Linda Yaccarino announces her departure from Musk’s X

Published

12 hours ago

July 9, 2025

Linda Yaccarino, the boss of Elon Musk’s social media site X, has announced she is stepping down.

Ms Yaccarino has been in the role since June, 2023.

In a post on the platform, she said was “immensely grateful” to Musk for “entrusting me with the responsibility of protecting free speech, turning the company around, and transforming X into the Everything App”.

Musk has posted a brief reply, saying only: “Thank you for your contributions.”

The BBC has approached X for comment.

Ms Yaccarino was previously head of advertising at NBCUniversal, where she was credited with helping to steer it through the upheaval caused by technology firms.

She joined X, then Twitter, at a time of tumult with advertisers quitting the site and Musk having overseen the firing of a huge number of staff.

In her departure post, she said that she had decided to step down after “two incredible years”.

She added: “When Elon Musk and I first spoke of his vision for X, I knew it would be the opportunity of a lifetime to carry out the extraordinary mission of this company.”

It is not clear whether there has been any break down in their relationship since she joined in 2023.

But the platform’s tone has changed in that time.

Its former incarnation Twitter was accused of leaning left, now X leans unashamedly to the right in terms of the content that gets the most visibility.

Though Musk stepped down as CEO he never truly stepped back from his favourite social network, and has if anything grown louder and more controversial since he appointed her.

People who have worked directly with Musk have described him as both a visionary and a workaholic, who others can only keep up with for so long.

Whatever the cause, her exit comes at a difficult time for Musk, who is dealing with falling sales at his car maker Tesla.

He is also embroiled in a war of words with his former political ally, US President Donald Trump, culminating in Musk planning a new political party.

X has also continued to attract controversy.

The most recent of these has seen Musk’s chatbot, Grok – which is embedded in X – speak favourably about Hitler.

In a statement, xAI said it was working to remove what it called “inappropriate” posts.

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Best Prime Day laptop deals 2025: Live updates on MacBook, Windows, and more discounts

Published

34 minutes ago

July 10, 2025

Kyle Kucharski

We’re coming to the end of the second day of Amazon Prime Day, which runs through Friday, July 11 — making it a four-day sales event for the first time ever. On the second day of the sale, we’re seeing some noteworthy deals on laptops, including aggressive price cuts on the latest MacBooks, Chromebooks, and Windows PCs from Lenovo, Dell, HP, and more.

Get daily deals straight to your inbox during Prime Day when you sign up for ZDNET Recommends, your one-stop newsletter for the sale.

Also: The best Prime Day deals we’ve found

We’ve gone hands-on with dozens of the best laptops of this year, and only highlight sales on laptops we’ve tested and can personally vouch for. That means significant discounts, solid value relative to price, good portability, and respectable performance. Read on to explore some of the best laptop deals Amazon (and competing retailers) have to offer. As the event continues, we will be continuously updating this page with the best deals, flash sales, and online discounts we can find live.

Best Prime Day laptop deals

Current price: $1,049
Original price: $1,199

The 2025 MacBook Air M4 refines the user experience of the thin and lightweight laptop that pioneered the trend. It now supports two external monitors with the lid open, has more starting memory for cheaper, and does video conferencing better than almost anything else. With all the updates coming to MacOS 26 (Liquid Glass interface, the Phone app on MacBook, and a totally revamped Spotlight feature), the MacBook Air M4 is THE productivity laptop for modern professionals.

Current price: $48
Original price: $60

This nifty laptop accessory makes it easy to work standing up or sitting down, and can also be used with a tablet. Our editor has replaced her standing desk with this accessory, and it’s on sale for under $50 now.

Current price: $650
Original price: $700

The Acer Aspire 14 AI is similar to the Acer Aspire 15, but offers “a few steps up” in terms of hardware and features, according to our laptop reviewer. It’s a great value, especially if you’re looking for a computer designed for AI workflows. Our expert said it was “one of the better bang-for-your-buck options available right now.”

Apple iPad 11th Gen: $279 (save $70): This isn’t a laptop, but the base model iPad can be a functional and portable laptop alternative, and it’s on sale for its best price yet.
Logitech MX Master 3S: $95 (save $25): This popular ergonomic wireless mouse is sleek and silent, and is on sale now. It’s a great pairing to any new laptop.
Apple MacBook Air M3: $1,819 (save $225): After the M4’s release, prices are dropping on the 2023 M3 MacBook Pro, and we couldn’t be happier. The 18GB version is a competitive machine that’s ready to support the new macOS 26 coming to all Mac devices this fall.
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro (15-inch): $600 (save $300): Samsung’s Book4 Pro has a gorgeous touchscreen display, top-tier hardware, and a massive trackpad for a distinctly comfortable user experience. When I went hands-on with it, I praised its smart integrations.
Acer Swift Go 14: $799 (save $208): Acer’s Swift Go 14 brings a budget-friendly package to respectable hardware: Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. This makes it a solid backup laptop for business travel, but I’d also highly recommend it to students.
LG Gram Pro 2-in-1 (16-inch): $1,696 (save $403): We’re big fans of LG’s Gram Pro line of laptops for their record-breaking lightweight form factors. Right now, this 16-inch convertible laptop/tablet hybrid with 16GB of RAM is seeing a notable price drop; a very competitive price for anyone looking for a thin and light laptop.
Acer Aspire Go 15: $250 (save $50): A laptop I would recommend for study purposes is the Acer Aspire Go. This model comes with a 15.6-inch FHD display, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB SSD storage — plenty for basic educational tasks.
ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025): $1,275 (save $225): If you’re on the hunt for a gaming laptop, there’s a fair discount available on a 16-inch laptop with Nvidia GeForce RTX Graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage.
ASUS TUF Gaming A14: $900 (save $300): Another gaming laptop deal we like the look of is for an ASUS TUF model, set with a 14-inch display, NVIDIA GeForce RTX Graphics, and 16GB of RAM.
Logitech ERGO Wireless Keyboard: $119 (save $31): Type more naturally with a curved, split keyframe and reduce muscle strain on your wrists and forearms thanks to the sloping keyboard design.
Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station: $340 (save $60): Transfer massive files quickly-move a 150GB file in just 25 seconds with the Thunderbolt 5 port.

Best Prime Day MacBook deals

Current price: $850
Original price: $1,000

The MacBook Air M4 is our favorite laptop for work, thanks to its ultra-portability and suite of productivity features. “The MacBook Air M4 is a modest upgrade from its predecessor but pushes the line forward overall. In fact, with burgeoning Apple Intelligence features, the same camera technology as the MacBook Pro M4, upgraded hardware, and a lower starting price, the MacBook Air seems like the most logical choice for a new Apple laptop in 2025,” our laptop reviewer writes.

Apple MacBook Air M4 (15-inch): $1,049 (save $150): The 15-inch MacBook Air M4 is one of the friendliest, all-around performing laptops we’ve tested all year. Even better is the fact that Apple is offering competitive pricing, even on its newest laptops.
Apple MacBook Pro M3 (18GB): $1,819 (save $225): Apple’s M3 MacBook Pro from 2023 is seeing some steep discounts now that the M4 has been released. The 18GB version is a competitive machine that’s ready to support the new macOS 26 coming to all Mac devices this fall.
Apple MacBook Pro (M4 Pro): $2,249 (save $250): Apple’s aggressive discounts continue, with the newest MacBook Pro in 2025 $250 off. The Space Black configuration with 24GB of unified memory features a 20-Core GPU and 16-Core neural engine, ready to tackle demanding tasks such as 4K video editing, animation, and yes, even gaming.
Apple 2024 MacBook Pro: $3,596 (save $406): Powered by an M4 Max processor, this model is pricey, but it comes with power that will last you for years to come, as well as 1TB of storage, 48GB of RAM, and a 16.2-inch display.
Apple MacBook Air, 13.3-inch: $599 (save $50): If you want an affordable MacBook, consider this M1-powered model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch: $699 (save $100 at Best Buy): Another model we like at Best Buy is a 13.3-inch MacBook Air with an M2 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD storage.
Apple Magic Keyboard: $119 (save $10): This keyboard comes with a numeric keypad and can wirelessly connect to your Mac, iPad, or iPhone via Bluetooth.
Apple Mac Mini M4 256GB: $500 (save $100): Though not a laptop, our expert recommends the M4 Mac Mini to both creatives and business professionals. It’s $100 off thanks to an extra on-page coupon.

Best Prime Day Windows laptop deals

Current price: $1,696
Original price: $2,099

If you’re over carrying around a bulky, heavy laptop to and from the office, we got you. LG’s Gram Pro lineup features some of the lightest, thinnest laptops on the market. We reviewed LG’s 16-inch 2-in-1 Gram Pro last year, and praised it for its fast and responsive performance, brilliant OLED display, and surprisingly good battery.

Current price: $800
Original price: $1,000

Acer’s Swift Go 14 was among the first round of laptops to come loaded with Intel’s Meteor Lake AI processors last year, and it does so for an attractive price point. The Intel Core Ultra 7 or 9 processor offers snappy performance and fantastic battery life, letting it hang with other machines like the Asus Zenbook A14, and the Lenovo ThinkPad E14, which are significantly more expensive.

Current price: $600
Original price: $899

The 15-inch Galaxy Book4 Pro rounds out Samsung’s lineup of thin and light laptops with brilliant displays and premium physical forms. We got great performance out of this laptop during our testing, with the Snapdragon X Plus processor and 16GB of RAM delivering responsive performance in a variety of tasks from productivity to content creation.

Microsoft Surface Pro (13-inch): $870 (save $330): The 13-inch Surface Pro with the Snapdragon X Plus processor is a supremely portable, high-performing tablet/laptop hybrid with a brilliant OLED display.
HP OmniBook 5 (16-inch): $679 (save $110): HP’s lightweight and battery-efficient OmniBooks are well-rounded and reliable devices, and this version with a Ryzen AI 7 350 processor is no exception, especially at this discount.
HP 14 Laptop (14-inch): $178 (save $50): This laptop’s thin and light design makes it ultra-portable, and its sizable and nearly bezel-less screen makes it perfect for entertainment.
MSI 15.6-inch gaming laptop: $719 (save $280): You can take advantage of a $280 discount on a decent mid-range gaming laptop with an i5 processor and 16GB of RAM.
Acer Nitro V gaming laptop: $650 (save $150): The Nitro V doesn’t have the highest specs on the market, but as ZDNET’s Charlie Osborne found, it’s great for gaming and use as a lab. During Amazon’s event, you can save $150 off the typical RRP.
Dell’s Inspiron 5440: $579 (save $170): The Inspiron lineup consists of reliable, jack-of-all-trades laptops, and this 14-inch with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor is no exception. Right now it’s 23% off for the 16GB version.
Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro: $1,650 (save $350): This laptop comes built in with Windows 11 Pro and has all the best Galaxy AI features.
ASUS Vivobook Go: $220 (save $110): An affordable laptop we’ve found is a great fit for students. The ASUS Vivobook Go has a 15.6-inch display and runs on Windows 11 Home.
HP 14-inch student laptop: $275 (save $225): Another laptop suitable for students and containing good specifications for the price — including Copilot AI and 16GB of RAM — is this laptop. It’s in lavender, though, and so might not suit everyone color-wise.

Best Prime Day Chromebook deals

If you’re looking for a Chromebook with a 2-in-1 form factor, this one from HP comes with all the feature perks of a Chromebook Plus in a convertible. It’s armed with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of local storage, too, so performance will feel snappy and responsive in the lightweight operating system.

Asus Chromebook CM14: $163 (save $116): It doesn’t get more affordable than Asus’ 14-inch CM14 Chromebook. It comes with 64GB of local storage and 4GB of RAM to handle daily tasks like checking email and browsing the web.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook: $149 (save $100): While also on sale at Amazon, the best price is found at Best Buy. This mid-sized Chromebook features a 15-inch display, a full-sized keyboard, and Intel Celeron N4500 to power multitasking for work, school, or everyday use.
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go: $240 (save $60): Looking for a Chromebook suitable for work or study? Opt for the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go, currently available on a limited-time deal, so don’t wait if you want to buy one.
Asus Chromebook Flip CX1: $290 (save $80): This laptop has a 360-degree flippable touchscreen display that can be configured into four different work modes.
Asus Chromebook CR11: $250 (save $50): This rugged laptop has US military-grade durability with rubber edges, as well as a spill-resistant keyboard.

More laptop deals from Best Buy, Walmart, and other retailers

Asus Zenbook S 15: $534 (save $265): Asus’ Zenbook S 15 was one of the first Copilot+ PCs to come out last year, and it’s drastically marked down at Walmart right now for just $534. It’s got a vivid 120Hz OLED display, Intel Core Ultra 7 chip and 16GB of RAM, making it a solid all-around laptop with a lightweight form.
Lenovo Duet 2-in-1 Chromebook (11-inch): $269 (save $130): If you’re looking for a device that can act as either a tablet or small, portable laptop, Lenovo’s Duet is a very affordable option with 4GB of RAM and an included keyboard, stylus, and durable carrying case. Think a much more affordable Microsoft Surface Pro.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1: $629 (save $220): This 2-in-1 model gives you the functionality of a traditional laptop and the versatility of a tablet in the same device.
Asus Vivobook 14: $250 (save $200): Enjoy vivid visuals in detailed 1920 x 1080 resolution (16:9) with brilliant colors and a smooth 60Hz refresh rate.
Dell Inspiron 14: $349 (save $201): This laptop has 512GB of storage, an Intel Core i5 Processor, a long-lasting battery life, and a 14-inch display.
Cherry Xtry MX 3.1 Gaming Keyboard: $90 (save $30): Our expert says this mechanical keyboard is just as good for work as it is for gaming – and it’s 25% off.
ProtoArc XKM01 CaseUp Keyboard: $50 (save $50): Expert Kyle Kucharski says this portable workstation keeps him productive on the go, and it’s half off now.
LG gram 17: $850 (save $650 plus free smart monitor at LG): The LG gram 17 is built with a 13th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD. And right now when you buy at LG, you can get a free 27-inch smart monitor when you bundle with your laptop purchase.
Acer Aspire Vero 14: $450 (save $250 at Acer): A great entry-grade laptop for students and casual home use with an Intel Core i5-1335U CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD storage drive, and 12.5-hour battery life.
Acer Swift 14: $900 (save $500 at Acer): A mid-range laptop for office work, college classes, and home use with a 14-inch display, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and 13th generation Intel Core i7 CPU.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 AMD: $680 (save $250 at Lenovo): An entry-grade 2-in-1 laptop that’s built with an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.
Dell 14 Plus: $680 (save $420 at Dell): A budget-friendly laptop for students and home use with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and 14-inch 2.5K display.
HP Pavilion Laptop 16: $500 (save $700 at HP): A mid-range laptop for office work, students, and home use with a 13th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.

When is Amazon Prime Day 2025?

This year, Prime Day starts on Tuesday, July 8, and goes through Friday, July 11.

Are laptops really cheaper on Prime Day?

Manufacturers know consumers are on the lookout for deals during Prime Day, so yes, quite a few of the laptop sales have significantly steeper discounts than during regular sales throughout the year.

How did we choose these Prime Day deals?

Our team of reviewers at ZDNET only write about deals we personally can vouch for and would personally recommend. We scour the deals for sale prices that are at least 20% off, or are hardly ever on sale, using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine how frequently it drops.

We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.

What are the best Prime Day deals so far?

ZDNET’s experts are searching through Prime Day sales to find the best discounts by category. These are the best deals so far:

You can also find the best deals from other retailers competing with Prime Day sales:

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Devin Booker, Suns Reportedly Agree to Historic 2-Year, $145M Max Contract Extension

Published

2 hours ago

July 10, 2025

Julia Stumbaugh

The Phoenix Suns are reportedly doubling down with Devin Booker while retooling this offseason.

Booker and the Suns agreed to a two-year, $145 million maximum extension that is set to keep the star in Phoenix through the 2029-30 season, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday.

It is the highest annual extension salary in the history of the league.

Booker played the 2024-25 season on the first year of the four-year, $224 million supermax extension he signed with the Suns in 2022. His previous deal locked him in through the 2027-28 season.

The new contract shows the Suns’ commitment to building around their homegrown star even after Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal fell short of the playoffs in 2025.

Despite setting an NBA record for the highest payroll in league history, the Suns missed out on the postseason and fired head coach Mike Budenholzer this spring.

The Suns then traded Durant to the Houston Rockets. Phoenix received Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the ability to draft Khaman Maluach and five second-round picks in return for Durant to start the process of rebuilding around Booker.

Booker has played 10 seasons for the Suns since the franchise selected him with the No. 13 pick of the 2015 draft. He holds the all-time franchise lead in career points (16,452) and three-pointers made (1,424.)

Despite an All-Star snub in 2024-25, Booker averaged more than 25 points per game for a seventh straight season with the Suns.

He shot 46.1 percent from the field and 33.2 percent from deep while leading the Suns with 7.1 assists per contest and adding 0.9 steals per game.

Whatever direction Phoenix decides to take with the rest of their roster this offseason, Booker could look get back in the All-Star conversation by leading his team back into postseason contention next spring.

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Ukraine war briefing: Two Chinese nationals arrested in Neptune missile espionage case | Ukraine

Published

2 hours ago

July 10, 2025

Warren Murray

Ukraine said it had arrested a Chinese father and son, both suspected of spying on Kyiv’s Neptune cruise missile programme. Counterintelligence officials detained a 24-year-old former student in Kyiv after they provided him with “technical documentation” related to Neptune production, Ukraine’s SBU said. They later swooped on his father when he visited Ukraine from China to “personally coordinate” his son’s work and smuggle out the documents to the Chinese special services, the SBU said.

A Ukrainian official told Reuters the two men were the first Chinese people arrested for spying since Moscow’s 2022 full-scale invasion. Kyiv has repeatedly accused China of supplying parts and technologies central to the Russian drone and missile programme. China’s government insists there has been no such trade. The Chinese embassy in Kyiv did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters on the Neptune case and a lawyer for the men could not immediately be found.

The US resumed delivering artillery shells and mobile rocket artillery missiles to Ukraine, US officials told Reuters and the Associated Press on Wednesday, on the instructions of Donald Trump who claimed he did not know who ordered the shipments’ suspension last week. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 155mm artillery shells and GMLRS (mobile rocket artillery) missiles were being provided. The shipment paused last week included 30 Patriot missiles, 8,500 155mm artillery shells, more than 250 precision GMLRS missiles and 142 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles.

Kyiv was again under bombardment early on Thursday morning. As air defences fought off Russian drones, one struck an apartment building in the centre of the capital, said Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv military administration, and debris fell in different districts of the city. Reuters witnesses reported loud explosions.

On Wednesday, Russia pummelled Ukraine with its largest missile and drone attack in more than three years of war – a dark record that is seemingly reset higher every few days. Lutsk, a town in western Ukraine, was heavily targeted for its military airfield and infrastructure. Kyiv’s air force said Russia fired 728 drones and 13 missiles at Ukraine, with air defence systems cutting down 711 drones and seven missiles. Air force representatives said new Ukrainian drones played an important role in defending against the attacks and most of the Russian drones were decoys.

A one-year-old boy was killed in a Russian attack on the village of Pravdyne in the southern Kherson region, local officials announced. Some reports said he was hit by a drone in his back yard along with his grandmother who was badly injured. Ukrainian prosecutors said Russian drone and bombing attacks in two towns in Donetsk killed eight civilians on Wednesday. Officials published images showing the remains of two people burnt to death in their car, which officials said was hit by a Russian drone.

Casualties included three people killed and one injured in the frontline town of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk region, the national emergency services said. A one-storey administrative building was destroyed and rescue teams pulled bodies out of the rubble. Firefighters extinguished blazes in four buildings. Vadym Filashkin, governor of Donetsk oblast, said it was time to “take a responsible decision. Evacuate to less dangerous regions of Ukraine!”

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Keith Kellogg had a “substantive” conversation, the Ukrainian president said after meeting the US president’s Ukraine envoy in Rome. “We discussed weapons supplies and strengthening air defence … We also covered the purchase of American weapons, joint defence manufacturing, and localisation efforts in Ukraine.” Both men were in Italy ahead of a conference on 10-11 July dedicated to Ukraine’s recovery and long-term reconstruction.

Zelenskyy said he and Kellogg had discussed at length proposals to slap tougher sanctions on Moscow. He expressed hope for progress in a sanctions bill before the US Congress, sponsored by Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democrat Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. Donald Trump has been aiming unusually direct criticism at Vladimir Putin, saying the Russian ruler’s statements on moving towards peace were “meaningless” and “bullshit”.

The Guardian’s diplomatic editor, Patrick Wintour, considers whether the Trump-Putin bromance may have run its course. “If so it is a transformatory moment, and a vindication for both Volodymyr Zelenskyy as he arrives in Rome for the annual Ukraine reconstruction conference and for those others, notably the British and the French governments, who have patiently helped the scales to fall from Trump’s eyes about Putin’s true intentions. At long last and after many false starts, the US president seems to have accepted he is unpersuadable on ending the war.

Europe’s top human rights court delivered damning judgments on Wednesday against Russia in four cases brought by Kyiv and the Netherlands. Judges at the European court of human rights ruled that Russia committed a string of human rights violations in backing anti-Kyiv separatists in eastern Ukraine from 2014, in the downing of the MH17 flight that year and in invading Ukraine in 2022. Russia violated the convention through “extrajudicial killing of civilians and Ukrainian military personnel” outside of combat, “torture”, “forced labour”, “unlawful and arbitrary detention of civilians” as well as looting in its invasion of Ukraine, the judges found.

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