Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

US and Chinese officials have opened high-level talks in New York aimed at easing tensions ahead of a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping later this week. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng began discussions at JPMorgan Chase’s Manhattan headquarters on Sunday. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is also taking part. The negotiations are intended to clear the way for possible agreements covering trade, artificial intelligence and critical minerals, four days before Mr Trump is due to host the Chinese president at the White House. Mr Bessent said he expected “focused, fulsome and constructive…

New Found Glory guitarist and founding member Chad Gilbert has died aged 45, the band has announced. Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of September 20, surrounded by friends and family, according to a statement shared by the band on Instagram. “He left this world surrounded by friends and family and took his final breaths with his wife and mother by his side, just as he wished,” the band said. New Found Glory said members were “devastated and shocked” by his death, while describing Gilbert’s guitar playing, songwriting, humour and “relentless drive” as central to the…

Manchester City’s 5-3 win over Sunderland exposed a chaotic side of Enzo Maresca’s team, who were repeatedly pulled out of shape at the Etihad Stadium despite eventually securing all three points. City have traditionally been associated with control and territorial dominance, but Sunderland made that difficult from the outset. Maresca acknowledged the problem afterwards, saying: “We want to control but the other team don’t want to allow us.” The visitors exploited the space behind City’s midfield and defence, attacking with purpose whenever Brian Brobbey held the ball up. The Sunderland forward repeatedly got the better of Ruben Dias, creating room…

Toys R Us is set to open 120 new standalone stores across the United States in time for the 2026 holiday shopping season, in its largest expansion since the retailer’s collapse nearly a decade ago. The new outlets are being launched through a partnership with Go! Retail Group, taking the number of standalone Toys R Us stores in the country to 160. The company has not yet disclosed the full list of locations, opening dates or the size of each shop, nor confirmed whether every site will remain open beyond the festive period. ([fox7austin.com](https://www.fox7austin.com/news/toys-r-us-makes-major-comeback-120-new-stores-opening-across-us-holiday-season)) The expansion is the latest stage…

Russia’s ruling United Russia party is on course for a decisive victory in the parliamentary election, with early voting results indicating it has secured at least 49 per cent of the vote. The preliminary figures suggest United Russia is set to win the election comfortably, although the results remain based on early voting.

Republican senator Bill Cassidy has urged Donald Trump to be “radically honest” about vaccines, warning that doubts expressed by the president could lead to more measles infections, hospital admissions and deaths. Measles cases in the US have reached their highest level in more than three decades this year. Mr Cassidy, a doctor from Louisiana, said the president should recognise the influence of his comments. “I would just ask the president to be aware that people are listening to him — if he discourages immunization, there’ll be fewer people immunized,” he said. “If we’re speaking of measles, there’ll be more people…

Russia’s ruling United Russia party is projected to win a decisive victory in the country’s first wartime parliamentary elections, in a result widely regarded as a sham. Exit polls put the pro-war party on around 58 per cent of the vote, well ahead of its closest rival, the Communist Party, which is forecast to receive about 14 per cent. Voting for the State Duma, Russia’s parliament, took place over three days and closed on Sunday with turnout reported at 56 per cent among an electorate of 111 million. Vladimir Putin was not a candidate because the election was not for…

Carrot Top’s Monday night performance at the Luxor Casino in Las Vegas has been cancelled while the 61-year-old comedian remains in hospital receiving care after an alleged suicide attempt. The decision follows the cancellation of his Saturday show at the same venue. Carrot Top was taken to a local Las Vegas hospital on Friday after attempting suicide, according to the information available. His next scheduled performance at the casino is on Wednesday night, although it remains unclear whether that show will go ahead. Anyone struggling or in crisis in the US can call or text 988 for support.

Martin O’Neill’s Celtic future is under renewed scrutiny after Rangers won 1-0 at Parkhead, leaving the manager to consider whether he can still improve the team. Ryan Naderi’s first-half goal gave Derek McInnes’ side victory in the Scottish Premiership rematch and moved Rangers to within two points of Celtic at the top of the table ahead of the international break. The result came just days after Rangers defeated Celtic 3-0 in the League Cup at Ibrox. O’Neill had already been facing mounting pressure following Celtic’s 3-1 defeat by Ferencvaros at Parkhead on Thursday night. O’Neill, 74, is in his second…

New York City health officials have expanded their investigation into a Legionnaires’ disease cluster in the South Bronx after 19 people tested positive and two deaths were recorded. Outreach has been extended to ZIP codes 10455 and 10459, following the identification of cases within a few blocks of the original investigation area in Melrose and Morrisania, covered by ZIP codes 10451 and 10456. ([nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/legionnaires-disease.page?_sp=5775c435-6029-4059-841f-75b33d3e9a73&utm_source=openai)) Four patients remain in hospital, 11 have been discharged and two did not require hospital treatment, according to the latest update from the New York City Health Department. South Bronx Legionnaires’ disease investigation Health Department teams…