Category Archives: Oceania

Jasleen Saini, Avtar Singh and Tulika Maan will all be looking for good performances to boost their Olympic ranking points. Watch live!

Indian judokas will be looking to gather as many ranking points as possible at the Asia-Oceania Judo Championships 2021, which begins on Tuesday at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

The Asia-Oceania Senior Championships, organised by the International Judo Federation (IJF), will offer ranking points to qualify for Tokyo 2020.

The qualification rules state that the top 18 in the world across weight categories, as of June 28, 2021, will earn a direct spot in the Olympics.

Apart from the top 18, a continental ranking list will be prepared and the highest-ranked players on the list will be allowed an Olympics spot, subject to one player from each country in each weight category.

The Asia-Oceania Championships is the final event before the June 28, 2021 deadline for Indian judokas to stake their claim for moving up the ranking charts for Tokyo 2020.

There are no Indians in the top-18 in any weight category and they can only make the Tokyo Olympics through the continental quota. There are 10 spots available per weight category for both men and women in Asia.

As things stand, only Shushila Devi Likmabam (ranked 44th), who competes in the womens 48kg category, is eligible for a place at the Tokyo Olympics through the continental quota. Watch the Asia-Oceania Judo Championships live in India!

She will be looking to add some more ranking points at the Asia-Oceania Championships and solidify her position.

However, Rio 2016 Olympian Avtar Singh (61st in mens -100kg), Tulika Maan (58th in womens +78kg) and Jasleen Singh Saini (57th in mens 66kg) will all be looking to move up in their respective categories.

Over 200 judokas from 30 countries will compete in the tournament.

Men

60kg: Gulab Mohsin Ali

66kg: Nitin Chauhan, Jasleen Singh Saini

73kg: Pawan Kumar, Ajay Yadav

81kg: Divyanshu Puri

90kg: Karanjit Singh Maan

-100kg: Avtar Singh

+100kg: Karambir

Women

48kg: Shushila Devi Likmabam

52kg: Ritu Verma

57kg: Yamini Mourya

63kg: Unnati Sharma, Inunganbi Takhellambam

70kg: Garima Chaoudhary

-78kg: Indubala Devi Maibam

+78kg: Tulika Maan

All times are in India Standard Times (IST)

Tuesday, 6 April

Women: 48kg, 52kg, 57kg - 10:30 AM IST

Men: 60kg, 66kg - 10:30 AM IST

Wednesday, 7 April

Women: 63kg, 70kg - 11:30 AM IST

Men: 73kg, 81kg - 11:30 AM IST

Thursday, 8 April

Women: 78kg, +78kg - 11:30 AM IST

Men: 90kg, 100kg, +100kg - 11:30 AM IST

Friday, 9 April

Mixed team competition - 10:30 AM IST

Live streaming of the Asia-Oceania Judo Championships in India will be available on the official YouTube channel of the Judo Union of Asia.

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Asia-Oceania Judo Championships: Know the Indian squad, get schedule and watch live streaming in India - Olympic Channel

It may just be coincidence that Russia was piling military pressure on Ukraine last week at the same time as China noisily rattled sabres around Taiwan. Spring, to mangle Tennyson, is when a young mans fancy turns to war and that twisted maxim may even apply to ageing thugs such as Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.

Russia and China are moving into ever closer alliance. While there is no evidence of direct collusion over Ukraine and Taiwan, presidents Putin and Xi are doubtless fully aware of each others actions, which have an identical, mutually reinforcing effect: putting the wind up Joe Bidens untested US administration.

Whats now unfolding could be portrayed as the ultimate fulfilment of George Orwells nightmarish vision, in his dystopian novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four, of a world divided geographically, politically and militarily into three rival super-states: Oceania (North America plus Britain), Eurasia (Russia and Europe), and Eastasia (China).

Publication of Orwells book in 1949 coincided with the formation of the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) and the emergence of Joseph Stalins Soviet Union as a nuclear-armed power. It also saw the proclamation of the Peoples Republic of China by Mao Zedong. Yet these were early days.

Orwells prediction of an endless, three-way global confrontation proved premature. China needed time to develop. The Soviet Union eventually imploded. The US, declaring a unipolar moment, claimed victory. Yet today, by some measures, Orwells tripartite world is finally coming into being. 2021 is the new 1984.

If China and Russia are presently ganging up on the US and its satraps, thats par for the course in a world where no one superpower is allowed to dominate the other two. In 1972, Richard Nixon sought Chinas help against the Soviets. Maybe the US and Russia will one day combine against Beijing. As Meat Loaf sings it, two out of three aint bad.

Advocates of a multipolar world will say this is too simplistic, and that the strategic balance is more subtle and complex. Tell that to people in Ukraines eastern Donbas region and occupied Crimea, who face a deeply unsubtle Russian military build-up along the line of contact.

The consensus among analysts is that Putin is not about to invade. So what is he up to? Apologists suggest he was provoked by a Ukrainian decree last month declaring the re-taking of Crimea, seized by Russia in 2014, to be an official government objective and by renewed talk of Ukraine joining Nato.

A more banal explanation is that Moscow is pressurising Kiev to break the stalemate in the so-called Minsk peace process after the latest Donbas ceasefire collapsed. Putin enjoyed a big, but fleeting, ratings boost after Crimeas annexation. Last month, he used a lavish televised rally marking its seventh anniversary to recapture lost popularity.

It seems he failed. Russians are preoccupied with the coronavirus pandemic (and the incompetent official response), falling incomes, and a worsening socio-economic outlook. More than ever, Putins Soviet empire restoration project appears irrelevant, especially to younger people.

Putin is under fire at home from supporters of the much-persecuted opposition activist, Alexei Navalny, and over corruption allegations. Only 32% of Russians trust their president, according to a recent Levada Center poll. Seen this way, the Ukraine build-up looks like a calculated distraction for domestic political purposes.

Yet Putin may also be deliberately testing US and European resolve. He will not have forgotten how George W Bush pledged undying support to Georgias newly democratic government in 2005, then ducked out when war erupted with Russia in 2008.

As analyst Ted Galen Carpenter noted last week, Bidens White House has likewise affirmed unwavering US support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russias ongoing aggression in the Donbas and Crimea. This looks, at best, like a hostage to fortune, and at worst, a cruel deception.

The parallels between Washingtons excessive encouragement of Ukraine and Bushs blunder with respect to Georgia are eerie and alarming, Carpenter wrote. The US and Nato would no more go to war with Russia over eastern Ukraine than they would to save South Ossetia, he suggested. And if they did, well, thats world war three right there.

This is where truly global danger lies in the hazy gap between words and deeds in the intensifying trilateral struggle between superpowers. Will Putin, goaded by Bidens killer insult and numerous intractable disputes, call the US presidents bluff? On the other side of the world, will Xi?

Chinas surly leader looks like a man prone to brooding. He has suffered many slights at the hands of the west, including accusations of genocide in Xinjiang, brutality in Hong Kong, and aggression in the seas around China. What drives him now as his forces besiege Taiwan?

One answer is that Xi may also hope to divert attention from domestic problems. Maybe he faces unseen challenges within Chinas communist party. More probably, he would like to mark Julys centenary of the founding of the CCP by finally conquering what was the last redoubt of Chiang Kai-sheks nationalists.

Taiwan reunification would seal Xis legacy. Ever closer personal, strategic and military ties with Putins Russia mean that he would face no pushback from that quarter, and some applause. The Taiwanese vow to fight, but cannot prevail alone. Only the Americans really stand in his way.

Is Xi simply trolling the Washington proles? Or will he defy them and make a move on Taiwan soon? The Orwellian nightmare for Biden and the west would be a simultaneous Russian invasion of Ukraine and a Chinese attack on Taiwan.

Oceanias choice: a war on two fronts, or humiliation all round. Welcome to Winstons world.

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China v Russia v America: is 2021 the year Orwells 1984 comes true? - The Guardian

Global citizens are proving that the current pandemic is only intensifying the desire to travel once the green light is given. Not only that, the desire to experience luxury travel in exclusive settings is building up into a crescendo. The record-setting single-day sell-out of Oceania Cruises 2023 Around the World in 180 Days voyage was proof of that. Seasoned travellers will know that during these pandemic times, it is wise to travel with a cruise line that is reputed for high-end cruise experiences accompanied by uncompromising standards and service, not to mention exceptional on-board amenities and facilities that uphold the pristine conditions that Covid times demand.

Oceania Cruises has now opened for booking 127 inspiring late-2022 and early-2023 voyages. These journeys cater to flexible schedules with a range of itineraries ranging from 7 to 77, cruising to exotic destinations that will take ones breath away, whether its the allure of Tahiti and the islands of French Polynesia, or South America which takes centre stage this season with its vibrant cities of Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires and the wild appeal of the Amazon. Featuring 272 ports of call and 284 overnight or multi-day stays, these itineraries will offer passengers many tempting options that meet their expectations for a rich and diverse experience.

A cruise with Oceania Cruises is special, with the high points of your experience beginning the moment you step on board its ships. Oceanias on-board restaurants provide impeccable fine dining experiences and serve sumptuous cuisines by a team of chefs headed by world-renowned Executive Culinary Director Jacques Pepin. Satiate your appetites with Toscanas authentic Italian classics; Polo Grills succulent steaks; Jacques Parisian bistro favourites; The Grand Dining Rooms refined Continental cuisine and gourmet vegan delights; or Red Gingers bold Asian flavours. The epicurean will enjoy these memorable dining experiences at any time they wish with open seating and no dining surcharges. For an exclusive and private evening, Marina and Rivieras La Reserve by Wine Spectator will enscounce up to 24 bon vivants in a cosy ambience with private vintage wine pairings for their exclusive dinner.

From dining to cooking, the cruise lines Culinary Centre also engages epicureans with classes conducted in a state-of-the-art teaching kitchen with fully equipped workstations. Participants gain a deeper appreciation of the seasonal produce at respective destinations when they accompany chefs in shopping excursions at local markets as part of Oceania Cruises Culinary Discovery Tours. Epicureans will discover the satisfaction of eating farm-to-table whether its exploring a fish market in Rio de Janeiro or a winery in Madeira.

Oceania Cruises incomparable crew is on hand to ensure that passengers enjoy a five-star hotel-at-sea experience in all aspects, both off-shore and on-board. Its staff-to-guest ratio is an impressive 1 to 1.6, but most importantly, its the calibre of its front-line crew, from the butlers and concierges to the suite and statement attendants, that make all the difference.

Find out more about Oceania Cruises 2022-2023 Tropics & Exotics Collection here or call +65 6225 1322.

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Quote EPICURE to enjoy up to US$300 on-board credit per cabin for bookings made before 31 May 2021

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Experience the tropics and exotics - epicureasia.com

The Fast Retailing Group reported a decline in revenue but a large jump in profits in the first half of fiscal 2021 with consolidated revenue totalling 1.2028 trillion yen, down 0.5 percent and operating profit rising to 167.9 billion yen, up 22.9 percent. The company said in a release that rise in profit can be attributed primarily to large increases in profit from Uniqlo Japan and Greater China including Mainland China market, Hong Kong market, and Taiwan. Uniqlo Japans March same-store sales including online sales increased by 40.2 percent, while total sales including online sales increased by 41.5 percent.

On the other hand, due to severe impact of Covid-19, Uniqlo South Asia, Southeast Asia & Oceania (Southeast Asia, Australia, and India), Uniqlo North America, Uniqlo Europe regions and the companys Global Brands segment reported considerable declines in both revenue and profit. The first-half consolidated gross profit margin improved by 2.2 points to 49.9 percent, while first-half pre-tax profit rose to 171.4 billion yen, up 13.7 percent and profit attributable to owners of the parent rose to 105.8 billion yen, up 5.4 percent.

Uniqlo Japan revenue expanded to 492.5 billion yen, up 6.2 percent and operating profit rose to 97.8 billion yen, up 36.6 percent, while first half same-store sales increased by 5.6 percent due to strong sales of products such as loungewear and Heattech blankets as well as buoyant sales of core fall winter items along with ultra stretch active jogger pants and other items in the sport utility wear range.

The companys online sales rose to 73.8 billion yen, up 40.5 percent in the first half. Uniqlo Japans first-half gross profit margin improved by 2.9 points to 50.7 percent.

Revenues at Uniqlo International dropped to 521.8 billion yen, down 3.6 percent and operating profit rose to 67 billion yen, up 25.9 percent. Uniqlo Europe and North America saw sales struggle in the face of severe Covid-19 conditions, but performance in East Asia was broadly strong. The Greater China region reported large rises in both revenue and profit as the Mainland China market along with the Taiwan market and the Hong Kong market witnessed further improvements in profits. Uniqlo Greater Chinas gross profit margin improved by 4.7 points, while the South Korean operation posted a slight operating profit compared to an operating loss in the previous year.

Uniqlo South East Asia & Oceania reported sharp declines in both revenue and profit as the operation was adversely impacted by temporary store closures and restrictions on movement caused by Covid-19. However, Vietnam reported ongoing strong sales and a large rise in profits. Uniqlo USA reported a large decline in revenue and a larger operating loss, and Uniqlo Europe also reported large declines in both revenue and profit in the first half. However, Russia achieved double-digit growth in same-store sales and a large rise in operating profit as stores were not required to close temporarily in that market and sales of winter items proved strong.

The GU business segment achieved a steady year-on-year performance in the first half, with revenue totalling 132.6 billion yen, up 0.3 percent and operating profit standing at 15.8 billion yen, up 0.4 percent. The company added that first-half same-store sales held steady due to strong sales of the sweat-style knitwear, double-faced sweatshirts, and loungewear and other items that satisfied customer demand for stay-at-home clothing.

Global Brands revenue declined to 54.5 billion yen, down 22.2 percent and the segment generated an operating loss of 8.1 billion yen compared to a 0.7 billion yen profit recorded in the first half of fiscal 2020. Theory fashion label reported large declines in both revenue and profit as performance worsened in the United States and Japan in the face of Covid-19, while Japan-based PLST brand reported a large decline in revenue and a slight operating loss following a reduction in customer visits primarily in urban areas. France-based Comptoir des Cotonniers brand reported a large decline in revenue and a wider operating loss on the back of temporary store closures.

Image: Uniqlo website

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Fast Retailing reports 22.9 percent increase in H1 profit - FashionUnited UK

By Clinton Moodley 2h ago

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World cruises are selling out fast, with travellers booking their trip a year or two in advance.

These luxury cruises showcase captivating itineraries, bespoke amenities and state-of-the-art activities to entice all ages. Cruise companies are also prioritising top-of-the-range dining and beverage offerings to cater to all types of diets.

Despite the concern over Covid-19, most 2022/23 world cruises featuring itineraries boasting 111 days and more have sold out.

Companies like Viking Cruises sold out their world cruises in a matter of weeks.

Their 2022-2023 Viking World Cruise is 138 days and takes in 28 countries, 58 ports and overnight stays in 11 cities.

Chairman of Viking Cruises Torstein Hagen said their world cruise would allow explorers to circumnavigate the world in comfort.

World cruises are truly special voyages and are one of our most sought-after offerings. Our 2021-2022 world cruise sold out more than a year in advance, which speaks to the enthusiasm of our guests as they look forward to the return of international travel, Hagen said.

Oceania Cruises unveiled its 2023 Around The World in 180 Days voyage earlier this year. The cruise, which departs San Francisco on January 15, 2023, allows guests to experience 96 fascinating destinations in 33 countries spanning four continents.

Guests will cruise on the 684-guest Insignia with a myriad of in-depth and immersive experiences and multi-day stays in 20 ports of call in South America, Africa, Asia, Alaska and Antarctica. The itinerary provides access to more than 60 Unesco World Heritage sites.

MSC World Cruise will embark on a 117-day journey visiting 24 countries in 2022, including Italy, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Australia, Vanuatu, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India and Jordan.

Silversea Tale of Tales World Cruise 2022 itinerary weaves together a story of magnificently contrasting destinations, from Turkey to South Africa, from South Georgia Island to the Seychelles. The 138-day trip includes six continents and 32 countries. South Africa, Seychelles and Jordan are among the destinations.

Mass appeal

Bernard Carter, senior vice-president and managing director: Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Oceania Cruises, said the bookings for 2022 and 2023 itineraries underscores the extraordinary demand for long and exotic cruise vacations.

He said guests were eager to explore. They are booking in advance to ensure their travel dreams are fulfilled. For many, a world cruise is on their travel bucket list. Being able to book our remarkable 180-day voyage, as something to look forward to, is a fantastic way of whetting their appetite for travel. We cant wait for the world to open up again so we can be back on board our home-away-from-home, Carter said.

Nick Wilkinson, regional vice-president: business development Middle East and Africa at Norwegian Cruise Line, said the company had seen a growing interest in longer and more exotic itineraries in 2022 and 2023. While we dont sell world cruises per se, we offer guests a selection of itineraries that call to more than 300 destinations. Rather than providing our guests with a set world cruise, we offer them the flexibility to tailor-make their own world cruise by adding a few of their favourite itineraries together and even adding stays on land in between their cruises, Wilkinson said.

Price tag

World cruises are not cheap, but they do offer value for money.

Vikings world cruise starts from $54995 (about R808000), including ground transfers to and from the ship, all on-board gratuities and service fees, Silver Spirits beverage package, including virtually all drinks on board, complimentary visa service and free luggage shipping services for embarkation.

Oceania Cruises charge $42899 (about R630 000) inclusive of 62 shore excursions and a beverage package.

MSC Cruises world cruises starts from $15549 (about R232000), inclusive of 15 shore excursions and a dine-and-drink package with house wines, draught beer and a selection of other drinks during lunch and dinner.

Silversea world cruises start from $89100 (about R1.3million), including one shore excursion per port, exclusive world cruise events, unlimited wi-fi and medical service.

What you should know before you book

Cruise passengers need to read the terms and conditions in detail. Find out about the cancellation policy, Covid-19 regulations and other vital information before you decide to travel.

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Fancy a cruise around the world? That will cost you R1.3m - IOL

MIES (Switzerland) - FIBA has announced an experienced lineup of referees, with the highest number of women referees to date, to officiate this summer'supcomingtournaments.

Forthe first time ever, women have been nominated to officiate at the FIBAU19 Basketball World Cup in Latvia, which will take place from July 3 to 11 in the cities of Riga and Daugavpils. Eight women referees will work at the tournament,while 12 female referees will be at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary (August 7-15). The number of nominated female referees for both combinations - 20 out of the 56 - is the biggest that it has ever been.

Thefactthat women referees will have a prominent rolethis summeris evidence that FIBA is acting onone of its main strategic focus areas for 2019-2023,Women in Basketball,which has the specific aim to develop and leverage female coaches and officials.

There will be also female commissioners and referee instructors at the Tokyo2020Olympic Basketball Tournaments, thefourFIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournamentsand both FIBA U19 Basketball World Cups.

It is also noted that the FIBA Women's U19 Basketball World Cupwill have a diversified group of referees with all of them coming from 28 different National Federations.

FIBA has also selected the 30 referees who will be officiating at theOlympic Basketball Tournaments in Tokyo,all of whom have refereedat past major events such as FIBA Basketball World Cups and Olympic Games. Thelist of referees,below,which includes both men and women, represent 23 Federations,comingfrom Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.

TheMens Olympic Basketball Tournamenttakes placefrom July 25 and goes through until August 7, while theWomens Olympic Basketball Tournamenttips off July 26 and concludes August 8.

Twenty-four of the men that will referee at the Olympics officiated at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China while all the male referees that will be in Tokyo worked as officials during 2017-2020 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, FIBA Continental Qualifiers and the respective FIBA Continental Cups.

The five females have officiated at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2020, and four out of the five officiated at the FIBA Women's World Cup 2018 in Tenerife, Spain.Also, all five women referees officiate men's games on the national level and have refereedin recent years in the final stages of the FIBA Women's Continental Cups.

This pool of referees will be part of this summer's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in Canada, Croatia, Lithuania and Serbia, as well as the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2021 officiating teams, in the lead-up to the highly anticipated Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

FIBA

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Record number of women to referee major FIBA events this summer - FIBA

Forget mass tours and discover the heart and soul of destinations with exclusive small-group experiences

Were not here for the kind of crowded, impersonal tours where your guide has to wave an umbrella in the air so you can follow them, and youre beset with back-to-school nerves when you want to ask a question in front of a big group. You can always look it up later, right? Well, this is where Oceania Cruises reigns supreme.

The brand offers three unique types of shore excursion during port days, all with one thing in common beautifully relaxed, small-group settings. So, whether you fancy delving into local wellness rituals, natural history or delicious cuisine, theres no chance of feeling like youre scurrying after the Pied Piper as you try to keep up with a rushing guide.

Forget tours where no one takes the time to learn your name. Theres nothing quite like strolling the streets with someone who feels like a friend. Someone who has a personal connection with the area, and has all the time and knowledge in the world to fill you in on local culture and customs, beyond the surface facts and figures. Chat away, linger over the things that interest you most, and relax knowing that youll never be hustled onto the next attraction before youre ready. Heres everything you need to know about Oceania Cruises three unique shore excursion varieties:

Oceania Cruises has a glowing reputation for wellness, shining a spotlight on health, balance and truly nourishing food across its elegant fleet. Not only does the cruise line offer the most extensive plant-based menu at sea and top-to-toe life-affirming treatments like bamboo massage therapies in its sensual Aquamar Spa and Vitality Center, but it also extends this mindful practice to its shore excursions. These extraordinary 'Wellness Tours' are worlds apart from cookie-cutter tourist tours. Try reflexology as you float down the river on a traditional rice barge in Bangkok, Thailand; enjoy a meditation session with a Buddhist monk in Colombo, Sri Lanka; learn about traditional Chinese medicine in Hong Kong or sink into a volcanic thermal bath in Naples.

We especially love the idea of virtuous yoga followed by indulgent wine-tasting in Santorini (now thats what we call real life balance), and practicing the gentle art of Tai Chi against a backdrop of glinting gilded temples in Yangon, Mynanmar. Sounding good? Imagine hiking up a glacier in the fjords of Ushuaia, Argentina for sweeping views of the snow-capped Andes before stopping by a mountain stream for a meditation session, serenaded by the calming sounds of trickling water. After descending the glacier trail, youll warm up with a steaming drink in a snug teahouse hidden in the forest.

Are you looking to get more hands-on? Why not take part in a workshop revealing the healing properties of aloe vera in Lanzarote, using the ingredient to make soothing face creams and rejuvenating scrubs? Whichever excursion you choose, youll return to your ship feeling restored and inspired rather than frazzled. Namaste.

Sometimes, its not enough to simply observe local life. You want to jump right in and have a go yourself, which is where Oceania Cruises exclusive Go Local tours come in. These fantastic immersive excursions invite you to embed yourself in the fabric of the local communities you visit, so therell be no more standing on the sidelines. On more than 120 tours across Europe, Alaska and South America, youll be welcomed into homes and businesses, engaging with local artisans, craftsmen, religious figures and more, to experience the destination on an entirely new level. How about becoming a shepherd for a day in French Basque Country? Guests can accompany a shepherd and take part in his daily tasks, learning how to milk and care for indigenous Laxta sheep, for a candid and fascinating experience.

Or you may prefer to hop on board a traditional fishing boat and go fishing with local fishermen in Portofino. Oceania guests can watch the crew haul in the days catch, using nets and traditional palamiti long fishing lines with hundreds of hooks while the crew describe a typical day on the Ligurian Sea, before dining on your haul of mackerel, bream and mullet, freshly prepared onboard your boat. Alternatively, why not get crafty and spend the day with a traditional mask-maker in Galle, Sri Lanka? Youll watch him carve the distinctive masks used in many local rituals, before creating your own under his watchful eye and enjoying a masked performer carrying out a devil dance used to banish illnesses. Now doesnt that kick an open-top bus tour into touch?

If your favourite part of any holiday is food (no judgement here) then youre bound to love the collection of exclusive Culinary Discovery Tours onboard Marina and Riviera, which offer an insiders take on the local food scene. Explore colourful traditional markets, dine at renowned restaurants and inside local homes and learn the secrets of authentic local cuisine, getting hands-on in kitchens. Whether its joining a cooking demonstration at a Venetian master chefs private villa or travelling off the beaten path to tropical plantations on a French Polynesian island, Oceania Cruises connects you with the finest ingredients wherever you travel. Better yet, youll be accompanied all the way by a talented Chef Instructor from The Culinary Center on your ship wholl be your go-between, bridging the gap between guests with esteemed local culinary figures.

Join an 'Island Spices and Cooking Tour' in St Lucia, during which youll prepare authentic Saint Lucian cuisine, learning how each dish is the result of Creole, French and West Indies influences over the centuries. Or learn how to barbecue like a pro during a 'Uruguayan Cooking Experience' in the port city of Montevideo. Youll find out about different Uruguayan cuts of meat and acquire secret techniques for grilling it on a traditional outdoor barbecue, before enjoying your spoils with the wine from a local vineyard.

Best of all, you can hone all your newfound skills back on board in The Culinary Center, where classes and demonstrations continue throughout your voyage.

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Oceania Cruises: Three Types of Shore Excursion You Simply Must Try - World of Cruising

From Vietnamese noodle salads to Hawaiian poke bowls, falafel fritters and more smoothies than you can shake a fruit corer at, vegetarians and health-conscious cruisers alike can enjoy countless plant-based delicacies

Its no secret that Oceania Cruises has been spearheading the wellness movement in the cruising world for some time now. The brand has a long-standing reputation for focusing on health, balance and fitness, and how we eat undoubtedly plays a key part in living well.

Following the popular expansion of the brands vegetarian and gluten-free dining offerings across its fleet, Oceania Cruises innovative Wellness Ships have established the most extensive plant-based menu at sea as part of their latest OceaniaNEXT venture.

Featuring more than 200 new vegetarian and vegan options, plant-based menu choices will be available at breakfast, lunch and dinner in The Grand Dining Room and Terrace Caf, as well as on request in each of the specialty restaurants across the stylish fleet. Theyre not playing at virtuosity either, with the level of choice truly staggering, encompassing elements of Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican and Malaysian cuisines. There are healthy poke bowls, hearty veggie pastas, light salads and soups and even downright decadent items including an 'Impossible Cheeseburger' and truffle mac and cheese.

'These new plant-based options are flavourful, colourful, bold, and creative. Our choice of menus reflects our guests evolving palates and a heightened focus on wellness while balancing out our more decadent and extravagant dishes,' said Bob Binder, president and CEO of Oceania Cruises.

And if you think healthy living is all chakra cleansing, hemp and woven sandals, think again. Oceania Cruises is ushering wellness firmly into a modern era aboard its luxurious, intimate ships. The sensual Aquamar Spa and Vitality Center aims to enrich, nourish and energise guests from top to toe with indulgent, life-affirming treatments like bamboo massage therapies and restorative salt stone experiences, while mineralising wraps bursting with fragrant sea lavender and samphire relax the mind and detox the body.

Acupuncture by trained practitioners can help with pain management, insomnia or anxiety, and complimentary fitness classes like pilates, yoga flow vinyasa and sunrise stretching encourage gentle movement.

Moreover, Oceania Cruises extends this practice of living well with affiliated Aquamar Vitality Cuisine found in the Grand Dining Room on board all ships. Start the day right with avocado on toast or banana-oatmeal pancakes with berries and maple syrup, feast on a tasty light lunch of wakame sesame salad, watermelon gazpacho or Korean kimchi soup, and tuck into a sweet potato tart jazzed up with forest mushrooms and plant-based Truffle Cheddar sauce or a green curry stir fry zinging with Thai basil for dinner.

Created using only the freshest, highest-quality ingredients and whole foods, the extensive new array of gourmet plant-based dishes puts paid to the notion of having to endure the same single veggie dish every night of your trip. And means you can afford to sink a few more cocktails at the bar, all in the name of balance of course.

You wouldnt want to be too worthy on your cruise youre on holiday after all. This is why we highly recommend giving the dessert menu a thorough going-over. Try the delightfully naughty vodka-marinated strawberries with a big dollop of plant-based vanilla ice cream. Or faceplant into apple-oatmeal crumble, coco-vanilla cashew crme brulee or crumbly shortbread smeared with plant-based orange cream cheese and fresh raspberries. Yum.

Swapped breakfast for a well-earned lie-in? No problem. Every day until 11am you can swing by the Raw Juice and Smoothie Bar the only one of its kind at sea out on the pool deck for a refreshing, cold-pressed juice or vegan smoothie packed with vitamins and other goodies. Try the super refreshing 'Rise & Shine' with freshly pressed orange, carrot, apple and beet juices with ginger and turmeric, or sneak in a chia cashew yogurt bowl or an Acai berry bowl with homemade cashew milk.

Oceania Cruises is committed to furthering guests self-discovery beyond the blissful sanctuary of its ships, which is why it offers more than 50 exclusive shore excursions that reveal timeless wellness practices of communities around the world. From ancient mineral baths near Rome to a traditional teahouse in Myanmar, Aquamar Wellness Discovery Tours are a window into each incredible destination.

Enjoy the ancient practice of reflexology in Thailand as you sail the Chao Phraya River on a wooden rice barge. Enjoy an enlightening Ayurveda consultation in Mangalore, India, for a glimpse into this healing ritual born more than 3,000 years ago. Or discover the wonders of Apitherapy, which embraces the many benefits of honey products, on a visit to a beekeeping farm in Seville, Spain. Youll learn why not only raw honey is used but also pollen, royal jelly and even bee venom to promote well-being. Namaste.

Visit oceaniacruises.com for more information.

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Oceania Cruises Kickstarts a New Era of Wellness with the Biggest - World of Cruising

Oceania announced the successful completion of the Placement yesterday (24 March 2021). The Placement of NZ$80 million of new, fully paid ordinary shares was fully subscribed at the fixed price of NZ$1.30 per share, which represented a discount of 6.5% to the last close price of NZ$1.39 per share on 22 March 2021 and a discount of 8.1% to the five-day volume weighted average price of NZ$1.41 (assessed up to and including 22 March 2021). Settlement of the Placement is expected to occur tomorrow (26 March 2021) for the ASX and on 29 March 2021 for NZX, with the allotment of all shares and the commencement of trading on NZX and ASX expected to occur on 29 March 2021.

Under the Retail Offer, each person who was recorded in Oceanias share register as being a registered holder of Shares and having an address in New Zealand as at 7:00pm (NZDT) on the record date of 22 March 2021 can subscribe for up to NZ$50,000 worth of new ordinary shares in Oceania (Shares). The offer price of the Shares will be the lower of the Placement offer price of NZ$1.30 and a 2.5% discount to the five-day volume weighted average price of Oceania shares traded on the NZX over the five business day period prior to, and including, the closing date of the Retail Offer. The new Shares to be issued under the Retail Offer will rank equally in all respects with Oceanias existing ordinary shares on issue.

The Retail Offer has been designed so that most eligible shareholders have the potential to preserve their current relative shareholding, if they choose to participate. If scaling of the Retail Offer is required, it will be done having regard to shareholders existing shareholdings at 7.00pm (NZDT) on the record date of 22 March 2021.

A Retail Offer booklet, together with an application form, will be sent or made available to eligible New Zealand shareholders today and will also be available to those eligible shareholders at http://www.shareoffer.co.nz/oceaniahealthcare from today. All eligible shareholders are encouraged to visit that website and apply online before the closing date at 5.00pm (NZST) on Monday, 12 April 2021.

Please see the links below for details:

Retail Offer Open Announcement

Retail Offer - Offer Document

Source: Oceania Healthcare Limited

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As levels of obesity and overweight increase, so too does pressure on food manufacturers to improve the nutritional profile of their products.

In the UK, the government has responded to growing health concerns by setting voluntary salt and sugar reduction targets.

Breakfast cereal is one category leading the charge, having already achieved its target of cutting sugar content by 20%. In Public Health Englands (PHE) three-year report on progress in the sugar reduction programme, cereals were called out as one of two product categories that have shown the greatest progress in sugar reduction, said Gharry Eccles, Vice President UK and Oceania of Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW).

The company a joint venture between Nestl and General Mills has itself achieved approximately 20% reduction in sugar across its products since 2010, and has so far reduced salt levels by 25% since 2003.

Weve done this through gradual reduction, ensuring that the quality and flavour is maintained and that consumers stay with us on the journey, said Eccles at the FoodNavigator 2021 Digital Summit: Positive Nutrition.

Yet CPW has not taken a purely reductionist approach to production renovation. Fortification is also integral to its strategy, the executive explained.

Nine out of 10 consumers want to eat more healthily. In order to meet those consumer needs, I believe you have to operate a dual strategy that is both reductionist and increasing, said Eccles.

Indeed, the JV has not just reduced salt and sugar, but has simultaneously increased the whole grain content of its cereals.

The health benefits of whole grains are widely acknowledged. Containing essential vitamins and micronutrients, regular whole grain consumption has been associated with a 30% reduced risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes in people who consume them as a part of a low-fat diet.

Whole grains are pretty powerful stuff, said Eccles at the event last week, adding that eating cereal with whole grain is also an easy way to boost fibre intake.

The majority of people in the UK arent consuming enough fibre. For adults, the recommended average intake is 30g per day. However, on average, men consume just 17g per day, and women only two-thirds of the recommended intake.

CPW which counts Shredded Wheat, Cheerios and Shreddies amongst its brands has been taking steps to increase the whole grain content in its cereals over the last decade. Today, our cereals contain over 1700 tonnes more whole grain that they did 10 years ago, said the CPW VP.

CPW alerts consumers to this increased whole grain content via a green banner on-pack. The green banner indicates that whole grain is the number one ingredient. Today, 87% of our cereals now have whole grain as the number one ingredient. The remaining 12.5% of our portfolio is made up of our gluten-free range.

The company is also fortifying its products with key vitamins, such as riboflavin and niacin, irrespective of whether those nutrients were originally present in the food or not.

Looking beyond product renovation, CPW is also exploring a minimalist approach to NPD.

Weve learnt that innovation can be less rather than more, said Eccles, referring to a new CPW product launching this month across the UK. Were adopting a less is more approach.

The product in question comes under CPWs Shreddies brand, to be sold as Shreddies: The Simple One. It is made from using just four simple ingredients, Eccles revealed: whole wheat, banana puree, date syrup, and a pinch of salt.

The Simple One is all green under the Governments traffic light labelling scheme, with less than 5% sugar, no refined sugar, and is free from artificial flavours. Its the most natural and healthy product in our portfolio today.

Suggesting that CPW is playing the long game, the executive revealed the company has big ambitions. We want to continue the journey to improved taste and nutrition, because we know thats what consumers want.

We will continue to reduce sugarwe will remove all the red traffic lights on sugar from our Shreddies variants by the end of the year, and weve also got some exciting innovations with targets to make all of our cereals non-HFSS.

And we will continue to call on governments to make whole grain a priority in their food and nutritional policy.

Missed any of the FoodNavigator Digital Summit 2021: Positive Nutrition? Dont worry, you can still access all of our sessions and handouts, which will be available on-demand for the next 90 days. Click here toREGISTER FOR FREE.

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CPW talks breakfast reformulation and fortification - FoodNavigator.com