Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

A serving police officer has been charged with aggravated common assault over an alleged attack on his five-week-old baby. The officer is due to face court in connection with the charge.

Hidden compartments in shops were uncovered during a high-street crime crackdown in Lowestoft, Suffolk, including a ceiling void containing illegal and counterfeit tobacco worth £1,000. The raids formed part of Operation Machinize, a UK-wide operation led by the National Crime Agency. Officers from Suffolk Police, Immigration Enforcement and Trading Standards targeted about ten convenience stores, vape shops, nail salons, barbers and massage parlours identified as potentially linked to criminal activity. Security minister Dan Jarvis observed the operation, in which specialist teams used a sniffer dog trained to detect tobacco and cash. At one vape shop, a door disguised as shelving…

Goldman Sachs now expects the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates again in October, marking a change in its outlook for the central bank’s policy. The investment bank’s revised view points to another Fed rate hike later this year.

Singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik has been hospitalised in New York, where he is currently receiving medical care, according to sources with direct knowledge of the situation. The reason for the Grammy-nominated artist’s hospitalisation is not known, and no details have been given about his condition. Sheik became widely known after releasing his 1996 debut single, “Barely Breathing”, which earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. He is also known for his work as a composer and actor. Representatives for Sheik have been contacted for comment but have not responded.

A University of Washington professor has played down warnings that artificial intelligence could wipe out humanity by the end of the decade, saying the more immediate danger is the way the technology is already influencing people’s lives. Chirag Shah, an adjunct professor at the university’s Information School, was speaking after former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon resigned and warned that people developing AI “earnestly believe” it could “kill us all by the end of the decade”. Shah said a takeover scenario remained highly unlikely, but argued that concerns over poorly tested systems, unchecked automation and the erosion of human judgement deserved…

Two alleged plotters accused of organising the shooting murder of Australian citizen Lorenzo Lemalu in Vietnam have been granted bail by a court in Samoa. The men, a 31-year-old New Zealand national and a 33-year-old Samoan national, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with conspiracy to murder. They will remain in the Samoan community while the case proceeds. Lemalu, a 24-year-old Sydney-based gang boss, was shot dead outside a seafood restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City on May 21. Another Australian citizen was seriously injured in the attack. Vietnamese authorities arrested two Samoan nationals, aged 22 and 26, on May…

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have used their first bilateral meeting to discuss artificial intelligence risks, defence cooperation and joint initiatives in Liverpool. The talks were followed by an evening watching a football match together at Everton’s stadium. The British Prime Minister’s Office said the leaders agreed that governments and technology companies must work together to improve online safety and address the risks posed by AI. UK and Canada discuss artificial intelligence risks The meeting came days after Burnham’s spokesperson welcomed increased discussion among AI companies about the dangers associated with the technology, alongside…

Matthew Lillard has said he regrets returning to Scream 7 after Melissa Barrera was fired from the franchise over her pro-Palestine stance. Speaking during a question-and-answer session at a screening marking the 30th anniversary of Scream, the actor was asked about celebrities speaking out on political issues. Lillard said advocating for trans people and the LGBTQ community was straightforward for him, as he is the father of queer children. But he acknowledged feeling conflicted about rejoining the horror franchise after Barrera’s dismissal. “I feel bad about that. I feel shame about that,” he told the audience. “Because in that moment…

Westfield Fire Chief Adrian Dillehay has spoken about the personal journey that led him from East Aldine to a position of leadership, saying the department he now runs gave him direction when he needed it most. Dillehay was featured during Hispanic Heritage Month for his work in north-east Harris County, where his family has longstanding ties. At the intersection of Bentley and Mooney, he recalled the neighbourhood’s past as farmland and the hard-working families who helped shape it. His own connection to the area is particularly strong. Dillehay said his grandmother’s house once stood on Mooney, and he has a…

The Fitzroy River in Rockhampton has been approved as the rowing venue for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has told parliament. The Central Queensland site will also host para rowing, canoe sprint and para canoe events after passing an International Olympic Committee assessment, according to Mr Crisafulli. “It’s official, signed, sealed and delivered,” he said on Thursday. The Fitzroy River is a crocodile habitat, while the nominated venue had faced pressure over concerns about fairness, safety and sustainability. Mr Crisafulli said the proposed Rockhampton flatwater course had received approval following a comprehensive independent technical assessment by “renowned…