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Ukrainian, Russian and international officials say there is no prospect of direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia at the moment, as the war continues to rage and Kyiv seeks to reclaim territory through a counter-offensive. Neither the Jeddah gathering - which is expected to begin on Friday, with the main discussions on Saturday and Sunday - nor the peace summit would involve Russia, officials say. Saudi Arabia, along with Turkey, played a mediation role in a major prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia last September. Zelenskiy attended an Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia in May this year, at which Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed his readiness to mediate in the war. A second senior EU official said Saudi Arabia reached "into parts of the world where (Ukraine's) classical allies would not get to as easily".

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Leo Varadkar, Clodagh, Zhovkva, Zelenskiy, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jake Sullivan, Matt Miller, there's, Dmitry Peskov, Olena Harmash, Carien du Plessis, Gabriela Baczynska, Daphne Psaledakis, Laurie Chen, Martin Pollard, Jon Boyle Organizations: Ireland's, REUTERS, Global, Reuters, European Commission, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Russia, Arab, Saudi Crown, EU, . National, U.S . State, Thomson Locations: Horodetskyi, Ukraine, Kyiv, Jeddah, China, BRUSSELS, LONDON, Saudi Arabia, Russia, India, Brazil, South Africa, Turkey, Moscow, Copenhagen, Riyadh, United States, U.S

☆ Taco Bell lawsuit: New York man sues food chain alleging false advertising
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Ellie Stevens | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —The photos online of Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza last September reeled in New York resident Frank Siragusa. From webbedgiant/RedditThese claims against Taco Bell are not the first of its kind for Siragusa’s lawyers, James Kelly and Anthony Russo. Siragusa is seeking $5 million for customers who purchased Taco Bell menu items affected by false advertising practices. The lawsuit comes just as Taco Bell wrapped up its battle against Taco John’s for the “Taco Tuesday” trademark, in which the taco chain successfully petitioned for the phrase to be available for all. Taco Bell did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.

Persons: Frank Siragusa, Siragusa, “, Crunchwrap, ”, Taco Bell, James Kelly, Anthony Russo, Burger King, Bell, Taco John’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Taco, taco, Pizza, Bell, Taco Bell's, Taco Bell, CNN Locations: New York, Brooklyn

☆ Saudi Arabia is keen to be a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSaudi Arabia is keen to position itself as a mediator in Russia-Ukraine war, regional expert saysSaudi Arabia has stepped up for a number of mediation efforts between Russia and Ukraine as it looks to improve its image and expand its role on the world stage, says Maximilian Hess, author of 'Economic War: Ukraine and the Global Conflict between Russia and the West'.

Persons: Maximilian Hess Organizations: Saudi Locations: Saudi Arabia, Russia, Ukraine

In a proposed class action filed on Monday in Brooklyn federal court, Siragusa accused Taco Bell of deceiving consumers by falsely advertising its Mexican Pizza, Veggie Mexican Pizza, Crunchwrap Supreme, Grande Crunchwrap and Vegan Crunchwrap as containing "at least double" their actual content. He is not alleging that the items contain less content than Taco Bell describes on its website. Taco Bell, a unit of Yum Brands (YUM.N), did not immediately respond to requests for comment. "Taco Bell does not adequately disclose the weight of the beef or filling," Russo said in an email. The case is Siragusa v Taco Bell Corp, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No.

Persons: Frank Siragusa, Taco Bell, McDonald's, Anthony Russo, Burger King, Russo, Plaintiff, Jonathan Stempel, Bill Berkrot Organizations: YORK, Pizza, Taco Bell, New York City, Taco, Yum Brands, Burger, Taco Bell Corp, Court, Eastern District of, Thomson Locations: Taco, New York, Brooklyn, Ridgewood , New York, Miami, Eastern District, Eastern District of New York

☆ Niger coup draws condemnation from Russia and the West as regional body threatens force
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

NIAMEY, Niger - July 30, 2023: Coup supporters take to the streets carrying Nigerien and Russian flags after the army seized power in Niger. LONDON — West African leaders on Sunday threatened military action against the junta that seized power last week in a coup in Niger, as protesters carrying Russian flags stormed the French embassy in capital city Niamey. The U.S. and France, which have troops stationed in Niger, called for calm, but strongly condemned the coup, along with much of the international community. Thousands of Nigeriens took to the streets on Sunday in support of the coup, with many carrying Russian flags and chanting pro-Putin messages. Images purporting to be from the scene, which CNBC could not independently verify, showed fires outside the French embassy in Niamey, along with French flags being burned and projectiles thrown at the former colonial power's mission.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, Bazoum's, Mahamadou, Bazoum, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, Nigeriens, Dmitry Peskov, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: West, Sunday, National Council, Fatherland, CNBC, Reuters, Wagner Group, Kremlin Locations: NIAMEY, Niger, Russian, LONDON, Niamey, U.S, France, Moscow, Africa

☆ Putin says Russia does not reject talks with Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Russia's President Vladimir Putin gestures during a press conference following the Russia-Africa summit in Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 29, 2023. Sergei Bobylyov/TASS Host Photo Agency via REUTERSJuly 29 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that an African initiative could be a basis for peace in Ukraine but that Ukrainian attacks made it hard to realise. "There are provisions of this peace initiative that are being implemented," he said. Putin said that one of the points in the initiative was a ceasefire. On the question of starting peace talks, he said, "We did not reject them...

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Sergei Bobylyov, Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Alistair Bell Organizations: Agency, REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russia, Africa, Saint Petersburg, Ukraine, St Petersburg, Moscow

July 24 (Reuters) - FedEx pilots have rejected a tentative contract deal with the parcel delivery firm and the two sides will reopen negotiations, likely under the supervision of the National Mediation Board, the company and the pilots' union said on Monday. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) did not detail the reasons why members voted 57% to 43% to reject the deal. "Our members have spoken and we will now regroup," Captain Chris Norman, FedEx ALPA chair, said in a statement. The tentative FedEx deal included a 30% pay increase and a 30% increase to the pilots' legacy pensions. American Airlines (AAL.O) and the Allied Pilots Association are revising their tentative deal following the United agreement.

Persons: Chris Norman, Priyamvada, Lisa Baertlein, Devika Syamnath, Susan Heavey, Hugh Lawson Organizations: FedEx, National Mediation Board, Air Line Pilots Association, United Airlines, ALPA, American Airlines, Allied Pilots Association, United Parcel Service, UPS, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru, Los Angeles

☆ Israeli financial markets slide after judicial overhaul vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Steven Scheer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

JERUSALEM, July 24 (Reuters) - Israeli financial markets tumbled on Monday, with the shekel hitting a two-week low versus the dollar, after lawmakers ratified the first bill of a judicial overhaul sought by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In protest at the vote, a forum of some 150 of Israel's largest companies held a strike on Monday. Azrieli (AZRG.TA) and Big (BIG.TA), two of Israel's largest malls, said stores in their shopping centres would be closed. But news that compromise talks collapsed erased early gains and sent the shekel weaker, with losses deepening after the vote. The shekel has weakened some 10% versus the dollar since late January when the government unveiled its controversial judicial overhaul plan, setting off mass protests and harming foreign inflows.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Nir Elias, Arnon Bar, Netanyahu, Steven Scheer, Bansari Mayur, Karin Strohecker, James Mackenzie, Christina Fincher, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Bank of Israel, MPC, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Washington

☆ Israel's main union to discuss declaring general strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JERUSALEM, July 24 (Reuters) - The head of Israel's main public sector union said on Monday he would meet with other union officials to discuss the possibility of declaring a general strike after parliament ratified a key element in a controversial judicial overhaul plan. Arnon Bar-David, chairman of the Histadrut labour federation, has been trying to mediate a compromise between the government and opposition. "From this moment on, any unilateral progress in the reform will have serious consequences ... Either things will progress with broad agreement or they will not progress at all," said Bar-David. Bar-David said he would meet with Histadrut officials to declare a "general labor dispute in the economy," and will "activate it if necessary until a complete shutdown is achieved."

Persons: Arnon Bar, David, David . Bar, Steven Scheer, Ari Rabinovitch Organizations: Thomson

☆ Cool-girl brand Aritzia made employees rate each other's appearances, discriminated against Black salespeople, and fostered a culture of fear, some ex-staffers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Nichole Jankowski | Isabella Zavarise | Brianna Holt | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +27 min

They said 54% of Aritzia employees and 60% of retail employees identified as BIPOC but declined to provide a breakdown of those statistics. Insider spoke with 53 current and former Aritzia employees, several of whom said that while the world of fashion is notoriously cutthroat, working at Aritzia was particularly grueling. Aritzia's spokesperson said the company's success was a "direct result of its high-performance culture." (In a statement of defense filed with the court on July 5, the store manager and Aritzia denied all allegations. A former Ontario store manager said that shortly after she was hired, the manager of store operations asked if she had a boyfriend.

Persons: Brian Hill, Hill, Kendall Jenner, Meghan Markle, Jennifer Lopez, Aritzia, Lindsey Adelman, Melina, Isabel Slone, Max Mumby, Aritzia's, Carly Bishop, Brian, Jennifer Wong, who's, Wong, Robson, We're, George Pimentel, Heather McLean, Hill's, Tim Hortons, Kendalls, —, Todd Korol, Jessica Porter, weren't, Candace Jerry, Anyango Juma Miguna, Miguna, Hannah, Kaycelyn Pascual, Pascual, couldn't, Nadia Mahammed, Mahammed, she'd, George Floyd, they'd, Todd Ingledew Organizations: Aritzia, Euromonitor International, Aritzia's, Queen's University, Fashion, Globe, Toronto Star, Getty, SPH, Employees, British Columbia Human, Product, Estate Development, Business Locations: Toronto, Vancouver, Ontario, Aritzia, ascot, Canada, Aritzia's Vancouver, Canadian, New York City, Aritzia's Paramus , New Jersey, Newmarket , Ontario, British, New York

☆ Sudan war enters 100th day as mediation attempts fail
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A man walks while smoke rises above buildings after aerial bombardments during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum North, Sudan, May 1, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah//File PhotoJuly 23 (Reuters) - Clashes flared in parts of Sudan on the 100th day of the war on Sunday as mediation attempts by regional and international powers fail to find a path out of an increasingly intractable conflict. Some 1,136 people have been killed, according to the health ministry, though officials believe the number is higher. Neither the army nor the RSF has been able to claim victory, with the RSF's domination on the ground in the capital Khartoum up against the army's air and artillery firepower. In Nyala, one of the country's largest cities and capital of South Darfur, clashes have continued since Thursday in residential areas, according to witnesses.

Persons: Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah, Salah Abdallah, RSF, Omar al, Bashir, Khalid Abdelaziz, Nafisa Eltahir, Nick Macfie Organizations: Rapid Support Forces, REUTERS, United Nations, Civilian, Forces, Freedom, Thomson Locations: Khartoum North, Sudan, Khartoum, Darfur, Gezira State, South Darfur, West Darfur, Chad, Jeddah, Egypt, Dubai, Nafisa, Cairo

☆ Leon Black Agreed to Pay $62.5 Million to Settle Epstein-Related Claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Matthew Goldstein | More About Matthew Goldstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The previously undisclosed settlement came after the Virgin Islands reached a $105 million deal in November with Mr. Epstein’s estate. The Virgin Islands government produced its settlement agreement with Mr. Black in response to a public records request by The New York Times. The $62.5 million settlement followed that session. Mr. Black agreed to pay in cash, according the settlement document. Those dealings, including the revelation that he paid $158 million to Mr. Epstein for tax and estate planning services, had become a source of embarrassment for Mr. Black in the years after Mr. Epstein’s death.

Persons: Leon Black, Jeffrey Epstein, Epstein, Black Organizations: U.S . Virgin, Virgin, Mr, JPMorgan Chase, Virgin Islands, The New York Times, The Times Locations: U.S, U.S . Virgin Islands, Manhattan

☆ How Netflix can end the Hollywood strike in a way Disney, Paramount can't afford
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Tim Mullaney | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

"The strike is not something we wanted," said Sarandos, whose company is negotiating jointly with competing movie studios like Disney and Paramount whose parent companies also own streaming services. Some big-media companies that own streaming services, like Paramount and Disney, have seen their shares drop even in the renewed bull market of the past year. LightShed Partners analyst Rich Greenfield says Netflix made $6.5 billion last year excluding interest, taxes, and non-cash charges, while rival streaming services at Paramount, Disney and NBC lost more than $8 billion. That's a relatively small number for an industry with revenues topping $70 billion, $31.6 billion of it last year at Netflix. Paramount Global's Paramount+ service lost $1.8 billion last year, but saw losses shrink in the first quarter.

Persons: Mike Blake, Mark Mahaney, Ted Sarandos, Greg Peters, Michael Pachter, Robert Iger, Iger, CNBC's David Faber, Max, Rich Greenfield, Mahaney, hasn't, Jake Urbanski, Jamie Lumley, Peters, Spencer Neumann Organizations: Guild of America, Netflix, Alliance, Producers, Wednesday, Writers Guild of America, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Disney, Paramount Global, Amazon, Wedbush Securities, Television Producers, CNBC, Walt Disney Co, Sun, Paramount, Warner Bros, LightShed, NBC, Hollywood, Moody's Investors Service, Writers ' Guild of America, WGA, Twitter, Hulu, Comcast, Apple Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S

CNN —Russia said Monday it was suspending its participation in a crucial deal that allowed the export of Ukrainian grain, once again raising fears over global food supplies and scuppering a rare diplomatic breakthrough to emerge from Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Peskov left the door open to reviving the deal in the future, saying that Russia will comply “as soon as the Russian part (of the deal) is completed.”A ship carries grain from Ukraine last week. Mehmet Emin Caliskan/ReutersUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week accused Russia of using the grain deal “as a weapon.”The deal allowed Ukraine to export grain from its Black Sea ports and and navigate safe passage through the waterway to Turkey’s Bosphorus Strait. It proved vital for stabilizing global food prices and bringing relief to the developing countries which rely on Ukrainian exports. There are alternative routes for Ukrainian grain and oilseed exports by rail through eastern Europe, but they can’t readily cope with the volume that Ukraine wants to export.

Persons: Dmitry Peskov, “, Peskov, ”, Vladimir Putin, Mehmet Emin Caliskan, Antony Blinken, Ukraine’s Organizations: CNN, United Nations, ”, Reuters, Food Programme, European Commission, Agriculture Organization, FAO, UN Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Istanbul, Kyiv, Moscow, ” Russia, Russian, Crimea, Sevastopol, Europe

☆ The media industry is in turmoil, and that's not changing anytime soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

All of this turmoil will be on investors' minds as the media industry kicks off its earnings season this week, with Netflix up first on Wednesday. Netflix, with a new advertising model and push to stop password sharing, looks the best positioned compared with legacy media giants. At the top of the list is contending with Disney's TV networks, as that part of the business appears to be in a worse state than Iger had imagined. The labor fight blew up just as the industry has moved away from streaming growth at all costs. Last week's ruling from a federal judge that Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of game publisher Activision Blizzard should move forward serves as a rare piece of good news for the media industry.

Persons: Mike Blake, Bob Iger, Iger, Bob Iger's, Michael Nathanson, SVB, CNBC's David Faber, Nathanson, Producers –, Mark Boidman, Ross Benes, Benes, Comcast's NBCUniversal, Solomon, Boidman, Random, Paramount's Simon, Schuster, Tegna, Jason Anderson, Peter Liguori, Anderson, HBO Max, Homer, Marge Getty Organizations: Guild of America, Netflix, Alliance, Producers, Reuters, Disney, Disney's, Paramount Global, Comcast, Warner Bros, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Media, Solomon Partners, CNBC, Hollywood, Intelligence, ABC, Paramount, BET, NBC Sports, USA, Discovery, Activision, Federal Trade Commission, dealmaking, Microsoft, Tribune Media, Max, HBO, Amazon, MGM, Sky, Fox Corp, FOX Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, MoffettNathanson, Hulu

CNN —A crucial deal allowing the export of grain from Ukraine is set to expire Monday unless Russia agrees to an extension. The last ship to travel under the Black Sea deal left the port of Odesa early on Sunday, Reuters reported. “Moreover, the main goal of the deal, namely the supply of grain to countries in need, including those on the African continent, has not been realized,” it said. Saint-Kitts-and-Nevis-flagged bulker TK Majestic, carrying grain under the UN's Black Sea Grain Initiative, waits in the southern anchorage of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey. Mehmet Emin Caliskan/ReutersThe deal, which was first brokered by Turkey and the United Nations following the outbreak of Russia’s war on Ukraine in July 2022, creates procedures to ensure the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Cyril Ramaphosa, Putin, “, Mehmet Emin Caliskan Organizations: CNN, Sunday, Reuters, South, UN, United Nations, Kremlin Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Saint, Kitts, Nevis, Bosphorus, Istanbul, Turkey, Black, Moscow, Sevastopol, Crimea

☆ Sudan government representatives arrive in Jeddah to resume talks with RSF
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 15 (Reuters) - Sudanese representatives have arrived in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah to resume talks with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Sudanese government sources told Reuters on Saturday, after three months of fighting between the army and RSF. Previous talks in Jeddah facilitated by Saudi Arabia and the United States were suspended by both countries in early June after numerous ceasefire violations. Saudi Arabia and the U.S. have yet to confirm the resumption of talks between Sudan's warring factions. Separately, a mediation attempt launched by Egypt began on Thursday, an effort welcomed both by the Sudanese army, which has close ties to Egypt, and the RSF. A series of ceasefires have failed to halt the fighting which broke out on April 15 as the army and RSF vied for power.

Persons: RSF, Khalid Abdelaziz, Muhammad Al Gebaly, Hatem Maher, Frnces Kerry, David Holmes Organizations: Rapid Support Forces, Reuters, U.S, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, United States, Egypt, Sudanese, Omdurman

☆ Actors union will join writers on strike, shutting down Hollywood
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Hollywood actors are officially headed to the picket line. Unable to reach a deal with producers, members of The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists will join up with more than 11,000 already striking film and television writers starting at midnight. The failed negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers means film and television productions featuring actors will immediately halt, essentially shutting down Hollywood. "We are the victims here," said Fran Drescher, president of the actors union, during a press conference Thursday. During the strike actors will not be permitted to promote past projects through conventions, interviews or panels.

Persons: It'll, Fran Drescher, Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan, Drescher Organizations: Guild of America, Netflix, Alliance, Producers, Hollywood, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Television Producers, SAG, Fox, WGA Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Hollywood, London

☆ Hollywood actors union sets strike vote for Thursday as talks break down
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAG-AFTRA said its national board would meet Thursday to vote on a strike. If approved, actors would join film and television writers who walked off the job in early May. The writers' strike has sent late-night television talk shows into endless reruns, disrupted most production for the fall TV season and halted work on big-budget movies. An actors' strike would force the remaining U.S.-based productions from Hollywood studios to shut down and put more pressure media companies to find a resolution. Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Alison Williams and Toby ChopraOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: AFTRA, Lisa Richwine, Alison Williams, Toby Chopra Organizations: Guild of America, Alliance, Producers, Hollywood, SAG, Writers Guild of America, Thomson Locations: ANGELES

“We will not be distracted from negotiating in good faith to secure a fair and just deal by the expiration of our agreement,” said the statement from SAG-AFTRA, the actors union. If they go on strike, they will be joining more than 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America on picket lines against major studios and streaming services. The writers have been on strike for more than two months. SAG-AFTRA said that news reports were published about management’s desire for mediation even before the request was made of union negotiators at the bargaining table. “The AMPTP has abused our trust and damaged the respect we have for them in this process,” said the union’s statement.

Persons: ”, AFTRA Organizations: New, New York CNN, SAG, Writers Guild of America, Alliance of Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros . Discovery Locations: New York

☆ Actors are poised to go on strike against studios and streaming services
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The actors could be on strike themselves without a last-minute deal with studios and streaming services on Wednesday. Production of many movies and television shows have already been shut down by the current writers strike. An actors strike would bring most remaining productions to a halt, other than on some independent films not associated with studios. This would be the first actors strike against television shows and movie productions since 1980. Just before the last deadline, it seemed as if an actors strike could be avoided.

Persons: haven’t, ”, Robyn Beck, It’s, Tom Nunan, Jonathan Handel, Handel, “, it’s, Blockbuster hadn’t, David Mumpower, Fran Drescher, —, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Jennifer Lawrence, Bob Odenkirk, Mark Ruffalo, Quinta Brunson, Rami Malek, you’ve, Theron, Joaquin Phoenix, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cobie Smulders, Pedro Pascal, Drescher, –, Vanessa Yurkevich Organizations: New, New York CNN, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Alliance, Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros ., Federal Mediation, Conciliation Service, SAG, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television, Writers Guild of America, Blockbuster, AMPTP, Gabbana’s Locations: New York, AFP, Moda, Southern Italy

☆ Actors strike looms as midnight deadline approaches, union slams producers' tactics
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

If extended talks between the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers fail by midnight in Los Angeles, 160,000 actors will join already-striking writers on the picket lines on Thursday. SAG-AFTRA disputed reports that the AMPTP made the request for mediation after an emergency meeting Monday with several top Hollywood executives. The union said media reports were published before it was informed that producers were requesting mediation. According to the reports, producers expect that the underpaid workers will run out of money and possibly lose their homes and be forced to come to the bargaining table. NBCUniversal is a member of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

Persons: AFTRA Organizations: WGA, Guild of America, Netflix, Hollywood, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Alliance, Television, SAG, Warner Bros, Disney, Comcast, CNBC, Television Producers Locations: Los Angeles , California, Los Angeles, NBCUniversal

☆ With actors poised to join film and TV writers on strike, Hollywood insiders lay out the dream and nightmare scenarios: 'There's going to be no cash flow'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

For the first time since 1960, Hollywood actors and writers could be on strike at the same time. If the actors union, SAG-AFTRA, hits the picket lines, it would cause an even deeper disruption to the entertainment industry. Stakes were high enough with the writers' strike. The movement is having a moment, as has been evidenced by other unions — from teachers to truck drivers — joining Hollywood writers on the picket line. A combined writers' and actors' strike "could well go into the end of the year," Handel said.

Persons: Jonathan Handel, that's, Handel, —, AFTRA, it's, Paul Hardart, Bob Iger, Peter Chernin —, Fox —, Iger, Alan Bergman, Dana Walden, I've, he'd, Hardart Organizations: Hollywood, Guild of, SAG, WGA, Alliance, Producers, Netflix, Disney, Guild of America, Entertainment, Media, Technology, NYU's Stern School of Business, News Corp, Disney Entertainment, United Locations: California, Hollywood, United States

WASHINGTON, July 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. assistant secretary of State for African affairs, Molly Phee, will travel to Addis Ababa on Monday and Tuesday to meet with African leaders and Sudanese civilians on how to end the conflict in Sudan, the State Department said on Sunday. Diplomatic efforts to halt fighting between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have so far proved ineffective, with competing initiatives creating confusion over how the warring parties might be brought to negotiate. During her travel, Phee will meet with Sudanese civilians and with senior representatives of governments in the region, the East African bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the African Union Commission, according to the State Department. Egypt said on Sunday it would host a summit of Sudan's neighbors on July 13 to discuss ways to end the conflict between the rival Sudanese military factions. Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Molly Phee, Phee, Kanishka Singh, Leslie Adler Organizations: U.S, State Department, Rapid Support Forces, Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF, East, Authority, Development, African Union Commission, Thomson Locations: Addis Ababa, Sudan, Khartoum, Sudan's, El Obeid, Egypt, Jeddah, United States, Saudi Arabia, East, Kenya, Washington

☆ Air strike on Sudan's Omdurman kills 22, health ministry says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CAIRO, July 8 (Reuters) - At least 22 people were killed and scores injured in an air strike by Sudan's army on western Omdurman, the Khartoum state health ministry said on Saturday, as the war between the country's military factions entered its 12th week. While the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) quickly dominated the capital Khartoum and its sister cities Omdurman and Bahri after fighting broke out on April 15, the army has launched air and artillery strikes. At least 1,133 people have been killed in the fighting, according to the federal health ministry, which has flared in the capital and the Kordofan and Darfur regions, sparking ethnic violence in West Darfur state. Strikes, including overnight on Friday, have also centred on the country's state broadcasting complex in eastern Omdurman. The army said in a post on Facebook that special forces had killed 20 "rebel soldiers" and destroyed their weaponry.

Persons: Moaz Abd, Khalid Abdelaziz, Mark Potter, William Maclean Organizations: Rapid Support Forces, Facebook, Thomson Locations: CAIRO, Omdurman, Khartoum, Bahri, East, Horn of Africa, Sahel, Red, Kordofan, Darfur, West Darfur, Cairo, Dubai

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