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ChainUp Advocates Transparency of Crypto Assets with Merkle Tree Proof-of-Reserves Solution

SINGAPORE – News Direct – 11 November 2022 – ChainUp, a global blockchain technology solutions provider, announced today that it will be providing crypto exchanges with a Merkle Tree Proof-of-Reserves solution to promote transparency of crypto assets.

A Merkle Tree is a cryptographic tool that enables the consolidation of large amounts of data into a single hash which acts as a cryptographic seal that “summarizes” all the inputted data. The Merkle Tree Proof-of-Reserves thus provides assurance to users by enabling quick, easy verification of a large volume of data, which in turn promotes transparency of the data.

Merkle Tree, as one of the core technologies of blockchain, is able to integrate a large amount of data into a single hash and efficiently verify the integrity of the data set. Therefore, as one of the main applications of Merkle Tree, Proof-of-Reserves not only provides users with fast asset security verification, but also improves the transparency of institutional reserves.

ChainUp provides businesses with end-to-end blockchain solutions covering infrastructure development and ecosystem support, with digital assets trading system as one of its key products.

Mr. Sailor Zhong, Founder & CEO of ChainUp Group said, “Transparency is crucial for crypto exchanges to gain the trust of end-users and investors. Our latest Merkle Tree Proof-of-Reserves solution aims to support our existing clients and other industry players in showcasing that users’ fundings are secure and safe, and as a result, strengthen overall trust in the industry.”

Contact Details

ChainUp Group
Xue Zhen Yeo
pressrelease@chainup.com

Hashtag: #ChainUp

About ChainUp Group

Founded in 2017, ChainUp is a leading end-to-end blockchain technology solutions provider covering infrastructure development and ecosystem support. Built on the mission to empower businesses through blockchain technology, ChainUp’s innovative and all-around compliant solutions include digital asset exchange systems, NFT trading systems, wallet solutions, liquidity solutions, and digital assets custody and management. Headquartered in Singapore and with offices around the world, the company has served more than 1,000 clients in 30 countries, reaching over 60 million end-users.

For more information, please visit: www.chainup.com.

SME finance management platform YouBiz launches competitive global transfers to over 140 countries for businesses of all sizes

  • SMEs can instantly initiate non-local transfers in 8 major currencies to 146 countries
  • Businesses enjoy up to 6x more savings on remittances with YouBiz
  • YouBiz is one of the most competitive finance management platforms in the market that offers remittance services in addition to a suite of multi-currency features

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 11 November 2022 – YouBiz, the SME finance management platform by leading Southeast Asian fintech YouTrip, launched global transfers in 8 major currencies to a total of 146 countries today. SMEs can now remit money to more locations while enjoying the best in market exchange rates and up to 6X more savings on their transfers, compared to traditional banks and other money transfer operators. These features enable YouBiz to be the best platform for global-minded companies of all sizes to manage their budgets and scale internationally.

“During the pandemic, many SMEs adopted digital tools and payment modes for their business operations. YouBiz identified opportunities to close the remittance gaps that these local companies face and launched key transfer features to power their multi-currency remittance needs. We enhanced our platform and introduced even more features to free up valuable time and resources from finance management, for business owners to remain laser-focused on their growth and expansion plans,” said YouTrip Co-Founder and CEO Caecilia Chu.

Affordable remittances at the best in market exchange rates

A recent study showed that the total volume of international digital remittances is set to exceed 2 billion globally in 2027, beyond the estimated 1.1 billion this year[1]. Many local businesses are in need of a smart and affordable financial solution that enables easy, effective and efficient cross-border payments and remittances – which can be categorised into local and non-local transfers.

  • Local transfers refer to the transfer of currencies into an account within the corresponding home country i.e. the transfer of USD to the US.
  • Non-local transfers refer to the transfer of currencies into an account outside of the corresponding home country i.e. the transfer of USD to China.

With the launch, YouBiz users are able to make non-local transfers in 8 major foreign currencies (AUD, CHF, EUR, GBP, HKD, JPY, THB and USD) to 146 countries. On the other hand, local transfers are available in the 8 major foreign currencies previously listed, as well as 4 other currencies (SGD, IDR, MYR and VND).

Businesses can create up to 30 accounts in SGD and each of the 8 major foreign currencies to manage various department and project budgets, lock in favorable exchange rates or receive payments – at no additional charge.

In their research and conversation with users, YouBiz conducted comparisons across various money transfer providers in the market, with USD40,000 as the average remittance amount. Findings show that SMEs can potentially earn up to 6X savings when making remittances with the best in market exchange rates and low, transparent fees offered by YouBiz (see Table 1 below).

Table 1: Comparison of the remittance cost in SGD for non-local transfer of USD

Table 1: Comparison of the remittance cost in SGD for non-local transfer of USD

Unlocking international growth for SMEs of all sizes

The pandemic brought about a major shift in the way businesses operate – companies are increasingly distributed, working with overseas vendors and expensing payroll in different currencies as remote work continues to gain traction. In adopting digital-first strategies to boost their growth engines and scale their businesses, SMEs’ foreign currency needs have multiplied. And as borders reopened, businesses have accelerated their global expansion plans.

To equip businesses with the necessary tools for internationalisation, YouBiz offers a smart expense management platform that brings together multi-currency accounts, local and international transfers, corporate expense management and credit features in a single hub. SMEs get instant access to accounts and transactions through a comprehensive dashboard, and an entire suite of payment features that allow local companies to be more productive with their business and prudent with spending. They also enjoy unlimited 1% cashback on all card spend with no cap, as well as earn attractive rewards on their corporate expenses.

With YouBiz’s best exchange rates and zero foreign currency transaction fees proposition, SMEs can reduce operation costs, manage budgets and accumulate additional funds to power business operations beyond Singapore.

“SMEs have responded positively to our new features and many companies have onboarded YouBiz since our launch in May. Our outreach has strengthened YouBiz’s position as a trusted, reliable and effective partner for local companies. We are proud to be one of the fastest growing fintech SMEs in the region and will continue to build better, more affordable and convenient digital financial services for businesses in the years to come,” she added.

Registration for a YouBiz account and card is free – no minimum account balance or card fees are required. Businesses can start creating their YouBiz card and account here.

Hashtag: #YouTrip #YouBiz

About YouTrip

YouTrip is a Southeast Asian financial technology company dedicated to creating the next generation of digital financial services for consumers and businesses. In 2018, it launched the region’s first and leading multi-currency payment app. With its consumer and corporate products, YouTrip and YouBiz, the company empowers users with the most affordable and convenient financial innovations.

The company is a Major Payment Institution licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), and owns principal memberships and issuing licences with two of the largest card schemes, MasterCard and Visa. For more information, please visit .

Timor-Leste Approved ‘In-Principle’ as the 11th Member of ASEAN

ASEAN leaders at the Summit in Cambodia this week.

The decision was taken on Friday during the 2022 ASEAN Summit which is being held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia until November 13. 

Tia Lee Leads the Charge and Showcase Female Empowerment, Global Launch of Her First-Ever Animation Series

Six Cinematic Animation Episodes plus Innovative Motion Images Series as Prelude of New Song “Goodbye Princess”

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 11 November 2022 – Tia Lee, Asian fashion icon, pop singer, film and television actress, today launched the first episode of her inaugural animation series, telling Tia’s journey and her struggles in the entertainment and fashion industry.

The animation series centred around the underlying message of Tia’s soon-to-be launched new song, “GOODBYE PRINCESS”, a song tailored for all females to become stronger through embracing their true selves.

The six animated episodes are based on Tia’s journey in the entertainment industry. Each 30-second episode takes inspiration from classic “princess” fairy tale, subverting the symbols and images in it, to form a story that is both full of imagination and saturated with the ideas of metamorphosis and self-empowerment.

The animation series aims to showcase Tia’s determination to break out of stereotypes, shake off biases, avoid negativity and set an example for female empowerment.

The Award-Winning Animation Team behind the Animation Series

Inspired by “GOODBYE PRINCESS”, the animation series was curated, illustrated and scripted by a Hong Kong based award-winning team that demonstrated exquisite quality, creativity and enthusiasm.

Director and Project Consultant: Sunny Tang – an award-winning animation director with over 20 years of experience. He has won both the Best Animation Award and the Best Editing Award at the Hong Kong Mobile Film Festival, and the Best Digital Entertainment Award Gold Award at the Hong Kong ICT Awards. His international accolades include the 23rd Japan TBS DigiCon6 – Merit Award and the 16th Japan TBS DigiCon6 – Regional Award for recognition of effort in Hong Kong. His credits list includes The Great Detective Sherlock Holmes – The Greatest Jail-Breaker, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kung Fu Hustle, The Promise, Gatchman and Astro Boy.

Scriptwriter: Alex Lee – scriptwriter of the movie In Broad Daylight and the ViuTV television hit series ‘In Geek We Trust’. He also directed the Ritalin series, which was celebrated as part of the 2021 Golden Horse Film Project Promotion’s Series Section.

Illustrator: Mandy Mackenzie Ng – an up-and-coming Hong Kong talent in digital painting. Her masterpiece is the music video ‘of Moment’ by Hong Kong singer Terence Lam.

Arranged by: Wan Pin Chu – a Hong Kong-based film score artist and urhuist. He is known to have scored the music for the highest-grossing animated film in China Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child. In addition, he has scored the music for other blockbusters such as Overheard 3, Wu Kong, Godzilla II: King of the Monsters, and In Geek We Trust.

Other team members include Executive Director, Leo Cheung, Animation Director, Gloria Chan, Project Manager, Gigi Leung, and Executive Producer, Sam Kong.

Blending 2D Animations with Motion Images and Still Photography of Tia

Each episode will be further illustrated and expounded upon by a thematic poster that sums up the theme and message that Tia wishes to communicate through each animated episode. The cinematic design of the six posters will echo one another and will be released on Tia’s social platforms the day after release of each animation.

Innovatively, a motion image and photography of Tia will also be released after each episode to reinforce the story that Tia wishes to tell. Featuring Tia, the imagery of the photography and motion images aims to create a strong contrast between animation and reality.

The motion image and photography of the first episode, “Falling in the Deep” will show Tia completely submerged under water.

The Award-Winning Creative Team of the Motion Images and Photography Series

The masterminds behind the extraordinary production of the motion images and photography series are two of the world’s leading creative professionals – Tony C. Miller as Creative Director, and Kate Wynborne (renowned in the international advertising and film industry) as Producer.

Tony C. Miller has over 20 years of global experience in producing commercials, music videos, documentaries and films. He has worked on advertising campaigns for brands such as Versace, Dior, Chopard, Issey Miyake and Rolls Royce. He has also been nominated for the Best Video Q Award and Best Video at the Music Video Awards (MVA’s), and was recognised at both the Global Independent Film Awards and the New York Shorts International Film Festival 2020.

Kate Wynborne is a seasoned producer, with over two decades of experience in music videos, commercials and fashion productions worldwide. Based in Southeast Asia and having managed productions across multiple countries, Kate has worked on large-budget campaigns with Apple, Versace, Nike and Facebook. She has also worked alongside numerous renowned directors like Tom Hooper (best known for his British film The King’s Speech), as well as other A-list artists.

Official Release Dates:
Episode 1 animation: 11 Nov 2022
Episode 1 poster: 12 Nov 2022
Episode 1 motion images & photography: 14 Nov 2022
#Episode 2 animation will be released on 15 Nov 2022.

Tia Lee Official Channels:
Website: https://www.tialee.com
Instagram @leeyufen: https://www.instagram.com/leeyufen/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tialeeofficial/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leeyufentialee/
Weibo: https://weibo.com/u/1396928042/

Hashtag: #TiaLee

About Tia Lee:

Tia Lee (李毓芬), born in Taipei, is an Asian pop singer, film and television actress, model, and former member of the girl band Dream Girls. In addition to her acting roles and musical career, Tia appears frequently at major fashion shows. As a fashion icon and trend-setter, Tia has graced the covers of fashion, beauty and lifestyle magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, and shares her beauty and fashion tips through a number of Vogue’s social media channels.

Generali’s critical illness products rated 5 Stars by 10Life, featuring unlimited claims for cancer, stroke and heart attack

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 11 November 2022 – Generali’s critical illness products, LionGuardian Beyond and LionGuardian PlusOne have recently received a top 5-Star Rating from 10Life in the Whole Life Critical Illness and Term Critical Illness categories respectively, affirming the well-rounded coverage and value these products offer to customers.

Ms. Quinney Tang, Division Head, Product Development said, “We are delighted that our critical illness products attained a 5-Star Rating from one of the largest insurance comparison platforms in Hong Kong. It is a testament to Generali’s continuous commitment to developing innovative products tailored to customers’ needs and reinforces our ambition to be Lifetime Partner to our customers.”

Flagship products in Generali’s critical illness series, LionGuardian Beyond and LionGuardian PlusOne provide comprehensive coverage with the following key features:

  • Unlimited major critical illness benefits[1] and protection for 138 illnesses
    Exclusive in the market[2], both plans offer unlimited number of claims[3] for cancer, stroke and heart attack until the age of 100[4], protection for 138 illnesses, including Major Critical Illnesses and Early Stage or Minor Illnesses, and every major critical illness claim offers 100% of Sum Assured1, unaffected by any previous claims on other critical illnesses.
  • Future premiums waived
    Future premiums will be waived once the full claimable amount is reached, providing customers with continuous protection throughout their life.
  • Protection for unknown illnesses
    Even if the cause of the illness is unknown, benefits are also payable for losses in functionality of the key organs[5] – heart, liver, lung or kidney – with 100% of Sum Assured for each claim.

10Life is one of the largest insurance comparison platforms in Hong Kong and performs quantitative research on insurance products. Their actuaries break down complex products into simple product ratings based factors that matter the most to the consumer. The top insurance products in the market are rated as 5 Star.


[1] Unlimited claims are only applicable for cancer, stroke and heart attacks. For each of the other major critical illnesses, the major critical illness benefit shall be payable to the maximum once only. For waiting period and terms and conditions, please refer to the product brochure.

[2] Based on comparisons with other critical illness plans issued by Hong Kong major life insurance companies as of June 2022.

[3] Subject to waiting period and specific terms and conditions.

[4] If the plan is taken out for an unborn baby, coverage period will be 100 years after the policy becomes effective.

[5] Diagnosed with specific condition of key organs (heart, liver, lung or kidney) which last for at least 3 consecutive months.

Hashtag: #Generali

Generali Hong Kong

In 1981, Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A was first registered as an authorized insurer in Hong Kong, with the business extending into the life insurance sector in 2016 with Generali Life (Hong Kong) Limited. With a combination of local knowledge and Generali Group’s global expertise, we develop unique and innovative life insurance, general insurance, specialty insurance, and employee benefits solutions to meet the needs of our customers.

Generali Group

Generali is one of the largest global insurance and asset management providers. Established in 1831, it is present in 50 countries in the world, with a total premium income of more than €75.8 billion in 2021. With nearly 75,000 employees serving 67 million customers, the Group has a leading position in Europe and a growing presence in Asia and Latin America. Generali’s ambition is to be the life-time partner to its customers, offering innovative and personalized solutions thanks to an unmatched distribution network.

“Generali” refers to “Generali Life (Hong Kong) Limited” unless stated otherwise.

LionGuardian Beyond and LionGuardian PlusOne are underwritten by Generali Life (Hong Kong) Limited.

Terms and conditions apply.

The press release does not contain the full provisions of the products and the full terms can be found in the Policy Provisions. For details of coverage, limitations, product risks, terms and conditions, please refer to the insurance policy documents, e.g. illustration, Policy Provision, product brochure and other supplementary materials (if applicable).

American Secret War Veteran Works Toward a Better Future for Laos

Mike Burton at a Mines Advisory Group (MAG) Demining Site preparing to detonate a cluster bomb that was found. Photo Credit: Kayleb Lee

Col. Mike Burton makes his first visit back to Laos nearly 50 years after he was deployed to serve in the American Secret War, this time to address the impact and support the clearance of UXOs. In an interview with Laotian Times, he discusses healing the wounds of war and creating greater hope for peace.

Illegal Mining Activities Reported in Attapeu

A mine serving as a junction of Attapeu's Xanxay district and Sekong's Dak Cheung district.

Attapeu recently saw a group of people carrying out illegal mining activities involving extracting, buying, and selling minerals.

Okta Introduces Okta Customer Identity Cloud to Help Businesses Grow User Bases Without Compromising Security

Customer identity solution powered by Auth0 improves customer experience and reduces security risk with new product innovations for modern app builders

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 11 November 2022 – Okta, Inc. (NASDAQ: OKTA), the leading independent identity provider, today at Oktane22, unveiled Okta Customer Identity Cloud, an easy-to-implement and customizable customer identity solution that helps organizations resolve the tension between security, privacy, and user experience for their customers. Two differentiated use cases for Consumer Apps and SaaS Apps, and several product innovations for modern app builders make it possible to accelerate growth with a better user experience, reduced risk, and greater developer productivity. Okta Customer Identity Cloud is Auth0 technology, and reinforces Okta’s commitment to free everyone to safely access any technology, so customers can focus on innovation.

It’s been more than a decade since tech investor Marc Andreesen wrote that “software is eating the world.” Now digital business is just business. The Covid-19 pandemic only accelerated this trend, forcing companies in every industry to move their applications to the cloud and deliver services online. Today, new app downloads have reached 230 billion and the average organization deploys 89 apps, with as many as 187 apps for larger companies. The next big challenge is allowing people to securely move between technologies with fewer passwords while easing the integration burden on developers. All of this is underpinned by a customer identity solution that is easy to implement and extend for any digital experience.

“Every digital experience starts with customer identity, whether you’re in the public sector, or selling pizza,” said Eugenio Pace, President of Customer Identity at Okta. “Conventional wisdom tells us that you can make an application super secure, but very inconvenient to use. Or you can make it super convenient, but at the cost of security or privacy. This is a false choice. Okta’s Customer Identity Cloud, powered by Auth0, makes it possible to improve the overall experience and keep customers secure at the same time, all while enabling app builders to focus on what is most important–innovating for their customers.”

“At TripActions, we’re building the best all-in-one travel, corporate card, and expense management solution that has revolutionized business travel,” said Kim Huffman, Chief Information Officer at TripActions. “Okta’s Customer Identity Cloud has been critical to our success as we continue to scale and grow globally. It enables an easy, frictionless, and secure experience that’s vital to our customers.”

Two differentiated use cases for Customer Identity Cloud and product innovations announced today include:

Identity as Your Digital Front Door With Consumer Apps

The Okta Customer Identity Cloud for Consumer Apps helps any organization streamline registration and login across any device, stack, or platform, for higher customer acquisition and retention, a better experience, and a fuller view of users. From social login and progressive profiling, to advanced security features like Adaptive Multi-factor Authentication (MFA), digital teams have everything they need to increase revenue through new and repeat customers, without added security risk. New capabilities being added to Consumer Apps by the end of Q2 2023 include:

  • Passkeys support: Passkeys are a replacement for passwords that make it faster and easier for users to sign into apps and websites on any device. App builders can turn on passkeys using a toggle in our dashboard, without touching their code.
  • Highly Regulated Identity: Highly Regulated Identity is a new toolset that allows customers to safeguard riskier transactions with extra security and policy control.
  • Security Center: Security Center leverages Okta’s vast threat insights from billions of authentications to create a single pane of glass for security teams to monitor in real-time, detect, and respond to any suspicious activity.

Find more details about the new capabilities for Consumer Apps on our blog.

Business Customer Identity, Simplified with SaaS Apps

The Okta Customer Identity Cloud for SaaS Apps helps companies get enterprise-ready, onboard new users, and manage authentication across business customers, without diverting development resources away from their core product. With Enterprise Federation, directory synchronization, delegated administration, provisioning, custom branding and security policies, and more out-of-the-box capabilities, Okta handles identity so SaaS companies can focus on growing their business. Enhancements now generally available for SaaS Apps include:

  • Okta Workforce Enterprise Connection: Okta Workforce Enterprise Connection makes it easy for SaaS app builders to offer out-of-the-box integrations to Okta Workforce Identity Cloud, providing end-users with a seamless and trustworthy login experience. This enterprise connection is included on all Enterprise and B2B self-service plans for no additional charge, and now easier to discover and configure for SaaS Apps use cases.
  • Organizations: Organizations enables SaaS companies to manage and model identity for business customers as organizations, and configure custom, organization-based branding and policies. New support for up to two million organizations per tenant, two million members per organization, and improved search capabilities are available now.

Learn more about our purpose-built use case for SaaS Apps on our blog.

Availability

Okta Customer Identity Cloud including the new use cases for Consumer Apps and SaaS Apps is available today at okta.com/customer-identity/. For SaaS Apps, enhancements for the Okta Workforce Enterprise Connection and Organizations are available today for Enterprise and B2B self-service customers. New capabilities for Consumer Apps will be available by the end of Q2 2023, with support for Highly Regulated Identity as an Enterprise Add-on.

Any unreleased products, features, or functionality referenced in this release that are not currently available, may not be delivered on time or at all. Product roadmaps do not represent a commitment, obligation, or promise to deliver any product, feature, or functionality, and customers should not rely on them to make purchase decisions.

Watch all of Okta’s product announcements at Oktane22.com.

Hashtag: #Okta

About Okta

Okta is the World’s Identity Company. As the leading independent Identity partner, we free everyone to safely use any technology—anywhere, on any device or app. The most trusted brands trust Okta to enable secure access, authentication, and automation. With flexibility and neutrality at the core of our Okta Workforce Identity and Customer Identity Clouds, business leaders and developers can focus on innovation and accelerate digital transformation, thanks to customizable solutions and more than 7,000 pre-built integrations. We’re building a world where Identity belongs to you. Learn more at .