Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

The Melbourne Cup has suffered a major late withdrawal after Irish stayer Defiantly failed a veterinary examination three days before Tuesday’s 3200-metre race at Flemington. The Joseph O’Brien-trained five-year-old was expected to set the pace and make the contest a demanding test of stamina, having attracted attention in Europe with its front-running style. Defiantly had shown sensitivity in a hind foot when first examined at Werribee earlier this week. The stable had been hopeful the issue would resolve before a follow-up assessment, but Racing Victoria veterinarians were unable to declare the gelding fit to run. Its withdrawal means another O’Brien-trained…

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 5,000 people, according to the latest figures. The development underscores the scale of the crisis in the DRC. The material provided does not include further details or official responses.

Toronto police are searching for three masked suspects after a family was allegedly attacked during a home invasion early on Thursday. The suspects are accused of forcing their way into the property while armed with guns and a hammer. All four family members inside the home at the time were wounded and remain in hospital, police said.

Police have been deployed at Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal after demonstrators gathered to protest the suspension of its head judge, Bogdan Swieczkowski, in the latest escalation of a long-running dispute over the court’s independence. Officers entered the tribunal’s premises in Warsaw on Friday following incidents outside the building, including objects being thrown at police. Three people were detained after members of the crowd launched what police described as “dangerous projectiles”. Swieczkowski’s suspension came after months of conflict over the functioning of the court. He had used his authority to prevent judges elected by the current parliamentary majority from taking up their…

A pearl-sized grey-black mass has been removed from Brandi Glanville’s face during surgery and sent to a laboratory for testing, with the reality star reportedly still awaiting the results. People with direct knowledge of the situation said the procedure was carried out as doctors treated an infection. Glanville has reportedly continued to experience symptoms while recovering, suggesting her treatment is not yet complete. The operation came during a difficult October for Glanville, who also suffered the deaths of her father, Guy Glanville, and close friend Markee M. Hasche, according to the account. Doctors discovered the mass during the facial surgery…

A seven-day undercover operation targeting online child predators and human trafficking in Florida has led to 281 arrests, including theme park employees and an Orange County sheriff’s deputy who worked as a school resource officer. The operation, led by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and named “Polk Around and Find Out II”, involved agencies from across the state. Authorities said those arrested face 488 new charges, including 198 felonies. Officials said 32 people were arrested after travelling to meet individuals they believed were children for sex. A further 249 arrests were linked to a human trafficking investigation, including 117 alleged…

Binance is working with the FBI and the US Secret Service after losing billions of dollars in what is believed to be the world’s largest known currency theft. The cryptocurrency exchange is seeking to shore up confidence following the heist, which has triggered involvement from the two US law enforcement agencies. The theft is believed to be the largest of its kind recorded worldwide.

An Alaska toddler has been orphaned after surviving a head-on car crash that killed both her parents on the Parks Highway in Trapper Creek. Paige Hart, aged two, suffered six broken bones in the collision but is in a stable condition after being transferred for treatment. Her parents, Sasha Hart, 38, and David Hart, 41, died in the crash near milepost 115 at about 9am on October 19. A preliminary investigation by the Alaska Department of Public Safety found that Sasha Hart was driving a black 2018 Subaru Forester southbound when it crossed the centre line and struck a white…

A US federal judge has opened a formal inquiry into potential misconduct by Trump administration officials over claims that government lawyers misrepresented plans to close and redevelop East Potomac Park in Washington DC. District Judge Ana Reyes ordered the investigation after the Justice Department acknowledged that a championship-level golf course was planned for the municipal site, despite repeatedly telling the court that no final proposal existed. The admission came in a filing on Wednesday, days after Ms Reyes halted tree clearance and major renovation work at the park. The government has appealed that order. At a hearing on Friday, the…

Selma Blair has spoken publicly for the first time since her airplane arrest, saying she never intended to hurt or frighten anyone during the incident on a flight to JFK Airport. In an emotional video posted on Instagram, the actress apologised to those who said they had been affected by her behaviour, while saying her lawyers had advised her not to discuss the details as her legal case continues. “Not one day ever have I intended to hurt or frighten anyone a day in my life,” Blair said. “To the people that I disappointed, that I hurt, that I frightened,…