Kevin Ross on LinkedIn: Cosmic Storms, Stellaris's new expansion, launches on September 10 (2024)

Singapore PM Wong calls for 'major reset' with R&D push, regulatory reviewhttps://ift.tt/WEbGS0xPoliticsSingapore PM Wong calls for 'major reset' with R&D push, regulatory reviewU.S. stance toward China 'hardening' no matter who wins presidential election Prime Minister Lawrence Wong speaks at Singapore's National Day Rally on Aug. 18. (Ng Siew Chwee/Ministry of Digital Development and Information)FUMIKA SATO, Nikkei staff writerAugust 19, 2024 02:49 JST | SingaporeSINGAPORE -- Singapore needs to transform its economic, housing and education policies to move the the country forward, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said Sunday, arguing that the nation faces a tougher competitive environment."Realizing our new ambitions will require a major reset -- a major reset in our policies, to be sure, but equally important, a major reset in our attitudes, too," Wong said in a National Day Rally statement.Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.Celebrate our next chapterFree access for everyone - Sep. 30Find out moreBusiness Newsvia Nikkei Asian Review https://ift.tt/q5bFiMhAugust 18, 2024 at 10:59AM

Low-income Microentrepreneurs Get $7 Million in Business Grantshttps://ift.tt/gD06nqNEntpreneurship really knows no bounds when it comes to a person’s income level. Many times, a great idea for a business is born out of someone’s desire to lift themselves out of a tough economic situation.However, people in those positions generally have a difficult time finding access to the capital they need to get their business idea off of a piece of paper and on the ground and running.This week, the Small Business Administration announced that it awarded $7 million in PRIME business grants for low-income entrepreneurs that will help those folks get their ideas moving forward.That was one of the top headlines in a week full of news for small business owners. Let’s take a look at that and other headlines in our Small Business Trends Weekly News Roundup:Wix Expands Partnership with Google to Offer Gemini for WorkspaceWixhas announced the expansion of its strategic partnership with Google by becoming the first reseller of Google’s Gemini for Workspace. This collaboration enables Wix users to leverage advanced generative AI solutions across Google Workspace, significantly enhancing productivity, creativity, and efficiency.T-Mobile Unveils Exclusive Deals on New Google Pixel 9 Series and Pixel Watch 3T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) announced today that Google’s latest Pixel lineup, including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and Pixel Watch 3, will soon be available through its service. T-Mobile is offering exclusive deals for new and existing customers, making it easier than ever to access these new mobile devices on the T-Mobile 5G network.New NFIB Survey Reveals Top Concerns for Small Businesses: Inflation, Taxes, and Uncertainty Lead the ListThe National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has released the 11th edition of its quadrennial report, Small Business Problems and Priorities, which provides a detailed analysis of the challenges facing small business owners across the United States.Adobe Launches AI-Powered Journey Optimizer to Revolutionize B2B MarketingAdobe (Nasdaq: ADBE) has announced the general availability of Adobe Journey Optimizer (AJO) B2B Edition, a groundbreaking tool designed to transform how businesses engage with buying groups— the committees of individuals responsible for major purchasing decisions.IRS Provides Tax Relief to Minnesota Victims of Severe Storms and FloodingThe Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced tax relief for individuals and businesses in 25 Minnesota counties affected by severe storms and flooding that began on June 16, 2024. Taxpayers in these areas now have until February 3, 2025, to file various federal tax returns and make tax payments.SBA and Department of Veterans Affairs Partner to Boost Veteran EntrepreneurshipThe U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have announced a new par...

The tail wags the dog: Top recession indicator now slows the economy, creator sayshttps://ift.tt/qoRrFwVThe inverted yield curve—a recession indicator with a decades-long track record of accuracy—has evolved beyond serving as a warning of a future downturn and now sways the economy, its creator said.The inversion takes place when long-term bond yields dip below short-term ones, an abnormality that historically has occurred when investors see more growth risk in the near future and demand a higher premium.Campbell Harvey, a Duke University professor of finance who originated the idea of the inverted yield curve as a leading indicator, told CNBC on Friday that it has predicted eight out of the last eight recessions going back to the 1960s without any false positives.It has been flashing for about 20 months, and the continued absence of a recession in that time has raised doubts about its accuracy. But Harvey said the lead time has historically ranged from six to 23 months.Meanwhile, the inverted yield curve has recently changed to become a “causal mechanism” that can slow economic growth, he added.“So people see an inverted yield curve, it changes their behavior,” he said. “So as a CEO, when you see an inverted yield curve, you’re just less likely to pull the trigger on a bet-the-farm type of investment.”The Federal Reserve’s aggressive tightening caused the yield curve to invert and needs to undo the damage by cutting rates aggressively too, Harvey said. To be sure, Fed rate hikes have helped bring consumer inflation down from 9.1% in mid-2022 to just 2.9% in the latest reading, the lowest annual rate in three years. But in the process, the economy has cooled off.Given the inverted yield curve’s strong track record and ability to change behavior, it can also be used to help manage risk, meaning companies will be ready if a recession arrives later this year or early next year, Harvey explained.Otherwise, a recession that takes companies by surprise will force them to suddenly slash their payrolls, worsening a downturn.“So think of this indicator as actually slowing economic growth but leading to a situation where we can have a downturn without a hard landing,” he added. “So slower growth rather than something like the Global Financial Crisis.”Recession fears easedover the past week after aweak payroll reportinitially set off alarms,but concerns continue to linger. For instance, gold prices have set fresh record highs, due in part to worries about the economy.And “Black Swan” investor Mark Spitznagel, founder and CIO of the private hedge fund Universa Investments,toldFortunethat a recession is coming this yearas the biggest market bubble in history will soon pop.“It’s not different this time, and anybody who says it is really isn’t paying attention,” he said,adding “the only difference is the magnitude of this bubble that’s popping is bigger than we’ve ever seen.”Recommended Newsletter: CEO Daily provide...

2

A timeline of Chris Chan's incest charge and dismissal, which came after years of online trolling that documented the creator's relationship with her motherhttps://ift.tt/xVyg4q6Chandler was arrested in August 2021 and charged with one count of incest.Christina Chandler/FacebookA recording of internet creator Christine Chandler admitting to having sex with her mother went viral in 2021.Chandler, known online as Chris Chan, was arrested in August 2021 and charged with incest.A judge dismissed the case against Chanlder in August 2023 after her attorneys filed for an autism deferal. Christine Chandler was arrested on August 1, 2021.Christine Chandler has evolved as a popular online figure from 2007 to 2021.CWCkiChristine Chandler, who is also known online as Chris Chan, was arrested on August 1, 2021, and charged with incest after a leaked phone call revealed she may have had sexual relations with her 79-year-old mother.The life of Chandler and, by extension, her mother, has been extensively documented since 2007, when users on the fringe chat forum 4chan caught wind of her comic, Sonichu, a cross between Pikachu and Sonic the Hedgehog.Since then, trolls have been tracking Chandler's digital footprint as well as her movements in real life through filming, doxxing, hacking, and in some cases, even impersonating potential partners.The extensive knowledge trolls have of Chandler and her mother has been recorded on a dedicated Wiki, CWCki, since 2009. Covert trolls often contacted her to leak their conversation on forums like Kiwi Farms, which is believed to have been the intention of the person who had the alleged phone call with Chandler.In a statement provided to Business Insider, Chandler's attorney, David Heilberg, cautioned people not to believe everything they read on internet forums."Ms. Chandler's frequent and sometimes over the top presence on the internet is partly a product of mental health issues causing misguided attention seeking and often provocative engagement with others," the statement said.Here's a timeline of the allegations, which began years ago with rumors spread by trolls on internet forums.Online trolls have been making allegations about Chandler's relationship with her mother for years.Chandler had been living alone with her mother since her father died in 2011.Gibi/YouTubeAs Chandler has said online in the past, she has lived alone with her mother since her father died in 2011.Trolls who followed Chandler's life on CWCki and later on Kiwi Farms repeatedly questioned Chandler's relationship with her mother. Several threads on Kiwi Farms and articles on CWCki ridiculed Chandler for referring to her mother with pet names like "darling" and "dear."On October 15, 2015, Chandler and her mother attended a court hearing following an assault Chandler committed on a video game store employee the year before. As was common for many of Chandler's trolls at the time, some of them attended t...

1

Plot details to remember before watching season 4 of 'Emily in Paris'https://ift.tt/wxbI7yq"Emily in Paris" is back for a fourth season.Netflix"Emily in Paris," starring Lily Collins, returned to Netflix for season four on August 15.If you don't have time to rewatch the show, we have the details you need to remember.This article contains major spoilers for season three.After an almost two-year wait, "Emily in Paris" has finally returned to Netflix.The first half of season four premiered on the streaming site on August 15, with the rest of the episodes dropping on September 12.The series, created by "Sex and the City" creator Darren Star, follows a young American woman (Lily Collins) who gets a job in the French capital managing the social media campaigns of luxury fashion and lifestyle brands.As audiences have seen since the show's outset, Emily has made a number of cultural faux pas in her love life and career since moving to Paris, and that was no different in season three.In case you need a refresher on what happened, Business Insider has you covered. Here's a rundown of what happened in the last season of "Emily in Paris."Emily found herself torn between 2 jobs — and 2 love interestsEmily (Lily Collins ) and Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) in season three of "Emily in Paris."Marie Etchegoyen/NetflixAt the beginning of season three, Emily was presented with the choice between staying at her company, Savoir, with her American boss, Madeline (Kate Walsh), or joining Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) at her newly created firm, Agence Grateau.She didn't end up choosing either and instead secretly worked for both companies for a while — until she lost both jobs.She quit Savior after being asked to move back to the US, and Sylvie fired her when she discovered Emily hadn't fully committed to her new venture.It all worked out in the end, though, as Sylvie rehired Emily by the end of the season.Emily similarly found herself stuck between two choices in her dating life; she dated Brit Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) on and off for most of season three but still held a candle for neighbor Gabriel (Lucas Bravo).However, at the end of the season, she found herself single.Alfie ended their relationship because he didn't want to be Emily's second choice. While her path to finally being with Gabriel seemed clear, he revealed in the season finale that he and Camille (Camille Razat), although broken up, were going to have a baby together.Gabriel finally opened his own restaurant but was left at the altar by CamilleGabriel (Lucas Bravo) in season three of "Emily in Paris."NetflixSeason three saw Gabriel achieve one of his biggest dreams — he opened his restaurant, L'Esprit de Gigi, after making a deal with Antoine (William Abadie) and Alfie.What's more, the restaurant was on its way to earning a Michelin star, thanks to Emily's coworker Luc (Bruno Gouery), who brought a Michelin inspector named Mar...

Japan's anime industry looks to AI to solve labor crunchhttps://ift.tt/vcQ90eZMedia & EntertainmentJapan's anime industry looks to AI to solve labor crunchNew services can automate backgrounds, coloring and other time-consuming work AI can be used to create anime visuals, likethis fire-breathing dragon made byK&K Design.(K&K Design)RIHO NAGAO, Nikkei staff writerAugust 19, 2024 02:00 JST | JapanTOKYO -- With generative artificial intelligence poised to trigger seismic shifts across society, Japan's animation industry is opening up to its potential to stem critical labor shortages, even as concerns about protecting creators abound.Nagoya-based K&K Design introduced generative AI into its workflow last year to help with background art and coloring. "Background art that usually takes a week can now be done in five minutes," the company said.Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.Celebrate our next chapterFree access for everyone - Sep. 30Find out moreBusiness Newsvia Nikkei Asian Review https://ift.tt/q5bFiMhAugust 18, 2024 at 10:01AM

Ten bestselling books written by CEOshttps://ift.tt/uhOgdX3Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images (Getty Images)First published in 2020, “Invent and Wander” is a collection of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ writings, rather than a traditional memoir. The book contains annual shareholder letters, speeches and interviews, among other writings.Business Newsvia Quartz https://qz.comAugust 18, 2024 at 09:44AM

I'm a first-generation funeral director. The industry is facing a labor shortage and young women are its future.https://ift.tt/1uPFkZGAllyse Worland is a first-generation funeral director and embalmer. Allyse WorlandAllyse Worland is a first-generation funeral director licensed in Indiana and Kentucky.More young women are now enrolling in mortuary schools as the industry faces a labor shortage.Millennials and Gen Z women will shape the future of funeral services, Worland says.This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Allyse Worland, 30, a funeral director licensed in Indiana and Kentucky, who owns Have License Will Travel Continuing Education Provider and is a partner at Continuing Vision. The following has been edited for length and clarity.I was nine years old when I experienced the first tragic loss in my family.It was heartbreaking, and I wondered, "How can I make this situation better?"I was at my local library back home and loved the Ancient Egypt section, which talked about embalmers. A book said, "Modern-day embalmers are sometimes referred to as morticians or funeral directors."When I read that sentence, I knew exactly what I would do. I devoted my entire life to pursuing my funeral director's license.I'm now a proud first-generation funeral director and embalmer.The funeral industry used to be male-dominated, but young women are flooding its ranksWe're going to see a huge demand for funeral directors in the next 10 years because a lot of them are retiring. It's going to open up several thousands of positions for young funeral directors to step in and make an impact.When I first got into the profession, it was definitely male-dominated, but the industry is shifting. Around 75% of students enrolling in mortuary programs in 2022 were women. I love that women are occupying so much more space.Families expect somebody older, usually a male, so when they see somebody who might be their daughter's age, they chill out.I've also seen how younger generations have brought more life through technology.We have a tremendous opportunity to educate families on new ideas, such as greener options and disposition methods, that will become more popular in the future. We have the opportunity to shape how we're going to steer funeral service into the future.I'm excited for the next generation because, in my opinion, there has never been a better time to be in the funeral service.Allyse Worland graduated from Mid-America College of Funeral Service in 2015.Allyse WorlandI attended a mortuary school in IndianaI graduated from a school in southern Indiana called Mid-America College of Funeral Service in 2015.It had really small classes, which was great because I got to know every one of my classmates or if I needed one-on-one time with my professors, then I could.It is an investment in your education. You're talking two to four years of college on top of an apprenticeship or an internshi...

With the Polestar 3 now “weeks” away, its CEO looks to make company “self-sustaining”https://ift.tt/0oQYgwiThomas Ingenlath is having perhaps a little too much fun in his Polestar 3, silently rocketing away from stop signs and swinging through tightening bends, grinning like a man far younger than his 59 years of age.“You really can push this car,” the Polestar CEO says as he cruises the roads alongside other enthusiasts near Spanish Bay north of Pebble Beach during Monterey Car Week. Throughout the drive, he praises the SUV’s ability to be both comfortable and smooth while still delivering the engaging handling that buyers of the brand’s first two cars, the hybrid Polestar 1 and electric Polestar 2, have come to know and love.In his neutral-hued suit, he almost blends into the pale interior of the full-size SUV, the yellow seatbelt across his chest providing the only contrast. It’s an aesthetic that matches the attitude of the car itself: a premium, minimalist feel with the sharp performance typical of Polestar machines.Safe EV ground, shifting political sandsBut the Polestar 3 marks a new way forward for the brand on U.S. streets. Though the car that Ingenlath hustles through traffic in Monterey was built in China, the first American-assembled Polestar 3 SUVs are just starting to roll off the factory lines at Polestar’s plant in Ridgeville, South Carolina.Image credits: PolestarThat same factory has long made cars for Volvo, which is owned by China’s Geely Holding. Polestar — a spinoff of Volvo that’s headquartered in Sweden and also under Geely — now shares the space as it zooms forward in the United States amid headwinds from the recently imposed tariffs on Chinese EVs.Indeed, while the company’s Polestar 2 is built in Gothenburg, all American-market Polestar 3 SUVs will come from South Carolina.“Polestar 3 production is, I call it, on safe ground,” Ingenlath says.Safe ground, perhaps, but undoubtedly shifting sands. Ingenlath sees EV demand in the U.S. market as evolving and requiring some patience:“How fast will that develop? We have to see,” he says. “but it’s certainly not something that worries me about the purpose of our company.”Ingenlath says he would love for adoption rates to be even higher here, of course, but he’d be happier if United States politics could be “a bit more consistent.”He’s watching the election closely. “All the noise around it is just disturbing,” he muses. “When you do a premium car brand, you need consistency. You need consistency in your model politics and your pricing and stuff, and of course, we would love, as well, for us to have a much more stable base for decision-making. And you cannot, you know, react on a weekly, monthly basis. You need years… to make meaningful economic decisions.”Cars like the Polestar 3 take upwards of five years to design and develop. Moves like the new tariffs on Chinese-made EVs imported to the U.S. — which sprung up practically overnight — are a...

South Korea’s AI textbook program faces skepticism from parentshttps://ift.tt/ycXC5MlSome parents have reservations about the South Korean government’s plans to bring tablets with AI-powered textbooks into classrooms, according to a report in The Financial Times.The tablets are scheduled to be introduced next year, and by 2028, teachers are supposed to be using these AI textbooks for all subjects except music, art, physical education, and ethics. The government hasn’t shared many details about how it will all work, except that the material is supposed to be customized for different speeds of learning, with teachers using dashboards to monitor how students are doing.In response, more than 50,000 parents have signed a petition demanding that the government focus less on new tech and more on students’ overall well-being: “We, as parents, are already encountering many issues at unprecedented levels arising from [our children’s] exposure to digital devices.”Lee Sun-youn, a mother of two, told the FT, “I am worried that too much usage of digital devices could negatively affect their brain development, concentration span and ability to solve problems — they already use smartphones and tablets too much.”Business Newsvia TechCrunch https://techcrunch.com/August 18, 2024 at 09:18AM