Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

FBI Director Kash Patel has defended changes to the bureau’s hiring standards, telling US senators that applicants who were victims of trafficking or sexual abuse should not automatically be barred from employment because of what they were forced to endure. Patel faced repeated questioning from Republican and Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee over the decision to remove automatic disqualifications relating to bestiality, prostitution and employment theft. He said the changes were intended to ensure that victims of sexual assault or trafficking involving animals were still able to apply for jobs at the FBI, while insisting that they would…

An urgent search is under way for three-year-old Noah, who went missing after becoming separated from a relative near a playground in Brantham, Suffolk. Noah was last seen at about 3pm on Tuesday in Merriam Close. He is understood to have run down an alleyway beside the playground towards a new-build housing estate. Emergency services are searching the area, while residents have been asked to check their gardens, sheds and outbuildings. Suffolk Police described Noah as white with curly ginger hair. He was wearing a white Bluey T-shirt, shorts and white trainers when he disappeared. In a statement, the force…

The Senate has blocked consideration of the Clarity Act, dealing a major setback to the cryptocurrency industry’s effort to secure business-friendly rules in the United States. The legislation, which passed the House in July 2025 with bipartisan support, had been developed through months of negotiations involving crypto executives, Congress and the White House. Tuesday’s vote makes it unlikely to become law soon, with the November midterm elections narrowing the time available to advance it. The defeat came despite more than $100 million in political spending by the crypto industry. Executives had made the Clarity Act their central policy priority, hoping…

Elon Musk has moved into an Airstream trailer in Memphis to stay close to xAI’s expanding Colossus supercomputer project, describing the temporary accommodation as his new “palace”. Musk revealed the arrangement during a recording of the All-In podcast, where he appeared alongside Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president and chief operating officer. Shotwell said the trailer reflected Musk’s longstanding habit of living alongside major projects when they demand his attention. “This is Elon, by the way, doing what people don’t believe he does. He sleeps on the factory floor. He’s in Memphis, helping build buildings,” she said. xAI is expanding Colossus, the…

Aaron Rowe has dropped out of Ed Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore, saying he could not continue as a support act after the rapper was removed from the line-up. Rowe announced his decision on social media, saying he had “made the decision to withdraw as a support act” on Sheeran’s tour. He said the choice had not been made lightly and praised Sheeran for the impact he had had on his career. “Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life; I could never thank him enough for this,” Rowe wrote. But he added: “As Irish…

Newcastle United are considering a January move for Real Sociedad midfielder Luka Sucic, with reports suggesting they could be willing to meet his €60 million release clause. The Croatia international has emerged as a potential target as Newcastle look to strengthen their midfield options. Spanish reports indicate that the Premier League club have been monitoring the 24-year-old ahead of the winter transfer window. Newcastle assess Luka Sucic’s midfield versatility Sucic joined Real Sociedad from Red Bull Salzburg in 2024 and has continued to develop into an important member of the Spanish side’s squad. His technical ability and versatility are understood…

The Kennedy Center’s board voted on Tuesday, 15 September, to close the Washington performing arts venue amid financial difficulties and a continuing legal dispute over President Donald Trump’s name, according to people familiar with the decision. The vote came hours after a federal judge blocked plans to install new inscriptions honouring Mr Trump or rename the centre’s grounds in his honour. US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the proposed wording — including “renovated and restored by President Donald J. Trump” — and the proposed name “President Donald J. Trump Plaza” would breach an earlier court order and federal law…

Domestic violence charges in New South Wales have reached an all-time high, despite the rate of assaults recorded by police remaining relatively stable, data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research shows. The proportion of domestic violence assaults resulting in a charge rose from 67% to 73% over the past two years, marking a sharp increase in the likelihood of offenders facing legal action. Jackie Fitzgerald, the bureau’s executive director, said the most notable rise involved breaches of apprehended violence orders and intimidation offences. “That’s a huge increase in the likelihood of being charged,” Ms Fitzgerald told AAP.…

A $100,000 five-year certificate of deposit (CD) could generate more than $23,700 in interest for savers who lock away their money until maturity in 2031. The fixed-rate account may appeal to those seeking a predictable return without exposing their principal to investment risks. However, the money would need to remain deposited for the full five-year term, and withdrawing it early could result in a penalty. How much interest can a $100,000 five-year CD earn? The amount earned depends on the rate offered by the lender. Based on rates currently available, a $100,000 CD opened in September could produce the following…

A NATO fighter jet shot down a drone in southern Lithuania shortly after midnight on Tuesday, in an incident that Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said probably involved Russia. Mr Crosetto said the drone “probably originated from Russia”, although the available information does not establish its exact origin. The incident involved NATO forces and took place in southern Lithuania, according to the details provided.