Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

Tough leadership should not be confused with bullying or emotional suppression, according to a commentary arguing that organisations can maintain high standards without creating a culture of fear. The piece says leaders are often presented with a false choice: act as a ruthless “jerk” to secure results or become so passive that standards decline. It argues that performative hardness is not strength, but a sign of insecurity. Drawing on experience coaching executives at companies including Apple, Nike and General Motors, as well as fast-growing unicorns, the authors describe genuine toughness as the ability to commit to an ambitious mission, remain…

A tornado has struck Ulladulla on the New South Wales south coast, damaging homes and businesses as severe weather swept across the region and triggered dozens of calls for help to the State Emergency Service. Residents took cover as the twister moved through the coastal town. At the Native Cafe, staff hurried customers inside shortly before strong winds sent the outdoor umbrellas flying. Witnesses reported seeing a funnel-shaped cloud form over Ulladulla as conditions rapidly worsened. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” one local said. The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed the phenomenon was a tornado caused by a volatile low-pressure…

Yemen’s internationally recognised government forces say they have killed or wounded 1,540 Houthi rebels in nearly 500 military operations over the past 24 hours, while closing a key crossing in Taiz. Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, an army spokesman, said warplanes, drones, artillery, missiles and rocket launchers had been used against Houthi positions in several parts of the country. He said the heaviest fighting had taken place in Taiz governorate, where the operations had halted a Houthi advance. The government-held city of Taiz has become a central focus of the renewed conflict. The army did not report any casualties among government…

Ten people, including three young girls, have been injured after a car crashed into Newcastle Knights fans gathered in Wallsend to farewell the rugby league team before Sunday’s grand final. The crowd had assembled on Newcastle Link Road near the Transfield Drive roundabout at about 9.30am on Saturday, as thousands lined the route for the team bus travelling to Sydney. A five-year-old girl remained in a critical condition at Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital on Saturday evening. One other injured person was in a serious but stable condition, while five were stable and three had been discharged. Police investigate Newcastle Knights…

A Lithuanian airport was closed for less than an hour after a drone alert prompted NATO Baltic Air Policing jets to scramble. The suspected drone was understood to have been flying between Lithuania and Belarus, with the alert affecting Vilnius Airport earlier on Saturday morning. The airport later reopened. No further details about the drone or the response were immediately available. The incident follows an August operation in which Russia was reported to have targeted Ukrainian aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany using a remotely controlled flying bomb. A drone packed with Semtex struck the wing of a stationary Ukrainian…

AI and automation are expected to reduce demand for about 36 million jobs in the US by 2035, while growth in other sectors creates roughly 41 million new roles, according to a McKinsey Global Institute report. The central challenge will not be a lack of work, but helping people move into it. In its base-case projection, about 11 million workers – roughly 7% of the workforce – would need to leave their occupations entirely, with estimates ranging from six million to 16 million. “The next decade’s challenge is mobility, not scarcity,” the report’s authors wrote. Most of those changing careers…

The Coalition is preparing to target international student numbers rather than backpackers as it seeks to reduce migration, with Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam due to unveil the Opposition’s detailed plan next week. The policy is expected to include specific migration figures, economic modelling and an assessment of its impact on the community. Duniam has indicated that foreign students would bear the brunt of the proposed reductions. His announcement will set out a migration target linked to workforce requirements and the number of homes being completed. About 172,000 homes were built last year, meaning the Coalition’s target is expected…

Michael Owen has backed Liverpool’s decision not to sign a Curtis Jones replacement after the midfielder left Anfield for Inter Milan this summer. Jones, 25, had been a useful squad player for the Reds, although he did not establish himself as a regular starter. Liverpool nevertheless chose not to rush into the transfer market after his departure. Owen believes the decision could give younger players an opportunity to develop rather than blocking their path with another squad signing. Michael Owen backs Liverpool’s midfield approach “I think there are a couple of good youngsters and it is not the worst thing…

A five-year-old girl was fighting for her life after a car allegedly driven by an 18-year-old P-plater crashed into Newcastle Knights supporters gathered to farewell the team before the NRL grand final. Nine other people were injured when the vehicle struck crowds lining a street in Wallsend, Newcastle, on Saturday. The girl was in a critical condition at John Hunter Hospital, while one patient was serious but stable and five others were stable. Three people had been discharged. Police arrested the teenage driver at the scene and took him for mandatory drug and alcohol testing. The incident was not believed…

Rui Pinto, the whistleblower whose leaked documents led to an investigation into Manchester City, says he fears for his life after being told that his witness protection in Portugal will end on October 10. The 37-year-old said he had received “multiple death threats” and would move to an undisclosed location indefinitely because of the risk to his safety. “Given these circumstances, I have no alternative but to relocate, within the next few days, to an undisclosed location for an indefinite period of time, due to the multiple death threats I have received and the serious risk of an assassination attempt…