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Texans WR Nico Collins says he was fined for tossing TD ball to kidDismiss Trump taunts, expert says after 'churlish' social media posts about CanadaWomen are more likely to need walking sticks, wheelchairs and other mobility aids compared to men, but they are less likely to use them, according to a study. And single people are more likely to use mobility tools compared to those who are married, according to researchers from University College London (UCL) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Researchers looked at information from a group of more than 12,000 adults in England aged 50 to 89 who were tracked over a 13-year period. At the start of the study, 8,225 adults had no mobility difficulty and did not use mobility assistive products (MAPs). Some 2,480 were deemed to have “unmet need” and 1,375 were using mobility aids. During the follow-up period, there were 2,313 “transitions” where people went from having no mobility issues to needing some help with getting around. And 1,274 people started to use mobility aids. Compared with men, women were 49% more likely to transition from not needing mobility aids to needing to use them, according to the study which has been published in The Lancet Public Health. But were 21% less likely to go on to use mobility aids when they needed them. The authors said their study showed “barriers to access” for women. For both men and women, with every year that passed during the study period the need for mobility aids increased. People who were older, less educated, less wealthy or reported being disabled were more likely to “transition from no need to unmet need, and from unmet need to use”, the authors said, with this indicating a “higher prevalence of mobility limitations and MAP need overall among these groups”. They added: “Finally, marital or partnership status was not associated with transitioning to unmet need; however, single people were more likely to transition from unmet need to use compared with married or partnered people.” Jamie Danemayer, first author of the study from UCL Computer Science and UCL’s Global Disability Innovation Hub, said: “Our analysis suggests that there is a clear gender gap in access to mobility aids. “Though our data didn’t ascertain the reason why participants weren’t using mobility aids, other research tells us that women are often more likely than men to face obstacles such as cost barriers as a result of well-documented income disparities between genders. “Many mobility aids are designed for men rather than women, which we think may be a factor. “Using mobility aids can also make a disability visible, which can impact the safety and stigma experienced by women, in particular. “There’s a critical need for further research to identify and break down the barriers preventing women from accessing mobility aids that would improve their quality of life.” Professor Cathy Holloway, also from UCL, added: “Not having access to mobility aids when a person needs one can have a big impact on their independence, well-being and quality of life. “Our analysis suggests that women, in particular, regardless of other factors such as education and employment status, are not getting the support that they need.” Professor Shereen Hussein, senior author of the study and lead of the social care group at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: “The research provides compelling evidence of gender disparities in accessing assistive technology, suggesting that cost, design bias, and social stigma are likely to disproportionally affect women. “This underscores the need for inclusive, gender-sensitive approaches in the design, production and inclusivity of assistive technologies.”
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Why Is Costa Rica A Hot Retirement Spot? Costa Rica is perhaps the world’s best-known foreign retirement haven. It began its bid to attract U.S. retirees back in the 1980s when the Costa Rican government hired a Madison Avenue advertising agency to put the country on the map as the world’s premier overseas retirement haven. The campaign was a success and tens of thousands of foreign retirees, many of them North Americans, made the move. They were lured in by Costa Rica’s attractive pensionado program of discounts and tax savings, its low cost of living, and its abundance of natural beauty and vast stretches of pristine Pacific coast. In the years since, there’s been a lot of change in Costa Rica, its pensionado program was reformed losing many of its tax breaks, the cost of living rose considerably, and its soaring popularity with travelers means deserted beaches are harder to come by than they once were, however, it remains a popular choice for North Americans looking to retire outside home borders. It’s easy to see why Costa Rica remains in favor with U.S. retirees. Here, you can live an active lifestyle in a tropical climate, enjoy an abundance of fresh produce, settle into a welcoming community, have easy access to excellent, affordable health care, and likely lower your cost of living from the U.S. How Many Americans Retire In Costa Rica? According to U.S. Department of State figures, some 120,000 private U.S. citizens, including many retirees, live in Costa Rica. The country also welcomes around 1.5 million U.S. tourists each year. What Are The Pros And Cons Of Retiring In Costa Rica? Some of the pros of retiring in Costa Rica include... Pro: An Extensive And Diverse Expat Community Costa Rica has a long history with American expats so settling in and finding friends with common interests shouldn’t pose a problem. The support network on offer is wide reaching. There are expat communities throughout the country—some of the biggest for retirees are found in Tamarindo, Santa Ana, and the Central Valley. Costa Rica also offers lots of volunteering opportunities, which is both a great way to meet new people and give back to your new community. From helping protect the sea turtles to cleaning up the countryside to educational assistance, there are plenty of charities and causes to get involved in. Pro: Impressive Health Care Costa Rica boasts excellent health care options and has become increasingly popular with North Americans as a medical tourism destination. Treatment costs are lower and the standard of treatment is often better than in the U.S. Plus, Costa Rican companies are going all-out to appeal to Americans and offer VIP health care packages which include everything from chauffer pick-up from the airport to recovery in a luxurious spa or five-star hotel. Pro: Stunning Natural Beauty With over 600 miles of coastline, Caribbean to the east, Pacific to the west, mountains, jungles, and even volcanoes, Costa Rica is a nature lover’s paradise. Whales, dolphins, jaguars, sloths, turtles, and monkeys, number among the half a million species known to live in Costa Rica. Hiking, kayaking, boating, swimming, and surfing are just some of the activities on offer here that let you enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings of this geographically blessed region. The country’s tropical climate varies considerably depending on what region you choose to base yourself in. The Pacific side offers a hot and dry climate; the Caribbean side is humid and warmer; while in the highlands, there’s more rain and lower temperatures. Pro: Lifestyle Costa Ricans are extremely friendly and welcoming, with a laid-back attitude to life. If you can learn to go with the flow and embrace this relaxed attitude then Costa Rica could be a great fit for you. Some of the cons of retiring in Costa Rica include... Con: Cost Of Living When U.S. expats first began arriving in Costa Rica in the 1980s, the cost of living was remarkably cheap. In the years since, it has risen considerably. For those who wish to maintain the same lifestyle as they had in the U.S., they may find their budget remains the same, too. For a couple living in a popular expat area, renting a modern home, and owning and running a car, a monthly budget of $4,000 is a good guide. That said, for those who opt to embrace local life, shopping at local produce markets, using public transport, etc., the cost of living can be considerably lower than in the U.S. Con: Language Barrier Spanish is the official language in Costa Rica so to get the best from life here, you will need to speak Spanish. Outside of tourist areas and expat havens, most people don’t speak English. Con: Safety Generally, Costa Rica is a safe country but, as anywhere, you need to take basic safety precautions. In more recent years, crime has become more of an issue and the U.S. State Department recently issued a new travel advisory for Costa Rica, updating it from Level 1 to Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, due to crime. According to the update, petty crime is common throughout Costa Rica and more serious violent crime is also impacting tourists. A level 2 advisory doesn’t mean you need to reconsider your travel plans but it does mean you should exercise increased caution when traveling in Costa Rica. How Does Retiring In Costa Rica Affect Your Taxes, Retirement Investments, Social Security Benefits, Etc.? Moving to Costa Rica does not remove your obligation to pay U.S. taxes. U.S. citizens must file a return with the IRS every year, no matter where in the world they choose to live. However, Costa Rica uses a territorial approach to taxation, so expats can live there without a local tax burden depending on the source of their income. For retirees that means you do not have to pay local taxes on your Social Security or other retirement income sourced from outside of Costa Rica. In addition, living abroad can reduce your U.S. tax bill. For Americans overseas there are three main tax advantages available. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) is one of the most well-known and most often used expat tax advantages. The FEIE allows you to exclude up to $126,500 (for 2024 ) of your income from U.S. taxation. The income must be earned outside the U.S. and your tax base must also be outside of the U.S. The Foreign Housing Exclusion (FHE) allows expats to exclude thousands in foreign housing expenses from their U.S. taxes. Through the Foreign Tax Credit, you receive a U.S. tax credit for every dollar you pay in tax to a foreign government. This may suit people who don’t qualify for the FEIE, or Americans who are tax resident in countries with a higher tax rate than the U.S. If you pay more abroad than you would have in the U.S, you can carry the excess taxes paid as a credit for 10 years. The FTC can also apply to so-called unearned income, such as dividends, interest, and royalties. Do You Need A Visa to Retire In Costa Rica And How Easy Or Difficult Is It To Get? Yes, you need a visa to retire in Costa Rica. The most popular choice for retirees is the Pensionado residency visa. To qualify, you will need to be able to show a monthly income of at least $1,000 in retirement income. This income can take the form of a pension, social security, an annuity, etc. Other visa options include the Rentista visa which requires a monthly transfer of $2,500 from a guaranteed source into a Costa Rican bank account for a two-year period. Alternatively, you can deposit $60,000 into a Costa Rican bank account with a disbursement schedule of $2,500 a month over a two-year period. Costa Rica’s Inversionista residency requires a $150,000 investment in real estate, stocks, bonds, a Costa Rican business, or similar. The country also offers a digital nomad visa which requires a monthly income of at least $3,000. Is It Ethical To Retire In Costa Rica? As anywhere in the developing world, wealth disparity can be very obvious in Costa Rica. Although expat retirees can create unnatural inflation in areas such as real estate, they also spend money and create the need for new jobs, businesses, and services. They can also help out their new communities in a positive way through volunteering in local projects, bringing their experience and resources to those in need. Tourism also plays a vital role in Costa Rica’s economy and a rapidly growing sector of that is eco-tourism, which not only contributes significant income for the country but also allows visitors to enjoy Costa Rica’s attractions in a sustainable way. Who Should Consider Retiring In Costa Rica? For those with a comfortable retirement income, a passion for nature, a relaxed attitude to life, and a willingness to learn a new language, Costa Rica could be a dream retirement destination. MORE FROM FORBESDon Lemon sour over Trump as Time’s Person of the Year: ‘What are you doing?’
Last week, the Private Schools’ Association JK arranged an interaction with some of the people’s representatives in the present government at the Conference Hall of the Institute of Hotel Management, Srinagar. For many, it might sound like a routine event that ends up with a news story in the local media or some sound bites in the social media. May be it is actually that, but there is another way of looking at it. It can become a part of a vibrant civil society dialogue over matters that really matter, and education is a priority area. In the room–conference hall– there were well-meaning people, all accomplished in their respective fields, and watching them face to face with people’s representatives, holding a candid conversation on the state of affairs related to the handling of private schools in J&K, was soothing to the eyes. A celebration of sorts To begin with, if there was one solid piece of education for all in the room, it was the value we can experience in the live interaction between the people’s representatives and the people who they represent. This interaction was something to be celebrated. And we all know why, at the moment, it is a celebration with a capital C. And that puts an extra burden on both, people and the people’s representatives. And that is to be truthful to each other. There might have been times for ‘privileges’ and ‘concessions,’ but that is certainly not there anymore. We should now develop the habit of building an argument and working in a normative, not to be confused with regulatory, atmosphere. The regulatory requirements are a small part of that normative framework; may be there are glaring contrasts between the two, at times. This normative framework is more about societal expectations and the very essence of the thing called e ducation . On either side we should identify the relevant questions and collaboratively find answers to them. Without each other, we will only be harming each other. It is in that spirit that I look at schools and the functions they render. Regulation, a faulty idea As an independent observer, I may agree with the things people associate with private schools, or I may disagree. But in the larger scheme of things, our approach to private schools is inadequate and mostly faulty. The idea of ‘strict control’ smacks of intoxication of power, whosever enjoys it, and at whatever level it is enjoyed in the bureaucracy. What is being projected as ‘Regulatory Requirement” and what are the actual requirements of a school to impart education-there is a huge mismatch. There is also a mismatch between the societal requirements of education and the way government may want us to run a school. A dialogue can happen only if people are allowed to talk, and those in the government have the will to listen. The regulatory framework should evolve from that dialogue, and not be imposed from the top with a humiliating disapproval of the larger societal mind. Organic, Autonomous, and Authentic When I was lining up my idea on this, my daughter, student of a private school, was singing this line with herself: ‘ Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader .’ If that is what education should aim at, we need to reconfigure our approach towards schools. Leaders are not born in an atmosphere of control, in an atmosphere of disrespect and limitations. Leaders are born in an organic, autonomous, and authentic space. Schools should be treated like that. The government and those who run the private schools should work collaboratively to ensure that schools become organic, autonomous, and authentic spaces. By reducing this lofty ideal of education to things like NoCs, fee fixation, and a strict adherence to the govt announcements on when to go for summer and winter vacation, we make a mockery of everything. One would love to see our schools as organic, autonomous and authentic spaces where teachers are respected and rewarded as they should be, where each service is adequately compensated, in monetary terms, and where those who run these schools are respected for their enterprising spirit. Build a realistic understanding If that has to be achieved, the government must simplify the processes, make the systems efficient, and build a realistic understanding around the concepts like Free Education , Charitable Trust and Not-for-Proft. In absence of that, our understanding of education and the private schools will always revolve around things like fee, with a ring of populism around it. Our fixation with the bathtub endangers the life of the baby in it, as we throw the baby out with the bathwater. Danger of control More we make it difficult to run a private school, we will see well meaning people, those who really work selflessly, leave this space. More we make it difficult, we will see enterprising people divert their energies and resources towards some other activity. And all this will only result in either our students leaving Kashmir to get quality education or remaining content with a downgraded form of education that will only waste their lives. Let’s pause and dispassionately think about it. A complaint here and there, about a private school here and there, should not guide our understanding about how to deal with private schools. It needs a visionary grasp of what education means, and an actual understanding of how institutions are run. You cannot squeeze such a vast territory within the noose of regulation. The government shouldn’t look at the private schools just through the prism of regulations, and the private schools also shouldn’t look back through the same prism. Make this discussion wider and focus on where the focus should be – education of our children. Future, in a word.
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US President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he was nominating staunch loyalist and retired general Keith Kellogg as his Ukraine envoy, charged with ending the two-and-a-half-year Russian invasion. Trump campaigned on a platform of ushering a swift end to the Ukraine war, boasting that he would quickly mediate a ceasefire deal between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. But his critics have warned that the incoming Republican will likely leverage US military aid to pressure Kyiv into an agreement that left it ceding occupied territory permanently or agreeing not to join NATO. "I am very pleased to nominate General Keith Kellogg to serve as Assistant to the President and Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia," Trump said in a statement on social media. "Keith has led a distinguished Military and Business career, including serving in highly sensitive National Security roles in my first Administration." A fixture on the cable news circuit, the 80-year-old national security veteran co-wrote an academic paper earlier this year calling for Washington to leverage military aid as a means of pushing for peace talks. Ukraine has received almost $60 billion from Washington for its armed forces since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022, but with the more isolationist Trump taking over the White House, supporters fear the spigot will run dry. "The United States would continue to arm Ukraine and strengthen its defenses to ensure Russia will make no further advances and will not attack again after a cease-fire or peace agreement," Kellogg's research paper for the Trumpist America First Policy Institute think tank said. "Future American military aid, however, will require Ukraine to participate in peace talks with Russia." Kellogg served in several positions during Trump's first term, including as chief of staff on the White House national security council and national security advisor to then-vice president Mike Pence. Kellogg told Voice of America at the Republican convention in July that Ukraine's options were "quite clear." "If Ukraine doesn't want to negotiate, fine, but then accept the fact that you can have enormous losses in your cities and accept the fact that you will have your children killed, accept the fact that you don't have 130,000 dead, you will have 230,000–250,000," he said. Trump's announcement came as the outgoing administration of Democrat Joe Biden was hosting a news conference to urge Ukraine to enlist more recruits by reducing the minimum age of conscription to 18. Facing a much larger enemy with more advanced weapons and with stocks of volunteers dwindling, Ukraine is facing an "existential" recruitment crunch, a senior administration official told reporters. "The simple truth is that Ukraine is not currently mobilizing or training enough soldiers to replace their battlefield losses while keeping pace with Russia's growing military," said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. He was pressed on what Washington considers an appropriate minimum age and he replied that "we think there's real value in them considering lowering the recruiting age to 18" -- in line with the US benchmark. He added that an additional 160,000 troops would be "on the low end" to fill out Ukraine's ranks -- but "a good start." The former Soviet republic's population has fallen by more than a quarter since its mid-1990s peak of 52 million, and authorities are desperate to shield the younger generation -- but a US congressional report in June estimated the average Ukrainian soldier is 40. Zelensky signed a decree in April lowering the draft age from 27 to 25 but the move did not alleviate the chronic troop shortages, according to US officials. ft/bjt Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, sports, arts & entertainment, state legislature, CFD news, and more.