United News of Bangladesh

The man suspected of opening fire at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been identified by US media as Cole Tomas Allen. The 31-year-old is reported to be from Torrance, located in the southwestern outskirts of Los Angeles. Allen previously worked as a tutor in Torrance after completing his studies at the California Institute of Technology, reports BBC. Police said he was staying as a guest at the Washington Hilton, where the event was being held, and was carrying several weapons, including firearms and knives. Following the incident, Allen was taken to hospital for treatment and is expected to face formal charges on Monday, as the investigation continues.

Residents of Slavutych gathered in the early hours of Sunday to mark the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, lighting candles in a quiet midnight vigil despite the ongoing war with Russia. People slowly filled the city’s central square, placing candles around a large radiation hazard symbol on the ground to remember those who died in the 1986 disaster and the thousands who risked their lives to contain its aftermath. The annual vigil continues even as authorities warn against large gatherings during wartime and curfews remain in place. The April 26, 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear plant exposed major safety failures and secrecy in the then Soviet Union. Authorities delayed announcing the disaster for two days, only after radioactive fallout had spread across Europe and raised alarms abroad. Around 600,000 people, known as “liquidators,” were involved in firefighting and cleanup efforts. Dozens died within months from the explosion and radiation sickness, while millions were exposed to harmful radiation. The disaster also forced the long-term evacuation of hundreds of towns and villages across Ukraine and Belarus. Slavutych, located about 50 kilometers from the plant, was built after the disaster to house Chernobyl workers and their families. The city has since faced new hardships, including a brief Russian occupation early in the war and severe winters, with recent power outages forcing some residents to cook outdoors. At the vigil, people of all ages arrived, many bringing flowers like tulips and daffodils. They gathered near a memorial surrounded by Soviet-era apartment blocks and posters honoring locals killed in the ongoing war. Liudmyla Liubyva, 71, attended the ceremony with a friend. She said she used to come with her husband, a former Chernobyl worker who later became disabled due to radiation exposure. She said remembering those who sacrificed their health remains important, but added that the war has brought back fears of nuclear danger. "When the drone struck the arch, it felt like the world could return to 1986," she said, referring to a Russian drone strike in 2025 that damaged the New Safe Confinement structure built over the destroyed reactor. "We all — young and old alike — must protect our land, because it is so vulnerable." The ceremony included soft music and poetry about the disaster played over loudspeakers. Some participants wore white protective suits and face masks, symbolising the liquidators, and stood silently holding candles. Larysa Panova, 67, said she still remembers the day she was forced to leave her hometown of Chernobyl and start a new life in Slavutych. Though she has lived there for years, she said memories of her childhood home remain strong. Before the war, she often visited the area, but access has since been restricted. "I never stop thinking of Chernobyl as my homeland," she said. "You remember your school, your childhood, your youth — everything happened there, in Chernobyl."

The alleged gunman in Saturday’s shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner told authorities that he was targeting officials linked to US President Donald Trump, says BBC News. Between five and eight gunshots were fired during the incident at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the annual event was being held. The shooting unfolded on Saturday night when a suspect ran into the hotel foyer around 00:35 GMT, attempting to bypass security officers and metal detectors. An officer was shot at close range, but survived as his bulletproof vest absorbed the impact. Trump says shooting likely unrelated to Iran war; suspect identified in White House incident The suspect was later arrested at the scene. The loud bangs triggered an immediate response from Secret Service personnel, who evacuated President Trump and other senior officials, including First Lady Melania Trump and Vice-President JD Vance. Hundreds of journalists, media figures and government officials were also present at the event, where Trump was attending as president for the first time. Guests were kept inside for about an hour before the ballroom was cleared. Trump later posted images and video of the suspect on social media. US media identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, who is expected to be charged on Monday with multiple offences, including using a firearm during a violent crime. Commenting on the incident, Trump said, “I can’t imagine any professions that are more dangerous,” referring to several assassination attempts over the past three years. Authorities said investigations into the motive are ongoing. Source: BBC News

US President Donald Trump has said the recent shooting incident is unlikely to be connected to the ongoing war involving Iran, although he acknowledged investigators are still examining the motive. Speaking at a press conference earlier, Trump said, “It’s not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, I really don’t think so, based on what we know.” However, he also noted that “you never know” and confirmed that authorities are continuing to investigate the motive behind the attack. Separately, US media outlets including The New York Times and CBS News identified the suspected gunman as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen. Trump claims Iran made fresh offers shortly after cancelling US talks trip The incident is linked to a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, where armed assailant Allen allegedly attempted to breach security before being apprehended by Secret Service agents. One officer was injured but survived due to a bulletproof vest. Trump, who was evacuated along with senior officials, later described the suspect as a “lone wolf” and a “would-be assassin,” while suggesting there was no clear evidence connecting the attack to Iran-related tensions. Authorities said Allen was armed with multiple weapons, including a shotgun, handgun and knives, and acted alone. Investigations into the motive are ongoing. Source: Al Jazeera

US President Donald Trump has said the First Lady, Vice President and all Cabinet members are “in perfect condition” after an incident that prompted changes to a scheduled event. Trump said he had been asked to leave the premises of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, adding that the event will be rescheduled. “I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days,” he said, noting that he would address the media shortly. The president also said a law enforcement officer was shot at close range but survived due to wearing a bulletproof vest. “He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job,” Trump said. He added that he had spoken directly with the injuries officer, who is recovering well. “He’s doing great. He’s in great shape. He is in very high spirits, and we told him we love him and respect him,” Trump said. Source: Al Jazeera

  US President Donald Trump was uninjured after an apparent security scare prompted the evacuation of top White House officials from the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday night. According to law enforcement officials, an unspecified threat emerged during the event, with one official saying a shooter had opened fire outside the venue. Authorities said the incident occurred near the ballroom where Trump and other high-profile guests were present at the time. There were no immediate reports of injuries, and details surrounding the incident remained unclear as security personnel swiftly secured the area and escorted attendees to safety. The high-profile gathering was abruptly cancelled following the scare and will be rescheduled, organisers said. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, while security measures around the area have been intensified.

Amid the stalled negotiations with Iran, US President Donald Trump said the Iranians sent over a new peace proposal, but that it “could have been better,” and rejected it. “They gave us a paper that could have been better, and interestingly, immediately when I canceled it, within 10 minutes we got a new paper that was much better,” Trump said to reporters on Saturday before boarding Air Force One to return to Washington from Florida. The President wouldn’t offer specifics about what was in the latest proposal other than saying “they offered a lot.” But he stressed that one of his conditions is that Iran “will not have a nuclear weapon.” Trump said he cancelled the latest rounds of negotiations with Iran because it was “a lot of traveling” and because his negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, “weren’t meeting with the leader of the country.” Trump said the U.S. will “deal by telephone and they can call us anytime they want” before adding that “we have all the cards.”

US President Donald Trump said he has instructed American envoys not to travel to Pakistan for further Iran talks, shortly after Iran’s top diplomat left Islamabad on Saturday evening. Speaking to Fox News, Trump said, “They can call us anytime they want,” according to Reuters. The White House had earlier stated on Friday that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would travel to Pakistan’s capital to revive ceasefire negotiations with Iran. Two Pakistani officials told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media, that Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed Islamabad on Saturday evening. Iran vows to react if U.S. continues "blockade, banditry" in region During his visit, Araghchi met Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, discussing Iran’s “red lines” for negotiations. He said Tehran would continue engaging with Pakistan’s mediation efforts “until a result is achieved,” while insisting that any talks with the US would remain indirect. Iran has repeatedly expressed mistrust of Washington after failed nuclear negotiations last year and earlier this year, which were followed by US and Israeli strikes. Ahead of the expected talks, Islamabad was placed under tight security. Pakistan has been trying to bring both sides back to negotiations after Trump extended the ceasefire. The White House earlier confirmed Witkoff and Kushner would meet Araghchi, but Iran insisted Pakistan would relay messages. Previous high-level talks and Geneva negotiations ended without agreement. Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to disrupt global energy supplies, with Brent crude nearly 50% higher than pre-war levels. Iran has attacked ships, while the US maintains a blockade. Germany is sending minesweepers to the Mediterranean amid the crisis.

Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, vowed Saturday to react if the United States continues its "blockade, banditry and piracy" in the West Asia region. It made the announcement in a statement carried by Iranian media while pointing to the U.S. naval blockade imposed on the Strait of Hormuz, which prevents vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports from transiting the waterway, and actions against Iran-bound ships over the past few days. It called on the United States to know that Iran's armed forces are more powerful and prepared than before to defend the country's national sovereignty and interests as well as territorial integrity, adding the U.S. army experienced part of Iran's power and offensive capabilities during the recent war. It said Iran's armed forces are ready and determined to, while monitoring the "enemies' behavior and movements" in the region and continuing their management and control over the Strait of Hormuz, inflict more severe damage on the U.S. and Israeli "enemies" if they repeat their "aggression." Also on Saturday, Saudi state-linked Al Arabiya News, citing a source, reported that Iran will not acquiesce to negotiations involving red lines set by the United States. The developments came as Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Saturday conveyed Iran's considerations and views regarding the end of the war in a meeting with Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. Araghchi, who arrived in Pakistan's capital Islamabad Friday night at the head of a diplomatic delegation, also exchanged views with Munir on the latest developments pertaining to a ceasefire with the United States and Israel, and the end of the war, as well as the expansion of bilateral cooperation to strengthen peace and stability in the West Asia region, the report said. Iran had tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz since Feb. 28, when it barred passage to vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States after the two countries' joint strikes on Iranian territory. A ceasefire was achieved between Iran, the United States and Israel on April 8 after 40 days of fighting, followed by lengthy talks between Iranian and U.S. delegations in Islamabad on April 11-12, which failed to yield an agreement. The United States later imposed its own blockade on the waterway. Iranian and U.S. delegations were reportedly expected to hold another round of peace talks in Pakistan this week, but Iran refrained from attending negotiations, citing the U.S. continued naval blockade and "excessive" demands as the main reasons.   

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Islamabad as part of a three-country tour amid ongoing diplomatic efforts involving the United States and Pakistan, while conflicting statements have emerged over planned Iran-US talks. The White House said US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel to Islamabad for talks with Iran. However, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said “no meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US”, adding that Tehran’s “observations would be conveyed by Pakistan”. Commercial flights resume at Tehran airport after two months Pakistani mediators remain “cautiously optimistic” about the prospects of Iran-US engagement following Araghchi’s arrival in the Pakistani capital, says report. The Iranian side has maintained that no trilateral meeting with the United States is scheduled, rejecting the US version of events. Tehran has also insisted that a key sticking point remains the demand for the complete opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to what it describes as a US blockade, while Washington has not indicated any willingness to lift restrictions. Despite the disagreement, Pakistani officials said the ongoing presence of all sides reflects progress in behind-the-scenes diplomacy. They described the process as “relentless diplomacy” involving continuous engagement from multiple parties. According to diplomatic sources, in the past 24 hours Pakistan has held separate discussions not only with Iran but also with Russia. Officials said Moscow is expected to be another stop on the Iranian foreign minister’s tour after leaving Pakistan. While the situation remains at a stalemate, mediators in Islamabad believe continued shuttle diplomacy could help keep dialogue efforts alive between Tehran and Washington. Source- Al Jazeera