Newsweek ranking - Optimism is welcome

Newsweek, the American news magazine, has rated Taoiseach Brian Cowen as one of the 10 best leaders in the world today.

He is ranked with such leaders as David Cameron of Britain, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

According to the report, Mr Cowen and “his able Finance Minister Brian Lenihan are prescribing harsh medicine” in pushing through “austerity packages drastic enough to win the admiration of the international community”. But the Irish people are “not showing much gratitude” in that. Mr Cowen’s popularity has dropped to just 18% in the polls.