Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

A former Israeli general who led hostage negotiations at the start of the Gaza war has said an Israel-Gaza hostage deal could have been reached about a year earlier, potentially saving lives and returning more captives alive. Major General Nitzan Alon said the conflict had been prolonged unnecessarily and that an agreement could have been secured without undermining Israel’s wider strategic objectives. “I think that we could [have gotten to] this point much earlier, maybe a year earlier or so, without any major implication on the other strategic goals of the war,” he said. “We missed it, actually. The war…

Veterans, activists and lawmakers have staged a protest in Washington against Donald Trump’s proposed 250ft triumphal arch, condemning its cost, scale and planned location beside Arlington National Cemetery. Dozens of people gathered at Memorial Circle during Thursday’s rush hour for the “Vets over Vanity” demonstration. A tarp mock-up of the structure was displayed, with organisers saying the finished arch would be 32 times taller. The proposed monument would stand in a traffic circle on the bridge linking the National Mall with Arlington National Cemetery. Critics said it had been advanced without congressional approval and without sufficient consultation with veterans or…

Olivia Dean is facing a copyright lawsuit over claims that her song “I’ve Seen It” copies elements of Bill Withers’ classic “Just the Two of Us”. The action has been brought against the record labels and publishers involved in the track, rather than Dean herself. Mattie Music Group, which says it owns rights to “Just the Two of Us”, has named Capitol Records, Universal Music Group, Sony Publishing and Kobalt Music Publishing as defendants. The publisher alleges that “I’ve Seen It” reproduces significant parts of the earlier song, particularly its distinctive melody. It says a musicologist assessed the two tracks…

Mary Louise Weller, the actress best known for playing Mandy Pepperidge in the 1978 comedy Animal House, has died aged 79. Weller died on Thursday, 1 October, after an illness, according to her longtime partner, Michael Roy Curtis. Her death came a day before her 80th birthday. Mary Louise Weller’s career She became widely recognised as Mandy, a Pi House sorority member whose character is watched by John Belushi’s fraternity troublemaker, John “Bluto” Blutarsky, in one of the film’s most memorable scenes. Directed by John Landis, Animal House also featured Tim Matheson, Kevin Bacon and Karen Allen, and became one…

Donald Trump has announced a new multi-billion-dollar steel plant in Iowa during a press conference on the industry. The US president said tariffs were responsible for high steel prices as he outlined the planned investment.

Former US congressman David Rivera has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role in a secret 50 million-dollar lobbying campaign carried out on behalf of the Venezuelan government during Donald Trump’s first administration. Rivera was sentenced in federal court in downtown Miami after a jury convicted him in May on every charge following a seven-week trial. He had been held without bail since the verdict on May 1. The former Florida representative was convicted of, among other offences, failing to register as a foreign agent with the US Justice Department and conspiracy to commit money laundering.…

A senior Maytronics Australia executive facing assault charges in Melbourne and Sydney has had an application to suppress material relating to the case rejected by a magistrates’ court. Chris Papageorgiou, a father of two who has been described as a leading figure in the swimming pool industry, appeared at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Thursday charged with two counts of assault. His lawyer had sought an order preventing case-related material from being released to the media. The application was refused after the court found it had no basis. The matter was listed after an alert was sent to reporters on Wednesday…

Argentina is to launch a golden passport scheme offering citizenship to wealthy foreigners who make a substantial contribution to the Treasury or invest in government bonds, Economy Minister Luis Caputo has announced. Applications are expected to open before the end of the year as President Javier Milei’s government seeks to raise dollars for the debt-burdened country. Applicants will be able to choose between a non-refundable contribution of 350,000 US dollars to the Argentine Treasury and an investment of 800,000 dollars in a new government bond, which must be held for seven years. The amount required would rise for larger families.…

Rapper FBG Casino has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute, reaching a plea deal in a federal case involving drugs allegedly found at an Airbnb used as a stash house. Casino, whose real name is Rico Deville Buice and who is Future’s brother, entered his guilty plea on Thursday. He now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. The offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of up to $10 million. He is due to be sentenced on January 7. A request to continue his pre-trial release conditions…

Chelsea and Manchester United are monitoring Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha after the Frenchman’s emergence in Serie A and his recent breakthrough at international level. The 25-year-old has become an important player for Como since joining from Nice in 2023. His technical ability and versatility have helped establish him as a key part of the Italian club’s midfield. Premier League clubs tracking Lucas Da Cunha Chelsea, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest are reportedly among the English clubs keeping watch on Da Cunha. Manchester United, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Brighton have also been linked with an interest. Chelsea’s interest is understood…