From Page to Stage®: Rousing the Dragon Premieres in March

January 24, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

Re-imagining a Classic Tale of the Three Kingdoms in English; Renowned Theatre Director Dr Vicki Ooi’s 101st Production

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 January 2025 – Widely celebrated for its literary and artistic value, as well as its timeless virtues, the Chinese literary classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms continues to inspire audiences across generations. The Absolutely Fabulous Theatre Connection (AFTEC), known for its innovative bilingual Learning Theatre™ approach, is set to present its latest production, Rousing the Dragon, this March. This English retelling of the Three Kingdoms saga will bring to life the legendary tales of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhuge Liang. Directed and adapted by Dr Vicki Ooi, recipient of the 31^st Hong Kong Drama Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award, the production will feature live music, bilingual surtitles, and a captivating performance that promises to move audiences.

Rousing the Dragon marks the 101st production by AFTEC’s Artistic Director, Dr Vicki Ooi, a leading figure in Hong Kong’s arts and education sectors. Known for her dedication to holistic education and her passion for youth theatre, bilingual theatre, and arts education, Dr Ooi has spent decades creating thought-provoking works. Reflecting on this milestone, Dr Ooi shared: “We believe in the transformative power of the arts, which goes far beyond mere visual spectacle. With Rousing the Dragon, we aim to present a fresh and innovative take, engaging audiences with dynamic performances and powerful storytelling to ignite their interest in classic literature and the arts.”

Rousing the Dragon is the first instalment of AFTEC’s Three Kingdoms Trilogy. As a prequel to last year’s Strategy, which depicted the battle of wits between Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu, this new production returns audiences to the world of the Three Kingdoms. Iconic stories such as the Oath of the Peach Garden, Crossing Five Passes and Slaying Six Generals, and Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage are brought to life on stage, with a focus on the legendary bond between Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhuge Liang. The performance explores three core themes: loyalty and nobility, brotherhood and fraternal bonding, and determination and resilience. The trilogy’s final chapter, Taming the Dragon (working title), is scheduled to premiere in March 2026 at the newly refurbished Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre Theatre, AFTEC’s venue partner, and will highlight the intense confrontation between Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi.

For this production, Dr Vicki Ooi has enlisted Selina Kan of the Seals Players Foundation as a guest performer for two public shows. Dr Ooi and Kan share a collaborative history spanning half a century, blending mentorship and friendship. Kan has performed in 16 of Dr Ooi’s productions, including Volpona and Skin of Our Teeth, making her an integral part of this milestone work.

Through From Page to Stage®, AFTEC integrates theatre and education, offering students and the public an opportunity to enjoy drama while exploring traditional Chinese virtues and values. This innovative approach makes learning English and historical knowledge accessible and enjoyable, providing a fresh perspective on Chinese literary epics and sparking interest in English, Chinese literature, and theatre arts.

Two public performances of Rousing the Dragon will be held on 8 and 15 March at the Yuen Long Theatre Auditorium. Tickets will be available for purchase from 24 January through URBTIX and art-mate. Pre- and post-show foyer activities will be open to ticket holders, along with a post-show stage tour led by the cast, offering audiences a behind-the-scenes look at theatrical productions.

Secondary school shows will run from 4 to 7 March and on 10 March at the Yuen Long Theatre Auditorium. Participating schools will gain access to pre-show learning resources, in-school workshops, and post-show activities. These resources provide students with a deeper understanding of the script, story, and characters while encouraging them to apply creative thinking skills to appreciate theatrical productions. Students will also have the chance to re-enact scenes under the guidance of the cast, experiencing the thrill of performing on stage.

Programme website: https://www.aftec.hk/p2s2025-rousing-the-dragon/

Ticketing platforms: https://art-mate.net/doc/78082 (art-mate)

https://www.urbtix.hk/event-detail/12826/ (URBTIX)

	Public Shows	Secondary School Shows
Date & Time	March 8 & 15, 2025 (Saturday) 2:30 pm	March 4 – 7 & 10, 2025 (Monday to Friday) 10:30 am & 2:30 pm
Venue	Yuen Long Theatre Auditorium
Fee	$240 (including post-show stage tour*) / $210 / $160	$100 (same for teachers and students)
Length	Approximately 1 hour with no intermission	Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes with no intermission
Fringe Activities	Pre- & post-show foyer activities for ticket holders * Post-show stage tour: Follow the cast to explore behind-the-scenes theatre operations	Includes pre-show learning materials, in-school workshops, and post-show activities

Hashtag: #AFTEC

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

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

Wildberries Posts Surge in E-Commerce Sales in Central Asia in 2024

MIL OSI

January 24, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

MOSCOW, RUSSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 January 2025 – Wildberries, a leading e-commerce platform in Eurasia, saw a surge in sales turnover for its operations in Central Asia in 2024.

With a population of 75 million and rapidly growing online retail penetration, Central Asia is one of the world’s most dynamic markets for e-commerce growth. Wildberries currently operates in three of the region’s five countries.

Kazakhstan, the largest economy in Central Asia, is Wildberries’ third-largest market after Russia and Belarus. The company began operating there a decade ago. Purchases in Kazakhstan on the Wildberries marketplace increased by 96% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2024.

Sales by Kazakhstan-based sellers on the platform grew by 67% during the same period. With more than one million sellers on its platform, Wildberries supports the growth of small businesses and entrepreneurs in the region by enabling them to sell their products not only on their domestic markets but across all countries where the company operates.

In Kyrgyzstan, where Wildberries began operations seven years ago, purchases grew 2.3-fold year-on-year in the first nine months of 2024. Sales by Kyrgyz sellers on the platform more than doubled over the same period.

The fastest-growing market for Wildberries is Uzbekistan, the most populous country in Central Asia with a population of 36 million people. Wildberries entered Uzbekistan, which is known for its cotton production and high-quality yet affordable textiles, in 2022. Sales by Uzbekistan-based sellers on the platform grew 87-fold year-on-year in the first nine months of 2024, with most of these goods sold to neighboring countries in the CIS. Purchases in Uzbekistan increased by 47% during the same period.

Wildberries is actively developing its logistics infrastructure in Central Asia to further improve its storage and delivery services for local buyers and sellers and support its expansion in the region.

In Kazakhstan, the company operates 1,600 pick-up points and 43,000 square meters of warehouse space. Additionally, two large logistics hubs with a combined area of 269,000 square meters are currently under construction near the country’s largest cities, Almaty and Astana. Wildberries also opened its first large-scale logistics complex in Uzbekistan in 2023, with plans for further expansion.

Hashtag: #wildberries

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

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

Visa and Fintech DealMe Collaborate to Launch Cross-Border Card Installment Payments

MIL OSI

January 24, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

Cardholders with locally issued Visa credit cards in Vietnam will soon have access to real-time installment offers at top merchants in South Korea, enhancing repayment convenience while traveling

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 January 2025 – Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, and DealMe, a fintech company, have joined forces to address the increasing demand for cross-border shopping and flexible payment options. This collaboration will introduce cross-border card installment payment services, offering greater payment flexibility to Vietnamese and other international consumers.

Cardholders with locally issued Visa credit cards in Vietnam will soon have access to real-time installment offers at top merchants in South Korea, enhancing repayment convenience while traveling. This initiative will benefit Vietnamese shoppers, as Visa’s data indicates that 75% of surveyed Vietnamese consumers plan to travel for leisure next year, with South Korea being the top destination (18% planning to travel there)[1]. Vietnamese travelers with Visa credit cards issued in Vietnam will be able to shop at duty-free shops, department stores, and medical institutions in South Korea.

This collaboration allows Visa and DealMe to provide card installment payments for foreign customers at participating merchants, a service that was previously unavailable. When international consumers use their Visa cards at these merchants, their cards will be checked for eligibility for the cross-border installment service. If eligible, consumers can choose the installment duration and complete their payments.

DealMe plans to leverage Visa’s extensive global network, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with Visa’s Asia-Pacific headquarters in November 2024. DealMe will initially pilot this service in South Korea, in collaboration with Visa, and plans to expand it to other markets, including Vietnam, the United States, Australia, Japan, and Singapore.

“This collaboration with DealMe reinforces Visa’s commitment to enhancing cross-border payments in Vietnam. The timing is ideal, with South Korea a favored destination for Vietnamese travelers and Asia Pacific travelers, and inbound tourism to Vietnam rebounding strongly. This innovative cross-border installment solution offers greater flexibility for both inbound and outbound travelers, supporting Vietnam’s future tourism payments and contributing to the nation’s digital transformation,” said Ms. Dung Dang, Visa Country Manager for Vietnam and Laos.

Mr. KIM Tae Hong, SVP of DealMe, said: “We are delighted to partner with Visa to enable card installment payment on cross-border transaction. This gives consumers an additional payment option when traveling overseas.”

[1] The Green Shoots Radar study (Wave 15, October 2024) was conducted online with 8,400 consumers across 14 Asia Pacific countries and territories including 500 Vietnamese/Korean respondents aged 18-65 years old: Japan is the leading destination for leisure travel in the next 12 months, followed by Australia, South Korea, and Mainland China.

https://www.visa.com.vn/en_VN/about-visa/newsroom.html
https://www.linkedin.com/company/visa
https://www.facebook.com/visavn

Hashtag: #Visa #DealMe #InstallmentPayments

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

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

Resurfacing work and road closures coming for State Highway 73 Arthur’s Pass.

LiveNews Publisher

January 24, 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Arthur’s Pass is about to get the benefits of the ongoing state highway summer maintenance season.

Contractors will be hard at work on the Alpine Highway near Arthur’s Pass Village early next month carrying out essential resurfacing works.

Work is planned for Monday, 3 February, and Tuesday February. It will require State Highway 73 to be closed between Rough Creek Bridge and Peg Leg (near the Otira Viaduct Lookout) between 10 am and 5 pm on both days.

The highway will open on the hour, every hour, to clear queued traffic. However, travel delays can be expected, and drivers must plan their journeys accordingly.

The narrowness or the road means a full closure is required. This is for the safety of road crew as well as drivers. It will also allow the work to be completed faster.

Because resealing work requires warm and dry conditions, and the location is in an alpine area, this work can only be done during the day.

State Highway 73 is a critical link between the South Island’s east and west coasts. This maintenance is essential for ensuring it remains a safe and resilient route for road users.

NZTA/Waka Kotahi thanks drivers for their patience and co-operation while this work is underway.

Works Schedule:

Monday, 3 February and Tuesday, 4 February. 10 am – 5 pm
SH73 CLOSED between Rough Creek Bridge and Peg Leg
The highway will reopen on the hour, every hour, to let queued traffic through.

These works are weather-dependent and may be scheduled if bad weather occurs

MIL OSI

Commissioner recommends panel inquire into Judge’s conduct

LiveNews Publisher

January 24, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

The Judicial Conduct Commissioner has recommended a Judicial Conduct Panel be established to inquire into and report on the alleged conduct of acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken in an incident last November, Attorney-General Judith Collins said today.
“I referred the matter of Judge Aitken’s alleged conduct during an incident on 22 November 2024 to the Judicial Conduct Commissioner,” Ms Collins says.
“The Commissioner has recommended a Judicial Conduct Panel be set up to inquire into what happened. However, because of my role in making the referral, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith will act as Attorney-General on this matter, to avoid any perception of conflict of interest, bias or pre-determination on my part in the decision yet to be made.
“Mr Goldsmith will therefore now consider the Commissioner’s recommendation.
“No further comment will be made.”

MIL OSI

Government Cuts – Privatisation and asset sales puts profits ahead of people’s needs – PSA

LiveNews Publisher

January 24, 2025

Source: PSA

Privatising public services like health that we all rely on will move the focus from delivering for people in need to cutting costs to boost profits of companies.

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi strongly opposes increased delivery by private providers of public services like health and education, and asset sales as mooted today by ACT leader David Seymour.

Acting PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says the ACT proposals would take money from public services and funnel it towards private providers. This defunding of public services would see the interests of private companies and a limited number of shareholders prioritised over the common good in the provision of vital services.

“Privatisation will inevitably mean syphoning money off from providing services for all to pay profits to private corporations, says Fitzsimons.

“This will result in only those who can pay being able to access adequate health care and other vital services.

“Just look at the health system in the USA where the private sector dominates and sick people without health insurance are left at hospital doors. We don’t want that here.

“Assets sales have been tried and failed in New Zealand. The only winners are private companies.

“Public services and assets belong to all of us and are there to deliver for people not shareholders.

“Privatisation will also mean that the workers who deliver quality public, health and community services will see their livelihoods threatened by redundancies and reduced pay and conditions,” Fitzsimons says.

“The coalition Government’s savage attacks on, and funding cuts to public, health and community services, are clearly aimed at destroying trust in these services as a step towards privatisation.

“The PSA calls on Prime Minister Luxon to rule out privatising public services now and in the future,” Fitzsimons says.

MIL OSI

WorkSafe New Zealand welcomes new Deputy Chief Executive – Corporate

LiveNews Publisher

January 24, 2025

Source: Worksafe New Zealand

24 January 2025

WorkSafe New Zealand welcomes Corey Sinclair as its new Deputy Chief Executive – Corporate. Corey started with WorkSafe on Wednesday 22 January.

As Deputy Chief Executive – Corporate, Corey leads the design and delivery of our commercial investment and people strategies, to help enable WorkSafe to deliver our statement of intent and create a work environment that is consistent with our values.

“Corey brings many years of senior leadership experience from working in the public service, banking and finance sectors. We are delighted to have him join the leadership team at WorkSafe,” says Chief Executive Sharon Thompson.

Corey Sinclair, Deputy Chief Executive – Corporate

Corey also has executive leadership credentials from the Australia and New Zealand School of Government, Accelerate Strategic, and the University of Auckland.

Corey joins WorkSafe from a secondment role at the Crown Response Office, where he led in the Crown’s response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions. Prior to that, Corey had senior leadership roles at Inland Revenue, where he transformed services delivered to customers and stakeholders across Aotearoa.

He is passionate about business transformation, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development. As a proud Kiwi-Samoan leader, Corey strives to serve the public interest and achieve positive outcomes for all New Zealanders.

Corey says, “I’m excited to join the WorkSafe team. While I’m conscious of the considerable change the organisation and kaimahi have been through, I’m looking forward to supporting the new strategy and plans in place.”

MIL OSI

Appeal for information: burglaries, Rolleston

LiveNews Publisher

January 24, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Attribute to Senior Sergeant Rachel Walker, Area Response Manager, Canterbury Rural South:

Rolleston Police investigating reports of burglaries from residential addresses in recent weeks would like to hear from anyone who may have information that could help.

Three separate incidents have been reported since the 1 January this year.

Among the items that were stolen were a number of military medals, including a Pacific Star medal, distinctive jewellery and a go-kart. Police are appealing for any information that could reunite these items with their rightful owners.

If you have any information that could help our enquiries, and you have not yet spoken to Police, please update us online now or call 105.

Please use the reference number 250123/2449.

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

We would also like to remind people to keep their homes as safe as possible if they’re going away this summer.

Lock up doors and windows and ask a neighbour to check on your home regularly. Consider investing in an alarm system and sensor lights.

Also ensure you have someone trusted to clear your mail and any other items that may be delivered. If you see any suspicious behaviour, please call 111 immediately.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

Road closed, SH2, Ormond

LiveNews Publisher

January 24, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Matawai Road/SH2 is closed following a serious crash in Ormond this afternoon.

Police were alerted to a two vehicle crash near Hatten Lane at around 1.10pm.

Initial enquiries suggest there are injuries.

The road is closed while the Serious Crash Unit examine the scene.

Southbound traffic has diversions however it is not suitable for large trucks. There are no diversions for northbound traffic.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area, use alternate routes and expect delays.

ENDS

MIL OSI

Aon Names Puneet Swani Head of Talent Solutions in Asia Pacific to Accelerate Aon’s Human Capital Strategy in the Region

MIL OSI

January 24, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 January 2025 – Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, today announced Puneet Swani has been named head of Talent Solutions for Asia Pacific, effective immediately. Swani will be based in Singapore and report to Tim Dwyer, head of Human Capital for Asia Pacific at Aon. Swani will help drive Aon’s Talent Solutions capability and integrated Human Capital approach in Asia Pacific working closely with the Talent, Health and Wealth Solutions teams, across the region.

“Talent Solutions is crucial to our overall Human Capital strategy due to its impact on clients’ abilities to attract, retain and develop their talent. By addressing these needs, we aim to assist clients in making better decisions in the pursuit of stronger, more adaptable and motivated workforces. I am excited to welcome Puneet to the Aon team,” said Dwyer. “Puneet’s business acumen, combined with his twenty-five plus years of experience as an international HR advisor will accelerate our ability to deliver human capital capabilities to our clients.”

Swani is an experienced leader specialising in human resources consulting spanning more than twenty-five years. He joins Aon having had a distinguished career at both Hewitt Associates and Mercer, most recently serving as senior partner – international region at Mercer.

“I am thrilled to join Aon as the firm continues to innovate and provide data and expertise to help organisations attract and retain key talent. I look forward to working with Aon’s talented team and building on their existing momentum of delivering insights and scalable solutions to mitigate people risk and help organisations create resilient workforces,” Swani said.

Read more about Aon’s capabilities in Asia Pacific here.

Hashtag: #Aon

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

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

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