Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

Japan’s economy grew at an annualised rate of 1.4% in the April-to-June quarter, an upward revision from the initial estimate of 1.1%, according to figures released by the Cabinet Office on Tuesday September 8. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, gross domestic product increased by 0.4%, compared with the preliminary estimate of 0.3%. The revised figure remained below the 1.6% median forecast from economists. The main change came from business investment, which fell by 0.9% during the quarter rather than the 1.2% decline recorded in the first estimate. The Cabinet Office said the second estimate incorporated newly available corporate financial data alongside…

Channel 4 has revealed the 12 amateur bakers who will compete in the 2026 series of The Great British Bake Off, including a Birmingham drag king, a self-styled “Northern Diva” hairdresser and two students. The new contestants will enter the famous tent when the series returns on Tuesday, 22 September at 8pm, with the line-up facing the familiar Signature, Technical and Showstopper challenges. Among this year’s hopefuls is Gabe, 32, a costume designer and theatre producer from the West Midlands who performs as the drag king Blu Romantic. Described as the “daddy of Birmingham drag”, Gabe began baking as a…

A second-storey balcony collapsed on to a parked vehicle at a condominium complex in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, forcing residents to leave the building while engineers assess whether it is safe. The incident happened on South Atlantic Avenue on Saturday night, September 5. No injuries were reported, according to city officials. The structure was declared uninhabitable after the collapse, with access restricted pending an inspection of the building’s structural integrity. Temporary wooden supports and reinforcement beams were installed beneath the damaged balcony to help prevent further damage. New Smyrna Beach balcony collapse prompts evacuation Photographs from the scene showed caution…

Australia’s Labor government is preparing tougher internet laws that could expose major technology companies to fines of up to A$99 million (£50 million), while prompting accusations that ministers are seeking to expand state control over what Australians can access online. The proposed legislation would strengthen the powers of the eSafety Commissioner to investigate whether social media platforms are taking reasonable steps to prevent children under 16 from holding accounts. Under the changes, companies including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube could be compelled to hand over internal emails, board minutes and instructions issued to teams responsible for enforcing the restrictions.…

Hawaii has been placed under a state of emergency as Hurricane Lowell approaches the western islands, bringing the threat of life-threatening flooding, damaging winds and dangerous surf. The National Hurricane Center said Lowell was carrying maximum sustained winds of 115mph on Monday and was expected to pass close to Kauai and Niihau overnight before moving north-eastwards away from the main island chain. A hurricane warning is in force for Kauai and Niihau, while a tropical storm warning has been issued for parts of Oahu. Forecasters have warned that heavy rainfall could trigger flash floods and mudslides, particularly on Kauai and…

Underwater Awards Australasia 2026 has celebrated a striking collection of marine photography and film, with a seal gliding through a kelp forest and a juvenile whale shark surrounded by divers among the winning and shortlisted images. The overall prize went to Australian filmmaker Kat dos Remedios, whose short film Dragon won the Reels Showcase category and was named Best of Show. Filmed in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, the work focuses on the endangered-looking beauty of weedy seadragons and includes footage of newly hatched animals. The winners were announced at the Go Diving Show ANZ in Sydney on 5 September, bringing…

Canada is preparing to impose retaliatory tariffs on about C$27.6 billion (roughly US$20 billion) of American goods from Tuesday, September 8, as the escalating dispute with Washington prompts businesses and policymakers to look beyond their traditional reliance on the US market. The duties, ranging from 15% to 50%, follow President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 50% tariffs on selected Canadian goods from August 22. The measures were announced after trade talks broke down and Washington declined to extend the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement in July. For Canada, the confrontation has exposed the risks of depending so heavily on one trading…

Podcaster Adam “Adam22” Grandmaison has confirmed that he and his wife, OnlyFans creator Lena the Plug, are officially separated, just months after she denied filing for divorce and described the earlier legal action as an identity-theft hoax. Adam made the announcement on his No Jumper podcast on Monday, September 7, saying the couple had encountered “some issues” and decided to put their relationship “on ice for a period of time”. He said the marriage was not necessarily over, adding: “Will we end up back together? There is certainly a possibility.” The pair remain legally married. Adam, whose real name is…

One man has died after a shooting at Addison Road Metro station in Prince George’s County, Maryland, as police search for an armed suspect. The incident began with a dispute between two men outside the station on Monday, according to Metro Transit Police. The confrontation continued inside, where the pair exchanged gunfire on the mezzanine level. One of the men was taken to hospital with gunshot wounds but later died, police said. The identity of the victim has not been released. The station has been closed while investigators process the crime scene. Officers are collecting evidence, including shell casings found…

One Nation has rejected warnings that its proposal to let millions of Australians access part of their superannuation early would fuel inflation, as the government criticised the plan and questioned whether it had been properly modelled. The party wants workers who pay rent or a mortgage to divert a quarter of their compulsory superannuation contributions into their take-home pay for up to three years. Employers would still pay the full 12 per cent superannuation contribution, with super funds then returning 3 per cent to participating workers. One Nation estimates that an employee earning about A$90,500 a year would receive an…