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South Korean government discriminated against Coupang, House report finds – CNBC 

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The House Judiciary Committee said the South Korean government discriminated against Coupang and other U.S. companies, in a new report. Read original article: Read More

Why Americans Will Get Less Help Paying for College

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As the cost of higher education has soared in recent decades, universities have attracted more scrutiny about the value of a four-year degree.
Now, the Trump administration is taking those questions to the next level with a set of policies that scales back the federal government’s student loan program.
Ron Lieber, who writes about personal finance for The New York Times, explains what the new changes are, and how they might reshape higher education in America.
Guest: Ron Lieber, the Your Money columnist for The New York Times, writes about everything from retirement savings and college tuition to credit reports and taxes.
Background reading: 

Parents and graduate students have new loan limits. Who will fill the gap?
What the new loan caps will mean for grad students this fall.

Photo: Rachel Woolf for The New York Times
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 
Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.  Read original article: Read More

Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship on constitutional grounds – NPR

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Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship on constitutional grounds

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Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship on constitutional grounds

Nina Totenberg at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C., May 21, 2019. (photo by Allison Shelley)

Updated June 30, 20264:16 PM ET, By Nina Totenberg

The U.S. Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court, Drew Angerer/Getty Images

In a sharp rebuke to President Trump, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the Constitution guarantees automatic birthright citizenship to virtually all children born in the United States.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the court’s 6-3 opinion, citing both the colonists’ demands for the “rights of Englishmen” as well as the abolitionists lauding of the “ancient and universal” rule of citizenship by birth alone.

“Citizenship, then and now, was the right to have rights — to freely participate in our political community. The Framers of the Fourteenth Amendment extended that promise to ‘every free-born person in this land,'” Roberts wrote. “We keep that promise today.”

The vote was 6-to-3, depending on how you count it. Altogether, five justices signed on to the Roberts opinion. A sixth, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, agreed only that federal legislation enacted in the 1950s grants automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S.

Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the lead dissent, a 91-page opus that agreed with President Trump’s assertion that the 14th amendment only applied to former slaves and their descendants. The Thomas dissent added that he “was not sure that today’s” majority opinion would stand the test of time. The opinion was joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch, with Justice Samuel Alito writing separately.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who, like Thomas, is African American, responded to some of the themes in the Thomas dissent. “Despite his longstanding endorsement of a colorblind society, Justice Thomas now surprisingly suggests that the citizenship clause was a race-conscious remedial measure relating only to freed slaves,” she wrote.

The decision firmly rejected the executive order that Trump issued on the first day of his second term. It sought to bar citizenship for babies born in the U.S. to parents who either entered the country illegally or who are living and working here legally with temporary visas. The executive order never went into effect because every lower court judge who reviewed it concluded, in the words of one judge, that it was “blatantly unconstitutional.”

Correction June 30, 2026 In a previous version of this story, as well as in a previous correction, we incorrectly said that the Supreme Court decided the Wong Kim Ark case by a 6-to-3 vote. In fact, the vote was 6-2.

Read more: Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship on constitutional grounds – NPR

Continue/Read Original Article: Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship on constitutional grounds : NPR

13 Google Photos settings I always change on every new device – and why – ZDNET

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13 Google Photos settings I always change on every new device – and why

Before I let Google Photos loose on my Android or iPhone camera roll, I check these backup, privacy, and AI settings first.

Written by Elyse Betters Picaro, Senior Contributing Editor, June 27, 2026 at 3:01 a.m. PT

Table of Contents

1. Choose the right backup account 2. Turn backup on, but with limits 3. Turn off cellular backup 4. Turn on overnight backups 5. Pick ‘storage saver’ quality 6. Turn off ‘Ask Photos’ AI-powered search 7. Turn off Gemini entirely 8. Limit Gemini features and access 9. Hide certain memories 10. Manage sharing activity 11. Turn off notifications and offers 12. Quiet suggestions 13. Change color theme to dark FAQs

13 Google Photos settings I always change on every new device - and why
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

ZDNET’s key takeaways

  • Google Photos works best after a quick settings check.
  • Backup quality and account settings can impact your storage fast.
  • Review AI tools, sharing, alerts, and more before using the app.

I’ve used Google Photos for more than a decade. It just works so well across Android, iOS, the web, and desktop. As primarily an iPhone user, I love that it gives me an alternative to Apple Photos, a service I don’t especially love, but that’s another story.

For me, the biggest draw is having a searchable, cloud-backed photo library. I can use it to find a specific photo buried deep in my account, whether it’s that Christmas photo of my dog, a Home Depot receipt, a beach sunset, my daughter’s birthday cake, or a person, in seconds. It’s also packed with fun editing features that make it easy to turn old photos into something new.

The thing is, no matter how much I like Google Photos, I never install it fresh and let it loose on my camera roll without checking a few settings. Sometimes, that means tightening up privacy and security. Other times, it means enabling useful backup or turning off AI features that make the app feel busy. Either way, these are the Google Photos settings I change first, and why.

1. Choose the right backup account

This sounds basic — until 12,000 toddler photos are backed up to the wrong Gmail account. On iOS and Android, open the app, tap the profile picture, go to Photos settings > Backup, and check the account listed under Account and storage. I make sure it’s my main Google account, not a work account, burner account, or ancient YouTube-commenting account I haven’t used since 2016.

Choose the right backup account
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

2. Turn backup on, but with limits

Backing up is one of the main reasons to use Google Photos, right? So, on iOS and Android, I make sure Backup is enabled. Just tap the profile picture > Photos settings > Backup, then turn Backup on. Next, I decide what I actually want to save to my account.

  • On iPhone, go to iOS Settings > Privacy and Security > Photos > Google Photos and select Limited Access. Now choose which photos, videos, and device folders Google Photos can see.
  • On Android, open Settings > Apps > Photos > Permissions > Photos and videos, then select Allow limited access. Another option is to open Google Photos, tap the profile picture > Photos settings > Backup, and look for Backup options. From there, switch from backing up all photos and videos to backing up only specific device folders.

I don’t need every photo, screenshot, download, or random image folder stored in the cloud forever. If I let everything in or grant full access, my storage will fill up faster, search may get messier, and the app will keep photos I never wanted it to have in the first place.

Read more: 13 Google Photos settings I always change on every new device – and why – ZDNET

Continue/Read Original Post: 13 Google Photos settings I always change on every new device – and why | ZDNET

Brain activity under anesthesia challenges what we know about consciousness – ScienceDaily

Science News from research organizations

Brain activity under anesthesia challenges what we know about consciousness

Date: June 28, 2026 Source: Baylor College of Medicine Summary: The unconscious brain appears to be far more capable than scientists once believed. Researchers found that patients under general anesthesia could still process language at a sophisticated level, distinguishing nouns, verbs, and adjectives while listening to stories. Even more remarkably, neural activity showed signs of predicting upcoming words before they were heard. The results challenge traditional ideas about consciousness and hint at new possibilities for brain-computer interfaces. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email

Editor’s Note: Interesting science article, our unconscious seems to have more capabilities. See the original research here from Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10448-0

Source: Brain activity under anesthesia challenges what we know about consciousness | ScienceDaily

What Was Life Like in America in 1776? – Population, Education, Food, Height, & Facts – Britannica

Geography & Travel States & Other Subdivisions

What Was Life Like in America in 1776?

By Amy Tikkanen, Britannica Editors, June 29, 2026 • History

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, let’s go back in time to see what life was like in the colonies in 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed.

How many people lived in the colonies?

According to the U.S. Census, in 1776 the population of the 13 colonies was approximately 2.56 million, which included about 450,000 enslaved people. The colonies were overwhelmingly rural. More than 96 percent of Americans lived on farms, plantations, or small settlements.

Urban America was extremely small by modern standards. The largest city was Philadelphia, with a population of about 30,000. Second was New York City, home to approximately 25,000. By comparison, London—the largest city in the British Empire—had some 740,000 people in 1760.

The population of the colonies varied widely. Virginia was the largest, with approximately 550,000 residents, many of whom were enslaved people. Next was Pennsylvania, home to more than 300,000. The smallest colony was Delaware, with about 37,000 people.

How does that compare to today? As of 2026 the population of the United States exceeded 340 million. About 80 percent of Americans live in urban areas, and the most populous city is New York City. It was the largest city according to the first official census in 1790—when it had a population of 33,131—and is now home to more than 8.5 million people. That’s roughly 3.5 times the population of all 13 colonies combined in 1776. California is the largest state, with more than 39 million people.

How tall were Americans?

Contrary to popular belief, American colonists were not short. In fact they were the world’s tallest people during the Revolutionary period—and for more than 150 years thereafter. Studies indicate that the typical male colonist stood about 5 feet 8 inches—that’s just one inch shorter than the average American man in 2026. And it’s three inches taller than the typical Englishman in 1776. One of the reasons for the height disparity was nutrition. In the colonies people had access to more and better food. A strong economy—and good wages—also helped.

How long did people live?

The average life expectancy in America in the late 18th century was about 38 years. While this seems incredibly low, the number reflects the high infant and child mortality rates of the time. Some research suggests that about 43 percent of children died before age five. Those who reached adulthood, however, often lived into their 60s and 70s. The most common causes of death were infectious diseases, including smallpox, malaria, and dysentery.

Today life expectancy in the United States is almost 77 years for men and some 81 years for women. The leading causes of death are heart disease, cancer, stroke, and accidental injuries.

Did colonists go to the dentist?

Technically, colonists did get dental care, though there were few true dentists in America in the late 1700s—this was unfortunate because dental hygiene was very limited. When colonists did clean their teeth, they typically used rags or chew sticks—twigs with frayed ends that worked like a brush. If there was a problem, they usually waited until the tooth was so rotted or painful that it had to be removed. And that’s when the local barber-surgeon (as it sounds, these were barbers who often performed medical procedures), physician, or even blacksmith would step in. They would pull out the problem tooth—typically with little or no pain relief.

Continue/Read Original Article: What Was Life Like in America in 1776? | Population, Education, Food, Height, & Facts | Britannica

Donald Trump hijacked America’s 250 and turned it into a ‘theatre of the absurd’ – US politics – The Guardian

America at 250 US politics

Donald Trump hijacked America’s 250 and turned it into a ‘theatre of the absurd’

Trump, laying siege to freedoms and truth itself, is twisting America’s milestone birthday into a joyless occasion

David Smith in Philadelphia, Mon 29 Jun 2026 07.00 EDT

This is the room where it happened. The assembly room at Independence Hall in Philadelphia where, 250 years ago this week, a group of sweating, treasonous men broke from the most powerful empire since ancient Rome. Amid a summer of trial and error, delegates including John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson ratified a flawed but aspirational document to declare their independence from the British crown. The date was 4 July 1776 – but it took nearly a month for all 56 delegates of the Second Continental Congress to formally sign on.

I don’t blame them,” Maggie Burkett, a park ranger, told a group of about 40 tourists as they gazed at green baize tables adorned with books, letters, pipes and candles one recent afternoon. “These words on this page are treason, just as much as burning the king’s coats of arms was. By signing this document, you are literally risking your life. The 56 men who signed this document were brave. In my opinion, they were heroes.”

The anniversary of this date and this document should be cause for a unifying nationwide celebration. Yet two and a half centuries after a bloody revolution that humiliated King George III and installed George Washington as the first US president, the semiquincentennial has become just the latest cue for division, rancour and existential angst.

“There’s a sense of dread,” said Eddie Glaude, the author of America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation’s Anniversaries. “It’s as if it’s going to descend below kitsch. It’s going to be a collage of terrible myth-making.”

Trump, who has been hyping this anniversary for years and has expressed glee that it falls in his second term, launched a project to beautify the capital, with statues scrubbed clean of graffiti and water flowing from long-neglected fountains. He even intends to build a triumphal arch that will dwarf the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

But in a metaphor that is almost too neat, the president has come unstuck with a $14.7m renovation of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool on the National Mall. No-bid contracts for the work were awarded to vendors with past ties to the president. Within days of its completion, an algae bloom turned the pool water bright green while its “American flag blue” coating began to peel off. Trump has blamed the embarrassing debacle on mysterious vandals and threatened the alleged vandals with jail time.

This tone was set earlier this month when, on 14 June, coinciding with his 80th birthday, Trump commandeered the White House South Lawn to host brutal Ultimate Fighting Championship cage matches. He followed up last week on the National Mall with a formal kick-off for the Great American State Fair, in effect a Trump rally with military jets roaring overhead that was hastily arranged when previously announced performing artists withdrew over the event’s partisan nature.

man stands on top edge of octagon ring and holds out arms in front of crowd
Diego Lopes of Brazil celebrates a win against Steve Garcia during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House South Lawn in Washington DC on 14 June. Photograph: Rey Del Rio/ Zuffa LLC

Addressing the crowd, the transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, railed against “those libtards that cancelled on us” while praising Trump as “the greatest president that’s ever existed in this country since George Washington”. The affair featured no Democrats and culminated with Trump’s familiar battle cry of “Make America great again” and signature dance to the Village People’s YMCA performed by the US Marine Band.

The state fair is running for 16 days, and all 56 states and territories are represented, including some that opted not to send a delegation because of Trump’s hands-on approach. The half-baked tribute to Americana – described by the Washingtonian as “sparsely attended and shockingly boring” – features a ferris wheel that was reportedly plagued by power cuts on opening day.

The mall will host a “Salute to America” celebration on 4 July itself, again starring Trump and an attempt to break the Guinness world record for the biggest firework display ever seen. In August IndyCar descends on the capital for the inaugural Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington DC.

We should be able to have the nation’s birthday without it somehow being an endorsement of this crazy man who happens to be in the White House

Jill Lepore

All of this has come about after America250, the official bipartisan commission established by Congress more than a decade ago, was elbowed aside in favor of Freedom 250, a Trump-aligned initiative. America 250’s modest ambitions include a time capsule with contributions from all 50 states, an essay contest for students and an America’s Block Party concert on 4 July featuring Queen Latifah, Chris Stapleton and the Smashing Pumpkins.

Continue/Read Original Article: Donald Trump hijacked America’s 250 and turned it into a ‘theatre of the absurd’ | US politics | The Guardian

Get Organized: Creating Clear, Scaffolded Learning Paths

This year, I’m viewing “traditional” New Year’s resolutions through a library lens. So far, we’ve explored ways to exercise more, live life to the fullest, eat healthier, lose weight, and save money. This month, we’re looking at organization. While it would be easy to talk about cleaning up supply closets or doing a deep clean of your digital files, I’m taking a different approach. Organization isn’t just about space – it’s also about creating clear paths for learning and engagement. Let’s talk about ways that intentional, scaffolded program structures create organization and clear direction for patrons and staff alike. While each library’s program structure is different, my goal today is to share replicable models that work for all types of libraries and programs. I’ll explore how scaffolded programs help you reach specific audiences and customize patron experiences. At its core, scaffolded programming is about purposeful program design over time. Why…
The post Get Organized: Creating Clear, Scaffolded Learning Paths appeared first on ALSC Blog.  Read original article: Read More

Kid approved! Conferencing with a kid and picking out books at #alaac26

This year, I am traveling with my nine-year-old reader at ALA annual, so on conference day one I picked up my badge and purchased a child’s pass at the registration desk (only available in person), and additional tickets for her to attend some of the events on my schedule. I opted to find a local babysitter for the first day, to give myself time to settle into the conference, and so my daughter could explore the city. Conferencing with my daughter offered a few challenges (yes, there were moments during events when she whispered “Is it over yet?”), but it also gave me a chance to view the titles and events through a new lens. When purchasing books for our collections, we often don’t have a chance to get the perspective of a child or teen until those books are available on our library shelves. It was fascinating to see…
The post Kid approved! Conferencing with a kid and picking out books at #alaac26 appeared first on ALSC Blog.  Read original article: Read More