According to AskMen online magazine, Miami (Florida, USA) is the city with the best sand beaches in the world. It is followed by Dubai (UAE) and Barcelona (Spain). But don’t forget the wonderful beaches of Australia, Brazil and South Africa, as well.

The sand and the surf are an integral part of these cities. Sandy fringes act as an integral part of their structure, atmosphere and overall identities. Proximity to water is the main factor when considering building a settlement. Continue reading »

According to The Scientist Magazine, UCSF’s J. David Gladstone Institutes is the best US academic institution to work for in 2008. The San Francisco university is immediately followed by Princeton University and the Trudeau Institute.

Some researchers are already feeling the pinch, with budget crises looming at many institutions. But thankfully, a few organizations are finding interim funding solutions. For many scientists, feeling good about their workplace isn’t only about funding and support, but it’s also about giving back to the community. Continue reading »

Based on the number of inhabitants with university degrees, number of international students at the tertiary level, international schools at the primary and secondary level, and top global universities located in the cities, the World’s Most Global Cities survey, presented by Foreign Policy Magazine, A.T. Kearney and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, finds London (United Kingdom) deserves the top spot, followed by a surprising Chicago (United States) and Tokyo (Japan).

While this kind of ratings may rise eyebrows, the combination of the factors considered by the surveys led to these results. Continue reading »

Based on the city’s number of embassies, consulates, local organizations with international reach, headquarters of international organizations, and political conferences held in the cities, the World’s Most Global Cities survey, presented by Foreign Policy Magazine, A.T. Kearney and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, finds Washington D.C. (United States) is the city where you may have your best carrier as a diplomat.

It is logically followed by New York - where the headquarters of the United Nations are located - and Brussels (Belgium) - the headquarters of the European Union. Continue reading »

Based on the number of Fortune global 500 firms with headquarters in the cities, on whether or not top 40 global service firms have offices there, on the strength of their capital on the markets, the volume of their flow of goods, and the number of global professional association conferences held in these cities, the World’s Most Global Cities survey, presented by Foreign Policy Magazine, A.T. Kearney and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, puts New York (United States) on the top spot (as it happened in the overall ratings), followed by Tokyo (Japan) and Paris (France). Continue reading »