Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

Journalist and author Peter FitzSimons has appeared as a witness in the criminal trial of former Australian broadcaster Alan Jones, giving evidence about a 2019 conversation with a former staff member who later accused Jones of unwanted kissing and touching. FitzSimons, a columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald, was contacted by Ray Hadley, Jones’s former 2GB colleague and long-time radio rival. The complainant, known in court as “C”, spoke to FitzSimons by telephone but did not reveal his identity. The court heard that FitzSimons was investigating allegations concerning Jones at the time. “C” did not agree to be named or…

Barry Melrose, the former Los Angeles Kings coach who guided Wayne Gretzky’s team to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final before becoming one of hockey’s best-known television analysts, has died aged 70. ESPN announced his death on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, after being informed by his wife. Melrose had stepped away from broadcasting in 2023 after revealing that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Tributes were led by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who said Melrose’s distinctive appearance and infectious enthusiasm had made him an unmistakable figure in the sport. “From the flowing locks of his distinctive mullet to the flared…

Grace Tame has apologised after appearing to dismiss allegations of sexual violence during Hamas’s October 7 attacks on Israel as “propaganda” and “debunked”, while insisting her remarks were misinterpreted. The former Australian of the Year said she stood with survivors of sexual violence “everywhere” and did not deny allegations made by individual Israeli women, including claims of gang rape. In an Instagram video posted on Thursday, Ms Tame said comments made during a March interview with ABC Radio Sydney had been understood to mean she disbelieved Israeli survivors. “This is not the case,” she said. “I always have, and always…

7NEWS has announced its latest competition winners in a new update published through its entertainment section. The brief notice confirms that winners have been selected, but does not identify them or provide details of the prizes in the accompanying text. The update was published as partner content by 7NEWS.

A pilot repeatedly warned that an Amazon cargo jet was approaching Miami International Airport too quickly before it overran the runway and crashed, killing five people, investigators have said. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said one of the pilots raised concerns about the Boeing 767’s speed nearly two minutes before touchdown on Sunday, 6 September. The same pilot called for a go-around shortly after the aircraft landed. The NTSB said the findings were preliminary and could change as the investigation continues. Its update was based on initial examinations of the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. Warnings came…

Independent senator Jacqui Lambie has backed Liberal MP Andrew Hastie in his escalating dispute with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, accusing the party of launching a “disgusting” attack on a veteran. Ms Lambie, a former Australian Defence Force soldier, said a One Nation cartoon portraying Mr Hastie as a traitor for giving evidence in Ben Roberts-Smith’s failed defamation case should be removed immediately. “Attacking Andrew Hastie, a veteran that has served in our Afghanistan war, or any other veteran, is the lowest you can possibly do,” she told ABC Radio. “Leave our veterans alone.” Her intervention came after Mr Hastie…

Donald Trump has predicted that the Iran war will end immediately after the US midterm elections, telling reporters on the tarmac outside Air Force One that Tehran would soon be unable to continue fighting. “I think the war’s going to end immediately after the election because they can’t hold out any longer,” the US president said before departing for Dallas, where he was due to address the first Republican midterm convention. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/22ffe753bb2d60c99024ca6cfbec4142)) Mr Trump claimed Iran was trying to influence the vote by prolonging the conflict, saying: “They’re desperate to try and affect the election.” The midterm elections are scheduled…

A 25-year-old man suspected of stalking Kris Jenner was arrested near her home in the Santa Monica Mountains, northwest of Los Angeles. Zenwilliam Robson was detained by a security guard close to the property on Monday evening before deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department took him into custody. Security workers told law enforcement that Robson had tried to initiate contact with the 70-year-old reality television personality and businesswoman on several previous occasions. He was initially arrested on suspicion of stalking but was later charged with one misdemeanour count of trespassing and refusing to leave private property, according to…

Donald Trump used the opening night of the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention to rally supporters in Dallas and frame November’s elections as a contest between his administration’s record and what Republicans portrayed as an increasingly extreme Democratic Party. The two-day gathering began on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, at the American Airlines Centre, with Trump due to address delegates and supporters after a day of speeches from senior Republicans, cabinet members and candidates. The event is intended to energise the party’s base and promote its candidates ahead of the midterm elections. ([gopconvention.com](https://www.gopconvention.com/)) Vice-President JD Vance arrived in Dallas as the…

Albany and the wider Great Southern will host a packed programme of community, sporting and cultural events from Thursday September 10 to Wednesday September 16, with the St John WA Community Open Day, Albany Kayak Festival and Great Southern Football League grand final among the weekend highlights. The week begins on Thursday with a nature collage workshop at the Museum of the Great Southern from 9.30am, followed by Demi Skye’s Woman is Vessel at Albany Town Hall at 10am. The Albany-Kinjarling Creative Writers Group will meet at Albany Public Library from 11am. Albany events and sport on Saturday Friday’s programme…