Bitesize News
The news stories here are written for radio and designed to be read in under a minute.
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New foundation to help international Geneva
A CHF 50m foundation to help international Geneva is being set up by the canton and the Wilsdorf Foundation.
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Fat jabs drive up health premiums
Health insurance rates will go up next year – but not has much as previous years.
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Preacher cleared of murder
A Catholic lay preacher has been acquitted in the death of a 73-year-old diabetic worshipper.
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More night trains and services to Marseille in 2026
Swiss Federal Railways have released the details of the 2026 timetable, and there’ll be several changes in the Lake Geneva region.
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Cantons behind on vehicle checks
There are thousands of cars on the road in Switzerland which should have had their technical check – but haven’t.
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More young marathon runners
More young adults than ever are hitting the marathon trail in Switzerland.
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Is Geneva's international position threatened?
Could Geneva lose its position as the centre for international cooperation?
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Army wants CHF 100bn more
Military organizations are calling on a further CHF 100 bn for the defence budget in the light of the security situation in Europe.
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Village remains threatened by rock falls
Geologists watching the mountain which threatens the village of Blatten in canton Valais say so far most of the rocks which they believe could crash down, have fallen in smaller bursts, as experts had hoped.
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Severe storms hit central areas
Severe thunderstorms across the central parts of the country yesterday caused major damage.
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Want more money? Ask for a raise
If you want a pay rise, you should ask for it.
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Valais village evacuated on rockfall fears
Another village has been evacuated on fears that tonnes of rock could fall.
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Preacher on trial for murder after woman dies on retreat
A lay preacher is on trial in Geneva for murder after a 73-year-old woman died after attending a spiritual retreat run by the man.
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Hospital social admissions hamper operations
The Geneva University Hospital is straining under the pressure of social admissions as there are no spaces to look after vulnerable children in the canton.
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Beware quicksand!
We’re being warned to be careful of quicksand.
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Mont Blanc Tunnel to close for autumn.
The Mont Blanc Tunnel will be closed this autumn for major renovation.
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New 'Beach Bus Line' for Geneva
A new bus line will start later this month – serving the beaches around Geneva.
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Press hails Eurovision
A year in the planning and now it’s all over. The Eurovision Song Contest reached its crescendo on Saturday night – Austria won and Switzerland came 10th.
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Voters say yes to more solar power
Geneva voters have given the green light to massively extend solar power in the canton.
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Geneva tax initiative fails badly
Geneva voters have roundly rejected the idea that residents’ communal taxes should be only for the commune where they live and not be shared with their place of work.
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Man dies after falling in lake
A man died yesterday afternoon when he fell from a leisure boat on Lake Geneva.
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Two die in Eiger avalanche
Two people have died and a five more injured after an avalanche on the Eiger on Saturday.
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Cantons call for better border transport
Five cantons – all with external borders - are calling on the Federal Council to prioritize transport links with neighbouring countries.
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Retirement age rise off the table - for now
The government is reassuring people a rise in the retirement age is off the table – for the moment at least.
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Second Eurovision semi-final last night
The second Eurovision Semi-Final took place last night – and now the final running order for tomorrow is ready.
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Foron river gets international facelift
A joint French/Swiss project is underway on the border of Geneva and Haut-Savoie.
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Titlis project accused of damaging glacier
A new video leak has reignited criticism of the “Titlis 3020” project near Engelberg in canton Obwalden.
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Carbon capture firm runs into problems
A combination of US government cuts in green technology and teething problems in Iceland is causing problems for the Swiss start-up which has ambitious aims to remove carbon from the atmosphere.
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Russian agents arrested in Thurgau
Three Ukrainian nationals have been arrested on suspicion of planning acts of sabotage.
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Army ponders reactivating cold war era bunkers
The army is considering reactivating bunkers scattered around the country.
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Email company threatens to leave Switzerland
Geneva’s encrypted email service, Proton Mail, is threatening to leave Switzerland if the government implements a proposed new surveillance law.
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Man who killed father is mentally ill
A 31-year-old man suspected of fatally stabbing his 65-year-old father in Plainpalais on Sunday is reported to be suffering from mental illness.
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30 kph limit still being fought
In Geneva, the legal battle over urban speed limits is heating up.
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Geneva police shoot dead knifeman
Geneva police shot dead a man in the Paquis district yesterday afternoon.
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First Eurovision semi-final last night.
The first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest was held last night in Basel.
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Social attitudes changing
Social attitudes to same sex parenting are changing fast in Switzerland.
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Rhône swimming banned until June.
No Swimming in the Rhône just yet.
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Couple refused passport as they don't have friends
A Dutch couple living near Zurich have been refused citizenship as the local municipality believe they haven’t made enough Swiss friends.
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Gotthard pass to open Friday
Good news for drivers wanting to cross the Alps – the Gotthard Pass will open this Friday.
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Teen girl found murdered in Aargau
A teenage girl was killed on Sunday in Berikon, canton Aargau.
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War brochure being prepared
In response to growing security concerns in Europe, Swiss authorities are considering distributing a practical war-preparedness guide to everone.
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Switzerland next in line for US trade deal
It seems the meeting between US and Chinese trade offcials in Geneva has paid off for Switzerland.
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Less snow fell on glaciers this season
Swiss glaciers saw 13% less winter snow than the 2010–2020 average, according to the Swiss Glacier Monitoring Network.
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We want alternatives to plastic
We each throw away, on average, 2.7 plastic items every day – and its most likely to be food packaging.
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Wolf spotted on streets in Thun
A lone wolf was spotted in the middle of the town of Thun in canton Bern over the weekend.
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Urban Rodeos kills one and injures others
One person died and two others are in a serious condition in neighbouring France in two separate, but related instances.
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Busy week for Basel celebrations
It’s going to be a good week for Basel.
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Weekend marathon races great success
The weekend’s marathon races in Geneva are being hailed a success as record numbers took part.
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Basel bans antisemitism demonstration
Basel police have refused permission for a stand-up protest against antisemitism during the Eurovision Song Contest, which starts this week.
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Swiss woman denied entry to US, govt complains
The Swiss government was forced to intervene after a Swiss national was denied entry into the United States.
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Bouncy castle shock in Appenzell
Parents who’d taken their children to what was supposed to be a fun outing in canton Appenzell had a shock when a gust of wind picked up a bouncy castle and lifted it into the air while children were on it.
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Bern provides millions for UN agencies
Switzerland is stepping up its international aid efforts with a new funding package for key UN agencies.
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Mirabaud Bank fined
Financial authorities have fined the Geneva based Mirabaud Bank and confiscated some profits after it was determined they didn’t report suspicious money transfers which could be linked to laundering or tax evasion.
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Drug seizures surge in Geneva
The quantity of illegal drugs seized in Geneva surged by 35% last year, according to new police figures.
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Sonic bangs shake Valais
Residents in canton Valais were given a jolt on Wednesday afternoon as a loud bang reverberated around the canton.
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Roof rack triggers big bill
A motorist is facing a large bill for forgetting about a roof rack on her car.
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CERN is turning lead into gold
Alchemy – the dream of mankind for centuries. Turning a base metal into gold.
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Bern warns Berlin about border controls
Switzerland is telling Germany that the law must be upheld and says it will not accept systematic rejection of asylum seekers at the border.
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Voters will decide the new e-ID law
Voters will have the final say on the new e-ID law.
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Hodgers quits Geneva gvt with warning about Greater Geneva
One of the leading figures in Geneva politics for many years, Antonio Hodgers, says he’s resigning from government and will not be standing for re-election.
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Chinese retailer agrees to new Swiss rules
No more pressure tactics from Temu.
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There are more snakes in the water
If you go wandering along the waterside in Switzerland, there is a chance you’ll come across more snakes.
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Lady luck smiled on A1 drivers
It could have been far worse traffic jam on the A1 autoroute in Aargau yesterday morning.
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Pair Jailed After Failed Watch Robbery in Geneva
Two men from Naples, aged 36 and 39, have been sentenced to jail by a Geneva court following a violent attempted robbery in May last year.
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New Geneva tunnel is underused
Geneva’s Tunnel des Nations is seeing far less use than anticipated, with just 11,000 vehicles passing through daily — well below the 17,600 projected in its 2016 building permit.
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Free lawyers on the Plainpalais
Free legal advice will be available in Geneva tomorrow and the day after.
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Pensioner Scammed in WhatsApp Fraud
A 79-year-old man from Fribourg has fallen victim to a WhatsApp scam, losing nearly CHF 19,000 after being tricked into thinking his son needed urgent financial help.
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Diesel spill reaches Steinach River near Lake Constance
Around 250 litres of diesel leaked from a truck’s damaged fuel tank and nearly made it into Lake Constance.
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Could negative interest rates return?
Switzerland could see the return of negative interest rates after the April inflation figures show a rate of zero.
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Fuss over Geneva mayors' trip to Denmark
A row has broken out in Geneva over this year’s annual mayors’ trip, as concerns about climate change clash with travel plans.
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Pensioner Must Pay CHF 14,000 for Book After Doorstep Visit
A pensioner from Fricktal in Aargau has been ordered to pay nearly CHF 14,000 for a book following a doorstep sales visit.
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Cantonal mobile phone ban in schools
Canton Nidwalden will bring in a ban of mobile phones in Schools.
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Eurovision in Basel: 1,300 Police Officers on Duty
With the Eurovision Song Contest set to kick off in Basel next week, emergency services are preparing for an unprecedented operation.
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Forest Pollen and Bacteria Can Trigger Heavy Rainfall, Say Swiss Scientists
Biological particles like pollen and bacteria from forests can help trigger heavy rainfall, according to a new Swiss study.
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Abortion rights protest meets Catholic prayer rally in Geneva
Pro-choice activists and anti-abortion Catholics held rival gatherings Saturday morning on Rue du Mont-Blanc in Geneva.
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Heavy fine for spitting on Russian Embassy
A jogger in Bern has been fined nearly CHF 7,000 after spitting on the sign outside the Russian Embassy.
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Security stepped up ahead of Eurovision
The Eurovision Song Contest starts in Basel next week - and security is already being ramped up.
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Fake police stop drivers in Schaffhausen using white Tesla
Two men posing as police officers carried out fake traffic stops in Ramsen, Canton Schaffhausen, early Friday morning.
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Man seen stealing used diapers in Winterthur sparks concern
Parents in Winterthur's Heiligberg district are on alert after a man was spotted stealing used baby diapers from a residential bin.
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Tour de Romandie won by Joao Almeida
The final stage of the Tour de Romandie was held in the middle of Geneva yesterday.
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Vaud fire engines go to Ukraine
Canton Vaud is donating ten fire engines to Ukraine.
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Sun seekers head for rivers and lake side
The summery weather is luring sun seekers to the side of the rivers and the lake around Geneva - but be warned, the water is still cold.
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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