News 26/04/26

Former US president Barack Obama has condemned the shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner.

He wrote on social media that, although details are not yet clear, violence has no place in democracy. He also praised US Secret Service agents and said he was grateful the injured officer is expected to recover.

Two of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rivals have announced they are joining forces to try to oust his coalition government.

Right-wing Naftali Bennett and centrist Yair Lapid have confirmed the merger of their parties following a joint announcement. Lapid said they are acting for the country’s future while Bennett said the new party will be called Together and he will lead it.

Discussions are under way over security for the King’s visit after gunshots were fired at a dinner attended by Donald Trump on Saturday night in Washington DC.

Buckingham Palace says the president and his wife were rushed out of the White House correspondents’ dinner in Washington DC after shots were heard. The suspect was detained and an officer was struck but saved by a bulletproof vest, with no other injuries reported.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after a significant fire at an LGBT nightclub.

Thames Valley Police say Pink Punters in Milton Keynes was on fire at around 2am on Sunday. Clubbers and nearby residents were evacuated by staff after footage showed flames through the roof.

Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche says the motive of the suspected shooter at the correspondents’ dinner is still under investigation.

He told NBC preliminary findings suggest the suspect was targeting administration officials, likely including the president. Investigators are examining reports the weapon was assembled in a hotel and say the suspect did not get far, barely breaking the perimeter. Blanche said the man likely travelled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington DC, and confirmed he will be formally charged on Monday.

The man arrested after shots were fired inside the hotel hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been named by CBS as Cole Tomas Allen.

The thirty one year old is from Torrance in California. After being detained inside the Washington Hilton, he reportedly told officers he wanted to shoot officials in the Trump administration. Sources say between five and eight shots were fired. CCTV footage shows a person running past security before being chased by officers.

People in the UK could face higher energy, food and flight prices for at least eight months after the US Israel war with Iran ends, according to a senior minister.

Darren Jones said the government is looking at ways to offset shortages. Disruption to energy production and transport in the Middle East has caused supply issues and rising prices globally. Officials have already drawn up a worst case scenario of food shortages by the summer if the conflict continues.

Sabastian Sawe has made history at the London Marathon by running a sub two hour time in a competitive race.

The Kenyan finished in one hour fifty nine minutes thirty seconds, beating the previous record set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023. Eliud Kipchoge ran under two hours in 2019 under controlled conditions, but that was not eligible as a record.

Residents including two babies were evacuated after a car bomb exploded in Dunmurry.

Police say the hijacked vehicle was driven to a station and the attack is being treated as attempted murder, possibly linked to the New IRA.

President Donald Trump has spoken after a shooting at the correspondents’ dinner.

He said the suspect was taken down by members of the Secret Service. The president added an officer who was shot survived because he was wearing a bulletproof vest. He said the officer had been shot at close range with a powerful gun but the vest did its job. Mr Trump also said the suspect had charged a security checkpoint while armed with multiple weapons.

The government says it is stepping up plans to deal with possible food and fuel shortages linked to the Iran war.

The prime minister will chair another meeting of a Cabinet committee on Tuesday, while ministers are meeting twice a week to monitor stock levels and any disruption to supply chains. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has driven up oil prices, and officials have considered a worst case scenario of shortages by the summer if the conflict continues.