Daily Archives: April 16, 2024

Creatine and Caffeine: Benefits, Risks, Dosage – Health.com

Posted: April 16, 2024 at 10:48 am

Creatine and caffeine are popular supplements that some people take to enhance exercise, sports, and training performance.

Creatine is a non-protein amino acid in red meat and seafood, as well as in parts of the human body like skeletal muscle and the brain. Creatine supplements help increase creatine in your muscles, which may improve exercise performance and offer other training benefits.

Caffeine is a bitter-tasting, naturally occurring central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. It's often present in coffee, tea, and chocolate, but it's also used as a supplement to improve athletic performanceespecially in endurance sports such as running.

Research shows that creatine and caffeine can be safely used together. However, there is some controversy regarding combining them. If you're interested in taking these two supplements together, there are some important considerations and potential side effects to keep in mind.

Creatine helps improve muscle mass and aids in exercise and athletic performance. It benefits both athletes and non-athlete exercisers. It may also benefit several health conditions. Research suggests that creatine may:

It may also increase creatine levels in the brains of children and young adults with creatine metabolism or transport disorders, such as Guanidinoacetate methyltransferase(GAMT) deficiency or L-arginine: glycine amidinotransferasedeficiency(AGAT).

Caffeine is a stimulant that makes you feel more alert and awake. It has many potential benefits. Caffeine may:

Studies that explore the benefits of taking creatine and caffeine together have shown mixed results on how these two ingredients interact with one another. Some research suggests that taking caffeine with creatine may decrease creatine's beneficial effects on athletic performance.

In one systematic study review, some studies found that caffeine may interfere with the beneficial exercise effects of creatine. However, creatine did not affect the beneficial effects of caffeine on exercise. Other studies found no interaction between the two supplements, and one study reported a beneficial effect of taking both together.

The interactions identified in some of these studies might be due to the opposing effects of creatine and caffeine on muscle relaxation and gastrointestinal distress. In other words, creatine supports muscle relaxation while caffeine can inhibit it. Caffeine acts as a diuretic (helps your body get rid of excess water) while creatine can cause water retention.

Both creatine and caffeine enhance exercise performance and benefit muscles. However, taking them together may have some potential drawbacks. Further study is needed.

Creatine can help enhance the effects of athletic performance, but some research suggests this benefit may decrease if you add caffeine to the mix.

It's generally safe to take creatine and caffeine together, but you may want to consider taking them separately to reap the most performance gains.

Creatine is typically taken orally (by mouth) by adults in a one-time loading dose of up to 20 grams (g) for up to seven days. A maintenance dose of 2.25-10 g per day can be taken for up to 16 weeks.

Studies show it's safe to take 3-5 g of creatine per day, or 0.1 g per kilograms (kg) of body mass per day, long-term. These lower dosages have been shown to help increase creatine levels in muscles, aid in muscle performance and recovery, and promote muscle growth.

You can safely consume up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine per day. Caffeine supplements are available in 200 mg pills that can be swallowed, which is a similar amount to a cup of coffee. Caffeine pills are fast-acting so don't take more than the recommended dosage. You might experience side effects if a higher dose is taken, including:

Always consult with your healthcare provider before trying a new supplement or supplement combination to discuss dosage.

It's generally safe to take creatine and caffeine together. However, there are some important considerations.

Creatine should be avoided by people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as there is not enough data to back up its safety. People with kidney disease or bipolar disorder should also avoid it as it may worsen symptoms of mania.

People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should limit their caffeine consumption to 200 mg per day. Avoid caffeine if you experience sleep disorders, have frequent migraines or headaches, or have hypertension (high blood pressure). Children and young adults should also avoid caffeine.

Other health conditions and medications may interact with creatine or caffeine, so always speak with your healthcare provider first. Supplements are also not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so make sure they're NSF Certified. This means they've been tested and certified by a third party to be free of harmful levels of contaminants. It also ensures that the product only contains the ingredients listed on the label.

Certain medications can interact with creatine and caffeine.

Avoid taking creatine with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which can affect the function of the kidneys. Taking creatine with caffeine may also decrease energy production and interfere with the physical performance benefits of creatine.

Caffeine might interfere with medications like NSAIDs, which affect the kidneys.

Creatine is well-tolerated among a variety of age groups. From infants to older adults, research shows it can be safely taken at dosages ranging from 0.3-0.8g per kg of body weight per day for up to five years. Higher dosages can be safely taken among athletes or people with specific training goals.

It is possible to consume too much caffeine, but research shows it's generally safe to consume up to 400 mg per day. Too much caffeine can lead to symptoms like insomnia, headaches, anxiety, shakiness, restlessness, and fast heart rate. It can also lead to difficulty concentrating. drowsiness, and nausea. Monitor your intake and be mindful of how it affects you.

A common side effect of taking creatine and caffeine together is gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort. Taking creatine and caffeine together may also make symptoms of Parkinson's disease worse. Parkinsons disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects motor function.

Speak to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about side effects or have a health condition that may prevent you from taking creatine or caffeineor taking them together.

Creatine and caffeine are two supplements that help improve exercise and athletic performance.

Creatine is a non-protein amino acid that promotes muscle growth and enhances physical performance in exercise and sports. Potential benefits include reducing your risk of concussion and improving cognitive performance and memory.

Caffeine is a stimulant that is in things like coffee, tea, and chocolate. When consumed as a supplement, caffeine has been shown to enrich exercise performance and improve muscle strength.

It's generally safe to take creatine and caffeine together, but research is mixed when it comes to the exercise performance benefits of combining them. Some studies have found that caffeine may reduce some benefits of creatine. Other studies have found no benefits or risks of taking both together. Further study is needed.

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Fiber Supplements Are Once Again Popular But Pick The Right One | mindbodygreen – mindbodygreen

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Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN is a Registered Dietician Nutritionist with a bachelors degree in nutrition from Texas Christian University and a masters in nutrition interventions, communication, and behavior change from Tufts University. She lives in Newport Beach, California, and enjoys connecting people to the food they eat and how it influences health and wellbeing.

Image by Rowena Naylor / Stocksy

April 12, 2024

A lot of us are now just realizing that our grandmas were right about a lot of things. Knitting is fun. Baking bread brings joy. Tea before bed is a must. Fiber supplements are good for you.

And fiber has made some major headlines lately. A beverage of blended oats, water, and lime juice coined oatzempic is being hailed as a weight loss magic bullet, and psyllium husk garnered similar fanfare a few months prior.

These claims are, of course, exaggerated. But fiber does help with weight management, blood sugar control, gut health, and of course, the coveted digestive regularityand most of us aren't getting enough of it.*

While not the sexiest supplement, fiber powders sure are practical and offer a host of benefits.

Fiber is a unique complex carb that is not digested by the human body and passes through the digestive tract relatively unscathed. It's only found in plant foods like grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Supplements isolate certain fibers from plantsalthough some fiber supplements are synthetically derivedinto a powder, capsule, tablet, or gummy.

Even if you eat a lot of plants, you may be falling short of the fiber you need for optimal health. The average U.S. adult only eats about 16 grams1 a day, while women often need a minimum of 21-28 grams and men need 30-38 grams.

While eating more fiber-rich foodslike lentils, legumes, avocados, and chia seedsshould be a priority, choosing a high-quality fiber supplement can easily sneak in an extra six or so grams a day.

Another reason is if you're looking to address a specific health goal. Want to enrich your gut bacteria? Choose a prebiotic fiber. Want to focus on cholesterol and blood sugar? Choose a research-backed soluble fiber2 . What about better regularity? Choose one that helps speed up gut transit time.*

Supplements can help provide targeted support for gut (and whole-body) health.*

These are some of the common research-backed fibers that you may see on Supplement Facts panels:

While many of these fibers are listed as primarily soluble gel-forming fibers, they do still provide you with some insoluble fiberas most plants naturally contain a mixture of both.

Your grandma didn't have many choices when it came to fiber supplements. She likely had a bright orange canister of Metamucil tucked in a cabinet or sitting on the counter. And many people still reach for this dated formula.

"These bestselling fiber powders in the market are not clean," says mindbodygreen's vice president of scientific affairs Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN. "They contain artificial flavors, synthetic dyes, artificial sweeteners like aspartame, and other additivesthings known to mess with your gut in a bad way. Talk about counterproductive!"

Ferira also emphasizes that "these lazy formulas" also rarely contain multiple fiber sources, much less other gut-supporting ingredients like probiotics.

There are much better options on the market today including mindbodygreen's organic fiber potency+. This innovative formula was thoughtfully formulated to provide 6 grams of fiber with zero additives and zero other ingredients. "That's unheard of," emphasizes Ferira.

Most of that fiber comes from organic guar beans. Studies show that soluble, prebiotic fiber has the following benefits:

We also paired it with organic green kiwifruit (for additional fiber and digestive support10 ) and an organic mushroom blend (that provides beta-glucans11 for even more prebiotics).*

The supplement is rounded out with probiotic support from Bacillus subtilis ATCC12264 to further address bloating and gas12 .*

The powder also disperses readily into hot or cold liquids and does not gel (it also goes great in oatmeal or yogurt bowls). One of the biggest complaints with psyllium fiber powders is that many start gelling as they're stirred into watercreating a rather undesirable consistency for a beverage.* So while psyllium is still a very research-backed fiber, it's just not always the most pleasant to consume.

Fiber and fiber supplements deserve the increased attention they're getting (albeit some overpromising headlines). Whether you're looking for regularity or metabolic or general gut health support, fiber has your back.

But do things slightly differently than your grandma and opt for more innovative formulas with no additives, like organic fiber potency+.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, consult with your doctor before starting a supplement routine. It is always optimal to consult with a health care provider when considering what supplements are right for you.

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Pope Francis to visit Asia and Oceania in September – Crux Now

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MUMBAI, India Pope Francis will visit three countries in Asia and one in Oceania, according to a Vatican statement released on Friday.

Francis is scheduled to leave Rome on September 2 and return to the Vatican on September 13.

He travels first to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, where he will land on September 3 and leave September 6. He will then travel to Papua New Guinea, visiting on September 6-9.

From September 9-11 he will be in Timor-Leste, before ending his Asia trip in Singapore.

There is a large variety of Catholic populations in these countries. Indonesia is the worlds largest Muslim-majority country, and Catholics number over 8 million, or 3.1 percent of the population.

Papua New Guinea has a population of around 2 million, or 32 percent, while Timor-Este is 96 percent Catholic, over 1 million people. Singapore has 395,000 Catholics, around 3 percent of the population.

Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo of Jakarta said the news that Francis will be visiting Indonesia was received very enthusiastically, not only by Catholics.

The first announcement was given by the Minister of Religious Affairs. And during an interreligious meeting during the month of Ramadhan, the Great Imam of the State Mosque Istiqlal also announced the coming visit for the second time, the cardinal told Crux.

For several reasons the President of the Bishops Conference of Indonesia formally announced the coming visit only on the Feast of Annunciation, April 8, 2024, he said.

Actually, Pope Francis had decided to visit Indonesia in 2020, but then arrived the unexpected COVID-19, Suharyo said.

We ask our people to pray much for this visit planned in the first week of September, especially for the health of Pope Francis, the cardinal continued.

We also urge our faithful to prepare well the visit by deepening the messages of Pope Francis given in different encyclical letters and Apostolic Exhortation such as, Laudato Si, Fratelli Tutti, Evangelii Gaudium, and Gaudete et Exultate on the call to holiness in todays world, he said.

Suharyo said the motto of the visit to Indonesia will be: Faith, Brother-Sisterhood, Compassion.

Archbishop Antonius Subianto Bunjamin of Merauke, the President of the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI), said the visit of Francis will give us, the Church and the nation the positive impact because the Holy Father is not only the Shepherd of the Catholic Church but also the Father of humanity bringing peace and offering mercy.

Of course, the visit of the Holy Father is a blessing for the Church and the country, he said.

May this visit be a moral and spiritual encouragement for us all to live out the values of Pancasila that are in line with Christian value. May this visit strengthen our sense of fratelli tutti, the archbishop said.

the Archbishop of Singapore, Cardinal William Goh, also welcomed the popes upcoming visit.

It has been 38 years since we had a visit from the Vicar of Christ to Singapore, when Pope St. John Paul II honored us with a visit on 20 November 1986, the cardinal said in a statement.

It is my hope that this visit of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, will bring renewed fervor to all Catholics in Singapore, uniting them in faith and mission, especially in these most challenging of times, he said.

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Oceania Cruises Announces New 2025-2026 Tropics and Exotics Collection – Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

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Explore new horizons and set sail beyond the ordinary on more than 130 immersive itineraries spanning Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, South America and the South Pacific

MIAMI, April 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Oceania Cruises, the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, has revealed its 2025-2026 Tropics and Exotics Collection, which is available for preview online at OceaniaCruises.com and opens for sale on April 17, 2024.

The new collection includes a total of 135 captivating itineraries, visiting five continents on voyages ranging from seven to 180 days, including Vista's debut Around The World Voyage. Spanning 329 ports, the new itineraries offer a unique opportunity for curious guests to delve deeper into some of the most enticing and exotic corners of the globe.

"Our new Tropics and Exotics Collection is one of our most exciting yet, featuring a heady mix of iconic cities, remote islands and hidden gems to discover for the very first time," commented Frank A Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises. "With various voyages allowing guests to explore a region for weeks or months at a time, and several new overnight port stays, the collection offers a wealth of opportunities for our guests to explore further than ever before, savoring the many flavors of the world and enjoying uniquely curated experiences ashore in these exotic and tropical regions."

More than 90 sailings feature overnight stays allowing guests the chance to immerse themselves in ports of call as diverse as Panama City, Bali and Melbourne, plus new overnight destinations including Willemstad, Curacao; San Juan, Puerto Rico and Port Louis, Mauritius.

Travelers seeking to explore more of the world will revel in the selection of 40 Grand Voyages that afford opportunities for epic journeys across distinct regions and multiple continents. These Grand Voyages explore the wonders of Asia, the stunning topography of the Oceania region, vibrant African cities, tropical Caribbean island retreats and South America's dramatic terrain, all whilst enjoying the home-away-from-home luxury aboard Oceania Cruises' elegant small ships.

Visitors wanting to focus on a specific region of the world have a myriad of carefully curated voyages to choose from, including immersive itineraries discovering the South American continent's dramatic landscapes and diverse heritage, an array of exotic visits to Japan and Southeast Asia, and adventures through Australia and New Zealand.

2025-26 Tropics and Exotics Collection Highlights

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 Cruises

Oceania Cruises is the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line. The line's eight small, luxurious ships carry a maximum of 1,250 guests and feature The Finest Cuisine at Sea and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe. Expertly curated travel experiences are available aboard the designer-inspired, small ships, which call on more than 600 marquee and boutique ports in more than 100 countries on seven continents, on voyages that range from seven to more than 200 days. Oceania Cruises is a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH). To learn more, visitwww.nclhltd.com.

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Pope Francis to visit 4 nations across Asia and Oceania in September – Vatican News

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Pope Francis will make an Apostolic Journey to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore on September 2-13, 2024.

By Devin Watkins

The Holy See Press Office announced on Friday that Pope Francis will visit three nations in Asia and one in Oceania in early September.

He accepted the invitation of the Heads of State and local Church authorities to make what will be his 45th Apostolic Journey abroad.

The Pope is scheduled to depart Rome on September 2 and return on September 13.

He travels first to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, where he will land on September 3 and remain until September 6.

Pope Francis will then fly east to visit Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, and Vanimo on September 6-9.

His next stop will be in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, on September 9-11.

From there, the Pope will travel to Singapore for a 3-day visit on September 11-13.

According to the Holy See Press Office, the full programme of his Apostolic Journey will be published at a later date.

Pope Francis first mentioned the possibility of traveling to the region in December 2023.

In an interview with the Mexican broadcaster N+, he said he hoped to travel to Polynesia in August and to his native Argentina later in the year.

Then, in January 2024, the Pope told an interviewer with the Italian newspaper La Stampa that he would visit Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia.

Indonesia is the worlds largest Muslim-majority country, and Catholics number over 8 million, or 3.1 percent of the population.

Around 32 percent of Papua New Guineas population are Catholic, numbering around 2 million.

Timor-Leste is overwhelmingly Catholic, accounting for around 96 percent of the population, counting over 1 million people.

Some 395,000 Catholics live in Singapore, representing around 3 percent of the population.

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Pope Francis will head to Asia and Oceania in September for his longest foreign trip yet – America: The Jesuit Review

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The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis will visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore from Sept. 2 to 13.

The news came in a statement from Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy Sees press office, who said the pope will undertake an Apostolic Journey to these four countries at the invitation of the respective Heads of State and Church Authorities.

It will be Francis 45th foreign trip since becoming pope on March 13, 2013, and the longest he has undertaken to datea total of 12 days. He has already visited 61 countries.

This would be a demanding trip, even for a younger man. Francis turned 87 in December and has had mobility issues in recent years, but he is determined to travel.

Mr. Bruni only gave a basic outline of the papal journey and said a more detailed program would be provided later.

Pope Francis will visit Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia with a population of around 11 million people, Sept. 3 to 6. Indonesia is a country of almost 280 million people with the largest Muslim population in the world. There are more than eight million Catholics in the country. He will be the third pope to visit the country. Paul VI went there in 1970; John Paul II went there in 1989 and also visited Dili in Timor-Leste, then under Indonesian occupation.

From Jakarta, he will travel to Papua New Guinea, a country in Oceania with a population of 10.5 million people, 32 percent of whom are Catholic. He will stay there from Sept. 6 to 9 and visit two cities: Port Moresby, the capital, and Vanimo, a city in the north-westernmost part of Papua New Guinea on a peninsula close to the Indonesian border. He will be the second pope to visit Papua New Guinea after John Paul II, who traveled there in 1984.

He will fly from there to Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, from Sept. 9 to 11. Timor-Leste is the most Catholic country in Asia97 percent of its 1.4 million population is Catholic, and the people there have long wanted Francis to visit. He will be the first pope to travel to the country since it gained independence in 2002.

He will conclude this long journey with a visit to Singapore, an island country and city-state in southeast Asia, from Sept. 11 to 13. Singapore has a population of six million people, of whom around 395,000 are Catholic, about 3 percent of the population. He will be the second pope to visit there; John Paul II visited in 1986.

Francis has looked especially to Asia since the beginning of his pontificate. Following in the footsteps of the first Jesuits, he identified the continent, where two-thirds of humanity lives, as a priority for evangelization, a part of the world that could offer a new springtime to the church. He has already made five journeys to Asia. The countries he has visited to date include South Korea (2014); Sri Lanka and the Philippines (2015); Myanmar and Bangladesh (2017); Thailand and Japan (2019); Kazakhstan (2022); and Mongolia (2023).

Vietnam is not listed among the countries that Francis will visit on this trip to Asia and Oceania, though he has received an invitation from the president of the country and from its bishops conference, but it is known that Francis wants to go there, too, and some sources think he could do so in 2025.

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Oceania Cruises Announces New Tropics and Exotics Collection for 2025-2026 – Porthole Cruise and Travel

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Oceania Cruises has unveiled its 2025-2026 Tropics and Exotics Collection!

The 2025-2026 collection features 135 itineraries across five continents, lasting seven to 180 days. This includes Vistas inaugural Around The World Voyage. With stops at 329 ports, guests can explore fascinating and exotic destinations worldwide.

Our new Tropics and Exotics Collection is one of our most exciting yet, featuring a heady mix of iconic cities, remote islands and hidden gems to discover for the very first time, commented Frank A Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises. With various voyages allowing guests to explore a region for weeks or months at a time, and several new overnight port stays, the collection offers a wealth of opportunities for our guests to explore further than ever before, savoring the many flavors of the world and enjoying uniquely curated experiences ashore in these exotic and tropical regions.

Over 90 sailings offer overnight stays in ports such as Panama City, Bali, and Melbourne, as well as new destinations like Willemstad, Curacao, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Port Louis, Mauritius. 40 Grand Voyages allow travelers to journey across continents, exploring regions like Asia, Oceania, Africa, the Caribbean, and South America aboard Oceania Cruises small ships. Specific region-focused voyages include South America, Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand itineraries.

RELATED: GIADA DE LAURENTIIS NAMED BRAND AND CULINARY AMBASSADOR FOR OCEANIA CRUISES

Asia Odysseys: Regatta explores Japan and Southeast Asia with multiple overnight stays in 12 to 16-day sailings. Riviera offers additional voyages in these regions, while Sirenas lineup includes 10 to 24-day sailings in Southeast Asia, Japan, India, and China, as well as a 25-day Africa voyage and two South Pacific sailings.

Oceania Discoveries: Riviera offers 14 to 22-day sailings in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific, concluding with a Bering Sea crossing to Alaska.

Africa Adventures: Nautica offers five voyages ranging from 11 to 30 days, focusing on Africas wonders.

Panama Canal & Caribbean Retreats: Insignia explores the Caribbean and Panama Canal, with Tampa as a new embarkation port. Allura, launching in the summer of 2025, offers island sailings in the Caribbean with nine voyages ranging from seven to 14 days.

South America Explorations: Marina explores South Americas landscapes, heritage, and natural beauty in six sailings ranging from 10 to 24 days, before crossing to the Mediterranean.

Vistas Around the World Journey: Vista embarks on its first Around the World Journey in 2026, exploring South America, Australia, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, and Europe.

Unique Overnight Stays: Over 90 voyages include overnight stays in destinations like Panama, Bali, Australia, Willemstad, Curacao, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Port Louis, Mauritius. Enjoy immersive experiences in these diverse ports.

Head to the Oceania Cruises website for more information!

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Asia/Oceania I: Korea, Republic maintain perfect record with another 3-0 win – Billie Jean King Cup

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The latest team to fall victim to the Korean sweep was Pacific Oceania. Kim Dabin and Park Sohyun scored comfortable wins in singles before the same pair notched a third win in the doubles match.

The Koreans currently sit in first place thanks to their perfect 9-0 match win-loss record but they have yet to face the other undefeated side - hosts China.

The Chinese team might have dropped one doubles match (against Chinese Taipei) but they still look like a formidable force in this year's Group I event.

On Thursday, China were even able to rest their top-ranked player, Qinwen Zheng, and still came out on top 3-0 against New Zealand.

Despite their best efforts, New Zealand couldn't give birthday girl Erin Routliffe the perfect present as she and Lulu Sun fell 14-12 in a match tie break against Guo Hanyu and Wang Xinyu.

India remain in the hunt for a promotion place after defeating Chinese Taipei 2-1 on Thursday, but they will need one of Korea, Rep or China to lose both their remaining ties if they are to have any chance of progressing.

With India scheduled to play Korea, Rep on Friday, the outcome of that tie will prove pivotal to which teams progress.

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Pope will take his longest trip: to Asia-Oceania in September – Aleteia

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Pope Francis will be visiting Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore from September 2 to 13, 2024.

Pope Francis will visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore from September 2 to 13, announced Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office on April 12, 2024. This 45th trip outside Italy since 2013 will be the longest of Francis pontificate, and his first trip to Oceania.

The 87-year-old Pontiff is due to leave Rome on September 2 to arrive in Jakarta the following day, September 3. He will remain in the Indonesian capital until September 6, before heading for the capital of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, on the same day. The Pontiff will remain in this country in Oceania until September 9. Other than the capital city he is expected to visit also Vanimo, a small town on the Pacific coast in the far north of the country.

On September 9, he will reach Dili, capital of the small Asian island state of East Timor. He will remain in this predominantly Catholic country until September 11, before traveling to the city-state of Singapore on the same day. He will remain there until September 13, when he will return to Rome. The full program for this major tour will be published at a later date.

Originally scheduled for September 2020, this trip was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Subsequently, Pope Francis has repeatedly stated his intention to keep his promise to visit these countries.

The four countries that Francis will visit have already received papal visits: John Paul II visited Indonesia and East Timor (at the time occupied by Indonesia) in 1989, Papua New Guinea in 1984 and 1995, and Singapore in 1986. Paul VI also visited Indonesia on his last trip in 1970.

This will be the longest trip of Francis pontificate, as he will be outside of Rome for 12 days. His longest trip before this was to Cuba and the USA in 2015, where he spent 10 days outside of the Vatican. With this trip the Argentine Pontiff comes close to John Paul II, who spent a total of 13 days in Canada in 1984.

By going to Port Moresby this will also be the Pontiffs furthest trip, as the Papuan capital is over 14,000 km (around 8,700 miles) from the Vatican, compared with just under 12,000 km (around 7,456 miles) for the previous record, Santiago de Chile, in 2018.

The trip does not include a stopover in Vietnam, which has never been visited before by a pope. Some statements had suggested in recent months that Vietnam could be included, despite its difficult diplomatic situation with the Vatican. In a video published on April 8, Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, Archbishop of Jakarta, stated that the trip could perhaps include a stopover in Vietnam.

This statement echoed a similar assertion made by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vaticans Foreign Minister, in an interview with the Jesuit media outlet America last March. Archbishop Gallagher is currently visiting Vietnam, with which the Holy See does not have official diplomatic relations, but with which it has recently become much closer.

Given the length of the trip, the central question will be whether the 87-year-old Pope will be in good physical condition to travel. He recently has been suffering from respiratory difficulties, causing him to not be able to read speeches at certain moments or having to cancel his attendance at certain events, such as the Stations of the Cross on Holy Friday, March 29.

In December 2023, the Pontiff had to cancel a planned trip to Dubai, where he was due to attend the United Nations conference on climate change, due to the state of his health.

Follow the Popes health here.

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Highlights of Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania – Xinhua

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Park Sohyun of South Korea hits a return during the women's singles match against Wang Xiyu of China at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Wang Xinyu (L)/Guo Hanyu of China react during the women's doubles match against Kim Dabin/Park Sohyun of South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Guo Hanyu, Wang Xinyu ,coach Liu Feng, Wang Xiyu and Zhu Lin (from L to R) of China pose for photos after the Group I match between China and South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Wang Xinyu (L)/Guo Hanyu of China celebrate after the women's doubles match against Kim Dabin/Park Sohyun of South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Wang Xinyu (front, R)/Guo Hanyu (front, L) of China sign autographs for fans after the women's doubles match against Kim Dabin/Park Sohyun of South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Kim Dabin of South Korea hits a return during the women's singles match against Zhu Lin of China at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Wang Xinyu (front) of China takes selfies with spectators after the women's doubles match between Wang Xinyu/Guo Hanyu of China and Kim Dabin/Park Sohyun of South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Kim Dabin of South Korea serves during the women's singles match against Zhu Lin of China at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Zhu Lin (bottom) of China serves during the women's singles match against Kim Dabin of South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Wang Xiyu of China hits a return during the women's singles match against Park Sohyun of South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Zhu Lin (R) of China shakes hands with Kim Dabin of South Korea after their women's singles match at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Wang Xinyu (R)/Guo Hanyu of China compete during the women's doubles match against Kim Dabin/Park Sohyun of South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Zhu Lin of China hits a return during the women's singles match against Kim Dabin of South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Zhu Lin of China hits a return during the women's singles match against Kim Dabin of South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

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Highlights of Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania - Xinhua

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