Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

An Illinois mother accused of killing her two-year-old son had been discussing the high-profile Lindsay Clancy murder trial with friends until just hours before the child was found dead, prosecutors have alleged. Corie Walsh, 40, faces three counts of first-degree murder after her son, Barrett, was discovered in the basement of the family’s home in Frankfort, south-west of Chicago, on 1 September. According to a petition seeking to keep Walsh in custody before trial, she had become “very invested” in the Massachusetts case and was actively discussing it in a group chat until about 12.30pm. A neighbour found Barrett less…

A Commonwealth Bank customer filmed an incident after attempting to hand over several $50 notes to pay down a debt. The customer recorded the exchange on a mobile phone after the cash was reportedly refused, prompting questions over why the payment could not be accepted. The footage centres on the customer’s attempt to use physical currency to reduce the amount owed to the Australian bank. No further details about the branch, the debt or the bank’s explanation were immediately available.

The Japanese yen climbed to a fresh seven-month high against the US dollar on Tuesday 8 September, as traders increased their bets on further Bank of Japan interest-rate rises and reduced bearish positions in the currency. The yen strengthened to 153.53 per dollar in morning trading, its strongest level since February and below the levels reached during Japan’s intervention in currency markets in July. The move extended a 1.2% gain recorded on Monday, when trading was thin because of a US holiday. The yen has now risen by almost 4% from around 160 to the dollar at the start of…

Australian broadcaster Kyle Sandilands has revealed that his brain aneurysm has grown by 1mm since it was diagnosed last year, although doctors have not yet recommended surgery. Sandilands, 55, disclosed the update after attending a medical appointment featured in an episode of Building The Show, part of his Kyle Sandilands Live platform. “So I come out of the doctor’s office and unfortunately the aneurysm has gotten bigger, 1mm bigger,” he said. The aneurysm was initially measured at 4mm and is now understood to be 5mm. Sandilands said the change was small but still unwelcome, adding that it was “not big…

Construction work on Hiawatha Avenue in Minneapolis begins on Tuesday, September 8, with traffic reduced to one lane in each direction as crews install new pedestrian safety measures at East 45th Street and East 46th Street. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) said the restrictions will remain in place between Minnehaha Parkway and East 44th Street until the project is expected to finish in December. The $1.88 million scheme will introduce new pedestrian signals and crosswalks, along with refuge areas for people crossing Highway 55. Turn lanes at East 46th Street will also be rebuilt to reduce turning speeds and…

Plans to reshape Sydney’s eastern suburbs with towers of up to 34 storeys and about 9,400 new homes have been placed on public display, setting the stage for a major confrontation between the NSW Government and Woollahra Council. The draft rezoning proposal covers 168 hectares around Edgecliff station and a proposed new Woollahra station. Buildings of up to 34 storeys are proposed near Edgecliff, while developments of up to 32 storeys could be built around Woollahra station. The NSW Government says the precinct will be transformed over the next 20 years, with new homes, shops, public space and transport links…

Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann’s 15-year-old son could face strict restrictions and “close, close monitoring” if a judge grants him bond in his sexual assault case, a former prosecutor has said. Kroy “KJ” Biermann Jr remains in custody in Georgia after being arrested in Alpharetta on 17 August over allegations involving a 15-year-old female classmate. He has denied the claims. Speaking to Page Six, former prosecutor Lindsay Richards, who is not involved in the case, said any release would probably come with stringent conditions because of the seriousness of the allegations. She said KJ could be placed under GPS monitoring…

Macklemore used his opening performances for Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium to voice support for Palestinians and condemn Israel, prompting calls for him to be removed from the remaining dates. The 43-year-old rapper appeared before Sheeran’s shows on Friday, September 4, and Saturday, September 5, addressing the conflict from the stage and calling for freedom for Palestinians. During the performances, Macklemore referred to people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, saying they had not been forgotten. He also performed his protest song Hind’s Hall, while footage connected to Gaza and pro-Palestinian demonstrations was shown on…

Dragon Con drew more than 75,000 fans to downtown Atlanta for its 40th anniversary celebration, while raising over $320,000 for Hope Atlanta, a charity supporting people facing homelessness. The five-day convention, held from September 3 to 7, brought together enthusiasts of comics, film, television, gaming, costuming and art across venues including five major hotels and the AmericasMart complex. Organisers said the programme featured more than 3,500 hours of events. ([dragoncon.org](https://www.dragoncon.org/resources/media-pr-resources/pressreleases/?utm_source=openai)) Guests included Edward James Olmos, Sean Astin, Richard Dean Anderson, Lena Headey, Katee Sackhoff, Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk, while thousands of attendees took part in costume competitions and the…

An Instagram user who set up a new account with their age listed as 30 was soon being shown a stream of posts about “fertilitymaxxing” – highlighting the opaque way social media algorithms can shape what people see when they are trying to conceive. The term is used online for advice and routines claimed to improve reproductive health. But the sudden shift in content raised questions about how little users understand about the systems deciding which posts appear in their feeds. Social media platforms use signals such as age, activity and engagement to personalise content, although the precise workings of…