Apple TV(SeaPRwire) - While For All Mankind speeds into its layered, Mars-focused future in Season 5, the new spinoff series Star City is turning back to the franchise’s early origins. As announced earlier, this series will tell the story of For All Mankind’s alternate timeline from the Soviet point of view. The show’s title itself comes from the central hub of Roscosmos, the USSR’s space program, that sits near Moscow. The series is scheduled to launch on May 29, and Apple TV has just released its first full-length trailer.The most unexpected takeaway from the trailer is that it confirms Star City is nothing like For All Mankind at its core. Instead, the series shapes up to be a heart-pounding spy thriller, set across the 1960s and early 1970s. If you did not already know the USSR never landed humans on the Moon in 1969 in real life, you could easily mistake this for a straightforward historical drama centered on spaceflight. Put simply, the alternate timeline built by For All Mankind acts as a backdrop for this new show, but judging by the trailer, the series itself is first and foremost a spy thriller.Star City Trailer Reveals Space SpiesStar City unfolds mostly in parallel with For All Mankind Season 1, which began its story in 1969. But as the title suggests, the plot centers on the tightly secured Star City facility and Soviet officials’ fears that intelligence about the space race could be leaked to the United States.For All Mankind is no stranger to espionage-focused storylines. Even in its first season, Ed Baldwin (Joel Kinnaman) and other characters worried about Soviet spies operating on the Moon. From Season 2 onward, Margo Madison (Wrenn Schmidt) gets pulled into a complicated spy plot that ultimately forces the former NASA leader to work for Roscosmos in Season 4. Since Season 4, For All Mankind has also prominently featured the character Irina Morozova (Svetlana Efremova), a retired KGB mastermind who later pulled major strings behind the scenes at Roscosmos. Whether Star City will introduce a younger version of Irina is still unconfirmed, but based on the tone of the new trailer, it seems very likely.The trailer also hints at small connections to the 1973 timeline of For All Mankind. One scene in the trailer notes that the chief designer (Rhys Ifans) holds plans for a Moon base that could be stolen by American operatives. The Jamestown NASA base in Season 1 of FaMK is a major plot point of the original series, so it appears Star City will add a fresh new layer to that origin story.Even with its links to the original show, the new trailer makes clear that Star City is very much its own unique project: a tense thriller all about secrets, surveillance, and spaceflight.Star City will premiere on Apple TV on May 29, 2026. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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Iran escalates Hormuz ‘tit-for-tat’ by seizing ship connected to billionaire with ties to Trump and Macron
(SeaPRwire) - Tensions heightened in the Strait of Hormuz on April 22 after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized two vessels, an action analysts characterize as "tit-for-tat" retaliation against the United States. Notably, one of the seized ships is connected to a billionaire shipping magnate with close ties to former President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.Reuters reported on Thursday that video broadcast by Iranian state television allegedly depicts IRGC forces seizing container ships within the Strait.One of the vessels, the MSC Francesca, is owned by MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, which was established by Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte and is currently managed by his two children, Digital has learned."Approximately 20 heavily armed Iranians stormed the vessel. The sailors are under Iranian control, their movement on board is restricted, but the Iranians are treating them well," a relative of one of the MSC Francesca crew members told Reuters."The ship is anchored nine nautical miles off the Iranian coast. Negotiations between MSC and Iran are ongoing, and our sailors are safe," Montenegro’s Minister of Maritime Affairs, Filip Radulovic, stated to state broadcaster RTCG.Maritime intelligence firm Windward AI identified the IRGC’s "tit-for-tat" strategy in light of the recent seizure involving an MSC vessel.This incident occurred following a U.S. naval blockade implemented on April 13, following Tehran’s threats of retaliation after U.S. forces seized an Iranian ship."The IRGC attacked three ships. It captured and took two of them—the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas—while the Euphoria managed to escape," Windward AI co-founder Ami Daniel told Digital."This constitutes a 'tit-for-tat' operation by the IRGC, which, alongside the Houthis, has long asserted a connection between MSC and Israel.""Aponte, the owner and chairman, has a Jewish wife, and MSC calls at Israel; however, this is true for all major shipping lines."Bloomberg reported on April 13 that Diego Aponte, Gianluigi’s son, had been cultivating "inroads with Trump’s circle."He also assisted in arranging a November 2025 White House meeting with Swiss business leaders that resulted in a preliminary agreement to reduce the 39% tariffs imposed on Switzerland during the summer.Over the past year, MSC’s relationship with the White House has positioned Gianluigi Aponte as a central figure in a $19 billion deal with Li Ka-shing. As MSC and BlackRock sought to acquire two Panama Canal ports under pressure from Trump to place them in "friendly" hands, the outlet noted.With a net worth of at least $37 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, it is Gianluigi Aponte and his wife, Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, who appear to associate with world leaders.MSC executive chairman Gianluigi Aponte and Rafaela have been photographed with French President Emmanuel Macron.Rafaela is also reportedly related to Alexis Kohler (his mother is said to be her cousin), who served as Macron’s secretary-general from May 2017 to April 14, 2025, and was referred to as "Macron’s second brain."Sources told Reuters on Thursday that the Aponte family’s ship, carrying roughly 40 crew members, was taken toward Iran’s port of Bandar Abbas by the Iranian navy.Officials stated that four crew members, including the captain, are from Montenegro, while Croatia’s foreign ministry confirmed that two Croatian nationals are also on board.MSC declined to comment, Reuters confirmed.The IRGC Navy asserted that both captured vessels were "operating without the necessary permits."According to Lloyd’s List, the 2008-built MSC Francesca "typically operates in service between the U.S. West Coast, Asia, and the Middle East Gulf." This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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Five Years Later, This Controversial Video Game Movie Already Feels Far Older
Warner Bros. Pictures(SeaPRwire) - When Mortal Kombat first launched in 1992, packaged inside arcade cabinets that delivered pixelated gore to players far too young to view it, it became a virtually immediate hit. Its diverse lineup of thunder deities, brightly colored ninjas, and even a playful send-up of action star Jean-Claude Van Damme, its addition of the "juggling" mechanic to standard fighting game rules, plus its legendary, progressively vicious fatalities secured it a rightful place on the fighting game Mount Rushmore. It has held that position through its bumpy shift to 3D graphics and into the series' current reboot period.On the other hand, when the first Mortal Kombat film hit theaters three years later, it drew criticism for being corny and underdeveloped narratively, on top of its wooden performances and PG-13 rated action. Even with these shortcomings, it performed well commercially, and did an impressive job of capturing the chaotic, over-the-top energy of slamming action figures together that defines the games, mostly by refusing to take itself too seriously. Thirty years on, though, we live in an era where Hollywood treats every property with excessive earnestness. Debuted five years ago to the day, the 2021 Mortal Kombat reboot is a compelling case study of what occurs when that trend goes too far in the reverse direction.Even with director Simon McQuoid's strongest attempts, the MK reboot unavoidably comes off as a film belonging to a past period for both video game adaptations and major studio tentpole releases, and that is for good reason. A new film take on the series was already in development as far back as 2011, first helmed by Kevin Tancharoen, the creator of the beloved fan-made Mortal Kombat: Rebirth short film and the subsequent MK: Legacy web series. The time the project spent stuck in development limbo is almost palpable, as the film is in many respects the final leftover of the distinctly 2010s method of adapting video games for the screen.At first glance, Mortal Kombat adapts the games' core premise clearly: pop culture's second most beloved Thunder God, Raiden (played by Tadanobu Asano), has to put together a team of honorable fighters from all over Earthrealm to take part in the 10th Mortal Kombat tournament. This deadly cross-dimensional martial arts contest is held once every 50 years to determine if the tyrannical Outworld realm is permitted to invade Earth (though the entire reboot is set before the tournament actually happens, a baffling creative call that brings the always-applicable Surf Dracula meme to mind). The original game's core setup is such a silly, flimsy excuse to throw a whole host of martial arts film tropes into battle together that the 2021 film's extreme earnestness stands out sharply by comparison. Much like 2008's Max Payne or the 2005 Doom adaptation, it seems to come from a studio miscalculating how easy the source material is to engage with, and overcorrecting by attempting to make the premise feel more "realistic".You would assume Raiden would have come up with a more effective game plan after dropping nine straight tournaments. | Warner Bros PicturesOne of the most annoying choices the film makes in this vein is the introduction of new character Cole Young (played by Lewis Tan), a past-his-prime MMA fighter who acts as the entry point for viewers. But this role could just as easily have been filled by existing characters Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, or Johnny Cage (a direction the upcoming sequel appears to be taking). Not only is he a generic, cookie-cutter "fighter" in a franchise packed with some of the most distinct, larger-than-life fighting game characters ever made, but the film also created a messy backstory to link him to MK co-creator Ed Boon's preferred character, Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion (played by Hiroyuki Sanada), a call that makes him read like an original character pulled straight from fan fiction.The film's fixation on making the premise feel grounded even applies to something as basic as the games' take on magic and special powers. Abilities that are innate to characters in the games, like Kano's laser eye or Sonya Blade's wrist-mounted energy blasters, are reworked here into a surprisingly much more campy magic system where fighters have to "train" their personal "arcana" to unlock them. The arcana training sequence feels like it came directly from a note sent by a clueless studio exec confused about why Liu Kang can throw fireballs without a clear in-universe reason, ignoring the fact that random superpowers for characters are a core part of the franchise's appeal, which blends Saturday morning cartoon energy with Hong Kong action film flair.Cole Young's inclusion in the film was a key point of criticism among long-time fans. | Warner Bros. PicturesWhat makes Mortal Kombat so disappointing, though, is that it also gets a huge number of elements right. It features plenty of hard-hitting, gory action sequences: the opening fight between Scorpion and Bi-Han/Sub-Zero (played by Joe Taslim) is a dream come true for long-time fans, a beautifully choreographed sequence that follows the still-living Hanzo as he takes down a small squad of ninjas before facing off against his sworn enemy. The fatalities are another spot where the film embraces the series' natural over-the-top tone, and there should have been far more moments like Kung Lao slicing a vampire assassin clean in half with his razor-edged hat before declaring his "Flawless Victory" to nobody in particular.Unexpectedly, another strong point of the film is the chemistry between its characters, particularly the heroes from Earthrealm. There is far too little genuine back-and-forth and playful banter between them, but the moments that do exist are a delight. The film seems to worry it will be labeled as "goofy" like the 1995 adaptation was, but the absurdity of seeing a Special Forces agent talking to a Shaolin monk and an Australian hitman is a big part of why the franchise has remained a beloved fighting game mainstay for more than 30 years now.Hiroyuki Sanada's portrayal of the gaming world's most beloved undead warrior is one of the film's strongest elements. | Warner Bros PicturesIn its effort to distance the franchise from the supposed embarrassment of the original 1995 film and its heavily criticized follow-up Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Warner Bros. discarded some of the innate 1990s-era camp that is core to Mortal Kombat's identity. This film was the final example of a now mostly obsolete approach to video game adaptations, and fans are hopeful that the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2 will understand that it is perfectly fine to be a bit playful for a franchise that famously brought Babalities to gaming audiences worldwide.Mortal Kombat is available to stream on HBO Max. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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Nuclear specialists say Iran’s claim to a uranium “right” is unfounded and back Trump’s firm stance
(SeaPRwire) - Amidst ongoing tensions between President Trump and Iran’s fractured leadership regarding the regime's demand to maintain its nuclear enrichment capabilities, prominent experts on Iran’s atomic program are backing the President’s firm stance on dismantling the infrastructure entirely.A primary point of contention in the high-stakes negotiations between Washington and Tehran is Iran’s assertion that it possesses a legitimate right to enrich and hold weapon-grade uranium—the essential component for nuclear weaponry. This dispute over enriched material is expected to be a critical factor in any future nuclear discussions, potentially scheduled to take place in Pakistan.Last week, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmael Baqaei publicly dismissed Trump’s demands on state television, stating, "Iran’s enriched uranium is not going to be transferred anywhere under any circumstances."President Trump has referred to Iran’s 440-kilogram stockpile as "nuclear dust," following U.S. military operations that targeted the facilities where the material was stored."The United States should insist on a permanent ban of Iranian enrichment and its full dismantlement in negotiations. Iran retaining any enrichment infrastructure in anticipation of the end of a moratorium would allow it to cheat as soon as Trump leaves office and resume its path to nuclear weapons," Andrea Stricker, deputy director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies' nonproliferation program, told Digital.Jonathan Ruhe, a fellow for American strategy at JINSA, agreed with the necessity of ending Iran’s enrichment program. He told Digital, "An acceptable deal would have to embody many of Trump’s stated redlines from his first administration, and from the run-up to last summer’s 12-Day War. This means permanent bans on enrichment, reprocessing and weaponization capability – and equally importantly, full verification of Iran’s compliance with these strictures."In 2018, President Trump exited the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear agreement established under President Obama. At the time, Trump argued that while the deal was intended to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapon, it actually permitted Iran to continue enrichment and move closer to a potential nuclear breakout.Ruhe noted, "The JCPOA failed to ensure IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] inspectors could monitor, and account for, the entirety of Iran’s program and its compliance with the deal. This problem has worsened significantly in the decade since, as Iran systematically stonewalled inspectors."He added, "Iran’s negotiators always drag out talks and avoid giving clear answers. They still think time is on their side, with their blockade hurting the global economy and their missile arsenals being dug out and prepared for renewed conflict. Trump should insist on a definitive response from Tehran, and be ready for renewed operations.""As a cautionary tale: the Obama team first entered nuclear talks with stringent redlines, but then they let Iran call their bluffs, ignore their deadlines and wear down their demands until we ended up with the JCPOA," Ruhe stated.Although Iran is a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which prohibits the enrichment of uranium for military purposes, U.S. and European intelligence have documented evidence of Iran’s covert proliferation efforts.Ruhe remarked, "This regime cynically wants it both ways: they insist the NPT gives the ‘right’ to peaceful enrichment, yet they flout the treaty’s safeguards. By claiming this ‘right,’ they try to make certain core issues non-negotiable. By this logic, they should get to retain enrichment capacity, so the questions then become how much and what the U.S. has to give in return for this supposed sacrifice by Iran."He further argued that "As the Nonproliferation Treaty’s name indicates, it’s an agreement to prevent proliferation, not to promote nuclear development."Stricker pointed out that IAEA head Rafael Grossi recently clarified that the NPT does not explicitly mention "enrichment" within its provisions for peaceful use. Furthermore, the U.N. Security Council has legally demanded that Iran cease enrichment and adhere to its nonproliferation commitments. For nearly 25 years, the IAEA has been unable to verify that all of Iran’s nuclear activities are strictly for peaceful purposes.She concluded, "Iran’s enrichment program began through illicit procurements and covert facilities, under a nuclear weapons program that planned to use enriched uranium as fuel. Iran was clearly stockpiling material for an apparent nuclear weapons breakout." This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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Sportsbooks Loathe the NFL Draft, Citing ‘Zero Chance to Win’
(AsiaGameHub) - Sportsbooks are once again gearing up for another loss as the NFL Draft kicks off tonight. These betting establishments always approach the draft with a mix of anxiety and dislike, and this year is no exception. “Bookmakers can’t stand the draft,” said Jeff Benson, Circa Sports’ Director of Operations. “It’s a ton of work with no payoff, and we have absolutely no chance of winning. We lose five to six figures annually on it.” What makes the NFL Draft such a challenging event for sportsbooks? In today’s hyper-connected information era, they can’t keep up with savvy bettors hunting for actionable insights. “When dealing with any draft market—honestly, for most places—it’s not a question of whether you win or lose, but how much you lose,” said Thomas Gable, Director of the Borgata Sportsbook. “The sharper customers will get to information before you do.” Ed Salmons, vice president of risk at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, told me three years ago that he didn’t “like the draft, but it’s simply something we have to do. You have no control over it—none at all. It’s not like a game where things happen and mistakes are made.” Unlike a real game, this is an information-driven market, and as Ben Fawkes writes: “…Once credible information is released and bet on, the market can shift quickly—and no money will come back on the opposite side. That information could arrive as fast as a single post on X from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.” DraftKings Sportsbook Director Johnny Avello shared similar views. “The draft has never been an easy event to handle for betting because it doesn’t rely on power ratings,” Avello said. “It’s not a matchup between two teams where you factor in home-field advantage and other things. It’s all about information.” Sportsbooks Adjust Their Strategies to Minimize Risk Sportsbooks have taken specific steps to reduce their risk of excessive losses related to the NFL Draft. These include: Launching betting markets later Reducing bet limits Providing fewer wagering options As a result, there are far fewer opportunities for sharp bettors to exploit sportsbooks. Matt Freedman, who has been betting on the NFL Draft since 2018, is among those affected. “I think in the 2021 NFL Draft, I placed over 300 different bets—an incredible number,” Freedman said. “But since sportsbooks took heavy hits in 2020 and 2021, I don’t see an incentive for them to go back to those wide-open markets. What we have now is a good indication of what we’ll see moving forward. I’d say it’s dried up for professional bettors.” This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.
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Decoding the ‘Invincible’ Season 4 Finale: Thragg’s Ultimatum Revealed
Prime Video(SeaPRwire) - Extreme violence is unavoidable in Invincible. Ever since it revealed that its Superman equivalent, Omni-Man (voiced by J.K. Simmons), was secretly a villainous alien determined to colonize Earth, brutality has been one of the defining traits of the series. And Season 4 doesn’t drop the ball; it actually cranks up the stakes by moving the action out into space.Viewers who’ve been eager for Invincible to adapt the infamous Viltrumite War won’t be let down, either. Episode 7 delivered a suitably harrowing, devastating end to that intergalactic conflict. Planets exploded! Beloved characters narrowly escaped horrific deaths! Grand Regent Thragg (voiced by Lee Pace) landed a punch so forceful it functioned almost like a cosmic vortex! This was the kind of on-screen moment countless fans had been waiting for, and it nearly overshadowed the far more subdued finale that followed immediately after. But just because the war has ended doesn’t mean its fallout is any less distressing. Invincible Season 4 subverts the show’s signature, seemingly inescapable animated violence, instead leaning into moments that are far more psychologically damaging.Spoilers for Invincible Season 4 Episode 8 follow below.The Invincible Season 4 finale, explainedThe Viltrumite War concludes not with a fiery blast, but an unthinkable ultimatum. | Prime VideoWhile Omni-Man, his son Mark (voiced by Steven Yeun), and their allies land a devastating blow against the Viltrumite Empire, they may have actually made their own situation far worse. After destroying the planet Viltrum in the closing moments of Episode 7, Thragg and his loyalists have no homeland to return to. Most critically, they can no longer retaliate by killing Mark or his loved ones. “There are far too few of us left,” Thragg says with sorrow — and he is correct. Viltrumites are all but extinct: fewer than 10 full-blooded aliens remain once the fighting clears, which makes it far simpler for them to lay low somewhere across the galaxy.Mark is tormented by the thought that Thragg will appear on Earth and destroy everything he cares about, just as Thragg did to the Grand Regent... and by the end of Episode 8, that fear becomes a far more dangerous reality. Thragg shows up exactly as Mark is starting to heal from his post-traumatic stress, revealing that the Viltrumites have been hiding on Earth for the past several weeks. Just like Omni-Man did before them, they plan to interbreed with humans to build a new population. Their offspring will be far less powerful — Mark and his younger brother Oliver (voiced by Christian Convery) are both half-Viltrumite and far more fragile — but Viltrum will endure, in a way. Most crucially, they will live peacefully alongside humanity, provided Mark does not instigate another war.Naturally, this is a nightmare for Mark, who wants nothing more than to eliminate all Viltrumites from the universe once and for all. While Thragg gives Mark the option to reject this deal, doing so would mean restarting the war — this time on Earth, with potentially millions of people losing their lives. Mark is entirely on his own, with no time to consult his father or any of his mentors for advice. He has no choice but to accept Thragg’s conditions. When these characters are next seen in Season 5, the last remaining Viltrumites will have built lives for themselves on Earth, blending in seamlessly and quietly integrating with human society.But wait — why was Mark alone?Mark stands as Earth’s only Viltrumite defender by the close of Season 4. | Prime VideoInvincible Season 4 puts in significant work to reunite the Grayson family, but by the season’s end, they are once again scattered across the galaxy. Oliver sustains critical injuries during the battle on Viltrum; when Mark and Nolan return to Earth, they have no choice but to leave him on the planet Talescria, which serves as the home of the Coalition of Planets. The medical care available there is far more advanced than what Earth has to offer, after all. When Debbie (voiced by Sandra Oh) finds out about Oliver’s condition, she begs to be taken to Talescria, even if that means traveling alongside Nolan, her on-again-off-again ex-husband. The pair had an explosive argument in Episode 5, where Debbie told Nolan she never wanted to see him again. (Given that he called her a pet, killed millions of people, and left their son permanently traumatized after a vicious beating, she could have been far harsher.) But Oliver’s injuries push these two former partners back together when they least expect it. Oddly enough, this also sets up the second-chance romantic relationship fans never knew they wanted to see on Invincible.Nolan has been longing for Debbie and quietly begging for her forgiveness since Season 2, so their reunion has been a long time in the making. What makes this reunion so satisfying is that Debbie is unwilling to take Nolan back, meaning genuine reconciliation will be incredibly difficult to achieve. Even so, that reconciliation still feels like an inevitability, even for viewers who are familiar with the story laid out in Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker’s original comics. Ideally, Invincible will not rush one of its most compelling redemption arcs: Nolan and Debbie’s rekindled romance could serve as a striking parallel to the far more unsettling events unfolding back on Earth. As the show moves forward, overt violence is taking a backseat to the complex dynamics between Viltrumites and humans — but these storylines are becoming just as thrilling as the fight scenes and clear moral divides we’ve seen in the past.All episodes of Invincible Season 4 are now streaming on Prime Video. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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Iranian forces seize armed ships in Strait of Hormuz; vessels being escorted to port, report says
(SeaPRwire) - The two container vessels seized by Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz have been directed toward the port of Bandar Abbas along the vital waterway, a report stated Thursday.Iran's Revolutionary Guard asserted on Wednesday that the ships, identified as the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, were operating without valid authorization and had tampered with navigation systems, claims that have not been independently verified."Approximately 20 heavily armed Iranians stormed the vessel. The sailors are under Iranian control, their movements on board are restricted, yet the Iranians are treating them kindly," a relative of a captive on one of the ships told Reuters on Thursday regarding one of the seizures.The news agency cited sources indicating that both ships, which are managed by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), were steered toward Bandar Abbas, carrying a total of 40 crew members."The ship is anchored nine nautical miles from the Iranian coast. Discussions between MSC and Iran are in progress, and our sailors are safe," Filip Radulovic, Montenegro's minister of maritime affairs, stated in a quote to state television.Prior to their seizure on Wednesday, the ships reported being fired upon near the strait, highlighting the increasingly unstable conditions in one of the world's most crucial shipping routes.This situation follows U.S. forces recently detaining an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman as it approached Iranian waters on Sunday.That vessel, the Touska, remains in U.S. custody as American forces continue to inspect what maritime security sources described to Reuters as likely "dual-use" cargo—materials suitable for both civilian and military applications—after a voyage from Asia.The U.S. military is also continuing to enforce a blockade of Iranian ports on Thursday.To date, U.S. Central Command stated on Thursday that U.S. forces have redirected 33 vessels since the commencement of the blockade against Iran. Digital’s Morgan Phillips contributed to this report. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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BGC Appoints Kane Purdy as New Chair Amid Regulatory Disputes
(AsiaGameHub) - The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has overhauled its senior leadership team amid fresh disputes and lobbying conflicts over gambling regulation and taxation in the UK. Kane Purdy, Managing Director of Gamesys Operations, has been appointed as the BGC’s new non-executive Chair. He assumes the role at the betting industry trade body with immediate effect, succeeding long-serving Chair Michael Dugher. Dugher, a former Labour MP for Barnsley East, stepped down from the position in January 2026. During his tenure, he led the organisation through a challenging regulatory phase for UK gambling, including the 2020–2023 review of the 2005 Gambling Act and the intense tax debates of the previous year. Purdy takes the helm at a time when the sector faces equally tough regulatory and financial challenges. The industry is adapting to the new tax regime launched in April 2026 and is also responding to calls from MPs and Lords for reforms to advertising and local licensing rules. “Kane brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and talent to this role, honed over two decades in the industry,” commented Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive Officer of the BGC. “He is a widely respected leader with a deep understanding of both the opportunities and responsibilities that come with operating in a regulated environment. He has also shown a strong commitment to collaboration, helping drive forward initiatives that strengthen standards and protections across the sector. “I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to champion our members, raise standards, and support a well-regulated industry that delivers for customers, the economy, and communities across the country.” Before joining Gamesys, Purdy worked at BetVictor from 2006 to 2008 as an IT Service Delivery Manager and at Betfred from 2008 to 2009 as an Operations Manager. He took on the Managing Director role at Gamesys in 2013 following a three-year stint at the now-defunct online and telephone operator Stan James. Kane Purdy, new Chair of the BGC – Source: BGC “I am honoured and delighted to take on the role of Chair of the Betting and Gaming Council,” Purdy stated. “After 20 years in the industry, I understand the importance of working collectively to meet challenges, raise standards, and ensure the regulated sector continues to thrive. “I look forward to collaborating closely with Grainne and the team, as well as with members across the industry, to build on the strong progress already made and help shape the future direction of the BGC.” At the BGC Annual Summit in February, Grainne Hurst noted that the trade body would continue to lobby for sustainable industry governance, with members ready to work alongside authorities to tackle the growing encroachment of the black market – something the BGC views as the “next generational threat to the UK gambling sector.” This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.
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by: osami
Kalshi’s Weather Markets and UFC Have Similar Trading Volumes, Yet Sports Remain Dominant
(AsiaGameHub) - If prediction markets ever stop offering sports event contracts, what will Kalshi users place bets on? Could it be the weather? An analysis of Kalshi’s trading volume from January 1 to April 20 this year suggests that might indeed be the case. Two of Kalshi’s most popular non-sports markets center on daily high/low temperatures and precipitation. Our colleague Alex Weldon conducted an in-depth data dive, finding that the combined daily trading volume across both weather-related markets on Kalshi has averaged approximately $3,056,405 since the start of the year. A notable detail: for precipitation markets, Kalshi traders were far more active in betting on potential snowfall during winter months. The peak volume for precipitation markets was on January 4, hitting $5,401,881. Since March began, the highest trading volume—$453,231—was recorded on April 7. UFC Trading Volume Matches Weather Markets To provide context, we looked for a niche sport with trading volume comparable to Kalshi’s weather markets. UFC performed well in a direct comparison with the combined weather markets. From January 1 to April 20, daily trading volume for UFC bets averaged $2,903,762, roughly equal to the weather markets. Unsurprisingly, UFC betting activity was higher around actual events. The largest trading day came on April 11 for UFC 327 in Miami, which generated $45,019,798 in volume. We also analyzed a broader range of sports to compare their trading volumes. The UFC’s figures are modest compared to the NBA, which saw daily trading volume exceeding $100 million on eight occasions. The day after our monitoring period ended (a Tuesday), the NBA recorded $146,947,748 in trades—this year-to-date high coincided with three playoff games: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics, Portland Trailblazers vs. San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers. Below is the data on sports trading volumes from the start of the year through April 20: Sport Daily Trading Volume NBA$69,180,261PGA$11,579,225UFC$2,903,762Formula 1$141,059Cricket $117,123Rugby$3,782 The PGA’s trading volume spiked sharply during The Masters week (April 6-12), with $107,579,136 traded on the tournament’s final day. Last week’s RBC Heritage Classic in Hilton Head, which concluded on April 19, generated $18,623,390 in trading volume. During The Masters week, sports accounted for 85.8% of Kalshi’s total trading volume. That percentage dropped to 82.5% last week, but it’s clear that sports remain the lifeblood of prediction markets. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.
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by: osami
GR8 Tech upgrades player toolkit to boost retention ahead of 2026 World Cup
(AsiaGameHub) - GR8 Tech is enhancing its suite of engagement and retention tools to assist operators in transforming temporary visitor surges into sustained value in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup. Although major sporting events consistently generate surges in new sign-ups and deposits, the true business hurdle, as noted by the provider, is maintaining player activity after the initial few visits. “While the World Cup can fuel large-scale player acquisition, it is retention that ultimately defines commercial success,” stated Kateryna Shevchenko, CRM Product Manager at GR8 Tech. “Solutions that enable operators to act at the optimal time, offer transparent rewards, and minimize the workload involved in player engagement are key to maximizing the return on investment from such events – which is our primary focus.” A core component of this upgrade is a revamped loyalty program designed to boost transparency and sustained interaction, especially with the most valuable players. Players accumulate points from both casino and sports betting play, advancing through levels that provide access to improved reward terms. These feature organized cashback promotions on daily, weekly, and monthly bases, with comprehensive support for multiple currencies and cryptocurrencies. Integrated risk and fraud management features are also built into the system, enabling operators to react swiftly to shifts in player behavior while curbing the misuse of bonuses. Acknowledging that a string of losses is a major reason players leave, GR8 Tech has implemented an automated intervention system. Operators can define limits for losing bets, triggering the platform to issue a compensatory reward automatically within moments of the bet being settled. The goal is to alleviate disappointment at pivotal times and stop players from drifting away. GR8 Tech consolidates recent enhancements The firm is also tackling points of friction for new players by offering more choice in how they claim bonuses. Directly within the payment screen, users can now select, adjust, or decline bonus offers instead of being forced into a predetermined choice. This development follows the company's statement last week about having 'prepared its casino vertical accordingly' for the upcoming World Cup. The company has also recently upgraded its sportsbook platform and secured iconic football manager Jose Mourinho as a brand ambassador. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.
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by: jenn
Netflix’s New ‘Stranger Things’ Spinoff Restores the Lost Magic
Netflix(SeaPRwire) - Following the conclusion of the Stranger Things Season 5 finale, it became evident that the series in 2025 bore little resemblance to its 2016 iteration. The narrative had expanded, the stakes had escalated, and the young cast members had aged considerably. This aging is an inherent challenge for shows featuring child actors, as they cannot be perpetually frozen in time. Or can they?Introducing Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85, an animated spin-off series that commences directly after Season 2, a period many fans identify as the end of the show’s Golden Age. Upon initial viewing, this series effectively recaptures the essence that Stranger Things seemed to lose in its later seasons, provided one doesn't scrutinize the canon too closely.Tales from ‘85 follows the Hawkins group—Mike, Eleven, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max—as they return to school after their winter break. Unfortunately, their beloved science teacher, Mr. Clarke, is taking a sabbatical and is replaced by the charmingly eccentric Ms. Baxter. It isn't long before Ms. Baxter’s punk daughter, Nikki, finds herself in a difficult situation with our heroes, leading them to form the Hawkins Investigators Club. They delve into peculiar occurrences around town, discovering that, regrettably, even with the gate to the Upside Down closed, safety is not guaranteed.The inspiration for this series is quite apparent. Its "midquel" setting, distinctive animation style, and self-contained narrative bear a striking resemblance to Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the animated spin-off that offered a new perspective on the Star Wars prequel trilogy. This is the show’s strongest concept: just as Clone Wars expanded the Star Wars universe, Tales from ‘85 introduces new threats that, while perhaps less terrifying than Vecna, are perfectly suited for an animated series.If Tales from ‘85 is Stranger Things’ interpretation of The Clone Wars, then Nikki Baxter is its Ahsoka Tano: a spirited new character introduced exclusively in the spin-off, despite never being mentioned in the flagship media that preceded or followed it. Voiced by Marty Supreme breakout Odessa A’Zion, she is a valuable addition to the group, bringing a sense of world-weariness from her constant relocation and a talent for tinkering that gives the show a Ghostbusters-esque flair. Also noteworthy is the scientific basis for the main threat, which is just plausible enough while still incorporating elements of Dungeons and Dragons monsters.Nikki Baxter is an excellent addition to the already quite large Stranger Things ensemble. | NetflixHowever, not all the issues present in later-stage Stranger Things are resolved by the move to animation. It seems nearly every episode features at least one moment where a character is on the brink of certain doom, only to be rescued at the last second by Eleven’s telekinetic abilities. And while the alternative voice casting is superb, the absence of Joyce and Jonathan Byers is quite noticeable—even ten episodes prove insufficient to include the entire expansive cast.The most significant issue is, unfortunately, an unfixable one: the plot implications. It is poignant to hear Nikki discuss how she no longer bothers to make friends, knowing she will eventually move again and everyone will forget her. However, this conversation becomes heartbreaking when considering that these friends go on to save the world multiple times without ever mentioning Nikki or utilizing any of the tools she created for them. The Clone Wars circumvented this by having Ahsoka leave the Jedi Order, but no clean solution exists for a similar narrative departure here.But if viewers can suspend their disbelief regarding this point, then this show serves as the perfect palate cleanser after the series finale, bringing the show back to its original essence: kids on bikes solving mysteries and getting into adventures.Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85 is currently available for streaming on Netflix. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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by: osami
DATA.BET: Shifts in taxation and regulation to alter European betting landscape
(AsiaGameHub) - A prominent预测 technology figure in the European betting sector forecasts that the UK, France, Italy, and Germany might be displaced as the continent's top gambling markets. DATA.BET, a Cyprus-based supplier of sports and esports betting solutions, has highlighted the rising tax rates across Europe in its 2026 outlook, anticipating a shift in the industry's "balance of power." Taxes are undoubtedly expected to significantly impact the sector this year—a perspective shared not only by DATA.BET but also by numerous major gambling PLCs, including Flutter Entertainment, Entain, evoke, Betsson, and others. In its 2025 Sportsbook Report, DATA.BET referenced the scale of the British, Italian, French, and German markets, noting revenues of €30.8bn (£26.7m), €25.5bn, €18.8bn, and €17.8bn, respectively. Nevertheless, betting in the UK, France, and Germany now faces substantial taxes, such as the UK's new Remote Gaming Duty (RGD) of 40% (increased from 21%). Conversely, Italy offers a relatively favorable tax environment but enforces strict regulations, particularly regarding marketing. These circumstances could result in a changing of the guard, according to DATA.BET, which states that "as newly introduced legislation and tightening tax policies reshape the operating environment, the regional balance of power is unlikely to remain unchanged." Like all stakeholders in the European betting landscape, DATA.BET is incorporating the continent's tax and regulatory landscape into its strategic planning. The firm is prioritizing infrastructure reliability, risk management, and the expansion of its product ecosystem and content coverage to enhance engagement, thereby establishing a defense against the aforementioned challenges. Taxation isn't the only factor For the past year, it appears that taxation was the sole topic of conversation in iGaming. This was particularly evident in the UK, SBC News' home country, during the summer and autumn as the sector prepared for the HM Treasury's budget in November 2025. However, DATA.BET has identified non-tax factors it believes will shape the industry in 2026. The company anticipates a continued shift toward mobile-first consumption of betting products and content, fueled by 5G adoption. It also predicts increased convergence between gaming and betting audiences, largely driven by esports; a move toward operational speed, stability, and scale rather than technicality; and a growing significance for low-tier and semi-pro tournaments, which occur more often than major tier-one events. Given these various factors, how is DATA.BET positioned in 2026? The company reported a 55% rise in gross gaming revenue (GGR) in 2025, driven by a 105% surge in monthly active users and an 82% jump in daily active users. Additionally, it has grown its client network, with fully integrated partners increasing by over 200%. "We believe that transparency builds trust and propels the entire industry forward," stated Yurii Berest, Chief Executive Officer of DATA.BET. "At DATA.BET sits at the core of everything we do, and this report reflects that. With the addition of sports betting last year, we aim to demonstrate how our product continues to evolve and improve, and how we assist operators in growing their revenue through effective betting." This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.
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by: osami
More Than Half of Children in South Korean Provinces Report Seeing Illegal Gambling Ads
(AsiaGameHub) - Over 50% of students in two South Korean regions report encountering or engaging with internet gambling advertisements. According to the South Korean daily Kangwon Ilbo, these results come from a study on youth gambling ordered by the Korea Gambling Problem Prevention and Treatment Center. The organization discovered that 56% of minors in Gangwon and Jeju had been exposed to gambling marketing content. More than 5% of those surveyed admitted to having gambled, a figure exceeding the nationwide average of approximately 3%. The center noted that the typical age for a first online wager among these youths was 12 and a half years. The center attributed the surge in youth gambling in these regions to peer influence and insufficient recreational options designed for young people. Minors informed the center that they frequently encounter ads promoting cash-betting games, illicit sports wagering, and internet casinos while browsing the web or using mobile applications. Some of the largest casinos in South Korea are located in Gangwon and Jeju. A news report by South Korean broadcaster MBN regarding a criminal event at a Jeju casino in the previous year. Children: Gambling Ads Have Become Ubiquitous In response, the center plans to introduce a campaign targeting youth to curb compulsive gambling, which will include interactive workshops for young people. The center stated that this anti-gambling campaign aligns with fresh regulations enacted by the National Assembly. Legislators recently approved changes to the Act on the Supervision of the Korea Gambling Control Commission, mandating that schools conduct gambling prevention education at least biannually. “Youth gambling is emerging as a critical issue,” a center spokesperson remarked. “Illegal wagering is increasingly common among the youth, becoming integrated into their everyday lives.” Law enforcement agencies across the nation have initiated amnesty programs for youth involved in gambling offenses. Officers indicated that minors and young adults who surrender during these amnesty windows will be granted pardons or reduced sentences. Concurrently, Korea Sports Leisure, the state sports lottery operator, has reiterated its request for whistleblowers on illegal sports betting to step forward. According to the Dong-A Ilbo, the operator is providing monetary rewards for information resulting in arrests. Korea Sports Leisure announced potential payouts of up to 200 million won (exceeding $135,000). Additionally, it urged athletes to report any knowledge of attempted match-fixing. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.
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by: emer
CMS (867.HK; 8A8.SG): NDA for the Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis Indication of Class 1 Innovative Drug MG-K10 Accepted in China
SHENZHEN, Apr 23, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - China Medical System Holdings Limited (the “Group” or “CMS”) is pleased to announce that the New Drug Application (NDA) in China for the Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (SAR) indication of MG-K10 (generic name: Comekibart Injection, “MG-K10” or the “Product”), a Class 1 innovative drug anti-IL-4Rα humanized monoclonal antibody injection, for which the Group holds co-development rights (excluding the indication of atopic dermatitis (AD)) and exclusive commercialization rights, was accepted by the National Medical Products Administration of China (NMPA) on 23 April 2026. The Product is proposed for the treatment of adult patients with moderate-to-severe seasonal allergic rhinitis whose symptoms remain inadequately controlled after treatment with intranasal corticosteroids.The acceptance of the NDA represents an important milestone for the Group’s ophthalmology business, CMS Vision, as it expands its therapeutic focus from ophthalmology into the field of otolaryngology (ENT). It also marks another significant milestone in the Group’s research and development progress in the field of type 2 inflammatory diseases. If the Product is successfully approved for marketing, the Group will leverage its strong academic promotion capabilities and extensive commercialization network to accelerate the commercialization of the Product. It is also expected to further enhance the academic brand influence of CMS Vision in the relevant specialty areas and provide new momentum for the Group’s business growth.BIC Potential: Dosing once every 4 weeks; Phase III study met the primary endpoint with a favorable safety profileMG-K10 is an innovative long-acting anti-IL-4Rα humanized monoclonal antibody that simultaneously blocks the signaling pathways of the key type 2 inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-13, thereby exerting immunomodulatory effects. It is being developed for the treatment of type 2 inflammatory diseases, including seasonal allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis (AD), prurigo nodularis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, and eosinophilic esophagitis. Currently marketed anti-IL-4Rα therapies require administration once every two weeks. MG-K10, with its longer half-life, enabling a once-every-four-weeks dosing regimen. It therefore has the potential to become the first long-acting anti-IL-4Rα monoclonal antibody to be marketed globally, with the potential to be best-in-class. MG-K10 has met the primary endpoint in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III clinical trial in adult patients with moderate-to-severe seasonal allergic rhinitis. The results of the Phase III study demonstrated that the primary endpoint achieved statistical significance, with significantly superior efficacy compared with the placebo group, and a favorable safety profile.Focusing on Unmet Needs: ~250 million patients; 62% of moderate-to-severe patients remain inadequately controlled; long-acting breakthrough brings new treatment opportunitiesAllergic rhinitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa mediated by IgE, with type 2 inflammation as the core pathogenic mechanism. It occurs in susceptible individuals upon exposure to environmental allergens such as pollen and dust mites. In recent years, the prevalence of the disease in China has increased from 11.1% to 17.6%, affecting approximately 250 million people[1], among whom 52.2% are patients with persistent moderate-to-severe disease[2]. The disease burden is significant and has become an important public health issue. Current standard treatments, including intranasal corticosteroids and antihistamines, have notable limitations. 62% of patients with moderate-to-severe disease remain inadequately controlled[3]. Long-term use of intranasal corticosteroids may lead to adverse reactions such as epistaxis[4], while antihistamines are often associated with side effects such as drowsiness[5], indicating significant unmet clinical needs. As a biologic therapy targeting IL-4Rα, MG-K10 can block the type 2 inflammatory pathway at its source. Compared with currently approved biologics targeting the same pathway (which require dosing once every two weeks), MG-K10 achieves a differentiated breakthrough in dosing frequency with its long-acting property allowing administration once every four weeks, thereby significantly extending dosing intervals. This may help improve patient treatment adherence and reduce the time and economic burden associated with frequent hospital visits. The Product has the potential to provide a new treatment option for patients with moderate-to-severe disease who respond poorly to conventional therapies, thereby reducing the individual and socio-economic burden associated with the disease.On 24 January 2025, the Group through subsidiaries of the Company entered into a Collaboration Agreement (“Agreement”) with Hunan Mabgeek Biotech Co., LTD and its subsidiary for MG-K10. In accordance with the Agreement and supplementary agreements, the Group has obtained the co-development rights (excluding AD) and exclusive commercialization rights for the Product in Mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, Taiwan Region and Singapore; its subsidiary Dermavon Holdings Limited has obtained, through its subsidiary, the co-development rights (excluding AD) and exclusive commercialization rights for the Product in the field of dermatological indications in Mainland China.About CMSCMS is a platform company linking pharmaceutical innovation and commercialization with strong product lifecycle management capability, dedicated to providing competitive products and services to meet unmet medical needs.CMS focuses on the global first-in-class (FIC) and best-in-class (BIC) innovative products, and efficiently promotes the clinical research, development and commercialization of innovative products, enabling the continuous transformation of scientific research into clinical practices to benefit patients.CMS deeply engages in several specialty therapeutic fields, and has developed proven commercialization capabilities, extensive networks and expert resources, resulting in leading academic and market positions for its major marketed products. CMS continues to promote the in-depth development in its advantageous specialty fields, strengthening the competitiveness of the Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic/ gastroenterology/ ophthalmology/ skin health businesses, bringing economies of scale in specialty fields. Among them, the skin health business (Dermavon) has become a leading enterprise in its field, and is proposed to be listed independently on the SEHK. Meanwhile, CMS continuously promotes the operation and development of its integrated R&D, manufacturing and commercialization chain in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, capturing growth opportunities in emerging markets to support the high-quality and sustainable development of the Group.Reference1. Cheng L, Chen J, Fu Q, et al. Chinese Society of Allergy Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2018;10:300‑353.2. Zheng, Ming et al. “Clinical characteristics of allergic rhinitis patients in 13 metropolitan cities of China.” Allergy vol. 76,2 (2021): 577-581. doi:10.1111/all.145613. White, P et al. “Symptom control in patients with hay fever in UK general practice: how well are we doing and is there a need for allergen immunotherapy?” Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology vol. 28,3 (1998): 266-70. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2222.1998.00237.x4. Rosenblut, A et al. “Long-term safety of fluticasone furoate nasal spray in adults and adolescents with perennial allergic rhinitis.” Allergy vol. 62,9 (2007): 1071-7. doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.2007.01521.x5. Bernstein, Jonathan A et al. “Allergic Rhinitis: A Review.” JAMA vol. 331,10 (2024): 866-877. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.0530CMS Disclaimer and Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release is not intended to promote any products to you and is not for advertising purposes. This press release does not recommend any drugs, medical devices and/or indications. If you want to know more about the diagnosis and treatment of specific diseases, please follow the opinions or guidance of your doctor or other medical and health professionals. Any treatment-related decisions made by healthcare professionals should be based on the patient’s specific circumstances and in accordance with the drug package insert.This press release which has been prepared by CMS does not constitute any offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities, and shall not form the basis for or be relied on in connection with any contract or binding commitment whatsoever. This press release has been prepared by CMS based on information and data which it considers reliable, but CMS makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, whatsoever, and no reliance shall be placed on, the truth, accuracy, completeness, fairness and reasonableness of the contents of this press release. Certain matters discussed in this press release may contain statements regarding the Group’s market opportunity and business prospects that are individually and collectively forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Any forward-looking statements and projections made by third parties included in this press release are not adopted by the Group and the Company is not responsible for such third-party statements and projections.Media ContactBrand: China Medical System Holdings Ltd.Contact: CMS Investor RelationsEmail: ir@cms.net.cnWebsite: https://web.cms.net.cn/en/home/ Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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by: osami
Former Rangers Player Suspended for Gambling Says He Only Wanted to Use Betting Shop Toilet
(AsiaGameHub) - Kevin Thomson, a former Rangers footballer, has disclosed that he was suspended for gambling during his tenure as a coach at the club. However, he asserts that he didn’t enter the betting shop to place a wager—he only needed to use the restroom. Thomson made 71 appearances for Rangers between 2007 and 2010. After retiring as a player in 2016, he took on a role as a youth coach at the club, and it was during this period that he was suspended for violating betting regulations. He shared details of the internal suspension in a conversation with Charlie Mulgrew, a former player for rival team Celtic, on The Breakdown podcast earlier this week. “I was only going in for the toilet,” Thomson claimed. “I was that miserable, I didn’t want to put a bet on. I just wanted the toilet.” Young Players Encouraged the Bet Still, the ex-Scotland international did place a football bet. He states that the under-14 youth players he coached prompted him to make the wager. “The lads were chatting about coupons (parlays) and all that,” Thomson said. “I wasn’t into coupons; I preferred horse racing and never really cared much for football betting. And since the boys were asking: do you fancy this team? You fancy that team? It planted a bit of a seed.” Needing to use the toilet urgently, Thomson got off the team bus on the way back from a match in Aberdeen, northern Scotland. The bus stopped near a William Hill betting shop—though such venues are becoming rarer in the UK as the company closes locations due to higher taxes. But the toilet door was locked. To get the key, Thomson told the shop assistant he planned to place a bet. After using the restroom, he wagered £20 (about $27) on a four-team parlay. CCTV Footage Catches the Incident The bet was successful, but instead of collecting the winnings himself, Thomson asked a colleague to go to the William Hill shop. “So he went in and collected my winnings on my behalf, which now looks suspicious,” Thomson said. “There was no suspicion in it.” However, club management was notified of the incident after CCTV cameras identified the Rangers coach. UK Rules Strictly Prohibit Players and Staff From Betting UK betting regulations ban players and coaching staff from placing any wagers on football. Several other players have faced penalties for gambling offenses, including an English player who received a five-month ban last year. Thomson received a lighter punishment because the matter was handled internally; he said he was given a two-match suspended ban. He left Rangers in 2021 and now runs his own football school, the Kevin Thomson Academy. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.
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by: osami
BETER CRO details company’s forward-looking strategy and ambitions
(AsiaGameHub) - BETER is setting its sights on the future as it broadens its content portfolio and enters new markets. At the SBC Summit Rio, BETER’s Chief Revenue Officer, Chuck Robert Robinson, met with SBC Noticias’ Ana Maria Menezes to talk about the firm's approach to eFootball, its broader objectives for player engagement, and the role of AI, regulation, and the worldwide betting market. European focus is on scaling. BETER's European strategy is evolving. Robinson characterizes the market as "more mature from a regulatory perspective," adding that they have gained a better insight into customer demands over the past year. Consequently, the company's aim in Europe is to scale effectively, identifying the optimal point with current clients to deliver substantial value at a fair cost. Achieving this also depends on consistently ensuring the integrity of their content. Excelling in this area provides BETER with the credibility and assurance operators require to trust they are receiving a top-tier product. “Filling the gaps” A significant portion of the discussion focused on how BETER's eSports and eSim content is intended to complement traditional sports instead of directly rivalling it. Referencing experiences from Euro 2024 and the Copa America 2024, Robinson explained that their eFootball content sees high engagement before matches, at halftime, and for up to three hours post-game. These are typically times when operators experience a major decline in user activity. Robinson observed, “As the tournament progresses and the number of matches decreases, our operators rely more on our content to maintain bettor engagement.” With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, Robinson expressed confidence that demand for this supplementary content will grow substantially, noting that leading operators are already adding BETER's eSim products to their traditional sports sections. Integrity as a commercial differentiator Robinson emphasized that integrity has transitioned from a regulatory requirement to a central commercial offering. BETER's integrity framework is built on three pillars – education, due diligence, and prosecution – with Robinson highlighting its importance as the company expands into regulated markets like Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and the United States. AI: more than just a buzzword Discussing the future inevitably involves the global impact of AI. Robinson stated that BETER is similarly leveraging the technology. He explained that BETER is implementing AI throughout its operations, mainly to accelerate the development and pricing of betting markets, thereby decreasing dependence on manual trading. The technology is also used in its integrity monitoring system to detect irregularities within its catalog of 750,000 yearly events. Scaling across 150 markets Managing operations at its present scale poses difficulties, but Robinson identifies compliance and legal frameworks as the key facilitators. With a presence in 150 nations and a clientele comprising both B2B and B2C operators, Robinson stated that ensuring regulatory compliance across this extensive network is the team's biggest operational hurdle. However, when executed successfully, it transforms into the most distinct competitive edge a provider of their kind can possess. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.
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by: osami
Sportradar Accused of Assisting Illegal Gambling, Share Price Plummets
(AsiaGameHub) - Sportradar's stock price has plunged by nearly a quarter after a report from Muddy Waters Research alleged the firm is complicit in supporting unlawful gambling operations. Titled "Sportradar AG: Putting the BET into Aiding and Abetting," the report contends that up to 40% of the company's income could be derived from illicit operators. While Sportradar is the globe's leading sports data and integrity firm, Muddy Waters asserts this is merely a cover for its core activity of enabling illegal betting. The report states, "SRAD’s CEO likes to call his company the FBI of gambling. The FBI does not offer to introduce informants to human traffickers at trade shows." Undercover Investigation These claims originate from a covert operation at the ICE 2026 conference in Barcelona. Investigators from Muddy Waters posed as founders of a new sportsbook aiming to enter Asian markets. They informed Sportradar's sales representatives of their intent to attract customers in Vietnam, China, Thailand, and Indonesia—all nations with stringent prohibitions on gambling. Despite the laws, underground operators are widespread and have even secured celebrity promoters. Ryan Giggs recently faced criticism for advertising a platform that professed to be Vietnam's top online betting site. Although Sportradar says it watches the illegal sector "very closely," Muddy Waters calls "this a lie." The sales team showed no hesitation when probed about accessing prohibited markets, stating they "serve everyone" and proposing an introduction to the Yabo Group, China's biggest illegal gambling entity. Report Could Have Damaging Impact Muddy Waters Research acknowledges holding a short position against Sportradar. The firm is recognized for releasing exposés on public companies, typically after taking such short positions. The report has already hurt the share price, but the consequences could be broader. As Muddy Waters highlighted, Sportradar (SRAD) possesses B2B licenses in jurisdictions where it is expected to maintain Know Your Customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) protocols. Furthermore, it has alliances with sports leagues that must trust it to safeguard match integrity. Sportradar reported it oversaw more than 1 million sports events last year and said suspected match-fixing incidents declined. However, Muddy Waters argues the facade of protecting integrity is simply a cover to earn money from illegal gambling. "The paradox is structural," the report explains. "SRAD requires the lower-tier leagues for profit margins. It requires the integrity program to gain access to those leagues. It requires the illegal operators to increase income and assist with covering expenses." Cambodia at Center of Illegal Gambling Networks The charge that Sportradar is abetting not just illegal gambling but also human trafficking arises from the activities of Asian criminal syndicates. Muddy Waters alleges the Yabo Group's "Cambodian call centers are operated by trafficked and enslaved laborers." Authorities in Cambodia and nearby areas have moved against these operations, with the US and UK imposing sanctions on the suspected networks. Beyond housing illegal online gambling, these centers are also accused of running global scam operations. A raid on one location last December reportedly found lions that were allegedly used to torture gamblers who owed debts. Indonesian officials recently announced they had broken up an online gambling ring connected to Cambodia. Nevertheless, Amnesty International alleges that Cambodia's government is involved in permitting these unlawful gambling networks to persist. Stake & bet365 Among Companies Implicated in Report Beyond assisting illegal operators in restricted Asian markets, Muddy Waters further alleges Sportradar is advancing the black market in Russia and helping firms like Stake to function in the US without a license. The report also names bet365 as conducting illegal activities in prohibited markets. The company is confronting legal action in New Zealand over accusations it targeted customers there using offshore licenses from Gibraltar and Malta. The 123-page document identifies several other gambling companies. Regulators globally might soon initiate probes into Sportradar's practices. Sportradar was asked for a statement but had not replied by the publication deadline. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.
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by: osami
Caesars Entertainment Faces Lawsuit for Alleged 2023 and Recent Data Breaches
(AsiaGameHub) - Caesars Entertainment is currently confronting a class action lawsuit over alleged data breaches that occurred in 2023 and once more earlier this year. The firm experienced a highly publicized security compromise in September 2023. The lawsuit claims the company failed to address its security flaws and suffered another data hack in early 2026. The plaintiff, Mark Huddleston, asserts his data was stolen by cybercriminals, and holds Caesars responsible for failing to properly safeguard his personal information. “Caesars ignored the rights of the Plaintiff and Class Members by negligently failing to implement reasonable measures to safeguard Private Information and by skipping necessary steps to prevent unauthorized disclosure of that information,” the complaint states. “Caesars’s woefully inadequate data security measures made the Data Breach a foreseeable, and even likely, consequence of its negligence.” Huddleston is a Texas resident and states he has been a Caesars Rewards member since 2007. He submitted the lawsuit to the U.S. District Court in Nevada, where Caesars maintains its headquarters. Caesars Paid Ransom to Limit Harm From the Hack In 2023, Caesars is reported to have paid a $15 million ransom to the hacking group Scattered Spider. At the time, Caesars released a statement saying, “We have taken steps to ensure that the stolen data is deleted by the unauthorized actor, although we cannot guarantee this result. We are actively monitoring the internet and have not found any evidence that the data has been further shared, published, or otherwise misused.” The lawsuit alleges that the breach exposed Huddleston and other similarly affected individuals to “threats of identity theft crimes, fraud, scams, and other misuses of their Private Information.” It notes the lawsuit meets class action eligibility requirements as total damages exceed $5 million stemming from the compromise of more than 100 customers’ data. Caesars Delayed Notifying Authorities and Users The Scattered Spider attack specifically targeted Caesars Rewards members, impacting as many as 65 million users. Caesars did not immediately alert authorities or its customers of the incident. In a LinkedIn post, Cybersecurity Strategist Matthew Rosenquist claims the actual attack took place in August 2023, but Caesars did not report it until September. The company then mailed a notification letter to users (copy included below) in October. “Time is of the essence when highly sensitive Private Information is subject to unauthorized access and/or acquisition,” the lawsuit states. “The disclosed, accessed, and/or acquired Private Information of Plaintiff and Class Members is now likely available on the Dark Web.” Second Breach Took Place Earlier This Year The lawsuit claims that Caesars failed to adequately protect data following the 2023 attack, leading to a second breach earlier this year. This incident has received far less public attention, but the lawsuit references a March article that cites social media rumors of another attack. A post on X alleged that Caesars employees lost access to Okta, an internal system used to manage login credentials. Update: Caesars employees have lost mobile access to Okta (software that helps manage logins across internal systems), presumably as a preventative measure. The last time Caesars was hacked, gaining access to the Okta platform was a key vulnerability resulting in the data breach. https://t.co/u6SUNzLRkQ— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) March 3, 2026 The lawsuit alleges that the stolen data includes, “at a minimum, Plaintiff’s and Class Members’ contact information and dates of birth. But based on the types of Private Information that were taken in the 2023 breach, it can be expected that even more sensitive information, including Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers were also stolen in 2026.” The complaint alleges that the repeated breaches violate Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) guidelines. The FTC did not issue any sanctions against Caesars for the 2023 breach. Last year, the company was ordered to pay a $7.8 million fine over anti-money laundering failures. The casino group is alleged to have allowed illegal bookmakers to launder funds at its properties. Earlier this month, a former employee also filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging his termination was the result of racial discrimination. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.
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by: nicole
Two trains collide in Denmark, resulting in 5 people being critically injured
(SeaPRwire) - A collision between two trains occurred in Denmark early Thursday, leaving five people critically injured in an incident police described as major.The crash happened around 6:30 a.m. near Hillerød, roughly 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Copenhagen. Approximately a dozen other individuals have minor injuries, according to the Greater Copenhagen Fire Department.Thirty-eight people were on board the two trains, a spokesperson for the North Zealand police stated.Officials initially reported four people as critically injured but revised that number hours after the collision. It was not immediately clear if the train drivers were among those affected.Investigators are probing the cause of the crash, which took place near a level crossing. Photos from the scene show the front ends of the trains damaged, though both remained upright on the tracks.Trine Egetved, mayor of the nearby town of Gribskov, said in a Facebook post that some of the injured were airlifted to the hospital.She noted the crash occurred on a local rail line used by many Gribskov residents, employees, and schoolchildren.No further details were available. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.
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by: nicole
Former Philippine President Duterte to stand trial on charges of crimes against humanity
(SeaPRwire) - International Criminal Court judges on Thursday formally approved crimes against humanity charges against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, relating to lethal anti-drug operations he is accused of supervising during his presidency.A unanimous three-judge panel determined there are "substantial grounds" to hold the former leader accountable for numerous murders, initially during his tenure as mayor of Davao city in the southern Philippines and subsequently as president.The 80-year-old Duterte, who was arrested in the Philippines last year, has pleaded not guilty to all allegations.In a 50-page ruling, the judges concluded that evidence indicates Duterte "formulated, promoted, and executed" a strategy "to ‘neutralize’ suspected criminals."Prosecutors allege that dozens of murders were committed by police and assassins following Duterte’s orders, with perpetrators motivated by financial rewards or fear of being targeted."For some individuals, the killings became a twisted kind of contest," deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang stated during pretrial proceedings in February.The commencement date for the trial remains unscheduled.In the February hearings, Duterte's principal attorney, Nick Kaufman, informed the court that his client "firmly stands by his legacy and unequivocally asserts his innocence."Kaufman contended that the prosecution selectively used instances of Duterte's "provocative language," arguing his client's remarks were never meant to encourage violence.Figures for the number of deaths under Duterte's administration differ widely, ranging from the over 6,000 acknowledged by national police to as many as 30,000 cited by human rights organizations.Duterte has exercised his right to waive court attendance and has not been present for hearings. Judges last month ruled him medically fit for trial, following a prior delay due to health considerations.ICC prosecutors initiated a preliminary examination into the drug war's violence in 2018. The then-president Duterte declared the Philippines' withdrawal from the court a month later, a step rights campaigners view as an attempt to evade responsibility.On Wednesday, appellate judges dismissed a motion from Duterte's defense to dismiss the case, rejecting the argument that the ICC lost jurisdiction due to the country's departure. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.