Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

Western Australian councils will have new powers to control cats after State Parliament passed amendments allowing local governments to introduce their own containment laws. The changes to the Cat Act mean councils will be able to require cats to remain on their owners’ properties, restrict access to public areas, impose curfews and require animals to be under effective control when outside. The amendments were supported by politicians on both sides during debate last Tuesday, although speakers said further measures would be needed to make cat management effective. Canning seeks views on possible cat curfew The City of Canning is already…

Fall allergy season has lengthened across much of the United States as warmer autumns delay the first freeze, giving ragweed more time to grow and release pollen, according to an analysis by Climate Central. The research found that 177 of the 202 cities studied are now experiencing a longer freeze-free autumn than they did in 1970. On average, the season has increased by 11 days, while 67 cities have seen it extend by at least two weeks. Why the ragweed allergy season is lasting longer Ragweed is one of the main causes of late-summer and autumn allergies in the US.…

The Netherlands will return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, ending its boycott over Israel’s participation. The decision means the Netherlands will rejoin the international music competition after withdrawing its involvement in protest at Israel taking part.

A 59-year-old Capitol Bikeshare rider has died nearly four weeks after being critically injured in a collision with another cyclist in northwest Washington DC. David Watts was riding an electric bike south through the junction of 15th and M streets at about 3.24pm on Saturday, August 29, when he collided with a fixed-gear cyclist travelling west along M Street, according to detectives. Police said the fixed-gear rider had passed through a solid red light and entered the intersection while Mr Watts had a green signal. Both cyclists were thrown from their bikes in the impact. The other rider suffered minor…

The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to raise interest rates next week as businesses pass higher costs on to customers, increasing concern about broader inflation pressures across the economy. The prospect of further tightening was reinforced by comments from RBA governor Michele Bullock, who said monetary policy needed to limit so-called second-round price rises and keep inflation expectations anchored. Speaking at a Committee for Economic Development of Australia event, Ms Bullock said the labour market remained “a bit tight”. She said unemployment would need to rise to between 4.5 per cent and 5 per cent to ease pressure on…

The US Supreme Court has declined to intervene in a bitter surrogacy dispute involving a seriously ill baby born in Texas, leaving a California couple recognised as the child’s legal parents. Justice Elena Kagan rejected an emergency application from McKenna West, an Alaskan surrogate who had asked the court to suspend a California judgment naming Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar as the child’s parents. No reason was given for the decision on Tuesday, September 22. Supreme Court leaves parents’ legal status intact The ruling means a Texas order giving effect to the California judgment remains in place. West’s bid for…

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has told the United Nations that his country will not surrender to American pressure, delivering a defiant speech a day after Donald Trump renewed his threat to “annihilate” Iran. Mr Pezeshkian said Tehran remained ready to return to negotiations, but insisted that sanctions, military action and economic pressure would only strengthen Iranian resistance. “They have learned that Iran cannot be made to surrender,” he said. “He [Trump] must know that the resistance of the Iranian people will only increase in the face of sanctions, increased pressure, increased bullying. We will never bow our head or bend…

The US Supreme Court has declined to intervene in a surrogacy dispute involving a baby born in Texas, leaving a California couple recognised as the child’s legal parents. Justice Elena Kagan rejected an emergency application from McKenna West on Tuesday, 22 September. The order gave no explanation for the decision and leaves in place rulings in California and Texas that denied West’s request for conservatorship. West, an Alaskan nurse, had sought the right to participate in decisions about the boy’s medical treatment. She gave birth in Dallas on 12 August after refusing the couple’s request to terminate the pregnancy following…

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has told the United Nations that his country will not surrender, in a defiant speech delivered a day after Donald Trump threatened to “annihilate” Iran. Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, Mr Pezeshkian said Iran remained open to negotiations and a diplomatic solution, but rejected any suggestion that military pressure could force Tehran into submission. “They have learned that Iran cannot be made to surrender,” he said. “He [Trump] must know that the resistance of the Iranian people will only increase in the face of sanctions, increased pressure, increased bullying. We will never bow…

The US Supreme Court has declined to intervene in a surrogacy dispute over a seriously ill baby born in Texas, leaving a California couple recognised as the child’s legal parents. Justice Elena Kagan rejected an emergency application from McKenna West, an Alaska nurse who carried and gave birth to the boy after refusing the couple’s request to end the pregnancy. The decision, issued on Tuesday, 22 September, gave no reasons. US Supreme Court leaves parental ruling in place The ruling means a California judgment naming Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed as the child’s parents remains in force, as does a…