Finland has been ranked the world’s happiest country in the latest World Happiness Report, which also highlighted concerns over the impact of heavy social media use on youth well-being, particularly on platforms driven by algorithmic content and influencer culture.

The 2026 report found that increased time spent on social media is associated with declining well-being among young people in several regions, with researchers pointing to structural features of platforms as a key factor shaping user experience and mental health outcomes.

Researchers involved in the report said that while social media remains a central mode of interaction for younger populations, its effects vary significantly depending on how platforms are designed and used. Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, one of the contributors to the report, said there is a need to restore the original purpose of online interaction.

“It is clear that we should look as much as possible to put the ‘social’ back into social media,” De Neve said, underscoring concerns that current platform dynamics may be undermining meaningful engagement.

The report identified heavy social media use as an important contributing factor to declining youth well-being in some countries, although it stopped short of presenting it as the sole cause. Researchers noted that broader social, cultural and economic factors also play a role in shaping outcomes.

According to the findings, platforms that rely heavily on algorithmic feeds, promote influencers and prioritize visual content tend to have more negative associations with well-being. These features, the report said, encourage social comparison, which can adversely affect users’ perceptions of themselves and their lives.

By contrast, platforms that primarily facilitate direct communication between users were associated with relatively better outcomes. The distinction highlights how platform architecture, rather than mere usage levels, can influence the psychological effects of digital interaction.

Researchers emphasized that these patterns are not uniform across regions. In parts of the Middle East and South America, the relationship between social media use and well-being appears to be more positive, and youth well-being has not shown the same levels of decline despite high usage rates.

The report attributed these differences to a range of factors that vary by region, including social norms, patterns of use and broader societal conditions.

Finland retained its position at the top of the global happiness rankings, continuing a trend seen in recent years. The report’s broader findings also pointed to a shift in the geographic distribution of high-ranking countries.

For the second consecutive year, none of the English-speaking countries featured in the top 10. The United States ranked 23rd, Canada 25th and Britain 29th, reflecting a relative decline compared to other regions.

The rankings are based on a range of indicators that assess quality of life and subjective well-being, though the report highlighted that digital behavior is emerging as an increasingly relevant factor in shaping these outcomes.

The report’s focus on social media comes amid growing policy attention worldwide, as governments assess the potential risks posed by digital platforms to younger users. Several countries have already introduced restrictions or are considering bans on social media use for minors.

Researchers said the findings could inform ongoing regulatory discussions by highlighting how specific design features of platforms may influence user well-being. The emphasis on algorithm-driven content and visual engagement aligns with broader concerns raised by policymakers and public health experts.

While the report does not prescribe specific policy measures, it points to the need for a more nuanced understanding of how digital environments interact with social and psychological factors.

“It is clear that we should look as much as possible to put the ‘social’ back into social media.”

The sanctions target eight officials who advance Hamas’ agenda and interests abroad and help manage its finances, the Treasury said in a statement.

“Hamas continues to rely heavily on networks of well-placed officials and affiliates, exploiting seemingly permissive jurisdictions to direct fundraising campaigns for the group’s benefit and funneling those illicit proceeds to support its military activities in Gaza,” said Brian Nelson, under secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

Several of the Hamas officials targeted were based in Turkey, including one of the group’s key financial operatives there, Haroun Mansour Yaqoub Nasser Al-Din, Treasury said.

Haroun Nasser Al-Din has been involved in a network that transferred money from Turkey and Gaza to the Hamas command center in the West Bank city of Hebron, it said, and helped subsidize Hamas activities to further unrest in the West Bank.

Nelson traveled to Oman and Turkey at the end of November to work on U.S. efforts to deny Hamas and other groups the ability to raise and move funds.

It was the fourth round of U.S. sanctions on the Palestinian militant group following its deadly incursion into Israel on Oct. 7, which Israel says killed 1,200 people. Israel’s subsequent military retaliation has killed 18,000 people in Gaza, local health officials say.

In coordinated actions on Wednesday, Britain’s foreign office said it sanctioned seven additional people linked to Hamas, including Mahmoud Zahar, Hamas’ co-founder, and Ali Baraka, Hamas’ head of external relations who was also sanctioned by the United States.

The UK sanctions also target a leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group and figures in the financial network that backs Hamas, including individuals in Lebanon and Algeria.

“Hamas can have no future in Gaza. Today’s sanctions on Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad will continue to cut off their access to funding and isolate them further,” British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said.

It was Britain’s second round of sanctions against Hamas since the Oct. 7 attacks.

The sanctions actions block all property and interests in property of the designated persons in the United States and Britain, as well as transactions involving the individuals targeted.

Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that the sanctions were unjustified and Hamas later said they were based on false allegations.

“We call on the American administration and the British government once again to review their aggressive policies towards our Palestinian people,” Hamas said in a statement.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen welcomed the latest sanctions and called on other countries to follow suit, “as only a persistent uncompromising struggle will lead to the collapse of the Hamas government.”

Others cited by the United States include Ismail Musa Ahmad Barhum, who helped to collect money from global fundraising into Hamas finance ministry accounts, the Treasury Department said, and Jihad Muhammad Shaker Yaghmour, Hamas’ official representative to Turkey.

The sanctions targeted Mehmet Kaya, also based in Turkey, over his involvement in multiple money transfers on behalf of Hamas, “ultimately providing tens of millions of dollars of financial services for Hamas,” it said.

Shah was arrested by Dubai police last year following a request by Danish authorities to extradite him over his alleged involvement in so-called “cum-ex” tax fraud schemes. He denies wrongdoing.

Shah’s media and political adviser confirmed his extradition to Denmark. His defence lawyer in Denmark, Kare Pihlmann, told Danish broadcaster TV2 that Shah had boarded a plane in Dubai and was set to arrive in Denmark later on Wednesday.

“Shah was extradited to Denmark’s security mission, according to legal procedures, based on a decision by the Court of Cassation in Dubai and the resolution by the Minister of Justice, who approved the extradition,” state-run UAE news agency WAM reported.

Danish prosecutors will ask a court to order that Shah is held in police custody until the start of his trial, which is scheduled to begin on Jan. 8 next year, the government said in a statement.

“This is one of our biggest and most serious cases of financial fraud,” Justice Minister Petter Hummelgaard said.

The cum-ex schemes, which flourished following the 2008 financial crisis, involved trading shares rapidly around a syndicate of banks, investors and hedge funds to exploit the tax systems of countries such as Denmark, Germany and Belgium.

Investigations led by Germany and Denmark have triggered bank raids, arrests and prosecutions. Denmark has charged nine British and U.S. citizens over the schemes, which it says have cost it more than 12.7 billion Danish crowns ($1.8 billion).

“Although the decision to extradite Mr Shah is extremely disappointing, Mr Shah has at all times maintained his honest belief that the trades undertaken, which are the subject of this case, were lawful,” said Chris Waters, partner at London-based law firm Meaby & Co, which is coordinating Shah’s defence.

Last month, Shah lost a final bid to block Denmark’s tax authority from pursuing him and others in London over the alleged offences, in a ruling by the UK Supreme Court that cleared the way for a year-long civil trial to begin next April.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Shaun Monaghan, leader of a gang operating in northeast England, was being sought by an Interpol red notice.

Monaghan arrived in Turkey in October and the Interpol notice was published on Tuesday, Yerlikaya said. Turkish police had found Monaghan to be living in Istanbul’s Fatih district and captured him on Wednesday, he said.

Video published by the interior ministry showed narcotics police arresting a man in a hotel room. Monaghan’s gang was involved in cocaine and heroin distribution as well as armed robbery, Yerlikaya said on social messaging platform X.

The operation is the latest in a series of busts and arrests over recent weeks targeting international organised crime rings.

Last month, Yerlikaya said Turkey captured Hakan Ayik, a top fugitive wanted in Australia for drug smuggling, and 36 others involved in an international organised crime ring that has also been pursued by U.S. and New Zealand authorities.

Yerlikaya also said at the weekend that police had captured Shamil Amirov, a senior figure in an organised crime group called “Thieves in Law”, which operates in Russia.

UKMTO said the drone activity originated from Yemen, and called on vessels in the vicinity to exercise caution.

Reuters wasn’t immediately able to confirm the reports.

The incident is the latest in a series of attacks in Middle Eastern waters since war broke out between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Oct. 7.

An Israeli-linked cargo ship was seized last month by the Houthi group, an ally of Iran which controls Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The group had previously fired ballistic missiles and armed drones at Israel, and vowed to target more Israeli vessels.

There was no immediate comment from the Houthis on Sunday’s incident.

Last week, a U.S. Navy warship responded to a distress call from an Israeli-managed commercial tanker in the Gulf of Aden that had been seized by armed individuals.

However, both leaders expressed deep regret over the collapse of the pause and emphasized the importance of continued efforts to secure the release of all hostages and ensure the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian assistance to those in need in Gaza. Prime Minister Sunak reiterated the need to work towards a two-state solution that guarantees the security and prosperity of both Israelis and Palestinians. He also stated that Hamas had proven itself to be an obstructive force in the pursuit of peace and had no future in Gaza.

Sunak also met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, assuring him that the United Kingdom is actively pressing Israel to adhere to international humanitarian law and address settler violence in the West Bank. Downing Street released a separate statement acknowledging Jordan’s significant role in addressing the crisis in Gaza and praising their generous provision of humanitarian support to Palestinian civilians, including the establishment of military field hospitals.

The British Prime Minister reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to work towards a lasting resolution to the conflict that upholds dignity, peace, and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. Sunak and King Abdullah II also emphasized the importance of continued close cooperation between the UK and Jordan, spanning trade, defense, and clean technology.

During talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Sunak reiterated the UK’s support for the humanitarian response in Gaza. He expressed gratitude for Egypt’s ongoing efforts to deliver much-needed aid to Gaza and secure the release of hostages. The UK has sent planeloads of aid, including warehouse facilities and forklift trucks, to Egypt for prepositioning at the border with Gaza. Sunak assured El-Sisi that the UK is ready to provide further support, emphasizing the need to prevent forced displacement from Gaza and ensure the unimpeded distribution of aid throughout the Gaza Strip.

Earlier on Friday, Sunak held discussions with Israel’s President Isaac Herzog regarding the conflict with Hamas and the conclusion of the humanitarian pause in Gaza. Downing Street stated that the prime minister reiterated the imperative of taking all possible measures to avoid civilian casualties and increasing the flow of aid to Gaza.

In a separate development, King Charles III, who is also attending COP28, met Sheikh Tamim on the sidelines of the summit to discuss bilateral relations and explore opportunities for further cooperation between the two countries and peoples. The meeting also touched upon key items on the summit’s agenda and various joint-interest developments.

Furthermore, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron engaged in talks with Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman to address the latest developments in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. Discussions focused on measures to deescalate tensions and achieve a ceasefire. Sheikh Mohammed emphasized Qatar’s commitment, along with its mediation partners, to ongoing efforts aimed at restoring calm. He stressed the condemnation of all forms of targeting civilians and underscored the unacceptability of killing innocent people, particularly women and children, and implementing policies of collective punishment. The Qatari Foreign Secretary also emphasized the necessity of establishing humanitarian corridors to ensure the delivery of relief and aid to Palestinians affected by the ongoing bombardment.

As the crisis in Gaza continues, international leaders are engaging in diplomatic efforts to mitigate the situation, provide humanitarian support, and work towards a lasting resolution that brings stability and security to the region.

During his visit to the region, Cameron condemned the actions of Israeli settlers in the West Bank, stating that targeting and killing Palestinian civilians is completely unacceptable. He stressed the importance of holding those responsible accountable for their actions and called for the arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment of individuals involved in such crimes.

Cameron underscored the interdependence of Palestinian and Israeli security, stating that long-term safety and stability for Israel can only be achieved if the Palestinian people are afforded the same. He called on Israel to act in a manner that upholds its long-term security interests, which necessitates the establishment of peace, stability, and security for Palestinians in the region.

The recent escalation of violence has led to a significant loss of life and heightened tensions. Palestinian health authorities reported that over 14,000 Gazans, mostly civilians, have been killed since the conflict began. In the West Bank, where more than 3 million Palestinians reside alongside 700,000 Jewish settlers, 229 people have been killed by the Israeli army since the attack on Gaza by Hamas on October 7. The violence has also resulted in the hostage-taking of 240 individuals.

Israel’s settlement expansion in the West Bank was highlighted as a major obstacle to peace and security in the region. Cameron urged Israel to halt the expansion and take steps to facilitate the delivery of aid to Gaza. He emphasized the significance of finding a long-term, durable solution that addresses the security concerns of both Israelis and Palestinians.

Following his discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, an agreement was reached between the warring sides. The agreement, which went into effect on Friday, includes a temporary pause in fighting to facilitate hostage exchanges and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Thirteen Israelis, along with individuals of other nationalities, were released, while 39 Palestinian women and children were freed from Israeli jails.

On Friday, the Rafah crossing witnessed the entry of nearly 200 trucks carrying essential humanitarian supplies, including water and medical aid. This marked the largest shipment of aid since the start of the current hostilities.

As the conflict continues to unfold, international pressure mounts for a lasting ceasefire to prevent further civilian casualties. The British Foreign Secretary’s visit aimed to engage in a continuous dialogue with Israeli leaders, emphasizing the importance of adherence to humanitarian law and the protection of civilian lives in the region.

Cameron will meet Palestinian leaders and aid agencies.

On Thursday he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as fighting between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas continued before a four-day truce was due to begin and ahead of the expected release of 13 Israeli women and child hostages.

“We are hopeful that today will see the release of hostages, and I am urging all parties to continue to work towards the release of every hostage. A pause will also allow access for life-saving aid to the people of Gaza,” Cameron said in a statement.

“I am proud that a fourth UK flight carrying critical supplies landed in Egypt today, and I can announce new £30m of funding which will be spent on vital aid such as shelter and medical provisions,” he said.

The new pledge will double the amount of additional aid Britain has committed to Gaza since the conflict began in October.

It had already advised Britons against all travel to Lebanon due to the conflict between neighbouring Israel and Gaza, and encouraged any Britons still in the country to leave while commercial flights remain.

Chanting “Free Palestine”, holding banners and waving Palestinian flags, the protesters moved through London before massing at Downing Street, the official residence and office of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Police estimated 100,000 people had taken part in the “National March for Palestine” demonstration, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

“As a Palestinian who’d like to return home one day, as a Palestinian who has brothers and sisters in Gaza, and family, I wish we can do more but protest is what we can do at the minute,” one woman, who declined to giver her name, told Reuters.

Many of the chants and banners contained strong anti-Israeli slogans, and one protester held a banner with pictures of Sunak, U.S. President Joe Biden, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the message “Wanted For War crimes”.

Police had cautioned before the march that anyone showing support for Hamas, banned as a terrorist organisation in Britain, would face arrest, and any incident of hate crime would not be tolerated.

The protest appeared peaceful and there were no immediate reports of any arrests.

Figures on Friday showed there had been a 1,353% increase in antisemitic offences this month compared to the same period last year, while Islamophobic offences were up 140%.

“This has been an issue which has long stimulated passions and we are now all seeing on social media and in our communities, how divisive and polarising the current situation has become,” British foreign minister James Cleverly said at a peace summit in Cairo.