Green

Freddie Mac Multifamily Issued Over $53 Billion in 2023 Securities

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 4, 2024

A leading issuer of multifamily securities, Freddie Mac Multifamily settled $33.3 billion in K-Deals®, the company’s signature offering, over the year.

Key Points: 
  • A leading issuer of multifamily securities, Freddie Mac Multifamily settled $33.3 billion in K-Deals®, the company’s signature offering, over the year.
  • “In 2023, Freddie Mac Multifamily delivered on our mission as a steady and consistent issuer in the rental housing market, underscoring our countercyclical role to provide liquidity and stability in the face of headwinds,” said Jason Griest, vice president of Multifamily Securitization for Freddie Mac.
  • In another adaptation to market demand over the past year, Freddie Mac Multifamily issued the first 5-year K-Deal since 2016, closing eight 5-year transactions totaling $5.3 billion in 2023.
  • Freddie Mac has settled $682 billion in Multifamily securities through its K-Deal and various other risk-transfer offerings since the inception of the program in 2009.

15 literary podcasts to make you laugh, learn and join conversations about books

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 3, 2024

But the soaring popularity of podcasts like The Penguin Podcast and NPR’s Book of the Day reveals something more.

Key Points: 
  • But the soaring popularity of podcasts like The Penguin Podcast and NPR’s Book of the Day reveals something more.
  • As writer Tom McCallister points out, while traditional reviews may be in decline, literary podcasts are not just “filling the void”.
  • Like community reviews and the more recent surge of #BookTok and #Bookstagram content on social media, literary podcasts feed the rich social networks that form around books.
  • But literary podcasts invite audiences to engage with books and writing in all kinds of ways.

1. The Garret


If books are divisive, literary podcasts are too. What’s enjoyable for one listener might not work for another. My own listening habits are driven largely by curiosity rather than loyalty: I listen to episodes haphazardly, when a particular guest, topic or title tempts me, dropping down the rabbit hole of whichever book I happen to be reading.

  • That said, I return most often to The Garret, an Australian podcast for “lovers of books and storytelling”.
  • She interviews authors about craft, criticism and some of the stories behind the stories that have found their way to publication.

2. Secrets from the Green Room


Australians are some of the world’s most enthusiastic podcast listeners, so it’s little surprise we produce some of the best bookish podcasts around.
Secrets from the Green Room is dedicated to author stories you “won’t hear anywhere else”. Irma Gold and Karen Viggers publish new episodes every few weeks. They invite guests to candidly share their own experiences navigating the world of publication, landing on topics as varied as ghostwriting, the “creep” of imposter syndrome, and the challenges of teaching writing at university.

3. Read This


The Monthly’s weekly offering, Read This, features interviews with prominent writers from Australia and around the world. Its first episode took host Michael Williams (editor of The Monthly) to Helen Garner’s house for “conversation and cake”. Later guests have included Rebecca Makkai and George Saunders.

4. Beyond the Zero


Beyond the Zero also spotlights new titles through extended conversations with both local and international authors. Each episode is a deep dive into the books and writers that have influenced the guest, so far ranging from Booker winner Paul Lynch to Australian literary authors like Emmett Stinson on Gerald Murnane.

5. The First Time


On The First Time podcast, novelists Katherine Colette and Kate Mildenhall take readers behind the scenes, into the “logistics and feels of writing and publishing a book”. They regularly feature debut authors, as part of their (paid) Featured Book series. There’s also a Masters series, with veteran writers like Richard Flanagan, and episodes that deal with “awkward” conversations, including how book endorsements work.

6 & 7. ABC RN: The Bookshelf and The Book Show

  • On The Bookshelf, Kate Evans and Cassie McCullagh review newly published fiction, alongside guest reviewers, in hour-long episodes broadcast every Friday.
  • This year, The Book Show also ran a fascinating four-part series on literary fakes and frauds, starting with the John Hughes scandal.

8 & 9. The New Yorker: Fiction and Poetry podcasts

  • Each month, the magazine’s fiction editor, Deborah Treisman, invites some of the world’s most celebrated authors to read aloud from another author’s work.
  • (And if you’re a fan of the read-aloud format, you might also enjoy The New Yorker’s Poetry podcast.)

10. Backlisted


Presented by John Mitchinson and Andy Miller, Backlisted solicits a writerly guest to choose a book they love and wax lyrical about why it deserves a wider audience (like Jennifer Egan and Nell Stevens on Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South). Recently celebrating its 200th episode, Backlisted prides itself on “giving new life to old books” – a refreshing alternative to literary podcasts that focus almost exclusively on recent releases.

11. Overdue

  • Overdue, a podcast “about the books you’ve been meaning to read”, is also sure to add some dog-eared classics to your to-be-read pile.
  • Try the episode about Camus’s The Stranger if – like me – you only pretended to read it in high school.

12. Book Riot


For listeners interested in industry trends, the Book Riot podcast publishes weekly episodes that revolve loosely around “what’s new, cool, and worth talking about in the world of books and reading”. Jeff and Rebecca, who also edit the Book Riot website, serve up a gratifying mix of book-related commentary and news, including reading recommendations, awards chatter and emerging or evolving issues (think book bans and generative AI).

13. If Books Could Kill

  • If Books Could Kill offers a diverting but incisive take on “the airport bestsellers that captured our hearts and ruined our minds”.
  • As a scholar of self-help books, I was primed to regard this podcast with deep suspicion, but the episodes are well researched and thoroughly entertaining.

14. & 15. Reading Glasses and Marlon and Jake Read Dead People

  • Reading Glasses is a podcast about “reading better” that includes an episode on how to get borrowed books back.
  • And in Marlon and Jake Read Dead People, Man Booker Prize winning author Marlon James and his editor, Jake Morrissey, share big opinions on all things books, authors and writing – like our evergreen quandaries around reading good books by terrible people or judging a book by its cover.


Amber Gwynne does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Suffolk Adds Experienced Leader William Ellis to Mission Critical Group as Vice President, Business Development to Drive Strategic Growth

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Suffolk , one of the largest and most innovative real estate and construction enterprises in the country, has announced the strategic addition of industry veteran William Ellis as Vice President of Business Development for its Mission Critical Center of Excellence.

Key Points: 
  • Suffolk , one of the largest and most innovative real estate and construction enterprises in the country, has announced the strategic addition of industry veteran William Ellis as Vice President of Business Development for its Mission Critical Center of Excellence.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240103628742/en/
    William Ellis, newly appointed Vice President of Business Development for Suffolk's Mission Critical Center of Excellence.
  • (Photo: Business Wire)
    “Suffolk’s Mission Critical Center of Excellence is thrilled to welcome William, who I am confident will continue to drive our strategic growth and impressive project portfolio in this high-potential sector,” said Charles McCarthy, General Manager of Mission Critical at Suffolk.
  • “I am thrilled to join Suffolk’s Mission Critical team and provide unmatched client service to our valued partners in the data center industry,” said Mr. Ellis.

ESMA offers recommendations on digitalisation of retail investment services

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 2, 2024

ESMA offers recommendations on digitalisation of retail investment services

Key Points: 
  • ESMA offers recommendations on digitalisation of retail investment services
    The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s financial markets regulator and supervisor, has published today a discussion paper on the digitalisation of retail investment services and related investor protection considerations.
  • ESMA is seeking stakeholders input by 14 March 2024 on recommendations regarding online disclosures, digital tools, and marketing practices.
  • In the Discussion Paper ESMA explores the evolving landscape of retail investments.
  • Based on the supervisory experience of the National Competent Authorities (NCAs) and relevant academic literature, ESMA assesses both the opportunities and the potential risks linked to digitalisation.

Will the supply-and-confidence deal between the Liberals and NDP survive in 2024?

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, December 30, 2023

The deal eased the uncertainty facing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority government while allowing the NDP to take credit for some of the government’s social policy announcements.

Key Points: 
  • The deal eased the uncertainty facing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority government while allowing the NDP to take credit for some of the government’s social policy announcements.
  • That’s because of the Trudeau government’s failure in 2023 to deliver on pharmacare, a central aspect of the March 2022 agreement.

Past agreements

  • Inter-party agreements in Canadian Parliament are extremely rare.
  • Such supply-and-confidence agreements are common elsewhere in the Commonwealth, but largely unprecedented in Canadian politics.

Three factors at play

  • First, since Trudeau became prime minister in late 2015, the Liberals and NDP have moved closer together.
  • The two parties share more policies than in the past, especially in the area of social policy.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, provided an opportunity for greater co-operation in the design and implementation of temporary and expansive emergency measures.
  • Second, public support over the last four years has left the Liberals and the NDP in a tricky situation.

Political tensions

  • But currently, growing tensions between the Liberals and the NDP make the future of the agreement increasingly uncertain.
  • That’s largely because of the recent sharp decline in public support for the Liberals.
  • Singh has suggested the Liberals have only agreed to enact progressive policies that truly help Canadians when forced to do so by the NDP.

Death of the deal ahead?

  • Those types of agreements are much more common in Canada’s minority parliaments than formal legislative coalitions like the existing supply-and-confidence agreement.
  • The question for the NDP is whether it’s better off electorally with or without the agreement.


Daniel Béland receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Louis Massé receives funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Wyclef Jean and Caribbean International Commerce Announce First of Many Groundbreaking Technology and Infrastructure Hub Agreements in Plateau State, Nigeria

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Wyclef Jean and Caribbean International Commerce are paving the way for a new era of economic growth and creative expression in Plateau State, Nigeria.

Key Points: 
  • Wyclef Jean and Caribbean International Commerce are paving the way for a new era of economic growth and creative expression in Plateau State, Nigeria.
  • Stay tuned for more exciting updates on this groundbreaking partnership, as Wyclef Jean and Caribbean International Commerce continue to shape the future of commerce, entertainment, and sustainability.
  • Wyclef Jean, on the monumental agreement with Plateau State, Nigeria and Caribbean International Commerce, stated: "This partnership represents a fusion of creativity, sustainability, and economic empowerment.
  • The Wyclef Jean and Caribbean International Commerce is one of the key collaborations that will harvest the plethora of creative talents in Plateau State and export them to the world.

Sunrise New Energy Recognized as 2023 Green Manufacturing Enterprise in Guizhou Province, Facilitating Product Exports to Overseas Markets including Europe

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 12, 2023

ZIBO, China, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sunrise New Energy Co., Ltd. (“Sunrise”, the “Company”, “we” or “our”) (NASDAQ: EPOW), today announced its selection as the 2023 Green Manufacturing Enterprise in Guizhou Province. Organized by the Guizhou Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, the evaluation process involved recommendations from various cities and expert reviews, with the winning enterprises publicly announced on the official website of the Guizhou Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology. Sunrise's Green Factory has excelled in resource efficiency, energy consumption reduction, and environmental friendliness, making it the sole winning manufacturer of lithium battery anode materials in Guizhou Province, standing out from the fierce competition.

Key Points: 
  • ZIBO, China, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sunrise New Energy Co., Ltd. (“Sunrise”, the “Company”, “we” or “our”) (NASDAQ: EPOW), today announced its selection as the 2023 Green Manufacturing Enterprise in Guizhou Province.
  • Sunrise's Green Factory has excelled in resource efficiency, energy consumption reduction, and environmental friendliness, making it the sole winning manufacturer of lithium battery anode materials in Guizhou Province, standing out from the fierce competition.
  • Given the high environmental standards demanded by customers worldwide, being recognized as a Green Manufacturing Enterprise will facilitate Sunrise's products to enter the core supply chains in overseas markets.
  • "We are truly honored to receive this recognition," stated Mr. Haiping Hu, the Chairman of Sunrise.

UAE Pavilion Featured Events Underscore Cop28 Commitment to Multilevel Action, Focusing on Urbanization and Sustainable Built Environment/transport Initiatives

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 7, 2023

Dubai, UAE – 7 December 2023: During a series of high-level events hosted by the UAE Pavilion at COP28 on 6 December 2023, conversations focused on accelerating ambition and action on urbanization and sustainable built environment and transport initiatives to transform urban spaces and take progressive steps towards smart and sustainable transport systems that will help achieve Net Zero goals.

Key Points: 
  • Dubai, UAE – 7 December 2023: During a series of high-level events hosted by the UAE Pavilion at COP28 on 6 December 2023, conversations focused on accelerating ambition and action on urbanization and sustainable built environment and transport initiatives to transform urban spaces and take progressive steps towards smart and sustainable transport systems that will help achieve Net Zero goals.
  • The project supports the objectives of the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative, drives the circular economy and will reduce the carbon footprint of the transport sector.
  • This strategy intends to reduce the environmental impact by the equivalent of 2.1million vehicles per year and operational costs by AED3.3 billion by 2050.
  • For more information about the pavilion and the schedule of events taking place, please visit the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment Website , and the COP28 Website

At COP 28, JBS announces US$9 million investment to support mandatory traceability in Pará and improve livelihoods of small producers in the Amazon Region

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 1, 2023

Importantly, the effort focuses on improving the livelihoods of farmers and local communities, and eliminating the economic drivers of deforestation.

Key Points: 
  • Importantly, the effort focuses on improving the livelihoods of farmers and local communities, and eliminating the economic drivers of deforestation.
  • JBS is also leading a pilot project focused on implementing individual cattle traceability in Pará.
  • “JBS offers its full and unequivocal support of this effort as we believe full traceability with government support is critical to eliminating deforestation.
  • The company’s $9 million investment in Pará and the broader Amazon region will focus on empowering small producers with alternatives to improve their livelihoods while eliminating the economic drivers of deforestation.

Cloud Service Provider Net3 Selects Infinidat to Dramatically Improve Reliability, Performance, and Affordability of Enterprise Storage for Backup and Disaster Recovery Services

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 29, 2023

The company has gone from sub-par availability before Infinidat to now 100% availability with Infinidat.

Key Points: 
  • The company has gone from sub-par availability before Infinidat to now 100% availability with Infinidat.
  • “We switched to Infinidat because they solved a lot of the issues that other upper-right Magic Quadrant storage providers have.
  • With Infinidat, Net3 has transformed their customers’ experience, achieved zero downtime, and made enterprise storage truly transparent.
  • Leave enterprise storage to us − what we do best.”
    To read the Net3 case study, click here .