University of Montana club teaches students ethical hunting
International students are assisting local projects following a meet and greet event in the centre of town. Forres Area Community Trust (FACT) welcomed Glasgow School of Art (GSA) students based at the School of Innovation and Technology at Altyre to Forres Town Hall to discuss how they can help while completing their courses. GSA Highlands and Islands campus students attend Altyre for a one-year Masters in Design Innovation - project work is based on collaboration and live local issues. GSA spokesperson, Simon Beeson explained: “It is often difficult in such a short time for students, especially international students, to have the opportunity to meet and work with local groups. “The invitation from FACT to attend a community marketplace was a fantastic way for local groups to introduce some of the current issues faced by the town and possible opportunities for students to volunteer or collaborate on projects with them. “The engagement allows students time to begin planning their main individual research, which will be primarily in next summer.” Mr Beeson, confirmed the community marketplace event was inspired by the work of Nishabh Polke, one of last year’s students - who noted that Forres had a “vibrant network of volunteers and organisations” so proposed bringing the students and organisations together in a marketplace of ideas and opportunities. He said: “Students had the opportunity to learn, with a heightened sensitivity to their local context. Forres groups benefitted from innovative ideas proposed by the students. “The goal was to initiate conversations that dissolve the ‘them and us’ divide, fostering a sense of belonging and promoting social cohesion.” More than 60 students and staff from the Highlands and Islands campus met 20 local community groups including Film Forres, Forres Friends of Woods and Fields, Friends of the Falconer Museum, Forres Area Business Association, Rotary Club of Forres, the Dava Way Association, Trees for Life and House of Automata. The afternoon provided opportunities for the students to learn more about the area and the wide range of projects here. The campus at Altyre estate is a base for research and teaching led by design innovation thinking. The students study for one year on a Master of Design in Design Innovation in one of four specialisms: Interaction Design; Environmental Design; Circular Economy; and Future Heritage. Mr Beeson added: “The event grew from a project last year between a student a FACT. Hopefully in a year’s time we shall be able to see a positive result from the projects students choose to pursue and the impact their contribution can have locally. “Inherently optimistic, design innovation aims to address real world situations with possible new directions.” Film Forres administrator, Ruth Whitfield, helped to organise the event. She said: “It was gratifying to see the students so that we all had the opportunity to meet one another. It gave them a sense of connection and ownership, and the opportunity to meet local groups to collaborate. “They will be completed by July 2025 at the end of their summer term.” Film Forres chairman, Robert Kenny, added: “We showed the film ‘Local Hero’ to the student and staff at the end of the day. The content and storyline were were especially relevant, covering issues such as community, heritage, tradition, the environment, corporate power and responsibility. It also offered a glimpse of Scotland's natural beauty and traditions. “All of which are key components of the courses offered to the students at GSA Altyre!”
Arteta wanted his team to prove their European credentials following some underwhelming displays away from home, and the Gunners manager got exactly what he asked for. Goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard got their continental campaign back on track in style following the 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan last time out. A memorable victory also ended Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season, a streak of 17 wins and one draw, the vast majority of which prompted Manchester United to prise away head coach Ruben Amorim. The Gunners had failed to win or score in their two away games in the competition so far this season, but they made a blistering start in the Portuguese capital and took the lead after only seven minutes. Declan Rice fed overlapping full-back Jurrien Timber, who curled a low cross in behind the home defence for Martinelli to finish at the far post. Arsenal doubled their lead in the 20th minute thanks to a glorious ball over the top from Thomas Partey. Saka escaped the clutches of his marker Maximiliano Araujo to beat the offside trap and poke the ball past advancing goalkeeper Franco Israel for Havertz to tap home. It was a scintillating first-half display which completely overshadowed the presence of Viktor Gyokeres in Sporting’s attack. The prolific Sweden striker, formerly of Coventry, has been turning the heads of Europe’s top clubs with his 24 goals in 17 games this season – including a hat-trick against Manchester City earlier this month. But the only time he got a sniff of a run at goal after an optimistic long ball, he was marshalled out of harm’s way by Gabriel. David Raya was forced into one save, tipping a fierce Geovany Quenda drive over the crossbar. But Arsenal added a third on the stroke of half-time, Gabriel charging in to head Rice’s corner into the back of the net. To rub salt in the wound, the Brazilian defender mimicked Gyokeres’ hands-over-his-face goal celebration. That may have wound Sporting up as they came out after the interval meaning business, and they pulled one back after Raya tipped Hidemasa Morita’s shot behind, with Goncalo Inacio netting at the near post from the corner. Former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards fired over, as did Gyokeres, with Arsenal temporarily on the back foot. But when Martin Odegaard’s darting run into the area was halted by Ousmane Diomande’s foul, Saka tucked away the penalty. Substitute Trossard added the fifth with eight minutes remaining, heading in the rebound after Mikel Merino’s shot was saved, and Gyokeres’ miserable night was summed up when his late shot crashed back off the post.German American Bancorp, Inc. ( NASDAQ:GABC – Get Free Report ) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the five research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $45.40. GABC has been the topic of several research reports. Stephens assumed coverage on shares of German American Bancorp in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $45.00 price target on the stock. Hovde Group upgraded shares of German American Bancorp from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their target price for the stock from $41.00 to $48.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on shares of German American Bancorp from $43.00 to $46.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on German American Bancorp German American Bancorp Stock Down 1.3 % German American Bancorp ( NASDAQ:GABC – Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, October 28th. The bank reported $0.71 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.70 by $0.01. German American Bancorp had a return on equity of 11.94% and a net margin of 23.75%. The business had revenue of $62.40 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $62.80 million. As a group, analysts expect that German American Bancorp will post 2.76 EPS for the current year. German American Bancorp Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 20th. Stockholders of record on Sunday, November 10th were issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.66%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. German American Bancorp’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 38.99%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. German American Bancorp Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of German American Bancorp by 160.1% in the 3rd quarter. German American Bancorp Inc. now owns 514,018 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $19,918,000 after purchasing an additional 316,400 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in German American Bancorp by 13.0% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 1,708,130 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $67,557,000 after buying an additional 196,003 shares in the last quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC bought a new position in German American Bancorp in the second quarter valued at about $5,887,000. Barclays PLC raised its stake in German American Bancorp by 577.6% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 69,271 shares of the bank’s stock worth $2,684,000 after acquiring an additional 59,048 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of German American Bancorp by 6.9% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 772,675 shares of the bank’s stock worth $29,941,000 after acquiring an additional 50,206 shares during the last quarter. 46.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About German American Bancorp ( Get Free Report German American Bancorp, Inc operates as a financial holding company for German American Bank that provides retail and commercial banking services. The company operates through three segments: Core Banking, Wealth Management Services, and Insurance Operations. The Core Banking segment accepts deposits from the general public; and originates consumer, commercial and agricultural, commercial and agricultural real estate, and residential mortgage loans, as well as sells residential mortgage loans in the secondary market. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for German American Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for German American Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .PRINCESS ANNE, Md. (AP) — Ketron Shaw scored 30 points to lead Maryland Eastern Shore past Bryn Athyn 91-65 on Saturday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * PRINCESS ANNE, Md. (AP) — Ketron Shaw scored 30 points to lead Maryland Eastern Shore past Bryn Athyn 91-65 on Saturday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? PRINCESS ANNE, Md. (AP) — Ketron Shaw scored 30 points to lead Maryland Eastern Shore past Bryn Athyn 91-65 on Saturday. Shaw also contributed seven rebounds and six assists for the Hawks (2-11), who ended a seven-game slide with the win. Chris Flippin added 22 points and five rebounds. Evan Johnson had 14 points. Isaac Marshall and Jalen Cary both scored 15 to lead the Lions. Jalen Parker had 14 points, two steals and two blocks. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. Advertisement
In a significant move towards female empowerment, Rajasthan's Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, during a state-level women's conference in Udaipur, spoke about the importance of elevating the status of women. He emphasized the critical role women play in creating an advanced society. The state's achievements over the past year include the formation of Kalika Patrolling Units to ensure women's safety, launching an app for emergency police assistance, and financial initiatives like the Laado Protsahan Yojana. The government has also increased subsidies for LPG and raised the monthly honorariums for Anganwadi workers. Additionally, investments in technology and economic self-reliance were highlighted, as seen in the distribution of electric cooking systems and loans to self-help groups. Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari pointed out that both the central and state governments are committed to public welfare schemes for women. (With inputs from agencies.)
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Thousands of elderly drivers have been caught breaking a crucial Highway Code rule. One motorist - aged 98 - was among three drivers in their 90s who received licence endorsements for phone-related offences, according to data obtained from the DVLA. An FOI (Freedom of Information Act) request has laid the number of drivers, motorists and road users in the UK who have been rumbled using a mobile phone while driving. If caught, drivers face a minimum £200 fine and six penalty points on their licence. Mark Tongue, Joint CEO and Co-Founder of Select Car Leasing, said: "Age is no barrier to being hit with a fine and points on your licence for being distracted by a mobile phone and all motorists, no matter how experienced they are, need to be aware of the dangers. READ MORE HMRC handing parents who earn under £100,000 free £3,600 in 'five minutes' "It's eye-opening to see such an elderly driver being collared by police after reaching for their phone, but perhaps not surprising given how technology has creeped into all aspects of our lives, no matter how old we might be. After all, age doesn't always equate to wisdom!” Mr Tongue added: "It's encouraging to see a projected dip in mobile phone-related driver prosecutions this year, but it's clear the message still needs ramming home about just how dangerous reaching for your device can be." Drivers in their 70s received 875 endorsements, while those in their 80s accounted for 84 cases but 4,475 endorsements were given to drivers aged 61-70, so born before 1963. Anyone caught using their handheld device while driving could face a fine of up to £1,000 as well as 6 points on their licence or a full driving ban. Edmund King AA president said: "The AA has long campaigned to make handheld mobile phone use while driving as socially unacceptable as drink driving and we warmly welcome the new law. This is a much-needed toughening of the rules to help make our roads safer. "Those who believe they can still play with their phone because it’s in a cradle must think again – they leave themselves open to prosecution for either careless or dangerous driving. The best thing to do is to convert your glovebox into a phone box. We all need to keep our hands on the wheel and our eyes on the road."
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It's been about 59 years since Warren Buffett took the helm at Berkshire Hathaway . He paid roughly $14.86 per share in 1965 to take control of the holding company. These days, the A-class shares, which have never split, trade for more than $700,000, making Buffett arguably the best stock picker of the past six decades. Buffett has done a lot more selling than buying lately, but one stock he's enthusiastically accumulated over the past year belongs to America's only satellite radio provider, Sirius XM Holdings ( SIRI 1.75% ) . At the end of September, Buffett held over 105 million shares worth about $2.5 billion. Unfortunately for Buffett and the rest of Berkshire Hathaway's shareholders, Sirius XM stock has been a disaster lately. It's fallen 54% from the end of 2023 through Nov. 19, 2024. Buying quality stocks when they're underappreciated is a big part of Buffett's successful investing strategy. Here's a look at why the stock has been beaten down, to see if it could be a smart buy at recent prices. Why Sirius XM stock is way down in 2024 It doesn't take a degree in economics to see that there's a problem over at Sirius XM. Quarterly revenue rose sharply for several years before the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, sales peaked in late 2021 and have been stagnant or declining since. The company acquired Pandora in 2019, but it still relies on Sirius XM subscribers for 70% of total revenue. The stock is way down this year because subscription revenue hasn't been so reliable. In the third quarter, subscriber revenue from the Sirius XM segment fell 5% year over year to $1.5 billion. At the end of September, Sirius XM had 33.2 million subscribers. That's about 800,000 fewer subscribers than it reported at the end of 2021. Mobile internet infrastructure throughout North America is more robust than it was just a few years ago. The number of folks who can open the Spotify ( SPOT 0.92% ) application on their new car's touchscreen is also much higher. This could explain why it looks like the audio streaming leader is eating Sirius XM's lunch. While Sirius XM was losing users, Spotify was gaining them hand over fist. The audio streamer reported third-quarter U.S. revenue that rose 18.6% year over year to $1.6 billion, which is now more than the Sirius XM segment receives from all its subscribers. Why Buffett loves Sirius XM stock If you want to use the satellite radio feature that came with your vehicle, Sirius XM is your only option. The company earns some money from advertising, but relatively reliable subscriptions to Pandora and Sirius XM are responsible for more than three-quarters of total revenue. In addition to an advantage as the only satellite radio provider, Sirius XM has another feature Buffett appreciates: Healthy profit margins. SIRI Revenue (Quarterly) data by YCharts. Quarterly revenue may be down, but so are the number of customer service representatives necessary to support a stagnant user base. The well-run company's operating margin over the trailing 12-month period rose to 23.8%. Berkshire Hathaway doesn't pay a dividend, but Buffett appreciates businesses that do. Sirius XM has raised its payout by 22.9% since the middle of 2022. The stock offers a 4.3% yield at recent prices. A bargain now? On the surface, Sirius XM stock looks like a terrific bargain at the low price of 7.95 times trailing 12-month earnings. At such a low multiple, investors could come out miles ahead if profits hold steady over the long run. Unfortunately, profits available to distribute to investors have been in steep decline. Management expects free cash flow to decline from $1.2 billion in 2023 to approximately $1 billion this year. Free cash flow is currently sufficient to support the company's dividend, but it's been declining since early 2022. I hate arguing with Buffett, but I'm not sure buying Sirius XM stock is a great idea right now.
AP Top 25: Alabama, Mississippi out of top 10 and Miami, SMU are in; Oregon remains unanimous No. 1It won’t be impossible to buy a house in 2025 — just be prepared to play on hard mode. According to a November 2024 report from ICE Mortgage Technology, the monthly principal and interest payment on an average-priced home is $2,385. While that’s not the highest it’s ever been, it’s still a sharp increase — nearly 80% — from just three years ago. In November 2021, when mortgage rates averaged 3%, the monthly principal and interest on an average-priced home was $1,327 per month. So here’s the key to buying in 2025: Look ahead, not back. Regret won’t help you budget for today’s new normal. And with this year’s election also in the rearview mirror, so is some uncertainty among buyers and sellers that historically slows the market during every presidential election cycle. “People have just been kind of sitting, waiting to see what’s going to happen,” says Courtney Johnson Rose, president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, an industry group for Black real estate agents. “I’m hopeful that the new year will bring more attention to real estate, more excitement to real estate, and more opportunities for first-time home owners to get in the game.” Check the forecast Preparing to buy a house is a lot like dressing for the weather. It’s easier when the outlook is sunny — but with some planning, you can gear up to face any condition. Here’s what housing market experts are forecasting for the upcoming year. First, home prices: We’ll likely see more modest growth in 2025, a change from skyrocketing prices in recent years. After 16 consecutive months of year-over-year price increases, the median existing-home sales price hit $407,200 in October, according to the National Association of Realtors. In 2025, with more supply trickling in to temper price increases, NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun forecasts a median existing-home sales price of $410,700, up just 2% over this year. Next, housing inventory: Demand still outpaces supply. While we don’t expect a return to a buyer’s market, competition should be less cutthroat. Realtor.com forecasts a balanced market in 2025 with an average 4.1-month supply of homes for sale, up from an average 3.7-month supply so far in 2024. That would make 2025 the friendliest market for buyers since 2016, which had an average 4.4-month supply. Finally, mortgage rates: After topping 8% in October 2023, the 30-year mortgage rate has slowly eased into the 6.5%-7% range this year. Rate cuts from the Federal Reserve have helped nudge that downward. Despite earlier optimism, forecasters’ latest consensus is for rates to effectively plateau above 6% throughout 2025. That said, every year has its wild cards. In 2025, it’s still uncertain how President-elect Donald Trump and a Republican-led Congress might shake up regulations and tax policies that affect the U.S. housing market. Set a budget National forecasts don’t analyze what matters most: Your personal cash flow. To get ready to buy, first meet with a financial advisor or use an online calculator to determine how much house you can afford . You can also get free or low-cost advice from a housing counselor sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Next, look into down payment and closing cost assistance from state housing finance agencies, local governments, nonprofits and mortgage lenders. Your employer or labor union might offer assistance, too. First-time buyers with income below their area median have the most options, but repeat or higher-income borrowers can qualify for some programs as well. “I think that there’s a lot of free money being left out there,” Rose says. Find a buyer’s agent Your not-so-secret weapon for buying in 2025 just might be an experienced buyer’s agent. “Anybody can write a contract,” says Sharon Parker, associate broker with Tate & Foss Sotheby’s International Realty in Rye, New Hampshire. “But you need somebody who’s seen the market, the ups and downs, who knows how to get creative because every transaction is different.” Following a settlement with the NAR , buyers can now negotiate their agent’s compensation up front. (Previously, home sellers took on that task.) While new norms are still shaking out, Rose says she hasn’t seen too much drama since the change took effect in August. “So as long as buyers remember that we have to talk about this in the beginning of our relationship, everything typically works out fine,” she says. Shop and negotiate Finally, it’s time to shop for a mortgage. To get the best interest rate, get a quote with at least three different lenders. You could also delegate the shopping to a mortgage broker, who can compare quotes and even negotiate a lower rate on your behalf. Though brokers charge a fee, their access to more mortgage options and lower rates can often mean net savings overall. With a mortgage preapproval in hand, it’s go time. And you don’t have to wait until spring: If you’re ready to buy now, buyers have less competition and more negotiating power from December through February, so you could snag a deal. “The people who are selling and the people who are buying in the off season are very serious,” Parker says. “They’re not just lookie-loos.” However, lower inventory means fewer choices for buyers. So start your search prepared to compromise — a “good enough” house will still help you build equity. Should you buy a house in 2025? If a down payment or monthly mortgage payment is financially out of reach, there’s no shame in postponing your search to pad your savings. And owning a home isn’t the right lifestyle choice for everyone, with the ongoing commitment of money and time. But once you’re ready to buy — whether for the first time, or to upgrade or downsize — avoid the trap of waiting for a dip in mortgage rates. “Nobody can predict what the market, or the world, is going to do,” Parker says. “There is no better time than right now.” Mortgage rates will always fluctuate, and if they drop significantly, you can refinance. For first-time buyers, homeownership is a major financial glow-up — and the sooner you jump in, the longer you’ll have to build home equity. “Time value of money is really, really critical when it comes to real estate,” Rose says. “So I would always encourage somebody to buy as soon as you can and get the clock ticking.”