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Actors Strike Against AI Use in Video Games

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Actors Strike Against AI Use in Video Games

Hollywood performers are poised to strike against major video game companies like Activision, Warner Bros, and Walt Disney over concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) usage in gaming. This action follows a year and a half of negotiations between the companies and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), which represents over 2,500 video game performers.

While both parties have reached agreements on key issues such as wages and job safety, the use of AI technology remains a significant point of contention. SAG-AFTRA, which previously initiated a strike that paralyzed Hollywood last year, is now challenging the gaming industry. The union fears that studios might use generative AI to replicate performers’ voices and physical appearances to animate video game characters without fair compensation.

SAG-AFTRA expressed concerns, stating, “Although agreements have been reached on many issues… the employers refuse to plainly affirm, in clear and enforceable language, that they will protect all performers covered by this contract in their AI language.” The union added, “We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse AI to the detriment of our members.”

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In response, video game studios assert that they have made significant concessions. Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the 10 video game producers involved in negotiations with SAG-AFTRA, said, “We are disappointed the union has chosen to walk away when we are so close to a deal. Our offer is directly responsive to SAG-AFTRA’s concerns and extends meaningful AI protections that include requiring consent and fair compensation to all performers working under the [Interactive Media Agreement].”

The Interactive Media Agreement covers artists who provide voiceover services and on-camera work for video game characters. The previous agreement, which lacked AI protections, was set to expire in November 2022 but has been extended monthly as negotiations continue.

Last year, SAG-AFTRA organized a strike that secured $1 billion in new pay and benefits, along with AI safeguards, for TV and film actors in the US. The 118-day shutdown marked the longest in the union’s 90-year history.

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Entertainment

Coldplay Set to Break Taylor Swift’s Wembley Record with 10-Night Run

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Coldplay Set to Break Taylor Swift's Wembley Record with 10-Night Run

Coldplay is set to make history by performing 10 nights at London’s Wembley Stadium next summer, surpassing the record previously held by Taylor Swift and Take That. Originally planning a six-night stint in August 2025, the band added four more shows in September due to overwhelming demand during a fan-only presale.

General ticket sales begin on Friday, 27 September, with prices starting at £20. Notably, Coldplay has opted not to use Ticketmaster’s controversial dynamic pricing model, ensuring ticket prices remain fixed at the advertised rate.

The tour supports the band’s forthcoming 10th album Moon Music, slated for release on 4 October. In addition to Wembley, Coldplay will perform two nights at Hull’s Craven Park Stadium, with 50% of tickets reserved for local fans.

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The 12 concerts will be Coldplay’s only European dates in 2025, and 10% of the proceeds will go to the Music Venue Trust, supporting grassroots music venues across the UK.

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Naomi Campbell Banned from Charity Work Following Misuse of Funds

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Naomi Campbell Banned from Charity Work Following Misuse of Funds

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has been banned from serving as a charity trustee for five years following an investigation by the Charity Commission, which revealed misuse of funds from her charity, Fashion for Relief. The inquiry found that donations meant for charitable causes were instead spent on luxury hotels, spa treatments, cigarettes, and security for Campbell and others.

The watchdog’s investigation uncovered that only 8.5% of the charity’s funds were being passed on to charitable causes, with large sums being used for personal and unauthorized payments. Two other trustees, Bianka Hellmich and Veronica Chou, were also implicated and received bans of nine years and four years, respectively.

The inquiry revealed that unauthorized payments totaling £290,000 were made to Hellmich for consultancy services, breaching the charity’s rules. Investigators have since recovered nearly £345,000 and secured the protection of an additional £98,000, which has been redirected to two other charities: Save the Children Fund and the Mayor’s Fund for London.

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Fashion for Relief was removed from the register of charities in March 2024, following complaints from both Save the Children and the Mayor’s Fund regarding mismanagement of funds raised through events.

This scandal marks a significant fall from grace for the once-prominent charity, with the commission’s actions aimed at holding trustees accountable for their failure to safeguard the charity’s assets.

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Hip Hop Icon Fatman Scoop Dies of Heart Disease, Medics Confirm

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Hip Hop Icon Fatman Scoop Dies of Heart Disease, Medics Confirm

US authorities have confirmed that rapper and hip hop star Fatman Scoop, real name Isaac Freeman III, died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The 56-year-old collapsed on stage during a show in Connecticut in August and passed away later in the hospital.

Fatman Scoop was best known for his chart-topping hit Be Faithful, which reached number one in the UK in 2003, and for his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother in 2015. Throughout his career, he collaborated with high-profile artists such as Timbaland and David Guetta, solidifying his influence in the hip hop scene.

In a heartfelt statement, his family described him as a “father, brother, uncle, and friend,” adding that he was “the laughter in our lives” and a constant source of support. His agency, MN2S, also paid tribute, noting that “Scoop’s legacy will live on through his timeless music” and calling him one of New York’s most influential hip hop figures of the 1990s.

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Fans around the world continue to mourn the loss of this beloved artist, whose infectious energy and iconic voice made a lasting impact on the music industry.

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