Singapore guide for expats in French / Guide pour expatriés sur Singapour en français
easyexpat
26 July, 2010 16:50
Singapore was first mentioned as early as the 3rd century where it was referred to as Puluozhong, a Chinese translation of Pulau Ujong, literally ‘island at the end' (of the Malay Peninsula).
The Malay archipelago was under European colonial rule for much of the period between the 16th and 19th centuries, starting with the Portuguese in Malacca which than gave way to the Dutch, who developed a stronghold in the region. All this changed with the arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819 when he signed a formal treaty with the Sultan of Johor to establish a trading post on the island. However, Singapore did not become a full British colony until 1824.
It was Raffles who decided then that Singapore should become a free port. (More)
World Cup Fever
texkourgan
15 July, 2010 09:19
Vuvuzelas made their last trumpets, tvs flickered off around the world, and the Dutch returned the 120 caravans they rented to attend the world cup in South Africa. The furious month-long competition (June 11th to July 11th, 2010) is suddenly put to rest as one team has claimed the title of champions of the FIFA 2010 World Cup.
South Africa's World Cup
In South Africa, there was wild anticipation as well as an edge of apprehension. It had been a long road to getting an African nation selected as host. This was the first World Cup bidding process under continental rotation and African nations could bid. In 2004, the international football federation, FIFA, selected South Africa over Egypt and Morocco to become the first African nation to host the finals. South Africa had been only narrowly defeated in its 2006 bid and this selection marked a change in Africa's status, worthy of international sports play.
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Best cities to live in the world in 2010
texkourgan
01 July, 2010 15:26
What makes a city truly exceptional? The perfect place to live, work, and play? Monocle magazine knows what makes a city great to live and have compiled a list of the 25 best places to live. These cities aren't just OK, but are "benchmarks for urban renaissance and rigorous reinvention in everything from environmental policy to transport". The results of their annual survey were published on June 17, 2010.
25 Best Places to Live
1. Munich, Germany
The city is the epitome of everything valued in the survey. Excellent location and transportation system allow for easy access to the rest of Europe, as well as the world. Monocle boasts that the city has the best airport in Europe. There is also a boon of cultural heritage and events and plenty of green space to make living in the city enjoyable. On top of these benefits, there is an extremely low crime rate. Apparently Munich parents agree with the magazines assessment as the city is one of the few reporting an upswing in birth rate. Prost! (More)
