Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

California households receiving CalFresh are seeing a modest rise in food assistance, as a sweeping overhaul of the US food-stamp system places fresh financial pressure on the state and tightens eligibility rules for some recipients. From October 1, 2026, the maximum monthly payment for a single-person household in California rose from $298 to $306. For a family of four, the maximum increased from $994 to $1,023, although the amount paid to each household depends on income, size and allowable deductions. The annual adjustment applies across the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. It comes as grocery prices and…

Australia should provide no military support to Ukraine and should remove the United States from key defence facilities, the newly elected Greens leader David Shoebridge has said. The NSW senator said the Greens would seek a major overhaul of the US-Australia alliance, including renegotiating the 1951 ANZUS treaty and ending American access to facilities such as the Pine Gap surveillance base. Shoebridge, who won the partyroom leadership ballot on Wednesday after Larissa Waters stepped down because of kidney disease, said he would retain responsibility for the Greens’ defence and foreign affairs portfolios. Greens oppose military aid to Ukraine “The Greens…

Dr Tomasz Kosowski has been convicted of murdering attorney Steven Cozzi after a trial marked by the disappearance of the lawyer and the defendant’s decision to represent himself. The plastic surgeon’s case included evidence described as chilling, among it a so-called murder bag and a paralyzing agent. Evidence in the murder trial of Dr Tomasz Kosowski The proceedings examined the circumstances surrounding Cozzi’s disappearance and the evidence presented against Kosowski. The case ultimately led to Kosowski’s conviction for Cozzi’s murder. The trial has been reviewed by 48 Hours correspondent Erin Moriarty and consultant Herman Weisberg, who examined the evidence and…

King Charles is not expected to apologise for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade or offer reparations during his forthcoming Caribbean tour, despite pressure from campaigners. The King will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and visit The Bahamas and Guyana, where the issue of slavery and its continuing legacy is expected to feature prominently. Buckingham Palace has stressed that the King acts on the advice of the Government. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has confirmed that ministers have not advised him to apologise or pay reparations. A Government spokesman said ministers “absolutely acknowledge”…

San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York has apologised after his prostitution arrest in Ohio, following a six-game suspension and $500,000 fine from the NFL for breaching its Personal Conduct Policy. York said he accepted the league’s decision in full and described his actions as an “inexcusable mistake”. He apologised to his family, the 49ers organisation, fans and partners. “What I did does not reflect my values or the man I strive to be for my family,” York said. He added that he had failed to set the example he wanted for his sons, but hoped the episode would demonstrate the…

Two men in Charlotte, North Carolina, were stopped by police after they were spotted travelling along a public road on a sofa balanced across two electric scooters. Officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) encountered the unusual vehicle on South Tryon Street during the weekend. A photograph shared by the department showed a small two-seater sofa straddling two Lime scooters, with one man apparently riding each side. The stop was carried out by CMPD’s Entertainment District Unit, which posted about the incident on social media on Thursday, 1 October. “While we appreciate the creativity, we do have to remind everyone:…

Australia have named a powerful team for the world short course swimming championships, with record-breaking wildcard Cam McEvoy set to join the squad. McEvoy’s inclusion adds further strength to the Australian line-up for the championships.

The Kennedy Center Honors will be held at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, DC, this year rather than at the Kennedy Center itself. The ceremony is scheduled for 7 December, with the venue change coming while the Kennedy Center’s main building remains closed for safety assessments described by the Trump administration. The move follows continuing legal and political disputes over the performing arts institution. Congress appropriated more than $250 million last year for renovations to the facility. President Donald Trump has announced a major refurbishment expected to take about two years and has continued to seek the addition of…

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to investigate allegations that a former Cornell University student was gang-raped at a fraternity house in October 2024. Ms Hochul said newly released information had damaged her confidence in the handling of the case by local authorities, including Cornell University Police and the Tompkins County district attorney’s office. An executive order signed by the governor requires Ms James to examine the alleged assault and, if warranted, present evidence to a grand jury and pursue a prosecution. The attorney general’s office will now control the criminal…

Italy is seeking clarity over rumours surrounding Christine Lagarde’s future as president of the European Central Bank. The speculation concerns the ECB’s leadership and Lagarde’s position at the institution. No further details have been provided.