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Why the World’s Happiest Country was ranked first once again  March 20, 2026

 

Buenos dias and happy Friday, everybody. I'm Isabel Rosales in for Coy Wire, and I'm so excited to be with you for another episode of the Best 10 Minutes in News. We have a lot of important stories to tell you about today, so let's get right into it.

 

Buenos dias 早安

 

We begin with an update on the war in Iran and the impact it is having on some of the country's most important cultural sites. Iranian state media says that in the nearly four weeks since the war began, U.S. and Israeli strikes have caused extensive damage to at least 100 museums, mosques, and other historic buildings.

 

The Ministry of Culture has strongly condemned the attacks and the strikes and says that they've even damaged several of the country's UNESCO heritage sites.

 

That includes the 400-year-old Golestan Palace in Tehran, which suffered extensive damage following nearby strikes.

 

The main concern for us is the resilience of these structures, especially given their age and historical fragility.

 

U.S. Central Command says it has not deliberately targeted civilians, and the Israeli Defense Forces says measures have been taken to minimize collateral damage that could damage these cultural sites.

 

collateral [kə'lætərəl] adj. 附属的; 附带的

 

But UNESCO officials are warning that the escalating violence could impact more sites throughout the region.

 

We have communicated all the geographical coordinates to all the parties so that everyone is aware and that this World Heritage Site should not be subject to any attack.

 

communicate [kə'mjunɪket] v. 传达

coordinate [ko'ɔrdənet] n. 坐标

 

Now to a huge update in the world of women's sports.

 

All eyes may be on the NCAA tournaments, but the biggest breakthrough this week was at the pro level. The WNBA and its players union announced that they have reached a new agreement that promises to forever change the league.

 

The collective bargaining deal is expected to greatly increase player salaries, which is an issue that had been at the center of ongoing negotiations.

 

bargaining ['bɑrɡənɪŋ] n. 交易；契约；交涉，商讨，商谈；讨价还价

 

The players union opted out of their previous deal nearly 18 months ago, claiming player salaries were not reflective of the league's explosive growth in popularity.

 

opt out 决定退出; 撤出, 退出

 

This new deal will increase player salaries and team salary caps by, listen to this, more than 400 percent. It will also pave the way for million dollar players for the first time in the league's 30 year history.

 

Now, both sides still need to finalize details of that deal before a final vote, but it's expected to be done well ahead of next month's rookie draft.

 

draft [dræft] n. 征募; 选秀

 

Speaking of rookies, a quick programming note. The 2026 Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year has just been announced.

 

Kate Harpering from the Marist School in Atlanta was honored this week just after she committed to UNC Chapel Hill.

 

And Coy just got to play a little one-on-one with Harpering where they talk about what it's like to be a student athlete and how to even balance it all out. We'll bring you that story next week, so be sure not to miss it.

 

It's time for 10-second trivia.What brain chemical is most commonly associated with feelings of happiness and reward?

 

Is it glutamate, dopamine, adrenaline, cortisol?

 

glutamate ['glutəˌmet] n. 麩胺酸

 

Well, if you said dopamine, big smile. Studies show that you can instantly trigger a dopamine release by listening to your favorite music, getting some sunlight, petting an animal, or even splashing cold water on your face.

 

Today is the International Day of Happiness.And in this next story, one country is finishing first again. For the ninth straight year, Finland leads the World Happiness Report, setting the gold standard for good vibes.

 

But in other parts of the world, happiness is actually declining, and researchers say social media may be a factor. Here's Scout Richards with what's boosting well-being.

 

In the world's happiest country ranking, one place keeps coming out on top.

 

Finland is still the happiest country in the world, but in some parts of the world, happiness is falling. Gallup just released its annual World Happiness Report, and for the ninth year in a row, Finland ranked number one. Iceland and Denmark are right behind it.

 

And Costa Rica hit the highest ranking ever for a Latin American country, fourth. The U.S. didn't even make the top 20. In fact, for the second year in a row, no English-speaking country cracked the top 10.

 

The rankings are based on years of surveys from more than 140 countries, looking at things like income, social support, life expectancy, and corruption.

 

But this year, researchers pointed to another factor that could impact happiness among young people, social media use. They say it could be contributing to falling happiness among young people, particularly those spending five hours or more a day on social media.

 

falling ['fɔlɪŋ] adj. 落下的；下降的

 

And it's not just how much time people spend, but how they use it. Messaging and staying connected is linked to higher well-being, while endless scrolling and algorithm-driven feeds are tied to lower life satisfaction. So, no matter where you are, a little less screen time could do some good for your well-being.

 

This Women's History Month, we've been spotlighting some of the lesser-known trailblazers who created positive change in our world.

 

Today, we're introducing you to Jeong Kwan. She's the director of historic Buddhist temple complex in South Korea.

 

Which, by the way, is an accomplishmentin its own right, as male monks vastly outnumber nuns in most Buddhist colonies. But Kwon has gained world-renowned appreciation for her cooking and innovative ways of encouraging people all over the world to eat a more plant-based diet. Check this out.

 

in its own right 依靠自己的能力

 

This is the home of Buddhist monk Jeong Kwan. She's putting the spotlight on Korean temple cuisine, where food is deeply connected to spiritual practice.

 

spotlight ['spɑtlaɪt] n. 公众注意中心

 

Jeong 's plant-based masterclass begins here, in the temple garden.

 

masterclass [ˈmæstɚklæs] n.（尤指音乐方面的）深造班，高级讲习班

 

This is a 500-year-old tangerine tree. Salt. Salt. Salt.

 

tangerine ['tændʒərin] n. 橘子；橘子树

 

The monk hopes the chefs bring some temple-cooking philosophy home with them, and reimagine it in new ways.

 

Today's story, getting a 10 out of 10.

 

One musically gifted family is proving that talent can span generations. And in this case, all the way to one of the world's most iconic stages. Preparing to take the stage at Carnegie Hall is the Brinton family of pianists.

 

At the center is Sally Peterson Brinton, a Juilliard-trained concert pianist who has passed her passion for music down through her family. Listen to this. Seven children and dozens of grandchildren.

 

Playing is a spiritual experience for me.

 

Fifteen family members are now set to perform together, turning a shared passion into a full family ensemble.

 

ensemble [ɑn'sɑmbl] n. 剧团；联合演出人员；合奏曲

 

I feel like we owe it to share our talents, to develop them, to contribute that to our children as well.

 

owe [oʊ] v. 对...负有; 应该做

 

It's a performance built on more than talent, shaped by family, support, and years of practice.

 

All right, superstars, I've got time for two shout-outs on this Friday, starting with Miss Carden at Ascent Academy in West Jordan, Utah. Thank you so much for subscribing to our YouTube channel.

 

And next up, Mr. Ingram's class at Bartonville Public School in Bartonville, Illinois. Thank you guys so very much for this super chic beaded purse. Look at this.

 

chic [ʃik] adj. 别致的；时髦的

beaded ['bidɪd] adj. 串珠状的；粒状的；带珠的

 

This is so cool. And I'm sorry to tell you, Coy, I'm not giving this back. I'm going to keep it.

 

Well, I hope you guys all have an amazing weekend. I'm Isabel Rosales. Y estás mirando CNN 10.

 

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