‘Stranger Things’ finale helps series cross billion-hours-viewed mark

‘Stranger Things’ finale helps series cross billion-hours-viewed mark
‘Stranger Things’ finale helps series cross billion-hours-viewed mark
Netflix

Stranger Things brought the fireworks for Netflix over the weekend.

For the first time since the global phenomenon Squid Game, viewership for Stranger Things surpassed 1.15 billion hours on the streaming service following the drop of season 4, volume 2 on July 1.

The show’s fourth season made up for more than 301 million hours of that staggering total for the week spanning June 27-July 3, landing it on the Top 10 for English language TV shows in 93 countries.

The previous seasons also landed on the list in that period: Its first season ranked #3; season 2 #6; and season 3 came in at #5.

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Luke Bryan on the importance of putting out a great summer song

Luke Bryan on the importance of putting out a great summer song
Luke Bryan on the importance of putting out a great summer song
ABC

Luke Bryan released a sizzling new summer anthem, “Country On,” on Friday, and it’s no accident that it’s the latest in a long line of warm-weather bangers from the singer.

Speaking to Today’s Country Radio With Kelleigh Bannen on Apple Music, Luke says that it stresses him out when he doesn’t have a great summer party track in the holster.

“I was having tremendous anxiety about not having a song out in the summer,” he says, talking about the lead-up to the release of “Country On.” “I just always love having a summer song out. And not actually always pointed at summer, but to know that people are out on the lake and on their boats [playing the song.]”

Mission accomplished: “Country On” is the perfect soundtrack to a carefree day out on the boat. Luke has also hinted that it’s the first of a lot of new music ahead. He says he’s currently working on a new album that’s about halfway done.

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Fulton County subpoenas Rudy Giuliani, Lindsey Graham in probe into election interference

Fulton County subpoenas Rudy Giuliani, Lindsey Graham in probe into election interference
Fulton County subpoenas Rudy Giuliani, Lindsey Graham in probe into election interference
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

(FULTON COUNTY, Ga.) — The Fulton County special grand jury investigating possible criminal interference in Georgia’s 2020 elections has issued subpoenas for Rudy Giuliani, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and several others in former President Donald Trump’s orbit.

Others who were issued subpoenas include John Eastman, Cleta Mitchell, Kenneth Chesbro and Jenna Ellis, all of whom advised Trump on ways to overturn President Joe Biden’s win in Georgia.

The special grand jury also subpoenaed attorney and podcast host Jacki Pick Deason.

The development was first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Giuliani, Trump’s personal attorney, testified in front of Georgia lawmakers on several occasions in late 2020.

Eastman, who part of a plan to push then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject the official slate of Democratic electors in Georgia and other battleground states, also testified in front of Georgia’s legislators following the election, saying that there was “more than enough” evidence of fraud to warrant a different slate of electors.

At the end of its investigation, the special grand jury conducting the probe will, if appropriate, make recommendations to prosecutors, who would then need to decide whether to pursue any charges.

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What we know about the victims of the July 4th Highland Park parade shooting

What we know about the victims of the July 4th Highland Park parade shooting
What we know about the victims of the July 4th Highland Park parade shooting
North Shore Congregation Israel

(HIGHLAND PARK, Ill.) — A gunman opened fire on a Fourth of July parade in an affluent suburb north of Chicago on Monday, killing at least seven people and injuring more than two dozen others, including children.

Five of the victims died at the scene of the shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, while one died at a hospital, according to officials. On Tuesday afternoon, a seventh victim succumbed to their injuries at Evanston Hospital, officials said.

The Northshore University Hospital system, which includes Evanston, Glenbrook, Highland Park and Skokie hospitals. treated a total of 39 patients from the scene, according to hospital officials.

Highland Park Hospital admitted 25 people with gunshot wounds, 19 of whom were treated and discharged. The others were in “more serious condition,” said Dr. Brigham Temple, medical director of emergency preparedness.

The wounded ranged in age from 8 to 85, according to Temple. One child was taken to Evanston, for further treatment and another was medically evacuated to the University of Chicago Hospital, about 30 miles south of Highland Park.

As of Tuesday, eight patients remained hospitalized in the Northshore facilities, officials said.

Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, some 8 miles north of Highland Park, said it received nine patients from the shooting, including six gunshot victims. Five were discharged and the remaining four are in good or fair condition, according to the hospital.

Here’s what we know so far about the people who were killed.

Jacki Sundheim

Jacki Sundheim, a dedicated congregant and worker at her synagogue, North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe, Illinois, was shot and killed at the Independence Day parade in Highland Park, according to the synagogue.

In a statement, the North Shore Congregation Israel described Sundheim as a “beloved” staff member who spent her early days teaching preschool and her entire life worshipping at the synagogue.

“There are no words sufficient to express the depth of our grief for Jacki’s death and sympathy for her family and loved ones,” the synagogue said.

Nicolas Toledo, 73

Nicolas Toledo was one of the slain victims from the parade, according to his family.

“My grandpa was a funny man. He’d always joke around and be playful with his grandkids. He arrived [at] the U.S. in the ’80s and worked around the Highland Park area for many years. He spent his last days swimming and fishing and being among family,” Toledo’s grandson, David Toledo, told ABC News in a statement.

Stephen Straus, 88

Stephen Straus was killed during the shooting, according to his son John Straus.

ABC News’ Will McDuffie, Caroline Guthrie and Darren Reynolds contributed to this report.

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Man who says he was assaulted by white supremacist marchers speaks out

Man who says he was assaulted by white supremacist marchers speaks out
Man who says he was assaulted by white supremacist marchers speaks out
Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald, FILE

(BOSTON) — Boston officials are responding to the growing threat of white supremacists, just days after Patriot Front members marched through the city and reportedly assaulted a Black man.

“We know these threats are continuing to escalate across the country, and that Boston must be the leading light in how we are acting in a coordinated way and tackling and supporting our community members,” said Mayor Michelle Wu Tuesday. She joined officials from the local and state police departments, the FBI and the attorney general’s office to discuss impending actions of known extremist groups.

The Anti-Defamation League, which tracks hate groups nationwide, has called Patriot Front a white supremacist group that spreads racism, antisemitism, and other forms of hate online. The ADL says the group is focused on “preserving America’s identity as a European-American one.”

The group marched in Boston on Saturday with concealed faces and flags, wearing shirts that read “Reclaim America.”

U.S. District Attorney Rachael Rollins said officials “are working hard to make sure that if there are any federal charges we can bring or if there are any state charges that can be brought — we will be looking at this. We don’t want to wait until there’s violence. If there are threats we will charge those as well.”

They will not yet release the information shared at the briefing to the public. Joseph R. Bonavolonta, the Special Agent in Charge, told reporters at the presser that the government cannot track or monitor domestic groups based on their ideology, but can take action based on the threat or execution of violence.

Officials said they plan to question officers’ actions during the march, asking themselves “if this was a Black Lives Matter protest, would the response have been different than this white supremacist group?”

Black community leaders in Boston marked the Fourth of July by denouncing racism and showing support for a man who says he was assaulted by Patriot Front members.

Police say a Black man reported that he was assaulted during the march, after the man said he was trying to record the group on his cellphone. In the police report sent to ABC News by Boston Police Department officials, the man said Patriot Front members with shields began to surround and shove him after he started to record.

When he tried to shove back in order to free himself, he was knocked to the ground, kicked and beaten, the police report said.

The man suffered lacerations to his head, arms and hands, and was treated at a nearby hospital, according to the report. No arrests have been made.

The man later identified himself as Charles Murrell, an artist and social justice organizer. He spoke Monday at a gathering of Black leaders and urged listeners to attend local events about race, diversity and justice.

“There are ambassadors, artists, and people who care about the city and the image of this city, that have been doing the work, and we are inviting you to come share space with us,” Murrell said.

Mawakana Onifade, a friend and mentor of Murrell, said, “We will always stand in the face of the new Klan, there’s no mistake about this. When one covers one’s face, we know what is behind that.”

Local Black leaders called Patriot Front the “children of the KKK.”

“We’re not surprised. Boston has had a long legacy of racism,” said Reverend Kevin Peterson. “In fact, the city was founded on racism. Slaves were imported here. And that legacy continues into 2022.”

Leaders are calling on Wu to act quickly against the spread of hateful and dangerous ideologies.

“We can’t look at this as the new age. This is the old age that needs to be dismantled,” said Onifade. “Mayor Wu, what are you going to really do besides the words that we have been reading about. What is the call to action? Where is the accountability?”

Wu has condemned the march, tweeting that the “disgusting hate of white supremacists has no place here.”

In a statement, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn warned about growing white supremacist sentiment in the region.

“It is wholly repugnant to once again read reports and see videos on social media about dozens of Neo Nazis making another brazen public display with their hateful ideology,” Flynn wrote. “They have continued to make their presence known, most recently in March at the St. Patrick’s Day parade,” when Patriot Front members reportedly held up a “Keep Boston Irish” banner.

Wu said the investigation into the latest incident is ongoing and is being spearheaded by the city’s Civil Rights Unit. Because Patriot Front members had their face covered, officials at the Tuesday press conference say it adds a layer of difficulty to cracking the case. However, law enforcement officials say they are still looking for the culprits, even if they came to the city from out of state.

“We’re looking into their identities and there already has been some information shared in various parts about the national leaders of this group who were part of this effort, who were in town, were present at the recent events as this group has gone to terrorize other communities as well,” Wu said in a Monday news conference on the incident.

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Brittney Griner asks Biden to help get her out of Russia in handwritten letter

Brittney Griner asks Biden to help get her out of Russia in handwritten letter
Brittney Griner asks Biden to help get her out of Russia in handwritten letter
KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images, FILE

(WASHINGTON) — Brittney Griner personally reached out to President Joe Biden, urging him to help get her out of Russian custody, according to her representatives.

A handwritten letter from Griner, portions of which were made public, was delivered to the White House on Monday. In it, she expressed fears she will be held in Russia “forever.”

“As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I’m terrified I might be here forever,” Griner wrote to the president.

On Feb. 17, the WNBA star was detained at Russia’s Sheremetyevo International Airport after being accused of having vape cartridges containing hashish oil, which is illegal in the country.

“It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate [the Fourth of July] because freedom means something completely different to me this year,” she wrote.

Last Friday marked the first day of Griner’s trial. She appeared in person at a courtroom in Khimki, a suburb of Moscow, ABC News reported. Her detention in Russia was extended to Dec. 20, the expected length of her trial.

Griner’s family and friends have called for the Phoenix Mercury star to be released and for the Biden administration to act.

“I just keep hearing that, you know, he has the power. She’s a political pawn,” Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, told ABC News’ Robin Roberts in May. “So, if they’re holding her because they want you to do something, then I want you to do it.”

In the Monday letter, the basketball star asked Biden to not forget about her and other American detainees in the country and to work toward bringing them back to the U.S.

“I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore. I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for whatever you can do at this moment to get me home,” she said.

It’s unknown if Biden read the letter, but National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement obtained by ABC News the president “has been clear” about seeing all detainees who are wrongfully detained oversees, including the WNBA star, released.

“The U.S. government continues to work aggressively – using every available means – to bring her home,” Watson said.

ABC News’ Courtney Condron and Sarah Kolinovsky contributed to this report.

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Glass Animals’ Dave Bayley battling swollen vocal cords; band cancels European festival sets

Glass Animals’ Dave Bayley battling swollen vocal cords; band cancels European festival sets
Glass Animals’ Dave Bayley battling swollen vocal cords; band cancels European festival sets
Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images

Glass Animals has pulled out of two European festivals this week as frontman Dave Bayley battles swollen vocal cords.

“I absolutely hate cancelling shows, but my vocal cords have had it,” Bayley says in a statement. “I took steroids to bring down the swelling the last two shows but it doesn’t seem to be doing the trick anymore and I’ve been recommended to take a few days to rest them so it doesn’t turn into something worse.”

The affected dates include sets at the Mad Cool Festival in Spain and Portugal’s Nos Alive.

“We were so looking forward to these shows, but we’ll be back ASAP,” Bayley adds. “I’m so sorry again.”

In happier Glass Animals news, Bayley and company have been teasing a rerelease of their 2020 album Dreamland, which spawned the mega-hit “Heat Waves.”

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‘Forbes’ billionaire list: Rihanna named youngest self-made woman

‘Forbes’ billionaire list: Rihanna named youngest self-made woman
‘Forbes’ billionaire list: Rihanna named youngest self-made woman
Steven Ferdman/Getty Images

Rihanna has been named the youngest self-made woman billionaire in the U.S.

With a net worth of $1.4 billion, the nine-time Grammy Award winner, 34, lands at #21 on the Forbes list of America’s self-made women, making her the youngest billionaire among the list’s 24 billionaires. 

While Rihanna’s music contributes to her wealth, the singer’s astronomical financial status is mostly due to her fast-growing beauty, cosmetic and lingerie lines: Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin and Savage X Fenty. 

According to Forbes, the cosmetics company, which she co-owns with French luxury retailer LVMH, generated more than $550 million in revenue in 2020. The lingerie line, in which Rih owns a 30% stake, raised money at a $1 billion valuation in February 2021.

Forbes initially reported Rihanna’s official billionaire status in August 2021, when her worth was $1.7 billion, making her the wealthiest female musician in the world and second richest female entertainer next to Oprah Winfrey

In a conversation with The New York Times Magazine about money in 2019, Rihanna said, “My money is not for me; it’s always the thought that I can help someone else or, in the future, for if I have kids. The world can really make you believe that the wrong things are priority, and it makes you really miss the core of life, what it means to be alive.”

Speaking of kids, Rihanna announced she was pregnant with her first child with her boyfriend, rapper A$AP Rocky, in January and welcomed their son in May. 

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James Cameron dishes on ‘Avatar’ sequels, disses series’ “trolls”

James Cameron dishes on ‘Avatar’ sequels, disses series’ “trolls”
James Cameron dishes on ‘Avatar’ sequels, disses series’ “trolls”
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

Thanks to a 2021 rerelease that nudged it past Avengers: Endgame, 2009’s Avatar remains the highest grossing movie of all time.

Its haul — before a September re-rerelease — stands at $2.8 billion.

That said, there are many who wonder how Avatar got there in the first place. Director James Cameron has heard those gripes; in true James Cameron form, the man working on four sequels to the original doesn’t hold back.

“The trolls will have it that nobody gives a sh** and they can’t remember the characters’ names or one damn thing that happened in the movie,” he grouses to Empire magazine. “Then they see the movie again and go, ‘Oh, OK, excuse me, let me just shut the f*** up right now.'”

He’s also not worried about the run time of December’s sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water which — as of now — is around three hours.

“I don’t want anybody whining about length when they sit and binge-watch [TV] for eight hours,” Cameron says. “I can almost write this part of the review. ‘The agonizingly long three-hour movie …’ It’s like, give me a f***ing break …”

He adds, “Here’s the big social paradigm shift that has to happen: it’s OK to get up and go pee.”

As for its three sequels, which will roll out through 2028, the Titanic Oscar winner explains, “I think eventually … after [Avatar] three or after four — I’ll want to pass the baton to a director that I trust to take over,” he mused, adding, “Or maybe not. I don’t know.”

Cameron says the third Avatar movie is in the can, having shot concurrently with the second, which adds Kate Winslet to its original cast, which includes Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldaña and Sam Worthington.

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Mamma Mia! ABBA to host TikTok live concert on Wednesday

Mamma Mia! ABBA to host TikTok live concert on Wednesday
Mamma Mia! ABBA to host TikTok live concert on Wednesday
Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

If you missed seeing ABBA at the Voyage concert series last May, you now have another chance to see them perform. The hitmakers are coming together for an upcoming live concert, set for Wednesday on TikTok.

The Swedish pop icons announced their upcoming show on Monday and shared a video of them working hard at rehearsal.  

Fans also took note of some special foot attire Björn Ulvaeus sported during the promo shot — his iconic platform boots. Last month, he shared a hilarious video of him mourning his favorite footwear and wrote, “Those shoes went out of style decades ago… they’re never coming back.”   

In this new video, Ulvaeus is sitting at a piano and the camera pans down to his feet to show he’s wearing knee-high white platform boots that are embossed with a very familiar glittery silver design.

Boots aside, the video also shows Agnetha FältskogBenny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad gearing up for their new show by singing at the microphone, holding up throwback photos of the group and hashing things out in the studio.

No other hints about what the concert will entail were provided in the preview. “ABBA live on TikTok July 6th!” the hitmakers wrote in the caption.  

No time was mentioned for the upcoming show, but several sleuthers claim it’ll air at 5 p.m. London time, which is noon ET.

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