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AM Best affirms Issue Credit Rating of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited’s reopens senior unsecured notes

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term Issue Credit Rating (Long-Term IR) of “bbb+” (Good) of the 6% senior unsecured notes, due December 2033, of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (Fairfax) (Toronto, Canada). The outlook of this Credit Rating (rating) is stable.

 

The rating applies to the recently issued $200 million 6% senior unsecured notes, due 2033, and its existing $400 million 6% senior unsecured notes, due 2033, issued Dec. 7, 2023. The additional notes offered constitute a further issuance of, and are fungible with, the existing notes. The $200 million of additional notes were priced at 100.998%, plus accrued interest from Dec. 7, 2023, with a yield to maturity of 5.863%. These additional notes offer terms identical to the existing notes issued on Dec. 7, 2023, with the exception of the issue date and offering price.

 

The Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of Fairfax, as well as the ratings of its operating subsidiaries and all other debt issuances are unchanged. Fairfax intends to use substantially all of the net proceeds of the offering to repay outstanding indebtedness with upcoming maturities and use any remainder for repayment of other outstanding indebtedness of Fairfax or its subsidiaries and for general corporate purposes.

 

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

Dan Hofmeister, CFA, FRM, CAIA, CPCU
Senior Financial Analyst
+1 908 882 1893
dan.hofmeister@ambest.com

Gregory Dickerson
Director
+1 908 882 1737
gregory.dickerson@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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Popular Israeli series ‘Shtisel’ changes US home to Amazon Prime Video

“Shtisel,” the popular series following the lives of a tight-knit ultra-Orthodox family in Jerusalem, is changing its U.S. home.

 

Previously available on Netflix, all three seasons of “Shtisel” have been acquired by Amazon Prime Video from Yes Studios.

 

 

The award-winning drama, which helped launch the international careers of Shira Haas “(Unorthodox)” and Michael Aloni “(Beauty Queen of Jerusalem),” will begin its rollout on Prime Video this month with Season 1 debuting on Jan. 16.

 

The deal comes on the heels of “Shtisel” launching last month on global Israeli content platform Izzy, as well as the Jewish storytelling platform ChaiFlicks for the U.S., Australia and New Zealand.

 

Created and written by Ori Elon and Yehonatan Indursky, the series became a global phenomenon when it first aired on Netflix, offering unique insights into Haredi society. “Shtisel” is produced by Abot Hameiri Barkai for Yes TV. The series won 17 Israeli Academy Awards, including best drama series, script, actor (twice) and actress.

 

“With its endearing characters and compelling look into everyday life in an ultra-orthodox community, ‘Shtisel’ has quickly become an addictive and binge-worthy series wherever it has been made available,” said Sharon Levi, Yes Studios’ managing director.

 

“Its reputation and huge word-of-mouth support means that it is in constant demand, so we are excited to now introduce the Shtisel family to a whole new audience through this latest partnership with Amazon, as well as the recent deals with Izzy and ChaiFlicks.”

 

In related news, Yes Studios recently struck a new deal with Izzy for three more titles. The drama “Just for Today,” which won the special jury prize at Series Mania in 2019, launched on Izzy Dec. 28; and the romantic comedy “Who Died?” and Season 1 of “The Chef” are slated to drop later this month. Another show on Yes Studios’ slate, “Fire Dance,” the TV series debut of Rama Burshtein-Shai, will debut on ChaiFlicks in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand in early 2024.

 

 

 

— Variety (EXCLUSIVE) 

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‘Dalida’ star Sveva Alviti and Newton Mayenge board Cannes-set romance ‘The Other Side of Fame’

Italy’s Sveva Alviti “(Dalida)” and U.S. actor Newton Mayenge “(Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty)” are attached to star in Cannes-set romantic drama “The Other Side of Fame” to be directed by Erik Bernard “(Free Dead or Alive).”

 

 

Alviti is a model and actor who played the iconic Egyptian-Italian singer in the 2017 “Dalida” biopic by French director Lisa Azuelos. In “The Other Side of Fame,” she will play a young woman who becomes romantically entangled in Cannes with an elusive American played by Mayenge, “compelling her to confront the profound choice between the allure of fame and the promise of true love,” according to the project’s synopsis.

 

Besides Mayenge – who played NBA legend Jim Chones in the HBO series about the Los Angeles Lakers – “The Other Side of Fame” will also feature Alejandro De Hoyos, who recently appeared in action comedy “The Man From Toronto” with Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson, and in Bernard’s indie thriller “Free Dead or Alive.”

 

Bernard, who besides planning to direct also wrote the script for “The Other Side of Fame,” said in a statement that the story stems from attending the Cannes Film Festival in 2022 and that the South of France “will definitely be a character in the film.” The plan is to shoot in Cannes and the surrounding area this winter.

 

“The Other Side of Fame” is being produced by Bernard, Denise Bernard and Jasmin Espada under the Rebel 6 Film banner along with Untold Content’s Joel M. Gonzales and Pejman Partiyeli.

 

Alviti is represented in Europe by Diberti & Company. Mayenge is repped by Eris Talent Agency, Eleven 7 Talent Agency & Feig Finkel. De Hoyos is repped by Marlene Agency & Daniel Hoff Agency.

 

 

 

Variety (EXCLUSIVE) 

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French IT group Atos names Paul Saleh as CEO, and forecasts H2 2024 cash flow to drop below targets

Sudip Kar-Gupta / Reuters:

 

Summary — 

  • CFO Paul Saleh to become new CEO
  • Jacques-Francois de Prest joins as CFO
  • Atos warns that it will miss second-half cash flow target
  • Company has yet to request creditor conciliation proceedings
  • Shares down 16%

PARIS — French technology company Atos (ATOS.PA) named Paul Saleh as its new chief executive on Monday and warned that free cash flow would be slightly below its initial target for the second half of the year, sending its share price tumbling.

Atos said Saleh, currently chief financial officer, would become CEO – the company’s fourth in less than two years as it has grappled with a series of profit warnings.

The logo of Atos is seen on a company building in Nantes, France, March 11, 2022. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights

 

 

 

 

 

 

Atos shares were down by 16% in early trading. The stock has fallen by about 40% since the start of the year.

Saleh takes over from Yves Bernaert, who leaves the company “after an intense period of transformation,” Atos said, with Jacques-Francois de Prest coming in as CFO after finance roles with car parts business Mobivia and telecoms group Vodafone.

Les Echos newspaper reported on Monday that the company’s restructuring plan was facing difficulties.

Atos, which is taking longer than expected to negotiate the sale of its loss-making Tech Foundations arm, said it has not filed a request to open conciliation proceedings with creditors.

The potential Tech Foundation sale to Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky’s EPEI seems a long way off. Les Echos on Monday cited an unnamed source as saying a “last chance” meeting between the parties was slated for the next few days.

Representatives for Atos and the Kretinsky camp did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment on the report.

Atos said on Monday that CEO Saleh will still focus on refinancing debt, the sale of the Tech Foundations business and the sale of the company’s Big Data & Security (BDS) activities to Airbus (AIR.PA).

 

Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta Editing by Tassilo Hummel and David Goodman

 

— Techmeme

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Beauty Hype: World’s most expensive bird droppings better than Botox!

Better than Botox: Many celebrities swear by it – over 400 years old recipe

NEW YORK — It’s supposed to work better than Botox, and after just a few minutes, you look 10 years younger. The story about it from “Asami Geisha” goes back to the 17th century and comes from Japan.

 

On special farms, nightingales produce valuable feces. The songbirds are fed exclusively with plant seeds. The feces contain the urea known in cosmetics and the enzyme guanine.

 

The nightingales’ feces are disinfected by ultraviolet light and then ground into a fine powder. The effect on the skin is instantaneous, and you’re left with a peachy complexion.

 

More than 300 years ago, geishas used “Asami Geisha” very successfully to regenerate and rebuild their skin bleached with lead and zinc.

 

Numerous celebrities all over the world admire the radiant skin of Japanese women. “Asami Geisha” is a pure natural cosmetic and does not require any chemical additives.

 

But if you want to enjoy these valuable cosmetics, you have to dig deep into your pocket. 50 ml of “Asami Geisha” costs an incredible  Euro 490. This makes “Asami Geisha” by far the most expensive bird droppings in the world.

 

British journalist Claudia Cornell tested the cosmetics for Mail Online. Her conclusion: “Even after two days, my skin looked radiant, and my girlfriend thought I had had Botox injections. I’m more than satisfied with the result.”

Source:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2641957/The-cringe-inducing-facial-The-good-news-beats-Botox-The-bad-news-birds-mess.html

 

More information can be found at: www.asamigeisha.com

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Beijing’s judicial bureau says state-backed institution cracks Apple’s AirDrop to identify message senders,  police finds multiple suspects

—  Beijing agency claims to have found way to identify senders 

— Declaration follows efforts to crack down on sensitive content

 

Bloomberg:

 

A Chinese state-backed institution has devised a way to identify users who send messages via Apple Inc.’s popular AirDrop feature, Beijing’s government claims, as part of broader efforts to root out undesirable content.

 

The Beijing institute developed the technique to crack an iPhone’s encrypted device log to identify the numbers and emails of senders who share AirDrop content, the city’s judicial bureau said in an online post. Police have identified multiple suspects via that method, the agency said, without disclosing if anyone was arrested.

 

“It improves the efficiency and accuracy of case-solving and prevents the spread of inappropriate remarks as well as potential bad influences,” the bureau said.

 

The declaration again drew attention to an iPhone feature that activists around the world have employed to spread their message. Requiring just a nearby bluetooth connection, it was widely used by protesters to share pro-democracy slogans during 2019 protests in Hong Kong. An Apple representative didn’t respond to requests for comment.

 

Hailed by the article as a “technological breakthrough,” the method could supplement measures intended to eradicate information China deems unhealthy. It also adds more uncertainty to Apple’s operations in a country where it already grapples with severe constraints on content, including on Apple TV and Books.

 

AirDrop allows the quick exchange of files like images, documents or videos between Apple devices. The company has limited the feature on Chinese iPhones since 2022, after the service was used by protesters to spread images to fellow device owners.

 

The American electronics leader also faces mounting sales pressure, after a growing number of state-backed agencies banned the use of foreign devices at work.

 

 

 

— With assistance from John Liu and Yuan Gao

 

— Techmeme

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Organon affirms 2023 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance; also provides 2024 outlook

Regular dividend to remain primary capital allocation priority

  • For full year 2023, the company expects revenue and Adjusted EBITDA margin to be within the ranges provided on Nov. 2, 2023
  • For full year 2023 the company expects free cash flow before one-time spin-related costs to be above previously provided range
  • For full year 2024, the company expects revenue to grow in the low-single-digit range on a constant currency basis, and to achieve stable to improving Adjusted EBITDA margin
  • The company’s annual dividend of $1.12 per share remains its primary capital allocation priority, followed by a balance of discretionary debt repayment and opportunistic business development

 

 

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Organon (NYSE: OGN) on Tuesday affirmed prior revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance, indicated that free cash flow before one-time spin-related costs is expected to be above the high end of the previous guidance range, and provided high-level financial objectives for 2024.

 

Kevin Ali, Organon’s Chief Executive Officer and Matthew Walsh, Organon’s Chief Financial Officer, will discuss these updates as part of a webcast presentation at the 42nd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference to be held tomorrow, Jan. 9, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. E.T./1:30 p.m. P.T.

 

Updates to 2023 Financial Guidance Previously Provided on Nov. 2, 2023

For full year 2023, the company is affirming prior revenue and Adjusted EBITDA margin guidance in the ranges of $6.15 billion to $6.25 billion and 30.5% to 31.5%, respectively. Full year 2023 free cash flow before one-time spin-related costs is expected to be above the high end of the previously provided range of $700 million to $800 million.

 

The information presented above reflects the company’s preliminary estimates subject to the completion of the company’s financial closing procedures and any adjustments that may result from the completion of the quarterly and annual review of the company’s consolidated financial statements. Organon will report its full year 2023 results and more fulsome 2024 outlook on Feb. 15, 2024.

 

Preliminary Full Year 2024 Outlook

For full year 2024, Organon expects constant currency revenue growth in the low-single-digit range and stable to improving Adjusted EBITDA margin, which it expects to achieve, in part, through operating expense management.

 

Capital Allocation

The company’s annual dividend of $1.12 per share remains its primary capital allocation priority. Organon has generated, and expects to continue to generate, more than ample cash flow to service its dividend. The company expects to continue to use its remaining free cash flow to achieve its additional capital allocation objectives, which include discretionary debt repayment and the acquisition of assets that enhance Organon’s growth profile.

 

Webcast Information

Investors, analysts, members of the media and the general public are invited to listen to a live audio webcast of the company’s presentation at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare conference on Jan. 9th at: https://jpmorgan.metameetings.net/events/healthcare24/sessions/49500-organon/webcast?gpu_only=true&kiosk=true.

 

About Organon

Organon is a global healthcare company formed to focus on improving the health of women throughout their lives. Organon offers more than 60 medicines and products in women’s health in addition to a growing biosimilars business and a large franchise of established medicines across a range of therapeutic areas. Organon’s existing products produce strong cash flows that support investments in innovation and future growth opportunities in women’s health and biosimilars. In addition, Organon is pursuing opportunities to collaborate with biopharmaceutical innovators looking to commercialize their products by leveraging its scale and presence in fast growing international markets.

 

Organon has a global footprint with significant scale and geographic reach, world-class commercial capabilities, and approximately 10,000 employees with headquarters located in Jersey City, New Jersey.

 

For more information, visit http://www.organon.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Facebook.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains “non-GAAP financial measures,” which are financial measures that either exclude or include amounts that are correspondingly not excluded or included in the most directly comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles “(GAAP).” Specifically, the company makes use of the non-GAAP financial measures Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, and free cash flow before one-time spin-related costs which are not recognized terms under GAAP and are presented only as a supplement to the company’s GAAP financial statements. This press release also provides certain measures that exclude the impact of foreign exchange. We calculate foreign exchange by converting our current-period local currency financial results using the prior period average currency rates and comparing these adjusted amounts to our current-period results. The company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures help to enhance an understanding of the company’s financial performance. However, the presentation of these measures has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for the company’s results as reported under GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, the presentations of these non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

 

The company uses non-GAAP financial measures in its operational and financial decision making and believes that it is useful to exclude certain items in order to focus on what it regards to be a more meaningful representation of the underlying operating performance of the business.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information, this press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements about management’s expectations about Organon’s future financial performance and prospects, including preliminary full-year 2023 financial results, full-year 2024 guidance, and future cash flows and capital requirements, as well as statements concerning Organon’s capital allocation and expense management plans, future dividend payments, , and ability to acquire assets that enhance Organon’s growth profile. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “will,” “would,” “potentially,” “foresees,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “preliminary” or words of similar meaning. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

 

Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, an inability to fully execute on our product development and commercialization plans within the United States or internationally; an inability to adapt to the industry-wide trend toward highly discounted channels; changes in tax laws or other tax guidance which could adversely affect our cash tax liability, effective tax rates, and results of operations and lead to greater audit scrutiny; an inability to execute on our business development strategy or realize the benefits of our planned acquisitions; efficacy, safety, or other quality concerns with respect to marketed products, including market actions such as recalls, withdrawals, or declining sales; political and social pressures, or regulatory developments, that adversely impact demand for, availability of, or patient access to contraception or fertility products; general economic factors, including recessionary pressures, interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; general industry conditions and competition; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances; new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict its future financial results and performance; developments that result in changes to Organon’s capital allocation priorities; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; difficulties developing and sustaining relationships with commercial counterparties; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

 

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2022 and subsequent SEC filings, available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Preliminary Financial Information

The 2023 full year results set forth in this press release are still preliminary estimates and subject to Organon’s detailed quarter and year-end close procedures. Organon’s consolidated financial statements as of, and for the three and twelve months ended Dec. 31, 2023, are not yet available. Accordingly, the information presented in this press release reflects the company’s preliminary estimates subject to the completion of the company’s financial closing procedures and any adjustments that may result from the completion of the quarterly and annual review of the company’s consolidated financial statements. As a result, these preliminary estimates may differ from the actual results that will be reflected in the company’s consolidated financial statements for 2023 when they are completed and publicly disclosed. These preliminary estimates may change, and those changes may be material. The company’s expectations with respect to its unaudited results for the period discussed above are based on management estimates. The company’s independent registered public accounting firm has not audited, reviewed or performed any procedures with respect to these preliminary estimates and, accordingly, does not express an opinion or any other form of assurance about them.

Contacts

Media Contacts:

Felicia Bisaro

(646) 703-1807

Kate Vossen

(732) 675-8448

Investor Contacts:

Jennifer Halchak

(201) 275-2711

Alex Arzeno

(203) 550-3972

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Sao Paulo industry driver Spcine builds ties with Africa for film production

With the exception of Nigeria’s Nollywood, which produces an average of 2,500 films a year, Africa’s “potential as a film powerhouse remains largely untapped” despite great strides in production, according to a Unesco report.

 

PHOTO – AFRIFF, Africa International Film Festival (Courtesy of Spcine)

 

Brazil’s Spcine, the city of São Paulo’s film-TV body, is hoping to change the status quo. Since it launched the country’s first international film incentive policy in 2019, Spcine has played a vital role in fostering the Brazilian audiovisual industry worldwide. In 2020, it spearheaded a strategy to strengthen ties with the African continent, particularly in markets with the strongest growth potential, led by Nigeria and South Africa.

 

The move makes sense, given that Brazil is home to the largest black population outside of Africa and the third-largest in the world, with over 79 million Afro-descendants.

 

In 2022, Spcine participated in key audiovisual events in Africa, particularly the Pan-African Film and Television Festival (FESPACO) in Burkina Faso and in Nigeria where it took part in targeted meetings and visits, seeking to close business deals and strategic partnerships with distribution and production studios, training institutes, film schools and festival heads.

 

More recently, Spcine sent a delegation to the Durban FilmMart in South Africa, held between July 20 and 30, 2023, which highlights the foundations of the African film industry.

 

It was here that Spcine formalized its commitment, signing a co-production pact with South Africa that entails an investment of $20,000 per project (est. 95,000 Reales), which will cover comprehensive support for four projects, two led by South African producers and the other two from São Paulo-based producers.

 

The call for projects is expected to be posted by the first semester of 2024, said Spcine president, Viviane Ferreira, who highlighted the Audiovisual Professional Meetings: São Paulo – South Africa which assembled creatives and execs from the São Paulo and the South African industries online so they could pitch their projects to each other. “It was four days of meetings with a matchmaking session, and we made a catalogue with everyone who was interested in collaborating with São Paulo and vice versa,” she said.

 

According to Spcine, several key factors drive further cooperation between Brazil and Africa:

 

  1. Nigeria is the only other country that boasts a black population exceeding that of Brazil. This connection, rooted in the African diaspora, offers fertile ground for collaborative ventures and cultural exchanges.
  2. The film and audiovisual industry in Africa wield considerable influence, contributing an estimated $5 billion to the GDP and supporting approximately 5 million jobs, as per Unesco estimates. The future holds promise, with the potential to generate 20 million jobs and contribute $20 billion to the collective GDP of the continent.
  3. Numerous media outlets indicate that by the end of this century, an anticipated 442 million Portuguese speakers will inhabit the world. Presently, Brazil leads with 215.8 million speakers, but projections suggest that the growth of Lusophony will be spearheaded by nations such as Angola and Mozambique. The anticipated population surge in these countries hints at Africa potentially emerging as the premier Lusophone consumer market for audiovisual content, surpassing even Brazil.
  4. Forecasts for Nigeria point towards its ascent as a global powerhouse by 2100, propelled by the expansion of its working-age population. This demographic surge is anticipated to fuel rapid economic growth, advancing the country from the 23rd position in the 2017 world GDP ranking to the 9th position. This transformation, both economically and demographically, reveals strategic opportunities for collaborative ventures and investments in the audiovisual sector between Brazil and Nigeria.

 

In further initiatives, as a direct outcome of Spcine’s visit to Lagos in March 2023, a São Paulo – Nigeria 2023 Meeting backed by Brazilian Content and organized in partnership with The Production Collective of Nigeria has furthered business partnerships between between Brazil and Nigeria. Discussed at a virtual meeting were co-productions, licensing of original content, and provision of production services.

 

Spcine also attended African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) over Nov. 5-10.

 

It took part in two panels – International Cinematic Collaboration Opportunities with Nigerian Filmmakers, and Spcine in Conversations with Nollywood – and backed a networking event and Brazil x Nigeria Speed Dating Sessions, where Nigerian producers presented projects.

 

 

PHOTO – Hollywood Brazilian Film Festival Courtesy of Spcine

 

 

 

— Variety

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 Apple appeals EU’s DMA designation of App Stores as a single service, iOS interoperability, and iMessage NIICS designation 

Foo Yun Chee / Reuters:

 

 

—  Apple (AAPL.O) has challenged EU tech rules designating its five App Stores as a single core platform service subject to onerous obligations, saying that EU regulators have misinterpreted and misapplied the new legislation that took effect last May.

 

The company also disputed the characterisation of its operating system iOS as an important gateway for business users to reach end users and the interoperability obligation that goes with that label.

 

(PHOTO: Apple logo is seen on the Apple store at The Marche Saint Germain in Paris, France July 15, 2020. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights)

 

The iPhone maker challenged the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in November last year but did not provide details.

The European Commission made “material factual errors, in concluding that the applicant’s five App Stores are a single core platform service,” Apple said in its plea to the Luxembourg-based General Court, Europe’s second-highest.

The company in its argument to the EU competition enforcer said it operates five App Stores on iPhones, iPads, Mac computers, Apple TVs and Apple Watches, with each designed to distribute apps for a specific operating system and Apple device.

DMA requirements that would affect Apple include allowing third parties to inter-operate with its own services and letting business users promote their offers and conclude contracts with their customers outside its platform.

Apple’s lawsuit also took issue with the Commission’s designation of its messaging service iMessage as a number-independent interpersonal communications service (NIICS) that prompted an EU investigation into whether it should comply with DMA rules.

The company contends that iMessage is not a NIICS as it is not a fee-based service and it does not monetise it via the sale of hardware devices nor via the processing of personal data.

 

Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Andrew Heavens

Techmeme

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Mammootty, Mohanlal, Gippy Grewal, Tovino Thomas lead India’s Yoodlee Films’ 2024 slate

India’s Yoodlee Films has unveiled a star-studded 2024 release slate across languages. Malayalam-language cinema superstar Mammootty, who had a phenomenal 2023 with critical and commercial hits “Kannur Squad” and “Kaathal – The Core,” headlines “Bazooka.”

 

Directed by debutant Deeno Dennis, the film is a game thriller, a category not often explored in Indian cinema. The cast also includes actor-directors Gautham Vasudev Menon and V.K. Prakash, Siddharth Bharathan and Shine Tom Chacko. The Malayalam-language film is scheduled for release in early 2024.

 

Mohanlal, Malayalam-language cinema’s other superstar, leads action-drama-fantasy “Malaikottai Vaaliban.” Written by P.S. Rafeeque, the film is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Lijo Jose Pellissery, whose credits include “Jallikattu,” “Amen,” “Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam” and “Churuli.” The Malayalam-language film is due to release on Thursday, Jan. 25, ahead of the Jan. 26 Republic Day holiday, ensuring a long box office weekend.

 

Punjabi-language cinema superstar Gippy Grewal headlines “Warning 2,” the second part of what is planned as an action franchise, directed by Amar Hundal. The cast also includes Prince Kanwaljit Singh, Jasmin Bhasin, Rahul Dev and Raghveer Boli in major roles. Produced by Yoodlee Films and Humble Motion Pictures, the Punjabi-language film is scheduled for a Feb. 2 release.

 

Produced by Yoodlee Films and Theatre of Dreams, Malayalam-language investigative thriller “Anweshippin Kandethum” features Tovino Thomas in the lead portraying a cop. The film is from debutant director Darwin Kuriakose and written by Jinu Abraham. The cast also includes seasoned Malayalam cinema actors Siddique, Indrans, Jaffer Idukki, Harisree Ashokan and Alencier. The film is due Feb. 9.

 

Another Punjabi-language sequel, comedy-drama “Ni Main Sass Kutni 2,” written and directed by Mohit Banwait, depicts the complex relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law as well as the clash of values within joint families. The cast of 2022’s “Ni Main Sass Kutni,” including Anita Devgan, Gurpreet Ghuggi, Karamjit Anmol, Tanvi Nagi, Mehtab Virk, Nirmal Rishi, Harby Sangha, Nisha Bano and Akshita Sharma, return for the sequel. The film is due to release on March 1.

 

Set up in 2017, Yoodlee Films is the film division of Saregama India, India’s oldest music label. It has produced more than 30 titles so far. Its first film, Devashish Makhija’s “Ajji,” played at the Busan, Rotterdam and Gothenburg festivals.

 

 

 

Variety (EXCLUSIVE)