Extreme temperatures are driving travelers to seek cooler destinations. And there’s a term for the trend: “coolcations.” Heat waves — which are increasing in frequency, duration and intensity, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — are affecting where people are choosing to vacation, especially during the hot summer months. “Often, when we think of vacation, … Read more
Workers inspect the Repository in ONKALO, a deep geological disposal underground facility, designed to safely store nuclear waste, on May 2, 2023, on the island of Eurajoki, western Finland. Jonathan Nackstrand | Afp | Getty Images Finland is on the cusp of burying spent nuclear fuel in the world’s first geological tomb, where it will … Read more
Work hours are more flexible Many workplaces are flexible and allow employees to choose a schedule that fits their lifestyle. In Finland, typical office hours go from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. One small culture shock I experienced early on is that when workdays often start so early, some people start going to lunch around 11 … Read more
Finland and Denmark have seemingly cracked the code to living a happy life. The two countries hold the top spots on the World Happiness Report’s annual ranking of the happiest countries in the world, which was most recently published in March. Finland has a lengthy track record of happiness, holding the top spot for seven … Read more
Pilots of the “Sharp Kartuza” division of FPV kamikaze drones prepare drones for a combat flight on May 16, 2024 in the Kharkiv region, 8 km from the border with Russia. Libkos | Getty Images News | Getty Images Six NATO countries neighboring Russia are joining forces to build a “drone wall” to protect their … Read more
People sit on an unusually high bench at the sunset in Copenhagen, on May 9, 2023. The height of a dozen public benches across Denmark was increased by 85 cm to draw attention to climate change. According to the World Climate Research Programme, the high-end global mean sea-level rise is now projected to be up … Read more
Tokyo, Japan. Matteo Colombo | DigitalVision | Getty Images When it comes to travel abroad, popular destinations like London, Paris and Rome always seem to top the wish list for Americans. But many travelers are looking beyond those mainstay cities for trips in 2024. Interest in major Asian hubs, off-the-beaten-path locales in Europe and other … Read more
Planning a vacation? Here are the countries that pose the maximum risk for travelers in 2024 — and also the ones that are the safest — according to International SOS. The risk assessment firm, in its 2024 Risk Map, has ranked these countries based on several metrics, including security, medical dangers as well as the … Read more
