It’s Thursday, July 3, 2025, and we’re back with your daily tech funding snapshot of where venture capital is flowing and which startups are shaping the next wave of global tech innovation. Happy 4th of July to our U.S. readers! […]
The post Top 10 Startup and Tech Funding News – July 3, 2025 first appeared on Tech Startups.
LeBron James and many other figures from the sports world mourned the tragic death of Liverpool soccer star Diogo Jota at age 28.
Jota and his brother, André Silva, 25, died in a car accident in the early morning hours of Thursday, July 3, in the Spanish province of Zamora. The fatal crash occurred less than two weeks after Jota married his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, in Porto, Portugal, on June 22.
A spokesperson for the Spanish Guardia Civil told BBC News that its initial investigation determined that “the car, which was a Lamborghini, was in a road traffic accident and left the road due to a tire blowout while overtaking.”
“It was in the early hours, 00:30 BST, in the municipality of Cernadilla in the province of Zamora. The car caught on fire, and the two occupants were killed,” their statement continued.
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NBA legend James, 40, was among the sports luminaries to pay tribute to Jota, writing via X on Thursday, “My prayers goes out to his loved ones during this time! May you all be guided and protected! YNWA [‘You’ll Never Walk Alon’e] JOTA!!”
(“You’ll Never Walk Alone” is a show tune from the musical Carousel that is often sung by Liverpool Football Club supporters during matches.)
Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo wrote via social media that Jota’s death “doesn’t make sense” since they only recently played together on Portugal’s national team.
“Just now we were together in the national team, you had just got married,” Ronaldo, 40, added. “To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you’ll always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre. We’ll all miss you.”
Jota’s Liverpool teammate Darwin Núñez acknowledged that “there are no words of consolation for so much pain” following the young athlete’s death.
“I will always remember you with your smile, as a good companion on and off the field,” Núñez, 26, vowed via Instagram. “I send all my strength to his family, from wherever he is I am sure he will always be with you, especially to his wife and his three children.”
Liverpool’s former manager, Jürgen Klopp, penned his own poignant memorial for the promising player he signed to Liverpool F.C. in 2020.
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“This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can’t see it,” Klopp, 58, wrote via Instagram. “I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother André. Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much!”
Klopp continued, “All my prayers, thoughts and power to Rute, the kids, the family, the friends and everyone who loved them! Rest in peace.”
Liverpool Football Club published a statement on its website to express its athletes’ grief and disbelief over losing one of their beloved teammates.
“Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre,” the organization said. “Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. We will continue to provide them with our full support.”
Likewise, Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca declared that the country’s entire sports community was “completely devastated by the death of Diogo Jota and his brother André.”
“Much more than an amazing player, with almost 50 international appearances for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself,” Proenca said. “On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and Andre Silva, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where, respectively, they played their football.”
Proenca’s statement concluded, “The loss of Diogo and Andre represent irreplaceable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything, daily, to honor their legacy.”
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Days before Jota’s death, his wife, Cardoso, shared several photos from the couple’s wedding via social media, remarking that her “dream came true” when she tied the knot with the Liverpool player.
“But I’m the lucky one,” Jota replied.
Jota is survived by Cardoso and their three children: two sons, Dinis and Duarte, born in 2021 and 2023, respectively, and a daughter whose name has not been publicly disclosed.
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Heidi Klum knows a thing or two (or four) about beauty. At 52 years young, she has pillowy-soft-looking lips wherever she goes. Her secret to a smooth, plump pout? This $8 Australian lip balm on Amazon.
Klum told CNN Underscored the Lucas Papaw Ointment is one of her must-have beauty products. Not only is it a lip balm, but this formula serves as a multi-purpose ointment for burns, rashes, cuts, bites and chafed skin. Fermented papaw (papaya) is the superstar ingredient, a fruit rich in antioxidants with antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. The fermentation process makes every application potent, healing and ultra-nourishing.
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Made without palm oil, glycerin or sodium lauryl sulphate, this ointment is suitable for all skin types. It’s hypoallergenic, non-irritating and non-comedogenic, perfect for dry, cracked lips, mild sun burns, heat rashes and everything in between. With a luscious, non-sticky feel, you’ll look forward to applying this balm.
Even better, you can bring this treatment everywhere. The compact tube fits in purses, gym bags and car cupholders; you only need a small dab to notice the benefits. It leaves your lips pearlescent and shiny, so it might replace your favorite lip gloss.
Shoppers can’t get enough of this formula, calling it “surprisingly effective,” “life-changing,” and “a godsend,” with multiple coining it a “miracle-worker.”
“Nothing else has worked on my severely cracked lips like this – and I’ve tried it all. One application and they nearly felt like silk,” one writes.
Another echoes the sentiment, saying they “can’t live without” this ointment and adding, “My boyfriend knows how I can’t live without it so he bought me like 10 of these so I can have one in my purse, one by my bed, one in the car, etc. You won’t regret buying this.”
Get the Lucas Papaw Lip Balm Ointment for $8 on Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
Not what you’re looking for? Shop other lip balms on Amazon and don’t forget to check out Amazon’s Daily Deals here!
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With Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial concluding on Wednesday, July 2, celebrities have flocked to social media to share their opinions.
The rap mogul was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution but was acquitted on two counts of sex trafficking and one racketeering conspiracy charge. Each transportation charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, meaning Diddy, 55, could face up to 20 years.
Since his arrest in September 2024, Diddy has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. His requests for bail were denied by Judge Arun Subramanian, including the request made after the verdict was read. He will remain in custody until his sentencing in October.
Diddy pleaded not guilty to all charges and has denied all of the allegations against him.
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“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Diddy’s attorney Marc Agnifilo said in a statement at the time of his arrest. “He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal. To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
Diddy’s arrest came nearly one year after his ex-girlfriend Cassie filed a lawsuit against him accusing him of sexual and physical abuse throughout their relationship, which lasted off and on from 2007 to 2018. One day after the suit was filed, Diddy and Cassie, 38, settled out of court.
The mogul denied her claims in a statement shared by his attorney.
“Mr. Combs vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations,” Diddy’s lawyer Ben Brafman said at the time.
Stars React to Video of Diddy Assaulting Ex-Girlfriend Cassie
Many celebrity reactions have referenced Cassie and the video that CNN published in May 2024 showing Diddy kicking and grabbing her in 2016. He later apologized for his actions in a video shared via Instagram.
Keep scrolling for more celebrity reactions to the Diddy verdict:
Diddy’s longtime rival 50 Cent shared his reaction via Instagram, posting a photo of himself laughing, alongside the caption, “Diddy beat the Rico,that boy a bad man ! , he like the Gay John Gotti @50centaction.”
The rapper has been a vocal defender of Diddy throughout his trial, and he reacted via X, calling it a “great day n hip hop.”
“I’m tired of seeing us Black moguls get took down like that,” he said. He added that he was “tired of seeing us Black people go against us Black moguls like that.”
Diddy Supporters and Critics Fight About Cassie Outside Court Over Verdict
The former wide receiver stirred controversy when he claimed Cassie was not a victim in the trial. In a reply to sports reporter Ashley Nicole Moss, who expressed sympathy for Cassie, Bryant, 36, wrote, “I respect your opinions heavy but Cassie wasn’t no victim.. not even close.”
When Moss replied, “We saw her beaten on camera,” Bryant wrote, “I was referring to the freak offs and drugs she chose to participate in…”
“Her getting beat was extremely unacceptable but a lot of you people gotta understand your wife of 15yrs will risk her family for a life style in Hollywood,” he added in another post. “Accountability have to play its part somewhere.”
Bryant continued to double-down in later comments.
“I know you read the rest of my other tweets but you insist to point this one out… a lot of you folks on the internet got real mental issues,” he wrote. “Diddy and Cassie nasty as f***…other than her getting her ass beat on the elevator I don’t have Grace her.. I have daughters and I can promise you they won’t be going down that route…”
Hargitay didn’t give any comment herself but reshared two images from Glamour magazine via her Instagram Stories.
“We won’t forget what we saw you did to Cassie on that video,” the first one read, followed by, “Combs joins a long line of powerful and famous men who have allegedly engaged in abuse, yet faced minimal consequence.”
How Long Will Diddy Be in Jail? His Possible Sentence Explained
Kesha, who herself accused music producer Dr. Luke of drugging and raping her, offered a post via X directed to Cassie. (Dr. Luke denied the allegations and sued her for defamation. The two settled that suit in 2023.)
“Cassie, I believe you,” she wrote. “I love you. Your strength is a beacon for every survivor.”
The former Danity Kane member shared a video of the verdict being announced on CNN via her Instagram Stories, writing “wow” over the post.
“Oh, this makes me physically ill. Cassie probably feels so horrible. I’m gonna vomit,” she said in the video.
She followed up in another slide, writing, “I’m still unpacking the magnitude of it all. The cultural weight of this decision is immeasurable. It is heartbreaking to witness how many lives have been impacted by their experiences with Sean Combs — only for those stories to fall short in the eyes of a judge. I can only hope these jurors never have to watch someone they love endure what so many survivors have described.”
Chloe Bailey, Nicky Hilton and More Stars Show Their Support for Cassie
O’Donnell shared her thoughts via Instagram alongside a screenshot of CNN breaking down each charge.
“I guess a jury just never wants to believe that a woman stays because of power and coercion- wow – they just think women stay because what? money – fame – ‘they love the abuse’ – what a f***ing joke – this decision got me angry #cassie,” she wrote.
Wood spoke out via Instagram in support of victims in general.
“There is no consent in a domestic violence relationship,” she wrote. “Period. Once the threat of violence is there, you comply. You do not consent. It is self preservation and survival. It is not freely or willingly given. It is forced and coerced out of you. We clearly have a long way to go in our understanding of this.”
Ricci sent her support to Cassie via her Instagram Stories.
“Sending so much love and respect to @cassie today,” she wrote. “She is an inspiration and a hero and I stand with her.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support. If you or someone you know is a human trafficking victim, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
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Stephen Curry and Ayesha Curry have a full house — and love sharing milestone moments of their children with followers.
The couple wed in July 2011, starting their family the following year when eldest daughter Riley arrived. She became a big sister in 2015 when Ryan was born, followed by brother Canon in 2018 and brother Caius in 2024.
Since becoming parents, the couple have been most surprised by “the amount of stuff” they can get done every single day. “I feel like I should have invented something,” Ayesha joked to Parents magazine in 2016. “Also, it’s an event to get all four of us out of the house at once. When we get in the car and we’ve brought everything and everybody has socks on, it’s like a dream come true.”
The Full Plate author went on to gush about her husband’s fatherhood skills, saying, “The thing I love about him is that he’s not too cool for school. He’ll get down on the floor and play with the girls. He’ll put on dress-up clothes if he has to, and he’s very patient, which is something I’m not. We balance each other out.”
Keep scrolling to see their sweetest shots with Riley, Ryan, Canon and Caius over the years:
© Noah Graham/Getty Images for Eat. Learn. Play.
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Cleveland Guardians starter Luis Ortiz was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave hours before he was scheduled to take the mound against the Chicago Cubs Thursday, MLB announced.
While MLB didn’t disclose the nature of its investigation, ESPN reported it was related to gambling.
Two pitches thrown by Ortiz during a start are being scrutinized.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
In June, betting integrity firm IC360 relayed the two pitches to sportsbooks, according to ESPN, and the first was on June 15 against the Seattle Mariners.
The firm flagged unusual betting action on the first pitch thrown by Ortiz in the bottom of the second inning to be a ball or hit batsman. Ortiz spiked a slider into the ground far away from the strike zone.
Then, on June 27, more unusual betting action came in on a pitch from Ortiz in the top of the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals. Once again, the bets were on a ball or a hit batsman, and Ortiz proceeded to spike another pitch the catcher couldn’t handle.
While instances like this happen to even the best of pitchers, the league is looking into the situation.
The bets came in from Ohio, New York and New Jersey, according to ESPN.
The non-disciplinary leave for Ortiz is scheduled to run through the MLB All-Star break, with games resuming for the second half July 18.
The Guardians released a statement on the matter after MLB’s announcement.
"The Guardians have been notified by Major League Baseball that Luis Ortiz has been placed on leave per an agreement with the Players Association due to an ongoing league investigation.
"The Guardians are not permitted to comment further at this time and will respect the league's confidential investigative process."
Ortiz has pitched 16 times for the Guardians this season, recording a 4.36 ERA and 96 strikeouts.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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As tension builds in the villa, fans are taking to the Love Island USA app to make their voices heard.
The Stand on Business challenge on Tuesday, July 1, led to a new show record as the Love Island mobile app received more than 1 million votes in the first six minutes, according to Deadline. The internal date noted that after the less than two hour voting window closed, the app had received votes from more than 3 million unique users.
Fans are asked to vote multiple times throughout the season to affect the outcome of the show. Earlier in season 7, the results led to a recoupling where Jeremiah Brown was paired off with Iris Kendall instead of Huda Mustafa, Hannah Fields was selected to be with Pepe Garcia over Charlie Georgiou and Olandria Carthen swapped Taylor Williams for Jalen Brown.
One week later, Hannah and Jeremiah were dumped from the island after they were one of the people with the least amount of support from the public. Since the app relaunched in May, it has grown an average of more than 100,000 unique users per day. The app has added more than 1 million new users since Tuesday with over 5 million unique users.
Who Runs 'Love Island USA' Stars' Social Media While They're in the Villa?
The Love Island USA Islanders live in isolation and are under constant video surveillance while searching for The One in a luxury villa in Fiji. They must be coupled up to remain on the show and to stand a chance to receive the prize of $100,000.
The passion for the outcome of the show has led to the network reminding fans not to take their passion too far.
“The keyword in Love Island is … love. We love our fans. We love our islanders,” read a statement from Peacock that aired in a June episode. “We don’t love cyberbullying, harassment or hate.”
Host Ariana Madix has also had to step in. “I do want to say something to some of those people who are online,” she said on Aftersun. “Don’t be contacting people’s families. Don’t be doxxing people.”
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Ariana continued: “Don’t be going on islanders’ pages and saying rude things. You still have time to delete all of that because the islanders don’t have their phones. So we are giving you a chance because this is a fun, amazing and beautiful show. We should be thanking each one of these islanders every single day for giving us themselves.”
The record-breaking voting comes as the villa is at odds. During Tuesday’s episode, the Islanders had to write letters to each other — signed or anonymous — where they called them out in front of everyone. This led to several falling outs including between Huda and Chelley Bissainthe following the former’s makeout session with Ace Greene in an earlier challenge.
New episodes of Love Island USA are released six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock.
© Ben Symons/Peacock (3)
