Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

Atlanta drew hundreds of thousands of football supporters and millions of dollars in spending during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but hotel occupancy fell sharply compared with the same period last year. Room occupancy in the city stood at 63 per cent in June, down four percentage points from 2025, before falling to 57 per cent in July – a 10-point decline, according to Charlene Lopez, executive vice-president of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. Why Atlanta World Cup hotel occupancy fell The figures came despite a substantial influx of visitors. Mercedes-Benz Stadium welcomed 544,516 fans across eight matches, while…

Two teenagers have been charged after allegedly breaking into Perth Zoo and attacking a four-metre saltwater crocodile in its enclosure. The boys, aged 16 and 17, are accused of cutting their way into the enclosure at night, throwing bottles to aggravate the animal and hitting it with a metal pole. They face charges of criminal damage and animal cruelty. The crocodile suffered superficial damage and was said to be behaving normally after the incident. David McMahon, a wildlife expert and head tour guide at Venture North Australia, said the pair were fortunate to have escaped unharmed. “You’d think breaking into…

US prosecutors have accused members of a Russian intelligence assassination network of targeting critics of the Kremlin, including an alleged murder-for-hire plot against a dissident in the United States. An indictment unsealed in New York names five defendants said to belong to the so-called RIS Network: former Russian intelligence colonel Yuri Khrameev, his son Kirill, two Cuban nationals and a Venezuelan national. All are believed to live in Russia and remain at large. The defendants have been charged with conspiring to finance terrorism. Yuri Khrameev, one of the Cuban operatives and the Venezuelan suspect also face charges of conspiracy to…

A cocker spaniel puppy with narcolepsy has won over social media users after repeatedly falling asleep when excitement takes hold. Gösta was diagnosed with narcolepsy and cataplexy at just nine weeks old. The rare neurological disorder can cause sudden, uncontrollable sleep and a loss of muscle control. His owners have shared videos showing him nodding off in a variety of situations, including during walks, while being given a treat and as he played with another dog. The episodes are particularly striking because cocker spaniels are known for their cheerful temperament and are sometimes described as “merry cockers”. In Gösta’s case,…

Japan’s imports jumped in August as higher oil prices pushed up the cost of goods brought into the country, while exports remained firm. The contrasting performance left import costs as the main feature of the month’s trade figures, with Japan’s overseas shipments holding steady despite the rise in the value of imports.

Dancing with the Stars scores have been revealed after the show’s first premiere night, with Harry Shum Jr leading the eight male celebrities competing in the new series. Shum Jr and professional partner Jenna Johnson topped the opening-night leaderboard with 21 points out of 30. Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach followed closely behind on 20. Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess scored 17, while Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold and Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart each received 16. Jackson Olson and Emma Slater finished on 15. Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman scored 12, with Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson at the…

A juvenile has been arrested after allegedly entering James W. Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax County, Virginia, without permission and assaulting a member of staff and a police officer. The incident happened at about 8am on Thursday, when the former student entered the school during arrivals and caused a disturbance in the cafeteria and corridors, according to Fairfax County Police. Video shared on social media appeared to show students moving away as the teenager walked through the cafeteria spraying a fire extinguisher. Police said a staff member attempted to intervene and was assaulted. A school resource officer then detained the…

Australia’s government will unveil a migration overhaul on Thursday, as Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke seeks to reduce net migration before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese leaves for the United Nations in New York. Burke will use a speech at the National Press Club to set out measures intended to bring net migration down from 305,000 to 225,000 over two years. The government is not planning to announce a direct cut to migration numbers. His speech, titled “The work of managing the migration program: who arrives, who stays, who leaves”, follows weeks of uncertainty after an earlier address was cancelled last…

US stocks fell on Tuesday as investors awaited an expected interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve at its policy meeting on Wednesday. The decline came ahead of the central bank’s decision, with markets remaining in the red during the session. CBS News contributor Javier David is due to preview the meeting and its implications for financial markets.

Saudi Arabia says its air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone launched towards Mecca by Yemen’s Houthi movement, before it entered the holy city’s restricted airspace. Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said the Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces brought down the hostile drone on Tuesday evening. The incident prompted a security alert in Mecca, which was lifted within minutes. Alerts were also activated in Taif and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s second-largest city. It was the first time such an alert had been issued in Mecca since the Houthis last attempted to target the sacred area in 2017. Al-Maliki condemned…