World’s Top 10 Best Cities to Live in

Our planet is increasingly becoming crowded and polluted. Quality of life has been subdued over the years, and we are left with few choices. But thankfully, there are still a few cities in the world where life hasn’t quite lost its sheen.

Each year, Mercer releases the result of its survey on quality of life across the globe. European cities top the list of best places to live in 2011, according to the survey. The survey also finds safest cities to live in, though all good cities to live in are not necessarily safest.

Following is the list of top 10 best cities to live in the world.

1. Vienna (Austria)

2. Zurich (Switzerland)

3. Auckland (New Zealand)

4. Munich (Germany)

5. Vancouver (Canada)

5. Düsseldorf (Germany)

7. Frankfurt (Germany)

8. Geneva (Switzerland)

9. Bern (Switzerland)

9. Copenhagen (Denmark)

There was a tie between Vancouver, Düsseldorf and Bern, Copenhagen for 5th and 10th positions respectively.

Most Debt Ridden Countries in the World

Recent financial tsunami has taken a toll on almost all the major economies in the world. The aftershocks can be felt even today. People lost their jobs, businesses incurred losses, and governments struggled and in many countries, are still struggling to save themselves from people uprising against inflation, unemployment and financial instability. Governments are doing everything to keep the things under control, from giving stimulus packages to businesses and banks to increasing the public expenditure.

But increased spending is always bound to make a hole in the treasury of a government. In this case, governments need to borrow from foreign lenders. The money can be borrowed from other governments, foreign banks and other foreign financial institutions. The amount of borrowed money (capital), plus the interest on it is known as external debt. In simple words, external debt is debt owed to nonresidents repayable in foreign currency, goods, or services. Total external debt is the sum of public, publicly guaranteed, and private non-guaranteed long-term debt, use of IMF credit, and short-term debt.

Countries with huge spending on public welfare schemes and providing large stimulus packages to businesses are more likely to be trapped in debt situation. So, how can we calculate, which countries are the most debt ridden and which are the least ones. One of the best ways to do this is to compare debt with the GDP of a country. It shows how much a country is affected with the debt and how likely it is to repay the loan.

According this formula, following is the list of top 20 most debt ridden countries in the world. The list has been derived from the latest report by World Bank on the debt situation in the world. The data are in US dollars.

1. United States of America

Debt: $14.590 trillion

Debt per capita: $46,929

Debt in percentage: 94% of the GDP

2. United Kingdom

Debt: $8.981 trillion

Debt per capita: $144,338

Debt in percentage: 400% of the GDP

3. Germany

Debt: $4.713 trillion

Debt per capita: $57,755

Debt in percentage: 142% of the GDP

4. France

Debt: $4.698 trillion

Debt per capita: $74,619

Debt in percentage: 182% of the GDP

5. The Netherlands

Debt: $3.733

Debt per capita: 225,814

Debt in percentage: 471% of the GDP

6. Japan

Debt: $2.441 trillion

Debt per capita: $19,148

Debt in percentage: 45% of the GDP

7. Ireland

Debt: $2.253 trillion

Debt per capita: $503,914

Debt in percentage: 103% of the GDP

8. Norway

Debt: $2.232 trillion

Debt per capita: $454,768

Debt in percentage: 538% of the GDP

9. Italy

Debt: $2.223 trillion

Debt per capita: $36,841

Debt in percentage: 108% of the GDP

10. Spain

Debt: $2.166 trillion

Debt per capita: $47,069

Debt in percentage: 154% of the GDP

11. Luxembourg

Debt: $1.892 trillion

Debt per capita: $3,759,174

Debt in percentage: 3,443% of the GDP

12. Belgium

Debt: 1.241 trillion

Debt per capita: $113,603

Debt in percentage: 266% of the GDP

13. Switzerland

Debt: $1.200 trillion

Debt per capita: $154,063

Debt in percentage: 229% of the GDP

14. Australia

Debt: $1.169 trillion

Debt per capita: $52,596

Debt in percentage: 95% of the GDP

15. Canada

Debt: $1.009 trillion

Debt per capita: $29,625

Debt in percentage: 64% of the GDP

16. Sweden

Debt: $853.30 billion

Debt per capita: $91,487

Debt in percentage: 187% of the GDP

17. Austria

Debt: $755 billion

Debt per capita: $90,128

Debt in percentage: 200% of the GDP

18. Denmark

Debt: $559.50 billion

Debt per capita: $101,084

Debt in percentage: 180% of the GDP

19. Greece

Debt: $532.90

Debt per capita: $47,636

Debt in percentage: 174% of the GDP

20. Portugal

Debt: $497.80

Debt per capita: $46,795

Debt in percentage: 217% of the GDP

Data Source: http://data.worldbank.org

Best Pet Insurance Companies

So you have a pet that you cherish to be with and fear to lose. You are wondering if you can have your pet insured. The answer is, yes. There are many companies that provide insurance for pets. But finding the best pet insurance companies is not that easy. However, we have made this task easier. We have reviewed some of the best pet insurers to bring you the list of top 10 pet insurance companies.

Following is the list of top 10 best pet insurance companies:

1 | Petplan

Petplan is one of the world’s largest pet insurance providers. The company claims that today over 1 million pet owners across the globe already trust it to protect their pets. Petplan policies cover veterinary fees relating to any illness or injury including hospitalization, referrals and prescriptions. Depending on the type of policy that you select they can also pay for advertising and reward if your pet goes missing, boarding fees if you're hospitalized for more than four days and compensation if you lose your pet through straying, illness or injury.

Website: http://www.gopetplan.com

2 | ASPCA

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was founded in 1866 as America's first animal welfare organization. Since the ASPCA's inception, they've been fighting to put an end to animal cruelty, and promoting a better life for people and animals alike. As part of their mission, they're also dedicated to helping pet parents protect their pets with affordable pet insurance.

To provide the best pet insurance possible, the ASPCA has partnered with the Hartville Group, Inc. Hartville is a caring company with over 10 years experience in the pet insurance industry. Like the ASPCA, Hartville is committed to pet health and safety.

Website: http://www.aspcapetinsurance.com

3 | Trupanion

Trupanion provides affordable pet insurance coverage for cats and dogs that enroll between the ages of eight weeks and 14 years of age, and will insure them for their entire life.

Website: http://www.trupanionpetinsurance.com

4 | Pet Assure

Pet Assure is the low-cost, better alternative to veterinary pet insurance. They give you the same low price regardless of your pet's age and accept any pet - you can even enroll pets with pre-existing conditions. Pet Assure has no exclusions, no deductibles and no claim forms to fill out and mail - the veterinary practice staff will give you your savings right at the time of service, even on routine pet care.

Website: http://www.petassure.com

5 | Embrace

Embrace Pet Insurance is a specialist insurance agency headquartered in Beachwood, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. Embrace plans cover all the basics that you expect: accidents, illnesses, diagnostic tests, surgery, and more.

Website: http://www.embracepetinsurance.com

6 | PurinaCare

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, PurinaCare Insurance Services, Inc. has a unique advantage by being offered under a well-known pet care brand. PurinaCare offers simple pet insurance plans with a range of deductibles, so that you can choose the policy that fits your lifestyle and financial requirements.

Pet insurance plans cover eligible injuries and illnesses, including many injuries and illnesses caused by hereditary conditions, and the PurinaCare plus Preventive Care benefits also cover most annual exams and vaccinations.

Website: http://www.purinacare.com

7 | AKC Pet Healthcare

Since 2003, AKC Pet Healthcare has been the exclusive provider of pet health insurance protection to registrants of the American Kennel Club through the AKC Pet Healthcare plans. Their policies are available in all 50 states. The company offers variety of plans to fulfill the needs of your pets insurance.

Website: http://www.akcpethealthcare.com

8 | Vetinsurance

Vetinsurance was founded in 1999 to enhance the relationship between pet owners and their veterinarians by providing simple, fair and affordable pet health insurance. Vetinsurance was designed by a veterinarian and their mission is to ensure that pets receive the best possible care.If your insured pet becomes sick or is injured; Vetinsurance will pay for diagnostic tests, medications and surgeries recommended by your veterinarian. Vetinsurance pays for 90% of covered healthcare expenses for your puppy, with no limits per claim, per incident, or per year and no lifetime payout limit. They also cover preexisting conditions. Also they offer 30-days money back guarantee if you are not completely satisfied.

Website: http://www.vetinsurance.com

9 | Banfield Pet Insurance

Banfield provide comprehensive veterinary care for Dogs, Cats, and Small Pets that includes:

• Vaccinations & Preventive Care

• Illness & Injury Care

• Surgery and Internal Medicine

• Dentistry, Radiology and Micro-chipping

Website: http://www.banfield.net

10 | VPI Pet Insurance

Founded in 1980, VPI today employs 11 veterinarians and more than 60 experienced veterinary technicians, each with vast knowledge of veterinary medicine and a deep adoration for animals. In 2008, the company further strengthened their industry presence and reputation by joining the Nationwide family of companies, one of the largest insurance and financial services corporations in the world. VPI provides insurance for pets - from puppies, senior dogs to cats and cover accidents, illnesses and more.

Website: http://www.petinsurance.com

World’s Best Holiday Destinations

Holidays are approaching fast and many of you would be looking for the best destinations to travel; countries that have the best of travel facilities and services to offer. In a reader’s poll conducted by prestigious Conde Nast Traveller Website, people were asked to choose the best that the travel world has to offer - everything from hotels and spas to airlines and airports. They were then asked to rate their choices according to various criteria, such as service and value for money. From their responses, the website calculated average mark on each criterion, and used data to provide the list of world’s top 20 countries on overall satisfaction index.

Following is the list of world’s top 20 best holiday destinations with their overall scores ( out of 100 ) for year 2010.

1. Turkey 94.81

2. Egypt 94.22

3. Australia 93.25

4. Italy 92.36

5. New Zealand 91.37

6. Spain 90.39

7. India 89.65

8. USA 88.94

9. South Africa 88.58

10. France 87.00

11. Mexico 86.29

12. Canada 84.90

13. Brazil 84.20

14. Chile 83.53

15. Sri Lanka 82.51

16. China 81.33

17. Greece 80.70

18. Portugal 79.87

19. Thailand 78.92

20. Morocco 77.49

Richest People in the World

Forbes annual list of billionaires springs few surprises. Mexican businessman Carlos Slim Helu now tops the list of world’s richest people in 2010. He beat out Bill Gates and Warren Buffet to become the wealthiest person in the world.

Slim's fortune has welled up to an estimated $53.5 billion, $18.5 billion more than 12 months ago. The shares of America Movil, the company in which he has stakes of $23 billion were up 35% in a year.

So, who are the others who made to the list? Read below to unfold the top 10 richest people in the world.

1. Carlos Slim Helu

Net Worth: $53.5 billion

Source: Telecom

Country: Mexico

2. Bill Gates

Net Worth: $53 billion

Source: Microsoft

Country: U.S.

3. Warren Buffett

Net Worth: $47 billion

Source: Investment

Country: U.S.

4. Mukesh Ambani

Net Worth: $29 billion

Source: Oil & Gas, Petrochemicals

Country: India

5. Lakshmi Mittal

Net Worth: $28.7 billion

Source: Steel

Country: India

Residence: London

6. Lawrence Ellison

Net Worth: $28 billion

Source: Oracle

Country: U.S.

7. Bernard Arnault

Net Worth: $27.5 billion

Source: Luxury Goods

Country: France

8. Eike Batista

Net Worth: $27 billion

Source: Mining, Oil

Country: Brazil

9. Amancio Ortego

Net Worth: $25 billion

Source: Fashion retail

Country: Spain

10. Karl Albrecht

Net Worth: $23.5 billion

Source: Supermarkets

Country: Germany

Most Powerful Countries

Power doesn’t only mean having a large army or being super rich, it is much more than this. It means political as well as economical clout combined with impressive show on the front of GDP, defense, spending, population and technology. So which countries are the most powerful and whose clout is supposed to increase or decrease in the future?

A report (Global Governance 2025) issued jointly by the US National Intelligence Council (NIC) and the European Union's Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) showcased the list of most powerful countries/blocks. The report also illustrated what the global scenario would be by year 2025.

Following is the list of most powerful countries, according to the report.

1. United States of America

United States remains the world’s most powerful country in 2010 with nearly 22 percent global power or clout. By 2025, the United States' share of global power would decline from 22 per cent to 18 per cent, the report says.

2. China

China, though distant number two, is fast catching up with USA. At present it has 12 percent of global power, but it would rise up to 16 percent by 2025. It means in 2025, though US would still be number one with 18 percent, China would not be far behind with 16 percent global power.

3. European Union

With 14 percent power, European Union is third most powerful block in the world.

4. India

India with 8 percent of global power is number fourth. According to report, India will remain in third or fourth positions (depending on whether EU bloc is counted in or not) with its share of global power going up to ten per cent.

5. Japan, Russia and Brazil

India is followed by Japan, Russia and Brazil with less than five percent global power each.

Top 10 Largest Economies in the World

Recently China surpassed Japan to become the second largest economy in the world. Chinese economy has witnessed a spectacular growth since it initiated economic reforms in 1978. So who are the other top economies in the world and how the calculation is made? Continue reading below to unfold.

The economic volume of a country is measured by GDP. There are two methods of GDP calculation:

i. Nominal GDP Method – this method compares countries using current exchange rates to analyze their clout within the global market.

ii. Purchasing Power Parity or PPP GDP Method – PPP GDP method judges economies on the basis of their purchasing power, i.e. how much a country can buy in one dollar compared to others.

PPP GDP method is more and often found better to estimate the internal size of each market. The list bellow shows the world’s 10 largest economies with their approximate GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).

1. United States of America

$13,860,000,000,000

2. China

$7,043,000,000,000

3. Japan

$4,305,000,000,000

4. India

$2,965,000,000,000

5. Germany

$2,833,000,000,000

6. United Kingdom

$2,147,000,000,000

7. Russia

$2,076,000,000,000

8. France

$2,067,000,000,000

9. Brazil

$1,838,000,000,000

10. Italy

$1,800,000,000,000

World’s Freest Economies of 2010

The term ‘free economy’ refers to a market system where buyers and sellers have the power to determine the price of goods and services. The prices are fixed by the forces of supply and demand of the respective commodities. When the demand of a commodity falls, the price of respective commodity also falls. But when the demand of a commodity increases and supply is inadequate to meet the demand, the prices also rise. Free economy is also synonym to free trade where government has lesser control over the market.

However, free markets are hallmark of relatively wealthier nations where people can afford high prices of commodities. Governments in relatively poor nations are forced to impose regulations over pricing and trade to feed it’s not so resourceful population.

For last one and half decade The Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation have been studying the economic freedom around the world. The combo each year releases the index of economic freedom. The list is prepared on the basis of 10 benchmarks of free trade and economic freedom.

According to the index of economic freedom for year 2010, released by The Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation, following is the list of world’s top 10 freest economies.

1. Hong Kong, Score 89.7

2. Singapore, Score 86.1

3. Australia, Score 82.6

4. New Zealand, Score 82.1

5. Ireland, Score 81.3

6. Switzerland, Score 81.1

7. Canada, Score 80.4

8. United States, Score 78

9. Denmark, Score 77.9

10. Chile, Score 77.2

Making green jobs good jobs

Right on time for the 2009 Green Jobs Conference, this week Change to Win released a report titled High Road or Low Road?  Job Quality in the New Green Economy.  The report looks at wages and conditions for jobs in a variety of green workplaces, and finds that not all is well in the green collar economy.

The bad news is that some green jobs are low-paying and subject to union-busting and off-shoring, just like jobs anywhere else.  The report cites wages as low as $8.25 / hour in a recycling plant and $11 / hour in renewable energy manufacturing.  Like other manufacturing jobs, green manufacturing for products like windmills can be offshored, and that is already happening.  And jobs everywhere are subject to aggressive anti-union activities - in fact, the head of the National Green Building Committee (an initiative of Associated Builders and Contractors) is W. Brewster Earle, president of Comfort Systems USA Energy Services, a large heating, ventilation, and cooling systems company which has sought to undermine union activity in its workforce for years.

There is, on the hand, plenty of good news to go around too.  That includes reports of stellar green employers, like wind energy manufacturerGamesa, and examples of good municipal initiatives to give workers good, green jobs, like the LA Clean Trucks program and the Newark weatherization training program.

As Tod wrote yesterday, it now appears that the stimulus package will be passed by the Senate within a few days.  Despite the out-of-whack priority given to tax cuts over spending, the stimulus should still include a good chunk of change for green spending.  The question now is, how much of that spending will support good jobs?  There is some language in the bill for enforcing wage protection laws, but that's about it in terms of worker protection.

While I'd ideally like to see stronger worker protection languge in the bill - for example, language which allows workers at any company which receives stimulus spending money to organize by card-check - it looks like that is unlikely to happen.  I think it will be incumbent on the Obama administration, as well as any local and state agencies to which the funds are distributed, to attach reasonable regulations to this money.  At a bare minimum, companies which receive stimulus spending should be paying a living wage.  More than that, they should not be allowed to engage in union-busting, and should be compelled to remain neutral in the face of union organizing drives (it also follows that they should also contract in good faith with their workers, although I'm not sure how easily good-faith bargaining requirements could be written into regulation.)  Such requirements will not water-down the green nature of the stimulus; on the contrary, they will make the green collar economy more attractive to workers, and will incentivize more and more people to enter this workforce and become available for the massive task of greening the economy.