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Ethnic cultures as newsmakers

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How to watch UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perez livestream online

A few weeks after UFC 300, the mixed martial arts promotion company returns with UFC Fight Night, which has Brazilian fighter Matheus Nicolau (19-4-1) going up against American Alex Perez (24-8-0) in the main event.

 

UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perez takes place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

On Saturday, April 27, the prelims began at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT. The main card started at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. If you want to watch the event online, it livestreams with an ESPN+ subscription.

 

$503 and up

BUY: UFC FIGHT NIGHT: NICOLAU VS. PEREZ TICKETS ON VIVID SEATS

Last-minute tickets to UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perezin Las Vegas are still available on sites like Vivid Seats. meanwhile, you can use promo code VAR2024 to get $20 off your purchase at Vivid Seats. Tickets are also available at StubHub.

 

Want to watch UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perez online? This event is streaming on ESPN+, ESPN and ESPN2, so there are a few ways to watch UFC Fight Night. Let’s break it down.

$10.99/Month

WATCH UFC FIGHT NIGHT: NICOLAU VS. PEREZ ON ESPN+

To watch UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perez online, you’d have to sign up for a subscription to ESPN+ for $10.99/Month. If you don’t want to go month-to-month, you can sign up for an annual subscription for $109.99/Year — which is about a 15% savings from the monthly price.

 

$109.99/Year

BUY: ESPN+ ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

You can also sign up for the Disney Trio — which includes ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+ — starting at $14.99/month.

 

In addition, UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perezbroadcasts on ESPN for the main card and ESPN2 for the prelims, which are both available to watch on DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and Sling Orange. And since DirecTV Stream and Fubo offer free trials, you can watch UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perez online for free.

 

Check out the full fight card below, and stream UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perez here.

 

Main Card, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT

  • Flyweight: Matheus Nicolau vs. Alex Perez — main event
  • Light Heavyweight: Ryan Spann vs. Bogdan Guskov — co-main event
  • Women’s Flyweight: Ariane Lipski vs. Karine Silva
  • Heavyweight: Austen Lane vs. Jhonata Diniz
  • Featherweight: Jonathan Pearce vs. David Onama
  • Welterweight: Tim Means vs. Uros Medic

 

Prelims, 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT

  • Bantamweight: Rani Yahya vs. Victor Henry
  • Lightweight: Austin Hubbard vs. Michael Figlak
  • Heavyweight: Don’Tale Mayes vs. Caio Machado
  • Women’s Strawweight: Ketlen Souza vs. Marnic Mann
  • Lightweight: James Llontop vs. Chris Padilla
  • Women’s Flyweight: Ivana Petrovic vs. Na Liang
  • Lightweight: Maheshate Hayisaer vs. Gabriel Benitez

 

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— Variety

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Microsoft, Meta, and Alphabet disclose $32B+ in combined expenses for data centers, capital costs in Q1; they accelerate AI spending

—  The spending that the industry’s giants expect artificial intelligence to require is starting to come into focus — and it is jarringly large.

 

Karen Weise / New York Times:

 

 

If 2023 was the tech industry’s year of the A.I. chatbot, 2024 is turning out to be the year of A.I. plumbing. It may not sound as exciting, but tens of billions of dollars are quickly being spent on behind-the-scenes technology for the industry’s A.I. boom.

— Microsoft said generative A.I. had contributed to more than a fifth of the growth of its cloud computing business.Credit…Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg

 

Companies from Amazon to Meta are revamping their data centers to support artificial intelligence. They are investing in huge new facilities, while even places like Saudi Arabia are racing to build supercomputers to handle A.I. Nearly everyone with a foot in tech or giant piles of money, it seems, is jumping into a spending frenzy that some believe could last for years.

 

Microsoft, Meta, and Google’s parent company, Alphabet, disclosed this week that they had spent more than $32 billion combined on data centers and other capital expenses in just the first three months of the year. The companies all said in calls with investors that they had no plans to slow down their A.I. spending.

 

In the clearest sign of how A.I. has become a story about building a massive technology infrastructure, Meta said on Wednesday that it needed to spend billions more on the chips and data centers for A.I. than it had previously signaled.

 

“I think it makes sense to go for it, and we’re going to,” Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s chief executive, said in a call with investors.

 

The eye-popping spending reflects an old parable in Silicon Valley: The people who made the biggest fortunes in California’s gold rush weren’t the miners — they were the people selling the shovels. No doubt Nvidia, whose chip sales have more than tripled over the last year, is the most obvious A.I. winner.

 

The money being thrown at technology to support artificial intelligence is also a reminder of spending patterns of the dot-com boom of the 1990s. For all of the excitement around web browsers and newfangled e-commerce websites, the companies making the real money were software giants like Microsoft and Oracle, the chipmaker Intel, and Cisco Systems, which made the gear that connected those new computer networks together.

But cloud computing has added a new wrinkle: Since most start-ups and even big companies from other industries contract with cloud computing providers to host their networks, the tech industry’s biggest companies are spending big now in hopes of luring customers.

 

Google’s capital expenditures — largely the money that goes into building and outfitting data centers — almost doubled in the first quarter, the company said. Microsoft’s were up 22 percent. Amazon, which will report earnings on Tuesday, is expected to add to that growth.

 

Meta’s investors were unhappy with Mr. Zuckerberg, sending his company’s share price down more than 16 percent after the call. But Mr. Zuckerberg, who just a few years ago was pilloried by shareholders for a planned spending spree on augmented and virtual reality, was unapologetic about the money that his company is throwing at A.I. He urged patience, potentially for years.

 

“Our optimism and ambitions have just grown quite a bit,” he said.

 

Investors had no problem stomaching Microsoft’s spending. Microsoft is the only major tech company to report financial details of its generative A.I. business, which it said had contributed to more than a fifth of the growth of its cloud computing business. That amounted to $1 billion in three months, analysts estimated.

 

Microsoft said its generative A.I. business could have been even bigger — if the company had enough data center supply to meet the demand, underscoring the need to keep on building.

 

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— Techmeme

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AFI Life Achievement Award honors Nicole Kidman’s career: From ‘Expats’ to those AMC ads?

Nicole Kidman has been an international treasure going on four decades. Whether you’re tracking her many wigs (“The Undoing” is our favorite), admiring her textured and committed performances, or just standing up and saluting before every AMC Theatres showing, you’re probably honoring her in some way.

 

While five best actress Oscar nominations and one win (for “The Hours”) have been adequate markers of her success and endurance, conversations have been brewing for years about a lack of recognition for her remarkable artistic consistency.

 

“How many times does Nicole Kidman have to prove herself?” asked author Anne Helen Peterson in a 2017 essay for BuzzFeed, one that examined how esteem is or isn’t doled out to women in Hollywood, using Kidman as a template.

 

“While male actors coast on the brilliance of a single performance for years, female stars have to reapply for greatness on a yearly basis, fighting the industry-wide impulse for gossip about their personal lives and their appearances to subsume substantial conversation about their ability,” Peterson wrote nearly 10 years ago, on the heels of the runaway hit first season of “Big Little Lies,” starring Kidman.

 

After a 2023 delay due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, the American Film Institute hopes to correct this cultural error by handing Kidman its Life Achievement Award Saturday. Broadcast on TNT, the tribute makes for glorious cinema pageantry, sitting our film idols on a dais and trotting out an army of famous faces to pay tribute to them in between movie clips.

 

AFI president Bob Gazzale, who wrote the upcoming Kidman show and serves as executive producer, watched roughly 80 films and series from the actor’s archive in an effort to capture her versatility. Only with Kidman do you get “The Stepford Wives” remake next to an adaptation of Phillip Roth’s “The Human Stain.” Or Gus Van Sant’s “To Die For” along with Adam Sandler’s “Just Go With It.” Or Jonathan Glazer’s criminally underrated “Birth” alongside the campy “Batman Forever.”

 

Gazzale caught up with Variety to discuss his grand plans for Kidman, offer a look inside AFI’s selection process and tease some surprises in store.

 

There are so few formats like the Life Achievement Award on live television now. We’ve moved away from this kind of thing thanks to social media and how video moves now. So why Nicole Kidman, and why now?

In the long and proud tradition of this award, Nicole embodies the glamour and the romance of Hollywood past. But she also has the daring and the bravery of one of this art form’s great character actors. She’s a true screen icon, but she’s also a risk-taker. Each performance is something new and something profound.

 

Read More

 

 

— Variety

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Lesniak inducted into the Rutgers University Hall of Distinguished Alumni

UNION, N.J. — On April 25, former Senator Raymond J. Lesniak was inducted into the Rutgers University Hall of Distinguished Alumni among four other influential Rutgers University graduates.

 

Lesniak was recognized at Stone House at Stirling Ridge for his exemplary work in the New Jersey Legislature and as President and Founder of The Lesniak Institute for American Leadership. This award is the highest achievement a Rutgers graduate can receive from the University.

 

He has been a persistent champion of social and criminal justice, animal welfare, women’s rights, and environmental protection. During his time in the legislature he sponsored the most significant laws to protect the environment, was a leading advocate for legalizing same-sex marriage, fought to abolish New Jersey’s death penalty, and marked his name in sports history with his legendary legislative and legal fight that lead to the United States Supreme Court making sports betting legal in America.

 

In addition to these great accomplishments, he has published books about these legislative and legal battles: The Road to Abolition: How New Jersey Abolished the Death Penalty, What’s Love got to Do with it?, Beating the Odds, and most recently Cultivating Justice in the Garden State: My Life in the Colorful World of New Jersey Politics.

 

About the Lesniak Institute for American Leadership

The Lesniak Institute is developing the next generation of American leaders by teaching the principles of effective advocacy, offering first-hand experience through its causes, and partnering with grassroots organizations. The Institute is named for Senator Raymond J. Lesniak who authored and sponsored hundreds of laws during his 40 years in the New Jersey Legislature to advance human rights and the quality of life for millions. • LesniakInstitute.org

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Congresswoman Watson-Coleman, County Exec Benson unveil 4.1M grant award for Trenton-Mercer Airport taxiway

EWING, N.J. — Congresswoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman has secured Trenton-Mercer Airport a $4.1 million allocation in Congress’s most recent appropriations bill.

A press conference was held Thursday with Mercer County Exec. Dan Benson, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli, Commissioner Chair John Cimino, Commissioner Vice-Chair Kristin McLaughlin, Commissioner Lucylle Walter, Commissioner Sam Frisby, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, and Ewing Mayor Bert Steinmann.

The project includes the full-depth reconstruction of 20,000 SY of airfield taxiway and apron pavement. The full-depth reconstruction of the taxiway will allow Trenton-Mercer Airport to enhance overall aircraft safety by giving them more reliable pavement to operate on. The new taxiway is essential to Mercer County’s larger terminal replacement project.

“Congresswoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman, has once again demonstrated tremendous leadership for Mercer County, and the region with her advocacy in securing over 4 million dollars for the reconstruction of Taxiway Alpha. I look forward to us continuing to work hand-in-hand to make Trenton-Mercer Airport’s Terminal Replacement Project a success,” said Mercer Executive Dan Benson.

“Mercer County is at a pivotal point and as someone who has spent their career as an infrastructure professional, we have a unique opportunity to position ourselves a as a geographic transportation hub,” said County Commissioner Chairman John Cimino.

“County Executive Benson has an innovative vision for Mercer County and I am delighted to be a tireless, vigilant Congressional champion in securing Mercer County their fair share to deliver for our residents, “said Congresswoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman.

For additional information, please reach out to Theo Siggelakis at TSiggelakis@Mercercounty.org.

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AM Best affirms Credit Ratings of Symetra Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #insurance — AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “a+” (Excellent) of Symetra Life Insurance Company and its subsidiary, First Symetra National Life Insurance Company of New York (New York, NY), together referred to as Symetra Life Group. Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term ICR of “bbb+” (Good) and the Long-Term Issue Credit Rating of “bbb+” (Good) on $250 million 4.25% senior unsecured notes, due 2024 of Symetra Financial Corporation (Symetra). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. All companies are headquartered in Bellevue, WA, unless otherwise specified.

 

The ratings reflect Symetra Life Group’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

 

AM Best views Symetra Life Group’s balance sheet as strong, as measured by quantitative Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), and qualitative measures with financial support afforded by the ultimate parent, Sumitomo Life Insurance Company, which supports the group’s strategic initiatives. Through past debt capital investments, the parent has enabled the group to execute on key new product development projects and enhanced distribution efforts and current conditions. In 2023, Symetra Life Group paid $207 million in dividends to Symetra to provide capital for new annuities business that the life company ceded to Symetra Bermuda Re, a subsidiary of Symetra. Future dividends are expected to be dependent on operating results.

 

An early trend of profitability has returned to the group, which is expected to help contribute organically to future business growth efforts. AM Best views the group’s ERM as being matched to the scope of its operation, while adjusting through changing and challenging market conditions. Continued organic capital growth through profitable operations has been factored into the current ratings, which is expected to continue.

 

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 © 2024 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Anthony McSwieney
Senior Financial Analyst
+1 908 882 2113

anthony.mcswieney@ambest.com

Jacqalene Lentz
Director
+1 908 882 2011
jacqalene.lentz@ambest.com

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

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

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Bayer introduces Iberogast™ in the US, bringing proven plant-based relief to the millions who experience gut health issues

Rooted in science, Iberogast’s six-herb formulation helps relieve occasional gastrointestinal symptoms with the power of nature*

 

 

WHIPPANY, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — After more than 60 years of researching the power of plants in Germany, Bayer Consumer Health is introducing Iberogast™, a plant-based digestive relief product, to the United States. Formulated with a clinically proven, proprietary six-herb blend, Iberogast harnesses the power of nature to provide dual-action relief for those who experience occasional digestive symptoms by helping to relieve stomach upsets and restore digestive function.*

Sourced from nature and backed by science, Iberogast’s six-herb blend helps relieve six occasional digestive symptoms including indigestion, bloating, heartburn, nausea, gas and abdominal discomfort + constipation/diarrhea. Iberogast helps reduce stomach acid, regulate stomach muscles, calm gut nerves, and support both the gut lining and microbiome.* Each herb found in Iberogast is carefully selected for its known benefits, including:

  • Iberis amara, the namesake ingredient of the product, helps stimulate and relax certain muscles in the digestive tract to help support digestive function.*
  • German Chamomile helps regulate certain stomach muscles and reduces stomach acidity.*
  • Caraway helps relax certain intestinal muscles, reduces acidity in the stomach and helps relieve occasional indigestion when combined with peppermint.*
  • Lemon Balm provides a calming effect while helping regulate stomach and intestinal muscles, and can also help reduce acidity.*
  • Licorice helps support the gut lining, regulate stomach muscles and reduce acidity.*
  • Peppermint helps support abdominal comfort, including relief from occasional bloating.*

 

“The dedicated team of scientists, researchers and botanists at the Natural Science Center at Bayer in Germany have been researching the power of plants for the past 60 years,” said David Ball, General Manager & Vice President, Digestive Health, Bayer Consumer Health. “With tens of millions of Americans experiencing occasional digestive health issues, this clinically proven, game-changing product will allow them to experience the power of nature and its incredible abilities to support gut health.*”

 

With a formulation that abides by the highest production standards to deliver a powerful and reliable product, Iberogast’s proprietary six-herb blend has been proven effective in four clinical studies.

 

“In my practice, I encourage my patients to maintain their gut health using a well-rounded approach that focuses primarily on healthy lifestyle choices. For those with occasional digestive issues, products like Iberogast can help relieve unwanted symptoms,” said double board-certified gastroenterologist and therapeutic endoscopist, Dr. Rabia de Latour, a paid partner of Iberogast. “Iberogast’s proven six-herb blend harnesses the power of some of the world’s most researched botanical extracts to not only address symptoms as they arise, but to also help restore digestive function. It should be avoided in people who are pregnant, and those taking medications or who have a medical condition should consult their doctor before use.”

 

Iberogast is available for purchase on Amazon and in-store at major retailers including Target, Walmart, Walgreens and CVS. It is available in 20mL and 50mL liquid drops, as well as 30-count softgels. For best results, it is recommended to take the product three times a day, before or during meals. Prices range from $8.00 – $22.00 USD MSRP.

 

For additional information on Iberogast and how to experience the proven power of nature, visit Iberogast.com and follow along on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @IberogastUS.

 

Bayer: Science For A Better Life

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to help people and planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to drive sustainable development and generate a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2020, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 41.4 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 4.9 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.us.

 

Bayer U.S. Social Media Channels: Facebook / X / Instagram

 

Bayer, the Bayer Cross, and Iberogast are trademarks of Bayer.

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Contacts

Danielle Goonan

Senior Director, Strategic Communications, Brand PR, Influencer & Social, Bayer Consumer Health U.S.

danielle.goonan@bayer.com

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AM Best downgrades Credit Ratings of Farm Bureau County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas and Texas Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company; removes affiliates from under review

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #insurance — AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) to A- (Excellent) from A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) to “a-” (Excellent) from “a” (Excellent) of Farm Bureau County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas and Texas Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company (together known as Texas Farm Bureau Casualty Group).

 

The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is negative. At the same time, AM Best has removed from under review with negative implications and affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of “a-” (Excellent) of Texas Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company and Texas Farm Bureau Underwriters (together known as Texas Farm Bureau Mutual Group). The outlook assigned to these ratings is negative. All companies are domiciled in Waco, TX, and are collectively referred to as Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Group (the group).

The ratings reflect Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Group’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

 

Following a year of material surplus deterioration, the group implemented a pooling agreement between its property affiliates (Texas Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company) and the casualty operations (Texas Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company), consisting primarily of personal auto, effective Jan. 1, 2024, which will allow the group to manage capital more effectively. Under the pooling agreement, premiums, losses and expenses are combined and pro-rated, with participation percentages based on the individual members’ policyholder surplus.

 

The group’s balance sheet strength assessment of very strong reflects of its very strong overall risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), as well as moderate levels of leverage, adequate liquidity, favorable calendar-year reserve development and a comprehensive reinsurance program.

 

The group’s marginal operating performance assessment reflects the most-recent three consecutive years of operating losses and a high degree of volatility. As a result, most of the key profitability metrics fall short of the private passenger standard auto and homeowner composite. Like most of its peers, net underwriting losses were driven by the extraordinary weather-related events in 2023. These weather-related events resulted in 13 catastrophe losses, as classified by the group, four of which exceeded its occurrence catastrophe retention level. Further driving elevated losses is the impact of increased loss cost trends across the group’s core lines of business.

 

Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Group’s business profile is neutral, supported by the group’s market penetration as a leading personal lines writer in Texas, along with their broad product offering. In addition, the assessment takes into account the group’s relationship with the Texas Farm Bureau, which enhances customer loyalty and affinity.

 

In response to these adverse trends, management has put in place a series of initiatives to return to profitability and improve balance sheet strength metrics, including significant rate increases, increased segmentation on the auto line of business and more-refined underwriting guidelines. However, the negative outlooks reflect the uncertainty and execution risks associated with these efforts. Should key balance sheet or operating performance metrics not stabilize as a result of these actions, the ratings may be downgraded.

 

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 © 2024 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Brinda Modi Shah
Senior Financial Analyst
+1 908 882 1767
brinda.shah@ambest.com

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

Richard Attanasio
Senior Director
+1 908 882 1638
richard.attanasio@ambest.com

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

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Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media, Tinkle Comics launch Indian superhero graphic novel ‘Minnal Murali’

“Baahubali” star Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media has teamed with Tinkle Comics to launch a graphic novel featuring Indian superhero Minnal Murali at the Mumbai Comic-Con.

 

“Minnal Murali” is a 2021 Malayalam-language film directed by Basil Joseph, produced by Sophia Paul’s Weekend Blockbusters and starring Tovino Thomas as the eponymous superhero.

 

Set in a village in Kerala, the film follows a tailor with dreams of emigrating to the U.S. and a social outcast who simultaneously get superpowers when struck by lightning (minnal means lightning in Malayalam) with the former using them for good and the latter for evil. It was acquired by Netflix and had a direct-to-digital release on the service during the pandemic and remains one of its most popular films.

 

The graphic novel will delve into the superhero’s origins and unveil a new story that takes his adventures further.

 

Spirit Media unveiled film, TV and comic-book projects with a variety of partners at the San Diego Comic-Con last year. Tinkle, which was established in 1980, is published by India’s oldest comic-book brand Amar Chitra Katha and is known for its homegrown characters including Suppandi and Shikari Shambu. “Minnal Murali” is Tinkle’s first publication in the graphic novel format.

 

Daggubati said: “The debut of Tinkle’s graphic novel ‘Minnal Murali’ at Mumbai Comic-Con marks a significant milestone for reaffirming the love for Indian superheroes and comics, furthermore, resonating with the unmet need of Indian comic lovers in the digital age. It is a moment of great pride and excitement to continue the universe of this much-loved contemporary Indian superhero and bring him to life from the screen to a comic.”

 

Paul added: “Seeing our beloved characters and captivating storylines come to life on the vibrant pages is a testament to the enduring impact of our film, inspiring fans to embark on new adventures within this rich and dynamic universe.”

 

President and CEO of Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle, Preeti Vyas, said: “Books are often converted to films, but this project is a great example of how a popular film franchise has been taken into the pages of a book, with a brand-new story based on the characters of the super successful movie, ‘Minnal Murali’ in a graphic novel format. We are very excited about exploring other such transmedia opportunities for Tinkle Comics Studio.”

 

Gayathri Chandrasekaran, editor-in-chief of Tinkle Comics, added: “‘Minnal Murali’ has captivated the nation’s imagination, and we’re excited to bring a brand-new ‘Minnal Murali’ story to life in this dynamic new format. This graphic novel is just the beginning of Tinkle’s foray into new storytelling mediums, and we’re committed to delivering even more exciting content in the future.”

 

 

Read More

 

 

— Variety (EXCLUSIVE) 

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‘The Blair Witch Project’ cast ask Lionsgate for retroactive residuals and ‘meaningful consultation’ on future projects

The directors and producers of the groundbreaking 1999 horror film release a separate statement in support: ‘We believe the actors deserve to be celebrated for their enduring association with the franchise’

 

 

Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael Williams, stars of the seminal horror film “The Blair Witch Project,” released a public letter to Lionsgate on Saturday asking for more robust compensation for their work on the 1999 blockbuster, as well as “meaningful consultation” on any future “Blair Witch” projects that use their names or likenesses.

 

The statement comes 10 days after Lionsgate and Blumhouse announced they plan to revive the franchise with a new movie that would provide, in the words of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson, “new vision for ‘Blair Witch’ that will reintroduce this horror classic for a new generation.” Lionsgate did not produce or distribute the original 1999 film. It acquired the property through its 2003 buyout of independent film distributor Artisan Entertainment.

 

The Lionsgate-Blumhouse announcement sparked a strongly worded response via social media from Leonard, who said that no one had contacted him or his costars about the project in advance. “At this point, it’s 25 years of disrespect from the folks who’ve pocketed the lion’s share (pun intended) of the profits from OUR work, and that feels both icky and classless,” Leonard wrote.

 

Leonard said that the actors — who shot and improvised the independent movie over roughly a week on a shoestring budget, using their real names for their characters — each made $300,000 from a buyout of their ownership points on the film, which went on to gross $248 million worldwide. In 2002, the actors sued Artisan Entertainment for using their names and likenesses in the studio’s 2000 sequel, “Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2.”

 

In their most recent statement, Leonard, Williams and Donahue (who now goes by Rei Hance) call on Lionsgate to provide them with retroactive and future residual payments “equivalent to the sum that would’ve been allotted through SAG-AFTRA, had we had proper union or legal representation when the film was made.”

 

They also ask for “meaningful consultation on any future ‘Blair Witch’ reboot, sequel, prequel, toy, game, ride, escape room, etc., in which one could reasonably assume that Heather, Michael & Josh’s names and/or likenesses will be associated for promotional purposes in the public sphere.”

 

Lionsgate first attempted to revive the franchise with the 2016 sequel “Blair Witch,” which earned $45 million worldwide. The company also operates a Blair Witch-themed Escape room in Las Vegas.

 

Finally, the actors request Lionsgate create a $60,000 “Blair Witch Grant” that would be bestowed to “an unknown/aspiring genre filmmaker to assist in making their first feature film.”

 

A spokesperson for Lionsgate had no comment.

 

Separately, “The Blair Witch Project” directors Eduardo Sanchez and Dan Myrick, producers Gregg Hale and Robin Cowie, and co-producer Michael Monello released a joint statement supporting the actors.

 

“While we, the original filmmakers, respect Lionsgate’s right to monetize the intellectual property as it sees fit, we must highlight the significant contributions of the original cast  — Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Mike Williams,” they say in the statement. “As the literal faces of what has become a franchise, their likenesses, voices, and real names are inseparably tied to ‘The Blair Witch Project.’ Their unique contributions not only defined the film’s authenticity but continue to resonate with audiences around the world.”

 

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— Variety