The point I have made to @ScottMorrisonMP and other colleagues is that given the uncertainty around Peter Dutton’s eligibility, acknowledged by the Solicitor General, he should be referred to the High Court, as Barnaby was, to clarify the matter.
Mr Turnbull travelled all the way to Manhattan, New York shortly after being sacked from the country’s top job, but that hasn’t stopped him from weighing in on the eligibility of Peter Dutton, the man who originally prompted the original leadership spill that Turnbull narrowly won.
The former Liberal leader is making it harder for the Government to distance itself from the chaotic leadership crisis in which allegations of intimidation and bullying were rife.
Regarding the tweet, Mr Dutton told 2GB radio that now that Mr Turnbull has retired he should not comment on politics publicly. He said that Mr Turnbull had never discussed any issue of his eligibility until the very week of the leadership spill.
Three weeks ago, a vote to refer Mr Dutton the High Court failed to pass by a single vote.
If another vote was held, former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said that she would decide “at the time” how she would vote. She added that each MP had a “personal responsibility” to ensure that they are eligible to serve in Australia’s parliament.
Despite be urged by Malcolm Turnbull to investigate the matter, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has indicated there is little political will for another vote on whether to send Mr Dutton the High Court.
The legal opinion of the Solicitor-General, Stephen Donaghue QC, was that Mr Dutton was probably still eligible to sit in Parliament, but he admitted that the High Court may interpret the matter differently.
It appears that the majority of Parliament is happy to sit with that verdict for now.
This weekend round 2 of the NRL finals will be played, to determine who will face the Roosters and Storm next week in the grand final playoff. Both matches are Sydney derbies, with Friday night seeing the Cronulla Sharks face the Penrith Panthers while the South Sydney Rabbitohs will play the St George Illawarra Dragons on Saturday night.
Both matches will be extremely unpredictable; with all four teams having won the same amount of matches this season (following the Panthers and Dragons wins last weekend and the Sharks and Rabbitohs losses). Round 2 of the NRL finals will be sure to be a crowd pleaser, particularly the Sydney crowds expected to turn out.
The first match up sees the Sharks, who are kings of the grind, come up against the unpredictable Panthers. Penrith have won three out the five matches since they sacked coach Anthony Griffin, with only last week’s win looking convincing. The Sharks, meanwhile, have kept rolling and building form in the second half of the season – although they have shown that they can be exposed by a flashy backline.
With the Panthers at something close to full strength for virtually the first time this season they will be a handful , and will have the edge in the backline – particularly in the halves. The Sharks, on the other hand, have the most formidable forward pack in the competition, and combine this with some outstanding outside backs. The Sharks will probably edge this one to progress past round 2 of the NRL finals.
The Dragons-Rabbitohs game is even harder to predict. St George have been serving up rubbish for most of the second half of the season, but last week they returned to form in a spectacular fashion to blitz the Broncos in Brisbane. In that game, however, they lost key playmaker Gareth Widdop. Souths have been more consistent in the run to round 2 of the NRL finals, and a team featuring the Burgii and Greg Inglis is always going to be a physical threat.
In the second game of round 2 of the NRL finals Souths will probably get over the line – as long as they can contain Ben Hunt. This would set them up for a trip to Melbourne next week to face the Storm for a grand final spot, while the winner of Panthers vs Sharks will stay in Sydney to play the Roosters.
It’s a pretty strange thing hearing birds being classified as pests; more so if you only encounter them in the wild where they appear to be these beautiful and majestic creatures. This classification would, however, feel justified if a flock of birds invaded your property. That’s because when birds congregate where they’re not desired, they can – and often will – cause serious damage to property in addition to being a plain old nuisance to have around. In this regard they are similar to possums.
Without realising it, your home or business premises could become the perfect habitat for pest birds. And when a pest bird infestation takes root, the once small problem could turn into a huge one that’s more difficult to get rid of.
A stitch in time saves nine
The key to controlling a pest bird problem, similar to any other pest infestation, is early diagnosis and quick remedying. A pest problem that is diagnosed early is easy to control as the population of the pest in question (birds in this case) has not yet risen to difficult-to-manage levels. This not only makes control easier but also minimises the damage being inflicted by the pest.
To catch an infestation as early as possible, you will need to know the kind of signs to look out for as well as where to look for them. While some bird infestation signs are quite obvious and easy to spot, there’re others that are a bit obscure requiring you to look more keenly to spot them. These signs include:
Birds on your property
This sign is one of the obvious ones. Whether it be gulls, pigeons or starlings, you’ll probably be able to spot several birds hanging around your property. If you notice birds around your property, keep an eye on them to see whether they’ll move away on their own or whether their numbers will keep increasing. A bird number that seems to be growing is a clear indication of a bird problem. Check trees, your roof and other structures around your home for birds.
Bird droppings
Bird poop is not only messy but can also cause a lot of damage to your property due to its acidic nature. The poop could also spread diseases to humans or cause slip and fall accidents when stepped on. Check around your property and your roof for bird droppings as this is a clear sign of a bird infestation.
Damaged roof and eaves
The aim of most birds is to create nests where they can lay their eggs. They prefer out-of-the-way places such as your roof and eaves. Birds could tear holes in your building’s roof or widen cracks in corners and eaves to create a suitable spot for their nests. Check these areas regularly for damage.
A nest is the equivalent of a house to a bird. Most birds will make their nests from straw, twigs, leaves and feathers. Check for nests on your roof, eaves, ledges, guttering, chimney stacks, balcony, attic/loft and in cracks and vents. You should also check in the trees on or near your property.
Noise
Birds are noisy – especially when they gather in large number. This sign is hard to miss as their racket could cause great disturbance. Listen for bird noises coming from outside and in your attic as this is a clear sign of a bird infestation.
Damaged plants and gardens
Invading birds will sometimes get into your garden where they’ll cause damage to your plants and/or your produce. Check for signs of bird damage in your garden as this could be indicative of a pest bird problem.
Bird nest remains and feathers
Nesting materials and bird feathers will often come loose and find their way into your gutters and drainage systems. This could cause water damage to your roof and building. Check your drains for these materials to prevent clogging and to catch any bird infestations.
If you happen to find any or several of these signs on your property, then there is a very high likelihood that you have a pest bird problem. Take measures to control the problem immediately before the issue escalates.
You can be unaware of this but sometimes the reason why you can’t blog consistently is that you are too busy wasting time.
I understand you have to deal with other online business tasks. But unless you have a virtual assistant as a part of your team, you need to make use of your time wisely. Remember that you only have 24 hours in a day.
The first step to maximise your hours for blogging is to identify unnecessary things that eat up your time.
Without further ado, here are 5 blogging time wasters you need to get rid of.
1. Social media
Social media can be a huge distraction to blogging if you use it for checking your personal notifications.
Doing your social media marketing tasks while blogging is risky. Sometimes you find yourself looking at your friend’s photos and silly statuses. Then somebody chats you o Facebook and you can’t help but check the message.
The solution:
What should you do to avoid wasting your time on social media platforms? Set aside for your personal use of social media.
Put yourself on a timer. I do this too while I blog and it works every time.
2. Procrastination
Procrastination is an enemy of writers. Do you believe in what most people say about writers being the worst procrastinators?
You know the consequences of procrastinating: Poor work quality, missed deadlines, and more – but you still cannot help it.
The solution:
Too lazy to blog? Get up and write the first few sentences of your copy for 2 minutes. Promise, you’ll find yourself blogging for an hour or two.
3. Analysis paralysis
Overthinking and over-analysing kill your productivity.
You can’t start blogging because you are unable to decide on your headline, the right words to use for your introduction, as well as your blog post image.
You better be careful because analysis paralysis does these things to you:
Decrease the quality of your performance – Blogging requires you to think and overthinking before you start writing drains your energy.
Lowers your creativity – Remember that writing is a creative process. Analysis paralysis makes your writing stale. By overthinking, your blog post can become uninteresting and ineffective.
Encourage you to procrastinate – If you think that a particular topic is difficult to write about, chances are you’ll be putting it off at a later time. This is what usually happens to bloggers who wait for the right mood or moment before they start.
The solution:
Limit your choices to prevent analysis paralysis. Pick one and get started. For example, if you’re looking for a blog post ideas across the web, limit the number of tabs you open.
Lastly, delegate the tasks which you think consume a lot of your time to another person.
However, not all people who run an online business are able to trust someone else to do the work for them. Find someone you can rely on.
4. Multi-tasking
It is truly impossible for you to manage your email list, compose those newsletters, and handle your social media tasks at the same time.
When you run your online business from home, you know you have to run errands and make time for personal matters.
Having a lot to do and think of takes away your focus from blogging.
Admit it – you can’t do everything at once. You’re only human. You need help! Many online business owners know the importance of outsourcing.
The solution:
Why not outsource some of your business tasks? Begin by finding qualified virtual assistants/freelancers.
5. Physical clutter
Is your work space disorganised? Do you see physical clutter on your desk? Around you?
Some people do not realise the impact of physical clutter on their work productivity. Those papers, pens, cups of coffee on your desk complete for your attention.
Clutter steals your workspace and your time. It increases your stress levels. When you’re stressed out, you become less productive.
The solution:
Removing clutter so you can feel more at ease blogging is simple.
Apart from having a laptop for blogging and other few essential things, try to keep your desk clutter free.
Final thoughts
These five-time wasters I just mentioned hinder you from writing daily blog posts that people love. If you think there are other things that consume your time, better avoid them as well.
Don’t forget to create a realistic to-do list to stay organised. Learn to prioritise!
Finger foods are some of the most favoured and enjoyed party foods that are just amazingly delicious. Whether it is a dinner party or business meeting finger foods undoubtedly tops the menu list. Catering is one of the best choices to save portioned appetisers and at the same time save a lot of time. This is the main reason that around 60% of people chose caterers to supply food for their upcoming events. Catering also makes it a lot easier for the host of the event to focus on guests and entertainment rather than wasting time on arrangements and cooking food.
It doesn’t matter what type of food you choose whether you choose Italian, Mexican, Chinese or anything in between, it is for sure that your guests will be amazed by the wide range choices of finger foods. If you are planning to host a party or a business event in Melbourne then finger foods should top your catering menu. Finger foods are very popular among Australians as it has innumerable options to choose from and different flavors to relish the taste buds.
Since ages catering has been associated with different types of menus like appetisers, finger foods, hors-d’oeuvres, cheese plates, stuffed chicken. Now, that the snacks are becoming an integral part of every event be it parties or official meetings, the definition of snacks is changing altogether. This is why finger food and small dishes play a more important role in catering more than ever.
There are a number of finger foods that you can include in catering:
Meatballs:
These fun size meatballs are surely going to relish your taste buds. You can try Teriyaki or Moroccan meatballs that have a twist of stuffings of eggs and meatball made with minced lamb instead of beef served with tomatoes.
Mozzarella balls:
These cheese balls are delightful and creamy. With added lemon along with basil for flavors will give more Italian taste to it. Paring this savoury dish with a creamy marinara sauce or garlic aioli will be outstanding. Always remember the crispier the better!
Mushrooms stuffed with cheese:
Mushrooms stuffed with cheese just adds on to more flavors and creamy cheese goodness to a whole new level. Sprinkled onion and pepper powder will ultimately make more mouthwatering flavor. For a different flavor, you can also add minced meat in the fillings.
Bacon wrapped potatoes:
It is surely a classic finger food that is full of flavors of herbs like rosemary and also onions. The blend of meat and potatoes is always the best choice to impress your guests and at the same time fill up their stomachs. If you are more into health you can ask your caterer to fill in with turkey bacon rather than pork.
Crab cakes:
Though the size is small this finger food is surely tasty and delightful. Full of freshness, juiciness, crab cakes are some of the favourites among seafood lovers. You can garnish them with the veggies and bring some colour to the plate.
Bruschetta:
It is a crispy and light finger food that is loaded with different flavors. It is one of the classic finger foods and also a tasty one. You can spice it up with, ripe Roma tomatoes or vinaigrette. It is an Italian dish that is topped with parmesan, mozzarella or goat cheese depending upon your choice.
Dumplings:
One of the best Chinese appetisers. Your guests will surely be delighted with new food to try. You can ask your caterers to fill the dumplings with chicken, pork, beef or mutton. You can even choose veggies to fill in the dumplings.
Catered offerings should reflect your taste in food and at the same time reflect dine-in or takeout menu. They need not be exact replicas but complimentary for sure. Healthy options are also the way to go especially for business or official events.
Final words:
People around the world, enjoy finger foods as snacks or as miniature servings for their events. These petite small sized bite finger foods are full of flavors that can make parties and events an indelible affair. They are the centre of attraction in every menu list. The crispy, cheesy and meaty goodness is just irresistible to make an evening a smashing success.
One of the things marketers love to tell themselves is that content is king. Of course, it’s natural for marketers to constantly tout this line or else they’d be out of a job. Still, it is undeniable that in order for content marketing to work in the first place, you need to have good contents first. The question of course lies in what exactly constitutes a good content, or rather, what type of content should you create?
Of course, with the progress the internet has had in the past decade, that question has been rendered moot since multimedia contents are now the norm. Video is a mix between motion picture and audio while blog posts are now almost always peppered with images. In fact, images and graphics are now considered an integral part of web design, so much so that the day-to-day considerations of design mostly revolve around choosing between images.
Original design and stock photos
Most of the time, when we’re talking images, we tend to naturally gravitate to the field of photography. This is especially true when it comes to commercial purposes. After all, it’s a bit hard trying to sell a product without providing customers a clear presentation of what you’re selling. While this idea is perfectly understandable, simply choosing photography based on their practicality does a disservice to what illustrations are capable of.
In this era of social media and constant image sharing, our lives are constantly bombarded with photographs while illustrations, which used to thrive in platforms like DeviantArt has again been pushed to the margins. This is of course a shame as illustrations, thanks to its relatively unfettered nature, has several distinct advantages over photography, which will be explored further.
Illustrations are unfettered by reality
Japanese animations have regularly portrayed a world where humans wage war against alien races and sometimes each other while piloting giant robots that can transform into a fighter jet and they’ve been doing this since the 80s. Illustrations are only limited to their creators’ imagination and it’s this lack of inhibition that makes them highly suited to fantastical scenes. Even if you prefer your images grounded, going with illustrations would allow you to be uncompromising with your creative vision.
For designers, the flow usually goes like this. They have a vision on their mind of what type of image they like to see. The first thing they do is to check out the numerous platforms for stock photos to see if there’s anything that is in line with what they have in mind. Of course, things rarely work out that way so they end up with an image that closely resembles their vision, but not quite. This compromise won’t be necessary if designers are given the tools to create the images themselves.
To add an original touch to standard photos
The tricky thing with illustrations is that coming up with one from the ground up takes considerably more time and effort than to simply repurpose a stock photo. To alleviate this, designers should consider working from an actual photo as base while adding an original touch of their own. This hybrid practice is referred to as photo-illustration and going with this route could actually be more beneficial as it allows your images to still be grounded while maintaining a modicum of originality.
Take for example, the now iconic ‘Hope’ poster from Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign in 2008. Designed by artist Shephard Fairey, the Hope poster was simply a stylized image made from the photo of Obama taken by photographer Mannie Garcia. The photo alone is just that, a photo, but add a layer of style and the word hope and it ended up as one of the most iconic poster 21st century have given us so far.
It’s easier for original works
In order to create an original photo, you need a good camera, an eye for photography and the perfect scene. The first one is rather simple, the second one is trickier but not impossible but it’s the third one that could end up problematic. Even if you have an idea of the kind of photo you’d like to take, setting up a scene so that it lines up exactly with your vision can be tough, especially when it comes to nature.
By contrast, when it comes to illustration all you need is a sketchbook and a pencil or a computer and a graphic editing program. If you already have a vision, it’s easier to create an original design instead of re-purposing another to fit your vision and an original illustration is much easier to achieve than an original photo.
Inspiring illustration or professional photography
For professional services, going with photography might be considered best practice since they can confer an aura of professionalism that illustration might not be able to. The Obama poster example above though shows just how a relatively simple tweak can give you a boost without losing a sense of professionalism. Next time you’re thinking about putting up an image on your website, consider going with photo-illustration to strike that balance between professionalism and originality.
United States President Donald Trump has been given a new letter from the North Korean leader inviting him to a second meeting.
This would be their second official meeting, following the controversial summit earlier this year at which Kim Jong-Un made vague promises regarding nuclear disarmament. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders has said that the White House was looking at scheduling a new meeting between the two leaders.
Ms Sanders said that the letter from Mr Kim was “very warm, very positive” and that the “primary purpose” of the correspondence was to organise another meeting to continue talks about nuclear disarmament.
She also said that the letter demonstrated North Korea’s “continued commitment” towards the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.
She cited a recent North Korean military parade in the capital of Pyongyang which did not feature any “long-range nuclear missiles” as being a “sign of good faith”.
President Trump also gave praise to Mr Kim for the less intimidating parade.
He said that it was a “big and very positive statement” and thanked Mr Kim, saying that they would together “prove everyone wrong”.
This contrasts with Mr Trump’s decision to cancel Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s recent North Korea visit, citing that the country had done little to dismantle its nuclear weapons program.
While North Korea has made taken some rudimentary action in dismantling parts of a test site, it has yet to reveal its full arsenal or lay down any concrete plan to disarm. Critics say that renewed appearance of diplomacy on the issue is a delaying tactic by North Korea, which has no sincere intention to denuclearise the peninsula.
If a second meeting does occur, the world will undoubtedly be watching with intense scrutiny to see if progress is truly possible.
After a rough few months for the Wallabies they are back in the winner’s circle for the first time since early June with a tough 23-18 victory over the Springboks. The game was far from pretty, with both sides making plenty of errors as new playmaking combinations were trialled, but the Australians’ determination in defence saw them survive a late South African charge to close out a much needed win.
Before the match the Australian squad was thrown into turmoil with the last minute withdrawals of David Pocock, Israel Folau and Adam Coleman. This meant that Pete Samu and Rob Simmons came into the forward pack, while Dane Haylett-Petty moved to fullback with Jack Maddocks coming onto the wing and Tom Banks getting his bench spot.
The game started extremely well for the Wallabies, with new five-eighth Kurtley Beale sparking a break that led to captain Michael Hooper scoring the opening try of the match before the Springboks even saw the ball. The Boks struck back, however, to be leading 18-7 after 30 minutes.
Towards the end of the first half half-time an overthrow from the South African line-out saw Matt Toomua scramble through and score untouched. This was shortly followed by a 55 metre Reece Hodge penalty goal to see the scores stand at 18-17 at the break.
The second half was riddled with errors by both sides, with Toomua’s two penalties for the Wallabies the only points scored. The excitement came in the last 5 minutes, with the Springboks down by 6 points and pressing the Wallabies line. The Australians stood firm, bolstered by super-sub Taniela Tupou’s excellent scrummaging, and an audible sigh of relief went up around Suncorp Stadium when Bernard Foley took an intercept in the 4th minute after full time to send the ball into touch.
It wasn’t a pretty game, which is unsurprising considering the mass changes made by both coaches and the further disruption caused by the mass late-withdrawals by some of the Wallabies star players (Pocock and Folau were injured, while Coleman’s wife went into labour on Saturday afternoon).
A day after the death of 26 year old rapper Mac Miller, Ariana Grande received a torrent of abuse on a photo she shared of him on her Instagram page, accusing her of being responsible for the alleged drug overdose that killed him.
The photo she posted was a simple, captionless image of Miller on the grass. Comments ranged from “it’s crazy because you really did kill him” to “this is your fault”.
After apparently disabling comments on the Instagram photo, Grande posted a tweet responding to the personal attacks. She claimed that it was not her responsibility to “babysit” him, though she continued to support him after the breakup.
The pair were in a two-year relationship but broke up in May 2018. Within weeks, Grande became engaged to comedian Pete Davidson. Grande continued to be supportive of Miller and his sobriety, with the two apparently remaining friends.
The successful American rapper, whose real name is Malcolm McCormick, died last Friday in his home after a history of drug addiction. His latest album, “Swimming”, has since reached #1 on Apple Music Charts, with his tour having been planned for October. Known for his honesty and kindness, he has previously admitted to struggling from drug addiction and depression.
Rather than blaming the loved ones of Miller, it is crucial to approach the situation with compassion and an open-mind. Blaming loved ones for a person’s addiction is dangerous; staying in a toxic relationship out of fear of hurting the addict will only hurt both parties.
What is important is to ensure that those struggling with addiction receive the help they need to overcome it. If you’re concerned about a loved one or friend, be sure to seek professional guidance.
We all want to leave our hectic lives in search of happiness. Your search ends here, because we’ve got 10 countries, which are the happiest in the world. According to the World Happiness Report which is conducted every year four of the Scandinavian countries have taken the top five sports. And like expected, Finland took the first place as the happiest country in the world.
The World Happiness Report 2018 studies 156 countries, out of which 117 are also judged based on the happiness index of immigrants. Finland topped both the lists. The recently released list was the product of a two years long study called Gallup World Poll that was conducted between 2015 and 2017. In the last list, Norway was the happiest country in the world.
Each of the 156 countries were judged on six variables – healthy life expectancy, trust, freedom, income, generosity, and social support.
The top ten countries you would want to be in
Happiness cannot be quantified but the World Happiness Report rank tells you countries where residents have a quality life. Here is a look at the top ten happiest countries in 2018.
Finland is the first happiest country on the planet. The Nordic country also boasts number one rank in other categories such as- the safest place, freest, and most stable according to some reports. With a population of just above 5.5 million, Finnish people enjoy a lot of forest area. It has the most forest area compared to any other European Union countries.
Finland has come a long way to secure this spot. Let’s think about its secret of happiness might be the “boring” lives of the Finns. A popular saying in the country goes “happiness is having your own red summer cottage and a potato field.”
Over 80% of Finns trust their police, education, and health system. They believe that everyone needs some sort of vacation. Threat level is quite low in the European country as everyone lives as a one big happy family, helping and being there for each other.
In the previous list, Finland ranked fifth but jumped all other countries to claim the title. One of the biggest promoters of the change is public acceptance and practice of sustainable development.
Finland is one of those countries that you wouldn’t mind staying in, anytime. With focus on everything from law and order to social welfare, it is one of those States that ensures it cares for its citizens.
Last year, Norway was at the top of the ranking, but it got overthrown by Finland in 2018.
However, there are a number of reasons why Norwegians are still top in the rankings. The country is spectacularly clean and the fjords are breathtaking, making it the most beautiful country in Europe.
Oh! And how can we forget the Northern Lights, which is out of the world amazing. Then there are polar bears around that makes the place even more interesting. Other than that, the Norwegians are super sweet people, who’ll go out of their way to help someone who’s in trouble.
Norway ranks high in gender equality, which makes it the safest country for women to travel to. Apart from that, Norway has a very high social capital, which wins it the second place. The Nordic country also has the highest redheads in the world.
3. Denmark
Photo: JJFarquitectos, Bigstock
Did you know that the people of Denmark play will pillow to mark World Pillow Fight Day? The Danes brag of a stable and free corrupt government. Denmark was titled the happiest country in the world in 2016 as it ranked the highest in life satisfaction, which is the very basic reason we are working hard and making goals.
Denmark has a per capita income of $61,000 per year and minimum wages start from $20/hour because the citizens have a strong workers’ rights union. According to the Danish government website, social relationships are more important than money. Those who participated in the poll mentioned that they experience a great deal of freedom in all choices they make regarding life and work.
4. Iceland
Reykjavik, Iceland. Photo: Pixabay
Iceland is the number one destination for most people. The rate of crime is low, and that is why they don’t have an army or navy force. It is a peaceful country, who loves nature and taking baths in the hot water springs. Icelandic people pay some of the lowest taxes in the world, which means they’ve got a rich government.
Healthcare is absolutely free in the country. It is otherworldly enchanting and people around the world have finally realised it as international tourism has quadrupled in the last decade. Icelanders strongly recognize relationships and are always out there to support those who are in need.
Iceland also has the most number of published authors as one out of every 10 people have written a book.
5. Switzerland
Bern, Switzerland. Photo: Xmax88, Pixabay
Switzerland has a high immortality rate of 82.8%, which means people live healthy till around their mid 80s. The economy is growing, tax rates are pretty low, you are surrounded by beautiful lofty snow-covered mountains all day and night anywhere you go, the education system is phenomenal, and infrastructure is mindblowing. What else do you want?
It is all these benefits that are the secrets towards the healthy life Swiss people live. They love spending quality time with other and prefer physical contact rather than over the email. Switzerland ranks the highest in water hygiene and sanitation and everything from fruits and vegetables to poultry and meat is organic.
The Swiss government offers a compulsory maternity leave of 14 weeks and paternity leave of two weeks. Health care is obviously free and the country has the lowest appointment waiting time. And there are loads of variety of chocolates!
6. The Netherlands
Amsterdam, Netherlands. Photo: Pixabay
The Netherlands maintained its sixth position although its citizens were less happy than in the previous year. Two reasons behind retaining the rank was low corruption rates and positive reviews about the public education system, especially science studies.
You can casually pedal across the towns and come across beautiful tulip fields and wood windmills. The locals might even invite you for tea and some snacks and it is perfectly safe to accept their invitation. Amsterdam, the country’s capital hosts the most number of music festivals in the world, so there’s always something to celebrate and go to, which keeps the people high-spirited.
The Netherlands ranked 11 in the happiest country for immigrants list, a five-place drop from the previous year. Life satisfaction and stress-free urban life are two factors in which the country scored the highest points.
Most people assume that Canada is lame and boring, but the country outperforms other nations among its partner G7. Canada ranks at the top because of its tolerance to multiculturalism, and the fact that they promote inter-ethnic understanding. It also ranked seventh in the happiest country for immigrants list, a definite increase from the previous year.
Free healthcare, free school education, tax-saving policies for the lower middle class, and support and concern about refugees make Canada an ideal country to immigrate. There’s also a lot of explore in terms of geography since it is the second largest by size. Canadians are polite people, they will hold doors for you and apologize even if it is your fault.
Openness to immigration is another variable where Canada earns brownie points. Canada also has a very high life expectancy of 82 years, which is because of the clean air, good healthcare system, and less intake of fast food.
8. New Zealand
Wellington, New Zealand. Photo: Pixabay
If you are looking to head off to New Zealand, you would love everything from the lush outdoors to the people. New Zealand has a charm of its own, and one that is unmistakable.
In 2017, New Zealand was ranked third as the most beautiful place on earth. New Zealanders are known to be a bit more chirper, but they have a laid-back lifestyle. There are more animals in the country than there are humans. New Zealand has a tiny population of four million and 30 percent of its land is covered in forest.
According to Transparency International, New Zealand is the least corrupt country in the world along with Denmark. It tops the Legatum Institute’s Prosperity list. Also, the surroundings are so clean and tidy that you can walk around barefoot and its fine. You can drink the tap water without falling ill.
New Zealand doesn’t have a single nuclear plant because the people strongly believe in sustainable development and protect the environment at all costs.
9. Sweden
Stockholm, Sweden, Photo: Pixabay
It was a good year for Sweden as it climbed a spot up from last year. Sweden boasts of one of the loveliest cities on earth, its capital – Stockholm. The Scandinavian country offers the best work – life balance. It is known for its wilderness, Sandi cool, and hip cities.
Companies in Sweden respect family time and offer the longest paid vacation period compared to any other country in the world. They receive 25 days of paid leave every year. That is an important reason why Swedish people are so productive at work. Other than that, they only have a four day week, which means Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are off.
New parents can take 480 days of paid leave during which they receive 80 percent of their salary. They also get free childbirth coaching for 60 days to prepare for their new baby. Children love outdoors and you’ll never see them watching cartoons on the tab.
10. Australia
Sydney Opera House, Australia. Photo: Kitkatty007, Pixabay
Australians boast of a high life expectancy and employment rate. Most people can afford the lifestyle in Australia since they have a disposable income because they have a minimum per hour wage of $22. The government supports its youth with tax redemptions and further education.
Australia ranks high in housing because 90 percent residents are happy with their current living arrangement. Despite Sydney and Melbourne being third and fourth most expensive cities across the globe, Australian have a high disposable income to live happily there.
Around 73 percent Australians between 15 to 64 years are employed, which is nine percent higher than world average. Also, the weather is lovely all year round and then there are ever so gorgeous golden sandy beaches.
Which one’s the best?
All these countries score maximum points in work – life balance and social security. Because of the many benefits they offer, many people from developing countries like India and China migrate there for a better standard of living. Two more common traits among these countries is high life expectancy and free healthcare, which increases their standard of living and disposable income.
We talked about the 10 happiest countries in the world, but it only ends right if you also know the saddest countries. Chad ranks first in the saddest countries list, followed by Central African Republic in the second position, and Democratic Republic of Congo taking the third place.
They are laced by poverty, high crime rates, lack of education resources, and corrupt government. Crime rates are comparatively higher in these countries. Infrastructure is incomplete, even are many years of independence and telecommunication is very expensive.
