News 12/04/26

Foods high in sugar or deep fried items will be removed from daily menus in schools across England under new government plans aimed at tackling childhood obesity.

A nine week consultation will begin on Monday. Schools will be barred from offering foods such as sausage rolls and pizza every day, with desserts restricted and fried items banned. Instead they must provide more wholegrains like brown pasta, wholemeal bread and rice, along with vegetables or salad at every main meal. The aim is to reduce childhood obesity, with around one in three pupils leaving primary school overweight or obese, and tooth decay from high sugar diets a leading cause of hospital admissions in young children aged five to nine.

Supporters of Tisza leader Peter Magyar have gathered at an election rally following Viktor Orban’s concession speech.

Crowds holding candles greeted him with chants linked to the party’s name. Magyar told supporters “we did it”, saying they have reclaimed the country and won an unprecedented mandate.

The UK will not take part in any blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, it is understood.

This follows comments from US President Donald Trump that the US Navy would block the key shipping route. A government spokesperson said the UK supports freedom of navigation and wants the strait to remain open to support the global economy and ease the cost of living, adding it must not be subject to tolling.

TV presenter Dan Walker is due to appear at an employment tribunal after allegations of bullying were made by his former Channel 5 News co-host.

ITN and Channel 5 owner Paramount are also named in the claim brought by Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije. Reports say Walker is also accused of sexism and misogyny. ITN says the claim is fully denied, while Walker and Paramount have been approached for comment.

Ireland’s prime minister Micheal Martin has announced measures to ease pressure from rising fuel prices after protests across the country.

He said duties on fuel will be reduced and a carbon tax rise delayed in a package costing about five hundred and five million euro, on top of support. Police in Dublin cleared a blockade from O Connell Street overnight.

The US Navy will begin blockading ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, Donald Trump has said.

He wrote he had instructed the navy to interdict vessels that paid a toll to Iran and further warned mines in the strait would be destroyed. He added any Iranian firing at US or peaceful vessels would face severe consequences.

Police have made two arrests and recovered more than £1,000 worth of stolen goods in Windsor.

Officers on patrol on April ten responded to a report from Boots about stolen beauty products. Shortly afterwards Tesco Express reported a coffee theft involving the same suspect. Thames Valley Police later found the man hiding on a train platform and arrested him.

A nineteen year old woman who died after a dog attack has been named as Jamie Lea Biscoe.

Essex Police were called to an address in Leaden Roding near Dunmow late on Friday and found her with serious injuries. Despite the efforts of emergency services she died at the scene. A man has been arrested and released on bail as enquiries continue.

A row over tax paid by a property company linked to Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has been described as a minor administrative error.

Reports say the company failed to pay ninety one thousand pounds before dividends were issued. Tice called it a technicality and said the correct tax was paid, while Labour described the issue as a major scandal.

Police are investigating a rape in Epsom in the early hours of Saturday morning.

A woman in her twenties says she was attacked by several men after being followed as she left Labyrinth Epsom nightclub, Surrey Police said. The incident is believed to have taken place between 2am and 4am outside Epsom Methodist Church on Ashley Road. Detective Inspector Aine Matthews said the victim is being supported by specialist officers and described it as an extremely distressing incident.

Burger King’s UK business has secured a sixty million pound financing deal as it continues plans to open dozens of new restaurants despite challenges in the hospitality sector.

The company, which operates under a franchise agreement with Restaurant Brands International, is expected to report strong growth in like for like sales, overall revenue and underlying earnings. It is understood Metro Bank and OakNorth will each provide thirty million pounds, with the funding set to support expansion and other growth initiatives.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting says it is disappointing that initial talks to end the war in Iran have broken down without agreement.

Negotiations between the United States and Iran in Pakistan ended in the early hours of Sunday without a deal. Streeting said the UK, which is not involved in the talks, wants a negotiated end that puts Iran’s nuclear ambitions to bed. He added the prime minister had made the right choice not to commit the UK to US Israeli military strikes.

A man has been arrested over alleged criminal damage involving a United States military aircraft at Shannon Airport in County Clare.

Police say he entered an unauthorised area on Saturday morning. Footage shared online appeared to show a man climbing onto a US Air Force C one thirty Hercules transporter plane and striking the wing with an object. Airport operations were suspended for around twenty minutes before later resuming following the incident. [Pause(1)]

The United States vice president says American negotiators are leaving peace talks without an agreement.

Speaking after twenty one hours of discussions in Pakistan, JD Vance said Iranian negotiators had chosen not to accept US terms. He said the delegation would return to the United States without a deal. Vance added the US had been seeking an affirmative commitment that Iran would not pursue a nuclear weapon or the means to rapidly develop one. [Pause(1)]

An Orthodox Easter truce between Russia and Ukraine has come into force but violations have already been reported.

Air raid sirens were heard in the Kharkiv region less than an hour after it began. Officials say there have been multiple breaches along the frontline, although no long range missile or drone strikes. The pause in fighting is intended to last until Easter Monday. Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky said forces would respond in kind to any actions by Moscow. [Pause(1)]

Tyson Fury has returned to boxing with a unanimous points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Anthony Joshua watched from ringside as Fury secured a wide decision in his comeback fight. It was his first bout after a sixteen month retirement following two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk. Fury chose Makhmudov as his opponent for the return and marked his first fight in a British ring since 2022 with an emotional tribute to friend Ricky Hatton, the British boxing legend who died last year.