Overturned truck on Swiss A1 autoroute, heading into Geneva
Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The driver of a heavy truck was injured and taken to the hospital in Nyon after his rig overturned about 05:00 Wednesday morning 3 March on the A1 autoroute. The extent of his injuries has not been announced, but police say his life is not in danger. He is, however, being denounced to a judge. (GenevaLunch traffic alert from Wednesday morning)
The driver, in his 20s, had leaned down to pick up a CD that fell on the floor, according to Vaud police, shortly before the Gland exit on the A1 heading towards Geneva. His truck veered onto the shoulder of the road and when he tried to right it, it overturned.
Update 10:05 Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The A1 autoroute, in the direction of Geneva, is closed between Rolle and Gland due to an accident involving a large truck. Officials say the road will remain closed until at least 11:30 and traffic, which is badly backed up, is being diverted to the N1 (lake road).
Nyon, Vaud, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The A1 autoroute will be closed between Nyon and Gland Wednesday night 17 February on the lake side of the road, heading towards Lausanne, from 21:00-05:00. Roadworks which have been going on since late January to repair a damaged bridge joint will be finished on the lake side by 18 February. The road will be closed again 25 February on the Jura side, heading towards Geneva, also from 21:00-05:00, to finish the roadworks and remove equipment.
Mugello, Italy (GenevaLunch) - Michael Schumacher, seven-time Formula 1 Champion has abandoned his comeback as replacement driver for Felipe Massa in the Ferrari team for the European Grand Prix to be held in Valencia, Spain.
Calanthe-yuksomnensis (image ©2009 Sudhizong Lucksom / WWF Nepal)
One of 12 new poppy species discoveries, Meconopsis tibetica (© 2009 Margaret Thome / WWF Nepal)
Gland, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The Eastern Himalayas, one of the richest and most bio-diverse areas of the world, is also one that is most threatened by global warming, according to a new report by The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), out 10 August.
Over the past 10 years, researchers have discovered an average of 35 new species a year in the region, which WWF says is on a par with other biological cauldrons such as Borneo. The Eastern Himalayas are home to a flying frog (Rhacophorus suffry), which uses its webbed feet to glide, and the world’s smallest species of deer. When first discovered, researchers thought the deer was the young of another species. It stands 60-80 cms tall and weighs 11 kg.
The region encompasses Nepal, Bhutan, northern Bengal and the three northeastern-most states of India, Assam, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, as well as the extreme north of Burma (Myanmar).
Flying frog (image ©2009 Totul Bortamuli / WWF Nepal)
Pressures on the region include population growth, logging, mining activities and inappropriate infrastructure building, especially roads and dams.
Full report: “The Eastern Himalayas. Where worlds collide” (pdf)
Gland, Vaud, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Seven-times world champion racing driver Michael Schumacher announced he would stand in for injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa in the upcoming race in Valencia, Spain 23 August. Schumacher, 40, who lives on the shores of Lake Geneva, retired from Formula 1 racing in 2006 but continued as a team advisor for the Ferrari team where he won five of his seven championships.
Schumacher home in Gland
Gland, Vaud, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Formula 1’s former champion Michael Schumacher, had grandiose ideas about the dock he wants to install at his new lakefront estate on the shores of Lake Geneva in Gland, according to the Tribune de Geneve, quoting Michel Cosendai of the Vaud cantonal water service. The final solution, posted for public consultation until mid-August, will allow docking space two motor boats and the option of an offshore anchor for a sailboat. One group that is likely to oppose the new construction is the Association Rives Publiques, which has been fighting for open public access to the shores of Lake Geneva. According to the Tribune, the group plans to file its opposition.
Schumacher's new home in Gland (©E Wallace 2009)
The race driver's old home, now for rent (image: GetImage/Immostreet.ch)
Vufflens-le-Chateau, Vaud, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Formula 1 superstar Michael Schumacher has put his house in the Vaud hills above Morges up for rent for a cool CHF29,000, which even in the Swiss housing market is on the high end. And that doesn’t include les charges, such as electricity, for which the amount is not given.
Here’s what you can rent for this price in Vaud:
Gland, Vaud, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – A dozen police officers in Gland will be able to use bicycles to “get closer to the population,” starting 1 May and to more quickly and easily reach areas in town, by the lake and in the woods that surround much of Gland. Two all-terrain bikes will be shared.
Gland, Vaud, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Swissquote, Switzerland’s leader in online stock market trading, saw its 2008 results hit hard by the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers but its revenues for the year were up slightly over 2007, to CHF111.7 million, thanks to strong growth in its client base,
Moon over the Swiss Alps, Val d'Anniviers, 24 December 2008
(GenevaLunch) – Only today left and you haven’t started your shopping, or someone near and dear to you hasn’t and you’re a little worried about that?
If you’re desperate to make a nice, quick card, download from flickr the large view of the photo at left, the Swiss Alps the morning of 24 December (compliments of GL editor Ellen Wallace – Merry Christmas!).
Here are some suggestions for quick fixes to the shopping problem:
Read more…
Miserable, near Gland, Vaud
Ed. note: series of Lake Geneva area photos at end of article (click on images to view larger)
Lake Geneva region, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Snow is beautiful, if the weather and the altitude fit it, but when the white stuff falls too close to Lake Geneva the snow turns sloppy and slushy and damp, wrapping around us like an old chilly sheet.
In short: it’s not much fun.
Cars slip and slide, people without good treads on their feet do the same. Animals carry on grazing, but they look miserable.
Nyon, Vaud, Switzerland (24 Heures, Fre) – Residents of the Nyon and Gland area, which covers 22 communes, will have three-line cable access by July, allowing them to use one cable system to access the Internet, telephone and television. Rates for the new services are not yet available, reports 24 Heures.
