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Multiple posts bickering/Flaming etc have been removed. Anymore disruption of this nature and this topic will be shutdown.

Look at the premise of No Hard Feelings and you would rightly expect to be scandalised. The film is a broad, affable comedy starring Jennifer Lawrence as a cash-strapped thirtysomething who is hired to “date” a 19-year-old introvert (Andrew Barth Feldman) at the behest of his wealthy helicopter parents. It’s a movie that sells itself on raunch: the button-pushing age-gap romance at its heart leads to plenty of sexually-tinged misadventure, including a much-discussed full-frontal fight scene involving Lawrence. But, as The Independent’s critic noted in our review, No Hard Feelings is ultimately a character piece dressed in sex-farce clothing. Its attitude towards sex all too often resembles that of a sniggering teenager. And it speaks to a problem that is rampant in Hollywood cinema today. ARTICLE

Donald Trump set off speculation that he expects to be criminally charged in an election tampering probe in Georgia, ranting on social media about “all charges against me” in the high-profile case. That’s even though no such charges have been formally announced. On Friday, Mr Trump posted on Truth Social that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis will be “dropping all charges against me for lack of a case.” The former president has been under investigation in the Georgia county since February 2021, after he was recorded pressuring top Georgia officials to “find” him enough votes to win the 2020 election. In his post on Friday, Mr Trump defended the 2 January, 2021, call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, as “perfectly legal” “I made a PERFECTLY LEGAL PHONE CALL, AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, ABOUT AN ELECTION THAT I STRONGLY FEEL WAS RIGGED AND STOLLEN,” Mr Trump wrote. “NONE of the MANY LAWYERS on the call minded my words, or even hinted at wrongdoing.” STORY

Conservatives – despite their limited federal elected power – racked up another huge win in the great political battle of the early 21st century. The Supreme Court’s gutting of affirmative action in college admissions on Thursday toppled another pillar of America’s liberal social infrastructure. Two more setbacks followed on Friday: the high court struck down the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness program and dealt a blow to LGBTQ rights when it sided with a Christian web designer in Colorado who refuses to create websites to celebrate same-sex weddings out of religious objections. Democrats have had their successes over the last 20 years – including earlier this month with decisions ordering the redraw of Alabama’s congressional map and rejecting a Trump-backed election law theory – but it often seems as though conservatives have the momentum. Republicans only control one chamber of Congress, and narrowly so, while Democrats hold the White House and the Senate. And yet Thursday’s ruling further weakened a core principle of Democratic politics that unites the party’s presidents dating to Franklin Roosevelt – that the government should use its power to ease social injustices and lift up the disadvantaged. Civil rights advocates saw the decision as re-erecting barriers based on race that their forbears fought for decades to remove and a step back into tortured history. FULL STORY

The Supreme Court’s decision in favor of a Christian web designer in Colorado who refuses to create websites to celebrate same-sex weddings out of religious objections will have a far-reaching impact on other minority groups and could open the door to a slew of cases seeking to further chip away at civil rights protections in the US. In a 6-3 opinion delivered Friday by Justice Neil Gorsuch that was joined by the court’s five other conservatives, the justices said that the First Amendment’s free speech protections permitted the web designer, Lorie Smith, to refuse to extend her services for same-sex weddings. The ruling was rooted in free speech grounds and could create a massive hole in state public accommodation laws for businesses who sell so-called “expressive” goods, allowing for companies that provide customized, expressive products and services to pick and choose who they work with. FULL STORY

President Putin cannot afford to lose his best and most experienced fighters from the war - and has offered them choices, while the future of Yevgeny Prigozhin remains unclear, military analyst Sean Bell writes. President Putin is directing a major "damage limitation" exercise in Russia to re-impose his authority and purge those responsible for the potential coup attempt, following Yevgeny Prigozhin's abortive "march for justice" towards the Russian capital last weekend. But what of Prigozhin? Is he a dead man walking, or is his exile to Belarus simply an opportunity for Russia to bolster its military capability there? Putin has control over Russian oligarchs since he has influence over the contracts upon which they rely for their wealth, thus creating a dependency culture and minimising the risks of any uprising. Prigozhin is a successful Russian oligarch who has exploited a close friendship with Putin to mutual benefit. Analysis article

Apple has surpassed Microsoft, which is valued at $2.5trn, while oil giant Saudi Aramco is worth $2.08trn. Google parent company Alphabet, Amazon and software giant Nvidia, a world leader in AI technology, have market values of more than $1trn each. Apple has entered the history books as the first public company to be valued at $3trn. The 47-year-old technology juggernaut, co-founded by Silicon Valley legend, the late Steve Jobs in 1966, officially closed up 2.3% at $193.97 per share at the end of trading on Friday. This brought its market value to $3.04trn - equivalent to £2.39trn. Apple briefly surpassed a $3trn market value on consecutive days in January 2022. However, it could not maintain that figure by the time the markets had closed. The company's stock plunged into a prolonged descent, with its market value dipping briefly below $2trn earlier this year, amid a slowdown in growth compounded by investor jitters over rising interest rates, impacting the entire tech sector. Apple only approached the $3trn mark again earlier this month, when the company unveiled what it hopes will be its next big product - the Vision Pro virtual reality headset. Microsoft is following close behind with a market value of $2.5trn. FULL STORY

Violent protests are spreading throughout France after a 17-year-old - named as Nahel M - was shot dead by police during a traffic stop in the Paris suburb of Nanterre on Tuesday. France has suspended all bus and tram services on Friday night - while deploying 45,000 officers across the country - amid ongoing riots over a police shooting. Violent protests are spreading throughout France after a 17-year-old, named as Nahel M, was shot by police during a traffic stop in the Paris suburb of Nanterre on Tuesday. In the aftermath, people have taken to the streets on three consecutive nights to protest, setting cars alight and throwing stones and fireworks. More outbreaks of violence were reported across the country on Friday night. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin earlier told TF1 television that 45,000 extra police officers, which will include paramilitary gendarmes, would be deployed across France on Friday - 5,000 more than the previous night. In a message to fire and police forces, he said: "The next hours will be decisive and I know I can count on your flawless efforts". On Friday night, clashes were reported in several cities, including the city of Lyon in the southeast. FULL STORY

The US Supreme Court has struck down US President Joe Biden's proposal to wipe out billions in student debt. The 6-3 ruling effectively cancels the plan, which would have forgiven about $10,000 (£7,800) per borrower - and up to $20,000 in some cases. The decision affects the loans of more than 40 million Americans. It has left the US public "angry," Mr Biden said. He pledged to put in place new measures to reduce university debt using other existing laws. The loan forgiveness plan has been in limbo since some conservative states sued, arguing the president overstepped his authority. The Supreme Court agreed. In the wake of the decision, Mr Biden spoke from the White House, saying: "I know there are millions of Americans in this country who feel disappointed and discouraged or even a little bit angry. I must admit I do too." But he vowed to work with the Department of Education to find other means to help people ease the financial burden. "Today's decision has closed one path. Now we're going to start another," he said. The total federal student debt has more than tripled over the past 15 years, rising from about $500bn in 2007 to $1.6tn today. FULL STORY

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Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey is a “sexual bully” who “delights in making others feel powerless and uncomfortable”, a court has heard. The Hollywood star, 63, was described by the prosecution as a “man who sexually assaults other men” as he stood trial at Southwark Crown Court on Friday. Christine Agnew KC told the court: “Kevin Spacey Fowler is an actor; many of you will already know that. “He is an extremely famous actor who has won a number of awards. He is also, the prosecution allege, a man who sexually assaults other men.

Once the carrier aircraft reached around 50,000ft, the rocket was released from underneath and sent in a near-vertical climb to around 50 miles above Earth. For those who want a ticket ? a mere $450,000 will secure your seat on the 90 minute flight.

Wind and solar power are booming in China and may help limit global carbon emissions far faster than expected, according to a new study. Solar panel installations alone are growing at a pace that would increase global capacity by 85% by 2025. The report says the country's green energy targets for 2030 look set to be exceeded five years ahead of schedule. But coal plants are also increasing, partly as backup for all the new wind and solar farms, the authors say. Deforestation surges in 2022 despite pledges UK no longer a world leader on climate - watchdog Unlawful to let coal mine keep digging - lawyers China is often seen as the key to the world's efforts to rein in the carbon emissions that are the root cause of climate change. STORY

The sweetener aspartame, which is found in a variety of foods and fizzy drinks, is set to be officially classified as "possibly carcinogenic" to humans, reports claim. The label frequently causes confusion as it gives no sense of whether the potential risk is big or miniscule. Other "possibly carcinogenic" substances include aloe vera, diesel and pickled Asian vegetables. The BBC understands the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) will make an announcement on 14 July. What has aspartame in it? Aspartame is 200 times sweeter than sugar, so it gives the taste without the calories. You will find it on the ingredients list of many diet or sugar-free foods including diet drinks, chewing gums and some yoghurts. High profile drinks containing aspartame include Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Pepsi Max, and 7 Up Free, but the sweetener is in around 6,000 food products. STORY

Satellite images appear to show activity at a disused military base in Belarus, amid speculation about Wagner forces relocating to the country. An image from 27 June obtained by BBC Verify, and first reported by Radio Free Europe, shows what could be tents or similar structures appearing at the base. An earlier image taken on 19 June shows the fields within the military compound largely empty. The Wagner group, which is made up of mercenaries, had been fighting for Russia in Ukraine until last weekend, when it staged a rebellion. Its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, later called off an advance to Moscow after a deal was struck with the help of the Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. After the failed mutiny, the Russian authorities said Wagner would be disarmed but its members would escape prosecution. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the military could either join the Russian army, go home or go to Belarus. What next for the Wagner group of mercenaries? Wagner's network in Africa faces uncertain future The base seen in the satellite images is about 13 miles (21km) from the town of Asipovichy - around 64 miles from the capital Minsk. The area has been reported in Russian media as a place which could house Wagner fighters. STORY

President Biden couldn't wait til the commercial break to flee the set of a live televised interview with MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace. Biden granted the liberal host a rare live sit-down on Thursday, which was largely focused on his reaction to the Supreme Court's historic decision to strike down affirmative action. After nearly 20 minutes of softball questions, Biden got up from his chair and took the scenic route off the MSNBC set, walking behind Wallace as she teased analysis of her interview to viewers. The moment quickly went viral. "WHAT ON EARTH IS JOE BIDEN DOING? It's live TV!" conservative strategist Steve Guest exclaimed. "YOU sit in the chair, YOU smile at the pretty lady, YOU stay until we come get you," Substack writer Jim Treacher quipped. STORY

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee say they have unearthed a piece of evidence from the 2019 impeachment investigation into then-President Donald Trump that they say rebuts Republican claims of a possible bribery scheme between Joe Biden and a foreign national. The document, released in a letter from Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the committee's ranking member, to its chairman, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., is a 2019 questionnaire filled out by Mykola Zlochevsky, the co-founder of the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma, where Biden’s son Hunter once served on the board. Zlochevsky denies ever having contacts with Joe Biden while he was vice president or receiving assistance from his staff while Hunter served on the board. The questionnaire was given to Lev Parnas, an associate of Rudy Giuliani, who was serving as Trump’s personal lawyer. Giuliani had been seeking information about Biden ahead of the 2020 presidential election when Biden was expected to be one of the Democrats who might challenge Trump. Parnas handed over the questionnaire to the House committees investigating the former president, and it was later obtained by the FBI when it seized Parnas’ phone in 2019. It was never released to the public during the impeachment investigation. STORY

Thursday’s extraordinary Supreme Court decision to banish race as a factor in college admissions is sharply dividing the parties on Capitol Hill, where Democrats denounced the ruling as a blow to civil rights and Republicans hailed it as a long overdue step toward a colorblind culture. Democrats have long supported affirmative action as a crucial, if imperfect, effort to rectify the centuries of race-based injustice that practically defined much of the country’s history, when Black people were denied basic rights. Republicans, meanwhile, have attacked the concept of race-based admissions as outdated and inherently discriminatory, undermining a purely merit-based education system and denying opportunities to other groups of students in the process. Those dueling arguments were on full display Thursday morning, when both sides wasted no time weighing in on the high court’s historic decision. STORY