Finland ranked as the world's happiest nation

VATICAN CITY • Finland is the world's happiest country, and Americans are getting less happy even as their country becomes wealthier, according to an annual survey released yesterday.

Burundi was at the bottom of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network's 2018 World Happiness Report.

The report ranked 156 countries according to things like gross domestic product per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, social freedom, generosity and absence of corruption.

Finns said access to nature, safety, childcare, good schools and free healthcare were among the best things about their country.

REUTERS

Students stage walkout to demand gun control

NEW YORK • Students across the United States walked out of their classrooms yesterday, waving signs and shouting out their demands for tighter gun safety laws as they joined a movement spearheaded by survivors of the deadly shooting spree at a Florida high school last month.

The nationwide march, organised by Women's March Youth Empower, began at 10am. Many marches lasted 17 minutes, to represent each of the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb 14.

REUTERS

Pilotless flying taxis being tested in NZ

WELLINGTON • Pilotless flying taxis are being tested in New Zealand as part of a project backed by Google co-founder Larry Page.

Supporters of the project said it will revolutionise personal transport.

New Zealand regulators on Tuesday approved plans for Zephyr Airworks - a subsidiary of Mr Page's firm Kitty Hawk - to develop and test the futuristic air taxis.

Known as Cora, the electric aircraft is capable of vertical take-off and landing like a helicopter.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE