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AM Best revises outlooks to positive for Work First Casualty Company

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #insurance — AM Best has revised the outlooks to positive from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) of Work First Casualty Company (Work First) (Delaware).

The Credit Ratings (ratings) reflect Work First’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

 

The positive outlooks recognize Work First’s consistent and profitable operating performance, which has outpaced composite peers in certain metrics, as well as business profile characteristics that have developed a strong and defensible presence in the temporary staffing niche.

 

Work First is a niche provider focused on writing workers’ compensation policies for temporary staffing companies, in business segments such as light manufacturing or office clerical, among others. The company is licensed in all 50 states and operates through long-term agency partnerships throughout the United States. Work First’s balance sheet strength is supported by the company’s strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), prudent reserving and a conservative investment portfolio, while also acknowledging limited financial flexibility as a privately held stock company.

 

Work First has posted consistent operating profitability over the past five years, with positive income resulting from its underwriting operations, augmented by investment returns. Loss and loss adjustment expense ratios, as well as return on revenue and equity measures, outpace composite measures over the past five years. This is further evidence of Work First’s strong relationships with its producers, and the resulting quality business on its books. AM Best considers the company’s ERM capabilities as appropriate for the scale and scope of operations, and properly aligned with its stated risk profile.

 

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Raymond Thomson, CPCU, ARe, ARM
Associate Director

+1 908 882 2394
raymond.thomson@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Alan Murray
Director
+1 908 882 2195
alan.murray@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com

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‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ to arrive on digital platforms

Enter the arena again when “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” arrives on premium video on demand and premium electronic sell-through on Dec. 19 from Lionsgate.

 

The film will be available to buy for $24.99 and to rent for $19.99 on participating digital platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and Vudu.

 

Based on the Suzanne Collins novel of the same name, the prequel centers on Panem’s President Snow — 64 years before Katniss Everdeen’s games. Tom Blyth‘s Coriolanus Snow is an Academy student tasked with mentoring District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird, played by Rachel Zegler, in the 10th annual Hunger Games.

 

Their pairing sets off a series of events that force Snow to battle his instincts for good and evil. Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Josh Andrés Rivera, Jason Schwartzman and Viola Davis round out the cast. The film is still currently playing in theaters and has earned over $300 million worldwide.

 

Francis Lawrence directed the film from a screenplay by Michael Lesslie and Michael Arndt.

 

In his review of the film, Variety’s film critic Peter Debruge wrote, “Much like ‘Harry Potter,’ the book series whose Hollywood success made this franchise possible, the big-screen adaptations took a few false steps before hitting their stride with a single director — in this case, Francis Lawrence — who now returns to helm a prequel (far better than the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ movies) that impressively expands the canon while honoring its key themes.”

 

The other “Hunger Games” movies are available to stream on Peacock and Fubo TV.

 

 

 

— Variety

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Universal Display Corporation named to The Wall Street Journal’s list of Best-Managed Companies of 2023

EWING, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — $OLED #OLED — Universal Display Corporation (Nasdaq: OLED) (UDC), enabling energy-efficient displays and lighting with its UniversalPHOLED® technology and materials, has been named to The Wall Street Journal’s (WSJ) Top 250 ranking of The Best-Managed Companies of 2023.

 

The annual Management Top 250 ranking of America’s best-run companies is based on a holistic measure of corporate effectiveness that was developed by the Drucker Institute and examines five dimensions of corporate performance: customer satisfaction, employee engagement and development, innovation, social responsibility and financial strength.

 

“This recognition is a testament to the dedication, passion and hard work of our incredible UDC team members and is a celebration of our commitment to excellence in every facet of our global company,” said Steven V. Abramson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Display Corporation.

 

“From our broadening portfolio of innovative and energy-efficient products and services to fostering a corporate culture of inventiveness, integrity, inclusion and collaboration, we are building on our robust leadership position in the growing OLED ecosystem. As we approach the 30th anniversary of UDC’s founding, we are excited to reach even greater heights in the future and make a lasting impact in the industry.”

 

About Universal Display Corporation

Universal Display Corporation (Nasdaq: OLED) is a leader in the research, development and commercialization of organic light emitting diode (OLED) technologies and materials for use in display and solid-state lighting applications. Founded in 1994 and with subsidiaries and offices around the world, the Company currently owns, exclusively licenses or has the sole right to sublicense more than 6,000 patents issued and pending worldwide. Universal Display licenses its proprietary technologies, including its breakthrough high-efficiency UniversalPHOLED® phosphorescent OLED technology that can enable the development of energy-efficient and eco-friendly displays and solid-state lighting. The Company also develops and offers high-quality, state-of-the-art UniversalPHOLED materials that are recognized as key ingredients in the fabrication of OLEDs with peak performance. In addition, Universal Display delivers innovative and customized solutions to its clients and partners through technology transfer, collaborative technology development and on-site training. To learn more about Universal Display Corporation, please visit https://oled.com/.

 

Universal Display Corporation and the Universal Display Corporation logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Universal Display Corporation. All other company, brand or product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks.

 

All statements in this document that are not historical, such as those relating to the projected adoption, development and advancement of the Company’s technologies, and the Company’s expected results and future declaration of dividends, as well as the growth of the OLED market and the Company’s opportunities in that market, are forward-looking financial statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements in this document, as they reflect Universal Display Corporation’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in greater detail in Universal Display Corporation’s periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, in particular, the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Universal Display Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. Universal Display Corporation disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this document.

 

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Universal Display:
Darice Liu

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media@oled.com
+1 609-964-5123

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AACCNJ announces new chairman and vice chair for 2024, at AACCNJ annual meeting

ISELIN, N.J. — R. Stanley Prater, Chairman, African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) announced that Gary Mann, CEO, Jasfel Analytics, and Tammeisha Smith, CEO, Dunbar Center will serve as Chairman of the Board and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, respectively, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

 

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as the Chamber’s Chairman over the last four years, and I am confident that newly elected Chairman; Gary Mann and Vice Chair; Tammeisha Smith are well positioned and the right choices to lead the Chamber into the future,” said, R. Stanley Prater.

 

“I am truly honored and humbled to step into the role of Chairman of the Board. Stan has been an exemplary steward and leader, and I extend my sincere gratitude to him”, said Gary Mann, CEO, Jasfel Analytics. “As I assume this responsibility, I am mindful of the extraordinary work of John Harmon, Founder and CEO. Standing on the shoulders of both Stan and John, I am committed to building on their incredible legacy.

 

Together, with the continued guidance of John, we will further advance and expand revenue generating opportunities and strategic relationships for African American businesses in New Jersey and beyond.”

 

“As we look ahead, I am inspired by the collective strength and diversity of talent within our membership. I firmly believe that our success is interlinked with the success of every member, said Tammeisha Smith, CEO, Dunbar Center. “Therefore, I encourage active participation, constructive feedback, and a shared commitment to our common goals. Together, we will chart a course that not only sustains our present momentum but also paves the way for a brighter, more prosperous future.”

 

“It certainly doesn’t seem like it has been four years, but it has been an absolute honour and pleasure to serve as the Vice Chairman of the Board of the African American Chamber of Commerce”, said Robert Warrington, Esq.  “It has been immensely satisfying to be a part of an organization that takes pride in highlighting daily how Black excellence in the business community continues to benefit New Jersey’s economy. I am confident that Gary Mann and Tammeshia Smith will continue to uphold that standard in the years to come as the organization continues to advocate for inclusion of its constituents in New Jersey’s economy.”

 

“We are grateful to former Chairman Stan Prater for his leadership to excellence, growth and sustainability over his tenure, he definitely made an impact on our organization”, said John E. Harmon, Sr., IOM, Founder, President, & CEO, AACCNJ.

 

“And to our incoming Chairman, Gary Mann and the other officers that will join him, there remains a tremendous amount of work to be done and each of you possess the commitment and unique skills necessary to get the job done with excellence.

 

I look forward to working with each of you to design strategies that will derive value for our members and those that invest in the mission of AACCNJ while concurrently contributing to the competitiveness of New Jersey.”

 

The official Changing of the Guard ceremony/reception will take place on January 18th from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the APA Hotel in Iselin, NJ. Members only, may register at www.aaccnj.com.

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Owkin enters collaboration agreement with MSD to develop AI-powered diagnostics for cancer

  • Owkin to collaborate with MSD to develop and commercialize AI-powered digital pathology Microsatellite Instability High (MSI-H) diagnostics for four types of cancer.
  • The aim is to pre-screen patients for the MSI-H biomarker, which is found in a broad range of solid tumor types and is a strong predictor of PD1/PDL-1 inhibitor efficacy in cancer.

 

 

PARIS — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Owkin, a French-American biotechnology company that applies artificial intelligence (AI) to drug discovery, development, and diagnostics, on Monday announced that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with MSD, the trade name of Merck & Co Inc., Rahway N.J. U.S.A. to develop and commercialize AI-powered digital pathology diagnostics for the E.U. market.

 

Clinical trials have shown that the MSI-H tumor phenotype has potential prognostic and therapeutic importance, especially with the increased application of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies.1,2,3,4 As such, MSI-H has become an important genomic biomarker with applications across several types of cancer. As a result, testing for MSI-H is now recommended by consensus guidelines internationally.5,6,7,8

 

Meriem Sefta, Chief Diagnostics Officer, said, “This strategic alliance with MSD is focused on improving the way patients are diagnosed and receive treatment, advancing our shared mission of supporting healthcare providers in their adoption of innovative digital diagnostics. It is clear that there is a need for AI diagnostics that can both ease bottlenecks and resource pressures while also ramping up biomarker testing to match patients with optimal treatments.”

 

This collaboration seeks to develop a pre-screening procedure to improve testing rates for MSI-H in endometrial, gastric, small intestinal, and biliary cancers. In these cancer types, MSI-H prevalence is low and MSI-H screening is not routinely performed. The collaboration will initially be focused in the European Union.

 

“The application of AI technologies holds tremendous potential in the screening of patients and the diagnosis of disease,” said Scott K. Pruitt, associate vice president and head, Translational Oncology, MSD Research Laboratories. “We look forward to working with the Owkin team toward harnessing this opportunity to identify more patients with MSI-H cancers who may benefit from ICI therapy.”

 

Owkin, which currently has the only MSI digital pathology diagnostic CE-marked in colorectal cancer, will extend the development of its MSI-H AI diagnostics into four new cancer types, leveraging multimodal patient data from multiple academic centers and hospitals.

 

About Owkin

Owkin is a biotechnology company that combines the best of human and artificial intelligence to ensure every patient gets the right treatment. By understanding complex biology through AI, we identify new treatments, de-risk and accelerate clinical trials and develop AI diagnostics. Owkin uses privacy-enhancing federation to access up-to-date multimodal patient data that unlocks AI’s potential to power precision medicine.

 

Owkin is working to deliver AI diagnostics that integrate seamlessly into the digital pathology workflow to support accurate diagnosis at a fraction of the time and cost of existing tests. Our solutions help improve pathology workflows, pre-screen for biomarkers, and predict outcomes— giving healthcare providers a fuller picture of a patient’s disease. This means more patients can benefit from targeted therapies, making precision medicine more accessible to more patients at an earlier stage of their disease.

 

Owkin has raised over $300 million through investments from leading biopharma companies (Sanofi and BMS) and venture funds (Fidelity, GV and BPI, among others).

 

MSIntuit CRC

MSIntuit CRC is a CE-marked AI diagnostic that optimizes testing for microsatellite instability (MSI), a critical biomarker for CRC patients that represents a defect in a cell’s ability to correct mistakes that occur when DNA is replicated. Testing is now recommended by consensus guidelines, such as European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in Europe and College of American Pathologists (CAP) in the US. MSI phenotyping is also essential to both the management of hereditary colorectal cancers and prognosis evaluation.

 

MSIntuit CRC is used for pre-screening and applies machine learning to digitized pathology slides to help pathologists and oncologists in their objective to facilitate better access to immunotherapy for all CRC patients.

 

MSIntuit CRC aims to have a significant impact on doctors and patients by decreasing workload and turnaround time, optimizing costs, and preserving tissue material and consumables. By using AI, this innovative tool may also support reproducibility through addressing inter-observer variability, with the end goal of optimizing quality and efficiency for critical tests.

 

1 KEYNOTE-177 (Pembrolizumab in Microsatellite-Instability–High Advanced Colorectal Cancer) https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2017699

2 CheckMate 142 (Nivolumab (NIVO) ± ipilimumab (IPI) in patients (pts) with microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair-deficient (MSI-H/dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): Five-year follow-up from CheckMate 142) https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2022.40.16_suppl.3510

3 KEYNOTE-158 (Pembrolizumab in microsatellite instability high or mismatch repair deficient cancers: updated analysis from the phase II KEYNOTE-158 study) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35680043/

4 Dostarlimab for Primary Advanced or Recurrent Endometrial Cancer https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36972026/

5 ESMO recommendation, Annals of Oncology 30: 1232–1243, 2019

6 NICE [Accessed June 2023]

7 Cancer Ind. Évaluation du statut MMR tumoral / synthèse. 2021; [Accessed June 2023]

8 National Comprehensive Cancer Network Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal (Version 1 2018).

Contacts

Stephanie Libous

Director of PR & Comms

stephanie.libous@owkin.com

Edward Farmer

PR Consultant

edward.farmer-ext@owkin.com

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Magnolia Pictures buys naval thriller ‘Arctic Convoy,’ set for 2024 release date

Magnolia Pictures has acquired U.S. rights to “Arctic Convoy,” a Norwegian naval thriller that is set in the middle of World War II.

 

The film is from the producers of “The Wave” trilogy, so it’s a homecoming of sorts given that Magnolia released all three installments of that series.

 

“Arctic Convoy” is directed by Henrik M. Dahlsbakken and written by Christian Sibenherz, Harald Rosenløw Eeg and Lars Gudmestad. Magnolia is planning a 2024 release for the picture.

 

The film unfolds in 1942, as the leader of a convoy carrying vital military supplies to a Norwegian outpost decides to proceed through treacherous, enemy-infested waters despite the recall of their military escort. Fighting for their lives against German air and naval forces, the 35 civilian merchant ships brave brutal Arctic seas to bring much-needed support to soldiers on the front lines.

 

The film is produced by Martin Sundland, Catrin Gundersen and Thea Benedikte Karlsen for FanteFilm. The deal was negotiated by Magnolia co-CEO Dori Begley and SVP of Acquisitions John Von Thaden. TrustNordisk’ Managing Director Susan Wendt represented the filmmakers in the discussions with the indie label.

 

Magnolia’s recent releases include Sundance documentary “Invisible Beauty,” a look at fashion pioneer Bethann Hardison; “Joan Baez: I Am a Noise,” a documentary about the folk singer and activist; and “Kokomo City,” D. Smith’s Sundance award-winning documentary about Black trans sex workers. Other films released during Magnolia’s 20-year history include the Oscar-nominated documentary “Collective,” back-to-back Cannes Palme d’Or winners and Oscar nominees “Shoplifters” and “The Square” and the Oscar-nominated “RBG,” a look at the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

 

 

— Variety (EXCLUSIVE) 

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Some of this year’s cinematic films hit big while others list as most overlooked movies of 2023

This past year saw cinematic highs for studio blockbusters like “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” while indie darlings such as “American Fiction” and “Past Lives” found a warm reception from critics and audiences.

 

But not all films can make a mark at the box office or find a passionate fanbase (or obsessed critic) to champion their releases.

 

The content onslaught often makes it hard to find the hidden gems, which is what end of the year lists are for — so Variety asked writers and editors to suggest their lesser-seen favorite films of the year.

 

And while you’re desperately searching for new content, check out Nida Manzoor’s jaw-dropping, action flick “Polite Society” or the tear-inducing animated feature “Robot Dreams.”

 

Do not sleep on the middle-of-nowhere Australian crime documentary “Last Stop Larrimah,” centered around the mysterious disappearance of the local favorite, thus making everyone a suspect.

 

If you’re looking for a thriller, check out the screenshot flick “Missing” that takes place entirely from a teenager’s laptop and phone, as she tries to uncover the secret behind her mother’s sudden and unexplainable disappearance (from the creators of “Searching).”

 

And if you’re looking for something a little lighter, we suggest Peter Dinklage, Anne Hathaway and Marisa Tomei’s strange little comedy “She Came to Me,” about a composer who finds inspiration for his next musical masterpiece while cheating on his wife with a tugboat captain.

 

Instead of re-watching “West Wing” or mainlining “The Sopranos” yet again, check out these movies you may have missed.

The Wallners’ catchy “In My Mind” opens and closes German director Christian Petzold’s perceptive portrait of a young novelist named Leon, who heads to a family cottage on the Baltic coast to complete his second manuscript. While his housemates spend their afternoons swimming, flirting and falling in love, Leon putzes around the house, looking for inspiration — but mostly just wasting time. When the others ask him to join in, he’s quick to deflect, saying, “My work won’t allow it.” Smart and sexy, “Afire” is above all keenly insightful about the insecurities of a bright, borderline-insufferable writer stuck in his own head. — PD

 

Read more:

https://variety.com/lists/overlooked-movies-of-2023/afire/

 

 

 

— Variety

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AM Best downgrades Credit Ratings of Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company; revises Under Review Status to developing

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #insurance—AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A- (Excellent) from A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to “a-” (Excellent) from “a+” (Excellent) of Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company (SLAICO) (Galveston, TX). Concurrently, AM Best has maintained the under-review status on these Credit Ratings (ratings) and revised the implications status to developing from negative.

 

The ratings reflect SLAICO’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

 

The ratings actions were driven by the recent acquisition of SLAICO by Core Specialty Insurance Holdings, Inc. (Core Specialty). The rating downgrades reflect the revision of SLAICO’s business profile assessment to limited from favorable. The assessment is aligned with that of Core Specialty, as SLAICO no longer benefits from the favorable business profile of its former parent. Following the finalized sale, AM Best has determined that the company warrants further monitoring before removing its ratings from under review. Consequently, and coupled with the downgrades, the implications on the SLAICO’s under-review status has been revised to developing from negative.

 

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Dan Hofmeister
Associate Director

+1 908 882 1893

dan.hofmeister@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Steven M. Chirico
Director
+1 908 882 1694
steven.chirico@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com

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Nicki Minaj returns to the top of Billboard 200 with ‘Pink Friday 2’

The numbers are in: Nicki Minaj’s “Pink Friday 2” is the No. 1 album in the United States, touting the biggest debut sales week for a rap album by a woman in the last four years.

 

The record joins the original “Pink Friday,” Minaj’s 2010 debut album, as her third overall record to hit the peak of the list alongside 2012’s “Roman Reloaded.” With this, Minaj now claims the most chart-topping albums to date for a female rapper.

 

“Pink Friday 2” opened with the equivalent of 228,000 albums sold in the week ending Dec. 14, according to data provided by Luminate. Notably, “Pink Friday 2” was also a top seller on vinyl, logging 25,000 copies sold — the highest figures for a rap album by a woman since Lumnate began calculating vinyl sales in 1991.

 

The 22-song record welcomed guest verses from Drake to Lil Wayne, J. Cole, 50 Cent and more, while also sampling Billie Eilish, Blondie, Rick James and numerous others. It was also preceded by the announcement of a 2024 arena tour that is set to launch in March.

 

Shortly after its release, Minaj took to X (formerly Twitter) to claim the Billboard charts were going to disqualify 100,000 of its sales because she had encouraged a contest that urged fans to buy four copies each. A majority of these tweets, in which she alleged that she was being “punished” for “making great music [and] having great fans,” have since been deleted.

 

Despite the protests, Minaj still managed to lead with flying colors while Taylor Swift’s “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” followed at No. 2 with 109,000 units and Drake’s “For All the Dogs” at No. 3 with 68,000 units.

 

Aside from Minaj’s new release, rising star Tate McRae landed her first top 10-charting album on the Billboard 200 with a strong 66,000 units at No. 4 for her latest “Think Later.” The set had a strong streaming presence, logging nearly 76 million streams. Ahead of her record’s release, McRae also reaped her first top 10-charting hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Greedy.” The song sits at No. 9 on this week’s list.

 

A large chunk of this week’s Top 10 records are Swift’s: “Midnights” is No. 7, “Lover” is No. 9 and “Folklore” rounds it out at No. 10. Aside from that, SZA’s “SOS” is No. 8, Michael Bublé’s “Christmas” is at No. 5 and Morgan Wallen’s “One Thing at a Time” is No. 6.

 

As for the singles chart, Mariah Carey reclaims the throne with “All I Want For Christmas Is You” at No. 1 with 42 million streams. The 1994 single has led the Hot 100 for consecutive weeks annually since 2019, largely thanks to it becoming a mainstay on holiday playlists across most DSPs.

 

Outside of McRae at No. 9 and Jack Harlow’s “Lovin On Me” at No. 6, the rest of the Top 10 on the Hot 100 is complete with yuletide cheer: Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is at No. 2; Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” holds at No. 3; Wham!’s “Last Christmas” keeps at No. 4; Burl Ives’ “A Holly Jolly Christmas” is No. 5; Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” is No. 7; The Ronettes’ “Sleigh Ride” is at No. 8 and lastly, Dean Martin’s “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!” is No. 10.

 

 

 

— Variety

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Donor Network West, MTF Biologics and family of U.S. Marine and organ donor hero gather for rose dedication memorial ceremony

Special event unveiled a floragraph honoring 25-year-old Matthew Messina that will be featured in the 2024 Rose Parade®

 


EDISON, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Donor Network West, an organization that saves and heals lives by facilitating organ and tissue recovery for transplantation and research, and MTF Biologics, a global non-profit organization that saves and heals lives by honoring donated gifts, hosted a memorial event honoring organ and tissue donor and U.S. Marine, Matthew Messina at MTF Biologics Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023.

 

The event gathered the organ and tissue donation community and Messina’s family and featured a rose dedication to the family as well as the presentation of a floragraph featuring Messina that will travel across the country to be a part of the OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade® Float on Jan. 1, 2024.

 

“In a time when my family could see only darkness, the miracle of organ and tissue donation let us see that Matt’s life had done so much good for so many who needed help,” his mother Jan Messina explained. “It’s given us hope. And slowly but surely, we’re living our lives again.”

 

Messina dedicated his young life to service. As a U.S. Marine and big brother to two sisters, he is described as someone who put others before himself. His dreams of continuing to help others through work with young children was cut short when he was seriously injured when a drunk driver struck him in a hit-and-run crash in June 2023. Through organ and tissue donation, Messina was able to provide one last act of kindness in service to others. The donation of his kidneys, pancreas, and liver saved the lives of three others. As a tissue donor, he was able to help more than 100 people regain mobility and enjoy a better quality of life. In total, his organs and tissues helped people living in more than 25 states.

 

“Organ and tissue donor heroes like Matthew save lives and their legacies live on in recipients who have been given a second chance at life,” said Janice Whaley, President and CEO, Donor Network West. “It’s a privilege for Donor Network West to honor donors like Matthew and their families.”

 

Donor Network West and MTF Biologics are sponsors of the 2024 Donate Life Rose Parade® float, which will feature organ donors represented by floragraphs as well as individuals from across the U.S. who are transplant recipients and living donors. The 2024 Donate Life parade float, titled “Woven Together: The Dance of Life,” aims to inspire viewers to say yes to joining the registry as organ donors and to give hope to the 100,000 people who are on the national transplant wait list. The 2024 Donate Life float aims to repeat its success and recognition following the 2023 Donate Life float design which received the Tournament of Roses Sweepstakes Award, the highest Tournament of Roses honor.

 

“We remember donors like Matthew Messina as heroes. We’re grateful to be able to shine light on his life-saving gifts and honor him with a ‘floragraph’ as part of the OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade. Matthew’s story highlights the important work of MTF Biologics and Donor Network West, saving and healing lives,” said Joe Yaccarino, President, and CEO, MTF Biologics.

 

For more than 35 years, MTF Biologics has been processing tissue grafts from human donors that are used in a growing array of clinical applications – positively affecting lives across the globe. To date, MTF Biologics has recovered tissue from over 165,000 donors. Since its inception, they have provided over 10 million allografts to clinical partners.

 

About Donor Network West

Donor Network West saves and heals lives by facilitating organ and tissue recovery for transplantation and research. The organization was established in 1987 and is an official Donate Life organization accredited by the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) and the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB). Federally designated to serve 45 counties in northern Nevada and northern California, Donor Network West has headquarters in northern Nevada and California and partners with the Department of Motor Vehicles and the state-authorized donor registries. For information, visit DonorNetworkWest.org and follow us on social media: @mydnwest.

 

About MTF Biologics:

MTF Biologics is a global nonprofit organization that saves and heals lives by honoring donated gifts, serving patients, and advancing science. They provide unmatched service, resources, and expertise to donors and their loved ones who give the gift of donation, people who depend on tissue and organ transplants, healthcare providers, and clinicians and scientists.

 

The International Institute for the Advancement of Medicine (IIAM), a Division of MTF Biologics, honors donors of non-transplantable organs by providing their gifts to the medical research community to combat and cure diseases. Statline, also a Division of MTF Biologics, provides specialized communications and technology expertise to organ, tissue, and eye procurement organizations, as well as the hospitals and patients that they serve. Its sister organization, Deutsches Institute for Zell-und Gewebeersatz – DIZG (The German Institute for Cell and Tissue Transplantation) expands its reach to patients across the globe. For more information, visit www.mtfbiologics.org.

Contacts

Nicole Smith

MTFBiologics@finnpartners.com