Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

FIFA will present a review of its withdrawn FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal to the organisation’s Council, following criticism over the lack of answers surrounding the abandoned investment plan. The proposal, launched by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, involved selling commercial stakes in the World Cup and other FIFA events to outside investors. It was withdrawn after triggering opposition across world football. Denmark’s football chief, Jesper Moller, last week questioned why FIFA had declined to address what he called “critical questions” at a meeting of the governing body’s Legal Committee. In a statement, FIFA said its standing committees advise and assist the…

China’s Huawei has forecast that billions of AI agents will dominate global AI traffic by 2035, pointing to a major shift in how artificial intelligence is used and accessed. The projection places AI agents at the centre of future traffic across the sector, although no further details of Huawei’s forecast were provided.

Sunny, the Obama family’s Portuguese water dog who lived in the White House, has died aged 14, Barack Obama has announced. The former US president shared the news in an Instagram post, remembering the dog’s place in the family after she joined them during his second term in office, between 2013 and 2017. Sunny was described by Mr Obama as a “force of nature”, “athletic and full of boundless energy”. She would leap over hedges on the White House’s South Lawn and chase “squirrels, birds and anything else that moved”. She was also closely bonded with Bo, the family’s other…

Democrats have widened their lead over Republicans in the latest Marquette Law School poll ahead of November’s congressional elections, with likely voters favouring Democratic candidates by 54% to 41%. The 13-point gap is up from six points in July, when Democrats led 51% to 45%. Among all registered voters, Democrats hold an eight-point advantage, 50% to 42%, compared with a two-point lead in the previous survey. Marquette Law School poll shows Democratic gains The national poll, conducted from September 2 to 9, surveyed 1,023 adults. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.3 percentage points. The registered-voter sample included…

A Western Australian mining lobbyist has criticised Tasmania for failing to make the most of its abundance of rich, high-grade mineral deposits. The pointed rebuke targets Tasmania’s handling of its mineral resources, with the lobbyist arguing that the state has not fully capitalised on the opportunities presented by its deposits.

An NBC 4 reporter witnessed an NBC helicopter crash in Los Angeles without initially knowing that his own colleagues were on board the aircraft. Robert Kovacik had been reporting on a fatal bus collision in the Chatsworth neighbourhood on Tuesday night when the helicopter came down in a parking area near the scene. As flames rose from the wreckage and thick smoke filled the sky, Kovacik moved towards the crash with his crew. Firefighters and police officers repeatedly warned him to stay away from the area. “Trust me I am putting my own life in my own hands,” Kovacik told…

Artificial intelligence is not yet a major issue in the US midterm elections, despite its growing prominence in Washington and political campaigns, a New York Times/Siena poll suggests. Fewer than 1 per cent of voters surveyed – 11 people among more than 1,500 – said artificial intelligence or data centres was the most important issue in deciding their vote. That places the subject alongside a wide range of second-tier concerns, including education and gun policy, rather than the economy and immigration, which are helping to define the national campaign. Voters uncertain over party positions The poll also found that voters…

Tropical Smoothie Cafe has unveiled a new branding scheme as the US restaurant chain prepares for further expansion under private equity owner Blackstone. The redesign will appear across packaging, cafes, the mobile app and website, with brighter colours, a standardised typeface and a new frond-shaped “Palm T” icon intended to provide a recognisable shorthand for the brand. Chief executive Max Wetzel said the company had been working on the project for more than a year as it considers the shape of its next phase of growth. “We are a company and a brand that has evolved significantly over the last…

Two of the three people killed in an NBC helicopter crash in Chatsworth, California, have been identified as reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw. Moreno worked for NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo, while Marciniw was an experienced pilot. The third victim, a pedestrian, has not yet been named. The helicopter came down and caught fire while Moreno and Marciniw were covering a fatal bus crash in the area, which had left at least two people dead. The incident also ignited several vehicles. Moreno had flown with Marciniw for three years and used the social media handle “Eli in the…

Luke Shaw is reportedly not close to agreeing a new Manchester United contract, leaving his future at Old Trafford increasingly uncertain beyond the end of the current season. The defender’s existing deal is due to expire in the summer of 2027, with no indication at present that he will remain at the club. A report in the Daily Mail suggests Shaw could eventually leave United on a free transfer. Luke Shaw’s Manchester United future Shaw joined United from Southampton in 2014 after establishing himself as one of English football’s most promising young defenders. His time at the club has since…