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Bitcoin’s price dipped Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the central bank is not looking to hold the digital currency and signaled a more cautious approach to rate cuts in 2025. “We’re not allowed to own bitcoin. The Federal Reserve Act says what we can own, and we’re not looking for a law change,” Powell said at a Wednesday press conference. “That’s the kind of thing for Congress to consider, but we are not looking for a law change at the Fed.” Powell’s comments were in response to a question on whether he saw any value in the U.S. building a reserve of bitcoin, an idea floated by President-elect Donald Trump as a way to stay ahead of the competition as other countries embrace crypto. Bitcoin prices fell more than 5% Wednesday afternoon following the press conference. While experts have warned of risks associated with volatile cryptocurrencies, bitcoin’s value has soared in recent months as President-elect Donald Trump appears poised to create a more welcoming regulatory environment. Trump in July said he would make the United States the “crypto capital of the planet and the bitcoin superpower of the world.” In September, Trump helped roll out a new cryptocurrency business with ties to his family, and earlier this month named former PayPal executive David Sacks as his “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar.” He also nominated cryptocurrency ally Paul Atkins as head of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Holiday deals:Shop this season’s top products and sales curated by our editors. As of Wednesday afternoon, Bitcoin’s price was above $101,000, up more than 125% from the start of the year. The cryptocurrency hit a record high above $108,000 earlier this week.
Photo: EUROKINISSI The Greek prime minister described Greece’s important role in Syria, stating that Greece is de facto playing the role of spiritual protector of the Greek Orthodox, whose security is a primary concern for Athens, during the press conference late on Thursday in Brussels after the end of the European Union Summit. Responding to Turkiye’s involvement in Syria, Mitsotakis stressed that it is too early to draw safe conclusions about its role and its future implications for Syria. “Everyone should be interested in ensuring the territorial integrity of Syria and the protection of religious minorities in the country,” Mitsotakis noted. He explained that himself and the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, briefed European partners about the risks that could arise for the stability of the wider region from any attempt by Turkiye to delimit an Exclusive Economic Zone with the new regime in Syria, clearly reiterating that the Turkish-Libyan memorandum is illegal. Regarding migration, he spoke of voluntary returns to Syria, stressing, however, the need to ensure that those who wish to return to the country will have their basic needs covered. In response to a question about Ukraine, Mitsotakis stressed that the European Union reaffirmed its will for multi-level support for Ukraine, in order to prevent Kiev from finding itself in a position of weakness when the peace talks begin. Regarding the established Greek position on increasing resources towards common European defense, the prime minister, after announcing that an informal Summit will be held in early February on Belgian territory at the initiative of Greece with the exclusive topic of European defense on the agenda, he spoke of the need for a geopolitical and defense awakening of our continent. Mitsotakis noted that more European resources should be mobilized, as well as the creation of a European defense fund. “It will also send a message to the US that in the European Union we take our responsibilities seriously,” he stated. Source: ANA-MPA / Photos: EUROKINISSI A meeting took place between Metropolitan John of Zambia and Mozambique and the newly appointed Apostolic Nuncio of the… The Greek prime minister described Greece’s important role in Syria, stating that Greece is de facto playing the role… The Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer, was a disciple of the holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, as was… Patriarch John X of Antioch convened a meeting with the Board of Directors of the Department of Ecumenical Relations… On the afternoon of Wednesday, December 18, a heartwarming Christmas celebration was held at the “Creative Workshop of the… Greece’s decisive role in protecting the Greek Orthodox community in Syria and Lebanon, as well as the need to…
AMES − Despite not making the College Football Playoff, there’s no way you can convince the Iowa State football program bowl games are not important. “The Memphis game, the Liberty Bowl (loss) from last year drove my whole offseason − it drove me absolutely nuts,” offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser said. “I hated it. I’m still sick about it. Depending on what happens with this game, good or bad, there’s still a lot that we can learn and grow from, but I think to be able to go into the offseason after winning a football game, obviously, it provides great momentum. You have 11 wins, it puts a good taste in everybody’s mouth and you can really drive the start of your offseason like the way it raises the standard. “The expectation is to win football games. The expectation is to be a 10, 11-win football team every single year and if not, it’s not good enough. When you draw a line in the sand with your young guys like that, that drives into the next offseason, like we have to find a way to be better than last season.” In a year of many milestones, the Cyclones are aiming for that 11th win. With a 10-3 record heading into the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Miami on Dec. 28, they are the program’s first double-digit-win team in 133 years, but they want even more. Although they may have fallen short of some of their bigger goals, like a College Football Playoff berth or a Big 12 title, they are still on the brink of history. “Any time you can make that step, it says a lot and it does mean a lot, and that’s what you’re working for,” defensive coordinator Jon Heacock said. “When we walked in the doors here nine years ago, man, we wanted to make this place special. We want to make this place different than it’s ever been, and we’ve worked really hard to do that. … We’ll have a shot at it, but it’s going to take everything that we have. It would mean the most to me to see the smiles on those seniors’ faces on what they’ve accomplished and kind of put a cap on it all.” Iowa State is preparing to take on a Miami team that also just missed a spot in the College Football Playoff. The Hurricanes boast the highest-scoring offense at the FBS level, posting 44.2 points per game. The high-powered offense is headlined by a pair of All-Americans in wide receiver Xavier Restrepo and quarterback Cam Ward, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist. More:Iowa State football gearing up for Heisman finalist Cam Ward, high-powered Miami offense “Very important − going out with a win is not only great for the seniors, but it’s a great ending point for this team moving forward into next year,” wide receiver Jaylin Noel said. “So, it’s going to be a very important game, not just for us seniors, but obviously the whole team, we’re looking forward to it.” The Cyclones are making their seventh bowl game appearance in nine seasons under head coach Matt Campbell. Before his arrival in Ames, Iowa State had only played in a total of 12 bowl games, with the first coming in the 1971 Sun Bowl. The program is 5-13 all-time in bowl games. Campbell is 2-4 since taking over in 2016. Here’s a look back at each of the Cyclones’ bowl games since Campbell arrived in Ames. It was Campbell’s first time leading the Cyclones to a bowl game, and they emerged victorious to end the year 8-5, after finishing 3-9 the year before. More:Iowa State 21, Memphis 20: What we learned from the Cyclones’ Liberty Bowl win The Cyclones earned three wins over top 25 teams that year, including one over Memphis to end the season. The Tigers entered the bowl game ranked No. 14. Allen Lazard was named Liberty Bowl MVP after tallying 10 receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown. He caught the go-ahead touchdown pass late in the third quarter. Both teams went scoreless in the fourth quarter. Hakeem Butler also caught five passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. Iowa State was held to just 32 rushing yards, but quarterback Kyle Kempt completed 24-of-38 passes for 314 yards for two touchdowns. Freshman Brock Purdy earned the starting quarterback job midway through the season after an injury to Kempt and overtaking Zeb Noland on the depth chart. Purdy had a rough start to his first bowl game. He threw two early interceptions and the Cyclones played from behind the entire way, trailing by as much as 14 points, but they nearly came back. More:Birch’s Thoughts: In the end, Iowa State has itself to blame for Alamo Bowl loss with miscues Down 21-20, Iowa State missed a potential go-ahead 49-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the third quarter. After stopping Washington State on the next possession, the Cyclones fumbled the ball away in their own territory, which eventually led to a touchdown by the Cougars to extend their lead to 28-20 with 10:24 left in the game. Purdy capped off a five-play, 74-yard drive with a quarterback sneak touchdown to make it 28-26, with 4:02 remaining. But the Cyclones were unable to muster the game-tying two-point conversion and the Cougars hung on for the win. Purdy completed 18-of-27 passes for 315 yards and two interceptions, and he had two rushing touchdowns. David Montgomery had 26 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown. Butler had nine receptions for 192 yards. Iowa State finished 7-6 in a season where it lost four games to top 25-ranked opponents by a combined margin of 11 points, but the Fighting Irish put together a complete performance and dominated on both sides of the ball for a more decisive result. More:Peterson: Iowa State’s late-season regression exemplified in Camping World Boul rout Notre Dame outgained Iowa State, 455-272, and recovered a pair of fumbles. The Cyclones scored all nine of their points on Connor Assalley field goals, as he went 3-for-3 on the day. The Fighting Irish led the whole way and took a 20-6 halftime lead. Purdy completed 17-of-30 passes for 222 yards. Breece Hall logged 17 carries for 55 yards in his first bowl game. An iconic moment for Cyclone football, as Iowa State played in its first New Year’s Six bowl and won to top off a successful 9-3 season. It was a bounce-back win to end the 2020 campaign on a high note, after falling in the Big 12 title game to Oklahoma. More:Peterson: Iowa State football leaps into NCAA spotlight with Fiesta Bowl win The Cyclones dominated time of possession, holding onto the ball for more than 42 minutes. They led the Pac-12 champion Ducks, 28-17, at halftime, thanks to back-to-back second-quarter touchdowns by Purdy and Hall. In the second half, Iowa State’s defense and special teams clamped down on the Ducks. The Cyclones recovered a fumble, had an interception and took control of a muffed punt. They kept Oregon scoreless after halftime, while the Cyclones tacked on a pair of field goals to extend their lead. Iowa State never trailed in the game. Purdy completed 20-of-29 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, he ran the ball nine times for 39 yards and a rushing touchdown and was named Fiesta Bowl Offensive MVP. More:No. 12 Iowa State 34, Oregon 17: Cyclones cap historic season with Fiesta Bowl romp Cyclones linebacker O’Rien Vance had four tackles, including one for loss, and two fumble recoveries to take Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP honors. Hall finished with 136 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries. Charlie Kolar caught five passes for 53 yards and a touchdown. Xavier Hutchinson added four receptions and 45 yards in his first bowl game. Mike Rose had an interception and Gerry Vaughn recovered a fumble. Current Miami head coach Mario Cristobal was coaching the Ducks at this time. It was a disappointing end to a season that fell short of lofty expectations after the Cyclones returned a large chunk of its NFL-caliber talent from the previous year. Iowa State struggled to find its footing offensively until it was too late. The Cyclones played without Hall and Mike Rose, as well as starting center Colin Newell and safety Isheem Young. More:Iowa State football’s disappointing season comes to a fitting end in Cheez-It Bowl loss Clemson only had a 6-3 halftime lead. The Tigers scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to pull away, including a pick-six on a tipped pass that fell into the arms of Mario Goodrich. Purdy connected with Kolar for the Cyclones’ lone touchdown to trim the deficit to 20-13, with 9:42 left in the game. Iowa State would possess the ball two more times before the final whistle, but it never crossed midfield on either drive. Purdy completed 23-of-39 passes for 204 yards, one touchdown and an interception in his final game as a Cyclone. He also had a fourth-down fumble that was recovered short of the first down marker on the Cyclones’ final possession. Jirehl Brock started in place of Hall and finished with 42 yards on 14 carries. Noel, who was a freshman at the time, led Iowa State with a team-high four receptions for 54 yards. Kolar, who also played his final game at Iowa State, finished with four receptions for 33 yards and the lone touchdown of the game. Iowa State finished 7-6 and suffered its fifth one-score loss of the season. After missing out on a bowl game in 2022, the Cyclones were bowl-eligible once again. The Cyclones fell into an early 19-0 first-quarter deficit. They eventually trailed 36-13 midway through the third quarter, until they were able to muster a late push offensively and score back-to-back touchdowns to make it a 36-26 game. Memphis ground down the clock and had a fourth-quarter drive that spanned over nine minutes, preventing any opportunity for the Cyclones to come back. Memphis was physical up front and held Iowa State to zero rushing yards. Rocco Becht completed 22-of-38 passes for an Iowa State bowl game-record 446 yards and three touchdowns. He didn’t have any interceptions. Jayden Higgins was also impressive in his first bowl game with the Cyclones, racking up a career-high 214 yards and one touchdown on nine receptions. Noel caught six passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Easton Dean had a 15-yard touchdown reception. Chase Contreraz was 2-for-2 in field goal attempts. Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.
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Try it out! Fred Cassano December 20, 2024 REM Editorial Team December 19, 2024 Danny Kucharsky December 18, 2024 REM Editorial Team December 17, 2024 REM Editorial Team December 6, 2024 Daniel Foch December 5, 2024 Emma Caplan-Fisher January 30, 2024 Connie Adair April 12, 2022 Eric Vani February 11, 2022 REM Advertorials December 4, 2024 REM Advertorials September 25, 2024 REM Advertorials September 18, 2024 REM Editorial Team December 19, 2024 REM Editorial Team November 19, 2024 REM Editorial Team November 12, 2024 Emma Caplan-Fisher December 16, 2024 Justin Konikow November 15, 2024 Jaclyn Jeffrey November 4, 2024 Emma Caplan-Fisher December 11, 2024 Ron O’Neil November 5, 2024 Jaclyn Jeffrey November 4, 2024 Jamie Burke November 6, 2023 Jason Lo October 25, 2023 REM Editorial Team July 21, 2023 James R.G. Cook December 19, 2024 James R.G. Cook December 3, 2024 REM Editorial Team November 29, 2024 REM Advertorials December 4, 2024 REM Advertorials September 25, 2024 REM Advertorials September 18, 2024 REM Editorial Team October 31, 2024 REM Editorial Team October 15, 2024 REM Editorial Team October 10, 2024 Mario Toneguzzi October 22, 2024 Anthony Marcusa October 15, 2024 Jamie Burke July 22, 2024 Daniel Foch December 17, 2024 Kate Teves December 11, 2024 Brandon Reay December 10, 2024 Brandon Reay December 10, 2024 Seth Scott December 9, 2024 Mark Morris November 29, 2024 Gerald Tostowaryk March 20, 2024 REM Editorial Team August 8, 2023 REM Editorial Team August 1, 2023 Andrew Fogliato August 9, 2024 Andrew Fogliato May 14, 2024 Andrew Fogliato April 3, 2024 Susan Doran | Dec 20, 2024 | 0 comments To mark 35 years of Real Estate Magazine, we’re sharing articles from past issues. This article appeared in issue #208 in October 2006. Susan Doran still contributes to REM. “Do you know what the headline for this article will be?” asks real estate broker Sunny Daljit during our interview. “It won’t be ‘The monk who sells real estate’ will it?” I assure him that that headline is unlikely—although the truth is REM’s editor has pointedly asked me to get the lowdown on this monk business. Daljit, who is now CEO/team leader for Keller Williams Ottawa Realty (KWOR), woke up one morning about 15 years ago to the realization that he wasn’t happy. “I had a mid-life crisis at 24,” says Daljit, now 39. He had gone into real estate in Ottawa against the wishes of his East Indian parents, who were eager for him to be a doctor, lawyer, or some other type of professional. (This despite the fact his mother is a Realtor herself. His retired father was a director with Agriculture Canada, which used to prompt Daljit’s mother to remark that he was an expert on the sex life of corn.) Daljit soothed his parents’ fears by making a success of himself—in fact, becoming a top producer—in the real estate offices where he worked. “I was living out what people said you should,” he says. But he wasn’t fulfilled. So he changed his lifestyle, became a vegetarian, and read a lot of books on spirituality. Eventually, he took a leadership course offered by an India-based non-profit spiritual organization. Inspired, he took a three-year leave of absence from real estate and moved to India, where he trained with the organization, became a teacher, and eventually, a sannyasin, which he explains is essentially a monk. He renounced all material wealth, selling off his property back home and donating the proceeds to charity, mainly to assist with village development in India, the chief cause of the organization he was with. He travelled from village to village, teaching and doing humanitarian work. But he began to feel there was an element of escapism to it all. Near the end, he was in meditation in a monastery and didn’t speak for 60 days. He felt increasingly cut off from day-to-day life. Then he read the book Jonathan Livingston Seagull and—identifying with the theme that teaching others is more beneficial than disconnecting from them—he moved back to Ottawa with hopes of finding ways to make business less soulless. He started Centre Path, a consulting company focusing on spirit values and leadership in the workplace. “I thought if you could transform business, you could improve the world,” he says. He got an MBA and moved to Toronto for a three-year stint as national director for a Royal LePage customer service platform before he was finally offered a job that truly fit his personal philosophy. The life-changing phone call came in 2004 from Jeff Hooper, principal owner of the Keller Williams Ottawa office, which had opened in 2001 but was in need of some restructuring. After looking into the company and liking what he saw, Daljit moved back to his hometown of Ottawa along with his family. He initially joined KWOR as a temporary consultant. But he wound up a partner after spearheading successful major changes that helped propel the company to its current position as one of Ottawa’s top-10 fastest-growing companies and one of the best workplaces in Canada (according to *Canadian Business* magazine). As well, the *Ottawa Business Journal* recently recognized Daljit as one of the Top 40 under 40 CEOs. Well-known in the United States (Real Trends magazine ranks it as the fourth largest real estate company in North America), the Keller Williams franchise is not as recognized here, although the company has made remarkable strides. It now has 12 Canadian offices. When Daljit came on board, there were only two. KWOR is the number one Keller Williams office in Canada, he says. It currently grosses more than $16-million in revenues, and has about 600 listings and 160 agents, with plans to double the number of salespeople within three years. What Daljit immediately liked about Keller Williams was the depth of thought that has gone into its philosophy and business model. “The fact that the company puts family and spirituality ahead of work was a main driver for me,” he says. “It’s a holistic way of thinking. There’s a sense of meaning and purpose. You’re not on a treadmill.” That’s apparent from the fact that associates automatically have a portion of their commissions put into a charity fund. Daljit is proud to have been instrumental in ensuring that that money goes to under-funded charities that “are not on the radar screen.” Raising the company’s profile should be a byproduct of charity work, not the goal, he says. As it turns out, another byproduct of “making people better and more self-actualized is that they actually make more money too,” he says. He’s hopeful that the company’s innovative approaches to training, compensation, and technology, and its focus on teamwork and respect for the individual, point business in a new direction. Through a council of top producers, Realtors share in decision-making. And 50 percent of brokerage profits are also shared, via a bonus system for agents who refer new Realtors to the office. “This gives all agents a vested interest in helping each other,” says Daljit, because the higher the company profits, the bigger the referral bonuses. The company’s compensation package is good as well. KWOR also invests in cutting-edge technology, including an integrated messaging system that allows Realtors to have easy access to all types of communications and information. And the office itself is plush so that Realtors have an outstanding work environment. It also has an in-house mortgage service and client service network. For Daljit, the system works. “This is the first time I can say that my business and personal life are in balance,” he says. “We’re all making a difference in the world whatever way we feel called to.” Get the latest REM articles in your inbox 3x week so you stay up to date on the latest in the Canadian real estate industry
Subscribe Susan Doran is a Toronto-based freelance writer who has been contributing to REM since its very first issue.
20 Dec, 2024, 18:11 CST Share this article Investments in AI surge, but challenges in data quality and cyber security readiness persists SINGAPORE, Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — As ASEAN enterprises dive deeper into digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as the crown jewel of technology investments. What does this mean? Well, according to the 2024/2025 ASEAN Enterprise Innovation Market Overview AI has surged to the forefront as the leading investment priority. Insights from over 900 ASEAN business and technology leaders across diverse industries reveal that 75% of businesses plan significant AI investments within the next two years – a leap from just 34% in 2020.
But while the race to adopt AI is accelerating, it’s not all smooth sailing. Data quality and availability remain stubborn roadblocks, cited by nearly 78% of respondents as the biggest hurdle to unlocking AI’s potential. It’s a complicated relationship status: while AI ambition skyrockets, the groundwork for its success is still a work in progress. Cyber Security: Rising Threats, Growing Budget As the digital landscape evolves, so do the threats. ASEAN governments are stepping up their game with stringent regulations, such as Malaysia’s Cyber Security Act this year and Vietnam’s Personal Data Protection Act, pushing enterprises to bolster their defences. Some of the pressures cited include Phishing and Social Engineering attacks (42.9% of respondents), followed closely by malware and ransomware, and not to mention a glaring shortage of skilled cybersecurity talent. Yet, many businesses seem to be caught in a budgetary bind. While 25.5% of respondents believe ‘more than 15% of IT budget’ should be devoted to cyber security, only 5.9% of respondents are making such allocations. The result? A widening gap between the security measures organisations know they need and what they’re actually implementing. ASEAN’s Digital Transformation: Opportunities and Challenges Beyond AI and cyber security, the report shines a spotlight on how digital technologies are becoming key allies in addressing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals. Over half of ASEAN enterprises see digital tools as essential to tackling these challenges, underlining a growing alignment between innovation and sustainability. But hurdles remain. Legacy IT systems and organisational silos still hold back progress, with 41% of businesses identifying these as significant barriers to digital transformation. What’s Next for ASEAN Enterprises? To keep pace with the region’s rapid digital transformation, ASEAN enterprises are also focusing on emerging technologies beyond AI, including big data analytics, Internet of Things, and robotic process automation. However, challenges in talent acquisition, data readiness, and cyber security preparedness persist. To thrive in this ever growing landscape, enterprises need more than just cutting edge tech. They require robust strategies that balance innovation with sustainability, data governance, and cyber resilience. Explore exclusive country-specific insights and sector analyses in the AIBP ASEAN Enterprise Innovation Market Overview 2024/2025. Stay ahead in a dynamic market—register now for your access: https://www.aibp.sg/aibp-reports-2024 About the ASEAN Enterprise Innovation Market Overview Report Since 2016, the ASEAN Enterprise Innovation Market Overview Report has served as an insight into how digital transformation is shaping the Southeast Asia region. Each year it gathers insights from hundreds of business and technology leaders from various industries, offering valuable perspectives on trends, challenges and progress in the digital space. The survey highlights key areas like investment focus, technology adoption and challenges across countries. The ASEAN Enterprise Innovation Market Overview is a useful resource for business leaders, policy makers and innovators who want to understand the region’s digital growth and make informed choices. About ASEAN Innovation Business Platform (AIBP) AIBP serves as an avenue for public and private organisations in Southeast Asia to access information about enterprise growth and innovation. With a current network of over 30,000 stakeholders in Southeast Asia, AIBP continues to develop ecosystems by engaging in activities which create value-adding information for our stakeholders seeking to make transformative impacts within their organisations. For additional information about AIBP, please visit www.aibp.sg SOURCE ASEAN Innovation Business Platform (AIBP) The annual ASEAN Innovation Business Platform (AIBP) Enterprise Innovation Awards received 113 submissions from public and private organisations… The annual ASEAN Innovation Business Platform (AIBP) Enterprise Innovation Awards received 113 submissions from public and private organisations… Artificial Intelligence Publishing & Information Services Data Analytics Data Analytics Do not sell or share my personal information:
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REM (Real Estate Magazine) is Canada’s premier magazine for real estate professionals. REALTORS®, real estate agents, sales representatives, brokers, owners, administrators, and other real estate industry stakeholders read REM for news, analysis, and commentary on Canadian real estate. REM is independently owned and operated, and is not affiliated with any real estate association or board.
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