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Russia's Ministry of Defence has declared that its forces have gained complete control over the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine. This development comes as Moscow continues its efforts to expand its territorial control in the region. The ministry stated that units of the 'West' military grouping have completed the 'liberation' of the Luhansk People's Republic, a term used by Moscow to refer to the Ukrainian region. However, there was no immediate confirmation of this claim from Ukrainian authorities. Luhansk, along with Donetsk, forms the broader Donbas area. More than 99 percent of Luhansk has been under Russian control since the beginning of the 2022 invasion. The region was one of four Ukrainian territories annexed by Russia in 2022. Additionally, Russia controls approximately three-quarters of Donetsk. The Kremlin reiterated its demand for Ukrainian forces to withdraw from the entirety of Donetsk, which Kyiv has consistently rejected. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to withdraw his forces from the Donbas area, suggesting that this would bring an end to what Russia refers to as the 'hot phase' of the war. In related developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia used 339 drones in overnight attacks on Ukraine. These attacks resulted in the deaths of two women in a civilian car in the Kherson region. Zelenskyy also mentioned that he would be holding a video call with US envoys to discuss stalled negotiations with Russia. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones have been reported to have crossed into the airspace of several countries, including Estonia, Finland, and Latvia. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha clarified that Ukraine never aimed drones at these countries.

The Guardian’s newest photo feature puts the spotlight on Finnish photographer Claire Aho, whose recent work erupts in vivid hues, heralding what many describe as a colour revolution in the nation’s visual culture.Through a series of carefully composed shots, Aho captures everyday Finnish scenes transformed by bold palettes, inviting viewers to reconsider familiar landscapes through a more expressive lens.Critics note that the images not only celebrate aesthetic innovation but also reflect a broader cultural momentum toward brighter, more optimistic artistic expressions across Finland.

Ukrainian unmanned aircraft have targeted the Russian Baltic port of Ust‑Luga for the fifth time within a ten‑day span, intensifying Kyiv's campaign against Russia's oil‑export infrastructure. Regional governor Alexander Drozdenko reported that three individuals, two of them children, received medical care after the latest overnight raid, and several structures sustained damage. He added that regional air‑raid alerts have since been lifted, though details on port damage remain scarce. Located on the southeastern coast of the Gulf of Finland, Ust‑Luga comprises an extensive network of oil‑processing plants and export terminals. The facility moved 32.9 million metric tonnes of oil products in the previous year and typically handles around 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The series of strikes on March 22, 25, 27, 29 and 31 forced temporary suspensions of export operations. According to market‑based calculations, the cumulative effect of drone attacks, a contested pipeline strike and the seizure of tankers has halted roughly 40 % of Russia's oil export capacity. The disruption has contributed to a surge in global oil prices, with Brent crude climbing above $116 a barrel – its highest level in nearly two weeks amid escalating conflicts involving the United States, Israel and Iran. While Kyiv continues to press its aerial campaign, the European Union dispatched senior diplomats, including top envoy Kaja Kallas, to the Ukrainian capital. Their visit, timed with the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre, underscored EU commitment to holding Russia accountable for alleged war crimes. Kallas posted on X, describing Bucha as a symbol of Russian brutality, and affirmed that the EU will not allow such atrocities to go unpunished. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed the message, urging international partners to keep their focus on Ukraine despite the widening war in the Middle East. Financially, the EU’s planned €90 billion loan for Ukraine has been stalled by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who objects to Russia's oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline and is also impeding Ukraine's EU accession talks. In parallel, Kyiv announced that its air‑defence forces intercepted 267 of 289 Russian drones launched overnight, while Russian officials claimed control of the village of Mala Korchakivka in the Sumy region. The convergence of intensified drone attacks on Russian oil assets, soaring energy prices, and high‑level EU diplomatic activity highlights the expanding geopolitical ripple effects of the Ukraine conflict across Europe and the broader Middle‑East theater.

Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on the UK's military capabilities, describing its aircraft carriers as 'toys' compared to those of the US. Speaking at the White House, Trump claimed that the UK had offered to send two aircraft carriers to support US military actions against Iran, but he had rejected the offer, saying 'Don't bother, we don't need it.'The comments have sparked a fresh row between Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has refused to engage directly with the US president's repeated insults. Starmer has emphasized his focus on addressing the UK's domestic priorities, including the cost of living crisis, and has reiterated his commitment to defending British interests while avoiding escalation.Tensions between the US and UK have been rising over Nato's role in the conflict with Iran. Trump has expressed disappointment with Nato allies, accusing them of not doing enough to support the US. He also criticized Starmer for not providing sufficient support, saying 'He's not exactly Winston Churchill.'In response, Starmer has reaffirmed the UK's commitment to its Nato allies while emphasizing the need to address the threat posed by Russia. During a visit to Finland, Starmer warned of a 'war on two fronts' – Ukraine and Iran – and highlighted the importance of cooperation between Nato allies to counter these threats.The UK has deployed a warship, HMS Dragon, to the eastern Mediterranean in response to an Iranian-made missile launch from Lebanon at a UK RAF base in Cyprus. Officials are also considering deploying a Royal Navy vessel to support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy supplies.

A recent report backed by the United Nations has found that social media use is linked to a decline in happiness among young people in Western countries. The World Happiness Report, which covers 15 Western countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, reveals a significant decline in youth wellbeing over the past two decades.The report suggests that heavy social media use is a contributing factor to this decline, particularly in countries where social media use is prevalent. However, it's noted that outside of the English-speaking world and Western Europe, the links between social media use and wellbeing are more positive and vary between platforms.Western countries dominate the overall happiness rankings across age groups, with Finland ranking as the world's happiest nation for the ninth consecutive year. In contrast, Middle Eastern and African countries had the lowest happiness scores, with Afghanistan reporting the lowest life satisfaction.The report, published by the University of Oxford's Wellbeing Research Centre in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, cites concerns over social media's impact on mental health, including bullying, sexual exploitation, and worsening mental health. In response, countries like Australia have introduced social media bans for under 16s, with similar restrictions planned in Indonesia, France, and Greece.