A Nordic country has topped the World Happiness Report, Bali is planning to ban tourists from renting motorbikes, The EU is giving out 35,000 free train tickets for travel across Europe and more in top stories of the day.
This is the world’s happiest country in 2023
A small Nordic nation has been named, once again, as the world’s happiest country in the World Happiness Report. It’s the sixth year in a row Finland has claimed the title – and not only for its natural beauty and cultural traditions. Countries are ranked based on feedback from locals, as well as factors including life expectancy, social support, generosity, freedom, corruption levels and GDP per capita. With its universal healthcare, low rates of poverty and generally sunny outlook (despite the long winters), Finland scored highly on all of the above.
Eight of the ten happiest countries in 2023 are in Europe. Here’s the top ten in full:
- Finland 🇫🇮
- Denmark 🇩🇰
- Iceland 🇮🇸
- Israel 🇮🇱
- Netherlands 🇳🇱
- Sweden 🇸🇪
- Norway 🇳🇴
- Switzerland🇨🇭
- Luxembourg 🇱🇺
- New Zealand 🇳🇿
Bali is planning to ban tourists from renting motorbikes
Bali has announced plans to ban tourists from renting motorbikes, making your Bali biking dreams a thing of the past. Visitors will be expected to use cars for travel. It has been reported that this move is because foreigners have been riding motorcycles without the valid paperwork and necessary helmets, and driving recklessly.
While it looks like foreign residents and tourists will not be subject to the guidelines, the new restrictions have received a lot of criticism.
The EU is giving out 35,000 free train tickets for travel across Europe
If you’re an 18-year-old from Europe wanting to travel around for free, this might just be your lucky day. The European Union is giving out tens of thousands of free train tickets, offering young people the chance to explore the region’s history and heritage.
The dreamy scheme, called DiscoverEU, is open to those who will be 18 on July 1, and live in an EU member state or from a country that’s involved in the Erasmus programme. That includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey.
All you have to do to enter is apply online before March 29, pass the eligibility check which will ask about your age and nationality, and complete a multiple-choice quiz about the EU with five questions. You’ll also be asked to share how you’re planning to use the free train tickets should you win one. You can choose to travel alone or with a group of up to five friends. Those who win will get a free rail pass allowing them seven days of train travel within a month between June 15, 2023, and September 30, 2024. In some cases, if the traveller lives in a remote area or on an island, coach, ferry and flight passes will be included, too.
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