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In Which Countries Can You Buy Residence Permits?

 

There are many ways through which one can obtain citizenship of a country. Simplest ways are to be born in that country or being the descendent of one of its citizens. Other ways to get a permit is through marriage, adoption or naturalization - the latter of which is based on an application-related executive decision. Before the outburst of the Ukraine war, additional "citizenship by investment" (CBI) programs were also offered in the three EU member states of Cyprus, Malta and Bulgaria. These are more commonly referred to as "golden passports.” With investment of a certain amount of money, it becomes possible to obtain citizenship without the bureaucratic hurdles.

 

In Which Countries Can You Buy Residence Permits? #Infographic

What are the ages of top European’s tech companies?

The most widely used tech companies are based in the USA such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, Google, Tesla and a lot more. But, have you ever wondered if you ever use a European tech company? The infographic below ranks some tech giants based in European countries along with the number of years these have been in existence.

The oldest tech companies in the list include a Swedish telecom company, Ericsson and Finnish Nokia. Ericsson is also amongst the companies that rolled out first market telephones and its establishment dates back 145 years ago to 1876. Whereas, Nokia was initially a toilet paper manufacturing company that turned into an electronics firm somewhere in the 1960s. After an immense struggle of 30 years, the company became the leading phone manufacturing brand.

What are the ages of top European’s tech companies? #infographic

EU Covid-19 vaccine exports

Last month, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen threatened to stop the export of the Covid-19 vaccine to the United Kingdom unless the country agrees to trade their doses with the EU. According to the reports, countries like Denmark, France, Italy and Germany backed up the EU threat. Despite the serious threats and warnings of the halt, UK persisted in not sharing the Covid-19 vaccines.

AstraZeneca was already facing production issues and therefore only agreed to deliver 100 million doses instead of the previous agreement for the supply of 300 million vaccine doses by the first half of 2021. The main reason for the shortfall of doses was the production inconvenience and export control issues.

EU Covid-19 vaccine exports #infographic

 


Facebook is moving its UK users’ agreements out from under the privacy protections of EU to US. Users of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp in the UK will be required to sign new terms of service agreement in the coming months with Facebook’s headquarters in California, instead of its European branch in the Republic of Ireland. This means that the users will no longer be covered by data policies created under the strict regime of the EU.

 

The reason Facebook is doing so is because it wants to avoid a situation where UK citizens are no longer citizens of the EU, but their agreements are based in an EU country, where Facebook is subject to the EU’s data protection laws.

Facebook Users in UK to Lose their EU Privacy Protections Soon

 

The European drug carnage

Drugs dubbed as a man’s worst enemy. They can destroy lives and families of the person who uses them. Even a small amount can make a person go crazy for more. Cocaine is the worse kind of drug out there because it can really make someone insane. They are life takers.


A newly published European Drug Report showed the deaths caused by drugs in Europe. The continent has always had drug problems and most of the countries have the worst situation. From young ones aged 15 to older folks aged 65, people of all ages had done drugs at least once in their lives.

The European drug carnage #infographic

COVID-19 Cases in EU and the US

Ever since the COVID-19 turned into a global pandemic, the number of cases in the United States has been the highest. It has been the same condition for a lot of European countries as well, in which the names of Germany and especially Italy made it to the top of the list. As the cases began to slow down, European countries gradually started opening their public spaces, keeping all the necessary precautions in mind.

And although the European Union lifted travel restrictions on the first of July, it has also advised that restrictions should remain imposed for travellers coming in from countries where the pandemic situation is still out of hand and the number of cases is high. However, lifting travel restrictions has not turned in out in favour of European countries.

COVID-19 Cases in EU and the US #Infographic

The European CBD Market in 2020

In the world of drugs, the discussion of legality is crucial and can get confusing too. Many drugs have the power to heal when taken in certain forms. But they can bring around countless other side effects as well. Thereupon, the form and quantity of drug matters when it comes to how and how much it will affect a person.

Likewise, cannabidiol, abbreviated as CBD, is one of the many compounds obtained from cannabis plants. In the past few years, the popularity and acceptance of CBD have gained momentum. This is due to the fact of it being proven for therapeutic purposes. But on the other hand, there are also some conspiracies attached to it, since it is a cannabis product after all.

The European CBD Market in 2020 #Infographic


According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, by 2050, about 78 million metric tons of solar panels would have stopped functioning and about 6 million metric tons of new solar e-waste will be generated annually. The data suggests that immediate action be taken to develop a global plan for recycling. 


What is important to notice is that the solar panels have lead in them, which means that after recycling the panels, the lead shouldn't be left to sit in landfills. To tackle this problem, producers in the European Union make sure that their solar panels are recycled properly. A recycling plan is currently being developed in Japan, India, and Australia, while the U.S doesn't have a plan yet. 


The U.S. has a cost problem as recycling in the country is more expensive than dumping. To be exact, it costs less than $1 to dump a panel in a landfill and $12-$25 to recycle it. To recover the aluminum, copper, and glass components of the panel, it takes $3. However, the more valuable materials like silver and silicon will require a bespoke solution to be recovered. 

Recycling of Solar Panels; the Recycling Industry Needs a Better Plan

Spain's Top Ten Best Places to Visit

One of the most sophisticated European countries, Spain offers you a unique blend of culture- the art, the food, unique entertainment such as flamenco dances and Spanish guitar music. It's all just too good to be true. Not to forget that Spain also has a very rich history and therefore, you can also find lots of mosques and castles there due to the Christian-Muslim interaction in the past.

One of the famous architectural wonders you can visit is the Alhambra, situated in Granada, Andalusia. It is an old fortress which started off initially small in 889 when it was built, but slowly it was transformed into a large, regal palace for the king. The Alhambra is a fusion of two art styles, namely Gothic and Islamic and it is popular all over the world for it. It's even included in art history books as one of the most remarkable architectural monuments, so visiting it should surely not be missed.

Spain's Top Ten Best Places to Visit #Infographic

Train Travel in Europe

Every year, Europe attracts millions of tourists and it's no wonder why. The culture and landscapes of every country are different and that is what makes it the most interesting. If you have only ever travelled between European countries by plane, well, we can't really undo the past! However, your future travelling plans to various European countries can be made more exciting if you have never experienced train transit before.

Not that travelling by plane is a bad way to go, but train travelling has its own set of pros which we just can't ignore. Let's start off with the first one- beautiful sights! Who would want to miss the lush European landscapes and country scenes while listening to music or even in silence? Secondly, European train travel is known to have a good record of being on track. Literally and non-literally, they have well-maintained, comfortable trains that also leave and arrive on time.

Train Travel in Europe #Infographic

The ETIAS Visa: 15 Best Countries for Canadians

Since many years, the Schengen Visa has been admired by many due to the access it gives to 26 beautiful 'Schengen' European countries. If you have already heard of the Schengen Visa, the ETIAS Visa will only seem familiar to you. Short for European Travel Information and Authorization System, the ETIAS Visa includes 26 Schengen member countries in the European Union. 

Citizens residing in 60 European countries will have to apply for the ETIAS visa, and Canada is included in these countries as well. This visa will be valid for three whole years, during which the visa holders can visit any of the 26 European countries for a total of 90 days, during a 180 days period. The process for ETIAS will commence in 2021, as right now, travel and tourism industries are at a halt due to the pandemic.

The ETIAS Visa: 15 Best Countries for Canadians #Infographic

College Degrees of the Richest Person of Every Country #Infographic

 While there’s no straightforward and sure path to success, it doesn’t hurt to see what the rich and successful people of the world did to get where they are now. 

In America, getting a college degree is a great indicator of how much you might be able to earn, and research has proven that college graduates have higher income on average, compared to non-grads.

Below is a comprehensive list of the (undergraduate) degrees held by the richest person of (almost) every country in the world. There is a diverse range of degrees held by these individuals, but a lot of them studied in similar fields and made their fortune from similar sources.

College Degrees of the Richest Person of Every Country #Infographic

National Parks in the UK #Infographic
The United Kingdom is home to some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world. From rolling hills to sparkling lakes, the countryside is like heaven on Earth.

Fifteen national parks are spread throughout the UK for the purpose of conservation and protection of nature. They not only showcase the natural beauty but also the cultural heritage of the UK.

National Parks in the UK #Infographic

Irish authority accused for not being proactive regarding Facebook privacy concerns
The Irish Data Protection Commission is facing severe allegations for not imposing fines in a timely manner against Facebook and its subsidiaries including WhatsApp and Instagram over serious privacy violations.

The backlash came from NOYB, a Europe-based non-profit cybersecurity enforcement platform. The NOYB posted their criticism online and openly condemned the slow pace of the Irish authorities.
Interestingly, the post from NOYB was received on the second anniversary of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by the EU. This allowed the European Commission to impose heavy fines on the three companies owned by Mark Zuckerberg but as of yet – no such regulation has been enforced.

According to the NOYB, secret meetings between the Irish authorities and Facebook were well underway as the two conjured up ways to bypass GDPR. It also indicates the slow pace of the Irish Data Protection Commission in enforcing the rules stated by the GDPR.

The NOYB notes that there have been over 10,000 complaints about privacy protocols of Facebook and its subsidiaries. However, the Ireland authorities have not yet take any action against the concerns. In response, the NOYB requests the EC and other authorities to take immediate action against Ireland.

Irish authority accused for not being proactive regarding Facebook privacy concerns

Unique Travel Scams to Avoid in Europe

Europe is a surprisingly creative place when it comes to travel scams. Many of the most successful gambits require a naive and trusting tourist. But don’t think it can’t happen to more sophisticated travelers, too. There are many subtle ways to be scammed — a cabbie pads your fare, a shop clerk suddenly inflates prices, a public Internet terminal records your password, or a waiter offers a special with a “special” increased price.

 Be smart: Know what you are paying for before handing over money, and always count your change. Scam artists come in all shapes and sizes. But if you’re cautious and not overly trusting, you should have no problem. Here are some clever ways European crooks bolster their cash flow.

Unique Travel Scams to Avoid in Europe #infographic

The Facts NHS and the European Union

All of the trends picked out in the above claims are broadly correct (even if some of the numbers are not quite right), but none of them tell us very much in isolation. It’s correct that the number of NHS staff working in hospitals and community health services in England who report they are from the rest of the EU has risen in the two years since June 2016.

The Facts NHS and the European Union #infographic

Number of Casinos per capita in Europe

Gambling is big business internationally. Almost every country in the world has casinos. With the exception of China, most of the countries without casinos are either predominantly Muslim or are remote island nations without the ability to attract many tourists. The United States has more casinos within its borders and on Indian reservations than the next ten countries combined.

Of the five most populated countries - China, India, United States, Indonesia, and Brazil - only the U.S. and India have licensed casinos, and there are only a few in India. Of course, China is a major feeder market for other Asian gambling jurisdictions including the special administrative region of Macau, the Philippines, and South Korea.

Number of Casinos per capita in Europe #infographic

The Top 10 European Countries to Start a Business

Starting a successful business is really hard. Not only do you need to work hard to see your vision through, to take on multiple roles and to take risks, but you also need a little luck along the way. You need to have the right sort of support around you, which can help you overcome tough times and thrive during the good ones.

A new study by SmallBusinessPrices.co.uk can help you find a country that supports your business ambitions. The study weighs education levels, employment rates and several other factors to break down the top 10 European countries where you can start a business.

The Top 10 European Countries to Start a Business #infographic

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