Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

Stricter mortgage lending standards are making it harder for many Americans to buy a home, particularly those with moderate credit scores, as high borrowing costs and falling sales keep the housing market under pressure. A study by the Pew Charitable Trusts found that tighter rules introduced after the housing crash reduced delinquencies and defaults, but also narrowed access to mortgages for some households that may be able to manage repayments. Mortgage lending to borrowers with credit scores between 600 and 699 has fallen sharply. Between 2005 and 2024, their share of mortgage originations dropped by 13.3 percentage points to 22.3…

Strictly Come Dancing’s new presenting trio have admitted they were surprised to be chosen to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, with Emma Willis describing the BBC’s decision to put her alongside Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe as “bonkers”. Willis, 50, said the three presenters had been uncertain why they were being considered before producers decided to test how they worked together. “I think all three of us were in such disbelief when they put us together,” she said. “Not in being with each other, but I think slightly in disbelief that we were even up for the show.” The…

Police in New York are investigating a suspected anti-Asian hate crime after a young couple were attacked in a park in Long Island City, Queens. The 21-year-old woman and 22-year-old man were walking near the waterfront at about 8.30pm on Thursday 10 September when an unknown man approached them, according to the NYPD. Investigators said the suspect shouted anti-Asian slurs before attacking the pair. The woman was punched in the back of the head, while the man was struck on the hand and sprayed in the head with an unidentified substance. The couple fled and took shelter at Frank Ottomanelli’s,…

Tyra Stowers and Collingwood footballer Dan Houston are expecting a baby girl, with their first child due in March. Stowers, a reporter and weekend weather presenter in Melbourne, said she was “really excited” and “feeling great” about becoming a mother. “I’ve lost count of how many babies our Melbourne newsroom has had in the past year,” she said, adding that colleagues who had recently become parents would be able to offer “lots of tips and tricks” on bringing up a baby. Houston, a dual All-Australian, said he was “super excited and over the moon”. “I can’t wait for next March.…

Celine Dion has returned to the stage for her first full concert in six years, performing before 30,000 fans in Paris after a rare neurological disorder forced her to cancel shows and cast doubt over her future as a singer. The 58-year-old French Canadian star opened her sold-out concert at the Plenitude Arena with her 1990s French-language ballad “On ne change pas”, becoming visibly emotional as the audience welcomed her back. “These are, of course, tears of joy. I’m so delighted to see you,” Dion told the crowd, blowing kisses from the stage. She later said the road back had…

Roxanne Tickle has spoken of an “exhausting” five-year legal battle after Australia’s highest court refused to hear an appeal by the founder of a female-only networking app. The High Court of Australia rejected Sall Grover’s application for special leave to appeal and ordered her to pay Ms Tickle’s legal costs, bringing the latest stage of the discrimination case to an end. Ms Grover had sought to overturn a finding that she discriminated against Ms Tickle by banning her from the Giggle for Girls app in 2021. Her appeal had already been dismissed by the Federal Court in May, which doubled…

Naga Munchetty earned £18,000 from outside work during the first six months of this year while presenting BBC Breakfast, an average of £3,000 a month. The 51-year-old broadcaster received half of the sum for events organised by Soho House, according to the BBC’s quarterly register of external earnings by senior staff. Munchetty, who earns between £360,000 and £364,999 from the BBC, is due to leave BBC Breakfast at the end of the year after 17 years on the programme. Her outside engagements included hosting private events, chairing discussions and speaking at corporate and cultural events. In June, she was paid…

Mikel Arteta criticised the Sunderland penalty decision despite Arsenal’s 2-0 victory at the Stadium of Light, describing the award as “unacceptable” and insisting it could have a major impact on the season. Sunderland were awarded a spot-kick in the 54th minute after referee John Brooks judged that Arsenal defender Ezri Konsa had held Dan Ballard. The decision was reviewed by VAR and upheld. The Premier League Match Centre said the video assistant referee agreed that Konsa was “all over him at the near post facing the wrong way” and confirmed the on-field penalty decision. David Raya saved Enzo Le Fee’s…

Nearly 1,000 people gathered in Warren, Michigan, on Saturday to mark the 100th anniversary of De La Salle Collegiate High School. The centenary celebration brought together pupils, families, alumni and friends of the school for a special anniversary Mass and open house at the Common Road campus. De La Salle Collegiate was founded in 1926, initially serving families in Detroit before moving to its present Warren site in 1982. The school officially opened to students with 85 boys. Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger was due to celebrate the anniversary Mass, held on the date marking a century since the school was…

Aryna Sabalenka has fought back to force a third and final set in the US Open final. The women’s championship match will now be decided in the closing set after Sabalenka recovered to keep her title hopes alive.