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VIDA Highlights Cyber Threats to the Fintech Industry at Money20/20 Asia 2026

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BANGKOK, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fraud has evolved into industrial-scale operations across Southeast Asia. At Money20/20 Asia 2026, held from April 21 to 23 in Bangkok, VIDA, Indonesia’s leading digital identity network, warned that traditional approaches to identity security are no longer sufficient.

Niki Luhur, Founder and CEO of VIDA, speaks during a panel session at Money20/20 Asia 2026 in Bangkok.
Niki Luhur, Founder and CEO of VIDA, speaks during a panel session at Money20/20 Asia 2026 in Bangkok.

Founder and CEO of VIDA, Niki Luhur, shared this during the panel session “How Cybercriminals Target Fintech and What’s Next.” He highlighted how fraud has scaled across the region, from industrialized scam compounds to cross-border syndicates spanning Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia. In one case, authorities in Myanmar seized $12 billion in Bitcoin, underscoring the scale of these operations.

“Cybercrime is democratic, they don’t care what size institution you are. They just scan for vulnerabilities. All the doors that are open, they exploit them,” said Niki Luhur.

This industrialized scale is made possible by one thing: Systematic exploitation of weak points across digital systems. Rather than targeting specific institutions, cybercriminals focus on vulnerabilities that can be replicated and scaled across platforms.

Niki emphasized that while attention is on deepfakes, the real threat lies deeper in the attack chain, particularly in injection attacks. “Deepfakes get the buzz, but the door is an injection attack. The majority come from virtual cameras on compromised devices,” he added.

His solution is clear: layered defense requiring three simultaneous verifications; the person (biometrics), their identity (against government databases), and the device. This approach addresses the infrastructure gap where KYC and authentication systems remain siloed across financial institutions.

Alongside its presence at the conference, VIDA is also launching ID FraudShield, a new fraud detection solution built for threats that traditional biometric checks can no longer stop. ID Fraud Shield combines biometric liveness with device intelligence, behavioral analytics, network detection, and rule-based fraud evaluation, all delivered in parallel through one SDK. It’s designed for one purpose: catching the fraud that liveness alone misses.

About VIDA

VIDA is licensed Certification Authority (CA) registered under the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. Founded in 2018, VIDA provides digital identity services that integrate electronic certificates, digital signatures, identity verification, and transaction authentication, all adhering to world-class security standards, including Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and biometric verification. VIDA verifies more than 2.5 million identities every day. For more information, visit www.vida.id 

State Grid Jinchang Power Supply: Driving Green Transformation Across the City on Earth Day

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JINCHANG, China, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On April 22, State Grid Gansu Jinchang Power Supply Company organized a themed activity for “World Earth Day”. Focusing on green energy transition, the company actively promoted green power trading, guided the whole society to establish the concept of green energy consumption and practice low-carbon development methods, injecting strong “green power” into building a beautiful China where humans and nature coexist harmoniously.

It is reported that green power trading is a key measure to break the bottleneck of energy structure transformation and achieve carbon emission reduction goals. In recent years, the company has taken proactive actions, setting up exclusive green power service windows in various business halls to regularly carry out convenient services such as green power policy publicity and trading consulting. It has continuously improved the green power trading mechanism, expanded the trading coverage, promoted the efficient consumption and optimal allocation of clean energy such as wind power and photovoltaic power, and helped accelerate the transformation of the regional energy structure towards cleanliness and low carbon.

Meanwhile, the company has built a convenient and efficient green power trading service platform, providing convenient green power procurement channels for various users including enterprises, industrial parks and residents. This realizes the direct transmission of clean energy from “power plants” to “user terminals”, enabling the efficient transformation of green value.

Up to now, the company has promoted 6 enterprises to participate in green power trading, with a cumulative trading volume of 888,800 kWh. This is equivalent to reducing standard coal combustion by 27 tons and carbon dioxide emissions by 66 tons, achieving remarkable ecological benefits and contributing power to regional low-carbon development.

Linkflow Capital: SME Borrowing Costs Ease to 8.18% in 2025 as Larger Loans Return, but Middle East Conflict Threatens 2026 Outlook

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Annual Linkflow Capital research finds SME credit conditions thawed modestly in 2025, with SME borrowing rate declining to an average of 8.18% from a high of 8.47% the preceding year. Bank disbursement times stretched to 33 days on average, against just 7 days for non-bank funders, reshaping where SMEs source credit.

SINGAPORE – Media Outreach Newswire – 29 April 2026 – Singapore’s SMEs experienced their first easing in borrowing costs in three years, with average unsecured lending rates falling to 8.18% per annum in 2025 from a multi-year high of 8.47% in 2024, according to Linkflow Capital’s latest SME Financing Accessibility Survey. Larger loan approvals above $500,000, which had disappeared entirely in 2024, also returned to form 5% of approvals in 2025.

The recovery, however, was uneven. Bank loan processing times stretched to 33 days on average, up from 22 days in 2024, while non-bank funders disbursed approved cases in just 7 days. The widening gap reshaped lender competition through the year.

Key findings from the 2025 survey:

  • Borrowing costs eased modestly: Average SME loan interest rate fell 29 basis points to 8.18% per annum but remain stubbornly high against the backdrop of a significant decline in benchmark 3-month SORA rate throughout 2025.
  • Larger loans returned: Approvals above $500K returned to 5% of approved loan dollar volume in 2025 after disappearing entirely in 2024. Loans in the $300K–$500K bracket also expanded from 3% to 7%.
  • Loan approval rate recovered to 74%, up from 70% in 2024 (a 5-year low).
  • Foreign banks extended their market share of loan origination within our platform: Foreign lenders grew their share of approved loan dollar volume to 38% in 2025, up from 26% in 2024 and 19% in 2023, while local banks fell to 46% (from 59%). Digital banks recovered modestly to 11% (from 8%).
  • Credit-related rejections nearly tripled: Among unsuccessful applicants, those rejected due to adverse personal credit records jumped from 3% in 2024 to 11% in 2025, signalling rising personal credit stress among SME owners.

“2025 was the year SME credit conditions began to thaw after the 2024 squeeze, but the recovery was uneven,” said Benjamin Teo, spokesperson for Linkflow Capital. “Banks gradually reopened to larger loans, yet took meaningfully longer to process applications. Some SMEs facing immediate cash flow pressure turned to non-bank funders for speed, even at higher costs.”

A new and more severe headwind for 2026

Linkflow Capital flagged the Middle East conflict which began in February 2026 as the most consequential macroeconomic event facing Singapore SMEs in the year ahead. The conflict has elevated freight, energy and shipping costs through Iran’s intermittent disruption of the Strait of Hormuz.

“Singapore SMEs entered 2026 facing a potential macro shock with the Middle East conflict,” Teo said. “The inflationary price pressures feed directly into SME operating costs through fuel, freight, and energy. We expect credit conditions to re-tighten, and the modest 2025 thaw could partially reverse if the conflict escalates.”

The full survey findings and detailed charts are available at: https://smeloan.sg/blog/2025-sme-finance-accessibility-survey/

Website: smeloan.sg
LinkedIn: sg.linkedin.com/company/linkflow-capital-pte-ltd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LinkflowSG/
Hashtag: #LinkflowCapital #SMEFinancing #SMELoan #SingaporeSME #BusinessLoan #SMEBanking #SMECredit




The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Linkflow Capital

Founded in 2012, Linkflow Capital is a leading SME loan consultancy in Singapore. Through its loan comparison portal and advisory services, Linkflow Capital assists SMEs in navigating the financing landscape and securing funding solutions from an extensive network of banks and financial institutions.

Taxpayer Watchdog Slams Australian Digital Tax Proposal

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WASHINGTON, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Taxpayers Protection Alliance is condemning draft legislation, released in Australia, that would impose a digital tax on large platforms. The law would impose a charge of 2.25 percent of Australian revenues on covered platforms that fail to strike compensation deals with local news outlets.

In response to the draft legislation, David B. McGarry, Research Director of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, offered the following comment:

“The politics of the digital age are the politics of blaming the biggest, the most visible, but not the most culpable. The decline of local news cannot be attributed to the targeted tech companies, which, conversely, provide a platform for outlets of all sizes. Australian lawmakers propose to upend digital markets in an effort to find a simple—and futile—solution to a changing news environment.

“This is more than just a ‘tax’—the proposal is a punishment designed to force platforms to strike agreements with local news outlets. Retributionist policies of this kind will not promote innovation, benefit consumers, or save local news.

“Two of the three platforms designated for regulation under the proposal are American companies. America’s light-touch approach to digital regulation has helped to foster the world’s leading tech sector—an outcome that is no coincidence. TPA urges President Trump to make clear to the Australian government that the United States will not tolerate its most productive tech giants being subjected to ill-conceived digital taxation.”

The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public through the research, analysis, and dissemination of information on the government’s impact on the economy.

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SUNeVision Concludes Third Edition of Startup Programme

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Recognising AI Startups to Lead New Momentum in Hong Kong’s I&T Development


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 April 2026 – SUNeVision Holdings Ltd. (“SUNeVision”, SEHK: 1686), the largest data centre provider in Hong Kong and the technology arm of Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited (“SHKP”), announced the successful completion of the third edition of its Startup Programme. The final winners emerged from a distinguished cohort of home-grown startups that showcase AI-driven innovations integrating advanced technology with sustainability, while contributing to Hong Kong’s vibrant startup ecosystem.

This year’s programme attracted nearly 100 high-calibre applications, the majority of which showcased AI-native solutions across smart city, green technology, digital assets, EdTech, and immersive entertainment. Through a structured series of intensive workshops, expert mentorship, and ecosystem engagement, SUNeVision supported participating startups in refining their business models and pitches, strengthening their technological capabilities, and accelerating go‑to‑market strategies.

The award-winning startups from this year’s programme include:

  • AquaSage Group: A maritime fintech startup specialising in vessel tokenisation, converting traditional maritime business into regulated digital assets.
  • ChatnLearn EdTech Limited: An AI‑powered platform delivering interactive and personalised English learning and speaking training.
  • Green Vigor Limited: A greentech innovator deploying hydropower recycling systems within building water tanks and cooling infrastructure to generate renewable energy.
  • Oh My Ink Technology Limited: An AI‑enabled tattoo try‑on platform offering real‑time skin visualisation before permanent application.

Helen Lo, Executive Director & Director, Commercial at SUNeVision, said: “We are impressed by this cohort’s exceptional ideas, which demonstrate how AI can be harnessed to deliver smarter, more personalised experiences and propel sustainable energy advancements, transforming technological innovation into tangible, real-world impact for the industry. Now in its third year, our Startup Programme has become a launchpad for high-impact innovation, empowering startups to accelerate their growth journeys and expand into global markets. We remain committed to fostering a dynamic AI ecosystem and strengthening Hong Kong’s role as a global innovation hub.”

The programme winners will receive SUNeVision Credits valued at up to HK$160,000, redeemable for support services offered by SUNeVision and the programme partners. The initiative equips startups with a solid digital foundation to deploy and scale AI‑driven applications within SUNeVision’s hyperscale data centre facilities, supported by low-latency connectivity. Participants will also gain access to a vibrant ecosystem of more than 300 technology and business partners, service providers, and key stakeholders. An array of tailored support will be provided by the programme partners, covering:

  • Angelflow: Syndicate technology infrastructure
  • Dataplugs: Internet and managed hosting
  • Finda Cloud: Value-added cloud services and SaaS
  • Nexusguard: DDoS protection and cybersecurity
  • SUNeVision: Data centre colocation and hosting
  • Sustainable SmartTech Ventures: AI-powered smart building management technologies
  • the Hive.: Co-working space
  • Votee AI: Authentic Cantonese translation
  • WeExpand: Agentic AI services for sales and marketing automation

For more details about the SUNeVision Startup Programme, please visit [website].

Hashtag: #SUNeVision

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About SUNeVision

SUNeVision (SEHK: 1686), the technology arm of Sun Hung Kai Properties (SEHK: 0016), is the largest data centre provider in Hong Kong. We provide industry-leading carrier and cloud-neutral data centre services with Asia’s number one connectivity. We connect providers of telecommunications, cloud, ISP, CDN, OTT from local, mainland China and global with enterprises of different businesses on our Asia leading data centre ecosystem.

SUNeVision forms MEGA Campus by extending the connectivity edge from highly connected MEGA-i to other high-tier data centres, including MEGA Gateway, MEGA IDC, MEGA Plus and MEGA Two. Facilities on MEGA Campus are interconnected through a dedicated dark fibre network and around 15,000 cross-connects. Together with City PoPs of major submarine cables in our facilities, we enable our customers for direct connections to multi-cloud platforms and multi-cloud exchanges with the best connectivity in town. The addition of cable landing stations HKIS-1 and HKIS-2 to our data centre portfolio will provide a one-stop-solution to cable owners and users, strengthening our position as the leading connectivity hub in Asia. We are committed to supporting Hong Kong as a regional information hub and a strategic gateway to mainland China.

For more information, please visit SUNeVision’s , or .

De Beers Group Launches New Bridal Campaign Celebrating Desert Diamonds

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NEW YORK, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 April 2026 – De Beers Group recently announced the launch of its new Desert diamonds Bridal campaign undersigned by A Diamond Is Forever, celebrating a fresh and authentic vision for the modern proposal. This campaign marks a significant moment in De Beers’ ongoing commitment to redefining how natural diamonds express individuality, love, and timeless beauty.

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Desert diamonds, first unveiled as a beacon in October 2025, draw inspiration from the colors of the earth from which they originate. The campaign celebrates a unique spectrum of colors — each shade telling a story of resilience, authenticity, and enduring love. The bridal campaign will build upon the success and momentum of the Q4 Desert diamonds launch.

Evolving the modern bridal aesthetic and highlighting the distinct character of each stone, Desert diamonds’ warm hues echo diverse forms of love, with sunlit whites and champagnes, soft sand tones and sunset blush and dawn colors reflecting the uniqueness of nature’s beauty. Together, these colors celebrate the evolving journey of love in all its forms – authentic, true and timeless.

The Desert diamonds bridal campaign is an industry-wide umbrella program, the goal of which is to create demand for natural diamonds by reigniting consumer desire with a new and relevant message. Retailers and designers across the industry have been working to develop pieces that showcase the full desert-inspired palette, including notable jeweler Kindred Lubeck, who will unveil her first bridal collection in conjunction with the campaign launch.

Launching 13 April 2026 across the United States, De Beers’ A Diamond Is Forever Desert diamond bridal campaign is supported by an integrated marketing effort across digital, social, and experiential channels, while also including out-of-home, social media and publishing partnerships. Using evocative storytelling, that creative spotlights how each natural diamond is as unique as the love it represents. Premium targeting efforts across digital platforms and geotargeting around key retailers will result in an estimated reach of 25 million American consumers – placing Desert diamonds in bridal content while leveraging shopper data and look-a-like audiences. Further amplification across the Brides, Martha Stewart, and greater People Inc. portfolio will educate, inspire and reinforce Desert diamonds as the enduring choice.

Sandrine Conseiller, CEO of De Beers Brands & Diamond Desirability, said:
“The success of Desert diamonds reinforces the spirit of authentic, evolving love. Today’s brides want something truly unique that delivers meaning and individuality. Natural diamonds, forged by nature over billions of years, in a range of color choices are the perfect symbol of a love that is uniquely theirs – resilient, genuine, timeless, colorful. This soft palette of natural colors celebrates the modern couple’s desire to celebrate the individuality of their commitment and the promise of a forever that truly reflects their story.”

Hashtag: #DeBeersGroup #Desertdiamonds #DesertBridal #adiamondisforever #naturaldiamonds #diamonds





The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About De Beers Group

Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group’s strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers London and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology services. De Beers Group is committed to ‘Building Forever,’ a holistic and integrated approach to sustainability that underpins our efforts to create meaningful impact for the people and places where our diamonds are discovered. Building Forever focuses on three key areas where, through collaborations and partnerships around the globe, we have an enhanced ability to drive positive impact; Livelihoods, Climate and Nature. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. For further information, visit www.debeersgroup.com.

Newmark Deepens Engagement in South Korea Through AMCHAM Leadership Appointments

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John Pritchard appointed Chair of the Real Estate Committee and to the Board of Governors; Newmark joins as Founding Partner, the chamber’s highest membership tier

SEOUL, Korea, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Newmark continues to strengthen its long-term presence in South Korea through a series of leadership appointments within the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM Korea), reinforcing the firm’s active participation and engagement with clients, stakeholders and the broader business community.

Newmark Group, Inc.
Newmark Group, Inc.

John Pritchard, Country Head, South Korea, has been appointed Chair of AMCHAM Korea’s Real Estate Committee and named to its Board of Governors, positioning Newmark at the center of key business and policy discussions shaping the country’s commercial real estate landscape. In parallel, Newmark has joined AMCHAM Korea as a Founding Partner, the chamber’s highest tier of membership, further supporting the firm’s expanding presence and engagement in-market.

Pritchard’s leadership roles place Newmark within a prominent forum for dialogue between Korean and U.S. businesses, reinforcing the firm’s ability to remain closely connected to the priorities of corporate occupiers, investors and other market participants. As Chair of the Real Estate Committee, he will help guide conversations around market trends, capital flows and the evolving needs of clients operating in South Korea and across Asia Pacific. This engagement is further supported by Newmark’s Founding Partner membership, which reflects a deeper level of participation within AMCHAM Korea’s network of leading U.S. and multinational companies operating in the market.

“John’s appointment as Chair of the Real Estate Committee and to the Board of Governors reflects his leadership and deep understanding of Korea’s real estate landscape,” said James Kim, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AMCHAM Korea. “We are pleased to welcome him into these roles and look forward to his contributions in advancing industry dialogue and promoting greater U.S.-Korea cross-border investment. We also welcome Newmark in Korea as a Founding Partner and value the firm’s expanded engagement with AMCHAM’s community.”

Pritchard added, “These appointments reflect the momentum of our business in South Korea and the importance of being actively engaged in the conversations shaping our market as connected, globally informed experts. AMCHAM Korea provides an important platform for collaboration and dialogue, and I look forward to contributing in these roles while continuing to support our clients across the region.”

About Newmark

Newmark Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NMRK), together with its subsidiaries (“Newmark”), is a world leader in commercial real estate, seamlessly powering every phase of the property life cycle. Newmark’s comprehensive suite of services and products is uniquely tailored to each client, from owners to occupiers, investors to founders, and startups to blue-chip companies. Combining the platform’s global reach with market intelligence in both established and emerging property markets, Newmark provides superior service to clients across the industry spectrum. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2025, Newmark generated revenues of nearly $3.3 billion. As of December 31, 2025, Newmark and its business partners together operated from approximately 175 offices with over 9,300 professionals across four continents. To learn more, visit nmrk.com or follow @newmark.

Discussion of Forward-Looking Statements about Newmark

Statements in this document regarding Newmark that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These include statements about the Company’s business, results, financial position, liquidity, and outlook, which may constitute forward-looking statements and are subject to the risk that the actual impact may differ, possibly materially, from what is currently expected. Except as required by law, Newmark undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see Newmark’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors and Special Note on Forward-Looking Information set forth in these filings and any updates to such risk factors and Special Note on Forward-Looking Information contained in subsequent reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K.

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World first for endangered frogs facing extinction

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Littlejohn’s Tree Frogs breed within 72 hours of arrival at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo

Download high-res images and vision here.

SYDNEY, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo has announced a groundbreaking achievement in conservation with the success of its first-ever on-site breed for release program. Within just 72 hours of arriving at a new custom-built facility, endangered frog species Littlejohn’s Tree Frogs (Litoria littlejohni) have successfully produced three clutches of eggs, a milestone never before achieved in a zoo setting.


 


 


The achievement is the result of over a year of preparation in partnership with the University of Newcastle’s Centre of Conservation Science and Amphibian ICU. The Littlejohn’s Tree frog is an elusive native species facing imminent extinction, with threats such climate change, extreme habitat loss and degradation, and chytrid disease – an amphibian fungus which affects many Australian frog species. The impact of these threats has led to small and isolated populations, with reduced genetic diversity and therefore decreased reproduction and survival rates of tadpoles and metamorphs. 

The species is now found in only three remaining locations in the New South Wales Sydney Basin from the Watagan State Forest to the Woronora Plateau, and only with five fragmented populations.

The zoo received a cohort of 58 frogs from the University of Newcastle’s Centre for Conservation Research and Amphibian ICU, including 22 wild founder individuals and 36 sub-adults hatched at the University last winter.

Ashley Wombey, Curatorial Manager Conservation, Population and Science said: “It has been over 12 months of preparation, which has included building a purpose-built breeding facility affectionately naming our “Frogservation Lab”, installing life support systems with continual testing and monitoring to provide the ideal parameters that reflect their wild habitat.  The speed at which the frogs have displayed breeding behaviours tells us they have settled very quickly and that we have provided the perfect conditions for them to flourish. Not only is their arrival exciting, it is an important step in safeguarding the future of the species.  We are very excited to partner with the University of Newcastle, as the future of conservation is through collaboration.”

Dr Alex Callen from the University of Newcastle’s Amphibian ICU within the Centre for Conservation Science said: “The achievement is very exciting as it is only the second time that this species has been bred in human care. This Littlejohn’s tree frog breeding program focuses on improving the genetic diversity of the species as it now occurs from only three isolated regions in the world.” 

By establishing this breeding colony in the heart of Sydney, the zoo is ensuring that even if wild populations continue to decline, a genetically diverse “insurance population” is ready to be returned to the wild.

While a number of tadpoles have already hatched, they are in a sensitive stage of development. The zoo team is monitoring the remaining eggs closely, with more hatchlings anticipated within the next couple of weeks.

Visitors can learn more about this exciting project and get a glimpse of the “Frogservation Lab” now at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo.

About Merlin Entertainments Merlin Entertainments is a world leader in branded entertainment destinations across the UK, US, Western Europe, China, and Asia Pacific. Dedicated to creating experiences that inspire joy and connection, Merlin welcomes more than 62 million guests annually to its growing estate, with over 140 sites across 23 countries.

 

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