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The Prime Minister used an op-ed in the Mail on Sunday to vow to “get to grips” with the cost of welfare after figures suggested more than four million people will be claiming long-term sickness support by the end of the decade. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall will announce a package of legislation next week designed to “get Britain working” amid Government concerns about the projected rise. Official forecasts published by her department this week show that the number of people claiming incapacity benefits is expected to climb from a pre-pandemic figure of around 2.5 million in 2019 to around 4.2 million in 2029. Last year there were just over three million claimants. The Prime Minister wrote: “In the coming months, Mail on Sunday readers will see even more sweeping changes. Because make no mistake, we will get to grips with the bulging benefits bill blighting our society. “Don’t get me wrong, we will crack down hard on anyone who tries to game the system, to tackle fraud so we can take cash straight from the banks of fraudsters. “There will be a zero-tolerance approach to these criminals. My pledge to Mail on Sunday readers is this: I will grip this problem once and for all.” Ms Kendall’s white paper is expected to include the placement of work coaches in mental health clinics and a “youth guarantee” aimed at ensuring those aged 18-21 are working or studying.BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Tens of thousands of Spaniards marched in downtown Barcelona on Saturday to protest the skyrocketing cost of renting an apartment in the popular tourist destination. Protesters cut off traffic on main avenues in the city center, holding up homemade signs in Spanish reading “Fewer apartments for investing and more homes for living" and “The people without homes uphold their rights.” The lack of affordable housing has become one of the leading concerns for the southern European Union country, mirroring the housing crunch across many parts of the world, including the United States . Organizers said that over 100,000 had turned out, while Barcelona’s police said they estimated some 22,000 marched. Either way, the throngs of people clogging the streets recalled the massive separatist rallies at the heigh of the previous decade’s Catalan independence movement. Now, social concerns led by housing have displaced political crusades. That is because the average rent for Spain has doubled in last 10 years. The price per square meter has risen from 7.2 euros ($7.5) in 2014 to 13 euros this year, according to the popular online real estate website Idealista. The growth is even more acute in cities like Barcelona and Madrid. Incomes meanwhile have failed to keep up, especially for younger people in a country with chronically high unemployment. Protestor Samuel Saintot said he is “frustrated and scared” after being told by the owners of the apartment he has rented for the past 15 years in Barcelona’s city center that he must vacate the premises. He suspects that the owners want him out so they can renovate it and boost the price. “Even looking in a 20- or 30-kilometer radius outside town, I can’t even find anything within the price range I can afford,” he told The Associated Press. “And I consider myself a very fortunate person, because I earn a decent salary. And even in my case, I may be forced to leave town.” A report by the Bank of Spain indicates that nearly 40% of Spaniards who rent dedicate an average of 40% of their income to paying rents and utilities, compared to the European Union average of 27% of renters who do so. “We are talking about a housing emergency. It means people having many difficulties both in accessing and staying in their homes,” said Ignasi Martí, professor for Esade business school and head of its Dignified Housing Observatory. The rise in rents is causing significant pain in Spain, where traditionally people seek to own their homes. Rental prices have also been driven up by short-term renters including tourists. Many migrants to Spain are also disproportionately hit by the high rents because they often do not have enough savings. Spain is near the bottom end of OECD countries with under 2% of all housing available being public housing for rent. The OECD average is 7%. Spain is far behind France, with 14%, Britain with 16%, and the Netherlands with 34%. Carme Arcarazo, spokesperson for Barcelona’s Tenants Union which helped organize the protest, said that renters should consider a “rent strike” and cease paying their monthly rents in a mass protest movement. “I think we the tenants have understood that this depends on us. That we can’t keep asking and making demands to the authorities and waiting for an answer. We must take the reins of the situation,” Arcarazo told the AP. “So, if they (the owners) won’t lower the rent, then we will force them to do it." The Barcelona protest came a month after tens of thousands rallied against high rents in Madrid. The rising discontent over housing is putting pressure on Spain’s governing Socialist party, which leads a coalition on the national level and is in charge of Catalonia’s regional government and Barcelona’s city hall. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez presided over what the government termed a “housing summit” including government officials and real estate developers last month. But the Barcelona’s Tenants Union boycotted the event, saying it was like calling a summit for curing cancer and inviting tobacco companies to participate. The leading government measure has been a rent cap mechanism that the central government has offered to regional authorities based on a price index established by the housing ministry. Rent controls can be applied to areas deemed to be “highly stressed” by high rental prices. Catalonia was the first region to apply those caps, which are in place in downtown Barcelona. Many locals blame the million of tourists who visit Barcelona, and the rest of Spain, each year for the high prices. Barcelona’s town hall has pledged to completely eliminate the city’s 10,000 so called “tourist apartments,” or dwellings with permits for short-term rents, by 2028.
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Tom Brady is currently making his way through his first season as a football commentator with Fox Sports, but everyone knows him best as the legendary quarterback who dominated the NFL for over two decades. And along the way, it sounds like he got some help from one of his top rivals in Peyton Manning. Brady's career was filled with accolades and achievements, and a quick look at his numbers will show you why he's regarded as the greatest player in NFL history. His crowning accomplishment was winning seven Super Bowls, which is more than any franchise has won in the history of the league. Of course, Brady wasn't able to win games on his own, and sometimes, he got a helping hand from his competitors. That was what happened with him and Manning, as Brady revealed that arguably his biggest rival introduced him to a play that the New England Patriots ran frequently with Rob Gronkowski. "I met with Peyton Manning for like three days, and he taught me the play that he used to run a lot," Brady said in a video he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "We ended up installing the play in our offense, and we got Rob Gronkowski. It ended up, probably half of Gronk's receiving yards were on this concept. I'm like, 'Thanks, Peyton!'" Thanks Peyton! pic.twitter.com/vLNzFiCpfs The play in question would see Brady run a play action, which would get the opposing defense's linebackers to come towards the line of scrimmage in anticipation of a run. Instead, it was a pass, and Gronkowski would leak down the seam and get wide open in the middle of the field for Brady to hit him. © Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images This was a bread and butter play for New England's offense during Brady's time on the field with Gronk. And as it turns out, if it weren't for Manning, the Patriots may have never discovered it, which could have drastically altered how they ran their offense. Brady and Manning were competitors, but they are also good friends off the field. Considering how much success Brady and Gronkowski had together, though, he's probably wishing he didn't give this play away to arguably the greatest quarterback of all time. Related: Tom Brady Names His 'Player Of The Game' After Week 10
NoneAnalysis-Trump's crypto team takes shape but questions remain over who will drive policy
Wednesday, December 18, 2024 VINCI Airports is set to transform the 2024-2025 winter season at Grenoble Alpes Isère and Chambéry Savoie Mont Blanc airports into an unforgettable travel experience. With enhanced services, a wider selection of destinations, and exciting new routes, these two Alpine gateways are ready to welcome winter visitors with open arms. Grenoble Alpes Isère Airport kicked off the season with the arrival of its first commercial flight on Tuesday, December 3. The easyJet service from London Gatwick marked the official start of the winter season, which promises to be packed with travel opportunities. This winter, the airport will offer a total of 20 destinations, including bustling hubs like London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle, Dublin, Warsaw, and Vilnius. With flights operated by seven scheduled airlines, alongside charter flights from operators across the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Bulgaria, and the Channel Islands, the variety of options is bound to suit a wide range of travelers. A key highlight this season is the introduction of a weekly flight to Jersey, operated by Blue Islands. Starting on December 21, 2024, and running through to February 15, 2025, this new route offers a direct link to the Channel Islands every Saturday, perfect for those seeking a quick getaway. Furthermore, the airport’s popular routes from easyJet to Manchester and multiple London airports, British Airways to London Gatwick and Heathrow, Ryanair to Birmingham, and WizzAir to Vilnius and Warsaw are set to continue, offering plenty of flexibility for winter vacationers. Meanwhile, Chambéry Savoie Mont Blanc Airport, which launched its winter operations on Saturday, December 14, 2024, is also poised for a bustling season. With 12 destinations on offer, the airport provides additional options for travelers eager to explore the Alps or head to one of Europe’s premier winter destinations. Through expanded offerings and upgraded services, VINCI Airports ensures that both Grenoble Alpes Isère and Chambéry Savoie Mont Blanc airports are ready to serve as key travel hubs for winter adventurers, bringing visitors closer to the mountains, ski resorts, and picturesque Alpine landscapes that define this stunning region. Chambéry Savoie Mont Blanc Airport officially began its winter operations on Saturday, December 14, 2024. This season, the airport offers flights to 12 destinations, including key cities like Edinburgh and London Gatwick. A highlight for this winter is the addition of Cardiff, Wales, which will be served by TUI Fly every Saturday, offering even more options for travelers heading to and from the region.Starmer says ‘bulging benefits bill’ is ‘blighting our society’
Adelaide, Dec 6: Ravichandran Ashwin was preferred over Washington Sundar for the second Test here because the Indian team management reckoned the senior off-spinner would be more effective on the Adelaide Oval surface, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said on Friday. Also, Ashwin’s record in pink-ball Tests helped him pip Ravindra Jadeja and Sundar in the playing XI. Australia dominated the opening day’s play and reached 86/1 at stumps after bowling out India for 180 in their first innings, making a strong comeback following the 295-run hammering they received at the hands of the visitors in the series opener at Perth. “Yeah, Washy hasn’t put a foot wrong since he’s come into the fold, halfway through that New Zealand series... I guess the thinking going into the last Test, we wanted to strengthen the batting,” ten Doeschate said at the post-day press conference. “And given what we saw of Nitish in the first Test, we kind of thought we’d go with what we perceived to be the guys bowling the best spin at the moment. And we feel Ash is more likely to get wickets in these conditions.” “When you get the confidence of Nitish batting at 7, it doesn’t really matter with Ash batting at 8. And that was the thinking. Not much to choose between them. And we just thought that Ash would be slightly more effective on this wicket,” he added. Australia will enter the second day trailing by only 94 runs and with nine wickets in hand, but ten Doeschate felt India can still turn things around and will draw inspiration form their remarkable comeback in the Perth Test. “I know that the scores look like there is a big gap between the two teams but we still feel we are in the game and with a few tweaks tomorrow (Saturday), we can get back in the game,” India’s assistant coach told the media. “This team doesn’t need the coaches to go into the dressing room and say we need to fight. The guys understand that implicitly and it’s obviously a very proud team who wants to come here and do well. “We feel slightly behind the game now but there certainly won’t be any letting up and certainly won’t be any surrendering. There certainly is a little bit of swing and a little bit of seam still there. So we’re pretty confident we can still turn it around.” He added, “At Perth, we got bowled out for 150 and still we got back into that game. This is a proud team and the players want to come here and do well. We may be slightly behind in the game now but there certainly won’t be any surrendering.” He was asked if playing less matches with pink ball had something to do with the performance of the team on Friday. “I just think it’s the nature of it. If you’re going to bring the pink ball into it, it’s obviously great for the crowds. It’s a little bit different for the players and we try to use the week as best we can to help them to adapt to the small differences. “I don’t think there are huge differences and I certainly don’t think there’s anything to read into about how the guys performed today. He added that things happen a bit faster with the pink ball. “Things happen in clumps, we lost wickets in clumps, which we wanted to avoid. I also thought that Mitchell’s (Starc) stock ball was very good and there are lessons to be learnt from that first innings. We will look at how we can play better in the second innings.” The assistant coach was full of praise for 21-year-old all-rounder Reddy, who stood out with his solid knock on the first day and dragged India to 180. “We are so chuffed with him. From the prep week in Perth, where he looked like he still needed to figure things out, the way he worked in Perth and the game plans he implemented in Perth, to get crucial runs there, I think to get us to 150 in that first game was amazing. “Just the way he’s gone about his work here. It’s obviously the first pink ball game he’s playing in. There’s still a little bit of work to do. He’s very raw. But for a young kid, a 21-year-old, to come out like that and play three innings of the quality he has, it’s super exciting. “There’s obviously a chat about Washy not playing. But he’s done everything a young player could do in a very short space of time. And we think he’s got a very high ceiling.” Ten Doeschate said India will look to go all out in the first session of the second day. “I think we’ll go as hard as we can in the morning but be slightly conscious of what the rest of the day looks like and what we need to do to get back into the game.”
Ottawa Public Health asking customers of south Ottawa Tim Hortons to monitor for hep A symptoms
WASHINGTON - Towana Looney donated a kidney to her mother in 1999 only for the remaining one to fail years later due to pregnancy complications. Now, the 53-year-old from Alabama has become the latest recipient of a gene-edited pig kidney -- and is currently the only living person in the world with an animal organ transplant, New York's NYU Langone hospital announced Tuesday. "I'm overjoyed, I'm blessed to have received this gift, this second chance at life," Looney said during a press conference, held three weeks after the procedure. Xenotransplantation, transplanting organs from one species to another, has long been a tantalizing yet elusive scientific goal. Early experiments on primates faltered, but recent advances in gene editing and immune system management have brought the dream closer to reality. Pigs have emerged as the ideal donors: they grow quickly, produce large litters and are already part of the human food supply. Advocates hope this approach can help address the severe organ shortage in the United States, where more than 100,000 people are waiting for transplants, including over 90,000 in need of kidneys. - A last chance - Looney had been living with dialysis since December 2016 -- eight grueling years. High blood pressure caused by preeclampsia had taken its toll, leaving her with chronic kidney disease. Despite receiving priority on transplant waiting lists as a living donor, her search for a compatible kidney was a frustrating dead end. Her unusually high levels of harmful antibodies made rejection almost inevitable, and as her body lost viable blood vessels to support dialysis, her health declined. Out of options, Looney applied to join a clinical trial for pig kidney transplants, and finally underwent the seven-hour surgery on November 25. Asked how she felt afterward, Looney's joy was infectious. "I'm full of energy, I've got an appetite... and of course, I can go to the bathroom. I haven't been going in eight years!" she laughed, adding that she plans to celebrate at Disney World. Jayme Locke, a surgeon on the transplant team, described the results with awe. "The kidney functioned essentially exactly like a kidney from a living donor," she said, adding that Looney's husband saw a rosiness in her cheeks for the first time in years. "That is the miracle of transplantation." - Cautious optimism - Looney's surgery is the third time a gene-edited pig kidney has been transplanted into a human who is not brain dead. Rick Slayman, the first recipient, died in May, two months after his procedure at Massachusetts General Hospital. The second, Lisa Pisano, initially showed signs of recovery following her surgery at NYU Langone, but the organ had to be removed after 47 days, and she passed away in July. Looney, however, was not terminally ill before the transplant, noted Robert Montgomery, who led the surgery. Each case, he emphasized, provides critical lessons for refining the techniques. The kidney was provided by biotech company Revivicor, which breeds genetically modified herds in Virginia. A Massachusetts-based company, eGenesis, provided the kidney for Slayman. Looney's organ has 10 genetic edits to improve compatibility with the human body -- an advance over Revivicor's earlier efforts that used kidneys with a single gene edit and included the pig's thymus gland to help train the host's immune system and prevent rejection. Montgomery, a pioneer in the field who performed the world's first gene-edited pig organ transplant in a brain-dead patient in 2021, said both methods are likely to enter clinical trials "probably by this time next year, or even sooner." "This is a watershed moment for the future of transplantation," said Kevin Longino, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation. The nonprofit's polling shows that patients and families favor faster clinical trial progress, believing the risk of inaction outweighs the uncertainties of xenotransplantation. Looney was discharged December 6 to a nearby New York City apartment. Though her high antibody levels remain a concern, doctors are monitoring her closely using wearable technology and are trying a novel drug regimen to prevent rejection. Periodic hospital visits may still be required, but the team remains optimistic she can return home in three months.Approval comes despite US promise to renew efforts on long-elusive Gaza ceasefire after Israel-Hezbollah truce. The administration of United States President Joe Biden is reported to have provisionally approved wa $680m arms package to Israel, even as it asserts that it is pushing for peace in the Middle East. Reports of the arms deal on Wednesday come a day after Biden announced a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and promised to renew efforts to reach a similar agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza – one he has repeatedly promised but failed to deliver. The arms package had been in the works for months and had been previewed by congressional committees in September and submitted for wider review in October, an unnamed US official told the Reuters news agency, which confirmed an earlier report by the Financial Times on Biden’s provisional approval. The latest delivery will include hundreds of small-diameter bombs and thousands of joint direct attack munition kits (JDAMs), both news organisations reported. JDAMs convert “dumb” bombs into precision-guided weapons. The Biden administration has not confirmed the reports, the timing of which highlights the juxtaposition of the US position on the Middle East conflict – on the one hand facilitating ceasefire negotiations while on the other hand selling billions of dollars of munitions to Israel as it kills tens of thousands of Palestinians and Lebanese. On Tuesday, Biden – who has consistently supported Israel and portrays US arms sales to Israel as essential support for an ally – held an address at the White House announcing that a US-brokered ceasefire that would see Israel withdraw from Lebanon within 60 days had been reached. That deal went into effect early on Wednesday. During the address, Biden promised to again seek an end to the fighting that has raged in Gaza since October 7, 2023. For months, previous attempts by Washington to broker a deal have come up short with critics accusing Washington of failing to exert its most meaningful leverage – withholding some of the billions of dollars in arms it provides to Israel. To date, Israel has killed at least 44,282 Palestinians in Gaza since the war began when a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel killed at least 1,139 people. Israeli forces have killed more than 3,800 people in Lebanon in the past 13 months. “Over the coming days, the United States will make another push with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza with the hostages released and the end to the war without Hamas in power – that it becomes possible,” Biden said. Questions over weapons The latest weapons package would have been blocked as part of legislation introduced by several Democratic senators to stop about $20bn in arms sales to Israel, the Financial Times reported. However the effort, led by Senator Bernie Sanders, fell short of votes this month. For their part, US officials have repeatedly denied that delays in some arms transfers have been related to Israel’s actions beyond a pause this year of a shipment of 900kg (2,000lb) bombs in a fruitless effort to prevent Israel from launching a major ground operation in Rafah. Speaking to reporters after Biden’s speech, a US official denied that either withholding or promising more weapons to Israel was part of negotiations that eventually led to the Israel-Hezbollah agreement. The official said: “No part of this negotiation involved weapons on either side.” However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday appeared to offer a contradictory account, saying the ceasefire with Hezbollah was needed to “replenish stocks”, among other reasons. “And I say it openly: It is no secret that there have been big delays in weapons and munitions deliveries. These delays will be resolved soon,” Netanyahu said during a national address without specifically naming the US. “We will receive supplies of advanced weaponry that will keep our soldiers safe and give us more strike force to complete our mission.” Continued support before Trump’s return Advocates said the latest approval from the Biden administration indicates there will be little change in the president’s policy before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. In a post on X, the Institute for Middle East Understanding Policy Project said the move shows “President Biden is spending the final days of his presidency going against the will of most Americans, US law, and international law.” It noted that the small-diameter bombs and JDAMs reportedly provided in the package have been linked to Israeli attacks on civilians in Gaza. The Biden administration has also been one of the most vocal critics of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC’s) decision last week to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes committed in Gaza. The ICC also issued a warrant for Hamas leader Mohammed Deif, who Israel said it has killed. In a statement, Biden called the warrants against the Israeli officials “outrageous” and promised to “always stand with Israel against threats to its security”. Netanyahu’s office on Tuesday said it would appeal the court’s ruling . Trump is expected to take a more provocative stance against the ICC – and in his overall support for Israel – after he takes office with his Republican Party in control of both the US House of Representatives and Senate after the November 5 elections. Trump’s pick for national security adviser, Representative Mike Walz, has already promised a “strong response” to the ICC and the United Nations “come January”. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham went further, promising during a trip to Israel on Wednesday to introduce legislation that “would sanction any country that tried to enforce the arrest warrant against Israel”. “You could be a close ally – Canada, Britain, France, you name it – [but] if you buy into this arrest warrant as legitimate, then you’re going to meet stiff, bipartisan resistance in America,” Graham said. “So, to the world, if you empower this folly at the ICC, then you will have a hard time doing business in America and coming to America.” Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Graham had met with the Israeli leader during the trip. The prime minister’s office said Graham “updated him on the efforts that he is advancing in the US Congress against the ICC and countries that have cooperated with it”.
Percentages: FG .557, FT .625. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is weighing in on the mysterious lights recently spotted in the sky by New Jersey residents, whose claims of drone sightings have prompted an FBI investigation , a response from the Pentagon and various theories on their origin. On Monday’s broadcast of “The Breakfast Club,” radio host Charlamagne Tha God broached one viral theory claiming that there would be “combat in the skies” after podcaster Joe Rogan interviewed Republican Donald Trump. “That’s when all of these SUV-sized drones, which I’ve even seen, started getting seen over Jersey,” Charlamagne told Buttigieg. Asked if this signaled “an alien invasion,” Buttigieg kept it light. “I mean no disrespect to New Jersey when I say that I think it’s very unlikely that an alien invasion would begin in New Jersey,” he replied, to raucous laughter. “I love New Jersey. I’m just saying I don’t think that’s the main point of entry that an [extraterrestrial would use].” He suggested that if he were an alien, he would instead “go for someplace in the Pacific where there’s no inhabited space for a couple of hundred miles, so that I could get my bearings before I go anywhere anyone’s going to see me.” The sightings have certainly spawned confusion, with Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) claiming that they are drones from an Iranian “mother ship” off the U.S. coast, which the Pentagon denied, and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) asking President Joe Biden to provide more resources for investigation. The White House has said many of the sightings are the result of manned aircraft being flown legally, and a national security spokesperson said there’s no evidence that they pose a “public safety threat.” Sightings have also been reported recently in states like Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Ohio and New York, whose governor urged Congress to give state and local law enforcement more power to address “unmanned aircraft systems.” On Sunday’s broadcast of ABC’s “This Week,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas similarly said: “We need from Congress additional authorities to address the drone situation. Our authorities currently are limited and they are set to expire. We need them extended and expanded.” Buttigieg said on “The Breakfast Club” that “our job is to make sure that any restricted airspace, nothing comes in there that shouldn’t be there. That includes airspace over an airport. Sometimes another area could be restricted because it’s sensitive.” He cited a Trump golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, as one location “with temporary flight restrictions.” He added: “Bigger picture is, we’re going to have more and more drones. Obviously, if it’s manned, that’s different. But we’re going to have more and more things entering the airspace. We’ve got to work to make sure that’s safe.” Republican Thinks He Knows Why There Are Mysterious Drone Swarms Over New Jersey Donald Trump Calls On Feds To Either Explain The Mystery Drones Or Shoot Them Down U.S. Government Should Use Advanced Technology To Identify Mysterious Drones, Schumer Says
The Belfry cheerleading squad will be competing for another state championship next month. Coach Sherrie Hatfield Casey's Pirates secured their spot in the state meet as they claimed a runner-up finish in the Region 8 Game Day Large Championship on Saturday, Nov. 16. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Don't brine your turkey in the lake, park tells Americans
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nico Iamaleava threw for 209 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 10 Tennessee to a 56-0 victory over UTEP on Saturday. The Volunteers (9-2) overcame a sluggish start to roll up the impressive win. Both teams were scoreless in the first quarter, but Tennessee found its rhythm. Grad student receiver Bru McCoy, who hadn't caught a touchdown pass this season, had two. Peyton Lewis also ran for two scores. Tennessee's defensive line, which had no sacks in last week's loss to Georgia, had three against the Miners. UTEP (2-9) struggled with two missed field goals and three turnovers. Tennessee's offense came alive with 28 points in the second quarter. In the final four drives of the quarter, Iamaleava completed 11 of 12 passes for 146 yards and touchdowns to Squirrel White, Ethan Davis and McCoy. UTEP was the dominant team in the first quarter. Tennessee managed just 37 offensive yards and, thanks to an interception near the end zone and a missed field goal by the Miners, both teams were scoreless after 15 minutes. POLL IMPLICATIONS Tennessee’s convincing victory, coupled with losses by Mississippi and Indiana, should put the Volunteers in a good position when the next College Football Playoff poll is released. The Vols were ranked No. 11 going into this week’s games. THE TAKEAWAY UTEP: The Miners will head into a very winnable game against New Mexico State having won two of their last five games. First-year coach Scotty Walden will try to build on that success in the offseason to help enhance his roster. Tennessee: Even a lopsided win won’t carry much weight where it means the most — in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Vols will have to rely on a convincing win against Vanderbilt next week, a team that has shown a lot of improvement this season, to help their standing for those coveted spots. UP NEXT UTEP: The Miners will finish their season at New Mexico State Saturday. Tennessee: The Vols will finish their regular season at Vanderbilt next Saturday. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballCostco Wholesale ( COST 1.05% ) stock is an investor favorite. It looks almost completely immune to market changes, moving up steadily regardless of the macro environment. It was one of the few stocks that didn't plunge in the 2020 crash, and the company reported some of its best growth ever for the first two years of the pandemic. Even though that's finished, the big-box retailer is building steadily on top of its past success, and the stock continues to beat the market. As wonderful as that is for shareholders, Costco stock is trading at its highest-ever valuation . Is Costco stock still a buy for 2025? Why everyone loves Costco Costco has a differentiated retail business that generates loyalty, volume, and profits. It's a no-brainer business and no-brainer stock to own. Unlike most of its retail peers, Costco's stores are only open to paying members. In general, paying for the privilege of shopping in a store leads to exclusivity and targets an affluent clientele. That's true for Costco to some degree -- you do have to have space to store all your purchases. But in Costco's case, the annual fee allows shoppers to benefit from Costco's rock-bottom pricing, and the savings make up for much more than the fee. That's how it develops loyalty. Shoppers want to get the most bang for their buck, and they also want to benefit from the low prices. Retention rates are outstanding, with U.S. and Canada renewal rates of 92.9% in the 2024 fiscal fourth quarter (ended Sept. 1) and 90.5% worldwide. Membership households increased 7.3% over last year to 76.2 million. Happy customers are also increasingly moving over to executive memberships. These cost twice the amount of a basic annual membership and come with two cards, as well as other perks, like some cash back. Executive members increased 9.6% over last year in Q4 to 35.4 million, accounting for 46.5% of total membership but 73.5% of sales. Costco raised the price of a basic membership from $60 to $65 and an executive membership from $120 to $130 in September. It will release its next quarterly report, the first to include the membership fee hike, in a few weeks. The stock also pays a dividend although the regular dividend yields a mediocre 0.46% at the current price because the stock price has soared recently. The retailer has also issued a special dividend five times, which adds quite a lot. The latest one was last year for $15, and it has paid one about every 2.5 years on average in recent years. Looking out into the future Costco is the third-largest retailer in the U.S. behind Walmart and Amazon , but it only has 615 U.S. stores, and it's not even in every state. Management still sees "significant runway" in opening new stores domestically, but it has even greater opportunities internationally, where it has 277 stores. It only recently entered China, where it already has seven stores, and it sees this as just the beginning in that region. It opened 30 stores in 2024 and expects to open 29 more in 2025, so there's no shortage of growth opportunities for Costco, in addition to its reliable growth in same-store sales. The more pressing concern for investors is valuation. Costco stock trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 59, its highest ever, and other valuation metrics like price-to-sales and price-to-cash flow are also elevated. There's every reason to believe that Costco can keep up its phenomenal performance in 2025. The question is whether or not there's any upside for its stock at the current price. The average Wall Street analyst consensus price is about 3% lower than today's price. What should investors do? If you have a long time horizon, you can buy Costco stock today and just hold through the ups and downs. But you might want to take a dollar-cost averaging strategy, or wait for a better entry point.
, /PRNewswire/ -- LG Electronics will record the finale of the third season of its "Transparent Conversations" podcast this week in as the NCAA crowns this year's women's volleyball champion. "Transparent Conversations" is aimed at sharing powerful conversations about the unique mental health issues facing today's student-athletes. The season finale, which is set to tape during the NCAA women's volleyball championship this week in , will focus on building stronger support for student-athletes' mental health. In this episode, LG takes a closer look at how we can better support the mental health of student-athletes. From schools to home to online and everywhere in between, we'll explore practical ways to create a caring, connected community that helps them thrive. Social media has played a significant role in amplifying the visibility of women's sports, allowing athletes and teams to build personal brands, reach larger audiences and inspire new generations of fans. However, navigating social media is often challenging for athletes due to the pressure to maintain a positive image, increased scrutiny and frequent exposure to criticism and harassment. This constant connectivity and potential for negative feedback have been linked to heightened mental health struggles, making it a double-edged sword for many athletes – especially in the new world of name, image and likeness (NIL). That's why, says podcast host , it's important we create safe spaces where athletes feel comfortable talking about their challenges. "Open and honest communication is the key," she said. "Being able to discuss the issues that weigh heavily on your mind is crucial, especially for these athletes who are juggling the pressures of sports, academics, family relationships and friendships. The addition of NIL is yet another layer." Rooks will welcome , a alum and volleyball player who's gone on to play semi-pro volleyball and has become an advocate for mental health and positive body image. She shares her insights and stories via her podcast "The Hidden Opponent" and on stage at TED Talks. Joining her will be , a mental health therapist at the , who provides therapy, group and team meetings, as well as education to the coaches and staff. The final episode of "Transparent Conversations" will tape from the floor of this year's NCAA Women's Volleyball finals on and will be available in mid-January wherever you get your podcasts. The most recent episodes have tackled topics such as the importance of resilience, overcoming setbacks and balancing the entrepreneurial nature of NIL contracts and have been recorded at , The and the . These episodes and others are live on and To learn more about LG's partnership with the NCAA or listen to the "Transparent Conversations" podcast, visit and LG Electronics , Inc., based in , is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a -plus global innovator in technology and manufacturing. In , LG sells a wide range of innovative home appliances, home entertainment products, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and vehicle components. LG is an 11-time ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year. . LG Electronics 908-548-4515 630-995-5444 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE LG Electronics