Thursday, January 12, 2012
World’s Top 10 Most Expensive Cities to Live
The country’s capital is home to several major Swiss companies including Rolex, Toblerone, Swisscom and The Swatch Group, as well as the foreign offices of American companies, such as eBay, Cisco and Ingram Micro.
1. Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is the most expensive city in the world, with a movie ticket costing $24 and the average taxi fare at $8.
As a global financial center, the city is home to headquarters for many of the world’s largest investment banks and insurance companies.
Tokyo is also one of greenest cities in the world. Despite having a population of more than eight million, it has the lowest carbon dioxide emissions in Asia-Pacific.
The city has been praised for its comprehensive transportation policy, under which the city’s entire taxi fleet is being converted to electric vehicles.
2. Oslo, Norway
Oslo has been the second most expensive city for expatriates for six years in a row — that’s thanks to the relative strength of the Kroner, which has appreciated 16 percent against the U.S. dollar over the last year, and the resilience of the Norwegian economy during the financial crisis.
This hub of Norwegian trade is the home to the world’s largest shipping companies, shipbrokers and maritime insurance companies.
The city also boasts of one of the world’s most extensive and efficient metro transportation systems, and an environmentally friendly tram system. Efficiency comes at a price, however — a one-way ticket on public transportation costs around $5.60.
3. Nagoya, Japan
Known as Japan’s most dynamic region, Nagoya is located 165 miles west of Tokyo. It is the hub for most of Japan’s manufacturers, and produces a large portion of the country’s automobile and aircraft parts.
A number of Japanese automotive companies are headquartered in Nagoya, including Toyota and Honda. Fortunately, these manufacturing plants were largely unaffected by the impact of the March earthquake and tsunami, which struck the region north of Tokyo.
4. Stavanger, Norway
The discovery of oil in the North Sea during the 1960s, converted this quaint metropolis into Norway’s petroleum capital. Over 50 energy companies have offices in Stavanger, making the city home to hundreds of expatriates working in the oil and gas sector.
During the recent economic downturn, Norway’s oil wealth meant the government could sustain economic growth with a lavish stimulus program. The country also has one of the world’s most generous welfare systems, including public schools that offer free, high-quality education.
It is the high cost of food and transportation that make Stavanger No. 4 on the list, however. Food prices in Norway are around 50 percent higher than the euro zone average, with meat, sugar and cereal products being the most expensive products.
5. Yokohama, Japan
As Japan’s second-largest city, Yokohama is a major commercial center for the Greater Tokyo Area.
The port city has a strong economic base, particularly in the biotechnology, semiconductor and shipping industries. Carmaker Nissan and Fujitsu semiconductor have moved their headquarters to the city.
Yokohama also is a budding artistic hub. The city is gearing up to host its triennale art event from August to December this year, with artists from around the world exhibiting their works at venues around the city.
6. Zurich, Switzerland
Despite its low tax rates, Switzerland’s largest city ranks as the fifth most expensive for expatriates. A large reason for this is the rapid appreciation of the Swiss franc, which has strengthened 27 percent against the U.S. dollar in the last year.
The country’s business center is the base for many leading financial institutions, including Credit Suisse, Julius Baer and UBS. In addition to its position as a European financial hub, Zurich is famous for its watch companies and chocolate makers, such as Lindt & Sprüngli.
7. Luanda, Angola
The capital of Angola has seen an influx of multinational companies looking to tap the country’s rich energy reserves. The country is also rich in other goods, exporting coffee, diamonds, sugar, iron and salt.
But a three-decade-long civil war has devastated Luanda’s infrastructure, driving up the cost of goods and services. From haircuts to gym memberships to fast-food meals, nothing comes cheap in the city. A one-year gym membership reportedly costs $2,500 and a haircut can cost upwards of $150.
8. Geneva, Switzerland
Situated along Lake Geneva in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, Geneva is regarded as the global center for diplomacy. It’s home to many United Nations agencies, as well as the World Trade Organization, Red Cross and World Economic Forum headquarters.
One quarter of this picturesque city is made up of public parks, making it a popular destination for U.S. expatriates looking to relocate. Geneva is also well known for its haute cuisine, boasting more restaurants per capita than New York City.
9. Kobe, Japan
Kobe is one of Japan’s busiest container ports. It is also the point of origin and namesake of the world-renowned Kobe beef.
While Japan is the only Asian country surveyed where the cost of goods in the ECA basket has fallen, it is the most expensive country for foreign workers in U.S. dollar terms. That’s a largely a result of the appreciation of the yen over the past six months, as well as the already high cost of goods and services.
10. Bern, Switzerland
Bern is popular for its lower taxes, as well as liberal labor laws. To top it off, the city has managed to retain its cultural heritage. Old Bern has been recognized as a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site for being one of Europe’s best examples of a medieval town.
The city, which is filled with diverse historical attractions, was home to Albert Einstein from 1903 and 1905, during which he developed his groundbreaking theory of relativity.
Fakta menarik tentang haiwan - Part 2
- Setengah haiwan dapat meramal bencana, gempa bumi, banjir, ribut taufan, letusan gunung berapi dan sebagainya. Obor-obor misalnya tahu kehadiran taufan 10 atau 15 jam sebelum ianya berlaku dan ini memberi peluang kepadanya untuk menyelam lebih jauh ke dasar laut. Orang Jepun gemar memelihara ikan emas kerana ia dapat mengesan gempa bumi. Ia memberi petanda akan berlaku gempa bumi dengan melompat keluar akuarium beberapa jam sebelum kejadian
- Untuk kepentingan manusia, haiwan sentiasa dijadikan mangsa ujian dalam uji kaji sains dan perubatan. Kira-kira 30 ribu ekor monyet telah digunakan oleh pakar perubatan dan saintis sepanjang tiga tahun mereka menjalankan usaha mengenalpasti dan menjelaskan pelbagai jenis penyakit polio.
- Jerung adalah binatang berbahaya, malah sebelum ia ia dilahirkan lagi. Saintis Stewart Springer telah digigit oleh satu embrio jerung pasir semasa beliau sedang memeriksa ibu jerung tersebut yang sedang hamil.
- Paus beluga yang ditemui di Lautan Artik, Kanada boleh bergerak sejauh 700 batu sehari. Haiwan ini hanya perlu menyedut oksijen setiap 20 minit.
- Semut mempunyai otak yang paling besar dalam alam haiwan, jika dibandingkan dengan nisbah saiz badannya.
- Nama sebenar rama-rama (butterfly)ialah' flutterby' ..
- Mosquito repellents atau penghalau nyamuk
tidak membunuh. Sensor nyamuk
hanya dikaburi dan ini menyebabkan nyamuk tidak dapat mengesan di mana
mangsa berada. - Seekor lipas boleh hidup selama 10 hari tanpa kepala.
- Untuk melepaskan dari gigitan buaya, anda
perlu mencucuk matanya
menggunakan jari sekuat hati. Buaya akan melepaskan anda serta merta. - Ikan emas adalah satu-satunya haiwan yang dapat melihat cahaya inframerah dan ultraungu
- Terdapat banyak spesies labah-labah yang sanggup mengorbankan tangan dan kaki utk dimakan anak-anaknya yang baru menetas. Langkah ini adalah utk mengelakkan anak-anaknya itu daripada memakan sesama sendiri.
- Badak air mampu berlari lebih pantas daripada manusia.
- Ngauman singa boleh kedengaran sejauh tiga kilometer.
- Tiram boleh mengubah jantinanya beberapa kali sepanjang hayatnya.
- Dianggarkan 80 peratus haiwan di muka bumi adalah serangga.
- Ratu anai-anai boleh hidup selama 500 tahun dan menghasilkan 30,000 telur setiap hari.
- Tikus kasturi, mamalia paling kecil didunia makan empat kali lebih berat badannya dalam masa 36 jam.
- Sinaran kosmik daripada bintang-bintang yang berlanggar boleh menghasilkan bahan berbahaya kepada muka bumi. Saintis mendakwa sinaran itu yang juga dikenali sebagai radiasi boleh menyebabkan hidupan pupus dan menghasilkan spesis baru melalui proses mutasi (perubahan genetik).
- Sehingga tahun
1997, lebih banyak babi dari manusia di Denmark.
- Mengikut statistik dalam kehidupan, ayam adalah haiwan yang palingbanyak di dunia mengalahkan manusia, kerana cara pembiakan yang berleluasadan senang dibiakkan untuk makanan.
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