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Last updated on December 8th, 2022 at 02:46 pm
Apple to end support for iPhone 6S in iOS 15
Although the iPhone 6S turns six this year, Apple is still releasing the latest versions of iOS for this device. Thanks to this, the once flagship smartphone is still a great alternative to modern budget phones. It is reported that with the release of iOS 15, support for it, the original iPhone SE and the company’s other devices based on the A9 chipset will be discontinued.


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Gujarat’s ports attract Rs 36,000 crore investment
Indian and foreign firms committed an investment of nearly Rs 36,128 crore in Gujarat’s ports sector at the ninth Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit on Friday.
Port of Amsterdam signed atripartite agreement for developing a cruise terminal in Porbandar. An agreement was signed with Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) and JM Baxi & Co. A cumulative investment of Rs 800 crore is envisaged in developing the cruise terminal.
Chicago-based EagleRail Container Logistics, which has patented a technology to evacuate containers and other cargo directly from ships to the port area, also signed an MoU with GMB. If implemented, Gujarat ports could show the way to other ports in India in significantly reducing congestion and pollution.
“We are considering setting up ERC’s facility in ports like Porbandar or Magadalla. If dirty cargo like coal is handled through this system, it will help us create more infrastructure like cruise terminals which otherwise can’t be developed at such ports,” said a senior GMB officer.
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Mike Wychocki, chairman, ERC, told TOI: “The technology is an adaptation of overhead, suspended monorail for passenger movement. It was invented approximately some seven years ago due to a demand for a non-road and non-ground rail container movement solution to take containers in and out of the ports.”
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"FM Logistic plans to strengthen its position in India by delivering on its post GST strategy of focusing on developing multi-client warehouses in the most important Indian Economic Zones," CEO Jean-Christophe Machet said. France-based FM Logistic Friday said it plans...
Naspers, Africa’s largest company based on market value, is gearing up to spend $1 billion in India in the form of investments focused on the financial technology market. According to a report in Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, Naspers is looking...
Spanish fashion and fragrance company Puig SL has marked its entry into India by picking a minority stake in private equity-backed Kama Ayurveda Pvt. Ltd. Puig will infuse Rs 100 crore ($14.4 million at current exchange rate) as part of the transaction and will have...
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News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services.
Ex-Starbucks worker spills secrets on how to get a FREE coffee & discounts
New Starbucks coffee packs in 17tsps of sugar more than FIVE Krispy Kremes
Starbucks sued after 'tea burns man's genitals' making sex 'awkward & painful'
Starbucks' pumpkin spice lattes are coming back next week
Target sacks worker who made drink with 'bleach & blood of innocent black man'
Starbucks worker 'admits spitting in cops' coffees and even boasted about it'
Starbucks and Pepsi boycotting Facebook over ‘failure to stop hate speech’
Customer slams barista refusing to serve her without a mask…so fans 'tip' him £32k
Investigation launched after cop ‘finds tampon in his Starbucks frappuccino'
Starbucks WILL allow Black Lives Matter clothing for employees after backlash
Starbucks to close up to 400 stores as coronavirus decimates dine-in business
Starbucks' summer pink drink has twice an adult’s daily sugar allowance
Woman reveals how to make Starbucks' strawberries and cream frappuccino at home
Hospital workers treated to freebies from Dunkin’, Subway, and Nike
Starbucks bans customers from using eco-friendly cups over coronavirus fears


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We’ve been calling Samsung’s early-2021 flagship the Galaxy S30, but a leak suggests it may be the Galaxy S21.
When Samsung’s Galaxy S series reached its tenth iteration with the S10 we thought the successor would be named the Galaxy S11 – but it turned out to be the Galaxy S20. Now, many have been assuming the next handset in the line would be the Galaxy S30, but a reputable leaker has referred to it as the Galaxy S21.
This leaker is @UniverseIce, who has a pretty solid track record of smartphone leaks, especially regarding Samsung products – and they’re the first big leaker who correctly predicted the name of the Galaxy S20.
In a tweet, @UniverseIce simply stated ‘Galaxy S21, Project”U”‘. While it’s clear what the first part of the message means – the new phones will, according to the leaker, be called the Galaxy S21 – the latter half isn’t as clear.
It’s not likely the internal codename for the phone, as Samsung typically uses art-related terms for this – the Galaxy Note 10 was codenamed Da Vinci for example – and while ‘U’ could be referring to the Galaxy S21 Ultra, UniverseIce also did that in a separate tweet, so we can’t know for sure.
That separate tweet regarding the Galaxy S21 Ultra simply names it, as well as stating it’ll have a…
Read full article


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Love is in the air or shall I say the kitchen.
With nine days until the celebration of love – or like, as the case might be – restaurants are luring couples with a number of Valentine’s Day specials.
Lucky Moose, 622 E. Dupont Road, will be doing something a little different this year as the holiday falls on a Friday, owner Mark Melchi says.
That day, they’ll have combination specials such as sashimi tuna and a tuna sushi roll, steak and shrimp, and crab cakes and shrimp. Entrées will cost between $13.13 and $15.15 and will include a dessert crepe station.
On Feb. 15, Lucky Moose will offer its buffet that will feature shrimp, crawfish, chicken, ribs, a variety of fish, desserts and the soup and salad bar.
Reservations are recommended. Call 490-5765.
Anthis Career Center students will be hosting a Valentine’s event at Barr Street Café, 1200 S. Barr St., Tuesday through Feb. 14. Students will prepare and serve a choice menu that includes French onion soup, house salad, baked cod, chicken pasta, stuffed pork loin and coconut shrimp with sour cream-lime dressing. Desserts will include chocolate cups with cappuccino mousse and red velvet cake. Entrées will cost between $5.95 and $6.95.
Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and reservations are required. Call 467-1031.
Shigs In Pit, 2008 Fairfield Ave., is offering couples two ways to celebrate, whether they want to stay home or go out.
For those who are cuddling up on the couch, the carry-out special is a slab of ribs, four sides and four pieces of garlic toast for $25.99. If you want to head out to the south-side restaurant, there will be two specials – two two-meat plates, drinks and strawberry shortcakes for $26.99; and two rib-and-meat plates, drinks and strawberry shortcakes for $29.99.
Quaker Steak & Lube, 407 Coliseum Blvd. W., will offer two-for-$22 meals. The menu includes a shareable appetizer, such as Boom Boom Shrimp or Stick Shifters, and two full-size signature entrées such as the Crispy Shrimp Basket and Sesame Chicken Rice Bowl.
After serving the north side of Fort Wayne for six years, Agaves Mexican Grill is taking its Blue Agave Margarita and going east.
The Mexican restaurant will open a second location at 10460 Maysville Road, in the Chapel Ridge Shopping Center. Agaves owner Juan Carlos Leon and his crew have been working at the former Vince’s Restaurant location for three months and hope to be open in two weeks.
Leon says inspections have not yet been scheduled but will likely be next week with the opening to follow.
The menu and hours will be the same as the original East Washington Center Road restaurant, but the Maysville location will have a bigger bar.
Ivy Tech café open
Kelty’s Kafé is up and running at Ivy Tech Community College Northeast.
The restaurant is open to students and the community from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays through April 30 in Anthony Commons on Coliseum Campus, 3800 N. Anthony Blvd. It is closed March 12 for spring break. Each week, a different student runs the restaurant, choosing everything from its theme to its menu.
Today’s theme will be Comforting Foods for the Soul. Others include Germanfest, Korean and brunch.
Menchie’s, 6408 W. Jefferson Blvd., will be celebrating National Frozen Yogurt Day on Thursday. Fans can go to the Menchie’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MyMenchies) to print out a coupon, which is good for a free 6-ounce cup of frozen yogurt.
East State Coney, 2831 E. State Blvd., is offering a pre-Lenten special. Coneys will be $1 every Friday in February. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The Stand Coneys & Ice Cream, 5200 Bluffton Road, will reopen in less than a month, on March 3.


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War of the Worlds - 1953 Release
2017 Chevrolet Bolt targets Tesla - $37,500 to start.
Chevrolet sent a message to media and the world at the 2015 North American Auto Show with...
2014 Mazda Miata MX-5 Review - Fuel door release within between seat center storage
GM 2013 Fourth quarter and Full Year earnings release - Last 5 trading days
2012 Hyundai Accent SE - Interior Fuel Door Release.
Speed and Valet Alert are just two of many new features that will be incorporated into future Hyundai?s.
At CES, Hyundai introduced Blue Link,...
Ford's rollout of its next generation of small cars will hit an important milestone when the new Fiesta is revealed in December at the Los Angeles...
Coda BEV Sedan - 2010 Release to CA marketplace - www.CleanMPG.com
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Spotify has already invested around $1 billion in podcasting between its acquisitions, exclusive deals and other partnerships. Now, it wants people to do more than just listen — it wants them to watch, too. The company announced today it’s opening access to a new tool for creators that will allow them to begin publishing their video podcasts to its service. The tool will be provided by the company’s podcast creation platform Anchor, and expands on the global launch of video podcasts last year, which encompassed only a select group of creators.
At the time, Spotify said its debut lineup of video podcasts included Spotify Originals and Exclusives, as well as some third-party podcasts. But there wasn’t a way for any creator to publish video to the service. Instead, they would have to turn to other video platforms, like YouTube.
Now, that’s changing. With Anchor, creators will be able to upload their videos through their account, similar to how they create and publish audio episodes today. Once published, fans can listen to the podcasts across platforms, including through the Spotify mobile app, desktop app, web player and on most smart TVs and game consoles. Creators will also be able to monetize their videos as they do their audio podcasts through the use of subscriptions.
While creators can set their pricing and determine what a subscription includes, Spotify suggests subscriptions could provide access to exclusive video content or even unlock the video portion of the creator’s podcasts. The video podcasts can also incorporate the creator’s existing advertising partnerships, and soon they’ll support the newer Automated Ads, too.
While Spotify is officially opening access to Anchor creators, the feature is being rolled out gradually. That means interested creators will have to sign up for a waitlist for the time being. For comparison, Apple already offers video podcasting hosting to all creators using all hosting solutions.
In the meantime, Spotify’s video lineup will include video podcasts from its Originals and Exclusives, like The Ringer’s Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay and The Joe Rogan Experience; and it will include other video creators who will now publish on Spotify, including Philip DeFranco, Jasmine Chiswell, The WAN Show, Juicy Scoop with Heather McDonald and more to come.
Spotify has tried and failed to expand into video in years past. Its first efforts in original video half a decade ago largely flopped, and the company shelved its video plans for some time. But more recently, the company signaled its potential interest in returning to video when it acquired sports network The Ringer, which came with a YouTube-based video operation. It then went on to make more deals that could translate to video, like the one with TikTok star turned Netflix actress Addison Rae.
The expansion of video to more podcast creators directly follows news that YouTube is now also considering investing further in its own podcasting efforts. Bloomberg this month reported the company is hiring its first executive focused on podcasts. This may have encouraged Spotify to promote its own video podcasting efforts, even though the actual access to start uploading is still blocked by a waitlist.
Currently, to find video content on Spotify, you’ll need to navigate to the episode page from the show you want to watch, then hit play to start the episode. From the play bar at the bottom of the screen, you can tap to view the video in full-screen mode. You can then choose to either listen or watch the program, depending on what you’re doing.
There isn’t yet an easy way to see all the podcasts that are video-enabled, however. Spotify also declined to share how many podcasts would be available as videos at launch, but said it expected to have rolled out access to “thousands” by year-end.


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All signs are indicating smartphone giant Apple will soon announce its serious entry into the immersive 3D technology sector based on industry chatter, patent filing information and the recent hiring of ‘CPU Software and Audio Engineer’, Nick Thompson.
It also makes sense given just about everyone, including Facebook, Google, Samsung and HTC, is planning a 3D headset of some sort for launch in 2016, which will likely be the year 3D displays hit the mainstream.
The experts say rumors have been floating around for several years that Apple was building a team to "explore the augmented reality (AR) space", yet nothing had ever been confirmed. They say these rumours now appeared to be more fact than fiction with the appointment of Thompson, who formerly headed Microsoft’s HoloLens engineering team.
The experts said one interesting aspect of the new hire was that it really was a rehire as Thompson's LinkedIn profile shows he has had a previous stint of seven years at Apple, as the senior engineering manager of the company's audio software division. His industry profiles shows he was responsible for design, implementation and execution of Mac product’s built-in audio systems as well as the first-generation Apple TV.
Gene Munster, a Piper Jaffray analyst with a good track record on Apple calls said “Based on recent acquisitions of augmented reality companies, hiring of a key Microsoft Hololens employee, and conversations with industry contacts within the virtual and augmented reality spaces, we believe Apple has a team exploring the AR space,” he said.
Munster also noted that the acquisition of AR company Metaio by Apple was further evidence of the company' intentions. Metaio is the holder of 171 worldwide patents and patent pending applications.
The experts say that following HoloLens’ "impressive debut" at the launch event for Microsoft’s Windows 10 in January this year, awareness of AR had been raised considerably as it showed that such hardware was possible with existing technology.
Munster said "We believe AR audio is often thought of as not important or secondary to the experience, however, we believe positional audio is what sells the experience and convinces the user there is a real object in front of you or behind you. The ability to re-create sound coming from a distinct location and changes based on proximity and direction of the object should not be overlooked."


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Jockey club?s sponsors? race in the barriers
THE Rockhampton Jockey Club has launched a new promotion titled the $100,000 Rockhampton Gold Cup 2006 "100 Club'' which proposes to lure an extra "hundred grand'' in sponsorship dollars for the race club.
The concept requires individuals or businesses to buy $1000 packages from the RJC whereby only 100 sponsorship tickets are sold.
Each member of the 100 Club is guaranteed a sponsorship prize with the basic package listed in value at $2000 which incorporates naming rights of a race, race-day signage, media advertising as well as complimentary admission and members' tickets.
Prizes from the fifth prized ticket drawn down to the winner at a gala black-tie dinner at the Frenchville Sports Club on April 28, rise in sponsorship package value whereby the major prize is listed by the RJC at a value of $55,000.
RJC promotions officer Russell Leonard said this included the naming rights to the $100,000 Rockhampton Gold Cup on Saturday, June 10 this year.


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Fleet operators have limited visibility into or influence on their drivers’ behavior on the road, even though it has a direct impact on their fleet’s operating costs, reputation and performance. HUB International has teamed with DriveCam to provide a solution which can dramatically reduce the costs of unsafe driving. The DriveCam solution can also help reduce fraudulent claims and fuel waste while protecting Continue Reading
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The 2009 credit crisis has affected all types of industries across the nation, including the trucking industry. Its devastating effects have reached thousands of suppliers, forcing many business owners to freeze production and shut down, thereby eliminating the need to ship goods or products on trucks.
Since the economic downturn kicked into high gear at the end of 2008, many trucking companies have been struggling to keep their heads above water and stay on the road. Recent reports show that individual truckers have seen their salaries decrease by 5% or more. The latest data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics states Continue Reading
Right Here, Right Now: 3 Basic Areas of Cost-Reduction to Help Trucking Companies to Survive a Down Economy
The trucking industry is suffering the aches and pains of this disastrous economy along with the rest of the country: loads are down while fuel prices remain relatively high. According to the U.S Department of Transportation Statistics, the Freight Transportation Services Index has declined a whopping 14.8 percent in the last 11 months alone. Although Continue Reading
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A MAN has been jailed for eight weeks after he was convicted of attempting to steal more than £120 worth of alcohol from Marks and Spencer in Evesham.
Richard Howlett, 35, of Wych Road, Droitwich, was charged with twice breaching his Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) which stopped him from entering shops in Droitwich.
He was also convicted of shoplifting from theWorcester Road store on Monday and disorderly behaviour during the same incident.
Kidderminster Magistrates Court heard how the store manager confronted Howlett about the theft and was threatened with violence when he gave chase in a bid to get the stock back. The majority of the alcohol was recovered but Howlett escaped with one bottle.
Howlett was arrested on Tuesday.


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FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WSMV) -- Police are investigating a violent carjacking outside a Walmart early Saturday morning in Franklin.
Police say the incident happened at the Walmart on Mallory Lane just before 3 a.m.
A man was parked near the front of the store while waiting for his wife who was shopping inside the store. Two black men approached his vehicle, produced handguns and ordered him out of the vehicle.
The men took off in the couples 2017 maroon Honda Accord with the Tennessee license plate #1H8-7A6.
The suspects are described as two black males in their late teens to their early 20s. They were wearing all black, including hoodies pulled tightly around their heads to conceal their identities.
If you have any information about this case, please contact the Franklin Crime Stoppers at 615-794-4000 or click here to submit an anonymous tip online. Tips leading to an arrest may qualify for a cash reward.


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French retailer Carrefour and its local partner will open two stores in Egypt in 2002, undeterred by British supermarket chain Sainsbury's decision to pull out of the country, the partner said.
An official at Majid al-Futtaim (MAF) Egypt, a subsidary of the Dubai-based MAF group of companies, told Reuters that MAF had begun building two shopping malls in March, one in Cairo and the other in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, where the hypermarkets will be located.
“We've started constructing the two malls which will contain the hypermarkets that we will lease to the joint venture company,” MAF-Egypt General Manager for Business Development Mohamed Galal said.
Carrefour in Paris confirmed that its partner al-Futtaim “is looking for sites in Egypt”, but would not be more specific.
Galal said MAF had made investments of close to LE800 million ($206 million) since it entered the Egyptian market in 1998. The company has purchased land for a total of four malls it plans to build. All four are due to contain Carrefour hypermarkets, he said.
Asked about Sainsbury's decision to pull the plug on its Egypt operation, Galal said: “We feel Egypt has good potential, otherwise we would not invest these large amounts of money in Egypt.”
Sainsbury announced early this week that it was selling its 80.1% stake in its Egyptian operations to its minority partner, al-Nasharty group.
“In the current economic situation, there is a need for discount stores, and the hypermarket concept is a discount store where all items are available for the target (customers) who are middle class,” Galal said.
Sainsbury tried, with its network of over 100 stores, to tap into a wider-based market, usually served by local stores. Some analysts considered this a departure from the traditional foreign supermarket target of serving mostly upmarket customers.
At a time of strained Israeli-Arab relations, Sainsbury was dogged by rumours that it had Israeli links. Sainsbury Chief Executive Peter Davis called the speculation unfounded.
Galal said each hypermarket would cost MAF Egypt some LE50 million to build. ($1=3.88 Egyptian pounds).
This article was first published by Reuters on 11 April 2001.


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Elders are back at Beef Australia 2021
We are counting down the days until the biggest event on the Beef Industry calendar. Join us as we share sneak peeks in the lead up to BEEF21, as well as exclusive deals from our event partners available at Elders branches across the country. The popular Elders Pavilion will play host to the latest innovations for beef producers, stay tuned for more announcements.
Win a trip to BEEF21 winner announced
The new owner of Murranji Station and eight cattle properties sprawling across Queensland, Kevin Pickersgill, will be heading to Beef Australia 2021 in Rockhampton. It came as something of a surprise for the grazier.
“Beef Australia really showcases our industry and it’s just a good place to go shopping and meet people,” Mr Pickersgill said.
Carbon farming featured on ‘What’s Your Beef?’
Listen as Michael, head of the Thomas Elder Institute, and host of the What’s Your Beef? Podcast, Jayne Cuddihy, take a deep-dive into the opportunities of carbon farming for beef businesses and get a taste of some of the innovations in sustainable beef production to be showcased at BEEF21. Listen below:
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And BoA, Citigroup review policies allowing credit cards to buy bitcoin.
From Bloomberg: European banks may have scored a victory in having the Basel III capital standards toned down, but that doesn’t mean they can rest on their laurels. There are more battles to come in 2018, in particular lobbying lawmakers on a series of measures designed to reduce risk in the system. The regulations are deemed a vital step toward the banking union that the euro zone hopes will secure its future.
From Reuters: JPMorgan Chase & Co sees brick-and-mortar banking as essential to expanding into more than a dozen markets over five years, even though customers do 80 percent of their transactions online or at ATMs, a bank executive said on Tuesday. “Seventy-five percent of our deposit growth comes from customers who use our branches,” Thasunda Duckett, chief executive of Chase consumer banking said in an interview. “Customers still visit branches, on average, four times a quarter.”
From CNBC: Friction is increasing between some credit card companies and customers who want to use the cards to buy cryptocurrencies. Bank of America and Citigroup are reviewing policies that allow customers to buy bitcoin with credit cards. The reviews follow news about two weeks ago that Capital One Financial has decided to prohibit cryptocurrency purchases.
Do you know more about this story? Contact us anonymously through this link.


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The Herman Trend Alert|
December 20, 2006
Spam Affecting Productivity
When Joyce was in the Direct Marketing industry decades ago, she likened advertising mail (to call it "junk" was sacrilegious) to a flower that blooms in the wrong place. No matter how beautiful it was, it was characterized as "a weed". So it is with unwanted advertising e-mails. We call them "spam".
According to a Reuters report out of London, spam now accounts for a full 90 percent of all e-mails. The report details that "criminal gangs using hijacked computers are behind a surge in unwanted e-mails peddling sex, drugs, and stock tips".
A U.S. e-mail security company, Postini, reports that "The number of spam messages has tripled since June and now accounts for as many as nine out of ten e-mails sent worldwide". Reuters observed that "as Christmas approaches, the daily trawl through in-boxes clogged with offers of fake Viagra, loans, and sex aids is tipped to take even longer." Taking longer not only reduces productivity, but also increases the visibility of the "advertising" messages.
In November, Postini detected an astounding 7 billion spam e-mails across the globe, compared to 2.5 billion in June. "About 200 illegal gangs are behind 80 percent of unwanted e-mails, according to Spamhaus, a spam-tracking agency.
To create these billions of spam messages, millions of home computers are hijacked to send these increasingly annoying unwanted messages e-mails. These "zombie networks", also called "botnets", can link 100,000 home computers unbeknownst to their owners’. These networks are then leased to gangs who use their enormous "free" computing power to send millions of e-mails with relative anonymity.
A study released last year by the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business reported that computer users spent an average of three minutes a day or 22.9 million hours per week deleting spam e-mail. That time translated to a loss of productivity and a financial loss of $21.58 billion per year. And that was last year when spam levels were far lower than they are now. All of these numbers make the case for a investing in more robust spam-blocking software to reduce the loss of productivity.
© Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurist. 336-210-3548 or https://hermangroup.com. To sign up, visit https://HermanTrendAlert.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc."
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Could this be the year your grandparents start using cannabis? According to a new survey from Prohibition Partners, 80% of adults over the age of 55 said that they have not used cannabis, CBD or CBD/hemp infused goods in the last 12 months, but would be interested in trying them in the year ahead.
In addition, the survey found that 55% of non-cannabis users aged 55-64 “strongly agree” that cannabis should be legalized for recreational use, more than any other age group.
The new data was released ahead of the Prohibition Partners LIVE virtual conference on 22nd and 23rd June which will explore the latest information and research regarding this relatively untapped market. The event will feature live-streamed keynotes and panel talks from CEOs, policymakers and cultural leaders across five virtual stages
The poll by Prohibition Partners, one of the cannabis industry’s leading sources for data and large-scale analysis, surveyed 15,000 adults across North America and Europe regarding their usage, attitudes, and purchasing habits involving cannabis. A press release containing the results did not give a margin of error or say when or how the survey was conducted.
The poll found that “medical use”was the most popular reason respondents gave for their interest in cannabis, and that “older people surveyed are significantly more likely to say that they have used or would consider using cannabinoid products for health and wellness reasons,” the Prohibition Partners press release stated.
Medical use was the most popular reason for interest in cannabis, and with prescription cannabis being legal in 33 states in the US, plus having been legal in the UK since a change in legislation in 2018, this could create a serious opportunity for the industry if it can position itself as a healthy and safe way to maintain health.
According to Prohibition Partners, respondents over 55 are most likely new to the cannabis industry, and may “also need a little more help in navigating this immature and still rather disorganized market which they typically find overwhelming and confusing.”
Recent research provides more evidence to support the results of the Prohibition Partners survey.
According to a study published in February, cannabis legalization has contributed to a 75% relative increase in use among Americans over the age of 65. The study found that the percentage of Americans over 65 who had reported using marijuana in the previous year increased from 2.4% in 2015 to 4.2% in 2018. The results were even more dramatic for female residents, almost doubling from 1.5% to 2.9%.
Perhaps the most interesting statistic though, was when the researchers looked back a little further. They found that in 2006 only 0.4% of Ameicans over 65 had used cannabis in the previous year, a figure that increased 10 fold by just 12 years later.
The increase is mainly linked to legalization, but also to the mainstreaming of marijuana use in recent years, especially for the treatment of health conditions. According to a 2018 national poll on aging, of American seniors, 70% said they would consider asking their health practitioners about using cannabis to treat a health condition. And with about 85% of seniors using medication on a daily basis, it’s easy to understand why many believe this age group holds so much promise for the cannabis industry.
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text: Daily Market Color November 15, 2017Yield Curve Flattens as Inflation Firms, Retail Sales Remain Strong Progress in Core Inflation Consumer price data for October finally provided some optimism for Fed officials ahead of next month’s FOMC meeting. The Labor Department’s overall consumer price index increased 0.1% last month (+0.1%e, +0.5%p), boosted by increases in housing and medical costs, both of which rose 0.3% last month — helping to offset the 1% decline in energy prices. Also in-line with expectations, core CPI rose 0.2% during October. Compared to a year earlier, overall CPI increased 2.0% (2.2%p) while core CPI advanced 1.8% (1.7%p), reflecting acceleration in core inflation on an annual basis for the first time since January. Also detailed in the report, average hourly earnings grew 0.4% compared to a year earlier. Retail Sales Keep Rolling Sales at US retailers were strong for a second consecutive month during October – a positive indicator heading into the holiday season. Overall retail sales rose 0.2% (no change expected) last month following the robust 1.9% upwardly revised gain in September, which was largely impacted by outsized post-hurricane motor vehicle and building material sales. Increases during October were recorded in nine of the thirteen main categories, including sporting goods (+1.5%), clothing (+0.8%) and grocery (+0.7%). Retail sales within the core group, which excludes autos, gasoline and construction materials, increased 0.3% MoM. US stock markets were unimpressed by today’s positive economic data, as all three major indices declined 0.5%-0.6% during the trading session, weighed down by a 1.2% drop in energy shares. The tumble in energy shares corresponded with a 0.7% fall in crude oil futures, which extended yesterday’s decline after the IEA reported the expectation for reduced demand and increased US production over the next decade. The flattening of the Treasury yield curve continued, as yields/swap rates declined 1-7 bps across the curve in a bull-flattening pattern, with the 10-year note yield sliding 5 bps to 2.32%. Tax reform continues to be a central theme influencing the growth outlook of investors. This afternoon, further complications were added to the Senate’s proposed tax plan after Republican Senator Ron Johnson publicly voiced opposition to the bill, stating that the measures unfairly helped corporations more than other business entities. Combined with yesterday’s announcement of the inclusion of a repeal of the ACA mandate as part of the Senate plan, prospects for a timely passage of the Senate’s tax bill face increased skepticism. Consumer Financial Watchdog Steps Down In regulatory news, Richard Cordray, the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced plans today to leave the agency at the end of November. This is welcome news to Congressional Republicans, who have had a strong desire to revamp the agency. This vacancy will enable President Trump to appoint a more business-friendly replacement and promote more deregulation in the financial sector. It has been expected that Mr. Cordray would resign amid speculation that he intends to enter the Ohio gubernatorial race as a Democrat.


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Apple has approved a Spotify application that allows users to stream music straight to their iPhones.
The application, which was submitted to the iTunes App Store for approval in July, will be free to use but requires a £9.99 monthly premium Spotify subscription, according to BBC News.
Spotify founder Daniel Ek told the BBC that he thought the app would mean a rise in premium subscriptions.
“We’re scaling up the systems because response has been tremendous even before the app is available,” he said.
As well as streaming music to their phones, the application enables users to temporarily store playlists that can be listened to even when there is no wireless connection.
Spotify has over six million users across Europe, including two million in the UK.


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Record number of returns expected this holiday season
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Shipping company UPS says return activity will likely peak on Jan. 2, when it expects roughly two million packages to be sent back to retailers.
“Retailers are having to spend more operating expense on taking returns, processing returns, moving returns than they ever have before as more business moves online and the competition gets stiffer — not just for one-day shipping, but also for fast and seamless returns processes,” said Joel Bines, a managing director of retail analysis at AlixPartners.
But there may be a silver lining for retailers.
“A lot of these returns happen in-store and anytime a consumer is in a store, there’s an opportunity for them to buy more things,” said Mark Mathews, head of research at the National Retail Federation.
It’s also cheaper for stores to process returns in-store. It costs retailers $3 per package when items are returned to stores and twice that when they’re shipped to a distribution center.
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As published by the USTR TODAY: USTR Announces Next Steps on Proposed 10 Percent Tariff on Imports from China
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) today announced the next steps in the process of imposing an additional tariff of 10 percent on approximately $300 billion of Chinese imports.
On May 17, 2019, USTR published a list of products imported from China that would be potentially subject to an additional 10 percent tariff. This new tariff will go into effect on September 1 as announced by President Trump on August 1.
Certain products are being removed from the tariff list based on health, safety, national security and other factors and will not face additional tariffs of 10 percent.


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Global Tech Roundup: Bay Area, London Booming; Visa Eyes 2,000 Tech Pros (Sept. 14, 2015)
The San Francisco Bay Area is the best place in the U.S. to raise capital as a startup, according to new data from the Financial Solutions Lab (FinLab), a startup support program run by the Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI) and JPMorgan Chase. Using data from its Cash Flow Management Competition, which attracted 298 startup entrants earlier this year, FinLab found that those based in the San Francisco area raked in an average of 71 percent more in funding—despite having around the same number of employees and customers as startups based in other parts of the country. The Bay Area and greater New York City comprised a combined 38 percent of competition entrants, FinLab said.
In other startup news, London currently is hosting 10 of Australia’s most promising fintech startups in a government-sponsored visit intended to help the city attract more young tech talent to bolster the its expanding fintech industry. While in London, the Australian companies will present at London Fintech Week and visit a startup incubator to explore opportunities for collaboration and expansion.
Finally, Visa Inc. is making a major push to add new technology professionals to boost its digital financial services business areas. The payments network already has hired 1,000 of the 2,000 new employees it intends to add by 2017, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. Visa is particularly focused on hiring software developers and security experts, who will help supercharge the company’s efforts in areas, including mobile apps, wearables and blockchain-based technologies, the report said.


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Inflation remains top of mind for small business owners grappling with margin pressure.
Ashley Hubka, senior vice president and general manager of Walmart Business, told PYMNTS in a recent interview that there’s also increased focus on the part of small and midsized businesses (SMBs) and nonprofits to navigate the uncertain macroeconomic environment.
Business owners and executives seem to take control where they can over rising prices, where the cost of everything from coffee to Band-Aids to safety equipment on the factory floor — the cost to keep the company stocked and running, so to speak, as work from home gives way to hybrid business models — has gotten more expensive.
According to Hubka, simply raising prices is a strategy with only so much leeway before there’s pushback from end customers. There are other levers to pull. Hubka noted that, as a general trend, Walmart has seen a pivot on the part of business customers (mirrored by consumers, too) toward private label brands.
But many smaller businesses also recognize the need to more closely track and trim operational costs — including what they spend on supplies, who’s doing the spending — and when. That sounds relatively easy in concept but remains a challenge in practice. Most firms don’t have dedicated procurement officers in place, and the far-flung nature of most workforces renders it a challenge to have up-to-the-minute visibility into spend management. Monthly credit statements have a lagging effect when tracking a company’s outbound cash flows.
In response, having debuted roughly a year ago, Walmart Business, which Hubka described as “an analogue” of Walmart itself — has been adding new features, including spend analytics in a way that democratizes those processes and services and gives smaller organizations the same insight that typically is a hallmark of their larger brethren. It’s a new tool that lets Walmart Business+ users track their organizational spending granularly — by user, top categories, and items purchased. The analytics, said Hubka, bolster the Walmart Business goal to offer an “omnichannel retail experience” for SMB and nonprofit customers spanning both online and brick-and-mortar conduits.
As such, she said, the focus has been on a trio of needs for these smaller firms, regardless of vertical, geographic focus or size: The need to save money while simplifying their purchasing processes.
Business managers, she added, “want to stay in control — and they want to stay in stock” as they improve their operational efficiencies.
The real-time data, she told PYMNTS, means that decision-makers with an organizational Walmart Business account and several users sharing a payment credential can “reach more quickly, and manage more actively…. this is about how we serve you in your office, your break room, your restroom, your facility,” with the items that are specific to a given profession, industry sector and vertical. Walmart Business, she added, also provides an additional opportunity for Walmart marketplace sellers to bring their assortment that’s business and organization-specific to market — and boost the range of items on offer to Walmart Business customers, too.
Asked by PYMNTS which categories are most in demand, Hubka said that food and consumables, in general, “have been very strong,” as have paper towels and cleaning supplies, electronics and office supplies. The subscription model on offer to all Walmart Business customers allows for many of those items to be replenished consistently. The subscriptions, she said, can be pushed out or paused as situations warrant (the multi-user accounts, she said, prove especially advantageous in a hybrid work environment).
The positive ripple effect, said Hubka, is that better spend management translates into more robust cash flow.
Looking ahead, she told PYMNTS that businesses will continue to embrace omnichannel options — such as curbside pickup or deliveries — that they’ve gotten used to as consumers. And in the fall, she said, the company will seek to introduce the ability to impose spending limits and approval flows that can be tailored to be account or buyer-specific.
“If you’re a small business and suddenly you’re able to have a real time view of spending across your organization — today and not at the end of the month,” said Hubka, “it equips small business owners with tools and information, and synthesized data, that’s meaningful so they can manage their budgets and make better ‘buying policy’ decisions.”
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In an impressive financial feat, JD.com, the largest ecommerce retailer in China, has posted profit and revenue figures that exceeded analysts’ expectations. The company, which has been adept at navigating the economic downturn in China, has successfully lured consumers with competitively priced offerings, outmaneuvering rivals such as Baidu, Alibaba, and Pinduoduo. The company’s net income leaped by 50% to 6.6 billion yuan ($0.9 billion), with revenue rising by a solid 7.6% to 287.9 billion yuan ($39.7 billion). This performance comes despite the company’s American depositary receipts (ADRs) shedding more than 41% of their value since the start of the year.
The commendable performance of JD.com comes against a backdrop of economic turbulence in China. The country’s economy has been beset by a series of challenges, including slowing growth, escalating debt, a burst property bubble, and tepid domestic demand. China’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose a mere 3% last year, marking the slowest pace in decades, barring the pandemic-induced slump in early 2020. The economic slowdown is also evidenced by the country slipping into deflation in July, a stark anomaly among large economies grappling with inflation.
JD.com: Lower Price Strategy Pays Off Amid Economic Downturn in China
Chinese ecommerce juggernaut JD.com (JD) has astoundingly surpassed analysts’ projections, reporting increased profit and sales figures. The company’s tactic of providing lower-priced products has paid off, attracting customers amidst an economic downturn in China and stiff competition from other retailers.
JD.com’s Revenue and Profit Soar
JD.com reported a significant 50% surge in net income, registering 6.6 billion yuan ($0.9 billion), up from 4.4 billion yuan ($0.6 billion) from the previous year. The company’s revenue was equally impressive, amounting to 287.9 billion yuan ($39.7 billion), a 7.6% increase from the same quarter last year, surpassing the estimated 278.85 billion yuan ($38.3 billion). Service revenue also saw a significant leap, rising 30% to 54.1 billion yuan ($7.5 billion).
A Winning Strategy Amidst Economic Slowdown
As China’s largest online retailer in terms of revenue, JD.com managed to hold its ground despite the broader economic slowdown in the country. The company’s low-cost strategy appealed to consumers, allowing it to effectively compete and snatch market share from rivals including Baidu (BIDU), Alibaba (BABA), and Pinduoduo (PDD). Moreover, the retailer attracted more vendors to its platform, thanks to reduced onboarding costs and launched a "10 billion yuan" subsidy program, which added more customers.
Sandy Xu, JD.com’s CEO, expressed satisfaction with the company’s solid performance for the second quarter, attributing the success to the company’s enhanced business structure and leading supply chain capabilities.
China’s Economic Challenges
China’s economy has been grappling with significant challenges recently, including slowed growth, rising debt, a property bubble burst, and weak domestic demand. The country’s GDP rose a meager 3% last year, the slowest pace in decades, excluding the pandemic shock in early 2020. Retail sales fell 8% month-over-month in July, and were up just 2.5% year-over-year.
The economic slowdown is also mirrored in prices, with China experiencing deflation in July as domestic demand weakened. Deflation makes goods and services more affordable for consumers but can harm economies in the long run as it discourages spending and borrowing.
Despite the economic woes facing China, JD.com’s strategy of maintaining lower prices has proven fruitful, allowing the company to remain resilient amidst an economic downturn. However, with the ongoing deflation and the various economic challenges impacting China’s economy, it remains to be seen how sustainable this strategy will be in the long term.


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SOFTWARE MERGERS: Vignette Corp., which makes customer service software, agreed to buy OnDisplay Inc. for about $1.7-billion in stock. OnDisplay's software lets suppliers and distributors exchange information on the Internet. Neither company is profitable, though their sales have benefited as businesses race to set up and expand Web operations. Vignette had 1999 sales of $89.2-million; OnDisplay had $11.1-million. Also, WebMethods Inc. has agreed to acquire Active Software Inc. for about $1.3-billion in stock, uniting two fast-growing players in the enterprise-software market. Active Software shareholders will end up with about 28 percent of the combined company, which is expected to be called WebMethods. With the acquisition, WebMethods hopes to simplify the sales process and be a single provider of integration programs for customers' internal corporate networks and the Internet.
MICROSOFT FILES NEW BRIEF: Microsoft Corp. filed an unexpected brief in its antitrust case that contends the government argued against breakup in a previous case against the company. Microsoft quoted from a Justice Department filing in a 1995 case that said in part, "such remedies would not necessarily benefit competition and would . . . act against the public." Last month, the Justice Department and 17 of the 19 states involved in the case filed a proposal to break Microsoft into two parts.


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CAA Launches New National Video Campaign – Do Anything But Drive
According to research from CAA, one-fifth of younger Canadians (20 per cent), aged 18-24 say they have driven high or been in a vehicle with a high driver. The finding points to the need for more public education to make sure everyone understands the risks of driving high.
Gen Z is a very socially conscious generation that understands the dangers of driving drunk, but there is a group of young adults who doesn’t associate the same risky behaviour with smoking cannabis or doing edibles.
Edibles compound the issue since the effects can take longer to manifest, and last longer. This led to CAA’s national video campaign Do Anything But Drive, which carries a simple message for young adults: if you’re going to do edibles, do anything but drive. Plan ahead. Make arrangements for a safe way home, be it a designated driver, a taxi or rideshare, or staying over. Read the full news release here.
Cannabis and Road Safety
Don’t Drive High – A look at cannabis use and impaired driving two years after legalization
Cannabis may be legal in Canada but make no mistake: Driving under its influence is dangerous.
Although it’s been two years since Canada endorsed cannabis for recreational use, CAA’s vice president of public affairs, Ian Jack, says Canadians still have deep misconceptions about cannabis use and driving. A 2018 CAA poll found 86 percent of young Canadians aged 18 to 34 said they wouldn’t drive home after drinking, but 66 percent would drive home after using cannabis.
It’s certainly cause for concern, given that cannabis is the second-most commonly detected substance in impaired driving accidents.
The dangers of driving high
Driving under the influence of cannabis is drug-impaired driving. Under Canada’s Criminal Code, driving any motorized vehicle on public or private property after cannabis use is illegal— whether it’s a car on a highway or an ATV in your own backyard.
Even a small amount increases the likelihood of a crash. Research by McGill University funded by CAA found cannabis slows down reaction time, reduces concentration, impacts ability to stay in a lane, and affects the accuracy of decision-making behind the wheel. The study also found young drivers were at risk of a collision even five hours after inhaling cannabis.
The impact of edibles
CAA’s Ian Jack’s current concern is cannabis edibles— consumable products infused with cannabis. When smoked or inhaled, cannabis takes effect quickly. In contrast, edibles can take hours to kick in, and early research shows they impact individuals very differently. “Some people have a brownie and they’re on the floor,” Jack explains. “For other people, there’s barely a buzz.” But many Canadians aren’t aware of these key differences. “Our concern is that someone who does consume an edible, doesn’t feel anything, then decides to go pick up their groceries and becomes impaired on the road,” he says.
Responsible cannabis use
So how long should you wait to drive after using cannabis? Unfortunately, there’s no clear-cut answer yet. The effects of cannabis vary depending on the method of consumption, the quantity consumed, the variety of cannabis used, and the reaction of the person using it. So more research is needed before there’s definitive guidance on safe use. Though studies are now underway, the onus is on individuals to use cannabis responsibly. CAA recommends avoiding driving after using cannabis entirely. Instead, plan ahead: Arrange a designated driver, call a taxi or rideshare, or spend the night.


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Low-wage workers aren’t the only group of Americans who regularly spend most or all of their paychecks.
A greater share of Americans who make more than $250,000 a year spend whatever they get, compared to workers who make less than $100,000, according to a new analysis from the Bank of America Institute.
To be sure, people who truly live “paycheck-to-paycheck” tend to be lower on the income ladder, the company said. But the findings also show that a significant proportion of workers at all income levels regularly spend their entire income – or more.
“In any given income bracket, there’s a smattering of people who look like they’re financially pretty stretched in terms of spending relative to their income,” David Tinsley, senior economist for the Bank of America Institute, told CBS MoneyWatch.
Bank of America economists used anonymized customer data to look at customers’ deposit accounts in the first quarter of 2022, tapping into cash inflows, such as earnings and other deposits, as well as outflows, such as credit card payments.
When people’s income increases, consumption often exceeds income and other deposits, the institute found. In fact, about 20% of BofA customers with annual incomes of more than $250,000 spent 15% above what they deposit in their accounts, according to the report. In comparison, 17% of customers earning between $50,000 and $100,000 tend to spend more each month than they have come in.
“Those on lower incomes are likely to be most challenged by rising inflation and economic uncertainty,” the report said. “But when we dig into the data we find that there are small but significant groups living ‘paycheck to paycheck’ even at higher income levels, and indeed across the age spectrum.”
The bank notes that living paycheck-to-paycheck doesn’t necessarily mean someone can barely afford necessities like food and gas. Rather defined, it can also mean that a person simply spends the lion’s share of his income on ordinary expenses.
Meanwhile, the analysis only looks at account activity over a single quarter, and it also doesn’t account for workers expecting big bonuses coming at the end of the year. Higher-income clients can also pay for a mortgage on a house or put a portion of their earnings into brokerage or investment accounts, Tinsley noted.
“You have people sending money into brokerage accounts or people paying off their mortgages, so you could be on $250,000 and have borrowed a lot of money to afford real estate, and that would definitely push your expenses very close to your income,” Tinsley said .


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Application Deadline: April 30th 2017
- Consumers should have the freedom to choose the level of data privacy they desire
- Wanted: concepts for the technical implementation of a privacy bot
- The application should demonstrate that digitization can enhance data privacy
Is data privacy falling by the wayside in the rush to digitize? Deutsche Telekom is launching a competition to prove that this does not have to be the case. The competition starts tomorrow, on the European Data Protection Day. Deutsche Telekom is looking for concepts for the technical implementation of a privacy bot, i.e., a smart, digital data-privacy helper, and the winner of the competition will receive 10,000 euros.
The purpose of the privacy bot is to scan the data privacy provisions of Internet services and compare them with the user’s predefined requirements. This is intended to make it easier for consumers to make use of existing data privacy options. The bot will not be restricted to individual providers such as Facebook, Amazon or travel portals, but it must be possible to use it for all web services.
The competition runs until April 30, 2017.
The winners will be chosen by a panel of judges comprising data privacy and innovation experts from Deutsche Telekom and members of the Company’s Data Privacy Advisory Council.
- The competition is open to everyone.
- Concepts may be submitted in either English or German to email@example.com.
- The runner-up will receive 2,500 euros, and the second runner-up 1,000 euros.
- The rights for the concepts will remain with the developers.
For More Information:


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BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - Ocean Potion sunscreen is ready to set sail with the largest cruise operator in the world.
Carnival Cruise Lines announced that they will be teaming up with Cocoa-based Ocean Potion to bring cruisers an on-board promotional experience.
"They approached us and through a couple of meetings we just saw it was a perfect partnership," said Valda Corayat, Vice President of Marketing for Sun and Skin Care Research.
This is the first time Carnival Cruise Lines has joined forces with a sun-care company. The branded partnership will include fun ways to boost skin-care awareness, all while amping up guest's excitement through on-deck sponsored activities.
"So we'll have a gallon jug of Ocean Potion available for the sun lovers to enjoy and while they're doing that they'll be doing sun trivia and a lot of games on-board," Corayat said. "When they're looking to depart the ship at port-of-calls we'll also have samples distributed."
Four Carnival ships will participate in the initial promotion, including two Port Canaveral-based ships -- Sunshine and Liberty. The other two ships are the Breeze from Miami and the Triumph from Galveston.
"This allows us to reach more consumers, as well as, giving our consumers a true branded experience where they get to use the product at the point that they're enjoying themselves the most," added Corayat.
The promotion will kick off on-board the Miami-based Carnival Breeze this Sunday.
Copyright 2014 by ClickOrlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Taximeters are prohibited in London’s private hire vehicles. But does the Uber app count? The courts are set to decide.
Prosecutors in California found criminals who had passed the test to drive for the ride-hailing company.
The plaintiffs claim they can prove more than 30 instances of Uber discriminating against blind individuals.


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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – It’s likely happened to all of us with a social media account.
One minute you’re shopping online, and the next minute, your social media applications are showing you advertisements for those same products.
It’s called targeted advertising, and for many people, it sparks concern about their privacy.
Social media experts say everything you do online or on social media is being tracked, and you should always be concerned about your privacy.
Every search, every purchase, every like is stored in what’s called a “browser cookie” — a small piece of code that lets advertising networks and websites share what you are looking at.
“If you see a targeted ad on Facebook, you may also see that ad on Google or LinkedIn. It’s not unusual because they’re all kind of sharing that information,” said Adam Earnheardt, chair of Youngstown State University’s Communications Department.
In some cases, it goes even beyond what you’re searching for online. Things that you say on Facebook messenger or even through text messages can be tracked as well.
“It’s very possible that you could be doing something very innocuous like sending out a text, not realizing that that text is somehow linked to some other platform that you’re using. They’re collecting that data, and then they shape and target an ad that’s cultivated for you,” Earnheardt said.
Many people, like YSU student Lincoln Williams, see this as an invasion of privacy.
“If you’re on a phone conversation and then you get on social media and see that same content that you were talking about on a phone conversation comes up, it’s a little bit more privacy invading,” Williams said.
Lanae Ferguson agreed.
“Then I’m thinking, ‘Do I need to hide my electronics when I go talk to people?'” Ferguson said.
What people may not know is that there is a way to stop online targeted ads from happening.
“Probably one of the coolest ways you can do this is through something called the Digital Advertiser’s Alliance Tracking Opt-Out tool,” Earnheardt said. “It will automatically look at all the ways these platforms are tracking you, and it will shut them down.”
You can also shut off Facebook targeted ads by going into your settings and selecting “Ads.”
Under “Ad settings,” you’ll see “Ads based on my use of websites and apps setting.” Click “Edit” and then turn everything off.
Change “Ads with social actions” to “no one.”
You only have to do this once, and it will apply to every gadget where you sign in with the same Facebook username.
Facebook will still show you targeted ads based on information it collects about you, but it won’t get any of your information from its partners and it shouldn’t send any to advertisers.
Advertisers say targeting on social media isn’t meant to be malicious. It’s just a way to draw a user back to a website to purchase a product they were looking at.


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Stellarton-based Empire Company has announced some changes in its grocery business. In releasing its second quarter results, the company announced that up to 25% of its 255 Safeway and Sobeys stores in Western Canada will be converted to its discount FreshCo banner over the next five years. Company CEO Michael Medline says it’s research and analysis suggests the West is fertile ground for “small box” discount and its FreshCo banner will resonate with consumers in Western Canada.
Empire lost $23.6 million in the second quarter ending November 4th as the company was hit with restructuring costs. During the same period last year, it posted $33.1 million profit.
Last month, Empire announced plans to cut 800 office jobs as it restructures, including 100 at its Sobeys head office in Stellarton.


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DETROIT, MI- Detroit automakers swept the North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year awards at the 2013 North American International Auto Show for the first time since 2011.
The Detroit Three have swept both awards five times -- 1995, 1996, 2005, 2010 and 2011 -- since the awards started in 1994.
Ford Motor Co. was the only automaker to have a finalist for both of the awards this year, but came up empty handed.
The three finalists for the 2013 North American Car of the Year were the Cadillac ATS, Ford Fusion and Honda Accord.
The three finalists for the 2013 North American Truck/Utility of the Year were the Ford C-Max, Mazda CX-5 and Ram 1500.
The goal, according to officials, is to select a car and a truck that set new benchmarks in the classes in which they compete. Jurors evaluate the vehicles on factors including value for the dollar, innovation, handling, performance, safety and driver satisfaction.
Below is a look at the previous winners, starting the the car, then truck/utility.
1994- Mercedes C-Class; Dodge Ram
1995- Chrysler Cirrus; Chevrolet Blazer
1996- Chrysler minivans; Ford F-150
1997- Mercedes-Benz SLK; Ford Expedition
1998- Chevrolet Corvette; Mercedes-Benz ML 320
1999- Volkswagen Beetle; Jeep Grand Cherokee
2000- Ford Focus; Nissan Xterra
2001- Chrysler PT Cruiser; Scura MDX
2002- Nissan Altima; Chevrolet Trailblazer
2003- Mini Cooper/Cooper S; Volvo XC90
2004- Toyota Prius; Ford F-150
2005- Chrysler 300/300C; Ford Escape Hybrid
2006- Honda Civic; Honda Ridgeline
2007- Saturn Aura; Chevrolet Silverado
2008- Chevrolet Malibu; Mazda CX-9
2009- Hyundai Genesis; Ford F-150
2010- Ford Fusion Hybrid; Ford Transit Connect
2011- Chevrolet Volt; Ford Explorer
2012- Hyundai Elantra; Range Rover Evoque
The 2012 awards marked the first time since 2006 that a vehicle from GM, Ford or Chrysler had not won one of the awards.
The 2013 NAIAS is scheduled from Jan. 19 through Jan. 27. Press and industry preview week is expected to begin Jan. 14 at Cobo Center.
Click here for complete coverage of the 2013 North American International Auto Show.


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EEC Calls for Closer Economic ties with Iran
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) is willing to boost trade relations with Iran, the EEC Trade Minister Veronika Nikishina said.
Speaking in a recent meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaei in Moscow, Nikishina highlighted Iran’s influential role in the region, emphasizing that the EEC is seeking to expand economic ties with Iran.
She further called for efforts to accelerate the process of reaching a free trade agreement (FTA) between the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the Islamic Republic.
Sanaei, for his part, stressed the growing ties between Iran and Russia, saying that mutual cooperation with other members of the EEU is among Iran’s priorities.
During the meeting, the two sides also agreed to start talks on an FTA in parallel with joint research work on the issue.
The EEU is an economic union of former Soviet states led by Russia to guarantee free transit of goods, services, capital and workers among members.
The EEC is the executive body of the EEU responsible for implementing decisions, upholding the EEU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the union.


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Intel said Monday it would step up efforts to make chips for smartphones and other mobile devices by targeting emerging markets and the speedily on the rise “value” segment.
Intel unveiled its plans at the Consumer Electronics Show, the world’s largest tech sector event, highlighting its efforts to get a larger share of the sizzling mobile market.
Intel said its plans include “a new smartphone platform for emerging markets,” one of the fastest on the rise areas for these devices.
“The best of Intel is appearance to a mobile device near you,” said Intel’s Kirk Skaugen.
“We are set to deliver the largest increase in battery efficiency in Intel’s history while adding broad new human interfaces to computing devices through touch, voice, fac ial recognition, and gesture-based interactions.
“We’re also significantly extending the performance and power savings in Atom processors as we accelerate our mobile offerings in an unprecedented fashion in 2013.”
Intel said its low-power Atom processor-based platform would be targeted at the value
smartphone market segment, estimated to get to 500 million units by 2015.
It said companies at the bottom of the effort include Acer, Lava International and Safaricom.
Intel is the world’s largest maker of computer chips, but has been struggling as consumers and businesses budge to mobile devices powered by a different kind of processor.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Ingersoll-Rand said Friday that its third-quarter profit increased 9%, as a strong performance overseas helped the diversified industrial giant overcome economic weakness in the U.S. market.
The results also topped Wall Street targets, boosting shares of the Hamilton, Bermuda-based company
Ingersoll-Rand, which makes products ranging from golf carts and refrigeration equipment to locks and security systems, handed in net income of $266.6 million, or 92 cents a share, from $243.8 million, or 76 cents, a year earlier.
Earnings from continuing operations rose to 68 cents a share from 63 cents a share in the year-ago quarter. Excluding restructuring costs, earnings came in at 96 cents a share.
Revenue increased 10% to $2.24 billion from $2.04 billion a year ago. Third-quarter domestic sales grew by 4%, while international revenue jumped by about 19%.
Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had expected a profit, on average, of 88 cents a share and revenue of $2.29 billion.
"We again offset several soft domestic markets with strong revenue growth from international operations, new product offerings and recurring revenues," Chairman and CEO Herbert Henkel said in a statement.
Ingersoll, in a deal expected to close in the fourth quarter, agreed to sell its Bobcat earth-moving machinery business in July for $4.9 billion.
The company said it expects fourth-quarter revenue growth of 5% to 7%, with earnings from continuing operations of 76 cents to 79 cents a share. Excluding restructuring costs and gains from the business sale, Ingersoll is looking for a profit of 94 cents to 99 cents a share.
Wall Street previously forecast earnings of 96 cents a share.
"The company will continue to evaluate high-return restructuring opportunities to reduce costs and improve productivity," Henkel said.


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London-based event marketing specialist, Live Innovations is committed to developing its workforce to help them reach their goals and achieve their full potential. This past week, Managing Director Tom Harris
London-based direct marketing and sales experts, Live Innovations encourage people to spend their time on the things that contribute to the bigger picture, and this past week they held a
Success is the result of good habits implemented daily claims London-based Live Innovations. The direct marketing specialists are encouraging people to start adopting these practices if they want to change
Direct sales and marketing firm Live Innovations are championing the power of the mentoring effect in entrepreneurship.
Live Innovations has announced the expansion of its market reach in light of an exciting budget allocation increase, due to the firm’s excellent reputation in achieving results.
After research conducted by Weebly found that an increasing number of entrepreneurs are building businesses from their hobbies and interests, Live Innovations are urging people to look to their passions
With an aggressive growth strategy in place, Live Innovations is disappointed by the news that one in three SMEs are too busy to formulate a growth strategy. The firm urge


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New Brexit Trade Rules Could Impose £3.75 Billion in Costs on European Carmakers Over Three Years.
The newly introduced Brexit trade rules, which mandate that electric vehicles produced in the EU must predominantly contain locally sourced components, may result in a significant financial burden of £3.75 billion for European manufacturers over the next three years, according to a statement from an industry association.
These regulations are aimed at ensuring that EU-manufactured electric cars use components primarily sourced within the EU or the UK. However, carmakers on both sides of the English Channel have expressed their lack of preparedness for these rules.
The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) has also cautioned that these measures could potentially lead to a reduction in the production output of EU-based factories by as many as 480,000 vehicles, which may, in turn, affect consumers with higher prices.
The core issue revolves around the “rules of origin,” set to take effect in January, which pertain to car shipments between the UK and the EU under the terms of the Brexit deal, known as the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. These rules effectively require that electric vehicles have batteries manufactured either in the UK or the EU. Any cars failing to meet these criteria will incur 10% tariffs when transported across the Channel in either direction.
While these rules were intended to safeguard the European automotive industry from low-cost imports, the slower-than-expected expansion of battery production in Europe has made it challenging for carmakers to comply with the new standards.
This issue presents a significant challenge for European manufacturers, as the UK serves as their largest export market, with approximately 1.2 million vehicles shipped to UK ports last year. Conversely, more cars built in the UK are exported to the EU than to any other region. The imposition of steep tariffs could escalate the production costs of electric cars and potentially drive up consumer prices.
The ACEA is advocating for a three-year postponement of the new rules and is appealing to the European Commission to take action to address the situation. Renault Chief Executive Luca de Meo, who is also the ACEA’s president, expressed concerns that this move might cede a portion of the market to global manufacturers.
To delay the rules, an agreement between the UK and the EU would be necessary. The UK’s Business Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, expressed optimism regarding the possibility of such an agreement, while the EU’s Internal Market Commissioner, Thierry Breton, appeared less open to renegotiating the Brexit deal.
Breton argued that reopening negotiations to satisfy the automotive industry would be inappropriate, emphasizing that negotiated agreements should not be altered. The European Commission noted that Brexit has altered the trade relationship between the UK and the EU, and the rules of origin are aimed at bolstering a robust battery value chain within the EU.
Sigrid de Vries, the Secretary General of ACEA, acknowledged the sensitivity of the matter and indicated that the industry did not seek fundamental changes to the existing arrangements.
While optimism remains for a possible agreement between the UK and the EU, it may potentially come together at the last minute, akin to the Brexit negotiations themselves. Trade officials from both sides are scheduled to meet in London this week, but it is uncertain whether the new rules will be on the agenda.


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Silent Hill: The Short Message, an unannounced game in the famous horror franchise, has received an age rating in South Korea. It might be one of several SH titles that are reportedly in development right now.
- Korea’s Game Rating and Administration Committee gave Silent Hill: The Short Message an age rating on September 26, as spotted by Gematsu.
- South Korean arcade machine manufacturer UNIANA is listed as the game’s publisher. The company regularly publishes Konami’s titles in the country, including the upcoming eFootball 2023.
- The Short Message still has no release date. Target platforms and other details also remain undisclosed at the moment.
What is known about the next Silent Hill?
- Konami denied any talk of a Silent Hill comeback for years. However, a new wave of rumors about a potential sequel appeared last year.
- In February 2021, VGC reported that Konami outsourced an unannounced Silent Hill project to a “prominent Japanese developer.” It was also hinted that Layers of Fear developer Bloober Team might be involved in another game based on this IP.
- “We’ve been working for more than a year on another gaming project, another horror IP, and we’re doing this with a very famous gaming publisher,” the studio’s CEO Piotr Babieno said at the time.
- Although a lot of fans speculated that Bloober Team would be involved in the Silent Hill franchise, the studio later denied these talks.
- However, another insider claimed in May 2022 that the Polish studio had been working on the Silent Hill 2 remake with reworked puzzles and new endings. Journalist Jeff Grubb noted that this information matches what he heard from different sources.
This is the stuff I’ve heard, and it comes from multiple different sources. Not all of my sources are primary, but everything is mostly lining up. To me, the biggest indicator is the stuff I’ve seen lines up with Konami doing a big reveal at E3 last year before it pulled out. https://t.co/GzUb3jzrwX
— Grubb (@JeffGrubb) May 16, 2022
- A few sources later confirmed these details to VGC, saying that Konami has several Silent Hill games in plans, besides the remake.
- The list includes a new mainline entry in the series allegedly in development by a Japanese studio, as well as an episodic project consisting of several short stories. Silent Hill: The Short Message might be one of them.
Silent Hill: Downpour, the last major game in the prominent horror series, came out in 2012 to mixed reviews from critics. Konami later shelved the franchise. However, some reports indicate that the company is now planning to revive some of its most famous gaming IPs, including Silent Hill, Metal Gear, and Castlevania.


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The Escape Pod, an independent advertising agency in Chicago, is celebrating 10 years in business by expanding its full service capabilities. According to a Feb 20 announcement, the agency has bought a stake in experiential marketing agency, OutCold, and formed The Escape Pod Group together with digital agency partner ORA Interactive to provide full-service capabilities for fast-growing brands.
Co-founded by ad industry veterans Norm Bilow and Vinny Warren, the agency is known for its attention-grabbing work for major clients such as Wheat Thins, Toy”R”Us, Can-Am Spyder, Southeastern Grocers, EGO Power+ and KIND Snacks.
“This partnership is significant because we’re providing brands with a full-service alternative to the big holding companies,” explained Norm Bilow, Managing Director & Founder, The Escape Pod. “We can provide big idea thinking and execute brand experiences across the full spectrum of channels, but more quickly and cost-effectively based on our nimble size and operational model.”
OutCold is known for creating unique, immersive brand experiences, through mobile tours, event production and design, buzz-generating stunts, guerilla marketing, product sampling and sponsorship negotiation. The agency, which serves clients such as Nordstrom, Amazon, Topshop and Toyota, has created everything from pop up retail shops in Airstreams, to beauty bars in shipping containers, and off-road truck driving experiences.
“The Escape Pod and OutCold share a passion for great storytelling. While they are experts at conveying brand narratives through traditional channels, OutCold specializes in telling brand stories through authentic, in-person experiences. Joining forces with The Escape Pod is a natural fit and an incredible opportunity to amplify our creative firepower and add dimension and tangible excitement to the brand stories they tell,” said Fritz Heffinger, CEO, OutCold, in a statement.
The OutCold acquisition is the latest in a period of growth for The Escape Pod, who also acquired a minority stake in digital studio ORA Interactive last August.
Together, the three agencies have to come together to form The Escape Pod Group, a nimble collective of specialty agencies, purpose-built to deliver breakthrough ideas with speed, agility and cost-savings for clients.
As for what clients can expect:
“You can expect to see The Escape Pod’s signature, hard-hitting style of advertising, brought to life in an even more powerful, visceral way–not only through traditional channels but interactive sites, apps and rich, in-person brand experiences,” Bilow explained.
“Diversity is always a priority for us,” he added. “We want our workforce to reflect society at large and we always strive to find the best people to add to our team, regardless of race, creed or gender.”


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Australian Online stock broker Stakeshop Pty Ltd., announced on Monday that it plans on launching Australia’s cheapest brokerage service. The company said that the brokerage service will be available for as low as A$3 ($2) and is a challenge to the country’s top lender – CommSec, a subsidiary of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
Stakeshop Pty Ltd., which operates under the name Stake, is backed by Tiger Global and its aim of launching the country’s cheapest brokerage service is to compete with the country’s biggest online and mobile brokerage services that have reigned in the local market since brokerage service came to the internet.
The company wants to bring “material change” to an aging sector that has been on for the longest time; it wants to bring new methods to an old system. Speaking about the company’s decision to launch the country’s cheapest online and mobile brokerage service, Matt Leibowitz – the company’s founder and CEO said that “I don’t think there’s been a material change in the industry since brokerage went electronic in the late 90s and early 2000s. So I think 25 years and on, this is a great moment”.
In May this year, the company raised A$40 million in a Series A funding round. The company came into existence in 2017 and was founded by Matthew Leibowitz, Dan Silver, and Jon Abitz. The company is part of an increasing number of online brokerage services that provide commission-free retail brokerage services for US-listed stocks.
Stakeshop has had impressive moments, out of which its recently concluded series A round is part of. The A$40 million series A round was led by Tiger Global and the round also saw top-notch participants. The company has more than 360,000 people using its platform and claims that trading on its platform has grown about 100 times to more than $1 billion each month since it became operational, its CEO said.
The company mentioned that Australian-listed stocks will be powered by Finclear and that trading in stock on the local ASX Ltd. exchange will be done under a person’s name and not a separate legal entity – a system used by low-cost brokers to reduce costs.
Matthew Leibowitz said the low cost of A$3 will help take the company to the top of the mobile brokerage service pyramid. Specifically, he said that “I think this will accelerate us towards the top. We’ll hopefully be banging down the door of number one, that would be the goal.


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If you own an iPhone, you may want to back up your smartphone without using Apple’s iCloud service. Hackers calling themselves the “Turkish Crime Service” are threatening to destroy the data attached to over 500 million Apple users’ devices, including files listed on the Cloud, if the company does not pay a ransom of at least $75,000.
Motherboard reports the hackers have access to 559 million Apple accounts. That said, the claim is currently unverified even though a YouTube video reportedly demonstrates the hackers logging into one account. However, the “Turkish Crime Service” says they will remotely eliminate all of the data on April 7 if they do not receive the $75,000 in BitCoin or $100,000 in iTunes gift cards.
If Apple does decide to pay the ransom, the hackers claim they will delete their list of accounts. However, emails sent to Motherboard suggest Apple is not considering giving into the ransom.
“We do not reward cyber criminals for breaking the law,” Apple says in an email, according to a screenshot, which also shows Apple telling the hackers their messages will be delivered to the authorities.
Moreover, Motherboard reports the news outlet was given access to an email account the hackers claim to have used to communicate with Apple’s security team, but Motherboard was unable to confirm if the emails they received were legitimate. At this time Apple has not commented on the situation.


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Al Adil Trading opens 47th store at Discovery Gardens 2
Al Adil is offering up to 50 per cent discount on over 100 foodstuff items until April 20.
Al Adil Trading recently inaugurated 47th branch next to Al Furjan Metro station in Discovery Gardens 2, Dubai.
Dr Dhananjay (Jay) Datar, chairman and managing director of Al Adil Trading, said: “The new outlet was inaugurated by following all safety guidelines and Covid protocols. For us the safety of our customers is top priority and we have put in place a wide range of checks and measures to ensure that there is no compromise at anytime.”
Al Adil is offering up to 50 per cent discount on over 100 foodstuff items until April 20. — firstname.lastname@example.org
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India’s e-payment gateway for cashless transactions, the BHIM app, will be launched in Bhutan today. BHIM or Bharat Interface for Money is developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and is based on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). The BHIM app will help Indian businesses and tourists in the country with cashless transactions and will give a flip to Bhutanese businesses as well.
Speaking at the virtual launch of BHIM-UPI in Bhutan, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said it will help Indian tourists visiting “the land of happiness”. “BHIM-UPI is one of the achievements of India in terms of fintech,” she said on the occasion. Over 200,000 tourists from India travel to Bhutan every year. Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) is India’s digital payment application (app) that works through UPI, a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application.
During the lockdown because of the Covid-19 pandemic, BHIM-UPI became an “effective mechanism” of payment, and in 2020-21, it processed 22 billion financial transactions worth ₹41 lakh crore, she said. India witnessed a 68-day hard nationwide lockdown since March 25, 2020 to contain the spread of the first wave of pandemic.


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In one of Vince's postings he says:
Once virtual worlds become markets the model for marketing, advertising and retail promotion will have to change from the current 2-D e-commerce model we have on the web to a combination of automated and mediated bodiless real-life interactions.
Now Reuters have started to do just that.
Adam Pasick, a Reuters’ media correspondent based in London, will serve as the news organization’s first virtual bureau chief in Second Life. He’ll be using a personal avatar, or animated character, and will be known as “Adam Reuters,” in keeping with the game’s naming system.
Starting virtual news agencies and/or newspapers in the digisphere will be a money making enterprise if handled with care and if informed by a real understanding of the informational needs of the citizenry of the virtual worlds.
Let the games begin :-)


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The guys & gals over at BrutalGamer.com went back to the last generation of gaming and picked out there top 10 of the sixth gaming era.
Halo 1 has earned its spot as #1 in the top 10 list. while the graphics are a bit old by todays standards it is still a great game the story is by far the best i have ever seen in a video game and it puts you behind the visor of the master chief. although i think Metroid Prime should have been in the list.
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - With the kids back in school with lots of new clothes and supplies, many families are looking to add some cash back into their budget and an easy way to do that is to purge the old wardrobes.
At Another Time Around consignment store in Middletown it's a constant flow of new merchandise. "It's like Christmas every day," owner Shelly Briones said.
Over 3,000 people now consign at her store and the take home is pretty impressive.
Most consignment clothes sell for about 50% of what it would cost new. People who consign can expect to make between 20 and 50 percent of the selling price.
Shelly says that some take home checks as high as $300 a month, but a more typical take-home would be $50 to $100.
For tips on how to make the most from your merchandise, click here.
Copyright 2012 WAVE News. All rights reserved.


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On eBay, xBox 360 Premium today is going for about $520 + shipping for the $399 MSRP product.
There has been no significant downturn in auction pricing after Christmas as crudely measured by me. (Hey, there's no pay in this job so quality is what it is!)
Supply is expected to improve later in January, so local merchants say. I would not bet on that.


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In Parliament there was an unusual bill.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine registered the draft law “On amendments to the Tax code of Ukraine regarding cheapening and increase the availability of individual electric transport in Ukraine”. The document is published on the Parliament website.
“To ensure large-scale market development of electric vehicles in Ukraine, their reduction in price and increase accessibility for the population is proposed to further reduce the tax burden on transactions for the supply of such vehicles on the territory of Ukraine and their use”, – stated in the explanatory note to the draft law.
The new bill provides for temporary, until 2022, the complete abolition of value added tax on electric cars when they are released from customs.
The document also refers to the exemption from value added tax up to 2021, persons engaged in commercial activities with the use of electric vehicles. In particular, I mean the taxi service, rental, leasing and transportation on request.
In addition, the bill is expected to repeal the excise tax on electric cars in Ukraine until 2022
Note, in 2016 the excise tax was reduced to 109 euros per electric car.


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While “leading” technology market analyst firm Canalys is yet to disclose global smartphone shipment numbers during Q2 2017, both China and now India’s latest quarterly reports are out, with a key common takeaway.
The mobile industry’s general state of stagnation has finally reached the two huge countries able to defy trends for so long and grow year after year. Compared to 2016’s second quarter, smartphone sales in India were down 4 percent these past three months, to a grand total of “just under” 27 million units.
No sign of change at the very top of the regional vendor chart, as Samsung grabbed a 25 percent market share, down a point sequentially, with unit figures however on a marginal year-on-year rise.
The Galaxy S8 duo obviously helped the chaebol “win back some of its premium share” after the Note 7 fiasco, with the low-end J Series capable of fending off budget-specialized rivals… for the time being.
But Xiaomi’s affordable mid-rangers gained by far the most traction this April – June timeframe, boosting the OEM’s overall tally to 4.8 million units. That’s more than four times as much as Q2 2016 sales, improving the company’s share from 13 percent during Q1 2017 to around 18 percent now.
Fellow Chinese rising stars Vivo and OPPO ended the latest quarter in third and fourth place respectively, after posting healthy yearly growth, with the former shipping an “all-time high” of 3.4 million smartphones and the latter leaving Lenovo behind once again. No words on Apple’s predictably low scores yet.


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Gourmet hiking trips in Provence, France, getting up close to mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda, and trekking in Slovenia's Julian Alps should be among travellers' plans this year.
These were among the travel experiences highlighted by Straits Times travel writer Lee Siew Hua and her guest speaker, Mr Chang Theng Hwee, the chief executive of luxury travel operator Scott Dunn Asia, at a talk on the best travel experiences for this year at the Central Public Library last Friday.
The talk, attended by about 300 people, was organised by The Straits Times and National Library Board (NLB) as part of the askST@NLB series.
During the 1 1/2-hour session, Ms Lee also described her travels to Antarctica, Seattle in the United States, and gourmet hiking in Provence, all of which are on the speakers' top 10 list of travel experiences for this year.
She said: "There's the sumptuous, sunlit face of Provence and also the face of adventure. There's the pleasure of sipping rose wine and dining in Michelin-starred restaurants, and there is also hiking past the jagged mountains where the Tour De France bicycle race goes through."
Mr Chang talked about alternative ways to experience different destinations.
Alaska, for example, may be known for its cruise holidays but travellers should visit fishing lodges rather than hop on a jam-packed cruise and watch a cabaret show, he said.
He added: "If you go during the correct season and they're fishing for salmon at the lodges, that's where the grizzly bears will be. Some of our guests have brought back pictures with more than 10 grizzly bears."
The best part, said Mr Chang, is that these lodges allow a maximum of only 30 guests, so travellers do not have to jostle to see the grizzly bears. He said: "If you go to a place like Yellowstone National Park, it'll be 30 vehicles of tourists to one bear."
Ms Veron Ng, 25, who recently graduated from university and is looking for a job, said she found the talk insightful.
She said: "I was a tourism student in polytechnic and I wanted to find out about what's trending in the travel industry.
"Luxury travel is very different and I found out more about the exotic places that people travel to."
She added that she liked the informal and candid format of the talk.
The talk was streamed on the Rings.TV application and attracted 766 views.
The live streaming video can be replayed via the app, which can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
The next askST@NLB session will be on Feb 15, when Ms Lee and Mr Richard Launder, chief executive of destination management company Destination America, will talk about what is trending for travel in the US and beyond. Registration is at str.sg/askSiewHua3


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Paychecks aren't keeping up with inflation. That's bad news for families, but good news for the job market.
There's a new liquid asset in town. It's blue, it's viscous, and it's versatile: You can pour it in a machine with your clothes, or sell it for pot.
One of California's largest community colleges has a plan to deal with the age of austerity -- charging students more for the most in-demand courses
A new study says that bachelor chief executives take bigger risks with their companies and offer investors more volatile returns.
What if the most lucrative college basketball programs won every match this year? We found out.
Women, minorities, the poor were among the biggest beneficiaries
Americans, young and old, are buckling under the weight of their student debt. It's a threat to the middle class, and a symptom of a malfunctioning education system.
A looming lawsuit could further solidify Amazon's dominance in the book business. That might be good for readers' wallets, but it also might be bad for readers in the long term. Here 's why.
A growing labor force is much preferable to a shrinking one
For high school graduates and college degree holders alike, entry-level wages fell during the aughts
Gas prices in solid blue states are pushing up the national average. But swing states aren't far behind.
For the less than the cost of the Bush tax cuts, we could have $2.50 gas
California has pared back on education spending, while the Ivy League has upped student aid. Could your state be next?
The theory makes perfect sense. But new data says it isn't true.
This is the paradox of most Apple punditry: What we can measure (Apple's employees) doesn't really matter. And what does matter (Apple's impact on the economy) we can't really measure.
Obama's the first Democrat to face down rising gas prices in an election year since Carter. But he has advantages his unfortunate predecessor didn't.
The U.S. is trying to punish Tehran with sanctions without sending oil prices skyrocketing. That means Iran needs to keep selling its crude -- but for cheap.
The wild growth of online shopping is one of the powerful forces hurting state sales taxes collections.
The WSJ reports that the big movie studios are enlisting brick and mortar stores like Walmart to help salvage their floundering cloud service. Something's gone awry.
Transcanada Corp. is building a section linking Oklahoma to the Gulf Coast. For now, that's all the oil industry really needs.