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Category Archives: Oceania

Set sail with ‘Moana Jr.’ at the Center Theatre – observer-me.com

Posted: February 21, 2022 at 6:09 pm

Contributed February 21, 2022

DOVER-FOXCROFT The Center Theater has announced that auditions for the musical version of Disneys Moana Jr. will take place on Friday, March 4 from 5:30 to 7 p.

DOVER-FOXCROFT The Center Theater has announced that auditions for the musical version of Disneys Moana Jr. will take place on Friday, March 4 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, the 5th from 3 to 5 p.m. at Central Hall, 152 East Main Street. Vaccinated kids between the ages of 6 and 18 are encouraged to audition. No advance preparation or experience is required.

The 60-minute musical adventure, designed for school-aged performers, is based on the 2016 Disney film Moana. The production is being directed by Nathan Roach with vocal direction by Olga Maselli. Opening night will be Friday, May 27 at 7 p.m. with a total of seven performances over two weekends.

We havent been able to do a spring kids production in a couple years because of COVID, said Patrick Myers, executive director of the Center Theater, So the fact that were able to plan for Moana Jr. this spring is a hopeful sign that things are beginning to get back towards normal. Even so, given the high case counts in our community, we are still taking some common-sense precautions.

Myers said these precautions include requiring all cast members to be vaccinated against COVID 19. Its a practical decision, he said, we required vaccinations for our previous show in December and took a risk on an exception to that rule. Because of that exception we almost had to cancel the entire show. Given the amount of time, money, and energy that goes into these performances, we must do all we can to ensure the physical health of the performers and financial health of the Theatre. Hopefully as case counts continue to drop, well be able to drop this requirement for future productions. But in the meantime, were looking forward to escaping to Oceania with Moana Jr.

Moana Jr. is a thrilling and heartwarming stage adaptation of the coming-of-age tale of Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific to save her village and discover the truth about her heritage. She and the demigod Maui embark on an epic journey of self-discovery and camaraderie as she learns to harness the power that lies within. Adapted for young performers, this musical includes favorite songs by Tony, GRAMMY, Emmy, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foai, and Mark Mancina, such as How Far Ill Go, Shiny, and Youre Welcome.

For information on the upcoming auditions visit http://www.CenterTheatre.org or call the Center Theater at 207-564-8943. Disneys Moana Jr. is presented through special arrangement with and all materials are provided by Music Theater International. The Center Theatre for the Performing Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit with a mission to make arts, education, and entertainment accessible to our rural communities to engage and inspire.

Music Theater International is one of the worlds leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theaters from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theater as a vibrant and engaging art form. MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theater and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTIs Broadway Junior shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by elementary and middle school-aged performers, while MTIs School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students.

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MFA: Latin America and Oceania join opposition to Russia’s pressure on Ukraine – Ukrinform

Posted: February 17, 2022 at 8:38 am

While resisting Russia's blackmail and pressure, Ukraine has managed to create a global coalition of partners that share and defend crucial principles.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said this at an online briefing on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Kuleba noted that Ukraine's foreign policy team keeps constant contact with partners. In this context, he noted that he had recently held telephone talks with the foreign ministers of Turkey, Austria, Moldova, Brazil, New Zealand, the U.S. Secretary of State, the UN Secretary-General.

Ukraines top diplomat also drew attention to the fact that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which unites key Caribbean economies, supported Ukraine, made a separate statement on security crisis created by Russia, and called for a reduction in tensions.

"This global geography of contacts shows that Ukraine has really managed to create a global coalition of partners while countering Russian blackmail and pressure. What is happening in Ukraine is not just a Ukrainian or a European problem, it is even greater than a Euro-Atlantic problem its about global security. That is why our partners from Latin America and Oceania respond to this problem and make efforts to solve it with the means at their disposal," Kuleba said.

The key thing is that Ukraine will never be abandoned in the struggle against the aggressor country, he added.

"We have created this coalition, it is alive and will act in defense of the principles upheld by Ukraine," he said.

On February 15, the Verkhovna Rada addressed the UN, the European Parliament, the PACE, the OSCE PA, the NATO PA, the BSEC PA, foreign governments and parliaments in connection with Russia's escalating security situation around Ukraine.

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Gravity Launches the CBT of Ragnarok V: Returns, the New 3D MMORPG for 2022, in Oceania – Business Wire

Posted: at 8:38 am

SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gravity Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRVY), a global game service provider, announced that it will launch the first CBT for its new 3D MMORPG for 2022, Ragnarok V: Returns, in Oceania on February 16.

Ragnarok V: Returns is the sequel to 'Ragnarok: Valkyrie Uprising,' which has been played by more than five million global users in 150 countries over eight years since May 2012. Developed by Gravity Neocyon, this multi-platform MMORPG will be published by Gravity.

The game begins with our heroes on a quest to bring back Baldur, the God of Light, in order to stand up against the gods bent on ending mankind after a thousand years of Holy War. In each episode, users can enjoy cinematic scenes as if in an animated film. The unique charms of Ragnarok and modernized graphic elements, such as the terrain and characters, updated selective quests and open world concepts at later levels, make this game not only fun, but help to differentiate it from other MMORPGs.

The first CBT will be held from 1:00 p.m. on February 16 (Australian Eastern Standard Time) to 1:00 p.m. on February 23 (Australian Eastern Standard Time), targeting users in the Oceania region. To promote users participation in the CBT, Gravity will provide a variety of events ranging from roll call events to push reward events and CBT supporting events. On the Facebook page, users can win various benefits by participating in the costume selfie event and level certification event.

A Gravity official said, Through the first CBT, we will identify the needs of users in Oceania and apply them to the game. It will be followed by pre-registrations in March and the second CBT and official game launch in April. Gravity is dedicating the utmost effort to provide a game that will further increase users satisfaction levels. So, we ask for the users interest and participation.

Detailed information about the Ragnarok V: Returns CBT version download and schedule, etc. is available on Ragnarok V: Returns Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ROValkyrieUprising/).

Gravity recently opened a Steam page for Ragnarok V: Returns. The Steam page provides information about the game, such as game introduction, game videos and in-game images, information on computer specifications, and supported languages. Users can add the page to their wish list.

[Official Website of Gravity] http://www.gravity.co.kr [Ragnarok V: Returns Facebook Page] https://www.facebook.com/ROValkyrieUprising/ [Ragnarok V: Returns Steam Page] https://store.steampowered.com/app/1865770/Ragnarok_V_Returns/

About Gravity

Established in Korea in April 2000, Gravity is a global game company that is directly listed on the NASDAQ. As of June 30, 2021, the cumulative global accounts of the Ragnarok IP, Gravitys representative IP, exceeded approximately 120 million. In addition, Ragnarok has been selected as the second most loved Korean game overseas consecutively over the last three years (Global Hallyu Trends 2021).

Gravity has established a powerful global network comprising of Gravity Neocyon (Korea), a subsidiary, as well as Gravity Communications (Taiwan), Gravity Game Link (Indonesia), Gravity Interactive (U.S.), Gravity Game Arise (Japan), Gravity Game Tech (Thailand), Gravity Game Hub (Singapore), and Gravity Game Vision (Hongkong), the overseas branches. Together with its branches, Gravity is broadening its recognition and influence across the world by promoting global publishing businesses to discover and distribute a range of platforms and genre games in addition to games using the Ragnarok IP. The company is also accelerating not only the Ragnarok merchandise business, but also the content business, such as animation, IPTV, and webcomics, by collaborating with a number of brands.

- Key Titles

Ragnarok Online (launched in 2002), a PC MMORPG, and Ragnarok M, Ragnarok Origin, Ragnarok X: Next Generation, Ragnarok: Labyrinth, and Ragnarok: Poring Merge, the mobile MMORPGs

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Gravity Launches the CBT of Ragnarok V: Returns, the New 3D MMORPG for 2022, in Oceania - Business Wire

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InterSystems Recognized As Best in KLAS for Interoperability Platforms and Acute Care EMRs (Asia / Oceania) – Business Wire

Posted: at 8:38 am

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--InterSystems, a creative data technology provider dedicated to helping customers solve the most critical scalability, interoperability, and speed problems, today announced that KLAS Research has recognized two of its healthcare solutions in the 2022 Best in KLAS: Software & Services report.

As a direct result of feedback from healthcare providers, InterSystems HealthShare Unified Care Record has been recognized a total of nine times across categories since 2006 and InterSystems TrakCare unified healthcare information system is the 2022 Best in KLAS award winner in the Asia/Oceania Region for Acute Care EMR for their sixth time.

Each year, thousands of healthcare professionals across the globe take the time to share their voice with KLAS, said Adam Gale, CEO of KLAS. They know that sharing their perspective helps vendors to improve and helps their peers make better decisions. These conversations are a constant reminder to me of how necessary accurate, honest, and impartial reporting is in the healthcare industry. The Best in KLAS report and the awards it contains set the standard of excellence for software and services firms. Vendors who win the title of Best in KLAS should celebrate and remember that providers now accept only the best from their products and services. The Best in KLAS award serves as a signal to provider and payer organizations that they should expect excellence from the winning vendors.

According to a recent report from Sage Growth Partners, only 20 percent of healthcare organization (HCO) executives fully trust the data they rely on to make decisions. This highlights the critical need for HCOs to be equipped with the technology and resources to collect, normalize, analyze, and apply data from disparate sources to make timely clinical and business decisions. InterSystems HealthShare Unified Care record enables HCOs to connect providers, patients, and payers with patient records and analytics. As a result, HCOs can capture information, share it in a meaningful way, aid understanding and, ultimately, drive transformative action across organizations and communities.

TrakCare is trusted by leading healthcare providers in 27 countries around the globe. The electronic medical record system (EMR) allows healthcare providers to deliver safer, more efficient, and better coordinated care. The product facilitates efficient, shared workflows across care settings and provides a complete unified record for each patient across the care continuum.

HealthShare creates a unified, community-wide health record as the foundation for coordinated, value-based care and population health management. With embedded intelligence and delivery of just the right information at the right time and place within delivery, management, and payment processes, HealthShare enables users to align payers, providers and patients around a common plan of care, create cohesive, virtual teams, regardless of governance structure, and unite clinical, administrative, claims and social determinants data.

At InterSystems we provide solutions that help our customers adapt to the changing times, said Don Woodlock, Head of Global Healthcare Solutions at InterSystems. As such, receiving recognition from KLAS year in and year out is truly something special. We take pride in the technology and services we offer our customers and are grateful for their continued support on the journey to a more unified, integrated healthcare ecosystem.

As a Best in KLAS award winner, InterSystems has continued to demonstrate its commitment and partnership to the healthcare IT industry as a whole. To learn about how InterSystems HealthShare and InterSystems TrakCare can help your healthcare organization overcome the challenges of decentralized data, visit: https://www.intersystems.com/.

To access the full 2022 Best in KLAS: Software & Services report, visit: https://klasresearch.com/report/2022-best-in-klas-awards-software-and-professional-services/2770

About InterSystemsEstablished in 1978, InterSystems provides innovative data solutions for organizations with critical information needs in the healthcare, finance, and logistics sectors and beyond. Our cloud-first data platforms solve interoperability, speed, and scalability problems for organizations around the globe. InterSystems also develops and supports data management in hospitals through the worlds most proven electronic medical record, as well as unified care records for health systems and governments through a powerful suite of healthcare data integration solutions. The company is committed to excellence through its award-winning, 24x7 support for customers and partners in more than 80 countries. Privately held and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, InterSystems has 25 offices worldwide. For more information, please visit InterSystems.com.

About KLASKLAS is a data-driven company on a mission to improve the worlds healthcare by enabling provider and payer voices to be heard and counted. Working with thousands of healthcare professionals, KLAS collects insights on software, services and medical equipment to deliver reports, trending data and statistical overviews. KLAS data is accurate, honest and impartial. The research directly reflects the voice of healthcare professionals and acts as a catalyst for improving vendor performance. To learn more about KLAS and the insights we provide, visit https://klasresearch.com/.

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InterSystems Recognized As Best in KLAS for Interoperability Platforms and Acute Care EMRs (Asia / Oceania) - Business Wire

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Woo and Patterson soar in Banska Bystrica | REPORTS – World Athletics

Posted: at 8:38 am

Koreas Woo Sanghyeok continued his strong season with another impressive performance, while Australias Eleanor Patterson was in record-breaking form at the Banskobystricka latka high jump meeting in Banska Bystrica on Tuesday (15).

Ten days after his world-leading national record of 2.36m at the Skakani Hustopece, Woo was back in action at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver event in Slovakia and again came close to that mark.

This time the 25-year-olds best was 2.35m to win ahead of world bronze medallist Ilya Ivanyuk and USAs double NCAA champion JuVaughn Harrison.

Woo opened his campaign with a first-time clearance of 2.21m, before going clear at 2.25m, 2.28m and 2.31m on his initial attempts. The Olympic fourth-place finisher then needed two tries at 2.33m but achieved 2.35m on his first go, later having three attempts at a PB height of 2.37m.

Ivanyuk had needed all three tries to achieve 2.31m and so passed straight to 2.35m in an attempt to take victory. After knocking the bar twice he saved his last attempt for 2.37m but was unable to make it over and so finished second with his 2.31m clearance. Harrisons 2.28m saw him place third ahead of Andriy Protsenko, Luis Enrique Zayas, Donald Thomas and Oleh Doroshchuk, who all managed 2.25m.

The womens competition featured a successful indoor debut by Patterson, who cleared a world-leading 1.99m to break the Oceania indoor record.

In her first ever indoor contest, the 25-year-old matched the height of her outdoor PB to win ahead of Olympic and world medallist Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Olympic finalist Marija Vukovic, who both managed a best of 1.96m.

Olympic and world champion Mariya Lasitskene was among the four athletes to clear a best of 1.93m, finishing sixth on her season debut, which had been delayed due to illness.

Patterson had entered the competition at 1.80m, clearing that height and 1.85m on her first attempts. She needed three tries to make it over 1.90m and managed 1.93m on her second go, before soaring clear at 1.96m on her first attempt. Ukraines Mahuchikh had a perfect scorecard up to that point but couldnt go any higher and when Montenegros Vukovic was also unable to make it over 1.99m, Pattersons victory was confirmed.

The 2014 Commonwealth champion, who stepped away from the sport in 2018 but returned the following year and went on to finish fifth at last years Olympics in Tokyo, then had three attempts at 2.01m. Her 1.99m clearance adds two centimetres to the Oceania indoor record which had been set by Alison Inverarity in 1993.

The 1.96m was a seasons best for Mahuchikh, who won in Banska Bystrica last year with a clearance of 2.06m the highest indoor jump in the world for nine years. For Vukovic, it was another national record mark to edge closer to her outright best of 1.97m achieved outdoors last year. Safina Sadullayeva finished fourth on countback ahead of Mirela Demireva, Lasitskene and Iryna Gerashchenko.

Full results

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A sale focusing on the contemporary art of Oceania, spanning the Pacific Islands and New Zealand – Christie’s

Posted: February 15, 2022 at 6:00 am

Established and emerging artists from the region are deservedly taking their place on the international map

A dynamic arts scene has grown up throughout the Pacific over many decades with many artists practising from New Zealand increasingly gaining international attention. It is being driven by the work of artists born and raised in the country known as Aotearoa in the Indigenous Mori language as well as those from nations across Oceania, including the Cook Islands, Samoa and Niue.

New Zealand has become the place to be, its where you have talented working artists and an established, mature market of galleries, dealers and collectors, says Victor Teodorescu, African & Oceanic Art specialist at Christies Paris.

Alongside Post-War and Contemporary Art specialist Etienne Sallon, Teodorescu is co-curating the auction houses first online auction of work from the region, OCEANIA NOW: Contemporary Art from the Pacific (11 February1 March).

The auction features work by 14 contemporary artists: Shane Cotton, Brett Graham, Lyonel Grant, Nikau Hindin, Yuki Kihara, Roger Mortimer, Fiona Pardington, John Pule, Lisa Reihana MNZM, Mahariki Tangaroa, Kelcy Taratoa, John Walsh, Dame Robin White and Cora-Allan Wickliffe.

The work of these artists has long been appreciated in the region, with institutions such as the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington building collections in depth. Also displaying their talent are regular exhibitions such as the Hawaii Triennial, which is about to launch its third edition at seven venues in Honolulu (18 February8 May) and the Venice Biennale, where a number of the artists have gained highly prestigious international visibility.

In recent years, audiences in Europe and the US have started to pay ever more serious attention, thanks to major exhibitions such as Oceania at the Royal Academy of Arts in London in 2018 and international institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the British Museum in London making significant acquisitions.

New visions, ancient roots

Some European museums curated from an ethnographic viewpoint have been known to display collections of Oceanic culture, which may include work by contemporary artists alongside it, but their practice is usually linked within the context of traditional techniques and art forms.

Our idea was to go beyond that approach and to focus on purely contemporary art, as you would do with any other region right now, says Teodorescu. These are extraordinarily talented contemporary artists, just as you would find in Paris or New York, each with a personal and powerful artistic vocabulary informed by a rich and thriving personal heritage.

This does not mean that the artists featured in OCEANIA NOW ignore their creative and cultural roots. A number of the artists, such as Pule, Cotton, Hindin, White and Wickliffe, use techniques derived from Indigenous artistic traditions such as that of painting on hiapo, a type of bark cloth, and natural pigments, or are inspired by traditional motifs, fusing them with the plastic principles of modern abstraction.

Several works by Niue-born Pule are included in the auction, including the recent painting We stayed all day (2021), pictured at the start of this article. When seeing some of Pules early works for the first time, largely inspired by the Pacific tradition of bark cloth painting, I was immediately reminded of some of Adolph Gottliebs early huge canvases, which are dissected into so many squares, says Teodorescu, comparing the New Zealanders work to the American Abstract Expressionist painter.

But Pules current dreamlike, almost-aquatic landscapes have a sublime air, too, with the human figures dwarfed by towering plant life. Its both figurative and abstract art, filled with great poetry, Teodorescu adds, referencing Pules standing in New Zealand as an important literary figure as well as a visual artist.

Others, such as Reihana, tackle the legacy of Western colonialism in Oceania. The artist represented New Zealand at the 2017 Venice Biennale with her monumental video installation In Pursuit of Venus (Infected), a dramatic imagining of Captain James Cooks travels around the Pacific Ocean and his interactions with its peoples superimposed on a background based on a popular 19th-century French wallpaper called Les Sauvages de la Mer Pacifique.

This work was the centrepiece of the Royal Academys Oceania show and was jointly acquired by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 2019. A print showing a scene from the video, Cooks Transit of Venus, is included in the Christies auction.

Roger Mortimer, of New Zealand pakeha (European settler) descent, reflects on the past with a uniquely contemporary lens. By his combined use of Medieval-like illustrations and imaginary maps bearing exclusively Mori names, he inverts Western perspectives, which is extraordinary, says Teodorescu. His tapestry Wanganui 2 (2021), for example, shows figures based on medieval illustrations from Dantes Divine Comedy descending on a maritime chart of the New Zealand port city.

Similarly, Walsh, who is of Mori and Irish descent, draws references to Indigenous mythology in his surrealist, darkly symbolic paintings. Marakihau (2021) depicts one of the merman-like sea monsters of legend that point to the amphibious origins of the human race.

Pushing the boundaries

Christies specialists responsible for the curation of the exhibition enlisted the help of the prominent New Zealand dealers Alison Bartley and John Gow, who have both worked over the past three decades to promote the regions contemporary artists, in accessing works for OCEANIA NOW.

Teodorescu notes the importance of acknowledging the varied approaches across media beyond the selection in the auction. The auction is not a panoramic view, he says. The scene is even larger and richer. Many emerging artists are focused on pushing the boundaries of performance, photography and video art.

Among them is the multidisciplinary artist Yuki Kihara, of Japanese and Samoan descent, who will represent New Zealand at this years Venice Biennale (23 April27 November) with her work Paradise Camp. This ambitious project is inspired by the artists responses to issues such as colonisation, intersectionality and climate change presented through Kiharas faafafine [a third gender in traditional Samoan culture] perspective.

The selection of Yuki was significant, says Caren Rangi, chair of the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa and commissioner of the biennale exhibition. It highlights that we are overdue to be including Pacific Indigenous perspectives in global dialogues.

Kiharas lenticular photographic print EFKS Church, Maraenui (2017), which is included in the Christies auction, is part of a performance-based photographic and film series in which the artist embodies the Biblical character of Salome and visits various locations around Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, dressed in a black Victorian mourning dress. A central theme of the work is the Samoan conception of interconnected time and space.

Although work from Oceania is as diverse as the cultures and languages found on its many islands, common threads can be found between artists from the region, says Nicholas Thomas, the director of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Cambridge, who co-curated the Royal Academys Oceania exhibition.

Many exhibit a world view deeply conscious of ancestral identity, the mana [in Te Reo Mori, connoting spiritual power] of customary art, and the ruptures associated with colonialism and, indeed, colonial violence. They also have a shared ambition to produce work that is as compelling and challenging as that of artists in any other part of the world, and that has the capacity to speak from Indigenous perspectives across oceans and hemispheres to international audiences.

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OCEANIA/AUSTRALIA – The Australian Church urges the government: "To welcome more Afghan refugees" – Agenzia Fides

Posted: at 6:00 am

Sydney (Agenzia Fides) - "The scale of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan requires the urgent creation of additional places in Australias humanitarian intake. This is why the Bishops, together with other members of the Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum (CAPSA ) and many other groups and organizations, once again call on the government to welcome at least another 20,000 people, in addition to the 15,000 already foreseen". This is the appeal launched by the Bishop of Parramatta, Msgr. Vincent Long Van Nguyen, OFM Conv, president of the Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service within the Bishops' Conference of Australia. The Australian Catholic Bishops expressly call on the country's institutions to commit themselves to guaranteeing hospitality for a greater number of Afghan refugees, in a national effort of solidarity. The appeal, sent to Fides, was launched after the federal government announced its intention to give asylum, in the next four years, to 15,000 people fleeing Afghanistan, especially among those who had collaborated within the Australian humanitarians programs. Msgr. Long Van Nguyen defined the choice as positive, but not sufficient: "This government initiative represents good news, but it has limits, because the places provided are only available for family reunification or pre-existing humanitarian visas. We need to scale up our practical compassion, not simply adjust priorities within existing plans". The announcement of the reception measure was given in recent days by Federal Minister of Immigration Alex Hawke, who specified how the government would open the doors to Afghans with links with Australia: for example, former local employees are involved or workers of Australian non-governmental organizations, as well as women and ethnic or social minorities. The news came shortly after the release of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Commerce that the Australian government failed to support thousands of other Afghans who risked their lives by helping the forces of Australian defense. According to local sources, the Department of Internal Affairs has already received more than 32,500 applications on behalf of more than 145,000 fleeing Afghans. From the very first moments of the Taliban's entry into Kabul, in August 2021, the Australian Church had spoken out in favor of welcoming refugees. In particular, Msgr. Mark Benedict Coleridge, Metropolitan Archbishop of Brisbane and President of the Australian Bishops' Conference, said: "Several times in the past, Australia has come forward to respond to major humanitarian crises: therefore, I urge the government to be generous also in this case. The Catholic realities are ready to assist the institutions in the resettlement of refugees. It is our moral duty, moreover, to remain alongside those who, over the years, have supported the Australian military forces, who will most likely suffer reprisals for what they have done". (LF-PA) (Agenzia Fides, 10/2/2022)

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Oceania Names Alexis Quaretti as Director of Culinary Programs and Development – Cruise Industry News

Posted: at 6:00 am

Oceania Cruises today announced the appointment of Chef Alexis Quaretti as Director of Culinary Programs and Development.

Quaretti previously served as a senior executive chef for Oceania Cruises and now returns to oversee all aspects of the development, introduction, and implementation of new concepts to continually elevate the dining experiences at sea across the line's seven acclaimed ships and 12 restaurant brands, according to a press release.

Originally from Fontainebleau, France, Quaretti started his career at some of the best restaurants in the world including the 1-Michelin-star Chteau de Maray, the 3-Michelin-star L'Arpge, where he not only discovered but also refined his knowledge and appreciation for vegetable-based cuisine, and the 2-Michelin-star La Pyramide.

In 2004 Quaretti joined Oceania Cruises and in 2008 was promoted to executive chef at the young age of 27. In 2010, he joined an Asian mogul to travel and cook between St. Tropez and Hong Kong before rejoining Oceania Cruises in 2012. Two years later he was promoted to senior executive chef, overseeing a brigade of 140 chefs onboard. In 2017, Alexis took an opportunity to spread his culinary wings and expand his career knowledge and creativity by taking on a leadership role at Viking River where he lead culinary development and menu implementation for all restaurants and food & beverage outlets for their ships across the globe.

"We welcome Chef Alexis, one of the most influential chefs in hospitality, back to the Oceania Cruises family with open arms," said Howard Sherman, President and CEO of Oceania Cruises. "He brings a unique perspective to the role, having been an integral part of our growth and prowess over the last 20 years helping build our reputation for serving the Finest Cuisine at Sea. Never resting on our laurels and always challenging ourselves to refine, create and further elevate, we are excited to have him at the helm steering our culinary future with his profound expertise and drive for excellence."

With his return, Quaretti plans to guide the line with his culinary philosophy which has been driven by his love and respect for a true "Cuisine du Marche," where one respects nature, and with that, the changing seasons, ensuring the freshest and most flavorful ingredients are sourced and respectfully prepared.

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Harry Potter: Magic Awakened Launching in Americas, Europe and Oceania This Year – DroidGamers

Posted: at 6:00 am

Warner Bros. Games and NetEase have revealed that the magical mix-up of CCG and MMO set in the Potter-verse, Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, is coming to the west later this year.

The game has been the top-grossing mobile game on mainland China for a while now, and its built around one of the biggest franchises going. So, if anything, its kind of a surprise that its taken this long.

Youll be playing as a new student at Hogwarts, visiting famous locations, interacting with beloved characters, doing spells, wearing special hats. You know the score. Heres a trailer for you to look at.

Harry Potter: Magic Awakened has been a huge success with our current players and the fan reception has been extraordinary, said William Ding, Founder and CEO of NetEase, Inc in a press release.

We are excited to open this title to a worldwide audience, and we believe fans of one of the worlds biggest brands will be delighted that they can embark on adventures and experience an immersive story through a marvelous journey in the wizarding world, with infinite possibilities empowered by magic.

Pre-registration for the game is now live on the Play Store, and you can click here to do just that. To find out more about Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, and the pre-registration rewards that are available, click here to check out its official website.

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Young University Rankings 2022: fastest-rising regions – Times Higher Education (THE)

Posted: at 6:00 am

ViewtheTHEYoungUniversity Rankings 2022 results

Young universities generally improve at a faster rate than theirmature peers, but which countries are seeing the most rapid progress among their newly founded institutions?

The maps below show the average score change for young and old universities by country from the 2021 to 2022 editions of the World University Rankings. Newer universities in mainland China are gaining the most ground, but institutions aged 50 years and under in Canada, Sweden, the UK, India and Brazil are also rising in score, suggesting that the success of young universities is not concentrated in a single region.

Youthfuluniversities in Saudi Arabia are also making strong progress, although not advancing as quickly as the more established institutions in the Middle Eastern country. In Egypt, meanwhile, the improvement is similar for both groups of institutions. Older universities in the US and Russia are also rising faster than their younger domestic counterparts.

Meanwhile, the bar chart shows the share of universities in the latest World University Rankings that are aged 50 years and under in each region. It reveals that Africa has the highest share of new higher education institutions, with 67per cent of ranked universities in the continent having been founded in the past half-century. The majority of universities in Oceania are also young, driven by Australias higher education expansion from the 1970s to the1990s.

At the other end of the scale, just 5per cent of North Americas ranking representatives are 50 years or younger, reflecting the maturity of the regions higher education systems.

ellie.bothwell@timeshighereducation.com

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Young University Rankings 2022: fastest-rising regions - Times Higher Education (THE)

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