on Wednesday afternoon in canton Aargau after hitting a deer.

A cantonal initiative has been launched in Geneva to change the space currently being used for cars to either vegetation or sustainable mobility.

This weekend is set to be overcast and wet, ending a very cool April.

The government is proposing a path to reallow large events. The idea would be to permit events with up to 3,000 people from July and then 10,000 from September.

Switzerland is ready to send immediate help to India as the country suffers a crushing third wave of infections.

The idea of a new crossing for Lake Geneva may have made a small step forward after the Geneva State Council sent a document to Bern outlining the idea.

Vaccination workers in canton Thurgau are having to check their list of those who’ve registered to get vaccinated as thousands have signed up from abroad.

Bars and restaurants in French speaking regions are going to get their own lottery win.

Switzerland’s more relaxed rules are attracting German residents.

If you’ve got any old Swiss banknotes hanging around – spend them as soon as possible as they’re being withdrawn from tomorrow.

The literally translated Swiss phrase ‘the fastest is the quicker’ will be soon the basis of the vaccination drive.

The mass vaccination centre at the Palexpo in Geneva is now running smoothly, according to the organisers.

The City of Geneva has removed the requirement that school children need to have a valid residency permit to benefit from the child allowance.

Traffic rules do apply to police. That’s the conclusion following a court case which has sentenced a police officer to a three-year suspended prison sentence for driving too fast through the streets between Nyon and Céligny.

Canton Vaud has opened up vaccinations to those over 18 years old. In a press release the canton says the increased delivery is allowing the opening up of the age groups.

As the vaccine roll out gathers speed, canton Uri is now suggesting 16-year-olds could be vaccinated as from next week, those with appointments are being urged to make sure you turn up to get them.

The long running debate in Geneva over poster advertising in public spaces will be relaunched after the Federal Court cleared the way for a vote on whether it should be banned in the city.

The blame game on why the latest talks between Switzerland and the EU failed to produce results has started.

A new study suggests Swiss companies are coming through the crisis better than many other European countries.

Italy is reporting the spread of a new variant, which they have dubbed the Swiss strain.

A motorcyclist was arrested at his home in Bursins in canton Vaud after he’d been flashed earlier driving at 153 kph in an 80 zone.

The president, Guy Parmelin, returned from Brussels empty handed after talks with the EU.

A large demonstration against the ongoing coronavirus restrictions took place on Saturday afternoon in Rapperswil in canton Sankt Gallen.

Have you had Covid 19 and not known? The latest figures from the Federal Health Office suggests that may be the case.

Police had to be called in to restore order at Geneva’s notoriously overcrowded prison, Champ-Dollon.

Left wing groups are threatening to ignore the 100-person demonstration limit and take to the streets on Saturday, May 1st – Labour Day.

In what may be seen as bad news for bars and restaurants which can only open terraces – the weather is going to take a turn for the worse this week, and forecasters say we’ll see the return of the Sahara sand.