November 8, 2022

OPES Insurance partners with IMS for Mobile Telematics Insurance in Vietnam

Policyholders to benefit from cheaper auto insurance through SDK-based behavior scoring system created by IMS for Vietnamese market

London, UK and Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, Nov. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OPES, the first digital-only insurer in Vietnam, has teamed up with IMS, the global connected insurance solutions business, to supply smartphone app-based telematics insurance to car drivers in Vietnam. The new product, “O∙Car”, using the IMS One App SDK to deliver its core capabilities, launched to market earlier this month>.

OPES is owned by Vietnam Prosperity Joint-Stock Commercial Bank (VPBank), and according to Paul Stacy, Chief Executive Officer at IMS, the product will be the first wholly digital, telematics-based insurance offering in Vietnam, and it is aimed at the country’s ~3 million car drivers.

Paul said: “O∙Car leverages the IMS One App SDK along with our patented IMS Wedge (IMS’s patented BLE IOT sensor add-on) which helps identify the insured’s vehicle. Together, this connected insurance technology evaluates driving style and the resulting data is used to personalize the insurance product offered to OPES customers.” Paul said that OPES will also run competitions and other campaigns outside the app to reward good driving behavior.

He continued: “We’ve been working with OPES and their parent VPBank to trial the app among their own employees and customers. Because the traffic in Vietnam is highly congested and slow moving, the IMS analytics team had to develop a whole new driver behavior scoring system that is unique to the Vietnamese market. OPES and IMS tested with thousands of drivers and more than 60,000 trips to develop the scoring criteria.”

Mr. Dang Hoang Tung, Chief Executive Officer of OPES said: “This is a ground breaking opportunity for telematics-motor insurance in Vietnam and we are very excited to be pioneering the new OPES insurance app in partnership with IMS after a successful trial. Not only are we excited to join the motor insurance market with this innovative, new product but we also want to help promote and build a safe driving culture among Vietnamese drivers to help reduce the accident rate in the long run.”

Paul Stacy continued: “Having developed the process for Vietnam, we think something very similar will apply to other Southeast Asian markets where traffic flow is very different from the West.” He also noted that there are around 76 million registered car drivers in ASEAN nations, representing a huge untapped market for telematics and connected insurance.

Turning to the OPES deal, Paul said “OPES will be working with IMS to offer a number of different services using our core technologies, including our ‘try-before-you-buy’ functionality and behaviorally based rewards program. We are also expecting to help OPES in introducing mileage-based insurance to their policyholders in the future.”

Paul Stacy said the OPES deal underscored IMS’ growing international presence beyond the UK, Europe and North America. “Our approach to deal making is consultative and leverages our own deep insurance expertise. We prefer to work collaboratively with clients, such as OPES, and implement solutions that achieve the insurer’s desired outcomes – for the present day, but also with an eye to the future.”

Attachment

Quote from the CEO of OPES

Ben Welsh
Certus Communications
07568 382040
benwelsh@certuscc.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8666376

November 8, 2022

Australian business leaders are confident that Australian governments are making progress on climate policies but want more on climate action; finds the inaugural ‘Sustainable Future Poll’ from Confident Strategy Group and YouGov.

– 6 out of 10 Australian leaders were confident that Australia was making meaningful progress on each of the nine levers of climate change/resilience surveyed.- 7 in 10 senior business leaders of medium to large companies believe that the federal and state governments should do more in sustainability and climate action.- In a deep dive, we found agreement across the political divide that solar should be increased as an energy source. While 7 in 10 believe coal as a source should be reduced or kept at the current level.

Canberra, Australia, Nov. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — This week, government and climate experts are meeting at the United Nations Conference of Parties, COP27, in Egypt. At COP27, governments will report their progress and make agreements to take further action to achieve the Paris Agreement’s outcomes (2015). Confident Strategy Group and YouGov polled over 500 Australian business leaders to determine their confidence level in the Australian Federal and State Government’s sustainability policies. The poll assessed business leaders’ confidence across nine levers of climate change while also considering Australia’s unique environment and biodiversity impacts. This year the poll also did a deep dive into business leaders’ attitudes towards energy sources suitable for Australia.

In this inaugural poll, we also found the following:

Confidence was at its highest amongst younger business leaders (only 16% of leaders 50+ years are very confident). However, only half were confident that Australia was progressing on ‘Building sustainable future food systems that prevent food insecurity.’
Confidence was at its highest amongst those who voted Labor and Green at the most recent election (76%, 69% versus 51% for the Coalition).
Business leaders 50+ years were less confident across all sustainability policy areas, with only 4 to 5 out of 10 leaders confident in each area. Reflecting older business leaders’ lower overall confidence in sustainability policies, fewer than two in ten said they were very confident in addressing each area.
Business leaders identifying as female tended to be less confident overall regarding policy progress across all areas (women 49% v men 69%).
Those in the asset-based industries (i.e. manufacturing, construction, utilities) are much more likely to be confident (79%) compared to those in service (i.e. retail, transport, health, education) 46% or knowledge-based industries (professional, financial, ITC services) 63%. Those in manufacturing are particularly confident (88%).
2 in 10 Australian business leaders were not confident deforestation was being addressed.
While 8 in 10 business leaders believe solar as a source of energy should be increased, 7 in 10 also believe hydroelectricity and wind should be increased, and 4 in 10 believe natural gas and nuclear should be increased.
Business leaders are split in their opinion on whether the responsibility for setting climate policies should reside with the Federal Government (45%) or be shared equally with the States (46%).

This year’s poll results may reveal a “green bucket” effect as there was little differentiation in confidence levels across all of the policy lever areas. Albeit there are some clear differences by age, headcount, industry and political affiliation, there is still uniformity that reinforces this finding. This may mean more specific education is required regarding what actions are needed to achieve sustainability and mitigate climate impacts in Australia. It may also indicate that transparency on current and future policy performance and measures is required.

Confident Strategy Group will continue to track this critical policy area annually. Dr Jeanette Fielding, Group CEO of Confident Strategy Group, said, “Australia’s ability to transform at pace to meet the sustainability and climate challenges is vital to Australia’s future success and the economic welfare of all Australians. While many stakeholders have a role in addressing climate impacts, governments set the roadmap for the country through policies they deliver and the ones they don’t.” She further highlighted, “This year’s Sustainable Future Confidence Poll indicates optimism exists after the most recent Federal election, and we look forward to continuing to track business leaders’ confidence in the years ahead”.

The full report is available here: Sustainable Future Confidence Poll

About the poll

The poll was conducted online between 8-16 September 2022. The sample comprised 510 senior business leaders in Australia from organisations with 50+ employees. Confident Strategy Group set the policy levers to be explored, and YouGov designed the questionnaire. After the interviews, the data was weighted by age to reflect the latest ABS population estimates for managers and professionals.

About the Policy Levers

The policy levers were chosen based on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that identify levers of climate change and consider Australia’s unique environment and biodiversity. The poll confidence is highest in Waste Reduction (69%), Building green/renewable energy systems for the future, and Taking the initiative to address sustainability/climate resilience through innovation/research and development (68%). Others include Protecting Australia’s unique wildlife and ocean life, Building sustainable future food systems that prevent food insecurity (both 66%), Building green infrastructure for transportation (65%), Building a regenerative and sustainable agriculture system (64%), Mitigating climate impacts (64%), and Addressing the cause of deforestation in Australia (62%).

Confident Strategy Group

Confident Strategy Group is the confident confidants of change-making leaders. We help you resolve the world’s biggest challenges to transform the planet, society, and humanity for the better. This is our passion. Let us put it into practice for you. CSG clients are passionate about health, food, consumer goods, sustainability and women’s peace and security. We are experts in the following practice areas: strategic policy, ESG/sustainability, strategic communications and advocacy. Confident Strategy Group is based in Canberra, Australia and New York, USA and serves national and global clients worldwide. Contact us at www.confidentstrategygroup.com.

Media Relations Contacts:

Dr Jeanette Fielding, Founder and Group CEO at Confident Strategy Group.

contactconfident@confidentstrategygroup.com

Jeanette Fielding
Confident Strategy Group
contactconfident@confidentstrategygroup.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8691105

November 8, 2022

Synchronoss Adopts Verizon’s Next Generation Private Cloud Infrastructure

The Combination of Advanced Storage and 5G Network Gives Verizon Cloud Subscribers Fast Access and Powerful Features to Manage, Organize, and Share All Types of Digital Content

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Nov. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Synchronoss Technologies, Inc. (SNCR), a global leader and innovator in cloud, messaging and digital products and platforms, today announced that it is expanding its adoption of Verizon’s (NYSE: VZ) private cloud infrastructure to efficiently manage all digital content on the Synchronoss Personal Cloud platform. Utilizing Verizon’s next-generation technology, Verizon Cloud subscribers can store photos, videos, and other digital files managed by Synchronoss Personal Cloud.

Aside from content storage, Synchronoss will maintain key aspects of the Verizon Cloud offering, including hosting of critical solution components supporting access control, authentication, and customer lifecycle management. Additionally, it will expand its technology investments toward innovation and delivery of key functionality using artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve photo and video curation as well as the customer’s ability to share, tag and search their content.

“We’re pleased to further expand our long-standing relationship with Synchronoss via Verizon’s private cloud infrastructure,” said Brian Higgins, Senior Vice President, Device Marketing and Consumer Product at Verizon. “Verizon Cloud provides a robust, feature-rich experience to store and manage all types of files from an array of devices, more critical than ever before as more and more customers take advantage of the best 5G Unlimited plans – packed with tons of content and entertainment perks – all on America’s most reliable network.”

“The growth of 5G and the various offerings introduced by Verizon, such as Verizon 5G Home, offers a unique opportunity for Synchronoss,” said Jeff Miller, President and CEO of Synchronoss. “Migrating the storage will enable our team to focus on developing new features and functionality that will utilize the increased speed and scalability of Verizon’s 5G network and next-generation private cloud infrastructure.”

Earlier this year, Verizon introduced its Ultra Wideband service that bundles Synchronoss Personal Cloud as part of the new Verizon 5G Home Plus internet plan. The offering includes unlimited Verizon Cloud storage, with more than 40 million households covered by fixed wireless in third-quarter 2022, including over 30 million households covered by 5G Ultra Wideband.

For more information on Synchronoss Personal Cloud, visit: https://synchronoss.com/products/engagex/cloud/. For more information on Verizon’s 5G Home service, visit https://www.verizon.com/5g/home/.

About Synchronoss

Synchronoss Technologies (NASDAQ: SNCR) builds software that empowers companies around the world to connect with their subscribers in trusted and meaningful ways. The company’s collection of products helps streamline networks, simplify onboarding, and engage subscribers to unleash new revenue streams, reduce costs and increase speed to market. Hundreds of millions of subscribers trust Synchronoss products to stay in sync with the people, services, and content they love. Learn more at www.synchronoss.com

Media Relations Contact:
Domenick Cilea
Springboard
dcilea@springboardpr.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Matt Glover / Tom Colton
Gateway Group, Inc.
SNCR@gatewayir.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8690974

November 8, 2022

China imprisons 2 Tibetan monks for sending donations to Dalai Lama

Chinese authorities in Tibet have sentenced two monks from the Kirti monastery in Sichuan province to prison for sending prayer offerings to the Dalai Lama and the abbot of their monastery, both living in exile in India, Radio Free Asia has learned.

The two monks, Rachung Gendun and Sonam Gyatso, had both sent the donations to Tibet’s foremost spiritual leader and Kirti Rinpoche, sources said.

In both cases, details surrounding their trials and sentencing are not known in detail, but Chinese authorities consider it illegal for Tibetans to contact exiles. They are particularly sensitive about contacts made with the Dalai Lama, who fled to India 70 years ago and has been living there ever since.

Sources said Rachung Gendun was sentenced to three years in prison, and Sonam Gyatso to two years. They are both currently detained at Menyang prison (in Chinese Mianyang) near the city of Chengdu in Sichuan province.

Rachung Gendun had been strongly opposed to the Chinese government’s “patriotic education” campaign, a Tibetan source inside Tibet said.

Beijing has run the high-profile campaign among Tibetans since unrest spread across Tibetan regions from Lhasa in March 2008, requiring local people to denounce the Dalai Lama, whom the government rejects as a “splittist.”

Rachung Gendun voiced his opposition to the program, and was interrogated and detained for a few months. Chinese authorities also raided his quarters and confiscated photos of the Dalai Lama and several other times.

A Tibetan living in exile said Rachung Gendun had been arrested on April 1, 2021, from his quarters at the monastery, and his family did not know where he was until three months later.

“Later, after his arrest was known, his family members hoped for his release, but for the past year or so his family have not been able to see him even once,” the exile source said.

Sonam Gyatso

A few days later, authorities arrested Sonam Gyatso, on April 3, 2021, in Chengdu while he was vacationing there, a source inside Tibet told RFA on condition of anonymity to speak freely.

“Since then, he has been under constant interrogation from the police at a detention center near Barkham [Maerkang] and they didn’t reach a verdict for more than a year,” the source said.

“We have learned that he is sentenced to two years in prison but we don’t know about his current health condition or any other related information,” said the source.

Sonam Gyatso became a monk at a very young age and studied Buddhism at the Kirti Monastery, obtaining the Geshe degree, a higher academic degree in Buddhist philosophy, according to the source.

Afterwards, he worked in the monastic department and became a mentor at the monastery. While working there, he encountered many problems with the local Chinese authorities, the source said.

“Geshe Sonam’s older sister, Tsering Lhamo, was also detained by the Chinese authorities a year ago for an unknown reason. She worked at a bank in Ngaba [Aba] county,” a Tibetan living in exile told RFA on condition of anonymity to speak freely.

No further information on Tsering Lhamo’s current status is known, the source said.

The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists around the world, and is a global representative advocating for the protection of Tibetan culture, language and history. He fled Tibet into exile in India in the midst of a failed 1959 Tibetan national uprising against China, which sent troops into the formerly independent Himalayan country in 1950.

Displays by Tibetans of the Dalai Lama’s photo, public celebrations of his birthday, and the sharing of his teachings on mobile phones or other social media are often harshly punished.

Chinese authorities maintain a tight grip on Tibet and on Tibetan-populated regions of western China, restricting Tibetans’ political activities and peaceful expression of cultural and religious identity, and subjecting Tibetans to imprisonment, torture and extrajudicial killings.

Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Written in English by Eugene Whong.