SBC Awards Europe 2026: Spotlight On the Winners

(AsiaGameHub) -   The 2026 SBC Awards Europe wrapped up SBC Summit Malta, with Kaizen Gaming leading the winners by securing three awards. Held on April 30 at Xara Lodge in Malta, the ceremony brought together industry stakeholders to honor the individuals and companies driving progress and setting new standards in sports betting and gaming across Europe. Renowned sports broadcaster Alison Bender hosted the evening, presenting 36 awards to recognize the industry’s top operators, affiliates, and suppliers. Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, said: “Every year, the industry raises the bar, and this year is no different. The winners are the people, teams, and products that have not only kept pace with change, but adapted quickly and continued to push that bar even higher.” It was an outstanding night for Kaizen Gaming, which took home the Sportsbook Operator of the Year, Casino Operator of the Year, and Operator Innovation in Gaming awards—acknowledging its strong performance and ongoing growth. In the affiliate categories, Flashscore retained its title as Sports Affiliate of the Year, while Gentoo Media won the Casino Affiliate of the Year award. Meanwhile, 1xBet was recognized for its affiliate program, claiming the Best Affiliate Programme award. On the supplier side, Delasport was named Sportsbook Supplier of the Year, and BGaming secured the Casino Supplier of the Year title. EveryMatrix was honored as Platform Provider of the Year, with Sportradar and Fast Track receiving awards for Sports Data Product and Industry Innovation of the Year, respectively. Highlighting leadership and workplace culture, Betsson Group was named Employer of the Year, while the Leader of the Year award went to Alexandre Tomic (CEO, Alea) and Elena Rousseva (CEO, Playtech). Yaroslav Soloshenko (Business Development Team Lead, ELA Games) was also recognized as Manager of the Year. Excellence in game design—long a core focus of the SBC Awards Europe—was once again celebrated that night. Peter & Sons won Game Studio of the Year (Small) and Best Game Soundtrack. Pragmatic Play and Hacksaw Gaming also earned recognition in the Game Studio of the Year categories, while Play’n GO secured Game of the Year for Reactoonz 100. Additional awards went to Creedroomz for Game Design & Art Direction and TaDa Gaming for Game Feature/Mechanic of the Year. In the payments and compliance categories, Yaspa was named Payment Solution of the Year, and GBG won Compliance & KYC Partner of the Year. Gaming1 was also acknowledged for its commitment to safer gambling, taking home the Socially Responsible Initiative of the Year award. The night also featured a range of Rising Star categories, spotlighting emerging companies making an impact across the industry. 18Peaches was named Rising Star in Casino, while Odds88 secured the Rising Star in Sports Betting award on the supplier side. Among operators, 247Bet (by Casimba Gaming) was recognized in sports betting, and Impressario Casino took home the casino Rising Star award. “I would like to take the chance to thank our headline sponsors, 1xBet and Spribe and Official Partner, Gaming Malta, alongside our supporting sponsors. Their support has made it possible to deliver a memorable celebration of the industry’s achievements,” said Sojmark. The awards ceremony concluded the final night of SBC Summit Malta, which saw 6,000 industry stakeholders gather at the InterContinental Hotel, Malta, from April 28 to 30. View the full list of winners here. 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.

Kangwon Land’s First-Quarter Net Profit Falls 47% Compared to Previous Year

(AsiaGameHub) -   South Korean casino operator Kangwon Land posted a nearly 47% year-over-year decline in quarterly net profit, even as its overall revenue saw an uptick. The company, which runs the High1 casino-resort in Gangwon Province, also reported a 7.2% year-over-year drop in operating profits for the first quarter of 2026, per South Korean media outlet Digital Today. Casino revenue saw growth, but mounting costs and declining non-casino revenue weighed on overall expansion. In its preliminary first-quarter financial report, the company also noted a 3.4% rise in revenue when compared to Q1 2025. The company disclosed first-quarter operating profits of 68.9 billion won ($46.6 million) and total revenue of 378.9 billion won, equivalent to over $256 million. Casino revenue for the quarter reached 360 billion won ($244 million), marking a 4.5% increase compared to the same period one year prior. The firm stated that a recent lift to betting limits on its baccarat tables helped drive this growth, and also cited a series of service and system upgrades as key factors behind the casino revenue increase. Conversely, non-casino sales revenue fell 2% to 48.6 billion won ($32.9 million). Kangwon Land: Rising Operational Costs Mounting overhead expenses weighed on growth. Kangwon Land’s operating costs for the first quarter totaled 310 billion won (nearly $210 million), a 6.2% increase from the same period a year earlier. High1 is the sole South Korean casino that allows holders of domestic passports to enter, giving it an effective monopoly in the nation’s casino gambling sector. Dozens of other casinos, mostly situated in Seoul and Jeju Island, are only permitted to admit visitors holding foreign passports. Other South Korean casino operators have released similarly underwhelming financial results in recent weeks, yet investors have mostly remained supportive of these firms in the stock market. Kangwon Land’s stock prices have climbed more than 2.4% over the last five trading days. Kangwon Land stock prices on the Korea Exchange. (Image source: Google Finance) Competitor Grand Korea Leisure has seen comparable growth. This state-owned company, which runs the Seven Luck casino brand, recently announced plans to host a traditional ceramics exhibition at its Seoul Gangnam casino location. The exhibition will showcase creations by master ceramists from Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, and will run through June 30. Yeoju is widely regarded as the unofficial capital of South Korea’s traditional ceramics industry, and is home to many of the nation’s most renowned craft studios. Last month, a member of the National Assembly disclosed that, according to estimates from the Korea Gambling Control Commission, the country’s illegal gambling networks are now valued at approximately 96 trillion won ($65 billion). The National Police Agency also reported that the number of illegal underage gambling cases increased by 62% in the previous year. 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.

Unions Call For CFTC Action Against Speculation and Mention Regulations to Safeguard Athletes

(AsiaGameHub) -   Player associations for the NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS, and NHL have called on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to ban certain prediction markets. Specifically, the unions want the CFTC to block contracts tied to a “negative” outcome or any contract that can be manipulated by a single individual. “This would include contracts based on what are known as ‘under bets’ or on whether an athlete isinjured or given a penalty,” the unions wrote in an official comment submitted to the CFTC. “It would also include ‘mention contracts’, which depend on whether specific words orphrases, such as ‘concussion,’ are spoken during live event broadcasts (this is just another way ofbetting on a negative outcome).” The unions argue that these types of markets expose athletes to abuse and harassment, and also put the integrity of professional sports at risk. Shielding Players From Abuse “Keeping our athletes and their families safe and secure is the top priority for ourorganizations,” the player unions said in their joint statement. The comment cited a New York Times article that found legalized sports betting has increased how often players receive abusive and threatening messages from unhappy bettors. One survey found that 78% of professional baseball players said legal sports betting has changed the way fans treat them or their teammates. For example, MLB players Lance McCullers Jr. (pictured above) and Liam Hendriks reported getting death threats last year. Multiple NBA players have also spoken out against the regular abuse they get from angry bettors. “The worst things you’re thinking of right now are actually worse than that,” said New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson. Banning prop bets at prediction markets would help cut down on abuse, the player unions claim. People upset about losing money “do not tell the difference between state-regulated wagers and contracts offered on prediction markets. From their point of view, a bet is a bet no matter where it is placed.” Safeguarding the Integrity of Sports In addition to reducing abuse against athletes, the unions claim that limiting prop bets will protect the integrity of sports. Last year saw multiple betting scandals across the NBA, MLS, and MLB, where players were accused of manipulating their performances for betting gains. If the CFTC does not restrict the range of sports prediction markets offered on platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, it will give “more room to those looking to manipulate sporting events,” the unions stated. CFTC Receives a Flood of Comments The CFTC opened a public comment period last month, asking for input on which contracts should be banned as “contrary to public interest.” The comment period has now closed after attracting more than 1,500 submissions. Along with the player unions, the NBA also asked the CFTC to limit the types of markets that can be offered. It said player prop markets “should be prohibited in the near term, while appropriate, sensible restrictions are developed to reduce risks to integrity.” Additionally, it asked the CFTC to consult with sports leagues before allowing companies to self-certify new markets. Representatives from the PGA Tour, ATP Tour, and MLB also submitted comments, similarly asking the agency to closely monitor markets that could be vulnerable to manipulation. The PGA Tour and NBA also asked the CFTC to raise the minimum age for using sports prediction markets to 21, matching the legal sports betting age in most U.S. states. The CFTC will now review all submitted comments, and Chairman Michael Selig has promised that the agency will create clear standards for 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.

Global Experts call for Paradigm Shift in Medicine, Health and Education to Save Lives and Fight Escalating Health Crisis

INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA, May 1, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - A global consortium of 64 experts (72 entities, 5 continents) unveiled two coordinated consensus plus policy brief reports, outlining a science‑driven roadmap to confront escalating health crises and to tackle the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs-including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, etc.: 75% of global deaths; 82% in low-/middle income countries; 90% of all death in European region).The centerpiece is HEAL-Healthy Eating & Active Living, ideally whole‑food plant‑predominant/vegetarian-vegan diets & daily exercise outdoors/active mobility-as the minimum, first‑line standard in health and care. The authors urge immediate action on Prevention-over-Treatment and reforming education and human‑relevant science (drug failure rate from animal studies is 90-95%, and as high as 99.6% for Alzheimer disease), with a rapid shift from disease‑centered reaction to person‑centered, lifestyle‑first cure and care.Figure 1. HEAL means choosing a whole-food, plant-predominant (ideally vegan) diets coupled with daily exercise outdoors/in nature to kick-start better health. Credit: iStock/LightFieldStudios."Sustainable health is for free but cannot be downloaded or prescribed-it must be lived daily and earned across lifetime through informed lifestyle choices, with HEAL as starting point. As childhood-entrenched health literacy lasts a lifetime; embedding HEAL from primary to tertiary education is the policy priority of our generation." -Lead author Katharina Wirnitzer | PHT, University of Innsbruck & CCCTIMFigure 2. Katharina Wirnitzer/Keynote on Vegan Diet in Sports. Credit: ©Katharina Wirnitzer.Why change is imperativeThe paradox: Despite rising health spending and scientific advances, public health gains lag while ever-growing NCDs. The expert panel offers 101 consensus statements and a 10‑step policy roadmap to act across the lifespan-from individual behavior to population‑level change.Why HEAL, and why now: HEAL combines Healthy Eating (whole‑food, plant‑predominant; preferably vegetarian/vegan) with Active Living (regular, ideally daily, including outdoor activity and active mobility). Evidence shows synergistic benefits beyond either alone, reducing reliance on drugs and surgery while improving resilience and sustainability of health systems.Prevention-First (3:1): The reports recommend prioritizing prevention, health maintenance, and health promotion over treatment by 3:1 (Figure 3), making healthy choices the easy, first‑line intervention and reserving medicalized treatment for specific indications.Education and workforce: Embed HEAL from primary through tertiary education and continuously upskill healthcare and education professionals to deliver evidence‑based lifestyle counseling, routine assessment, and monitoring. Improve meal standards and support active mobility in schools and public spaces.Human‑relevant science: Accelerate the transition to non‑animal, human‑relevant methods for basic and preclinical research and for efficacy, safety and toxicity testing through funding priorities, validation, and regulatory adoption.Policy roadmap: Apply Health in All Policies (HiAP) to link individual choices with systemic supports (Figure 4); invest in supportive defaults (healthy public catering, active transport, public‑space design, community HEAL programs); embed HEAL in curricula; and track outcomes with robust evaluation to scale what works."Every dollar/euro invested in evidence-based prevention saves multiples in treatment. HEAL is the smartest first investment a health system can make." -Bernd Haditsch | ÖGK - Austrian Health Insurance Fund, Prevention Unit"Obesity is a disease with powerful drivers. HEAL gives every patient a proven, first-line foundation to reclaim their health." -Fatima Cody Stanford | Harvard Medical School & MGH"A doctor who cannot counsel patients on the Power of Lifestyle, especially on food and movement, is only half-equipped. Lifestyle education in medical school is the missing foundation of modern medicine. Helping our patients to eat a more plant-strong diet is the most powerful healing medicine we can prescribe." -Michael Klaper | Moving Medicine Forward"Plant-forward diets provide a powerful opportunity to concurrently improve health and wellbeing for people, farmed animals and the environment." -Andrew Knight | Griffith UniversityFigure 3. Four areas-of-action, balanced 3:1, to achieve lifelong health. Credit: ©Katharina Wirnitzer."Given its cost-effectiveness, Traditional, Integrative, and Complementary Medicine will be the evidence-based mainstream of tomorrow's global healthcare." -Tomáš Pfeiffer | ITCIM & SANATOR"Treatment alone will not sustain health systems. HEAL connects prevention, lifestyle medicine and integrative care to advance salutogenesis on a planetary scale. We must invest far more in creating health." -Georg Seifert | WHO CC & CCCTIM, Charité Universitäts mediz in Berlin"The science clearly shows that, when it comes to human health, animal protection is a win-win. Given human health's complexity, and since animal testing virtually fails to cure human diseases, human-relevant methods already outperform animal experimentation and must therefore be implemented with priority in science, with funds going to human-focused research. Citizens in the EU and US have spoken clearly in favor of this transition. HEAL can prevent many diseases, avoiding the need for animal studies altogether." -Merel Ritskes-Hoitinga | Universities Aarhus & Utrecht; Doris Wilflingseder | Vetmed Uni Vienna, Aysha Akhtar | Center for Contemporary Sciences, Corina Gericke & Gaby Neumann | Doctors Against Animal ExperimentsFigure 4. Systemic application of HEAL to reach target groups and improve personal and public health across micro (individuals/families), meso (communities), and macro (state/government/federal policy) levels, ensuring optimal vertical and horizontal permeability and integration. Credit: ©Katharina Wirnitzer.Key Actions at a Glance.Make HEAL the universal starting point and minimum, first‑line prevention standard.Implement lifestyle‑first counseling before routine prescriptions.Prioritize Prevention-over-Treatment with an 3:1 balance.Mandate lifestyle education in schools; embed HEAL across tertiary programs.Continuously upskill professionals for evidence‑based lifestyle counseling and monitoring.Accelerate adoption of human‑relevant methods to end animal experiments in research, education and regulatory testing.Figure 5. The Power of Lifestyle: Start with the dual HEAL approach across 6 interconnected areas to improve health and well-being. Credit: ©ACLM. Graphic modification: ©Katharina Wirnitzer (permission: 24.11.2021).Contact for further information:Katharina C. Wirnitzer - Professor for Sports Public Health with a special focus on Child Public HealthEmail: katharina@wirnitzer.atCell: +43 (650) 5901794University College of Teacher Education Tyrol (PHT), Innsbruck, AustriaSOURCE: Institut für SekundarpädagogikRelated Documents:global-pr-engmedia-prfinal28april2026global-pr-engmedia-prfinal28april2026 Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Formerra Appoints Matt Borowiec as Chief Commercial Officer

CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 1, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Formerra, a leading distributor of performance materials, today announced the appointment of Matt Borowiec as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Borowiec will lead the company's commercial organization to support continued growth and global expansion while strengthening sales execution and customer success.Borowiec is a seasoned executive with over 25 years' experience in operations, commercial and P&L roles across resin manufacturing, specialty compounding, and distribution, including leadership roles at GE Plastics, PolyOne (now Avient), Transcendia, Celanese, and Kinsley Group. With this background, he is well positioned to lead Formerra's commercial strategy at this important time in the company's evolution."Matt brings a unique combination of producer‑side and distribution experience that positions him well to strengthen alignment between our suppliers, customers, and commercial teams," said Tom Kelly, Chief Executive Officer at Formerra. "His customer‑centric mindset, informed perspective, and hands‑on leadership style will help accelerate our commercial performance and support Formerra's continued progress."In his role as CCO, Borowiec will focus on enabling the commercial organization to perform at an elevated level by reinforcing sales effectiveness and consistency, while prioritizing customer needs and supplier collaboration.About FormerraFormerra is a preeminent distributor of engineered materials, connecting the world's leading polymer producers with thousands of OEMs and brand owners across healthcare, consumer, industrial, and mobility markets. Powered by technical and commercial expertise, it brings a distinctive combination of portfolio depth, supply chain strength, industry knowledge, service, leading e-commerce capabilities, and ingenuity. The experienced Formerra team helps customers across multiple industries to design, select, process, and develop products in new and better ways - driving improved performance, productivity, reliability, and sustainability. To learn more, visit www.formerra.com.Media ContactJackie MorrisMarketing Communications Manager, Formerrajackie.morris@formerra.com+1 630-972-3144SOURCE: Formerra Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Super Technologies Adds Four Household Names in Leadership Shakeup

(AsiaGameHub) -   Super Technologies has unveiled a major overhaul of its senior leadership, appointing new executives to its board and management team with an emphasis on technology and artificial intelligence. A key appointment sees Mina Dimitrova named Chief Strategy Officer, tasked with leading organic growth, venture incubation, AI transformation, and mergers and acquisitions. Dimitrova arrives with a career history in strategic and operational leadership at Google, YouTube, and McKinsey & Company. In another move, Sergio Ezama has joined as a Non-Executive Board Member and Chair of the Remuneration Committee. Currently the Chief Talent Officer at Netflix, Ezama offers deep expertise in leadership, talent, and compensation strategy, having formerly held the role of Global Chief Talent Officer at PepsiCo. Furthermore, ex-Amazon executive Andrew Watts assumes the position of Chief Product Officer. Watts contributes over twenty years of experience in digital commerce, platform development, and AI. He played a key role in scaling Prime Video at Jeff Bezos’s US behemoth and joins from his most recent role as Senior Vice President of Product Management at Zalando. Completing the new hires, Olatz Urroz comes on board as Chief Financial Officer. Her professional background features senior finance and strategy positions at Banco Santander and Amazon, including CFO and SVP roles at Santander's global payments division, PagoNxt. This leadership restructuring also involves the exit of former CFO Glyn Hughes, who is returning to Hellen’s Rock Capital – a strategic investor in Super Technologies. Throughout his three years with the company, Hughes managed significant refinancing and expansion projects, while also reinforcing its financial discipline and operational framework. Sacha Dragic, Founder and CEO of Super Technologies, expressed his welcome to the new team members and acknowledged Hughes's work in a LinkedIn post. He stated: “Thank you Glyn Hughes for all great help in Superbet and welcome back to Hellen’s Rock Capital. “Thank you Sergio Ezama for your trust in what we are trying to achieve and I am honoured you accepted to join our board and chair our RemCo. “And finally a huge welcome to Olatz Urroz Mina Dimitrova and Andrew Watts. I am sure we will have a lot of fun together.” Super Technologies to push on despite regulatory pressures This leadership renewal occurs during a period of regulatory shifts in the company's home nation of Romania, where it holds a leading market position through its Superbet division. In March, the Romanian government responded to the sector's growth by revising gambling laws, empowering local authorities to shut down or limit betting shops and gaming arcades. Addressing this, Borut Petek, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Super Technologies, informed SBC News: “We do not support blanket closures of retail venues, and we do not see forced substitution from retail to online as good policy. “Our position is not retail versus online. Our position is legal versus illegal.” Nevertheless, the firm has continued to advance, even as competition and regulatory scrutiny intensify across Romania and Europe. In February, it bolstered its Romanian standing by acquiring Maxbet Online. Super Technologies has also recently entered Greece as its fifth European market with the launch of Superbet, and last year it obtained a €1.3bn (£1.1bn) refinancing deal with alternative asset manager Blackstone for 2025. The wave of high-level appointments, with each new leader possessing substantial experience from globally recognized brands, indicates the company remains proactive and is aiming to modernize in anticipation of a potentially challenging period for the 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.

Datavault AI and CyberCatch Announce Signing of Binding Letter of Intent for Datavault AI to Acquire CyberCatch to Accelerate AI-Driven, Quantum-Resistant Cyber Risk Mitigation Solutions

PHILADELPHIA, PA, May 1, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Datavault AI Inc. ("Datavault AI" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:DVLT), a provider of data monetization, credentialing, digital engagement, and real-world asset ("RWA") tokenization technologies, and CyberCatch Holdings, Inc. ("CyberCatch") (TSXV:CYBE) (OTCQB:CYBHF), a cybersecurity company offering a patented, AI-enabled platform for continuous compliance and cyber risk mitigation, today announced they have entered into a binding letter of intent (the "LOI") under which Datavault AI and CyberCatch will enter into a definitive agreement for Datavault AI to acquire 100% of CyberCatch in an all-stock transaction structured as a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia).Under the LOI and subject to a definitive agreement, Datavault AI will acquire 100% of CyberCatch's issued and outstanding common shares (being approximately 26.8 million shares) in exchange for approximately 49.9 million newly issued shares of Datavault AI common stock (the "Datavault AI Shares") at CAD $5.11 per CyberCatch share, which implies an aggregate value to CyberCatch's issued and outstanding common shares of CAD $136,843,820. All issued and outstanding CyberCatch securities convertible into or exercisable for CyberCatch common shares will be exchanged for Datavault AI Shares on a cashless exercise basis at a deemed value of USD $2.00 per Datavault AI Share. Upon closing of the transaction, subject to customary board, stock exchange, and any necessary regulatory and shareholder approvals, it is anticipated that Datavault AI stockholders will hold approximately 92.48% and CyberCatch shareholders approximately 7.52% of the equity of Datavault AI, on a non-fully diluted basis. It is anticipated that CyberCatch will operate as a subsidiary of Datavault AI from San Diego, California, and CyberCatch founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer Sai Huda will serve as President of the subsidiary, reporting to Nathaniel T. Bradley, CEO of Datavault AI.Strategic RationaleThe combination is positioned at the intersection of two of cybersecurity's largest secular markets. According to Gartner, worldwide end-user spending on information security is projected to reach $240 billion in 2026, and Gartner separately projects the AI-amplified security segment will reach $160 billion by 2029, up from $49 billion in 2025. According to IBM's 2025 Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average U.S. data breach now costs $10.22 million, with a global average of $4.44 million.Regulatory tailwinds are converging with that demand picture. Phase 1 of the U.S. Department of Defense's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification ("CMMC") program took effect on November 10, 2025, with mandatory third-party C3PAO assessments for Level 2 contracts beginning in November 2026 and full enforcement extending across approximately 220,000 Defense Industrial Base contractors and subcontractors. CyberCatch's platform is purpose-built to address that mandate in defense, HIPAA in healthcare, NIST 800-171 in manufacturing, NIST CSF 2.0 in financial services, among others.The combination is also positioned for the post-quantum security era. Google has set 2029 as its internal deadline to migrate authentication systems to quantum-resistant cryptography. Separately, Google Quantum AI research demonstrated that the elliptic curve cryptography protecting many digital signatures and authentication systems could be broken by a superconducting quantum computer with fewer than 500,000 physical qubits, an order of magnitude lower than previous estimates. CyberCatch is converting its patent-pending, multi-authority, attribute-based encryption with revocation ("MARS-MABE") technology to attain quantum-resistance, and combining MARS-MABE with continuous agentic AI penetration testing creates a next-generation cybersecurity stack applicable across healthcare, defense, manufacturing, financial services, and energy.About CyberCatch's Platform and LeadershipCyberCatch's patented, AI-enabled continuous cybersecurity compliance and risk mitigation solution:Uses generative AI to ensure all legally required controls are in place and calculates a Cyber Hygiene ScoreUses agentic AI to continuously simulate threat-actor tactics, techniques, and procedures to perform penetration tests and calculates a Cyber Breach ScoreDetects gaps for prompt remediation before a threat actor can exploit and be successfulThe platform tests cybersecurity controls continuously from three dimensions, outside-in, inside-out, and social engineering, mapping to NIST CSF 2.0, NIST 800-171, CMMC 2.0, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and other regulated frameworks, replacing once-a-year manual penetration tests with continuous agentic AI penetration testing using specialized skill-set agents.MARS-MABE provides several distinct advantages over current RSA and AES-256 encryption, such as:Access to data is provided only if fine-grained user attributes are metAccess to users can be limited to fine-grained data subsetsInstant revocation of user access to data subsets, eliminating the need to re-encrypt the entire data set and providing speed and significant cost savingsCyberCatch is led by founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer Sai Huda, a globally recognized cybersecurity expert, author of the bestselling Next Level Cybersecurity, co-author of Canada's National Cybersecurity Standard, and inventor of USPTO Patent No. 11,297,094, "Automated and Continuous Cybersecurity Assessment with Measurement and Scoring." He is the former founder and CEO of Compliance Coach, which was acquired by FIS, a FORTUNE 500 company, where he served as GM, Risk, Information Security, and Compliance Solutions.CyberCatch's board and advisory board include:Tom Ridge, former special assistant to U.S. President, first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and two-term Governor of PennsylvaniaDr. Marv Langston, former Director of Information Systems at U.S. DARPA and Cybersecurity Chief, U.S. NavyScott Tait, former U.S. Navy Commander and National Security Advisor at the Joint Chiefs at the U.S. PentagonCyberCatch's customers span the U.S. defense supply chain, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, education, and public sectors, and the Company's capabilities were extended through the February 2026 acquisition of multi-authority attribute-based encryption technology, now branded MARS-MABE, and through 2026 reseller and referral partnerships such as with Speridian Technologies and other multiple reseller partners to U.S. government agencies.Added Strategic Benefit: Platform Integration and Cyber Defense Layer Across the Datavault AI StackFollowing closing, CyberCatch's AI-enabled Software-as-a-Service platform is also expected to operate as the cybersecurity and continuous-compliance layer across Datavault AI's existing technology suite, including:DataValue®, DataScore®, and Information Data Exchange® (IDE®) running natively on Available Infrastructure's SanQtum AI quantum-resistant, zero-trust edge platform across 1,000 urban micro-edge neocloud sites planned in 100+ U.S. cities by year-end 2026Acoustic Sciences division technologies (WiSA®, ADIO®, Sumerian®) and IDE® deployments serving sports, entertainment, biotech, education, fintech, real estate, healthcare, and energy customersFederal and regulated-industry customer workloads where continuous compliance attestation against NIST, CMMC, ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, and PCI DSS frameworks is increasingly a precondition for procurement, audit, and renewalThe proposed acquisition is intended to give Datavault AI customers and partners an integrated path from secure compute through AI-driven data analytics, with continuous attestation at every layer.Management Commentary"Cybersecurity is no longer a separate stack from data and AI - it is the precondition for both. CyberCatch's continuous compliance platform is expected to provide another strategic advantage by adding to DataValue®, DataScore®, and the IDE® a real-time risk and compliance signal at every node of our quantum-secured edge fleet, from federal contractors to enterprise data customers," said Nathaniel T. Bradley, CEO of Datavault AI."Datavault AI's quantum-ready edge platform is exactly the next-generation infrastructure our customers and the marketplace in critical sectors such as in defense, healthcare, and financial services need cybersecurity built into. Joining Datavault AI gives them a clear path to a unified secure-data platform with continuous compliance and cyber risk mitigation built in," said Sai Huda, founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of CyberCatch.Transaction OverviewUnder the binding LOI, holders of CyberCatch's common shares will receive newly issued common shares of Datavault AI as described above, with CyberCatch becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Datavault AI. The Datavault AI Shares to be issued are anticipated to be issued in reliance on the exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), provided by Section 3(a)(10), and applicable state securities law exemptions.The transaction is subject to negotiation and execution of a definitive agreement, completion of due diligence, board approvals of both companies, requisite CyberCatch shareholder approval, applicable court approval of the plan of arrangement (British Columbia), and approvals of The Nasdaq Stock Market and the TSX Venture Exchange, as well as other customary closing conditions. The parties have agreed to negotiate a definitive agreement during a 45-day mutual exclusivity period.About Datavault AIDatavault AI™ (NASDAQ:DVLT) is a pioneer in AI-driven data experiences, valuation, and monetization of assets in the Web 3.0 environment. The Company's cloud-based platform delivers comprehensive solutions across its Acoustic Sciences and Data Sciences divisions.Datavault AI's Acoustic Sciences division features WiSA®, ADIO®, and Sumerian® patented technologies for spatial and multichannel wireless, high-definition sound transmission. The Data Science Division harnesses Web3 and high-performance computing to enable experiential data perception, valuation, and secure monetization across industries, including sports & entertainment, biotech, education, fintech, real estate, healthcare, energy, and more.The Information Data Exchange® (IDE®) is a token exchange technology powered by Nasdaq Financial Infrastructure. The Company owns and operates exchanges powered by its patented technology, including but not limited to International Elements Exchange (IEE), Sports Illustrated Exchange (SIx), New York Interactive Advertising Exchange (NYIAX), and American Political Exchange (APE). The Company is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. Learn more at https://www.dvlt.ai.About CyberCatchCyberCatch Holdings, Inc. (TSXV:CYBE) (OTCQB:CYBHF) provides a proprietary, AI-enabled Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution that provides continuous compliance and cyber risk mitigation to organizations in critical segments, so they can be safe from cyber threats. The CyberCatch platform focuses on solving the root cause of why cyberattacks are successful: security holes from control deficiencies. It first helps implement all mandated and necessary controls, then the platform automatically and continuously tests the controls from three dimensions (outside-in, inside-out and social engineering) to find control failures so one can fix them promptly to stay compliant and safe from attackers. Learn more at: https://www.cybercatch.com.Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.No Offer or SolicitationThis press release is for informational purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, or an exemption therefrom.Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains "forward-looking statements" (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, and other securities laws) about Datavault AI Inc. ("Datavault AI," the "Company," "us," "our," or "we") and CyberCatch and our industry that involve risks and uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words, such as "may," "might," "will," "shall," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "could," "intends," "target," "projects," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "goal," "objective," "seeks," "likely" or "continue" or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations, strategy, plans or intentions. The absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding future events; the proposed acquisition of CyberCatch Holdings, Inc. by Datavault AI and the structuring of that acquisition as an all-stock transaction by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia); the negotiation, execution, and consummation of a definitive agreement implementing the terms of the LOI; the receipt of all required board, shareholder, court, regulatory, and stock exchange approvals (including those of The Nasdaq Stock Market and the TSX Venture Exchange); the anticipated reliance on the exemption from registration under Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act, and applicable state securities law exemptions; the post-closing equity ownership split between Datavault AI and CyberCatch shareholders; CyberCatch's continued operation as a San Diego-based subsidiary; the integration of CyberCatch's AI-enabled continuous compliance platform across Datavault AI's DataValue®, DataScore®, Information Data Exchange® (IDE®), and Acoustic Sciences division technologies and across the Available Infrastructure SanQtum AI edge platform; the expected conversion of CyberCatch's MARS-MABE encryption technology to post-quantum cryptography; the anticipated commercial, technical, regulatory, and operational benefits of the proposed combination, including positioning against the CMMC, NIST, ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, and PCI DSS regulatory frameworks; and the expected operational, technical, and commercial outcomes of the Company's commercial strategy, and the projected direction and market impacts of regulatory changes with respect to digital assets and post-quantum cryptography, are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Companies and its management, are inherently uncertain.Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these and other forward-looking statements contained herein.Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the following: the risk that the parties do not negotiate or execute a definitive agreement on the terms contemplated by the LOI or at all; the risk that one or more conditions to closing are not obtained or are obtained on terms unacceptable to the parties; integration risk associated with the proposed acquisition of CyberCatch and its operations, customer base, and personnel; risks relating to the availability of the Section 3(a)(10) exemption from registration; the dilutive effect of the issuance of the Datavault AI Shares as transaction consideration; the Company's ability to execute on the integration of CyberCatch's continuous compliance platform across the Company's existing technology suite and SanQtum-secured edge fleet; risks relating to the conversion of MARS-MABE encryption to post-quantum cryptography and the broader transition timeline for post-quantum security; competitive conditions in the AI computing, enterprise data services, and cybersecurity markets; the Company's ability to attract and retain customers and strategic partners; financing availability; technological development and integration risks; changes in market demand for Datavault AI's services and products; changes in economic, market, or regulatory conditions; risks relating to evolving regulatory frameworks applicable to tokenized assets, digital assets, and cybersecurity compliance; and other risks and uncertainties as more fully described in Datavault AI's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Risk Factors section of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, available at www.sec.gov, and CyberCatch's filings on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and could cause actual results to vary from expectations.The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. Datavault AI and CyberCatch undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.Datavault AI and CyberCatch may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Datavault AI's and CyberCatch's forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, or investments it may make.Industry and Market DataWithin this press release, we reference information and statistics regarding the market for our products. We have obtained some of this information and statistics from various independent third-party sources, including independent industry publications, reports by market research firms and other independent sources. Some data and other information contained in this press release are also based on management's estimates and calculations, which are derived from our review and interpretation of internal surveys and independent sources. Data regarding the industries in which we compete and our market position and market share within these industries are inherently imprecise and are subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties beyond our control, but we believe they generally indicate size, position and market share within this industry. While we believe such information is reliable, we have not independently verified any third-party information. While we believe our internal company research and estimates are reliable, such research and estimates have not been verified by any independent source. In addition, assumptions and estimates of our and our industries' future performance are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors. These and other factors could cause our future performance to differ materially from our assumptions and estimates. As a result, you should be aware that market, ranking and other similar industry data included in this press release, and estimates and beliefs based on that data, may not be reliable.Trademarks, Trade Names, Service Marks and CopyrightsWe own or have rights to use various trademarks, tradenames, service marks and copyrights, which are protected under applicable intellectual property laws. This press release also contains trademarks, tradenames, service marks and copyrights of other companies, which are, to our knowledge, the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, certain trademarks, tradenames, service marks and copyrights referred to in this press release may appear without the ©, ®, and ™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the rights of the applicable licensors to these trademarks, tradenames, service marks and copyrights. We do not intend our use or display of other parties' trademarks, tradenames, service marks or copyrights to imply, and such use or display should not be construed to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, these other parties.Datavault AI ContactsMedia Contact:marketing@dvlt.aiInvestor Contact:Edward BargerVP, Investor Relationsebarger@dvlt.ai | ir@dvlt.aiCyberCatch ContactsInvestor Contact:Investor Relations, CyberCatch Holdings, Inc.Phone: 1-866-756-2923Email: info@cybercatch.comSOURCE: Datavault AI Inc Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Genius Sports Finalizes $1.2bn Legend Acquisition – Will Its Stock Woes Clear?

(AsiaGameHub) -   Genius Sports has finalized its acquisition of sports and gaming media group Legend, a transaction that has presented challenges for its stock performance in recent months. London-based, NYSE-listed Genius agreed to acquire Legend for $1.2 billion (£881.7 million) in February 2026. The company pursued this takeover to significantly broaden its global presence in sports media and among iGaming audiences. However, the markets did not share the same enthusiasm for the takeover. Genius' share price declined by 27% following the announcement, impacting the company's corporate value by an estimated $600 million to $700 million. While the company's share price has seen some recovery since then, it remains considerably lower than its value at the beginning of 2026. In early April, its market capitalization fell below the value of the Legend acquisition, and as of May 1, it stands at $1.12 billion. Genius' Chief Executive Officer, Mark Locke, along with numerous other analysts, contended that the lack of market confidence in the Legend M&A was due to a fundamental misunderstanding of the firm's new asset and the advantages it offers Genius. “The market’s reaction to our acquisition of Legend has been divided,” Locke stated in late February. “That has happened before when we made transformative deals. Much of the criticism has relied on a reductive use of the word “affiliate”.” “The term has been applied as shorthand, without distinguishing between low-quality traffic brokers and technology platforms built on owned audiences and behavioral intelligence.” Genius now has chance to prove its mettle With the acquisition complete, the critical test begins now. As analysts such as Bernie McTernan of Needham and Jordan Bender of Citizens informed SBC News, Genius can only restore confidence by demonstrating why and how the Legend acquisition is the correct strategic move. Bender, for instance, quoted an affiliate industry source who described Legend as "the real deal" and "one of the greatest affiliate businesses in history." Genius clearly shares this view. The company anticipates that the integration of Legend will contribute to achieving $1 billion in revenue by the end of 2026, and with the acquisition finalized, the focus shifts to execution—the true measure of success. Source: Genius Sports – investor Summit The company remains firm in its assertion that the acquisition will be "immediate accretive" to its adjusted EBITDA margins and free cash flow conversion. It has also highlighted the 320 million annual visits from 118 million unique visitors that Legend attracted in 2025 across its portfolio, which includes well-known sites like Covers.com, Casino.org, and Casino Guru. Commenting on the M&A completion, Locke remarked: “Genius Sports has spent years building the data infrastructure behind modern sport. With Legend, we now extend that into the moment where fans choose to participate and act. “This combination not only strengthens our core sports business but also expands our ability to monetize new audiences in iGaming, increasing the economic value of our platform across both verticals and driving significant cash flow.” Genius is scheduled to release its Q1 2026 results on May 7, 2025. Trading on the NYSE is not yet open today until 2:30 pm GMT, so any effect the M&A completion has on share value remains to be seen… 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.

BETBY Broadens Asian Reach Through Partnership with QTech Games

(AsiaGameHub) -   BETBY has entered into a partnership with QTech Games, becoming the exclusive sportsbook supplier for the aggregator's global network of operators. Under this agreement, the Malta-based company will integrate its complete sportsbook solution onto the QTech platform. This will provide partnered operators with a full suite of offerings, featuring over 500,000 events per month, AI-powered trading tools, and its proprietary esports feed, Betby.Games. Implemented through a single API, the integration aims to streamline sportsbook deployment and greatly lower the technical hurdles traditionally involved in launching sports betting products. “Aligning with QTech Games is a logical progression for BETBY,” stated Stefanos Karakidis, Business Development Director at BETBY. “They have solidified their position as a leading aggregator in Asia, possessing robust distribution channels and extensive local knowledge, all while expanding into other high-growth regions. “QTech possesses a keen insight into local player preferences and operator requirements, and our collaboration will enable us to provide a premier, mobile-focused sportsbook experience that meets the specific needs of their target markets.” This deal is also consistent with BETBY's wider strategy for geographical growth. Leveraging QTech's existing presence, especially in Asia, allows BETBY to enter crucial emerging markets while also strengthening its position in areas like Latin America and Africa. The alliance seeks to merge BETBY's sportsbook strengths with QTech's skills in aggregation and localization to create more competitive and customized betting experiences for customers. Philip Doftvik, Chief Executive Officer at QTech Games, commented: “We are thrilled to incorporate BETBY's acclaimed sportsbook into our platform. “Their product is contemporary, adaptable, and built for rapidly expanding markets, which matches the needs of our operator partners. “From AI-based tools to an extensive e-sims portfolio, BETBY introduces a degree of innovation that enhances our content and furthers our goal of providing the top-tier content in emerging iGaming markets.” BETBY expansion builds on positive 2026 start As previously noted, BETBY is already active in Latin America and Africa, having recently strengthened its Latin American operations by hiring Gonzalo Navarro as Senior Business Development Manager. The company also announced an unprecedented performance in March 2026, contributing to a first quarter that experienced a 61% year-on-year increase in gross gaming revenue. The firm also moved into the predictions market in April, while clarifying its plan to steer clear of the more contentious markets that have recently troubled the industry. With numerous global initiatives already underway in 2026, the company appears ready to fully engage with the iGaming sector's busy schedule ahead. 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.

Gambling Commission Confident Council Powers for Licensing Will Become Law

(AsiaGameHub) -   Ian Angus, Policy Director for the UK’s Gambling Commission, is optimistic that the government’s efforts to grant lower-tier authorities greater authority over gambling licensing will be enshrined in law. Speaking at this week’s Institute of Licensing Gambling Conference, the senior regulator addressed amendments to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill that were passed by the House of Lords last month. Should the bill then receive approval from the House of Commons, it will modify the 2005 Gambling Act to introduce a new resource for local councils: Gambling Impact Assessments (GIAs).  Local authorities can use these assessments to measure the scale of gambling-related harm and the possible effect a new betting or gaming site might have on the local area, before using that data as justification to reject a licensing request. This would represent a major departure from the long-established ‘Aim to Permit’ regulation. “The government has, naturally, committed to exploring ways to grant local authorities the ability to conduct gambling impact assessments when considering licensing decisions for the communities you serve,” Angus stated.  “For our part, the Gambling Act review proposed new powers for the Commission to crack down on online illegal gambling. Both of these measures have been progressing through Parliament recently via separate pieces of legislation, and we anticipate they will both be passed into law. “Once the bill has finished moving through Parliament and comes into force, the Commission will collaborate with DCMS to create guidance for licensing bodies and other interested parties on how to roll out the measures. This guidance will outline how to use solid evidence to support productive consultations with communities, operators and stakeholders before any GIA is put in place.” The House of Lords’ approval of amendment 305 to the devolution bill last month was a major victory for local councils. Put simply, a great many local councillors – and a significant number of MPs as well – have grown frustrated with the gambling sector. Dawn Butler, the Labour MP for London’s Brent East constituency, has been especially outspoken in demanding that the Aim to Permit mandate be reversed. Her campaign for local councils to be granted greater powers has won backing from other Labour figures, including longstanding gambling reform campaigner Alex Ballinger and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Last September, Prime Minister Kier Starmer took on board Butler’s concerns, stating that the government would “grant councils greater authority over where gambling outlets are located and how many can operate in an area”. The government is now following through on that pledge. Commission outlines £26m funding plan to target black market activity The UK gambling industry has been subject to intense scrutiny over recent years, spanning the 2020 to 2023 Gambling Act review, the subsequent rollout of the review’s recommendations, and last year’s debates over taxation of the sector. Worries raised by figures such as Butler and Hannah Spencer, the newly elected Green Party MP for Manchester’s Gorton and Denton constituency, that the sector causes significant harm to low-income communities, are widely held across the UK. When faced with demands for stricter regulation and higher taxes, the gambling industry has frequently highlighted the presence of an unlicensed black market. This argument has not always gone down well with MPs, many of whom have publicly queried how large the black market actually is. To give bookmakers and casinos their due, however, this argument has been accepted by the Department for Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS) and the Gambling Commission. The DCMS has set up a dedicated task force focused on cracking down on the illegal gambling market, and is currently running a consultation on banning unlicensed betting companies from sponsoring sports teams. For its part, the Commission will receive an extra £26m in funding over the coming three years, raised via the new gambling tax system that came into force on 1 April 2026. This entire £26m pot will be used exclusively to combat illegal gambling activity. “We are delighted that the success of our work to tackle illegal gambling has been acknowledged by the Treasury in this manner, and this funding will absolutely enable us to expand the scope of our operations,” Angus commented. “One less widely discussed measure that is nonetheless highly relevant for local authorities is that this funding will, for the first time, let us invest more specifically in tackling land-based illegal gambling.  “We have always been somewhat limited by our available resources in this area, but this funding now means we are able to carry out far more work on land-based illegal gambling than we previously could. We will still need to collaborate closely with all of you and with local police forces, but this funding will let us deliver far more in this space.” Commission anticipates gambling venue closures Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, first unveiled the new gambling tax framework in the November Budget. As of 1 April 2026, Remote Gaming Duty has increased from 21% to 40%, while bingo duty has been scrapped entirely. From April 2027, General Betting Duty will rise from 15% to 25%, with exemptions for retail betting, spread betting, pool betting and horse racing wagers. HM Treasury forecasts that the new tax system will bring in an extra £1bn per year by 2029/30, and intends to use this revenue to cover the cost of the recent removal of the two-child benefit cap. For the Gambling Commission, this tax change is the source of the extra £26m in funding outlined earlier. For the gambling industry, however, these tax changes represent a significant financial burden. Shortly after the Autumn Budget was announced, major listed firms including Flutter Entertainment, Evoke and Entain confirmed they would be reducing their marketing budgets, a process that is already well advanced. While retail betting is exempt from the tax rises, a knock-on impact is still expected for the high street. Retail betting has been seeing a steady decline over recent years, meaning that venue closures such as those confirmed by William Hill’s owner Evoke yesterday were already likely to happen regardless of the new tax rules. Against the backdrop of these recent announcements, Angus stated that the Commission is “now anticipating that a number of gambling venues will close”. He added that the regulator’s operational returns data “will likely reflect these closures over the next 12 to 18 months”. “2026 brings a shifting landscape, but change has always been a constant in the gambling sector to some degree,” he concluded. “At the Gambling Commission, we will keep working with our partners where we have aligned objectives. We remain dedicated to that collaborative approach, and no matter what else changes in the sector, that commitment will stay the same.” 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.

Representatives from More Than 40 Countries Discuss New Models of Global Growth in Moscow

Moscow, Russia – May 01, 2026 – (SeaPRwire) – The 2nd Open Dialogue “The Future of the World: A New Platform for Global Growth” took place in Russia, bringing together experts and young researchers from more than 40 countries who proposed ideas on the development of the economy, technology, education, and the environment. The key unifying principle of the event was a focus on people, international cooperation, and the search for new models of global growth through dialogue and the practical implementation of ideas. The large-scale three-day program at the Russia National Centre has concluded, combining expert discussions, presentations by authors of the best essays from around the world, and informal communication with experts. According to the official remarks, the Open Dialogue has achieved a global footprint that covers the entire planet. “Experts, business leaders, and researchers from 120 countries took part in the essay and creative works competition, including representatives from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Australia, North and South America. All authors and researchers, with diverse experiences and perspectives, were united by a strong and bold idea: to form a shared understanding of the future — the future of a world entering an era of profound structural change. It is evident that no country can develop in isolation, at the expense of other states or to their detriment. Furthermore, modern global challenges require a joint response and collective efforts. This means that the model of global development will be sustainable and fair only if it is based on the principles of equality and mutual respect, and takes into account the interests of all countries,” the honorary guest of the event stated. According to the Russian leader, a multipolar architecture of global development is being formed before our eyes. Within it, an important role is played by states that understand and value national sovereignty. The results of the large-scale event were summarized by Russian economist Maxim Oreshkin: “Russia, in a number of areas, is an advanced country in terms of the development of digital platform solutions. Our approach is one of joint development. When Russian digital platforms enter other countries’ markets, they bring data localization, local partner involvement, training for local personnel, and the development of their own competencies in platform solution development. Russia comes to develop together, not to collect colonial rent from countries that lack access to technological solutions. We are in favor of developing together.” Maxim Oreshkin noted that the reach of the Open Dialogue will continue to grow each year. According to him, significant attention is being paid to the stage of implementing the ideas proposed in the essays. A mentorship format has been introduced — Russian businesses and international companies are beginning to work with essayists, involve them in their projects, and help bring their ideas to life. At the 2nd Open Dialogue, the best essay authors were identified in four areas: “Investing in People,” “Investing in Connectivity,” “Investing in Technology,” and “Investing in the Environment.” The winner in the “Investing in Technology” track was Aya Arfaoui, a student of Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco. She raised the issue of the digital sovereignty of developing countries. According to her, international institutions do not provide sufficient influence in regulating the digital space. Solomon Gardie, a postgraduate student at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, became the winner in the “Investing in Connectivity” track. His essay focused on connectivity and the mobility of sovereign data. He proposed a system in which data is processed and anonymized before cross-border transfer, and only in this form can it be used for the common good. He also noted that, within cooperation in the BRICS+ framework, one of the first areas could be healthcare, particularly epidemiological monitoring and disease control. In the “Investing in the Environment” track, the winner was Soumya Bhowmick, a research fellow at the Observer Research Foundation (India). In his presentation, he stated that for almost 100 years, the world has focused on measuring GDP, which does not reflect a country’s real wealth. The winner of the “Investing in People” track was Lubinda Haabazoka from Zambia. In his speech, he noted that for real convergence among countries of the Global South, not only declarations of multipolarity are needed, but also practical changes in key systems of interaction — primarily in education, which directly affects opportunities for cooperation and knowledge exchange. The future should be built around the individual, their health, agency, and a long, meaningful life, rather than around technologies and outdated systems, believes Dr. Selina Neri, co-founder, CEO, and dean of Future Readiness Academy (UAE), and an expert of the 2nd Open Dialogue in the “Investing in People” track. According to her, this requires new approaches to education, work, and technology development that focus on human flourishing, sovereignty, and the practical implementation of ideas rather than copying ineffective models. More than 1,600 authors from all continents submitted their works to participate in the 2nd Open Dialogue. Seventy-five essay authors hold academic degrees. The conclusions drawn from the discussions will be reviewed at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and will be reflected in its business program. Essayists and experts will also be engaged in activities within the BRICS platform and involved in preparations for the Russia–Africa Summit. Social Links Telegram: https://t.me/gowithRussia Media Contacts Brand: Russia National Centre Contact: Media team Email: pressa@russia.ru Website: https://en.russia.ru 

World Cup 2026: Crucial Sportsbook Performance and Stability

(AsiaGameHub) -   As the 2026 FIFA World Cup rapidly approaches, betting operators throughout Latin America are bracing for a significant increase in activity that will challenge all aspects of their operations. This tournament is much more than a temporary demand spike; it serves as a crucial test for sportsbook functionality, regulatory compliance, and the stability of their platforms. Leading industry professionals from across Latin America participated in a recent SBC webinar to explore the obstacles and prospects that sportsbooks will encounter during a massive summer of sports, which could also trigger an industry surge in the host countries. Up-and-comer Mexico to shine? While a potential industry boom in the US has been a frequent topic, Carolina Diniz Flauzino, Business Development Manager at SOFTSWISS, highlighted that Mexico could experience comparable growth. She stated: “This year I see, even from the business side, a lot of interesting movements in Mexico. “I think Mexico is going to be the next up-and-coming country globally that will boom this year and in the next few years, considering that physical operators are going to join the online casinos. For us, it’s a target market and it’s very relevant given that Mexico is hosting the World Cup this summer as it’s going to bring a lot of new attention. “Hopefully, we will see more operators interested in our business and in our solutions, helping to increase our activity in Mexico too.” Customer retention is key – but how will businesses achieve it? A major question emerging in the sector is how companies—both operators and suppliers—will manage to keep the flood of new customers that will undoubtedly arrive during the World Cup. For Fellipe Fraga, Chief Business Officer at Stellar Gaming, this is a familiar scenario. “We’ve seen this before in previous World Cups and also in tournaments like the Copa America, so of course we are expecting an uplift. “How we can measure retention is, as a data-driving company, by collecting data. It’s all about data analytics.” Bruno Palumbo, Country Manager, Brazil at Gamewiz, added: “Here at Gamewiz, in terms of uplift, as a benchmark we are expecting at least 30% more volume than a usual major domestic tournament. “For retention, as Fellipe said, it’s data. You need to monitor if your regular casino players are coming to the sportsbook because of the World Cup, and it’s the same with new players – how are they playing and what are the patterns? “Having the data, studying the data, is a good measurement. I could name at least 100 different strategies on how to retain new users. “On a main level, we should just work very hard on the CRM – what are these users doing when they’re on your site? The main strategy is finding out what customers really like about your website and how to keep them doing this.” The fear of World Cup outages When asked by SBC Noticias’ Business Journalist Damian Martinez about the impact of outages during critical moments, Fraga noted: “If you have something like this, it can be a huge problem. Players can feel like they’re being scammed. “These big moments happen a lot, especially during the World Cup, so providers must be aware that this cannot happen. “If it’s the last five minutes of a big game and you have no odds, or wrongly-balanced odds, yes you can void bets and dive into T&C’s, but it’s a hugely damaging situation for a brand’s image.” Flauzino recalled her early career, when the introduction of VAR created significant issues for businesses during important matches. “This is the World Cup, we’re now aware that these kinds of situations are going to happen all the time,” she said. “It’s very important for operators to be aware of it and really train their teams. For this period, you really need to be stable and keep your customers happy so that you’re not damaging the image of the brand.” Customer satisfaction is set to be a primary KPI for operators as they enter a period of intense activity, with the 2026 World Cup expected to drive significant advancements in the iGaming industry. 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.

Apple’s New Thriller Finds the Balance Between Stephen King and ‘Atlanta’

Apple TV(SeaPRwire) -   The similarities between Widow’s Bay and Stephen King's work are evident from the start, but they become most tangible when the mayor of the titular island town, Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys), encounters the ghost of a literal murderous clown in the second episode. The scene is suitably terrifying — Tom faces the apparition in the crawl space of a clearly haunted hotel — yet the Apple TV series quickly pivots this into the perfect comedic setup. Tom appears to be the sole Widow’s Bay resident who rejects the countless superstitions woven into the town's ancient history. He's only at the hotel to disprove its long list of associated ghosts, but the morning after, the Bay's quirkiest old seadog, Wyck (Stephen Root), needs just one glance at him to remark, "The clown — that’s what got you, huh?"Root's straight-faced delivery and unwavering dedication as Wyck elevate Widow’s Bay from a horror homage to a clever comedy. Several critics have likened the series to a more somber, drier Parks and Recreation — a fitting comparison, as its creator, Katie Dippold, used an early draft of this story to secure a position in the Parks and Rec writers' room.“It was a very different version,” Dippold informs Inverse. “It was packed with jokes, so it showcased my humor, but it also wasn't a feasible show to produce.”Rhys makes for a perfect straight man in the spooky-silly Widow’s Bay. | Apple TVIn a way, the spec script that evolved into Widow’s Bay also feels like it shouldn't exist — in the most positive sense. Horror and comedy have a long history of blending seamlessly, their rhythms often aligning. However, the style of horror that extracts humor from realism is a more recent development, with films like Weapons and Barbarian (both directed by Zach Cregger) adeptly focusing on the tension between the absurd and the ordinary. Then there's Donald Glover's Atlanta, a series so uniquely funny and strange that it stands alone. Except, perhaps, for Widow’s Bay — which smartly enlisted Glover's frequent director, Hiro Murai, to helm its initial episodes — it's possible nothing else will.“I’m such a huge fan,” Dippold states regarding Murai. “Atlanta was a major inspiration for me.” The FX series was on air while Dippold was revising Widow’s Bay, and its unpredictable nature affirmed that her creative ambitions were attainable. “I was utterly amazed by the storytelling and the unexpected choices they made. I could never guess what an episode would hold.”That same fluidity shapes the semi-episodic structure of Widow’s Bay. Dippold also drew significant inspiration from King, from Steven Spielberg's Jaws, and from her own recollections of 1980s New Jersey, a time when haunted houses were "lawless" and pulled out all stops to frighten visitors. Dippold frequented an especially terrifying one each summer: “I would scream, and then when someone else screamed, I would laugh... That sensation is something I’ve been pursuing my entire life.”Dippold took inspiration from Stephen King, Jaws, and Atlanta to craft something utterly unique. | Apple TVAdmittedly, there's also a hint of Parks and Rec in Tom's impractical mission to transform Widow’s Bay into the premier East Coast tourist spot. He spent childhood summers on the island but lived mainland the rest of the year, making him a sort of opposite Leslie Knope: an outsider who neither comprehends nor values the town's old traditions. He aims to mold it into the next Martha’s Vineyard — or even settle for Bar Harbor. Yet with unwelcoming locals, tales of cannibalism and ghosts, and, of course, a fog that (supposedly!) steals souls, he faces a monumental challenge.“Part of the enjoyment was brainstorming in the writers room,” Dippold explains. “We’d generate various concepts for artifacts, newspaper clippings, sketches, or sea shanties. It all seems almost humorous in retrospect. But then you realize, Wait, these things are beginning to return.”Widow’s Bay might walk a tonal tightrope, but that makes it all the harder to look away. | Apple TVAnother pleasure is encountering the vibrant characters of Widow’s Bay. Each is, in their own manner, anchored in some bygone era — though on a Wi-Fi-less island, that's predictable. Tom is perpetually at a disadvantage, not just because of Wyck, who evolves into a Mulder to his Scully. The entire town subtly opposes him, including his sharp secretary Patricia (Kate O’Flynn). Still, Tom holds his own. When Patricia voices fear of being a target for a rumored serial killer, Tom swiftly reassures her: “He murdered teenage girls. You’re in your 40s.”Rhys’s performance — blending physical comedy with authentic emotion — acts as a conduit for Widow’s Bay’s shifting tone. His Tom resembles a Cary Grant or Frasier Crane dropped into the Twilight Zone: one moment he's humbling himself before blue-collar townsfolk; the next he's displaying his dramatic skill in quiet scenes with his rebellious teen son.“I believe that man can do anything as an actor,” Dippold remarks about Rhys. “Loftis’s stance is, ‘Yes, terrible events have occurred here, but that doesn't confirm the supernatural.’” Dippold strived to balance his skepticism with the genuinely eerie occurrences in Widow’s Bay — as the story unfolds, a genuine tug-of-war emerges between Tom and locals like Wyck. Who is truly correct about the events? Could both be right? Only time will tell, but their journey promises to deliver equal parts laughter and fright.Widow’s Bay is now streaming on Apple TV. 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.

6 Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Credit Card That Matches Your Lifestyle

SINGAPORE, May 1, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Choosing from the many Credit Cards available in Singapore can feel overwhelming, especially when each option highlights different rewards, fees, and benefits. A card that aligns with your lifestyle can help you manage expenses better while offering value through rewards, convenience, and flexibility. Whether your spending leans towards dining, travel, shopping, or daily essentials, understanding a few key factors can help narrow down choices that match how you live and spend.Here are some important factors that can help you evaluate Credit Cards based on real lifestyle needs rather than just promotional offers.1. Understand your monthly spending patternsBefore comparing Credit Cards, it can help to look closely at where your money usually goes each month. Some Singaporeans may opt to spend on dining and food delivery, while others may prioritise groceries, transport, or online shopping. Identifying these patterns can help you shortlist Credit Cards that reward the categories you use most often. This approach can make rewards feel more relevant, rather than spread across benefits you rarely use.2. Evaluate rewards structure and earning ratesCredit Cards offer rewards in different forms, such as cashback, reward points, or air miles, and each structure suits different spending habits. Cashback Cards may appeal to those who prefer straightforward savings, such as earning rebates on eligible categories, often capped at a monthly limit. Rewards or miles cards may suit frequent travellers or shoppers who enjoy redeeming points later.It's also worth checking the base earn rate, which is what you earn on regular spending, and the bonus earn rates offered for certain categories like dining, travel, or online shopping. Many cards also set bonus caps, meaning the higher rewards only apply up to a certain amount of spending each month. Understanding these details can help you see how much you can realistically earn based on your usual spending.3. Consider annual fees versus actual benefitsAnnual fees for Credit Cards in Singapore can range from around SGD 150 to over SGD 500. Some premium cards offer perks such as lounge access, dining privileges, or travel insurance. However, these additional benefits provide better value if you use them often enough to offset the higher fee. Many cards also provide fee waivers for the first year, which can help users test whether the card fits their lifestyle. Comparing the annual fee against how realistically you will use the perks can help determine whether the overall value feels balanced for your spending habits.4. Assess eligibility and income requirementsIn Singapore, most Credit Cards have minimum annual income requirements, usually starting from SGD 30,000 for citizens and permanent residents, and higher for foreigners. Premium cards may require annual incomes of SGD 120,000 or more. Understanding eligibility early can help avoid unnecessary applications and credit checks. Choosing a card aligned with your income range can also help ensure smoother approval and manageable credit limits that fit comfortably within your financial situation.5. Review interest rates and repayment flexibilityWhile Credit Cards can offer convenience and rewards, interest rates in Singapore often range between 25% and 28% per annum if balances are not paid in full. Some cards offer repayment features, such as instalment plans that split larger purchases into smaller monthly payments, or balance transfer options that can help consolidate existing credit card outstanding balances at a lower interest rate for a promotional period. Looking at repayment features, interest calculations, and payment flexibility can help support responsible usage, especially during months with higher expenses or unexpected costs.6. Check overseas usage and foreign currency feesFor those who travel or shop internationally, foreign currency transaction fees are an important consideration. Most Credit Cards in Singapore charge around 3.25% on overseas transactions. Some travel-focused cards may offer lower fees or even 0% FX fees on eligible transactions, while others may provide higher miles earn rates for foreign spend. Evaluating how often international spending occurs can help decide whether such features can add value or if a general-purpose card works just as well.Final thoughtsChoosing the right Credit Card is less about chasing the biggest offer and more about finding a match for your lifestyle and spending habits. By considering rewards, fees, perks, and usability through a practical lens, Credit Cards can become a supportive financial tool rather than a confusing product. Taking time to compare options thoughtfully can help ensure the card you select continues to add value as your lifestyle evolves.Disclaimer: This content is published by iQuanti Singapore Pte. Ltd., an external marketer engaged and compensated by UOB Ltd.Contact Information:Name: Sonakshi MurzeEmail: Sonakshi.murze@iquanti.comJob Title: ManagerSOURCE: iQuanti Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Notorious Hollywood Studio Leak Resurfaces After 17 Years

Paramount Skydance(SeaPRwire) -   When I was growing up — and I don’t take pride in this — bootleg DVDs were a regular part of my family’s media setup. Back in 2009, piracy was at its height, and those “You wouldn’t steal a car” ads weren’t yet the beloved memes they’d later become; instead, they were just an annoyance people brushed off completely. So yes, we had a few, with the most notorious being a copy of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. That pirated film wasn’t like your typical cam recording. Except for its unpolished visual effects and a temporary soundtrack filling in for the final score, it was practically DVD-quality. Most importantly, it started circulating months before the movie was supposed to premiere in U.S. theaters. The reason? It had somehow leaked straight from Fox Studios... pulled, of all places, from a preview copy made for Rupert Murdoch.Piracy hasn’t vanished entirely in the 10-plus years since Wolverine leaked online, but this scandal felt like the start of a shift away from the practice. Film piracy has moved somewhat underground, now happening almost solely on online torrent platforms. In the late 2010s, the focus shifted more to premium TV, with episodes of Game of Thrones or Orange is the New Black appearing online well before their scheduled air dates. Even so, it’s been quite some time since a high-profile film with DVD-quality footage leaked before its theatrical release — until now, that is.Paramount's Avatar sequel just renewed a decades-old controversy. | NickelodeonParamount Skydance has been preparing to bring back its animated Avatar universe, supporting a standalone story set after the events of The Last Airbender. The Legend of Aang will reintroduce the title Avatar and his friends as grown-ups; it’s slated to debut on Paramount+ in October 2026. The issue? It seems like half the world has already watched the film, a full four months before its planned release. This past April, the entire movie leaked online, and it quickly spread to those previously mentioned sites or was cut into clips and edits for TikTok.Clips from The Legend of Aang first surfaced online through an anonymous X user, who got the film from “a friend from his hacking days.” In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he said he decided to leak the movie because he wanted to “troll” Paramount Skydance. The studio was already facing backlash for removing The Legend of Aang from its theatrical lineup and choosing to release it on its streaming service instead. That’s why many fans chose to watch and share the film once it was fully leaked: they argue they would have pirated it anyway, so doing it now doesn’t change anything in the end.The Gaang are all grown up, and dealing with grown-up problems. | NickelodeonThe artists who worked behind the scenes to create The Legend of Aang don’t share that view. “Pirating the movie after it came out would have been at least better than this,” Julia Schoel, one of the animators on Aang, posted on X. “We spent years working on the Aang movie... only to see people leak it without any respect and share our work on Twitter like it’s candy.”The damage is done now, but those involved in the leak have started to be identified. On April 24, Singaporean authorities arrested a 26-year-old man accused of uploading The Legend of Aang online. It’s still unknown if this is the main person behind the leak or how he got access to the film initially. If convicted, though, he could be sentenced to up to 10 years in jail and fined $50,000.Watching this controversy play out as it happens is a weird experience — it’s been years since something like this occurred with such a high-profile project. The Legend of Aang isn’t the first work to be pirated, and it likely won’t be the last, but it appears studios are more determined than ever to prevent their content from being leaked. 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.

Representatives from More Than 40 Countries Discuss New Models of Global Growth in Moscow

MOSCOW, May 1, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - The 2nd Open Dialogue "The Future of the World: A New Platform for Global Growth" took place in Russia, bringing together experts and young researchers from more than 40 countries who proposed ideas on the development of the economy, technology, education, and the environment. The key unifying principle of the event was a focus on people, international cooperation, and the search for new models of global growth through dialogue and the practical implementation of ideas. The large-scale three-day program at the Russia National Centre has concluded, combining expert discussions, presentations by authors of the best essays from around the world, and informal communication with experts.According to the official remarks, the Open Dialogue has achieved a global footprint that covers the entire planet."Experts, business leaders, and researchers from 120 countries took part in the essay and creative works competition, including representatives from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Australia, North and South America. All authors and researchers, with diverse experiences and perspectives, were united by a strong and bold idea: to form a shared understanding of the future — the future of a world entering an era of profound structural change. It is evident that no country can develop in isolation, at the expense of other states or to their detriment. Furthermore, modern global challenges require a joint response and collective efforts. This means that the model of global development will be sustainable and fair only if it is based on the principles of equality and mutual respect, and takes into account the interests of all countries," the honorary guest of the event stated.According to the Russian leader, a multipolar architecture of global development is being formed before our eyes. Within it, an important role is played by states that understand and value national sovereignty.The results of the large-scale event were summarized by Russian economist Maxim Oreshkin: "Russia, in a number of areas, is an advanced country in terms of the development of digital platform solutions. Our approach is one of joint development. When Russian digital platforms enter other countries' markets, they bring data localization, local partner involvement, training for local personnel, and the development of their own competencies in platform solution development. Russia comes to develop together, not to collect colonial rent from countries that lack access to technological solutions. We are in favor of developing together."Maxim Oreshkin noted that the reach of the Open Dialogue will continue to grow each year. According to him, significant attention is being paid to the stage of implementing the ideas proposed in the essays. A mentorship format has been introduced — Russian businesses and international companies are beginning to work with essayists, involve them in their projects, and help bring their ideas to life.At the 2nd Open Dialogue, the best essay authors were identified in four areas: "Investing in People," "Investing in Connectivity," "Investing in Technology," and "Investing in the Environment."The winner in the "Investing in Technology" track was Aya Arfaoui, a student of Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco. She raised the issue of the digital sovereignty of developing countries. According to her, international institutions do not provide sufficient influence in regulating the digital space.Solomon Gardie, a postgraduate student at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, became the winner in the "Investing in Connectivity" track. His essay focused on connectivity and the mobility of sovereign data. He proposed a system in which data is processed and anonymized before cross-border transfer, and only in this form can it be used for the common good. He also noted that, within cooperation in the BRICS+ framework, one of the first areas could be healthcare, particularly epidemiological monitoring and disease control.In the "Investing in the Environment" track, the winner was Soumya Bhowmick, a research fellow at the Observer Research Foundation (India). In his presentation, he stated that for almost 100 years, the world has focused on measuring GDP, which does not reflect a country's real wealth.The winner of the "Investing in People" track was Lubinda Haabazoka from Zambia. In his speech, he noted that for real convergence among countries of the Global South, not only declarations of multipolarity are needed, but also practical changes in key systems of interaction — primarily in education, which directly affects opportunities for cooperation and knowledge exchange.The future should be built around the individual, their health, agency, and a long, meaningful life, rather than around technologies and outdated systems, believes Dr. Selina Neri, co-founder, CEO, and dean of Future Readiness Academy (UAE), and an expert of the 2nd Open Dialogue in the "Investing in People" track. According to her, this requires new approaches to education, work, and technology development that focus on human flourishing, sovereignty, and the practical implementation of ideas rather than copying ineffective models.More than 1,600 authors from all continents submitted their works to participate in the 2nd Open Dialogue. Seventy-five essay authors hold academic degrees. The conclusions drawn from the discussions will be reviewed at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and will be reflected in its business program. Essayists and experts will also be engaged in activities within the BRICS platform and involved in preparations for the Russia–Africa Summit.Social LinksTelegram: https://t.me/gowithRussiaMedia ContactsBrand: Russia National CentreContact: Media teamEmail: pressa@russia.ruWebsite: https://en.russia.ru  Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Resident Evil Finally Perfects the Video Game Horror Adaptation

Columbia Pictures(SeaPRwire) -   Although we are in the best age for video game adaptations (a bar that isn't set very high, given past efforts), a truly outstanding film based on a beloved horror game has remained elusive. The top contender, Christophe Gans' Silent Hill film, is still hampered by its imperfections, and recent years have seen failures such as consecutive PG-13 Five Nights at Freddy's films and an Until Dawn adaptation that significantly altered the original story and gameplay mechanics.This issue traces back to Paul W.S. Anderson's six-movie Resident Evil series, which was a box office success but traded the original games' tense, nerve-shredding horror for sci-fi action reminiscent of The Matrix. Now, after twenty-four years and two cinematic reboots, a film has finally emerged that aims to capture the texture and atmosphere that made the early games so frightening (and it's directed by Zach Cregger, known for Barbarian and Weapons, no less). Following a long wait, the official teaser was released today, offering the first look at the nightmare Cregger is creating in Raccoon City.The preview begins with protagonist Bryan (Austin Abrams, Cregger's collaborator on Weapons) entering a deserted house to call 9-11, but he instead calls his girlfriend after finding the emergency line disconnected. While he describes the worsening predicament he has found himself in, the trailer reveals glimpses of the horrors awaiting him: a multi-limbed monster emerging from the house he just exited, a hospital room packed with zombies, and a pale, bloated mutation observing him from the sewers. The intensity builds as the trailer progresses, with a dial-tone sound effect growing increasingly ominous, culminating in a frantic final shot of Bryan fleeing through the streets of Raccoon City.While the plot details are sparse, the trailer effectively showcases the film's relentless, escalating horror, which initial reports have likened to a horror version of Fury Road. Crucially, the teaser captures the ideal tone for a Resident Evil movie: bleak, uncanny, isolated, and saturated with dread. It is also encouraging that the film's terror will not rely solely on standard zombies, but will also embrace the biological mutagen properties of the T-virus. While hordes of the undead are frightening, the series is also known for its grotesque, Cronenberg-esque monsters.And from the looks of it, there will definitely be lots and lots of zombies. | Columbia PicturesAlthough some fans will inevitably be let down by the absence of series staples like Leon Kennedy or Albert Wesker, introducing a new character offers a fresh perspective on the outbreak and devastation of Raccoon City, something not seen in the games. Bryan is the main character, but he could just as easily become one of the many casualties littering the city, with a tragic note left behind detailing his final call to his girlfriend before being bitten. Even if it isn't a direct adaptation, Cregger appears poised to deliver a heart-pounding, white-knuckle experience of chaos and raw fear that truly justifies the Resident Evil name.Resident Evil hits theaters on September 18th, 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.

HKTDC’s seven flagship lifestyle and licensing events successfully attract over 95,000 global buyers

HONG KONG, Apr 30, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) today successfully concluded seven flagship lifestyle and licensing events, attracting over 95,000 buyers from 134 countries and regions for sourcing and business negotiations. Among the lifestyle fairs, the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair attracted over 32,000 buyers, Home InStyle drew some 20,000 buyers, and Fashion InStyle gathered some 12,000 buyers, while the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair and DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong saw over 9,600 buyers attend the concurrent events. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS) attracted over 21,000 buyers, and the Asian Licensing Conference (ALC) featured over 20 international licensing industry leaders as speakers. Non-local buyers at these fairs came primarily from Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, and Japan, while significant growth was also recorded in buyer numbers from the Philippines, Canada, and Türkiye, underscoring the fairs' strong international appeal.Jenny Koo, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: “In alignment with the national 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong will continue to actively develop its role as a regional intellectual property trading hub, further enhancing its international competitiveness in the cultural and creative industries and IP transactions. The seven flagship events fully showcased Hong Kong's distinctive strengths in lifestyle, cultural and creative design, brand development, and intellectual property, offering global buyers a rich and diverse array of sourcing options, while connecting exhibitors with international buyers and partners to unlock business opportunities. HKTDC will continue to leverage Hong Kong's unique advantage of connecting Chinese Mainland with the rest of the world, foster cross-sector international trade collaboration, and reinforce Hong Kong's status as an international trade hub."Nearly half of respondents expect sales growth, industries actively explore new marketsTo further gauge the latest trends in the lifestyle products market, HKTDC conducted a questionnaire survey of 1,541 exhibitors and buyers during the Gifts & Premium Fair, Home InStyle, and Fashion InStyle. The key findings are as follows:Market and industry outlook:- Nearly half (49.0%) of respondents expected their overall sales would rise in the next one to two years, while 44.6% foresaw that sales will remain stable. The greatest operational challenges identified were fluctuations of global economy (47.8%), conflict-led crisis such as geopolitical tensions, energy and food insecurity, supply chain chaos (37.2%) and growing protectionist measures (33.7%)- Respondents believed sales prospects are promising or very promising over the next two years in ASEAN countries (69.0%), Taiwan (67.9%), India (66.7%), Korea (65.2%) and Chinese Mainland (63.0%)- The markets that exhibitor respondents are actively exploring include Europe (34.0%), ASEAN countries (18.3%), North America (16.0%), Middle East (13.6%) and Australia (12.8%)Product trends:- In the gifts and premiums market, respondents believed the strongest growth potential lies in: cultural gifts (19.7%), sustainable gifts (18.6%), and tech gifts (18.6%)- In the furniture and home products market, designer furniture & houseware products (27.3%), interior decoration & handicrafts (27.1%), and smart home technology (23.0%) were considered to have the most growth potential- In the fashion market, respondents believed designer clothing / branded clothing (42.4%), urban clothing (34.5%), and womenswear (31.9%) have the strongest growth potentialCross-sector opportunities and synergies help exhibitors tap into new marketsThe seven annual lifestyle and licensing events span diverse industries and cultural creativity. Semk Holdings International Limited, a major player in character IP licensing, exhibited at the Gifts & Premium Fair, showcasing a range of B.Duck co-branded IP products. CK Kwok, the company’s Co-founder, Executive Director & VP said the company successfully draw strong buyer interest and connected with buyers from Mexico, Canada, Europe and Southeast Asia.The UAE made its debut at the Gifts & Premium Fair this year. Mohanmed Alayat, Founder of Dubai exhibitor Alpha Art, said: “On the first day alone, we connected with around 40 new clients from Asia, Europe, the United States and Africa, and received enquiries for customised products. We anticipate potential orders over the course of the fair to total around US$1 million.”Gifts & Premium Fair seals three MOUs, deepening Hong Kong’s trade ties with the Chinese Mainland and overseas marketsThe Gifts & Premium Fair also highlighted Hong Kong’s role as an international trade platform bridging markets worldwide. The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shanxi Provincial Committee and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Fujian Sub-Council signed memoranda of understanding (MOU) with the HKTDC respectively, aiming at encouraging enterprises from Shanxi and Fujian to leverage Hong Kong’s platform to “go global”, while further strengthening their trade ties with Hong Kong. In addition, the Busan Economic Promotion Agency also signed an MOU with the HKTDC to promote gift products from Busan, Korea, to international markets through Hong Kong’s platform, unlocking new business opportunities for companies in the gift sectors of both Hong Kong and Korea.Innovative materials help exhibitors discover new fashion opportunitiesFashion InStyle featured the returning NEXT@Fashion InStyle (NEXT), a key highlighted zone organised by HKTDC, sponsored by the HKSAR Government's Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, with over 60 world-wide new material exhibitors. Textile Library from Hangzhou, returned to NEXT this year after successfully connecting with a Thai exhibitor at last year’s edition. It also collaborated with a Hong Kong designer brand Ponder.er, applying its patented, self-developed epoch-poly fabrics to create dynamic and expressive designs.Mary Ma, Founder of Textile Library, stated: "This year, we have brought two latest self-developed materials to Hong Kong, warp-print fabrics and the ice-crack series of crackle finishing, showcasing the perfect fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology. The materials drew strong interest and praise from international buyers and have already yielded several concrete cooperation intentions and promising follow-up business opportunities.”Some exhibitors achieved remarkable results on their first participation of Fashion InStyle. Hin Pi, Operations Manager of New High Limited, a local exhibitor specialising in swimwear and sportswear, said: “We connected with some 50 potential buyers from around the world. It was particularly surprising and encouraging to meet buyers from Dubai and North Africa, which will greatly facilitate our expansion into new overseas markets. Four to five buyers have already expressed clear interest in cooperation, with expected total orders totally about US$100,000.”In addition, Baek Kyunghoon, Procurement Manager of Kolon Industries FnC, a leading Korean fashion group, connected with suppliers from Sweden, Germany, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam at the fair. The company plans to apply sustainable and high-tech materials to its sports collections. Vanessa Tirol Lacerda, Creative Director of Brazilian e-commerce fashion brand Amaro, said the diverse range of innovative materials was highly inspiring, especially the salmon skin leather and pineapple fibre fabrics. She has already established cooperation with exhibitors from India and Chinese Mainland, with an expected initial order of approximately US$100,000.Many internationally renowned brands and major retailers, including New Zealand’s Karen Walker, the United Kingdom’s The Business Fashion, Thailand’s Jaspal Group, and India’s SD Retail, successfully identified potential business collaborations.Home InStyle this year introduced innovative materials for homeware and home textiles for the first time. Hong Kong exhibitor Lotux International Holdings Co. Limited presented biodegradable cutlery and food containers made from lotus stems, alongside deodorising cat litter made from lotus fibre. Daphne Wan, the company's Sales Director, said: “Our innovative eco-friendly materials and pet products attracted strong interest from visitors. We are currently in discussions with a houseware company on the joint development of eco-friendly straws. The Hong Kong Furniture and Decoration Trade Association has also expressed interest in using our sustainable materials in furniture production.”Driving the development of high value-added gerontechnology and cultural & creative design IndustriesHome InStyle attracted exhibitors showcasing new products. Exhibitor allcareAI Limited, which specialises in gerontechnology, debuted its infection-prevention mobile toilet at the fair. CEO Phil Woo stated: "In the first two days alone, we received over 20 enquiries, including from local care homes, medical and rehabilitation service providers, as well as potential partners from Chinese Mainland, Japan, Australia, Europe and Southeast Asia. This reflects the sector’s growing demand for gerontechnology and infection-control care solutions."He also shared that the Reimagine themed floor, which brought together the innovative products of Gifts & Premium Fair and Home InStyle, helped raising the profile of the gerontech industry and showcased its diverse applications to industry players from different sectors, offering a single platform to explore the latest trends in innovative materials and home lifestyle.In addition, TFE Holdings Limited showcased a distinctive concrete coffee machine at the Cultural and Creative Avenue. Ivan Wong, Executive Director and Product Director, said: “We have engaged with over 20 potential buyers from Hong Kong, France, Dubai, as well as Southeast Asian markets including Malaysia and Thailand. We expect to secure around 15 orders worth about US$1 million in total.”The Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair and DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong attracted global buyers seeking sourcing opportunities. Among them was buyer Hot Packaging LLC from Middle East, which visited the Printing & Packaging Fair to source eco-friendly packaging solutions. Anas Bin Haneef, the company’s Senior Commercial Officer, said: “I connected with around 12 new suppliers from the Chinese Mainland. We expect to place initial trial orders for innovative corrugated paper bags and other sustainable products, with an estimated value of US$35,000 to US$75,000. We plan to introduce corrugated paper bags, biodegradable moulded fibre products and bagasse paper bags to the e-commerce market in the UAE and across the Middle East as greener alternatives to traditional plastic packaging.”Packaging design also created new opportunities for exhibitors. W.H.Y. Brand Consultancy Limited participated in DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong for the first time this year, connected with printers and design firms, including companies from Southeast Asia and Korea, opening up potential collaboration on branding solutions for major enterprises. Founder William Yeung also shared that a Thai trade media outlet, which had initially approached the company for an exhibitor interview, later expressed interest in becoming a client, a clear demonstration of the fair’s ability to turn exposure into tangible business opportunities. He added that the company's participation is expected to generate around US$400,000 in business.Buyers also affirmed the fairs as efficient sourcing platforms. Henry Huang, Vice President, Global Product Development at Umbra Ltd, a Canadian buyer at Home InStyle, said: “We identified around 20 potential suppliers from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Thailand and Taiwan, offering products such as photo frames, desktop novelties and shoe racks. We also joined six business matching meetings during the fair and expect total orders to reach up to US$100,000.” Meanwhile, Jaime Gonzalez, Commercial Director of Mexico’s Promo Life and a buyer at the Gifts & Premium Fair, said the Reimagine themed floor brought together cultural creative, innovative and design elements, enabling buyers to capture market trends and evolving lifestyle in one place. He added that featured zones such as the Smart Design Global Awards, Selection of ASEAN and The Bespoke Hub also helped buyers discover design-led, customised and regionally inspired gift ideas. He also revealed plans to spend US$200,000 on keychains and magnets from a Hong Kong exhibitor.Licensing industry goes global through HKTDC platformAt the Hong Kong International Licensing Show, Hong Kong exhibitor Postgal Workshop has reached an agreement with Malaysia based M&M Creations Holdings Sdh. Bhd., involving its IP “Din Dong”, with the collaboration estimated to be worth over US$200,000. CEO of M&M Creations Holdings Sdn. Bhd. commented that “Hong Kong International Licensing Show has sparked many new ideas. We look forward to collaborate with more Hong Kong IPs for the Malaysia market.”At the Asian Licensing Conference, industry leaders shared emerging trends in the licensing industry, including shifts in consumer behaviour, and new IP development models. Maura Regan, President and CEO of Licensing International, stated: " We remain convinced that we'll see significant growth across property types.  Overall, the licensing industry is not slowing down. Consumers continue to demand immersive experiences, from theme parks to branded hotels to pop-up shops to retail experiences.”Photo download: https://bit.ly/4cDT1II HKTDC seven flagship lifestyle and licensing events concluded successfully today, attracting over 95,000 buyers from 134 countries and regions for on-site procurementAlgernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (centre), Jeffrey Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC Home InStyle and Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair Organising Committee (second left), Jenny Koo, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTD (second right), Helena Chiu, Chairman of the Hong Kong Exporters' Association (first left), Zacharias Cheng, President of the Innovative Entrepreneur Association (IEA) (first right), attended networking receptions of seven flagship lifestyle and licensing eventsReimagine themed floor debuted in Hall 5 this year, bringing together thematic zones from Gifts & Premium Fair and Home InStyle, including the Smart Design Global Awards, which showcased all shortlisted entries and promoted Hong Kong’s original designs to the worldThe Cultural and Creative Avenue of Home InStyle gathered over 110 design institutions and cultural brands from more than 10 countries and regions. The zone once again teamed up with Pantone, drawing on the 2026 Colour of the Year, “Cloud Dancer”, to create a series of home display settings that showcase how color pairing shapes livingThe Fashion Parade of highlighted zone NEXT@Fashion InStyle, showcasing garments designed by designer brands using innovative fashion materials supplied by global material suppliersThe Philippines joins NEXT@Fashion InStyle as featured partner, powered by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Hong Kong (PTIC-HK) and the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM). Buyers actively engaged with Philippine exhibitors to explore potential collaboration opportunitiesThe Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair and DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong, organised by the HKTDC and the CIEC Exhibition Co. (HK) Ltd, featured comprehensive printing and packaging solutions - from mass market to premium packaging solutions – catering to diverse market needsHong Kong International Licensing Show brought together over 330 exhibitors from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland and across Asia Pacific, showcasing more than 600 brands and intellectual property projects across various sectors, including arts and culture, animation and characters, brand extension, and entertainment and sports licensingChinese Mainland ethnic designer A-Niu A-Ga signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Hong Kong's Chinese Arts & Crafts (HK) Ltd. to promote the globalisation of designs featuring Chinese ethnic elements, such as Yi cultureThe Hong Kong International Licensing Show attracted many industry professionals to the venue to learn about the latest development in the licensing industryWebsitesHKTDC Media Room: https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/enHong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkgiftspremiumfair/enHome InStyle: https://www.hktdc.com/event/homeinstyle/enFashion InStyle: https://www.hktdc.com/event/fashioninstyle/enHong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkprintpackfair/enDeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong: https://www.hktdc.com/event/deluxeprintpackhk/enHong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hklicensingshow/enMedia enquiriesFor enquiries, please contact:Home InStyle, Fashion InStyle, HK Gifts & Premium Fair, HK International Printing & Packaging Fair and DeLuxe PrintPack Hong KongPandagon:Fraser LiTel: 6083 5623Email: pandagon.limited@gmail.com   HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:Clayton LauwTel: 2584 4472Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org   HK International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing ConferenceRaconteur:  Molisa LauTel: 6187 7786Email: molisalau@raconteur.hkBetsy TseTel: 9742 7338Email: betsytse@raconteur.hk   HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:Winnie KanTel: 2584 4055Email: winnie.wy.kan@hktdc.orgHKTDC Newsroom: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/enAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.  Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Kenneth Branagh, Original Thor Director, Offers Vision for Hero’s Swan Song

Marvel/Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock(SeaPRwire) -   Thor has endured quite a journey. The Asgardian Avenger has grappled with Earth’s customs, clashed with his brother, relocated his entire home society, battled his fellow Avengers, survived a cosmic gladiator fight alongside a colleague, witnessed his friends turn to dust, let himself slip in order to cope, faced off against a monochrome Christian Bale, and embraced fatherhood. It’s hard to believe that just 15 years ago, countless MCU fans were introduced to Thor for the first time when Phil Coulson discovered Mjolnir in the New Mexico desert at the conclusion of Iron Man 2. Today, the director who launched Thor’s distinguished film career has some ideas about the hero’s next steps. In 2011, Kenneth Branagh brought Thor to life in the hero’s debut MCU film. | Marvel/Paramount/Kobal/ShutterstockKenneth Branagh, director of the original Thor, recently spoke with Business Insider about the film’s 15th anniversary. Back then, he was likely the most renowned director to helm an MCU project, famous for his epic adaptations of Shakespearean works such as Henry V and Hamlet. The interview reveals he was even invited to return for the sequel. “I was delighted to get the offer. They were disappointed—they understood, but still disappointed,” he shared. “They wanted to jump right into a sequel, and who could blame them? But I told Kevin then, ‘I don’t have the energy for it right now.’”Since then, Branagh has followed the subsequent Thor films, which—particularly after Taika Waititi took the helm—adopted a far more lighthearted and comedic vibe. Even though they’re distinct from his original, Branagh still lauds them. “I think it’s a testament to Kevin’s vision for the character and his world,” he noted. “Watching how flexible the franchise has been in embracing different types of adventures, humor, and narrative directions has been absolutely fascinating to see unfold.”That doesn’t mean he lacks ideas, though. Fifteen years after Thor’s debut, both the character and actor Chris Hemsworth have grown older—a theme Branagh finds intriguing to explore on screen. “A part of me would love to wrap up my connection to that character. I’ve always wanted to do more, and I actually had a few concepts, along the lines of James Mangold’s outstanding Logan,” he stated. “I’d love to see Chris Hemsworth and the team craft a unique final story that takes Thor into a magnificent twilight phase.” Branagh envisions a final Thor movie inspired by Logan. | 20th Century FoxMangold’s Logan was a masterful exploration of a superhero’s legacy, depicting an aging Wolverine as he cared for his mentor Charles Xavier in his final days, looked after the next generation of mutants, and eventually met his end— a moment that was playfully referenced in the opening of the MCU’s Deadpool and Wolverine. Maybe, when Kevin Feige is ready to close Thor’s story, he can pull Branagh away from his Agatha Christie projects and bookend Thor’s legacy with the director who started it all. The next Thor film hasn’t been officially announced yet, but it seems Thor won’t be stepping back anytime soon. We know he’ll return in Avengers: Doomsday, but maybe Thor 5 could serve as his swan song—and there’s no better way to do that than to come full circle. Thor is now streaming on Disney+. 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.

How Did Anthony Mackie’s Epic Turn Into a Box Office Flop?

Vertical Entertainment (SeaPRwire) -   Were you aware that Desert Warrior was scheduled for theatrical release? It appears that very few people knew, as the Anthony Mackie-led attempt at a classic desert epic, directed by Rupert Wyatt (known for Rise of the Planet of the Apes), is on course to become one of the biggest box-office failures in history. The situation is indeed grim: Desert Warrior grossed a mere $487,848 across 1,010 screens during its opening weekend in the American box office, averaging a paltry $483.01 per screen. This marks the weakest opening weekend for a wide-release film so far in 2026 and is a disappointing result for a film with a substantial $150 million budget. The film boasts a strong ensemble cast: while star Aiysha Hart (Discovery of Witches) may not be widely recognized in the United States, Anthony Mackie (known for his role as Captain America in the MCU) could attract some fans. Sharlito Copely and Sir Ben Kingsley provide support, alongside Syrian actor Ghassan Massoud (famous for Kingdom of Heaven). So, what led to this outcome? Vulture conducted an in-depth investigation into the film's production, which was reportedly beset by challenges from the outset. The extremely costly studio backlot and media complex that Saudi Arabia had promised to the filmmakers was still under construction when production commenced, initiating a chain of problems. These included infrastructure issues, the necessity of transporting extras and crew members from other countries, and even a sandstorm that hampered filming. Subsequently, more significant issues emerged.Principal photography for Desert Warrior concluded in 2021, but post-production extended for several more years. Executive changes resulted in "creative differences" that led to Wyatt's departure from the project (though he later returned). In 2025, Wyatt shared his sole public statement on the matter with Variety, explaining, “there was a desire to start to change the movie. And it wasn’t really the movie that I had set out to make, nor had I shot. So I resisted, and I was sidelined. I was sidelined for a good period.”Wyatt's recent directorial track record has been less than stellar, with his last two films, The Gambler (2014) and Captive State (2019), receiving middling reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. However, his intentions for Desert Warrior appeared to be genuine, or at least rooted in a classic filmmaking approach. In the press release announcing the film's acquisition, he was quoted as saying, “I’m privileged to have played my part in perhaps one of the last in-camera on location action epics.” Wyatt’s epic has been praised for its cinematography, but not much else. | Andreas Rentz/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty ImagesUltimately, the Saudi-owned MBC Group agreed to reinstate Wyatt's full creative control, and he delivered his second director's cut in September 2025 (a prior director's cut, completed before studio interference, was reportedly finished in 2021-2022). However, following its premiere to mixed reviews at the Zurich Film Festival last fall, a lack of promotion from the film's inexperienced studio contributed to the formula for a flop. In conclusion, the primary factors behind this failure appear to be inexperience and overconfidence, as a company with no prior experience in producing a $150 million tentpole film decided to undertake the project anyway. This miscalculation is now poised to cost them nearly their entire investment. 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.