Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

An ICAC hearing has turned to allegations of scheming and secret dealings at Strathfield Council, with the contest for the mayoralty at the centre of proceedings. The evidence focused on claims of broken promises, double-dealing and clandestine meetings, including gatherings at the Horse & Jockey Hotel. The apparent prize was the mayor’s robes, silver-linked chain and official Toyota. The proceedings followed references to fugitive Jean Nassif’s Beirut bedroom rants, before attention shifted to the internal manoeuvring at the council. The political intrigue was likened to Rats in the Ranks, a documentary about the 1994 mayoral election at the inner-west council…

Former Trump national security adviser H.R. McMaster has defended the estimated $38 billion cost of the Iran war, saying: “It’s worth it.” The Congressional Budget Office report put the cost of the conflict at an estimated $38 billion between February 28 and August 1. McMaster discussed the findings during an appearance on The Takeout, alongside wider questions involving Iran, Republicans, Donald Trump and Democrats.

Argentina is preparing new legal complaints against companies exploring for oil near the Falkland Islands, escalating President Javier Milei’s campaign against businesses operating in the British overseas territory. Government spokesman Adrian Ravier said on Tuesday that further complaints would be filed against firms working in the islands, but did not identify them. The move is expected to form part of legislation being prepared by Mr Milei’s government to strengthen sanctions against companies operating in the Falklands, which Argentina calls Las Malvinas. Argentina has already taken legal action against Navitas Petroleum over exploration of the Sea Lion oil project in the…

Donald Trump’s enthusiastic backing for artificial intelligence and the data centres needed to run it has prompted a sharp backlash from users on his Truth Social platform, including supporters associated with his Make America Great Again movement. An analysis of thousands of replies to the president’s posts found that comments criticising artificial intelligence and data centres outnumbered supportive responses by almost four to one. Truth Social has about six million users and is an important online forum for Mr Trump’s most committed supporters. His posts typically attract strong backing, making the scale of the opposition to his position notable. Mr…

Guillermo Rodriguez’s wife remains largely out of the public eye as the comedian prepares to make his ballroom debut on Dancing with the Stars. The 55-year-old is best known as Jimmy Kimmel’s sidekick on the ABC late-night programme Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He will compete in the show’s 35th season alongside professional dancer Witney Carson. Guillermo Rodriguez keeps his marriage private Rodriguez is married, but he has never publicly disclosed his wife’s name or shared many details about their relationship. The couple have made a handful of public appearances over the years, although Rodriguez has generally kept his personal life away…

Former Gateway Church pastor Robert Morris has appeared in a new Texas sex offender registry photograph with a black eye and what appears to be a swollen lip. The image, dated Tuesday, September 15, was taken after Morris attended a quarterly verification appointment with law enforcement officials in Palo Pinto County, according to the Texas Public Sex Offender Website. Robert Morris says injuries followed a fall Morris’s lawyer, Bill Mateja, said the former North Texas megachurch leader lost consciousness in his garage last week while bending down to pick something up. “When he raised up, he passed out and fell,”…

Darius Boyd believes the Gold Coast Titans NRLW side has what it takes to secure the club’s first premiership. Boyd has outlined why he feels the Titans are capable of achieving the landmark success, placing the focus on the women’s team’s prospects of winning the competition.

Delaware voters have taken part in the final primary contests of the 2026 US midterm election cycle, choosing nominees for the Senate, House of Representatives and local offices. Democratic Senator Chris Coons is expected to secure his party’s nomination for a third term after facing three largely nominal challengers. One of them, former business executive Eric Hansen, is listed on the ballot as “E. No-Trump Hansen”. Mr Coons has raised more than $6.8 million for his re-election campaign, compared with $150,000 for his closest primary rival. The other two challengers, including Mr Hansen, have not reported any fundraising. Delaware Senate…

Labour’s plan to restrict overseas political donations and apply the changes retrospectively could breach human rights law, former attorney general Sir Michael Ellis has warned. The proposed measures could affect two £36 million donations made to Reform by crypto-billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, which the party announced last weekend. Downing Street has confirmed that the new restrictions will be backdated to March 25 this year. Ministers intend to cap donations from British citizens living abroad at £100,000 a year and require donors to show that they have been registered to vote in the UK for at least 12 months.…

A US House committee has recommended that Leon Black be held in contempt of Congress as part of an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The recommendation places the businessman at the centre of the congressional probe, although no further details were provided.