Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

A purportedly handwritten copy of Meghan Markle’s children’s book has been put up for sale for £20,000, with the seller claiming it was personally given to Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank after the birth of their son. The first edition of The Bench carries an inscription dated 2021 which appears to be signed in the Duchess of Sussex’s distinctive handwriting. The message refers to Eugenie as “Eug”, a family nickname, and mentions Frogmore Cottage, where Harry and Meghan lived before moving abroad. The inscription reads: “Dear Eug & Jack, Celebrating the special bond between father and son. I wrote this…

San Francisco car crime has fallen sharply since 2022, with thefts down by almost 59% and break-ins by more than 82% in the first eight months of 2026. Police and city leaders say an expanding network of automated number plate cameras, including Flock Safety’s artificial intelligence system, has played a significant part — but researchers caution that the technology’s precise contribution remains uncertain. The debate has placed San Francisco at the centre of a wider US argument over whether high-tech surveillance can reduce crime without creating an unchecked record of people’s movements. San Francisco district attorney Brooke Jenkins has described…

General Motors chief executive Mary Barra has stopped making firm predictions about the arrival of self-driving cars, but said the company plans to introduce hands-off, feet-off highway driving on the Cadillac Escalade IQ in 2028. Barra, speaking in a Manhattan showroom, said GM’s longer-term commitment to electric vehicles remained unchanged despite the slower-than-expected take-up of the technology in the United States. “I’m done making predictions,” she said, reflecting a more cautious stance than her previous forecasts about the pace of autonomous driving. “I don’t think it’s shifted our mission. We still think EVs are the endgame.” GM autonomous driving plans…

Manchester City are under growing pressure from rival Premier League clubs to receive a severe punishment after an independent commission found the club guilty of serious financial-rule breaches spanning nine seasons. The sanction has yet to be decided, but the findings have intensified debate over whether City could face a points deduction, financial penalties or other sporting measures. Rival clubs demand severe Manchester City punishment Rival clubs are understood to be urging the Premier League process to move swiftly and for any penalty to reflect the seriousness of the commission’s conclusions. Possible sanctions being discussed include a substantial points deduction,…

Forecasters are turning their attention towards the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean as October brings a seasonal shift in tropical storm activity, although strong wind shear is expected to make development difficult. The Atlantic is currently quiet. The National Hurricane Center said on Friday, October 2, that there were no tropical cyclones in the basin and that no new system was expected to form in the Gulf or Caribbean over the following seven days. ([nhc.noaa.gov](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/mobile/?trk=organization_guest_main-feed-card-text&utm_source=openai)) A small area of low pressure in the central Atlantic is being watched, but its chances of becoming an organised tropical system remain low at…

Three hosts have been charged after police officers were allegedly pelted with glass bottles during an out-of-control party in Capalaba, south-east of Brisbane. A 45-year-old man, a 41-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy will face legal action following the disturbance on September 19. The two adults have been charged with organising an out-of-control event and are due to appear at Cleveland Magistrates Court on October 27. Police were called to reports of a large gathering at about 10.15pm. A significant number of people were in the area and extra officers were required before police could enter the residence. Glass bottles…

The United States is preparing to send about 9,000 additional sailors and Marines to the Middle East as President Donald Trump said Iran was “ready to fold up” and promised the conflict would be “very quickly ended”. The USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group and the USS Makin Island Amphibious Group are heading to the region, according to a US official. If both arrive, there could be three American carrier strike groups and two amphibious ready groups deployed at the same time. The additional force is expected to include roughly 7,000 sailors and 2,000 Marines, bringing the total number of…

The United States is deploying a third aircraft carrier strike group to waters near Iran, alongside thousands of additional troops, as the conflict enters its eighth month and Washington weighs military escalation against faltering diplomatic efforts. The USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group left its base in San Diego on Sunday, according to a US official, followed a day later by the Makin Island Marine Expeditionary Unit, carrying more than 2,000 Marines. The naval deployments could bring between 9,000 and 10,000 additional US troops to the region, including sailors and Marines assigned to the carrier group and accompanying vessels. By…

Mattel shares surged nearly 20% on Thursday after the toymaker was reported to have attracted takeover interest from Authentic Brands Group, in a potential deal valuing the company at about $6 billion. The Wall Street Journal reported that the brand licensing company had privately discussed an offer of more than $20 a share. Mattel’s shares were trading just above $15 on Thursday afternoon. A person familiar with the discussions confirmed that talks had taken place but cautioned that they remained at a very preliminary stage. The person said the approach made sense because Authentic Brands Group was interested in entertainment…

Ed Brand has set his sights on becoming a head coach after ending a 17-year association with Chelsea, where he progressed from academy player to youth-team coach and helped develop several future England internationals. Brand, 39, left the club earlier this year after a coaching career that included FA Youth Cup success, European competition and responsibility for some of Chelsea’s most promising players. “I want to be a head coach,” he said. His own playing career was curtailed partly by a series of concussions. Having joined Chelsea aged 10, captained the youth team and played for the reserves, he later…