LOS ANGELES — Hollywood’s actors union called a strike against the popular multiplayer online game “League of Legends” on Tuesday, arguing the company that produces the game attempted to get around the ongoing video game strike by hiring non-union actors to work on a union title.
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists said the company, Formosa Interactive LLC, tried to “cancel” an unnamed video game affected by the strike shortly after the start of the work stoppage. The union said that when Formosa learned it could not cancel the game, the company “secretly transferred the game to a shell company and sent out casting notices for ‘non-union’ talent only.” In response, the union’s interactive negotiating committee voted unanimously to file an unfair labor practice charge against the company with the National Labor Relations Board and to call a strike against “League of Legends” as part of that charge.
“League of Legends” is one of Formosa’s most well-known projects. The company provides voiceover services for the game, according to SAG-AFTRA.
SAG-AFTRA has accused Formosa of interfering with protections that allow performers to form or join a union and prevent those performers from being discriminated against — a move the union called “egregious violations of core tenets of labor law.”
Formosa did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “League of Legends” developer Riot Games said that the company “has nothing to do” with the union’s complaint.
“We want to be clear: Since becoming a union project five years ago, ‘League of Legends’ has only asked Formosa to engage with union performers in the U.S. and has never once suggested doing otherwise,” Riot said in an emailed statement. “In addition, we’ve never asked Formosa to cancel a game that we’ve registered.”
SAG-AFTRA’s allegations are related to a non-Riot game, the game publisher said.
“It’s bad enough that Formosa and other companies are refusing to agree to the fair AI terms that have been agreed to by the film, television, streaming, and music industries, as well as more than 90 other game developers,” said the union’s national executive director, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. “To commit illegal unfair labor practices is beyond the pale and won’t be tolerated by SAG-AFTRA members.”
SAG-AFTRA members must immediately stop providing covered services to “League of Legends,” the union said. Until Tuesday, the game was one of several titles that remained unstruck. Formosa is a union signatory.
“League of Legends is a game of champions. Instead of championing the union performers who bring their immense talent and experience to beloved characters, decision-makers at Formosa have chosen to try to evade and abandon them,” said Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee Chair Sarah Elmaleh. “Such double-dealing is very disappointing from a longtime committed union signatory.”
SAG-AFTRA called a strike against major game companies in July after more than a year of negotiations around the union’s interactive media agreement broke down over concerns around the use of unregulated artificial intelligence. Formosa is a member of the bargaining group in those talks.
Sushi is one of the most popular Japanese delicacies around the world. However, its taste can be rather polarising among certain foodies. One person who isn’t a fan is digital creator and professor Dr. Falguni Vasavada. In a recent Instagram video, she shared her first experience trying sushi. “Toh breaking news mein ye hai ki, abhi tak maine kabhi bhi sushi khayi nhi thi. Mujhe mann hi nhi ho raha tha. Woh dekhkei mujhe kuch suspicious lagta tha ([So, the breaking news is that till now, I had never eaten sushi. I never felt like eating it. It looked suspicious to me]),” she said, explaining her hesitation.
At a recent day out with friends, she finally gave it a try. “But yesterday with a group of friends, maine chakhi kyunki mangayi thi, and everybody said, ‘Try try, it’s vegetarian’” ([I tasted it because we ordered it, and everyone said ‘Try it, it’s vegetarian’]), she shared. Despite the encouragement, Dr Vasavada wasn’t impressed. “My first reaction is, why, kyun banani hai aesi cheeje? Kya milta hai aese thanda chawal ke cheeje khaane se?” (Why do we need to make such things? What do we get from eating cold rice dumplings?). Watch the complete video below:
The reel has grabbed many eyeballs online. While some people agreed with the views expressed, others felt that sushi should not be mocked in this way.
One user commented, “I mostly agree with you on all your videos. However, making fun of food type/item is not good.”
A hilarious comment read, “Sushi is about the fish. Without fish is like eating jalebi without sugar syrup.”
One more user mentioned, “As a vegetarian and as a lover of sushi, I beg to differ, ma’am. Sushi is light and fresh with an elegant sophistication that has earned it scores of admirers around the world lately.”
A comment read, “You don’t like something, fair enough. But the way you describe it in a condescending manner isn’t fair. Food is food.” Also Read: Watch: Street Vendor Rides Bike One-Handed While Balancing Five Bowls Of Soupy Noodles
This person supported Falguni’s opinion and mentioned, “Omg thanda chawal, never thought of it that way,” followed by a rolling on-the-floor laughing emoji.
Another comment read, “Why the dissing? It’s like chaat.”
What did you think about the viral video? Let us know in the comments below.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual with a net worth of $251 billion has been assigned the codename “Voyager” by his security team.
What Happened: Musk’s security detail functions similarly to a small-scale Secret Service. The tech billionaire is protected more like a state leader than a corporate executive, with up to 20 security professionals accompanying him at times, reported the New York Times on Friday.
They frequently carry firearms and have a medical professional on hand for the tech mogul’s assistance.
As Musk’s wealth and popularity have increased, so have the threats against him. His security team has had to evolve to handle stalkers and death threats, a significant departure from the harmless fan messages he used to receive.
The report indicates that Musk’s security expenses amount to millions of dollars each year, paid to various security firms including Gavin de Becker & Associates and his own private security company, Foundation Security.
The report also detailed an incident where a man was apprehended near Tesla’s Austin factory, accused of planning a “mass casualty event.” Musk’s security was fully mobilized for the event, with over three dozen Tesla security officials stationed throughout the room.
The report suggests that the threats to his safety have led Musk to become more fearful and his lifestyle more isolated. He is rarely without bodyguards, even when he is at his social media company, X, formerly Twitter.
Why It Matters: Musk’s security concerns have been escalating over time. In December 2022, he expressed agreement with a post on Twitter that he had become “public enemy number one to some very very bad people.”
Previously, Musk has also revealed that his son X’s vehicle was followed by a “crazy stalker” who jumped on the car’s hood, thinking Musk was inside.
In January 2023, Musk posted a seemingly sarcastic tweet about his possible death under mysterious circumstances after sharing an alleged note by Russian space agency chief Dmitry Rogozin that mentioned him and the Pentagon.
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea offered a rare glimpse into a secretive facility to produce weapons-grade uranium as state media reported Friday that leader Kim Jong Un visited the area and called for stronger efforts to “exponentially” increase the number of his nuclear weapons.
It’s unclear if the site is at the North’s main Yongbyon nuclear complex, but it’s the North’s first public disclosure of a uranium-enrichment facility since it showed one at Yongbyon to visiting American scholars in 2010. While the latest unveiling is likely an attempt to apply more pressure on the U.S. and its allies, the images North Korea’s media released of the area could provide outsiders with a valuable source of information for estimating the amount of nuclear ingredients that North Korea has produced.
During a visit to the Nuclear Weapons Institute and the production base of weapon-grade nuclear materials, Kim expressed “great satisfaction repeatedly over the wonderful technical force of the nuclear power field” held by North Korea, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.
KCNA said that Kim went around the control room of the uranium enrichment base and a construction site that would expand its capacity for producing nuclear weapons. North Korean state media photos showed Kim being briefed by scientists while walking along long lines of tall gray tubes, but KCNA didn’t say when Kim visited the facilities and where they are located.
KCNA said Kim stressed the need to further augment the number of centrifuges to “exponentially increase the nuclear weapons for self-defense,” a goal he has repeatedly stated in recent years. It said Kim ordered officials to push forward the introduction of a new-type centrifuge, which has reached its completion stage.
Kim said North Korea needs greater defense and preemptive attack capabilities because “anti-(North Korea) nuclear threats perpetrated by the U.S. imperialists-led vassal forces have become more undisguised and crossed the red-line,” KCNA said.
North Korea first showed a uranium enrichment site in Yongbyon to the outside world in November 2010, when it allowed a visiting delegation of Stanford University scholars led by nuclear physicist, Siegfried Hecker, to tour its centrifuges. North Korean officials then reportedly told Hecker that 2,000 centrifuges were already installed and running at Yongbyon.
Satellite images in recent years have indicated North Korea was expanding a uranium enrichment plant at its Yongbyon nuclear complex. Nuclear weapons can be built using either highly enriched uranium or plutonium, and North Korea has facilities to produce both at Yongbyon. It’s not clear exactly how much weapons-grade plutonium or highly enriched uranium has been produced at Yongbyon and where North Korea stores it.
“For analysts outside the country, the released images will provide a valuable source of information for rectifying our assumptions about how much material North Korea may have amassed to date,” said Ankit Panda, an expert with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
“Overall, we should not assume that North Korea will be as constrained as it once was by fissile material limitations. This is especially true for highly enriched uranium, where North Korea is significantly less constrained in its ability to scale up than it is with plutonium,” Panda said.
In 2018, Hecker and Stanford University scholars estimated North Korea’s highly enriched uranium inventory was 250 to 500 kilograms (550 to 1,100 pounds), sufficient for 25 to 30 nuclear devices.
Some U.S. and South Korean experts speculate North Korea is covertly running at least one other uranium-enrichment plant. In 2018, a top South Korean official told parliament that North Korea was estimated to have already manufactured up to 60 nuclear weapons. Estimates on how many nuclear bombs North Korea can add every year vary, ranging from six to as much as 18.
Since 2022, North Korea has sharply ramped up weapons testing activities to expand and modernize its arsenal of nuclear missiles targeting the U.S. and South Korea. Analysts say North Korea could perform nuclear test explosions or long-range missile tests ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November with the intent to influence the outcome and increase its leverage in future dealings with the Americans.
North Korea had conducted test-launches of multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday. In an apparent reference to those launches, KCNA said Kim had supervised test-firing of nuclear-capable 600mm multiple rockets to examine the performance of their new launch vehicles.
Is the ‘jalebi and fafda’ combination the best breakfast combo? That is the cause of the latest debate on social media. It all started after food delivery platform Swiggy shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) saying that jalebi and fafda together are “the best breakfast combo”. The picture features a plate of crispy and juicy jalebis, served with crunchy, fried fafdas. For the unversed, fafdas are a staple Gujarati snack prepared with gram flour, carom seeds and black pepper. The breakfast combo also includes a few green chillies for that spicy kick. “This is the best breakfast combo. You can’t change my mind (chef’s kiss emoji),” read the caption.
The post sparked a debate among foodies. Agreeing with Swiggy’s breakfast idea, a person commented, “Breakfast mein jalebi fafda khane ki urge hai (I have the urge to eat jalebi fafda for breakfast).”
Breakfast mein jalebi fafda khane ki urge hai????????????— Deepshikha???? (@Tataaanamak) September 8, 2024
Another suggested, “Bas ek cutting chai bhi add ho jaye, toh breakfast ka maza double ho jaye (Just add one cup of cutting tea and the breakfast fun will be doubled.)”
Bas ek cutting chai bhi add ho jaye, toh breakfast ka maza double ho jaye! ????☕️????— Dealivore ???????? (@DealivoreIndia) September 8, 2024
A user called jalebi and fafda the “the ultimate duo”
Jalebi and Fafda: the ultimate duo. ????— Pranav (@pranav_vekariya) September 8, 2024
Also Read:6 Desi Food Combos That Are So Perfect They Are Probably Made In Heaven
“Nice one! For targeting gujju audience,” read a remark.
Nice one! For targeting gujju audience ????— Harrshhh__ (@Harrshhh04) September 8, 2024
One person had a different take on the matter. They wrote, “Basically Sugar with oil in breakfast. This is not healthy.”
Basically “Sugar with oil ” in breakfast ???????? This is not healthy @Swiggy— Satya Sphere (@SatyaSphere) September 8, 2024
Also Read:Former Swiggy Delivery Agent Turns Model, Internet Applauds
A foodie shared a picture of poha, scrambled eggs, and cornflakes served with cucumber slices and yogurt in the comments section, underlining their kind of best breakfast. “I might not completely agree with that.”
Previously, the internet went into a frenzy after Swiggy recommended having poha with tomato ketchup. A photo shared by Swiggy on X displayed a plate of poha seasoned with bhujia, curry leaves and nuts. A substantial amount of tomato sauce was drizzled on top, causing an outrage amongst foodies on X. Along with the post, Swiggy wrote, “The only right way to enjoy Poha.”
What is your favourite breakfast combo? Tell us in the comments below.
Jessica Pegula of the United States return sa shot against Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic … [+] during their women’s singles semifinal match at the 2024 US Open. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Have you watched a healthy share of tennis action since the 2024 U.S. Open started on August 26? Well, if so, you may have noticed the slogan “The World’s Healthiest Sport” projected on the tennis courts. This, of course, refers to the sport of tennis as it wouldn’t make sense to place a reference to some other sport like basketball or cheese rolling there. This slogan is part of the big health and wellness vibe of the theme of this year’s fourth and final Grand Slam tennis tournament: “celebrating the power of tennis.” And that theme is an extension of the U.S. Tennis Association’s new give-em-health mission statement: “Growing tennis to inspire healthier people and communities everywhere.”
So is it fair to call tennis the “world’s healthiest sport?” Well, while there isn’t an official overall ranking of the health benefits of all sports, it’s not as if that “healthiest” claim is a complete swing and a miss. For example, a study published in 2018 in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings did find that among 8,577 Copenhagen, Denmark, residents, those who had regularly played tennis lived on average 9.7 years longer than those who had remained sedentary. And that nearly “tennish” years of additional life was longer than the gains seen among people who regularly played other sports such as badminton (on average 6.2 years more of life), soccer (4.7 years), cycling (3.7 years), swimming (3.4 years), jogging (3.2 years), calisthenics, (3.1 years) and health club activities (1.5 years).
These findings surely raised a racket among many sports enthusiasts. But there are a few caveats. The study did not include every sport out there. And tennis ain’t the only racket sport out there either. Plus, one study is never enough to draw a definitive conclusion. You always need multiple studies to show the same or similar result first. Additionally, the study showed a correlation or association between tennis and a longer life, which may or may not be a cause-and-effect relationship.
Frances Tiafoe of USA hits a backhand against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria during a men’s singles … [+] quarterfinal match at the 2024 US Open. (Photo by Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Anadolu via Getty Images
That being said, other scientific studies have shown a range of different potential health benefits that can come from tennis. A review article in the British Journal of Sports Medicine from 2008 identified 24 studies that had evaluated the physical fitness of tennis players and summarized the findings of these studies. In general, those who played tennis tended to have “improved aerobic fitness, a lower body fat percentage, a more favourable lipid profile, reduced risk for developing cardiovascular disease, and improved bone health,” in the words of the authors.
All of this shouldn’t be super-surprising because tennis does involve quite a lot of vigorous movement that incorporates much of your body. You can’t really say that you’ll play a tennis match and keep a part of your body like your butt completely still all the time. Not with all the running movements with your legs and swinging motions with your arms.
And these bursts of movement can continue over sustained periods of time. A given point in tennis can last from a few seconds to much, much longer. The longest point in professional tennis history clocked in at a whopping 29 minutes. That’s as long as some episodes of Ted Lasso. This back-and-forth-back-and-forth-back-and-forth-and-so-forth occurred back in 1984 during a Virginia Slims of Richmond match between Vicki Nelson-Dunbar and Jean Hepner and consisted of 643 shots.
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus returns a shot against Emma Navarro of the United States during their … [+] women’s singles semifinal match. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Getty Images
That single point was significantly longer than the shortest ever professional tennis match in the Open era when Susan Tutt shellacked Marion Boundy in 20 minutes at the Surrey Championships in 1969. The longest professional tennis match ever was an 11 hour, 5 minute first-round men’s singles match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships. Most tennis matches fall within the hour to a few hours range.
Another advantage of tennis is that it can be played across a very wide age range. You probably aren’t going to find too many seventy year olds playing tackle football. But it’s not that uncommon to find people playing tennis well into that age range and beyond. Therefore, in theory, you could garner the health benefits of tennis for a longer period of time than sports that tend to more restricted to younger folks.
Moreover, the injury risks of tennis compare pretty darn favorably to many other sports. The Aspen Institute’s Sports and Society Program compiled the Healthy Sport Index that scored and ranked each of the 10 most popular high school boys and girls sports on their safety. This was based on a weighted composite of the overall injury rates, time loss due to injury, concussion rates, numbers of injuries requiring surgery, numbers of non-fatal catastrophic injuries and illnesses and expert opinion. Tennis came out on top for both boys and girls followed by swimming and cross-country running. The injury rate for tennis was lower than that of practically all other sports with the exception of swimming.
Finally, the surge in tennis popularity in 2020 highlighted not only the fact that tennis could be played even when Covid-19 made it difficult or impossible to play many other sports but also the social benefits of tennis. You can talk and interact with your partners readily during a tennis match. That may not always be the case in other sports like boxing unless you are saying something like, “Thank you for punching me in the face.”
So, while the “world’s healthiest sport” is certainly not official, the potential health benefits of tennis are undeniable. Sure, tennis may not be the healthiest and most ideal sport for everyone. The health benefits of tennis do indeed depend on how and how often you play the sport and who you are and what you body is like. And certainly, no single sport is going to offer everything to everyone over all other sports, which is why many elite athletes grow up playing multiple sports and health experts encourage everyone to cross-train and sample different sports rather than stick with only one.
But the 2024 U.S. Open probably didn’t serve up “The World’s Healthiest Sport” label as a formal claim, an official competition against other sports or an attempt to tell everyone to just play tennis and not other sports. No, instead the intended net result was likely to extol the health benefits of tennis. And to tell everyone that even though the U.S. Open is filled with fierce competition, tennis isn’t just about the competition.
