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10 years since returning to Sri Lanka

Today marks the 10 year anniversary of our returning home to Sri Lanka.

I went to the US in 1985 where I lived for a total of nearly 16 years .. first arriving on August 18, 1985 to go to Kent State University for undergraduate studies. I lived in Kent, Ohio for 4 years, finishing both a BS and an MS, and then moved to West Lafayette, Indiana for 8 years where I was a PhD student at Purdue for 5 years and then visiting faculty for 3 more. Then I joined IBM Research in August 1997 (starting August 4th) and moved to Yorktown Heights, New York and finally left the US on August 4th 2001 and arrived back home on August 6th, 2001. That's 10 years ago today :-).

Wow, 10 years .. time flies when you are having fun!

I remember that there were pieces of airplanes on the ground at the Colombo Airport when we landed - the dreaded LTTE had brazenly attacked the airport just 10 days before that destroying 3 Sri Lankan Airlines planes and damaging 3 more as well as damaging or destroying 26 Airforce aircraft and killing a bunch of people.

What a difference 10 years makes; guns have been silent and peace reigns loudly in Sri Lanka for more than 2 years now. Whether you like the current leadership team in the country or not, we all owe them an incredible debt of gratitude for putting everything aside and destroying the LTTE menace and creating a stable nation so we have (another) chance at becoming what Sri Lanka is capable of becoming.

I was of course still working for IBM Research when I came back .. working remotely from Sri Lanka. I finally quit on April 15, 2005 and started WSO2 a few months later. I started encouraging Sri Lankan developers to contribute to open source projects in fall 2002 and ended up starting the Lanka Software Foundation in early 2003 (along with friend, colleague and mentor Jivaka Weeratunge). LSF was of course instrumental in many projects that ended up in Apache and for Sahana, the tsunami-inspired disaster management system we created. (BTW IBM recently highlighted Sahana in their 100 year celebrations .. very cool!) I also started teaching as a volunteer visiting lecturer at the Computer Science and Engineering Department of the University of Moratuwa from around 2002, where many of the brilliant brains that contributed to LSF's projects, and later WSO2, came from. (We of course get brilliant people from many sources now .. but MRT still dominates!)

One of the things I'm really proud of is that so many people have benefitted from the work done in LSF to help get them into grad school for further studies. Counting WSO2 too, there are now more than 25 people in various places doing PhD's in Computer Science. Three have finished so far.

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Many people have asked me at various times: "Have you ever regretted coming back home?". I can honestly say: NOT EVEN ONCE!

Don't get me wrong- the US was a great country to live in and I will never forget the superb education nor the wonderful experiences and friends I made in my 16 years there. However, this is home and there's nothing like home (for me). I love the fact that I can have some small impact on young people who can help Sri Lanka get ahead in its journey. I love the fact that I am not second class in any way in my home country. I love the fact that my kids are growing up here with roots in their home country - where they end up as adults is their decision, not mine. But at least they have a firm footing here as their home.

Moving back to Sri Lanka is not without its challenges. Many things that are easy in the US are not so easy here. At the same time, many things that are hard in the US are quite easy here. So its always a mixed bag .. what matters is your mindset about the journey: if you are committed to moving back then you can come back. If you are half-hearted and look for problems instead of challenges then you will run back to wherever you attempted to move back from.

I am writing this because I am very very keen to attract Sri Lankans living in other countries to come back home. We need our educated, experienced, connected, knowledgable Lankans to come back home and help us rebuild after the 30 year nightmare that ended 2 years ago. The opportunities here are absolutely amazing and this is the start of a boom period .. now is as good as ever to come back home.

OF COURSE Sri Lanka is not a perfect place. Neither is the US (can you say "debt ceiling"?) nor any other place. The advantage Sri Lanka offers to Sri Lankans is that this is our home. Whatever hard work you do will have tremendous impact. Sri Lanka is a small country .. that means the impact of your work is much more direct and immediate too. Every problem is an opportunity if you take up the challenge!

I, along with Dulith Herath, Founder and CEO of Kapruka.com, along with SL2College (another non-profit project I'm involved in - founded by Nayana Samaranayake) are launching a "come back to Sri Lanka" effort soon. The idea is to help dispel many myths (that traffic is a nighmare, that everything is corrupt, that nothing is easy etc. etc.), get info about jobs and other opportunities, provide accurate and direct information and eventually help people who want to come back make the move and settle down (including things like kids school etc.).

BTW if you're a hardcore passionate techie wanting to come back then I know at least one great place to work ;-).

The last 10 years have been amazingly fantastic for me. The last 6 years have been most special because I have helped create a company that now employees more than 125 people here (and soon more here as well as in the US, UK and some in Europe). Thank you Paul for much of that!

The move was made easier by many many people who helped get settled in, helped get connected to various places and helped in various other ways. You are too numerous to list (and I know I will screw up by missing some key people) but please know that I know you played a crucial role in how well the last 10 years have gone. From the bottom of my heart: THANK YOU.






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Defining the IT Curriculum: The Results of the Past 3 Years




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50 years of queries from Communications of the ACM

The relational model is probably the one innovation that brought computers to the mainstream for business users. This article by Donald Chamberlin, creator of one of the first query languages (that evolved into the ubiquitous SQL), presents its history as a




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Mother and friend jailed three years for locking boy in cat cage

KUALA LUMPUR: A mother and her friend were sentenced to three years in prison by the Sessions Court today for confining a young boy in a cat cage in February.

Judge Siti Shakirah Mohtarudin imposed the sentence on the 20-year-old fast food worker, who is also the victim’s mother, and 35-year-old housewife Adibah Mohd Zaini after they pleaded guilty to the charges.

The court ordered the prison sentences to begin immediately, placed them under a five-year good behaviour bond without surety, and required them to complete 240 hours of community service within six months of completing their sentences.

The duo were accused of abusing the three-and-a-half-year-old boy by locking him in a cat cage, which could cause both physical and emotional harm, at an apartment in Taman Danau Desa, Brickfields, at 8.16 pm on Feb 10.

They were charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a maximum penalty of RM50,000 in fine, up to 20 years in prison, or both upon conviction.

The victim’s mother was also sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to another charge under the same Act and section, of abusing her son by wrapping him in adhesive tape at the same location at 3.58 pm on Feb 21.

Judge Siti Shakirah ordered both sentences to run concurrently.

Deputy public prosecutor Nidzuwan Abd Latip urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, emphasising that as the victim’s mother, she had a duty to protect her child from harm.

“The court should take into account the evidence, especially the photos of the child confined in a cat cage, which is clearly not meant for human use,“ he stated.

The mother, unrepresented, pleaded for a lighter sentence, expressing deep regret for her actions. Similarly, Adibah, also without legal representation, requested a reduced sentence on the basis she had to care for her two young children, aged one and eleven.

“I deeply regret my actions. Being in detention has made me realise my mistake, and I promise I will never repeat this,“ said Adibah, tearfully.

On Monday, Bernama reported that the victim’s mother, Adibah, and another accomplice Nor Azlin Fatin Najihah Lokman, 25, were each sentenced to 14 days in prison and fined RM10,000 by the Sessions Court after pleading guilty to kicking the boy.




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MMEA officer fined RM25,000 for accepting bribes two years ago

ALOR SETAR: An officer of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) was fined RM25,000 after pleading guilty at the Sessions Court here today to five charges of accepting bribes amounting to RM2,300 two years ago.

Judge N. Priscilla Hemamalini imposed a fine of RM5,000 for each charge faced by Muhamad Abdul Hadi Abdullah, 35 and the court ordered the accused to be jailed for five months for each charge if he failed to pay the fine.

According to all the charges, the accused, who holds the rank of Senior Maritime Officer at the MMEA Kedah and Perlis Headquarters, received money amounting to RM2,300 with no reply from the owner of LGH Maju Trading Company, Lim Kian Chong, who knew that he had an official working relationship with the individual.

The money was received by the accused through five money transfers from the Maybank account of a middleman, a woman, which was then deposited into the accused’s RHB Bank account and all the offences were committed at RHB Bank Bhd Langkawi Island Branch on Jan 2, April 10, May 11, July 7 and Oct 8, 2022.

The charge was filed under Section 165 of the Penal Code (Act 574) which carries a jail term of up to two years or a fine or both.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers Abd Muntaqim Abdul Aziz and Mohd Syahzada Azad Sanusi led the prosecution while the accused was not represented.




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Proton gears up for Sepang 1000km with new S70 R3

PROTON has unveiled its new S70 R3 race car for the upcoming 2024 Sepang 1000KM (S1K) endurance race, hosted at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit. This addition to Proton’s racing portfolio will compete with two cars, each driven by a pair of seasoned and promising drivers.

Driver Line-up

Car #81: Piloted by Syafiq Ali, a three-time S1K winner, and Fahrizal Hasan, known for his multiple victories in the Sepang 12 Hours endurance race.

Car #82: Driven by two emerging talents, Ariff Azmi, an 18-year-old karting and touring car champion, and Alister Yoong, a 21-year-old Formula 4 racer and son of former F1 driver Alex Yoong.

Spotlight on Alister Yoong

Alister Yoong brings an impressive racing background to Proton’s team:

– Winner of the 2022 Indian Racing League and current championship leader in 2024.

– Notched up four wins in the Italian Sports Prototype Championship (CISP) and two in the French Sports Prototype Championship.

– Head coach at Axle Academy, founded by his father, where he trains up-and-coming racers.

The Race Car: Proton S70 R3

The S70 R3 is equipped with a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated S4PH engine, engineered according to Malaysian Touring Car (MTC) regulations. The team has hinted at a potential expansion next year, considering entry into the Malaysian Championship Series’ SP2 class. This setup and driver mix signal a strong bid from Proton for the 2024 S1K endurance race.




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Comment on Google makes it harder to change location for country specific research by David Pearson

How does this compare to using the "site:No" syntax to force Google to only return result from .No domains. https://www.google.co.uk/search?num=100&ei=oLL1WeX8NYPtaKS9k4AP&btnG=Search&q=site%3Ano+brexit




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10 Cars That People Keep for 15 Years or More

When you buy a car, one of the most important factors is durability, i.e. how long the vehicle will likely last.  Car search engine iSeeCars recently analyzed and ranked the cars that people have kept for 15 years or more. For its report, iSeeCars looked at more than 929,000 vehicles to determine which models are […]

The post 10 Cars That People Keep for 15 Years or More appeared first on Clark Howard.




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Shakespeare's play returned to library 101 years after it was checked out

William Shakespeare's First Folio on display at Christies in London on April 24, 2023. — Reuters

A copy of William Shakespeare’s Life of King Henry the Fifth, shortened to Henry V, has been returned to a New Jersey library, 101 years after it was checked out.

A woman...




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'MilKar' launches 'Pakistan Wears Masks' campaign

"Milkar" volunteers are distributing masks in this undated image. — MilKar.com/website

LAHORE: Milkar Pakistan has launched the "Pakistan Wear Mask" campaign to deal with the increasing air pollution and smog across the country.

The aim of this campaign is to highlight the...




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Britney Spears reunites with son Jayden after prolonged estrangement

Britney Spears reunites with son Jayden after prolonged estrangement

Britney Spears reconnected with her youngest son, Jayden, after a prolonged estrangement.

Spears had not seen her sons, Sean Preston and Jayden, since they moved to Hawaii last August with their father Kevin...




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Laura Prepon, Ben Foster end marriage after six years

Laura Prepon, Ben Foster end marriage after six yearsshee

Laura Prepon and Ben Foster are reportedly ending their 6 years of marriage.

As per TMZ, Ben filed for divorce from the actress on Tuesday, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason behind their separation in the...




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Vans Celebrates 25 Years of the Half Cab



This fall, the world’s most iconic signature skateboarding shoe, the Vans Half Cab, celebrates 25 years of legendary skateboarding heritage. Originally released in 1992, the Half Cab represents an era of true design innovation. Constructed by street skaters in the early 90s by cutting the collar off the original Vans Caballero pro model and spawning the “lighter, better, faster” version of its predecessor, the iconic signature shoe for Steve Caballero has stood the test of time as a Vans Pro Skate favorite. The Half Cab has indisputably revolutionized performance skate progression, and still to this day, represents the leading-edge modifications in skateboarding footwear for which Vans has come to be known.

An icon in his own right with more than 45 years of influential skateboarding under his belt, from his tenure as part of the original Bones Brigade crew to his decades-long career as a pioneer of skateboarding from vert and park, to street and bowl, Vans honors legend Steve Caballero with the release of two exclusive Half Cab colorways in the token silver anniversary hue and classic black.

Highlighting premium pig suede uppers, metallic silver details, and a tonal embroidered “XXV” on the back heel for a commemorative touch, the 25th Anniversary Vans Half Cab is equipped with Vans Pro Skate’s signature Pro Classics performance innovation, featuring supportive ULTRACUSH HD sockliners for resilient cushioning and advanced comfort, and DURACAP reinforced underlays in high abrasion areas for premium durability and consistent fit.

We wish you all the best!

Your kunstform BMX Shop Team!




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20 years of kunstform BMX Shop Jam on November 11th in Stuttgart



It's now been 20 years since Sebastian Pospischil registered the kunstform business and we want to celebrate this anniversary in our BMX shop in Stuttgart with a BMX Street and a BMX Flatland Jam. We invite you to celebrate this milestone on 11. November 2023 in Stuttgart to celebrate with us. At 12 noon we start in our BMX shop and explore some BMX street spots in Stuttgart. At the same time, a BMX flatland meeting will take place at the famous spot 'Haus der Geschichte'. Later the party continues in our shop and warehouse. We are happy to have you with us.

We'll be sharing some recaps in the coming days, so stay tuned. Thank you for your support; Without you this anniversary would never have been possible. A big thank you also goes to our supporters for this event: @odysseybmx & @demolitionparts via @sibmxdistro, @shadowridinggear & @mankindbmx via @unitybmx, @fitbikeco & @sandmbicycles via @allridebmx, @cultcrew & @eclatbmxbrand via @traffic .bmx and @ridetsg via @247bike.

When: Saturday November 11th, 2023 (from 12 p.m.): Meeting point in the Stuttgart shop

Where: kunstform BMX Shop, Rotebühlstr. 63, 70178 Stuttgart

Supported by: @odysseybmx & @demolitionparts via @sibmxdistro, @shadowridinggear & @mankindbmx via @unitybmx, @fitbikeco & @sandmbicycles via @allridebmx, @cultcrew & @eclatbmxbrand via @traffic.bmx and @ridetsg via @247bike

We look forward to seeing you!

Best regards

Your kunstform BMX Shop Team




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20 years of kunstform (2003): How it all began?!



20 Years of kunstform: How It All Began?! Around the 2000s, Stuttgart, partly due to the excellent BMX Flatland spot 'Haus der Geschichte' and riders like Stephan 'Ass' Dietrich and Philip Jakober, held a magical allure. Many BMX riders from all over Germany, including Sebastian Pospischil, Florian Sailer, Moritz Edschmid, Philip Früh, Roman Rommel, and later, Daniel Fuhrmann, John Krämer, Oliver Radunz, and many more, moved to Stuttgart. The scene thrived, and it gave rise to unforgettable parties and events like the BMX Contest series 'Battle in the Club' and many BMX jams.

Sebastian Pospischil, while studying, initiated the kunstform project from his BMX flatshare in 2003. Initially, he imported smaller BMX brands like Artzone, Jim Bob, and FlatTV. The first website went live under the domain www.kunstform.org, and the initial team riders, Chris Böhm, Daniel Hennig, and Sven Steinbach, received support through kunstform.




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20 years of kunstform (2003 - 2005): The Founding Period



Between 2003 and 2005 the BMX scene in Stuttgart experienced continuous growth. Our inventory of BMX parts was constantly expanded and at the same time we launched our online shop, which enabled our customers to conveniently place orders online. We were also represented at various events, including the BMX Masters in Cologne and smaller BMX flatland jams, where we had our own stand. During this time, unforgettable parties, jams and competitions took place. Even internationally known BMX riders such as Nathan Penonzcek, Michael Sommer, Jesse Puente and Hiro Morisaki visited Stuttgart. Our Japanese BMX friend Daiske spent nine months in Stuttgart, where he lived in Seppl's shared apartment on Hackstrasse.

At this time we also launched our first kunstform product, the "kunstform Ohh-Rings". These made it possible to adjust the handle length according to individual preferences. Furthermore, our first kunstform commercial was broadcast on the most common European BMX VHS cassettes.

The first kunstform commercial



On November 11th, 2023 we will celebrate our 20th anniversary with a street and flatland jam, as well as a meet & greet in our BMX shop in Stuttgart, where we would like to invite you.

Your kunstform BMX shop team




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20 Years of kunstform Flatland Jam





It has now been 20 years since Sebastian Pospischil registered the kunstform business and we celebrated this anniversary in style in our BMX shop in Stuttgart. Before the big party started in the shop, we organized a street jam and a flatland jam. The video of the Flatland Jam is now online. Get the action at the 'House of History'!

Thank you for your support; without you this anniversary would never have been possible. A big thank you also goes to our supporters for this event: @odysseybmx & @demolitionparts via @sibmxdistro, @shadowridinggear & @mankindbmx via @unitybmx, @fitbikeco & @sandmbicycles via @allridebmx, @cultcrew & @eclatbmxbrand via @traffic .bmx and @ridetsg via @247bike.




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20 Years kunstform Stock Session & Party



It has now been 20 years since Sebastian Pospischil registered the kunstform business and we celebrated this anniversary in style in our BMX shop in Stuttgart. Before the big party started in the shop, we threw a jam in our bike warehouse, which was an homage to our famous stock sessions. After the BMX action in the warehouse, we went straight to party mode on the upper floor of our shop in Stuttgart. The video of the stock session and party is now online. Give you!

Thank you Freedombmx for the video! Also thank you for your support; without you this anniversary would never have been possible. A big thank you also goes to our supporters for this event: @odysseybmx & @demolitionparts via @sibmxdistro, @shadowridinggear & @mankindbmx via @unitybmx, @fitbikeco & @sandmbicycles via @allridebmx, @cultcrew & @eclatbmxbrand via @traffic .bmx and @ridetsg via @247bike.




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20 Years kunstform Street Jam



It has now been 20 years since Sebastian Pospischil registered the kunstform business and we celebrated this anniversary in style in our BMX shop in Stuttgart. Before the big party started, we organized a street jam during the day, which led to some of the famous spots in Stuttgart like the "Marmorplatte". There were a ton of riders at the start and there was action! Freedombmx captured the jam on video, so get the video now!

At this point, many thanks to Freedombmx for the great video! On top of that, many thanks to everyone who was there; Without you, this anniversary would never have been possible. A big thank you also goes to our supporters for this event: @odysseybmx & @demolitionparts via @sibmxdistro, @shadowridinggear & @mankindbmx via @unitybmx, @fitbikeco & @sandmbicycles via @allridebmx, @cultcrew & @eclatbmxbrand via @traffic .bmx and @ridetsg via @247bike.




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For the love of Trump, S Korea's Yoon heads to golf course for first time in 8 years

A combination of image shows South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President-elect Donald Trump. — Reuters/File

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol recently began practicing golf, for the first time in eight years, in preparation for future meetings with...




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US airman who leaked classified Pentagon documents jailed for 15 years

An undated image of the suspect, national guardsman Jack Teixeira, can be seen reflected in an image of the Pentagon in Washington, DC in this photo illustration created on April 13, 2023. — AFP

Jack Teixeira, an American airman who admitted to leaking a trove of...




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Pakistan stun Australia to win first ODI series Down Under in 22 years

Pakistan players pose with the trophy after winning the three-match ODI series against Australia in Perth on November 10, 2024. — Facebook@PakistanCricketBoard

Pacers book Kangaroos for meagre 140 runs in Perth ODI.Series victory is Green Shirts' first in Australia since...




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400 years later, accounts of Hungarian 'Blood Countess' remain shrouded in mystery and controversy

More than 400 years after her death, the truth about "the Blood Countess," a Hungarian noblewoman alleged to have been the most prolific female serial killer of all time, remains elusive.




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Missing for 5 years, Notre Dame's iconic bells return in emotional ceremony

The iconic Notre Dame Cathedral is ringing its bells once more, five years after a devastating fire nearly destroyed the Paris landmark.




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Pentagon leaker Jack Teixeira sentenced to 15 years in prison for putting classified data online

Jack Douglas Teixeira, 23, pleaded guilty in March 2024 to six counts of "willful retention and transmission of national defense information." His defense team asked for an 11-year prison sentence while federal prosecutors in Boston pushed for him to spend 16 years behind bars.




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Bernhard Langer and his 18 straight years of winning one of golf's untouchable records

Winning doesn't get old. Neither, apparently, does Bernhard Langer.




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Capitals reunite with forward Lars Eller 6 years after Stanley Cup triumph

The Washington Capitals traded a 2027 third-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick to the rival Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Lars Eller, the team announced on Tuesday.




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Doctor accused of criticizing Russia's war in Ukraine is convicted and given over 5 years in prison

A doctor accused of criticizing the war in Ukraine in front of a patient was convicted Tuesday of spreading false information about the Russian military and sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison, part of an unrelenting Kremlin crackdown on dissent.




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Free-falling Chicago Bears fire offensive coordinator Shane Waldron

The Chicago Bears fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron on Tuesday, hoping to shake up a unit that ranks among the worst in the NFL.




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Real Madrid defender Eder Militao tears ACL and needs surgery

Just over a year since tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in his left leg, Real Madrid defender Eder Militao ruptured the ACL in his right leg when he crumbled amid screams at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Saturday.




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Notre Dame marks arrival of Paris Olympics' iconic trackside bell as cathedral reopening nears

Paris's Notre Dame cathedral, whose historic bells were silenced following 2019's devastating fire, will soon echo again with fresh chimes.




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GEO to keep unleashing the power of open data: Mandate endorsed for another 10 years

On the 17 Jan in Geneva, the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) received unanimous endorsement to unleash the power of open data for a second decade. There was agreement to continue building on the organization’s first 10 years of pioneering environmental advances, which are designed to improve the quality of life of people everywhere. Fueled by open data, GEO’s efforts are now evident in most regions of the world. GEO is comprised of 90 member nations, the European Commission and 77 Participating Organizations.

"GEO is successfully meeting its mandate, which is to make data and other information open, accessible and easy to discover for decision makers around the world," said Mr. Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for the Environment. "GEO’s vision is now operational, a proven force for putting sound science to work across nine essential areas: agriculture, biodiversity, climate, disasters, ecosystems, energy, health, water and weather."

GEO’s mandate is to drive the interoperability of the many thousands of space-based, airborne and in situ Earth observations around the globe. Without concerted efforts to coordinate across diverse observations, these separate systems often yield just snapshot assessments, leading to gaps in scientific understanding and hampering data fusion in support of better decision making for society. GEO aims to fill such gaps by providing a comprehensive, more integrated picture of our changing Earth. GEO is accomplishing this by establishing a Global Earth Observation System of Systems, known as GEOSS, and a Portal through which data and other information can be easily accessed at little or no cost.

"Rather than snapshot assessments, GEO gives us moving pictures of a changing planet," said Mr. Cao Jianlin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. "Our world does not work just in the sea, on land, in the atmosphere or in space, and our policies cannot reflect individual domains either."  China, for example, is partnering with 46 other GEO-member nations and several of GEO’s Participating Organizations to ensure that unprecedented data will be available to measure the effects of human activities and natural processes on the carbon cycle, the first such coordinated effort at the global level.

In South Africa, 22 nations and 5 GEO Participating Organizations recently launched AfriGEOSS with the goal of strengthening that continent’s capabilities to produce, manage and use earth observations. "This new initiative gives us the necessary framework to support informed decisions about a range of priorities, including food security, access to clean water and sanitation, natural resources, and coastal and disaster management," said Derek Hannekom, Minister of Science and Technology, South Africa.

By increasing the utility of open data about the Earth, GEO is helping to mitigate disasters, develop water-management strategies, support citizen observatories, and strengthen food security. GEO is driving the development of new tools, such as a cholera early warning system, as well as painting fuller pictures of complex environmental processes, including through global observations of ocean acidification at the global scale and observations of atmospheric greenhouse gases from space. GEO participants are also studying the footprint of mining practices, with the aim of minimizing future impacts on nearby communities and natural habitat, and focusing on links between air quality and health. There is also focus on the far-reaching consequences of melting glaciers and other serious cold-region concerns.

"The Obama Administration continues to work to catalyze the emergence of new businesses, products and services powered by the U.S. Government's open data. Increasing access to data and data sharing, both nationally and internationally, is crucial for unleashing innovation across our data-driven economy," said Dr. Patrick Gallagher, performing the duties of the Deputy Secretary of Commerce." GEO's collaborative work to integrate open data about the Earth continues to drive the development of new tools, services and scientific insights that are used around the world to support sound decision making."





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10 years ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity

The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) marked its 10th year with the theme, "ACB and ASEAN Member States: A Decade of Cooperation on Biodiversity Conservation."  The celebration covered a number of activities on 2 October 2015 at the College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines, Los Banos, Philippines. These included the groundbreaking ceremony of the new ACB headquarters; Tree Growing Activity at the "Tree World"; awarding of the Zooming in on Biodiversity Photo Contest Winners; and "Nawa'y Muli Tayong Makauwi," a musical theatre show on biodiversity conservation. 

The event provided ACB with an opportunity to promote the milestones of the Centre, and a venue for the ASEAN Member States, ACB and its partner organizations and countries to get together and further strengthen collaborations and reaffirm commitments to conserve the rich biodiversity of the ASEAN region.

Find more updates in the latest ASEAN Biodiversity Bulletin.





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2nd EARSeL SIG LU/LC and NASA LCLUC joint Workshop: Advancing horizons for land cover services entering the big data era

Following the successful 1st joint Workshop with more than 150 participants from 4 continents in Berlin, 2014, the EARSeL Special Interest Group on Land Use and Land Cover (SIG LU/LC) and NASA Land-Cover/Land-Use Change (LCLUC) Program organize their 2nd joint workshop.
 
The Workshop will be conceptually linked with and support the objectives of the following ESA Living Planet Symposium 2016 on 9–13 May 2016, as a brainstorming preparation.
 
Hosting distinguished keynote speakers and poster presentations, the Workshop will discuss the latest advancements and upcoming challenges in Land Cover and Land Use Monitoring for the Environment, Food security, Energy, Health and Security. More information in the conference brochure.
 




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David Ortiz still loves watching the Red Sox’ historic comeback vs. the Yankees 20 years later, especially alongside Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter

"Theeeee Yankees lose!"

The post David Ortiz still loves watching the Red Sox’ historic comeback vs. the Yankees 20 years later, especially alongside Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter appeared first on Boston.com.






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Forty years of consequences

It’s been 40 years since the Islamic revolution in Iran. In 1979, many Iranians felt a strong sense of hope as change was sweeping through their country. Ayatollah Khomeini’s return to Iran from exile was one of the most significant moments of the revolution. Now, 40 years later, we’re hearing more of what was going on behind the scenes.

Also, we hear from two Iranians born after the revolution, who are so frustrated with conditions inside Iran, that they want to leave; we’ll look at how US sanctions on Iran are impacting American businesses; plus, the story of an Iranian-American navy veteran who grew up in revolutionary Iran; and Iranian women’s rights advocate, Masih Alinejad, explains how political hair can be in Iran.

(Revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini leaving the Air France Boeing 747 jumbo that flew him back from exile in France to Tehran. Credit: Gabriel Duval/Getty Images)




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20 years of Putin

This month marks 20 years since Vladimir Putin first became prime minister of Russia. Now serving his fourth term as Russia’s president, Putin has increased and consolidated his power over the past two decades. We look back at the events that have shaped his leadership and the course of his nation. Also, we reflect on the past 20 years of diplomacy between the US and Russia; and when Vladimir Putin finishes his fourth term as Russia’s President, what will he do next?

(U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a joint press conference after their 2018 summit in Helsinki, Finland. Credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)




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400 years

This year marks four hundred years since slave traders arrived at the Virginia colony with the first captive Africans to be enslaved in what would become the US. It was the start of something that would come to define and divide America. Ghana has declared 2019 the “Year of Return” for African descendants around the globe. Our reporter, Rupa Shenoy, traveled to Ghana to look at how slavery is entangled in both the past and present lives of people there and in the African diaspora.

(A view inside of Christiansborg Castle, Ghana. Credit: Selase Kove-Seyram/The World)





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Mass. National Guardsman Jack Teixeira sentenced to 15 years for leaking classified information

Jack Teixeira pleaded guilty earlier this year to six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information under the Espionage Act.

The post Mass. National Guardsman Jack Teixeira sentenced to 15 years for leaking classified information appeared first on Boston.com.




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The Worship Podcast (Episode 9): The Last 50 Years of Worship - Malcolm du Plessis

Malcolm du Plessis has quite an incredible resumé when it comes to worship.  He talks about his background in this episode of The Worship Podcast.  However, he also talks about something - we believe - that is critical for every worship pastor, leader and song writer to understand.

And that is the evolution of worship over the past few decades.  Malcolm has experience and studied knowledge in this area, like few others do.  Listen in today with a close ear, and you may just find some answers to the question, "Why do we do things that way?", you've been asking.

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The Worship Podcast is powered by All About Worship (Dustin Smith & James Galbraith) and WeAreWorship (Wisdom Moon & Morgan Shirey).

Subscribe to the podcast and find the show notes:
https://linktr.ee/theworshippodcast 

You can also connect with The Worship Podcast on social media:
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Dom Amore: 20 years later, the ’04 Red Sox curse-busters revel in a victory that will live forever

UNCASVILLE — Manny Ramirez turned to the man next to him, his former captain, and shared a little secret. “When I came to Boston, I watched you and I looked up to you,”: Ramirez told Jason Varitek. “When you went 4-for-4 or 0-for-4, you worked hard. It made me a better player.” It was a poignant moment during an evening of funny stories, fond reminiscences. “Man, I’ve never heard that before,” ...




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'Brought Me to Tears': Operation Blessing's Gift of Clean Drinking Water a Game-Changer in NC

'Brought Me to Tears': Operation Blessing's Gift of Clean Drinking Water a Game-Changer in NC




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Simpson Manufacturing Co. Rings the NYSE Closing Bell for 30 Years as a Public Firm

On Sept. 6, Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc., the parent company of Simpson Strong-Tie, rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange in celebration of the company’s 30th anniversary as a publicly listed company.




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Labour's council insourcing proposal sparks fears among charities

Voluntary sector providers of local authority services say ideology must not hamper effective service provision



  • Policy and Politics

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Mark Dowie: ‘This organisation has lasted 200 years for a reason’

Lucinda Rouse speaks to the outgoing chief of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution about cycles, Covid-19 and the ‘one crew’ pledge