2024 year-ender: Ever wondered what is the economic cost of extreme weather events? Well, the ten worst climate disasters resulted in an estimated damage of over $228 billion worldwide in 2024, a new report revealed. These disasters left over 2,000 people dead worldwide, as per the report said. Most of these estimates are based only on insured losses , which means the actual costs incurred due to these calamities are likely to be even higher, while the human costs are often uncounted. The report titled ‘ Counting the Cost 2024 : A Year of Climate Breakdown’ by Christian Aid also highlights ten extreme weather events that didn’t rack up big enough insured losses to make the top ten but were just as devastating and often affected millions. These included several events in poorer countries, where many people don’t have insurance and data availability is poor. US bore the brunt Among the biggest financial losses in 2024, the US bore half of the damage, with October’s Hurricane Milton topping the list as the single biggest one-off event at $60 billion in damage and killing 25 people. Hurricane Helene , which struck the US, Cuba and Mexico in September, caused damages amounting to $55 billion and left 232 people dead. In fact, the US was hit by so many costly storms throughout the year that even when hurricanes were removed, the other convective storms cost more than $60 billion in damage and killed 88 people. No part of the world was spared from crippling climate disasters in 2024, with floods in China costing $15.6 billion and killing 315 people, and Typhoon Yagi which battered southwest Asia, killing more than 800 people. Yagi made landfall on September 2 in the Philippines, before moving on to Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand, where it triggered landslides , flash flooding and damaged hundreds of thousands of homes and agricultural land. Europe accounted for 3 costliest disasters Europe accounted for three of the top 10 costliest disasters with Storm Boris in central Europe and floods in Spain and Germany costing a combined $13.87 billion and killing 258 people, 226 of which were in Valencia’s floods in October. In Brazil, host of the COP-30 climate summit in 2025, floods in the state of Rio Grande do Sul killed 183 people and caused $5 billion in damage. The UK didn’t make the list this year but in December the Environment Agency warned that a quarter of properties in England, eight million, could be at risk of flooding by 2050 due to climate change While the top ten focuses on financial costs, which are usually higher in richer countries because they have higher property values and can afford insurance, some of the most devastating extreme weather events in 2024 hit poorer nations, which have contributed little to causing the climate crisis and have the least resources to respond. These included Cyclone Chido which devastated the islands of Mayotte in December and may have killed more than a thousand people. A terrible drought in Colombia saw the Amazon River there drop by 90 per cent, threatening the livelihoods of Indigenous people who rely on it for food and transport. Heatwaves affected 33 million people in Bangladesh whilst also worsening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza . West Africa was hit with terrible floods, which affected more than 6.6 million people in Nigeria, Chad and Niger. In Southern Africa, the worst drought in living memory affected more than 14 million people in Zambia, Malawi, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Christian Aid says these extreme events highlight the need for more urgent action to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate the transition to renewable energy and underlines the importance of providing funding for vulnerable people. “The human suffering caused by the climate crisis reflects political choices. There is nothing natural about the growing severity and frequency of droughts, floods and storms. Disasters are being supercharged by decisions to keep burning fossil fuels, and to allow emissions to rise. And they’re being made worse by the consistent failure to deliver on financial commitments to the poorest and most climate-vulnerable countries ," Patrick Watt, CEO, Christian Aid said in the report. "In 2025 we need to see governments leading, and taking action to accelerate the green transition, reduce emissions, and fund their promises, he said. The Wayanad disaster in India, one among many in 2024, is not, however, among the worst calamities of 2024. Incessant monsoon rainfall on July 30 this year in Wayanad, in Kerala, led to deadly landslides that killed hundreds of people and caused damage to property valued at over $140 million, according to reports. Climate change affects the world in different ways, with many of the most harmful impacts not registering on the top 10 list for economic damage, the report said, listing 10 other notable disasters that may not have received the same headlines but are devasting lives around the world. These include: Christian Aid is a relief and development charity of 41 Christian churches in Great Britain and Ireland, and works to support sustainable development, eradicate poverty, support civil society and provide disaster relief in South America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. "As countries submit their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2025, we need to see far more rapid carbon emissions cuts from rich, polluting nations, the report recommends. “These developed countries need to heed the warning from the International Energy Agency, and the COP28 agreement in Dubai , and stop developing all new fossil fuel projects and divert the trillions of dollars of subsidies to supporting an energy transition and to climate adaptation both domestically and internationally,” it reads. Climate change has become a growing threat In a new report presented at COP29 in November this year, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said climate change has become a growing threat to people already fleeing war, violence and persecution.RAY MASSEY: It's time to consult my trusty crystal ball for 2025's motoring predictions By RAY MASSEY Updated: 18:27, 29 December 2024 e-mail View comments Each New Year brings with it the chance to take stock of the past 12 months and look forward to the many opportunities ahead. So here are my predictions... 1) Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will water down elements of the controversial ZEV Mandate, which insists 28 per cent of cars sold next year must be fully electric (up from 22 per cent this year) – rising to 100 per cent by 2035. Failure to hit those targets means manufacturers are fined £15,000 per car sold in breach of the limit. That suggests many EVs are being sold at a loss. The minister announced a 'fast-track' review of the controversial targets at November's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' annual dinner – where, hours earlier, Vauxhall announced it was shutting its Luton electric van plant, with more than 1,100 jobs at risk. Nissan's plant in Sunderland is also looking shaky. Humiliated by the sudden news, Reynolds admitted he was 'profoundly concerned' by how the mandate was working, telling 1,000 guests he had heard them 'loud and clear'. On Christmas Eve, the Government sneaked out a formal consultation (open until February 18) on the ZEV mandate to examine 'current arrangements and flexibilities'. So expect wiggle room for car firms to potentially be allowed to count EVs that they export, not just those sold here. Looking ahead: The BYD Sealion 7 crossover launches next year The consultation also seeks views on restoring the 2030 deadline to stop new petrol and diesel car sales. But expect plug-in hybrid cars (and maybe some hybrids) to be exempt until 2035. However, don't anticipate consumer discounts for EVs. SMMT chief Mike Hawes warned that 'such incentives are unsustainable – industry cannot deliver the UK's world-leading ambitions alone'. 2) Keep your eye on China as it exploits such weaknesses to export huge numbers of more affordable electric cars to the UK. Chinese giant BYD has a range of electrified cars such as the Dolphin hatchback (from around £26,000), Seal SUV (£46,000) and Sealion 7 crossover landing next year from £44,990. ‹ Slide me › And from February, brace yourself for the GWM Haval Jolion Pro Hybrid – priced between £23,995 and £29,995. Tariffs, as already imposed by the US and EU, have so far been dismissed in the UK as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer cosies up to the Chinese leadership. 3) Then there's Jaguar. Or should that be 'jaGuar' after its rebranding caused a global meltdown? Nevertheless, I wish the firm well. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next RAY MASSEY: Polestar 4 is a rear-view revolution with no... Nine well-known cars killed off in 2024 from the Ford Focus... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to save money on car insurance: Ten top tips to cut the cost in just a few minutes The electric 'jaGuar' GT concept car looks bold and exciting and, despite the 'woke' marketing debacle, has grown on me – though the 'copy of nothing' claim is a stretch. But we'll have to wait until later next year to see production models, and until 2026 to see them on sale. 4) I also predict the war on the nation's hard-pressed motorists will continue unabated – with more cash-raising cameras to enforce 20mph zones and other speed limits, parking zones and bus lanes. Whatever the future may bring, a Happy New Year to all. CARS & MOTORING: ON TEST Last petrol Jag: F-Type review ahead of Jaguar's big electric move Hyundai Inster review: Is it the affordable EV we've been waiting for? 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VW's electric MPV still feels like a hippy campervan Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Next Share or comment on this article: RAY MASSEY: It's time to consult my trusty crystal ball for 2025's motoring predictions e-mail Add comment Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.
First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. ( NASDAQ:FIBK – Get Free Report ) shares hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $34.56 and last traded at $34.36, with a volume of 71552 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $33.83. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have recently commented on FIBK shares. Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of First Interstate BancSystem from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $30.00 to $28.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. Barclays downgraded shares of First Interstate BancSystem from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $32.00 to $30.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on First Interstate BancSystem from $38.00 to $36.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 28th. StockNews.com cut First Interstate BancSystem from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $36.00 price target on shares of First Interstate BancSystem in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $32.50. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on First Interstate BancSystem First Interstate BancSystem Stock Up 1.7 % First Interstate BancSystem ( NASDAQ:FIBK – Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The financial services provider reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.58 by ($0.04). First Interstate BancSystem had a net margin of 15.94% and a return on equity of 7.48%. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.70 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. will post 2.28 EPS for the current fiscal year. First Interstate BancSystem Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 4th were paid a $0.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 4th. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.47%. First Interstate BancSystem’s dividend payout ratio is currently 82.46%. Insider Transactions at First Interstate BancSystem In other news, Director Jonathan R. Scott sold 6,500 shares of First Interstate BancSystem stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.18, for a total transaction of $222,170.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 958,710 shares in the company, valued at approximately $32,768,707.80. The trade was a 0.67 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . Also, major shareholder Julie A. Scott sold 20,220 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.78, for a total value of $662,811.60. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 635,069 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $20,817,561.82. This trade represents a 3.09 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last quarter, insiders sold 48,770 shares of company stock worth $1,630,272. 6.90% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Interstate BancSystem A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of FIBK. Point72 DIFC Ltd acquired a new stake in First Interstate BancSystem during the 3rd quarter worth $34,000. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of First Interstate BancSystem during the third quarter worth about $69,000. CWM LLC grew its holdings in shares of First Interstate BancSystem by 16.0% during the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 3,123 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $87,000 after buying an additional 430 shares during the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new position in First Interstate BancSystem in the 2nd quarter valued at about $106,000. Finally, nVerses Capital LLC raised its stake in First Interstate BancSystem by 412.5% during the 2nd quarter. nVerses Capital LLC now owns 4,100 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $114,000 after acquiring an additional 3,300 shares during the last quarter. 88.71% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About First Interstate BancSystem ( Get Free Report ) First Interstate BancSystem, Inc operates as the bank holding company for First Interstate Bank that provides range of banking products and services in the United States. It offers various traditional depository products, including checking, savings, and time deposits; and repurchase agreements primarily for commercial and municipal depositors. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for First Interstate BancSystem Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Interstate BancSystem and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Rucker’s 27 lead Army past UTSA 78-75
For Lincoln mother Sierra Shouse, there was no other option but to send her oldest son Sammy to Christ Lincoln Schools for kindergarten, even if it was a financial burden. Shouse went to school there herself, and Sammy was enrolled in the school's day care program at age 4, helping him build friendships and familiarity with the school staff. "It's the only school he's ever known," Shouse said. Shouse was aided in paying for the private school through an opportunity scholarship provided by LB1402, which passed the Legislature earlier this year, appropriating $10 million per year for scholarships to private schools. Shouse said she intends to keep Sammy enrolled at Christ Lincoln no matter what, but after LB1402's program was repealed through a voter referendum, the future of her two younger children is still up in the air. People are also reading... Rest assured, Nebraska volleyball fans: The missing fan behind the servers will be back Saturday Matt Rhule reacts to no-call at end of Nebraska-USC game: "I don’t know what else to say" Arrest made in 55-year-old cold case of Nebraska teen stabbed to death 'Bocephus' is back: Hank Williams Jr. to play Lincoln arena Friday Nebraska's home game against Wisconsin gets time, TV designation Kidnapping in Nebraska prompted police chase that ended with 3 dead in Missouri Signing Day: Meet Nebraska volleyball's five-player 2025 class Wind-aided fire destroys vacant Village Inn in Lincoln As Nebraska's Democratic Party shrinks, some former party officials call for change Mountain lion spotted on trail camera east of Bennet, Sheriff's Office says Amie Just: Ahead of milestone birthday, local sports figures give advice on turning 30 UNO freezes funds for LGBTQ+, multicultural, other student groups after audit Sound waves: What others are saying about Nebraska's win against Wisconsin Amie Just: Bring out the tissues — and the brooms — for Nebraska volleyball's emotional win Blunt as ever, Dana Holgorsen unpacks Nebraska role, struggling run game There are plenty of unanswered questions left in the wake of the referendum's success, which passed comfortably in Nebraska's general election by just more than 14 percentage points. Supporters of LB1402 in the Nebraska Legislature are working out the best way to approach "school choice" policies, while families who benefited from the scholarships are left in a state of limbo, unsure if they will continue seeing the same support. Meanwhile, a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling from September could affect future moves to provide public money for private school students. How did Nebraska get here? For the past eight years, state Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area has championed "school choice" legislation. Most of her proposals came up short, until LB753 passed in 2023, allocating $25 million annually in tax credits for private donations to the private school scholarship funds. That bill also faced a repeal through a voter referendum, led by Support Our Schools Nebraska. Opponents to LB753 and LB1402 argued the bills would deplete state funding available for public schools, which could lead to budget cuts and property tax increases. The first Support Our Schools referendum qualified for the ballot, but to get around the referendum, Linehan introduced LB1402 in 2024, which repealed LB753 upon its passage. Linehan acknowledged LB1402 was an " end run " bill intended to circumvent the referendum. In response, Support Our Schools launched a new ballot initiative campaign to partially repeal LB1402, getting rid of the underlying program, but retaining the LB753 repeal. Once again, supporters gathered enough signatures in their petition drive to qualify for the ballot. The second referendum faced attempts to remove it from the ballot, several of which came directly from Linehan. It also survived a challenge in the Nebraska Supreme Court in September, and Support Our Schools leader Tim Royers said he expected more opposition in the months leading up to November. Linehan, who did host one news conference days before the election to combat a Support Our Schools ad, said the reason she didn't try harder to oppose the referendum was simply because she felt it didn't make sense to sink a ton of funds to protect a program that only appropriated $10 million each year. "We're not going to spend $10 million to save $10 million," Linehan said. Royers noted, however, that in 2023, Keep Kids First, a group with which Linehan was affiliated, raised more than $1.4 million to oppose the first Support Our Schools referendum. Support Our Schools raised about $1.7 million that year, and raised an additional $4.6 million so far this year. What's next for Nebraska 'school choice'? The landscape for "school choice" policy is sure to look different in the 2025 session, if only because Linehan is term-limited and will not be returning. Royers said he can't imagine another lawmaker emerging with the same level of commitment Linehan brought. But Linehan says she's not worried. She said there's "more than a handful" of current senators willing to take up the mantle, and she was also optimistic about several incoming lawmakers who will be starting their first terms next year. She mentioned Omaha Sens. Brad Von Gillern and Christy Armendariz, both of whom told the Omaha World-Herald they were interested in school choice policy, though neither confirmed that they were planning any bills for next session. Possibly the biggest hurdle for "school choice" advocates next year comes from the Nebraska Supreme Court ruling that allowed this year's referendum to stay on the ballot. Plaintiffs argued the measure didn't qualify for the ballot because it violated a provision of the Nebraska Constitution that prohibits voter referendums from affecting direct appropriations. But the high court ruled that since the ballot initiative only sought to repeal a section of LB1402 that didn't include an appropriation, it could be subject to a referendum. The ruling noted that LB1402 had a separate appropriation bill that accompanied it. Linehan said the ruling threatened any and all legislation that came with appropriations, and it could lead to the "death of the A bill," using the legislative shorthand for an appropriations bill. Neither Von Gillern nor Armendariz gave specifics on how lawmakers could approach school choice legislation that would be shielded from a referendum in the wake of the ruling. Linehan argued that appropriation bills aren't even necessary for legislation that allocates funds, describing them as more of a "counting mechanism" than anything else. But Fiscal Analyst Scott Danigole said appropriation bills are necessary for most measures that appropriate state funds, with the only exception he could think of being a bill that shifted funding that had already been appropriated. While it is theoretically possible for lawmakers to do away with appropriation bills, it would require them to get creative, and would likely bring a lot of ripple effects. Although Royers said he would be shocked if no "school choice" policies are introduced in 2025, he believes the overall appetite to debate the issue has lessened in the aftermath of the referendum. Like Linehan, Royers also found encouragement in the the outcome of several legislative races. He said the Legislature will become more "public school friendly" than it was in 2024. "I think everybody is trying to take a break from the 'school choice' fight," he said. Royers said the primary concern for lawmakers should be addressing the educator shortage in Nebraska, which leads to issues like larger class sizes that can affect academic performance. Royers said special education teacher vacancies were 10 times higher last school year than they were in 2013, citing data from the state Department of Education, and Nebraska's colleges aren't producing enough new teachers to fill the gap. What will happen with schools, students who benefited from the program? Meanwhile, the people directly involved in LB1402's program are also trying to figure out their next steps. Jeremy Ekeler, the executive director of Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska, said the organization is currently tying up loose ends, and trying to see if it can continue on as an organization that operates based on private donations. OSN worked with Odyssey, a national technology vendor that works with five other states to implement similar programs. OSN provided Odyssey with local information, while Odyssey ran the technology that processed the applications and distributed the scholarships directly to eligible schools based on LB1402's guidelines. According to Ekeler, between LB753 and LB1402, roughly 5,500 scholarships were issued, averaging about $2,300 per student. For LB1402's program, about $9.2 million overall was distributed in scholarships. Those scholarships are still good through the end of this academic year, but they will not continue into the 2025-26 school year. That will make the budget tighter for Omaha Street School, where Principal Anthony Williams said 12 of the school's 35 students received scholarships this year through LB1402. The average cost to educate each student is roughly $23,000 per year, Williams said. All of their families use some form of financial aid, and Williams said the school tailors its tuition to the financial needs of each family, ranging from $30 to $550 per month. Without outside support, he said the school has to eat the remaining costs. "Sometimes, we got to pinch pennies," Williams said. Williams said LB1402's program expiring will not mean any of the current students will not be able to continue learning at the school. In fact, he said the school may be able to stretch the scholarship funds through the following school year. Shouse said she intends to keep Sammy enrolled at Christ Lincoln, but she is not sure about her younger two children, which she said is a "heartbreaking" dilemma. Her younger children, 3 and 1, respectively, are already enrolled in Christ Lincoln's daycare and pre-school programs. Shouse is a single mother, and provides the sole income for her family. During Sammy's first year of kindergarten, he did not have a scholarship, which Shouse said placed a heavy financial burden on her. That took the form of multiple small sacrifices, from having breakfast for dinner because it was cheaper, to telling Sammy he couldn't attend a friend's birthday party because she couldn't afford to buy a present. "There was a lot of tears," Shouse said. "There's always been a lot of tears." There are several reasons why Shouse hasn't considered public school an option for any of her children. Primarily, she said Christ Lincoln best aligns with her family values. She's also concerned that the larger class sizes would mean her children wouldn't get the individualized care they need. Two of her children, including Sammy, have IEPs. When it was first recommended to Shouse that Sammy repeat kindergarten based on his speech therapy needs and emerging academic concerns, she said she sought out summer school options for him through Lincoln Public Schools, but was denied because his needs weren't severe enough. She said LPS officials told her there was no reason to delay his advancement to first grade, which she said exemplified that they were not properly attuned to her son's needs. "It's not a school board's decision what's best for my child," Shouse said.