International News Roundup: Pornhub Restricts UK Access, Influencer Arrested, and More
London, UK - Several international incidents made headlines this week, ranging from online content restrictions to political arrests and legal troubles for prominent figures.
Pornhub began restricting access for users in the United Kingdom on February 2, 2026, following the implementation of the Online Safety Act in July 2025, according to BBC Technology. The law requires robust age verification measures for adult content websites. Aylo, Pornhub's parent company, claimed the law has driven users to sites that do not follow the law and increased "exposure to..." [content incomplete in source]. Critics of the Online Safety Act have pointed out that it can be easily circumvented using a virtual private network (VPN), which masks a user's location.
In the United States, Brazilian influencer Júnior Pena, whose full name is Eustáquio da Silva Pena Júnior, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in New Jersey, The Guardian reported. Pena, a supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, had reportedly lived in the U.S. since 2009 and had falsely claimed that migrants being rounded up were all criminals.
Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, police announced a review of misconduct claims related to Peter Mandelson, a former ambassador to Washington, Al Jazeera reported. The review was prompted by the release of investigative files in the United States, which revealed that Mandelson shared confidential government information with Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a UK minister. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the review on Monday.
In Norway, Marius Borg Hoiby, the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, was arrested on Sunday ahead of his rape trial, Sky News reported. Hoiby, 29, was detained on suspicion of causing bodily harm, wielding a knife, and violating a restraining order. He was already awaiting trial in Oslo on 38 charges. Police stated they would seek permission from a judge to keep Hoiby in custody for the next four weeks.
Finally, in Iran, Oscar-nominated screenwriter Mehdi Mahmoudian was arrested in Tehran days after criticizing the regime, according to Sky News. Mahmoudian, who co-wrote the script for the Iranian drama "It Was Just An Accident," was arrested on Saturday. A statement released by representatives of the film indicated that Mahmoudian and 16 others had condemned Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his regime's violent crackdown on protesters. The charges against Mahmoudian remain unclear.
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