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EU leaders approve Ukraine accession talks, bypassing Orbán

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:59 GMT

European leaders have approved the opening of accession negotiations for Ukraine, European Council President Charles Michel announced Thursday.The announcement comes at a critical time for Ukraine as its counteroffensive against Russia’s invasion stalled in recent weeks and $60 billion in aid from the U.S. is stuck in Congress.Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán left the room when the decision on enlargement was taken, according to a national official and a EU diplomat who were both briefed on the discussion. This allowed for an unanimous decision from the European Council, which another EU official, who like the others was granted anonymity to speak candidly about the circumstances, said was completely legal under EU law. “If someone is absent, they are absent. Legally it is totally valid,” added the official.Orbán, who had vehemently opposed the opening of accession talks for Ukraine, criticized the agreement reached without him by European leaders.“Hungary doe...

What to know about home care services

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:59 GMT

Reed Abelson | (TNS) KFF Health NewsMost older Americans want to live at home as long as they can, but finding and affording the help they need often isn’t easy. There are severe shortages of home health aides in many parts of the country. Hiring them is costly. And most middle-class people will have to pay for home care themselves if it’s needed for the long haul.Here’s a guide to locating home care for an older person.What kind of home care do you need?After a fall or surgery, some older people will need short-term care at home from a nurse or therapist to help them recover. Medicare, the federal insurance program for those 65 and older, typically pays for this kind of home health care. A nurse can make sure a wound is healing properly, for example, while a physical therapist can help a person get back on their feet after a knee replacement.But millions of older Americans need assistance over months or years to stay in their homes safely instead of moving to an assisted living fac...

Desperate families search for affordable home care

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:59 GMT

Arielle Zionts | KFF Health News (TNS)It’s a good day when Frank Lee, a retired chef, can slip out to the hardware store, fairly confident that his wife, Robin, is in the hands of reliable help. He spends nearly every hour of every day anxiously overseeing her care at their home on the Isle of Palms, a barrier island near Charleston, South Carolina.Robin Lee, 67, has had dementia for about a decade, but the couple was able to take overseas trips and enjoy their marriage of some 40 years until three years ago, when she grew more agitated, prone to sudden outbursts, and could no longer explain what she needed or wanted. He struggled to care for her largely on his own.“As Mom’s condition got more difficult to navigate, he was just handling it,” said Jesse Lee, the youngest of the couple’s three adult children. “It was getting harder and harder. Something had to change, or they would both perish.”Frank Lee’s search for trustworthy home health aides — an experience that millions of Ameri...

Patriots reportedly down two offensive starters at Thursday practice

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:59 GMT

According to reports, Patriots left tackle Trent Brown missed the start of Thursday’s practice, making him the second of two absent starters along with running back Rhamondre Stevenson.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | 98.5’s Fred Toucher responds to Hardy morning show speculation; Paul Perillo gives insight into Taylor Swift at Patriots game New England Patriots | Callahan: Robert Kraft’s reported Bill Belichick decision should be no surprise New England Patriots | Patriots offense gets good news at first practice before Chiefs game New England Patriots | Bailey Zappe clarifies past remarks about passing Mac Jones on Patriots’ QB depth chart New England Patriots | Why Bill Belichick wanted to work with recently acquired Patriots defender Brown was a limited participant in Wednesday’s padded practice due to ankle and hand injuries. The 6-foot-8, 380-pounder has been lim...

The myth of 10,000 steps a day: Is there a better walking regimen for your health?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:59 GMT

Many people make accomplishing 10,000 steps a day a fitness goal. But what exactly does hitting that goal mean for your health?Most fitness trackers and wearable devices are programmed with a daily goal of 10,000 steps, which amounts to about 5 miles. But some experts say that goal can be too high or too low, depending on the amount of exercise a person needs to be healthy.For the average person,10,000 steps a day can be a great goal, for others it’s a starting place, and for some it could be too lofty, says Michael C Zourdos, professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Health Promotion at Florida Atlantic University.“Ten thousand is not a magic number,” Zourdos said. “There are very few things in health and fitness that have a magic number.”Zourdos emphasizes that a fitness goal should consider age and current activity level. Beginners should start slow to avoid muscle strain and experienced walkers should refrain from overdoing it to the point of chronic fatigue.For most h...

Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:59 GMT

By KEVIN FREKING (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The House passed a defense policy bill Thursday that authorizes the biggest pay raise for troops in more than two decades, overcoming objections from some conservatives concerned the measure did not do enough to restrict the Pentagon’s diversity initiatives, abortion travel policy and gender-affirming health care for transgender service members.The $886 billion bill was approved by a vote of 310-118 and now goes to President Joe Biden after the Senate had overwhelmingly passed it Wednesday. It is likely the last piece of major legislation Congress will consider before leaving for the holiday break, though negotiations continue on a bill to aid Ukraine and Israel and boost border security.The spending called for represents about a 3% increase from the prior year. The bill serves as a blueprint for programs Congress will seek to fund through follow-up spending bills.Lawmakers have been negotiating a final defense policy ...

5 questions that can help guide your holiday tipping

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:59 GMT

By Elizabeth Ayoola | NerdWalletService workers help make our lives easier throughout the year — whether it’s by keeping our lawns immaculate or babysitting during date nights. The holidays are an ideal time to show gratitude for the work they do throughout the year.But how much do you tip service workers during the holidays, and whom should you prioritize? Etiquette experts have answers to these questions and more.1. Whom should you tip during the holidays?Holiday tips are usually for workers who provide consistent help throughout the year. If you need a hierarchy of some sort, consider starting with anyone who assists you within your home, says Thomas P. Farley, an etiquette expert in Manhattan who goes by Mister Manners. That could include a housekeeper, live-in aide or au pair, he says. Then, you can prioritize people who offer services outside your home.Here are a few people you may consider giving a holiday tip:Babysitter.House cleaners.Dog walker.Personal chef.Handyman or han...

EPA begins formal review of vinyl chloride, toxic chemical that burned in Ohio train derailment

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:59 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has initiated a formal evaluation of risks posed by vinyl chloride, the cancer-causing chemical that burned in a towering plume of toxic black smoke following a fiery train derailment earlier this year in eastern Ohio.The Environmental Protection Agency said it will review risks posed by a handful of chemicals, including vinyl chloride, which is used to make a variety of plastic products, including pipes, wire and packaging materials. The chemical is found in polyvinyl chloride plastic, better known as PVC.The EPA said it will study vinyl chloride to determine whether it poses an “unreasonable risk to human health or the environment,″ a process that would take at least three years.Vinyl chloride is one of five chemicals the agency is reviewing, including four that are used to make plastics. Other chemicals set for review under the federal Toxic Substances Control Act include acetaldehyde, acrylonitrile, benzenamine, and a compound known as ...

Winnipeg’s 100-year-old Nutty Club shuts down due to competition

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:59 GMT

Winnipeg’s renowned candy company, the Nutty Club, is shutting its doors after more than 100 years of business.Parent company Scott-Bathgate Ltd says the Nutty Club, which was known in Western Canada for its candies, will wind down operations in late January due to increased competition.   The company says it cannot sustainably operate Nutty Club without significant investments to increase its scale and scope to compete with national distributors.In a news release Thursday, Scott-Bathgate president James Burt thanked Nutty Club’s employees, customers and suppliers for their loyalty.Scott-Bathgate says the company will work through its inventory to fill as many customer orders as possible over the coming weeks.It says employees have been given working notice and severance based on their year of service while vendors are being notified of the closure.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 14, 2023.The Canadian Press

Jurors hear closing arguments in domestic violence trial of actor Jonathan Majors

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:59 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A Manhattan jury will soon decide if Jonathan Majors is guilty of assaulting his girlfriend following two weeks of clashing narratives about whether the rising Hollywood star was the aggressor or victim during a chaotic struggle in the backseat of a car.The court case has centered on allegations brought by Grace Jabbari, a 30-year-old British dancer who said the “Creed III” actor struck her on the side of the head, twisted her arm behind her back, and squeezed her finger until it broke during a dispute last spring. In closing arguments that ended before lunch on Thursday, an attorney for Majors portrayed Jabbari as a compulsive liar who concocted a story of an abusive relationship as revenge after catching her boyfriend of two years texting another woman.The 34-year-old actor, who did not testify during the trial, dabbed his eyes with a tissue as his attorney, Priya Chaudhry, implored the jury to “end this nightmare for Jonathan Majors.”Prosecutors, meanwhile, said t...