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  • ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Song to Be Entered for 2026 Oscars Consideration

    ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Song to Be Entered for 2026 Oscars Consideration

    Netflix has confirmed that “Golden” is the song from the red-hot KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack that it will enter for Academy Award consideration. The upbeat pop song was co-written by Kim Eun-jae (who is also known by her stage name EJAE) and Mark Sonnenblick.

    If the song is nominated for best original song in January, EJAE will become just the second songwriter of Korean descent to receive an Oscar nomination. Karen O, whose mother is Korean, was nominated at the 2013 ceremony for co-writing “The Moon Song” with Spike Jonze for his film Her. Karen O also performed the song at the ceremony, in tandem with Ezra Koenig.

    EJAE performs “Golden” in KPop Demon Hunters as part of the fictional K-pop girl group Huntr/x. The group consists of Rumi, Mira and Zoey, whose singing voices are performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, respectively. The film was released on Netflix on June 20.

    “Golden” will vault from No. 81 to No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 that will be posted tomorrow, which makes it the highest ranking of seven songs from the soundtrack. The song is also a global smash. It leaps from No. 52 to No. 2 on the Billboard Global 200 this week, and from No. 51 to No. 5 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart.

    “Golden” is vying to become the first song from an animated film to receive an Oscar nomination since “Dos Oruguitas” from Encanto, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, which was nominated four years ago.

    EJAE is a South Korean and American singer-songwriter and record producer known for her work with Red Velvet, aespa, LE SSERAFIM, NMIXX, TWICE, Kard and other South Korean artists.

    Sonnenblick’s previous credits include co-writing the lyrics for the musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada.  

    The Oscar submission deadline in the best original song category is Wednesday, Oct. 15.  Oscar shortlists in 10 categories, including best original song, will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 16. Nominations will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 22. The 2026 Oscars will be presented on Sunday, March 2.

    The six other songs from KPop Demon Hunters on this week’s Hot 100 are “Your Idol” (which vaults from No. 77 to No. 31) and five debuts: “How It’s Done” (No. 42), “Soda Pop” (No. 49), “What It Sounds Like” (No. 55), “Free” (No. 58) and “Takedown” (No. 64).

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  • Trump threatens BRICS bloc with extra tariffs : NPR

    Trump threatens BRICS bloc with extra tariffs : NPR



    ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

    The president of Brazil says his fellow leaders of major emerging economies have just wrapped up their most important BRICS summit yet, today in Rio de Janeiro. The BRICS group of nations is seen as a rising counterweight to Western powers like the U.S. It tried to avoid confrontation with President Donald Trump by issuing a low-key joint statement from its meeting, but Trump threatened new tariffs on BRICS countries anyway. He accused them of pushing, quote, “anti-American policies.” From Rio, NPR’s Carrie Kahn reports.

    CARRIE KAHN, BYLINE: It’s been raining during most of the two-day BRICS conference, which was billed as a celebration of the Global South unity and clout in a troubled world. But by the end of the summit, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s mood also turned gray.

    (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

    PRESIDENT LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA: (Speaking Portuguese).

    KAHN: “No, no, we don’t want emperors. We are sovereign nations,” said Lula. This followed Trump’s threat to slap an additional 10% tariff on BRICS countries that align with what Trump calls the group’s anti-American policies.

    (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

    LULA: (Speaking Portuguese).

    KAHN: “I don’t think it’s very responsible of a president of a country the size of the U.S. to be threatening the world via the internet. It’s not right,” said Lula. Trump also posted support for Lula’s chief political rival Jair Bolsonaro today. The former Brazilian president is facing trial for trying to overturn his 2022 reelection loss and stay in power. Lula declined comment on that Trump posting.

    Despite the rhetorical finale, BRICS’ declaration was toned down, with no direct criticism of Trump or the U.S., says Oliver Stuenkel of Brazil’s FGV University.

    OLIVER STUENKEL: This was a fairly tame summit.

    KAHN: Well, at least that was the intention of BRICS diplomats and leaders, says Stuenkel.

    STUENKEL: They probably believed that they could fly below the radar of Trump as long as they didn’t mention the United States, but that clearly failed.

    KAHN: BRICS also tamed criticism of their own. Russia’s Vladimir Putin, who attended via video, was not called out for his invasion of Ukraine. And its newest member, Iran, was defended as a victim of Israeli airstrikes. Israel, by contrast, was mentioned more than a dozen times in the final declaration, blamed for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and strikes in Syria and Lebanon.

    BRICS member South Africa jumped into the Trump fray also. Its president said the powerful can’t seek vengeance against, quote, “those who are seeking to do good in the world.” China’s foreign ministry criticized using tariffs as a coercive tool. There had been worries that the BRICS group was losing relevance as it continued to expand beyond its original members. Consensus among divergent countries, now including Indonesia and several Middle Eastern nations, has been difficult. But Brazil’s Lula was undeterred, insisting that BRICS is not a club of the privileged.

    (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

    LULA: (Speaking Portuguese).

    KAHN: “It’s a group of countries wanting to create another way,” he said, “with more focus on human relations and development, not confrontation.”

    Carrie Kahn, NPR News, Rio de Janeiro.

    Copyright © 2025 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

    Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts may vary. Transcript text may be revised to correct errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org may be edited after its original broadcast or publication. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

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  • Fortnite maker Epic Games settles antitrust case against Samsung

    Fortnite maker Epic Games settles antitrust case against Samsung

    Fortnite maker Epic Games has settled its antitrust case against Samsung, according to a court filing. The case, filed last September, accused Samsung of working with Google to block rival app stores by default on Samsung phones.

    “We’re dismissing our court case against Samsung following the parties’ discussions,” Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said in a post on X. He added, “We are grateful that Samsung will address Epic’s concerns.”

    An Epic spokesperson declined further comment, pointing to Sweeney’s post. Samsung and Google did not respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.

    Epic had alleged in the lawsuit that Samsung’s “Auto Blocker” feature, which blocked downloads outside of the Google Play Store and Samsung Galaxy Store, was a coordinated effort to block competition in app distribution.

    At the time, Google called Epic’s legal action “meritless,” saying, “Android device makers are free to take their own steps to keep their users safe and secure.” Samsung said it planned to “vigorously contest Epic Game’s baseless claims.”

    The settlement comes almost a year after Epic launched its own mobile app store to distribute both its own games and third-party titles.

    Before suing Samsung, Epic won a separate antitrust case against Google in 2023 over claims that Google’s app store practices constituted an illegal monopoly. A judge ordered Google to open its app store to rivals, though a decision on Google’s appeal is still pending.

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  • AECOM appoints David Humphreys as Senior Vice President, Canada Risk and Project Delivery Leader 

    AECOM appoints David Humphreys as Senior Vice President, Canada Risk and Project Delivery Leader 

    TORONTO (July 7, 2025) — AECOM, the trusted global infrastructure leader, has appointed David Humphreys to its leadership team as Senior Vice President, Canada Risk and Project Delivery Leader. In his new role, Mr. Humphreys will oversee the successful execution of Canada’s growth strategy to bolster the Company’s pursuit pipeline and project portfolio. He will also work closely with AECOM’s business operations to continuously improve the quality of its work and delivery of its projects. Prior to his promotion, Mr. Humphreys held the position of Director of Operations – Water, Central and Western Canada, where he was responsible for planning and directing operations for the water business in Canada. 

    “AECOM continues to be a place where talented professionals thrive, advancing into leadership roles within a culture that fosters opportunity and drives meaningful impact,” says Richard Barrett, chief executive of AECOM’s Canada region. “David has been an integral part of our success for 28 years, supporting clients while providing operational leadership, mentorship and guidance to our teams on a wide range of multi-disciplinary projects and business initiatives across the region. In his new position, he will continue to be a tremendous asset by providing quality project delivery, successful team leadership, and technical excellence. I’m thrilled to congratulate him on his new role at AECOM.” 

    Mr. Humphreys’ appointment reflects AECOM’s commitment to advancing its strategic growth in Canada. His leadership, institutional knowledge, and strong client relationships will be key in driving innovative and sustainable infrastructure solutions to help the Company deliver a better world across the region.  

    “I’m excited to help drive successful business initiatives and broaden our project portfolio in the expanded scope of my new role,” said Mr. Humphreys. “My primary focus will be on enabling successful project delivery through practical risk management and supporting outcomes that align with AECOM’s commitment to reliability, quality and value for our clients.” 

    As part of this transition, Laurel Murphy has been appointed to serve as the Director of Operations – Water, Central and Western Canada, succeeding Mr. Humphreys, in this key role. She will lead strategic initiatives as AECOM continues to deliver critical infrastructure that supports the future of water throughout Canada. Implementing sound practices in project delivery and collaborating with regional leaders, Ms. Murphy will work closely with our teams to meet client expectations and continue to further AECOM’s Think and Act Globally strategy. A registered professional engineer in Ontario, Alberta, and Nova Scotia, Ms. Murphy comes to AECOM with over 20 years of industry experience in consulting engineering in the water market across Canada, including complex water and sewer projects for the municipalities of Metro Vancouver, Halifax, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, and the Region of Halton. 

    About AECOM  

    AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2024. Learn more at aecom.com.  

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  • Alder Hey gives hospital warning after measles spike

    Alder Hey gives hospital warning after measles spike

    A Merseyside children’s hospital has warned parents and carers about an increase in measles cases which has left several children “seriously unwell”.

    Alder Hey Children’s Hospital has reported the virus is on the rise in young people in the region and blamed the spike on a fall in uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

    Medical director Alfie Bass and chief nurse Nathan Askew said the symptoms can be severe and “are leading to increasing numbers of children being admitted to our hospital”.

    They said in a letter posted on social media that the “vaccine has been available for many years and is proven to be safe” and urged parents to get their children vaccinated.

    Vaccine uptake in the UK has fallen over the last decade, leading to outbreaks of measles and whooping cough.

    A recent report found parent obstacles such as difficulty booking appointments and a lack of reminders on what jabs are needed and when had prevented some from vaccinating their children.

    The letter, which was co-signed by the public health directors of three Merseyside councils, said: “In rare cases, catching the disease can be fatal.

    “Measles is particularly dangerous for some of our most vulnerable children and young people, including those under one year of age and those already battling other serious illnesses like cancer.”

    The letter urged parents and carers to get their children vaccinated, which is typically done when the child is aged 12 months, and then again at around three years and four months.

    The hospital said two doses of the MMR vaccine was enough for “lifelong protection against measles, mumps and rubella”.

    Symptoms of measles usually start with a runny nose, sneezing, coughing and a high temperature, before the measles rash typically develops a few days later.

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  • Everything We Know About the Upcoming LP

    Everything We Know About the Upcoming LP

    The 6 God returned on July 5 with his “What Did I Miss” single.

    Drake

    Norman Wong/Courtesy OVO Sound

    Like many years of the past, Drake is looking to make the summer his once again. The 6 God returned on July 4 with the cinematic livestream premiere of his introspective “What Did I Miss” single, which essentially served as the kick-off to his highly anticipated Iceman album.

    Drake addresses heartbreak and those who have betrayed him in the last year since the explosive battle that took rap by storm with Kendrick Lamar. “It’s love for my brothers and death to a traitor, let’s go,” he raps.

    “What Did I Miss” hit streaming services on “July 5” and has topped the Spotify U.S. chart for two consecutive days (July 5-6).

    Even nearly two decades in and after all of the accolades, it feels like another pivotal point in Drake’s career once again with his first solo LP on the horizon since clashing with Lamar in 2024. He’ll look to make another statement setting off the summer when he headlines Wireless Fest 2025 in the U.K. for all three nights this weekend.

    The Friday night (July 4) livestream that accompanied “What Did I Miss” found Drake also driving through Toronto while tailing the Iceman Toronto-based ice company truck. He scolded a hater and previewed another unreleased track that’s tentatively titled “Supermax.”

    When Iceman does inevitably arrive, Drake will more than likely break a tie with Jay-Z and Taylor Swift for the most Billboard 200 No. 1 albums of all time with his 15th chart-topper.

    While there isn’t plenty of information out there regarding Iceman (look for more possible streams on the way), here’s everything we know so far about Drake’s ninth solo studio album.


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  • Forrest Frank Spends 3rd Month at No. 1 on Top Gabb Music Songs Chart

    Forrest Frank Spends 3rd Month at No. 1 on Top Gabb Music Songs Chart

    After Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” led the monthly Top Gabb Music Songs chart for three months in a row, the first song to do so since Billboard and Gabb began partnering on presenting the data in October 2024, Forrest Frank’s “Your Way’s Better” has claimed the ensuing three months, remaining at No. 1 on the June 2025-dated list.

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    See latest videos, charts and news

    See latest videos, charts and news

    Billboard has partnered with Gabb Wireless, a phone company for kids and teens, to present a monthly chart tracking on-demand streams via its Gabb Music platform. Gabb Music offers a vast catalog of songs, all of which are selected by the Gabb team to include only kid- and teen-appropriate content. Gabb Music streams are not currently factored into any other Billboard charts.

    “Your Way’s Better” ascended to No. 1 on the Top Gabb Music Songs chart for April 2025, following in the footsteps of “Die With a Smile” as it debuted at the top spot rather than rising there.

    Its now three-month reign on the ranking coincides with a six-week reign on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart. It ascended to the top of the May 24 survey and ruled for the ensuing five weeks, dropping to No. 2 on the June 28 list before returning to No. 1 July 5. It’s also peaked so far at No. 61 on the all-format Billboard Hot 100.

    Three songs from Frank’s catalog appear on the June 2025 tally. “Drop!” ranks at No. 18 (down from its peak of No. 13 from May 2025), while Connor Price collaboration jumps five spots to No. 20.

    “Your Way’s Better” reigns over Alex Warren’s “Ordinary,” which lifts 3-2 for a new peak. The current Hot 100 No. 1 (ruling for a fifth week upon the July 12-dated survey) debuted at No. 6 on the Top Gabb Music Songs list in April.

    Morgan Wallen’s Tate McRae-featuring “What I Want,” the May chart’s top debut (No. 11), follows at a new peak of No. 3. It debuted atop the Hot 100 dated May 31 and has ruled Hot Country Songs for each week since.

    Speaking of debuts, there’s only one on the June 2025 Top Gabb Music Songs chart: Vance Joy’s 2013 breakthrough “Riptide,” which starts at No. 24. “Riptide” is Joy’s lone Hot 100 entry to date, peaking at No. 30 in 2015.

    See the full top 25 below.

    Top Gabb Music Songs

    1. “Your Way’s Better,” Forrest Frank (=)
    2. “Ordinary,” Alex Warren (+1)
    3. “What I Want,” Morgan Wallen feat. Tate McRae (+8)
    4. “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else,” Benson Boone (-2)
    5. “Beautiful Things,” Benson Boone (-1)
    6. “Love Somebody,” Morgan Wallen (+1)
    7. “Die With a Smile,” Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (-2)
    8. “Stargazing,” Myles Smith (=)
    9. “Pink Pony Club,” Chappell Roan (+1)
    10. “Slow It Down,” Benson Boone (-1)
    11. “God’s Plan,” Drake (+1)
    12. “APT.,” ROSE & Bruno Mars (-6)
    13. “Butterfly Effect,” Travis Scott (+3)
    14. “Stressed Out,” Twenty One Pilots (+8)
    15. “Face 2 Face,” Juice WRLD (+5)
    16. “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma,” Luke Combs (-1)
    17. “Please Please Please,” Sabrina Carpenter (=)
    18. “Drop!,” Forrest Frank (-5)
    19. “Deja Vu,” Olivia Rodrigo (-1)
    20. “Up!,” Forrest Frank & Connor Price (+5)
    21. “Wildflower,” Billie Eilish (re-entry)
    22. “Too Sweet,” Hozier (+2)
    23. “Heat Waves,” Glass Animals (-2)
    24. “Riptide,” Vance Joy (debut)
    25. “Bones,” Imagine Dragons (re-entry)

    DROPS: “No L’s,” Forrest Frank; “B.I.G.,” Forrest Frank; “Let You Down,” NF

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  • Multi-Parameter Optimization in Drug Discovery

    Multi-Parameter Optimization in Drug Discovery

    By optimizing potency, pharmacokinetics and safety simultaneously, it enables high quality compounds with balanced biological and physicochemical properties to be identified.

    Key highlights of the poster include:

    • The use of multi-parameter optimization scoring as a decision-making tool
    • How the multi-parameter optimization scoring is updated as the project advances through drug discovery
    • Incorporation of considerations such as target tissue, administration route and safety liabilities at an early stage to drive design

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  • Time for Team Penske To Step Up at Iowa Playground

    Time for Team Penske To Step Up at Iowa Playground

    It’s Team Penske time, or so it would seem.

    Iowa Speedway is the next venue on tap for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and this weekend’s short oval is where Roger Penske’s organization has won eight of the past nine races, sweeping the doubleheaders each of the past two years with three different drivers.

    Scott McLaughlin and Will Power won last year’s races; Josef Newgarden captured the two in 2023 as part of his five wins for Penske at Iowa since 2017.

    This track couldn’t arrive on the schedule soon enough for Team Penske, which is riding its longest winless drought since the one Ryan Briscoe ended at Milwaukee in 2008. The team and the aforementioned drivers have not been to victory lane this season and have gone 11 races since McLaughlin won the second race of last year’s September visit to The Milwaukee Mile. Team Penske failed to win in the last 10 races of the 2007 season and the first five of 2008 to produce a 15-race drought.

    This year’s troubles run deep, too. Power is the highest-ranked Team Penske driver in the standings in ninth place. McLaughlin is 11th, Newgarden is 19th. Their seasons can be summed up by Sunday’s The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio presented by the All-New 2026 Passport when they finished 23rd (McLaughlin), 26th (Power) and 27th (Newgarden) in the 27-car field.

    For the first time in Newgarden’s career dating to 2012, his car has been involved in an accident in three consecutive races. The most recent occurred Sunday just past the starting line when the rear brakes locked on his No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet, leading to a spin that collected Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Graham Rahal. Both cars ended up in the gravel pit at Turn 4. Minutes later, Power’s No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet was on pit road with a mechanical issue that led to his exit after just 11 laps. McLaughlin also failed to complete all 90 laps.

    Newgarden was leading last month’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline at World Wide Technology Raceway and was about to lap NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing when the car of RLL rookie Louis Foster spun in front of him, collecting Newgarden. The impact was one of the fiercest of Newgarden’s career. He also spun into a barrier last month in the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America.

    The NTT INDYCAR SERIES has staged 21 races at Iowa Speedway since 2007, but only four drivers in this field have gone to victory lane: Newgarden (six times, including once in 2016 with CFH Racing), Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward (2022), McLaughlin and Power. If ever Team Penske was going to get back to its winning ways, it feels like now.

    In last year’s second race, Palou had the best short-oval performance of his career, finishing second to Power. He crashed out of the weekend’s first race with an uncharacteristic spin on the front straightaway. He enters this race, the 11th of the season, with a 113-point lead over Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood, the winner of the only short-oval race held so far this season (at WWTR).

    The first practice of the Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend is set for Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET (FS2, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). The lineups for both races will be set in qualifying Saturday at noon (FS1). The Synk 275 powered by Sukup is at 5 p.m. ET Saturday, the Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup is at 1 p.m. Sunday. Both races will air live on FOX, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network.


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  • Higher plasma AFB1 concentration is associated with increased risk of HPV 16 and HPV 18 detection and persistence among Ugandan women | Environmental Health

    Higher plasma AFB1 concentration is associated with increased risk of HPV 16 and HPV 18 detection and persistence among Ugandan women | Environmental Health

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