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  • International Condom Day 2025 Date & Significance: Know the Importance of Promoting Safe Sex and Preventing STIs and Unplanned Pregnancies

    International Condom Day 2025 Date & Significance: Know the Importance of Promoting Safe Sex and Preventing STIs and Unplanned Pregnancies

    International Condom Day, observed annually on February 13, is a vital observance that brings attention to the importance of safe sexual practices and the use of condoms as a powerful, affordable, and highly effective tool in preventing the transmission of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unplanned pregnancies. This global day of awareness encourages communities, organisations, and individuals to promote condom use, educates the public about its benefits, and reduces the stigma surrounding sexual health. Condom Day Date and Significance: Why Condoms Are Important? Everything You Need To Know About Promoting Safe & Responsible Sexual Health Practices.

    International Condom Day 2025 Date

    International Condom Day 2025 falls on Thursday, February 13.

    What is International Condom Day?

    International Condom Day is a worldwide event organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with various community organisations and health advocates. It aims to emphasise the importance of condoms as a simple yet effective means of protecting sexual health. The day is not only about promoting condom use but also about fostering awareness and breaking down barriers to sexual health education.

    By spotlighting the role of condoms in preventing HIV transmission, STIs, and unintended pregnancies, International Condom Day serves as a reminder that sexual health is an essential part of overall well-being and that condoms should be normalised as a critical tool in protecting that health.

    Significance of International Condom Day

    International Condom Day holds great significance for many reasons, starting with the prevention of HIV/AIDS. Condoms are one of the most effective methods for reducing the risk of transmitting HIV during sexual activity, particularly in regions where HIV is prevalent. Condoms also provide protection against various STIs, including syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and human papillomavirus (HPV), which can lead to serious health complications if left untreated.

    Moreover, International Condom Day plays a key role in reducing unplanned pregnancies, empowering individuals with the tools to make informed decisions about their sexual health. Contraception and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are essential components of reproductive health, and condoms offer a low-cost solution that anyone can use.

    The World Health Organization (WHO) actively participates in this observance, highlighting innovative methods of promoting condom use, including creative campaigns and artistic expressions. These efforts are designed to engage the public, especially young people, and make the conversation about condoms more relatable, approachable, and engaging. February Is National Condom Month 2025! Know About the Observance That Raises Awareness About Safe Sex and the Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections.

    Why is International Condom Day Important?

    International Condom Day serves a dual purpose: it is both a celebration of sexual health and a call to action. It encourages the normalisation of condom use as part of everyday life and ensures that individuals have access to the resources and education needed to protect themselves and their partners. The day helps raise awareness that condoms are a simple yet highly effective means of prevention—affordable, easy to use, and available to everyone. By making condoms more accessible and reducing stigma, International Condom Day works to create a world where individuals can engage in safer sexual practices without fear of judgment or discrimination. International Condom Day Date, History, Significance: All You Need To Know About This Important Sexual Health and Wellness Day.

    As communities and health organisations come together to observe this day on February 13, it is essential to continue advocating for sexual health education, access to condoms, and the normalisation of condom use worldwide. Whether through artistic expression, outreach campaigns, or education initiatives, International Condom Day empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their sexual health and encourages societies to recognise the vital role of condoms in promoting a healthier, more informed world.

    (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 12, 2025 06:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).

  • Patrick Mahomes’ former teammate pushes back on ‘tarnished’ legacy narrative around Chiefs star

    Patrick Mahomes’ former teammate pushes back on ‘tarnished’ legacy narrative around Chiefs star

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    Patrick Mahomes’ loss in Super Bowl LIX to the Philadelphia Eagles dropped him to 3-2 in Super Bowls since he took the reins as Kansas City Chiefs quarterback.

    On Sunday, Mahomes had one of the worst games he has ever had. The Eagles’ defense overpowered the Chiefs’ offensive line and rattled Mahomes early and often. He was sacked six times, threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. His QB rating was 11.4 for the game.

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    Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter, #98, pushes Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, #15, during the second half of Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

    The game was on par with his performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV. He was sacked three times and threw two interceptions, finishing with a QB rating of 42.2.

    NFL pundits began to question Mahomes’ legacy in the immediate aftermath of the game. While there were comparisons to Tom Brady going into the game in which some believed Mahomes would be in his stratosphere with a third consecutive title, the loss – for some – diminished his standing so badly that the gap between both is almost insurmountable.

    Former Chiefs offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz had none of that. He defended Mahomes in social media posts on Tuesday.

    “Someone is going to have to explain to me how a 29 year old’s legacy is tarnished because after the best 7 year start to a career and getting closer than anyone in history to winning 3 straight Super Bowls, one bad game from basically the entire team diminishes that legacy??” he wrote on X.

    “Tiger missed cuts in majors even at the height of his powers. Brady had a 16-0 team and lost to a 10-6 team. Missed the playoffs his 2nd year starting. Lost multiple playoff games to teams who threw for less than 100 yards but that doesn’t matter b/c it wasn’t in the Super Bowl?

    Patrick Mahomes exasperated

    Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, #15, stands on the sidelines during the second half of Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

    NFL FANS INTERVENE AFTER RESTAURANT OWNED BY EAGLES’ CJ GARDNER-JOHNSON’S MOM HIT BY UNWARRANTED BAD REVIEWS

    “The dynamic has gotten very weird where you have to not only win #Ringz but you also get docked this bad for a Super Bowl loss when you’re doing unprecedented things before the age of 30. Brady is the most accomplished QB ever, it’s going to take years to compare their résumés.”

    As Brady lost to the New York Giants in 2007, Schwartz pointed out, pundits did not jump on his legacy and question his resume. He lamented the “reactionary” state of the media.

    “It feels like we’re trying to blend MJ and Brady and hold Pat to that standard. No one is repeating 6-0,” he wrote. “Brady didn’t do it. No one else will, especially in football. Football is too interconnected, 1 game is too small. Jordan had 7 games to make sure his team won. Too different.”

    Schwartz asked talking heads to “pump the brakes” on comparison and legacy talk.

    Mahomes has plenty of time to catch Brady – if that is the goal. Brady was 32 years old when he reached his fifth Super Bowl and fell to 3-2 when his Patriots lost to the Giants for a second time.

    Brady went 10 years without winning another one. The Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX thanks to an interception from Malcolm Butler at the very end of the game.

    Mahomes vowed to recover and bring the Chiefs back to glory.

    “I let y’all down today. I’ll always continue to work and try and learn and be better for it,” he wrote on X. “Want to give thanks to God for every opportunity he has given me.

    Patrick Mahomes with fans

    Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, #15, shakes hands with fans as he leaves the field following a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

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    “We will be back.”

    Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

  • France, Europe attempt to flex tech muscles at Paris AI summit

    France, Europe attempt to flex tech muscles at Paris AI summit

    Vice President JD Vance told world leaders in Paris that AI must be ‘free from ideological bias,’ and that American tech won’t be a censorship tool. (Credit: Reuters)

    FRANCE – Without a doubt, this week’s artificial intelligence summit in Paris was to showcase how Europe intends to catch up with the U.S. and China, the leaders in the field. But that’s not all.

    The summit was also aimed at bringing together the major players in this new technology. But in reality, it looks more like a clash of civilizations, cultures and national priorities. In simple terms, the main players are at substantial odds with each other.

    Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday presented the keynote address at the plenary session. The Trump administration “will ensure that American AI technology continues to be the gold standard worldwide,” he said. American AI tech is “the partner of choice for others, foreign countries, and certainly businesses, as they expand their own use of AI.” The administration also wants AI to create jobs.

    HOUSE REPS UNVEIL BILL BANNING DEEPSEEK FROM US GOVERNMENT DEVICES OVER ALLEGED TIES TO CHINESE GOVERNMENT

    Avoiding “excessive regulation” and to “remain free of ideological bias [and] not be co-opted into a tool for authoritarian censorship,” are other key goals, Vance said. 

    U.S. Vice President JD Vance delivers a speech during the plenary session of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, Feb. 11, 2025. (REUTERS/Benoit Tessier / Reuters)

    But when you contrast the different players, chasms appear.

    “The U.S. is the freewheeling innovator, prioritizing speed and market-driven growth,” Pascal Bornet, an award-winning expert and pioneer in AI and automation told FOX Business. “China is the strategic state planner, channeling national resources into AI as a matter of economic and geopolitical priority.”

    However, it is well known that authoritarian China doesn’t embrace free speech and essentially does use censorship when it feels it’s necessary. 

    Bornet epitomizes Europe as “the careful regulator, focused on creating a human-centric AI ecosystem that prioritizes ethics and individual rights.” 

    TRUMP’S AI CZAR FLAGS REPORT QUESTIONING DEEPSEEK’S COST OF DEVELOPING AI MODELS

    French President Emmanuel Macron announced the country would make investments of 109 billion euros ($112 billion) in infrastructure, and to make France a strategic AI power. That will include the creation of data centers and the largest supercomputer in Europe and a one-gigawatt campus. The latter being a 50-billion-euro France-UAE joint effort.

    Still, France and much of Europe remains behind the eight ball when it comes to innovation.

    “Europe needs to be more aggressive in its research and deployment,” Nuria Oliver, director of ethical AI company ELLIS Alicante in Spain told FOX Business. That’s what Macron is attempting to do with the epic announcement at the summit.

    French President Emmanuel Macron announced the country would make investments of 109 billion euros ($112 billion) in infrastructure, and to make France a strategic AI power. (TERESA SUAREZ/POOL/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

    However, the culture in many European countries is to avoid risk-taking, Oliver said. 

    “In the southern part of Europe, taking risks is de-incentivized,” she said. Basically, the failure in those countries has high social and financial penalties. But she noted that there’s more risk-taking in the Nordic countries such as Finland and Sweden.

    Contrast that anti-risk approach with America embracing it. “The U.S. has attractive bankruptcy laws, Oliver said. “That is not the case in some other countries and that creates a barrier.”

    That barrier also helps explain why there are zero mega-sized consumer tech companies in Europe. The big ones are all based in either the U.S. or China, and include Apple, Google, Amazon, Meta, Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent. 

    Bornet said Europe is “seriously behind,” and that not one of the top 25 AI research institutions is in Europe, and Europe holds 786 AI-related patents compared to almost 16,000 in the U.S.

    “China is the strategic state planner, channeling national resources into AI as a matter of economic and geopolitical priority,” said Pascal Bornet. (Photo credit: GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

    Sweden, Finland and the U.K. all have a tech sector, but it’s limited, Raj Venkatesan, a professor at the Darden Graduate School of Business and an AI expert, told FOX Business. “They don’t have a global platform,” he said. “The U.S. and China have a global presence.”

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    Nevertheless, Bornet sees one of Europeans’ soft spots as a possible winner. “By being the global standard-setter for ethical AI through rigorous regulations, they could attract companies and users who value trust and transparency,” he said. “It’s a long shot, but potentially a brilliant one.”

  • Alex Bregman leads list of MLB free agents still available as pitchers and catchers report to spring training

    Alex Bregman leads list of MLB free agents still available as pitchers and catchers report to spring training

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    Pitchers and catchers are in Florida and Arizona to gear up for the marathon that is the baseball season.

    Spring training is officially underway after a wild offseason that saw over $3.3 billion in contracts signed.

    However, there are still some players with All-Star resumes who do not know where they will be on March 27 when the season starts.

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

    Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, #2, celebrates after hitting a home run during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park. (Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)

    Here are the top six available free agents who are still on the market with just over six weeks until Opening Day.

    Alex Bregman

    One of the more consistent players in baseball is a free agent for the first time, and it has not exactly been the ideal offseason for the two-time All-Star.

    Alex Bregman just won his first Gold Glove Award with the Houston Astros in 2024, and since 2021, he is slashing .262/.350/.444.

    It was reported that Bregman was offered a six-year, $156 million deal to return to the Astros, but he declined. His name has circulated around several rumors, but the Scott Boras issues continue this side of Juan Soto.

    While Bregman may not be his MVP-candidate self anymore (he led the majors with an 8.9 WAR in 2019), his bat-to-ball skills are still elite, and as the Gold Glove Award states, so is his defense.

    Alex Bregman waves to fans

    Alex Bregman, #2 of the Houston Astros, waves to fans prior to playing the Detroit Tigers in Game One of the Wild Card Series at Minute Maid Park on Oct. 1, 2024 in Houston. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

    Jose Iglesias

    Jose Iglesias, 35, had a career resurgence upon releasing the hit song “OMG” that became the rallying cry for the New York Mets.

    After not playing in the 2023 season, Iglesias was scooped by the Mets midseason and was more than what anyone had expected. The sure-handed infielder hit .337 and racked up a career-high 3.1 WAR despite playing just 85 games.

    His veteran leadership surely played a role in Queens throughout 2024, and if anyone needs a post-game concert, Iglesias will not cost anything extra.

    Jose Quintana

    To stick with the Mets, Jose Quintana is coming off a 170-inning season, his most in five years. The lefty posted a 3.75 ERA and could very well be a solid middle-of-the-rotation guy for some teams out there.

    The 2025 season would be Quintana’s 14th, and while no team should expect him to make the All-Star Game for the first time since 2016, pitching comes at a premium in the big leagues.

    At age 36, the Colombia native could be a cheap short-term option.

    Jose Quintana

    New York Mets pitcher Jose Quintana, #62, throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning during game four of the NLCS for the 2024 MLB playoffs at Citi Field. (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)

    Nick Pivetta

    One thing that all teams yearn for is a swing-and-miss arm, which is exactly what Nick Pivetta is. He ranked in the 88th percentile in whiff rate last season, while his 2.2 BB/9 was the best mark of his career.

    YANKEES MANAGER TAKES SHOT AT DODGERS, ALLEGES LACK OF ‘CLASS’ WITH WORLD SERIES TITLE TALK

    Sure, Pivetta’s career ERA of 4.76 is not ideal, but he has pitched to a 4.09 in the last two years with the Boston Red Sox, and his metrics showed he pitched into some bad luck, as well.

    He does get hit hard, but if a team can tap into that strikeout potential, he could be a weapon. Pivetta also turns 32 on Thursday, so it is a young arm to take a chance on.

    David Robertson

    David Robertson just wrapped up his 16th MLB season but seems to be a bit of an ageless wonder. This past season with the Texas Rangers, he pitched to a 3.00 ERA, which is par for the course throughout his career.

    He will turn 40 on April 9, but he knows how to get the job done and has shown no signs of slowing down. His 12.4 K/9 was his best since 2017, as well.

    In a game built on bullpens, Robertson’s services would be more than welcome.

    Alex Verdugo

    Alex Verdugo’s bat had a down season with the New York Yankees in 2024, but in his lone season patrolling the outfield in the Bronx, he looked more than comfortable and was a Gold Glove finalist.

    Alex Verdugo

    Alex Verdugo, #24 of the New York Yankees, celebrates after hitting an RBI single against the Kansas City Royals during the seventh inning in Game One of the Division Series at Yankee Stadium on Oct. 5, 2024 in New York City. (Elsa/Getty Images)

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    From 2019 to 2022, Verdugo hit .289 with a .778 OPS; his numbers deteriorated in his final year in Boston amid rumors of tension between himself and the team, and perhaps he felt the pressure of playing in a contract year in 2024.

    However, Verdugo can play all three outfield positions very well and is another guy who can put the bat on the ball when you need him to.

    Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

  • Former Lia Thomas teammate calls out Democrats still fighting for trans athletes in women’s sports

    Former Lia Thomas teammate calls out Democrats still fighting for trans athletes in women’s sports

    EXCLUSIVE: Former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Grace Estabrook was one of the many young women who shared a pool and locker room with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the 2021-22 season. 

    From 2019, when she was first told Thomas would be joining her team, until her senior year in 2022, Estabrook alleged she was repeatedly pressured by the university not to oppose Thomas’ inclusion on the team. Estabrook told Fox News Digital that administrators tried to convince her that she would never get a job or get into grad school if she spoke out against it and that any issue she had with the situation was because she had a “psychological problem.” 

    And in between the practices and meets that made her feel “uncomfortable” and “powerless,” Estabrook says she also witnessed the mainstream media celebrate Thomas as a civil rights icon and even be nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. 

    But now, in 2025, Estabrook is one of three former UPenn swimmers who have filed a lawsuit against the university, the Ivy League and the NCAA over its handling of the situation as the tides on the issue turn in the court of public opinion.

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

    Penn’s Lia Thomas waits to swim in a qualifying heat of the 200-yard freestyle at the Ivy League Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at Harvard University, Feb. 18, 2022, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

    Fox News Digital reached out to UPenn for comment.

    Recent data suggests the vast majority of Americans now oppose trans athletes in women’s sports. The NCAA recently changed its policy to prevent them from competing in the women’s category after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to address the issue last Wednesday. 

    Still, many Democrats continue to fight for trans inclusion in women’s and girls’ sports, and multiple states have not complied with Trump’s order. 

    For Estabrook, who says she lived through the experience of changing her clothes with Thomas in the room and being threatened not to complain about it, the thought of elected officials still fighting for a cause that ensures other women experience what she did is “depressing.” 

    “That’s just really depressing,” Estabrook said. “I just don’t know why anyone would want to perpetuate abuse to women on large scales like this. I think that’s why we are doing what we’re doing. It’s because we want a clear court decision that will help institutions be able to set clear policies to make sure this never happens again. We want that enduring legal precedent. … It’s depressing, but that’s why we’re doing what we’re doing.”

    Estabrook’s journey throughout the situation with UPenn has featured frequent “depressing” moments. 

    Her locker was only a few feet away from Thomas in the locker room, forcing her to back herself into a corner for the sake of her own comfort.

    NEVADA VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS WERE PRESSURED WITH ‘LEGAL ISSUES’ TO PLAY SJSU TRANS PLAYER DURING FEUD WITH SCHOOL

    “I would kind of back into a corner that had low visibility and just try to change as quickly as I could, and I had other teammates who would go into the bathroom stalls and change in there,” Estabrook said.

    “We were the ones that were forced into hiding, it was very uncomfortable, and there was just this constant fear and disruption of peace of like, ‘OK, I just don’t have a safe environment here anymore,’ not only physically but emotionally and psychologically, and it was just incredibly stressful. I look back on it and I don’t know how I endured that.” 

    Estabrook added that the situation put “incredible” stress on both her mind and body, and it disrupted her swimming ability. 

    The positive media coverage of Thomas was the insulting cherry on top of the situation for Estabrook. She said that many times when she and her teammates traveled to a meet, they not only had to deal with the anxiety of Thomas in their space but also a horde of reporters there to cover the trans athlete in a positive light.

    “I just remember feeling, ‘This is so alien,’” Estabrook said. “It just felt like it was this whole celebration of Thomas and the whole transgender ideology movement.” 

    “All of the media I remember seeing or reading at the time was celebrating Thomas as this groundbreaking figurehead of the transgender community … there was just such a celebration of it that it was really pushed in our faces and forcing us to accept it.”

    Estabrook said the hardest moment of the experience came at the 2022 Ivy League championships. She hoped that Thomas would be ruled ineligible to participate. However, the Ivy League allowed Thomas to swim. Thomas ultimately set pool records in every individual event the athlete competed in and topped the victor’s podium four times.

    Thomas went on to put up a similar performance at the 2022 NCAA championships. There, Thomas ended up in an infamous tie with former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines. That tie ultimately sparked the seeds for change that gave Estabrook and countless other women hope when the experience prompted Gaines to speak up and become a prominent advocate for women’s athletes seeking protection from trans inclusion. 

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    Former UPenn swimmer Grace Estabrook

    Former UPenn swimmer Grace Estabrook (Grace Estabrook)

    “I was just so grateful for her bravery,” Estabrook said. “I really do feel empowered by the work that Riley Gaines has been doing and seeing women jump on that same train and start to speak out. … It empowered me to be able to do the same.”

    More hope came this past year after Trump pledged during a Fox News town hall interview in October that, if elected, he would ban trans athletes in women’s sports. Trump won the election, and exit polls suggested the issue of trans inclusion played a prominent role in the decision of many moderate voters. 

    Trump quickly made good on his promise, signing the “No Men in Women’s Sports” executive order last Wednesday. For Estabrook, seeing this come to fruition has gone a long way in affirming her political beliefs. 

    “I was very excited to hear that and even more excited when that became a reality last week so quickly after he took office,” Estabrook said. “It’s just very encouraging to see that we have a president who is just so supportive of us and is also seeing this in accordance with reality.” 

    Estabrook’s lawsuit, which has been filed alongside former teammates Ellen Holmquist and Margot Kaczorowski, seeks to have all of Thomas’ records and accolades as a woman swimmer revoked.

    In addition to Estabrook’s lawsuit, Trump’s Department of Education has launched an investigation into potential Title IX violations that occurred at UPenn and has also advised the NCAA to discard Thomas’ accolades in the women’s category.

    Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

    Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

  • New round of Social Security payments will be made this week

    New round of Social Security payments will be made this week

    Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., reacts to President-elect Trumps appointees and agenda on Cavuto: Coast to Coast.

    A new round of Social Security payments is scheduled to be delivered on Wednesday, with a subset of beneficiaries set to receive up to thousands of dollars in monthly benefits.

    Social Security benefits are paid out on four different dates each month and the timing depends on how long beneficiaries have been claiming benefits as well as their birthdays.

    Benefits are paid on the second, third and fourth Wednesdays of the month with retirees whose birthdays fall between the first and 10th days of the month getting their benefits on the second Wednesday, while those born between the 11th and 20th falling on the third Wednesday. Those born from the 21st to the 31st get paid on the fourth Wednesday.

    However, retirees who have been receiving Social Security benefits since at least May 1997 are paid on the third day of each month. If they’re also receiving Supplemental Security Income, they receive that on the first day of the month.

    MILLIONS TO GET HIGHER SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS UNDER NEW LAW

    Social Security payment dates generally depend on the birthdate of the beneficiary, though it’s different for those who’ve been receiving benefits since May 1997. ((Photo illustration by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) / Getty Images)

    Retirees who claim their Social Security benefits when they reach the safety net program’s full retirement age of 67 receive a maximum monthly payment of $4,018.

    Americans can opt to begin receiving Social Security sooner than that in exchange for receiving smaller monthly payments. The earliest age at which Social Security benefits can be claimed is 62, when they would be eligible to receive a maximum monthly benefit of $2,831.

    Social Security also incentivizes workers with a larger benefit if they delay retirement until age 70, which would allow them to receive a maximum monthly benefit of up to $5,108.

    SOCIAL SECURITY’S FULL RETIREMENT AGE IS INCREASING IN 2025: WHAT TO KNOW

    The US Treasury logo

    Social Security’s COLA for 2025 was 2.5%, the smallest since 2021 as inflation eased. (William Thomas Cain/Getty Images / Getty Images)

    Social Security benefits are determined based on an individual beneficiary’s lifetime earnings and the length of time they have paid Social Security payroll taxes. Eligible beneficiaries have to work and pay into Social Security through payroll taxes for at least 10 years to receive benefits.

    Benefits are adjusted annually to account for inflation through what’s known as a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). This year, a 2.5% COLA was applied to boost retirees’ 2025 Social Security benefits. 

    The 2.5% COLA is the smallest since 2021 as inflation has eased in recent years after it reached the highest level in four decades in 2022, though prices remain elevated and are straining household budgets.

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    The new COLA took effect for most Social Security recipients when they received their January benefit distributions.

  • San Diego fails to pass measure protecting girls from trans athletes despite pleas from parents

    San Diego fails to pass measure protecting girls from trans athletes despite pleas from parents

    A middle school in San Diego has been thrust into local controversy because of a transgender student using the girls’ locker room. 

    The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted against a measure to carry out the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would prevent trans athletes from competing in girls’ sports or entering girls’ locker rooms. 

    Vice Chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors Jim Desmond brought forth the proposal at a San Diego Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday. However, the measure did not get any votes from other supervisors outside of Desmond. 

    “People came into the meeting with their minds already made up on the issue,” Desmond told Fox News Digital. 

    “The rest were mothers who just didn’t think it was fair or safe for males to be playing in girls’ or women’s safe. So the room was probably 60-40 in favor of letting them play, but I think that’s just the turnout of who was able to take the day off and come down here. I think the vast majority of the people in San Diego County agree that males should not be playing in women’s and girls’ sports.”

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

    Tuesday’s meeting featured several arguments from concerned parents who expressed their concern over their daughters being forced to share locker rooms with biological males. 

    The middle school where this controversy is taking place, San Elijo Middle School, provided a statement to Fox News Digital, crediting its enabling of the transgender student to access the girls’ locker room to the school’s obligation of following state law. 

    “Public school districts in California are governed by, and must act in accordance with, California state law and the California Education Code,” San Elijo Middle School’s statement reads. 

    “As a California public school district, we will continue to follow state law and guidance from the California Department of Education to ensure that all students are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. Our district remains committed to upholding policies that support all students, in accordance with state protections and anti-discrimination laws.”

    President Donald Trump signed the “No Men in Women’s Sports” executive order last Wednesday, which cuts federal funding for any educational institution that allows biological males to compete with girls and women. 

    However, multiple states, including California, have insisted they will not comply with Trump’s order. According to USA Facts, California public schools receive about $16.8 billion per year, which is 13.9% or one in every seven dollars of public school funding, which is well above the national average. 

    The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) said it will continue to follow the state’s law that allows athletes to participate as whichever gender they identify as, a spokesperson told Fox News Digital. 

    “The CIF provides students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete in education-based experiences in compliance with California law [Education Code section 221.5. (f)] which permits students to participate in school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, consistent with the student’s gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the student’s records,” a CIF statement said. 

    Desmond said that many of his local constituents reached out to him expressing concern and disbelief about the state’s handling of the situation. 

    “They think it’s crazy, and I’ve heard questions of ‘is it even legal?’” Desmond said. 

    For Desmond, as a Republican, he sees the Democrat refusal to comply with Trump’s order as an issue that will continue to harm support for the party in his state. 

    “These people didn’t get the message in the last election and they’re just digging the hole deeper. They’re doubling down, digging their heels in the ground, ‘yes we’re right,’” Desmond said, adding that he thinks and hopes the trans athlete debate will strengthen Republican support in California. 

    TEEN GIRLS OPEN UP ON TRANS ATHLETE SCANDAL THAT TURNED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL INTO A CULTURE WAR BATTLEGROUND 

    “I think it’s empowering us with the new administration to stand up and do what’s right. And that’s all we’re trying to do, we’re not trying to discriminate against anybody. If you want to be trans, if you want to identify as another [gender], fine, go for it, you have that right, but where do your rights end and somebody else’s begin? You can’t have one boy cause 30 girls to have to leave and go change some place else, that’s not right, we need a better system.” 

    The decision by California not to comply with Trump’s order has recently prompted backlash and even protests and threats of lawsuits by the state’s residents. 

    On Friday, residents gathered in Long Beach, California, to protest outside a CIF federated board meeting. The protesters then spoke at the board meeting, pleading with the CIF officials to follow the president’s order and threatening civil lawsuits against the CIF and state. 

    Currently, there is one lawsuit against the CIF and the state’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, over a situation at Martin Luther King High School involving a trans athlete on the girls’ cross-country team.

    A recent school board meeting by the Riverside Unified School District on Dec. 19 featured a parade of parents berating the board for allowing a trans athlete on the Martin Luther King girls’ cross-country team. A lawsuit filed by two girls on the team alleges that their T-shirts in protest of that player were compared to swastikas simply because they said “Save Girls Sports.” 

    The father of a girl who lost her varsity spot to the trans athlete previously told Fox News Digital that his daughter and other girls at the school were told “transgenders have more rights than cisgender[s]” by school administrators when they protested the athlete’s participation.

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    That is just one controversy in the state that has erupted over the last year from its laws that enable trans inclusion in girls’ sports. 

    Stone Ridge Christian High School’s girls’ volleyball team was scheduled to face San Francisco Waldorf in the Northern California Division 6 tournament but forfeited in an announcement just before the match over the presence of a trans athlete on the team.

    A transgender volleyball player was booed and harassed at an Oct. 12 match between Notre Dame Belmont in Belmont, California, against Half Moon Bay High School, according to ABC 7. Half Moon Bay rostered the transgender athlete.

    California State Assembly member Kate Sanchez announced on Jan. 7 that she is introducing a bill to ban trans athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.

    Sanchez will propose the Protect Girls’ Sports Act to the state legislature. Currently, 25 states have similar laws in effect.

    Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

    Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

  • Spirit Airlines rejects another Frontier Airlines acquisition worth .16B

    Spirit Airlines rejects another Frontier Airlines acquisition worth $2.16B

    The Points Guy founder Brian Kelly discusses how Spirit Airlines’ bankruptcy could impact travel.

    • Spirit Airlines rejected an acquisition offer worth about $2.16 billion from Frontier Group.
    • Spirit and Frontier have been in merger talks since at least 2022, even before Spirit filed for bankruptcy in 2024.
    • Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy due to prolonged periods of financial losses and a substantial debt load.

    Spirit Airlines on Tuesday rejected Frontier Group’s acquisition offer, worth about $2.16 billion, saying the bid from its fellow ultra-low-cost carrier was less beneficial to shareholders than its ongoing reorganization plan.

    Frontier’s offer was a reiteration of its proposal from earlier this month in which it proposed Spirit’s shareholders would get $400 million in debt and a 19% stake in Frontier.

    However, it dropped a requirement that Spirit complete a $350 million equity rights offering and use the proceeds to retire its debtor-in-possession facility. It also requires the bankruptcy court-approved $35 million termination fee be waived.

    SPIRIT AIRLINES NO LONGER ALLOWING PASSENGERS WITH INAPPROPRIATE CLOTHING OR TATTOOS TO FLY

    Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy protection last year and expects to complete its restructuring in the first quarter, said the revised proposal did not address certain material risks and issues it had previously identified.

    Spirit Airlines rejected Frontier Group’s latest acquisition offer, worth about $2.16 billion, on Feb. 12, 2025.  (Reuters/Mike Blake/File Photo / Reuters)

    Instead, the Florida-based airline offered a counterproposal in which Spirit shareholders would get $600 million in debt and $1.185 billion in equity — which Frontier rejected.

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    The two companies had been in merger talks since at least 2022, even before Spirit filed for bankruptcy due to prolonged periods of financial losses and a substantial debt load.

    However, JetBlue Airways jumped into the fray and prevailed. But that deal was scrapped after a U.S. judge blocked it on anti-competition concerns.

    Frontier revived its takeover efforts earlier this year, but Spirit had said the first offer was inferior to the one the two companies had discussed last year and sought an assurance that the deal would close and Frontier would not walk away.

  • NFL fans intervene after restaurant owned by Eagles’ CJ Gardner-Johnson’s mom hit by unwarranted bad reviews

    NFL fans intervene after restaurant owned by Eagles’ CJ Gardner-Johnson’s mom hit by unwarranted bad reviews

    Del Johnson watched from Florida as confetti fell on her son, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and his teammates after the Philadelphia Eagles routed the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

    The Eagles safety’s mother was in Cocoa Village, Florida, not New Orleans for the big game. She was there because she also had something to celebrate — the opening of her second restaurant. However, the celebratory mode was short-lived due to an influx of negative Yelp reviews for Johnson’s other establishment, Kings Grill in Rockledge, Florida. 

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

    Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, #8, celebrates after winning Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9, 2025. (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

    The spike in poor reviews began shortly after Gardner-Johnson took aim at Chiefs star Travis Kelce. 

    “Should’ve stayed with that thick s— ,” Gardner-Johnson captioned an Instagram Stories post. The caption seemed to reference Kelce’s former romance with Kayla Nicole, who attended this past Sunday’s big game and celebrated the Eagles victory on the Caesars Superdome turf.

    KELLEN MOORE TAKES SAINTS’ HEAD COACH JOB AFTER WINNING SUPER BOWL WITH EAGLES

    Fans of singer Taylor Swift, who are often referred to as “Swifties,” appeared to be responsible for at least the initial stream of bad Google reviews and negative Yelp reviews for the Kings Grill. Swift has made numerous appearances at Chiefs games over the past two seasons and is currently dating Kelce.

    “I have friends who were sending me the screenshots,” Delatron Johnson told TMZ Sports. “They were going, ‘Oh my god, look at this!’ And the first thing everyone said was, ‘the Swifties have attacked.’

    “Yes, we’ve seen all the reviews. The joke is really on the Swifties and everyone entertaining the reviews because Kings Grill is closed.”

    The unfavorable reviews were later removed and Yelp placed an “unusual activity alert” on the restaurant’s page which “temporarily disabled the posting of content.”

    C.J. Gardner-Johnson plays in the Super Bowl

    C.J. Gardner-Johnson, #8 of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Travis Kelce, #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs, face off in the first quarter during Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on Feb. 9, 2025 in New Orleans. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

    “This business recently received increased public attention, which often means people come to this page to post their views on news. While we don’t take a stand one way or the other when it comes to this incident, we’ve temporarily disabled the posting of content to this page as we work to investigate whether the content you see here reflects actual consumer experiences rather than the recent events,” the post read.

    A Yelp spokesperson added that “moderators” would eventually “clean up the page so that it reflects firsthand consumer experiences.”

    “For Yelp to remain a useful resource to the community, reviews must be based on a genuine, firsthand experience with the business,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “Due to the increased activity we detected on the business page, Yelp’s User Operations team worked quickly to temporarily disable the posting of content to the page and placed an Unusual Activity Alert on Tuesday, February 11. When we see the activity dramatically decrease or stop, our moderators will clean up the page so that it reflects firsthand consumer experiences.”

    CJ Gardner-Johnson on the field

    Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, #8, practices before Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9, 2025. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

    Some Eagles fans took notice of the flood of negative reviews Johnson’s restaurant received and showed their support by leaving a considerable number of positive reviews for the establishment.

    Supporters of other NFL teams also came to Johnson’s aid. 

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    “Saints fan here, thank y’all for getting CJ a ring. Kinda sad that people are trying to attack this place because the Chiefs are sorry. I’m sure the food and service here are great though so gonna easy 5 star. Go birds I guess,” a New Orleans Saints fan wrote. Gardner-Johnson spent the first three years of his NFL career with the Saints.

    A Las Vegas Raiders fan suggested the restaurant had top-notch service. “Service was on point thank you! Food was on point thank you! Ambiance was on point thank you! #RAAAIIIDERSSSS,” the Raiders fan wrote.

    Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

    Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

  • OnePlus Red Rush Days Sale: OnePlus 13R, OnePlus 13, OnePlus Nord CE 4, OnePlus Nord 4 and Other Products Available at Valentine’s Day 2025 Discount; Check Prices

    OnePlus Red Rush Days Sale: OnePlus 13R, OnePlus 13, OnePlus Nord CE 4, OnePlus Nord 4 and Other Products Available at Valentine’s Day 2025 Discount; Check Prices

    OnePlus has announced its new Valentine’s Day 2025 sale event, “OnePlus Red Rush Days, ” offering exclusive discounts on selected products. During Red Rush Days, customers can buy smartphones at a much lower cost than the official sale price. OnePlus Red Rush Days offers the OnePlus 13R with an INR 3,000 bank discount, the OnePlus 13 with an INR 5,000 discount, and the OnePlus Nord CE 4 with an INR 2,000 discount. The Chinese company also announced INR 4,000, INR 1,000, INR 2,000 and INR 3000 on the OnePlus Nord 4, OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite, OnePlus Pad 2 and OnePlus Buds Pro 3, respectively. Flipkart Valentine’s Day Sale 2025: List of Items Available at Discounted Prices That You Can Gift to Your Valentine on February 14.

    OnePlus Red Rush, Valentine’s Day 2025 Sale Announced

    (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user’s social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)