An unlikely alliance: Actors and writers rallied outside Hollywood production studios this Friday — the first time the two groups have joined in protest since 1960. As inflation rises and streaming services eat up royalties, writers and actors are being paid at their lowest, says the Financial Times. The creatives — who have noticed a change in their treatment and salary — have called a strike, refusing to work or promote new films.

The strike is expected to take a toll on the US economy: Hollywood’s last writers strike in 2007 cost the state of California USD 2 bn. However, the industry is now more vulnerable thanks to covid-19, and with the mass halting of productions and an unexpected alliance between writers and actors, Hollywood could be headed towards another standstill, the Financial Times says.

Russia bans gov’t use of iPhones over ”espionage” fears: Russian government officials will no longer be allowed to use the American tech giant’s products for professional purposes amid fears of spying, as per a Trade Ministry decision, according to the Financial Times. “Officials genuinely believe that Americans can use their equipment for wiretapping,” a Russian intelligence services expert was quoted as saying.

The ban will extend to other official bodies: The Russian Federal Security Services (FSB) uncovered a US intelligence operation that was being carried out using a virus program on Apple mobile devices last month, according to Russian news agency TASS. Although no action was taken at the time, the finance and energy ministries and other governmental entities will enforce the ban, which will not be extended to personal use, one source said.

“It wasn’t me.” Apple stated that it “has never worked with any government to build a backdoor into any Apple product, and never will,” the article says.

Tags: