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Joseph Kosinski, F1 Director, on Simone Ashley Being Cut From Movie

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Simone Ashley‘s role in F1 ultimately didn’t make it to the finish line.

The Bridgerton actress’ part in the Brad Pitt racing film, out on June 27, was reduced to a non-speaking one for a valid reason, according to the film’s director Joseph Kosinski.

“It happens on every film, where you have to shoot more than you can use,” he told People in an article published June 16, responding to online backlash over Simone’s lack of screen time.” There were two or three storylines that ultimately didn’t make into the final cut.”

Joseph went on to emphasize that he has no bad blood with 30-year-old, whose casting in the film—which costars Damson IrisKerry Condon and more—was originally announced in July 2024.

“But Simone, she’s an incredible talent, incredible actress, incredible singer,” he continued, “And I would love to work with her again.”

Just three months earlier, Simone spoke about her “amazing” experience filming in Abu Dhabi and touring with the Grand Prix, calling it “one of the craziest things I think I’ve ever been part of.”

Social media now main source of news in US, research suggests

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Social media and video networks have become the main source of news in the US, overtaking traditional TV channels and news websites, research suggests.

More than half (54%) of people get news from networks like Facebook, X and YouTube – overtaking TV (50%) and news sites and apps (48%), according to the Reuters Institute.

“The rise of social media and personality-based news is not unique to the United States, but changes seem to be happening faster – and with more impact – than in other countries,” a report found.

Podcaster Joe Rogan was the most widely-seen personality, with almost a quarter (22%) of the population saying they had come across news or commentary from him in the previous week.

The report’s author Nic Newman said the rise of social video and personality-driven news “represents another significant challenge for traditional publishers”.

The institute also highlighted a trend for some politicians to give their time to sympathetic online hosts rather than mainstream interviewers.

It said populist politicians around the world are “increasingly able to bypass traditional journalism in favour of friendly partisan media, ‘personalities’, and ‘influencers’ who often get special access but rarely ask difficult questions, with many implicated in spreading false narratives or worse”.

Despite their popularity, online influencers and personalities were named as a major source of false or misleading information by almost half of people worldwide (47%) – putting them level with politicians.

The report also stated that usage of X for news is “stable or increasing across many markets”, with the biggest uplift in the US.

It added that since Elon Musk took over the network in 2022, “many more right-leaning people, notably young men, have flocked to the network, while some progressive audiences have left or are using it less frequently”.

In the US, the proportion that self-identified as being on the right tripled after Musk’s takeover.

In the UK, right-wing X audiences have almost doubled.

Rival networks like Threads, Bluesky and Mastodon are “making little impact globally, with reach of 2% or less for news”, it stated.

Other key findings about news sources:

  • TikTok is the fastest-growing social and video network, used for news by 17% of people around the world, up four percentage points since last year.
  • The use of AI chatbots to get the news is on the rise, and is twice as popular among under-25s than the population as a whole.
  • But most people think AI will make news less transparent, accurate and trustworthy.
  • All generations still prize trusted brands with a track record for accuracy, even if they don’t use them as often as they once did

The report is in its 14th year and surveyed almost 100,000 people in 48 countries.

MAGA supporters split on whether Trump should follow court rulings

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Supporters of President Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement are divided on whether the president should have to follow federal court orders blocking his action, according to an NBC News Decision Desk poll powered by SurveyMonkey.

The survey, conducted in early June, told respondents that “a number of Trump administration actions have been challenged in the United States federal court” and asked about the appropriate next steps “if a federal court rules that a Trump administration action is illegal.”

MAGA supporters are split — 50 percent, 50 percent — between those who say the administration “has to follow the court’s ruling and stop its action” and those who say the administration “doesn’t have to follow the court’s ruling and can continue its action.”

Democrats almost unanimously agree on the issue, with 96 percent saying the administration must follow the court’s ruling.

Independents, too, largely say the administration must follow the court orders — with 87 percent holding this view and 13 percent saying Trump can ignore the court order.

Overall, 81 percent of respondents say Trump must follow the court order, while 19 percent say he doesn’t have to.

The poll was conducted May 30-June 10 and included 19,410 U.S. adults. The margin of error is 2.1 percentage points.

Best money market account rates today, June 16, 2025 (Earn up to 4.41% APY)

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Find out which banks are offering the top rates. Money market accounts (MMAs) can be a great place to store your cash if you’re looking for a relatively high interest rate along with liquidity and flexibility.

Unlike traditional savings accounts, MMAs typically offer better returns, and they may also provide check-writing privileges and debit card access. This makes these accounts ideal for holding long-term savings that you want to grow over time, but can still access when needed for certain purchases or bills.

Even though rates have been falling over the past several months, it’s still possible to find money market accounts that pay more than 4% APY.

Here is a look at some of today’s best money market account rates:

Interested in earning the best possible interest rate on your savings balance? Here is a look at some of the best savings and money market account rates available today from our verified partners.

Money market account rates have fluctuated significantly in recent years, largely due to changes in the Federal Reserve’s target interest rate.

In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, for example, interest rates were kept extremely low to stimulate the economy. The Fed slashed the federal funds rate to near zero, which led to very low MMA rates. During this time, money market account rates were typically around 0.10% to 0.50%, with many accounts offering rates on the lower end of that range.

Eventually, the Fed began raising interest rates gradually as the economy improved. This led to higher yields on savings products, including MMAs. However, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a brief but sharp recession, and the Fed once again cut its benchmark rate to near zero to combat the economic fallout. This resulted in a sharp decline in MMA rates.

But starting in 2022, the Fed embarked on a series of aggressive interest rate hikes to combat inflation. This led to historically high deposit rates across the board. By late 2023, money market account rates had risen substantially, with many accounts offering 4% or higher. However, the Fed finally began cutting rates in late 2024.

As of 2025, MMA rates remain high by historical standards, though they’ve begun a downward trajectory following the Fed’s most recent rate cuts. Today, online banks and credit unions tend to offer the highest rates.

When comparing money market accounts, it’s important to look beyond just the interest rate. Other factors, such as minimum balance requirements, fees, and withdrawal limits, can impact the total value you get from the account.

For example, it’s common for money market accounts to require a large minimum balance in order to earn the highest advertised rate — as much as $5,000 or more in some cases. Other accounts may charge monthly maintenance fees that can eat into your interest earnings.

However, there are several MMAs available that offer competitive rates without any balance requirements, fees, or other restrictions. That’s why it’s important to shop around and compare accounts before making a decision.

Additionally, ensure that the account you choose is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), which guarantees deposits up to $250,000 per institution, per depositor. Most money market accounts are federally insured, but it’s important to double-check in the rare case the financial insitution fails.

Read more: Money market account vs. high-yield savings account: Which is best for you?

The national average interest rate for money market accounts is just 0.64%, according to the FDIC. However, the best money market account rates often pay around 4% to 4.50% APY — similar to the rates offered on high-yield savings accounts.

The amount you will earn on $50,000 in a money market account depends on the annual percentage rate (APY) and the time period you leave the money in the account. For example, if you deposit $50,000 into a money market account that pays 4.5% APY and left it in your account for one year, you’d earn $2,303 in interest.

There are currently no money market accounts that pay 5% APY. However, some high-yield savings accounts from online banks do. You can also check with your local bank or credit union to find out if they offer a 5% APY account that fits your needs.

The best AirPods deals for June 2025

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If you know where to look, you can often score discounts on Apple’s ever-expanding AirPods lineup. Both the newer AirPods Max and AirPods 4 (with and without ANC) now consistently receive discounts, as do the latest AirPods Pro with USB-C. The same goes for the original AirPods Max, which are nearly indistinguishable from the last-gen model aside from the switch to a USB-C connector and a few new color options.

Below, we’ve rounded up the best deals currently available on each model, including both iterations of the AirPods 4, the latest AirPods Pro, and the AirPods Max.

At its September event, Apple introduced the AirPods 4, a pair of wireless earbuds available in two variations: a $129 standard model and a $179 noise-canceling model. Both versions represent significant upgrades over the third-gen AirPods, with a more comfortable design and improved audio performance. They’re also better for taking calls thanks to Apple’s Voice Isolation feature, which focuses the mics on your voice so you can be heard more clearly in noisy environments.

The $179 AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation offer a surprisingly effective noise-canceling mode, a helpful transparency mode, and several other Pro-level features. The latest AirPods Pro do a better job of tuning out noise, but the AirPods 4 with ANC still do a good job of reducing sound. They also feature other perks formerly reserved for Apple’s top-of-the-line earbuds, including wireless charging and a case with a built-in speaker that allows you to easily track it down via Apple’s Find My app.

Although they launched at the end of last year, we’ve consistently been seeing discounts on both versions of the AirPods 4. Right now, for instance, the standard AirPods 4 are matching their all-time low of around $99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Target. The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, meanwhile, are on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Target for around $148.99 ($30 off), which remains their second-best price to date.

The best AirPods Pro (second-gen) deals

In 2022, Apple released the second-gen AirPods Pro, which feature a similar build to the first-gen model but offer better noise cancellation, swipe-based controls, and an extra-small pair of swappable silicone ear tips for smaller ears. Apple followed up a year later with a minor refresh, one that features a USB-C charging case and an upgraded IP54 rating for water and dust resistance. The newest model also supports lossless audio when used with Apple’s new Vision Pro headset and doubles as a pair of FDA-approved hearing aids.

As far as deals go, Apple’s updated AirPods Pro with USB-C are currently available at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for around $169 ($80 off), which remains their second-best price to date and about $15 short of their all-time low of $153.99.

The best AirPods Max deals

The AirPods Max aren’t the iconic in-ears that have become synonymous with the AirPods name. They’re large and luxurious, comprised of aluminum, steel, and mesh fabric that remains comfortable during extended listening sessions. They also sport excellent noise cancellation, Apple’s spatial audio feature, and expansive, balanced sound, even if they lag behind some of their peers when it comes to bass response and features. They’re not the best noise-canceling headphones for most people — blame the sticker price — but it’s hard to find a better pair of Bluetooth headphones if you’re an iPhone user.

At the beginning of September, Apple replaced the first-gen Max with a new model that features support for USB-C charging and a few new color options. As of writing, they’re on sale at Amazon and Walmart in select colors starting at $479.99 ($70 off), which is their second-best price to date and $30 shy of their all-time low. Keep in mind that you can also occasionally pick up the first-gen model for less than $400, but right now, we’re not seeing any deals of note on the original pair.

Four found guilty of hate crimes against Madrid’s Vinícius

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Four people have been sentenced to between 14 and 22 months in prison for hate crimes and threats committed against Vinícius Júnior before a Copa del Rey tie between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid in January 2023.

The charges relate to the hanging of a doll wearing Real Madrid forward Vinícius’s shirt from a bridge in the city alongside a banner reading “Madrid hates Real.”

Following a complaint made by LaLiga, four arrests were made later in 2023, with a court in Madrid issuing the guilty verdicts on Monday.

“In the ruling, one of the defendants was sentenced to 15 months in prison for a hate crime (under Article 510 of the Spanish Penal Code) and an additional seven months for making threats, having disseminated images of the act online, thereby amplifying its impact,” LaLiga announced.

“The other three were each sentenced to seven months in prison for hate crimes and seven months for threats.

“In addition, the first defendant was fined €1,084 and the other three were fined €720, along with the following additional measures:

“A restraining order prohibiting them from coming within 1,000 metres of Vinícius, his residence, or place of work (Valdebebas Training Ground);

“A ban on approaching within 1,000 metres any football stadium during matches held under the LaLiga calendar or competitions organised by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), including reserve and women’s teams, from four hours before until four hours after each match;

“A prohibition on any form of communication with the victim, all for a period of four years from the end of the prison term.

“All defendants also signed a letter of apology addressed to Vinícius, Real Madrid, LaLiga and the RFEF, which led to mitigation for damage reparation.”

Following the verdict, Real Madrid issued the following statement: “The defendants have acknowledged their actions, expressed their remorse, and publicly apologized. Each of them has been found guilty of a hate crime, and another of threatening our player Vinícius Jr.

“This criminal sentence comes after the several already handed down in recent months for racist insults received by Real Madrid players at the José Zorrilla Stadium (Valladolid), Mestalla (Valencia), Son Moix (Palma de Mallorca), and Vallecas (Madrid) stadiums, including on digital forums. In total, fourteen people have now been criminally convicted for racist attacks against our club’s players.

“Real Madrid, which, along with the player, has acted as a private party in this case and in many others currently underway, will continue working to protect the values of our club and eradicate any racist behaviour in the world of football and sport.”

It’s the latest in a string of resolutions related to the abuse of Vinícius.

Last summer, three fans were sentenced to eight months in prison and banned from stadiums for two years over the racist abuse of the Brazilian at Mestalla in May 2023 when Madrid played Valencia.

A Mallorca fan who used racists insults against Vinícius and Villarreal‘s Samuel Chukwueze was also handed a 12-month suspended sentence by a Spanish court last September.

More recently, in May, five Real Valladolid fans who racially insulted Vinícius Júnior in 2022 were also handed 12-month suspended sentences and large fines.

Cardi B, Offset’s Baby Girl Blossom’s Face Photos Revealed

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Cardi B and Offset‘s daughter Blossom is living up to her name.

The “WAP” rapper unveiled the first glimpse of her 9-month-old’s face on June 16, sharing photos of the baby girl decked out in gear from Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami‘s famed cherry blossom collection in a backyard photo shoot with siblings Kulture, 6, and Wave, 3, who Cardi also shares with the Migos member.

One image posted to Instagram showed Blossom in a neon pink swimsuit with a brown Louis Vuitton scarf draped on her head, while she was pictured wearing a pink scarf from the luxury brand in another snapshot with her mom.

Cardi wrote in the caption, “It is you Miss Blossom Belles.”

But her eldest daughter Kulture also got in on the fashion fun, toting not one but two purses as she posed by the pool. Meanwhile, Wave rocked a pair of rose-colored jeans and Timberland boots.



‘A generation let down’ and ‘Israel claims control’

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The headline on the front page of the i Paper reads: "Generation of girls let down by police, councils and MPs who ignored UK grooming gangs".

An audit led by Baroness Louise Casey into grooming gangs dominates Tuesday’s papers. The i newspaper’s headline says a “generation of girls” were “let down” by police, councils and MPs. It quotes the report, which found authorities “shied away from the ethnicity of perpetrators” for fear of “raising tensions”.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Telegraphy reads: "Asylum seekers behind new grooming gang cases".

The Daily Telegraph focuses on a line in the report which said asylum seekers and foreign nationals are involved in a “significant proportion” of live police investigations. Elsewhere, the paper reports that Israel’s strikes have pushed Iran “to the brink” after it hit Tehran’s state TV headquarters on Monday.

The headline on the front page of the Metro reads: "Blindness, ignorance, prejudice, defensiveness".

The Metro says victims were failed by “blindness, ignorance, prejudice, defensiveness”. Its front page reports that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has apologised to victims.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Mail reads: "Conspiracy of silence over race doomed thousands of girls to abuse".

The Daily Mail says a “conspiracy of silence over race doomed thousands of girls to abuse”. It reports that public bodies “covered up” evidence “for fear of appearing racist”.

The headline on the front page of the Times reads: "Ethnicity 'brushed aside' in grooming gangs inquiries".

Baroness Casey’s report found the ethnicity of offenders was “brushed aside”, according to the Times. Elsewhere, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is pictured meeting Chief Darcy Dixon of the Bearspaw First Nation after arriving in Canada for a meeting of the G7.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Express reads: "Let's 'uncover a lot of truth' in sex gangs inquiry".

The front page of the Daily Express features an interview with a victim of a grooming gang, who has called for every council and police force to be investigated.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Mirror reads: "Never again".

“Never again” is the headline on the front of the Daily Mirror, which leads on Cooper’s pledge that “there will be no hiding place from justice” for perpetrators. The home secretary says more than 1,000 cases will reviewed after “years for failures” by authorities.

The headline on the front page of the Sun reads: "Betrayed by the state".

The Sun says the “devastating” report has “laid bare” how victims were failed. It says girls targeted by grooming gangs were “betrayed by the state”.

The headline on the front page of the Financial Times reads: "Israel claims 'control' of Tehran skies".

Israel and Iran’s ongoing exchange of strikes is the lead story on the front of the Financial Times. The paper leads on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that Israel has gained control over Tehran’s airspace.

The headline on the front page of the Guardian reads: "Israel warns Iranians to flee as deadly air raids continue".

The Guardian also focuses on the conflict in the Middle East, headlining on evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military as it continues to strike targets inside Iran.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Star reads: "Reservoir dregs".

And finally, the Daily Star predicts a hosepipe ban in Yorkshire after a drought was declared. “Reservoir dregs” is its Quentin Tarantino-inspired headline.

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Trump to depart G7 early due to Middle East conflict

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President Trump will depart the Group of Seven (G7) summit on Monday night, a day earlier than planned, because of the growing conflict in the Middle East.

“President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X “Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State.”

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Technical Assessment: Bullish in the Intermediate-Term

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Technical Assessment: Bullish in the Intermediate-Term