MIAMI — Dozens of luxury beachfront condos and hotels in Surfside, Bal Harbour, Miami Beach and Sunny Isles are sinking into the ground at rates that were “unexpected,” with nearly 70% of the buildings in northern and central Sunny Isles affected, research by the University of Miami found. The study, published Friday night, identified a total of 35 buildings that have sunk by as much as three inches between 2016 and 2023, including the iconic Surf Club Towers and Faena Hotel, the Porsche Design Tower, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Trump Tower III and Trump International Beach Resorts. Together, the high rises accommodate tens of thousands of residents and tourists. Some have more than 300 units, including penthouses that cost millions of dollars. “Almost all the buildings at the coast itself, they’re subsiding,” Falk Amelung, a geophysicist at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science and the study’s senior author, told the Miami Herald. “It’s a lot.” Preliminary data also shows signs that some buildings along the coasts of Broward and Palm Beach are sinking, too. Experts called the study a “game changer” that raises a host of questions about development on vulnerable barrier islands. For starters, experts said, this could be a sign that rising sea levels, caused by the continued emission of greenhouse gases, is accelerating the erosion of the limestone on which South Florida is built. “It’s probably a much larger problem than we know,” Paul Chinowsky, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, told the Herald. Initially, researchers looked at satellite images that can measure fractions of an inch of subsidence to determine whether the phenomenon had occurred leading up to the collapse of Champlain Towers in Surfside, the 2021 catastrophe that killed 98 people and led to laws calling for structural reviews of older condos across the state. The researchers did not see any signs of settlement before the collapse “indicating that settlement was not the cause of collapse,” according to a statement. Instead, they saw subsidence at nearby beachside buildings both north and south of it. Surprising findings “What was surprising is that it was there at all. So we didn’t believe it at the beginning,” Amelung said, explaining that his team checked several sources that confirmed the initial data. “And then we thought, we have to investigate it,” he said. In total, they found subsidence ranging between roughly 0.8 and just over 3 inches, mostly in Sunny Isles Beach, Surfside, and at two buildings in Miami Beach – the Faena Hotel and L’atelier condo – and one in Bal Harbour. It’s unclear what the implications are or whether the slow sinking could lead to long-term damage, but several experts told the Herald that the study raises questions that require further research as well as a thorough on-site inspection. “These findings raise additional question which require further investigation,” Gregor Eberli, a geoscience professor and co-author of the study, which was published Friday in the journal Earth and Space Science, said in a statement. Lead author Farzaneh Aziz Zanjani pointed to the need for “ongoing monitoring and a deeper understanding of the long-term implications for these structures.” Though the vast majority of affected buildings were constructed years or decades before the satellite images were taken, it is common for buildings to subside a handful of inches during and shortly after construction — a natural effect as the weight of the building compresses the soil underneath. And sinking doesn’t necessarily create structural issues. “As long as it’s even, everything’s fine,” Chinowsky said, placing his hands next to each other, “the problems start when you start doing this,” he said, then moving one hand down faster than the other. But such uneven sinking, known as differential subsidence, can cause significant damage to buildings, he said. “That’s where you can get structural damage,” he said. More research is needed to determine whether the buildings are sinking evenly or not. An uncertain impact “Sometimes it can be dangerous, sometimes not – it will have to be evaluated,” said Shimon Wdowinski, a geophysicist at Florida International University, told the Herald. Wdowinski worked on a different 2020 study that showed that the land surrounding the Champlain Towers – not the buildings themselves – had been subsiding back in the nineties, though that alone couldn’t have led to the collapse. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has yet to release a final report on the cause but a Herald investigation pointed to design and construction flaws as well as decades of maintenance issues. For the 35 buildings shown to be sinking in the University of Miami’s study, he said, the next step is to check the integrity and design plans. “If there is differential subsidence, it could cause structural damage, and it would need immediate attention,” he said. Cracks in walls, utilities that are breaking, or doors and windows that don’t shut as easily as they used to are all signs of differential subsidence, said Hota GangaRao, a professor of civil engineering and the director of the constructed facilities center at West Virginia University. “In some extreme scenarios, the buildings at some point sink much more dramatically with time,” he said. If that subsidence is differential, “then it is very, very serious,” GangaRao said. Cities react to study Larisa Svechin, the mayor of Sunny Isles Beach, where more than 20 buildings are affected, said that “my priority is the safety of our residents.” Contacted by the Herald Saturday afternoon, she said she was not aware of any structural issues but called an immediate meeting with the city manager. Following that meeting, she said that all required building inspections are up to date and that “the law also requires inspection records to be posted online and shared with residents.” Charles Burkett, the mayor of Surfside, told the Miami Herald that he had not heard of the study nor was he aware of any subsidence of buildings. “I’d like to know if it’s unsafe,” he said on Saturday, adding that he will “review [the study] in due time.” Other officials could not be reached immediately, and several of the affected buildings contacted by the Herald said that management would not be available for comment before Monday. Some settlement appears to have started right around the time when the construction of new buildings nearby began, and when vibration might have caused layers of sand to compress further – just like shaking ground coffee in a tin will make room for more. The pumping of groundwater that seeps into construction sites could also cause sand layers to shift and rearrange. Though there appears to be a strong link to nearby construction for some buildings, it is unlikely to be the only explanation for the 35 sinking buildings, as some settlement had started before any construction began nearby, and it persisted after construction ended, the researchers found. “There’s no sign that it’s stopping,” Amelung said of the settlement. The possible climate connection Experts also pointed to the impact the emission of fossil fuels and the resulting warming of the climate is having on the overall stability of Miami-Dade’s barrier islands. For one, rising sea levels are now encroaching on sand and limestone underneath our feet. That could lead to the corrosion of the pillars on which high-rises stand – a serious issue, GangaRao said, though if that’s the case “there may be a way to salvage these buildings,” by fixing the foundation. Stronger waves, fresh water dumped by heavier rainfalls and more sunny-day flooding could also add to the erosion of the limestone that all of South Florida is built on, Chinowsky said. Already a soft rock that is riddled with holes and air pockets, further erosion could destabilize the base of most constructions, Chinowsky said, comparing it to “standing on sand, and someone came with a spoon and started taking the sand out.” “I would expect that they would see this all throughout the barrier islands and on into the main coastline – wherever there is limestone, basically,” he said. “That’s what makes the whole South Florida area so unique, because of that porous rock, the limestone, all that action is happening where you can’t see it, and that’s why it’s never accounted for to this level,” he said. Here is the full list of buildings identified as experiencing between roughly 0.8 and just over 3 inches of subsidence between 2016 - 2023: Regalia, Ocean II, Residences by Armani Casa, Ocean III, Marenas Beach Resort, Millennium Condominiums, Porsche Design Tower, Bentley Residence Development site, Trump International Beach Resort, Aqualina Resort and Residences on the Beach, The Mansions at Aqualina, Pinnacle, Chateau Beach Residences, Double Tree Resort and Spa, Sole Mia A Noble House Resort. Also: Florida Ocean Club, Ocean Four Condominium, Muse residences, Jade Ocean Condos, Jade Beach Condos, Jade Signature Condominium, Kings Point Imperial Condo, Trump Tower III, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Oceana Bal Harbour, Fendi Chateau, Marbella Condominium, Waverly, Carlisle on the Ocean, Residence Inn by Mariott, Luxury Condo Cabarete, The Surf Club North Tower, The Surf Club Hotel Tower, The Surf Club South Tower, Arte Residence, 87 Park Tower, L’atelier Condominium, Faena House ©2024 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $50,000 In Match To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options If you suffered losses exceeding $50,000 in Match between May 2, 2023 and November 6, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310) . [You may also click here for additional information] NEW YORK, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP , a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Match Group, Inc. (“Match” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: MTCH) and reminds investors of the January 24, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com . As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) Match Group materially understated the challenges affecting Tinder and, as a result, understated the risk that Tinder’s monthly active user count would not recover by the time the Company reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2024; and (2) as a result, defendants’ statements about Match Group’s business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. On November 7, 2024, Investopedia published an article entitled “Match Group Stock Slips as Fourth Quarter Outlook Disappoints.” This article said that “[s]hares of online dating giant Match Group tumbled Thursday morning despite a third-quarter earnings beat released after the bell Wednesday. [. . .] Match said Tinder Direct revenue came in below its own expectations, as the app’s monthly active users (MAUs) declined 9% from the same time last year and its revenue per payer (RPP) grew less than expected. Some new features tested with Tinder users in the quarter negatively impacted subscription revenue, which the company said will likely also have an impact on fourth quarter revenue.” On this news, the price of Match Group stock fell by 17.8% to close at $31.11 per share on November 7, 2024. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Match’s conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. To learn more about the Match class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/MTCH or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310) . Follow us for updates on LinkedIn , on X , or on Facebook . Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP ( www.faruqilaw.com ). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fdafeab3-e66c-4705-b292-211a18341546LETTER: Nov. 24 Dededo community outreach a great success
New appointment as safety for all event goers is a top priority for the Waterfront Hall, Ulster Hall and ICC BelfastEvery Black Friday, there’s a number of viral products that everyone has on their Christmas wish list, and we don’t expect this year to be any different. However, not all of these popular items are going to stay in stock, and we have some insight on the ones that won’t. Black Friday is big business, and last year shoppers spent $222.1 billion during the entire holiday shopping season, according to Queue-it. Sales on Black Friday reached $16.4 billion (online and in stores), and this was a 9% increase from the year before. While it comes as no surprise that electronics are the most sought-after products of the holiday season, Queue-it said this accounts for the majority of holiday sales, jumping to $50.8 billion in 2023. Apparel, furniture, groceries and toys are the other hot sellers of Black Friday. Together, these five categories accounted for 65% of sales during the holidays last year and is only expected to grow in 2024. While many items that sell out over Black Friday are driven by a good deal, we also know that a hot product is just that — a gift that most people want to open on Christmas Day. So, here are our picks for the top 10 hot-ticket items that could sell out over Black Friday. Samsung 98-inch QLED TV The holidays are ripe for TV deals, and we expect shoppers to buy a ton of them in 2024, especially at Walmart. Consumers are trending toward bigger TVs and the super low-price deals over Black Friday force many models to sell out. This is especially true of popular models from Samsung, Hisense, LG and more favorites. Apple Watch Series 9 Apple's smartwatches are a top pick among Apple fans. We’ve seen prices on the Apple Watch continue to trend downward, which was only spurred by the release of the new Apple Watch 10 in September. This pushed down prices on earlier models, with the best deals coming on the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch 9. For Black Friday, we think the prices will drop even lower and sell out due to high demand. Beats Solo3 Wireless headphones are one of the most popular products of 2024, and Beats are one of the top brands. We’re already seeing big markdowns on Beats Wireless Headphones, and we expect these price drops to continue into Black Friday. The Beats Solo3 is likely to be on sale for even cheaper than we’ve already seen, and we think they will sell out for Black Friday, with the possibility of other popular Beats headphones joining them. Apple AirPods (3rd gen) If you haven’t picked up a pair of Apple AirPods yet, this could be your year to do it. With Apple launching a fourth generation of AirPods earlier this year, the price on prevvious models are creeping lower. We think over Black Friday they’ll be at their cheapest price ever, with the AirPods (3rd Gen) likely to sell out. JBL Flip 6 Bluetooth speakers are a must-have for many this year, and with the big sound that comes from JBL’s speakers, it’s easy to see why they might sell out for Black Friday. These popular speakers come in a variety of portable sizes and waterproof designs. We expect big deals on JBL’s top-rated Clip 5 and Flip 6 Bluetooth speaker models. Apple iPad (10th Gen) One of Apple’s most sought-after products of the year was the iPad, and we saw the 9th Gen and 10th Gen models drop to their lowest prices ever. We think this year will bring some iPad bliss with even better discounts, but these deals will disappear just as fast as they arrive. We think that mega discounts on the iPad (9th Gen) and iPad (10th Gen) could cause sell outs, especially on Amazon. Dyson Airwrap The Dyson Airwrap just might be the top product of Black Friday, as this is one of the rare times there’s a discount on the beloved hair styling tool. At $600, the Airwrap carries a hefty price tag, so any discount presented is a welcome surprise. But as we’ve seen in the past, any Black Friday deal on the Dyson Airwrap causes a crush of interest that’s followed by a sell out. Ugg Tasman slippers If you’ve tried to scoop up the UGG Tasman Slippers in previous years, you already know they never stay in stock for long. As the “it” slipper of the holiday season, UGG’s Tasman sells out multiple times over the holidays, even without a discount offered. We think that this year will be similar, with popular sizes and colors of the Tasman Slipper snatched up fast over Black Friday. Bissell Little Green The Bissell Little Green carpet cleaner is a popular home product that just can’t seem to stay in stock. With prices falling under $90, this mighty machine can be a blessing for pet owners and parents, as its compact size makes it easy to store and use when needed. We’ve seen the Little Green Machine sell out before, and we’d be surprised if it didn’t do it again over Black Friday. Furby Galaxy Edition We’d be remiss if we didn’t include a top toy that we think will be hard to find and gift this year. Our pick is the Furby Galaxy Edition. This glow-in-the-dark Furby is based on the original Furby from the late ’90s with even more features, interactive modes and more fun. Making a comeback in 2023, we saw the revival of this popular toy sell out last year, and we expect the new Furby Galaxy Edition to do the same. For the holidays: Get inspiring home and gift ideas – sign up now!eGain extends stock repurchase program to 2025
Merck Provides Update on KeyVibe and KEYFORM Clinical Development Programs Evaluating Investigational Vibostolimab and Favezelimab Fixed-Dose Combinations with PembrolizumabBy JIM VERTUNO | Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the NCAA to block the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, arguing that it tricks and misleads fans. The lawsuit filed in state district court in Lubbock and announced Sunday, argues the NCAA violates the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by promoting women’s sports that may include a transgender athlete. The law is designed to protect consumers from being misled or tricked into buying products or services that are not as advertised, the lawsuit said. The Texas lawsuit is the latest attempt by conservative politicians to target transgender athletes and push the NCAA into banning them from competition. President-elect Donald Trump has said he wants to stop trans athletes from competing . The lawsuit seeks an injunction to stop the NCAA from allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports in Texas, or in sports that involve Texas programs. Or it wants the court to require the NCAA to stop marketing events as “women’s” sports if transgender athletes are allowed. In a statement, Paxton appeared to reference the recent controversy involving San Jose State women’s volleyball , where several opponents forfeited matches this season on grounds the Spartans had a transgender player. A federal court last month refused to block the school from playing in the Mountain West Conference championship. “When people watch a women’s volleyball game, for example, they expect to see women playing against other women, not biological males pretending to be something they are not,” Paxton said. “Radical ‘gender theory’ has no place in college sports.” The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and through school officials has declined an interview request. Paxton accused the NCAA of “intentionally and knowingly jeopardizing the safety and wellbeing of women” and turning women’s sports into “co-ed competitions.” The NCAA does not track data on transgender athletes among the 544,000 currently competing on 19,000 teams at various levels across the country. NCAA President Charlie Baker testified in Congress earlier this month that he was aware of fewer than 10 active NCAA athletes who identified as transgender. “College sports are the premier stage for women’s sports in America, and while the NCAA does not comment on pending litigation, the Association and its members will continue to promote Title IX, make unprecedented investments in women’s sports and ensure fair competition in all NCAA championships,” the NCAA said in a statement Monday. Brooke Slusser, the San Jose State volleyball co-captain who was among the group of players who sued the Mountain West Conference over her teammate’s participation, praised the Texas lawsuit on social media. “Hey NCAA, just in case you haven’t realized yet this fight will just keep getting harder for you until you make a change!,” Slusser posted on X . The NCAA established a policy in 2010 that requires trans athletes who were assigned male at birth to complete at least one year of testosterone suppression therapy before being eligible to compete on a women’s team. Trans athletes who were assigned female at birth and transitioned to male can compete on a men’s team but if they have received testosterone treatment are ineligible to compete on a women’s team. The athletes are required to meet their chosen sport’s standard for documented testosterone levels at various points during a season. In 2022, the NCAA revised the policy in what the organization called an attempt to be aligned with national sports governing bodies. If a governing body does not have a trans athlete policy, then it scales up to the international federation that oversees the sport. If there is no international federation policy, previously established Olympic policy criteria would be followed.DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — RJ Felton had 21 points in East Carolina's 71-64 victory over Stetson on Friday. Felton also added eight rebounds for the Pirates (5-1). Joran Riley scored 14 points while going 4 of 11 and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line and added five rebounds. Cam Hayes shot 3 for 7 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line to finish with 13 points.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, active listings for single-family homes fell conspicuously due to public health concerns and mandated stay-in-place orders. Naturally, this framework sparked a demand bottleneck, cynically benefiting homebuilders as society gradually normalized. However, incoming political shifts could present concerns for the broader housing market. Specifically, President-elect Donald Trump throughout the campaign trail for the 2024 election broadcasted anti-immigration sentiments . Combined with his proposed tariffs on building materials , Trump's policies could drive construction costs higher. Potentially, such a development could negatively impact demand as most Americans have struggled to get ahead of the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle. Still, it's not all doom and gloom. Despite historically high mortgage rates, several Sun Belt cities may be poised for explosive sales growth in 2025 , according to projections from sites like Realtor.com. Several cities in Texas have consistently placed in the top rankings regarding housing demand. Further, booming areas such as Miami, Virginia Beach, Richmond and Charlotte may reignite currently deflated sentiment for homebuilding stocks. The Direxion ETF: For investors that view the glass as half-full, the Direxion Daily Homebuilders & Supplies Bull 3X Shares NAIL offer the ultimate in speculation. A leveraged exchange-traded fund, NAIL seeks a return that is 300% of the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Select Home Construction Index. Fundamentally, one of the benefits of a 3X-leveraged fund is convenience. Typically, traders seeking to magnify their returns over a short time period use options, which introduce complexities. In contrast, investors can buy units of the NAIL ETF, much like buying shares of a publicly traded company. Further, NAIL covers a basket of securities, including names like DR Horton Inc DHI and Lennar Corp LEN LEN . However, as a 3X-leveraged ETF, NAIL carries significant volatility risks. Notably, Direxion states that the fund should not be expected to provide three times the benchmark index's cumulative return for periods greater than a day. That's because exposure lasting longer than a day may expose the trader to valuation decay due to the effects of daily compounding. Nevertheless, weekly returns of the NAIL fund over the trailing five years reflects an upward bias. Of the past 261 weeks, 146 weeks saw a positive return, reflecting a success ratio of 55.94%. What's more, there have been 12 weeks (not including last week) where NAIL lost 20% of value or more. Of this dataset, eight of the following weeks generated positive returns, with an average performance of 25.55% up. Interestingly, in the business week ending Dec. 20, the 3X bull fund lost 21.66% of value. The NAIL ETF: Although the leveraged housing fund was looking strong up until late November, economic and political uncertainties saw the ETF go negative for the year. At the moment, the technical backdrop isn't enticing, with NAIL falling through its 50- and 200-day moving averages in late November and early December, respectively. On the positive side, NAIL is trading above the critical $80 level, which previously acted as support throughout 2021. Moving forward, it's imperative that the bulls establish a baseline of support here. This seems credible given the aforementioned upward bias, especially following a severe weekly correction. Featured image by Oleksandr Pidvalnyi from Pixabay . © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Donald Trump has threatened to seize the Panama Canal, revived calls to buy Greenland and joked about annexing Canada -- leaving the world guessing once again whether he is serious or not. By challenging the sovereignty of some of Washington's closest allies four weeks before he even returns to the Oval Office, the US-president elect has underscored his credentials as global disruptor-in-chief. His comments have renewed fears from his first term that Trump will end up being harsher on US friends than he is on adversaries like Russia and China. But there are also suspicions that billionaire tycoon Trump is looking for leverage as part of the "art of the deal" -- and that the former reality television star is grabbing headlines to look strong at home and abroad. "It's hard to tell how much of this he really wants, and how much is the latest soundbite that will be heard around the world," said Frank Sesno, a professor at George Washington University and former White House correspondent. "He puts other leaders in position of having to figure out what is literal and what is not," he told AFP. The idea of buying Greenland is not a new one for Trump. He also raised the prospect of purchasing the vast strategic island, a Danish territory, during his first term in office. He revived his push over the weekend when naming his ambassador to Copenhagen, saying the "ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity" for US national security. But he received the same answer this time as he did then, with Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede saying on Monday that the resource-rich island was "not for sale." Yet his most headline-grabbing remarks have been on Panama, as he slammed what he called unfair fees for US ships passing through and threatened to demand control of the Panama Canal be returned to Washington. Trump said on Sunday that if Panama did not agree "then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America -- in full, quickly and without question." He also hinted at China's growing influence around the canal, which was built by the United States in 1914 to link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It was returned to Panama under a 1977 deal. Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino dismissed Trump's threats, saying that "every square meter" of the canal would remain in Panamanian hands. Trump responded on TruthSocial: "We'll see about that!" Trump also teased neighboring Canada last week that it would be a "great idea" to become the 51st US state -- but against a dark backdrop of threatened tariffs. Sesno said it was hard for other countries to know how to deal with Trump's comments. "Well, it's clearly a joke. Or is it? said Sesno. "Imagine if you're the President of Panama, how do you react to something like that? You can't ignore it and your country will not let you. So the ripple effect of these comments is extraordinary." Trump's harsh treatment of US allies also stands in stark contrast to his repeated praise for the leaders of US foes -- including Russia's Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine in 2022 in a bid for a land-grab. But there is still likely to be method behind Trump's rhetoric. "Maybe the message is for China" when Trump talks about buying Greenland, said Stephanie Pezard, senior political scientist with the Rand Corporation. Just as Trump expressed concern about Beijing's influence in Panama, China's growing presence in the Arctic and its ties with Russia were "something that the US is really worried about," Pezard told AFP. But there could also be a signal to Denmark that 'If you're too friendly with China, you'll find us in your way" -- even though Denmark and Greenland had been "very good NATO allies." And perhaps Trump knows the reality. Any US plan to "buy" Greenland would be unfeasible "not just in international law but more broadly in the global order that the US has been trying to uphold," she said. dk/bgs
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2025 will be a year the digital workspace takes center stage, according to Karen Gondoly, CEO at the Leostream Corporation. Gondoly is a 20-year IT veteran and she has provided to Digital Journal some key predictions regarding technologies, concepts and trends expected to evolve in 2025. Gondoly earned her B.S. and M.S. in aeronautical/astronautical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, working summers at NASA’s Langley Research Center. She has led product management at Leostream for more than 15 years and has been CEO since 2016. Digital Employee Experience (DEX) is the new acronym to know Organizations will recognize the link between employee satisfaction and productivity, and Digital Employee Experience (DEX) encompasses a host of advantages from user-friendly interfaces to personalized workflows that enhance employee engagement. “Organizations that adopt tools that monitor and improve DEX, such as data analytics to tailor resources to individual user needs, will have happier, more loyal, and more productive workforces, to the great advantage of the business,” says Gondoly. Digital workspaces become ubiquitous In 2025 organizations will broadly adopt digital workspaces that provide the distributed workforce with consistent and secure access to resources. These environments will be more flexible and heterogenous than prior iterations offered as single-vendor stacks by industry giants. A digital workspace is an integrated technology framework that centralizes the management of an enterprise’s applications, data and endpoints, allowing employees to collaborate and work remotely. “IT teams will realize that crafting a more vendor-independent digital workspace solution allows them to future-proof their infrastructure against unanticipated technology disruptions,” Gondoly predicts. “There are many up-and-coming providers in this space, and they’ll get increased attention.” The workforce goes fractional A traditional 9-to-5 work model is increasingly obsolete, especially as more workers are freelancers, contractors, part-timers, and gig economy participants. Businesses in any industry can reap benefits from these fractional workers, who often bring specialized expertise to the team. “To attract and retain fractional workers intelligently, IT pros need to focus on the tools and resources they need to do their jobs, on policies around the use of those tools and resources, and on monitoring or auditing to ensure those policies are successful,” Gondoly foresees. Risk management strategies embrace the cloud The constant specter of cyber threats and the need for data protection will compel more IT pros to situate data and applications in the cloud not solely for availability as in the past, but for improved security, compliance, and disaster recovery capabilities. “The Change Healthcare data breach disrupted the medical industry in 2023, and the CrowdStrike incident disrupted almost everything,” Gondoly comments. “Cloud-based risk management solutions will be more valued for business continuity and maintaining productivity.” Weathering industry storms IT implementations will increasingly be seen as a line of defense against external forces that can disrupt a market segment—another reason digital workspaces will prevail. Beyond cybersecurity needs, there will be efforts to improve business technologies to withstand the impact of climate threats and natural disasters, civil unrest, financial crises, supply chain disruptions, and other factors that can impact an industry. Gondoly thinks: “Those with modern, flexible, efficient IT environments will have an immense operational edge over those that do not.” Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 16, 2024-- Mr. Cooper Group Inc. (NASDAQ: COOP) announced today the appointment of Andrew Bon Salle to its board of directors, effective January 1, 2025. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241216488517/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) Bon Salle brings more than 30 years of experience in capital markets, risk management, securitization and mortgage policy leadership within the home lending sector. Most recently, he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Home Point Capital Inc. Prior to that, he was Executive Vice President of the Single-Family Mortgage business at Fannie Mae where he oversaw capital market functions, managed customer engagement for more than 2,000 clients and partners, directed the performance of a $3.5 trillion credit portfolio and led the digital products group. “Andrew’s exceptional track record in driving business strategy and transformation, combined with his extensive leadership experience in the mortgage industry, makes him an invaluable addition to our board,” said Jay Bray, Chairman and CEO of Mr. Cooper Group. “We are pleased to welcome him as we advance our strategic vision and continue to build an industry-leading homeownership experience for our customers.” “I am thrilled to join the Mr. Cooper Group board and contribute to the ongoing evolution of the homeownership journey while supporting and mentoring the next generation of industry leaders,” said Bon Salle. “Mr. Cooper has been a transformative force in the mortgage industry, and I’m honored to help advance its mission of making the dream of homeownership a reality for all Americans.” About Mr. Cooper Group Mr. Cooper Group Inc. (NASDAQ: COOP) provides customer-centric servicing, origination and transaction-based services related principally to single-family residences throughout the United States with operations under its primary brands: Mr. Cooper®, Xome® and Rushmore Servicing®. Mr. Cooper is the largest home loan servicer in the country focused on delivering a variety of servicing and lending products, services and technologies. For more information, visit www.mrcoopergroup.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241216488517/en/ CONTACT: Media Inquiries: MediaRelations@mrcooper.comInvestor Inquiries: Shareholders@mrcooper.com KEYWORD: TEXAS UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RESIDENTIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE FINANCE CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY FINTECH BANKING SOURCE: Mr. Cooper Group Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/16/2024 04:30 PM/DISC: 12/16/2024 04:30 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241216488517/enToo early to celebrate – Arne Slot keeps leaders Liverpool focusedTexas vs. Arizona State: How to watch, picks, odds for College Football Playoff quarterfinal Peach Bowl
Chelsea’s surprise defeat by Fulham meant victory over the Foxes stretched their lead to seven points, with a match in hand, with the halfway point of the campaign fast approaching. But Slot is maintaining his level-headed approach despite the clamour growing around their chances of adding another title to the one won in 2020. “If you are in this game for a long time like the players and I am then 20 games before the end you don’t look at it as there are so many challenges ahead of you,” he said after Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah scored to turn around an early deficit following Jordan Ayew’s strike. “Injuries and and a bit of bad luck can happen to any team, it is far too early to be already celebrating – but it is nice for us to be where we are. “I don’t think there was any easy win for us in any of these games; it could have been an easy win against Tottenham but we conceded two and it was then 5-2 – that tells you how difficult it is to win even when you have all your players available. “That is why we have to take it one game at a time. The league table is something of course we are aware of but we always understand how many games there are to go.” Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy felt his side held their own until Salah scored in the 82nd minute. “I think we were in the contest for a result for a long time,” he said. “Three-one was the turning point in the sense the game was done there to get a result. “I think the 60th minute I remember a chanced for Daka to score the equaliser so we were in the game to get a surprising result. “We did well, we did what we could: a good start with the goal but if you speak of a turning point, 3-1 with Salah, the game was done.” Van Nistelrooy left goalkeeper Danny Ward out of the squad after he struggled in the defeat to Wolves and was jeered by his own fans. “The change in goal was one to make and the conversation with Wardy was impressive, the way he was thinking of the team and the club,” added the Dutchman. “I insisted on a conversation and of course it is a private conversation but what I want to share is the person and the professional he is. “I was impressed with that and his willingness for the team and the club to do well. “Really tough what happened for him. We are professionals but human beings as well, when frustration is being directed towards one person that is difficult.”Staying sharp: Study explores how brain changes may affect financial skills December 16, 2024 Binghamton University A new article sheds light on how age-related changes may affect the way we handle finances -- and how we can stay sharp as we age. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email Senior citizens are targeted by financial scams of all types, from email-based phishing attempts to callers looking to swindle their life savings. A new paper from Binghamton University Associate Professor of Psychology Ian M. McDonough sheds light on how age-related changes may affect the way we handle finances -- and how we can stay sharp as we age. "Separating neurocognitive mechanisms of maintenance and compensation to support financial ability in middle-aged and older adults: The role of language and the inferior frontal gyrus," co-authored by Macarena Suárez-Pellicioni of the University of Alabama, was recently published in the Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics. The study focused on cognitively healthy adults ages 50 to 74, using MRI scans to measure brain structure and functional connectivity; study participants also engaged in simple financial tasks, such as balancing a checkbook or making change. Financial tasks rely on multiple cognitive domains, including memory, executive functioning and numerical ability; aging can prompt subtle decline in all of these areas. Earlier research that dealt with financial management and Alzheimer's-related brain decline focused on the parietal cortex, the part of the brain involved in attention and simulating possible future outcomes, McDonough said. Little attention has been paid to the brain regions connected specifically with math processing, outside of the development of these regions in children. Mathematics involves two different brain regions. One is the inferior frontal gyrus, which specifically deals with accessing math information contained in your memory. "If I ask, 'What's 3 plus 3?' you know it's six; you don't have to count 3 plus 3," McDonough explained. "You have memorized this because of rote learning and years and years of it being embedded in you." If you don't have a readily memorized answer and need to perform calculations, then your middle frontal gyrus kicks in. It uses more brainpower than memory and increases the possibility of error. "When people are doing the calculation, they're more likely to get it wrong. If you've memorized it, you've memorized the right answer," McDonough said. "You're faster, more efficient and more accurate when you have those verbal representations." The brain's prefrontal cortex shrinks as a part of normal aging; with Alzheimer's disease, the frontal cortex regions shrink even faster. As a result, individuals may start making more mistakes with financial tasks since their brains no longer rely on memorized answers and are instead recruiting different regions to compensate for deficiencies. "They are potential markers that could show people's increased vulnerability to scams," he said. "If we understand how the brain changes, this can inform interventions used to target these brain regions." Preserving independence Ultimately, successful financial management may rely more on language processing than sheer calculation. Individuals with better language skills were more likely to excel in financial tasks, the researchers found, likely because of increased connectivity between different parts of the brain. McDonough's research shows that higher household income and financial literacy -- both markers of socioeconomic status -- were the two main factors protecting against age-related declines in financial ability. Relying on memory requires that memories be developed in the first place, which is more likely in an environment where financial literacy is promoted. Financial education may help people retain sharp decision-making abilities on the money front. Maintaining verbal automatic representations for math -- essentially, practicing the math skills you learned in school -- may be helpful in supporting good financial management throughout life. Individuals and caregivers alike, however, also need to keep an eye out for cognitive declines that can make older adults more susceptible to financial scams and abuse. Financial tools, technologies and legal safeguards, such as power of attorney for automatic payment systems, can protect older adults while preserving their autonomy in decision-making. "Managing finances is so important to maintaining independence later in life," McDonough said. "We need to have interventions that can strengthen the brain and help keep people healthy when managing their finances." Story Source: Materials provided by Binghamton University . Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference : Cite This Page :