Schools in Laos are to begin reopening face-to-face classes following months of closure due to heavy Covid-19 restrictions.
AIA appoints new Head of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) for Singapore
This latest appointment builds on the company’s ESG push, following its commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – AIA Singapore today announced the official appointment of Ms Leong Li Sun as its new Head of Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG). This newly created role is part of the leading life and health insurer’s transformational push to ensure a more sustainable future for the individuals and families it serves. Li Sun will report to Ms Wong Sze Keed, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Singapore.
As the Head of ESG, Li Sun’s mandate is to further embed AIA’s ESG commitment within the company’s operations, across five strategic pillars that will deliver long-term value for stakeholders: Health and Wellness, Green Operations, Sustainable Investment, People and Culture, and Effective Governance. Li Sun will be working closely with AIA Group and the respective functions locally to develop and oversee AIA Singapore’s environmental, social and governance policies, as well as to ensure compliance with group regional policies and recognised best-in-class practices for accountability and transparency.
Li Sun is a certified sustainability practitioner with 10 years of experience in corporate sustainability. Prior to joining AIA Singapore, Li Sun held the position of Vice President, Head of Corporate Sustainability at United Overseas Bank (UOB) and served as Secretariat for the UOB Group Sustainability Committee. During her time in UOB, Li Sun successfully drove the integration of the company’s sustainability strategy across all functions, and secured UOB’s inclusion on the 2019, 2020 and 2021 Bloomberg Gender Equality Index and position as one of the few ASEAN banks to be rated “Low Risk” by Sustainalytics.
Ms Wong Sze Keed, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Singapore, said, “I am delighted to welcome Li Sun into our AIA family. Her arrival will drive momentum in expanding AIA Singapore’s ESG credentials that will take our industry leadership to new heights and deliver meaningful outcomes for all.”
“ESG is at the heart of our purpose to help people live healthier, longer, better lives, as our collective future depends on the actions we are taking today. Our 2050 net-zero target is the latest in a series of initiatives that underscores this very commitment.”
AIA Group – holding total assets of US$326 billion[1] – is doubling down on its ESG commitments, recently announcing that the company sold off almost US$10 billion of investments in coal mining and coal-fired power business, and that it won’t make new investments in businesses directly involved in coal mining or generating electricity from coal.
AIA is the largest pan-Asian life and health insurer to commit to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The company is also committed to the Science Based Target initiatives (SBTi)[2], which will inform its US$286 billion investment portfolio[3] engagement processes.
[1] https://www.aia.com/content/dam/group/en/docs/annual-report/AIA%20Group%20Annual%20Report%202020%20(Eng).pdf
[2] The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a global body enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reduction targets in line with the latest climate science, to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement
[3] Investment portfolio size as at June 2021, https://www.aia.com/en/media-centre/press-releases/2021/aia-group-press-release-20211207.html
About AIA
AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively “AIA” or the “Group”) comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets – wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR(1), Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Brunei and Macau SAR(2), and a 49 per cent joint venture in India.
The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai more than a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in Asia (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$330 billion as of 30 June 2021.
AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia, AIA serves the holders of more than 39 million individual policies and over 16 million participating members of group insurance schemes.
AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code “1299” with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: “AAGIY”).
Notes:
1. Hong Kong SAR refers to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
2. Macau SAR refers to Macau Special Administrative Region.
#AIA
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Foodpanda Reveals Pau-Pau as a Brand Ambassador
foodpanda reveals Pau-Pau as a brand ambassador who is friendly, easygoing, and ready to shake the food and beverage delivery industry.
On January 5th, 2022, foodpanda Laos introduced a fresh face for the brand – Pau Pau, joining the celebration of foodpanda’s 10th anniversary as the pioneering food and grocery delivery platform in Asia. A fun-loving and free-spirited panda that is the first of its kind brand ambassador, championing empowerment and sustainability across the region, bringing a fresh and vibrant user experience to the platform.
foodpanda has launched “panda paradise” as a grand campaign to welcome 2022 by having Pau Pau travel all over the country, spreading the panda love to customers and to become one of Laos number one food and beverage delivery brands that is convenient, trusted, and enjoyed by customers nationwide.
The introduction of “Pau-Pau”, our latest Brand Ambassador, is to shake the food and beverage delivery industry in Laos and the Asia-Pacific region. “Pau-Pau” is a happy panda with a loving, bright, and friendly personality, who loves food and is an expert in choosing and recommending the best local dishes to his best friends.
3 fun facts about Pau-Pau
He’s (Likeable) and wants to be friends with everyone, Pau-Pau wants everyone to enjoy and have fun with their own way of living.
He’s (Easy going), comfortable with any lifestyle, and an environment lover.
He’s (Witty & Mischievous) his pocket is filled with his coolness and ready to entertain everyone.
Although Pau-Pau speaks “Pandanese” as his main language, he is able to say some of his favorite words such as Pizzaaaa…, Pastaaaa…, Bubble teaaa…, and Shampoooo….
Everyone can also follow Pau-Pau’s movement on foodpanda application and on their social media platforms. Pau Pau fans can enjoy his stickers on the LINE app and virtually engage with the Pau Pau AR filter on Instagram. Lastly, enjoy Pau Pau’s cute series that gives us a glimpse of the panda’s paradise, and follow for upcoming episodes on foodpanda Lao.
Meet Surface Pro 8 – the most powerful 2-in-1 Surface built for Windows 11
Microsoft announces pre-orders of new Surface Pro 8 starting 20 January in Singapore
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – Microsoft today announced that pre-orders for the new Surface Pro 8 will commence from 20 January in Singapore via commercial authorised resellers and retailers, and the Microsoft Store.

From now till 14 February, customers who pre-order a Surface Pro 8 on the Microsoft Store or via any authorised retailer or reseller will receive a complimentary Surface Pro Signature Keyboard[1] (worth $239). Consumers can also enjoy a 1-month free subscription for Microsoft 365 and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Starting at SG$1,649, Surface Pro 8 is equipped with 11th Gen Intel® Core™ processors and two Thunderbolt 4 ports for higher performance and faster connections for all your multitasking needs. Loaded with the new Windows 11 and up to 16 hours of battery life, Surface Pro 8 is the most powerful 2-in-1 PC on the market.
“We are excited to bring the new Surface Pro 8 to Singapore, our most powerful Pro ever. For the last decade, Surface has been at the forefront – challenging convention, pioneering new experiences and creating entirely new categories of devices. Today, we are revealing an update to our iconic 2-in-1, representing the most significant leap forward since Pro 3. We hope that this will help users unlock more possibilities as they work on-the-go or from home, to deliver connected user experiences in our new hybrid world of work,” said Shyamol Bansal, Business Group Lead for Surface, Microsoft Singapore.
Surface Pro 8 combines the power of a laptop with the flexibility of a tablet, with the iconic Kickstand and detachable Keyboard, as well as built-in Slim Pen storage and charging.[2] It is also designed to light up the best of Windows 11, which features powerful new experiences that bring you closer to what you love. New features such as Snap Layouts, Widgets and Groups will empower your productivity and inspire your creativity, complementing the new Surface Pro 8 for a seamless user experience.
Surface Pro 8 features a vibrant 13″ PixelSense touchscreen that is virtually edge to edge. With Dolby® Vision™ and Adaptive Color Technology, users can enjoy a viewing experience that is comfortable on the eyes and true to life. Surface Pro 8 is the ideal hybrid device, giving you a dynamic on-the-go tablet and the ultimate work-from-home set-up. The incredible 5MP front-facing camera, 10MP-4K rear-facing camera, Dolby® Atmos™ sound, and dual far-field Studio Mics will keep users looking and sounding their best.
The new Surface Pro Signature Keyboard provides storage and charging capability for the new Surface Slim Pen 2, keeping it nearby and ready whenever inspiration strikes. Now equipped with haptic feedback and a 120Hz display refresh rate, users can experience new ways to create on screen, complete with the feeling of pen on paper. It is also equipped with zero force inking that allows instant ink flow the moment the Slim Pen 2 touches the screen. Best of all, it works across the entire portfolio of ink-enabled Surface devices, allowing more users to enjoy the power and precision of the new Slim Pen 2.
Surface Pro 8 is available for pre-orders starting 20 January via commercial authorised resellers AsiaPac Distribution , Insight Technology Solutions , JK Technology and UIC Asian Computer Services. Authorised retailers include Best Denki, Challenger, Courts, Gain City, Harvey Norman, Microsoft Store and Microsoft authorised stores on Lazada and Shopee.
It will be generally available from 15 February and will be available in the following configurations in Singapore:
For more information on the latest Surface devices, please visit our blog .
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://news.microsoft.com. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-public-relations-contacts.
#Microsoft
Taiwan Lantern Festival Returns to Kaohsiung, City of Light, in 2022
KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN – Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – Kaohsiung is once again, two decades later, hosting Taiwan Lantern Festival. Unprecedented, it will be a dual-venue event taking place at Love River Bay and Weiwuying simultaneously to highlight the port city’s joviality and vibrance against a pleasantly diverse cityscape.
A glittering Love River Bay after nightfall
Taiwan Lantern Festival 2022 revolves around the theme of “Zoom in to Taiwan, Highlight Kaohsiung.” A ray of light is geometrically configured to form the first Chinese character of the city’s name, ablaze. The concept of light is further accentuated with the use of bright colors, thereby spotlighting the city’s warmth and geniality and the exciting array of lantern works at the festival.
The main lantern at Weiwuying marks a first attempt at incorporating the art of calligraphy. While Weiwuying is located in the port city’s Fengshan District, this collaboration of artist Benson Lu and calligrapher Tong Yang-tze centers on the first of the name’s two Chinese characters: feng, or phoenix. Aptly dubbed “Phoenix Dancing,” the work readily conjures up an image of lively and vigorous flourishes in calligraphy.
Weiwuying is home to the world’s largest single-roofed performing arts center. Complete with woods, fungi, and a lake against rolling hills, the Weiwuying Metropolitan Park stands out as a fitting land art venue for Taiwan Lantern Festival 2022.
At the Love River Bay site, in the spotlight, literally, is “Absorbed by Light.” The seat left vacant on the bench means that anyone can sit down and become part of the work. The widely shared worry about the interpersonal isolation caused by smartphones does not stop many from congratulating themselves for having such gadgets to perform daily chores, solve problems, keep track of the pandemic, and stay one with the world.
Two decades ago, Taiwan Lantern Festival showcased a refreshingly new look of the Love River. Upon the festival’s return to Kaohsiung two decades later, residents and visitors are invited to see for themselves how the city has progressed in city governance, lighting aesthetics, and smart environment. A reborn Kaohsiung awaits you!
Ascent Partners debuts Doconomy’s award-winning methodology “Åland Index” in Hong Kong and Mainland China
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – Ascent Partners Group Limited is proud to announce today (Jan. 20, 2022) that it is the first sustainability advisory firm to roll out the game-changing, impact calculations methodology Åland Index from Swedish Doconomy. The index calculates carbon footprint from consumption and will be launched in Hong Kong and Mainland China.
Simon Mak, Co-founder and CEO of Ascent Partners
Mathias Wikström, CEO of Doconomy
The Åland Index was developed in 2016 and is taken to a broader market by Swedish impact tech pioneer Doconomy. This innovative, unique CO2 impact calculator instantly gained richly deserved recognition by scooping the Grand Prix in the Cyber category at the 2017 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
Among its admired features, its practical, worldwide application has been immediately demonstrated. As of today, Doconomy is in partnerships with more than 25 banks and financial institutions representing over 500 million users. The Doconomy partnerships spans the world and contains a variety of institutions as United Nations, Mastercard, WWF, to mention a few.
“Covid-19 inspires change in consumers’ sustainable behaviour. Moreover, environmental concerns keep rising steeply. More and more people around the world are willing to consume with less of a carbon footprint. Hence, we are honoured to be the first sustainability advisory firm authorized by Doconomy to introduce the Åland Index to Hong Kong and Mainland China. We believe that this Index can be applied to a variety of financial institutions with payment systems, as it uses a merchant code of the payment system to quantify the carbon footprint”, said Simon Mak, Co-founder and CEO of Ascent Partners and also the former CEO of Friends of the Earth (HK).
”Ascent Partners has an environment-focused DNA. My partners and I have acquired extensive and solid environmental backgrounds and work experiences. The ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) mindset serves as our company’s guiding principle. With the Doconomy Åland Index, we can educate our clients to discover how every single one of their purchasing decisions can make a positive impact on the climate, help to change the world, and save the planet.” said Simon Mak.
Mathias Wikström, CEO of Doconomy, said: “Reducing the climate crisis cannot be achieved by one single person or company alone. It must be a mission undertaken by everyone and every company around the world. Doconomy has been committed to finding like-minded partners. As of today, companies representing more than 500 million users are collaborating with Doconomy to enable individuals to start to understand their behaviours’ climate impact. We see great potential in Hong Kong and Mainland China and we are grateful to be in partnership with the Ascent Partners, which allows Doconomy and Åland Index to broaden our reach here and together we can contribute more to carbon reduction.”
Ascent Partners, a trusted corporate valuation and advisory firm with offices in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Singapore, serves more than 400 leading corporate clients (such as AIA and BOC) including more than 50 listed companies on ESG reporting.
Find out more about
Ascent Partners https://ascent-partners.com/
Doconomy https://doconomy.com/
#AscentPartners #Doconomy
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
FS-ISAC Launches Program to Bolster the Financial Sector’s Supply Chain Security
Akamai Technologies Joins Critical Providers Program as Founding Member
NEW DELHI, INDIA – Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – FS-ISAC, the only global cyber intelligence sharing community solely focused on financial services, announced today the launch of its Critical Providers Program designed to strengthen the security of the financial sector’s supply chain. As critical service providers increasingly host, connect, and protect a substantial percentage of financial institutions’ infrastructure, FS-ISAC created the program to foster continuous collaboration and information sharing between its member firms and their providers. This will bolster the industry’s protections and preparedness against sophisticated cyber threats.
Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the world’s most trusted solution to power and protect digital experiences, joins the Critical Providers Program as founding member to help facilitate a two-way dialog with the financial sector about threat intelligence and cybercriminal tactics.
“As financial services adopt new technologies to evolve the way they operate and serve customers, critical providers have become both an important ally to the industry and a target for cybercriminals,” said Teresa Walsh, Global Head of Intelligence of FS-ISAC. “The Program will ensure our members efficiently receive accurate and timely security information from their critical providers. In the event of a large-scale incident, this will empower our members to act and/or remediate expeditiously, while arming them with the pertinent information to brief key stakeholders.”
“We are honored to be a founding member of this important program and applaud FS-ISAC for taking a leadership role in facilitating direct communication between critical providers and the financial sector,” said Dr. Boaz Gelbord, Chief Security Officer, Akamai. “We are looking forward to sharing what we are seeing from the unique vantage point of our globally distributed edge platform, listening to the members’ experiences, and collaborating on ways to mitigate current and future risks.”
During a large-scale cyber incident or threat involving the sector and its critical providers, the Program will leverage FS-ISAC’s dedicated communication channels to expedite the dissemination of accurate information necessary to address the immediate risks and keep the industry safe.
Note to the Editor
Critical Providers are defined as non-financial organizations providing network infrastructure and services that, if impacted by an incident, would in real-time interrupt a significant amount of core financial services across the sector, in turn impacting the public’s ability to manage financial transactions.
About FS-ISAC
The Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC) is the only global cyber intelligence sharing community solely focused on financial services. Serving financial institutions and in turn their customers, the organization leverages its intelligence platform, resiliency resources, and a trusted peer-to-peer network of experts to anticipate, mitigate and respond to cyber threats. Headquartered in the United States, the organization has offices in the United Kingdom and Singapore, and members in more than 70 countries.
To learn more, visit www.fsisac.com. For clarity and perspective on the future of finance, data, and cybersecurity from top C-level executives around the world, visit FS-ISAC Insights. To learn more about joining FS-ISAC as a member, visit fsisac.com/membership.
About Akamai
Akamai powers and protects life online. The most innovative companies worldwide choose Akamai to secure and deliver their digital experiences – helping billions of people live, work, and play every day. With the world’s largest and most trusted edge platform, Akamai keeps apps, code, and experiences closer to users – and threats farther away.
Learn more about Akamai’s security, content delivery, and edge compute products and services at www.akamai.com, blogs.akamai.com, or follow Akamai Technologies on Twitter and LinkedIn.
For intelligence and insights to help manage security risks, including blogs such as Akamai Reports Another DoS in Log4j2 (CVE-2021-45105): What You Need to Know, visit Akamai’s Security Threat Hub.
#FS-ISAC
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Student Volunteerism Hits New High as Student Volunteers Contributed 16,000 Hours to Singapore’s Cybersecurity Community in 2021
AiSP continues to partner with Ensign InfoSecurity and other industry players to support more youths to explore their interests and pursue a cybersecurity career in the future
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – A total of 130 students in Singapore contributed more than 16,000 volunteer hours to the cybersecurity community as part of the Student Volunteer & Recognition Programme (SVRP) initiative in 2021. 2021 saw the highest number of volunteers and volunteer hours recorded since the launch of SVRP in 2019.
AiSP SVRP 2021 award winners with Minister-of-State, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of National Development Mr Tan Kiat How (from left – Tay Gao Jun, Tay Ru Yi, Mr Tan Kiat How, Kevin Tan, Sng Jay Kai, Edwin Chua, Koh Liang Han, Lee Yi Terng)
Developed by the Association of Information Security Professionals (AiSP) and Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), the SVRP aims to encourage volunteerism amongst students while honing their interest and capabilities in cybersecurity. SVRP, an initiative under CSA’s SG Cyber Youth Programme, receives strong support from local Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) as well as industry partners. Ensign InfoSecurity (Ensign) is one of the leading cybersecurity players who has provided volunteering and learning opportunities for students to acquire industry knowledge and develop relevant skillsets.
Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of National Development, Mr Tan Kiat How, graced the SVRP Awards Ceremony to recognise student volunteers for their contributions to the cybersecurity community in 2021. A total of 97 awards, including 5 Gold Awards, were given to student volunteers during the ceremony, recognising their passion, dedication, and contributions to the sector.
“With the accelerating pace of digitalisation, we see a huge demand for cybersecurity professionals in Singapore and around the world. The Government is committed to nurture a robust cyber talent pipeline and helping our youths to seize these exciting opportunities. The AiSP Student Volunteer Recognition Programme is a good platform for our youths to pick up cybersecurity skills, be guided by mentors, network with peers and apply their minds in tackling real world challenges. I congratulate all the awardees and wish them all the best in their cybersecurity journey!” said Mr Tan.
Each award recipient contributed at least 60 hours of volunteer work, with Gold Award recipients contributing at least 150 hours. One of the gold recipients, Tay Gao Jun from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, contributed over 1,400 volunteer hours in 2021. Gao Jun also received the Honorary Ambassador Award, having participated in and received the Gold Award for the SVRP for three consecutive years from 2019.
Minister-of-State, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of National Development, Mr Tan Kiat How with AiSP SVRP 2021 organising committee (from left – Freddy Tan, AiSP SVRP Work group member, Steven Ng CIO and EVP of MSS, Ensign InfoSecurity, Mr Tan Kiat How, Ms Sherin Lee, AiSP Vice President and Head of Marketing, Brand and Communications, Ensign InfoSecurity)
The full list of winners can be found on https://www.aisp.sg/svrp_winners_2021.html
“We are heartened by the increase in volunteers and enthusiasm from the students. These indicate a greater level of awareness and passion for cybersecurity among youths. This is definitely a significant step in the right direction as we continue to build a sustainable cyber talent pipeline and narrow the considerable, chronic talent gap we face as an industry,” said Ms Soffenny Yap, AiSP EXCO Lead for Student Volunteer Recognition Programme.
Ensign is a longstanding industry partner supporting SVRP that AiSP has worked closely with to organise and deliver youth engagement and learning initiatives. These opportunities are tailored to help youths discover their aptitude and calling for cybersecurity while enabling them to acquire and hone practical skills relevant to their future professions. Ultimately, these initiatives aim to allow youths to better prepare themselves before they enter the workforce.
“Cultivating a robust and vibrant cyber talent pool is the common goal of AiSP and Ensign, and SVRP plays a key role in achieving this outcome. This is also part of Ensign’s multi-pronged strategy to create greater interest in cybersecurity among youths, attract diverse talents, and nurture the next generation of cyber leaders. As a leading player in the cybersecurity ecosystem, our overarching objective is to make sure we have the talents and skills to scale up our nation’s cyber defence capabilities and ensure the evolving cyber threats do not undermine our digital ambitions,” said Ms Tammie Tham, Co-Chair of the AiSP Advisory Council and CEO, Ensign InfoSecurity
About AISP
The Association of Information Security Professionals (AISP) was registered with the assistance of the Singapore Computer Society (SCS) and the strong support of the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (iDA) in February 2008. It was officially launched on 17 April 2008 by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports.
AISP aims to:
- To promote, develop, support and enhance the integrity, technical competence, management expertise, status and interests of information security professionals in Singapore.
- To promote the development, increase and spread of information security knowledge and of any related subject.
About Ensign InfoSecurity
Ensign InfoSecurity is the largest, pure-play end-to-end cybersecurity service provider in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, Ensign offers bespoke solutions and services to address their clients’ cybersecurity needs. Their core competencies are in the provision of cybersecurity advisory and assurance services, architecture design and systems integration services, and managed security services for advanced threat detection, threat hunting, and incident response. Underpinning these competencies is in-house research and development in cybersecurity. Ensign has two decades of proven track record as a trusted and relevant service provider, serving clients from the public and private sectors in the Asia Pacific region.
For more information, visit www.ensigninfosecurity.com or email marketing@ensigninfosecurity.com
#EnsignInfoSecurity
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.