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The latest news to inspire you to see the world

Finland named the happiest country in the world for the seventh time

It's been more than 10 years since the first-ever World Happiness Report was released in 2012 and since then, the world has experienced a pandemic, natural disasters, and wars—but the commitment to find out what makes people happy remains. Released on March 20, also World Happiness Day, the report is based on six key factors that impact happiness: social support, income, health, freedom, generosity, and the absence of corruption.

Number one on this year’s list is Finland which nabbed the top slot for the seventh year running, Denmark and Sweden follow, Australia ranked tenth, and the UK rounds out the top 20.

Notre Dame Cathedral set to reopen at the end of 2024

Following a devastating fire in 2019 and a painstaking five year restoration project, one of France's most popular tourist attractions, Notre Dame Cathedral, is slated to reopen in December. In February, the cathedral’s new spire was unveiled, (complete with the golden rooster and a cross), and restorers say if all goes to plan, the reopening of the 860-year-old monument will be a much-welcomed Christmas present.

Seine booksellers allowed to remain during the Paris Olympics

For 160 years, the iconic book stalls lining the banks of the Seine add charm to the French capital but as the city prepares to host the summer Olympics, the government questioned their presence. The initial decision was to demand they shut shop for the duration of the Games, but in a turnaround in late March, French president Emmanuel Macron intervened allowing them to trade as usual, describing the booksellers (bouquinistes) a "living heritage of the capital."

One of Italy’s most popular destinations gets an airport this summer

Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport is set to reopen in July. Built in 1926, it served as a military airport, flying school, and private airport over the years, which meant travellers to the Amalfi and Positano had to fly into Naples and use a train and bus to reach the infamous Italian coastline.

Before it reopens this summer, the airport will get a facelift while extensive works to a new passenger terminal will be completed by 2027.