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ACAMS Awards Scholarships to Upskill Anti-Financial Crime Professionals Across Africa and Facilitate Networking with the Global Compliance Community

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The initiative supports anti-money laundering (AML) and sanctions compliance efforts throughout the African continent

WASHINGTON, Feb. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — ACAMS, a leading international membership organization dedicated to the fight against illicit finance, is offering 20 Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) scholarships to anti-financial crime (AFC) professionals from countries that are part of the African continent. Under the global scholarship program, the 20 winners will receive a one-year membership to ACAMS and a full waiver of all fees, including costs for study materials and access to virtual classroom courses for their CAMS certification.

The scholarship winners were selected by a panel of judges from a pool of 526 applicants, more than half of whom reside in three countries – Nigeria (31%), Kenya (14%) and Uganda (7%). More than 86% of applicants were not ACAMS members, underscoring how the program will create new career paths for recipients and aid ACAMS’ goal of creating diverse, peer-to-peer networking for AFC professionals globally.

Recipients will learn to implement effective AFC policies and procedures based on risk, drive a top-down culture of compliance on an enterprise-wide basis and shield institutions from enforcement actions and reputational harm. This opportunity to acquire a globally recognized qualification will also equip professionals with a compliance toolkit to aid their understanding of emerging topics and trends in anti-financial crime.

First announced in November, the African continent scholarship program is part of ACAMS’ broader commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout the global AFC space. Last year, ACAMS launched dedicated scholarships in Korea and Japan to further reinforce this commitment.

“ACAMS embraces these opportunities to provide scholarships that remove obstacles to professional development for individuals who are passionate about building careers focused on combating financial crime,” said ACAMS CEO, Neil Sternthal.

“By offering the scholarship in Africa, we aim to eliminate barriers for aspiring professionals, empowering them to enhance their compliance skills particularly in navigating the complexities of emerging anti-financial crime trends,” he added.

“Serving as the Chief Judge for ACAMS AFC Scholarship in Africa was an honor and privilege to see the immense passion and expertise showcased by applicants continent-wide. Each candidate presented a compelling case for their inclusion, demonstrating a deep commitment to combating financial crime,” said ACAMS Advisory Board Member and Mastercard Chief Compliance Officer, Howard Fields, who served as Chief Judge for this scholarship initiative.

Details about the judges and recipients of the CAMS Scholarship Africa are available here: http://www.acams.org/scholarships/cams/africa

Find out more about ACAMS Scholarship initiative here: www.acams.org/en/resources/diversity-equity-inclusion/scholarships 

About ACAMS®

ACAMS is a leading international membership organization dedicated to providing opportunities for anti-financial crime (AFC) education, best practices, and peer-to-peer networking to AFC professionals globally. With over 100,000 members across 180 jurisdictions, ACAMS is committed to the mission of ending financial crime through the provision of anti-money laundering/counterterrorism-financing and sanctions knowledge-sharing, thought leadership, risk-mitigation services, ESG initiatives, and platforms for public-private dialogue. The association’s CAMS certification is the gold- standard qualification for AFC professionals, while its CGSS and CCAS certifications are for sanctions professionals and AFC practitioners working in the crypto space, respectively. ACAMS’ 60+ Chapters globally further amplify the association’s mission through training and networking initiatives. Visit acams.org for more information.

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SOURCE Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS)

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Yalla Group Releases 2025 ESG Report

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DUBAI, UAE, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Yalla Group Limited (“Yalla” or the “Company”) (NYSE: YALA), the largest Middle East and North Africa (MENA)-based online social networking and gaming company, today published its 2025 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report. The report outlines the Company’s 2025 ESG performance and future strategy across five key pillars: responsible governance, environmental stewardship, trust, people, and community engagement, underscoring its enduring commitment to sustainable development.

Tao Yang, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Yalla, stated, “In 2025, we made tangible progress across our ESG priorities. We expanded our use of renewable energy, integrated energy-efficient technologies and deepened AI applications across daily operations, advancing toward our carbon neutrality goal while strengthening business performance. We also invested in building a more diverse and inclusive workplace where our people can thrive and deliver their best, supporting our sustainable growth. True to our mission of connecting our users and enriching lives across the MENA region through our social and gaming ecosystem, we will continue to innovate with purpose, leading responsibly to create positive, enduring impact and lasting value for all stakeholders.”

Mr. Saifi Ismail, President of Yalla, added, “Our fifth annual ESG report highlights our dedication to promoting sustainability, innovation, and responsible growth. Cultural respect and community engagement remain central to how we operate, enabling us to foster a sense of belonging in our digital entertainment community across the MENA region. This year, we also strengthened our cybersecurity infrastructure, building greater user trust in our platforms. Looking ahead, we will continue to invest in ESG initiatives and leverage advanced technologies to cultivate a safe, engaging and innovative digital ecosystem, driving progress toward a more sustainable future.”

For more information on the Company’s ESG initiatives and to access the complete ESG report in English and Arabic, please visit the ESG section of the Company’s investor relations website at https://ir.yalla.com/esg. 

About Yalla Group Limited

Yalla Group Limited is the largest MENA-based online social networking and gaming company, in terms of revenues in 2022. The Company operates two flagship mobile applications, Yalla, a voice-centric group chat platform, and Yalla Ludo, a casual gaming application featuring online versions of board games, popular in MENA, with in-game voice chat and localized Majlis functionality. Building on the success of Yalla and Yalla Ludo, the Company continues to add engaging new content, creating a regionally-focused, integrated ecosystem dedicated to fulfilling MENA users’ evolving online social networking and gaming needs. Through its holding subsidiary, Yalla Game Limited, the Company has expanded its capabilities in mid-core and hard-core games in the MENA region, leveraging its local expertise to bring innovative gaming content to its users. In addition, the growing Yalla ecosystem includes YallaChat, an IM product tailored for Arabic users, WeMuslim, a product that supports Arabic users in observing their customs, and casual games such as Yalla Baloot and 101 Okey Yalla, developed to sustain vibrant local gaming communities in MENA. Yalla is also actively exploring outside of MENA with Yalla Parchis, a Ludo game designed for the South American markets. Yalla’s mobile applications deliver a seamless experience that fosters a sense of loyalty and belonging, establishing highly devoted and engaged user communities through close attention to detail and localized appeal that profoundly resonates with users.

For more information, please visit: https://ir.yalla.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Yalla Group Limited’s beliefs, plans and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Yalla Group Limited’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Yalla Group Limited does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Yalla Group Limited
Investor Relations
Kerry Gao – IR Director
Tel: +86-571-8980-7962
Email: ir@yalla.com    

Piacente Financial Communications
Jenny Cai
Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
Email: yalla@tpg-ir.com  

In the United States:

Piacente Financial Communications
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
Email: yalla@tpg-ir.com  

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yalla-group-releases-2025-esg-report-302750991.html

SOURCE Yalla Group Limited

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Citizens Bank Data Breach: Edelson Lechtzin LLP Launches Investigation Into Exposure of Personal Information

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National class action firm offering free case evaluations to individuals impacted by the Citizens Bank cybersecurity incident

NEWTOWN, Pa., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm, is investigating data privacy claims arising from the Citizens Bank, N.A. data breach. Citizens Bank appeared on the Everest gang’s dark web ransomware leak site on or about April 20, 2026.  

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating data privacy claims arising from the Citizens Bank, N.A. data breach.

What Happened

On or about April 20, 2026, samples of sensitive financial data from Texas-based Frost Bank and Citizens Financial Group showed up on Everest’s dark web site. The Everest gang has reportedly given the banks six days before it publicly releases the stolen data. This is a common tactic used by hackers to extort large payments. The Everest gang claims to have approximately 3.4 million records belonging to Citizens Bank

Information Exposed

Affected personal data includes names, home addresses, and account numbers.

Who May Be Impacted

Individuals who received a data breach notification from Citizens Bank may face an increased risk of identity theft and fraud.

Your Legal Options

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a potential class action to pursue legal remedies on behalf of individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised in the Citizens Bank breach. The firm will evaluate your rights and potential claims at no cost.

Recommended Protective Steps

Review account statements and credit reports regularly and remain vigilant for suspicious activity. Confirm whether your information was involved in the Citizens Bank incident and preserve any letters or emails you received about the breach. Consider placing fraud alerts and credit monitoring.

Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation

Speak confidentially with a data privacy attorney today: Marc Edelson, Esq., Edelson Lechtzin LLP, 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300, Newtown, PA 18940; Phone: 844-696-7492 ext. 2; Email: medelson@edelson-law.com; Web: www.edelson-law.com. Or click HERE to request a free consultation.

About Citizens Bank

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is an American bank holding company headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. The company owns the bank Citizens Bank, N.A., which operates in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia, as well as Washington, DC.

About Edelson Lechtzin LLP

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to data breach litigation, the firm handles class and collective actions involving securities and investment fraud, federal antitrust violations, ERISA employee benefit plans, wage theft, and consumer fraud

Media and Partnership Inquiries: Use the contact information above to connect with our team regarding interviews, co-counsel opportunities, and referral partnerships.

Legal Notice: This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/citizens-bank-data-breach-edelson-lechtzin-llp-launches-investigation-into-exposure-of-personal-information-302751088.html

SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP

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Registration for the 2026 National Summit in San Diego, CA is Officially Open!

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Leading independent technology distributor Sandler Partners opens registration for their 3-day National Summit, an event dedicated to helping empower Partners to grow their business.

REDONDO BEACH, Calif., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sandler Partners announces that registration is now open for the 2026 Sandler Partners National Summit, taking place October 26–29 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, CA.

The National Summit is the largest event of the year for the Sandler Partners community—bringing together 600+ Partners, Sandler leadership, and 75+ Providers for three days of insight, collaboration, and opportunity. The event is designed to equip attendees with the knowledge, connections, and strategies needed to navigate a rapidly evolving technology landscape and drive business growth.

Partners, potential Partners, and sponsoring technology Providers can register today by clicking HERE.

“I had the opportunity to connect with the Sandler team, delve into the latest technologies and Partner programs, and build relationships that will help expand the services we deliver to our clients,” states a West Coast Partner and 2025 attendee. “I’m coming back inspired and ready to put some of these new partnerships and ideas into action.”

Shaped by Partner feedback, the Summit focuses on what matters most—delivering practical insights, relevant education, and meaningful connections. Attendees will engage in Growth, Sales, and Technology sessions, explore emerging solutions, and collaborate with peers to exchange ideas, discover new approaches, and strengthen relationships across the community.

TECHNOLOGY PROVIDERS, PLEASE NOTE: Only sponsoring Providers are allowed to attend this event. Those interested in participating as a sponsor can learn more by contacting Tina S. Dyksterhouse, Vice President of Marketing at Tina@SandlerPartners.com.

About Sandler Partners and Their Community Approach
Sandler Partners helps empower their network of leading independent Sales Partners to bring organizations around the world a comprehensive range of technology solutions, including Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Connectivity, Cloud, Colocation, Mobility, Internet of Things, and Continuity. Their community focus helps support Partners to identify solutions swiftly and unbiasedly from a diverse Provider portfolio of 250+ suppliers. Partner sales agents, VARs, and MSPs gain access to a robust support network, Sales Engineering expertise, marketing resources, and powerful sales tools like SCOUTSolutions FinderScout for Solutions, and the Marketing Center within the Sandler Portal. This helps give their Partners what they need to do what they do best – deliver quality, value, performance, features, unparalleled expertise, and service to their clients. Members of the Sandler Partner community can rely on the industry’s strongest negotiated agreements and a team dedicated to ensuring all their commissions are found, tracked, and paid.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/registration-for-the-2026-national-summit-in-san-diego-ca-is-officially-open-302749840.html

SOURCE Sandler Partners

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