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For clients who want to delve into the heart of Thai culture through hands-on activities and immersive experiences, plan an itinerary to northern Thailand. The region’s warm hospitality and remarkable attractions will likely inspire a longing to return—after all, more than a third of American travelers to Thailand are repeat visitors. There’s no better place to start than Chiang Mai, once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom and recognized as a UNESCO World Creative City for its crafts and folk art.  More than 700 years old, Thailand’s second-largest city preserves many of its ancient handicraft traditions, so visitors can return home…

Meta has acquired AI voice startup WaveForms for an undisclosed sum, The Information reports. It’s the company’s latest buy to strengthen its new AI unit, Superintelligence Labs, and Meta’s second major AI audio acquisition in the last month after it bought PlayAI.  WaveForms, founded just eight months ago, raised $40 million from Andreessen Horowitz in a round that valued the company at $160 million pre-money, per PitchBook data.  Two of the startup’s co-founders — former Meta and OpenAI researcher Alexis Conneau, and former Google advertising strategist Coralie Lemaitre — have reportedly joined Meta. While at OpenAI, Conneau co-created GPT4-o Advanced…

Facebook Tweet Email Link Jerusalem  —  Israel’s security cabinet has voted to expand the war in Gaza, marking a major escalation at a time when it is under intense domestic and international pressure to end the conflict. The cabinet approved plans to capture Gaza City, in the north of the territory, as part of Israel’s goals to destroy Hamas and rescue hostages the militants are holding. But the move raised fears further fighting will only endanger captives – and worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis. The plan also brings Israel closer to fully occupying Gaza, something it has not done…

In Starz’s “Outlander,” Caitriona Balfe’s Claire Fraser is bold and brave. She can also think on her feet in high-pressure moments. Her husband Jamie Fraser, played by Sam Heughan, is protective and empathetic. In a new prequel series out Friday, called “Outlander: Blood of My Blood,” we see how they each got that way.“Blood of My Blood” tells the love story of Jamie’s parents, Ellen and Brian, and Claire’s parents, Julia and Henry. The characters are inspired by the stories of Diana Gabaldon but there are no novels for showrunner Matthew B. Roberts to follow. He also is the showrunner…

People walk past a Sweetgreen restaurant in Manhattan.Jeenah Moon | The Washington Post | Getty ImagesSweetgreen shares dropped more than 25% on Friday after the salad chain cut its 2025 outlook for the second quarter in a row, citing issues with its loyalty program, weak consumer sentiment, tariff headwinds and store challenges.For the full-year 2025, Sweetgreen now expects revenue of between $700 million and $715 million, down from its May prediction of $740 million to $760 million and its February outlook of $760 million to $780 million.It also projects negative same-store sales for the full year, estimating declines of between…

Startups face more exit options — and more uncertainty — than ever before. That’s why we’re bringing this essential conversation to the Going Public Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, happening October 27-29 in San Francisco’s Moscone West. Whether you’re already eyeing a liquidity event or just starting to scale, this is your chance to hear what top VCs are looking for and how to set up your company for long-term success. Two of the best in the business — Roseanne Wincek of Renegade Partners and Jai Das of Sapphire Ventures — will break down the decision-making process, from when to…

Facebook Tweet Email Link A hunter from the United States has been killed by a buffalo he was tracking during an expedition in South Africa, organizers said this week. Asher Watkins, from Texas, was killed on Sunday “while on a hunting safari with us in South Africa’s Limpopo Province,” Coenraad Vermaak Safaris (CVS), the safari company that organized the trip, said in a statement sent to CNN. Hans Vermaak, who leads CVS, which says on its website that it’s the longest-running hunting safari company in South Africa, said Watkins “was fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack by an…

2026 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak in Green Machine (front). A Jailbreak Custom Color program will allow select Dodge customers to paint their Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak in nearly any color imaginable, including Stryker Purple (shown at rear).Courtesy: DodgeStellantis subsidiary Dodge announced two new muscle cars on Friday, flexing its 2026 model year lineup and touting customization options for its customers.The 2026 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak is a new three-row muscle SUV featuring a 710-horsepower Hemi V-8 engine. According to Dodge, it provides more than 6 million potential combinations for customization through multiple wheel choices, interior seat colors, seat…

Princess Cruises is set to break records for its 2027 Japan season, with Diamond and Sapphire Princess operating on 50 one-of-a-kind itineraries featuring 78 departures from the Tokyo region.Bookings for the cruises, which will operate from March to December 2027, open on August 20, 2025. Itineraries include nine- to 24-day “Cherry Blossom” sailings, visiting Japan’s four main islands; eight- to 24-day “Festival” cruises, exploring such summer festivals as Aomori Nebuta, Tokushima Awa Odori and Kochi Yosakoi; nine- to 28-day “Circle and Grand Japan” sailings, with calls at Osaka, Hiroshima, Nagasaki and array of other destinations; nine- to 18-day “Okinawa &…

NEW YORK (AP) — With deep knowledge of Stephen King’s books and curiosity about their inspirations, writer Sharon Kitchens began a journey around Maine. As she learned about the real-life settings and people behind such fiction as “IT” and “Salem’s Lot,” she arranged them into an online map and story she called “Stephen King’s Maine.”“It was amateur hour, in a way,” she says. “But after around 27,000 people visited the site one of my friends said to me, ‘You should do something more with this.’”Published in 2024, the resulting book-length edition of “Stephen King’s Maine” is among hundreds released each…