Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Emergency services are responding to a serious crash involving a car and a pedestrian on Kaiikanui Rd, Helena Bay.
Police were called about 11.15pm.
The road will be closed while emergency services work at the scene.
Please avoid the area, if possible.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Emergency services are currently at the scene of a serious crash on Chivalry Rd, Glenfield, where a cyclist has struck a stationary vehicle.
Police were called about 9.30am.
The cyclist is reported to be in critical condition.
The road is closed, with diversions in place.
Motorists should avoid the area if possible.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
A Police officer has been injured in an incident at 8pm last night in Huntly.
The officer, who was conducting enquiries at an address in Huntly on an unrelated matter, had stepped out of their patrol car when another vehicle drove toward them, colliding with the patrol vehicle and the officer.
The offending driver fled but was located and arrested.
The officer was transported to Waikato Hospital, assessed and treated for a moderate injury and discharged. They are expected to make a full recovery and are being provided with support through the process.
The offender, a 47-year-old man, was taken into custody and is due to appear to Hamilton District Court today facing charges in relation to this incident.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Police investigating an assault in Wainuiomata last night are asking for the public’s help, after a man was left seriously injured.
About 10pm, Police were called to a car park on The Strand after a report of people fighting.
Those involved have left the scene in two vehicles before Police arrived.
A short time later, emergency services have received another call for service to Riverside Drive, stating a man had been injured and required medical assistance.
He was located in his vehicle with serious injuries, which are believed to have been sustained in the altercation at The Strand.
He was transported to hospital, where he remains in a serious condition.
Police are now working to establish the full circumstances of what has occurred and to locate those responsible for the man’s injuries.
We are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident, or who has information about those involved, to please get in touch and share what you know.
You can do so by calling 105 and quoting reference number 250205/0193.
You can also share information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Media Outreach
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 February 2025 – Reading comics is like embarking on a journey with wonders. Comics artists invite readers to step into an intricate realm where imagination and creativity know no bounds, and where scripts and visual elements harmoniously intertwine to weave fantastic stories that transcend words. ‘Comics made in Hong Kong’ are known for their rich variety of artistic styles and whimsical, captivating narratives. Hong Kong original comics are therefore well-liked by comics enthusiasts both locally and overseas.
Hong Kong Arts Centre team, Hong Kong Comics and Animation Federation team, and Hong Kong Comics Artists & Illustrators at the 52nd Angoulême Internatinal Comics Festival
【 Hong Kong Arts Centre (Comix Home Base) 】, with sponsorship from the 【Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region】, is once again partnering with the【Hong Kong Comics and Animation Federation】 to participate in the 52nd edition of the Angoulême International Festival in 2025. A remarkable and wonderful collection of 38 local mid-to-full-length comic and picture book titles has been showcased to represent Hong Kong. The showcased comics this time span various genres, ranging from action and adventure to sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and heart-warming, encompassing a wide spectrum of creative expressions and infinite possibilities. Some of the participating comic artists and illustrators recently received several international awards.
The Angoulême International Comics Festival is one of the most prestigious events in the European history. Crowds of visitors, comics enthusiasts of all ages and professions, flock to this annually. The 38 featured creations were selected from ‘The 1st to 3rd Hong Kong Comics Support Programme Book Series’ and ‘GO! Illustrators Series – The 1st Hong Kong Picture Book Illustrators at International Book Fairs Promotion Scheme Series.’ Through this large-scale overseas exchange programme, the aim is to further highlight Hong Kong comics of high quality, meanwhile, to enhance the global recognition of local creators.
As the title suggests, the project aims to bring ‘waves of whimsical words’ abroad, allowing readers and practitioners from all over the world to explore the fascination of Hong Kong comics. During this event, we successfully attracted 200,000 visitors worldwide with Hong Kong’s local creativity. In addition, we actively sought overseas licensing opportunities in anticipation of more Hong Kong comics being translated into multiple languages and published afterwards. A wider readership with different linguistic and cultural backgrounds could see the infinite possibilities of Hong Kong’s creativity.
Reaffirming the commitment to promoting local talents and creativity globally, Hong Kong Arts Centre has led 16 talented Hong Kong artists to participate in the festival in person. They engaged in live-drawing demonstrations, book signing sessions, and sharing, meeting audience and comics professionals from all over the world.
The attendee from abroad expressed that he personally admires Hong Kong comic artist Shui-pan Wong. Meeting him in person in France this time, he was delighted to be able to purchase all of his books and obtain his autograph.
Hong Kong comic artist Bonnie Pang pointed out that Hong Kong comics often face challenges in reaching foreign readers or publishers, especially due to the language barrier with Chinese comics. This year, we made a new attempt by utilizing AI technology to create a French video for each invited creator, allowing them to personally introduce their works and leave a lasting impression on visitors.
Bonnie believes, “This event has been most helpful to Hong Kong comic artists by directly bringing everyone’s works to overseas markets, reaching more foreign readers. The licensing market and various exchange activities promote collaboration opportunities. Additionally, experiencing the atmosphere of the comic festival in person and seeing a large number of comics in different styles broadens our horizons and gives us more inspiration and creative motivation.”
Hong Kong comic artist Pen SO, who participated in the exhibition, believes that one of the challenges Hong Kong comic artists face when going international is the issue of networking. This event could help them secure publishing opportunities, establish connections, and provide creative inspiration. Additionally, being sponsored by CCIDA for this event can lead Hong Kong comics towards the international market. He stated, “Although the rise of digital media has made it easier for our works to be exported overseas, publishers not only consider popularity, fame, and quality of work, but also the credibility of the artist. Artists need to know if foreign publishers are reliable. Therefore, the Hong Kong Arts Centre acts as an intermediary, helping us organize and resolve these issues.”
In addition to the popular booth at the Asian comics pavilion (Manga City) where we could engage with a large group of readers, the booth at the International Rights & Licensing Market offered a valuable opportunity for us to connect with international publishers and production houses of comic books and related art forms. This actively contributes to the development of Hong Kong comics.
Comics fans in Hong Kong could also follow comics artists’ social media platforms to relive their on-site live drawing demonstrations, and feel the zest of of the world’s third-largest comic festival!
During February and May 2025, all the participating artists will be invited to share their exchange experiences and achievements with Hong Kong creators and readers. Professionals in the comics industry from other countries will be invited to introduce the trend of comics and other related creations in Europe and the United States. This initiative seeks to help Hong Kong creative talents expand their network and shine in the world arena!
Waves of Whimsical Words
Hong Kong Comics @The 52nd Angouleme International Comics Festival 2025 in France
Organiser: Hong Kong Arts Centre (Comix Home Base)
Co-organiser: Hong Kong Comics and Animation Federation
Lead Sponsor: Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Supporter: Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels
In Association with: Innovative Entrepreneur Association, Angoulême International Comics Festival
Special Thanks: La Boîte à Bulles, Editions Paquet, Asian District éditions
2023/24 & 2024/25 The Arts Talents Internship Matching Programme is supported by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.
————————————–
Dates: 29.01. – 02.02.2025
Venue: Angoulême International Comics Festival, France
Venue: Manga City (Booth No. MC19/ Rue Jean Didelon)
Dates: 30.01-02.02.2025 (Thu-Sun)
Time: 30-31.01 1000-1900; 01.02 1000-2000; 02.02 1000-1800
Venue: International Rights & Licensing Market (Booth No. RL47/ Rue des Frères Lumières)
Dates: 29.01-01.02.2025 (Wed-Sat)
Time: 1000-1800
Festival admission ticket required
————————————–
16 Visiting Hong Kong Comics Artists/ Illustrators:
● Amy CHAI
● ARYU
● Kuma CHAN
● Karman CHIU
● CHIYA
● HIN
● ISATISSE
● Hei-lun IU
● Chi-kit KWONG
● Chi-tak LI
● Ben LIU
● Bonnie PANG
● Enoch SIN
● Pen SO
● WAI ON
● Shui-pan WONG
38 Featured Creations
The 1st to 3rd Hong Kong Comics Support Programme Book Series
● ARYU Lost in Red
● Cheuk-ka CHAN Chungyuan
● Kuma CHAN That Summer, The Glowing Monkey That Only I Could See
● Ling CHAU My Dear Patient No.44
● Chiu-lok CHEUNG In-between Crevices
● CHIYA Blend Dark and Light
● FCP La Revanche
● HIN Lullaby of the Untamed
● Chi-man HO Dai Fu
● Hei-lun IU Morning, Sean
● KAI Graffiti Sorcerer
● Chi-kit KWONG Indigo and The Architect’s Epiphany (French Edition)
● Chi-tak LI Heroes
● Ben LIU Down to Earth Hugo
● Linus LIU Cat Mask Boy (French Edition)
● LONHEI Étranger
● LOSZEHAHA The Shining Moment
● Tin-kit MARK MCF
● Bonnie PANG Chronos Express
● ROKU SAKAKI Q.
● SANDYPIG A Song of Freedom
● Enoch SIN God Bless You
● Pen SO Dali Libreria
● Sineko SO What the Muck: The End of the World
● Bobby TANG Man in The Box
● Taku TANG Collapse
● Three TO Soul People Deacon
● Man TSANG The Zeros (French Edition)
● Tai-po TSUI Soul in the Figure
● WAI ON Fear Of the Dark
● Jay WONG Tides of Time
● Shui-pan WONG Time Girl
● YIP WONG Phenomenon
● Yuen-wong YU Shepherd Café
GO! Illustrators Series – The 1st Hong Kong Picture Book Illustrators at International Book Fairs Promotion Scheme Series
● Amy CHAI A Butterfly that Lives 14 Days
● Karman CHIU Tears
● ISATISSE Just Close Your Eyes
Events
Presented by Hong Kong Arts Centre CHB
Live Drawing Demonstrations & Book Signing Sessions
Venue: Manga City (Booth No. MC 19)
Facebook: hkacchb | Instagram: @comixhomebase
https://www.facebook.com/hkacchb/
https://www.instagram.com/comixhomebase/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
Source: Media Outreach
TELTOW, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 5 February 2025 – The EU-funded micro2MACRO (m2M) project, launched in December 2024, aims to advance tissue regeneration through an innovative bioprinting platform.
m2M focuses on precisely patterning cell aggregates and microtissues into stable, customizable grafts that remodel into functional tissues after implantation. The project unites leading academic institutions, research centers, and companies to develop scalable, personalized grafts for tissue repair.
“We are proud to be a partner in the m2M project and believe in its potential to significantly advance the development of therapies for the regeneration of tissue. We are happy to contribute and share our more than 30 years of experience in the field of regenerative medicine as well as our regulatory expertise as the holder of an EU approved cell-based therapy for cartilage repair” explained Dr. Giulietta Roël, Executive Director of CO.DON GmbH.
Beyond technical development, m2M will foster knowledge exchange and workshops to enhance researchers’ and healthcare professionals’ skills across Europe.
CO.DON develops, produces and distributes autologous cell therapies for the minimally invasive repair of cartilage defects. The product being marketed is a cell therapy product for the minimally invasive treatment of cartilage damage in the knee joint that uses only the patient’s own cartilage cells. More than 20,000 patients have already been treated with CO.DON’s method. In January 2023, CO.DON GmbH was acquired by ReLive Biotechnologies, a global company headquartered in the US.
Managing Director: Dr. Ying Zhou
Further information is available at www.codon.de | www.relivebio.com
Hashtag: #GPMGmBH
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-NZ-AU)
MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hansen Technologies (ASX:HSN), a leading global provider of software and services to the energy, utilities, communications, and media industries, is excited to announce significant and continued growth for Hansen Trade. Fuelled by the solution’s unique capabilities, advanced automation tools, and proven track record, Hansen Trade is increasingly the preferred option for energy traders in the Day-Ahead, Intraday, and Ancillary Service markets. Hansen will showcase its energy trading and data management solutions at E-World, taking place in Essen from February 11th–13th.
Hansen Trade, designed to enrich trading strategies and overall market performance, helps position organisations to expand their activities to operate across multiple markets simultaneously, the emerging multi-market optimisation capability. Over the past year, Hansen Trade has been embraced by new customers such as Stockholm Exergi alongside other organisations in Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Simultaneously, Hansen continues to deepen relationships with numerous existing customers adding Hansen Trade modules to their toolkits, including Bixia, Fortum, Malarenergi, Skellefteå Kraft, Tampereen Energia, and Varberg Energi.
“The energy trading market is one of the most dynamic out there. It demands a laser focus on conceiving and delivering innovative solutions to help companies be as competitive as they can,” explains David Castree, President, Energy & Utilities Division at Hansen. “We are thrilled that so many organisations across Europe and the Nordic region are turning to Hansen and Hansen Trade to support them navigate this rapidly evolving market.”
Leveraging an intuitive, user-friendly interface and robust automation tools, Hansen Trade streamlines trading operations through its seamless integration with major trading exchanges such as EPEX SPOT, Nord Pool, and Transmission System Operator (TSO) markets. Maximising asset utilisation and performance, Hansen Trade enhances operational agility for the growing Balance Responsible Party (BRP) community. The robust flexibility and performance of Hansen Trade have received widespread praise from customers, many of whom are now expanding their usage into new regions and markets, and developing additional operational scenarios
“Our commitment has always been to equip energy traders with the best tools to thrive in this fast-paced market,” Castree added. “The momentum we are experiencing reflects the dedication of our team and the partnerships we’ve cultivated with our customers. We are excited about the future and how we can continue to be an innovative partner of choice.”
At E-world 2025, Hansen joins forces with powercloud, our recently acquired billing platform provider optimised for the German market. Now, in one booth, visitors can learn, discuss, and debate pragmatic solutions to the critical challenges facing the entire energy market value chain, ranging from energy trading and data management to customer billing, market communication, and regulatory compliance.
About Hansen Trade
Part of the Hansen Suite for Energy & Utilities, Hansen Trade operates as a cloud-based modular SaaS solution designed to meet the scalability and flexibility demands of the evolving energy trading market. As a premier software platform for energy traders in Europe’s short-term physical markets, Hansen Trade enables clients to automate trading positions, minimise imbalance costs, optimise asset performance, and expertly navigate the Day-Ahead, Intraday, and Ancillary Service markets. Trusted by energy professionals across the Nordics and beyond, Hansen Trade is committed to innovation and customer success.
For more information, visit www.hansencx.com
– Published by The MIL Network
Source: Media Outreach
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 February 2025 – Elise Mertens and the pair of Desirae Krawczyk/Giuliana Olmos have claimed the inaugural Singapore Tennis Open (STO) Singles and Doubles titles respectively.
Mertens clinched her 9th singles title at the inaugural Singapore Tennis Open at the Kallang Tennis Hub (Credits: WTA / Ashok Kumar)
Second-seed Mertens secured her 9th career WTA singles title – her first since Monastir 2023 – following a clinical final against Ann Li. Mertens bagged the win with straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, in 82 minutes.
Having dropped only one set in the four prior matches throughout the tournament, Mertens was raring to go in the final. Her opponent, Li, entered the match flawlessly without dropping a set, using her all-court skills to dispatch her opponents all week. The title decider began with a masterclass from Mertens, outplaying her American opponent to seal the opening set in a mere 26 minutes. The Belgian quickly went up 2-0 in the second set. With the title seeming out of her grasp, Li looked to stage a comeback, breaking Mertens’ serve back and bringing the set to two games all. Ultimately, Mertens’ solid baseline game prevailed, falling to the Kallang Tennis Hub court as she took home the STO Singles crown.
Krawczyk and Olmos faced strong opposition all week, with four of seven sets played going to 7-5 or 7-6. However, their tactful net play and clutch serving in critical moments secured them a spot in the final where they raced to an early 3-0 lead. In spite of their opponents, Wang Xinyu and Zheng Saisai, displaying a strong fighting spirit, a late charge saw the American-Mexican pair clinch the first set 7-5. They carried this momentum into the second set, storming their way to a 6-0 victory for the pair to claim their first title together in almost five years.
Please see the full run-down of the tournament scores here.
Mertens celebrates, “This was the first time the (Singapore Tennis Open) was organised and it was incredibly well-run. I hope to come back next year to defend my title and my points – but for now, I’m going to enjoy this victory. Singapore is an amazing city – the people are so friendly and our stay at the Hilton was a fantastic experience. The weather held up well, and everyone was so helpful. Tennis-wise, I feel like I’ve grown. My movement felt strong, and I played with confidence. This is my ninth title, and winning here has created such great memories and energy.”
Krawczyk and Olmos said, “Thank you to everyone who came out. Not just today, but the whole week. It’s nice to have a full stadium with all the fans. It’s a great atmosphere for us and we really appreciate it. We just wanted to go out on the court and play our game…and just enjoy being on the court together, having fun and…competing hard. (Singapore) has been enjoyable, very welcoming. Thank you to all the fans!”
A Tournament to Remember
Overall, close to 22,000 fans, enthusiasts and spectators flowed through the Kallang Tennis Hub, across nine days to indulge in the inaugural STO and its activities. Tennis fans in Singapore were treated to hard-hitting action and bustling community activities at the Kallang Tennis Hub this past week. They not only witnessed world-class gameplay but also soaked in the lively atmosphere at the Fan Village with meet-and-greet with WTA players and tennis-related activities. Adding to the excitement, the inaugural Singapore Tennis Invitational Cup (STIC) saw the finest tennis talents from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Cambodia take to the courts ahead of the 2025 SEA Games.
The inaugural STO saw tennis lovers catch world-class tennis action that once again returned to Singapore shores. This tournament is part of the 2025 Hologic WTA Tour calendar, which features over 50 tournaments that will be played across 26 countries and regions. Set to return for two more years in 2026 and 2027, the STO marks a momentous beginning to thrilling tennis action and exciting fan engagement.
Hyping the Community Up
Over nine days, fans were able to get up close and personal with the likes of Anna Kalinskaya, Oksana Kalashnikova, Nao Hibino and Wang Xinyu at meet-and-greets, and pick up tips from STO Community Ambassadors Tamarine Tanasugarn and Yayuk Basuki at tennis clinics. Both are top-ranked players from Thailand and Indonesia respectively, and competed on the WTA tour in the past. With varied activities for all ages, the tournament programme was intentionally designed to celebrate tennis, engage fans, and grow interest in the sport.
More than 700 students also embarked on guided learning journeys at the STO, exploring venue logistics, event operations, and sports management behind the scenes. The tours included stops at the Singapore Sports Museum, WTA Finals commemorative art sculpture, and a centre court seat for these students to enjoy live tennis action.
Shaping the Future of Tennis in Southeast Asia
The past week also saw our region’s best face off in a round-robin format at the Kallang Tennis Hub outdoor courts in the first-ever STIC, organised by Singapore Tennis Association (STA) in partnership with Kallang Alive Sport Management (KASM). Singapore emerged victorious in the STIC final, edging past Indonesia with a 3-2 scoreline.
With back-to-back victories in the Men’s and Women’s singles matches, Singapore took a crucial 2-1 lead heading into the Men’s Doubles final. Singaporean duo, Daniel Abadia and Michael Dylan Jimenez, rose to the occasion in a hard-fought battle against Indonesia, delivering the Cup-clinching victory. Malaysia secured third place, defeating Cambodia 5-0. Team Singapore’s Lynelle Lim, Audrey Tong, and Eva Marie Desvignes were also awarded wildcards for the STO singles qualifying matches. Details here.
Hashtag: #SingaporeSportsHub
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
Source: Media Outreach
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 February 2025 – Lifeline Cleaning, a leading cleaning service provider in Singapore, is pleased to announce its latest corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative in support of the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH). As part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, Lifeline Cleaning hosted a Chinese New Year get-together event at SAVH facilities.
Professional Cleaning at SAVH by Lifeline Cleaning
The initiative aims to enhance the environment for the visually impaired community and promote inclusivity. Lifeline Cleaning continues to support CSR efforts focused on providing assistance to underserved groups such as the visually impaired.
“At Lifeline Cleaning, we believe in creating positive change in the lives of those who need it most. Our collaboration with SAVH for Chinese New Year allows us to honour the festive season while contributing to a cleaner, healthier, and more joyful environment for the visually impaired community,” said Roy Tan, Business Development (Corporate Accounts), Lifeline Cleaning.
What the CSR Initiative Involves
As part of this initiative, Lifeline Cleaning has:
This initiative highlighted Lifeline Cleaning’s efforts to supporting vulnerable members of the community through various outreach activities. In addition to the 45 visually impaired elderly beneficiaries from the daycare group, SAVH staff, including some who are partially blind, also joined to usher in the Chinese New Year.
Meanwhile, SAVH’s massages for corporate groups and the “Dine in the Dark” event present opportunities for corporate companies, including Lifeline Cleaning, to engage with and support the community.
Lifeline Cleaning’s Ongoing CSR Commitment
Lifeline Cleaning has incorporated corporate social responsibility as a core element of its operations. Previous initiatives have involved collaborations with organisations supporting the elderly, visually impaired, and other underserved groups. Through these efforts, Lifeline Cleaning continues to contribute to the local community while offering professional cleaning services that promote a clean and safe environment for those in need. The company is also exploring the provision of disinfection services and ad hoc cleaning at SAVH.
Looking ahead, the company plans to expand its CSR initiatives to additional non-profit organisations, leveraging its expertise to create safe, hygienic, and inclusive environments for underserved communities.
https://www.lifelinecleaning.com.sg/
https://www.facebook.com/lifelinecleaning
https://www.instagram.com/lifelinecleaning.sg/
Hashtag: #LifelineCleaning #CSRInitiative #SupportingCommunities #CleaningServices
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
