Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

Sadiq Khan is preparing a London log burner ban as part of a proposed clean-air crackdown that could see homeowners forced to remove wood-burning stoves from their fireplaces. The Mayor of London wants new area-specific restrictions to be introduced through zero-emission zones. The proposals would also include tighter controls on domestic bonfires and a request for additional powers to tackle what he calls solid-fuel burning. Many Londoners have installed log burners in recent years, with the cost of a wood stove typically put at between £2,000 and £4,000. Under the proposed measures, some could face having to remove them. However,…

Fiji have reached the Pacific Nations Cup final after beating Canada 45-29 in their semi-final in Osaka, Japan. The victory saw Fiji claim a high-scoring win over Canada and secure their place in the tournament decider.

Michael Gove has criticised Ed Miliband’s decision to impose sanctions on Israel, arguing that the measures risk emboldening extremists and contributing to rising antisemitism in Britain. Writing 25 years after an article he published on the morning of the September 11 attacks, the Conservative peer said the response to Israel reflected a wider failure by Western governments to resist terrorism and political intimidation. Mr Gove argued that Hamas’s welcome for the sanctions showed that the policy had been accepted by an organisation he described as committed to the destruction of Israel. He said the group was responsible for the October…

Meta has begun bringing some managers back into its Applied AI division, reversing part of a restructuring that had moved staff into individual contributor roles and reduced management layers across the company. The transition is voluntary, with individual contributors in the division being asked whether they would consider returning to management positions. The move highlights the difficulty of combining leaner structures with the coordination required to develop and deploy advanced AI systems. Applied AI was created in 2026 to connect Meta’s research work with the delivery of products. The engineering division trains AI models and helps accelerate their introduction across…

Kim Kardashian has sent Strictly Come Dancing star Chris Appleton a bouquet of white roses and a message of support as he prepares to make his debut on the BBC dance show. The 43-year-old hairstylist shared a video of the gift on Instagram Stories on Friday, showing a card from his close friend which read: “Break a leg, you got this, xo.” Appleton described the surprise as “the sweetest surprise” as he gets ready to take to the Strictly dancefloor. The pair have been friends for many years, prompting fans to speculate that Kardashian could appear in the audience to…

Footage has captured a truck driver’s alleged near-miss with two teenage girls at a crossing in Sydney’s north-west, with one of the girls seen jumping back as the vehicle passed. The incident occurred near the intersection of Windsor Road and Cemetery Boulevard at Kellyville Ridge. The truck allegedly ran a red light and struck the kerb close to where the girls were standing. Police allege the driver, a 26-year-old man from Mount Pritchard, swerved past several cars before crossing the intersection. The two girls suffered minor injuries. The man has been charged with driving recklessly, furiously or at a speed…

The assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University last year triggered an unprecedented wave of online intimidation and doxing, security experts have said, extending political harassment into workplaces, neighbourhoods and private social circles across the United States. Kirk, the co-founder and then leader of Turning Point USA, was killed while debating a student with progressive political views before an audience of thousands. His death was followed by efforts to identify and punish people whose online comments were seen as unsympathetic to him or his killing. At the Orem campus, the physical site of the shooting remains unusually quiet. Collin…

Friends, family and fellow lifeguards gathered at Bronte Beach in Sydney for a paddle-out honouring former Bondi Rescue lifeguard Matt Dee, whose ashes were scattered in the ocean. The 47-year-old’s farewell saw surfers form a large circle in the water where Dee spent almost a decade saving lives. They later paddled back towards the shore together on a giant party wave. The gathering continued on the beach with food, drinks and music as those who knew Dee celebrated his life. His best friend, Kev Goodall, said the size of the crowd reflected how deeply Dee was loved. “He always made…

The Crows will attempt to end their Gabba hoodoo when they face the Lions in an elimination final. The clash between the Lions and Crows is the focus of a 9News preview ahead of the decisive AFL fixture.

Donald Trump’s inflation challenge is threatening to overshadow the Republican campaign for November’s midterm elections, as rising fuel, mortgage and borrowing costs weaken his claims that prices have fallen sharply under his presidency. The latest Consumer Price Index showed prices increasing at an annual rate of 3.4 per cent in August. The figures increased the likelihood of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates next week, despite Mr Trump’s repeated demands for cuts. Consumer confidence also deteriorated. A University of Michigan survey found sentiment had fallen sharply this month, with Americans expressing concern that the economy was losing momentum and inflation…