Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

U2 marked their 50th anniversary with a surprise concert at the Dublin school where the band was formed, before appearing on a balcony above Grafton Street to perform for hundreds of fans. The Irish rock group returned to Mount Temple Comprehensive School on Friday, exactly 50 years after drummer Larry Mullen Jnr put a note on the school notice board asking fellow students if they wanted to join a band. The concert took place on the school grounds, including outside the building where the group was photographed in 1977. U2 performed “I Will Follow”, their first hit from their debut…

Fans of the late Dolly Parton marked the first “9-2-5” day on September 25, celebrating the country singer through the title of her hit song “9 to 5”. The date is a reference to “9 to 5”, which Parton wrote for the hit film of the same name. The commemorations included a children’s hospital in Knoxville bearing Parton’s name, where the occasion was reported on as fans paid tribute to the singer.

Emma Willis is facing her biggest presenting challenge yet as she takes over Strictly Come Dancing, with the BBC positioning the experienced broadcaster as a dependable family-friendly successor to Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Her appointment follows three years of controversy surrounding the Saturday night dance show, during which BBC chiefs were said to have become tired of negative headlines and complaints. Willis, 50, has been presented as a reassuring and familiar figure alongside new co-hosts Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe. Yet the public image of the Birmingham-born presenter marks a significant change from her early years in television, when…

Nancy Mace appeared to channel Catwoman during Thursday’s episode of her podcast, “Get Maced”, wearing a skin-tight black jumpsuit. The South Carolina congresswoman’s all-black outfit drew comparisons with the superhero character and the costume worn by Michelle Pfeiffer in “Batman Returns”. Mace presented the look as a casual outfit ahead of the weekend, with the leather-style jumpsuit giving it a distinctly cinematic appearance. The choice also prompted speculation over whether the Nancy Mace Catwoman look could eventually make an appearance on the House floor.

More than 100 homes in a Caledonia neighbourhood have been hit by repeated power outages, with residents reporting interruptions lasting up to 24 hours and occurring at least six times in eight weeks. Residents in the Wisconsin community say overgrown branches touching power lines are believed to be triggering the outages, even during relatively light rain and wind. They say they have repeatedly contacted utility company WE Energies, but have often been placed on a waiting list. When crews have attended, residents claim only a small number of branches were cut before further problems emerged elsewhere along the network. The…

Powerhouse Parramatta will launch its first in-house food programme with a 23-day opening festival featuring Maggie Beer, Josh Niland, Stephanie Alexander and other leading figures in Australian food. The western Sydney institution, which opens to the public on November 7, will host cooking demonstrations, dinners and discussions, with tickets priced between $15 and $50. Three events have already sold out, including a Family DINEasties feast hosted by chef Kylie Kwong alongside writers Lee Tran Lam and Kevin La. The event is being presented in collaboration with the SBS Food programme of the same name. Kwong, who was appointed a Powerhouse…

Pope Leo XIV has warned in Paris that artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies could undermine humanity, urging greater ethical scrutiny to prevent what he called a “paradise of machines” from shaping daily life. Speaking alongside President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée Palace before addressing diplomats and United Nations employees at UNESCO, the pope said technological progress raised fundamental questions about what it means to be human. “If we are to avoid losing our humanity amid a paradise of machines invading and conditioning our daily lives, there is an urgent need for education in ethical discernment,” he said. Leo also…

Korea’s trade surplus has reached a record $23 billion, marking a significant milestone for the country’s trade position. The figure is the central development behind the latest economic update, with the factors driving the increase identified as the focus of attention.

Carrot Top has cancelled three weeks of Las Vegas shows while he remains in hospital following a suicide attempt, according to people familiar with his performances. The comedian, whose real name is Scott Thompson, was due to perform at the Luxor’s Atrium Showroom. The latest cancellations follow the calling off of shows scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Monday last week. Thompson, 61, was hospitalised last Friday after a suspected overdose involving prescription pills. A 911 caller told dispatchers he was barely conscious and struggling to breathe, repeatedly pleading with him to “stay awake”. He was taken to a Las Vegas…

High winds and heavy rain caused power outages, fallen trees and travel disruption across western Washington on Friday, with gusts of up to 50mph forecast in parts of the region. The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for coastal areas and parts of the southern Puget Sound, including Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia and surrounding communities. It warned that strong winds could bring down tree limbs, blow unsecured objects around and lead to further power cuts. Seattle City Light restored electricity to thousands of customers as crews responded to weather-related faults. Tacoma Public Utilities also reported that 4,006 customers were without…