Bitesize News
The news stories here are written for radio and designed to be read in under a minute.
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Major fire in Vernier affects flight arrivals
A major fire in Vernier yesterday produced so much smoke some planes approaching Geneva Airport were delayed.
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Cars to be banned from Cornavin
Cars will be banned from the roads around Cornavin Station from the spring.
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Hunt for missing goatherder in Valais
A major search is underway in canton Valais for a missing goat owner.
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Civil partnerships more popular with straight people
Although designed for homosexual couples, Civil Partnerships – or PACS – are proving to be very popular with straight people.
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Vote to make sure cash remains king
Should cash be protected as a means of payment?
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E-scooter battery fire guts apartment
A battery for an e-scooter is being blamed for a large apartment fire in Geneva yesterday morning.
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Lakeside path blocked
The Geneva Grand Council has sunk a plan to create a public footpath that would have run all along the lakeside.
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Swiss media could get 'good faith' exception for bank news
Media outlets in Switzerland could be exempted from some parts of the banking secrecy law if the publication of stories is said to be in the public interest.
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More people in the mountains = more rescues
We all took advantage of the hot summer and headed out to the mountains and lakes – and then we got into trouble.
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Power cut hits central Geneva.
The centre of Geneva suffered a power cut yesterday morning.
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Police catch ATM robbers in act
Fribourg police have revealed they caught two men in the act of trying to blow up a cash machine – and are now investigating if they’ve been responsible for other similar attacks.
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No danger from cracked glass at station
Cantonal experts are stressing there is no danger from the cracked glass at the Chêne-Bourg Léman Express train station.
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Taskforce to support drug supply
The government is worried about a drug shortage which is affecting hospitals and pharmacies around the country.
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Uber faces new Geneva challenge
Uber is yet again in the sights of canton Geneva.
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Pro street advertising campaign launches
The Geneva issue that just won’t seem to go away – if poster advertising on the street should be banned.
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Siren test a success
Yesterday’s siren test is being hailed a success with 99% working well. essages.
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Geneva cycle lane under fire again
The extension of the cycle path along the river Arve in Geneva is drawing more anger.
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Did the Earth move for you?
The Earth shook around 900 times in or close to Switzerland last year.
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SVP says asylum is 'catastrophic'
The right-wing Swiss people’s party says the current asylum situation is ‘catastrophic’ and says the government should set up asylum centres near the border or even copy a British idea and process applicants in Africa.
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Missing skiers found dead
Two people have been found dead in canton Valais after being caught up in an avalanche a week ago.
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Man dies in apartment fire
A man has died in an apartment fire in canton Solothurn.
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New car sales down - petrol remains popular
New car registrations were down 8% last year – but electric cars are selling well.
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Bag closes Geneva centre
The centre of Geneva was closed off yesterday afternoon as the police bomb squad removed a suspicious package.
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Vignette issue costs man thousands
A man who thought he could save a little bit of money is now facing fines and court costs of several thousand francs.
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Police chase lasted several hours
A chase lasting several hours brought together different police forces throughout French speaking regions yesterday morning.
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Cross-border transport disruption
There’ll be disruption on cross border transport today due to French industrial action.
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Kids lost maths skills during covid
While school children everywhere had their education disrupted because of covid – Swiss children missed fewer lessons than many others.
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More calls to poison helpline last year
The national poisoning hotline had a busy 2022.
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Last day for 2022 vignette
Today is the last day you can use the 2022 autoroute vignette. From tomorrow, you’ll have to have 2023 sticker.
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Car show could return in 2024
The Geneva International Motor Show should return next year. But it may be down to manufacturers before a final decision will be made.
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Possible fee for ER consultations
The parliamentary health committee is discussing a plan which may mean that people attending hospital emergency rooms would have to pay a CHF 50 fee – which won’t be covered by insurance.
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French examine Swiss assisted suicide law
A French delegation visited the Geneva University Hospital last week to examine how doctors handle the delicate case of assisted suicide.
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Geneva seeks to ban Nazi symbols
Canton Geneva is pushing for a ban on wearing or displaying Nazi symbols in public.
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Bus driver hailed a hero
A Geneva bus driver is being hailed a hero after he stopped his bus to enter a burning building to rescue the elderly resident and his dog.
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Servette FC hosts nearly 15,000 fans
Servette Football Club hosted one of the biggest games in the city yesterday – but threw away a 2-nil half time lead.
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Gun shop owner fired in self-defence
A gun shop owner in canton Aargau has been acquitted of attempted murder charges after he opened fire on a gang trying to rob him.
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Geneva has highest dual-nationals
Geneva residents have more passports than those elsewhere in the country.
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Worries for Swiss sailor
There are worries for a Swiss round the world sailor after authorities have lost contact with him shortly after leaving Tasmania early December.
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Fines and suspended sentences for coffee scam
Three men in Geneva have been fined and given suspended prison sentences for their part in a major parcel scam - but one thought to be the major player has escaped as he’s in Morocco.
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New traffic laws - make a zip
Motorists should be aware of a new rule which came into force at the beginning of the year – the zipper rule.
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Parliament says it's OK to send arms to Ukraine
A parliamentary committee is recommending allowing Swiss arms to be re-exported to another country, such as Ukraine.
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Nearly 100 army weapons go missing annually
Figures from the army show nearly 100 weapons go missing every year.
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Organ shortage remains a concern
There’s still a major shortage of human organs for transplant and the Confederation is due to start a major advertising campaign to persuade people to allow organs to be used after their death.
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Schools struggling in cold
Some schools are struggling in the cold weather.
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Don't fall down!
It may seem obvious, but the Accident Prevention Office is urging everyone to take care in the wet and slippery conditions.
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Gun shop owner in court after shoot out
A gun shop owner in canton Aargau is on trial for attempted murder after he opened fire on a heavily armed group trying to rob his shop.
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Mold cases increasing - lower heating to blame
Cases of mold in buildings are increasing and one of the reasons is due to the fact we’re turning the heating down – as we’ve been told to.
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French civil servants can't afford France
Civil servants working in neighbouring France are calling for a cost of living allowance similar to that offered to government workers around Paris and the Côte d’Azur.
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Jura dog-sled race will go ahead
The dog-sled race in canton Jura will now go ahead.
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Serval rescued from private home in Aargau - now in Geneva
A serval has been rescued from a private home in canton Aargau and is now in the Bioparc in Geneva.
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More children seek help for suicidal thoughts
More young people sought advice for suicidal thoughts last year – an increase of 300% from 2019.
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Swiss hacker faces years in US prison
A Swiss hacker who unearthed a US government no-fly list is being warned she can never leave Switzerland again - or she could be jailed for many years.
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Geneva plan to pay stay at home parents fails
A Geneva cantonal initiative to give stay at home parents of young children a monthly payment has failed as campaigners were not able to collect enough signatures.
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Geneva anti-pollution measure only used once
It’s been two years since the anti-pollution ‘Stick’AIR system was introduced in Geneva – and it’s only been used once.
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No let up for President Berset
Pressure is growing on the Federal Councillor Alain Berset over alleged leaks to the press about government covid policies during the height of the crises.
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Strong winds hit Geneva
Strong winds battered Geneva on Saturday, uprooting trees and sending tarpaulins flying.
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Christmas market wrecks park's grass
The Christmas market has left its traces at the Jardin Anglais in Geneva.
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No charges for 'blackface' actor
Cantonal prosecutors in Appenzell have dropped racism charges against a member of a yodelling group who used blackface and a large afro style wig as part of the performance.
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It's cold - but not officially
No one will doubt how cold it is at the moment – but has the record of the coldest place in Switzerland been broken?
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Skiers told to be careful this weekend
The ski slopes are set to be very busy this weekend as thousands will want to take advantage of the fresh snow – but there are many avalanche warnings in place and once again, skiers and snow boarders are being urged to stay on the piste.
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Switzerland can't hand over Russian cash
Switzerland says it can’t hand over billions of dollars from frozen bank accounts to Ukraine unless there is a clear legal basis for the move.
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Switzerland invited to EU meeting
Switzerland has been invited to join EU foreign and defence ministers at an informal summit in May.
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Zurich police smash drugs ring
Zurich police have arrested three people in a major drug bust.
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Canton can't force workers to live nearby
A case of a Geneva school principal who runs three schools in Chêne-Bougeries, but lives in Colmar in France has triggered a debate where cantonal workers should live.
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Strike action hits French transport
There’s some disruption with transport links to France today as workers take strike action to fight against plans by the French government to reform the pension system.
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Call to end elephant captivity
Animal rights activists are calling for an end of keeping elephants in captivity after yet another death at Zurich Zoo.
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2021 Valais wine - more of it, and it will be good
Wine growers in canton Valais are celebrating a bumper harvest this season.
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Former Federal Councillor joins IOC
The former Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer has taken up a new role with the Lausanne based International Olympic Committee.
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Is chicken, chicken?
The federal government is getting involved with the argument if vegetarian alternatives to meat should be called chicken or pork.
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Snow and cold weather disrupts region
Snow falls and cold weather will continue to hit the region today and it's going to stay cold for the next few days.
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Hybrid car catches fire
A hybrid powered car caught fire in an underground carpark in Veyrier in Geneva yesterday afternoon.
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E-scooters have a negative environmental impact
A study by the ETH University in Zurich seems to fly in the face of accepted wisdom and is throwing a relatively new industry into turmoil.
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Butcher fined for false labelling
A butcher in canton Thurgau has committed a cardinal sin – he sold imported meat as Swiss produced.
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Beavers eat their way through ancient dwellings
Two cantons and the federal government have swung into action to protect an important archeological site from damage by over eager beavers.
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Suicide rates could be cut with stronger gun laws
A new report suggests suicide rates in Switzerland could be cut if there were stricter rules on the access to army weapons.
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Man 'slowly poisoned' wife
The trial of a 50-year-old man who is accused of murdering his wife starts today in Bern.
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Air travel takes off
People are taking to the skies again – after the covid lockdowns. But numbers are not yet back to the pre-pandemic levels.
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German visitors slump after banking law changes
Tourist figures from the Federal Statistics Office show the number of visitors from Germany slumped by a third in 2018 and never recovered.
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Swiss YouTuber could face forgery charges
A Swiss YouTuber could be prosecuted after he admitted to faking a vaccination certificate so he could enter the United States.
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New wooden tower for Satigny
Canton Geneva will be getting a new tower.
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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