Press review · Thursday, 3 July 2025
03 July 2025
Single reports
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androidpolice.com Tech ·
Grab this powerful and compact Anker 100W charger now down to an all-time low price
Can't-miss deal knocks this sleek and compact Anker 100W charger down to its best price
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theatlantic.com Top stories ·
The Most Perverse Part of the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’
The Republican megabill could be setting America up for the worst energy-affordability crisis since the 1970s.
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unn.ua Top stories ·
Chinese BYD and Chery increased sales by 40% worldwide against a decline in Tesla's results
УНН News of the World ✎ Chinese automakers BYD and Chery increased sales by 40% in 2024, while Tesla faced an annual decline for the first time. This is due to the flexibilit…
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theverge.com Top stories ·
RFK Jr.’s plan to put ‘AI’ in everything is a disaster
‘Stop trusting the experts.’
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ft.com Top stories ·
Full EU-US trade deal ‘impossible’ before deadline, says Ursula von der Leyen
European Commission president aims for less detailed ‘agreement in principle’
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engadget.com Tech ·
The best early Prime Day Apple deals on MacBooks, AirPods, iPads and more
Amazon's Prime Day deals include discounts on Apple gear like MacBook, Airpods, iPads and more.
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blockclubchicago.org Top stories ·
4 Killed, 14 Wounded In River North Mass Shooting Outside Mello Buckzz Mixtape Release Party
Two of the dead include the rapper's boyfriend and best friend, according to reports. "My heart broke," she wrote.
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nytimes.com Top stories ·
Winners (Hawks), losers (July) and more from NBA free agency’s first days
The summer transaction cycle isn't what it used to be, but we still had plenty of action to analyze this week.
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npr.org Top stories ·
What happens to Sean Combs now?
The hip-hop mogul's legal saga has reached an uneasy outcome. Despite a tainted legacy and severed business ties, does his acquittal on the most serious charges leave room for a return?
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theguardian.com Top stories ·
Senseless death of Diogo Jota will not stop us celebrating what he brought life | Barney Ronay
His loved ones’ lives are changed for ever and at one level this is not a sports story. But Jota’s footballing talent, heart and will should be cherished, amid the grief
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home.treasury.gov Top stories ·
Treasury Targets Diverse Networks Facilitating Iranian Oil Trade
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is taking action against networks that have collectively transported and purchased billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian oil, some of which has benefited Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. Among the entities sanctioned today is a network of companies run by Iraqi businessman Salim Ahmed Said (Said) that has profited from smuggling Iranian oil disguised as, or blended with, Iraqi oil. Treasury is also sanctioning several vessels engaged in the covert delivery of Iranian oil, intensifying pressure on Iran’s “shadow fleet.”“As President Trump has made clear, Iran’s behavior has left it decimated. While it has had every opportunity to choose peace, its leaders have chosen extremism,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “Treasury will continue to target Tehran’s revenue sources and intensify economic pressure to disrupt the regime’s access to the financial resources that fuel its destabilizing activities.”Today’s action is being taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13902, which targets those operating in certain sectors of the Iranian economy, including Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors, as well as the counterterrorism authority E.O. 13224, as amended. It marks the eighth round of sanctions targeting Iran’s oil trade since the President issued National Security Presidential Memorandum 2, directing a campaign of maximum pressure on Iran. Concurrently, the Department of State is designating six entities and identifying four vessels pursuant to E.O. 13846 for having knowingly engaged in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran.IRAN-IRAQ OIL SMUGGLING NETWORKIraqi-British national Salim Ahmed Said (Said) runs a network of companies that have been selling Iranian oil falsely declared as Iraqi oil since at least 2020. Said’s companies use ship-to-ship transfers and other obfuscation techniques to hide their activities. Said’s companies and vessels blend Iranian oil with Iraqi oil, which is then sold to Western buyers via Iraq or the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as purely Iraqi oil using forged documentation to avoid sanctions. This allows the oil to be sold on the legitimate market and helps Iran evade international sanctions on its oil exports. Said has bribed many members of key Iraqi government bodies, including parliament. He has reportedly paid millions of dollars in kickbacks to these officials in exchange for forged vouchers allowing him to sell Iranian oil as if it originated from Iraq. Said is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. Said controls UAE-based company VS Tankers FZE (VS Tankers), despite avoiding formal association with the company. Formerly known as Al-Iraqia Shipping Services & Oil Trading FZE (AISSOT), VS Tankers has smuggled oil for the benefit of the Iranian government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). For example, in 2020, AISSOT reportedly brokered a deal to transport Iranian oil via Iraqi pipelines to be blended and sold as Iraqi oil. VS Tankers-affiliated ships have assisted Iranian oil exporters in blending Iranian oil with Iraqi to obscure the oil’s origins by engaging in ship-to-ship transfers with vessels known to be affiliated with Iranian oil activities. VS Tankers currently claims several oil tankers as part of its fleet, one of which recorded four ship-to-ship transfers with the U.S. sanctioned, Barbados-flagged CASINOVA (IMO 9280366) in April 2024 while located in the Persian Gulf near the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab river, which marks the border between Iraq and Iran. VS Tankers has served as the operator, manager, and beneficial owner of the Marshall Islands-flagged crude oil tanker DIJILAH (IMO 9829629) since 2019. VS Tankers is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. DIJILAH is being identified pursuant to E.O. 13902 as property in which VS Tankers has an interest. In 2023, Said expanded his business holdings to include VS Oil Terminal FZE (VS Oil), which, though registered in the UAE, has its physical presence in Khor al-Zubayr, Iraq. VS Oil manages six oil storage tanks where Iranian oil is dropped off to be mixed with Iraqi oil. Vessels carrying Iranian oil also conduct ship-to-ship transfers with vessels carrying Iraqi oil in the vicinity of VS Oil’s terminal facilities, and the blended oil is ultimately authenticated by complicit Iraqi government officials. Vessel tracking data shows that multiple oil tankers known to transport Iranian petroleum products on behalf of U.S.-sanctioned Iranian oil and petrochemical broker Triliance Petrochemical Co. Ltd. and Iranian military front company Sahara Thunder have visited VS Oil. VS Oil employees smuggle hard currency into Iran via cars and trucks, some of which carry millions of dollars each, as payment for oil. VS Oil is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. Said also owns UAE-based VS Petroleum DMCC, formerly Ikon Petroleum DMCC, and Rhine Shipping DMCC (Rhine Shipping) which, in 2022, were implicated in blending Iranian oil to sell as Iraqi oil. Rhine Shipping was also previously exposed as the manager of the U.S.-sanctioned oil tanker MOLECULE, formerly named BABEL, which loaded oil in the Persian Gulf from an Iranian tanker that had turned off its location transponder to obfuscate the transaction. OFAC subsequently sanctioned the MOLECULE for its role in shipping Iranian oil as part of the network of Iran-backed Houthi financial official Sa’id al-Jamal. Said also owns United Kingdom-based companies The Willett Hotel Limited and Robinbest Limited.VS Petroleum DMCC, Rhine Shipping, The Willett Hotel Limited, and Robinbest Limited are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for being owned or controlled by, directly or indirectly, Said. Shadow fleet actorsIran’s shadow fleet enables the regime to transport its petroleum to generate revenue. Iran relies on non-sanctioned vessels to conduct ship-to-ship transfers and receive Iranian oil from sanctioned vessels before shipping the Iranian-origin cargo to buyers in Asia. The National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) uses Singapore-based Trans Arctic Global Marine Services PTE. LTD. (Trans Arctic Global) to arrange piloting services for NITC vessels transiting through the Strait of Malacca. Trans Arctic Global has enabled NITC to transport tens of millions of barrels of Iranian oil through the Strait of Malacca for eventual ship-to-ship transfers to vessels waiting in the Singapore Eastern Outer Port Limits.Trans Arctic Global is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy.The Cameroon-flagged VIZURI (IMO 9197909), Comoros-flagged FOTIS (IMO 9306548), and Panama-flagged THEMIS (IMO 9264570) and BIANCA JOYSEL (IMO 9196632), have collectively shipped tens of millions of barrels of Iranian oil and other petroleum worth billions of dollars.Since mid-2023, the VIZURI has completed multiple shipments of Iranian oil and transported millions of barrels of Iranian oil. Panama-flagged liquified petroleum gas carrier (LPG) FOTIS has transported millions of barrels of Iranian LPG and other petroleum to multiple locations. Panama-flagged THEMIS, which was sanctioned by the United Kingdom on May 9, 2025 for transporting Russian oil, has also transported Iranian oil. Seychelles-based Egir Shipping Ltd, and Marshall Islands-based Fotis Lines Incorporated and Themis Limited are the respective owners of the VIZURI, FOTIS, and THEMIS. Egir Shipping Limited, Fotis Lines Incorporated, and Themis Limited are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. VIZURI, FOTIS, and THEMIS are being identified as blocked property in which Egir Shipping Ltd, Fotis Lines Incorporated, and Themis Limited, respectively, have an interest.Panama-flagged BIANCA JOYSEL has transported more than ten million barrels of Iranian oil since mid-2024, conducting ship-to-ship transfers with sanctioned vessels owned by the U.S.-designated NITC, including the AMOR and STARLA. British Virgin Islands-based Betensh Global Investment Limited And Dong Dong Shipping Limited owns the BIANCA JOYSEL. Betensh Global Investment Limited And Dong Dong Shipping Limited is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. BIANCA JOYSEL is being identified as blocked property in which Betensh Global Investment Limited And Dong Dong Shipping Limited has an interest.IRGC-QF oil SalesThe IRGC-QF has used the Al-Qatirji Company to facilitate oil sales to customers around the world, generating hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue for the IRGC-QF. The Cameroon-flagged ELIZABET (IMO 9216717), which has impersonated a separate vessel, the S TINOS, loaded a cargo of Iranian oil off the coast of Malaysia in August 2024 via ship-to-ship transfer. The cargo had originally been loaded at Kharg Island, Iran, by the ROMINA (IMO 9114608), a vessel previously identified for its role in transporting Iranian petroleum for the Al-Qatirji Company. Seychelles-based White Sands Shipmanagement Corp. is the ship manager, operator, and technical manager of the ELIZABET.The AI-Qatirji Company transported approximately two million barrels of Iranian oil on the Cameroon-flagged ATILA (IMO 9262754) in support of the U.S.-sanctioned Sa’id al-Jamal network. The ATILA received the oil in a ship-to-ship transfer with the sanctioned vessel ARMAN 114. The Iranian oil carried by the ATILA was disguised as Malaysian oil. Seychelles-based Grat Shipping Co Ltd is the manager, operator, and owner of the ATILA. OFAC designated Sa’id al-Jamal pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, on June 10, 2021, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the IRGC-QF.The Al-Qatirji Company has also used the Palauan-flagged GAS MARYAM (IMO 9108099) to transport Iranian petroleum products in support of the IRGC-QF. Liberia-based Dima Shipping & Trading Company is the manager, operator, and owner of the GAS MARYAM.White Sands Shipmanagement Corp, Grat Shipping Co Ltd, and Dima Shipping & Trading Company are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of the Al-Qatirji Company. The ELIZABET is being identified as blocked property in which White Sands Shipmanagement Corp. has an interest, the ATILA as blocked property in which Grat Shipping Co Ltd has an interest, and the GAS MARYAM as blocked property in which Dima Shipping & Trading Company has an interest.SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONSAs a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked persons. Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC’s Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC’s enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities involving designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated or blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions involving the persons designated today may risk the imposition of secondary sanctions on participating foreign financial institutions. OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on opening or maintaining, in the United States, a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducts or facilitates any significant transaction on behalf of a person who is designated pursuant to the relevant authority.The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, or to submit a request, please refer to OFAC’s guidance on Filing a Petition for Removal from an OFAC List.Click here for more information on the persons designated and any property identified as blocked today.###
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Scientists spot mystery object believed to come from beyond solar system
Astronomer says object could be further evidence that ‘interstellar wanderers’ are common in galaxy
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haaretz.com Top stories ·
Report: U.S., Iran to hold nuclear talks in Iran next week
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cnbc.com Top stories ·
Here's where the jobs are for June 2025 — government sector leads the way
State and local government job growth boosted the U.S. labor market in June.
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AI helps find formula for paint to keep buildings cooler
Research could help cut energy use and is latest example of AI being used for advances in materials science
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cjonline.com Top stories ·
Roger Marshall says millions in food stamp cost-share is an incentive for Kansas
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall said potential federal funding cuts of tens of millions of dollars to Kansas will incentivize the state SNAP program.
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euronews.com Top stories ·
Celebrity reactions to split Diddy verdict: ‘I’m gonna vomit’
The hip-hop mogul was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy after a six-week trial. Reactions have been mixed. To say the least.
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nbcnews.com Top stories ·
How the U.S.-China trade war could cut fireworks displays short this Fourth of July
The U.S. gets almost all of its fireworks from China, and the industry is warning that tariffs on Chinese imports could limit supply and send prices soaring.
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bbc.com Top stories ·
Greece wildfires: mass evacuations as blaze rages near Ierapetra, Crete
The blaze has been raging since Wednesday and fire crews say the conditions are creating new flare-ups, making containment efforts extremely difficult.
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nintendolife.com Tech ·
Every Nintendo Switch Online GameCube Game On Switch 2, Ranked
10 games, 4 now playable on NS2
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vox.com Top stories ·
Trump is about to notch his biggest legislative win — but it could come at a cost
The public tends to dislike big budget bills, and the way they’re passed.
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nbcnews.com Top stories ·
LAPD tells officers to ‘keep the peace' when called to ICE arrests and confrontations
The instructions were issued in recent days following numerous citizen reports of “attempted kidnappings,” when federal agents often wearing face coverings attempt to detain people.
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newsroom.porsche.com Tech ·
Porsche is expanding its range of all-wheel-drive versions of the 911
With the debut of the new 911 Carrera 4S – as coupé, cabriolet and Targa 4S – a total of six derivatives of the sports car are now available with all-wheel drive.
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ign.com Top stories ·
The Old Guard 2 Review - IGN
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tomsguide.com Tech ·
Nintendo Switch 2 restocks live — retailers to check now
We're checking all retailers for Switch 2 restock
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nbcnews.com Top stories ·
Two pregnant asylum-seekers in neighboring states face different birthright citizenship challenges
A recent Supreme Court decision puts an expectant immigrant mother in South Carolina and her baby at risk in a way that's not the same for a woman across the border in North Carolina.
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pushsquare.com Tech ·
Stop Killing Games Fights to Stop Publishers from Revoking Access to Full-Price Products
And it's picking up speed
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foxbusiness.com Top stories ·
Kraft Heinz recalls more than 367,000 pounds of Oscar Mayer turkey bacon over listeria concerns
Kraft Heinz recalls over 367,000 pounds of Oscar Mayer turkey bacon due to potential listeria contamination, affecting products shipped to the US and overseas.
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Deandre Ayton, Lakers agree to two-year deal: Sources
The Lakers biggest question entering the summer — who will play center? — has now been answered.
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Gaza hospital director killed in Israeli strike, relative says
Dr Marwan Sultan was killed along with several family members in a strike on his home.
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Kilmar Ábrego García alleges torture and abuse in El Salvador mega-jail
The 29-year-old is now detained in Tennessee after being returned to the US and is awaiting trial on human smuggling charges.
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Deputy Russian Navy chief killed in strike near Ukraine border
Major General Mikhail Gudkov was killed in the Kursk region during what Russia's defence ministry described as "combat work".
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UK borrowing costs fall as investors' nerves ease
The cost of UK government borrowing falls and the pound rallies as the PM says he works "in lockstep" with Rachel Reeves.
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abcnews.go.com Top stories ·
4 killed, 14 hurt in Chicago mass shooting: 'Absolute chaos'
A mass shooting left four dead and 14 wounded in Chicago on Wednesday night.
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Holdouts say Trump promised he'd 'make the bill better' in the future
While there were no changes made to Trump’s megabill after it came back from the Senate, some House Republican holdouts said Trump made promises to get their votes.
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cnbc.com Top stories ·
Trump to speak with Putin after U.S. pauses some weapons shipments to Ukraine
The Trump-Putin call comes after the U.S. said it would halt some weapons shipments to Ukraine, which continues to fight off invading Russian forces.
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people.com Top stories ·
Diddy's Fourth of July in Detention Behind Bars: Hot Dogs or Hamburgers?
The disgraced music mogul was denied bail and is still behind bars alongside Luigi Mangione — Here's what's he can expect to eat this holiday
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nbcnews.com Top stories ·
Supreme Court declines to revive Montana law that would require parental consent for minors to obtain abortions
State officials appealed after the Montana Supreme Court ruled that the law requiring parental consent when a minor seeks an abortion violated the state constitution.
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Democratic leader holds House floor for seven hours to delay Republican-led vote on Trump’s major tax bill – live
Hakeem Jeffries delays final vote after Republican-controlled House advanced Trump’s sweeping tax bill in a late-night procedural vote
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newsweek.com Top stories ·
Will you be better off under Trump's Big Beautiful Bill? What to know
The sprawling megabill will impact all Americans.
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quantamagazine.org Tech ·
A New Pyramid-Like Shape Always Lands the Same Side Up | Quanta Magazine
A tetrahedron is the simplest Platonic solid. Mathematicians have now made one that’s stable only on one side, confirming a decades-old conjecture.
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espn.com Top stories ·
Guardians' Ortiz put on leave during MLB inquiry
Guardians right-hander Luis Ortiz has been placed on nondisciplinary paid leave while he is under investigation by MLB, the league announced.
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cbsnews.com Top stories ·
How long will "Diddy" be in prison? Here's what to know about his expected sentencing.
Sean "Diddy" Combs was convicted of two lesser charges after a seven-week jury trial. He will remain in jail until his sentencing.
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columbiaspectator.com Top stories ·
House Committee on Education and the Workforce asks Shipman to explain leaked text messages in new letter
<i>Updated July 2 at 11:52 p.m.</i>
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businessinsider.com Top stories ·
Meta salaries: See how much AI engineers, researchers, and more at the tech giant get paid
Federal data peels back the curtain on how much Meta pays for top talent.
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engadget.com Tech ·
The best Prime Day laptop deals on MacBooks, Chromebooks, Windows 11 machines and more
Amazon Prime Day deals have discounted some of our favorite notebooks by hundreds of dollars.
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9to5mac.com Tech ·
iPhone 17 Pro Max battery capacity might have just leaked - 9to5Mac
iPhone 17 Pro Max has long been rumored to get thicker to make room for a bigger battery, and now that battery capacity might have leaked.
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punchbowl.news Top stories ·
It's showtime for Johnson
Anna and Jake break down the challenges faced by Speaker Johnson in the House to pass President Trump’s key legislative priorities before July 4.
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9to5toys.com Tech ·
Amazon just undercut 4th of July deal on 2TB 11-inch M4 iPad Pro at $299 off in Space Black
Just about every 13-inch model M4 iPad Pro is now $200 off as part of 4th of July sales – all of the details on those await right here, but we just spotted an even deeper deal on the Space Black 2TB 11-inch M4 iPad Pro. Regularly $1,999, Amazon is now charging $1,699.97 shipped, or…
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Helldivers 2 is the first PlayStation-published Xbox game
This is the first PlayStation-published game to launch on Xbox.