RICHMOND, Va. – December 12, 2024 – Bowlero Corporation, a household name in the world of location-based entertainment, is rolling into a new era. The company has officially rebranded to Lucky Strike Entertainment Corporation , marking a transformative step in its journey. Alongside the new name comes a fresh ticker symbol—NYSE: LUCK—a fitting nod to its ambition to become a premier entertainment powerhouse. The rebrand signals more than just a name change. According to Thomas Shannon, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, this is about "redefining what location-based entertainment can be." For young retail investors, this pivot presents a unique opportunity to watch a legacy business innovate and evolve for modern audiences. Lucky Strike Entertainment isn’t just about bowling anymore. With over 360 locations across North America, the company is diversifying its offerings to include amusements, water parks, and family entertainment centers. By broadening its scope, Lucky Strike taps into growing consumer demand for experiential activities that blend fun, nostalgia, and modern flair—a trend especially popular with Millennials and Gen Z. The Lucky Strike brand has long been associated with premium bowling and social experiences. This rebrand amplifies that ethos, aiming to position the company as a destination for memorable experiences, whether it’s a family day out, date night, or group hangout. The rebrand also sets the stage for Lucky Strike to leverage its strong brand equity to introduce new offerings and partnerships that align with evolving consumer preferences. Lucky Strike owns the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), a growing media property with millions of global fans. With sports betting, livestreaming, and niche sports all on the rise, the PBA represents a significant growth opportunity. As Lucky Strike expands its entertainment empire, the PBA could serve as a critical pillar for audience engagement and revenue diversification. The move to rebrand as Lucky Strike Entertainment comes at a time when experiential entertainment is seeing a resurgence. From arcades to axe-throwing bars, consumers are seeking out unique social experiences. Lucky Strike’s rebrand positions it as a leader in this space, with its scale and resources giving it a competitive edge. The name change to Lucky Strike Entertainment and the ticker symbol LUCK underscore the company’s renewed focus on its core mission: creating exceptional entertainment experiences. For retail investors, this rebrand could signal a turning point for the stock as the company broadens its appeal, diversifies revenue streams, and attracts new audiences. If Lucky Strike Entertainment succeeds in delivering on its bold vision, it could unlock new growth opportunities and position itself as a market leader in the booming location-based entertainment industry. For young investors, this is a story worth watching—LUCK might just live up to its name. Stay tuned on Stocktwits for more updates on Lucky Strike Entertainment (NYSE: LUCK) and join the conversation with fellow investors.Cardinals Have Options with Former Top Pitching Prospect

(The Center Square) – Homeowners in the market for washers and dryers may have better-performing options to choose from in the near future due to a bill limiting the extent of energy efficiency mandates on laundry appliances passing the U.S. House. The Republican-led House Resolution 1612 , or Liberty in Laundry Act, would prohibit the Secretary of Energy from enforcing energy conservation standards for clothes washers or dryers that “are not cost-effective or technologically feasible.” Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., who introduced the legislation, said the move is a response to the “slew of woke, ‘environmental’ nonsense rulemaking attempts” by the Biden administration and U.S. Department of Energy. “I have spent much of my time in Congress fighting back the federal government’s vast overreach into the lives of hardworking Americans,” Ogles announced after the bill’s passage Tuesday. “Americans should be able to do their laundry in peace without the input of Big Brother.” Earlier this year, the DOE finalized new updated standards for residential clothes washers and dryers which aim to cut costs and pollution. It estimates the regulations will reduce nearly 71 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions–equivalent to the combined annual emissions of nearly 9 million homes–and up to $39 billion on Americans’ energy and water bills over the next 30 years. House Democrats opposed the legislation's passage, saying "absolutely no one" stands to benefit from the law and accused Republicans of trying to curry favor with special interest groups. "H.R. 7673 guts popular energy efficiency standards for laundry machines – standards that save Americans money on their utility bills and reduce dangerous greenhouse gas pollution at the same time," said Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J. "These efficiency standards create certainty for manufacturers and they protect consumers from rising costs. And, in the case of these laundry machine standards, they also reduce water use – a benefit that could greatly aid drought-prone regions around the nation." But the less electricity and water laundry appliances use, the less effectively they tend to perform, according to an Oct. 2024 report by the Institute for Energy Research. “Historically, appliances meeting Energy Department standards have often underperformed and have higher costs,” the report stated. “The Biden-Harris administration is imposing a series of regulations that are raising appliance prices and compromising quality for homeowners.” Unless the bill is signed into law, laundry appliance makers have until March 2028 to comply with the new rules.

Akron routs Division III-SUNY-Brockport 101-48BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus, the capital, and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM news outlet reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The insurgency announced later Saturday that it had taken over Homs. The city's capture is a major victory for the rebels, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said rebel control of Homs would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country’s long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians.” They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; Josef Federman and Victoria Eastwood in Doha, Qatar; and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report.

Companies tighten security after a health care CEO's killing leads to a surge of threats

Iowa moves on without injured quarterback Brendan Sullivan when the Hawkeyes visit Maryland for a Big Ten Conference contest on Saturday afternoon. Former starter Cade McNamara is not ready to return from a concussion, so Iowa (6-4, 4-3) turns to former walk-on and fourth-stringer Jackson Stratton to lead the offense in College Park, Md. "Confident that he'll do a great job," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said of Stratton on his weekly radio show. "He stepped in, did a really nice job in our last ballgame. And he's got a good ability to throw the football, and he's learning every day. ... We'll go with him and see what we can do." Iowa had been on an upswing with Sullivan, who had sparked the Hawkeyes to convincing wins over Northwestern and Wisconsin before suffering an ankle injury in a 20-17 loss at UCLA on Nov. 8. Stratton came on in relief against the Bruins and completed 3 of 6 passes for 28 yards. Another storyline for Saturday is that Ferentz will be opposing his son, Brian Ferentz, an assistant at Maryland. Brian Ferentz was Iowa's offensive coordinator from 2017-23. "We've all got business to take care of on Saturday," Kirk Ferentz said. "I think his experience has been good and everything I know about it. As a parent, I'm glad he's with good people." Maryland (4-6, 1-6) needs a win to keep its hopes alive for a fourth straight bowl appearance under Mike Locksley. The Terrapins have dropped five of their last six games, all by at least 14 points, including a 31-17 loss at home to Rutgers last weekend. "It's been a challenging last few weeks to say the least," Locksley said. The challenge this week will be to stop Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, who leads the Big Ten in rushing yards (1,328) and touchdowns (20), averaging 7.1 yards per carry. "With running backs, it's not always about speed. It's about power, vision and the ability to make something out of nothing," Locksley said. "This guy is a load and runs behind his pads." Maryland answers with quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., who leads the Big Ten in passing yards per game (285.5) and completions (268). His top target is Tai Felton, who leads the conference in catches (86) and receiving yards (1,040). --Field Level Media

The Republican-led House Resolution 1612 , or Liberty in Laundry Act, would prohibit the Secretary of Energy from enforcing energy conservation standards for clothes washers or dryers that “are not cost-effective or technologically feasible.” Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., who introduced the legislation, said the move is a response to the “slew of woke, ‘environmental’ nonsense rulemaking attempts” by the Biden administration and U.S. Department of Energy. “I have spent much of my time in Congress fighting back the federal government’s vast overreach into the lives of hardworking Americans,” Ogles announced after the bill’s passage Tuesday. “Americans should be able to do their laundry in peace without the input of Big Brother.” Earlier this year, the DOE finalized new updated standards for residential clothes washers and dryers which aim to cut costs and pollution. It estimates the regulations will reduce nearly 71 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions–equivalent to the combined annual emissions of nearly 9 million homes–and up to $39 billion on Americans’ energy and water bills over the next 30 years. House Democrats opposed the legislation's passage, saying "absolutely no one" stands to benefit from the law and accused Republicans of trying to curry favor with special interest groups. "H.R. 7673 guts popular energy efficiency standards for laundry machines – standards that save Americans money on their utility bills and reduce dangerous greenhouse gas pollution at the same time," said Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J. "These efficiency standards create certainty for manufacturers and they protect consumers from rising costs. And, in the case of these laundry machine standards, they also reduce water use – a benefit that could greatly aid drought-prone regions around the nation." But the less electricity and water laundry appliances use, the less effectively they tend to perform, according to an Oct. 2024 report by the Institute for Energy Research. “Historically, appliances meeting Energy Department standards have often underperformed and have higher costs,” the report stated. “The Biden-Harris administration is imposing a series of regulations that are raising appliance prices and compromising quality for homeowners.” Unless the bill is signed into law, laundry appliance makers have until March 2028 to comply with the new rules.Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine

Sports on TV for Sunday, Dec. 22Provides 2000 A15 Hydro Bitcoin mining machines in initial order Continues global expansion with addition of new customer SINGAPORE , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Canaan Inc. (NASDAQ: CAN) ("Canaan" or the "Company"), a leading high-performance computing solutions provider, today announced that Canaan Creative Global Pte. Ltd. ("CCG"), a wholly owned Singapore subsidiary of the Company, has entered into a purchase agreement with AGM Group Holdings Inc. ("AGMH"), an integrated technology company specializing in fintech software services and production of high-performance hardware and computing equipment, for its Avalon A15 HydU 370T ("A15 Hydro") mining machines. As part of the agreement, Canaan will initially provide 2,000 Bitcoin mining machines to AGMH. The Company has also agreed to provide its customer with an option to acquire approximately 30,000 additional BTC mining units, potentially providing AGMH with a combined power capacity not exceeding 300 megawatts. The Avalon Miner A15 Hydro enhances the miner's performance and lifespan while reducing energy consumption and noise pollution, aligning with Canaan's ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy. About Canaan Inc. Established in 2013, Canaan Inc. (NASDAQ: CAN), is a technology company focusing on ASIC high-performance computing chip design, chip research and development, computing equipment production, and software services. Canaan has extensive experience in chip design and streamlined production in the ASIC field. In 2013, Canaan's founding team shipped to its customers the world's first batch of mining machines incorporating ASIC technology in bitcoin 's history under the brand name Avalon. In 2019, Canaan completed its initial public offering on the Nasdaq Global Market. To learn more about Canaan, please visit https://www.canaan.io/ . Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward−looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward−looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Canaan Inc.'s strategic and operational plans, contain forward−looking statements. Canaan Inc. may also make written or oral forward−looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on Forms 20−F and 6−K, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Canaan Inc.'s beliefs and expectations, are forward−looking statements. Forward−looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward−looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's goals and strategies; the Company's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of the bitcoin industry and the price of bitcoin ; the Company's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products, especially its bitcoin mining machines; the Company's expectations regarding maintaining and strengthening its relationships with production partners and customers; the Company's investment plans and strategies, fluctuations in the Company's quarterly operating results; competition in its industry; and relevant government policies and regulations relating to the Company and cryptocurrency . Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Canaan Inc. does not undertake any obligation to update any forward−looking statement, except as required under applicable law. Investor Relations Contacts Canaan Inc. Xi Zhang Email: IR@canaan-creative.com ICR, LLC. Robin Yang Tel: +1 (347) 396-3281 Email: canaan.ir@icrinc.com View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/canaan-inc-signs-agreement-with-agm-group-holdings-inc-302330362.html SOURCE Canaan Inc.

PARIS — Howling winds couldn’t stop Notre Dame Cathedral ’s heart from beating again. With three resounding knocks on its doors by Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, wielding a specially designed crosier carved from fire-scorched beams, the monument roared back to life Saturday evening. For the first time since a devastating blaze nearly destroyed it in 2019, the towering Gothic masterpiece reopened for worship, its rebirth marked by song, prayer, and awe beneath its soaring arches. The ceremony, initially planned to begin on the forecourt, was moved entirely inside due to unusually fierce December winds sweeping across the Île de la Cité, flanked by the River Seine. Yet the occasion lost none of its splendor. Inside the luminous nave, choirs sang psalms, and the cathedral’s mighty organ, silent for nearly five years, thundered to life in a triumphant interplay of melodies. The restoration, a spectacular achievement in just five years for a structure that took nearly two centuries to build, is seen as a moment of triumph for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline — and a welcome respite from his domestic political woes. The evening’s celebration, attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, US first lady Jill Biden, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underscored Notre Dame’s enduring role as both a spiritual and cultural beacon. Observers see the event as Macron's, and his intention to pivot it into a fully fledged diplomatic gathering, while highlighting France’s ability to unite on the global stage despite internal political crises. As the cathedral’s largest bell, the 13-ton Emmanuel — which was not named after the French leader — tolled into the Paris night, signaling the start of the ceremony, the crowd inside Notre Dame fell into an expectant hush. Emmanuel, a legacy of King Louis XIV, had rung through centuries of French history, and its peal now resonated as a call to witness another epochal moment. Outside the cathedral’s monumental doors, Ulrich raised his fire-scarred crosier. “Brothers and sisters, let us enter now into Notre Dame,” he declared. “It is she who accompanies us on our path to peace.” With the congregation of over 2,500 people watching in silence, Ulrich struck the floodlit doors, the base of his crosier reverberating against the wood. Inside, the choir answered with soaring hymns, their voices filling the nave. Illuminations on the cathedral facade heightened the drama. On the final strike, the heavy doors swung open, revealing the glowing interior of restored blond Lutetian limestone. Adding to the ceremony’s visual splendor, Ulrich and the clergy wore vibrant liturgical garments designed by French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. Known for his signature pop-art aesthetic, Castelbajac created 2,000 colorful pieces for 700 celebrants, blending modern elements with medieval touches. Flooded with light and song, the cathedral came alive in a moment of breathtaking spectacle. What had been a silent, soot-blackened ruin five years ago now blazed with renewed vitality, marking the culmination of a nearly $1 billion global effort to resurrect it. Speaking inside the cathedral, Macron expressed “gratitude” Saturday to those who saved, helped, and rebuilt Notre Dame, his voice reverberating through the nave. “I stand before you ... to express the gratitude of the French nation,” he said, before voices flooded the space with song, harmonies not heard in over five years. “Tonight, the bells of Notre Dame are ringing again. And in a moment, the organ will awaken,” sending the “music of hope” cascading through the luminous interior to Parisians, France, and the world beyond, he said. The celebration is expected to give a much-needed boost to the embattled French leader, whose prime minister was ousted this week, plunging the nation’s politics into more turmoil. Macron has called Notre Dame’s reopening “a jolt of hope.” Observers say he hoped the occasion would briefly silence his critics and showcase France’s unity and resilience under his leadership — a rare moment of grace in a presidency now facing a grave crisis. Inside Notre Dame, 42,000 square meters of stonework—equivalent to six soccer pitches—gleamed anew, revealing intricate carvings and luminous limestone. Above, 2,000 oak beams, nicknamed “the forest,” restored the cathedral’s iconic spire and roof. The great organ, dormant for over five years, roared back to life like a slumbering giant. With its 7,952 pipes—ranging from pen-sized to torso-wide—and a renovated console featuring five keyboards, 115 stops, and 30 foot pedals, it responded to Archbishop Laurent Ulrich’s command: “Wake up, organ, sacred instrument.” The first low rumble grew into a triumphant symphony as four organists pulled out the stops, weaving improvised responses to the archbishop’s invocations. Eight times, Ulrich addressed the organ; eight times, its voice filled the nave with breathtaking sound. Guests marveled at the spectacle, many capturing the moment on their phones. “It’s a sense of perfection,” said François Le Page of the Notre Dame Foundation, who last saw the cathedral cloaked in scaffolding in 2021. “It was somber then. Now, it’s night and day.” The Rev. Andriy Morkvas, a Ukrainian priest who leads the Volodymyr Le Grand church in Paris, reflected on his first visit to Notre Dame in over a decade. “I didn’t recognize it,” he said. “God is very powerful; He can change things.” He expressed hope that the cathedral’s revival could inspire peace in his homeland, drawing strength from the presence of Ukraine’s president. “I think that will have a big impact,” he said. “I hope Notre Dame and Mary will help us resolve this conflict.” The reopening of Notre Dame comes at a time of profound global unrest, with wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East. For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.′′ “It is a magnificent symbol of unity,” Olivier Ribadeau Dumas said. “Notre Dame is not just a French monument — it is a magnificent sign of hope.” The international range of dignitaries coming to Paris underline the cathedral’s significance as a symbol of shared heritage and peace. Canadian visitor Noelle Alexandria, who had traveled to Paris for the reopening, was struck by the cathedral’s ability to inspire. “She’s been nearly ruined before, but she always comes back,” Alexandria said. “Not many of us could say the same after such tragedy, but Notre Dame can.” Guests entered through Notre Dame’s iconic western façade, whose arched portals adorned with biblical carvings were once a visual guide for medieval believers. Above the central Portal of the Last Judgment, the Archangel Michael is depicted weighing souls, as demons attempt to tip the scales. These stone figures, designed to inspire both awe and fear, set the stage for a ceremony steeped in history. Inside, the hum of hundreds of guests awaiting the service filled the cathedral with human sounds once more — a stark contrast to the construction din that echoed there for years. Tuners restoring the great organ often worked through the night to find the silence needed to perfect its 7,952 pipes, ranging from pen-sized to torso-wide. Notre Dame echoed to the sound of a sustained standing ovation after the showing of a short movie that documented the gargantuan rebuilding effort. Outside, the word “MERCI” — thank you — was projected against the cathedral’s iconic western facade. The movie showed the terrible wounds left by the inferno — the gaping holes torn into its vaulted ceilings and the burned roof. But that was followed by images of all types of artisans, many using traditional handicraft techniques, who collectively restored Notre Dame to look better now than ever. "We went from night to light," said one of the workers in the movie. Security will be high through the weekend, echoing measures taken during the Paris Olympics earlier this year. The Île de la Cité — the small island in the River Seine that is home to Notre Dame and the historic heart of Paris— is closed to tourists and non-residents. Police vans and barriers blocked cobblestoned streets in a large perimeter around the island, while soldiers in thick body armor and sniffer dogs patrolled embankments. A special security detail followed Trump. For many, Notre Dame’s rebirth is not just a French achievement but a global one — after the reopening, the cathedral is set to welcome 15 million visitors annually, up from 12 million before the fire.More than 200,000 asylum seekers and migrants have arrived in the US city in the past two years. Many fear deportation under Trump. Manhattan, New York – On a brisk autumn day, Diana Zarate stood on a New York City sidewalk, surrounded by a clump of her family’s suitcases and backpacks. Towering above her was the Roosevelt Hotel , a sprawling 850-room facility that has served as a migrant shelter since 2023. The hotel had been the 33-year-old Venezuelan’s home for the past two months. But as the United States prepares for a new presidential administration, the Roosevelt Hotel has also become a symbol of the uncertainty facing the city’s migrants and asylum seekers. Since 2014, New York City has limited its cooperation with federal authorities seeking to deport “unauthorised” residents of the metropolis, embracing its identity as a “ sanctuary city “. But with Donald Trump returning to the White House in January, Zarate and others fear what might lie ahead in the coming months. “Trump said he was going to do the biggest deportation and remove political asylum,” Zarate, an asylum applicant, told Al Jazeera with a gloomy look. “That worries me because I am coming to this country to work to give a better future to my children.” New York in the spotlight Zarate, her husband Rogel and their two kids were preparing to leave the Roosevelt Hotel less than 48 hours after Trump won the 2024 presidential election . For Zarate, the city’s shelter system had been a lifeline. But it came with an expiration date. Under city bylaws, asylum-seeking families are largely restricted to 60 days in shelters before facing eviction. Single adults often have even less time. “My time at Roosevelt is almost over,” Zarate explained, as she waited for a car from a ride-hailing service to take them to a new shelter. Dubbed the “new Ellis Island” of New York City, the Roosevelt Hotel has welcomed upwards of 150,000 migrants and asylum seekers from more than 160 countries since reopening as a shelter. The line regularly seen outside its doors has become a symbol of the crisis the city faces. Since 1981, New York City has had a policy of offering housing to those without shelter. But that policy has come under pressure amid an uptick of new arrivals from abroad. The city has absorbed more than 214,000 migrants and asylum seekers since 2022. They joined the ranks of the approximately 400,000 undocumented immigrants already living in the city, some for decades. Some recent arrivals were drawn to New York for its employment opportunities. Others have family in the region. Still more have been sent by Republican governors on buses , as part of a programme to transport migrants and asylum seekers to Democratic jurisdictions. At the peak of the recent influx, New York City came to operate more than 200 shelters, including more than a dozen relief stations, which provided temporary housing, food and services for migrants and asylum seekers. But officials, including Mayor Eric Adams, have voiced concern that the city’s resources have been overstretched. New York City projects that it will spend at least $12bn on addressing the immigration crisis through 2025. That struggle has generated public outcry — and political backlash. Trump himself visited the city, his hometown, in the final stretch of his 2024 re-election campaign. On October 27, he held a rally at the famed Madison Square Garden arena, where he claimed that “savage” criminals were flooding into the country. “They’re coming from all over the world,” Trump said. “The day I take the oath of office, the migrant invasion of our country ends, and the restoration of our country begins.” “They’ve even taken over Times Square,” he added, referencing the commercial heart of New York City. ‘No more sanctuary cities’ Zarate’s story is just one of many in New York’s sprawling migrant crisis. Zarate and her family entered the US legally approximately 10 months ago in the twilight of President Joe Biden’s administration. She had been banking on Vice President Kamala Harris winning the presidency in November’s race. Now, she is terrified of what the future holds. “It was my wish for Kamala Harris to win,” Zarate said. “If she were president, my family would be safer.” In Zarate’s case, she and her family were forced to flee Venezuela where they had endured chronic poverty as a result of President Nicolas Maduro ‘s leadership. A federal judge is set to rule on Zarate’s asylum application in July 2025. “I left Venezuela because the situation is very difficult and the economy is on the floor,” Zarate explained. As Zarate spoke, other families funnelled into the Roosevelt Hotel, carrying tote bags of clothes. Young mothers held crying infants, while others hauled luggage into Uber cars and sped off. Moments later, Zarate herself gathered her family’s luggage and scampered across the street towards a rideshare taxi. They piled into the black Ford SUV and disappeared as their driver pulled onto 45th Street and into the blur of midtown traffic. Zarate’s fears are echoed by many migrants and asylum seekers across the city, who see Trump’s surprise return to the White House as a direct threat to their fragile foothold in the US. On his first day in office, Trump has pledged to launch “the largest deportation programme of criminals” in the country’s history — and has affirmed plans to declare a national emergency so he can deploy the military to expel undocumented migrants. His administration also plans to scrap visa-free “protected status” for Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan nationals in the country. In September, Trump announced as well that he would take aim at so-called “sanctuary cities” like New York. “No more sanctuary cities,” he said at a campaign stop in North Carolina. “As soon as I take office, we will immediately surge federal law enforcement to every city that is failing, which is a lot of them, to turn over criminal aliens.” Already, Mayor Adams, a centrist Democrat, has agreed to work with the Trump administration’s plans. “I made it clear that I’m not going to be warring with this administration. I’m going to be working with this administration,” Adams said at a news conference in early December. He added that he had arranged to speak with Trump’s incoming “border czar” Tom Homan this month, a meeting that ultimately came to pass on Thursday. It is unclear to what extent the city will cooperate with Trump’s deportation plans. “I don’t believe in mass deportation, but I don’t believe in mass saturation,” Adams said on the talk show The View shortly after the election. After his meeting with Homan, Adams indicated that “law-abiding” migrants and asylum seekers were welcome to use city services, but he added, “We will not be the safe haven for those who commit violent acts.” Homan, meanwhile, has struck an adversarial stance towards cities that might fail to comply with Trump directives. “If we can’t get assistance from New York City, we may have to double the number of agents we send to New York City,” Homan told Fox News in November. “Because we’re going to do the job. We’re going to do the job without you or with you.” Protests ahead Outside the Roosevelt Hotel, another Venezuelan asylum seeker, 30-year-old Anthony Morales, rolled a cannabis cigarette. Like Zarate, the young father was also concerned about what Trump might mean for the city. “What Trump said is worrying,” Morales told Al Jazeera. “It would be very sad for many immigrants who have still fought to get here to be deported without being given the opportunity to get ahead.” Morales, soon to be a father for the second time, arrived in New York City from Caracas four months ago with his pregnant partner, who is due in January. He too fears deportation under a second Trump administration if his asylum application is rejected. “I would feel very bad because of everything we went through,” Morales explained. “Not only the money but the entire journey: the suffering, the trips on the trains, the unstoppable walks. Sometimes, it was very hard.” Elora Mukherjee, the director of the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic at Columbia University, said that trepidation is widespread as a new Trump presidency looms. “So many immigrants — those who are undocumented as well as those who are seeking immigration relief, such as those who are seeking asylum — are extremely scared right now,” Mukherjee told Al Jazeera. Mukherjee explained that she has been flooded with calls and texts from migrants and asylum seekers whose futures now hang in the balance. She described the overall sentiment as a “climate of terror”. “That fear is prevalent in immigrant communities here in New York City, but also nationwide,” she said. Mukherjee, however, noted that individuals with pending immigration applications, such as asylum claims or adjustment-of-status requests, are generally less likely to face detention and deportation. For example, it is legal under US law to cross into the country to escape persecution and file a claim of asylum. Asylum seekers are generally allowed to remain on US soil while their claim is processed. However, Mukherjee pointed out that those who have no such claim face a higher risk of deportation. So too do long-term residents with criminal records and those perceived as security threats. “These are individuals who are embedded in our communities, in our daily life, in the New York City service sector, in grocery deliveries and selling fruits and vegetables at food stands throughout the city,” Mukherjee explained. Under current federal policy , US Immigration and Customs (ICE) agents cannot enter “sensitive” locations like shelters, hospitals, schools and religious institutions where their presence might discourage people from seeking vital services. Agents must receive a judicial warrant first. But even with restrictions in place, thousands of people are deported from the US each year. The Migration Policy Institute anticipates that the outgoing Biden administration is on track to match the 1.5 million people Trump deported during his first term, from 2017 to 2021. Already, migrant rights protests have cropped up around New York as Trump’s inauguration approaches. Mukherjee predicts there will be more activism in the months ahead. “We may see protests. We may see communities banding together to try to protect those who may be undocumented within their communities,” she said. “And I expect that there will be significant organising to protect immigrants’ rights here, in New York City.” Shifting trends Across the Harlem River, on Randall’s Island, the shifts in New York’s immigration crisis can be felt the strongest. Sandwiched between Manhattan and Queens, Randall’s Island is home to the city’s largest migrant shelter. Roughly 2,250 migrants and asylum seekers live in a gigantic tent complex, enduring what critics call cramped and sometimes “inhumane” conditions. But that shelter is soon to close . In October, Mayor Adams announced that arrivals of migrants and asylum seekers in the city had started to decline, leading to the city’s lowest rate in more than a year. “We have turned the corner on this crisis,” said Adams. “We’re not scrambling every day to open new shelters. We’re talking about closing them.” The tent shelter at Randall’s Island is slated to shutter in February. Still, staff at the shelter said they have seen an explosion of migrants rushing to file asylum claims, work authorisation applications and other documents to help bolster their immigration status before Trump takes office. “Everybody’s trying to get their stuff together — take resources, look for things,” one city case worker told Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity. “None of them were doing that, so now that it’s crunch time, they want to do it.” For migrants, gathering the proper materials — like paperwork to prove their identity or make a case for persecution — can be difficult, though. “They’re coming here with nothing,” the case worker explained. Cruz Salazar, 40, was among those trying to get his paperwork in order before Trump’s inauguration. Salazar, a former oilfield mechanic in Venezuela, filed for asylum after crossing into the US with the help of the Red Cross, a humanitarian nonprofit. His next court date is set for February. Without a lawyer to advise him though, he has been relying on shelter employees to help build his case. He has also applied for a work permit: He now labours at a construction job in Yonkers. “They are facilitating getting those documents,” Salazar said of the shelter staff. “Ninety percent of the people are coming here, they come to work. But that 10 percent that doesn’t — it’s bad for the rest of us.” He fears that his asylum application could be denied, putting him at risk of deportation under the Trump administration. “Certainly with immigration, this is a disaster,” Salazar said of the recent election. “If you look Black, Latino, it doesn’t matter if you’re good or bad. They’re going to deport everybody.” Still, Salazar said he had “mixed feelings” about Trump, whom he described as “the best option” on this year’s ballot. Other migrants and asylum seekers shared his ambivalence. ‘Why fear Trump?’ On a sunny day outside the tent shelter, several people hawked canned drinks and toiletries at an open-air market along the riverbank. Barbers gave outdoor haircuts while a sunbathing couple blasted reggaeton music on a portable speaker. Salazar himself sat under a set of clippers wielded by 26-year-old Venezuelan barber and asylum seeker Victor Lopez, who was charging $15 a cut. The young barber said he would have voted for Trump in an instant if he had been eligible. He identifies with Trump’s image as a scrappy businessman. “Why fear Trump?” Lopez told Al Jazeera as he traced Salazar’s hairline with a buzzer. He emphasised that Trump’s focus was on deporting criminals. “He hasn’t said everybody will be deported.” Lopez was sceptical Trump would give him the boot, estimating he had a “50/50” shot at remaining in the country, depending on his asylum application. Asylum denial rates can reach as high as 54.5 percent , according to US government statistics, but many more claims are dismissed for other reasons, including missed deadlines. “If I do things properly, maybe they don’t deport me,” Lopez said stoically. “But you never know. You have to just accept the situation.” Salem Allabouch, 26, a Moroccan national who arrived at the US-Mexico border earlier this year, was equally unburdened by the prospect of a second Trump presidency. He had crisscrossed three continents and more than half a dozen countries before touching US soil. “No, I’m not afraid. I don’t worry,” Allabouch told Al Jazeera. “I am with Donald Trump. He’s good. He loves his country. That’s it. He’s going to make America great again.” While Allabouch admitted that Trump was “not good for immigration”, he said he had faith that the president-elect would not send him back to Morocco. “I think he’s not going to [deport] everyone — people who are criminals, that’s it,” Allabouch explained. “But the people who are working good, pay the tax — I don’t think he’s going to deport them.” Still, not everyone at the Randall’s Island facility was convinced of smooth sailing ahead. Sudytza, another Venezuelan asylum seeker living at Randall’s Island, declined to give her last name out of fear of reprisal. But she said she was bracing for the impending Trump presidency. “As far as I know, Donald Trump is going to kick out everybody that is not in the migration process,” Sudytza told Al Jazeera. Since arriving in the US, Sudytza said she has followed federal immigration procedures by the book — and had taken numerous legal steps to insulate herself from any potential deportation measures. She vowed to stick it out under a Trump White House. “I’m already in the process,” said Sudytza. “I have my court date already. The attorney told me that even if Donald Trump wants to deport me, he cannot do it. I entered the United States of America legally. I entered with humanitarian parole, and my court date is in four years.” She confessed Trump’s threats did not seem all that scary compared with the horrors she witnessed on her journey to the US. Sudytza explained that the bus she took to reach the border had been intercepted by Mexican cartel members. They kidnapped her and other passengers at gunpoint, placing them in cages. They were only released after they collectively paid nearly $1,000 in ransom money. Salazar, meanwhile, said he fears living in purgatory for the rest of his days — particularly if his asylum application is rejected. Venezuela currently refuses to accept US deportees , even if they themselves are Venezuelan. Trump’s administration may have to deport him to a whole other country, where Salazar would once again have to file for immigration status. “They’re saying that Venezuelans that are here [in the US] — they’re not going to accept us any more,” Salazar said. “My own country doesn’t even accept us. Where am I going to go?” With additional reporting from Vicente de Juan Morales.

French President Emmanuel Macron has postponed the nomination of a new prime minister until Friday morning, his office said on Thursday. Macron said two days ago he wanted to name a new head of government within 48 hours. The new team is due to replace the one led by Michel Barnier, who resigned last week after far-right and leftist lawmakers voted to topple his government, plunging France into its second major political crisis in six months. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the worldTULSA, Okla. (AP) — Michael Jacobs' 19 points off of the bench helped lead Southern to a 70-66 victory over Tulsa on Saturday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Michael Jacobs' 19 points off of the bench helped lead Southern to a 70-66 victory over Tulsa on Saturday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Michael Jacobs’ 19 points off of the bench helped lead Southern to a 70-66 victory over Tulsa on Saturday. Jacobs shot 7 of 15 from the field and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line for the Jaguars (4-4). Cam Amboree added 10 points while going 3 of 5 (2 for 3 from 3-point range) while they also had five rebounds. Derrick Tezeno shot 4 of 6 from the field to finish with 10 points. The Golden Hurricane (4-6) were led by Keaston Willis, who recorded 23 points and seven rebounds. Tyshawn Archie added 17 points, four assists and two blocks for Tulsa. Ian Smikle also had 11 points and eight rebounds. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. AdvertisementEstonia And The UAE Strengthen Cooperation And Innovation In Digital HealthFederal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok as soon as next month, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law - which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform. TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Executive of Tyler Perry Studios dies when plane he was piloting crashes in Florida ATLANTA (AP) — The president of Atlanta-based Tyler Perry Studios has died when the small plane he was piloting crashed on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The studio confirmed on Saturday that Steve Mensch, its 62-year-old president and general manager, had died Friday. The crash happened in Homosassa, about 60 miles north of Tampa. Photos from the scene show the plane having come to rest upside down on a road. Mensch helped advocate for Georgia’s film tax credit of more than $1 billion a year. Perry hired Mensch to run his namesake studio in 2016. Mensch died as Perry released his war drama, “The Six Triple Eight." The film was shot at the Atlanta studio. US added a strong 227,000 jobs in November in bounce-back from October slowdown WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s job market rebounded in November, adding 227,000 workers in a solid recovery from the previous month, when the effects of strikes and hurricanes had sharply diminished employers’ payrolls. Last month’s hiring growth was up considerably from a meager gain of 36,000 jobs in October. The government also revised up its estimate of job growth in September and October by a combined 56,000. Friday’s report also showed that the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.1% in October to a still-low 4.2%. The November data provided the latest evidence that the U.S. job market remains durable even though it has lost significant momentum from the 2021-2023 hiring boom, when the economy was rebounding from the pandemic recession. Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs report NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going, but not so strong that it raises immediate worries about inflation. The S&P 500 climbed 0.2%, just enough top the all-time high set on Wednesday, as it closed a third straight winning week in what looks to be one of its best years since the 2000 dot-com bust. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.8% to set its own record. Treasury yields eased after the jobs report showed stronger hiring than expected but also an uptick in the unemployment rate. Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass NEW YORK (AP) — In an era when online anger and social tensions are increasingly directed at the businesses consumers count on, Meta last year spent $24.4 million to surround CEO Mark Zuckerberg with security. But the fatal shooting this week of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. And experts say the task of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them is getting more difficult. One of the primary worries are loners whose rantings online are fed by others who are like-minded. It’s up to corporate security analysts to decide what represents a real threat. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. USDA orders nationwide testing of milk for bird flu to halt the virus The U.S. government has ordered testing of the nation’s milk supply for bird flu to better monitor the spread of the virus in dairy cows. The Agriculture Department on Friday said raw or unpasteurized milk from dairy farms and processors nationwide must be tested on request starting Dec. 16. Testing will begin in six states — California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania. The move is aimed at eliminating the virus, which has infected more than 700 dairy herds in 15 states. Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend A message left at the scene of an insurance executive’s fatal shooting echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were written on the ammunition used to kill UnitedHealthcare's CEO. That's according to two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday. The words are similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend.” That's how attorneys describe insurers denying services and payment, and the title of a 2010 book critical of the industry. Police haven’t officially commented on the words. But Thompson’s shooting and the messages on the ammunition have sparked outrage on social media and elsewhere, reflecting frustration Americans have over the cost and complexity of getting care. Michigan Democrats move to protect reproductive health data before GOP takes control of House LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democrats in Michigan are pressing to pass reproductive health care legislation before the party loses its majority with the new legislative session next year. A bill to protect digital reproductive health data including data logged on menstrual cycle tracking apps is a Democratic priority as lawmakers meet this month. Democratic women and supporters of the legislation say they are acting with new urgency before President-elect Donald Trump takes office because they don't believe his campaign promise to leave abortion to the states. The rush is also a reaction to Republicans taking control of the state House in January. Democrats kept control of the state Senate in the November election. Japan's Nippon Steel sets sights on a growing overseas market in its bid to acquire US Steel KASHIMA, Japan (AP) — The signs at Nippon Steel read: “The world through steel,” underlining why Japan’s top steelmaker is pursuing its $15 billion bid to acquire U.S. Steel. Japan's domestic market isn't growing, so Nippon Steel has its eyes on India, Southeast Asia and the United States, where populations are still growing. Nippon Steel gave reporters a tour of one of its plants in Japan on Friday. The bid for U.S. Steet is opposed by President-elect Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and American steelworkers. If the deal goes through, U.S. Steel will keep its name and its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but become subsidiary of Nippon Steel.

Judith Graham | (TNS) KFF Health News Carolyn Dickens, 76, was sitting at her dining room table, struggling to catch her breath as her physician looked on with concern. “What’s going on with your breathing?” asked Peter Gliatto, director of Mount Sinai’s Visiting Doctors Program. “I don’t know,” she answered, so softly it was hard to hear. “Going from here to the bathroom or the door, I get really winded. I don’t know when it’s going to be my last breath.” Dickens, a lung cancer survivor, lives in central Harlem, barely getting by. She has serious lung disease and high blood pressure and suffers regular fainting spells. In the past year, she’s fallen several times and dropped to 85 pounds, a dangerously low weight. And she lives alone, without any help — a highly perilous situation. This is almost surely an undercount, since the data is from more than a dozen years ago. It’s a population whose numbers far exceed those living in nursing homes — about 1.2 million — and yet it receives much less attention from policymakers, legislators, and academics who study aging. Consider some eye-opening statistics about completely homebound seniors from a study published in 2020 in JAMA Internal Medicine : Nearly 40% have five or more chronic medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease. Almost 30% are believed to have “probable dementia.” Seventy-seven percent have difficulty with at least one daily task such as bathing or dressing. Almost 40% live by themselves. That “on my own” status magnifies these individuals’ already considerable vulnerability, something that became acutely obvious during the covid-19 outbreak, when the number of sick and disabled seniors confined to their homes doubled. “People who are homebound, like other individuals who are seriously ill, rely on other people for so much,” said Katherine Ornstein, director of the Center for Equity in Aging at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. “If they don’t have someone there with them, they’re at risk of not having food, not having access to health care, not living in a safe environment.” Related Articles Health | Weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy are all the rage. Are they safe for kids? Health | Rural governments often fail to communicate with residents who aren’t proficient in English Health | Some breast cancer patients can avoid certain surgeries, studies suggest Health | Who gets obesity drugs covered by insurance? In North Carolina, it helps if you’re on Medicaid Health | How the FDA allows companies to add secret ingredients to our food Research has shown that older homebound adults are less likely to receive regular primary care than other seniors. They’re also more likely to end up in the hospital with medical crises that might have been prevented if someone had been checking on them. To better understand the experiences of these seniors, I accompanied Gliatto on some home visits in New York City. Mount Sinai’s Visiting Doctors Program, established in 1995, is one of the oldest in the nation. Only 12% of older U.S. adults who rarely or never leave home have access to this kind of home-based primary care. Gliatto and his staff — seven part-time doctors, three nurse practitioners, two nurses, two social workers, and three administrative staffers — serve about 1,000 patients in Manhattan each year. These patients have complicated needs and require high levels of assistance. In recent years, Gliatto has had to cut staff as Mount Sinai has reduced its financial contribution to the program. It doesn’t turn a profit, because reimbursement for services is low and expenses are high. First, Gliatto stopped in to see Sandra Pettway, 79, who never married or had children and has lived by herself in a two-bedroom Harlem apartment for 30 years. Pettway has severe spinal problems and back pain, as well as Type 2 diabetes and depression. She has difficulty moving around and rarely leaves her apartment. “Since the pandemic, it’s been awfully lonely,” she told me. When I asked who checks in on her, Pettway mentioned her next-door neighbor. There’s no one else she sees regularly. Pettway told the doctor she was increasingly apprehensive about an upcoming spinal surgery. He reassured her that Medicare would cover in-home nursing care, aides, and physical therapy services. “Someone will be with you, at least for six weeks,” he said. Left unsaid: Afterward, she would be on her own. (The surgery in April went well, Gliatto reported later.) The doctor listened carefully as Pettway talked about her memory lapses. “I can remember when I was a year old, but I can’t remember 10 minutes ago,” she said. He told her that he thought she was managing well but that he would arrange testing if there was further evidence of cognitive decline. For now, he said, he’s not particularly worried about her ability to manage on her own. Several blocks away, Gliatto visited Dickens, who has lived in her one-bedroom Harlem apartment for 31 years. Dickens told me she hasn’t seen other people regularly since her sister, who used to help her out, had a stroke. Most of the neighbors she knew well have died. Her only other close relative is a niece in the Bronx whom she sees about once a month. Dickens worked with special-education students for decades in New York City’s public schools. Now she lives on a small pension and Social Security — too much to qualify for Medicaid. (Medicaid, the program for low-income people, will pay for aides in the home. Medicare, which covers people over age 65, does not.) Like Pettway, she has only a small fixed income, so she can’t afford in-home help. Every Friday, God’s Love We Deliver, an organization that prepares medically tailored meals for sick people, delivers a week’s worth of frozen breakfasts and dinners that Dickens reheats in the microwave. She almost never goes out. When she has energy, she tries to do a bit of cleaning. Without the ongoing attention from Gliatto, Dickens doesn’t know what she’d do. “Having to get up and go out, you know, putting on your clothes, it’s a task,” she said. “And I have the fear of falling.” The next day, Gliatto visited Marianne Gluck Morrison, 73, a former survey researcher for New York City’s personnel department, in her cluttered Greenwich Village apartment. Morrison, who doesn’t have any siblings or children, was widowed in 2010 and has lived alone since. Morrison said she’d been feeling dizzy over the past few weeks, and Gliatto gave her a basic neurological exam, asking her to follow his fingers with her eyes and touch her fingers to her nose. “I think your problem is with your ear, not your brain,” he told her, describing symptoms of vertigo. Because she had severe wounds on her feet related to Type 2 diabetes, Morrison had been getting home health care for several weeks through Medicare. But those services — help from aides, nurses, and physical therapists — were due to expire in two weeks. “I don’t know what I’ll do then, probably just spend a lot of time in bed,” Morrison told me. Among her other medical conditions: congestive heart failure, osteoarthritis, an irregular heartbeat, chronic kidney disease, and depression. Morrison hasn’t left her apartment since November 2023, when she returned home after a hospitalization and several months at a rehabilitation center. Climbing the three steps that lead up into her apartment building is simply too hard. “It’s hard to be by myself so much of the time. It’s lonely,” she told me. “I would love to have people see me in the house. But at this point, because of the clutter, I can’t do it.” When I asked Morrison who she feels she can count on, she listed Gliatto and a mental health therapist from Henry Street Settlement, a social services organization. She has one close friend she speaks with on the phone most nights. “The problem is I’ve lost eight to nine friends in the last 15 years,” she said, sighing heavily. “They’ve died or moved away.” Bruce Leff, director of the Center for Transformative Geriatric Research at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, is a leading advocate of home-based medical care. “It’s kind of amazing how people find ways to get by,” he said when I asked him about homebound older adults who live alone. “There’s a significant degree of frailty and vulnerability, but there is also substantial resilience.” With the rapid expansion of the aging population in the years ahead, Leff is convinced that more kinds of care will move into the home, everything from rehab services to palliative care to hospital-level services. “It will simply be impossible to build enough hospitals and health facilities to meet the demand from an aging population,” he said. But that will be challenging for homebound older adults who are on their own. Without on-site family caregivers, there may be no one around to help manage this home-based care. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.The official Twitter/X account of MultiVersus – the free-to-play fighting game that crosses over multiple characters from different Warner Bros IPs – recently posted a video with audio from the popular online animated series Charlie the Unicorn . However, this didn’t sit well with its creator, Jason Steele AKA FilmCow. On his personal account , Steele confirmed that Warner Bros never asked for permission to use his audio on this short, which was meant to advertise a new Unicorn-themed skin for the game’s sole original character, Reindog. He also pointed out how this is a gigantic company that is worth billions of dollars, so someone could have easily consulted him before posting the short, which blatantly used actual audio from the original online series that features Steele’s voice. It seems that his response quickly reached Warner Bros and developer Player First Games, because they deleted the Unicorndog video from Twitter/X, TikTok and other social media websites, although users of the game’s respective Subreddit have managed to archive it . Some people began wondering if it was morally right for Jason Steele to prevent Warner Bros and Player First Games from using audio from Charlie the Unicorn . Were any fan-made works that referenced the classic online series going to be safe? Steele himself popped up on r/MultiVersus and explained the situation in more detail. He immediately clarified that he has no problem with any non-commercial uses of his work and that he has actually given explicit permission in the past (and he plans on continuing to do so). He even cited a Charlie the Unicorn Easter Egg in World of Warcraft as a reference that he has no problem with. However, Warner Bros used his audio and his own voice for commercial purposes. Beyond asking for permission, Steele also criticized the company for its hypocrisy when it comes to protecting its copyright. He mentioned how Warner Bros has “used IP law as a weapon” in the past few years, like when it took down fan-made works like MeatCanyon Wabbit Season video or when it sent a cease and desist letter to Vera Drew, director of the fan film The People’s Joker . Steele concluded that if a big company like Warner Bros can enforce copyright law to protect its IPs, then so can he, especially when it is profiting off of his work. Most people in the community agreed with Steele’s criticism of Warner Bros, although many MultiVersus fans were once again displeased with the fact that the game keeps getting negative attention . This is not the first time MultiVersus has spawned some mild controversy since, in the past, people have critici zed its monetization model and its year-long content hiatus .

Andhra Pradesh: Star Health Insurance, India’s leading retail health insurance provider, has announced the launch of its innovative CSR program, "Star Arogya Digi Seva," in partnership with the Center for Chronic Disease and Control (CCDC). This initiative seeks to bridge healthcare gaps in rural communities by combining the power of telemedicine with Mobile Health Units to deliver essential medical services in remote underserved and unserved geographies. The program will initially serve 44 villages across 4 Aspirational Districts in Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam - focusing on preventive healthcare and management of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Dimple Raisurana Kapur, EVP & Head – Corporate Brand, Communications & Sustainability at Star Health Insurance, outlined the transformative nature of the project: “Star Arogya Digi Seva represents our unwavering commitment to social responsibility and sustainable community impact. We believe that quality healthcare must be accessible to everyone regardless of geography or socio-economic status. By integrating technology with mobile, on-the-ground services, we are developing a healthcare model that empowers underserved communities, promotes disease prevention, and improves overall well-being. This initiative reflects our deep commitment to preventive healthcare aligned with IRDAI’s mission of ‘Insurance for All’.” Through the “Star Arogya Digi Seva” initiative, Star Health Insurance harnesses technology to provide healthcare access. The free telemedicine service empowers individuals to connect with qualified healthcare professionals for consultations, advice, diagnostic services, and follow-up care. Additionally, the program includes educational outreach to increase awareness about diabetes and hypertension management, as well as iron nutrition to improve community health. Mobile Health Units extend this reach, ensuring that those in remote and underserved areas receive timely and vital medical attention. This effort is part of Star Health’s broader vision of delivering quality healthcare services throughout India, especially in areas with limited medical infrastructure. By addressing these gaps, Star Health not only strengthens its position as a pioneer in innovative healthcare solutions but also solidifies its role as a catalyst for positive change in society. Through this program, Star Health Insurance aims to make a tangible difference in the lives of thousands, creating a lasting impact on health equity and community resilience.Murdered young girl's dad reveals huge breakthrough in hunt for killer after Netflix show

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is mocking rival Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene over the Republican lawmaker’s new post working alongside the newly created budget-slashing Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The progressive Bronx/Queens lawmaker says her GOP counterpart from Georgia is not ready to do the hard work needed to find big cost savings in the federal budget. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.