Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, has ruled out another cut to fuel excise as petrol prices surge across the country, saying the government is focusing on other measures to ease cost-of-living pressures. Fuel prices have risen by about 40 cents a litre since the beginning of September, following the end of an excise reduction. Speaking on News24’s Sunday Agenda, Mr Marles said the government was concentrating on measures that would help households while managing public finances prudently. “What we are focused on is other cost of living measures and managing the budget in the most prudent way possible, which…

Eleven teenagers and young adults were wounded in a shooting at a park in Macon, Georgia, after an argument between two groups escalated into gunfire, authorities said. The incident happened around midnight at Carolyn Crayton Park, where a large gathering had formed, according to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. The victims were four 18-year-old men, two 18-year-old women and five 17-year-old boys. An 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy were in critical condition, while the other victims were described as stable. Bibb County Sheriff David Davis said the gathering appeared to have begun as a birthday party that was due…

Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as “unacceptable” as Tehran awaits a definitive response from Washington through mediators. Iran said it was still waiting for the US position on the proposal. No further details of the plan were provided. Trump has said Iran needs a deal because it is “losing badly”, raising the possibility that his rejection is intended to pressure Tehran into making further concessions. Trump’s rejection of Iran’s proposal The dispute has centred on whether Washington’s response reflects a demand for a broader agreement or an effort to increase pressure…

Stocks have significantly outperformed US homes over the past decade, prompting economists to question the long-held assumption that buying property is always the best route to building wealth. The Case-Shiller Index of home prices rose 87% between December 2015 and December 2025. Over the same period, the S&P 500 climbed 235%, excluding dividends, as the technology and artificial intelligence boom helped drive a run of double-digit annual gains. The gap has continued to widen in 2026. Nationwide home prices have increased by 1.5%, according to the latest Case-Shiller figures, while the S&P 500 is up 13%, despite sharp market swings…

Florence Pugh has condemned the alleged Cornell gang rape of a 20-year-old student, saying the claims have left her “uneasy and sick and anxious”. The actor said men needed to be “as horrified and as sickened as us” over the allegations, which are contained in a lawsuit brought by a Jane Doe in Manhattan Supreme Court. The claim alleges that seven members of Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity sexually assaulted the student after she was drugged with ketamine. The allegations have not been proven. Pugh described the alleged victim as “strong willed” and said the claims represented a “killing of…

Tottenham’s sale of Will Lankshear has been branded an “utter disaster” by Spurs expert John Wenham, with the striker having scored eight goals in 11 appearances for Middlesbrough. The 21-year-old forward has made an immediate impact in the Championship after leaving north London, while Tottenham have struggled to find consistency in the centre-forward position. Wenham believes Spurs weakened their attacking options by allowing Lankshear to depart, particularly with Richarlison being left out of contention and Dominic Solanke and Mathys Tel lacking confidence. “It does [look silly] when you exclude Richarlison out of choice as well, because it basically means all…

A 60-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly driving into a Kroger supermarket in Rosenberg, Texas, because he wanted to use the toilet. Rosenberg Police said the incident happened at about 4.28am on Sunday, 27 September, when the driver intentionally accelerated into the store, causing extensive damage to the pharmacy entrance. Investigators said the man was upset because the doors were locked and told officers he needed to use the restroom. He was arrested and charged with criminal mischief. The police department shared photographs showing the vehicle inside the damaged section of the supermarket, which is in the Brazos Town…

French survivors of clergy abuse have said Pope Leo XIV listened to their experiences and promised action during a two-hour meeting. The discussion brought the survivors together with the Pope in a meeting focused on their allegations of abuse and the response to them.

One Nation support in Queensland has surged to make Pauline Hanson the preferred prime minister in the state, while the party has also overtaken Labor in New South Wales, according to the latest quarterly analysis of Newspoll data. One Nation was the top choice of 36 per cent of Queensland voters. Labor followed on 25 per cent, with the Coalition on 19 per cent. Asked to choose between Ms Hanson and Labor leader Anthony Albanese as prime minister, 52 per cent of Queenslanders backed the One Nation leader. Queensland was the only state in which Ms Hanson led Mr Albanese…

NASCAR driver Corey Heim was punched in the face by a member of Treyten Lapcevich’s racing team after a late-race crash at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. The confrontation took place outside a hot dog stand after Heim finished third in the 2026 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 on Saturday. Heim and Lapcevich had been racing closely in the closing stages when their cars collided. Heim’s vehicle eventually went over the top of Lapcevich’s, leaving both cars badly damaged. After the race, members of Lapcevich’s team confronted Heim near the stand. Footage showed Heim attempting to protect his head as punches were…