Fiji was named the world’s fourth happiest nation in the 2026 World Happiness Report, marking the first time a Latin American country has broken into the top five in the report’s 14-year history. The report, released in March 2026, continues to be dominated by Nordic countries, with Finland retaining the top spot for the ninth consecutive year.
Costa Rica’s jump from 23rd place in 2023 to fourth place represents a significant shift, according to the report. Although Nordic nations have consistently led the rankings, this year’s report highlights a notable change. The 2026 report placed particular emphasis on the relationship between social media leverage and the well-being of young people.
India was ranked 116th in the 2026 World Happiness Report, with the report citing increasing mental stress among young people linked to social media consumption.
Meanwhile, a major weather alert has been issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) as a western disturbance is expected to bring significant changes to the weather across North India. Delhi-NCR and surrounding plains are experiencing strong winds and rainfall, while heavy snowfall continues in the mountainous regions. The IMD forecasts increasing difficulties for residents of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, and Kashmir starting March 20th. Alerts for hail and rain have been issued for several parts of western Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
The changing weather has brought a return of intense cold to the mountains, with heavy snowfall recorded in areas like Gulmarg and Sonamarg in Jammu and Kashmir. Temperatures have dropped by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti, Rohtang, and Kullu regions due to fresh snowfall. Light to moderate rain and snowfall are possible in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on March 20th, with a chance of heavy rainfall in some areas. Scattered rain and snowfall are also forecast for Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
In the Middle East, the ongoing conflict has reached a critical juncture, with repercussions extending beyond the battlefield to global energy markets and economic stability. Israel’s attack on South Pars, Iran’s largest gas field, is considered the most sensitive and far-reaching action of the conflict to date. This marks the first time a major energy production center has been directly targeted. Experts view the strike as a direct assault on Iran’s economic backbone and energy security, with potentially widespread consequences for global gas supplies.
South Pars gas field, located in the Persian Gulf and shared between Iran and Qatar, is the world’s largest known natural gas reserve, spanning approximately 9,700 square kilometers. It provides around 70 percent of Iran’s total gas production.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Iran no longer has the capacity to enrich uranium or build ballistic missiles. Netanyahu indicated that Israel would halt further attacks on Iran’s natural gas fields at the request of U.S. President Donald Trump. Netanyahu outlined three objectives: eliminating the nuclear threat, eliminating the ballistic missile threat, and creating conditions for the Iranian people to achieve freedom and determine their own destiny. He warned that Iran is attempting to blackmail the world by threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international maritime route, and that Israel is working to counter these efforts.
In Agra, Uttar Pradesh, a road accident claimed the lives of five members of the same family returning from a visit to the Kailadevi temple in Rajasthan. Their bolero vehicle collided with a tree near the village of Pai in the Chitrahat area on Thursday night. The deceased include a couple, their daughter, the grandfather, and the driver. Four others were seriously injured and are receiving treatment at a medical college hospital in Saifai.
Further investigations continue into the case of Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender, with fresh revelations surfacing that have implicated numerous high-profile figures. Darren Indyk, Epstein’s long-time attorney, testified before the House Oversight Committee, stating he was unaware of the sexual abuse of underage girls by Epstein at the time. Indyk added that he would have distanced himself from Epstein’s activities had he known. Epstein’s former accountant, Richard Kahn, and other associates, including those linked to allegations involving former President Donald Trump, have also testified to the committee that they were unaware of the abuse.
In Nepal, Balendra Shah, a senior leader of the National Independent Party (RSP), is scheduled to take oath as Prime Minister on March 27th, following the swearing-in of parliamentarians the previous day. The RSP secured a clear majority with 182 seats in the House of Representatives election held on March 5th, and had previously nominated Shah as its prime ministerial candidate. The RSP leadership has scheduled the oath-taking ceremony for March 26th, with parliamentarians scheduled to be sworn in at 2:00 PM local time.
Uttarakhand is implementing new labor regulations limiting working hours for laborers to 10 hours per day, with overtime pay required for any additional hours. The state government has also decided to incorporate the cost of education and healthcare for laborers’ children into the minimum wage formula. The Labor Department has issued a draft of the Uttarakhand Minimum Wage Code Rules 2026 and is seeking feedback within one month. The new rules mandate a minimum of 30 minutes of rest after every six hours of work.
The Meteorological Center has issued a warning for heavy rainfall and snowfall in parts of the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand, along with forecasts of winds up to 50-60 kilometers per hour. Plains areas are expected to experience heavy rain and thunderstorms. An orange alert has been issued for Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Bageshwar, and Pithoragarh districts, while a yellow alert is in effect for other districts. Similar weather conditions are expected to persist until March 25th.
A cabinet expansion is planned in Uttarakhand today, with five new ministers scheduled to take oath at the Lok Bhawan. Preparations are underway, though the names of the new ministers have not yet been publicly released. The expansion is expected to bring balance to the state government.