Happy News Thursday

Mar 26
4 min read

What better way to start the day than with a bundle of upbeat news nuggets?

3 fisherman sitting on a tree branch above a lake at twilight — Credit: Kyaw Zayar Lin | Sony World Photography Awards 2026

Fishing Together

The Sony World Photography Awards competition has been attracting immensely talented creatives from across the globe since 2008, and this year's national and regional winners are no exception. This program, which supports local communities of photographers worldwide, drew in more than 430,000 images from 200+ countries for the 2026 edition. The winning entries were chosen from the Open, Professional, and Student competitions this year - meaning you'll find photographers at different stages of their careers taking home prizes in the form of Sony gear. The winning entries showcase a wide range of subjects that each tell memorable and striking stories, like this gorgeous image of people fishing together which was the Myanmar National winner. Head to this site for all the winning and shortlisted entries.

Céline Dion wearing a light blue scarf — Celine Dion

Mysterious Posters

In good news for her legions of fans, rumours are rife that Céline Dion is on the verge of announcing Paris concert dates following a mysterious poster campaign on the streets of the French capital bearing the titles of some of her best-known songs such as the Power of Love, and S’il Suffisait d’Aimer. The appearance of the posters has added fuel to a report in Canadian newspaper La Presse that the star is preparing to perform two concerts a week at the 40,000-capacity Paris La Défense Arena in September and October. Dion has been battling her way back to good health after being diagnosed with the rare neurological condition Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) in 2022.

All images credit: Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office | Mike Carr

Rare Sight

A rare red rock waterfall is flowing once again in southwest Utah, leaving visitors in awe of its cinematic beauty. Gunlock Reservoir, located in Gunlock State Park, has exceeded 105 percent of its capacity and water is now flowing (for only the fourth time in 15 years) onto the red rock boulders underneath, resulting in an unusual natural phenomenon. “The red rocks and the waterfalls, it’s something that you expect to see in a movie, not in real life,” Carson Hadley, a college student visiting the region, tells KSTU. Since the water started trickling in late February, visitors have been flocking to the state park for a chance to see the falls.

Monarch butterflies hibernating in a tree — Credit: WWF-US | Clay Bolt

Butterfly Boost

If you live in the path of migrating monarch butterflies, the happy news is that you're going to see more of them as the weather warms up this year. The population of the at-risk pollinators increased by roughly two thirds in Mexico this winter compared with last year, per the World Wildlife Fund. Monarch butterflies, millions of which winter in Mexico’s forests, are also taking up more space as of late. Recent figures show the colourful creatures are covering over 7 acres of land, up from about 4.5 acres the previous winter. That marks the most extensive coverage for almost a decade. An improved outlook for the butterflies could create a positive ripple effect for flowers, food production, and ecosystems as a whole.

Epic Transatlantic Flight Stuns Scientists: Scientists have discovered that painted lady butterflies fly up to 4,350 without stops - upending what we know about butterfly migration and behaviour.

Cleaner City Air

A new analysis found that 19 global cities, including London, San Francisco, and Beijing, have seen “remarkable reductions” in air pollution - slashing two pollutants by more than 20 percent since 2010. The analysis credits interventions like bike lanes, more electric cars, and restrictions on polluting vehicles for the improved air quality. Beijing and Warsaw reduced fine particulate pollution by more than 40 percent, and Amsterdam and Rotterdam reduced nitrogen dioxide levels by more than 40 percent. In the U.S., San Francisco was the only city to cut both pollutants by more than 20 percent.

Revolution Wind

Rhode Island’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm, Revolution Wind, has officially come online and started delivering power to the electric grid, despite repeated efforts by the Trump administration to shut it down. The wind farm will supply electricity for more than 350,000 homes across Rhode Island and Connecticut, and is expected to save customers an estimated $500 million annually by displacing more expensive power.

“Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself; I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.” Groucho Marx

On This Day

26 March 1953: Dr. Jonas Salk announces that he has successfully tested a vaccine to prevent polio. 1954: The largest clinical trial in history at that time began, involving 1.8 million children across the United States, Canada, and Finland. 1955: The results of the field trials were announced, declaring the vaccine to be safe, effective, and potent. The vaccine was licensed for general use on the same day.