Children in Britain who are 17 or younger, and anyone born in the future, will never be able to legally buy cigarettes after lawmakers approved new stricter restrictions on smoking.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill raises the legal age for buying tobacco by one year, every year, starting with people born on or after January 1, 2009, meaning affected age groups face a lifetime ban.

The law, which is due to receive royal assent next week, also tightens controls on vaping, including banning sales of vaping and nicotine products to under‑18s and restricting advertising, displays, free distribution and discounting.

The government says the measures will help reduce smoking and prevent young people from becoming addicted to nicotine, easing long-term pressure on the National Health Service.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the approval of the bill was a historic moment for the nation’s health.

“Children in the UK will be part of the first smoke-free generation, protected from a lifetime of addiction and harm,” he said.

“Prevention is better than cure — this reform will save lives, ease pressure on the NHS, and build a healthier Britain.”

Smoking causes about 64,000 deaths and 400,000 hospital admissions a year in England, according to official estimates, and costs the NHS around 3 billion pounds ($4 billion) annually, with wider economic costs exceeding 20 billion pounds.

Tighter rules on vaping

Vaping has also become a focus for policymakers, especially over concerns about youth uptake and nicotine addiction.

The government banned the sale of single-use or disposable vapes last year over concerns about youth use and environmental damage.

The new legislation will tighten those rules, with ministers gaining powers to regulate the flavours and packaging of tobacco, vaping and nicotine products through secondary legislation.

Around 10% of adults in Great Britain — an estimated 5.5 million people — use vapes, according to health charity Action on Smoking and Health, with levels broadly unchanged since 2024, suggesting growth has begun to plateau.

About half of people who vape are former smokers, while around 40% continue to smoke alongside vaping, the charity said.

DUBAI: Dubai has announced a major new metro project, with authorities saying the “Golden Line” will cost 34 billion dirhams ($9.25 billion) and is expected to be completed by September 9, 2032.

The planned “Golden Line” will run about 40 metres underground and connect 15 key areas across the emirate, according to details shared by the emirate’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on social media.

The project is expected to serve around 1.5 million people and support 55 major real estate developments currently under construction.

Dubai said the new line would expand the total length of its metro network by 35%, as part of broader efforts to improve transport infrastructure and accommodate population and urban growth.

Iran’s agriculture minister said a US naval blockade has had little impact on the country’s ability to supply basic goods and food, citing strong domestic production and alternative import routes.

“Despite the US naval blockade, we have no problem in supplying basic goods and food because, due to the size of the country, it is possible to import from different borders,” Agriculture Minister Gholamreza Nouri said on Tuesday.

“About 85 percent of agricultural products and basic goods are produced domestically, so the country’s food security is established,” he added, according to the official IRNA news agency.

The United States imposed a naval blockade on Iran’s ports and coasts on April 13, days after a ceasefire was announced that paused its war with Iran.

Iran has strongly criticised the blockade, describing it as a violation of the ceasefire.