Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

A former Newington College teacher has been charged with the alleged rape of a student and four counts of aggravated sexual touching, after police accused her of grooming the young person using an electronic device. Deandra Kontou, 32, faces nine sex offences following an investigation by the Inner West Police Area Command into allegations that she sexually assaulted and groomed a student in her care. Police believe the alleged victim was under 16 at the time of the incident. The charges include aggravated sexual assault, which is equivalent to rape under New South Wales law, as well as inciting a…

Colombian warlord Geovany Andres Rojas has been extradited to the United States to face drug trafficking and terrorism charges, after months in which his transfer was delayed while he took part in government-backed peace talks. Rojas, also known as “Araña” — Spanish for “The Spider” — was flown to California and placed in the custody of federal agents. He is alleged to have been a leader and spokesman for Comandos de la Frontera, a rebel organisation linked to cocaine trafficking in Putumayo, near Colombia’s borders with Ecuador and Peru. He was arrested in Bogotá in February 2025, and Colombia’s Supreme…

MTV Video Music Awards red carpet fashion took a deliberately daring turn this year, with stars including Adam Lambert, Lisa Rinna, Dakota Johnson and Taylor Swift choosing looks designed to make an impression. The ceremony has long been associated with unconventional style, and this year’s arrivals continued that tradition with a mixture of dramatic tailoring, revealing designs and statement accessories. Lambert, 44, embraced a gothic aesthetic in an oversized black cloak worn with a striking headpiece. Dark eye make-up and black-painted nails completed the theatrical ensemble. Lisa Rinna, 63, opted for an equally eye-catching appearance, pairing a plunging moulded breastplate…

The apparent warmth between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at last week’s US-China summit has not removed the deep commercial and strategic tensions between the two countries, as American businesses increasingly look to Chinese technology for products and expertise. Chinese-made devices and electric vehicles remain largely unavailable to US consumers, with carriers not selling or supporting many Chinese handset brands. BYD’s Seagull, one of the world’s best-selling electric vehicles, starts at about $8,000, while Chinese firms have also advanced in humanoid robots, consumer technology and integrated digital services. Restrictions on Chinese products and companies have been driven by concerns over…

Billy Joel is putting his motorcycle collection up for auction, with more than 70 lots due to go under the hammer at Gooding Christie’s inaugural event at Rétromobile New York in November. The collection includes a 1978 Triumph T140 Bonneville, a 1982 Ducati Mike Hailwood 900 and a 1975 Ducati 750 Sport. The sale will feature motorcycles from the collection assembled by the musician, whose interest in the vehicles has been described by the auction house as extensive. Gooding Christie’s president, David Gooding, said: “We are truly honored to present the Billy Joel Motorcycle Collection, and with what better location…

Larissa Waters has resigned as leader of Australia’s Greens because of a deterioration in her chronic kidney disease, saying she needs to step back from the demands of leading a political party. The 49-year-old senator said her doctors expected her recovery prospects to be good, but advised that she adopt a slower pace of life. The Greens will choose her successor in a secret ballot of MPs later this week. “For some time now I’ve been quietly managing chronic kidney disease alongside doing the work I love. But recently it’s taken a downturn, and I need to be honest with…

Oil prices surged after Donald Trump rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, sending Brent crude above $107 a barrel. Brent, the international benchmark, rose by more than 3 per cent during Asian trading on Monday and approached $108 a barrel. After easing later in the day, November futures stood at $107.35 shortly before 8am GMT. The market movement followed Mr Trump’s statement on Saturday that Tehran’s latest plan to end the war involving the United States and Israel was unacceptable. Iran presented the proposal at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. It…

The Kremlin has said Russia-US arms control talks should have resumed “yesterday”, calling for the discussions between the two countries to restart. The remark places the resumption of arms control negotiations at the centre of the latest Kremlin statement on relations between Russia and the United States.

The Milwaukee weather forecast is set to bring a pleasant start to the week before rain moves across Wisconsin from Tuesday night into Wednesday and Thursday. Monday, September 28, will begin with the possibility of patchy fog, but conditions should improve as clouds clear. Temperatures are expected to reach about 72F, with light north-easterly winds. Tuesday will remain mild, with a high of 74F and partly sunny skies. Winds will strengthen from the south-east, although the next spell of rain is now expected to hold off until after midnight. Milwaukee weather forecast turns unsettled midweek Wednesday and Thursday are likely…

Fremantle players have paid tribute to one another and their supporters after the Dockers’ seven-point grand final defeat by Brisbane, with retiring forward Sam Switkowski leading messages of thanks to the club’s “Purple Army”. The team returned to Perth on Sunday, less than 24 hours after the Lions secured the premiership. The club has confirmed there will be no official supporters’ event, despite thousands of Fremantle fans travelling to Melbourne for the grand final and taking over the city during the week. Switkowski, who announced before the finals that he would retire at the end of the season, wrote an…