Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

Harriet Sperling’s 17-page interview with Hello! has prompted criticism from some supporters of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, after it appeared during King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Caribbean visit. Ms Sperling, a former NHS nurse who married Peter Phillips in June, appears in a six-outfit photoshoot and discusses her new role as patron of Home-Start Cotswolds, which supports new parents across six English counties. The interview has been compared with the criticism directed at Prince Harry and Meghan when their media appearances have coincided with major royal occasions. However, Buckingham Palace is understood not to have raised any concerns…

The Bank of England has raised interest rates for the first time since 2023, signalling that further increases could follow. The decision marks a shift in the central bank’s approach after a period without a rate rise. The Bank of England said more increases may be needed.

Four people have died after a fire tore through a townhouse in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighbourhood early on Thursday morning. The victims – two men and two women – were taken to hospitals in critical condition after firefighters were called to the 7000 block of North Paulina Street on the city’s North Side. Their identities had not been released by the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Firefighters brought the blaze under control at 4.14am, with the fire fully contained at about 4.37am. Officials said the flames were confined to one home in a four-unit building. Three people from neighbouring properties…

UNO has been given an Australian makeover, with Mattel releasing a limited-edition UNO Artiste collaboration featuring the work of local artist Mulga. The deck combines Australiana-inspired illustrations with colloquialisms including “Yeah-Nah” and “Nah-Yeah”, bringing rock star koalas, bin chickens and surfing kangaroos to the familiar card game. New Australian UNO wild cards The “Yeah-Nah” wild card can block an action played by the previous player, including a Skip, Draw Two or Draw Four. The following player can use the “Nah-Yeah” wild card to cancel it and restore the original action. Mattel said the potentially confusing additions were intended to reflect…

New Yorkers rallied against gun violence while demanding justice for Ghanaian teenager Javits Frimpong, who was shot and killed on his way to school in the Bronx last month. Those taking part in the march called for accountability over the teenager’s death and an end to gun violence in the city. Frimpong’s uncle joined protesters in speaking about the killing and the need for justice.

Democrats have taken control of both chambers of Congress after a strong performance in this week’s elections, winning in districts and states that President Donald Trump carried by double-digit margins only two years ago. The result gives the party its largest Senate majority since the passage of the Affordable Care Act during the early years of Barack Obama’s presidency. Results in Alaska and Mississippi remain outstanding; if both favour Democrats, their majority could rise to 54 seats, alongside two independents who caucus with them. Several House contests are still uncalled, but the scale of the swing towards the Democrats is…

Only 26% of US households have reached “essential wealth”, a new measure intended to show whether families have enough assets and savings not only to cover everyday costs but also to withstand shocks and plan for the future. The framework, developed by the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program, defines the threshold as holding multiple appreciating assets, such as a home and a retirement account, alongside sufficient liquid savings. For a household in its thirties, the benchmark is about $120,000 (£91,000) in net worth and six weeks of take-home pay in accessible savings. The largest group of households, 43%, falls into…

Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to his Portugal career after more than two decades, six World Cups and a European Championship triumph. The 41-year-old confirmed he would no longer represent Portugal in a video message, following a falling-out with head coach Jorge Jesus. His final appearance for the national team came in a 1-0 Nations League victory over Wales on September 24. “To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team,” Ronaldo said. “I never felt it belonged to me alone…

Paul Merson has urged Michael Carrick to keep Bruno Fernandes in Manchester United’s team and called for greater consistency from Matheus Cunha, despite the club’s dramatic 3-2 comeback against Roma. United recovered from two goals down to claim their first victory in 10 matches, but Merson believes the result did not disguise the weaknesses that remain. He also questioned whether the momentum would continue into Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Aston Villa. Manchester United need Bruno Fernandes, says Merson Merson said Fernandes remains United’s best player and should be involved even when his form is below its highest level. “I…

Clearwater City Council is due to reconsider its decision to hand part of South Garden Avenue to the Church of Scientology after a petition challenging the move secured enough verified signatures to trigger the city’s referendum process. The council is scheduled to discuss Referendum Petition 26-01 at a meeting on Thursday, 5 November, at Clearwater City Hall. The petition seeks to overturn the ordinance approving the conditional closure and transfer of the public right-of-way in downtown Clearwater. Save the Garden, the residents’ group behind the campaign, submitted about 10,812 signatures in September. The Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections later confirmed…