The shooter at the U.S. White House Correspondent Dinner on Apr. 26 (Singapore time) has been apprehended, the FBI said, as reported by AP News.

Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, a teacher from Torrance, California.

According to AP News, Interim Washington DC police chief Jeffery Carroll said the gunman suspect was believed to be a hotel guest, and investigators believed he was working alone.

Carroll added that there “does not appear to be any sort of danger to the public” now.

Footage of the incident posted by U.S. President Donald Trump on Truth Social showed Allen allegedly opening fire at an officer as he rushed past security checks outside of the Hilton Hotel ballroom where the dinner was taking place.

Armed with multiple weapons

According to the New York Post, a witness alleged she saw Allen grab his weapon "out of a bag or something".

Seven to eight shots were reportedly fired, sending the dinner attendees under the table as Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, U.S. Vice-President JD Vance and others were evacuated out of the room.

Washington DC police said he was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives, reported AP News.

A law enforcement officer wearing a bulletproof vest was shot but is expected to recover.

Trump was unharmed.

At a press conference after the shooting, Trump said: "My impression is he was a lone wolf whack job", reported BBC.

Trump posts photo of suspect

Trump took to Truth Social at about 10:30pm local time (10:30am Singapore time) to post two uncaptioned photos of the suspect.

In the photo, a topless, moustached man with his hands seemingly restrained behind his back, lies face down on the carpet, surrounded by security personnel.

According to AP News, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said the suspect is being preliminarily charged with two charges for using a firearm and assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon.

Pirro noted that more charges will be filed “based on the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation.”

Pirro added that the suspect will be formally charged before a federal district court on Monday.

Top images via Donald Trump/Truth Social

U.S. President Donald Trump has been evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner after suspected gunshots were heard, various media outlets reported on the morning of Apr. 26 (Singapore time).

The dinner is an annual tradition in Washington DC, held by the organisation of journalists tasked with covering news from the White House. The president traditionally attends the dinners.

AP has reported that the president, Vice President JD Vance and members of the Cabinet attending the dinner have been safely evacuated with no injuries.

🇺🇸‼️Trump evacuated after loud noises were heard. https://t.co/qcnjFcIlm6 pic.twitter.com/rbfiE1Ppyb

— MAKS 25 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) April 26, 2026

Pictures from the wires and social media show Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson being led away by Secret Service agents.

AP cited a "law enforcement official", who said that a shooter had opened fire within the Hilton hotel in Washington DC, where the dinner is taking place.

AP added that a "security incident" took place outside the ballroom where the dinner was being held.

This is a developing story.

Top image via Reuters.

Tokyo's metropolitan government has encouraged staff to wear shorts and T-shirts to work as part of efforts to reduce air conditioning use.

This comes amid growing concerns over high energy costs tied to the Middle East conflict.

According to local news outlet The Japan News, the government had called on workplaces to adopt the initiative, known as Tokyo Cool Biz, on Apr. 22.

This coincided with the start of Japan's 2026 special heatstroke warning system.

The campaign promotes energy conservation while keeping workers comfortable during the summer months.

It targets three areas: work arrangements, daily habits and clothing choices.

On the work front, it encourages early-morning shifts and remote work.

For daily life, it urges the public to monitor temperatures and stay alert to heatstroke risks.

Regarding clothing, it recommends that employees dress for comfort based on the time, place and occasion.

Rising energy costs

The move comes as Japan grapples with climbing energy costs driven by the Middle East conflict, as well as the increasingly severe summer heat in recent years.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has pushed up oil prices and stoked concerns about potential shortages of petroleum products, including jet fuel, reported The Guardian.

Japan, in particular, faces heightened energy vulnerability as the country relies on the Middle East for around 90 per cent of its oil imports, most of which are shipped through the Strait of Hormuz.

Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike, who first championed the Cool Biz campaign as environment minister some two decades ago, cited "a severe outlook for electricity supply and demand" as she called on workers to embrace the change.

"We encourage cool attire that prioritises comfort, including polo shirts, t-shirts and sneakers and — depending on job responsibilities — shorts," she told the media.

Workers spotted in shorts

Citing AFP, The Guardian reported that some government employees have already been spotted in shorts, t-shirts and short-sleeved blouses since the start of the initiative.

A metropolitan government official wearing shorts to the office for the first time told The Japan News: "I was a bit nervous, but it's very comfortable, and I feel like it'll improve my work efficiency."

"As it gets even hotter, I'd like to come in earlier and work from home as well," he said.

Top photo from TBS NEWS DIG/YouTube

To celebrate Chinese literature, language, and culture, SPH Media's Chinese Media Group (CMG) launched the inaugural SG Chinese FunFest.

Held across Singapore from Apr. 25 to May. 17, the festival aims to integrate Chinese heritage into everyday life, sparking a deeper connection to the language and culture.

The Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Loh Woon Yen, said that Chinese language and culture "should not be confined to classrooms or books".

"Our aim is not merely to preserve the language, but to ensure it remains vibrant and well-loved in modern society."

"We launched the SG Chinese FunFest to bring these elements closer to the community and demonstrate that Chinese can be truly engaging. Looking ahead, we hope the FunFest can become an open platform that unites local cultural resources to drive innovation," she added.

Over the three weeks, the FunFest will feature events such as the SG Chinese FunFest Carnival and a series of guided cultural tours.

Carnival

The SG Chinese FunFest Carnival kicked off on Apr. 25 at Punggol Coast Mall, featuring live stage performances, interactive booths, and the finals of the 13th National Chinese Challenge Finals.

Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung delivered the opening speech in Mandarin before observing among other teams his alma mater, Maris Stella High School, one of this year's secondary school finalists.

A bilingual online quiz game developed by Lianhe Zaobao also debuted, putting participants' knowledge of local culture and heritage to the test.

Other activities throughout

Guided tours

Between May. On May 1 and May. 7, the public can join a series of guided cultural tours around Singapore.

These tours include visits to SPH Media Print Centre, Changi Village, Fort Canning, Waterloo Street, and Chinatown Heritage Centre.

Members of the public can sign up and pay for tours on the FunFest website zb.sg/sgcff.

City Reading@SG

From May. 1 to May. 10, 30 sessions of literary talks, book launches and film screenings will take place across various locations as part of the fourth edition of City Reading@SG.

Authors such as Professor Wang Gungwu, Kin Yucheng, Ma Ka Fai, Su Tong, and Wu Xiaole will headline the event.

There will also be a series of wuxia-themed activities, an exhibition on wuxia legends, curated talks, and a live concert featuring wuxia-themed songs by Wysom Wong.

Chinese Pre-University Seminar

On May. 8, the CMG will conduct the inaugural Chinese Pre-University Seminar.

The seminar is catered for those aged 16 to 19 to engage in critical thinking in Chinese and share their perspectives on social issues.

Top photos via Khoo Wen-en/Mothership

An elderly man collecting recyclables near a Housing and Development Board (HDB) block in Bukit Panjang passed away on Apr. 25 after he was hit by a garbage truck.

His wheelchair was found lodged beneath the vehicle.

The man, 69, had previously undergone a right leg amputation.

Paramedics who arrived at the scene performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the man, who was unconscious, before conveying him to the hospital.

He was subsequently pronounced dead.

A 39-year-old truck driver has been arrested for careless driving causing death.

What happened

According to Chinese daily Shin Min Daily News, the accident occurred at around 8:25am on Apr. 25 at 647B Senja Close.

A resident, Qiu Weihong (transliteration), told Shin Min that he was on his way to work when he saw the man lying motionless on the ground.

A garbage truck was nearby, with a wheelchair lodged underneath it.

"I didn’t see any blood. Besides two workers in the garbage truck company uniforms, there were also two members of the public present. One of them had tried to check the man's pulse," Qiu said.

He added that paramedics arrived shortly after and administered CPR, with the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).

A friend identified the deceased as "Ah Lun", and said he was a familiar presence in the area.

One resident interviewed said the deceased regularly collected cans and bottles from nearby bins each morning.

"He sometimes uses a wheelchair, but he can stand when he's looking for something. He's always alone," she said.

Another resident said the man would usually go out in his wheelchair, loading it with items salvaged from nearby bins before pushing it back unsteadily.

Another resident added: "Seeing him like that always made me feel sad."

An acquaintance told Shin Min that the man had his leg amputated due to diabetes and had been renting a home.

He had reportedly been due to move into an HDB flat in Woodlands in June.

His sisters also live in that area.

Investigations at the scene lasted about three hours

When Shin Min reporters arrived at the scene, the area had been cordoned off.

Police officers were seen placing evidence markers and photographing items at the scene at around 11am.

An employee believed to be the driver was later taken aside for questioning before being escorted to a police vehicle.

Other staff from the company also arrived at the scene.

Investigations lasted approximately three hours.

Town council workers subsequently removed the wheelchair from beneath the truck at around noon.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police confirmed they were alerted to an accident involving a truck and a pedestrian along Senja Close.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) conveyed a 69-year-old male pedestrian unconscious to Woodlands hospital, where he later died, while a 39-year-old male truck driver was arrested for careless driving without due care and attention causing death.

Investigations are ongoing.

Top photos from Shin Min Daily News

A Filipino man has gone viral for his appearance as a contestant of a male pageant called Mister Pampanga.

21-year-old Richard Jermaine "RJ" Perkins is a first-time male pageant contender representing Angeles City in the Philippines.

During the swimwear round of the pageant, Perkins' appearance became a talking point as he walked confidently on stage.

Users online praised him for "breaking barriers and stereotypes", and for being a good example of body positivity.

A new journey

In a Facebook post by Kapampangan Male Pageantry at the beginning of 2026, Perkins shared that he had been in a boy group training program before entering pageantry.

He was also doing acting on the side.

And while it was his first time in a pageant, Perkins said one of the main things he wanted to do was embark on a new journey.

When asked what he was most excited to experience in the competition, he said the swimwear round.

Top photos via Elite Male Pageantry PH/Facebook & Mister Pampanga/Facebook

A driver suspected of providing illegal point-to-point services at Gardens by the Bay on the night of Jun. 20, 2025, allegedly tried to flee when confronted by Land Transport Authority (LTA) enforcement officers.

When they approached him for documentation, the driver apparently locked his passengers in the car and attempted to drive away.

The car subsequently hit an officer in the shin.

Shin Min Daily News reported that the 51-year-old man, Hong Weide (transliterated), faced a charge of dangerous driving causing hurt.

Enforcement operation

According to Shin Min, the incident occurred at about 8:30pm.

Two LTA enforcement officers were stationed at the Gardens by the Bay pick-up and drop-off point.

At about 9pm, the officers noticed that the accused was parked at the drop-off point.

A group of tourists then reportedly waved at the driver, who got out of his car to assist them.

The officers then approached and identified themselves, asking the driver to produce documentation.

However, he reportedly refused to cooperate.

He rolled up the car window, and locked the doors.

Hit officer's shin

When an officer approached the accused's car and gestured for him to cooperate, the driver reportedly ignored the officer and slowly drove the car forward, hitting the officer's shin.

The officer then tapped on the windshield, instructing him to stop, Shin Min reported.

The officers also attempted to open the car door, but found it locked.

The driver eventually opened the door to let the tourists out, Shin Min reported.

Upon being questioned by officers, the tourists said they had not booked the accused's services before boarding the vehicle.

Prosecution called for jail sentence

Following the incident, the prosecution pointed out that there were three children in the vehicle at the time, and they were visibly affected.

In addition, the prosecution, in arguing that the driver's behaviour was extremely reckless and could have caused serious harm to the officers, sought a one-week jail sentence.

The case was adjourned to Jun. 24 for sentencing, Shin Min reported.

Top photo via LTA

A 62-year-old male motorcyclist was sent to a hospital after an accident with a car along North Bridge Road on Apr. 24.

The incident came to light after footage of the accident was uploaded onto the Facebook page SGRV Admin.

In the video, two motorcyclists could be seen travelling along the right-most lane of a three-lane road near Raffles Hospital.

A dark-coloured car, which had been in the middle lane, is then seen attempting to make a right turn.

As it cuts across the right lane, the car strikes the leading motorcyclist, and the impact caused that rider to collide with the second motorcyclist next to him.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police were alerted to an accident involving a car and a motorcycle along North Bridge Road towards South Bridge Road at around 1:45pm that Friday.

A 62-year-old male motorcyclist was conveyed conscious to the hospital and the 53-year-old male car driver is assisting in investigations.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Top photo from SGRV Admin/Facebook

All-boys Montfort Junior School (MJS) will be transitioning to a co-educational model and welcoming its first cohort of female students in Primary 1 in January 2028.

The announcement was made at the school's 110th Founder's Day Ceremony on Apr. 25.

Speaking at the event, former Singapore minister Lim Boon Heng, who is also the Honorary President of Montfort Alumni and Chairman of the St Gabriel’s Foundation, said the decision reflects "a deliberate and long-term commitment to benefit more in the community, and ensure that Montfort continues to serve its mission well".

"We are living in a world that is changing more quickly each year. It is more connected, but also more complex," he said. "What we need is wisdom – the ability to listen, to understand different perspectives, and to act with empathy, sound judgement and moral courage."

Lim also drew on the school's history, noting that MJS operated as a co-educational institution when it was a Pre-University centre from 1961 to 1974.

In the late 1980s, there were also discussions about a potential merger with Hai Sing Girls' School that could have led to a similar shift, though those talks did not materialise.

"It allows the school to reach more youth, to serve more families, and to offer our values-based education and future-centric programmes to a wider group of students," he said of the transition.

"I can already see this legacy growing richer as more female members become part of our alumni and Montfortian community, helping to shape the school’s future."

Registration and admissions

Starting from the 2027 P1 Registration Exercise, younger female siblings of existing MJS students will be eligible under Phase 1.

Daughters of MJS alumni will also qualify for Phase 2A priority, with admissions subject to demand and vacancies.

Parents and alumni from both Montfort Junior and Secondary Schools were informed of the decision during a closed-door session on Mar. 4, ahead of the public announcement.

The school clarified that the move was not driven by any single factor, but rather reflects a "considered, long-term approach" to keeping Montfort "relevant, future-centric and aligned with its mission in shaping society.

"Going co-ed will allow the school to extend its reach to more families, while preserving its Catholic ethos and core traditions, the school said.

All academic programmes, co-curricular activities (CCAs) and signature programmes will continue, with adjustments made where necessary to support the new co-ed environment.

With regard to Montfort Secondary School, the school said St Gabriel’s Foundation, which oversees six schools including the Montfort schools, and the Ministry of Education are currently in talks on whether the school will also be shifting to a co-ed model.

Top photo from Google Maps and Montfort Junior School/Facebook

The family of baby Faziq, who suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), announced that he has successfully received the S$2.4 million Zolgensma gene therapy treatment.

"At this stage, we are focusing on his recovery and close monitoring," said the family on Instagram on Apr. 24.

"After the treatment, regular follow-ups, medications (such as steroids), and blood tests are needed to ensure everything remains stable.

We will continue to keep him safe at home and are taking things one step at a time as he begins this new chapter. Thank you for your continued prayers, love, and support!"

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by A chance for baby Faziq ☀️ (@hopeforfaziq)

S$2.4 million for treatment

In 2025, Faziq's parents, Norhaziqah and Rahman, found out they were expecting their fourth child.

But in her second trimester, their doctor told them that Faziq suffered from SMA, the same disease Faziq's older brother had.

Faziq's older brother, Faris, was diagnosed with SMA in 2017, and despite every effort, he passed away on Jun. 24, 2022.

"We were devastated," the couple said in their fundraiser, hosted on charity platform Ray of Hope.

"But also grateful, because he (Faziq) was still asymptomatic. He still had time."

SMA is a rare genetic disease that destroys motor neurons — the cells that control movement, swallowing, and breathing.

Once symptoms begin, they are irreversible and incurable.

Since birth, Faziq has been on a daily medication called Risdiplam. This helps to slow the progression of his condition.

But Risdiplam is not a cure and must be taken long term. It costs around S$4,800 a month now, and is expected to increase to S$12,000 a month as he grows.

Currently, the cost of the therapy is covered by the hospital's Medical Assistance Fund and the Medifund.

But the family maintains that it is a temporary measure that puts Faziq at risk of irreversible muscle loss.

The family said that doctors have recommended Zolgensma, a one-time gene therapy that addresses the root cause of SMA by replacing the missing gene.

Zolgensma is colloquially known as the world's most expensive drug and is priced at S$2,397,300.

It is not subsidised or covered under Singapore's Rare Disease Fund.

On Mar. 26, the family reached its fundraising goal of S$2.4 million, thanks to over 43,000 donors.

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Top photos via Faziq's family & hopeforfaziq/Instagram