WGA union strike finally ends after union leaders, studio, streaming service bosses agree on a deal
WGA union strike finally ends after union leaders, studio, streaming service bosses agree on a deal;
Target to close its stores in Oakland, New York, Seattle, and Portland before year-end;
U.S. gov't rushes aid to Nagorno-Karabakh region after falling into Azerbaijan's hands
Target to close its stores in Oakland, New York, Seattle, and Portland before year-end;
U.S. gov't rushes aid to Nagorno-Karabakh region after falling into Azerbaijan's hands
Category
đź—ž
NewsTranscript
00:00 Good evening, I'm William Thio and this is PTV News Now.
00:11 The Writers Guild of America's union strike has come to an end.
00:16 After 148 days, or close to 5 months, WGA leaders unanimously vote to greenlight the
00:22 tentative deal reached between the union and Hollywood Studios and streaming services,
00:28 effectively putting to bed the months-long work stoppage that has crippled the industry.
00:34 The deal, officially ordained today by both parties, provides for a contract that guarantees
00:39 pay increases, better benefits, protections against the use of artificial intelligence
00:44 technology by studios and streaming services, guarantees for streaming, remuneration, longer
00:51 hiring periods and other perks.
00:53 Although WGA union members have been allowed to return to work, their contracts with the
00:58 studios have yet to be officially inked, meaning they could reject the deal and prolong the
01:04 strike individually, though this is highly unlikely.
01:09 Smash and grab theft has grown to be a major headache in U.S. retail industry.
01:15 Retail giant Target just announced its decision to close nine stores in New York, Seattle,
01:21 San Francisco and Rip City in Oregon by the end of the year.
01:26 In a statement, Target said it has decided to shutter for good the aforementioned nine
01:31 stores across the nation over crime and safety threats at these locations.
01:37 Smash and grab theft that began during the pandemic has grown to be even more violent
01:42 as looters smash and break into stores with bats, guns and knives, terrorize the sales
01:48 and people at the counter and grab usually high-end merchandise and leave the place all
01:54 messed up.
01:55 CEO Brian Cornell, a second-quarter earnings report in mid-May said, "Shrink overall
02:01 is expected to reduce Target's profitability by more than half a billion compared to the
02:07 year-ago period."
02:10 In other news, a humanitarian crisis is shaping up at the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region
02:16 as more ethnic Armenians flee as a result of mortal foe Azerbaijan taking control of
02:23 the area.
02:24 VOA's Veronica Balderas Iglesias reports on the worsening crisis after Azerbaijan took
02:30 hold and control of the breakaway territory last week.
02:35 After Azerbaijan forced the Nagorno-Karabakh separatists to lay down their weapons last
02:41 week, it promised it would protect the rights of the territory's ethnic Armenian residents.
02:47 Thousands of them, however, are skeptical and have decided to flee.
02:52 Many share their stories while awaiting an uncertain future in the Armenian town of Kornizor.
02:58 "It took us around 24 hours to reach here.
03:03 The child asked for a loaf of bread, but we didn't have it."
03:07 Eleven point five million dollars in humanitarian assistance were pledged Tuesday by the United
03:12 States Agency for International Development.
03:15 "This assistance will be used to provide everything from food to psychosocial support,
03:26 given again the grave psychological wounds that so many citizens are carrying."
03:34 Several people who were trying to flee and were injured during Monday's explosion at
03:39 a fuel depot in Nagorno-Karabakh are still hospitalized and receiving treatment for their
03:45 wounds.
03:46 Diplomatic efforts are underway at the highest levels with the government of Azerbaijan to
03:52 try to calm the situation, said U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
03:57 "The secretary spoke again to President Aliyev today and underscored the urgency of no further
04:03 hostilities, that there be unconditional protections and freedom of movement for civilians, that
04:10 there be unhindered humanitarian access to Nagorno-Karabakh."
04:14 The Armenian government will need to promptly mobilize its resources to help the displaced.
04:21 Kerry Kavanaugh, former U.S. co-chair of OSCE's Minsk Group, told VOA.
04:27 "It's not a good thing for Armenia to try to accommodate the needs of suddenly up to
04:35 100,000 something people across the border in a panic with very little with them.
04:44 So I think we're at a pivotal point right now and we won't know for a few days how this
04:50 plays out."
04:51 In the meantime, the United Nations Refugee Agency said it will continue to provide support
04:57 to the Armenian government, while at the same time calling for the protection of civilians
05:03 in accordance with international humanitarian and refugee law.
05:08 Veronica Valderas Iglesias, VOA News.
05:15 Let's now turn to Eddie Carta for the latest developments in
05:36 the region.
06:00 Eddie Carta, VOA News.
06:23 In the meantime, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is in a state of emergency.
06:50 The drug den in San Carlos Heights, Rizal, Baguio City, was hit by a bus.
06:57 Five people were arrested.
06:58 The operation was carried out by the Burnham Park Police Department.
07:01 The police charged the suspect with a $68,000 fine.
07:06 The suspect was investigated by the PDEA.
07:10 The suspect was charged with illegal drug trafficking.
07:14 The suspect was charged with possession of a firearm.
07:21 The suspect was charged with possession of a firearm.
07:26 The suspect was charged with possession of a firearm.
07:30 The suspect was charged with possession of a firearm.
07:33 The suspect was charged with possession of a firearm.
07:36 The suspect was charged with possession of a firearm.
07:39 The suspect was charged with possession of a firearm.
07:42 The suspect was charged with possession of a firearm.
07:45 The suspect was charged with possession of a firearm.
07:48 The suspect was charged with possession of a firearm.
07:51 The suspect was charged with possession of a firearm.
07:54 The suspect was charged with possession of a firearm.
07:57 The suspect was charged with possession of a firearm.
08:00 The suspect was charged with possession of a firearm.
08:03 The suspect was charged with possession of a firearm.
08:06 The suspect was charged with possession of a firearm.
08:09 The suspect was charged with possession of a firearm.
08:12 [MUSIC]