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New Straits Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Anwar's Asean leadership a model of diplomacy in Myanmar crisis
KUALA LUMPUR: This year's ASEAN chairmanship under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has drawn strong praise from world-renowned economist Professor Dr Jeffrey D. Sachs. He described Anwar's efforts in addressing the Myanmar crisis as both constructive and aligned with the regional grouping's collective aspirations. Sachs, a Columbia University professor and President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, said Malaysia's proactive approach reflects responsible diplomacy, not interference, in promoting Asean peace and stability. "I think the leadership of Asean in trying to make sure that there is peace within the Asean region is extremely important and very constructive. "That's not interference in the way we should object to," he said in a press interview after attending the 2nd Asean-GCC Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) today. He commended Anwar's role as Asean Chair in addressing the Myanmar situation, describing the Prime Minister as "a remarkable leader in his own right" who is leveraging his position to facilitate intra-Asean solutions. "This is not interference in the sense of one country butting into the internal affairs of another. It's about helping Asean succeed, thrive and be peaceful internally. "I strongly support what Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is trying to do," Sachs said. When asked whether Asean should consider reforming its long-standing principle of non-interference in light of the ongoing Myanmar crisis, Sachs did not offer a specific policy recommendation but instead highlighted a broader global trend towards stronger regional cooperation. "We're in a period where regional groups all over the world, not only Asean, are becoming stronger internally because they recognise that the success of each individual country depends on the success of the group," he said. He added that Asean's growing diplomatic role, both internally and globally, is vital at a time when countries face increasing uncertainty and pressure, including from global powers like the US. "In this context, a strong Asean is extremely important, and real leadership within Asean is essential. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is providing exactly that this year. It's a very successful presidency," Sachs remarked. Referring to recent regional meetings, including the 46th Asean Summit, the Asean-GCC meeting, and the Asean-GCC-China dialogue, he said these high-level engagements reflect Malaysia's effective stewardship and Asean's commitment to unity and cooperation. "These meetings are very important and a very successful initiative of Malaysia's presidency," he said. Among the Asean leaders attending the events are the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah; Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto; Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet; Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone; Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh; Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.; Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong; and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Also present at the summit are Timor-Leste's Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, as an Observer, and Asean Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn. GCC delegates at the summit include the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Salman Hamad Al Khalifa, and Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Oman's Deputy Prime Minister Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik al Said, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Farhan Al Saud and UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi are also in attendance.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Anwar's ASEAN leadership a model of diplomacy in Myanmar crisis
KUALA LUMPUR: This year's ASEAN chairmanship under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has drawn strong praise from world-renowned economist Professor Dr Jeffrey D. Sachs, who described Anwar's efforts in addressing the Myanmar crisis as both constructive and aligned with the regional grouping's collective aspirations. Sachs, a Columbia University professor and President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, said Malaysia's proactive approach reflects responsible diplomacy, not interference, in promoting ASEAN peace and stability. 'I think the leadership of ASEAN in trying to make sure that there is peace within the ASEAN region is extremely important and very constructive. 'That's not interference in the way we should object to,' he said in a press interview after attending the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) today. He commended Anwar's role as ASEAN Chair in addressing the Myanmar situation, describing the Prime Minister as 'a remarkable leader in his own right' who is leveraging his position to facilitate intra-ASEAN solutions. 'This is not interference in the sense of one country butting into the internal affairs of another. It's about helping ASEAN succeed, thrive and be peaceful internally. 'I strongly support what Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is trying to do,' Sachs said. When asked whether ASEAN should consider reforming its long-standing principle of non-interference in light of the ongoing Myanmar crisis, Sachs did not offer a specific policy recommendation but instead highlighted a broader global trend towards stronger regional cooperation. 'We're in a period where regional groups all over the world, not only ASEAN, are becoming stronger internally because they recognise that the success of each individual country depends on the success of the group,' he said. He added that ASEAN's growing diplomatic role, both internally and globally, is vital at a time when countries face increasing uncertainty and pressure, including from global powers like the US. 'In this context, a strong ASEAN is extremely important, and real leadership within ASEAN is essential. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is providing exactly that this year. It's a very successful presidency,' Sachs remarked. Referring to recent regional meetings, including the 46th ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN-GCC meeting, and the ASEAN-GCC-China dialogue, he said these high-level engagements reflect Malaysia's effective stewardship and ASEAN's commitment to unity and cooperation. 'These meetings are very important and a very successful initiative of Malaysia's presidency,' he said. Among the ASEAN leaders attending the events are the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah; Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto; Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet; Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone; Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh; Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.; Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong; and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Also present at the summit are Timor-Leste's Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, as an Observer, and ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn. GCC delegates at the summit include the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Salman Hamad Al Khalifa, and Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Oman's Deputy Prime Minister Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik al Said, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Farhan Al Saud and UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi are also in attendance.
Sky News
10-04-2025
- General
- Sky News
Happiest country in the world revealed - and one where a stranger's most likely to return a lost wallet
Strangers are about twice as kind as people think, according to a UN-backed report on global happiness. Researchers for the World Happiness Report used lost wallets as an experiment to measure people's expectations versus reality when it came to the kindness of strangers. They found that people returned lost wallets at double the rate members of the public thought they would. Believing in the kindness of strangers also had a much bigger impact on happiness than previously thought. It even had a bigger impact on happiness than actual or expected harm. "The wallet data are so convincing because they confirm that people are much happier living where they think people care about each other," said John F Helliwell, an economist at the University of British Columbia and a founding editor of the World Happiness Report. Nordic nations topped the ranking of the world's happiest countries but also ranked the highest for expected and actual return of lost wallets. The UK ranked 23rd out of 147 countries and recorded its lowest average score since reporting began in 2017. The report suggested that declining happiness and social trust in the US and parts of Europe may explain the rise of political polarisation and anti-system votes. The United States fell to its lowest happiness ranking ever, coming in 24th. Researchers suggested this was partly due to a rise in the number of Americans eating their meals alone. While sharing meals with other people is strongly linked with wellbeing around the world, the number of people dining alone in America has increased 53% over the past two decades. "The findings in this year's World Happiness Report reconfirm a fundamental truth: happiness is rooted in trust, kindness, and social connection," said Jeffrey D Sachs, president of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network who was a founding editor of the report.
Observer
08-04-2025
- General
- Observer
Experiencing happiness in diverse ways
Can we truly say that we are happy with our current circumstances? Why is it that, despite many aspects of our lives being positive, a single issue can still lead to unhappiness? Furthermore, what accounts for the differences in happiness levels among people from various countries? Happy individuals and families come in various forms, just as nations can experience happiness in diverse ways. Past experiences demonstrate that happy people actively engage in their communities and assist others, making them vital contributors to thriving societies and, consequently, shaping a nation's overall happiness. Significantly, life satisfaction and happiness are now central research areas in the social sciences. One notable effort in this regard is the World Happiness Report, which has become an indispensable resource for addressing the growing global interest in prioritising happiness. Researchers of the report indicate that, in addition to health and wealth, several factors that influence happiness may seem deceptively simple: sharing meals with others, having someone to rely on for social support, and the size of one's household. 'Happiness isn't just about wealth or growth; it encompasses trust, connection and the assurance that others support you. To foster stronger communities and economies, we must invest in what truly matters,' says Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, the primary source for the annual happiness rankings of countries worldwide. The World Happiness Report is a collaboration between Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the Editorial Board of the World Happiness Report. Each World Happiness Report typically highlights a specific theme and includes chapters authored by various experts who analyse different facets of global well-being and happiness associated with that theme. Several examples are provided. In Chapter 3 of the report, we find that dining alone is detrimental to one's well-being. The report states, 'People who frequently eat with others are significantly happier, and this effect remains even when considering household size.' The rising number of individuals who dine alone is a contributing factor to the declining well-being in the United States, which has dropped to 24th place in the report - its lowest ranking ever. In the United States, approximately 25 per cent people reported eating all their meals alone the previous day in 2023, marking a 53-per cent increase in solitary dining since 2003. Similarly, household size is closely associated with happiness. In Mexico and Europe, households consisting of four to five individuals report the highest levels of happiness; however, many people in Europe live alone. For most people around the world, family serves as a source of joy and support. The report highlights in Chapter 4 that living alone often experience lower levels of happiness. Conversely, those in very large households may also report decreased happiness, likely due to reduced economic satisfaction. 'Public policies should consider how economic decisions may have secondary effects on relationships, thereby impacting the well-being of families,' it suggests. At the same time, the report reveals that the antithesis of happiness is despair, which can lead to death by suicide or substance abuse. Fortunately, the incidence of such deaths is declining in the majority of countries, although this trend is not observed in the United States or the Republic of Korea. Nordic countries consistently rank among the top ten happiest nations, with Denmark, Iceland and Sweden following Finland, which maintains its unbroken streak as the world's happiest country. Their high happiness rankings are generally attributed to their extensive social welfare programmes, strong community connections and robust interactions with nature. In the Gulf region, the UAE has secured 21st place globally, while Kuwait ranks 30th worldwide and second in the Arab world. Saudi Arabia follows at 32nd globally and third in the Arab world. Oman holds the 52nd position globally and is fourth among Arab countries, while Bahrain is ranked 59th globally and fifth among Arab nations.
South China Morning Post
07-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Why India is both world's happiest place and No 118 behind Ukraine
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Advertisement Every year, the World Happiness Report seems to deliver rankings that leave some scratching their heads. This year, the findings are downright mind-boggling. India, for example, is ranked below Ukraine and Palestine. These war-ravaged places are supposedly happier than a stable, growing economy like India? The absurdity is enough to make one do a double take. This year's rankings place Iran at 99, Palestine at 108, Ukraine at 111 and India at 118. Naturally, this raises a question: what metrics led to the conclusion that Palestine – a land currently under siege – is happier than India? Let's compare two indices: the World Happiness Index and the Ipsos Global Happiness Survey. The former is compiled by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network in collaboration with Gallup and a University of Oxford research centre. Ipsos, a France-based multinational firm, publishes its own happiness survey. On that index, India ranks first among 30 countries, with 88 per cent of Indians surveyed expressing some form of happiness. So, which index holds water? Advertisement The World Happiness Index also places Finland, Denmark and Iceland on top; Western nations dominate the top 20 rankings. Despite an ongoing war, Israel ranks ahead of peaceful nations like Luxembourg, Switzerland and Australia.
