Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

Abby Care, a US home-care startup that trains family members to become certified, paid caregivers, has raised $82 million in a Series C funding round led by Transformation Capital. The company, founded by Havi Nguyen in 2022, operates as a Medicaid provider and works with health plans to organise care at home for families with complex needs. CVS Health Ventures, Frist Cressey Ventures and Pivotal Ventures joined as new investors, while Khosla Ventures, Thrive Capital and Sequoia also participated. Abby Care describes itself as an AI-native business focused on supporting relatives who are already closely involved in a patient’s care.…

Sally Rooney’s books are to be withdrawn from UK booksellers after the Irish author and her publisher, Faber, agreed to halt supplies over her support for Palestine Action, a group banned as a terrorist organisation in Britain. Rooney, whose bestselling novels include Normal People and Conversations with Friends, had said she intended to use proceeds from her work to support the group. Both books have been adapted for television. Faber said current UK legislation meant it could not pass earnings from Rooney’s work to the author, creating what it described as an “unconscionable situation for a publisher”. In an article…

Pedro Porro has been linked with a move to Barcelona or Real Madrid despite signing a new contract with Tottenham during the summer, with Spurs reportedly valuing the defender at £75 million. The right-back’s future has come under renewed scrutiny after interest from the Spanish giants resurfaced. A report claims Tottenham’s asking price reflects Porro’s improved terms, although the figure could prove difficult to meet. Porro joined Tottenham from Sporting in 2023 and has generally impressed with his ability and character, despite not being without flaws. He had appeared likely to depart during the club’s major summer clear-out before manager…

An 18-year-old woman has died after being found with a gunshot wound inside a home on Chicago’s Northwest Side. Chicago police officers were called to the 2700 block of Monitor Avenue in the Belmont Central neighbourhood at about 8.53pm on Wednesday. The woman was found inside the property with a gunshot wound to the head. She was taken to Loyola University Medical Centre in a critical condition but was later pronounced dead. Police remained outside the home overnight while detectives collected evidence as part of the investigation into the Chicago shooting. The woman’s identity has not been released. Authorities have…

A cancer survivor was rebuilding his life when he was fatally stabbed by his stepson at the family home in Hillside, in Melbourne’s north-west, a court has heard. Tony Di Falco, 61, died on October 4, 2024, after Mehmet Bertan attacked him inside the property. Bertan, 34, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Di Falco’s brother, Nick, told the Victorian Supreme Court the loss had left a lasting void in the family. “He was far more than a victim,” he said. “He was a beloved brother, devoted father, a church member … and heart of…

Princess Anne has been named the nation’s most popular royal in YouGov’s third-quarter 2026 rankings, overtaking the Prince and Princess of Wales. The Princess Royal, 76, was liked by 67 per cent of respondents and disliked by 7 per cent, giving her a net approval rating four points higher than Catherine, Princess of Wales, and 10 points above William, Prince of Wales. Catherine was favoured by 64 per cent of those surveyed, while William received the support of 62 per cent. King Charles came fourth overall, with a popularity rating of 53 per cent. Princess Anne leads royal popularity poll…

The Trump administration’s cancellation of 760,000 Affordable Care Act health insurance enrolments over alleged fraud has wrongly removed some legitimate policyholders, insurance industry sources have said, with a small number already reinstated. Officials announced the cuts last month while claiming they would prevent improper enrolments and save taxpayers billions of dollars. But the administration has provided little information about how many cancellations were reversed, how people were contacted or how quickly wrongly removed customers can regain cover. A further 419,000 enrolments are now being reviewed. Insurers are expected to tell the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) how many…

New York-based fintech start-up Fission has raised $10 million in a Series A round led by Pantera Capital as it seeks to make it easier for investors to sell tokenised private fund holdings. The funding round, which closed in September, also included Circle Ventures, Borderless Capital and Ari Rubenstein. Fission, founded in 2024, has not disclosed its valuation. The company is developing a platform designed to provide an alternative to waiting months for a fund to process a withdrawal or for another investor to buy a tokenised holding. Investors connect their digital wallets and submit a sale, while Fission manages…

Hilary Swank is pregnant with her third child at the age of 52, three years after welcoming twins with her husband, Philip Schneider. The Oscar-winning actor shared the announcement on social media in a video featuring the family dancing with glowsticks attached to their bodies. The lights eventually revealed Swank’s baby bump. “A lot of people have been asking what project I’m doing next, this one releases in December,” the caption said. Swank and Schneider, who is also 52, became parents to daughter Aya and son Ohm when the actor was 48. Dr Kameelah Phillips, an obstetrician-gynaecologist, said pregnancy at…

Antonio Conte has made contact with Manchester United as pressure mounts on manager Michael Carrick following the club’s poor start to the season. The former Chelsea manager is currently out of work and is understood to have made United aware of his availability, according to a report by TeamTalk. Conte is being viewed as a leading potential replacement if Carrick’s position becomes untenable. United have recorded only two wins this season and have lost four of their nine games. Their latest setback came on Tuesday, when they were beaten by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. That result followed a…