UK Parliament is in the news for court reforms, social media laws, and scandals like Mandelson’s Epstein links. It’s the UK’s top lawmaking body.
The UK has passed the Tobacco and Vapes Act, which has introduced a rolling age ban that will permanently stop anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 from legally buying tobacco and has extended broad powers to regulate vaping, flavours, packaging, advertising and where vaping is allowed.
Charlotte Nichols, MP for Warrington North, revealed she waited 1,088 days for her rape case to reach court, criticizing government plans to limit jury trials for certain crimes. The reforms aim to reduce case backlogs but face opposition from victims and legal experts.
British MPs are calling for sanctions on Israel, including arms embargoes and trade restrictions, citing violations of international law and recent land registration approvals in occupied territories. The movement reflects growing parliamentary pressure for action, contrasting with the UK government's current stance.
Ukrainian President Zelensky visited Westminster, demonstrating real-time battlefield feeds via iPad and highlighting Ukraine’s advanced drone and missile defense capabilities. He emphasized international cooperation, thanked the UK for a long-term support agreement, and linked Ukraine’s efforts to global security. Meanwhile, Trump criticized Western allies and NATO.
Australia's new law requires 10 major social media platforms to block under-16s or face fines of up to AU$49.5 million. While platforms have deactivated 5 million accounts, concerns remain over compliance and effectiveness, with investigations ongoing into potential non-compliance by major companies like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.
As of April 2026, multiple countries including the UK, Turkey, Australia, and others have passed or are considering laws to restrict social media access for children under 15 or 16. The UK government has committed to imposing age restrictions for under-16s following consultations, while Turkey has passed a law banning under-15s from social media accounts. Australia’s ban on under-16s began in December 2025, with other nations planning similar measures.