Category Archives: Oceania

The $94 Trillion World Economy in One Chart

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Just four countriesthe U.S., China, Japan, and Germanymake up over half of the worlds economic output by gross domestic product (GDP) in nominal terms. In fact, the GDP of the U.S. alone is greater than the combined GDP of 170 countries.

How do the different economies of the world compare? In this visualization we look at GDP by country in 2021, using data and estimates from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

GDP serves as a broad indicator for a countrys economic output. It measures the total market value of final goods and services produced in a country in a specific timeframe, such as a quarter or year. In addition, GDP also takes into consideration the output of services provided by the government, such as money spent on defense, healthcare, or education.

Generally speaking, when GDP is increasing in a country, it is a sign of greater economic activity that benefits workers and businesses (while the reverse is true for a decline).

Who are the biggest contributors to the global economy? Here is the ranking of the 50 largest countries by GDP in 2021:

*2020 GDP (latest available) used where IMF estimates for 2021 were unavailable.

At $22.9 trillion, the U.S. GDP accounts for roughly 25% of the global economy, a share that has actually changed significantly over the last 60 years. The finance, insurance, and real estate ($4.7 trillion) industries add the most to the countrys economy, followed by professional and business services ($2.7 trillion) and government ($2.6 trillion).

Chinas economy is second in nominal terms, hovering at near $17 trillion in GDP. It remains the largest manufacturer worldwide based on output with extensive production of steel, electronics, and robotics, among others.

The largest economy in Europe is Germany, which exports roughly 20% of the worlds motor vehicles. In 2019, overall trade equaled nearly 90% of the countrys GDP.

On the other end of the spectrum are the worlds smallest economies by GDP, primarily developing and island nations.

With a GDP of $70 million, Tuvalu is the smallest economy in the world. Situated between Hawaii and Australia, the largest industry of this volcanic archipelago relies on territorial fishing rights.

In addition, the country earns significant revenue from its .tv web domain. Between 2011 and 2019, it earned $5 million annually from companiesincluding Amazon-owned Twitch to license the Twitch.tv domain nameequivalent to roughly 7% of the countrys GDP.

*2019 GDP (latest available) used where IMF estimates for 2021 were unavailable.

Like Tuvalu, many of the worlds smallest economies are in Oceania, including Nauru, Palau, and Kiribati. Additionally, several countries above rely on the tourism industry for over one-third of their employment.

With 123% projected GDP growth, Libyas economy is estimated to have the sharpest rise.

Oil is propelling its growth, with 1.2 million barrels being pumped in the country daily. Along with this, exports and a depressed currency are among the primary factors behind its recovery.

2021 Real GDP Growth (Annual % Change)

Irelands economy, with a projected 13% real GDP growth, is being supported by the largest multinational corporations in the world. Facebook, TikTok, Google, Apple, and Pfizer all have their European headquarters in the country, which has a 12.5% corporate tax rateor about half the global average. But these rates are set to change soon, as Ireland joined the OECD 15% minimum corporate tax rate agreement which was finalized in October 2021.

Macaos economy bounced back after COVID-19 restrictions began to lift, but more storm clouds are on the horizon for the Chinese district. The CCPs anti-corruption campaign and recent arrests could signal a more strained relationship between Mainland China and the worlds largest gambling hub.

The global GDP figure of $94 trillion may seem massive to us today, but such a total might seem much more modest in the future.

In 1970, the world economy was only about $3 trillion in GDPor 30 times smaller than it is today. Over the next thirty years, the global economy is expected to more or less double again. By 2050, global GDP could total close to $180 trillion.

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Visualizing the $94 Trillion World Economy in One Chart - Visual Capitalist

With 12 cities in the region ranking among the top 25 in the world, Europe continues to be the best positioned geographical area for smart cities. According to the European Commission, the smart cities project market is expected to exceed USD 2 trillion by 2025, with Europe speculated to have the highest investment globally.

New York, Dec. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Mobility as a Service Market by Service, Solution, Application, Transportation, Vehicle, Operating System, Business Model, Propulsion & Region - Forecast to 2030" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05806383/?utm_source=GNW Copenhagen, Amsterdam, London, Vienna, Paris, Barcelona, Stockholm, Berlin, and Helsinki have already initiated the development of smart city platforms.

Besides smart city initiatives, other factors driving the MaaS market include improving 4G/5G infrastructure, the penetration of smartphones, and the need for reduced CO2 emissions. However, the integration of various MaaS stakeholders and limited internet connectivity in developing countries will restrict the mobility as a service market in the coming years.Peer-to-peer segment is expected to register the highest CAGR as people could use peer-to-peer services to rent out their vehicles when not in use in the future, which presents opportunities for growthIn a peer-to-peer (P2P) ride-sharing service, drivers use their own vehicles to provide a service to registered users via an app. Another model is peer-to-peer rentals where owners rent out their vehicles. Various modes of transport can be integrated into one digital mobile app that covers the process from start to finish, including booking, trip planning, and electronic payment. For instance, Uber, a peer-to-peer transportation provider, is branching out into short-term car rental and public transit ticket purchasing. Similarly, Turo, a peer-to-peer rental company, enables private owners to rent out their cars to others. The company recently partnered with Porsche to launch a pilot program in San Francisco and Los Angeles that allows drivers to rent sports cars for around USD 100/day.

Journey planning segment is expected to hold a dominant share throughout the forecast period as users can select their preferred mode of transportationJourney planning involves providing journey options to users through a combination of real-time, predictive, and scheduled data based on a data algorithm.Journey planning includes providing a list of service offerings and combines the optimal use of transport modes based on user preferences and transport infrastructure.

Thus, the user is also granted some level of personalization in terms of preference for transport mode and accessibility.

Technology platform segment is expected to account for the largest market share from 2021 to 2030The technology platform segment is likely to command the largest market share through the forecast period as it provides integrated services for ride hailing, car sharing, micromobility, bus sharing, and train services.In July 2020, Google announced a digitization fund of USD 10 billion to boost Indias digital economy.

Google plans to enable affordable internet access for every Indian as the country has the second-highest number of internet users in the world. Such initiatives are expected to create immense opportunities for high-growth niche markets like the mobility as a service market.

Asia Oceania is expected to hold the largest market share by 2030 while Rest of the World is projected to register the fastest growth during the forecast periodAsia Oceania is projected to hold the largest share of the mobility as a service market by 2030 because of the increasing adoption of MaaS in China, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Myanmar. The region has started creating a sustainable ecosystem for MaaS. 5G deployment is gaining pace in developing economies to boost smart mobility. For instance, in July 2020, Reliance Industries Limited announced that Reliance Jio has designed and developed a complete 5G solution for India. It said it will be ready for trials as soon as the 5G spectrum is available and can be ready for field deployment in 2022. Hence, the region is expected to hold a lions share in the MaaS market.The Rest of the World is estimated to be the fastest-growing market for mobility as a service during the forecast period.Some of the Latin American countries such as Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Peru, and Mexico are expected to drive the market in the next decade.

The presence of several mobility companies and their partnerships in the region has created huge opportunities for MaaS.Grin, an e-scooter company, has partnered with Rappi to cater to the Columbian market.

It also merged with Yellow, a bike-sharing start-up in Brazil, to cater to the Latin American market.

In-depth interviews were conducted with CEOs, marketing directors, other innovation and technology directors, and executives from various key organizations operating in this market. By Company Type: Tier I - 60%, Tier II - 30%, and Others - 10% By Designation: C Level - 30%, D Level - 30%, and Others - 40% By Region: Europe - 40%, Asia Oceania - 40%, North America - 10%, and Rest of the World 10%The mobility as a service market comprises prominent players such as Moovit Inc. (Israel), MaaS Global Oy (Finland), Citymapper (UK), Mobilleo (UK), SkedGo Pty Ltd (Australia).

Research Coverage:The study segments the mobility as a service market and forecasts the market size based on service type (ride hailing, car sharing, micromobility, bus sharing, train services), solution type (technology platforms, payment engines, navigation solutions, telecom connectivity providers, ticketing solutions, insurance services), transportation type (public and private), vehicle type (micromobility, four-wheelers, buses, trains), application type (personalized application services, journey management, journey planning, flexible payments & transactions), operating system (android, iOS, others), business model (business-to-business, business-to-consumer, peer-to-peer), propulsion type (ICE vehicle, electric vehicle, hybrid electric vehicle, CNG/LPG vehicle), MaaS market for electric vehicle, by mode (public, private), and region (North America, Europe, Asia Oceania, and Rest of the World).The study also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key players in the market, along with their company profiles, key observations related to product and business offerings, recent developments, and key market strategies.

Key Benefits of Buying the Report:The report will help the market leaders/new entrants in this market with the information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall mobility as a service market and the sub-segments.This report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to better position their businesses and plan suitable go-to-market strategies.

The report also helps stakeholders understand the pulse of the market and provides them information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05806383/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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The mobility as a service market is projected to reach USD 40.1 billion by 2030 from an estimated USD 3.3 billion in 2021, at a CAGR of 32.1% from...

Credit: Oceania Cruises

Sponsored by Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises offers a whole host of suite options across the fleet, from the coveted Owners and Vista suites to the sophisticated Penthouse Suites, you are spoiled for choice.

So, you are thinking about booking an Oceania cruise and are now faced with the difficult - albeit fun - decision of which cabin you will be calling home for the duration of your cruise.

There are many things to consider when it comes to choosing a cabin, from the size, location and deck position to balconies and inclusions for different rooms.

First, it is important to know that Oceania Cruises splits rooms into two categories, Suites and Staterooms. Both options feature a mini-bar with unlimited free soft drinks, twice-daily maid service, Belgian chocolates with the nightly turndown service, flat-screen television, 24-hour room service menu, Bvlgari toiletries, full-sized bathroom, safe, robes and slippers.

Yet, if you enjoy extra living space in your room onboard, then a suite may be the best option for you as they feature a separate sleeping and dining area.

Suites also boast an even more luxurious bathroom (who knew that was possible!) made of marble and granite bathrooms and featuring a separate shower.

Every type of suite comes with extra goodies such as free laundry service, 24-hour butler service, an iPad upon request, cashmere lap blankets and even a complimentary shoe-shine service.

- READ MORE: Discover the innovative new experiences onboard Vista with Oceania Cruises -

Suites onboard Oceania Cruises are plentiful, such as the Owners and Vista suites onboard Regatta class ships Regatta, Insignia, Nautica and Sirena, with the Owners suite also featuring onboard Oceania class Marina, Riviera and the new Vista ship (Allura Class), who joins the fleet in April 2023. Fleetwide, the Penthouse suites boast oversized living and luxurious marble touches.

Are you tempted yet? Read on to discover more about Oceania Cruises suites

The luxury of Oceanias Penthouse Suite is available throughout the entire fleet - so you can enjoy sophisticated decor around the world.

If the marble and granite-clad bathroom is somehow not enough, then go further to explore your spacious walk-in closet and private veranda to truly appreciate the generous 420 square feet of space.

Want an extra few minutes in bed? As with the other suites, you can simply ring the butler for exclusive services and order whatever you fancy for breakfast - start your day right!

Whats more, you can get exclusive card-only access to the private Executive Lounge, staffed by a dedicated concierge, where you can indulge in coffee, soft drinks and snacks throughout the day - all complimentary of course.

The Oceania Owners Suite, onboard both Regatta and Oceania class ships Regatta, Insignia, Nautica, Sirena, Marina, Riviera and new Allura class ship Vista is the perfect option for those who truly want an opulent home away from home.

The reinspired design varies with class across the Owners Suites and includes a spacious living room, plush king-sized bed, not one but two walk-in closets, indoor and outdoor whirlpool spaces and a whole host of exclusive Oceania Cruises suite privileges.

Everything possible is done to ensure you are as comfortable as you can be, including a menu of luxurious pillow options to guarantee an amazing nights sleep.

If you dont want to leave your room to indulge in luscious cuisine, then you dont have to. Simply relax in your pj's and enjoy 24-hour butler service, as well as a complimentary in-suite bar setup with six full-size bottles of premium spirits and wines.

Onboard all ships, the Owners suites are styled with furnishings from the Ralph Lauren Home Collection, which consists of strikingly modern furnishings with, of course, a nautical flair.

As the newest suite addition to the fleet, Vista will see a further evolution of Oceania Cruises' idea of a suite with the help of the interior designer, Dakota Jackson to make these 1,200 to 1,500 square-foot suites as lavish as possible.

When you have explored the stunning interior of your room, look out the window and enjoy the premium view overlooking the bow of the ship.

- READ MORE: How to enjoy Oceania Cruises award-winning food

Enjoy exclusive butler service and be served each delicious meal course by course in the luxury of your own room. Whats more, you can have your pick of the bunch and order in from any of the speciality restaurants.

Make the most of every amenity you could possibly imagine, from a second bathroom for guests to your own private fitness room.

Each of the 12 Oceania Suites onboard an Oceania ship measure over a staggering 1,000 square feet of luxury. Enjoy the premium feeling of having everything you need at your fingertips, as these suites are equipped with a living room, dining room, king-sized bed and more.

Take advantage of having a private fully-equipped media room where you can catch up on all your favourite TV shows and films before wandering over to your expansive private veranda to take in the fresh air.

- READ MORE: Experience an elevated dining experience with new expanded Oceania Cruises menu -

The exclusive card access to the Executive Lounge comes with the additional benefit of magazines and daily newspapers where you can catch up on the happenings of the world to discuss over dinner.

Ensure that every moment of your Oceania cruise is as relaxing as possible, with 11am ship embarkation plus priority luggage delivery, so you can unpack and start discovering everything your suite has to offer even sooner!

So which suite is your favourite? We can't choose. Can we stay in all of them?

Read more here:

How to choose a cruise ship cabin - everything you need to know about Oceania Cruises suites - World of Cruising

Incidence counts, age-standardized incidence rates per 100,000 population, and percentage changes by countries and territories

In 2017, approximately 601,186 incident cases of cervical cancer were reported globally (95% UI, 554,455 to 625,402), with an 18.9% (12.8% to 23.0%) increase since 2007 (Additional file 1: Table S1). The age-standardized incidence rate of cervical cancer was 14.5 (13.4 to 15.1) per 100,100person-years in 2017, with a2.8% (7.8% to 0.6%) decrease since 2007 (Fig.1A, B).

Age-standardized rates for incidence (A), DALYs (C), and death (E) of cervical cancer in 2017, and percentage change of age-standardized rates for incidence (B), DALYs (D), and death (F) of cervical cancer between 2007 and 2017, globally, by SDI quintile and by 21 GDB regions. DALYs disability-adjusted life-years, SDI socio-demographic index

In 2017, the highest age-standardized incidence rates of cervical cancer were observed in the low SDI quintile (23.5 [21.3 to 26.0] per 100,000 person-years), whereas the lowest rate was observed in the high SDI quintile (9.2 [8.8 to 9.5]) (Fig.1A). The age-standardized incidence rates decreased in all the SDI quintiles from 2007 to 2017, with the highest decrease in the high SDI quintile (6.7% [10.1% to3.5%]) and the lowest decrease in the middle SDI quintile (2.0% [11.0% to 3.3%]) (Fig.1B).

Regionally, the highest age-standardized incidence rates of cervical cancer were found in Oceania (47.6 [34.8 to 62.8] per 100,000 person-years), Central Sub-Saharan Africa (42.9 [31.5 to 52.8]), and Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa (34.9 [29.8 to 41.4]), while the lowest incidence rates were found in North Africa and Middle East (5.6 [4.9 to 6.2] per 100,000 person-years), Australasia (6.3 [5.3 to 7.4]), and Western Europe (8.3 [7.8 to 8.8]) (Fig.1A). During 2007 to 2017, an increase in incidence rates was noted only in East Asia (17.6% [10.9% to 27.8%]), South Asia (4% [4.3% to 12.5%]) and high-income North America (2.2% [3.8% to 8.7%]), but the increase was not significant. Southern Sub-Saharan Africa had the largest decrease in age-standardized incidence rate (32.3% [41.6% to24.0%]), followed by Eastern Europe (21.1% [26.0 to15.5%]) and Central Europe (19.6% [24.1% to14.8%]) (Fig.1B).

The 2017 global map of the age-standardized incidence rates of cervical cancer is presented in Fig.2A. In 2017, the highest age-standardized incidence rates were found in Kiribati (89.6 [65.5 to 118.6] per 100,000 person-years), Somalia (56.6 [37.4 to 82.1]), and Eritrea (56.2 [39.4 to 78.5]). On the contrary, the lowest incidence rates were found in Kuwait (2.6 [2.2 to 3.1] per 100,100person-years), Iraq (2.7 [2.3 to 3.3]), and Egypt (3.2 [2.5 to 4.0]). During 2007 to 2017, the largest increases in age-standardized incidence rates were noted in Georgia (27.9% [10.6% to 48.3%], China (19.7% [10.3% to 30.5%]) and Costa Rica (15.2% [2.3% to 35.7%]), and the largest decreases were noted in Kuwait (44.7% [53.8% to33.8%]), Lithuania (42.0% [50.2% to31.6%]), and Jordan (36.2% [50.8% to14.2%])(Additional file 2: Table S2).

Age-standardize rates for incidence (A), DALYs (B) and death (C) of cervical cancer across 195 countries and territories, 2017. This figure was drawn using the extracted data by the authors. DALYs disability-adjusted life-years

The 2017 age-specific (15 to>80years) incidence rates of cervical cancer worldwide and by all the SDI quintile are presented in Additional File 3: Fig. S1A. Globally, the incidence rates of cervical cancer increased after the age of 25years, peaked at the age of 5054years, and decreased slightly thereafter. Generally, the peak incidence rate was earlier in the lower SDI quintiles such as at the age of 5054years in the low SDI quintile and at 6569years in the high-middle SDI quintile. In the high SDI quintile, the incidence rate increased until the age of 3539years and was stable thereafter until a further rise after the age of 75years and more.

Figure3A, B illustrate the age distribution of cervical cancer incident cases in 2007 and 2017. In 2017, the lower the SDI, the higher the proportion of incident cases among younger women (44years), with the highest proportion of incident cases among younger women in Oceania (58.9%), Southern Latin America (48.7%), and Western Sub-Saharan Africa (48.5%). During 2007 to 2017, a slight decrease was noted in the proportion of incident cases among younger women worldwide, in all the SDI quintiles and in most regions, except for South and Tropical Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Eastern Sub-Sahara Africa.

Age-distribution for incident, DALYs, and death cases of cervical cancer by 21GBD regions, 2007 and 2017. A Incident cases of cervical cancer in 2007. B Incident cases of cervical cancer in 2017. C DALYs cases s of cervical cancer in 2007. D DALYs cases of cervical cancer in 2017. E Death cases of cervical cancer in 2007. F Death cases of cervical cancer in 2017. DALYs disability-adjusted life-years, SDI socio-demographic index

Figure4A illustrates the secular trend in age-standardized incidence rate of cervical cancer across the SDI quintiles by regions from 1990 to 2017 and the expected levels based only on the SDI values of the global regions. We found that the expected values of the age-standardized incidence rate decreased with an increase in the SDI value. Most regions generally saw a steady decrease in incidence rate with an increase in the SDI value, with values close to the expected line. In addition, the highest observed value was corresponded to an SDI of 0.58 in Southern Sub-Saharan Africa, and, observed values largely decreased with increasing SDI value after 2007 in this region. East Asia exhibited a slight increase in the observed age-standardized incidence rate with increasing SDI value. Eastern sub-Saharan Africa exhibited the largest decrease in incidence rate with an increase in the SDI value.

The trend in age-standardized incidence (A), DALYs (B), and death (C) rates of cervical cancer in 21 GBD regions by SDI, 19902017. For each region, points from left to right depict estimates from each year from 1990 to 2017. The black line represents the average expected relationship between SDI and burden estimates rates for T2DM based on values from each geographical region over the 19902017 estimation period. DALYs disability-adjusted life-years, SDI socio-demographic index

In 2017, cervical cancer was responsible for 8,061,667 [7,527,014 to 8,401,647] DALYs globally, representing a 15.2% [9.5% to 19.2%] increase in DALYs since 2007 (Additional file 1: Table S1). The 2017 age-standardized DALYs rate was 193.0 [180.2 to 201.2] per 100,000 person-years, which had declined by7.1% [11.8% to3.9%] from 2007 to 2017 (Fig.1C, D).

In 2017, the low SDI quintile had the highest age-standardized DALYs rate (391.2 [352.7 to 431.5] per 100,000 person-years), whereas the high SDI quintile had the lowest DALYs rate (84.7 [81.9 to 87.8]) (Fig.1C). The age-standardized DALYs rates decreased in all the SDI quintiles from 2007 to 2017, with the largest decrease in the high-middle SDI quintile (12.5% [22.7% to8.2%]) and the lowest decrease in the middle SDI quintile (8.3% [16.5% to3.8%]) (Fig.1D).

A substantial difference was noted in the age-standardized DALYs rates across regions, ranging from the highest rates in Central Sub-Saharan Africa (730.8 [544.9 to 900.8] per 100,000 person-years), Oceania (676.0 [507.9 to 867.4]), and Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa (605.8 [514.8 to 722.7]) to the lowest rates in Australasia (65.4 [56.8 to 75.1] per 100,000 person-years), Western Europe (74.7 [70.6 to 79.0]), and North Africa and Middle East (75.7 [65.1 to 83.9]) (Fig.1C). During 2007 to 2017, an increase in age-standardized DALYS rates were observed only in high-income East Asia (7.2% [19.7% to 15.8%]) and high-income North America (0.2% [4.7% to 5.6%]). In this period, the largest decreases in the age-standardized DALYs rates were noted in Southern Sub-Saharan Africa (32.7% [40.4% to25.9%]), Eastern Europe (28.3% [31.0% to25.5%]), and Central Europe (23.3% [27.0% to19.3%]) (Fig.1D).

The global map of age-standardized DALYs rates of cervical cancer in 2017 is presented in Fig.2B. The 2017 age-standardized DALYs rates varied by nearly 50 times across countries, with the highest DALYs rates in Kiribati (1400.7 [1040.1 to 1828.6] per 100,000 person-years), Central African Republic (1064.6 [638.6 to 1487.8]), and Somalia (1062.1 [716.1 to 1546.9]), while the lowest DALYs rates in Kuwait (29.1 [25.4 to 33.2] per 100,000 person-years), Iraq (39.0 [32.5 to 46.6]), and Egypt (42.4 [33.8 to 52.1]) (Fig.2B). From 2007 to 2017, the largest increases in the age-standardized DALYs rates were noted in Georgia (25.5% [11.8% to 41.1%]), Tajikistan (10.5% [11.2% to 34.6%]), Jamaica (10.2% [13.3% to 41.0%]). On the contrary, the largest decreases were noted in Kuwait (48.7% [55.5% to40.7%]), Lithuania (44.1% [36.2% to50.6%]), and Jordan (40.5% [20.8% to53.9%]) (Additional file 2: Table S2).

The 2017 age-specific (15 to>80years) DALYs rates of cervical cancer worldwide and by the SDI quintile are presented in Additional file 3: Fig. S1B. The DALYs rates peaked at the age of 5054years globally as well as in the most SDI quintiles and at 5559years in the high SDI quintile.

Figure3C, D illustrate the age distribution of DALYs for cervical cancer in 2007 and 2017. In 2017, the proportion of DALYs increased in younger women (44years) with a decrease in the SDI value, with the highest proportion of DALYs among younger women in Oceania (50.5%), Western Sub-Saharan Africa (47.4%), and Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa (36.3%). During 2007 to 2017, a slight decrease was noted in the proportion of DALYs among younger women worldwide, in all the SDI quintiles and in most regions, except for South Latin America and Eastern Sub-Sahara Africa.

Figure4B demonstrates the secular trend in the age-standardized DALYs rate across the SDI quintiles by region from 1990 to 2017 and the expected levels based only on the SDI values of the global regions. The correlation of the SDI with age-standardized DALYs rate yielded a pattern similarly to that with the age-standardized incidence rate. What is different is that, the highest observed value was corresponded to an SDI of 0.23 in Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa, while the decrease trend in observed values slowed down with increasing SDI value after 2007 in this region.

In 2017, cervical cancer caused 259,671 [241,128 to 269,214] deaths globally, with an age-standardized death rate of 6.2 [5.7 to 6.4] per 100,000 person-years (Additional file 1: Table S1). An 18.8% [12.9% to 22.8%] increase in death cases and a6.9% [11.5% to3.7%] decrease in the age-standardized death rate were observed between 2007 and 2017 (Fig.1E, F).

In 2017, the low SDI quintile had the highest age-standardized death rate (12.4 [11.3 to 13.8] per 100,000 person-years), whereas the high SDI quintile had the lowest death rate (2.8 [2.8 to 2.9]) (Fig.1E). Between 2007 and 2017, all the SDI quintiles exhibited a decrease in the age-standardized death rate, with the largest decrease in the high SDI quintile (12.2% [14.8% to9.6%]) and the lowest decrease in the middle SDI quintile (7.7% [15.7% to3.5%]) (Fig.1F).

In 2017, the highest age-standardized cervical cancer death rates were found in Central Sub-Saharan Africa (24.3 [18.0 to 30.0] per 100,000 person-years), Oceania (20.3 [16.1 to 25.1]), and Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa (20.0 [16.8 to 23.8]), while the lowest death rates were found in Australasia (2.3 [2.0 to 2.7] per 100,000 person-years), Western Europe (2.6 [2.5 to 2.7]), High-income Asia Pacific (2.6 [2.5 to 2.7]), and North Africa and Middle East (2.6 [2.3 to 2.8]) (Fig.1E). Only East Asia exhibited an increase in the age-standardized death rate during 2007 to 2017 (8.9% [17.5% to 17.6%]). Among the other 20 regions with decreased death rates from 2007 to 2017, the largest decreases were noted in Southern Sub-Saharan Africa (28.5% [35.2% to21.0%]), Eastern Europe (27.5% [30.0% to24.8%]), and Central Europe (21.1% [24.8% to17.2%]), and the lowest decreases were noted in high-income North America (0.1% [4.5% to 4.5%]) and South Asia (0.5% [7.9% to 7.2%]) (Fig.1F).

The global map of the age-standardized cervical cancer death rates in 2017 is presented in Fig.2C. Globally, the 2017 age-standardized death rates varied nearly 50 times across countries. To be specific, the highest age-standardized death rates were found in Kiribati (47.1 [35.3 to 59.6] per 100,000 person-years), Central African Republic (33.9 [20.9 to 45.5]), and Somalia (34.3 [23.4 to 49.9]). On the contrary, the lowest rates were found in Kuwait (1.0 [0.9 to 1.1] per 100,000 person-years), Iraq (1.4 [1.2 to 1.6]), and Saudi Arabia (1.4 [1.2 to 1.8]). From 2007 to 2017, Georgia (27.1% [14.5% to 41.0%]), Guam (11.7% [5.9% to 30.7%]) and Tajikistan (11.2% [9.3% to 34.5%]) showed the largest increases in the age-standardized death rate. Contrarily, Kuwait (48.2% [54.6% to40.3%]), Lithuania (41.5% [47.8% to33.6%]), and Ukraine (38.0% [43.4% to31.0%]) had the largest decreases in the age-standardized death rate (Additional file 2: Table S2).

The 2017 age-specific (15 to>80years) death rates of cervical cancer worldwide and by the SDI quintile are presented in Additional file 3: Fig. S1C. The death rate increased with an in-crease in age globally and in all the SDI quintiles.

Figure3E, F illustrate the age distribution of cervical cancer death cases in 2007 and 2017. In 2017, the proportion of death cases in younger women (44years) in-creased with a decrease in the SDI, with the highest proportion of death cases in younger women in Oceania (38.1%), Western Sub-Saharan Africa (24.2%), and Central Sub-Saharan Africa (23.9%). During 2007 to 2017, a slight decrease was noted in the proportion of death cases in younger women (44years) worldwide, in all SDI quintiles and in most regions, except for South Latin America.

Figure4C demonstrates the secular trend in the age-standardized death rates across the SDI quintiles by regions from 1990 to 2017 and the expected levels based only on the SDI values of the global regions. The correlation of the SDI with the age-standardized death rate yielded a pattern similarly to that with the age-standardized DALYs rate.

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Global, regional, and national burden of cervical cancer for 195 countries and territories, 20072017: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study...

People living in collectivistic cultures (Asia and Africa) report higher levels of the narcissism facets of leadership/authority and grandiose exhibitionism compared to people from individualistic cultures (USA, Europe, Australia/Oceania). These findings come from a study published in the journalPersonality and Individual Differences.

Personality researchers have long contended that the culture we live in helps determine our personality. For example, cultures differ in the extent that they endorse collectivism and individualism, and this distinction helps inform the personality traits of citizens. Collectivistic societies, like Asia, value interconnectedness between members and emphasize the needs of the group. Individualistic societies, like the United States, value individual needs and freedoms.

One personality trait that appears to differ across cultures is narcissism, an anti-social personality trait characterized by an exaggerated ego and lack of empathy. At the subclinical level, narcissism is presumed to exist along a continuum, with some people scoring higher and others lower on the trait.

Almost two decades ago, an influential study was published by Foster et al. (2003) that examined the relationship between narcissism and culture: Western nations reported higher narcissism scores than collectivistic nations, said study author Ramzi Fatfouta of the HMKW University for Media, Communication and Business. Many scholars interpreted these results to suggest that Western societies promote individualism and thus a culture of narcissism. My colleagues and I wondered whether this still was the case nowadays and re-examined this proposition with new analytical procedures in a different sample.

While it is widely assumed that Western societies are more narcissistic, Fatfouta and his team said that some studies have actually suggested the opposite that people in collectivistic societies score higher in narcissism. Moreover, it is unclear whether the construct of narcissism has been measured the same way across cultures.

In light of these limitations, Fatfouta and his colleagues conducted a study to explore cross-cultural differences in narcissism using a multifaceted measure of narcissism. They also employed a test of measurement invariance of the Narcissism Personality Inventory.

The study authors analyzed a publicly available dataset that included 2,754 adults from five world regions. While roughly half the participants (51%) were U.S. residents, 17% were from Asia, 13% were from Europe, 5% were from Canada, 5% were from Australia/Oceania, 3% were from the Middle East, 3% were from Africa, and 1% were from Latin America. All participants had completed the Narcissism Personality Inventory (NPI), a 40-item self-report measure of narcissism.

Importantly, the researchers first conducted a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis, a statistical test that measured whether the NPI was assessing the same constructs across the different world regions. They found that one of the three dimensions of narcissism, entitlement/exploitativeness, did not meet measurement invariance. This suggests that, rather than measuring the same construct across cultures, this facet was culturally specific.

However, the facets of leadership/authority and grandiose exhibitionism were invariant across cultures. Accordingly, the researchers next examined the cross-cultural differences in these two facets. It was revealed that respondents from collectivistic cultures (Asia, Africa) tended to score higher in these two dimensions of narcissism compared to respondents from individualistic cultures (USA, Europe, Australia/Oceania).

The studys findings cast doubt on the contention that narcissism is higher in individualistic cultures. Our results painted quite the opposite picture: Individuals from more collectivistic cultures (i.e., Asia and Africa) reported higher narcissism levels than individuals from more individualistic cultures (i.e., USA, Europe, and Australia/Oceania), Fatfouta told PsyPost. In an effort to clarify the ambiguity revolving around narcissism and culture, our study provides up-to-date evidence for a narcissistic bias in collectivistic as compared to individualistic nations.

Fatfouta and his team noted that previous research suggests that collectivistic cultures are becoming more individualistic and that narcissism is rising in these parts of the world.

An important open question is why we observe these intriguing results. With growing digitization across the world as well as the increased use of the Internet, people from collectivistic societies may be moving away from defining themselves in terms of social or familial groups and, instead, moving toward individual identities and efforts, Fatfouta said.

Especially social media platforms make it easier to export the Western lifestyle or individualism instead of defining oneself through community or social relationships, self-relevant aspects are increasingly coming into focus. Thus, heightened narcissism in collectivistic societies may also reflect an increasing adoption of self-centered values (e.g., standing out) versus other-centered values (e.g., fitting in.)

mportantly, the study also revealed an issue with using the NPI as a cross-cultural tool to measure narcissism. The findings suggest that the facet of entitlement/exploitativeness, the socially toxic component of narcissism, exists in conceptually different forms in different countries. The authors of the study say that a task for future research is to design a questionnaire that can hone in on this antagonistic aspect of narcissism across cultures.

Additionally, future studies should obtain a more diverse sample, given that the current study included more U.S. residents than residents of other countries and polled only English-speaking respondents. This may have skewed the sample toward participants who were more Westernized.

Although our sample contains several different world regions across the globe, it is predominantly female, self-selected, English-speaking, and recruited over the Internet (similar to the original study), Fatfouta explained. English-speaking respondents may, per se, be more Westernized than non-English-speaking residents of many world regions. Future studies are needed to examine samples outside the Internet setting. Also, no inferences can be made concerning causality: The common conception is that culture shapes personality, but it is equally plausible to assume that personality shapes culture. We eagerly await future research that examines these issues.

The study, Are individualistic societies really more narcissistic than collectivistic ones? A five-world region cross-cultural re-examination of narcissism and its facets, was authored by Ramzi Fatfouta, Artur Sawicki, and Magdalena emojtel-Piotrowska.

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Survey across five world regions suggests that collectivistic societies are more narcissistic than individualistic societies - PsyPost

Marcos Gusmao and Nicola Demaine have been hired as new national team head coaches for Papua New Guinea.

PNGFA confirmed the coaches this week.

Both coaches are expected in the country anytime soon once their relevant travel documents are in order.

Brazilian Gusmao, who will take over the mens team, has previously coached the Kapuls senior side back in 2014. According to the PNGFA he has been kept informed of the national team preparations and has watched National Soccer League matches live on social media.

I want to work with youth who can continue with the national team. What they learn today can prepare for them for tomorrows challenges, Gusmao said in a statement.

The womens nation side have enlisted former Samoa national team coach Nicola Demaine as their new coach.

She is no stranger coaching the PNG U15 womens team at the Youth Olympic in 2014.

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PNG sign men and women's national team coaches - Football in Oceania

Fifty riders have qualified for the UCI E-Sport World Championships following continental heats.

The races across the continents saw a total of 550 participants try and make it to the first ever E-Sport Worlds on Zwift taking place on Saturday, February 26 in the Knickerbocker Circuit in Zwifts version of New York.

Riders from five groups have competed in qualification races with five British riders making it through in the European women's qualifiers. The two continents of North and South America were merged into one qualifying group for this event.

>>> Knee injury delays cyclocross preparation for Mathieu van der Poel, according to report

Most of the riders who have made it through are regulars on the Zwift Racing Leagues Premier Division.

Europe have the most female qualifiers with 10, followed by Americas six plus Oceania and Asia's four and Africa's one. In the men's it's five riders from each group.

There are 19 nations represented across both the men's and women's races with some holding large numbers like USA, Australia, Japan and South Africa to smaller nations in sporting terms such as Angola, Finland and Hong Kong.

The British riders are Zoe Langham, Mary Wilkinson, Illi Gardner, Alice Lethbridge and Lou Bates with only one rider representing the five other qualified nations in Europe.

Other groups, like the Americas and Oceania saw the expected nations dominate with riders only from USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand making it from their groups.

Africa was much the same with every rider expect one being from South Africa. In Asia's malegroup it was all about Japan but in the women's Singapore had control along with one from Hong Kong.

EuropeMen:Lionel Vujasin (CRO)Matthias Deroose (BEL)Matteo Cigala (ITA)Haarvard Gjeldnes (NOR)Teppo Laurio (FIN)

Women:Zoe Langham (GBR)Mary Wilkinson (GBR)Cecilia Hansen (SWE)Loes Adegeest (NED)Melanie Maurer (SUI)Illi Gardner (GBR)Alice Lethbridge (GBR)Lou Bates (GBR)Louise Houbak (DEN)Eleanor Wiseman (BEL)

AmericasMen:Zach Nehr (USA)Brian Duffy (USA)Thomas Thrall (CAN)John Bruhn (USA)Kevin Bouchard-Hall (USA)

Women:Shayna Powless (USA)Jacquie Godbe (USA)Liz van Houweling (USA)Kristen Kulchinsky (USA)Monilee Keller (CAN)Katheryn Curi (USA)

OceaniaMen:Ben Hill (AUS)Ollie Jones (NZL)Paul Odlin (NZL)Sam Lindsay (NZL)Aiden Sinclair (AUS)

Women:Vicky Whitelaw (AUS)Justine Barrow (AUS)Katie Banerjee (AUS)Sarah Morrison (NZL)

AsiaMen:Takato Ikeda (JPN)Toshiaki Maegawa (JPN)Hidenori Sasauchi (JPN)Tomoaki Takasugi (JPN)Ryusuke Honda (JPN)

Women:Lam Kong (HKG)Lyn Ahmad (SNG)Faye Foo (SNG)Tsalina Phang (SNG)

AfricaMen:Gary Muller (RSA)James Barnes (RSA)Eddy Hoole (RSA)Pieter Avenant (RSA)Andre Matias (ANG)

Women:Courteney Webb (RSA)

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50 riders have been confirmed to be taking part in the UCI E-Sport World Championships 2022 - Cycling Weekly

From China to South Korea to the US, Asian women in sports have become increasingly more visible, scoring Olympic medals and dominating international tournaments. They not only serve as celebrities and role models, but also, like many athletic superstars, often double as a sort of diplomat, bridging international gaps through competitions in global arenas.

But in recent years, many Asian women athletes have used their platforms to shine a light on the injustices they face behind the scenes in their personal and professional lives, such as racism, harassment, and sexual assault. What happens when a nation fails to protect its own icons, and how did we get to the point where these women have to use their status to seek justice?

Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai took to social media on Nov. 2 to publicly accuse former Vice Premier of China Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault. The post was quickly scrubbed from the internet. Those who posted about the matter were silenced and censored. And then, just as her words online, Peng seemed to vanish overnight.

As days turned into weeks, with no appearances from the tennis champion, public concerns mounted and turned into international demands. Where is Peng Shuai? became a rallying cry heard around the world. The question ignited headlines, trended online in the form of a hashtag, and sent the tennis world reeling.

Following the outcries of concerned fans, athletic associations, and international figures including the Biden administrations call for independent, verifiable proof of her safety Chinese officials released statements claiming the well-being of Peng and accusing foreign outlets and government leaders of politicizing the matter. Despite the efforts of Chinese state media to assuage the public by publishing videos of Peng showing her happy and well, the Womens Tennis Association (WTA) announced on Dec. 1 that it would suspend all tournaments in China.

While we now know where Peng is, I have serious doubts that she is free, safe, and not subject to censorship, coercion, and intimidation, said Steve Simon, chief executive of the WTA, in a statement.

The WTA, which holds a 10-year deal with China and stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars by suspending tournaments in the country, has been applauded for its decision to speak out and take action where many athletic organizations have chosen to remain silent. Many Olympic greats are standing by the move.

We cannot walk away from issues related to sexual assault, Simon said in an interview with the New York Times. If we do that, we are telling the world that is OK and its not important. That is what this is about.

Although the #MeToo movement has inspired many people around the world to open up about their own experiences with sexual assault, we have not yet reached a culture of easily attainable justice. So people get left behind particularly women of color.

Even when a form of justice is served, such as in the case of a South Korean Olympic short-track speedskating coach receiving a 10-year prison sentence (increased from his original sentence of 18 months) earlier this year for raping two-time gold medalist Shim Suk-Hee, there are ways these systems fail.

Experts argue that the lack of government acknowledgement of widespread abuse and halfhearted measures like whistleblower hotlines suggest that Shims high-profile status is the reason someone was able to be held accountable. Shim, a well-known champion in speedskating, a sport in which South Korea holds the most Olympic medals of any country, endured physical and verbal abuse by her coach Cho Jae-beom for years before coming forward in 2019. Three other athletes also launched accusations against Cho, and the case became a point of national reckoning.

This unveils the humiliating underside of our countrys glorious facade as a sports powerhouse, said President Moon Jae-in in response to the allegations.

But what happens when a survivor comes forward and their case gets swept under the rug? South Korean triathlete Choi Suk-hyeon died by suicide in 2020 following her report of abuse by her coach and two athletes to law enforcement and sports officials. Her claims were backed up by two former teammates who spoke anonymously at a press conference following Chois death.

The deep-rooted problems of abuse in South Koreas sporting world killed Choi, said Huh Jung-hoon, professor of sports sciences at Chung-Ang University in Seoul, to the Washington Post. In the shadows of the countrys towering achievements in sports lies the harsh training regimen that justifies violence as long as it produces medal-winners.

South Koreas Human Rights Commission found that, in a survey of over 1,000 professional athletes, 25% had been physically abused and 10% had experienced sexual abuse.

A study conducted by Frontiers in Sports and Active Living using data from athletes participating in the World Athletics under 20 World Championships found that Asian athletes were more likely than expected to have experienced sexual abuse. The study surveyed 480 athletes from North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Asia and showed that 20% of Asian athletes, counting women and men, had experience sexual abuse. Athletes from North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Oceania reported rates of 9%, 7%, 7%, 14%, and 5% respectively.

While Asian cultures are not monolithic, there are patterns at play here that highlight deep flaws in training practices, reporting, and pressures of the limelight.

Asian cultures are often notorious for high-pressure environments, pushing for success and in some cases using tough love that actually amounts to physical and mental abuse. Human Rights Watch reported that since 1983, at least 121 children in Japan have died during judo training in schools. According to ABC News, a number of Japanese teenage athletes have died by suicide due to the culture of taibatsu, a practice of corporal punishment.

In South Korea, the expectations of excellence, fear of industry backlash, and normalization of toxic training conditions could be factors in the reluctance to report such injustices, according to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea.

When Lui Lai-yiu, an Asian Indoor Games gold medalist hurdler from Hong Kong, spoke up 10 years after her former coach had assaulted her at age 13, she urged victims to speak out and stated that: "In Chinese culture, sexual issues have always been considered embarrassing and never openly discussed."

And in a case such as Pengs in China, the alleged censorship and other worrisome circumstances that followed her public accusation could demonstrate why she may have felt the need to bring it to public attention in the first place.

This all goes beyond sexual assault and physical abuse, too. Since Naomi Osakas rise to fame, the four-time Grand Slam champion has endured online abuse from users in both Japan and the US. In May, Osaka announced her withdrawal from the French Open, citing mental health issues she had dealt with since 2018, including anxiety she has felt when facing the worlds media. Osaka, who was born in Japan and raised and trained in the US, has also spoken about the racist backlash she faced after choosing to represent Japan instead of the US at the 2021 Olympics.

So why is the world failing to prevent these injustices from happening? If these women are considered heroes and respectable icons in their field, how can we turn a blind eye for so long?

The rampant abuse of young athletes is a problem worldwide because governments, institutions, coaches, athletic boards, schools and universities, and law enforcement choose to protect abusers and their successes over survivors who deliver results. US Olympic gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, for example, was able to carry out his crimes for years before being convicted in 2017. By then he had assaulted, abused, and molested over 150 young women and girls.

It shouldnt take scathing exposs of years-long abuses or high-profile athletes bravely coming forward for justice to be served. If the accusers had not been athletes of such high international recognition, would they have been able to receive the same amount of support or attention?

In the case of Peng in China, the International Olympic Committee which claimed to have confirmed her safety is going ahead with the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing in February. On Dec. 6, the Biden administration announced a diplomatic boycott of the games, withholding sending official government representation, although athletes will still be sent to compete. The question now is whether governments and sports associations care more about facades, money, and medals over protecting Asian women athletes and making sure a situation like Pengs never happens again.

For many Asian women and Asian Americans, to find representation watching women and girls like Suni Lee, Hidilyn Diaz, Momiji Nishiya, and Lee Kiefer display acts of pure excellence at this years Tokyo Olympics was a moment of extreme pride. What kind of culture are we fostering by ignoring the role models and competitors striving to get there?

The world is at a crossroads. How we move forward in terms of addressing discrimination, harassment, and sexual assault of Asian women in sports how we choose to act now sets a precedent of what were willing to tolerate when the next Osaka, Shim, or Peng speaks up.

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We Need to Protect Asian Women in Sports - Global Citizen

The New Zealand forward will be thrust between a rock and a hard place when a likely club v country tug-of-war ensues in the New Year.

The 30-year-old, who has netted double figures for Sean Dyche' s side in four successive seasons, is in a quandary, owing to the magnitude of fixtures on both sides of the coin, and it isn't a position he appreciates being pushed in to.

"It is a tough one thinking about it, I think it is very poor that FIFA have allowed internationals, especially World Cup qualifiers, to be outside the international window," he said.

"I think it is ridiculous because as a squad we wont be able to get some of our best players there and if not we are looking at up to 16 players who wont be able to get there for the first couple of games if that is the case.

"They have put us in a very sticky position.

"I would expect FIFA to look at it more in depth and come up with a solution around it.

"It is not a great format as we speak, hopefully they can change it because player welfare isnt right if you are making people play five games in 13 days.

"Also, you are making players either miss club games or miss internationals that are key World Cup qualifiers. I think they have structured it extremely wrong and hopefully they are looking at changing it."

Games for the Oceania qualifying tournament in Qatar, which will take in three round robin group games, before a potential semi-final and final, will take place over a 15-day period.

However, the international window only runs between March 21st and March 29th, meaning the All Whites will play two World Cup qualifying games outside those dates.

And that will almost certainly coincide with a make-or-break period of the campaign for the Clarets, with games against Brentford (A) and Southampton (H) penned in around that time.

Clubs are required to release players during the window, but are not mandated to do so outside OFC applied to FIFA for an eight-day extension to the window, to take in most of qualifying, but it is believed European clubs refused to agree to that.

That will ultimately impact on Wood and many of his international team-mates. Now he's called for action from all parties, including the Oceania Football Confederation, to help rfind a solution. He concluded: "I dont think FIFA should have ever allowed us to be in this situation, they should be playing it during normal windows.

"They should not be allowing the competition to be extended outside the window because it could take away a lot of our team and a lot of our players which in theory takes away the competition and who is the best from OFC going to the World Cup.

"If you take our away our strongest players you could end up with a different champion or a different way.

"That is the problem and that is where OFC [Oceania Football Confederation] have not been favourable to us, they have done what is best for them and what is voted on and of course all the teams are going to vote for this format because it limits and restricts us.

"We have a full team of professional players who have to stick by official FIFA rules and guidelines of international breaks.

"They have already looked at it and asked and spoke to OFC before the announcement came out but OFC have decided to go ahead with it. I think FIFA need to have a proper look at it and maybe take it out of OFCs hands."

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Burnley and New Zealand striker Chris Wood condemns World Cup scheduling after being thrown into a potential club v country tug-of-war! - Burnley...

Former President of Suva Rugby, Commodore Humphrey Tawake, has been appointed as the new Chairman of Fiji Rugby.

Humphrey Tawake is the new Chairman of Fiji Rugby. Photo: Fiji Rugby

The deputy commander was nominated to the FRU Board by the Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who is also President of the rugby union.

He succeeds Conway Beg, whose term expired last month, just a year after being in the role.

Humphrey Tawake has managed a number of teams over the years, including the Fiji Navy and the Defence Force that played for the World Cup in 2013.

He was the manager of the Flying Fijians squad at the Rugby World Cup in England in 2015, and has been president of the Suva Rugby Union for the past six years.

Tawake said he was fortunate to lead Fiji's biggest sporting organisation.

Photo: Alex Perrottet/RNZ

"I have been involved with rugby for the last decade at various capacities and I know the feeling and how passionate the Fijian community is in-regards to rugby.

"I must take this time to acknowledge the previous two Chairmen for their effort, and their strategic leadership that has enabled FRU to achieve great milestones to be where it is today."

Lakapi Samoa have requested a temporary base in Dubai, so the team can participate in the last eight legs of the current World Series.

Strict Covid-19 regulations in Samoa have been causing problems for the country's international rugby teams all year.

The Manu Samoa men's sevens team have been out of action since the Olympic repechage played in Monaco in June, and their tour of the northern hemisphere was abandoned.

Chief Executive Vincent Fepuleai said he was confident of a positive response from the government.

He warned the team's status among the world's sevens elite could be in jeopardy, with huge consequences for the future if they do not attend.

He said players are keen to go and the team are ready to test themselves at international level again.

Jacques Zimako Photo: RNZI

Oceania football has lost one of its greatest ever footballers, New Caledonia's Jacques Zimako, who has died aged 69.

The first footballer of Kanak origin to represent France, Zimako played 13 times for the French national team, scoring twice.

At club level he played for Saint-tienne, Bastia and Sochaux, and won a Ligue 1 title in 1981 with Saint-tienne.

Nicknamed Zigzag, due to his ability to evade defenders, Zimako helped New Caledonia to gold at the 1987 Pacific Games.

Zimako would later coach the national team.

Fiji Swimming has withdrawn from the FINA World Championship in Abu Dhabi this month.

Olympians Taichi Vakasama and Cheyanne Rova, and United States-based Netani Ross and Moana Wind were due to participate at the Games.

Fiji swimming says the decision is due to financial constraints and the adverse effects of the pandemic on training and logistics.

Nicola Demaine has been appointed as the head coach of Papua New Guinea's national women's football team as they continue preparations for next year's Oceania Nations Cup.

The Englishwoman has vast experience in the region, including coaching Samoa's national women's team in the 2019 Pacific Games.

Papua New Guinea Football Association general secretary Pius Letenge says plans were now in place for the national team to convene for a training camp.

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In brief: sport news from around the Pacific - RNZ