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UnionPay International Partners with HFC Bank for First Local ATM Acceptance in Fiji Driving Financial Inclusion

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SUVA, Fiji, April 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, UnionPay International announced that its card is now accepted at ATMs operated by HFC Bank, Fiji’s only 100% locally owned commercial bank. HFC Bank has officially launched UnionPay card acceptance at its ATMs, becoming the first domestic financial institution in the country to partner with UnionPay International.

This milestone collaboration expands UnionPay card ATM coverage in Fiji to an impressive 96%, signaling a significant leap forward in the localization of UnionPay International ‘s services in the South Pacific and injecting fresh momentum into the development of inclusive financial services in the region.

HFC Bank was established as a fully-fledged commercial bank in 2014, the bank is dedicated to becoming Fiji’s bank of choice by providing innovative, competitively priced financial solutions designed to improve customer wellbeing, create wealth for future generations, and contribute to the nation’s economic development.

The partnership between HFC Bank and UnionPay International is not only a technical upgrade—it is a strategic step toward empowering local institutions and advancing financial inclusivity in Fiji.

UnionPay International first entered the Fijian market in September 2010, making Fiji the first South Pacific nation to accept UnionPay cards. Today, 99% of POS terminals and 96 % of ATMs in the country accept UnionPay, with broad acceptance across hotels, supermarkets, duty-free shops, restaurants, and the tourism sector. Mobile payments via UnionPay App are also widely supported.

Prior to this new collaboration, UnionPay International’s local partnerships were primarily with international banks.

The new alliance with HFC Bank highlights UnionPay International’s commitment to deepening localization by working closely with local institutions to build a more inclusive and resilient payment ecosystem.

As UnionPay International’s footprint continues to grow, its focus remains clear: building accessible, inclusive, and innovative financial solutions that benefit local communities and global travelers alike.

About HFC Bank
HFC Bank is Fiji’s only locally owned commercial bank, committed to delivering personalized and innovative financial services that exceed customer expectations. With a strong foundation in governance and ethical practices, the bank offers a full range of competitively priced financial products that aim to improve customer wellbeing, create long-term value, and support national economic development. HFC Bank upholds values of humility, excellence, accountability, respect, and trust, and is dedicated to serving individuals, families, and businesses across Fiji with integrity and care.

About UnionPay International
With more than 260 million UnionPay cards issued in 83 countries and regions outside the Chinese Mainland, UnionPay International is committed to enhancing the online payment experience for its global cardholders. Accepted in 183 countries and regions, UnionPay International offers high-quality, cost-effective, and secure cross-border payment services to the world’s largest cardholder base, while delivering convenient local support to a growing network of international users and merchants. For more information, please visit: https://www.unionpayintl.com/

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/unionpay-international-partners-with-hfc-bank-for-first-local-atm-acceptance-in-fiji-driving-financial-inclusion-302439023.html

SOURCE UnionPay International

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VAS Community and Evander Reed Introduce Member Progress Tracker

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VAS Community, under the leadership of Evander Reed, announces the rollout of a new Member Progress Tracker feature, enabling users to visualize their learning, participation, and contributions within the platform.

NEW YORK, May 24, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — VAS Community, led by founder Evander Reed, today introduced its latest feature: the Member Progress Tracker. Designed to enhance user awareness, motivation, and long-term engagement, the new tool provides members with a clear overview of their personal journey within the VAS Community platform.

The Progress Tracker captures key activity metrics such as learning milestones, participation in community events, peer contributions, and completed modules. It is structured to help members reflect on their growth over time, reinforce consistent engagement, and celebrate meaningful achievements.

Key features of the Member Progress Tracker include:

Learning Path Visualization: Displays completed courses, saved materials, and topic engagement history.

Community Participation Log: Chronicles involvement in discussions, live sessions, and interest groups.

Recognition Timeline: Highlights milestones such as anniversaries, featured contributions, and community acknowledgments.

Custom Goals Interface: Allows members to set personal objectives and monitor progress within the platform environment.

Evander Reed emphasized the intent behind the development:

“Personal growth deserves to be seen, not just felt. This feature reinforces our belief that every step in a member’s journey has value and visibility.”

The Progress Tracker reflects VAS Community‘s broader effort to prioritize user experience and foster self-directed development. It also supports the platform’s ongoing mission to create an ecosystem where users are empowered to learn, connect, and lead with purpose.

The new feature is available immediately to all registered members and can be accessed through the main user dashboard. VAS Community plans to integrate additional data points and visual elements in future updates, including comparative insights and community impact summaries.

This release follows several recent platform enhancements aimed at improving navigation, personalization, and regional engagement. As VAS Community enters its next stage of development, tools like the Member Progress Tracker will play a central role in deepening user connection and sustaining long-term platform value.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

Media Contact

Matthew Price, VAS Community, 1 724-795-2484, service@thevascommunity.com, https://thevascommunity.com/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/vas-community-and-evander-reed-introduce-member-progress-tracker-302463937.html

SOURCE VAS Community

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Club Offers Released on May 25, 2025

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NEW YORK, May 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Travelzoo® (NASDAQ: TZOO), the club for travel enthusiasts, announces the release of Club Offers for Club Members.

Rigorously vetted and negotiated for us travel enthusiasts in Germany:

199 €—LUXURY HOTEL IN DAVOS 3 days in one of Switzerland’s most fashionable places, the setting of Thomas Mann’s novel The Magic Mountain. The 5-star hotel is located directly on the promenade. Club members save 47–54 percent compared to the hotel website.

AB 379 €—TUSCANY: 6 DAYS WITH WINE TASTING & 3 COOKING COURSES
Apartments of at least 92 square meters, surrounded by cypresses and vineyards. Club members receive daily breakfast plus a 3-course candlelight dinner.

119 €—4*-HOTEL IN PARIS INCL. SEINE CRUISE, REGULAR 472 € A 2-night stay in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district, once a meeting place for Sartre and Picasso. Just 15 minutes on foot from the Louvre and including breakfast.

99 €—NEW LUXURY HOTEL IN BUDAPEST, -72%
Located in the middle of the UNESCO-protected old town is this 5-star superior hotel. Condé Nast Traveller magazine lists it as one of the best hotels in Budapest. The “bold design” is particularly highlighted.

139 €—3 DAYS BLACK FOREST WITH HALF BOARD
4-star superior hotel with panoramic views of the countryside. Half board with organic products and access to the spa with thermal pool is included. Club members save 39–66 percent compared to the original price.

FROM 599 €—SWITZERLAND TRIP WITH GLACIER EXPRESS & HOTELS 4-day train journey in 1st class from and to Germany. Including 4-star hotels in Zermatt and St. Moritz as well as a ride on the panoramic train Glacier Express.

Some offers have limited inventory and are subject to availability.

Are you a travel enthusiast? Join the club today: https://travelzoo.com

About Travelzoo
We, Travelzoo®, are the club for travel enthusiasts. We reach 30 million travelers. Club Members receive Club Offers personally reviewed by our deal experts around the globe. We have our finger on the pulse of outstanding travel, entertainment, and lifestyle experiences. We work in partnership with thousands of top travel suppliers—our long-standing relationships give us access to irresistible deals.

Travelzoo is a registered trademark of Travelzoo. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Media Contact:

Mara Zatti 
+49 30 3119 7514
mzatti@travelzoo.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/club-offers-released-on-may-25-2025-302464758.html

SOURCE Travelzoo

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Huawei ICT Competition 2024-2025 Global Final Concludes: AI Empowers Education Transformation and ICT Talent Development

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SHENZHEN, China, May 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Closing & Awards Ceremony of the Huawei ICT Competition 2024–2025 Global Final was successfully held today in Shenzhen. In its 9th edition, the event has reached a record-breaking scale this year, attracting over 210,000 students and instructors from more than 2,000 colleges and universities in over 100 countries and regions. Following national and regional competitions, 179 teams from 48 countries and regions made it to the Global Final.

Through intense competition across three major tracks, Practice, Innovation, and Programming, top honors were awarded to 18 outstanding teams from 9 countries: China, Algeria, Brazil, Philippines, Morocco, Nigeria, Serbia, Tanzania, and Singapore.

The Grand Prize winners of the Innovation Competition were teams from the Bulacan State University in the Philippines, Beijing University of Technology in China, Faculty of Technical Sciences Čačak of the University of Kragujevac in Serbia, and the Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Errachidia – Moulay Ismail University in Morocco.

In the Practice Competition – Network Track, Grand Prizes were awarded to teams from the Shenzhen Institute of Information Technology in China, Instituto Federal do Tocantins in Brazil, Federal University of Technology Minna in Nigeria, and a joint team from Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, University of Dar es Salaam, and University of Dodoma in Tanzania.

In the Practice Competition – Cloud Track, Grand Prize winners included teams from iACADEMY in the Philippines, University of Batna 2 and the Higher National School of Computer Science Algiers in Algeria, Tianjin University of Technology and Education in China, and Singapore University of Social Sciences.

In the Practice Competition – Computing Track, the Grand Prizes went to teams from Guilin University of Electronic Technology in China, Federal University of Technology Minna in Nigeria, University of Bejaia and Higher National School of Computer Science SBA in Algeria, and Cebu Institute of Technology – University in the Philippines.

The Grand Prize in the Programming Competition was awarded to a team from Shenzhen Polytechnic University in China.

To recognize outstanding contributions beyond technical excellence, the competition also presented special honors. The Women in Tech Award was granted to four all-female teams from Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Kenya. The Green Development Award went to a team from Ghana. The Most Valuable Instructor Award recognized 18 distinguished instructors from 10 countries – China, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Hungary, and Türkiye – for their contributions to ICT education.

In his opening speech, Ritchie Peng, Director of the ICT Strategy & Business Development Dept at Huawei, mentioned, “To achieve the goal of learning through competition and inspiring innovation through competition, we have continuously evolved the design of competition topics. The Practice Competition aligns with our vision for an Intelligent World 2030 and encourages students to master cloud computing, big data, and AI to drive social progress. The Innovation Competition focuses on green development and digital inclusion, motivating participants to solve real-world challenges in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and education through ICT.”

As digital transformation is accelerating globally, the demand for skilled professionals in fields such as AI, big data, and cybersecurity continues to grow. However, the shortage of talent in these critical areas is becoming increasingly evident. To help tackle this challenge, the Huawei ICT Competition features multiple tracks — including Practice, Innovation, and Programming — alongside initiatives such as industry-academia collaboration and tailored curriculum development. These efforts aim to equip students with in-demand skills and foster the next-generation tech talent who will stand out in an increasingly intelligent and digital world.

During this year’s competition, Huawei also hosted the AI Accelerating Education Transformation Summit, where experts explored the pivotal role of AI in smart education. In addition, Huawei officially announced the AI Capability of the Huawei ICT Academy Intelligent Platform, making it easier and more efficient for educators and students to use. This marks another step forward in advancing educational digitalization.

For more details about the Huawei ICT Competition, visit us at https://www.huawei.com/minisite/ict-competition-2024-2025-global/en/index.html.

SOURCE Huawei

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