Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

The US and Israel are preparing plans for a possible attack on Iran early next month, after the American midterm elections and Israel’s elections, according to a person briefed on the preparations. The potential operation follows a reported disagreement over an Israeli strike originally intended for mid-October. The person said Donald Trump objected to the earlier timing. The preparations may be intended to increase pressure on Iran to reach a diplomatic agreement, although Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is campaigning for the overthrow of the Iranian regime. Uncertainty over the outcome of Israel’s election next week could also affect the…

David’s Bridal plans to spin off its Pearl artificial intelligence platform into a standalone publicly traded company valued at about $350 million, with the transaction expected to complete in the first half of 2027. The bridal retailer has filed a non-binding letter of intent to separate the business, which would take ownership of David’s Bridal’s intellectual property while licensing it back to the chain. Kelly Cook, David’s Bridal’s chief executive, is due to become Pearl’s chief executive once the deal closes. She said the move would give the platform greater scope to attract talent and fund its expansion, while allowing…

Declan Rice has backed Harry Kane as the clear winner of the 2026 Ballon d’Or after the England captain produced another influential display in Bayern Munich’s 2-2 Champions League draw with Arsenal. Kane played a part in both of Bayern’s goals at the Allianz Arena. He created the opening goal with a defence-splitting pass for Alphonso Davies before scoring from the penalty spot in the second half. Rice rescued Arsenal with an 82nd-minute equaliser, but his focus afterwards was on Kane’s all-round contribution and his credentials for football’s most prestigious individual award. Rice makes emphatic Harry Kane Ballon d’Or claim…

The Florida governor’s race has tightened to a near dead heat, with Republican Byron Donalds holding a two-point lead over Democrat David Jolly in a new poll taken less than two weeks before the election. The University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab found that 49% of likely voters backed Mr Donalds, compared with 47% for Mr Jolly. The remaining 4% were undecided, while the poll’s margin of error was plus or minus 2.81 percentage points, leaving the contest statistically too close to call. ([unfporl.org](https://www.unfporl.org/)) The survey questioned 1,471 likely Florida midterm voters between 12 and 19 October. It…

The cost of Australia’s Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro project has surged to a potential $25 billion, while completion has been delayed until late 2029 as construction teams confront difficult geology and rising building costs. Snowy Hydro has revised the project’s estimated cost from $12 billion to $22.2 billion, with a contingency allowance taking the possible final bill to $25 billion. The figure is more than four times the original estimate for the scheme. The 2200-megawatt project, being built beneath the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales, requires 27 kilometres of tunnels beneath Kosciuszko National Park. It is intended to store…

Nathan Owens has been convicted of murdering his 19-year-old stepdaughter, Carla Georgescu, at her student accommodation in Preston after travelling more than 100 miles to see her in the early hours. The 34-year-old was found guilty at Preston Crown Court after jurors deliberated for just over three hours. He was also convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent and will be sentenced on Friday. Prosecutors said Owens had become sexually fixated with Carla and was motivated by jealousy after learning she planned to travel to Romania to meet a man with whom she had been romantically involved online. Nicholas Lumley…

The International Monetary Fund and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development have warned that artificial intelligence could widen the divide between rich and poor countries. The warning highlights concerns that the spread of AI may increase existing inequalities between national economies, with wealthier countries potentially gaining more from the technology than poorer nations.

Crystal Palace are reportedly considering Kieran McKenna as a possible replacement for Pierre Sage after a difficult start to the season left the manager under pressure. Sage replaced Oliver Glasner in the summer, but Palace have won only two Premier League matches and currently sit 14th in the table. Kieran McKenna linked with Crystal Palace role Former Premier League scout Bryan King has identified the Crystal Palace manager as his leading candidate to lose his job and suggested chairman Steve Parish is an admirer of McKenna. “The Crystal Palace manager is my favourite [for the sack], because I’ve already heard…

Milwaukee is set for a run of sunny, dry and unusually mild autumn weather, with temperatures reaching about 70F (21C) on Thursday and Friday before climbing to 72F (22C) over the weekend. Some isolated fog could affect Thursday morning and return overnight, but the National Weather Service said high pressure should keep conditions settled across the area. Winds will remain light, generally between 5 and 10mph. Milwaukee weather forecast Thursday will begin with patches of fog before turning sunny. Overnight skies will become partly cloudy, with a low of about 49F (9C) and little or no wind. Friday is expected…

Andy Lee and Rebecca Harding have shared a behind-the-scenes wedding video capturing their three-day New York celebration, including their vows, emotional family moments and a reception with friends. The footage, created by Sommar Films, was posted jointly by the newlyweds on Instagram with the caption: “We made some promises in NYC.” In a voiceover accompanying the video, Harding recalls meeting Lee while working in a café. He gave her a note with his email address, adding: “but if you have a boyfriend, just tell him I was using you to get to him. I bet he is handsome”. Lee’s vows…