Team Guam feels the heat in Bahrain | Guam Sports | postguam.com – The Guam Daily Post

The Guam Mens National Tennis Team lost to No.2-seeded Kuwait in its Davis Cup competition Monday in Isa Town, Bahrain.

Guam is hoping to get promoted out of the Asia/Oceania Group IV to Group III, the Guam Tennis Federation said in a press release. Only the top team advances to Group III.

The other teams in Group B, Guams group, are: Bahrain, Kuwait,Laos and Singapore.

Guams No. 2 singles player, Derek Okuhama lost to Qabazard Essa 6-2, 6-2. Camden Camacho, Guams No. 1 seed, fell to Alabdullah Bader 6-1, 6-1.

In doubles competition, Camacho and Danny Llarenas nearly took out Kuwaits Essa and Bader, but succumbed to the Middle Easterners 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-7 (4).

Kuwait did not mess around, they played their No. 1 and No. 2 in the doubles, too, said Guam National Tennis Federation President and Davis Cup team captain Torgun Smith.

Smith applauded his doubles team for putting up a great fight.

Camacho, a former All-Island champion who played for the Father Duenas Memorial School Friars in the late 2010s, is a standout singles and doubles player for the NCAA Division III George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, and was no longer used to intense, 95-degree heat. As the doubles match entered the third set, Camacho began cramping.

In the third set, Guam led 2-1 when the cramps set in. Despite the obvious pain and discomfort, the Guamanians won the next two games. As Guam led 4-1, the Kuwaitis leveled the match at 4-all. The next game, Guam held serve. With Kuwait serving at 4-5, Camacho and Llarenas arrived at match point but lost the game to level the match at 5-all.

Despite the disappointment of losing the match point, Team Guam bounced back.

With a chance to hold serve and go up 6-5, Camacho and Llarenas got off to a sluggish start, losing the first three points Love-40. But the Kuwaitis couldn't break Camachos serve and Guam led 6-5.

If no cramp, we would have taken the third set, Smith said.

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Team Guam feels the heat in Bahrain | Guam Sports | postguam.com - The Guam Daily Post

Potential clash could keep All Whites from playing in every international window in 2023 – Stuff

The All Whites may have to settle for playing in just four of the five international windows in 2023, due to a potential clash with the Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament.

A new national team coach to succeed Danny Hay is set to be appointed by Christmas and they will also take charge of the OlyWhites under-23 team, who will be hoping to make it to the Paris Olympics in 2024.

New Zealand Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell said the process of securing matches for the other four windows was underway while September remained up in the air.

Matt Roberts/Getty Images

New Zealand Football is chasing matches in Europe for the All Whites in 2023.

There's a chance that that will be the OFC Olympic qualifiers so we will have to make some decisions there as to whether that will be the priority.

READ MORE:* Des Buckingham the obvious choice to succeed Danny Hay as All Whites coach* Danny Hay to finish as All Whites coach after review finds areas in need of improvement* All Whites' fixture list a blank slate as focus turns to 2026 Fifa World Cup cycle * All Whites captain Winston Reid grateful for 'special' farewell match at Eden Park

Those qualifiers will be contested by a squad of players born 2001 and onwards, with up to three older players able to be added for the Olympic tournament if they make it.

Four players with All Whites caps fall into that age-group midfielders Matt Garbett, Ben Old and Marko Stamenic and forward Ben Waine though its possible club commitments will keep them from taking part in qualifying.

Otherwise, Pragnell said, 2023 is looking great, with NZ Football actively chasing high-profile friendlies in Europe in June, October and November.

In March ideally we will play at home and we've followed the Uefa [Euro 2024 qualifying] draw really closely.

There are Europe prospects potentially for at least three of the windows.

The qualifiers for Euro 2024 feature seven groups of teams and that means there are teams with byes on each of the 10 matchdays in 2023.

In November 2019, the All Whites played the Republic of Ireland and Lithuania when they had byes for the same reason during Euro 2020 qualifying, losing 3-1 in Dublin and 1-0 in Vilnius.

Organising matches against similar opponents or higher-profile ones would give the new coach a series of big challenges in their first year in the job leading up to the 2026 World Cup in North America.

NZ Footballs ability to secure such fixtures will also be an indication of its level of support for the All Whites, something that became a flashpoint during the latter stages of Hays tenure, the end of which was announced this week following an independent review of the teams 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.

England, France and Scotland are the most notable of the 14 teams with byes in October, with Belgium, Greece and Norway the most notable teams free in November.

Options will be more limited in June, as four of the 10 teams with byes that month will use the free matchdays to contest the finals of the 2023-23 Uefa Nations League.

Poland, Serbia and Sweden will be the three teams available in the first half of the window, with Azerbaijan, Czech Republic and Montenegro the three available in the second half.

There will be opportunities that could be explored elsewhere if nothing eventuates in Europe, with teams in Asia and North and Central America and the Caribbean also largely free in 2023.

Pragnell said NZ Football had sent offers out to potential opponents for a home match (or matches) in March.

I'll stay optimistic on it and in the event it doesn't eventuate, so be it, but we are going to push really hard to try and get every single window between now and 2026 filled and play at home at least once a year.

The All Whites played their first home match in almost four years in September, losing 2-0 to Australia in front of a 35,000-strong crowd at Eden Park, in what turned out to be Hays last match in charge.

If NZ Football does arrange a home match in March, it will be the first time they have played at home in two consecutive windows since November 2016 and March 2017, when they had World Cup qualifiers against New Caledonia and Fiji.

It will also be just the sixth time a team has visited New Zealand for a friendly since the All Whites last World Cup appearance, in South Africa in 2010.

The mens international windows in 2023 are all nine days long, starting on March 20, June 12, September 4, October 9 and November 13.

New Zealand is set to host at least 46 womens internationals next year, with the Fifa Womens World Cup being held there and in Australia in July and August.

A total of 29 matches will be played during that tournament, with another 13 to be played in and around the final qualifying play-off tournament in February, which features 10 teams chasing three spots.

There are likely to be friendlies for the Football Ferns in the windows starting April 3 and July 10 and there could also be friendlies between World Cup teams on the eve of the tournament.

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Potential clash could keep All Whites from playing in every international window in 2023 - Stuff

The Fiji Times The rise of Fijiana – Fiji Times

The Fiji womens national 15s team has taken global rugby by storm, especially in their biggest-ever tournament in New Zealand, the womens Rugby World cup.

World Rugby spoke to Fijiana captain Sereima Leweniqila who said her team had nothing to lose.

She could have easily added, and everything to gain; however, in just getting to a Rugby World Cup for the first time, Fijiana have already gained a lot, and in a short space of time.

Remember this is a team that went 10 years without playing, between its second Test in 2006 to its third in 2016.

Even in their own country, womens rugby, at best, was not seen as a priority, and at worst, something not to be encouraged.

Opportunities to play at any level were scarce

But a mind shift around gender equality, supported by a number of initiatives from the Fiji Rugby Union, Oceania Rugby and World Rugby and the work of tireless administrators such as World Rugby Womens Executive Leadership Scholarship recipient Vela Naucukidi, have helped to change outdated perceptions and more girls and women are playing the sport than ever before.

A successful national team is also a big driver for participation and, in Fijiana, those back on the islands now have role models to aspire to.

Likewise, rugby as a whole couldnt wish for better ambassadors than Fijiana, their popularity making them everyones favourite second team at Rugby World Cup 2021.

In the six years since their reintroduction, Fijiana have leapt up the rankings and are now on the verge of breaking into the worlds top 20 for the first time.

Do well in New Zealand and that will certainly be the case.

You do wonder how much further down the line theyd have been if theyd not effectively lost two years worth of development as a team due to COVID-19.

After qualifying for Rugby World Cup via the Oceania Rugby Womens Championship at the end of November 2019, for example, Fiji did not play again until May 2022.

Making history

In the meantime, though, the Fiji womens 7s team continued to cause a stir by winning the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

And then, on the eve of Fijianas return to the Test arena, their development team, the Fijiana Drua, won the prestigious Super W competition in Australia at the first attempt.

The Fijiana Drua took the elite womens competition by storm, finishing an unbeaten campaign with a 32-26 win over four-time holders, the Waratahs, in the final.

That moment and all the other milestones on their remarkable journey to Rugby World Cup 2021 have been captured on film through a brilliant behind-the-scenes documentary, Lets Play.

In episode 1, The rise of Fijiana. How a country that shunned womens rugby went on to conquer Super W and Oceania, viewers get to see what it took for them to go from complete obscurity to being the team on everyones lips.

The next episode picks up this most remarkable of stories by taking you through the teams rigorous Rugby World Cup 2021 preparations and the pain that the players went through pounding the historic sand dunes in Sigatoka.

In the third and final episode, viewers are transported to Suva, the capital of Fiji, where Fijiana play their last game before departing for New Zealand a 24-7 defeat to Canada.

While on paper that result looks nothing special, to only lose by 17 points to a team ranked 18 places higher puts into perspective how far they have come.

And the bad news for their rivals around the world is that they are not done yet.

This journey is like our culture, we believe that nothing is impossible so, yeah, we are ready to get out there, said Leweniqila.

The Fijiana side faces South Africa in its second RWC pool match at 4.45pm today.

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The Fiji Times The rise of Fijiana - Fiji Times

Pacific Partnership 2022 kicks off in the Philippines > United States Navy > News-Stories – navy.mil

Now in its 17th year, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific.

In the Philippines, the Pacific Partnership 2022 (PP22) team, comprised of representatives from Australia, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States, will work together with host and partner nations on a range of activities and projects, specifically related to humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and medical exchanges.

[Pacific Partnership is] an amazing program that not only brings assistance and services, but more importantly, strengthens the bond between partner nations, said Puerto Princesa Vice Mayor Nancy Socrates.

PP22 activities are coordinated with the host nation and are conducted based on the Philippines requirements and requests. Engagements in Puerto Princesa are scheduled to include seven major health fairs, two barangay city hall renovation efforts, various band concerts, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises and presentations, and other medical efforts including over 200 surgeries planned.

The impact of disaster emergencies transcends borders and requires comprehensive coordination among nations for an effective response, said Capt. Hank Kim, mission commander for Pacific Partnership 2022. I am confident that the planning and hard work weve invested thus far with our partners will show in a long-lasting impact here in the Philippines.

As part of PP22, the mission team will conduct missions throughout Oceania and the Western Pacific.

For more information about Pacific Partnership and USNS Mercy, visit http://www.facebook.com/USNSMERCY, http://www.facebook.com/pacificpartnership, or https://www.msc.usff.navy.mil/ships/mercy/.

Commander, Task Force 73 public affairs can be reached via email at CTF73_Public_Affairs@fe.navy.mil.

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Pacific Partnership 2022 kicks off in the Philippines > United States Navy > News-Stories - navy.mil

Universality is the Proof / IJF.org – International Judo Federation

The three magnificent days of competition in Birmingham, UK, showed just how broad the appeal of judo is, worldwide. 30 Commonwealth countries entered and at the end of day 3, 16 had won medals, representing countries from all continents. Europe, Oceania, Pan-America and Asia were all in the mix.

Jamaica won their first ever Commonwealth judo medal, while Australia excelled throughout. African nations stepped up with their flags and pride and supporters.

The -70kg podium with Australia on top and Jamaica as runner up

The tiny island of Mauritius won 3 medals and a Malaysian junior had the day of his life and won a bronze medal in the -73kg category. On day 2, a medal for Gambia pointed another spotlight at the universality of the event, adding to the diversity of the Commonwealth Games podium. We can only wonder what that medal might do for school children in Gambia in the coming months.

Remi Feuillet (MRI), -90kg medallist

There were also superstars in the world of sport, with Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard (CAN) an Olympic and World medallist, Natalie Powell (WAL) a former world number, Christa Deguchi (CAN) 2019 world champion and Gemma Howell (ENG) European champion, all competing.

Beauchemin-Pinard and Howell topped the -63kg podium

The vast range of levels between fighters, on paper, should have made for a whitewash but the Commonwealth Games always provides a platform for inspiration and aspiration to flourish and strange things happen. Every instance of the underdog taking the reins, brings with it legacy, a chance for that nation to believe in a bigger future and broader boundaries around their perceived opportunities.

Another impressive indicator of the importance of the Commonwealth Games for judo is the presence of some of the worlds best referees.

Mariano Dos Santos (BRA)

They bring an abundance of experience and knowledge and among them were Turbat Enkhtsetseg (MGL), Lubomir Petr (AUS) and Mariano Dos Santos (BRA), all Olympic referees from Tokyo last summer. Their professionalism leads the way and in return they get to feel an unrivalled atmosphere, one built on friendship, acceptance, inspiration and respect.

Turbat Enkhtseteg (MGL)

The Commonwealth Games is now over for judo but their is still so much to celebrate and reflect on. We cant wait for the next edition!

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Universality is the Proof / IJF.org - International Judo Federation

Issa and Tannus to boost Rewa FBC News – FBC News

[Source: staff.co.nz]

Former Suva, Rewa, Lautoka and Ba striker Saani Issa will join the Delta Tigers for the Oceania Champions League 2022 which kicks off this week.

Also joining the Rewa camp is Brazilian Marcelo Tannus.

Both players have featured for Rewa before and will surely add strength to the side.

Issa is expected to join the side before Rewas opening match against Nikao Sokattak on Friday.

The Nigerian is highly likely to partner Fijian international Setareki Hughes up front.

Rewa Coach Marika Rodu says if Issa arrives a little later in the week then they may bring him on in the second half rather.

The Delta Tigers is in a tough group B which contains defending OCL champions Hienghne Sport and nine-time winners Auckland City, who Issa played for previously.

Meanwhile, just like last week, Rewa will miss round 16 of the Digicel Premier League this weekend.

Labasa and Ba will kick off the round on Saturday at 1.30pm at Subrail Park.

Three games will be held at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva starting with Nasinu and Nadroga at 12pm followed by Tailevu Naitasiri and Lautoka at 2pm before Suva hosts Nadi at 4pm.

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Issa and Tannus to boost Rewa FBC News - FBC News

Oceania Innovates With The Implementation Of A $500m Sustainability-Linked Loan | Scoop News – Scoop

Wednesday, 29 June 2022, 10:26 amPress Release: Oceania Group

Oceania has implemented a $500 million five-yeardebt-facility, its first sustainability-linked loan. Thismeans that over two thirds of Oceanias debt-funding isnow tied to ambitious environmental and socialsustainability goals.

The funding will go towardsdelivering Oceanias business growth strategy, enablingOceania to accelerate its development pipeline and grow thebusiness through organic and inorganic opportunities, at thesame time as enhancing the resident experience and buildingits people capability.

Oceanias business strategyis underpinned by a commitment to sustainability, usingmeasures and goals to benchmark environmental, social andgovernance (ESG) aspects. The five-year loan will commitOceania to certain year-on-year targets to qualify for theloan interest discount, and penalty interest can be incurredif targets are not met.

Asustainability-linked loan is an important step inOceanias sustainability journey and it is encouraging tohave wellbeing and resident experience as the hallmark ofour social metric, said CEO Brent Pattison.

Oceaniais striving for excellence in both clinical best practiceand resident wellbeing. This loan encourages us to go evenfurther with our model of care excellence and help us toachieve our ambition of being the leader in the delivery ofresident-centred retirement and aged care living in NewZealand.

As evidence of climate change becomesmore apparent, we must take responsibility and implementinitiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We arecommitted to reducing our controllable emissions throughongoing measurement, an emissions reduction plan and workingtowards becoming science-based target verified, headded.

Oceanias CFO Kathryn Waugh said linking theloan to sustainability goals and measures is testament toOceanias commitment to sustainable growth.

Weknow that ESG is important to our people, our residents andour stakeholders. We wanted to link our borrowings to oursustainability vision and commitments so we can drive ourperformance even further and with greaterambition.

ANZ is the sole mandated lead arrangerand sustainability coordinator for Oceaniasloan.

ANZ Head of Sustainable Finance Dean Spicer,congratulated Oceania on linking its borrowings toenvironmental and social goals.

The KPIs willprovide a roadmap for sustainable investment, while alsoproviding a financial incentive to hit targets. Weredelighted to be on this journey with Oceania as they strivefor even greater sustainability in their operations, hesaid.

The establishment of a meaningful measurementof care residents wellbeing is an important developmentfor the sector. Social impact is challenging to quantify,and by including this holistic assessment of social,physical and psychological wellbeing, Oceania is furtherencouraged to support improvements in residentexperience, he added.

Accountancy firm Ernst &Young provided limited assurance over the KPIs and loansustainability performance targets against internationallyrecognised Sustainability-Linked Loan Principles.

TheLenders to the syndicated facility included ANZ, ASB andICBC.

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Toua honoured to be inducted – POST-COURIER

June 28, 2022

BY DAVID SUSUVE

Team PNG set another impressive medal record finishing on top of the 2022 Mini Pacific Games Medal tally.

PNG won 33 gold, 28 silver and 19 bronze and there were some personal records and achievements set by the athletes and weightlifting queen Dika Toua was one of those athletes who once again bagged a handful including an award.

She was honored be inducted into the International Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame.

Toua was again at her best winning three gold medals in the 49 kg weight class of the 2022 Pacific Mini Games in the Northern Marianas.

The 38-year-old Toua said she has been competing in the sport of weightlifting for more than 20 years and it was an honour to be inducted.

Toua, who first competed in the 1999 South Pacific Games hosted by Guam, also won her 13th title in the Oceania Weightlifting Championships which coincided with the 2022 Pacific Mini Games.

I am grateful and thank you to the Lord for rewarding me with this award.

Im sure my achievement will go on to inspire many young women out there to pursue their dreams in sports, says Toua who also won gold in the Oceania Weightlifting Championships.

Apart from the medals and award, Toua (pictured) was also awarded the Games top female athlete.

She said it was emotional because it brought back great memories of her career, which has eventually paid off.

She said the Mini Games will help her prepare for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, London next month.

She said the Mini Games have brought up the standard in the Pacific because the accommodation is brilliant.

Toua thanked her sponsor Trukai Industries, the PNG Olympic Committee and Paul Coffa in supporting her over the years.

My achievement wouldnt be possible if it wasnt without the support of these people which Im grateful for.

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Toua honoured to be inducted - POST-COURIER

Dedication and training pays off for Rotorua athletes at Oceania Area Championships – New Zealand Herald

Hannah Gapes giving her all on the track at the Oceania Area Championships. Photo / Supplied

Dedication and training came to fruition for two Lake City Athletic Club athletes at the Oceania Area Championships.

The championships were held in Mackay, Queensland recently.

Rotorua's Lisa Adams, Paralympic F37 shot putter and F38 discus thrower, won the open para shot put with a throw of 14.45m.

Lisa said she was both excited and nervous on competition day, which is her norm.

She said she should have been happier with her result, but that is because as an athlete you are always wanting more.

"It was cool, of course you want to do well."

Lisa said she liked the Oceania Area Championships because Oceania is our region, and it is one of the few times you get to compete with and see athletes from the smaller neighbouring nations.

"At the last Oceania Area Championships in Townsville 2019, there were three to four para athletes doing shot put and this year there was eight of us, so it's growing which is really cool."

She says the next big focus is the World Championships in Paris next year, but since it is more than a year she will probably use a closer competition as something to work towards.

Lisa says at the Oceania Area Championships there were also wellbeing workshops and seminars held every day for athletes, para athletes, coaches, officials.

"It was awesome to be able to attend them and to listen and learn. It was pretty cool that was put on by Oceanias."

Rotorua runner Hannah Gapes said leading up to Oceanias she was on a pre-tour with the New Zealand team, where she competed in a 3000m invitational at the Gold Coast, placing second, and a 1500m Mackay invitational which she won.

"Coping with the heat was challenging, but I was really happy with my 1500m race. I had some really great workouts leading into the event as well."

For Oceanias, she competed in the 3000m and placed second.

"I wasn't overly happy with how I performed, but I gained a lot of experience, and it was a great opportunity to race alongside Australia's top U20 middle distance runner."

Gapes said she had a 10-week training block for this event, specifically designed by her coach Jason Cameron.

"Typically this included a combination of easy longer runs and higher speed shorter runs.

"These were done on trails, road and for the speed work I travelled to Tauranga to their all-weather track."

She hadn't competed at the Oceania Area Championships before.

"This was the first time representing New Zealand as Covid has cancelled events that I had previously been selected for," she said.

"It was such an amazing experience to be surrounded by like-minded people with similar goals, and it was great to make friendships with people outside my event.

Gapes said she really enjoyed being able to train and get to know others for the two-and-a-half weeks she was there.

"It was a lot of fun. To finally be able to wear the white and black New Zealand uniform was another step to realising my dream and a huge privilege."

Looking ahead, Gapes is planning on doing a 3000m time trial on the track in Nelson this weekend where she hoped to reach her time-based goal.

Then she would jump straight into cross country training.

"The North Islands are coming up in three weeks, and the NZ U20 Cross Country Championships in July, both held at my favourite cross country course - Taup's Spa Park.

"National cross country will be my final race in New Zealand for the season.

"I will take a small break then head over to the States to commence study and the American cross country session with the North Carolina State University [Wolfpack] women's team."

She thanked Mikro Charitable Trust and Lake City Athletics for their support.

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Dedication and training pays off for Rotorua athletes at Oceania Area Championships - New Zealand Herald

OCEANIA CRUISES ANNOUNCES 2024 VOYAGE COLLECTION – PR Newswire

"Next to our reputation for serving The Finest Cuisine at Sea, Oceania Cruises is widely acclaimed for developing the most enticing and destination-rich itineraries in the cruise industry," said Howard Sherman, President and CEO of Oceania Cruises. "With our 2024 Collection, we have set a whole new standard for destination innovation with an astounding mix of marquee destinations and exotic new locales blended together in creatively crafted voyage offerings."

EUROPEEurope 2024 will be the brand's most expansive and diverse European season to date. With six ships positioned around the continent, the destinations are as diverse as Greenland and Iceland in the north and west to the Holy Lands of Egypt and Israel in the south and east and everywhere in between. Every voyage is a celebration of history, culture, and cuisine in myriad mesmerizing destinations. From the glittering jewels of the Greek Isles, Italian Riviera and France's famed Cte d'Azur to the delightful hidden gems of Norway's fjord-lined coast and the rugged outposts of Greenland and Iceland, these 2024 European itineraries are a study in diversity. Insignia, Nautica, Marina, and Sirena will spend the majority of the season exploring Europe's northern reaches and the western wine countries. Riviera and Vista will call the Mediterranean home with a seemingly endless bounty of voyages to Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Malta, Israel, Egypt and more.

NORTH AMERICARegatta, Insignia, and Nautica will offer close to three dozen enticing explorations of Alaska, New England, Canada, Bermuda, and the United States' colonial south. Regatta will reprise her perennially popular Alaska season with a series of voyages that showcases the region in all its glory. Must-see destinations include Icy Strait Point, Kodiak, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Sitka, Wrangell, Prince Rupert and Victoria. On the East Coast, Insignia and Nautica will offer sailings to Bermuda, New England, and Canada's maritime provinces from New York City, Boston, and Montreal.

SOUTH AMERICAFrom the lush and verdant tropical clime of the Amazon to the rugged, glacially carved coastline of Chile, South America is a vast continent brimming with thrilling explorations and vibrant heritage. Marina will sail the entire continent and will even take a breathtaking diversion down to Paradise Bay, Admiralty Bay, and Half Moon Island in Antarctica.

ASIA & AFRICAWith more than three dozen sailings in the regions, Oceania Cruises showcases these intriguing lands in a fashion that has no peer. Riviera will chart her inaugural season in the region sailing from Arabia to India, to southeast Asia, the Philippines, Vietnam, China, South Korea, and Japan. Nautica will explore the Far East while also offering up a delightful array of voyages that showcase South Africa, Mozambique, Mayotte, and the Seychelles, and Regatta will offer a series of voyages that is a literal kaleidoscope of these fabled countries. There are also copious opportunities to explore singular countries or regions with in-depth immersions of Japan, Arabia, and Indochina.

SOUTH PACIFIC, AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALANDOceania Cruises is greatly expanding its offerings by having two ships in the region Regatta and Nautica. Regatta presents an intense focus on New Zealand and Australia, including a 35-day holiday circumnavigation of the continent. There is also a cornucopia of voyages that follows the Southern Cross across the Pacific and up to Polynesia where Nautica offers a series of four 10-day sailings roundtrip from Papeete.

CARIBBEAN, PANAMA CANAL & MEXICORenowned for creative, immersive itineraries, Oceania Cruises presents an uncommonly diverse and creative roster of sailings to the Caribbean, Panama Canal, and Mexico. Itineraries include off-the-beaten-path destinations such as Bonaire, Dominica, Guadeloupe, and St. Vincent along with the beguiling yacht harbors of Gustavia, Rodney Bay, Tortola, and Port Royal, to name a few. Sailing westward, travelers can immerse themselves in the storied cultures of Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and Guatemala. Panama beckons with its world-changing canal, the colonial charm of Colnand the glittering, cosmopolitan modernity of Panama City.

2024 Collection Highlights

THE EVOLUTION OF PERFECTION A BETTER-THAN-EVER EXPERIENCEOceaniaNEXT is Oceania Cruises' continual quest to evolve and elevate the guest experience. It focuseson the hallmarks that inspire guests to return to Oceania Cruises time and again: Exquisitely CraftedCuisine, Curated Travel Experiences and Small Ship Luxury. Reflecting the crisp sophistication of Regatta,Insignia, Nautica, Sirena and Vista, the sweeping Re-inspiration of Marina and Riviera presents a symphony of entirely new suites and staterooms as well as elegant public spaces imbued with a new light, airy ambiance. Thesignature onboard experience is better than ever too, with the addition of an extensive collection of newflavors and culinary experiences that transforms dining into a sublime experience and service into an artform. The gourmet cuisine has been entirely reimagined, from a bounty of new flavorful dishes atThe Grand Dining Room to a Dom Prignon pairing dinner that is the only one of its kind. Oceania Cruises' newestship Vista offers multiple unique firsts in the realms of dining and guest experience. Across all ships, holistic wellness encounters at Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center encourage a lifestyle of health and longevity, while newdestination experiences such as Go Green, Go Local, Beyond Blueprints, Culinary Discovery Tours, Food & Wine Trails tours, and Wellness Discovery Tours by Aquamar encourage deeper explorations.

THE HEART OF THE EXPERIENCEOne aspect of the Oceania Cruises experience remains constant and unchanged: the trademark warm and personalized service. Whether guests are sailing for the first time or the fifteenth, they will note the ease with which the staff remembers their names and their preferences along with the genuine smiles and enthusiasm that can only come from the heart.

For additional information on Oceania Cruises' small-ship luxury product, exquisitely crafted cuisine, and expertly curated travel experiences, visit OceaniaCruises.com, call 855-OCEANIA, or speak with a professional travel advisor.

About Oceania CruisesOceania Cruises is the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line. The line's seven small, luxurious ships carry a maximum of 1,210 guests and feature the finest cuisine at sea and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe. Expertly curated travel experiences aboard the designer-inspired, small ships call on more than 450 marquee and boutique ports across Europe, Alaska, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, New England-Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Tahiti and the South Pacific in addition to the epic 180-day Around the World Voyages. The brand has a second 1,200-guest Allura Class ship on order for delivery in 2025. With headquarters in Miami, Oceania Cruises is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., a diversified cruise operator of leading global cruise brands which include Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

About Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) is a leading global cruise company which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands. With a combined fleet of 28 ships with nearly 60,000 berths, these brands offer itineraries to more than 490 destinations worldwide. The Company has nine additional ships scheduled for delivery through 2027, comprising of approximately 24,000 berths.

SOURCE Oceania Cruises

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OCEANIA CRUISES ANNOUNCES 2024 VOYAGE COLLECTION - PR Newswire

New clues shed light on pivotal moment in the great Pacific migration – The Guardian

The peopling of the Pacific is one of the most significant migrations in human history. And now an archaeological discovery on a small island in Papua New Guinea has recast the early scope of this settlement, in a finding archaeologists say could explain the migration east three millennia ago.

The unearthing of animal bones and tools on Brooker Island, 200km east of mainland Papua New Guinea, suggests that the migration of Lapita people throughout Papua New Guinea was far more extensive than previously thought.

The Lapita a group with east Asian ancestry are archaeologically recognised as the first people to make landfall on the islands of Remote Oceania, which include Tonga, Samoa and Vanuatu.

They are believed to have migrated there from south-east Asia, via the Bismarck archipelago off the north-eastern coast of New Guinea between 3,100 and 3,350 years ago.

Lapita-linked groups are known to have introduced pottery, animals such as pigs and chickens, and Austronesian languages to New Guinea, which has been inhabited by Indigenous people for at least 50,000 years.

In new research published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, archaeologists believe they have unearthed the earliest evidence for Lapita-introduced animals and imported obsidian volcanic glass in southern New Guinea. The findings are between 3,060 and 3,480 years old, they estimate.

Dr Ben Shaw of the Australian National University, the studys first author, said the discovery was evidence of the initial interaction between Indigenous populations, who were already in the area, and Lapita migrants.

There were other changes to social systems on the island at that time which indicate there were changes to way people were living there, Shaw said.

This is a signature thats new in archaeology, particularly in this part of New Guinea, Shaw said. [Lapita] didnt stay in this area and efforts were therefore put towards going further eastward, which resulted in the colonisation of uninhabited Pacific islands like Vanuatu and all the way out to Tonga and Samoa.

The researchers argue that the interaction with Indigenous populations during this time was pivotal in influencing island-hopping strategies that culminated in the initial peopling of Remote Oceania.

Similarly rapid but later Lapita dispersals through southern New Guinea and perhaps across the Torres Strait Islands and along the east coast of Australia, did not, therefore, occur through a terra incognita but were probably facilitated by earlier frontier interactions with Indigenous populations, they wrote.

The team found evidence on Brooker Island for the introduction of pigs and dogs by Lapita, which was accompanied by concurrent changes in behaviour such as the use of turtle shells to make tools, and the targeted harvesting of marine animals.

The contemporary presence of lithic axe-adze technologies unrelated to those associated with Lapita suggests that Indigenous cultural influences contributed to cultural diversity in the region despite language replacement, the researchers wrote.

Shaw said Austronesian languages, which were introduced by Lapita groups, are spoken on most of the islands of Papua New Guinea.

Although these islands have got a very long history of Indigenous occupation, and what the archaeology tells us is that theres continued input of cultural influence from those Indigenous populations there was a complete changeover from the Indigenous languages that would have been spoken there to the ones that are now spoken, he said.

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New clues shed light on pivotal moment in the great Pacific migration - The Guardian

Oceania Cruises offers up new discovery excursions – TTG Asia

Oceania Cruises has introduced discovery tours Go Local, Culinary and Wellness that are designed to embed travellers in the lives and homes of local families for an authentic taste of the different communities ways of life.

For Go Local Discovery Tours, experience a taste of village life in Dubrovnik, Croatia with The Panoramic Dubrovnik, Village Life & Wine excursion, which showcases time-honoured techniques in a familys wine cellar and olive press room, followed by a chance to share juicy local figs and brandy together.

Or get up close to locals making a living with The Life on the River excursion in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Discover how expert craftsmen build wooden fishing boats while cruising past villages, farms and rice paddies.

The Culinary Discovery Tours lets visitors unearth new tastes and traditions, such as the Shop for Dinner and Set the Table in Buenos Aires, Argentina a fun and engaging guided excursion that begins with foraging at the local market for the best daily cuts or catch before retiring to enjoy dinner at a home setting.

The Wellness Discovery Tours immerse travellers in the unique natural customs of local communities. The Yagna Encounter and Mumbais Ancient Temple Complex in Mumbai, India, includes a Hindu prayer ritual and a visit to a sacred healing water tank. The more adventurous can join The Unusual and Non-Touristy Valencia by Bike in Valencia, Spain. This involves a two-wheel tour through local neighbourhoods, along beaches and past farmhouses and fields, with a break for a paella lunch and a seaside promenade.

More information on other discovery tours can be found here.

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Oceania Cruises offers up new discovery excursions - TTG Asia

Hawaiian teams with Elon Musk company for in-flight internet – The Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) Hawaiian Airlines said Monday that it will offer free wireless internet service from SpaceXs Starlink satellite network on flights between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland, Asia and Oceania.

The airline said it is in the early stages of putting the service in place on some aircraft next year.

Honolulu-based Hawaiian said its the first deal between Elon Musks space company and a major airline, although charter operator JSX announced a deal with SpaceX last week.

Starlink is SpaceXs network of satellites in low-Earth orbit, and the deals indicate SpaceXs interest in gaining a foothold in the in-flight Wi-Fi market.

Hawaiian said the service will allow passengers to stream content or play online games with people on the ground without having to go through registration pages or payment portals. The airline did not indicate plans to offer the service on flights between islands in Hawaii.

Hawaiian flies between the islands and 16 mainland U.S. cities plus Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and American Samoa.

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Hawaiian teams with Elon Musk company for in-flight internet - The Associated Press

Australia and New Zealand not sending athletes to Asian Games – The Japan Times

Melbourne Australia will not be taking up an offer to send athletes to the Asian Games for the first time this year as none of the invited sports federations expressed an interest in going to Hangzhou, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) said on Tuesday.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) had invited a quota of around 300 athletes and 150 support staff from Oceania nations, including Australia and New Zealand, to compete at the Sept. 10-25 Games in the eastern Chinese city.

We dont have any athletes going, an AOC spokesman told Reuters on Tuesday.

A New Zealand Olympic Committee spokeswoman also confirmed the country would not participate at the Games.

The AOCs outgoing president John Coates, an IOC Vice President and one of the worlds most influential sports administrators, had long pushed for Australias athletes to be included in the Asian Games to expose them to stiffer competition.

The quadrennial Asian Games are second in size only to the Summer Olympics.

The Hangzhou Games have been under a cloud since an outbreak of COVID-19 in Shanghai, some 175 kilometers northwest of the city.

A media report last week quoted the OCAs director-general as saying there was a possibility the Games would be postponed because of the COVID situation.

Most international sporting events in China have been postponed or cancelled since the start of the pandemic, with the notable exception of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which went ahead under strict controls in February.

In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

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Australia and New Zealand not sending athletes to Asian Games - The Japan Times

Arnav and Aditya put India in quarterfinals – The Hindu

Arnav Paparkar pulled India out of trouble in partnership with Aditya Mor as the host qualified for the quarterfinals with a 2-1 victory over Jordan in the Asia-Oceania World Junior Tennis under-14 boys tournament at the DLTA Complex on Wednesday.

Jordan did well to win the second singles through Malek El-Qurneh after Arnav had won the first singles. In the decisive doubles, the Indian boys fought bravely to beat the Jordan pair 6-3, 6-4.

India finished second in the group behind Japan. Thus, for the quarterfinals, India drew Group-A topper Korea which beatAustralia 2-1, thanks to the efficiency of Cho Se Hyuk who won his singles and doubles matches.

With the top four teams qualifying for the World Group competition scheduled later in the season in Europe, the teams will be at their competitive best in the knock-outs on Thursday.

In the other quarterfinals, Kazakhstan will play Hong Kong, Australia will be challenged by Thailand, and Japan will face Indonesia.

The results (league):

Group-A: Korea bt Australia 2-1; Lebanon bt Syria 2-1.

Group-B:India bt Jordan 2-1 (Arnav Paparkar bt Amir Jaber 6-0, 6-2; Tanussh Ghildyal lost to Malek El-Qurneh 4-6, 2-6; Aditya Mor & Arnav bt El-Qurneh & Jaber 6-3, 6-4); Japan bt Uzbekistan 3-0.

Group-C: Thailand bt Iran 2-1; Hong Kong bt Malaysia 3-0.

Group-D: Indonesia bt Sri Lanka 3-0; Kazakhstan bt Pakistan 3-0.

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Arnav and Aditya put India in quarterfinals - The Hindu

Increase in disasters leads to spike in intentional homicides of women: UN Report – Down To Earth Magazine

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Violence against women and girls increasesin the aftermath of disasters and at the extreme end of the scale, this even takes the form of intentional homicides, according to a new United Nations report on disaster risk reduction released on the evening of April 26, 2022.

This strong correlation between the number of people affected by disaster and the number of female victims of intentional homicide wasfound to be the highest in central and south Asia, followed by east and southeast Asia.

The Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2022(GAR 2022) builds on the analysis of United Nations-mandated SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) data on increased gender based violence in disasters.

It suggested that the additional socioeconomic and psychological stresses of disasters on affected people increase vulnerability through indirect social impacts.

These further undermine coping capacity, social cohesion and well-being, which in this example has a disproportionate impact on women and girls, the report said.

Thedocument cited various studies to establish that increases in gender-based violence during disaster displacement and slow-onset disasters was a key concern at the global level, in regions such as Asia and the Pacific, as well as in various countries such as wildfires in Australia, cyclones in Bangladesh, and floods and hurricanes in the United States.

Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs analysis based on Global Sustainable Development Goal Indicators Database (UN DESA, 2021)

Disasters also fuel human trafficking, which has a strong gender dimension. An analysis of available SDG data demonstrates a strong relationship between disaster affectedness and the number of detected female victims of human trafficking in all regions except north Africa, west Asia and Oceania.

Research in Australia and the United States has also used similar methods to model significant increases in domestic violence, marital breakdown, suicide and drug addiction following major disasters such as wildfires.

In India, in the coastal states of West Bengal and Odisha, which are seeing a rapid increase in floods and cyclones brought on by the impacts of climate change, there are increasing instances of displacement and migration, making people more vulnerable to trafficking.

Moreover, the report also highlighted a shadow pandemic of gender-based violence globally during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For example, a recent study on the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns and associated economic losses on urban populations in four Latin American cities found a high correlation between these stresses and violence within the home, as well as depression and anxiety, affecting women and people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, the GAR 2022, said.

The negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on social and economic development have created disproportionate vulnerability and exposure for women and girls, all of which undermine efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda as well as regional agendas, it added.

Meanwhile, the report also emphasised on women playing a crucial role in scaling up disaster preparedness, bringing a wealth of knowledge, capacities and needs-based approaches to decision-making.

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Increase in disasters leads to spike in intentional homicides of women: UN Report - Down To Earth Magazine

From "Friendship" to Bases: China’s Growing Influence in the Pacific – The Maritime Executive

The establishment of military installations in Oceania could substantially alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. PLA Navy file image

PublishedApr 21, 2022 10:10 PM by The Strategist

[By Anne-Marie Brady]

In the Xi Jinping era, the Chinese Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (commonly known as the Friendship Association, or Youxie) promotes the Belt and Road Initiative, a strategic, political and economic vehicle driving towards a China-centred global order.

The Friendship Association isa hybrid partystate organisation with three mothers-in-law(to use the argot of the Chinese Communist Party system): the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the CCP united front organization, the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference; and the CCPs International Liaison Department, which the party uses to conduct foreign policy discussions with foreign political parties.

The Pacific China Friendship Association is Chinas main point of contact for rolling out the Belt and Road Initiative in the Southwest Pacific.

The Pacific branch has been busy.

In 2018, at a meeting of friendship associations from the Americas and Oceania in Hainan, China, Tongas Princess Royal Salote Mafileo Pilolevu Tuita proposed establishing aPearl Maritime Road Initiative, extending the BRI into the Southwest Pacific.

Soon after that, all of Beijings Pacific island diplomatic partners signed agreements on the BRI, with infrastructure development the main theme. Some have already started BRI projects.

In 2019, Siamelie Latu, secretary-general of the Tonga China Friendship Association and a former Tongan ambassador to China, announced that the Pacific China Friendship Association wasworking on a feasibility studyfor a regional airline to connect all Pacific Islands Forum countries with China.

FromKiribati, toVanuatu, toFrench Polynesia, China has repeatedly tried to gain access to militarily significant airfields and ports, all in the name of BRI. Beijing has established military cooperation relations with Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Tonga, and provided police support to Vanuatu and Solomon Islands,frequentlyin combination withhumanitarian aid activities. Just this week, China and Solomon Islands signed a security agreement, despite the protestations of the Australian and US governments.

China is rolling out the Digital Silk Road in the Pacific, using its Pacific embassies to set up ground stations for itsBeidou satellite navigation system. Meanwhile, China makes use of commercial operations for Beidou-equippedreference stationsin the Pacific. Ground stations and reference stations work together to provide centimeter-level accuracy for satellites. Beidou is Chinas GPS equivalent, and it is now on a par with, if not better than, GPS. Like GPS, its a military technology, crucial for missile targeting and timing.

The CCPs political interference and grey-zone activities aim to co-opt Oceanian political and economic elites and to access strategic information, sites and resources in the Southwest Pacific. The establishment of military installations in Oceania could substantially alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. It could cut off the Pacific island nations, Australia and New Zealand from the US and other partners, turning the region into a China-dominated vassal zone.

South Pacific leaders meet regularly to discusscollective securityandgeostrategicmattersin other words, joint concerns about China. However, their worries about this relationship are usually onlyhintedat and rarely madepublic, and their overriding priority tends to be development. China offers assistance with development projects but, unlike most donors, the loan must be paid back, with interest. The Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu all have crippling levels of debt to China.

Pacific island leaders tend to have a strong sense of history. Few would welcome dependency on China, or the Pacific turning into a Sinocentric order. Yet a degree of reactivity towards calls for vigilance about the CCPs malign activities is usually couched in anti-European, anti-colonial rhetoric.

Given the continued presence of historic colonial powers in the region, its been easy for some to conflate concern about the real dangers of CCP political interference and grey-zone activitieswhen expressed by Western actorswith neo-colonialism and calls ofwhataboutism.

This conflation plays into CCP narratives seeking to equate the party with the Chinese people, recasting any critique that its inherently racist. But imperial power and racism are by no means a monopoly of Western powers.

Theres real a danger that in their kneejerk response against Western colonialism, Pacific elites will embrace external domination in a new and more dangerous form. The air of schadenfreude that some segments of the Pacific elite display towards traditional Pacific powers will be a short-lived pleasure if they cant transcend this reactionism and recognize the need to plan a way forward in an era of dangerous strategic competition.

Perhaps surprisingly to some, the return of a more active role of the US, UK, Japan, India and the EU in the Pacific, and a resurgence of Australian, New Zealand and French presence and assistance, has beenappreciatedandwelcomedby many Pacific governments. But Pacific leaders want to be treated as equals, not pawns in an international power play, and not as somenameless group of islandsin a strategically important region. The US, EU and other partners need to take the time to better understand the individual countries of the Pacific, their histories and their concerns.

Its especially important that Pacific nations not just be the subject of analysis about CCP political interference in the region. They should be drawn into the international conversation. Pacific civil society must be engaged in this work too, not just governments. In many of the Pacific states, elements within the government are already compromised, and they will not welcome discussions on CCP political interference. Further, CCP united front work is often comingled into corruption and organized crime, which has entangled many political and policy actors, making raising the issues even more difficult.

Pacific journalists also needmore supportso they can do the due diligence that will enable a factual, informed, depoliticized and public conversation about the CCPs foreign interference activities in their respective states and territories.

Anne-Marie Bradyis a professor of Chinese domestic and foreign policy, New Zealand foreign policy, and Antarctic and Pacific politics at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. This article appears courtesy of The Strategist and may be found in its original form here.

The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Maritime Executive.

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From "Friendship" to Bases: China's Growing Influence in the Pacific - The Maritime Executive

OCEANIA Caritas Tonga: ‘Ashes everywhere, drinking water most urgent emergency’ – AsiaNews

Thanks to a satellite phone that arrived on site, the Caritas network of Oceania managed to re-establish communication with the workers in Tongatapu isolated after the eruption of the underwater volcano. The death toll of three people has been confirmed amidconcern about the fields being invaded by salt water, making it impossible to sow for months. Pre-prepared emergency kitsfrom Caritas New Zealand distributed.

Sidney (AsiaNews) - One week on from the eruption of an undersea volcano in the Oceanian archipelagoTonga - which setoff a tsunami, rain of ashes and enormous damage on January 15 - Caritas Tonga has managed to send its partners in Oceania first reports on thesituation.

The ship from Papua New Guinea has yet to arrive on site to begin the complex work of repairing the undersea cable normally used for communications, but a satellite network has been reactivated for the most urgent communications. While the airport runway has been cleared, allowing the first flights with international aid to arrive. This has also allowed the Caritas network in Oceania to get a better picture of the situation.

Dan Skehan of Caritas Australia says: "Thanks to a satellite phone provided by Caritas New Zealand and sent on site by the New Zealand army, the Catholic Relief Service was able to re-establish contact with Caritas Tonga. Local operators from Tongatapu have confirmed that ash is everywhere, power lines are not stable and there is no communication with the other offshore islands.

Tongatapu confirms that, for the moment, three people have been killed. Re-establishing contact with the other islands remains the first priority, along with the drinking water emergency, which the damage to the water network has made unavailable to at least 50,000 people. The people," Tongatapu reports, "are drinking only bottled water, but supplies will not last long. There is also concern about food supplies: in the worst affected areas, fields and crops have been destroyed and soil contamination caused by the salt water will make it impossible to plant new crops for at least three months. It is feared that fish may also have been contaminated by the volcano's eruption, which is why food is becoming scarce in shops.

Caritas Tonga - says a report on the situation released by Caritas Internationalis which has launched a fund raising campaign- had some stocks of basic necessities provided by Caritas New Zealand for possible emergencies and that are proving to be an important help for an isolated reality in the heart of the Ocean. These supplies also include a water purification system, jerrycans, buckets and hygiene kits, which workers are distributing to the coastal villages most affected by the tsunami waves. Five communities in particular also suffered serious damage to their homes, with 32 houses completely destroyed and another 72 with serious injuries.

For the emergency response - which are being coordinated by Caritas New Zealand - the ecclesial bodies of the region and the Catholic Relief Service have already allocated a total of over 18,000 euro. But in addition to the immediate intervention, stocks of essential materials, very important for a remote area like Tonga, will need to be restored.

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OCEANIA Caritas Tonga: 'Ashes everywhere, drinking water most urgent emergency' - AsiaNews

Tonga: Church in Oceania banding together to send aid – Vatican News

The Church in Papua New Guinea is collecting funds working with its partners across Oceania to send humanitarian aid to the tsunami-struck people of Tonga, according to Fr. Giorgio Licini.

By Devin Watkins

Emergency humanitarian aid has finally begun to reach Tonga in the wake of last Saturdays underwater volcanic eruption and tsunami, which devastated much of the Pacific island nation.

A navy ship from New Zealand unloaded life-saving water supplies on Friday, which were distributed across Tonga.

Besides potable water, the ship was carrying desalination equipment able to produce over 70,000 liters per day.

Volcanic ash blanketed most of Tongas islands, leading to fears that water supplies could be contaminated with heavy metals like arsenic and cadmium.

The Catholic Church across the region is also banding together to send humanitarian aid through local Caritas partners.

Fr. Giorgio Licini, the general secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea, spoke to Vatican News Alessandro Di Bussolo.

The Italian with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) said the national Caritas organizations in Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, and Papua New Guinea are coordinating their aid efforts.

He said financial resources are being gathered from those who are able to contribute and will be sent to the Caritas outfit in Tonga, which will decide how best to use the funds.

Fr. Licini added that the Churchs care will continue even after the initial emergency has passed.

He said assistance will be given to help rebuild infrastructure like schools and churches, as well as continued food aid and medicine supplies for those who need it.

Unfortunately, the connection with the islandsand the government and the Church evenis difficult because of technical problems, said Fr. Licini.

The lone underwater cable connecting Tonga to the internet was severed by the volcanic eruption last Saturday, and communication has been mainly through a few satellite phones.

As soon as the cable is repaired, we will probably have a better picture of the magnitude of the devastation, and most importantly what people actually need, he added.

Fr. Licini agreed that access to potable water could be the most severe problem facing residents of Tonga.

People on the archipelago rely heavily on rain for drinking water, he said, since many areas do not have ready access to springs or natural sources of water.

Many people will have to wait for the next rain to renew their supplies, said Fr. Licini. So, the provision of potable water and drinking water is most probably one of the emergencies in Tonga at the moment.

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Tonga: Church in Oceania banding together to send aid - Vatican News

Global Table Butter Market (2021 to 2026) – Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecasts – ResearchAndMarkets.com – Business Wire

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Table Butter Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2021-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

According to the report, the global table butter market reached a value of around US$ 44 Billion in 2020. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to grow at a CAGR of around 8% during the forecast period (2021-2026).

Companies Mentioned

Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic on different end use sectors. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor.

On a regional level, the report has analyzed the table butter market in the following regions - Asia, European Union, North America, Latin America, Oceania, Eastern Europe and others. According to the report, Asia is currently the biggest producer of butter followed by Western Europe, North America, Oceania and other regions. For each of the regions, this report provides both historical (2015-2020) and future (2021-2026) trends in the table butter market. Other important market engineering aspects such as the competitive landscape, margin analysis, import and export, porters five forces analysis, value chain analysis, etc. have also been thoroughly evaluated in this report.

The report also provides a detailed technical insight on setting up and operating a table butter manufacturing plant. This includes the manufacturing process, machinery requirements, land requirements, labour requirements, packaging requirements, transportation requirements, power requirements, incomes, expenditures, profit margins, NPV, IRR, etc. In order to provide a clearer picture, the report has also presented this information in the form of a dynamic excel model where users can analyse the entire information and also change various inputs according to their requirements.

The study, which has been done by one of the world's leading research and advisory firms, covers all the requisite aspects of the table butter industry. This ranges from macro overview of the market to micro details of the industry performance, manufacturing requirements, project cost, project funding, project economics, expected returns on investment, profit margins, etc. This report is a must-read for entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, consultants, business strategists, and all those who are planning to foray into the table butter industry in any manner.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Preface

2 Scope and Methodology

3 Executive Summary

4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.2 Key Industry Trends

5 Global Table Butter Industry

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.2.1 Volume Trends

5.2.2 Value Trends

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Price Trends

5.5 Market Breakup by Region

5.6 Market Forecast

5.7 SWOT Analysis

5.8 Value Chain Analysis

5.9 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

5.10 Key Success Factors and Risk Factors

6 Performance of Key Regions

7 Competitive Landscape

8 Table Butter Manufacturing Process

8.1 Product Overview

8.2 Detailed Process Flow

8.3 Various Types of Unit Operations Involved

8.4 Mass Balance and Raw Material Requirements

9 Project Details, Requirements and Costs Involved

9.1 Land Requirements and Expenditures

9.2 Construction Requirements and Expenditures

9.3 Plant Machinery

9.4 Machinery Pictures

9.5 Raw Material Requirements and Expenditures

9.6 Raw Material and Final Product Pictures

9.7 Packaging Requirements and Expenditures

9.8 Transportation Requirements and Expenditures

9.9 Utility Requirements and Expenditures

9.10 Manpower Requirements and Expenditures

9.11 Other Capital Investments

10 Loans and Financial Assistance

11 Project Economics

12 Key Player Profiles

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6nze2h

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Global Table Butter Market (2021 to 2026) - Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecasts - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Business Wire