Latest news with #MarioPerez
Zawya
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Zawya
MENATech Entertainment powers Middle East's esports rise with education, tournaments, and national collaboration
Dubai, UAE – As the Middle East cements its place on the global esports map, MENATech Entertainment (a GGTech company), an international esports and gaming company, is playing a central role in accelerating the region's digital entertainment ambitions. With Saudi Arabia and the UAE leading government-backed strategies to grow gaming into a multi-billion-dollar sector, MENATech is bridging global best practices with local talent development, grassroots tournaments, and strategic partnerships. Saudi Arabia's National Gaming and Esports Strategy projects US$13.3 billion in economic impact by 2030. As part of its broader 2030 economic transformation, the Kingdom plans to create 39,000 esports-related jobs, driven by large-scale investments and a national push to become a global hub for competitive gaming. Meanwhile, the UAE's Dubai Programme for Gaming 2033 aims to position the city among the world's top 10 gaming hubs by 2033, contributing $1 billion to GDP and creating 30,000 new jobs. These initiatives have created fertile ground for companies like MENATech to scale up their impact. 'The Middle East is no longer a frontier market for gaming and esports; it's an engine of innovation, talent, and long-term opportunity,' said Mario Pérez, CEO of MENATech Entertainment. 'From launching GAMERGY MENA to building educational programs and regional leagues, our on-the-ground work across the region reflects the scale of what's possible here. Our global know-how, local partnerships, and community-driven development are helping ensure that the region is leading the global esports conversation. With visionary policies, tech-savvy youth, and rapidly expanding digital infrastructure, this is a dynamic launchpad for scaling the global gaming industry, now valued at $200 billion.' Aligning with national economic visions, in early 2025, MENATech brought one of the world's most iconic gaming festivals, GAMERGY, to the region for the first time. Held in Cairo, GAMERGY MENA drew over 40,000 attendees and featured top-tier tournaments in titles like Valorant, PUBG Mobile, League of Legends, and Rocket League. Supported by the Egyptian Ministry of Youth & Sports, IMKAN Misr, Samsung, and Red Bull, the event marked a pivotal moment for regional esports, with prize pools exceeding EGP 2 million. In partnership with Riot Games, the gaming firm launched the Strike Arabia Championship, the first official regional Valorant league. Spanning the GCC, Levant, Iraq, Egypt, and North Africa, the competition included both amateur and professional divisions, with top players advancing to European LAN finals. This structure created a bridge between regional players and international stages, giving local talent a platform to shine. In Saudi Arabia, MENATech contributed to the initial creation of the Saudi Esports Academy, laying the groundwork for a more formal and on-site educational model. The company also leads the UNIVERSITY Esports program across the MENA region, empowering students through workshops and careers in broadcasting, event management, and digital marketing. Historically backed by global brands like Amazon and HP Omen, the initiative is one of the few in the region linking competitive gaming with long-term career pathways. With one of the world's youngest populations, the appetite for competitive gaming is massive in the region. That demand is matched by cultural momentum, where gaming is considered a viable, respected career. Dubai is already home to over 350 gaming companies, including 260 specialised developers. Major events like the Dubai Esports Festival and the development of innovation hubs such as the DMCC Gaming Centre are supported by the issuance of gaming-related resident visas. MENATech continues to differentiate itself by integrating deeply into the region's ecosystem. Rather than operate as an external player, the company works alongside public and private entities to build lasting programs and infrastructure. Its approach is not just to host events, but to develop skills, create jobs, and inspire innovation. With the Esports World Cup returning to Riyadh in 2025 and more international gaming firms entering the Gulf, the spotlight on the Middle East has never been stronger. MENATech is focused on scaling its education programs, growing its tournament portfolio, and building a sustainable esports economy. Through strategic alignment with national initiatives, mega events, and investments in talent development, the company is helping position the gaming industry as a key driver of economic diversification and cultural innovation across the Middle East. About GGTech Entertainment GGTech Entertainment is an international company operating in Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East and North Africa, dedicated to the development of innovative leisure, entertainment and educational projects through gaming, esports and technology. Focusing on innovation, applied technology and interactive environments, the company offers a wide range of technological solutions to promote the development of society and provide its users with a highly customisable and high quality gaming experience.
France 24
11-07-2025
- France 24
Mob lynches five alleged thieves in quake-hit Guatemalan town
The incident occurred on Thursday night in Santa Maria de Jesus, the municipality worst affected by the tremors of up to 5.7 magnitude, which began on Tuesday. "Residents detained five people who were beaten and lynched because they were accused of being thieves," police spokesman Cesar Mateo said. The men were accused of using the cover of darkness to break into homes following the earthquakes, which led people to sleep in shelters or with relatives, he told AFP. "While it's true that robbery is illegal, lynching is also a crime," Mateo said. Vigilante violence is common in Guatemala in response to impunity exploited by criminals. Videos circulating on social media showed a man being beaten on the ground by residents and then set on fire with gasoline. Santa Maria de Jesus, home to an Indigenous Mayan community, had no power and access roads were cut off by landslides, prompting the government to fly in humanitarian aid. Around half of all buildings in the municipality of 27,000 residents had some kind of damage, according to mayor Mario Perez. Between 2008 and 2020, vigilante justice left 361 people dead and 1,396 injured in the Central American country, according to Mutual Support Group, a local civil society organization.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man who crashed into packed APS school bus asks court for shorter sentence
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – An Albuquerque man who got a break in court for slamming into a school bus full of students asked the court to cut his sentence down even more. Mario Perez's family members told the courtroom he didn't deserve this, speaking to his character and integrity. They begged Judge Bruce Fox to resentence him to less time in prison. Story continues below New Mexico Crime Files: Grocery store worker hands out semen-tainted yogurt Film: These productions were filmed at White Sands. Have you seen them? New Mexico News Insiders: Who Will Fix New Mexico's Mental Health Problems? News: Governor's Office: Operation Zia Shield is different than situation in California But the judge said that Perez already got a good deal. 'I am going to deny your motion to reconsider. I consider the four-year sentence I gave to Mr. Perez basically a minimal sentence for this type of crime,' said Judge Bruce Fox, Second Judicial Court. Perez was facing up to 15 years behind bars for a crash in 2022 that was so powerful it flipped an Albuquerque Public Schools school bus full of students on its side. Investigators said Perez was street racing and driving over 100 miles per hour before the impact on Gibson in southwest Albuquerque. In February, Judge Bruce Fox sentenced him to four years in prison, saying Perez lacked a criminal history and considered his age, being over 50 years old. During Tuesday's bid for a lesser sentence, Judge Fox made it clear that street racing is a major problem in Albuquerque and demands a response from the court. 'I don't know why it's just not sinking in, but we continually have these issues of people crashing and innocent lives being affected by you know, poor decision making,' said Judge Fox. The judge sided with prosecutors, who argued the impacts of the crash had lasting effects on the teenagers who were in the bus. Perez was out of jail for the last three years while the case played out in the courts. Judge Fox also pointed out that Perez has the chance to get time shaved off his sentence for good behavior. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Scoop
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
The Maggie Pills - Return With Haunting Single 'Velobell'
Naarm/Melbourne-based punk rock band The Maggie Pills have just returned with their atmospheric single ' Velobell ' – produced/co-mixed by the band's own Mario Perez, recorded and mixed by Brad Jackson, and mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Emerson Mancini (Kendrick Lamar, Paramore, Linkin Park). 'Velobell' unfolds with a discordant chord progression and lead singer Delfi Sorondo 's breathy timbre, creating a soundscape that is raw and arresting. Grungy guitars, galloping basslines and driving drums underscore the resounding chorus as the track builds with explosive energy tinged with unease. Complete with an emphatic guitar solo, 'Velobell' is a blistering fusion of grunge distortion and punk urgency. The Maggie Pills talk about the inspiration behind 'Velobell': "At its heart, the song is a message of resilience. It's about the moments when we lose sight of ourselves, when life feels heavy and out of sync - yet something within us refuses to let go. Whether you're wrestling grief, burnout, addiction, or just the quiet emptiness of everyday life, 'Velobell' is a howl from the void that says: 'You're still in there, and you're not alone'." Accompanying the release is a gripping music video, directed by Mario Perez, filmed by Ryan Cara and edited by Sam Mapplebeck (Amyl and the Sniffers, Tropical Fuck Storm). Set in a makeshift forest shrouded in darkness, the clip complements the gritty audio production, evoking a dreamlike descent into chaos. Unflinching close-ups and jarring overexposure dissolve the distance between the band and the audience."The video doesn't just accompany the music - it embodies it," explains Delfi. "Every frame is drenched in a sense of suffocation, desperation, and emotional intensity, inviting the viewer into a world where escape feels impossible." To support 'Velobell' the band will play a launch show at John Curtin Hotel in Narrm/Melbourne on Friday, June 13. In the live arena, the group has shared the stage with Black Lips (USA), Shihad, Cable Ties, The Meanies, Battlesnake, The Mark Of Cain and Private Function and have sold out multiple headline shows, including their ' GOLD ' single launch. Led by Argentinian frontwoman Delfi Sorondo and Venezuelan drummer Mario Perez, the group formed in 2019 shortly after both members immigrated to Australia. Their music has been supported by triple j, triple j Unearthed, Double J and Australian Community Radio stations such as 3RRR, PBS, 2SER, 4ZZZ and many more. In the blogsphere, they have seen support from Rolling Stone (AUS), Pilerats, Backseat Mafia (UK / AUS), Blunt Magazine, The Music, Wall of Sound, Tone Deaf and HEAVY Magazine to name a few.
