Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

The Phoenix Symphony suspension will halt the orchestra’s 2026-27 performances after its scheduled concert on Sunday, November 1, as the organisation confronts a severe cash shortage and prepares to lay off 66 musicians. The symphony said it could no longer continue the season without risking its ability to meet payroll and other essential obligations. It stressed that the programme had been suspended rather than permanently cancelled, although no date has been set for a return. Phoenix Symphony suspension follows years of financial pressure In an update issued on October 23, the organisation said years of operating deficits and accumulated financial…

Cochlear has told shareholders that stronger times are ahead after the Australian hearing implant maker’s annual net profit fell 62 per cent and its share price more than halved over the past year. Chief executive Dig Howitt said the company had faced a difficult 2025/26 financial year but remained focused on improving its performance and expanding the market for its products. “We know financial year 2026 was challenging. We also know what we need to do,” Mr Howitt told Cochlear’s annual general meeting on Monday. “Our strategy is clear. The opportunity is significant. Our focus is execution: to grow the…

Gadi Eisenkot, a rival to Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel’s upcoming election, has held his final campaign rally and called for the prime minister to leave office. Addressing supporters on Sunday, the former military chief declared: “Netanyahu must go home.” Mr Eisenkot has presented himself as a moderate alternative to Mr Netanyahu in Israel’s first national election since the October 7 attacks.

Tones And I joined Macklemore on stage at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre as the US rapper began his sold-out Free Palestine tour, six weeks after being removed from Ed Sheeran’s US tour. The Australian singer, best known for Dance Monkey, supported Macklemore at the venue, which has capacity for about 9,500 people. She is due to appear at the tour’s Dublin show on October 26. Tones And I later described taking part in the performance and tour as an “honour” in an Instagram post. Proceeds from the Dublin, Paris and London shows will be donated to Palestinian charities. During the…

Vice-President JD Vance is due to headline a Republican midterm election rally in Weatherford, Texas, on Thursday, October 29, as the Texas GOP seeks to energise supporters ahead of Election Day. The event will take place at JRJ Construction’s headquarters at 1140 SW Ric Williamson Memorial Highway. The company’s official website confirms the address of its Weatherford base. Doors are scheduled to open at 10am, with the programme due to begin at 12.15pm. Vance is expected to speak at approximately 1.50pm. The rally will be held in Parker County as Republicans seek to build momentum before the November midterm elections.…

James Packer has paid at least US$1.25 million (£970,000) to the Israeli law firm defending Benjamin Netanyahu in corruption proceedings involving allegations that the prime minister accepted benefits from the Australian businessman. The payments, made through Packer’s company Consolidated Press International, total about A$1.76 million and have reportedly been transferred in monthly instalments of US$50,000 for the past two years. The first payment was made on September 23, 2024, from a Citibank account controlled by the company to Hadad Roth Shenhar, the Tel Aviv firm representing Netanyahu. The payments have not been denied by Packer, although he declined to comment.…

Donald Trump has launched a lengthy attack on comedian Bill Maher, branding him a “complete and total loser” days after the pair shared dinner at the White House. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday night, the US president criticised Maher’s HBO programme, his audience and his political commentary, while insisting he would not appear on Real Time with Bill Maher. “Let’s talk about this COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSER, Bill Maher. He’s got a Low Rated Show on equally Low Rated HBO,” Trump wrote. Trump claimed Maher wanted him to appear on the programme “DESPARATELY” but said: “It won’t…

A woman has been arrested after a man was allegedly struck and killed in a hit-and-run in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district. Officers were called to the 800 block of Ellis Street shortly after 1.05am on Sunday following reports that a car had hit a pedestrian. They found an injured man, who was taken to hospital and later pronounced dead. His identity has not been released pending notification of his next of kin. Suspect vehicle traced to Treasure Island Police said the driver and vehicle had left the scene before officers arrived. Investigators subsequently traced the vehicle to Treasure Island, an…

Steve Smith is fit to play in the third and deciding Test match in South Africa, providing a boost for Australia ahead of the series finale. Cameron Green is also targeting a comeback, with the all-rounder in contention to return for the deciding Test.

Gina Hinojosa has framed her campaign in the Texas governor race as a “post-partisan” alternative to conventional politics, arguing that voters are deeply disappointed with both major parties as she challenges Republican Governor Greg Abbott. “Right now nobody wants politics as usual. Most of us see that it is broken,” Ms Hinojosa, a Democratic state representative, said. The 52-year-old civil rights and labour lawyer has represented parts of Austin in the Texas House since 2017. If elected, she would become the first Democratic governor of Texas and the first woman to lead the state in three decades. However, a recent…