Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

The Atlantic hurricane season is set to break the record for the latest formation of a first hurricane, with no storm expected to develop before Saturday, 12 September. Meteorologists say unusually strong El Niño conditions, powerful wind shear and Saharan dust are suppressing tropical activity across the basin. The previous record was set on 11 September. With the National Hurricane Center reporting no Atlantic tropical cyclones on Thursday, the 2026 season is certain to pass that mark if conditions remain unchanged. El Niño suppresses Atlantic hurricane development Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from 1 June to 30 November, with activity…

Brits take an average of five selfies before finding one they are happy to keep, with younger adults emerging as the most demanding photographers, new research has found. A survey of 2,000 adults found that 32 per cent rarely get the right picture on their first attempt, while 35 per cent said their camera roll was filled with near-identical images. Only 18 per cent are usually satisfied with their opening shot. Gen Z respondents took the longest to settle on a picture, averaging six attempts. That fell to five among Millennials, four for Gen X and three for Baby Boomers.…

A fire aboard a cargo ship at a Chinese port has killed at least 20 people, with rescuers racing to bring the blaze under control and the vessel secured for assessment. Authorities said the incident occurred at a port city in China, and that emergency crews were dispatched to the scene in response to the blaze on board the vessel. The death toll stands at no fewer than 20, with officials warning the figure could rise as operations to contain the fire and account for those on board continue. Firefighters and port authorities remained at the site as investigators began…

Renting or buying a home is the dilemma at the centre of a CBS News Money Moves segment featuring financial analyst Jill Schlesinger, producer Mark Talercio and a caller named Alan from the Bay Area. Alan and his wife are weighing whether to continue renting or commit to purchasing a property, a decision Schlesinger presents as more complicated than a simple comparison between monthly rent and mortgage payments. The discussion examines the wider financial consequences of home ownership, including the long-term commitment involved in taking on a mortgage and the need to consider whether buying fits a household’s broader plans.…

Forty-three ring-necked parakeets have been found dead in Priory Gardens, Orpington, over a three-week period amid allegations that groups of youths are using catapults to attack the birds. Rae Gellel, director of the Greenwich Wildlife Network, said five of the birds were discovered on Monday alone. She said the parakeets were being targeted at night while roosting in trees. According to the wildlife charity, the attackers use powerful lights to stun the birds before firing catapults at them, a tactic known as “lamping”. Ms Gellel said the charity had recovered 43 dead birds from the south-east London park during the…

Donald Trump has promised a $5,000 payment to every adult American if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress in November’s midterm elections, but the proposal would require congressional approval and could cost more than $1 trillion. Speaking at the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday, the president described the proposed payment as a “Trump Dividend” and compared it with a company distributing cash to its shareholders. “If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, both of them, because of our tremendous strength and success economically, I will issue a dividend to…

Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are set to introduce a variable aperture, allowing photographers to adjust how much light reaches the main camera sensor. The feature offers settings of f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4, alongside new manual controls for shutter speed, white balance and focus. The adjustable mechanical iris can also be left to the camera to manage automatically. For users who want greater control, however, the settings will be available directly within Apple’s standard Camera app rather than requiring specialist software such as Halide. Despite the attention likely to surround the variable aperture, its practical…

Stephen Warnock believes Liverpool’s current system is preventing Alexis Mac Allister from consistently producing his best form, despite the midfielder making the decisive contribution in Wednesday night’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Atlético Madrid. The Argentina international struck from outside the area at Anfield to complete Liverpool’s comeback after Marcos Llorente had given Atlético the lead. Dominik Szoboszlai had equalised before the interval, with Mac Allister’s second-half goal handing Andoni Iraola a winning start in Europe. Mac Allister’s performance came shortly after he revealed his disappointment at Liverpool’s decision not to offer him a new contract. The 27-year-old said he…

Washington DC is set for a hot and humid Thursday, with temperatures rising to around 90F (32C) and showers possible at intervals across the region. Most areas are expected to begin the day dry, although a few showers could affect the morning commute. The National Weather Service puts the chance of rain at 30 per cent, with thunderstorms also possible from late afternoon. Any early rain should ease for a time, allowing partly cloudy or mostly sunny skies to develop and temperatures to climb. However, high humidity will keep the atmosphere unsettled into the evening. Showers and thunderstorms are forecast…

Former Australian special forces personnel are alleged to have been recruited to train Russian nationals at private military camps in Serbia and Bulgaria, according to an intelligence memo that has prompted warnings in Canberra that such activity could amount to treason. The document is based on interviews with two former Australian special forces operatives who said they were approached about working as instructors at a Serbian training company. It does not establish that either man accepted the offer or that any Australian has definitely trained Russian troops. The camp advertises advanced sniper instruction, close-quarters combat and other specialist military courses.…