Bitesize News
The news stories here are written for radio and designed to be read in under a minute.
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Journalists risk arrest in Switzerland
Three renowned investigative journalists Cecilia Anesi, Antonio Baquero, and Frederik Obermaier are avoiding Switzerland due to fears of criminal prosecution under strict banking secrecy laws.
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Switzerland will rejoin EU programmes
Switzerland will be rejoining several EU programmes following an agreement with Brussels.
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Should tax payers get a rebate?
There are calls for tax payers to get a rebate after most cantons have reported a tax surplus this year.
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Easter roads rush starts this weekend
This weekend marks the start of the Easter rush to the south – and major delays are expected at the Gotthard Tunnel and other routes heading south.
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Léman Express could extend to Nantua
A feasibility study has been launched to examine the possibility of extending the Léman Express train to serve Bellegarde and Nantua in neighbouring France.
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Govt takes gentle approach to chaos
The Federal Council is creating a special team to deal with the uncertainty coming out of the United States.
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New strain of Mpox in Switzerland
Switzerland has reported its first case of a particularly serious variant of Mpox – formerly known as monkeypox.
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Victim dies, hit and run driver arrested
The pedestrian who was hit by a hit and run driver in Anières in Geneva in early March has died after being treated for several weeks – Geneva police have arrested a driver after an appeal for witnesses.
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False alert sends heavily armed police
A heavily armed Geneva police unit rushed to a school in Charmilles yesterday after an active shooter AMOK alert was triggered.
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More restaurants charge 'no-shows'
More restaurants are charging a fee to those who book a table and then don’t show up.
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Trump splits Swiss People's Party
The Trump effect is beginning to have an impact on the right-wing Swiss People’s Party.
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Quagga invasion is an emergency
The invasion of the quagga mussel in Swiss waterways needs to be treated as an emergency – say experts.
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Ketermine found at service station
Police in Bern stumbled across a major haul of Ketamine.
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Access to tourist spot restricted
Authorities in canton Glarus are being forced to crack down on unscrupulous tourists that flock to the prime vantage point of the Muttenchopf.
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Work starts for Eurovision
Work has started on the St. Jakobshalle in Basel for the Eurovision Song Contest.
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Winter tyres illegal in Itay
It’s tyre change time – many will be switching their winter tyres to summer ones right now, but authorities are warning that if you’re planning to visit Italy, you must have done by next month.
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Swiss stocks follow global trend
All sectors of the Swiss stock market have been hit by the global selloff triggered by the tariffs set by the United States.
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Are smaller stations under threat?
Could some smaller train stations be closed?
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New vote likely on e-ID
It looks likely voters will be asked again their opinion on rolling out a new electronic ID system.
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Former mayor stole CHF 13m
A former mayor of the commune of Signy-Avenex in canton Vaud has been sentenced to four and a half years in jail after being found guilty of embezzlement.
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Child care safety concerns
Concerns about child safety at daycare centres in French speaking regions are climbing.
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Cough syrup, new drug of choice for teens
Health experts in Geneva are worried about teenagers abusing cough syrups containing codeine.
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Most women don't want children
Most women in Switzerland don’t want to have children.
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Dead fish linked to laundry
Canton Geneva has launched a criminal investigation after hundreds of fish were poisoned in the Aire River, which runs through Plan-les-Ouates.
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Housing demo in Zurich
Thousands marched in Zurich on Saturday demanding more access to affordable housing.
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Drought conditions are here already
One weekend of good weather – and we’re already in drought conditions.
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Man fined for asking for cash for lost phone
A man who demanded cash to return a lost iPhone has been fined and now faces probation.
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Raclette record smashed in Valais
A world record was broken in Martigny in canton Valais over the weekend – the World’s Largest Raclette.
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Govt won't react to Trump tariff immediately
The Federal Council says it will not take any immediate retaliatory measures against the United States following the Trump Administration’s decision hit Switzerland with a 31% tax on exports.
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Geneva will be hard hit by tariffs
Geneva is likely to be one of the worst hit cantons following the new US tariffs.
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'Blick' calls Trump 'angry old man'
In a hard-hitting editorial in the Blick newspaper this morning – it calls Trump an ‘angry old man’ - the paper says the Federal Council has to face the issue of world trade with clarity and courage – but admits it has a tough job ahead.
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Population hits new high
The number of people living in Switzerland has risen to a record 9.05 million – a rise of 1% - despite a fall in immigration.
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Court rejects car tax arguments
A Geneva court has thrown out an appeal against the new vehicle tax levied by Geneva which caused shock and surprise at the beginning of the year when many saw their tax bills soar.
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Tariffs on US Swiss goods 'confusing'
US president Donald Trump unveiled a series of tariffs against countries around the world. He says the United States has been ‘looted, robbed and raped’ by friends and foes alike.
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CHF 10m to Geneva NGOs
The Swiss People’s Party in Geneva failed to collect enough signatures to force the decision to give NGOs in Geneva CHF 10m to a vote.
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Covid cycle lane will stay
The cycle lane on Boulevard Georges Favon in Geneva will be staying.
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Chinese electric car maker enters Switzerland
The Chinese electric car maker, BYD, has launched in Switzerland.
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E-bikes and scooters lead to more serious injuries
As more people are using electric powered transport options, such as e-bikes and scooters, serious injuries are increasing.
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Initiative launched to boost parental leave
A grouping of left-wing parties has launched a popular initiative to bring in 36 weeks combined leave for parents after the birth of a child.
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Drivers face fines for photographing accident
Hundreds of drivers are facing fines from French authorities for taking pictures of an accident on the A40 autoroute last month.
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Frozen Russian assets climb
The amount of frozen Russian assets in Switzerland is climbing. It now stands at CHF 7.4bn - up more than 1 and a half billion from last year.
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Young men increasingly turn to erectile drugs
Young men are increasingly turning to erectile disfunction drugs – but there are warnings about using drugs bought online.
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Possible new lakeside summer venue
There could be a new venue to enjoy the lake over the summer if a local entrepreneur gets his idea off the ground.
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25% risk poverty
Despite Switzerland being a wealthy country, figures from the Federal Statistics Office shows that as much as 25% of the people are at risk of poverty.
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Basel annoyed at Zurich for not providing police for Eurovision
Ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest which will be held in Basel in May, the canton is appealing for police reinforcements from other cantons.
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No phone number yet for domestic abuse
Domestic violence campaigners are furious at the Federal Office of Communications.
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SNB buys foreign currencies again
The Swiss National Bank has been on a foreign currency buying spree.
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CERN to raise money with hamster toys
**** APRIL FOOL**** Many thanks for all your comments!
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Switzerland should fight for US academics
Switzerland should follow other European countries and offer incentives to American academics who feel bullied in the United States to come and continue their research here.
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WHO confirms severe budget cuts in email to staff
An internal email to World Health Organisation staff sent on Friday is confirming the worst for many.
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Plans to remove dumped munitions ditched
Another victim of European re-armament is that any plans to clear Swiss lakes of dumped munitions seems to have been ditched.
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Merz comments confuse Bern
Comments by the future German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in a newspaper interview has caused confusion in Bern.
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Teen dies trying to break into shop
A teenage boy has died after being trapped in a sliding shop door in Vevey in canton Vaud.
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Colorectal cancer rates climb in the under 50s.
Doctors are raising the alarm of increasing rates of colorectal cancer in younger people – and research is underway at the Geneva University Hospital to find out why and the canton has allocated CHF 7m to boost screening.
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Parcel bomber 'has confessed'
The man who’s been arrested for planting parcel bombs in Geneva has reportedly confessed.
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Army plans shopping list
The army is going on a shopping spree.
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1000's of Zalando customers could be blocked
Thousands of customers of the online retailer Zalando have been blocked without warning.
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Geneva police investigate dead dog
Geneva police are investigating the death of a dog on the Lignon housing estate.
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Court kills 30 kph limit in Geneva
Several sections of roads in Geneva that have had a new 30 kph limit imposed will probably revert to 50 after a court ruling.
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Gurten Festival reveals line-up
If you were unlucky with your choice of tickets for Paléo, the Gurten Festival in Bern may be worth a look.
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Paléo sells out in record time
Tickets for Paléo sold out in 13 minutes yesterday – a new record.
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Eurovision price gouging in Basel
If you want to stay in Basel during the Eurovision Song Contest - it will cost you.
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Taylor brought in millions for Zurich
The two Taylor Swift Concerts in Zurich last summer were worth CHF 90m to the city.
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New China flights from Geneva
Geneva will be the most connected Swiss city to China.
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Twint most trusted brand - again
What are the most trusted brands in Switzerland?
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Nervous US investors look to Swiss stability
Billions of dollars from wealthy American clients are said to be flowing into Switzerland.
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FIFA trial ends, possibly
The long running corruption case involving FIFA, the former head of the organisation, Sepp Blatter and former UEFA boss Michel Platini has come to an end – possibly.
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German TV show could boost cold Swiss murder case
A ten-year-old Swiss murder case is due to be featured on a German TV tonight with the hopes it may reinvigorate the investigation.
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Swiss atlas says 'The Gulf of Mexico'
The publishers of the ‘Swiss World Atlas’ say they will not change the name of the Gulf of Mexico.
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Successful year for the airport
Geneva Airport had a successful 2024. It’s reporting a profit for that year of more than CHF 110m. Half of that will go to the canton.
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Major drug ring smashed in Geneva.
Geneva police have smashed a large scale and highly organised drug ring – one of those arrested is a Green Party elected official for Grand Saconnex. She was re-elected over the weekend.
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More take TPG than ever before
Geneva public transport carried more passengers last year than ever before.
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New towers whistle - no one's happy
Two brand-new high-rise apartment blocks in canton Basel Country are driving the neighbours mad.
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Frontalier unemployment rules changed
Unemployment rules for frontaliers changed over the weekend – putting more pressure on those claiming benefits in France.
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Work to fix Broken Chair starts
Work has started to fix the damage to the Broken Chair on the Place des Nations.
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Geneva council turns right - slightly
After yesterday’s communal elections, the Geneva City Council has taken a small turn to the right.
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Ex-UN worker fined for sending execution video
A man, who used to work for the refugee agency, the UNHCR, has been given a suspended fine for sending images of an execution to a former colleague.
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Incorrectly arrested brothers sue
During the hunt for the Geneva parcel bomber, two brothers were arrested at the end of last year and placed in pre-trial detention.
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Keep Gotthard Pass open all year
A group of MPs are calling for the Gotthard pass to be open all year round to alleviate jams at the tunnels.
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Call for wealthy prisoners to pay for their time
A national parliamentarian is suggesting that wealthy prisoners should be forced to pay for their incarceration.
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Another hard discounter enters Switzerland
Another European hard-discounter is set to conquer Switzerland.
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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