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Hotel guests are increasingly feeling like they’re getting more bang for their buck, according to the 2025 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index (NAGSI) Study from J.D. Power.Redesigned for 2025, the study measures overall hotel guest satisfaction based on performance in seven core dimensions—including value, guest room, staff services, facilities, communications and connectivity and food and beverage—across nine segments ranging from luxury to economy. Despite the average daily rate for a U.S. hotel room reaching a record high of $158.67 in 2024, clean and well-designed rooms, omnipresent amenities such as smart TVs and user-friendly mobile apps are helping boost traveler…

As publishers fret about decreased traffic from Google, the search giant has begun rolling out AI summaries in Discover, the main news feed inside Google’s search app on iOS and Android. Now, instead of seeing a headline from a major publication, users will see multiple news publishers’ logos in the top-left corner, followed by an AI-generated summary that cites those sources. The app warns that these summaries are generated with AI, “which can make mistakes.” Image Credits:Google The feature is not yet appearing for all news stories within the Google app. In tests, TechCrunch was able to view the AI…

LONDON (AP) — The BBC said Tuesday that longtime “MasterChef” host John Torode has been sacked for allegedly using racist language on set, a day after the broadcaster confirmed it was severing ties with another of the cooking show’s presenters, Gregg Wallace, over separate allegations.The BBC said the allegation against Torode involved “an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace,” and that the claim was upheld by an independent investigation led by a law firm.“We will not tolerate racist language of any kind,” the corporation said. “John Torode’s contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.”Torode, 59, said he…

Based on verified data and traveler insights, Expedia has released its first-ever 2025 Island Hot List, also showing that global interest for islands is up approximately 30 percent.“Powered by real traveler data, the Expedia Island Hot List gives travelers the inspiration they need to plan a smarter island escape,” said Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group brands public relations. She added, “Island adventurers want standout stays, affordable prices and seamless flight access. To get that, our top tips are to travel out of season when average stay prices can fluctuate by as much as 50% and bundle flights and hotels…

Thinking Machines Lab, the AI startup founded by OpenAI’s former chief technology officer Mira Murati, officially closed a $2 billion seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz on Monday, a company spokesperson told TechCrunch. The deal, which includes participation from Nvidia, Accel, ServiceNow, CISCO, AMD, and Jane Street, values the startup at $12 billion, the spokesperson said. Several outlets reported in June that Thinking Machines Lab was close to closing this $2 billion funding round at a $10 billion valuation, but, apparently, that valuation has shot up in the last month. The deal marks one of the largest seed rounds —…

WASHINGTON (AP) — The University of Michigan is under federal scrutiny after two Chinese scientists linked to the school were separately charged with smuggling biological materials into the United States.The Education Department on Tuesday opened an investigation into the university’s foreign funding, citing the pair of cases that were announced days apart in June. It said the “highly disturbing criminal charges” raise concerns about Michigan’s vulnerability to national security threats from China.“Despite the University of Michigan’s history of downplaying its vulnerabilities to malign foreign influence, recent reports reveal that UM’s research laboratories remain vulnerable to sabotage,” said Paul Moore, chief…

CNN  —  Two men have been sentenced to four years and three months each in prison for felling a landmark sycamore tree in northern England. Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, were both found guilty of two counts of criminal damage in May, one relating to the tree itself and the other to Hadrian’s Wall that it fell on, according to the UK’s PA Media news agency. The pair were sentenced in Newcastle Crown Court in northeast England on Tuesday. The tree had stood sentinel on the Roman-built Hadrian’s Wall for more than 200 years before being “deliberately felled”…

Now that the Primetime Emmy Awards nominations have been announced, you’ve got two months to catch up on some of the year’s most-acclaimed shows.Some binges may take longer than others, but the list below should help you choose what to watch and how long it should take to catch up. For those looking for the most bang for their streaming buck, HBO Max has the most shows nominated this year.Comedian Nate Bargatze hosts the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14 on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.—— “Severance” (27 Emmy Nominations): Streaming on Apple TV+In “Severance,” Adam Scott’s character Mark…

A choreographer and a dancer traveling with Beyoncé for her concerts in Atlanta left their rental car in a parking garage for an hour while grabbing a bite, then returned to find a broken window and both of their suitcases stolen.They lost more than just clothing, sunglasses and headphones. According to an Atlanta police report, the thief also made off with thumb drives containing the singer’s “unreleased music.” Police say they have identified a suspect, but they hadn’t announced any arrests as of Tuesday.Here’s what we know about Beyoncé’s stolen music. The break-in and robberyThe theft was reported July 8,…

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, leaves the U.S. Capitol after a meeting with Republican members of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on the issue of de-banking on Feb. 13, 2025.Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty ImagesJPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon says he doesn’t get the appeal of stablecoins, but he also can’t afford to stay on the sidelines.It’s the message Dimon gave Tuesday when asked during an earnings conference call about whether his company, the largest and most influential U.S. bank, was exploring the payment technology.Stablecoins, as the name suggests, are a type of…