News 28/04/26

The King was greatly touched by the warm reception to his address to Congress, Buckingham Palace says.

A spokesperson said he was deeply honoured to be invited as the first British monarch to deliver such an address and appreciated the warmth and generosity shown in response to his speech by those present at the event

MPs have rejected a motion calling for the prime minister to face a parliamentary inquiry into whether he misled the House.

The vote was 335 to 223 against, giving the government a majority of 112. More than a dozen Labour MPs defied the party whip, with fifteen supporting a Tory led effort to refer Sir Keir Starmer to the Privileges Committee for investigation

Trials of the British Army’s Ajax armoured vehicle will proceed cautiously after being halted last year, a defence minister has said.

The programme was paused after soldiers became unwell due to noise and vibration during a training exercise. This followed earlier comments that the project had overcome its problems and was ready for deployment on operations

Deaths are expected to outnumber births in the UK every year from 2026, according to official projections.

The population is now forecast to grow more slowly, reaching seventy one million by 2034. Lower migration and declining fertility rates are factors, with fewer children expected and pensioners increasing faster than working age adults in the coming decade

The Westminster leader of the Greens says it stretches the bounds of reason to suggest the Foreign Office decision to grant Peter Mandelson security clearance was not influenced by pressure from Downing Street.

Dr Ellie Chowns made the comments in the Commons as MPs debate whether to refer the prime minister to the Privileges Committee for investigation amid growing concerns

An eighty nine year old man has been arrested after shootings in Athens left several people wounded.

Police launched a manhunt after a gunman opened fire at a social security office and a court building in the Greek capital. The suspect was later apprehended near the city of Patra. An employee at the social security office was injured in hospital

A doctor has been struck off after running an unregistered clinic and charging cancer patients fifteen thousand pounds for bogus cures using garlic oil and vitamin C.

Dr Mohsen Ali, whose licence was withdrawn in 2015, treated patients from a Leicester council house described as squalid. His practices came to light after a patient contacted police who informed the regulator

Councillors have clashed over a motion calling for improvements to Slough streets and public spaces.

At a full council meeting, Councillor Andrea Escott said persistent complaints had been raised about the condition of the town. The motion highlighted poor roads, increasing fly tipping and littering, inconsiderate parking and overgrown hedges across the area during the discussion at the meeting yesterday evening

The United Arab Emirates is to leave the OPEC and OPEC Plus groups at the end of this month.

The organisations bring together major oil producing nations and influence global markets by setting production levels to balance supply and demand. That is intended to support price stability, although disruption such as Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz can affect this. The UAE’s energy minister says leaving will give the country greater flexibility.

A gunman has opened fire at two locations in central Athens, injuring several people, according to Greek authorities.

Police are searching for the suspect, reported to be an eighty nine year old man. He was armed with a shotgun and first opened fire at a social security office in the city centre, wounding an employee. The victim suffered shrapnel injuries to his legs and was taken to hospital. His condition is not believed to be life threatening.

Counter terror police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a memorial wall in north London.

The fire broke out in Limes Avenue in Golders Green in the early hours of Monday. The wall is near a Jewish centre and commemorates Iranians killed while protesting against the country’s regime. Officers say the investigation is being led by specialist counter terror teams, although it is not currently being treated as a terror incident.

The prime minister’s former chief of staff says the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States was a serious error of judgement.

He said he advised the prime minister to support the appointment and accepted that was a mistake. However, he stressed he made a recommendation based on his judgement that Mandelson’s experience and political skills could serve the national interest in Washington at an important moment. [Pause(1)]

A gunman has opened fire at two locations in central Athens, injuring several people, according to Greek authorities.

Local media report the suspect is an eighty nine year old man who is being sought by police. He was armed with a shotgun and first opened fire at a social security office, wounding an employee. The injured man suffered shrapnel wounds to his legs and was taken for treatment. His injuries are not believed to be life threatening. [Pause(1)]

The runner who finished last at the London Marathon says it was a huge privilege to raise money for a charity she says saved her life.

Clair Roberts, from Milton Keynes, completed the course in twelve hours and sixteen minutes, finishing just before midnight. The thirty five year old has raised more than two thousand pounds for the Samaritans and now volunteers for the charity after turning to them seven years ago during a very dark time.

Oil and gas giant BP has reported a more than doubling of profits as it benefits from high prices linked to the Iran war.

Benchmark oil prices have risen sharply since early March after attacks led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a route for about a fifth of global oil and liquified natural gas. BP says underlying profits for the first three months reached three point one nine eight billion dollars, higher than analysts had expected.

Sir Keir Starmer is facing a crucial day in parliament that could affect his future as prime minister.

In a high profile committee hearing, his claim that due process was followed in appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador is set to be challenged. He will also face an emergency Commons debate, secured by Kemi Badenoch, with calls for an investigation into whether he misled MPs.

The UK will introduce restrictions on social media for under sixteens, according to the education minister.

Olivia Bailey told MPs that some form of age or functionality limit will be brought in after the House of Lords backed a full ban for a fourth time. MPs have rejected that proposal three times, saying a consultation must conclude first, but ministers say they have listened to concerns and will act quickly.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived in the United States at the start of a four day state visit.

They landed at Andrews airbase before being welcomed at the White House by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Security is tight following the recent shooting in Washington. The King is due to address Congress on Tuesday and is expected to express sympathy over the attack.

There has been a rise in the number of domestic abuse victims who took their own lives in England and Wales.

Figures from the National Police Chiefs Council show one hundred and fifty suspected suicides in the year to March twenty twenty five, compared with ninety eight the year before. Police say improved awareness and reporting changes may explain the increase. The data also shows some victims were aged between sixteen and twenty four.

A California man has been charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump.

Cole Tomas Allen, thirty one, appeared in court in Washington and faces firearms charges. Prosecutors say he carried multiple weapons and charged a security checkpoint at an event on Saturday. A Secret Service agent was shot but not seriously injured. Allen could face life in prison if convicted.