Latest news with #DavidGeorge
Otago Daily Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
'Awful': Reality of pokie addiction laid bare
Cromwell resident David George has seen first hand the devastating impact pokie addictions have on Central Otago families. Mr George hoped sharing his story would push the Central Otago District Council to take a tougher line on gaming machines. But he was left disappointed after councillors rejected a proposed sinking-lid policy. Mr George provided the mayor and councillors with a heartbreaking account of how "playing the pokies" had become a serious problem for several people close to him. Speaking to a full council meeting about his submission on the council's class 4 gambling and board venue policy, Mr George described one loved one as having been a "pok-aholic". He graphically detailed the impact he had seen gambling addictions have across households, telling of money lost, the struggle to put food on the table and a marriage destroyed. Mr George, an experienced community worker, said those he knew impacted by problem gambling were not "down-and-outs", but people with successful careers and family support, yet the impacts of their addictions were "awful". "People end up at the bottom of the heap, in such a bad space." However, neither Mr George's story nor the pleas from health workers and researchers for a more restrictive approach to gaming machines managed to sway the council's elected members, who overwhelmingly voted to keep the status quo. In doing so, they went against the recommendation of council staff. CODC senior strategy adviser Alix Crosbie told elected members at the meeting it had been a tough job finding "transparent" information sources to inform the council debate, but by her calculations Central Otago was the "third-lowest receiver of grants in relation to expenditure in gaming machines". She advised elected members there were two choices in front of them. "We either sit at the table [with gaming societies] and negotiate and gamble on increasing the amount of community good [by demanding more grant money in the district], or we walk away and gamble on reducing the amount of community harm". Those around the decision-making table commented the consultation had been dominated by representative bodies and national organisations — other than Mr George's presentation, elected members said they were largely in the dark as to community sentiment on the policy. But what was clear for them was how well received gambling grants were for community groups — and they were hesitant to put that at risk. Councillors were told the Alexandra Blossom Festival, Cromwell College, the Alexandra Cricket Club and Central Otago Health Services were among local recipients of pokie profits. Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Richard Kinley spoke at the meeting, saying his organisation had long been a recipient of gaming funding and it formed "a critical part" of its ability to deliver community rugby across the region. He said the union was under financial pressure and would have "no choice but to reassess" delivery of community rugby if pokie funding was cut. "We don't want costs to be a barrier for children to participate in sport." Other speakers warned councillors while the benefits of pokie machines funnelling money into community groups were easy to see, the harm caused by them often stayed behind closed doors. Michael Bouchard, of Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, pushed hard for a more restrictive gambling policy and commended council staff on their recommendation that would have moved the district in that direction. "We can't fix health problems by an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff — We can't fix gambling harm by treating individual people." Jarrod True, speaking on behalf of the Gaming Machine Association, called the council's status quo approach "perfectly reasonable" and said he saw no need to ditch it for an "overly restrictive policy" when there was "no documented need" in the district.
Otago Daily Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Dismay after sinking-lid pokie policy rejected
Cromwell resident David George has seen first hand the devastating impact pokie addictions have on Central Otago George hoped sharing his story would push the Central Otago District Council to take a tougher line on gaming machines. But he was left disappointed after councillors rejected a proposed sinking-lid policy. Mr George provided the mayor and councillors with a heartbreaking account of how "playing the pokies" had become a serious problem for several people close to him. Speaking to a full council meeting about his submission on the council's class 4 gambling and board venue policy, Mr George described one loved one as having been a "pok-aholic". He graphically detailed the impact he had seen gambling addictions have across households, telling of money lost, the struggle to put food on the table and a marriage destroyed. Mr George, an experienced community worker, said those he knew impacted by problem gambling were not "down-and-outs", but people with successful careers and family support, yet the impacts of their addictions were "awful". "People end up at the bottom of the heap, in such a bad space." However, neither Mr George's story nor the pleas from health workers and researchers for a more restrictive approach to gaming machines managed to sway the council's elected members, who overwhelmingly voted to keep the status quo. In doing so, they went against the recommendation of council staff. CODC senior strategy adviser Alix Crosbie told elected members at the meeting it had been a tough job finding "transparent" information sources to inform the council debate, but by her calculations Central Otago was the "third-lowest receiver of grants in relation to expenditure in gaming machines". She advised elected members there were two choices in front of them. "We either sit at the table [with gaming societies] and negotiate and gamble on increasing the amount of community good [by demanding more grant money in the district], or we walk away and gamble on reducing the amount of community harm". Those around the decision-making table commented the consultation had been dominated by representative bodies and national organisations — other than Mr George's presentation, elected members said they were largely in the dark as to community sentiment on the policy. But what was clear for them was how well received gambling grants were for community groups — and they were hesitant to put that at risk. Councillors were told the Alexandra Blossom Festival, Cromwell College, the Alexandra Cricket Club and Central Otago Health Services were among local recipients of pokie profits. Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Richard Kinley spoke at the meeting, saying his organisation had long been a recipient of gaming funding and it formed "a critical part" of its ability to deliver community rugby across the region. He said the union was under financial pressure and would have "no choice but to reassess" delivery of community rugby if pokie funding was cut. "We don't want costs to be a barrier for children to participate in sport." Other speakers warned councillors while the benefits of pokie machines funnelling money into community groups were easy to see, the harm caused by them often stayed behind closed doors. Michael Bouchard, of Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, pushed hard for a more restrictive gambling policy and commended council staff on their recommendation that would have moved the district in that direction. "We can't fix health problems by an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff — We can't fix gambling harm by treating individual people." Jarrod True, speaking on behalf of the Gaming Machine Association, called the council's status quo approach "perfectly reasonable" and said he saw no need to ditch it for an "overly restrictive policy" when there was "no documented need" in the district.
Gulf News
22-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf News
Gulf News to host UAE-India Property Show in May
Gulf News is set to bring together top property developers, investors, brokers and homebuyers from both the UAE and India at the UAE-India Property Show. Organised in collaboration with Maxpo Exhibitions, the event will offer an unique opportunity to gain valuable insights into the thriving real estate markets of both regions. The event will take place on May 17-18 at the Millennium Plaza Downtown Hotel Dubai, located along Sheikh Zayed Road. With real estate continuing to be a major driver of economic growth in both the UAE and India, the event will highlight key investment opportunities in cities such as Dubai, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. Dubai was the world's third best performing location for prime real estate in 2024 with a 16.9 per cent increase, according to the Knight Frank Cities Index. Much of this demand is driven by foreigners, and nearly half of them are Indians. India's real estate market is currently experiencing similar growth, driven by regulatory reforms such as the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), which has helped strengthen market transparency and investor confidence. Experts also point to the depreciation of the Indian rupee as a major factor making investments in India more attractive, while India's economic resilience compared to other global markets further solidifies its position as a promising destination for property investments. ' The UAE-India Property Show reflects the growing economic and real estate ties between the UAE and India,' says David George, Publisher at Gulf News, the organisers of the event. 'With both regions experiencing significant growth in their property markets, this show offers a unique platform for developers, investors, and homebuyers to exchange insights and explore new opportunities. It's a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to tap into the expanding potential of the UAE and Indian markets.' One of the most notable trends in India's real estate sector is the rapid growth of the luxury market. Driven by high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), non-resident Indian (NRI) investors, and domestic buyers, For many NRIs, investing in luxury properties in India is not only seen as a desirable asset, but also a long-term wealth preservation strategy. According to a report by GRI Club, an international real estate company, India's luxury real estate sector is outperforming expectations and is set to record its third consecutive year of unprecedented sales. The report predicts that in 2024, the total residential sales in the top seven Indian cities will exceed INR 5.1 trillion, with more than 300,000 units sold. In line with this growth, India's primary residential sales reached 88,274 units in Q1 2025, a 2 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. The performance of the market varied across key regions, with cities such as Pune and Chennai recording notable year-on-year growth, 20 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively. Mumbai, India's largest residential market, also saw its highest quarterly sales volume since Q1 2018, with 24,930 units sold in Q1 2025 — a 5% rise year-on-year. Tina Bhakta, Head of Commercial Partnerships & Events at Gulf News, emphasized the event's importance in strengthening bilateral ties, 'The UAE and India have always had strong economic relations, and real estate has been a major area of growth,' she said. This event is more than just a showcase of properties — it is a vital networking and learning opportunity. We are excited to bring together the best minds in the industry to discuss and explore the future of real estate in these two vibrant markets.' The UAE-India Property Show will feature 40 exhibitors from India, showcasing key real estate developments from cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Delhi NCR. The event promises to be a landmark gathering of property professionals, developers, and investors eager to explore the dynamic and fast-growing real estate markets of both the UAE and India. "The UAE-India Property Show is a testament to the growing synergy between two of the world's most dynamic real estate markets," says M. Inayat Sait, Chairman & Founder of Maxpo. "At Maxpo, we are proud to strategically partner with Gulf News to create a platform where developers, investors, and buyers can connect, collaborate, and capitalise on the incredible opportunities across both regions.' The event will include several high-impact seminar sessions featuring industry experts who will share insights on the latest trends, regulations, and investment opportunities in the UAE and India property markets.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How To Earn $500 A Month From Fifth Third Bancorp Stock Ahead Of Q1 Earnings
Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB) will release its first-quarter financial results before the opening bell on Thursday, April 17. Analysts expect the bank to report quarterly earnings at 70 cents per share. Fifth Third Bancorp projects quarterly revenue of $2.16 billion, compared to $2.1 billion a year earlier, according to data from Benzinga Pro. On April 7, Baird analyst David George upgraded Fifth Third Bancorp from Neutral to Outperform. With the recent buzz around Fifth Third, some investors may also be eyeing potential gains from the company's dividends. As of now, Fifth Third Bancorp offers an annual dividend yield of 4.22%, a quarterly dividend amount of 37 cents per share ($1.48 a year). To figure out how to earn $500 monthly from Fifth Third Bancorp, we start with the yearly target of $6,000 ($500 x 12 months). Next, we take this amount and divide it by Fifth Third Bancorp's $1.48 dividend: $6,000 / $1.48 = 4,054 shares. So, an investor would need to own approximately $142,174 worth of Fifth Third Bancorp, or 4,054 shares to generate a monthly dividend income of $500. Assuming a more conservative goal of $100 monthly ($1,200 annually), we do the same calculation: $1,200 / $1.48 = 811 shares, or $28,442 to generate a monthly dividend income of $100. View more earnings on FITB Note that dividend yield can change on a rolling basis, as the dividend payment and the stock price fluctuate over time. The dividend yield is calculated by dividing the annual dividend payment by the current stock price. As the stock price changes, the dividend yield will also change. For example, if a stock pays an annual dividend of $2 and its current price is $50, its dividend yield would be 4%. However, if the stock price increases to $60, the dividend yield would decrease to 3.33% ($2/$60). Conversely, if the stock price decreases to $40, the dividend yield would increase to 5% ($2/$40). Further, the dividend payment itself can also change over time, which can also impact the dividend yield. If a company increases its dividend payment, the dividend yield will increase even if the stock price remains the same. Similarly, if a company decreases its dividend payment, the dividend yield will decrease. FITB Price Action: Shares of Fifth Third Bancorp gained by 1.4% to close at $35.07 on More: UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article How To Earn $500 A Month From Fifth Third Bancorp Stock Ahead Of Q1 Earnings originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
Bloomberg
10-04-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
What to Expect From the Big Bank Earnings
Wall Street's biggest banks begin reporting earnings on Friday as markets deal with extreme volatility and uncertainty brought on by President Donald Trump's tariff war. David George, Baird senior bank analyst, talks about what to expect on "Bloomberg The Close." (Source: Bloomberg)
