Monthly Archives: May 2017

Aussies claim Oceania Beach Handball gold and silver – Australian Olympic Committee

Posted: May 9, 2017 at 3:53 pm

BEACH HANDBALL: The Australian boys have claimed the Oceania title and gold medal and our girls are runners up, taking a silver medal at the event in Raratoga in the Cook Islands between May 3-5.

Theboys have taken the title of Oceania Championships in their final against New Zealand. They won both periods (halves) of the match 2:0, with the first half 16:2 and the second 24:4. They were undefeated across the three days.

The final this afternoon was their second match of the day, having played American Samoa earlier in the semi-final.

Our U17 girls also made their way to the final undefeated, with two of the wins via penalty shoot outs. They played American Samoa. Rain and wind interrupted play with American Samoa ahead and this was the theme for the rest of the match when play resumed. This time American Samoa won both periods - 11:4 and 7:0.

In the Girls event, four teams were contesting the title American Samoa, Australia, the Cook Islands and Kiribati. The guys event had five teams with the addition of New Zealand.

Australian player Liam McCourt was awarded MVP for the boys and Stephanie Floor from American Samoa for the girls.

Both Australian teams making the finals, with the top two teams in each boys and girls qualifying for the U17 World Beach Handball Championships to be held in Mauritius in July. The event is also part of the qualification pathway for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

HANDBALL AUSTRALIA

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Aussies claim Oceania Beach Handball gold and silver - Australian Olympic Committee

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Port Launay: The Last Mangroves of the Seychelles – National Geographic

Posted: at 3:52 pm

When French settlers first arrived in the remote islands of the Seychelles, thick mangrove forests fringed the western shore of Mahe, the largest of the islands in the archipelago.

Inside the green coastal forests, giant crocodiles roamed through the tangled branches, as well as many species of fish, crab and birds. The woodlands were a paradise of diversity, and beyond the mangroves, a healthy and colourful coral reef ecosystem propagated.

But during french settlement in the late 17 and 18 00s, much of the mangrove forest was cleared to make way for development; houses, harbours and aquaculture. Today, one of the few mangrove forests on Mahe Island is found in a thin valley in the north of the Island called Port Launay, a Ramsar Site of International Importance.

This mangrove is one of the last and best-remaining mangrove in the Seychelles, Markus Ultsch-Unrath tells me as we paddle in a kayak along the tidal river the bisects the Port Launay mangrove forest, floating beside the tangled branches and mangrove trees that plunge into the muddy banks.

Markus is a sustainability manager at Constance Ephilia,a five star resort that surrounds the Port Launay wetland. Part of the responsibility of operating a hotel here is to ensurethis sensitive site is protected, and that it remains in a healthy condition.

After the paddle, Markus and I emerge in an open muddy clearing where a line of saplings grows under a wide shade cloth. This, he explains, is the lodges newly-constructed mangrove nursery. Its here where the Ephila team grow mangrove trees to make up for some of the losses that have occurred over the years, particularly in one area where gaps in the forest have been occurring.

The mangrove trees grow to a certain size in the nursery, and then the lodge teams plant them in the mud, with the hope that in time these barren areaswill be repopulated with trees.

Mangroves are one of the most underappreciated and important of the worlds forest ecosystems.

Thecoastal forests once occurred along the tropical and subtropical coasts of all the continents.

Over 80 species of mangrove trees have been described, and the trees are remarkably important to the functioning of the surrounding ecology. The forests are a home to numerous species of fish, bird and plant, and it is estimated that over 75 percent of commercially caught fish spend at least some time in the mangroves or depend on food webs that are associated with these coastal forests.

In addition, the roots filter fresh waterthat is washed down from theland and in doing so, they clean the silt has the potential to smother and kill coral reefs, trapping debris, rubbish, and pollution. This is why mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs are found together; because they are interconnected on an intricate level. The seagrass beds are the last line of defence against the harmful matter that isdestined to smother the reefs.

In return, the reefs generally protect the shore against strong ocean waves, allowing the underwater and above-water worlds co-exist.

The Port Launay wetland in Seychelles is just as important in terms of the functioning of the valley and the ocean. There are 7 species of Mangrove in Seychelles, and all seven species are found in this small wetland area, Marcus tells me.

It is remarkable how the trees are able to grow in such slaty water, he says. Salt water can kill plants, but mangroves have evolved a way to extract fresh water from the seawater by filtering out some 90 percent of the salt, and excreting the excess salt through glands in their leaves.

Marcuspoints out a massive bird-size bat flying over the forest. Thats a bat? I gasp, as the creature soars over us like an eagle. There are many fruit bats that frequent the forests of Port Launay, not to mention the endangered Seychelles Sheath-tailed bat that sometimes arrives in the area.

As we look down, a strange fish with eyes on the top of its head is flopping between the roots. This is a mudskipper,Marcus tells me. Found in most of the mangrove swamps around the world, this extraordinarily ambitious fish spends most of its time out of the water, using its pectoral fins to walk or skip on land, or climb the aerial roots of mangrove trees.

How do they do this?

They fill their cheek pouches with water, allowing their gills to function easily while they skip around the land, and between their funnel holes where they live.

As the afternoondescend overthe island, the rising tide steadily coversthe mangrove flats while crabs scuttle into their holes and the birds quietendown for the evening.

The mangroves of the Seychelles are a microcosm of some of the problems facing mangrove ecosystems globally.

Some estimates reckon that less than 50 percent of the worlds mangrove forests were intact by the end of the 20th century, covering three-quarters of the worlds tropical coastlines. Half of the remaining forests are in very poor condition. The coastal location of the forests has meant they have been cleared for farming and housing, as well as aquaculture in the form of shrimp farming.

As for the Seychelles, the crocodiles may be gone from the islands, but Port Launay remains one of the last pockets of mangrove forest left in the islands, and its a gentle and beautiful reminder of how fleeting wetlands can be, and how its important to leave at least a little space for these coastal forests to thrive.

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Port Launay: The Last Mangroves of the Seychelles - National Geographic

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eThink Education is looking to expand in the Caribbean and Nigeria – Technical.ly Baltimore

Posted: at 3:52 pm

After an agreement that helped it expand in the U.S. last year, eThink Education is moving into the Caribbean and Nigeria.

The Betamore-based edtech company provides hosting and services for Moodle, an open-source education platform. The company recently became a certified Moodle partner for the two international areas. eThink is the first and only company with that status in those regions.

Its a big step forward, said CEO Brian Carlson.

Moodle is a platform that helps schools, colleges and even companies organize learning materials online.

Where we come in as a provider of services is were bringing them a number of different strategies as well as technology to help them radically expand the footprint of how theyre using a digital learning platform to make learning more efficient, Carlson said.

The company identified the two regions for growth, and partnership status was officially reviewed and granted byMoodles headquarters in Australia. In theU.S., most schools already have a learning management system.The adoption is not as wide in the Caribbean and Nigeria, Carlson said.

In the Caribbean, eThink is seeking to help colleges more easily share course materials and collaborate through a learning network.

Over the last six months, Carlson said the company is also seeing growth with corporate clients. Companies seek to use Moodle when organizing onboarding of employees, as well as ongoing training.

The bootstrapped company has 24 employees, with many working at Betamore and others remotely. The company was founded by Carlson and Cheryl Patsavos in 2008, and has seen significant growth over the last three years.

Stephen Babcock is the lead reporter for Technical.ly Baltimore. A graduate of Northeastern University, he moved to Baltimore following a stint in New Orleans, where he served as managing editor of online news and culture publication NOLA Defender. While there, he also wrote for NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune. He was previously a reporter for the Rio Grande Sun of Northern New Mexico.

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eThink Education is looking to expand in the Caribbean and Nigeria - Technical.ly Baltimore

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Ten commonly asked first time Royal Caribbean cruise questions – Royal Caribbean Blog (blog)

Posted: at 3:52 pm


Royal Caribbean Blog (blog)
Ten commonly asked first time Royal Caribbean cruise questions
Royal Caribbean Blog (blog)
Are you about to go on your first Royal Caribbean cruise? If you answered yes, then very likely you have a lot of questions. You might have questions about concepts that are completely new to you, or you simply want verification about what to expect.
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all 59 news articles »

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Ten commonly asked first time Royal Caribbean cruise questions - Royal Caribbean Blog (blog)

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CARIBBEAN: Caribbean’s first online human rights database launched – St. Lucia News Online (press release)

Posted: at 3:52 pm

JAMAICA OBSERVER The regions first online database that will enable a standard system for capturing, collating and reporting human rights violations, has been launched.

Developed by the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC), the Shared Incident Database (SID) is an advanced, user-friendly, web-based technology that will strengthen evidence-based advocacy for more just policies and programmes in the Caribbeans HIV response.

The database will track incidents affecting key population groups which include those living the HIV, sex workers, drug users, transgender people, men who have sex with men, marginalised youth, migrants and inmates, who often encounter barriers to accessing health services and human rights protection.

According to CVC, the SID provides an integrated platform to record, analyse and exchange information to impact policy and programmes and will further empower individuals and civil society organisations to pursue redress including legal remedies where these are available.

The roll-out of the SID has met with enthusiastic response and already, in Jamaica, the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL), Jamaica Network for Seropositives (JN+) and the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) have trained and signed MoUs (Memoranda of Understanding) for the use of the database.

Last month, additional groups including Jamaicans For Justice, Eve for Life and Transwave were trained, and in the wider Caribbean, training has been done with groups in Belize, Guyana, Haiti and the Dominican Republic with Suriname and Trinidad to follow shortly.

Following recent talks, the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) has agreed to use the database to track incidence of stigma and discrimination as part the overall Strategic Framework for scaling up the response to HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean.

This will give significant expansion to the regional application and use of the database by governments and non-government organisations.

The SID is one of several interventions being implemented by CVC and Centro de Orientacion e Investigacion Integral (COIN) based in the Dominican Republic, as part of a three-year, CVC/COIN Caribbean Civil Society Grant funded by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The programme focuses on challenging stigma and discrimination to improve access to, and quality of, HIV services in the Caribbean.

This article was posted in its entirety as received by stlucianewsonline.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of stlucianewsonline.com, its sponsors or advertisers.

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CARIBBEAN: Caribbean's first online human rights database launched - St. Lucia News Online (press release)

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Blockchain event aboard Royal Caribbean cruise ship Anthem of the Seas – CoinDesk

Posted: at 3:52 pm

With millions of satisfied accounts holding customers and guest at previous events, CoinsBank is excited to announce a 1-month countdown to its 2017 annual event CoinsBank Blockchain Cruise.

Last year, CoinsBank event at the Turkish Riviera was a massive success.

Previous year event results brought much positive impact on blockchain industry. CoinsBank distinguishes itself not only by being a sound financial services provider but also as an industry leader offering education, training, and collaboration for and by industry leaders, partners, customers and blockchain enthusiasts.

The Blockchain Cruise will definitely change the vision of blockchain, and the future of money!

This will be a gathering of the finest minds on the planet on one of the biggest ships in the world and will depart from the aptly named, Cape Liberty Port, to make a difference in the world.

With port calls in Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Haiti, and St. Maarten, the voyage includes 2 full days of conferences, 4 days of incredible adventures, networking and traveling, 2 days of workshops and live entertainment every night! This extensive program makes CoinsBank Blockchain Cruise the major networking event in blockchain industry.

Leading experts from around the world will attend the Blockchain Cruise to share their experience in implementation of the best solutions in the blockchain global world. Guests will include the leaders of the blockchain industry, executives, startups, and developers and will discuss the latest trends in the growing financial technology atmosphere.

The hottest topics of the blockchain industry will be presented in 2-day conference program:

- blockchain and financial services;

- blockchain and card systems, payments revolution;

- energy trading and renewable energy;

- cryptocurrencies, Internet of Things (IoT) and much more.

Expect a week of inspiration, talks, panels, luxury entertainment, traveling and plenty of time to engage with attendees/speakers.

You definitely do not want to miss out on this EPIC networking event! Take the next step and climb aboard before its too late at http://www.coinsbank.com/cruise

For partnership and sponsorship issues please contact event manager at [emailprotected]

http://www.coinsbank.com/cruise

The publication of a press release on this page should not be viewed as an endorsement by CoinDesk. Customers should do their own research before investing funds in any company.

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Blockchain event aboard Royal Caribbean cruise ship Anthem of the Seas - CoinDesk

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Deal watch: A seven-night Caribbean cruise for $689 – USA TODAY

Posted: at 3:52 pm

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ShermansTravel.com 11:27 a.m. ET May 9, 2017

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Escape.(Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line)

The winter chills are gone and the sun keeps getting hotter. Defeat the heat lounging on the beaches of the Caribbean on a seven-night cruise with Norwegian. Enjoy your cozy cabin room while sailing through the U.S Virgin Islands and the Bahamas for just $689 per person. Book now and take advantage of Norwegians Free at Sea special, where you can choose from five upgrades including an unlimited open bar, specialty dining, shore excursion credit and more.

Travel on the Aug. 26 sailing at this rate. Many other dates available for slightly more.

Embark on your cruise from Miami and set sail for the Caribbean. Enjoy your time cruising on the Norwegian Escape by relaxing at one of the many entertainment lounges or testing your luck at the casino. In case you want to bring the little ones, theyll have a blast playing in that water park and enjoying the childrens clubs. Youll first arrive at St. Thomas, and be sure to book one of the snorkeling excursions to swim with the turtles. Or maybe you would prefer to swim with the dolphins in Tortola at your next port of call. Finish off your trip relaxing in Nassau before sailing back to Miami.

Book by May 31.

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Terms and conditions

Fares shown are in US dollars and are per person, based on double occupancy or as per the number of guests selected. Gov't Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses (where applicable) are additional. NCL reserves the right to charge a fuel supplement without prior notice should the closing price of West Texas Intermediate Fuel increase above $65 USD per barrel on the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index). In the event a fuel supplement is charged, NCL will have sole discretion to apply the supplementary charge to both existing and new bookings, regardless of whether such bookings have been paid in full. Such supplementary charges are not included in the cruise fare. The fuel supplement charge will not exceed $10.00 USD per passenger per day. Prices are based on availability and subject to change.

N/A # Guests: Stateroom type cannot accommodate the number of guests selected. You can lower the number of guests and book staterooms separately.

Rates shown on Insides, Oceanviews, Balconies, and Mini-Suites do not include Free at Sea offer.

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Deal watch: A seven-night Caribbean cruise for $689 - USA TODAY

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Donald Trump sells luxury Caribbean estate for a staggering 22 million – Express.co.uk

Posted: at 3:52 pm

TNI

The wealthy businessman bought Le Chateau des Palmiers - a walled compound on the north-western tip of French St Martin for a rumoured 15 million in 2013.

After using it mainly as a rental property, he has put it up for sale.

In a brochure for the property, he tells prospective buyers, Greetings from Donald J. Trump. Escape to a place no other.

The sprawling 4.8-acre estate on St Martin's Plum Bay includes two villas, one five-bedroom and another four-bedroom and several other buildings.

TNI PRESS

TNI PRESS

TNI PRESS

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Donald Trump puts his luxury Caribbean estate for sale for 22 million pounds

In total, the compound contains 11 bedrooms and 12 full bathrooms. The larger villa has a two-story master bedroom with a Jacuzzi bath tub and two private balconies. The smaller villa has several themed bedrooms, including the Jungle Room with a king-size bed.

The whole property is enclosed by an eight-feet boundary wall.

Rental packages for the president's tropical retreat start at $6,000 per night in the low season for the smaller of two villas and go up to a bank-busting $28,000-a-night during the winter holidays.

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Donald Trump sells luxury Caribbean estate for a staggering 22 million - Express.co.uk

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The best Caribbean island excursions for a dream luxury holiday – Mirror.co.uk

Posted: at 3:52 pm

When you think of a dream luxury holiday, what often springs to mind are pristine white sandy beaches, crystal-clear blue waters, and glorious sunshine.

And a trip to the Caribbean turns those dreams into a reality. After all, the region is renowned for its seriously breathtaking islands, lusciously green scenery and spectacular landscapes.

In fact, as well as being a hotspot for couples on romantic getaways and newlyweds on honeymoon, it's also a haven for the A-list including Beyonce and Jay Z , Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez , not to mention Prince Harry recently paid a visit for a royal tour of the area.

Now, Royal Caribbean have revealed how you can have your own A-lister worthy getaway, including the most amazing islands to visit, and the best things to see and do when you're there.

With summer just around the corner, we take a look at some of our favourites - get ready for a serious dose of travel inspiration...

Thanks to its half-French, half-Dutch island nations, this island has firmly established itself as the culinary capital of Caribbean.

Foodies regularly flock there to dine on some of the world-famous local delights including Codfish Fritters, Beef Patties and Sweet Potato Pudding, and of course its guavaberry cocktails which are perfect for sipping on during a lazy afternoon at one of the stunning bays.

The island is also home to 37 beautiful beaches with calm turquoise waters, and boasts over 50 incredible dive locations.

You can enjoy a SNUBA Adventure as part of your cruise, ideal for those who want to explore the sea but don't have a diving certificate.

For those wanting to take in the landscape, the Tall Ship Experience lets you sail the seas around the island to Maho Beach, not to mention you'll get the chance to navigate the ship yourself - and celebrate with a complimentary cocktail afterwards!

Brimming with natural wonders from tropical greenery to picturesque beaches and spectacular waterfalls, it's no wonder Jamaica continues to be a firm favourite as a dream holiday destination.

Music is at the heart of local culture - the island is famously the birthplace of a wealth of musical genres from reggae to ska - and the cuisine is unlike any other thanks to jerk cooking with spicy seasoning.

The historic town of Falmouth is definitely worth a visit, thanks to its stunning Georgian architecture, historical mills and sugar cane fields.

The Grand Jamaica: A Sensational Day tour takes you through Jamaica's agricultural roots at Brimmer Hall Estate, before heading off to sample iconic local dishes and enjoy some free time lazing on a beach or kayaking along the shore.

Meanwhile, you can take in the rich and scenic beauty of the landscape with a trip to Bamboo Beach on the Island Tour & Bamboo Beach Break excursion which also includes a scenic drive around St Ann's Bay where Christopher Columbus anchored when he first arrived on the island in 1494.

Carnivals, celebrations play a huge role in St. Kitt's vibrant festive culture, while cricket is a local obsession - sports fans should check out Warner Park to get in the heart of the action.

Meanwhile the landscape is filled with incredible sugar cane fields which cover so much land they've been nicknamed 'Sugar City'.

In fact, you can indulge your sweet tooth with a St Kitts Chocolate Experience , and discover the Sugar City's rich history before touring the island's first and only chocolate boutique. Of course, this includes sampling delicious confectionery and even having a go at creating your own!

Royal Caribbean offers cruises to Basseterre, one of the oldest Eastern Caribbean cities where you can explore ancient fortresses and historical plantations.

In fact, the Caribbean Plantation and Beach excursion includes a visit to the Clay Villa Plantation House, where you can wander around the tropical gardens and learn about the region's traditions, the family owners, their mementos and artefacts, island plants and uses, and wildlife rescue efforts.

This island paradise isn't just dazzling because of its dreamy beaches - it also boasts impressive jungle-covered cliffs, not to mention the history of the island itself is fascinating.

Venturing off-shore is a must to see the island in all of its glory - and look out for the shoals of colourful fish and quirky sea creatures that live in the surrounding tranquil waters.

The Caribbean Sail to Christmas & Honeymoon Coves excursion is the perfect way to discover sea turtles, tropical fish, and coral while anchored offshore in the waters of Christmas Cove.

You'll also sail to Water Island where you can relax on Honeymoon Beach, do more snorkelling and sit down to indulge with a freshly prepared Caribbean barbecue.

Meanwhile, holidaymakers hoping to bag a bargain will no doubt enjoy the Royal Caribbean cruise's stop at Charlotte Amelie, the capital city where you can pick up some brilliant mementos with budget-friendly prices.

You can see the full range of Caribbean itineraries on the Royal Caribbean website here .

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The best Caribbean island excursions for a dream luxury holiday - Mirror.co.uk

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Full tilt: giant offshore wind farm opens in North Sea – The Guardian

Posted: at 3:49 pm

The Dutch government has committed to getting 14% of energy from renewables by 2020. Photograph: AFP/Getty

Dutch officials have opened what is being billed as one of the worlds largest offshore wind farms, with 150 turbines spinning far out in the North Sea.

Over the next 15 years the Gemini windpark, which lies some 85km (53 miles) off the northern coast of the Netherlands, will meet the energy needs of about 1.5 million people.

At full tilt the windpark has a generating capacity of 600 megawatts and will help supply 785,000 Dutch households with renewable energy, according to the company.

We are now officially in the operational stage, the companys managing director Matthias Haag said, celebrating the completion of a project first conceived in 2010.

The 2.8bn ($3bn) project is a collaboration between the Canadian independent renewable energy company Northland Power, wind turbine manufacturer Siemens Wind Power, Dutch maritime contractor Van Oord and waste processing company HVC.

It was quite a complex undertaking, Haag said, particularly as this windpark lies relatively far offshore ... so it took quite a lot of logistics.

Gemini would contribute about 13% of the countrys total renewable energy supply and about 25% of its wind power, he added.

It would help reduce emissions of carbon-dioxide emissions, among the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, by 1.25m tonnes, the company says.

The Netherlands remains dependant on fossil fuels which still make up about 95% of its energy supply, according to a 2016 report from the ministry of economics affairs.

The Dutch government has committed to ensuring 14% of its energy comes from renewable sources such as wind and solar power by 2020, and 16% by 2023, with the aim of being carbon neutral by 2050.

Gemini is seen as a stepping stone in the Netherlands and has shown that a very large project can be built on time, and in a very safe environment, Haag said.

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Full tilt: giant offshore wind farm opens in North Sea - The Guardian

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