Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Pentagon to cut 20% of positions held by generals and admirals, in a major shake-up of the military’s senior leadership. Announcing the measure during a “State of the Force” address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on Wednesday, Hegseth said the reduction would be completed by January 1, 2027. He described the move as “accountability and long overdue”. The plan applies to roughly 800 general and flag officer positions across the Army, Navy and Air Force, including joint commands. It would remove about 170 posts from the military’s chain of command,…

Augustus Minerals has identified two higher-grade gold shoots at its Music Well project near Leonora in Western Australia, with both zones remaining open to the north-north-east and along strike. The interpretation at the Clifton East prospect combines recent diamond and reverse circulation drilling with assay results and surface soil sampling. Augustus said the western shoot is supported by soil geochemistry extending across more than 400 metres, while the eastern zone is traced by pathfinder elements over about 300 metres. Earlier reverse circulation drilling produced several significant intersections within the broader system, including 11 metres at 2.41 grams per tonne of…

A helicopter crash off the Catalina Island coast prompted a major search-and-rescue operation on Wednesday night, with five people reported to have been aboard. Two people were taken to hospital on the island and two others were transferred to Ronald Reagan Medical Center at UCLA. The Los Angeles County Fire Department said it sent helicopters and divers to the area at about 7.50pm after receiving reports that an aircraft had gone down near the island. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said the condition of all patients was unknown. It did not provide further details about the fifth person reported…

Pakistan has launched air attacks on Afghanistan, saying it struck armed-group hideouts and killed at least 22 fighters, while Kabul accused Islamabad of killing nine women and children in Kunar and Helmand provinces. Pakistan’s Ministry of Information announced the strikes on Thursday, saying they targeted two locations. Afghanistan’s government said the attacks took place late on Wednesday. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Afghan government spokesman, said at least nine people were killed and 11 others wounded. He said three houses were destroyed in the attacks on Kunar in the north-east and Helmand in the south. “We condemn this act and consider it…

A tightening New Zealand election race is raising investor concerns about possible policy backflips, as uncertainty over the political outcome grows. The shifting contest has focused attention on the risk that election-related policy changes could unsettle investors, adding to market fears ahead of the vote.

A suspect armed with a rifle was shot in the leg by a Milwaukee police officer after two officers responded to reports of gunfire on the city’s south side. The incident happened near the junction of 7th Street and Scott Street, where police advised members of the public to stay away from the area while the scene was secured. Officers encountered the suspect carrying the rifle before one of them opened fire, according to Milwaukee police. The wounded suspect was taken to hospital for treatment. No police officers were injured in the shooting. The Milwaukee Police Department and Milwaukee Fire…

Chris Fagan is retiring as Brisbane Lions coach after leading the club to three consecutive AFL premierships. Fagan, 65, confirmed his decision to Brisbane’s leadership on Thursday, having considered leaving if the Lions defeated Fremantle in last Saturday’s grand final. He said he had been tempted to depart while the team was at the top of the competition. “There’s a little bit inside me that would rather walk away when the team’s on top,” Fagan said. His retirement brings to an end a coaching career in which he transformed Brisbane from a team that won only five matches across his…

Victims of domestic abuse will be left “living in fear” as a new prison early release scheme begins freeing hundreds of offenders on Thursday, the domestic abuse commissioner has warned. Dame Nicole Jacobs said survivors were being forced to make their own arrangements for protection, including uprooting their lives, because they did not believe adequate safeguards were in place. About 700 prisoners serving sentences of up to 19 months are due to be released across England and Wales from Thursday morning. More than 4,500 inmates are expected to be freed under the programme by June. Dame Nicole said: “As the…

Christopher French has spoken publicly for the first time about his wife Ashley Tisdale’s “toxic mom group” drama, saying the couple are “doing fine” and that he supports her decision to handle her personal relationships herself. Tisdale, 41, attracted attention in January after writing about a “toxic mom group” she had left. Speculation followed that the group may have included celebrities such as Mandy Moore, Hilary Duff and Meghan Trainor, although the identities of those involved were not confirmed. French, 44, said he had deliberately avoided becoming involved in the controversy. “I have no problem supporting my wife completely in…

A Minnesota judge has imposed a temporary gag order on all parties in the state case against Vance Boelter, preventing the defendant, victims, lawyers, witnesses and court staff from making public comments about the proceedings. The order was issued in Hennepin County on Wednesday, September 30, after competing applications from prosecutors and Boelter’s defence team. It bars those covered from sharing information, opinions, legal strategies, plans or potential evidence connected to the case, whether directly or through another person. ([fox9.com](https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-lawmakers-shootings-judge-temporary-gag-order-all-parties-victims-sept-30-2026)) The restriction also applies to material that has already been written, recorded or otherwise prepared but has not yet been…