Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

France has apologised over a social media post that had stalled the appointment of its incoming ambassador to the United States, in a dispute that threatened to strain relations with the Trump administration. Mr Lechevallier, chief of staff to French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot, had been due to move to Washington this month to replace the outgoing ambassador, Laurent Bili. His appointment, like that of all envoys, requires approval from the host government. American officials had made clear to France that approval would not be granted until the post was addressed. The State Department and French Foreign Ministry declined to…

AI should be used to strengthen human expertise rather than replace judgement in global logistics, Dave Bozeman has argued, as businesses face increasingly complex supply-chain decisions. Bozeman said technology could help teams assess risks more quickly and make better-informed decisions, but warned that speed alone did not guarantee better results. Tariff changes, port closures, disappearing capacity and urgent changes in customer demand remained business challenges requiring human judgement. The operation he described manages 37 million shipments a year, providing a view of the pressures facing global commerce. He said hundreds of trillions of proprietary data points could give artificial intelligence…

Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage is not yet facing immediate dismissal despite a difficult start to the season, but the club’s defensive problems must improve quickly, former Manchester United scout Mick Brown has said. Palace have collected three points from their opening four matches since Sage replaced Oliver Glasner. Saturday’s 3-2 defeat by Ipswich, sealed by a late winner, left the new manager under early pressure. Their defensive record is a particular concern, with the side conceding 11 goals in four games. Brown believes Palace will allow Sage time to address the problems, provided there are signs of progress in…

DFW Airport has reached 60 consecutive days without measurable rain as a persistent area of high pressure keeps Dallas-Fort Worth locked in searing heat and raises concerns over wildfires across North Texas. The dry spell is among the three longest recorded for the region, with no significant rainfall expected in the immediate forecast. The lack of rain has left the area around 3.25in below its usual annual total. The National Weather Service said the airport had already recorded its 59th successive rain-free day on Sunday, while the number of days this summer with temperatures reaching 100F (38C) or higher had…

Western Australia’s Returned and Services League has warned its sub-branches against hosting One Nation events after a cartoon portraying Andrew Hastie as a “traitor” sparked outrage. The dispute has placed veterans in the cross-fire between One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and Mr Hastie, with the RSL describing the decision by a WA sub-branch to host a One Nation event as “completely inappropriate”. The organisation’s warning centres on the use of an RSL venue for political activity amid the row involving the federal figures. No further details of the sub-branch or the event were provided.

Tom Aspinall has vacated the UFC heavyweight title after suffering further complications from an eye injury sustained during his fight with Ciryl Gane last year. The British fighter said an accident caused additional damage to his right eye just as he was preparing to return to competition. “This means more time away from the sport, and right now, the timing of my return is unclear,” Aspinall wrote on Instagram. The 33-year-old has undergone several operations since suffering severe eye pokes during his title defence against Gane in Abu Dhabi in October. The bout was declared a first-round no contest after…

China is urging exporters to make greater use of foreign-exchange hedging as a stronger yuan puts pressure on businesses selling overseas, sources said. The call comes as the yuan’s strength creates fresh challenges for Chinese exporters, increasing the focus on managing currency exposure.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly considering a January move for Freiburg striker Igor Matanovic after his explosive start to the season in the Bundesliga. The Croatia international has scored six goals and provided two assists in six appearances, prompting claims that Spurs could pursue him when the transfer window reopens. His potential fee is reported to be between €35 million and €40 million. Tottenham made a significant investment in their squad during the summer, but Roberto De Zerbi’s side remain without a Premier League victory after four matches. The early results have increased scrutiny on a team that underwent extensive change…

Michigan motorists are paying an average of $4.31 (£3.21) a gallon for regular petrol, with prices remaining elevated despite the end of the summer travel season as the Iran conflict continues to unsettle global oil markets. Figures from AAA put Michigan’s average at $4.3116 a gallon on Sunday, September 13, compared with $4.0303 a week earlier and $3.0624 at the same point last year. The national average stood at a similar $4.3130. The increase has been particularly sharp across the Great Lakes region. AAA data showed Michigan’s average rising by about 20 cents in a single day earlier this month,…

China has rejected a call to curb its artificial intelligence capabilities, after the chief executive of US company Anthropic warned that a Chinese lead in AI would pose a serious danger to America and the wider world. Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei urged the United States to maintain restrictions on the sale of cutting-edge AI chips and chipmaking equipment to China, arguing that the measures were needed to preserve America’s advantage. Responding to a question about Mr Amodei’s essay, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said countries should co-operate on artificial intelligence rather than intensify competition. “Fearmongering, confrontation and vicious…