Connect with us

Technology

“Explore China, Pay Your Way” forum promotes more convenient mainland payment for Hong Kong and Macao residents as well as overseas visitors

Published

on

HONG KONG, June 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The “Explore China, Pay Your Way” Forum was successfully held on June 26 in Hong Kong. The event was hosted by the Chinese Banking Association of Hong Kong (HKCBA), co-organized by UnionPay International (UPI) and supported by Bank of China (Hong Kong) (BOCHK). Stephen Chan, Deputy Chief Executive of BOCHK, representing the HKCBA; Liu Naji, Executive Vice President of SAFE Investment Company Limited, representing the People’s Bank of China (PBOC); Michelle Shao, General Manager of UPI Hong Kong Branch; and Dick Ho, Deputy General Manager of BOC Credit Card (International) Limited, delivered speeches at the event. Approximately 100 representatives from various sectors attended, including banks and electronic payment institutions from Hong Kong and Macao, international chambers of commerce, and the Hong Kong Chinese Visa Application Service Center.

At the beginning of this year, the State Council of China issued the Opinions on Further Optimizing Payment Services to Facilitate Payments, which included among its priorities facilitating payment for overseas visitors to the Chinese mainland. Relevant departments, Chinese local governments and financial institutions rapidly implemented the directive, leading to significant improvements in payment services. Following the issuance of the Opinions, UnionPay immediately launched “Project Excellence 2024” and collaborated with industry parties to enact the new priorities.

The continuous development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has generated increasingly close relationships between the three regions while attracting more overseas visitors. Hong Kong and Macao serve as the optimal platforms for promoting and publicizing payment convenience in the Chinese mainland. Today’s event continues the efforts of “Project Excellence 2024” by showcasing the rapid development and innovation of UnionPay and the local payment system. This has helped Hong Kong and Macao residents, as well as overseas visitors to the Chinese mainland, enjoy a safer, more convenient and comfortable payment service experience, giving impetus to greater mobility, deeper exchange and increased economic cooperation.

On behalf of the HKCBA, Stephen Chan, Deputy Chief Executive of BOCHK, stated that Hong Kong possesses the unique advantage of being supported by the Chinese mainland while being connected to the world. Its integration with the nation’s development plan opens up enormous opportunities for Hong Kong to collaborate and develop in tandem with the Chinese mainland. At the same time, as an international financial center, Hong Kong serves as a bridge for overseas financial institutions and multinational corporations to access the mainland market. The city is also an important gateway for overseas visitors travelling to the mainland. The HKCBA has actively responded to the Central Government’s directives by continuing to strengthen the promotion of payment services, including publicizing the latest developments in mainland payment services to representatives from international chambers of commerce in Hong Kong as well as overseas enterprises. It has also boosted the overseas promotion of new enhancement measures to facilitate payment convenience on the mainland, encouraging overseas visitors to experience first-hand the exceptional payment services available.

On behalf of the PBOC, Liu Naji, Executive Vice President of SAFE Investment Company Limited, remarked, “The People’s Bank of China has implemented a series of measures to address difficulties in the payment field, achieving significant results in service optimization. In May, both the number and volume of foreign card transactions via POS machines doubled compared to February, with over two million overseas visitors now using mobile payment. Cash services in commercial banks also continued to improve. We are very pleased with the role that Hong Kong is playing as a unique platform for our efforts to increase visibility. Looking forward, China will continue to enhance payment services and convenience for all, allowing our friends worldwide to enjoy the nation’s high-quality development. We hope that smooth payment services will serve as a positive step towards strengthening trust and supporting future cooperation.”

Michelle Shao, General Manager of UPI Hong Kong Branch, explained that “Project Excellence 2024” is more than just a payment initiative: rather, it represents UnionPay’s commitment to building a robust and inclusive payment ecosystem that caters to customers’ needs. Subsequently, Roger Lee, Assistant General Manager of UPI Hong Kong Branch, provided a detailed introduction to UnionPay’s latest achievements in the field of cross-border payments as well as the diverse payment options available to Hong Kong and Macao residents. UnionPay data shows that transactions by Hong Kong and Macao residents in the Chinese mainland have continued to grow this year. In the first quarter of 2024, the number of mobile payment transactions in the Chinese mainland generated by UnionPay cards issued in Hong Kong and Macao increased by 107% year-on-year, 16 times that of the same period in 2019, accounting for 72% of the total number of transactions. In line with this trend, UnionPay will now offer more “SplendorPlus” benefits via its Greater Bay Area theme card, which is popular among Hong Kong and Macao residents.

Dick Ho, Deputy General Manager of BOC Credit Card (International) Limited, emphasized BOCHK’s full support of the mainland’s efforts to enhance payment convenience. By optimizing its payment products and promoting spending offers, BOCHK is actively encouraging customers to adopt a “swipe card for large purchases, scan QR codes for smaller ones” approach when making payments in the Chinese mainland. In the first quarter of 2024, the transaction value of BOC Credit Card in Shenzhen saw a robust year-on-year surge of over 60%, while transaction volumes more than doubled. In the same period, the overall QR payment transaction value and volume for its customers grew threefold in the Chinese mainland. Meanwhile, the number of transactions via mobile payment application BoC Pay surged more than 3 times, while the number of BoC Pay customers rose by more than 2 times. Dick added that BOC Credit Card is delighted with the remarkable performance of its payment services and will continue to collaborate with various strategic partners to provide seamless payment solutions that meet customers’ evolving needs.

This successful event showcased the innovation and development of the local payment system while promoting cooperation between Hong Kong, Macao and the Chinese mainland in payment services. Participants expressed their commitment to continuing the promotion of payment facilitation and providing more convenient and secure cross-boundary payment services for Hong Kong and Macao residents and enterprises. They also looked forward to further strengthening cooperation with banks and electronic payment institutions in Hong Kong and Macao, as well as international chambers of commerce and other institutions, to jointly promote innovation and development in the payment field.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/explore-china-pay-your-way-forum-promotes-more-convenient-mainland-payment-for-hong-kong-and-macao-residents-as-well-as-overseas-visitors-302184151.html

SOURCE UnionPay International

Continue Reading

Technology

Chemours Announces Dates for Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Release and Webcast Conference Call

Published

on

By

WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Chemours Company (“Chemours” or “the Company”) (NYSE: CC) today announced that the Company expects to issue its third quarter 2026 financial results after market on Monday, November 2, 2026.

The Company expects to hold its conference call to discuss its third quarter 2026 financial results at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The call is open to the public and can be accessed via the webcast information below. The webcast and materials can be accessed by visiting the “Events and Presentations” section of the Investor Relations section of Chemours’ website at investors.chemours.com.

Conference Call: Please visit investors.chemours.com for a link to the live webcast and to view the accompanying slides.

Replay: A webcast replay will be available at investors.chemours.com.

About The Chemours Company
The Chemours Company (NYSE: CC) is a global leader in providing industrial and specialty chemicals products for markets, including coatings, plastics, refrigeration and air conditioning, transportation, semiconductor and advanced electronics, general industrial, and oil and gas. Through our three businesses – Thermal & Specialized Solutions, Titanium Technologies, and Advanced Performance Materials – we deliver application expertise and chemistry-based innovations that solve customers’ biggest challenges. Our flagship products are sold under prominent brands such as Opteon™, Freon™, Ti-Pure™, Nafion™, Teflon™, Viton™, and Krytox™. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware and listed on the NYSE under the symbol CC, Chemours has approximately 5,700 employees and 28 manufacturing sites and serves approximately 2,400 customers in approximately 110 countries. For more information, visit chemours.com or follow us on LinkedIn. 

CONTACTS:

INVESTORS
Brandon Ontjes
Vice President, Head of Strategy & Investor Relations
+1.302.773.3300 
investor@chemours.com 

NEWS MEDIA
Cassie Olszewski
Media Relations & Reputation Leader
+1.302.219.7140
media@chemours.com  

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chemours-announces-dates-for-third-quarter-2026-earnings-release-and-webcast-conference-call-302915935.html

SOURCE The Chemours Company

Continue Reading

Technology

AGEDB Announces Preliminary Technical Evaluation of Graph Database and AI Data Platform Opportunities

Published

on

By

VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 21, 2026 /CNW/ — AGEDB Technology Ltd. (TSXV: AGET) (“AGEDB” or the “Company”) announces that it is evaluating opportunities to re-engage in its historical graph database business area through preliminary architectural design and technical assessment of potential AI data platform applications, following its entry, on September 16, 2026, into a memorandum of understanding (the “MOU”) with a Korea-listed company exploring opportunities to enter the AI sector (the “Korean Company”).

The Company previously disclosed that it had discontinued its graph database management system operations during the year ended April 30, 2025 and was seeking new business opportunities. The Company is now assessing potential opportunities to leverage its existing Apache AGE-related technology and experience. These preliminary evaluations should not be interpreted as a resumption of full-scale development or commercial operations.

Under the MOU, AGEDB and the Korean Company contemplate evaluating an integrated package combining locally installed PostgreSQL and Apache AGE relationship-analysis database technology with an AI agent. The MOU also contemplates a separate “Personal AI Operating System” evaluation track, referred to as “AGE Brain,” for potential use in user-controlled computing environments. The proposed applications remain conceptual and subject to further technical and commercial assessment.

The contemplated preliminary work includes architectural design and technical evaluation of approaches to connecting relational data with graph-based relationships and supporting AI-assisted information retrieval and analysis. The parties may consider proof-of-concept testing and pilot activities, but no timeline or commitment to undertake such activities has been established under the MOU.

The MOU has a one-year term. Except for provisions expressly identified as binding, it is non-binding and does not require either party to complete development, launch or commercialize a product, make an investment, commit personnel, pay development fees, or enter into a definitive commercial agreement. Specific project scope, deliverables, schedules, responsibilities, costs and any commercialization terms remain subject to further discussions and, where applicable, separate written agreements. Each party will bear its own evaluation costs unless otherwise agreed in writing.

The Company’s evaluation remains preliminary. No product launch, commercial revenue or definitive commercialization arrangement has been agreed, and there can be no assurance that the parties will proceed with development, that the proposed platform will be completed or commercialized, or that the Company will obtain the resources required to advance the opportunity.

AGEDB may also explore potential collaborations with AI development companies in Korea and other markets, subject to available resources and further assessment.

AGEDB Technology Ltd.

On behalf of the board of directors,

“Jungsoo Kim”
CEO

About AGEDB Technology Ltd.

AGEDB Technology Ltd. is a technology company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “AGET.” The Company is focused on developing and pursuing opportunities in data intelligence, graph database technology and applied artificial intelligence.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information, including statements regarding the Company’s development activities, the proposed AI data platform, potential proof-of-concept and pilot activities, and possible future collaborations and commercialization. Forward-looking information is based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. The memorandum of understanding is generally non-binding, and there can be no assurance that the parties will proceed with or complete any development, pilot, product launch or commercial arrangement, or that AGEDB will enter into additional collaborations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. AGEDB undertakes no obligation to update such information except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE AGEDB Technology Ltd.

Continue Reading

Technology

Bose Corporation Acquires Skullcandy, Expanding Its Consumer Audio Portfolio to Reach New Audiences

Published

on

By

Acquisition follows a successful partnership between the two companies and advances Bose’s evolution into a multi-brand products and technology company

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. and PARK CITY, Utah, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bose Corporation, a global leader in audio innovation and research, announced today it has acquired Skullcandy, a lifestyle audio brand known for its bold products that bring together sound, style and performance. Bose and Skullcandy have each spent decades finding new ways to bring people closer to the music they love. Together, they’ll combine Bose’s audio expertise, technology and global reach with Skullcandy’s design, understanding of its consumers and authentic community connections to create new products and experiences and accelerate growth.

The acquisition follows a multi-year partnership that has already brought Sound by Bose technology to Skullcandy earbuds and headphones. The companies have seen firsthand how their strengths can come together to create products consumers love while staying true to what makes Skullcandy special, providing a foundation to accelerate further collaboration and innovation.

With a strong position at the intersection of audio, lifestyle and culture, Skullcandy will remain a separate brand within Bose’s Premium Consumer Audio business. Skullcandy’s deep roots in boardsports, including longstanding relationships with passionate supporters of the culture and its athletes, and authentic connections across music, gaming, fitness and other communities present new ways for Bose to meaningfully connect with consumers where it has less presence today.

“For more than 60 years, Bose has been committed to delivering incredible audio experiences however and wherever people choose to listen. As we work to reach even more people, we’re expanding how we do that, not only through Bose products, but through technology partnerships and a growing portfolio of brands,” said Lila Snyder, Chief Executive Officer of Bose Corporation. “As a privately held company, we have the freedom to make bold, long-term investments in opportunities we believe in, and Skullcandy is a great example of that. They have an established, thriving brand, and together we see tremendous opportunity to create new products and experiences and reach more consumers around the world.”

“We believe this is a win for Skullcandy and our fans,” said Brian Garofalow, Chief Executive Officer of Skullcandy. “Skullcandy was born on a chairlift in Park City, Utah, over 20 years ago, and we’ve always believed great music should be part of the experiences people love. Joining Bose gives us the opportunity to make those experiences even better by bringing more of their audio expertise and technology to our products, and it opens up even more ways to take Skullcandy further.”

Bose plans to invest in Skullcandy’s continued growth, providing greater access to technology, resources, global distribution and commercial relationships while giving the brand the freedom to continue evolving in ways that are authentic to its identity and consumers. Skullcandy will continue to be based in Park City, Utah.

Bose acquired Skullcandy from a fund managed by Mill Road Capital Management LLC, a Connecticut-based private investment firm. Jones Day acted as Bose’s legal counsel. Additional information, including financial and other terms of the transaction, will remain confidential.

About Bose Corporation
Bose Corporation is a global leader in audio innovation, driven by a singular belief: sound has the power to transform the way people connect with the world. For more than 60 years, Bose has combined pioneering research, engineering excellence, and a deep understanding of human perception to create products and technologies that deliver extraordinary experiences. Through its portfolio of iconic brands, including Bose, McIntosh, Sonus faber, and Skullcandy, the company offers premium and luxury audio solutions for the home, on the go, and in the car. Bose also collaborates with leading companies across industries, extending its audio expertise and technologies into new products, platforms, and applications beyond its own brands. 

Guided by a relentless spirit of innovation and a passion for what sound makes possible, Bose continues to advance the science and art of sound while expanding its impact on everyday life. From music and entertainment to communication, wellness, and emerging applications, Bose is creating new ways for people around the world to feel more connected, inspired, and engaged through the power of sound.

About Skullcandy
Founded in 2003 on a chairlift in Park City, Utah, Skullcandy is the original lifestyle audio brand. With deep roots in action sports culture, Skullcandy creates headphones, earbuds, and speakers that deliver powerful sound, bold style, and immersive experiences. Designed to move with you—from the mountains to the streets—Skullcandy gear is built to perform and made to stand out. Learn more at www.Skullcandy.com.

Contact

Joanne Berthaume
Joanne_berthaume@bose.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bose-corporation-acquires-skullcandy-expanding-its-consumer-audio-portfolio-to-reach-new-audiences-302915875.html

SOURCE Bose Corporation

Continue Reading

Trending