Assembly Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Assembly Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Assembly Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Assembly Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Assembly Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Assembly Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Assembly Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Assembly Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Assembly Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Assembly Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Speaking today on the death of former deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Robin Newton MBE MLA said: “While I am the Speaker of an Assembly in which Martin McGuinness played an integral part as a Member, Minister and deputy First Minister, I am mindful that today a family has lost a husband, a father, a brother and a grandfather. On behalf of the Northern Ireland Assembly, I express my sincere condolences and sympathy to his family whom I know he held dear.

dklaughman has added a photo to the pool:

US Senator Tom Carper and his wife Martha at Return Day in Georgetown, Delaware.

More info about Return Day at:
www.returnday.com/

Bob Hensle and Scott Mattoon, the authors of two new Oracle white papers on Cloud Computing, discuss resources and strategies for making smart early cloud decisions.

In the final segment in this series, Bob Hensle and Scott Mattoon discuss why successful cloud migration may lead some organizations to become cloud providers.

In this Oracle Groundbreakers Podcast Extra guest host Alexa Weber Morales interviews Oracle Database master product manager Maria Colgan about new product features that allow developers, data scientists, and non-traditional database users to help themselves.

See the complete show notes.

Jim Grisanzio from Oracle Developer Relations talks with Gabriele Provinciali, an engineer and solutions architect at Oracle in Rome, about smart and safe city models built with Lego Bricks, Arduinos, Raspberry Pis, and a variety of IoT edge sensors all connected to the Oracle Cloud. Twitter Thread. Video on YouTube.

Oracle News Connect Article

• Little towns, big ideas: How scale models can imagine smarter and safer cities

Gabriele Provinciali, Solution Architect, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriele/
  
• https://twitter.com/GabbaPro

ProximaSafe: Joining the Dots in OCI to build a Stream Analysis Lab

• Part 1: Setting up the event-driven OCI components
• Part 2: From Edge to Serverless
• Part 3: Sensors, Pipelines and back to Edge
• YouTube Video: Oracle Proxima City

Jim Grisanzio, Oracle Developer Relations

• https://twitter.com/jimgris
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimgris/
• https://developer.oracle.com/team/
• https://oraclegroundbreakers.libsyn.com/

JavaOne 2022 Speaker Preview

In this conversation Oracle's Jim Grisanzio talks with Java developer and JavaOne 2022 speaker Mark Heckler from St. Louis. Missouri in the United States.

Mark is a software developer and developer advocate at Microsoft, a Java Champion, a conference speaker, and an author. Check out his book Spring Boot: Up and Running. In this conversation Mark previews his session at JavaOne — Das Boot: Diving into Debugging Spring Boot Applications. Mark also talks about the value of technical conferences and the community. 

JavaOne 2022 from October 17-20 in Las Vegas

• JavaOne 2022: Registration and Sessions
• JavaOne Update 1
• JavaOne Update 2

Mark Heckler, Principal Cloud Developer Advocate for Java/JVM Languages at Microsoft

• @mkheck

Java Development and Community

• OpenJDK
• Inside Java
• Dev.Java
• @java on Twitter
• Java on YouTube

Duke's Corner Podcast Host

• Jim Grisanzio, Oracle Java Developer Relations, @jimgris

Jim Grisanzio from Java Developer Relations talks with Mary Grygleski, a Java developer and Java Champion based in Chicago. The conversation covers Java's longevity, building the Java community, running the Chicago Java User Group, and the constant need to keep learning. Mary embraces the concept of always becoming a beginner whenever there is a need to learn something new. During the interview Mary and Jim also discovered a common background they have with Sun Microsystems and Solaris! 

Mary on Twitter https://twitter.com/mgrygles
Jim on Twitter https://twitter.com/jimgris

Jim Grisanzio from Java Developer Relations talks with Marit van Dijk, a Java Champion and Developer Advocate at JetBrains based in The Netherlands. The conversation covers all things Java — the growing community, the latest features to enable developer productivity, contributing to Open Source, advice for students, and Marit's unique background in Social Science Informatics that combines computer science and social science.

Marit on Twitter https://twitter.com/MaritvanDijk77

Marit on the Web https://maritvandijk.com/

Jim on Twitter https://twitter.com/jimgris

Jim Grisanzio from Java Developer Relations talks with Bert Jan Schrijver from The Netherlands. Bert is a Java Champion, a leader of the Dutch Java User Group, and the CTO and co-founder of OpenValue that he started in 2017.

The conversation spans all of Bert's experiences as a software developer, including hacking and gaming as a six-year old, contributing to the computer lab fire in school, blowing out the family's phone bill with his first modem, getting an advanced CS education at university, engaging the Java community globally, and building his own software company. Bert also offers some interesting advice for how people can continue learning and growing and contributing to the community at Java events. He also details why Java is special and why developers embrace the technology: "Java is one of the only languages I know of that has been active and current for so long. And one of the keys is the marvel of engineering in the Java Virtual Machine." 

Bert: https://twitter.com/bjschrijver

Jim: https://twitter.com/jimgris 

Jim Grisanzio from Java Developer Relations talks with Simon Martinelli, a Java Champion and an Oracle ACE Pro from Switzerland who loves contributing to FOSS projects and teaching students all about Java. The conversation ranges from Simon’s early experience learning Java, working for the Swiss Railway, engaging multiple Java User Groups, and teaching students. Simon also gets into the benefits of modern Java and some of the best features the technology offers for developers.

Simon: https://x.com/simas_ch

Jim: https://x.com/jimgris

VIENNA, 15 June 2016 – The twentieth anniversary of the Agreement on Sub-Regional Arms Control Agreement, which served as a framework for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia to engage with each other in order to promote peace and stability in the region, was marked today in Vienna.

Almir Sahovic, Assistant Minister for Multilateral Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, stressed that today was a good opportunity to reflect on the path the region went through in the last 20 years. “Our region was a synonym for problems and a source of instability. Our friends from the OSCE family and international community used to send military and police forces to help us sustain peace and stability. Today, we are the ones contributing with military and diplomatic missions to peace and stability around the world.”

The Agreement remains highly relevant for stability in the region as well as for the entire OSCE area and serves as a model for other OSCE regions.

“We see that the four State parties show mutual understanding, professionalism and confidence in their joint treaty activities,” said Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council and Permanent Representative of Germany to the OSCE Eberhard Pohl. “The Agreement continues to play a useful role in maintaining military stability in South Eastern Europe by promoting co-operation, transparency and predictability. Key to this is upholding the common political will for good development in the future. The members of the contact group stand ready to further support these activities.”

The Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre Marcel Pesko highlighted how the commitments from the Article IV of Dayton Peace Agreement became actions. “The four countries of the region proved they can establish a stable military balance, reducing the risk of a new escalation of the conflict. This would not be possible without courage and political will to move the process forward.”

The ceremony included a photo-exhibition dedicated to the process of implementation of the Agreement. Distinguished individuals and organizations from the region received special recognition for their contribution to the process.

Bosnia and Hercegovina is currently a Chair of Sub-Regional Consultative Commission in accordance with Article IV, Annex 1-B to the Dayton Agreement.

Learn more about the transfer of ownership of regional stability and how targets of arms control were achieved even beyond the set limits.

Related Stories

• Urgent steps needed towards full respect for ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, says OSCE Chairmanship Special Representative and Chief Monitor
• OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Steinmeier, in Moldova, calls for swift and full implementation of confidence-building measures
• OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Frank-Walter Steinmeier to visit Moldova on Tuesday

Ways to increase the sustainability of social businesses by using social media marketing tools were discussed at a training session organized in Kyiv on 26 July 2016 by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.

The event gathered representatives of three social businesses that were established with the support of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine so that they can provide job skills for people vulnerable to human trafficking. The social businesses also simultaneously serve as revenue sources for local NGOs working on anti-trafficking.

The training course focused on widespread social networks and ways of using them for increasing social enterprises’ profit, including the best use of social media to attract customers and gain their positive feedback. The participants had a chance to practice their digital skills and communication abilities during the hands-on exercises aimed at producing high-quality content for social networks.

Natalia Myakushko, Head of the Rukomysli Social Enterprise in Lviv, thanked the OSCE Project Co-ordinator for its continuous support. “The innovative idea of social business requires innovative tools for its development and this training helps us to use modern communication channels in an efficient way for the benefit of people vulnerable to human trafficking,” she said.

This is the first of three training sessions which will help social entrepreneurs develop a strategy for interacting with new media.

The training sessions are part of a project on preventing human trafficking in Ukraine through the economic empowerment of vulnerable persons, which is being implemented by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in co-operation with the Ukrainian Ministry of Social Policy, and with the support from the Canadian Government and Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The project aims at the establishment of and support to social businesses that work to prevent human trafficking by providing beneficiaries with sufficient and sustainable income at home, giving them genuine and viable livelihood options, and therefore decreasing the likelihood of persons taking up deceptive job offers where they may be exploited.  

So far, 52 people at risk of human trafficking, including 14 internally displaced people, two victims of domestic violence and one ex-combatant, as well as six people who were formerly subjected to human trafficking have already benefited from the job skills’ courses within these social businesses.

Related Stories

• OSCE launches first distance human rights course in Ukraine for judges
• OSCE supports Ukrainian legal education practitioners in developing human rights-oriented approaches to their work
• Spot Report by OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine: SMM threatened at gunpoint near Lobacheve in Luhansk region

BISHKEK, 30 July 2016 – To mark today’s World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the OSCE Centre in Bishkek supported a public awareness-raising campaign and held a public discussion with academic representatives in Bishkek and Osh.

On 29 July, in co-operation with the State Service on Migration, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and local partners, the OSCE Centre raised public awareness about the risks of human trafficking in Bishkek and Osh.

Information material such as pocket calendars with the hotline number and contact information of the Kyrgyz Embassies in the five top migrant destination countries were distributed among the public. Illustrated silhouettes of people, symbolizing victims of trafficking, were displayed on posters in public places with stories in the Russian and Kyrgyz languages narrating their experience of human trafficking.

“Public awareness campaigns play an important role in the prevention of trafficking in human beings,” said William Leaf, OSCE Senior Field Representative in Osh. “The OSCE works to assist the government in improving its education and outreach efforts at the local and central levels in line with its commitments to prevent and combat all forms of human trafficking.”

In addition to the awareness-rising campaign, today the representatives of five local universities in Osh participated in a roundtable discussion organized by the OSCE Centre in co-operation with the Centre for Support of International Protection. The discussion focused on the ways of promoting inter-disciplinary research efforts among students and professors on the scope, tendencies and root causes of human trafficking in southern Kyrgyzstan.  

“As trafficking in human beings is a complex phenomenon, it requires a multi-disciplinary approach, covering, among others, socio-economic, legal, migration, human rights, gender and law enforcement aspects,” said Akylbek Tashbulatov, Director of the Centre for the Support of International Protection. “The academic community have the necessary research potential and tools to positively contribute to the development of such an assessment.”

The events were organized as part of the OSCE Centre’s project on addressing human trafficking in Kyrgyzstan through grassroots initiatives and multi-agency cooperation.

Related Stories

• OSCE Centre in Bishkek supports summer school on topical issues of police reform
• OSCE Centre in Bishkek trains defence lawyers and prosecutors on right to liberty and freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention
• Athletes discuss gender-based violence at OSCE-supported event in southern Kyrgyzstan

BERLIN/WARSAW, 8 April 2016 – Political leaders must play a primary role in in countering discrimination and prejudice against Roma and Sinti and improving their situation, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Germany’s Federal Foreign Minister, and Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), said today, on the occasion of International Roma Day.

“Political leaders at all levels must be at the forefront of efforts to end the systematic discrimination and racism that have long afflicted Roma and Sinti communities and individuals in many countries in the OSCE region,” OSCE  Chairperson-in-Office Steinmeier said. “They have to lead both by word, in delivering positive messages and not resorting to negative stereotypes and scapegoating, and by example, in ensuring the implementation of policies at all levels of government to promote the integration and full political, economic and social participation of Roma and Sinti in their societies.”

In particular, they condemned the use by some politicians of racist language and messages aimed either at promoting hatred towards Roma and Sinti or reinforcing negative stereotypes.

“Alarmingly, we still see instances where politicians resort to the politics of fear and hatred for their own perceived gain, thus stoking unfair and dangerous prejudice against Roma and Sinti. This contributes to an atmosphere in which members of Europe’s largest minority are in danger of being targeted with hate crimes, including violent assaults, and even murder,” Director Link said. “Leaders must not only refrain from such statements, but take a step further – they must publicly condemn racist speech and acts against Roma and Sinti, and counter racism and discrimination in a systematic way.”

The subject of racist, anti-Roma rhetoric used by politicians was addressed at a side event organized by ODIHR and the Central Council for German Sinti and Roma, during the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw, on 30 September 2015, at which participants highlighted the important role of state institutions in overcoming racism.

The Organization’s work in this area is guided by the Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti in the OSCE Area, adopted in 2003, which includes measures to combat racism and discrimination, to promote greater public and economic participation, and to ensure equal access and opportunities in the areas of education, employment, housing and health services.

“The blueprint for addressing racism and discrimination against Roma and Sinti and for improving their situation already exists, in the form of the Action Plan,” said Mirjam Karoly, Chief of ODIHR’s Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues. “Greater political will and leadership are vital to making this a reality.”

Related Stories

• OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Steinmeier stresses importance of ODIHR’s work during visit to headquarters in Warsaw
• OSCE States explore role for the Organization regarding migration and refugee flows
• 2016 OSCE Annual Security Review Conference focuses on reviving co-operative security in a challenging environment

SARAJEVO, 8 April 2016 – On occasion of International Roma Day, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina organized several events in Tuzla, Prnjavor and Zivinice to raise public awareness on serious economic, social and political challenges the Roma community continues to face in BiH.

Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Ambassador Jonathan Moore underlined the importance of protecting, promoting and advancing the rights of Roma and other national minorities in BiH. “For more than a decade we have been assisting the authorities to address the marginalization and discrimination of Roma and to ensure equality of opportunity for Roma in access and treatment in areas of education, housing, health care, and public participation. We are grateful to many persons in BiH for their positive contributions.”

At the diploma ceremony to most accomplished Roma students from Tuzla Canton held today in Zivince, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Canton Tuzla Zlatan Muratovic applauded all efforts leading toward including Roma people in the education system and gender equality. “Our priority is to include all Roma people in the education system of the Tuzla Canton and to continue promoting Roma enrolment in elementary and secondary schools and universities. We want the Roma people to be socially active and economically independent.”

President of the Association “Euro Rom” Nedzad Jusic expressed his gratitude for being a part of such an important celebration for Roma people. “I hope we will be able to further improve the position of Roma people in Tuzla Canton, working together to implement joint policies and activities.”

At a roundtable held in Prnjavor participants discussed the good practices and challenges in the implementation of Roma Action Plan. “Today, we would also like to express our appreciation to dr. Siniša Gatarić mayor of the Municipality Prnjavor for supporting development of Local Roma Action Plan adopted in October last year,” said President of Roma NGO Romani Cej Snjezana Mirkovic.

The OSCE Mission to BiH continues to support the implementation of the Roma Action Plan for Housing, including by monitoring the selection of beneficiaries and mediating between local authorities and the Roma community when the need arises. Since 2008 more than 750 housing units for Roma have been built in BiH.

Related Stories

• OSCE Mission releases report on war crimes processing at state level in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Inter-institutional co-operation in focus of OSCE-supported security policy course in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina facilitates visit to National Museum for children from Zepce and Maglaj

KYIV, 16 April 2015 – The Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine Alexander Hug will hold press conference today in Mariupol.

Hug will talk about the Mission’s recent activities, security and the humanitarian situation in and around Shyrokyne.

Journalists are invited to attend the press conference today, 16 April, at 18:00 (Kyiv time) at the conference room of the Reikartz Hotel in Mariupol. Any possible changes in timing and location will be communicated via social media (@OSCE_SMM, www.facebook.com/oscesmmu).

Live online streaming of the news briefing will be available at http://ustre.am/1jT6S.

For any further details please contact the SMM’s Senior Press Assistant Iryna Gudyma by phone on +380674021716 or via e-mail: Iryna.Gudyma@osce.org

Related Stories

• OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine to hold news briefing in Kyiv tomorrow
• Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 29 July 2016
• Spot Report by OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM):“DPR” members threaten SMM at gunpoint near Lukove

In a personal interview with Dr. Linda Livingstone, Leslie Margolin, President and General Manager of Anthem Blue Cross, discusses her career progression and issues in the health care reform debate.

Leslie A. Margolin, President and General Manager of Anthem Blue Cross, talks about the issues and changes in health care. (Part 1 of 2)

Leslie Margolin, President and General Manager of Anthem Blue Cross, sits down for an interview with Dr. Linda Livingstone, Dean of the Graziadio School of Business and Management. Leslie also answers various questions from audience members. (Part 2 of 2)

In a follow-up interview with Dr. Linda Livingstone, Leslie Margolin, President and General Manager of Anthem Blue Cross, discusses the recent passing of the health care bill and how it impacts businesses and individuals.

Dropping faster than your 5G. Down to its ATL, possibly most popular but equally most hated compact OzB microwave.

Get onto it whilst your food is hot and your wifi is not.

To mark its 120th anniversary, Siam Society is holding a special series of four afternoon talks, "Enlightenment In This Lifetime: Liberation Through The Practice Of The Buddha's Teaching", to shed new light on Buddhism and meditation, from Nov 19-22 from 2pm to 4pm.

Thousand runners joined the Bangkok Post International Mini Marathon on Sunday.

SCB EIC, the research centre of Siam Commercial Bank, predicts that the transfer of new residential units in Greater Bangkok will decline by 10% this year, with a further contraction of 1-3% projected for 2025, mainly due to the country's sluggish economy.

The recent 0.25-percentage-point cut in interest rates is unlikely to have an immediate effect on the housing market as the reduction is too modest to generate a significant impact, according to SET-listed developer Sena Development.

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) continue to gain market share globally, with Thailand and Indonesia being key markets within Asean, says a research agency.

"This is the shot we have. We may not get another one... Let's finish it." Ready? Marvel has dropped the new official trailer for the latest season of What If...?, their fun anthology series taking crazy all-out "what if" imaginative looks at different characters and ideas in the MCU. This might be the final season because Marvel's own intro from YouTube states: "Witness the season that ends it all." The Watcher even comes out and says this, too. The first season launched in 2021 to mixed reviews, and this second season debuted in late 2023 one year ago. The opening once again is: Welcome back to the multiverse. So much to see in these 8 episodes! The voice cast set for Season 3 includes Jeffrey Wright as The Watcher, once again, along with Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Laurence Fishburne as Goliath, Oscar Isaac as Moon Knight, Simu Liu as Xu Shang-Chi, Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Cap, Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, Hayley Atwell as Captain Carter. Plus a few other surprises, of course. Looks like it has a rad Gundam style Avengers segment. Up for an adventure? […]

"All things are possible..." Netflix has revealed an official trailer for a movie called Mary, yet another new take on the birth of Jesus story. This is ready for streaming in December already. Directed by DJ Caruso (Disturbia, Eagle Eye, I Am Number Four, Redeeming Love), Mary reveals a side of the icon we’ve never seen or even imagined before. Noa Cohen (from the series "Infinity", "8200") stars as Mary in this coming-of-age biblical epic tale in which Mary is shunned following a miraculous conception and forced into hiding. When King Herod ignites a murderous pursuit for her newborn baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph go on the run – bound by faith and driven by courage – to save his life at all costs. The ensemble cast includes Ido Tako, Stephanie Nur, Susan Brown, Ori Pfeffer, Eamon Farren, Hilla Vidor, Mili Avital, Gudmundur Thorvaldsson, Dudley O'Shaughnessy, and Keren Tzur, with Anthony Hopkins. So they made an action thriller about Mary? They must be really hoping to get more religious viewers tuning in. Look good? Here's the official trailer (+ two posters) for DJ Caruso's film Mary, direct from Netflix's YouTube: Through Mary's eyes, this coming-of-age biblical epic is the story […]

Marketing guide for "Dr. No" detailing the various posters, brochures and merchandise released worldwide. 

Denzel Washington may yet join the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a role in Black Panther 3, at least according to the Oscar-winner himself.

Marvel Legends' new Deadpool & Wolverine action figures are among the best Marvel Cinematic Universe collectibles that Hasbro has released so far.