HDBank successfully issues $118m in green bonds for eco-friendly projects

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January 6, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

First insurance provider in Hong Kong to empower members with accessible pharmacy consultations for minor ailments

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 January 2025 – Bupa Hong Kong, the leading health insurance specialist, is proud to announce the launch of the Bupa x Mannings PharmaCare Programme (“PharmaCare Programme”) in partnership with Mannings, Hong Kong’s largest health and beauty chain. This initiative makes Bupa the first insurer in Hong Kong to offer members cashless consultations for minor ailments (please refer to the below) at over 60 Mannings pharmacy locations across the city.

From left: Carlos Fernando Chang, Operations & Customer Excellence Director, Bupa Hong Kong, Alex Liu, Managing Director, Mannings Hong Kong, Macau & China

The PharmaCare Programme provides Bupa members with a convenient alternative to clinic visits for general health concerns. Members can receive on-the-spot consultations from registered pharmacists at designated Mannings pharmacies by simply presenting their Bupa medical card and ID card. Pharmacists can give advice for managing minor ailments and dispense appropriate medications if needed. A pharmacists’ note can be provided upon request. All dispensed medications are covered under cashless services for eligible members, offering a quick and efficient solution for minor health needs.

“We are thrilled to partner with Mannings to offer our members accessible care and peace-of-mind through the PharmaCare Programme,” said Yuman Chan, General Manager of the Bupa Insurance Business in Hong Kong. “As the first insurance provider in Hong Kong to offer cashless pharmacy consultations, Bupa is dedicated to delivering exceptional healthcare experiences through innovative solutions while prioritising our customers’ needs. This initiative will empower over 150,000 Bupa members to manage their health by leveraging their insurance coverage, further reinforcing our commitment to helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world.”

Alex Liu, Managing Director, Mannings Hong Kong, Macau & China noted, “As a community pharmacy, Mannings introduced the first-of-its-kind PharmaCare Programme to address the emerging healthcare needs in 2023.We aim to support our business partners and their members by providing convenient and efficient community healthcare services through our network of over 60 Mannings stores, all staffed by registered pharmacists and without the need for appointments. It is designed to ensure members to receive timely treatment and more recovery time.

We are excited to collaborate with Bupa on the PharmaCare Programme which is a pioneer initiative in Hong Kong and hope to raise the awareness about employee wellbeing. Together with the public, we aim to safeguard people’s health and create a win-win outcome.”

When covered by Bupa’s insurance policy, members can enjoy seamless access to consultations and medications. The PharmaCare Programme is designed to enhance healthcare accessibility for Bupa members, allowing them to promptly and effectively address common health concerns including:

Cold and flu
Allergies
Pain and aches
Gastrointestinal conditions
Minor skin conditions (Including Athlete’s foot, Eczema, minor burns, and skin allergies)

For more information about the Bupa x Mannings PharmaCare Programme or to locate a designated pharmacy near you, please visit myBupa customer service portal.

Hashtag: #BupaHK #Mannings #PharmaCareProgramme #保柏香港 #萬寧 #藥健保障計劃

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Thailand’s Luxury Real Estate Market Hits New Heights as Botanica Luxury Villas Unveils Portfolio Expansion

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January 6, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

PHUKET, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 January 2025 – Amid booming demand in Thailand’s luxury real estate market, Phuket-based developer Botanica Luxury Villas has announced plans for significant portfolio expansion following record-breaking sales of THB1.2 billion in a single month in 2024. This comes as Phuket’s villa market reaches a historic THB160-170 billion, with villa launches surpassing condominium launches for the first time in 15 years. Demand continues to surge, particularly from Russian and European buyers seeking second homes and investment properties.

Botanica Luxury Villas

Botanica Luxury Villas has already extended its reach beyond Phuket, with successful developments in Krabi and Hua Hin. Both locations attract growing interest from European, Australian, and Chinese buyers seeking high-end vacation homes. These areas offer rental yields of 6-8% annually, reflecting Thailand’s growing position in the luxury real estate sector.

“The luxury villa market in Thailand, particularly in resort destinations, continues to show remarkable resilience and growth,” said Attasit Intarachooti, CEO of Botanica Luxury Phuket Co., Ltd. “Data from Colliers Thailand shows significant price appreciation in prime areas, with top villas in Kamala and Bang Tao reaching THB296.2 million and THB270 million, respectively.”

The company’s portfolio includes 27 projects across three major tourist destinations. Its 2025 pipeline features several mixed-use developments designed to elevate the region’s luxury offerings. A key highlight is “Botanica Grand Avenue,” a THB12-billion mega-project near Phuket’s Bang Tao Beach, which includes “HYTHE by Botanica,” the company’s first luxury condominium project, already securing 40% of pre-launch sales.

Additionally, a THB18-billion high-end condominium project is under development in Cherng Talay, just 500 meters from Bang Tao Beach. This landmark project will feature an art-inspired walking street and upscale retail spaces, positioning the area as a luxury lifestyle hub.

These expansions align with Thailand’s broader strategy to establish its resort destinations as global luxury hotspots. Recent data reveals the Phuket villa segment launched 1,285 new units across 65 projects in the first half of 2024 alone, valued at THB36 billion.

To support this growth, Botanica Luxury Villas has unveiled a new 1,885-square-meter headquarters, which will serve as a one-stop service center for international clients and investors. For a limited time, it is offering exclusive opportunities in its premium projects, available until January 31, 2025.

For more information: botanicaluxuryvilla.com

https://www.botanicaluxuryvilla.com/
https://web.facebook.com/botanicaluxuryvilla

Hashtag: #BotanicaLuxuryVillas

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Road blocked, SH2, Upper Hutt

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January 6, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Police are responding to a multi-vehicle crash on the northbound lane of River Road (SH2) near Gibbons Street, Upper Hutt.

The crash was reported around 6pm.

No serious injuries have been reported.

The northbound lane is blocked with partial blocking in the southbound lane, motorists are advised to take an alternate route.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Politics – Countering Foreign Interference bill a dramatic attack on free speech and rights

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January 6, 2025

Source: Peace Action Wellington

Date: 5 January 2025 – “The proposed Countering Foreign Interference bill includes wording that would seriously criminalise legitimate protest and limit rights to freedom of speech,” said Valerie Morse from Peace Action Wellington.

“The bill contains new criminal offences. The old saying that the ‘devil is in the detail’ is certainly true here.”

“What the bill says is that, if you commit even a minor offence and that provides a benefit to a foreign power, even unintentionally, you could be imprisoned for seven years. A ‘benefit’ is defined as: enhancing the political, economic, or military capability or influence of a foreign power. These are ridiculously broad and subjective measures.”

“An example is helpful to see how this could play out: A large group of peace activists stage a sit-in at the Minister of Foreign Affairs’s office to advocate for more aid to Ukraine. They are all subsequently arrested for disorderly behaviour, a very minor charge. The group is making the same demands as the Ukrainian government, and are thus likely to enhance the political influence of the Ukrainian government. Under this law, they could be prosecuted for providing a benefit to Ukraine, and along with disorderly behaviour charges, they could be imprisoned for up to seven years.”

“We know that the impact of this kind of legislation is to silence legitimate political activity. In particular this is likely to be the case where people are advocating for policies that are contrary to the position of the current government. It is a fundamental attack on our right to freedom of speech.”

“I believe that the broad wording is unintentional, but it is found throughout the proposed law. While we have indicated that we do not support the legislation in its entirety, there is an opportunity for the Select Committee to make critical changes so that it better reflects its actual intended purpose. It is our hope that they will remedy this through that process.”

We call upon everyone who is concerned about threats to our rights to make a submission by the closing date of 16 January.

Notes

Details of the bill including how to make a submission and links to the Regulatory impact statement can be found here: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/54SCJUST_SCF_5C7F002D-E4B4-4573-5563-08DD042D0CD2/crimes-countering-foreign-interference-amendment-bill#RelatedAnchor

Peace Action Wellington’s Submission can be found here; https://peaceactionwellington.wordpress.com/2025/01/05/crimes-countering-foreign-interference-amendment-bill/

Incident involving injured baby, Dargaville

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January 6, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Attributable to Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer, Whangārei CIB:

Police are currently investigating an incident involving an injured five-month-old baby.

On Saturday 28 December the baby was presented at Dargaville Hospital with serious head injuries.

The baby was flown to Whangārei Hospital and later transferred to Starship Hospital in Auckland where they are making a good recovery.

Police are continuing to make inquiries into the circumstances of how the baby came to be injured.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

Range of resurfacing road maintenance for SH1 Bulls starts next week

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January 6, 2025

Manawatū-Whanganui region maintenance programme

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

A reminder that crews will be working from next week to resurface a small stretch of State Highway 1 at the intersection of SH1/3 in Bulls.

The overnight work will begin on Tuesday 7 January and is expected to be complete on Wednesday 22 January.

Crews will be working on site from 6pm to 6am, resurfacing this stretch of road between Fagan St and the SH1/3 intersection.

For the first week of the programme (Tuesday 7 – Wednesday 15 January), the section of road between Daniell Street and the SH1/3 intersection will be closed. A detour will be in place, taking traffic through Criterion Street to avoid the closure.

Following the closure, stop/go traffic management will remain in place from Thursday 16 January to Wednesday 22 January to allow crews to complete the road maintenance work.

The detour and delays are expected to add less than 5 minutes to the journey time. Outside of working hours, the road will be open with a 30km/h temporary speed limit in place.

Following this (from Wednesday 22 to Wednesday 29 January), further road maintenance is planned in Bulls on SH1 Bridge Street. Stop/go will be in place at night between Gorton Street and the Bulls Bridge while road patching is completed.

In the event of bad weather, work will begin on the next fine day and may extend the programme out.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi thanks all road users for taking the detour and for their support while we work to boost resilience of this stretch of road.

State Highway 1 Tīrau to Waiouru accelerated maintenance

State Highway 1 Tūrangi to Waiouru – including the Desert Road – will be closed for vital road rebuilding and repairs for around 2 months from Monday 13 January 2025. Find out more and plan ahead

Long delays on SH2 Te Puna due to fire

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January 6, 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

6 January 2025 3:30 pm | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

Due to a large scrub fire near the Te Puna Stream Bridge, State Highway 2 (SH2) is reduced to ONE LANE which is causing significant delays.

Emergency services are on the scene and NZ Police is providing traffic control.

Traffic is building with delays of approximately 60 minutes southbound from Waihī, and 30 minutes northbound from Te Puna. Motorists should delay their trips or expect delays. Please take care when passing the scene.

Alternative route – State Highway 29 over Kaimai Range onto State Highway 27 onto State Highway 26 before rejoining SH2.

Ngāruawāhia homicide: Police following good lines of enquiry, appeal for information

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January 6, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Attributable to Acting Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders:

Police conducting a homicide investigation into the death of Turipapa Tukere in Ngāruawāhia are following good lines of enquiry, but are still seeking information from the public.

At around 1.30pm on Friday 27 December, Police were alerted to a number of people fighting on Waipa Esplanade, near the intersection of Newton Street. Sometime later, a critically injured woman was taken to the ambulance station on Jordan Street. Despite the best efforts of first responders, Turipapa died before she could be airlifted to hospital.

Since then, Police have been speaking with a number of people who are helping to build a picture of what occurred leading up to Turipapa’s death.

Evidence has also been collected from various scenes across Ngāruawāhia, which will be analysed by ESR. Police hope this analysis will identify the person and/or people involved.

Alongside these enquiries, due to ongoing tension between gangs in and around the area, a Gang Conflict Warrant was issued under the Criminal Activity Intervention Bill. The warrant powers have assisted in de-escalating gang tensions in the area with a number of arrests made and weapons seized. Police have also obtained information during the execution of these warrants that may be relevant to the homicide, and this information is currently being reviewed by the investigation team.

The warrant is due to remain in place until tomorrow, at which time it will be reviewed.

Police continue to appeal to the community and anyone who may have information in relation to Turipapa’s death to please contact Police.

If you have any information that could help our enquiries, please update us online now at https://webforms.police.govt.nz/en/update-report or call 105.

Please use the reference number 241227/6958.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Confirmation of fatality, Gore

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January 6, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Police can confirm that a three-year-old child died after being struck by a vehicle in a driveway at a residential address in Gore at around 6:30pm on 1 January.

The child died in Gore Hospital a short time later. Our thoughts are with the child’s family at this sad time.

Following considerable work, including with the ESR at the scene, Police investigators are treating the death as not suspicious at this time.

The investigations team will continue to make enquiries on behalf of the Coroner.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre