World's Most Expensive Cities

Do You Know? From: karlascottspeaker.blogspot.com

Today’s topic: World's most expensive cities in 2008 (in rank order)

Are you confident that you know the world’s most expensive cities? I bet you’ll be surprised by some cities on the list. First, let’s review the research methodology used by Mercer, a global human resources and financial consulting firm. The data in this study reflects a survey measuring the comparative cost of over 200 items in each location, including housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods, and entertainment. Produced by Mercer, the survey is used to help multinational companies and governments determine compensation allowances for their expatriate employees.

Here are the top 25, ranked:

1. Moscow, Russia (was #1 in 2007 also)
2. Tokyo, Japan
3. London, United Kingdom
4. Oslo, Norway
5. Seoul, South Korea
6. Hong Kong, Hong Kong
7. Copenhagen, Denmark
8. Geneva, Switzerland
9. Zurich, Switzerland
10. Milan, Italy
11. Osaka, Japan
12. Paris, France
13. Singapore, Singapore
14. Tel Aviv, Israel
15. Sydney, Australia
16. Dublin, Ireland
17. Rome, Italy
18. St. Petersburg, Russia
19. Vienna, Austria
20. Beijing, China
21. Helsinki, Finland
22. New York City, United States
23. Istanbul, Turkey
24. Shanghai, China
25. Amsterdam, Netherlands

The USA has only one city in the top 50, New York City.

Cities that climbed most sharply in rankings versus the prior year are: Istanbul (38 to 23), Prague (49 to 29), Rio de Janeiro (64 to 31), Warsaw (67 to 35), and Melbourne (64 to 36).

British Woman Jailed for Adultery in Dubai

A British mother jailed for adultery in Dubai has lost a second appeal and will stay in prison.

Marnie Pearce, 40, hoped to be freed but will have to serve the rest of a three month term. It had been reduced from six months at her first appeal.

She will be deported on her release and fears she will lose custody of her two young children.

Ms Pearce says her ex-husband accused her of adultery to gain custody of their two children, a claim he denies.

In a posting on her campaign website, her supporters said: "It is with great sadness that Team Marnie have to announce that the verdict will remain the same and Marnie will have to serve her time and, for now, be deported.

"We will continue to apply pressure to have the deportation order lifted, and thank everyone for their continued support."

Ms Pearce, who is originally from Bracknell, Berkshire, denies the adultery claims made by her ex-husband, Egyptian national Ihab El-Labban.

They had two children together, aged four and seven.

She first met her former husband in Oman and married him in the Seychelles in September 1999.

They moved to Dubai but the relationship eventually broke down.

In March last year she was arrested and accused of committing adultery with a British man, who she insists was only a friend, and convicted in November.

Neil Durkin, spokesman for Amnesty International, said: "I know the Foreign Office is working on the case but what we can do remains to be seen, it is difficult."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/berkshire/7945543.stm

Published: 2009/03/16 13:36:41 GMT