Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

Pope Leo XIV has become the first pontiff to vote in a US election after submitting a mail-in ballot in Illinois ahead of November’s midterm elections, the Vatican has confirmed. The American-born pope, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, is registered at an address in New Lenox and requested the ballot on October 3, according to election officials in Will County. He holds both US and Peruvian citizenship. The Holy See said Leo had exercised his voting rights whenever he was eligible, including during his nearly two decades as a missionary and bishop in Peru. “The Holy Father expresses his belief in…

Imad Salem Zahra, a Palestinian child who survived being shot in the head by Israeli soldiers, has described what happened in an interview with Al Jazeera. A photograph of Zahra went viral after the shooting, drawing attention to the incident. He spoke about the day he was wounded.

Pope Leo XIV has voted by mail in Chicago ahead of November’s US midterm elections, the Vatican has confirmed, citing his belief in civic participation. The Chicago-born pontiff, formerly Robert Prevost, “has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen” whenever he has been eligible, the Holy See press office said. It added that he had also voted while living in Peru when eligible. “The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes,” the statement said. Leo’s ballot was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. The chief of…

Donald Trump criticised Reuters reporter Jacob Bogage during a press exchange, mocking his appearance after being asked why he would not travel to Kansas for a Republican campaign event. The president was speaking to reporters after landing at Joint Base Andrew in Maryland on Thursday, following a campaign rally in South Carolina for Republican senatorial candidate Darline Graham. Bogage asked why Mr Trump had cancelled plans to campaign for Republican Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas on Saturday, including whether he was “sick of traveling”. Mr Trump responded by attacking the reporter’s weight and appearance, describing him as “disgusting” and telling…

Manchester United are considering a transfer for Fulham defender Calvin Bassey as they assess options to strengthen their defence. The reported interest comes amid uncertainty surrounding Lisandro Martinez, who is said to want to leave Old Trafford. United could therefore turn to the market for a replacement, with Como’s Jacobo Ramon also linked with the club. Calvin Bassey attracts interest from Manchester United Bassey has impressed during his time at Fulham and is viewed as a dependable performer in the Premier League. The 26-year-old primarily operates at centre-back but can also play at left-back. That versatility could appeal to United,…

A 56-year-old man has been charged after a car drove on to the pavement and struck six people during a children’s Halloween event in Bushwick, Brooklyn, police said. Michael Marsh was arrested after the crash on Knickerbocker Avenue, near Bleecker Street, shortly before 4pm on Thursday, 29 October. The incident happened outside the New York Police Department’s 83rd Precinct, where officers were hosting a community “trunk-or-treat” event. ([brooklyn.news12.com](https://brooklyn.news12.com/exclusive-video-alleged-drunk-driver-crashes-into-brooklyn-halloween-event-injures-6-including-3-children)) Investigators said Marsh was driving a black saloon when he mounted the pavement, hit several pedestrians and then collided with a parked, unoccupied ambulance. The six injured people included three children, aged…

A Ballajura family was left shaken after a car parked outside their home was set alight in the early hours of Friday morning, prompting a police investigation. CCTV shows a white sedan driving around the end of a normally quiet cul-de-sac at about 2.20am before leaving. Almost 20 minutes later, it returned and two hooded people got out. The pair moved towards the Volkswagen parked in front of a house, appearing to pour liquid over it before setting it alight. The car burst into flames just metres from the front door, with four people inside the property. The hooded figures…

A Sky News image used in reporting could not be loaded, with readers instead shown an “Access Denied” message. The incident leaves the central news angle of the material unclear in the supplied material. Screen text displayed “Access Denied” followed by “You don’t have permission to access” on this server, and a reference number. The message is the only visible content in the provided source. No further information is included in the raw material to identify what story the image accompanied or its significance. Editors will await access to a complete copy of the source or a public version of…

Passengers who paid for a three-year voyage around the world aboard the luxury cruise ship MV Odyssey saw their journey end abruptly in Cambodia after the company failed to raise enough money to buy fuel. Internal documents detail the company’s increasingly urgent search for funding as it tried to keep the voyage going. The records provide an insight into the financial difficulties behind the cancelled cruise. The passengers had expected to spend three years travelling the world. Instead, the voyage came to a sudden halt in Cambodia during the failed effort to secure additional money. An exclusive review of the…

Democrats have been given a strong chance of taking control of both chambers of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, with prediction markets pointing to major gains against President Donald Trump’s Republican Party. Kalshi puts the Democrats’ chances of winning the Senate at 69 per cent and their prospects of capturing the House at 92 per cent. The figures come as Republicans defend narrow majorities in both chambers. Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats, compared with 47 for Democrats. The Senate contest is expected to turn on a small number of closely fought races, with some shifting towards Democrats while…