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KIAMBU, Kenya (AP) — Safari Martins leads his client Ian Njenga into a sparse shack on the rural roadside in Kiambu, at the edge of metropolitan Nairobi. On the shack’s wooden walls hang a shovel, iron, agricultural shears and a wrench, but Njenga is not there to buy equipment. He’s there to get a haircut.“I just use unconventional tools,” Martins says, smiling, moments before sliding a razor-sharp shovel edge across Njenga’s head, lopping off a swath of hair in the first of a series of moves that yields a surprisingly clean haircut.Unconventional tools are a hallmark for Martins, who is…

by Lacey Pfalz Last updated: 7:00 AM ET, Wed December 31, 2025 Chances are, if you’re a travel advisor who sells river cruises, you’ve heard of AmaWaterways’ land packages, and might have seen more travelers booking a pre- or post-cruise experience when the line offers included land packages during select annual promotion periods. So what are they really like? What can they provide to clients that they can’t get simply by planning their own pre-cruise or post-cruise experience? What’s In a Land Package? The AmaMora in Vilshofen, Germany. (Photo Credit: Lacey Pfalz)I had the privilege of traveling with AmaWaterways back in October,…

Although iconic founders like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg famously didn’t finish college, multiple studies show that the vast majority of successful startups had founders with bachelor’s or graduate degrees. Despite this data, the appeal of a dropout founder persists, though VC enthusiasm for the ‘un-degreed’ is far from constant. It is a phenomenon that cycles in and out of fashion, and right now it is certainly having a moment amid the AI boom. This trend is particularly evident during Y Combinator Demo Days, where founders are increasingly touting their dropout status in their one-minute pitches. “I don’t believe YC…

The beginning of each new year provides travel advisors with the opportunity to exceed their own expectations from a business standpoint — particularly if they sidestep errors that could potentially dampen their business prospects.Some mistakes that savvy advisors caution against include resting on one’s laurels from the previous year, not focusing on retaining existing clients and not creating a clear and concise 2026 road map to steer the business far into the future. Here are some of the most common — and overlooked — missteps to avoid in the new year.Gaining MomentumAlthough it’s easy to be lulled into a false…

by Sarah Kuta Last updated: 7:15 PM ET, Tue December 30, 2025 Carnival Cruise Line is set to celebrate New Year’s Eve in style.The brand is returning to Times Square to light the New Year’s Eve Ball for the fifth year in a row. Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation & plc, will lead the company’s delegation in New York. Carnival Cruise Line is the official cruise line sponsor for Times Square New Year’s Eve. The brand is also sponsoring one of the Times Square musical performances featured in “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest…

Tade Oyerinde and Teddy Solomon know a few things about building communities that last.   Afterall, Oyerinde is the founder and chancellor of the online school Campus, while Solomon is the co-founder behind the college social app Fizz.  The two spoke at TechCrunch Disrupt this year, breaking down the strategies that helped them scale their companies while retaining consumer interest.  Campus offers associate degrees in areas like information technology and business administration. It also offers certificates in specialities like cosmetology and phlebotomy. There are more than 3,000 students enrolled in Campus, and it employs more than 100 professors on at least a part-time basis, Oyerinde says.   Oyerinde said Campus decided to launch à la carte courses since…

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece and Cyprus are starting 2026 by turning down the volume.The countries’ capital cities, Athens and Nicosia, have traded the familiar whizz, crackle and boom of window‑rattling fireworks for spectacle without the shock wave, opting for low‑noise pyrotechnics, light shows and drone displays.The shift aims to make New Year celebrations more child‑ and pet‑friendly — especially for animals with more sensitive hearing — in a break from the loud, combustible traditions of the past.A shift toward calmAthens embraced “quiet” fireworks last year, a decision Mayor Haris Doukas says signals a change in priorities.“This marks a new…

by Mia Taylor Last updated: 2:10 PM ET, Tue December 30, 2025 Is the sunny island of Puerto Rico on your to-do list for 2026?If the answer is yes, you’re not alone. Puerto Rico has been welcoming record numbers of tourists.The island’s tourism industry generated more than $1.7 billion in hotel nights and rentals between January and October of 2025, bringing the local industry ever so close to reaching the $2 billion mark in lodging revenue, according to Discover Puerto Rico. That’s a figure never before recorded in the history of Puerto Rico’s visitor economy.In addition to the growing interest in Puerto…

Having a cuddly pet to return home to is one of life’s great joys, and with the latest gadgets and AI technology, pet ownership becomes even more enjoyable and convenient.  Here’s a roundup of some gadgets that can be the perfect gifts for any pet parent. Petlibro AI-powered pet camera – $99.99 Image Credits:PetLibro Petlibro recently launched its AI-powered Scout Smart Camera, which gives pet owners real-time insights into what their little ones are up to.  The app lets you control where the camera looks, and it can also automatically follow your pet as they move around. The camera has…

by Sarah Kuta Last updated: 2:15 PM ET, Tue December 30, 2025 As Broward County gears up to celebrate 50 years of public art in 2026, cruise passengers can admire a gorgeous new masterpiece at Port Everglades.The new mural, called “Plumage Passage,” was created by Miami-based Cuban-American artist Ernesto Maranje. The piece, which adorns the 12-story Harbormaster Tower, depicts a great blue heron and a roseate spoonbill in celebration of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s native birds. In 2019, Maranje painted a mural called “Avian Odyssey” at the same location, but was recently invited to reimagine the space.”Plumage Passage” by Ernesto Maranje…