Europe closes the Baltic and North Seas to ‘shadow fleet’ tankers

European countries have significantly tightened controls on the so-called ‘shadow fleet’ — ships used to circumvent price caps and sanctions on Russian oil. Fourteen European countries with access to the Baltic and North Seas have issued a joint warning effectively restricting passage for tankers that violate international requirements for flagging,...

Level of ‘extreme poverty’ in the UK reaches 30-year high

According to a new report published today by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), the level of ‘extreme poverty’ in the UK has reached its highest level in three decades. Around 6.8 million people — almost half of all those living in poverty — have incomes significantly below the poverty line,...

France to ban social media for children under 15

On 26 January 2026, the French National Assembly approved a bill prohibiting children and teenagers under the age of 15 from using social media. The bill was supported by an overwhelming majority of votes. According to the text of the bill, access to online social networking services (including ‘social features’...

France bans British far-right activists from entering the Calais region

The French authorities have taken tough measures against British far-right activists linked to the Raise the Colours movement, who have repeatedly staged protests against migrants on the Pas-de-Calais coast. On 14 January 2026, the French Ministry of the Interior announced that it had imposed ten administrative bans on British citizens...