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EU draws up plan for ‘sustained’ military aid to Ukraine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

BRUSSELS — The EU wants to commit itself to defending Ukraine for the long haul. The European External Action Service has drafted a plan, obtained by POLITICO, that recommends the bloc make a full slate of “security commitments to Ukraine” for years to come as it fends off Russia’s onslaught.The suggestions run the gamut, including everything from ensuring a “sustained” flow of weapons to Kyiv, to continuing military education and training, to sharing intelligence and helping connect Ukrainian and EU defense companies.And down the road, the draft document by the EU’s diplomatic service adds, “Ukraine’s EU membership would be in itself a security commitment.” To help it get there, it argues, the EU must craft “long-term and predictable financial support” so Ukraine can rebuild.The recommendations are mostly a summary of the EU efforts already underway to support Ukraine. But taken together, they are notable in their breadth and suggested longevity, essentially outlining billions...

NATO countries pledge F-16 training for Ukraine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

VILNIUS — Eleven NATO countries pledged on Tuesday to train Ukrainian pilots to fly American F-16 fighter jets from August, in a major step toward the possible future provision of the advanced military aircraft to Kyiv.The pilots first will be trained in Denmark until a center is set up in Romania. The first batch of pilots should complete their training by the beginning of next year, according to Denmark and the Netherlands, which lead the mission.Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and the U.K. are also part of the program. “This coalition is working on the training. That is the step we are taking today,” Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said in the Lithuanian capital on the sidelines of the NATO summit. “The next step would be the actual capability itself … When we have all these countries joining in this coalition, that shows our commitment and that shows we are working in a certain direction.”So far, no coun...

Mass. Gaming Regulators Reject Wagering On LIV Golf

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

Bay Staters will remain unable to wager on the Saudi-backed LIV Golf after gaming regulators on Tuesday rejected an application to open it up to sports betting ahead of an anticipated merger. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Tuesday unanimously rejected a proposal filed by sports betting operator DraftKings to add the breakaway league to other gambling options in the Bay State. MGC Sports Wagering Operations Manager Sterl Carpenter told commissioners that the request from DraftKings sought to add LIV Golf to the golf section of the state’s sports betting catalog before the 2024 season, when it is expected to combine with the PGA Tour. Commissioners mentioned a handful of reasons for shooting down the application and maintaining the status quo, including a U.S. Department of Justice antitrust review of the proposed merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. They also referenced LIV Golf’s financial support from the government of Saudi Arabia, which has faced allegati...

Mayo Clinic Q&A: Work with your hands? Watch out for carpal tunnel syndrome

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

Cynthia Weiss | Mayo Clinic News Network (TNS)DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’m a homebuilder and have begun experiencing numbness and tingling in my hands. Sometimes I drop things because I can’t get a good grip. A friend suggested I might have carpal tunnel syndrome. But doesn’t that mostly affect people who use computers all day? Can you explain more about the condition?ANSWER: Working with your hands day after day can take a toll on them, causing pain, numbness and weakness. Carpal tunnel syndrome is one condition that can affect many types of occupations, including farmers, truck drivers, factory and construction workers, and others.Carpal tunnel is a condition caused by compression of the median nerve located in the wrist. This nerve provides feeling to the thumb and the index, middle and part of the ring fingers, and also sends signals to the muscles around the base of the thumb.Some causes of carpal tunnel syndrome include medical conditions such as arthritis, gout, diabetes, amyloidosi...

State reports spike in learner’s permits in first days of law allowing licenses for undocumented immigrants

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

The state has issued 2,800 learner’s permits since a new law allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses took effect on July 1, Gov. Maura Healey announced Tuesday, more than doubling the number issued in the same period last year.“I think we’ve gotten off to a strong start, wouldn’t you say?” Healey said at the RMV’s Haymarket location in Boston. “It’s been really, I think, great out of the gate.”The law, which survived then-Governor Charlie Baker’s veto and an attempt to overturn it on the November 2023 ballot, allows immigrants who are in the U.S. without legal status to apply for a five-year Massachusetts driver’s license using at least two documents proving their identity and date of birth. It went into effect July 1.The 2,800 issued permits are just the start, with 42,000 requests for learner’s permits appointments received just days after the start of the month, according to the RMV.In...

Mayo Clinic News: Let’s talk low libido

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

Mayo Clinic Staff | (TNS) Mayo Clinic News NetworkIt may feel uncomfortable to talk about low libido with your partner and your health care team. Unfortunately, it’s a common problem that affects adults everywhere, yet many people have never been asked about their sexual health by their health care teams.Although it may be difficult to discuss, sexual health is important and factors that are causing low libido should be addressed. Many primary care, psychology and OB-GYN professionals are trained to care for and treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder, or HSDD. This is the persistent or recurrent deficiency or absence of sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity. It’s often referred to as having a low libido and can cause significant distress and relationship problems.There’s no magic pill for low libido. The desire for sex is based on a complex interaction of many things that affect intimacy, including physical and emotional well-being, experiences, beliefs,...

A grand jury sworn in Tuesday could decide whether Trump is charged over Georgia’s 2020 election

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

By KATE BRUMBACK (Associated Press)ATLANTA (AP) — A grand jury that was sworn in Tuesday in Atlanta will likely consider whether criminal charges are appropriate for former President Donald Trump or his Republican allies for their efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia.Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been investigating since shortly after Trump called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in early 2021 and suggested the state’s top elections official could help him “find 11,780 votes,” just enough needed to beat Democrat Joe Biden.The 2 1/2-year investigation expanded to include an examination of a slate of Republican fake electors, phone calls by Trump and others to Georgia officials in the weeks after the 2020 election and unfounded allegations of widespread election fraud made to state lawmakers.Willis, a Democrat, is expected to present her case before one of two new grand juries being seated Tuesday. She has previou...

Need to get Plan B or an HIV test online? Facebook may know about it

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

Darius Tahir, Simon Fondrie-Teitler, The Markup | (TNS) KFF Health NewsLooking for an at-home HIV test on CVS’ website is not as private an experience as one might think. An investigation by The Markup and KFF Health News found trackers on CVS.com telling some of the biggest social media and advertising platforms the products customers viewed.And CVS is not the only pharmacy sharing this kind of sensitive data.We found trackers collecting browsing- and purchase-related data on websites of 12 of the U.S.’ biggest drugstores, including grocery store chains with pharmacies, and sharing the sensitive information with companies like Meta (formerly Facebook); Google, through its advertising and analytics products; and Microsoft, through its search engine, Bing.The tracking tools, popularly called “pixels,” collect information while a website runs. That information is often sent to social media firms and used to target ads, either to you personally or to groups of people that resemble you ...

Bankrate: How to pay off your mortgage early

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

Ruben Caginalp | Bankrate.com (TNS)Some homeowners are eager to get out of their mortgage early, with reasons ranging from eliminating the psychological pressure of debt to slashing interest payments. For retirees, especially, paying off a home loan early can help increase cash flow.Whatever your motivation, paying down your mortgage ahead of time reduces the amount of interest you’ll pay on the loan. Here are some early payoff strategies to help you achieve that goal.Can you pay off your mortgage early?In most cases, you can pay your mortgage off early without penalty — but there are a few things to keep in mind before you do:—Check for a prepayment penalty: Reach out to your loan servicer to find out if your mortgage has a prepayment penalty. Most mortgages don’t impose this fee, but if yours does, you’ll have to pay it. This can affect whether an early loan payoff is financially viable for you.—Look for payment restrictions, if any: While you’re in touch with your servicer, make ...

Excessive Heat Warning in effect amid heat wave: Here's what to know

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- An Excessive Heat Warning is now in effect as rising temperatures throughout the next week are expected to bring sweltering conditions to certain areas of San Diego County.The warning was issued by the National Weather Service for Tuesday, July 11 through 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 16, as an expected prolonged heat wave during this timeframe is forecasted to bring dangerously high temperatures to the county's desert and mountain areas.These areas include the communities of Campo, Mount Laguna, Julian and Borrego Springs. Junior guards, public jump from Ocean Beach Pier for fundraiser A strengthening high pressure system sitting aloft will slowly warm temperatures by several degrees per day over the next week, reaching its peak around the weekend. Highs will run about three to eight degrees above normal by Thursday, according to NWS. The heat will continue to rise through Sunday, bringing temperatures anticipated by the weather agency to be the hottest of the year thus far...