screen shots, new "my weather" worldwide service (source: Apple iTunes)
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Hong Kong Observatory launched a new mobile app, “my weather”, Monday 10 October, designed to help travellers quickly find the official weather report for their area, anywhere in the world.
The new app features the World Weather Information Service (WWIS) and is the world’s first-ever location-specific weather service providing official city weather forecasts around the world for people on the move, says Geneva-based WMO.
The free app has location-based technology that detects the user’s location and it automatically displays the latest official weather forecasts and climatological information of the city nearest to the user.
“It provides a quick search function that allows users to obtain the latest official weather information from over 1,400 cities around the world. The application also enables users to create bookmarks for easy access to weather forecasts for cities of their choice in the future,” according to WMO.
The new app can be downloaded at http://itunes.apple.com/
Ed. note: I just downloaded and used it – up came Swiss, Italian and German cities, since it uses cities in a 200km range. Weather forecast is equally gloomy in all areas.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Media in the Italy, Britain and the US are heavily covering the release from prison of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito, following the judge’s decision in Italy to overturn their murder convictions in the November 2007 death of Meredith Kercher. Coverage of the trial and release continue to follow national lines, with American media often portraying Knox as an innocent victim, British media emphasizing the prosecution’s description of her as a liar with a split personality, and Italy media incensed that their justice system is being called faulty by Americans.
Knox sobbed as she left the courtroom. Sollecito’s father gave an emotional TV interview outside. And Kercher’s family quietly left, telling journalists briefly of their disappointment, appearing stunned by the verdict. They will give a press conference later today.
Rudy Guede, 24, from Cote d’Ivoire, was also accused of the murder in a separate trial and his appeal was upheld although he, too, claims innocence.
A fourth person involved in the court case, bar owner Patrick Lumumba, was once Knox’s employer, and while under interrogation she accused him of the murder. He was detained for two weeks based on her evidence. Know was found guilty 3 October of slander and was sentenced to three years, which she has served, and ordered to pay him several thousand dollars. Knox is likely to quickly sign an agreement worth at least $1 million with a US television network, according to Britain’s Sky News.
Links to other sites: Guardian, UK, Seattle PI, Sky News, Zimbio images
Geneva, with Switzerland's worst rate for available housing
BERN, SWITZERLAND – The good news is that there is more available housing in Switzerland than a year ago, or at least there was 1 June.
The federal government took stock that day and noted 38,420 unoccupied dwellings of all types, an increase of 1,700 houses and apartments over 1 June 2010.
The 1,700 represent a 5 percent increase, for a rate of “0.94% of the approximate housing stock”, says Bern.
The available housing included 4,570 houses, an increase of 250 from the previous year.
The number of apartments for rent rose, but the number of apartments for sale fell.
The bad news if you live in Geneva (but you already know this) is that you live in the Swiss city with the worst rate of available housing, 0.25 percent.
One option is to move to Solothurn, with 2.09 percent, the highest vacancy rate in the country.
©2010 Chappatte, distributed by Globe Cartoon. More cartoons on Chappatte’s web site. Geneva-based Patrick Chappatte works for the International Herald Tribune, for Geneva newspaper Le Temps, and for NZZ am Sonntag. All cartoons reproduced with permission.
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – There are fewer than 1,000 free parking places in Geneva now, the Tribune de Geneve reports, with Avenue de la Paix, near the United Nations and International Red Cross buildings becoming for-pay parking slot.
The city is under pressure in a number of neighbourhoods from locals who see their free parking used by commuters from outside the city, who park for the day and use public transport to get into work.
Ed. note: the city has not confirmed that it will begin to charge for the newly painted parking slots on the road near the UN.
Title: Gallery hopping (nuit des bains)
Location: Geneva
Link out: Click here
Description: Once again the galleries in the “quartier de Bains” in Geneva hold simultaneous inaugurations of their exhibitions.
Go gallery hopping, enjoy art, meet the artists and sample some wine.
Date: 14 May 2009
Title: Free open air concerts
Location: Geneva
Link out: Click here
Description: The city of Geneva offers over 20 concerts during the month of May. Includes classical, brass-band and popular music.
Start Date: 14 May 2009
End Date: 29 May 2009
