SMITH BRAIN TRUST  —  What does the first presidential debate have in common with the famed “Rumble in the Jungle” boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman?

SMITH BRAIN TRUST – Love, exciting and new – that’s what Carnival Cruise Lines is going for as its launches its new line of original television programming. Or at least fresh interest in vacations at sea. Carnival Cruise Line is looking to recreate some of the TV magic that helped boost the vacation cruise industry in the 1980s, when the popular hour-long sitcom, “The Love Boat,” was in its heyday and people were flocking to ports like never before in search of a dream getaway.

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — Retweets aren't necessarily endorsements, and they definitely aren’t votes. So what can Twitter tell us about the 2016 presidential election? Maybe more than you think, new research from the University of Maryland suggests. For starters, Republican nominee Donald Trump is winning — at Twitter anyway — over Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — The Fitbit-led fitness wearable market has been growing worldwide by more than 65 percent a year, and Apple is looking to gain a piece of the action. It’s been highlighting the fitness functionalities in its forthcoming Series 2 Watch.

The Hospitality Business Fellows (HBF) program at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business was launched on Aug. 29, 2016. The 15 students in Cohort 1 of the program welcomed to their first class five senior executives from Choice Hotels International, who spoke about the wide variety of career opportunities available in the hospitality industry.

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — Southwest Airlines has long swiped left on online travel agencies. But now a trio of matchmakers is pushing the airline into a forced marriage of sorts in the name of consumer protection.

The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business is happy to welcome six new full-time faculty members for the 2016-2017 academic year. New faculty joined the Smith School in August in following areas: Decision, Operations and Information Technologies Wei Chen, Visiting Lecturer, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (PhD) Courtney Paulson, Assistant Professor, University of Southern California (PhD)

The Center for Excellence in Service (CES) at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business welcomes Bloomberg, Inc. to the Professional Services Leadership Initiative (PSLI). The PSLI is a unique, cross-sector executive development program designed to prepare high-performing mid-level marketing managers for promotion to executive positions.

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — Selling your house and needing help? You’re likely focused on finding a competent agent with a successful track record, and it’s unlikely you’ll make extra time to seek character references.

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — As investing icons Carl Icahn, George Soros and Leon Cooperman have exited Apple and its lagging stock, Warren Buffett has reasserted a value-investor approach by upping his stake in the tech giant. SEC filings on Monday revealed Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway as of June 30 increased its Apple stake by 55 percent, or about $500 million.