Technology

CGTN: New highland: Macao boosts tech innovation, talent cultivation for diversified growth

Published

1 year ago

December 20, 2024

BEIJING, Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In 2014, Lei Zhen, a graduate from Tsinghua University in Beijing, chose to settle in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR). He decided to start his business in Zhuhai, south China’s Guangdong Province, and make the innovative application of new materials with nano silver wire its core product.

When the central government established the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin in 2021, Lei relocated his company there, making full use of Macao and Hengqin’s capital, talent and taxation advantages to scale up production.

“Hengqin has a vast industrial space and a good supporting environment, which can provide a broad stage for the development of Macao’s high-tech and diversified industries,” he said.

Today, the cooperation zone has become a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, hosting nearly 6,500 Macao-invested enterprises and providing a platform for new industries.

“Macao plus Hengqin” is becoming a new demonstration to enhance the practice of “One Country, Two Systems,” a new highland to promote the building of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and a new platform to realize the country’s high-level opening up, said Chinese President Xi Jinping during an inspection tour of the cooperation zone on Thursday as part of his three-day visit to the Macao SAR.

New highland for innovation

Hengqin is located at the southern tip of Zhuhai and is separated from Macao by a narrow stretch of water. Since its establishment, the cooperation zone has served as a vital platform for promoting Macao’s appropriate economic diversification.

It has enabled Macao to develop industries such as high-end manufacturing, traditional Chinese medicine, financial services, and cultural tourism. Today, the cooperation zone is home to 30 national and provincial-level technological innovation platforms, 268 national high-tech enterprises, and 41 provincial-level specialized and sophisticated enterprises.

Currently, the cooperation zone has established innovation platforms, such as the Macao-Hengqin Youth Entrepreneurship Valley, and has drawn several innovative resources, such as industry-university-research bases of Macao universities and high-tech enterprises and talents.

Hailing the progress made in the cooperation zone, President Xi said the level of integration between Hengqin and Macao has gradually improved and that its role of supporting Macao’s appropriate economic diversification is becoming prominent.

In recent years, the Macao SAR has also promoted the implementation of major sci-tech projects and important innovation platforms locally, making it a new technological platform for global innovation and a gathering place for talents.

“Macao Science 1” is the first space science satellite program jointly developed by the Chinese mainland and Macao. With the highest accuracy of geomagnetic field detection in China, the satellite will significantly improve the country’s space magnetic survey.

Visiting the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) on Thursday, Xi said the satellite is an example of deepened high-tech cooperation between Macao and the mainland, showcasing Macao’s sci-tech sector’s outstanding innovative and creative capabilities.

Cultivating young talents

The Macao SAR has also become an ideal place for entrepreneurs thanks to its open business environment and the opportunities provided by the cooperation zone.

Today, industry-university-research demonstration bases of the University of Macau and MUST have been established in Hengqin, and four state key laboratories in Macao have set up branches in the zone, carrying out the transformation and industrialization of university scientific and technological achievements.

As of November 2024, Hengqin had incubated 898 entrepreneurship projects for young people from Hong Kong and Macao, with 815 projects from Macao.

Meeting with Macao residents living in Hengqin and young entrepreneurs from Macao who have startups in the zone, President Xi emphasized that Hengqin’s development provides great opportunities for Macao’s youth to achieve their ambitions and expressed hope that more young people from Macao will build remarkable careers there.

“The building of the cooperation zone is reshaping the regional concepts and career plans of Macao youth. The younger generation is paying more attention to the development potential of the mainland’s vast market,” said Ip Kuai Peng, vice rector of the City University of Macau.

It is imperative to attach great importance to education from a strategic perspective, lay out the system of disciplines, and cultivate high-quality talents to meet the needs of the development of both the country and the Macao SAR, President Xi said during his visit to MUST.

For more information, please click: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-12-20/Macao-boosts-tech-innovation-talent-cultivation-for-improved-growth-1zsMY91IpGw/p.html

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SOURCE CGTN

Technology

Yalla Group Releases 2025 ESG Report

Published

12 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

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

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SOURCE Yalla Group Limited

Technology

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

Published

12 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

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.

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.

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SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP

Technology

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

Published

12 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

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 SCOUT, Solutions Finder, Scout 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.

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SOURCE Sandler Partners