Latest news with #WorldHappinessIndex
Time Out
20-05-2025
- Time Out
Australia is (almost) the world's happiest place to live abroad in 2025 – here's why
Happiness is one of those things that's incredibly hard to measure. Our moods vary daily, even hourly, with no two people experiencing the same highs and lows. Thus, ranking a country on its happiness level is no easy task. That hasn't stopped anyone from trying, though. Earlier this year, Australia landed 11th in the World Happiness Report and Adelaide cracked the top 30 in the Happy City Index. Now, a fresh study has ranked the happiest places to live for people moving abroad – and we're chuffed with Australia's placement. The 2025 ranking by William Russell combined data from both the World Happiness Index and the Happy City Index with factors like quality of life, GDP per capita and average life expectancy considered. We were pretty pleased to see Australia land second on the overall ranking – making it one of the happiest countries for expats to live, just behind Switzerland. Despite missing out on first place, Australia managed to climb two spots from fourth in 2024. So, why is Australia such a happy place for expats? Let's start with our culture. The researchers called out Australia's strong mix of migrant and Indigenous influences, which fosters a diverse, inclusive community where newcomers can feel right at home. They also praised our 'work hard, play hard' mentality, backed by our generous working conditions, where full-time employees get four weeks of paid leave annually. Australia consistently ranks near the top of the leaderboards for quality of life, life satisfaction, life expectancy and GDP per capita. And while our cost of living is higher than in other countries, we more than make up for it in unforgettable adventures. The researchers said: 'With so much to see and do, from surfing on Bondi Beach to exploring the outback, Australia offers everything an intrepid expat could ever ask for.' So, if you're hoping to escape any seasonal depression, Australia seems like the place to be – and we've rounded up the best cities to move to here. These are the 5 happiest countries for expats in 2025 Switzerland Australia Sweden Norway Netherlands
New Indian Express
13-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Misri baiters baying for war must understand that peace is golden
Can we instead imagine a world without arms, armies, or warfare? Tolstoy's satire against war Leo Tolstoy challenged the glorification of militarism in his short story Ivan the Ivan the Fool. The tale revolves around three brothers—Simeon the soldier, Tarras the merchant, and Ivan the fool—who each become kings. The Devil, envious of their success, plots their downfall. Simeon falls prey to militaristic ambitions, and Tarras succumbs to greed. But Ivan, whose kingdom is filled with simpletons, proves immune to the Devil's schemes. When the Devil incites the King of Tarakan to invade Ivan's kingdom, his army marches to the frontier, fully armed. But they find no soldiers to fight. Ivan's subjects welcome them with food and kindness. Baffled, the invading soldiers complain, "War is one thing, but this feels like cutting pea soup—we can't fight here anymore." The king orders destruction, but the fools merely weep, refusing to resist. Eventually, the demoralised army disbands and retreats. Thus, while Simeon's militarised kingdom collapses, Ivan's peaceful domain survives. The examples of Liechtenstein and Costa Rica Tolstoy's notion—that a state can thrive without an army—may seem utopian, but it is not unprecedented. Liechtenstein, a small European principality, offers a compelling example. Following the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, Liechtenstein's army returned home. Legend has it that 80 men went to war and 81 returned—the extra man being a befriended enemy! In 1868, Liechtenstein permanently abolished its military. It maintained neutrality during both World Wars. Andreas Kieber, its last soldier, was honored with a wax statue, now the principality's sole eternal guard. On a larger scale, Costa Rica is an exemplary nation without a standing army. In 1948, after a civil war, the country disbanded its military, redirecting defence funds to education and healthcare. The results have been extraordinary. In a region marred by instability and poverty, Costa Rica shines as a beacon of political stability, economic development, and human well-being. According to the 2024 World Happiness Index, Costa Rica ranked first in Latin America and sixth globally. It boasts a standard of living nearly double that of its Central American neighbors. It leads the region in healthcare and education, with a 98% literacy rate and the second-lowest infant mortality rate in Latin America. The World Health Organization has ranked Costa Rica's healthcare system as the best in Central America and 36th globally. Its remarkable achievements are a testament to what can be accomplished when a nation chooses books over bombs. Panama, inspired by Costa Rica's pacifism, abolished its military in 1989. Today, the Costa Rica–Panama border is the only completely demilitarized frontier in the world. Along with Liechtenstein and Costa Rica, thirteen other countries have disbanded their armed forces. Can the rest of the world follow their example and move toward a complete renunciation of war and militarism? It may sound fantastical. Yet when Jules Verne imagined a moon landing in his 1865 novel From the Earth to the Moon, it too seemed far-fetched. If humanity could reach the moon, why not aim for a world without war? The first step is to criminalise war itself. The illogicality of War In 18th- and 19th-century America, dueling was a common method for resolving disputes. Duelling—a pre-arranged combat between two individuals with matched weapons—was widely accepted, even celebrated, especially among lawyers and politicians. Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States, killed a man in a duel in 1806 over a bet and an insult to his wife. He was never prosecuted and went on to become president. In 1804, Vice President Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton, a founding father and former treasury secretary, in another infamous duel. Over time, as societies matured, duelling was outlawed across the world. Yet the logic of duelling—a ritualistic clash over honour—is identical to that of war, which is, in essence, a duel between nations. If duelling between individuals is now illegal, why should war between states remain legal? The global community must move toward the criminalisation of war. This entails establishing enforceable international laws, a global government with an international police force to maintain order, and a meaningful international court for adjudication among nations. Humanity has evolved from families to clans, to tribes, to city-states, to nations. The next logical step is the formation of a global federation that includes all of humankind. If we fail to take that step, it suggests that human development has stagnated. Given the proliferation of nuclear and biological weapons, the creation of a world government is no longer a utopian dream but a survival imperative. Bertrand Russell's warning Philosopher Bertrand Russell, in his essay The Future of Mankind, offered a stark prognosis. Unless there are dramatic changes, he predicted three possible futures: (1) the annihilation of life through nuclear war; (2) a regression to the Stone Age after mass destruction; or (3) the formation of a single global government capable of managing weapons of mass destruction. "Although the last survivor may proclaim himself universal Emperor," Russell warns, "his reign will be brief, and his subjects will all be corpses. With his death, the uneasy episode of life will end, and the peaceful rocks will revolve unchanged until the sun explodes." "We are now in the most dangerous epoch of our species' history. After living in the shadow of nuclear weapons for seventy-five years, the insatiable thirst for power has placed us in a perilous race to create an even more cataclysmic arsenal that can exterminate our entire civilisation within a few hours. We are preparing to abdicate human control over our species' existence, handing over this ultimate power to machines and algorithms. And thus, we find ourselves at the edge of a black hole, staring at extinction. When we have the ingenuity to transform our planet into paradise, why are we on a relentless march to commit collective suicide?" asks Sundeep Waslekar, President of the Strategic Foresight Group, in his book A World Without War: The History, Politics and Resolution of Conflict (2022). "If we are imprisoned by our competing national egos, greed, and the pursuit of power, we will all sleepwalk into a war of human extinction. If we transform our mental frameworks, new technology and philosophy can help us enter an era of summum bonum," he further states. Surely, the choice before humankind is this: a paradise on Earth or an infernal extinction. Let us decide wisely. (Faisal CK is Deputy Law Secretary to the Government of Kerala. Views are personal.)
Saudi Gazette
25-04-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 annual report highlights major achievements, early target completions
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has released the 2024 annual report for Vision 2030, marking the ninth year since the launch of the ambitious national plan to transform the Kingdom into a global model in development, economy, and society. The report serves as a precise evaluation of the progress achieved over the past years, based on a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) tied to Vision 2030 objectives. The report classifies progress across five main groups of indicators, highlighting exceptional achievements in several areas. Notably, eight KPIs have already exceeded their 2030 targets ahead of time. These include the registration of Saudi heritage sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List, a historic reduction in the Saudi unemployment rate, and a rise in female participation in the labor market. Additional areas where targets have been surpassed include the growth in the number of volunteers, the establishment of regional headquarters by global companies in the Kingdom, the surge in tourist numbers, and advancements in the e-participation index. The report revealed that 24 indicators have exceeded their interim 2024 targets, covering sectors such as private sector contribution to GDP, increased Saudi home ownership rates, improved healthcare service quality, and the growth of assets managed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). An additional five indicators have met their 2024 interim targets, including foreign direct investment levels and the number of Saudi universities ranked among the world's top 200 institutions. Indicators nearing their interim goals — achieving between 85% and 99% — include the non-oil GDP, local content share, and the World Happiness Index ranking. The report also disclosed three indicators that have yet to meet their targets: environmental performance, the number of Saudi cities ranked among the world's top 100 most livable cities, and the share of non-oil exports in GDP. The report emphasized that these indicators are under continuous review and are being supported by intensive enabling programs to ensure future progress.
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.
Morocco World
20-03-2025
- General
- Morocco World
Morocco Drops to 112th Position in 2025 World Happiness Index
Rabat – Morocco hit a new record low in the World Happiness Index, ranking in the 112th position worldwide in the 2025 report. Released by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network in collaboration with Gallup and the Oxford Center for Well-Being Research, this year's report edition focused 'on the impact of caring and sharing on people's happiness.' Morocco's ranking saw a five-spot drop compared to the previous year. The country ranked in the overall standings behind Ukraine, which is suffering from the ravages of the Russian war, and ahead of Tunisia (113). Algeria ranked 86th, while Mauritania ranked 114th. The World Happiness Index evaluates countries based on various indicators, including inequality, freedom, generosity, perception of corruption, and positive and negative emotions. The International Day of Happiness, celebrated annually on March 20 since 2013, coincides with the release of the yearly report. This year's findings highlight both advancements and obstacles in comprehending and fostering happiness worldwide. Finland continues its streak as the world's happiest country for the eighth consecutive year, with other Nordic nations like Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden following its lead. Read also: Morocco Maintains 1st in Maghreb, 3rd in Africa on Global Soft Power Index For the first time, Costa Rica and Mexico emerged among the top 10 positions, with Costa Rica ranking sixth while Mexico came in 10th place. Once again, Afghanistan, which has been suffering from a humanitarian catastrophe since the Taliban movement regained control of the government in 2021, remains the unhappiest country in the world. The World Happiness Report examines how happiness varies across populations, showing significant differences within and between nations. Some countries maintain relatively consistent happiness levels among their citizens, while others display wider disparities. Identifying key happiness determinants is essential for societies to work toward establishing more equitable and satisfying lives for their populations. This edition of the World Happiness Report provides meaningful perspectives on international well-being patterns, including Morocco's standing. Despite the country's overall ranking decline, examining internal differences and happiness inequalities reveals a more complex situation. Tags: happiness in Moroccohappiness indexworld happines index
