Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Singtel first in Singapore to introduce digital self-registration for prepaid customers



Digital self-registration also launched on Dash app for remittance service
  
 
Singapore, 25 June 2019 – Singtel today launched digital self-registration or eKYC (electronic Know Your Customer) service for prepaid customers. The first-of-its-kind service in Singapore gives Singtel’s prepaid customers the convenience of registering their new SIM cards on their mobile phones and activating their mobile service 24/7. Designed to be fuss-free and easy, this self-registration process can be completed within 5 minutes.
 
Singtel also introduced eKYC for its Dash customers to self-register for mobile remittance.

“As people increasingly turn to their mobile phones to get things done, our mobile-first approach ensures that customers can easily do what they need to on their own time and terms. By adopting technologies such as eKYC, our customers get the added convenience of self-registering their Singtel prepaid SIM cards, or doing a one-time registration for Dash remittance. For tourists in particular, they can register themselves in minutes and connect immediately with friends and family,” said Mr Yuen Kuan Moon, Chief Executive Officer of Consumer Singapore, Singtel.

“In a fast-moving world, the adoption of eKYC solutions not only makes it more convenient for consumers, but also drives businesses’ efficiency and competitiveness. We welcome Singtel’s initiative, and encourage more organizations to continually innovate their services,” said Ms Aileen Chia, Deputy Chief Executive (Policy, Regulation & Competition development) and Director-General (Telecoms and Post), Infocomm Media Development Authority. 

Singtel offers a variety of prepaid plans to suit customers’ communications needs, including the popular 2-in-1 Tourist SIM and EZ-Link Travel card and S$15 hi! SIM Card. Singtel prepaid SIM cards are available for purchase at over 1,000 sales points across the island and will be expanded to include selected incoming regional flights, self-serve kiosks, as well as e-commerce platforms. For more information on eKYC for Singtel prepaid, customers can visit http://www.singtel.com/registersim. 

Singtel Dash is available to everyone regardless of telco or banking relationship, and can be downloaded on any mobile platform. It is the only mobile payments app that allows users to commute, shop in-store and at online retailers worldwide with their Visa Virtual Account, and send money locally and overseas. Today, Dash’s mobile remittance service offers competitive money transfer rates to six countries – namely the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and China. For more information on eKYC for Singtel Dash, customers can visit https://www.dash.com.sg/#remit

Monday, June 24, 2019

THE BEAM SEARCH: MR WORLD SINGAPORE 2019 ( Video )


SINGAPORE – Beam Artistes will unveil the 30 finalists for Mr. World Singapore 2019 for the 26 & Under and 27 & Above Categories at the following press event.

Date: 20th June 2019, Thursday Venue: J’s Bistro

45 Syed Alwi Rd, Singapore 207636 Time: 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm


MEN ON A MISSION


This year’s theme for The Beam Search: Mr. World Singapore extends from the theme of “Changing Perceptions, Changing Lives” last year, when we heard the stories of finalists from all walks of life. We had an internal mission to help them improve and become better versions of themselves.



This year, we seek not only to change lives of our finalists and the audience who are inspired by their journeys, but to expand our scope – for our finalists to carry out missions in their lives through the platform that the Beam Search would provide.   







2 TITLES UP FOR GRABS


This year, there will be 2 grand winners at the end of the Finals:

(1)  Mr World Singapore 2019
(2)  Mr World Singapore 2019 (27 & Above)

We wish for the Mr. World journey to become a powerful platform that enables the finalists to not just showcase their good looks and physiques, but also to shape and mold the finalists for their lives ahead. It is truly a platform that will create opportunities for the finalists when their Mr. World journeys conclude and real-life resumes.







This year, after a series of open and closed-door auditions, we have distilled 30 finalists for the Class of 2019 - each unique and representing a different face of modern manhood.  From a 3-time cancer survivor to a social media influencer focusing on food, from a chemical technician in an oil and gas plant to an up and coming new generation hawker, each of these men possesses a story which deserves to be told and unique missions in their lives seeking to be carried out. 

These stories tell of the different elements which have converged to build their unique character traits, forming the persons they are today. In every edition of the Beam Search, we desire to see the stories that can change perceptions to encourage societal growth, change lives, through stories that can inspire the whole of Singapore.



























Video



Sunday, June 23, 2019

Singtel and China Literature forge strategic partnership to promote digital literature




Singapore, 22 June 2019 – Singtel and China Literature have forged a strategic partnership to collaborate in digital literature services and content platform businesses. 
 
Digital literature content spanning themes such as martial arts, fantasy and video games has been growing in popularity in Southeast Asia. Titles adapted from China Literature’s content such as Ever Night (将夜), Nirvana in Fire (琅琊榜) and TV series Legend of Fuyao (扶搖) have been well received by readers and TV audiences across Asia.
 
Both companies will jointly leverage their unique strengths to achieve greater business synergies, tapping on Singtel’s digital and payment capabilities and a combined reach of over 690 million mobile customers together with China Literature’s position as a leading online literature platform with 7.7 million writers and 11.2 million online literary works.
 
At MOU signing ceremony this afternoon in Singapore, Singtel and China Literature agreed to cooperate in areas including content co-production, licensing and distribution, marketing and promotional activities and digital payment services. This will pave the way for users to access and subscribe to content from China Literature and its global content creation platform Webnovel, on Singtel’s digital applications such as its Dash mobile wallet. Meanwhile, Singtel’s digital payment services like Dash and direct carrier billing will be integrated with China Literature’s digital applications to facilitate payments for paid content.

Mr. Arthur Lang, CEO of Singtel’s International Group, said, “We’ve made quality content central to our strategy to build up a digital ecosystem of services across the region as our customers love great entertainment. One way we are doing so is through partnerships in new forms of content. Having recently introduced gaming, esports, mixed martial arts, we now look forward to bringing digital literature to our customers, particularly millennials who enjoy user-generated content. Our collaboration with China Literature will further our efforts to drive user engagement and build communities with our digital apps and services. We hope to jointly grow digital literature in the region and explore opportunities in a wide range of media formats and content delivery.”
 
Mr. Wu Wenhui, Co-CEO of China Literature stated, “From the cultivation of original literature to the development of intellectual property derivatives, the online literature industry continues to create high-quality cultural products around the world. Southeast Asia is one of the key markets for online literature and Singapore is a confluence of Eastern and Western cultures. The strategic cooperation between China Literature and Singtel mark a new chapter of synergistic development of online literature in Southeast Asia. Looking to the future, China Literature and Singtel will leverage their respective advantages in content and platform, further promote cross-border integration of cultural content, and explore new products and formats for online literature.”

The Singtel-China Literature partnership will also cover areas such as support for original content, and nurturing of writers, translators, and editors, to enhance the development of quality content in Southeast Asia. Both parties will explore content adaptation, production and promotional activities on Singtel’s video platforms.  

About Singtel  


Singtel is Asia's leading communications technology group, providing a portfolio of services from next-generation communication, technology services to infotainment to both consumers and businesses. For consumers, Singtel delivers a complete and integrated suite of services, including mobile, broadband and TV. For businesses, Singtel offers a complementary array of workforce mobility solutions, data hosting, cloud, network infrastructure, analytics and cyber-security capabilities. The Group has a presence in Asia, Australia and Africa and reaches over 690 million mobile customers in 21 countries. Its infrastructure and technology services for businesses span 21 countries, with more than 428 direct points of presence in 362 cities. 

For more information, visit www.singtel.com.
Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/SingtelNews.

About China Literature Limited

China Literature Limited is a pioneer in the online literature market and operates China’s leading online literature platform. The Company owns nine major branded products. Among these, QQ Reading, unified mobile content aggregation and distribution platform, is the flagship product. Other branded products focus on individual genres and their respective fan bases. China Literature’s shareholder and strategic partner, Tencent, provides the Company with exclusive content distribution access via its suite of leading mobile and Internet products, including Mobile QQ, QQ Browser, Tencent News, Weixin Reading and Tencent Video. The Company also has distribution beyond the Tencent platforms by preinstalling apps on handsets partners such as OPPO, Huawei and VIVO, as well as licensing content to third-party partners such as Baidu, Sogou, JD.com and Xiaomi Duokan. China Literature monetizes its vast and proprietary content library through online paid reading and content adaptations for a variety of entertainment formats. China Literature’s diverse and high-quality content library is a significant competitive advantage that lies at the core of its business model. In 2018, China Literature further expanded its content capabilities downstream by acquiring New Classics Media, a renowned TV series, web series and film production company in China. For more information, please visit http://ir.yuewen.com.  

Saturday, June 22, 2019

The Ice Cream MiniBAR, The F&N MAGNOLIA Experience

Tucked at the corner of Centrepoint on the front of the building, MiniBar is one place to stop for a good rest both for your tired legs and a deserving stomach.

From the famous Magnolia Milk Bar to the familiar jingle of an ice cream bell. F&N Magnolia ice cream has been for generations, the source of much delight and tasty indulgence. Each scoop holds the promise of a delicious and ice-cold treat F&N Magnolia has been a trusted provider of great value, fun and innovative ice cream products for everyday treats and special moments for 82 years since 1937.



Traditional Dessert Reimagine ( Mao San Wang Durian Sago )

This is another interesting combo. The Mao San Wang durian keeps you "durianholic" during this durian peak season. The cone keeps you from dripping your durian ice-cream onto the floor in our tropical climate. In fact, after finishing the Mao San Wang, you proceed to enjoy the crunchy cone which also has some ice-cream on it. Taste like Vanilla if I am not wrong ).


In the late 60s, Magnolia opened its first Magnolia Snack Bar at the old Capitol Building, serving ice creams, milkshakes, and cakes. The Magnolia Snack Bar was a hit with Singaporeans both young and old, for social gatherings and post-movie bites. The second magnolia snack bar opened its doors along Orchard Road where retail landmark, Centrepoint now stands.



Popiah Ice Cream Roll( Coconut Ice Cream With Gula Melaka )
We used to have bread or wafer as our ice-cream wrap, but with popiah is a taste better. You should try it one day. 

50 years on fans of Magnolia Ice Cream will be delighted to learn that they can now pick up their favorite Magnolia Ice Cream from the swanky new MiniBAR at Centrepoint. Customers who stop by the MiniBAR at Centrepoint will be spoilt for choices of elevated recipes inspired by the famous hawker sandwich ice cream to favorite local desserts and signature ice cream cocktails. The MAGNOLIA@The MiniBAR menu offers Instagram-worthy concoctions to customers who drop in at the Magnolia serving counter at the front of the MiniBAR and also to those who to enjoy of their favorite Magnolia Ice Cream, perched on a seat in the MiniBAR with a view of busy Orchard Road.


Eager customers 


One of the most notable changes in consumer behavior here and globally is in the way millennials use social media, particularly Instagram. With many Instagrammers now taking images of creatively presented food and displaying it on their Instagram profiles, food has become a huge part of social networking. The MiniBAR at Centrepoint presents manny Instagram-worthy moments from its ultra-modern decor to the MAGNOLIA@The MiniBAR menu it serves.




Wafer - Single Hawker Cut ( Peppermint Chocolate Ice Cream )
This wafer thing is interesting. Just too tall for mouthful bite. So I took the first layer and followed by the second layer. Peppermint makes you fresh in your mouth. 


Would you believe that this is a milkshake? With a Chiffon Pandan cake as a topping, Nowhere it says it has a cake as a topping. LOL. This is a Yam Ice-Cream Milkshake. The milkshake is good and I enjoyed it with a lady friend. In another photo, Gerald Png said that we look like we are in a pub. Seems to be as we are along Orchard Road.


Menu




About MAGNOLIA Ice Creams
Magnolia ice cream has been for generations, the source of much delightful and tasty indulgence. Magnolia single serve ice-cream sticks or cups are always within reach whenever you crave a reward. Want to share the fun? Magnolia multipacks and family-sized tubs make it as simple as popping the lid. Magnolia is a trusted provider of great value, fun and innovative ice cream products for each and every special moment.

About F&N Creameries
F&N Creameries, an Ice Cream Division which is part of the Fraser & Neave group, offers a complementary portfolio of ice cream products to satisfy diverse consumer segments. The company aims to become a leading ice cream player in the growth markets of ASEAN and manages its own stable of established ice cream brands consisting of a portfolio of all-time favorites such as MAGNOLIA, KING's JWEL and MEADOW GOLD brands.

For more information on F&N Creameries, please visit www.fnncreameries.com

About Fraser and Neave, Limited
Established in 1883, Fraser and Neave, Limited ("F&N") is a leading Southeast Asia Consumer Group with expertise and prominent standing in the Food & Beverage and Publishing & Printing industries.

Leveraging its strengths in marketing and distribution; research and development brands and financial management as well as years of acquisition experience. F&N provides key resources and sets strategic directions for its subsidiary companies across both industries.

Listed on the Singapore stock exchange, F&N ranks as one of the most established and successful companies in the region with an impressive array of renowned brands that enjoy strong market leadership. F&N is present in 11 countries spanning Asia Pacific, Europe, and the USA and employs over 7,700 people worldwide.

For more information on F&N, please visit www.fraserandneave.com

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

#DONTTELLMEHOWTODRESS

#DONTTELLMEHOWTODRESS  

A voice against sexual assault and survivor shaming of women in Asia

#DontTellMeHowToDress is an exhibition which questions society’s position that a survivor is somehow responsible for instigating sexual violence because of the way she acts or dresses, and seeks to show how sexual violence may be inflicted on anyone, regardless of how they are dressed. 



With support from the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) and its Aim For Zero campaign to end sexual violence, on exhibit are typical items of clothing worn by survivors of sexual violence in Singapore. Most survivors do not own clothes from the time of the incidents as it does not support their journey of recovery and some articles of clothing are submitted as evidence when they lodge a police report. Also on exhibit will be portraits of celebrities and luminaries who support the cause, and other interactive elements that tackle the theme of sexual assault and the subsequent shaming of these survivors locally and across Asia.



AWARE has fought for gender equality for 34 years through dedicated research, advocacy, and support services for women in need. This exhibition would not have been possible but for the support and cooperation of AWARE, who connected the organizers with the survivors featured in #DontTellMeHowtoDress.

"I am deeply grateful for the important truths that this exhibition can potentially illuminate. There are many myths around sexual violence, many of them rooted in shaming and blaming survivors, and attire is one disturbing aspect of this. The truth is, we need to destigmatize sexual violence and re-focus the discussion towards understanding and practicing consent. We, together as a people, need to realize that sexual violence has always been everybody's issue, it is important for every community, no one is an exception. I believe that as a society we can do better. It is within our power to leave the world a safer, more caring place for ourselves and the children that will come after us. The survivors involved in this exhibition are thankful for the support each of us received from AWARE." 

- Pamela Ng, one of the featured survivors.                               
             
             
Singapore is the third country to host this exhibition, following the hugely positive reception and public endorsement in Thailand and the Philippines.  

    
 
The exhibition is the physical component of the larger #DontTellMeHowToDress campaign on social media, started by Ms. Cindy Sirinya Bishop, a model and actress in Thailand, most well known across Asia as the host of “Asia’s Next Top Model” – the hit reality series.



Herself a survivor of sexual harassment, Ms. Bishop was appalled by the Thai government’s directive for women to either dress appropriately or risk sexual violence. She believes that women should have the right to choose how they dress and remain safe at the same time. In response to the Thai government’s directive, she started #DontTellMeHowToDress. The campaign as a whole serves as a platform for survivors’ stories to be heard, and an avenue to educate that help is available. 


 “Sexual harassment and assault are huge issues in our society that no one really talks about… There are many myths, stereotypes, and culture of victim blaming when it comes to women who have been assaulted. Women who do report sexual harassment and violence tell us they need better support by friends, colleagues, families, and communities.”
 
-  Cindy Sirinya Bishop, Founder of  #DontTellMeHowToDress



Ms. Bishop has partnered with Beam Artistes to bring her exhibition into Singapore. Just like in Thailand and the Philippines, the exhibition is launched in collaboration with a UN Women network organization. Here in Singapore, the collaboration is with the Singapore Committee for UN Women.

All too often, women who have suffered physical abuse and sexual assault are shamed, or worse still, made to feel that they are responsible for the attack.   And as such, they don’t speak up.  Under no circumstances should women ever be subjected to sexual assault and violence.  Ending the culture of silence around sexual harassment and violence can only happen when this is discussed openly and when victims can speak out and receive immediate support.”

-  Georgette Tan, President of the Singapore Committee for UN Women





The exhibition will be held at NomadX (Level 3, Plaza Singapura) from 28th March to 21st April, 10 am – 10 pm daily.



Singapore celebrities who have pledged their support for the project include Paul Foster (Actor, Host & Model), Wallace Ang (Actor, Host & Singer), Gina Tan (Actress, Model & Singer), May Wan (Actress & Host), Choy Wan (Actress & Host), Christabel Chua (Influencer), Sylvia Chan (Co-Founder of Night Owl Cinematics, Forbes 30 under 30), Charina (Managing Director of Digital Fashion Week), Becca D’Bus (Drag performer), Sonia Chew (Radio/TV Personality), Eunice Olsen (TV Presenter/Media Entrepreneur) and more.



#DontTellMeHowToDress (Singapore) is headed by Cindy Sirinya Bishop and organized by Beam Artistes, with the strong support and endorsement by AWARE, UNWomen, the High Commission of Canada in Singapore, Women on a Mission, NomadX, Cocoloco, 7th Capital, Vintage Studio, Collabtive, Loud Kitchen, Digital Negative, Firefly Photography, Laneige, HERA, Mamonde, Love Blush, Print Lab and Violet Foo Styling.

Video by Seed Image 



About Beam Artistes:

Beam Artistes is Singapore’s premier talent agency which proudly represents established celebrities and promising up and coming new talents. Through their rigorous talent process, they ensure a constant supply of the best talents in Singapore for a wide range of products that includes motion pictures, television programmes, commercials, endorsements, industrial videos, print work, and events. More information on our artistes may be found at www.beam.com.sg


About the Singapore Committee for UN Women: 
The Singapore Committee for UN Women is a self-funded non-profit organization working towards women's empowerment and gender equality. The organization supports the general mission of UN Women by raising awareness and funding for Ending Violence Against Women, Economic Empowerment, and Governance and Leadership Programmes in Singapore and the region. www.unwomen.org.sg 

About AWARE and AimForZero: 
AWARE is Singapore’s leading women’s rights and gender-equality advocacy group. It works to identify and eliminate gender-based barriers through research, advocacy, education, training, and support services. 

Aim For Zero is AWARE's national campaign to press for collective support for survivors of all forms of sexual violence. This campaign calls on people from all walks of life – employers, parents, social workers, educators, bystanders – to build a culture of support and ensure that their communities have zero tolerance towards sexual violence. 

In November 2018, Aim For Zero kicked off with a powerful video featuring 10 survivors sharing their stories. Outside of contributing their clothing to this exhibit, those survivors continue to serve as campaign ambassadors, courageously speaking up to advocate change. aimforzero.sg, #aimforzerosg