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Hollywood writers demand pay rise, to begin strike tomorrow

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Hollywood film and television writers are set to embark on strike if their demands aren’t met during contract negotiations with the industry’s largest production companies.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA), the union representing television and film writers, could begin the industrial action on Tuesday if a deal can’t be reached with the likes of Walt Disney and Netflix.

According to a report by Reuters, the writers are demanding pay increases and changes to industry practices that they say force them to work more for less money.

The WGA also argued that have suffered financially during the streaming TV boom.

The guild said the effect of the strike will be that writers can’t meet, negotiate with or work for a struck company.

“Half of TV series writers now work at minimum salary levels, compared with one-third in the 2013-14 season, according to Guild statistics. Median pay for scribes at the higher writer/producer level has fallen 4% over the last decade,” the report added.

“Artificial intelligence is another issue at the bargaining table. The WGA wants safeguards to prevent studios from using AI to generate new scripts from writers’ previous work. Writers also want to ensure they are not asked to rewrite draft scripts created by AI.”

The WGA is negotiating with the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers, which represents Amazon, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Last month, members of the guild voted 98% in favor of going on strike if no new deal is reached by midnight of Monday.

It is understood that if the strike happens, it would be the first of its kind in 15 years. The last WGA strike in 2007 and 2008 lasted 100 days.

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Rapper NBA YoungBoy pleads guilty in drug fraud case

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NBA YoungBoy, the US rapper, has pleaded guilty to charges connected to a prescription drug fraud scheme.

The Louisiana rapper appeared in a courtroom in Logan, Utah on Monday, where he admitted to two counts of third-degree felony identity fraud, two counts of third-degree felony forgery, and six counts of misdemeanor unlawful pharmacy conduct.

YoungBoy, who is still serving 27 months on federal charges, also entered a “no contest” plea for 36 additional charges. He initially faced 46 state charges.

The plea deal reduced the felony charges to Class A misdemeanors.

Spencer Walsh, the judge, suspended a prison sentence, instead imposing a $25,000 fine.

The judge acknowledged YoungBoy’s prior agreement to serve over two years in prison and five years of probation for a related federal case resolved in September.

Authorities revealed that YoungBoy orchestrated the scheme from his home in Huntsville, Utah, where he posed as a doctor, using stolen identities to call in fraudulent prescriptions.

His associates allegedly collected the drugs from area pharmacies.

During sentencing, Walsh offered words of encouragement for the 25-year-old artiste.

“I’m sure that in your future, once you’re done with your federal prison time, you can be really successful on federal probation and have a really bright future where you can reach your full potential in every aspect of your life,” he said.

YoungBoy, known for his 2018 debut studio album ‘Until Death Call My Name’ and projects like ‘AI YoungBoy 2’ (2019) and ‘Sincerely, Kentrell’ (2021), is also facing an unresolved federal gun case in Louisiana.

The rapper, born Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, recently announced plans to release his new album, ‘I Just Got a Lot on My Shoulders’, on December 6.

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Nancy Umeh welcomes third child via surrogacy after secondary infertility battle

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Nancy Umeh, the Nigerian chef and public health scientist, and her husband have welcomed their third child via surrogacy.

Surrogacy is when a woman carries and delivers a child for a couple or individual. This is done by fertilizing eggs from the surrogate or an egg donor with sperm from a donor to create an embryo.

In an Instagram post, Umeh shared a video capturing the process of childbirth. She said she opted for surrogacy because she battled “secondary infertility” for seven years after the birth of her last child.

Secondary infertility is the inability to conceive or carry a baby after previously giving birth without any assistance or trouble.

Umeh expressed her excitement while appreciating her surrogacy agency for the support. She also thanked the surrogate who she described as “an angel”.

“Our princess is here. Talia Tobechukwu Umeh,” she wrote.

“Too stunned to speak right now. I can’t believe we are parents again. Our last son is 8 years old and we have tried for 7 whole years.

“An angel carried our child for us. An angel sent from God through Meet Surrogate Mothers. I can’t believe we are holding our child.”

In an accompanying caption, she wrote: “Somebody pinch me. 7 years later. God bless you indeed Meet surrogate mothers. #parents again #secondary surrogate”.

The chef tied the knot with her husband in 2015. They now have three children.

Umeh is the older sister of popular Nigerian dancer Korra Obidi.

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‘It hurts’ — Don Jazzy laments not having partner

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Michael Ajereh, the Nigerian music executive better known as Don Jazzy, has lamented his relationship status.

In an Instagram post on Monday, the founder of Mavin Records expressed his desire to participate in a trend ‘suspect challenge’.

The ‘suspect challenge’ is a new social media trend in which couples take turns to playfully tease each other.

The 41-year-old entrepreneur said he would like to join the trend but has no partner.

“Suspect wants to do suspect challenge but no suspect partner,” he wrote. In the accompanying caption, the music executive lamented that “it hurts”.

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